Recent Connections

Following District Council I spoke at Living Hope Church in Colorado Springs, CO on May 3rd. As you know, my son Phil pastors this church and several have come to know the Lord in recent weeks. This church is a merger between Hope Church, which Phil was planting in Colorado Springs and Living Springs Worship Center. The merger occurred 14 months ago and has gone very well. I am happy to report the church is moving ahead with unity and growth.

On Mother’s Day, May 10th Loretta spoke at Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, CO for Pastor Randy Popineau. I don’t have to tell you that Loretta did a great job. The church is doing very well under Pastor Randy Popineau’s leadership. The recently expanded sanctuary was full of people and excitement.

On May 12th I met with our pastors in the Southeast section of Colorado for their monthly meeting. This is a fine group of pastors led by our presbyter, Darryl Johnson. Their encouragement of each other and their burden for Southeastern Colorado was evident. A pastoral change is now underway at our Ordway church and the section is working together to provide ministry in the church till a new pastor is secured.

May 15 – 17 was our Colorado Honor Bound Men’s retreat in Keystone. Jeff Lucas did a great job of ministry to the men and it was my privilege to minister Saturday evening. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual impact and joyous fellowship. There were several reports of God working in powerful ways in men’s lives including many being filled with the Holy Spirit. Thanks to Dave Argue and his team for planning an excellent event.

In the afternoon of May 17th I conducted a business meeting at Windsor AG in Windsor, CO. Wally Weber is serving as interim pastor following Pastor Paul Veliquette’s departure to serve as our District Financial Administrator. Thanks Wally for your effective work.

On May 22nd I enjoyed celebrating with Pastor Larry and Marilyn Kettle in Canon City, CO at a reception for their recently married daughter Amanda who married Sam Russo. This couple is serving in ministry in Texas. While I was in Canon City Loretta spoke for a Women’s Ministry dinner at Pueblo Christian Center. Both gatherings were marked by joy.

On May 24th I had the privilege of ministering at Friendship AG in Colorado Springs, CO for Pastor Jim Hagan. In the two morning services we honored Pastor John Haines for 50 years of ordained ministry. John was unable to attend District Council so Pastor Hagan graciously allowed this opportunity to honor Pastor Haines. Friendship AG under the leadership of Pastor Hagan is thriving.

On May 28th I met with Pastor Doug Miller and very exciting things are happening at Plum Creek Community church in Castle Rock, CO. There are now about 700 people in attendance at Sunday services and there were 1100 people present on Easter Sunday. Plum Creek CC started in January 2007 as a church plant of Grace Community Church in Centennial, CO pastored by Jim Ladd. Growth is so rapid Doug and his leadership team find themselves in that challenging but exciting place of trying to keep up with what God is doing. They have a great vision of involvement with the community and reaching unchurched people.

I also met with Christian Summers who will be going to the Philippines to work with the Alstons as a Missionary Associate. Christian and Bridget are a terrific young ministry couple, and I believe God will use them very effectively in this assignment. By the way, Mark and Fredda Alston are featured on the AGWM web site at http://goag.org/goag/car/onassignment.

On May 31st Loretta and I visited Austin Bluffs Community Church and took in a wonderful message by Pastor John Pauls. John was a neighboring pastor of mine in Colorado Springs for many years and it was great to reconnect and see what the Lord is doing at ABC Church.

On June 7th I had the privilege of ministering in the two a.m. worship services at Pueblo Christian Center, in Pueblo Colorado. Pastor Phil Neely is serving as interim pastor and doing a great job during this time of transition at PCC.

On June 14th I had the privilege of ministering at Plateau Valley AG in Collbran, CO for Pastor Bob Wilson. Bob and Michaelene Wilson have pastored in this beautiful mountain community for 18 years and have a wonderful impact on the community at large. I thank God for the faithful and effective work of the Wilsons.

On Monday, June 15th I visited Camp Cedaredge and Gary Jensen our camp administrator gave me the grand tour of various improvement projects currently underway. It is exciting to see what is happening. Gary and his team are doing a great job.
That evening I visited the opening service of our second week of Youth Camps. There was a great spirit among the young people and our speaker did an excellent job. Please continue to pray for health, safety, and spiritual impact for all of our young people in attendance. Registration for Youth Camp this year exceeds last year and we pray every young person has a great experience. Lee Terry and his team are providing excellent leadership.

On Tuesday, June 16th I spent time with Pastor Chris Peterson at the facilities of Crossroads Victory Worship Center in Montrose, CO. The church is doing very well under Pastor Chris’ leadership with exciting vision for the future.

Loretta joined our WM missions team working on the House of Promise June 13-16. We travelled back to Colorado Springs while the ladies continued their work. Peggy Vawter and her team are working very hard to provide improvements to the House of Promise. Vicki Proffit and her leadership team continue to do a great job in the House of Promise ministry.

I would like to refer you to a message by Jim Bradford, our new General Council Secretary. He will be our District Council speaker next year and I think you will enjoy and benefit from a message he shared at GC headquarters in Springfield, MO just a few days ago on “Leadership as a System”. Virgil Illum was present to help lead training sessions for new District Secretary Treasurers and reported the value of this message. I watched it today and found it very beneficial. The message can be accessed at http://ag.org/top/.

Also, you will find an excellent article about Timberline Church, Fort Collins, CO in the June 14th Today’s Pentecostal Evangel (tpe) and a fine article on reaching people by Trinity Jordan in the last quarterly General Council “Called to Serve” publication.

Obviously, I’ve reported on the positive experiences I’ve had in recent weeks throughout our district. I have conveniently left out the difficult and sometimes heartbreaking experiences which are a part of the challenges we face in ministry. Some matters are confidential and some would be counterproductive to broadcast. Ministry can be very rewarding and very difficult. Wherever you find yourself in that spectrum at this moment, God is with you and we are pulling for you.

Let’s keep praying for each other and providing encouragement wherever possible. God bless you as you continue to fulfill God’s call on your life in ministry.