Monday, August 25, 2014

Summer 2014


Hello ministry partners!  

The move to Maryland in mid-June went well, and thank you for the sustained prayers.  The roadways were a bit dangerous during the three-day drive from Colorado whenever the clouds got heavy and poured rain but, apart from that, I really enjoyed driving through such beautiful country.  I especially appreciated the hospitality of Jean and Milton Jorgensen in Kansas, and Dr. Ron and Chris Davis in Indiana as they hosted me overnight.

 Western Maryland is hilly country (or mountainous, since these are the Appalachians).  To my eyes, accustomed to dry western states, this is jungle country!  Lush green forests cover the ridges, streams and rivers gush everywhere, and there’s an incredible variety of trees, flowers and birds.  Yes, it’s more humid here but so far it’s not a problem for me.  That’s an answer to prayer too!

I’m grateful to be living near a state park with hiking trails, as well as a cemetery where I can do daily walks.  There are also a few good routes for biking and I’ve found a friend I can ride with weekly.  A “rail trail” runs 150 miles northwest from Cumberland to Pittsburg, PA, and a former canal towpath runs 185 miles south to Washington, DC. 

The house I’m renting is less than 2 miles from the church, and about 5 miles from downtown Cumberland.  The owners had planted zucchini before I moved in and I’m enjoying those now!  I’m grateful for the quiet location with songbirds, rabbits and lightning bugs, as well as flowering bushes.  My very own Garden of Eden!
This part of the country is rich in history, too.  My first weekend here I took a tour of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, built in 1851, and got to go under the sanctuary floor to see the partial walls of Fort Cumberland dating back to 1755.  George Washington was a commander there at age 21, during the French and Indian War.

The church folks have given me a warm welcome.  Ron and Karen Higson are pastors of the Full Gospel SDB Church.  They explained that the name “Full Gospel” refers to the “complete” gospel from Genesis to Revelation, and they’re not Pentecostal, though they believe the Holy Spirit does give gifts to believers today to carry out God’s work in the world.  There are 20 or so attending worship each week and they are eager to grow.

Pastor Ron Higson on the right, with Pastor Brent Hannah


At the end of June the church hosted Appalachian Association meetings with visitors from fellow churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  Many were not aware of the work I’d been doing with SDB church planting in Arizona and they were excited that I was serving in their Association.  I’ve been invited to contact the churches about workshops in evangelism and church planting.  They also voted to give me a donation from Association funds already designated for this type of work, and that was an unexpected blessing.

  In talking with Pastor Ron about the kinds of evangelism we could do, we decided one of the first outreaches would be a booth at the county Fair in early July.  Nearly everyone in the congregation worked a shift during the week, despite some fears and trepidation.  We gave out hundreds of gospel tracts along with 11 Bibles.  Our “hook” that worked well was a sign with a brainteaser question, “How many of each animal did Moses take on the ark?”  Most people answered, “Two”.  Then we asked if it was Moses who built the ark, and they would laugh as they remembered it was Noah.  From there we continued the conversation, leading eventually to the gospel.  Our workers found it was rewarding and not so scary after all.  We also made friends with fellow believers who had booths and have kept in touch with them for possible partnering in the future.
 
Visit with my Aunt Carolyn
In mid-July I set off on a road trip to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the annual SDB General Conference, stopping to visit family in Youngstown, OH, and friends in Madison, WI.  Driving home to Maryland I visited more family in Wisconsin and Illinois, people I rarely see, and I’m so thankful for those visits.
  

   


 


At Conference there was an emphasis on new activity around SDB church planting and church renewal, including a recommendation for the denomination to hire a person to be in charge of that ministry area.  There are actually over 20 new (or relatively new) church plants currently in progress (contact me if you want the list).  The Task Force on Church Planting, on which I serve, gave a presentation and also led a roundtable session in which 50 people shared their hopes and ideas for starting new SDB churches. 


Walking the Gospel Feet 5K with new friend, Linda Lyke.

 





I also participated in the Gospel Feet 5K walk/run early Wednesday morning at Conference.  The Missionary Society raised $2,600 for shoes for fellow SDBs in other countries, and they’re continuing to take donations for that.  www.sdbmissions.org

 

Speaking of ideas, one of the results of the Church Planting Conference I attended in New York last April was a monthly conference call to better network those involved in new churches and missions.  I’ve been facilitating those meetings since June and we’re up to 11 participants.  One of my favorite parts of the call is when we share what God is doing locally and then pray for each other.

Summertime is great for evangelism since there are so many outdoor events.  In downtown Cumberland there is a 4-block pedestrian mall.  On Friday evenings they invite a band to give a concert, so last week I set up a small table with Bibles and tracts and had some good conversations with passers-by.  (Next Friday others from church will join me.)
 
Please say a prayer for one young man in particular.  He stopped to browse the table and said he attended a local church.  After we talked for a bit I felt led to give him a card promoting the 30-minute online “180 Movie”.  (www.180movie.com)  It’s a thought-provoking comparison of Nazi Germany’s disregard for “inferior” human life with the disregard we have in America for unwanted babies in the womb.  At that point he told me his girlfriend was pregnant and he was thinking she should get an abortion for various reasons. I told him every life is valuable to God and never a mistake, as well as how many families in the U.S. are eager to adopt babies, even going overseas to do it.  I encouraged him to watch the movie and pray about it, and he said he would.  Pray for this new life!
 
Besides having the ministry table on the downtown mall regularly, we are planning to participate in other events like an upcoming block party for returning university students (town of Frostburg).  Please pray for these gospel seeds to bear fruit and for our congregation and me to grow in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).


I’ll be a student again soon as I continue with the CALLED program, Module 3, on “Practical Theology and Ministry”.  And I’m officially a Maryland resident having secured a driver’s license and Maryland license plates for my car.  I had to buy new tires to pass the vehicle inspection but God helped me find a place that charged $500 instead of $700 (what I was quoted at two shops), praise the Lord!  Next up – working on health insurance.

I’m making new connections here through a business networking group, as I share about good health through XANGO products, and learn what services others offer.  One of the keys to growing a church is finding ways to serve the community.  As I’m out meeting people I see many opportunities for this, and we’ll be seeking God’s direction to know how He wants us to serve.  More to come on that!

Another prayer request, that God would provide more financial supporters so I can cover health insurance, travel to General Conference each year and to Colorado at Christmastime, and a little for retirement savings.  Thank you!  To donate, contact the SDB Missionary Society at (401) 596-4326 or office@sdbmissions.org.

A parting thought from John Wesley, 18th century preacher and theologian.  "Do all the good you can.  By all the means you can.  In all the ways you can.  In all the places you can.  At all the times you can.  To all the people you can.  As long as ever you can."