Kicking off the summer in Bozeman

Here are the lyrics to one of the songs we sang with the children during Vacation Bible School - may it be a desire in all of our hearts...

"I wanna live my life with courage,

I wanna live with confidence,

I wanna live with Your hope within me, 

And a joy that never ends.

No doubt, no fear.

No wondering if You are here.

Change my heart, oh God, open up my eyes. 

I wanna see Your glory shining like a light.

Change my heart, oh God, stir me up inside.

I wanna feel Your Spirit moving in my life.

I wanna life my life with passion, 

I wanna live out on the edge.

I wanna have the faith to trust You

With everything and nothing less..."

This past week we had a mission team from Judson Baptist, my home church in Nashville, out to help with Vacation Bible School at Kirkwood for the third year in a row.  It is always such a huge blessing and encouragement to have them in town!  We also had about 20 workers from Kirkwood serving this year which has been such an answered prayer to bring people in from here in Bozeman!

The week kicked off with a Block Party where we doubled our enrollment that evening for VBS. Throughout the week we had 68 children registered and our enrollment was pushing 100 when we included all the workers.  God was present throughout the week and working in the lives of many.  Through music, crafts, recreation, missions and Bible Study, the kids were taught to face their fears and trust God.  In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, "God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgment."  We had five children surrender their lives to Jesus Christ throughout the week and also had great conversations with many parents as they came to pick up their children each night.  We also had a Family Day after the week ended where many of the kids and their parents came to worship with us on Sunday as the children led the motions to the songs they had learned throughout the week.

Many of the children that came throughout the week come from very tough situations.  Some started coming at the beginning of the week because they knew they would be fed dinner, and that was the first time they had eaten a meal all day.  What started as meeting a physical need led to them seeing their spiritual need for a Savior.  A boy of another family who lives out of state and had an extremely tough year with his family situation came up to me the first day and instead of asking what rec games we were playing or what was on the menu for dinner, simply wanted to know where the pastor was who gave him a Bible last year.  God is working in the lives of these kids and we pray often for the chance to reach their parents as well.  We had the opportunity to take follow up visits to some of their homes to drop off goodie bags and God opened the door for conversations and continued relationships during that time as well.  He is faithful.

Gearing up for Block Party and VBS week!

Block Party

Block Party

VBS Dinner

VBS

VBS

VBS

Ready for Recreation at VBS

With the Judson team at Hyalite

Palisade Falls, Hyalite Canyon

With Misty, Muranda, Ethan, Cassie, Alex and Tyler at
Bridger Creek

In the two weeks leading up to VBS we had mission teams from Mt Rachel Baptist in Dalton, Georgia and a team from Stewart County, Tennessee come in to assist with Vacation Bible School preparation, Block Parties, getting the word out about upcoming events, intentional evangelism around town, surveys about how Kirkwood can better serve the surrounding community and prayer walking.  God used both teams as they served humbly and joyfully while they were here, as they were always willing to step in and help with many of the little tasks.

With the Mt Rachel Baptist (Dalton, GA) team

The upcoming weeks will be busy as well.  Myself, along with some other Kirkwood members are headed to Provo, Utah to assist First Baptist Provo with a Backyard Bible Club and some things around the church July 9-13 while our Youth Pastor, Andrew, is headed to Russia to share the love of Christ in an orphanage there for two weeks.  We have sports camp at Kirkwood July 15-19 and a couple upcoming Block Parties as well.  Please pray for God to be glorified and Christ to be revealed in unmistakable ways in the coming weeks.  Please also pray for me to be a light each day and to rely on His strength as I juggle responsibilities at Kirkwood, getting ready to take on the athletic director position at Heritage Christian School this fall and while I am also working at a local golf course.

Hope you all have a great 4th of July!  I am headed up to Whitefish, MT for a few days near Glacier National Park so hopefully some sweet pictures will be coming soon!  Love you all!

One Year Down...

A little over one year ago today I was pulling into Bozeman ... man, does time fly! I was excited for the adventure God was about to send me on, not sure what was in store but trusting in His provision one day at a time.  One of my favorite names of God in the Bible is Jehovah Jireh - the Lord who provides - because He has faithfully done so in my life over and over and His plans are always far greater than my own.  He has grown me and challenged me and humbled me to the dust as I have seen Him work in the lives of so many as well as in my own.  I praise Him daily for the love of those back in Nashville and so many other places around the world who have prayed for and supported me on this crazy journey - that is definitely one of the greatest reminders of His faithfulness in my life.

I am also reminded daily that religion is not what saves; Jesus does.  He pursued me, loved me and saved me by His amazing grace and that is where HOPE is found.  I think of the song "The Stand" with the lyrics, "I stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all.  I stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered.  All I am in Yours..."  When we are taken out of our "comfort zone" and what is familiar and surrender our lives to Him,  everything He does becomes magnified and we come to know Him in a more intimate way - that has definitely been the case for me over the past year.  Through the great times and the very challenging ones alike, He has the ability to humble and teach us and make us even more in awe of Him.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

We are gearing up for a busy summer here in Montana.  At Kirkwood, we have four mission teams coming in to help with summer activities including Block Parties, Parent's Day Out, Vacation Bible School and Sports Camp.  Some members of our church are also heading to Utah for a week in July to help First Baptist Provo with a Backyard Bible Club.  We are excited to see what God has in store.

The second week of May we were blessed to have Mike James, Minister to Adults and Assimilation at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee (along with his wife, Kathy) come out and lead a training session at Kirkwood on his book, Velcro Church.  It is always sweet having a slice of home come to visit.  Both Kirkwood and myself could not be doing what we are without God's provision through having Judson Baptist as a partner church.

Dr. Mike James leading a training session

With Mike James and his wife, Kathy

Mike and Kathy with Pastor James and family

Mike and Kathy with the Lane family

On Friday to kick off Memorial Day weekend we had a Mexican Fiesta Game Night at Kirkwood as a time of fellowship.  With about 40 people there, we all ate way too much food, played games, laughed so hard it hurt and really enjoyed time together.

This summer I also have the privilege of working on the side at Bridger Creek Golf Course, which sits right at the base of the Bridger Mountains.  The people I work for are incredible and it has been a great way to get to know more people in the community.  It is the first time God has opened the door to step back into the golf arena since the fall of 2008. After years of trying to get my back healthy and finally having four nerve endings burnt off in the lower part of my back last year, I have been able to play a little bit again and I just give God the glory now allowing me to share the passion I have for the game, and for Him, with others.  I wouldn't trade the perspective I have now for anything and the chance to use this gift for His glory in whatever way He leads.  God's plans are so much greater than our own.

Also, after much prayer and seeking the Lord, I will also be remaining in Bozeman past this summer.  I have recently accepted a position to serve as the Athletic Director and Kindergarten and 7th/8th grade P.E. teacher at Heritage Christian School in Bozeman.  I am extremely humbled and very excited to have the opportunity to assist the school in being a light for Jesus outside the classroom using sports as a platform to share the Gospel with everyone around in a city where many do not know Him.  This will allow me to continue working at the church as well this fall ... God is truly Jehovah Jireh - the God who provides in ways far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine.

Sending my love to everyone in Tennessee and elsewhere - your prayers and support mean so much and know I always love to hear from you and how I can be praying for you!

Please pray for:

- For the four mission teams that are coming to help us this summer at Kirkwood - that God would be glorified through all the activities and fellowship opportunities.

- That God would be at work now preparing the hearts of those here in Bozeman and that they will hear and respond to the Gospel.

- Pastor James and family while they are currently in Tennessee visiting family.

- For God to use me in the work at Kirkwood, the golf course and at Heritage Christian School, and that I would abide in Him and remain obedient one day at a time and be intentional each day representing Him.
- That I would be able to keep in touch with and continue to mutually encourage so many I care about that don't live nearby - so thankful that God's love bridges any distance and that He is faithful to provide for us when we walk with Him.

Honduras 2013

For the fourth year in a row I had the opportunity to serve alongside Sam and Peggy Feazel of Ignite Missions. They are missionaries in Honduras and have become like family over the years. Their passion for the Lord is contagious and every time I come and go from there, I feel like I leave a piece of my heart.

I met up with a team from Judson (my home church in Nashville).  This week, the team flew into Tegucigalpa and then drove about four hours to La Esperanza, to the villages of Llanos Largo and Yashe.  While we were there we did children’s and women’s ministry. Some of the women walked as far as three hours to attend.  Definitely made us all reflect on the Sundays we don’t want to drive to church because the weather isn’t very good. How desperate are we for the Lord? The children are so humble and grateful and just excited to have people love on them. After the first day, they are always lined up by the road waiting for us to arrive, excited to help us carry supplies and of course play soccer as soon as we get off the bus. 

As we did last year, one afternoon we got to hike down to the Yashe village, which takes us gringos about 45 minutes to an hour. There are no passable roads to the village, or electricity or running water. God provides all the people need to survive straight off of the land. Justino, who is taking over as the Pastor at Llanos Largo and Yashe lives in the village and was so excited to show us his house. We walked across two swinging bridges and to the other side of the village to get there. His house is one room with dirt floors that has two beds, a crib for his baby and a fire stove they cook on. He is as content and joyful as can be and the experience definitely renewed the perspective for all of us of wants versus needs.

Throughout the week we had 48 children and 17 women accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and follow up discipleship will happen through the Ignite Missions staff since we have departed. At the end of our time there we fed the Yashe village and had a church service. The following morning we dedicated the land where ground has been broken and a church will be completed, Lord willing, this summer in Llanos Largo. We prayed over the land and Sam sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”  When we left the village in 2012 we had prayed God would provide this land and the funds to build a church - and He answered that prayer by the time we had driven through the next town! Amen! Sam also spoke about the fact that long after any of us are around that it will be a place where people come to worship the Lord. Some of the people in the village have been persecuted for their faith in Christ, with their water turned off and various other things happening, so please be in prayer for the people there.

We also had a chance to go back and visit the two villages near Tegucigalpa that we worked at in 2010 and 2011.  There were three members on the team in addition to myself this year that were on the first team into the villages in 2010 and what a blessing it is each year to go back and visit and see all that the Lord has done. We had a church service on Friday night in Coralitos that was packed out and so many were joyfully worshipping the Lord. Made me think about how many would show up in the states if we announced we were having a church service on a Friday evening. One of my favorite things is hearing people worship in another language. I cannot wait for the day where we will all stand before the throne of God and worship in our native tongues.  Here is a link to the Coralitos service where we sang Anciano de Dias (Ancient of Days):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hy6qWT6n_E ... The lyrics are so appropriate:

"Blessing and honor
Glory and power
Bow before the ancient of days
From every nation
All of creation
Bow before the ancient of days

Every tongue in heaven and earth
Shall declare your glory
Every knee shall bow at your throne
In worship
You will be exalted oh God
And your kingdom shall not pass away
Oh ancient of days

Your kingdom shall reign over all the earth
Sing to the ancient of days
None can compare to your matchless worth
Sing to the ancient of days"

At Coralitos I also got to see Leo and his brother Jeffrey, boys who I have gotten to know over the past four years. When I asked Leo what he wanted to do when he was finished with school, he said he wanted to be a missionary. Our God is amazing! Please be in prayer for Leo that God would work in his heart and continue to grow him in the time ahead. His mother also shared with me that he has been having some health problems so we prayed together over him – please be in pray that the doctors would have wisdom and that his health would be restored soon.

Yashe village

Llanos Largo village

Love this little dude!

Llanos Largo village

Women's Ministry

With missionaries Sam and Peggy Feazel

Showing off their crafts

Llanos Largo village

Yashe village

Ignite Missions bus outside the Yashe village

Yashe Church

Kids praying to receive Christ

Yashe Church Service

Yashe Church Service

Pastor Justino and family

Dedication of land where church is being built in
Llanos Largo. In 2012 we prayed God would provide this
land and the funds for a church to be built - God has provided.
As Sam sang, "Great is Thy Faithfulness!"

Dedication of land where church is being built in
Llanos Largo

Sharing the Gospel

"I want You Jesus"

Llanos Largo village

2013 Team

2013 Team

Coralitos village - with Jeffrey and Leo

2013 Team at Coralitos Church

Friday Night Coralitos Service

Friday night Coralitos Service

We ended with a day visiting the Christ statue that overlooks Tegucigalpa and a trip to the Valley of Angels. That evening we had a bonfire and reflected on our favorite moments of the trip and praising God for all He had done throughout the week.

As Sam spoke, he talked about the times in our life where it is like the Lord is drawing a line in the sand before us. We have the choice to stay where it is comfortable or we can lay down our lives to Him and step across the obedience line to what He is calling us to and to where all of the blessings lie. That doesn't mean life is easy on that side, but it does mean that it is oh so very worth it because we serve a God who provides for our needs and whose plan is far greater than our own.  God's will for each of us is to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples... until He returns. And we are all either obedient or disobedient to that call; there is no middle ground.  A man I heard speak a couple months ago said that instead of praying whether it is God's will for us to go, we should pray whether He is giving us permission to stay home.  And as Pastor Francis Chan says, "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

What has God asked you to do? GO DO IT. NOW.

Please pray for:
-Sam and Peggy Feazel and all that God is doing through Ignite Missions in Honduras - they have many teams coming this summer so please pray for them and their team of pastors and translators to have strength and endurance and for God to be glorified through each of them!
-For God to continue to direct my path and that I would walk in obedience to Him at one step at a time.
-For everything going on in Bozeman, Montana as we prepare for a busy summer here.