Thursday, August 19, 2010

Recent Connections and Reflections

Loretta and I visited the PK retreat July 20th and enjoyed sharing with these wonderful kids. Lee and Renae Terry do a great job loving on and ministering to our kids.

Saturday, July 24th Loretta and I had dinner with Lee and Sandy McFarland and then on Sunday took in Lee’s message to Radiant Church in Colorado Springs. Lee and Sandy were members of Radiant Church in years past when Lee was an electrical engineer. During those years he was filled with the Spirit and served in the church. He went on to become a Director at Microsoft Corp. in the Seattle area with an excellent salary and very valuable stock options. In the course of time God called him into the ministry. He left the salary and the incredible wealth potential behind to plant a church in the fast growing Phoenix suburb of Surprise, Arizona about 12 years ago. By the grace of God and much hard work he developed Radiant Church in Surprise to a congregation with an attendance of 6,000 people today. Lee has expressed on several occasions that he is thankful to be a pastor. Though it has been a financial sacrifice and at times very challenging he sees the ministry as a cherished gift from God.

Lee shared with me a few years ago that if a business man looked at a pastors job description he would say, “that is a bad job”. He also stated that pastoring is the most leadership intensive job he has ever had. So, where is the joy in that? It is found in obedience to our great God and Savior, His abiding and empowering presence, and in the transformation of lives impacted by the gospel. Most of us will never experience growth in our church to 6,000 people, but we all have the privilege of serving our Savior, experiencing His sustaining and life-giving presence, and seeing people changed by the grace of God.

Sunday evening, July 25th I visited Denver Church and Pastor Bryan Sederwall. They currently meet in a boxing gym in Denver on Sunday night. This is an exciting church. I was by far the oldest person present. How great is that (though you might be thinking that is probably true wherever I go - smile). God bless you Bryan and Denver Church.

August 1st Loretta and I attended the 50th anniversary of Orchard Road Christian Center in Greenwood Village, CO. Wally and Marilyn Hickey started this church in 1960 and Reece and Sara Bowling serve as lead pastors today. It was an anointed gathering as together we gave thanks to God for 50 years of effective ministry in the Denver area and around the world. Thank you Wally and Marilyn, and Reece and Sara for enduring, exemplary ministry.

On August 5th I traveled to Springfield, MO for a series of meetings. The Church Extension Plan board met first on August 6th. In case you don’t know this is a wonderful lending agency serving AG churches with a heart for ministry. CEP recently created an arm of ministry designed to provide church buildings for church plants that after 3 to 5 years will purchase the facility from CEP. Then the funds from that purchase will be recycled into another church plant. Two projects are now underway and funds continue to be raised to provide the seed money for the initial purchase of church plant properties. It is a privilege to be on the board of this organization.

The evening of August 6th and Saturday, August 7th District Superintendents met with Dr. George Wood for a Superintendent’s forum. Then General Presbyter meetings were conducted Monday through Wednesday. I believe our movement is headed in a very healthy direction and I have the highest regard for our national leadership.

On Sunday, August 15th Loretta and I celebrated a wedding reception for Ryan and Kimberly Bachman at Living Hope Church in Colorado Springs. Ryan is an Associate Pastor at LHC and we extend our congratulations to this wonderful couple and welcome Kimberly to our RMDC family.

August 16-17 we conducted a Minister’s Renewal at Radiant Church in Colorado Springs, CO with Doug Clay speaking. Doug shared wonderful ministry and it was a very meaningful time of encouragement and enrichment. I want to thank Pastor Todd Hudnall and his team for hosting this event.

August 18th our district department leaders met. Each one reported on recent summer camps and events. It has been a productive season of ministry to boys, girls, teenagers, and adults. I appreciate our department leaders and their ministry teams. We also continued to formulate plans for our Rocky Mountain Ministries Conference to be held at Praise AG in Pueblo, CO August 19-20, 2011. This event will be designed to serve everyone who works in ministry to children, teens, women, and men. Please mark your calendar.