My last communication was May 30th and there is
much to report. Normally, we would be
sending out a RMDC Connection magazine July 1st. However, my Administrative Assistant, Susan
Cassell experienced a serious bout with pneumonia in May followed by a broken
elbow two weeks ago. Since she puts the
magazine together I decided we would skip this issue and return to our normal
schedule with the September issue.
CAMPING MINISTRY: About
1100 teenagers attended the three youth camps in June – a record number. The camps were exceptional with many
committing their lives to Christ and many filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lee and Renae Terry for your love
for students and the ministry you are providing through these camps.
East Slope and West Slope Kids Camps were conducted in June
and the Utah Kids Camp is coming up in July.
Camps for Royal Rangers and Girls Ministry are coming up in July, as
well. I pray the Lord will work in the
lives of all the kids who participate.
REFLECTIONS: I know
we are all concerned about the decision of the Supreme Court recently with
regard to gay marriage. Dr. George Wood
issued an excellent statement on the matter which I believe you received in his
email posting. The day may come when the
church in America will be persecuted for not conducting gay marriages or
supporting the LGBT agenda. The meaning
of pluralism has been shifting from acceptance of people with differing points
of view to requiring support of differing points of view. In particular, those points of view regarded
as politically correct by the popular culture.
The secularization of our culture is leading our nation down
a path of relativism in which moral absolutes are being replaced by the whims
of fallen human nature. This is all
distressing to us who are accustomed to a culture that revered Judeo-Christian
principles. But, where sin abounds grace
does much more abound. The bible predicts
a great falling away in the end times, but it also predicts a simultaneous
ingathering of souls into the Kingdom of God.
Maybe I am too optimistic but when sin abounds its fruit is
more readily exposed. Devastation is an
avenue to repentance for souls willing to respond to the Holy Spirit drawing
them to God. This is an opportunity to
let the light of Jesus Christ shine more brilliantly. The answer for a lost world is not a culture
that provides a wise way of life muting the effects of sin, but rather the
realization that Jesus Christ is the answer for time and eternity.
May we stay faithful to God’s Word in our personal lives and
public ministries. May we love all
people and share the good news of Jesus Christ without prejudice. May we faithfully teach God’s people to obey
all the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May we be salt and light in a world experiencing deterioration and
darkness.
CONNECTIONS: In my
May communication I overlooked my visit with Southwest First Assembly of God
and Pastor Jim and Gina Brummett in Lakewood, CO on May 12th. I want you to know about the exciting things
that are happening! They sold their
previous church building and purchased a beautiful office building and some
adjoining undeveloped property at 3199 South Wadsworth Blvd. debt free. They are worshipping in the lower level of
the building while renovating the upper level which will be their new worship
center. With the change of location they
are experiencing significant new growth and excitement in the church. God bless you Jim and Gina.
On June the 8th I met with the board of First
Assembly of God in Delta, CO and then had the privilege of ministering in their
morning worship service on Sunday, June 9th. The church is in the process of seeking a new
Lead Pastor. Pastor Bobby Wilson is
filling in during this key moment in the life of the church. This is a strong church with a great
influence in the Delta area and we pray the Lord will bring the Pastor of His
choosing.
On Friday, June 14th it was my honor to speak at
James Call’s funeral at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, CO. James Call is truly a man of God. His ministry had great impact. As an example there are at least 50 ministers
who are the product of Pastor Call’s ministry.
Thank God for James Call.
Sunday, June 16th I was able to visit Power
Invasion Ministries, Pastor Randy and Dawn Scott in Denver, CO. Randy and Dawn have sustained an effective
ministry in Denver for many years. One
of the enduring dynamic features of their ministry has been outreach to
destitute people. God bless you Randy
and Dawn!
Thursday night, June 20th Loretta and I visited
Steel City Biker Church, Pastor Curtis and Teresa Hubbell in Pueblo, CO. What a joy to experience this unique
ministry. The gathering consisted of a
meal, preaching of the word, prayer, and fellowship. It reminded me of the gatherings we read
about in the book of Acts. Motorcycles,
jeans, leather vests, and doo rags are common in the congregation. I sold my motorcycle years ago but I do have
jeans, and they accepted the non-bikers as freely as bikers. Curtis continues to minister in the biker
culture around the nation in addition to leading the church. Way to go Curtis and Teresa.
Sunday, June 23rd Loretta and I joined First
Assembly of God in Dove Creek, CO, Pastor Buddy and Cecily Bishop for their one
year anniversary. What a joy to share
God’s word with this new congregation and several visiting friends totaling
about 85 people. The AG church in Dove
Creek was closed several years ago and the Bishops had the vision to plant a
new work. God has been at work in this
effort and there is now a flourishing church with excellent leadership in
place. Who knows what the Lord has in
store for Buddy and Cecily when they retire again.
June 26th we traveled to Springfield, MO for the
District Leadership Conference held in conjunction with Missionary Renewal by
AGWM. Jerry Cassell, our District
Missions Director and I had the privilege of participating in the commissioning
of Tyler and Rebecca Shults as RMD missionaries to India. Tyler and Rebecca have been part of the Chi
Alpha team at Colorado State University and will be working with University
students in India as well as Project Rescue.
Sunday, June 30th I had the privilege of speaking
at the Durango Cowboy Church, Pastor Stan and Gail Formby. Stan and Gail have been pastoring in Durango
for many years. God birthed a new
paradigm of ministry in Stan’s heart and last November with the support of the
congregation changed the format of ministry to a Cowboy Church. Stan grew up around the Cowboy culture and
fit right in with this direction. Since
making the change in the method of ministry the church has more than doubled in
the last 7 months!
Cowboy boots (I wore mine after dusting them off), jeans,
western shirts, and Cowboy hats were the normal attire. The service included western style music,
cowboy poetry, coffee around tables filling the sanctuary, and a relaxed
interactive atmosphere. It was exciting
and fun to experience the blessing of God with this church.
During the summer on Monday nights Stan conducts horseback
riding lessons for children in Durango.
Parents are required to stay with their kids and part of the program is
to share one cowboy ethic (which happens to coincide with the ten commandments)
each evening. This has proven to be a
very popular program for families in the Durango area. God bless you Stan and Gail.
Sunday evening and Monday morning, June 30-July 1 Loretta
and I joined the kickoff of the West Slope Family Camp at Camp Cedaredge. Sunday evening the chapel was packed with 450
people worshipping and taking in the preaching of God’s word. Jason Neely together with other West Slope
Pastors lead the camp and it is experiencing revitalization.
PRAYER: Lowell Anderson
passed away yesterday, July 2, 2013 after a long battle with cancer. Lowell served on the Pastoral staff of Grand
Junction First AG many years ago, then managed Camp Cedaredge for a season, and then pastored in Michigan
for several years before moving to Delta, CO to retire. He will be missed. The funeral will be Saturday morning, July 6th
at Delta First AG. The time of the
funeral has not been set as of this writing.
Please pray for Sandy and their family.
