Tuesday, November 8, 2011

CONGRATULATIONS AND CONNECTIONS


CONGRATULATIONS:

Timberline Church recently honored Dary and Bonnie Northrup for 25 years of pastoral ministry. Timberline grew into one of the strongest churches in America over those 25 years, and Dary and
Bonnie’s influence for Christ reaches far beyond Fort Collins. Thanks Dary and Bonnie for your exemplary lives and effective ministry.

Friday night, November 4th Loretta and I joined in a celebration for Nicky and Gloria Cruz commemorating 50 years of marriage and ministry. In the last 50 years Nicky has preached the gospel to 50 million people and as a result hundreds of thousands have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. God bless you Nicky and Gloria!

It was my privilege to be the Cruz’s pastor for 20 years and I know Nicky and Gloria to be authentic people of God. God placed them in a worldwide spotlight and whether in the spotlight or out they are the same genuine followers of Jesus Christ. Gloria quietly worked in the county jail in Colorado Springs every week ministering to juveniles in trouble. When he wasn’t travelling Nicky worked out at the same gym as I and over the years brought many of the people he met there to church. They raised four daughters who are faithfully living for Jesus. What God can do with a life surrendered to His Lordship is amazing.

RECENT CONNECTIONS:

October 14-16 Loretta and I traveled to the Utah Women’s Retreat in Park City, Utah. The retreat was spiritually enriching to the 150 ladies in attendance. Thanks to Peggy Vawter and her leadership team for this effective retreat.

I also had the opportunity to visit Pastor Troy Champ and Capital Church in Salt Lake City, Utah for their Saturday evening service October 15th. This is an exciting church filled with young people near the University of Utah campus. God bless you Troy and Suzanne.

Loretta and I visited Pastor Shannon and Nancy Schreyer and God’s Place church in Ogden, Utah Sunday morning. October 16th. It was great to also connect with Adam and Joni Schmidgall who serve as Children’s Pastors at God’s Place. This is a church with a revival spirit reaching into the community of Ogden with great passion for God and people. God bless you Shannon and Nancy, and Adam and Joni.

On Wednesday, October 19th I stopped by Restoration Church in Colorado Springs to see the addition of temporary buildings. Restoration has been growing so fast with young families they had to bring in temporary buildings to accommodate the needs of a rapidly expanding children’s ministry. God bless you Pastor Paul and Melanie Aragon.

This year our DYD Lee Terry and his leadership team provided a youth convention October 21-23 at Victory Life Church in Grand Junction, CO. About 300 young people were in attendance to receive the ministry provided. Several of the youth groups stayed for one of the Sunday morning services at Victory Life Church before returning home. Thank you Pastor Ted Miller for making the facilities of Victory Life Church available and for your ministry to the many young people who invaded your church service Sunday morning.

On October 23rd it was my privilege to preach at Praise Assembly of God in Pueblo, CO. Praise is a great church and the product of Pastor Bobby Wilson’s years of ministry in Pueblo. Bobby has a wonderful team of pastors around him who are instrumental in the success of this church. One of the powerful features of this church is the many ministers who have come out of Praise AG. God bless you Bobby and Alvena.

October 28-30 Loretta and I traveled to Park City Utah to attend the Utah Ministers retreat. What a pleasure to be with these fine ministers! There was much laughter, encouragement, and ministry in the hours spent together. Thanks Alex Lucero, Sid Casillas, and Dane Wead for this helpful event.

On Sunday October 30th I was honored to speak for Pastor Dane Wead at New Life Fellowship in Logan, Utah. This church is thriving in an exciting season of expansion. The first building phase of their new campus is complete which provides space for youth ministry and weekday activities of the church. Sunday mornings they worship in a theater complex as they move toward the building of their next phase. God bless you Dane and Bev in your ministry!

Sunday, November 6th I spoke at Eads Assembly of God in Eads, CO. Shawn Johnson has been serving as an Interim Pastor and doing a great job. This is a fine congregation of people with a heart to reach out to the community. I also met with the board and they shared with me plans to sell their old building and build a new facility on property they own by the highway. They are a General Council church and appear to be near the acquisition of a new permanent pastor. I thank God for this church and I believe God has great things in store for them going forward.

TRANSITION:

On Saturday, November 5th I met with the District Royal Ranger leadership team in Centennial, CO. This is an impressive group of men devoted to shaping boys into disciples of Jesus Christ. Arden Harms has done an excellent job leading this ministry as our District Commander for several years. He recently informed me he believes it is time to step down. He plans to do so at the end of January. We are praying for the Lord’s direction as we seek a new District Commander. Thanks Arden, you have our deepest appreciation and respect.