Reaching, Teaching, and Keeping Boys for Christ

This past Friday I was privileged to speak at the Royal Rangers camp-in at MCA. My two boys attended this event as well. Commander Chuck and the team of commanders did an excellent job and put on a great event for the boys. There were several active and creative games which I know the boys loved. The fun, sweaty game time was followed by a time of listening to what God had to say around the campfire. Pastor Billy led us in worship, and then I spoke. We had an altar time in the cold wintery night, and three or four boys prayed to receive Jesus. We should never underestimate the importance of a commitment of a young boy to follow Christ.

I have had the opportunity to get to know District Commander Art Braendel, and it excites me to know that high caliber men such as Chuck, Art, and a multitude of commanders and workers around our state are committed to reaching, teaching, and keeping our boys for Christ.

Life-Giving!

Don't you love hanging around someone who builds you up and is encouraging? Daren Lindley is one such person. When I am around him, I can't help but feel blessed. I got out to KingsWay A/G last Saturday evening. Daren was speaking there, and is also helping them publish a new book. His publishing company comes into a church and unearths stories of people who have been changed by the power of Jesus. They then write these stories in a masterful, compelling manner, and publish them professionally. The church then has this resource to use as a tool to share the good news. What an incredible resource for the community and church.

Daren talked about being a life giving person. I was challenged to consider how I could be a blessing to people and allow God's grace to flow through me to others. It's a lot better than being judgmental!

District Office Mission

We had our District Office staff meeting today. I really enjoy working with the staff in the District Office. We have been working on a mission statement for the office. We want to answer the essential question of why we exist.

After much consideration, our mission at the District Office is "serving, equipping, and providing counsel for the ministers and churches of the Alaska District." We want to come alongside and assist pastors and churches however we can as they pursue their mission of making disciples in their communities. Isn't that what it is all about?

Kenai New Life A/G

I just got back from attending Kenai New Life A/G. This church is led by Pastor Steve Brown. I also got to attend a men's breakfast yesterday, which is where I took the first picture of Pastor Steve. I truly enjoyed the service today. It was a challenging message from Pastor Steve about service and sacrifice for our Lord. Pastor Steve and JoLynn how served this church faithfully for twenty years this October. I can tell this is a great church with people who love the Lord and serve Him authentically.

There was one thing they did that I thought was really cool and haven't seen done before. During the prayer time at worship, as I have seen at several churches, people were available to pray with you at the front. However, there were also people available at the back to pray with you. Perhaps this is a common practice that I have simply missed out on.

I think it in very innovative because although insiders have no problem marching to the front of a large public gathering for prayer, people who are new to church find this intimidating. I know that when I am at a public gathering where I am not comfortable, that is the very last thing I would want to do. If people can quietly slip out to the back to have a powerful encounter with Jesus, I think people would feel more free to do that. Jesus never put obstacles in the way of people encountering Him. He met people where there were. There are also practical benefits, such as easier access for people who have physical difficulty in walking to the front who may sit in the back. Anyways, something to think about. Now we are going to lunch and drive back to Anchorage.

With the Gluths in Kenai

We are having fun with our good friends Ryan and Heather Gluth in Kenai this weekend. They are Youth Pastors at Kenai New Life. Today we did what all people who have kids do when they get together....we went to McDonalds for lunch and let them run crazy at Playland. It's been a great time and we even got to see some moose yesterday and caribou today. Tomorrow we will be attending Kenai New Life A/G. I'll put up a blog about that tomorrow.

Voice to the Village

I had a great time today chatting with Terry Hull. Terry and his wife Danean are U.S. Missionaries to Alaska, from Alaska. They have a vision to reach the villages with the good news of Jesus. Terry spends a lot of time in the villages ministering to the people. He also enables video streaming from churches around the state. Currently, services from Fairbanks First Assembly, Bethel, Nome, and Anchorage Native Assembly can be viewed online. What an awesome opportunity for people to gather in villages to listen to the Word online from an Alaska Pastor who understands where they live.

Terry is a humble servant of the Master who is accomplishing great things for the kingdom in Alaska. Terry and Danean have a great vision to see people all around Alaska have access to the living Word. I want to encourage you to check out their website. You can actually link to services from these churches from their website. www.voicetothevillage.com

You can also find out how to support them on the website. Ministry in Alaska costs money, and I believe this is fertile soil in which to sow seeds.

A Little Help, Please?

I've been thinking on something Pastor Kent said on Wednesday night. Hosea talked about plowing the fallow ground in our hearts, comparing our spiritual condition to a field. When I was in Israel this past May, our professor showed us an example of a plowed field and an unplowed field. You can see here the vast difference. The plowed field has been freed of all weeds and rocks and is ready for seed to be sown. Getting our hearts into that type of condition takes a lot of work.

In fact, sometimes the rocks are so big that we need help moving them. Sometimes we face things in our lives that we simply can't handle on our own. We need someone to help us in lifting those rocks. I'm afraid that we don't cultivate the type of culture that allows us to seek help without being judged. I have friends right now who have hard rocks to lift and I have talked to ministers in various contexts who are struggling to lift the rocks in their fields.

But I think that there are many people who are attempting to cultivate their fields on their own, struggling in isolation. I will be honest and say that I am sometimes lacking in knowing how to help other people. My question is this: how can we change our culture to facilitate the idea that it is ok to ask for help and to release people from fear of judgment? Personally, I don't think this is a change that can be legislated through programs, but that we simply need to do a better job relationally. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.