Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Here, There, Everywhere….
On June 3rd we started the first 800 mile leg of our road trip when we left from our home in Horse Shoe, NC in a ¾ ton dodge truck with our dear friends Randy and Pam Creamer from the North American Mission Board. We were loaded down with equipment and supplies along with our personal belonging. The two Randy’s drove as Pam and myself did our nesting in the back seat. On June 4th we arrived in Williamsport, PA where we met with a group of Baptist Builders who were working on a church project. This was very exciting because as a group they had not worked together since the 1980’s. So we celebrated over dinner with about 50 people and heard testimonies of what God has been doing in their church and community. Several of the Baptist Builders shared how they had connected with each other over the years in different parts of the country and how coming together for this meeting was such an encouragement. God continues His mighty work through the lives of these Baptist Builders.
We left Williamsport, PA on June 5th for the second 800 mile leg of this road trip which took us to Du Quoin, IL for the 2010 National Camper on Mission Rally. Each year we look forward to attending the COM Rally and teaching evangelism and prayer walking classes. We also enjoy talking with and encouraging each other in God’s work. This year’s theme was “Lincoln up with Jesus” and from the mouth of a Camper, it is a time for spiritual renewal. We also had a chance to link up with several individuals and hear their personal stories, pray with them, and encourage them in their journeys. Our evangelism and prayerwalking classes were heavily attended and we have to say that their enthusiasm to serve Christ was inspiring to us. We enjoyed the Gospel music, preaching and unique testimonies of how God is using Campers on Mission and others to share the Gospel story. By the way, there were 641 professions of faith reported by our Campers On Mission in 2009 and we suspect many more that were not reported. The closing service was full of excitement and some sadness as we parted ways with our spiritual tanks topped off! We already look forward to next year’s rally and the God stories to be told.
On June 3rd we started the first 800 mile leg of our road trip when we left from our home in Horse Shoe, NC in a ¾ ton dodge truck with our dear friends Randy and Pam Creamer from the North American Mission Board. We were loaded down with equipment and supplies along with our personal belonging. The two Randy’s drove as Pam and myself did our nesting in the back seat. On June 4th we arrived in Williamsport, PA where we met with a group of Baptist Builders who were working on a church project. This was very exciting because as a group they had not worked together since the 1980’s. So we celebrated over dinner with about 50 people and heard testimonies of what God has been doing in their church and community. Several of the Baptist Builders shared how they had connected with each other over the years in different parts of the country and how coming together for this meeting was such an encouragement. God continues His mighty work through the lives of these Baptist Builders.
We left Williamsport, PA on June 5th for the second 800 mile leg of this road trip which took us to Du Quoin, IL for the 2010 National Camper on Mission Rally. Each year we look forward to attending the COM Rally and teaching evangelism and prayer walking classes. We also enjoy talking with and encouraging each other in God’s work. This year’s theme was “Lincoln up with Jesus” and from the mouth of a Camper, it is a time for spiritual renewal. We also had a chance to link up with several individuals and hear their personal stories, pray with them, and encourage them in their journeys. Our evangelism and prayerwalking classes were heavily attended and we have to say that their enthusiasm to serve Christ was inspiring to us. We enjoyed the Gospel music, preaching and unique testimonies of how God is using Campers on Mission and others to share the Gospel story. By the way, there were 641 professions of faith reported by our Campers On Mission in 2009 and we suspect many more that were not reported. The closing service was full of excitement and some sadness as we parted ways with our spiritual tanks topped off! We already look forward to next year’s rally and the God stories to be told.
Now, we are preparing to leave the cooler mountains of NC for the hot humid climate of American Samoa. We are packing lighter and yearning to see that little familiar island in the South Pacific that caused such a stir in our hearts in 2009. We can hardly wait to see Lucy, Pastor Elise, Fina, Fola and the whole American Samoa gang. Our souls are singing and rejoicing as we begin this very long journey to a place that goes back in time; no red lights, no street signs, 30 mile an hour speed limit and no air conditioning. Did I write that? NO A/C….what are we thinking? The trip going will be quite grueling, leaving Charlotte at 9:45am on Thursday, June 17 to Hawaii and then a quick change of planes and onto American Samoa without a minute to spare. We arrive in American Samoa about 11 pm on Thursday night (which will be 5am our time on Friday, June 18).
We are asking for your prayers as we embark on this journey for Jesus, that He will prepare the way, that He will give us many divine appointments and for our witness to bold and powerful as we share the Gospel of Jesus to the Samoan people. Please pray for open doors of opportunity to encourage, to share, to love on, to pray over and ask our Father for the miracles that only He can do.
To be continued……
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
February 2010 News
2010 has already been a busy year in ministry. We started the year out with team meetings in Atlanta, GA. planning, reporting and praying over this year and developing and discussing new strategies to engage more volunteers and specifically the younger generation.
Ronda was able to be with our good friend Donna Guillot in LA for her surgery and was on the scene to witness the miracle of God’s mighty hand working during this time of recovery and healing. Donna is our angel of light and her witness continues to impact her family and friends in Louisiana as well as her adipted family in North Carolina and beyond.
After much preparation, Randy and I were excited to attend the Baptist Builders Roundtable meetings in Shocco Springs, AL. We had a great week networking with Baptist Builders and holding conferences on Evangelism, PrayerWalking and American Samoa. These folks had many great stories to share with us and a lot of wisdom to go with them. A highlight came when during a prayer time with attendees in the PrayerWalking Class, the presence of God showed up. We really do serve an awesome God!
We returned home on Friday, February 12th from Alabama only to prepared to leave again on the 15th for McDonough, GA to hold an evangelism class for 25 Canadian volunteers working with our friends Ken and Darla Ponath who are MSC Missionaries from Canada. The jobs included tree removal, home repairs and roofing. The most important job they did while in Henry County was showing the love of Jesus as they worked. What an exciting week with 2 people acknowledging Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. We know the angles were rejoicing in heaven as these 2 made their profession of faith.
We had the opportunity to speak in our Connect Group at Biltmore Baptist and are planning on speaking at local churches in the coming weeks. We continue to share what God is doing through His people.
We are looking forward to March as the NC Baptist Men Disaster Relief training begins. The first Disaster Relief Training starts in Moorehead City, NC. Randy has been asked to add an additional 3 hour class on Saturday for anyone who is interested in evangelism. He will continue to do the introduction evangelism for new trainees and evangelism for those recertifying. Anyone interested in taking Disaster Relief training through the NC Baptist Men, please go to www.baptistsonmission.org and choose Disaster Relief Training. There are five training events beginning the weekend of March 5th on the east coast and ending the weekend of May 21st in the western NC.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
3 Short Stories from American Samoa
American Samoa Friday, 11/6/2009
As our disaster relief team was purifying water at Pago Pago, Baptist Church; Randy and I began talking to a young Filipino lady who had brought containers to be filled with clean water. During our conversation, we found out that Maricha was living in American Samoa where her husband was employed by a commercial fishing company. Maricha sadly began to tell the story of her husband whom she had not seen in over a year. He was involved in a fishing boat accident in which he received a spinal injury and was first taken to the hospital in Pago Pago. After finding the injury to be very serious, they flew him to New Zealand and eventually to San Diego, CA. Maricha talks with her husband over the phone but she and her 4 year old daughter Samantha were missing him greatly. Her husband was having another spine operation on the following Monday after our visit. You could see the pain and heaviness in her eyes. We felt Christ’s compassion for this new friend and grieving mother. We were able to purify some water for Maricha and give her a few small things for her daughter along with a monetary gift. As we prayed for Maricha and her family, she was deeply touched and thanked us many times as tears ran down her face. She is a believer and trusted in Jesus as her savior as a young girl in the Philippines. On this day, God sent Randy and I to encourage and pray for His child, Maricha.
American Samoa, Saturday 11/07/2009
We were asked by the Pulenu’u (mayor) to come and purify water in the village of Aumi. We setup at the local church and were able to purify many containers that were brought to the site by the villagers. We were then asked to relocate up the cove to an area where some village people needed water and it was too far for them to carry the water by foot. We played with the children, giving them lollipops and talking with them. A neighbor family was preparing a special lunch of bread fruit, coconut milk, and mackerel. They began burning coconut hulls early in the morning to heat the rocks. Once the rocks are heated, the coconut milk and mackerel are wrapped into the shape of a large ball with aluminum foil and placed on the rocks along with the bread fruit which is scraped and placed into a basket. This is one of their favorite meals and is ready for eating in about an hour.
After filling all the containers we headed up the coast to an area where a boat taxi would take us over to the island of Au’nuu for a charge of one dollar. This small island of .60 sq. mi. is part of American Samoa and has a population of less than 500 people. We boarded one of the boat taxis and began the short ride over, in rough water, to the island of Au’nuu. When arriving, we walked to the only village store on the island to get some cold water and quench our thirst on this very hot day. As we were standing under a shaded porch outside the small store, Randy and Ben began to talk with a young man 21 years of age by the name of Phillip. Phillip was curious about our presence and listened we explained who we were and what we were doing in American Samoa. After several minutes of conversation, Randy changed the subject to spirituality and asked Phillip this question, “When you die, do you know for sure that you are going to heaven?” Philip was not sure of the answer, although He did believe in God. Philip listned closely as Randy began to share the Gospel story of Jesus Christ and explained how Christ had died for our sins and made a way for us to have eternal life. When asked if he would like to receive the free gift of eternal life, Phillip answered yes. Randy led Philip in a sinner’s prayer and we congratulated him on his decision to follow Christ. We then gave him a tract to review later. Ben lives on American Samoa and is a missionary teacher at Happy Valley Baptist Academy. Ben left his phone number with Philip and encouraged him to call when he was on the Island. Phillips tee shirt says “Chance Um” and that is the world’s view. Christ says that today is the day of salvation for those who believe. How exciting it was to see a young man repent of his sins and ask Christ to come into his heart by nailing down his salvation. We know the angels were rejoicing in heaven and so were we in American Samoa!
American Samoa, 11/08/2009
At 9:00 am in the pouring rain, standing outside in a small round concrete shelter, 15 members of the Chinese Baptist Church in Pago Pago gathered to witness baptism. They were celebrating with four new believers and Pastor Paul Fu had asked Randy to join him in conducting the baptismal service and then speak at the 10:00 service. As Amazing Grace was sung in the Mandarin language, one by one they walk down to the bluish green water at the shore line of the Pacific Ocean to meet Pastor Fu and Randy. As each new believer confessed Christ as Lord, Randy and Paster Fu each prayed for them and immersed them in the water. This was truly a humble and moving experience that will stand as a spiritual highlight in our minisrty.
Afterwards, we drove a few miles to the Chinese Baptist church in Pago Pago where Randy delivered the message about the servant hood of Christ Jesus. The humble disposition of the Chinese people touched our hearts. After church, they prepared a feast of beef and radishes, meat, dried swallow wings, rice, broccoli and carrots. We left with our stomachs filled and our hearts overflowing with joy for the opportunity to worship and fellowship with our Chinese brothers and sisters.
As our disaster relief team was purifying water at Pago Pago, Baptist Church; Randy and I began talking to a young Filipino lady who had brought containers to be filled with clean water. During our conversation, we found out that Maricha was living in American Samoa where her husband was employed by a commercial fishing company. Maricha sadly began to tell the story of her husband whom she had not seen in over a year. He was involved in a fishing boat accident in which he received a spinal injury and was first taken to the hospital in Pago Pago. After finding the injury to be very serious, they flew him to New Zealand and eventually to San Diego, CA. Maricha talks with her husband over the phone but she and her 4 year old daughter Samantha were missing him greatly. Her husband was having another spine operation on the following Monday after our visit. You could see the pain and heaviness in her eyes. We felt Christ’s compassion for this new friend and grieving mother. We were able to purify some water for Maricha and give her a few small things for her daughter along with a monetary gift. As we prayed for Maricha and her family, she was deeply touched and thanked us many times as tears ran down her face. She is a believer and trusted in Jesus as her savior as a young girl in the Philippines. On this day, God sent Randy and I to encourage and pray for His child, Maricha.
American Samoa, Saturday 11/07/2009
We were asked by the Pulenu’u (mayor) to come and purify water in the village of Aumi. We setup at the local church and were able to purify many containers that were brought to the site by the villagers. We were then asked to relocate up the cove to an area where some village people needed water and it was too far for them to carry the water by foot. We played with the children, giving them lollipops and talking with them. A neighbor family was preparing a special lunch of bread fruit, coconut milk, and mackerel. They began burning coconut hulls early in the morning to heat the rocks. Once the rocks are heated, the coconut milk and mackerel are wrapped into the shape of a large ball with aluminum foil and placed on the rocks along with the bread fruit which is scraped and placed into a basket. This is one of their favorite meals and is ready for eating in about an hour.
After filling all the containers we headed up the coast to an area where a boat taxi would take us over to the island of Au’nuu for a charge of one dollar. This small island of .60 sq. mi. is part of American Samoa and has a population of less than 500 people. We boarded one of the boat taxis and began the short ride over, in rough water, to the island of Au’nuu. When arriving, we walked to the only village store on the island to get some cold water and quench our thirst on this very hot day. As we were standing under a shaded porch outside the small store, Randy and Ben began to talk with a young man 21 years of age by the name of Phillip. Phillip was curious about our presence and listened we explained who we were and what we were doing in American Samoa. After several minutes of conversation, Randy changed the subject to spirituality and asked Phillip this question, “When you die, do you know for sure that you are going to heaven?” Philip was not sure of the answer, although He did believe in God. Philip listned closely as Randy began to share the Gospel story of Jesus Christ and explained how Christ had died for our sins and made a way for us to have eternal life. When asked if he would like to receive the free gift of eternal life, Phillip answered yes. Randy led Philip in a sinner’s prayer and we congratulated him on his decision to follow Christ. We then gave him a tract to review later. Ben lives on American Samoa and is a missionary teacher at Happy Valley Baptist Academy. Ben left his phone number with Philip and encouraged him to call when he was on the Island. Phillips tee shirt says “Chance Um” and that is the world’s view. Christ says that today is the day of salvation for those who believe. How exciting it was to see a young man repent of his sins and ask Christ to come into his heart by nailing down his salvation. We know the angels were rejoicing in heaven and so were we in American Samoa!
American Samoa, 11/08/2009
At 9:00 am in the pouring rain, standing outside in a small round concrete shelter, 15 members of the Chinese Baptist Church in Pago Pago gathered to witness baptism. They were celebrating with four new believers and Pastor Paul Fu had asked Randy to join him in conducting the baptismal service and then speak at the 10:00 service. As Amazing Grace was sung in the Mandarin language, one by one they walk down to the bluish green water at the shore line of the Pacific Ocean to meet Pastor Fu and Randy. As each new believer confessed Christ as Lord, Randy and Paster Fu each prayed for them and immersed them in the water. This was truly a humble and moving experience that will stand as a spiritual highlight in our minisrty.
Afterwards, we drove a few miles to the Chinese Baptist church in Pago Pago where Randy delivered the message about the servant hood of Christ Jesus. The humble disposition of the Chinese people touched our hearts. After church, they prepared a feast of beef and radishes, meat, dried swallow wings, rice, broccoli and carrots. We left with our stomachs filled and our hearts overflowing with joy for the opportunity to worship and fellowship with our Chinese brothers and sisters.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010 – A Ride with Jesus
In December of 2009, we experienced the biggest snow storm in over 17 years measuring close to a foot of snow at our home in Horse Shoe, NC. For the first time I can ever recall, we were unable to get our truck out of the driveway and up the road. The snow was so deep that the truck literally pushed a wall against the bumper and stopped all forward progress. All we could do was sit tight and wait a couple of days for the snow to melt down and then use a shovel to open up some routes before our all-wheel drive truck could make it up the steep hill leading away from our house (and that was only after several failed attempts). Sitting and waiting can be challenging, especially when there is nothing we can do. As Christians, waiting on the Lord is not always easy, but it teaches us patience and builds our trust and faith.
At my mother’s house in Brevard, NC, I spent one entire day digging out two routes for the truck tires to follow before I made it up the hill to her house. The driveway circles the house before going back down the hill. I made some passes in the snow with the truck tires by going around the house a couple of times. A couple of days later, I went back to check on Mom, the snow had melted and turned to ice in the paths I had routed out. When I drove around the house, the truck slid around the curve following the routes that I had previously made, and then down the hill. Realizing that I had no control, I held on for the ride while sliding down to the bottom of the road. Ronda and I believe this ride is an analogy of what we have experienced in our ministry. At times we have found ourselves in unfamiliar territory and extreme circumstances that we did not plan or map out. With Jesus at the controls and following His road map (the Bible) we can be assured that His plan will keep us on track as we maneuver through this life.
So in 2010, hold on and let Jesus take you on the ride of your life as you let go of the things of this world and cling to the hope and joy that you have in the Lord Jesus. We need to get use to letting go and totally depend on Him. Ronda and I are not there yet, but we have experienced times when we had to let go and hang on for the ride. It has been an exhilarating ride and a learning experience that has grown our faith and taken us to new spiritual heights in our personal lives and our ministry.
As we begin a New Decade, a New Year and our 4th year of ministry (which is so hard to believe), we want to reflect back at how faithful God has been and praise Him for the special people that He has put in our lives and for His provisions. There are many uncertainties that are in the future, as a matter of fact the only certainty we know is “Jesus”. So … our New Year’s Resolution is to know “Him” more, to soak up His word, to listen and to obey His voice. So, buckle up and hold on for an exciting and incredible “Ride with Jesus” in 2010.
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