|
To be perfectly honest, 10 days is a long time to be away from home. But one of the nice parts of the twice-per-year (spring and fall) trip to Maine and Canada is the familiarity that has developed over the years we have been doing this. I fly into Portland and then drive a rental car a few hours up to Milo, ME.
Again, familiarity. I always love being with these folks. It is a small congregation, but there is something very real and powerful happening here that continues to minister to people far and wide in amazing ways. These people are some of the most committed and consistent seekers after Jesus Christ that I have ever seen. And I felt and saw that He was working in this church in a very new way lately --- these times were really alive with His presence. After the Sunday AM service at Lower Sackville, we drove back up to Truro for an afternoon service at Upper Room Fellowship, as has been our custom.
2 Comments
 I like to share these trip updates, but I really cannot describe what is happening in Fallon, NV. Unless you are military personnel, you may have never visited or heard of it. The Naval Air Station there is the base for the most advanced tactical fighter training in the world. And surrounding that base is a small town community similar to thousands of others across America. It is always amazing and powerfully moving to see a local church, the body of Christ, give their lives for a community. I wish you could just go there to see it for yourself. Simply, God is moving in that place and Jesus is clearly demonstrating Himself in and through a group of people to the community around them. There is a special unity among this church family --- and it truly is like family. It is not always common to see a church where people love to linger and visit with one another after the service is over. It is even more uncommon that people stay 1 or 2 hours or more to fellowship after a service, and when those are multiple nights in a row. We had revival services Sunday through Wednesday (and what powerful times those were as we shared Jesus from the book of Jude --- amazing truth!), and I would find myself needing to eventually find a chair to sit on at some point after the service just because my feet were getting tired or sore. But what a refreshing thing to be among a group of people that so loves one another. And is that genuine love of Jesus Christ that is overflowing to the community through their compassionate ministries. I don’t know what to say about the weekly food distribution on Thursdays as I have never seen anything like it. I can simply post some photos to attempt to give some sense of the magnitude of ministry that is taking place week in and week out. 350 families were served on this particular week. But the Thursday distribution is the culmination of the work that goes into it by so many not only on that day but throughout the week. The ministry of the thrift store continues to grow, now in two locations. Pastor Paul Slaton’s prayer has lately been, “God, give us the lost.” It is stirring to see how God is doing this and the way He is reaching people and transforming lives from every walk of life. I know I say this every time, but if there is a group out there looking for a place to minister for a few days or for a week, I could think of no better plan than going to Fallon, NV (and don’t forget the recreational opportunities nearby in Lake Tahoe!). It is a place to see the kingdom of God at work in a very real way. Carey and I then began services on Thursday night and continued through the following Sunday out at the Stillwater Indian Church on the Paiute Shoshone reservation just outside of Fallon. I believe this was our fourth consecutive year to have the spring revival services with this special group of people.
On a related note, we are thanking God for His touch on the life of Sandra Plants, wife of Pastor Tim Plants at Stillwater. On Tuesday April 19, one week after we were there, Sandra suffered a massive pulmonary embolism in her lungs, causing her heart to stop three times. She was revived through CPR, and then transported to the hospital in Reno, where she has shown miraculous progress, being able to now breathe on her own, sit up at moments, and do some talking. We continue to pray for Sandra’s full recovery, and for the continued work of running the race, carrying the flame, and handing off the baton through their lives. I pray the same for you and for each of us. As Paul wrote about to Timothy, may we continue to fight the good fight, finish the race well, and keep the faith.
Running together in Christ, John It is just a long drive from Tennessee to Oklahoma. There are no two ways about that. From my house, I go about 11 miles and then turn left on I-40 . . . and then just keep going straight west. Part of the joy of that drive has become having my son, Carey, with me, and he has now been to Chandler, OK with me several times over the past few years. We have favorite stopping places along that route, including the Golden Corral buffet in Conway, Arkansas. I missed him as he was not able to go with me this time due to some school work that he needed to get done, along with his desire to attend our homeschool conference here in Nashville. But it always brings a smile to me when we talk on the phone along the way and he asks me where I am and he can picture the different landmarks or locations. He is a well traveled young man!
It is sometimes a stretch to keep up with the classes and work in the midst of travel and preaching, but I am really thankful for this work, and God is moving in amazing ways in the lives of students. But that is the subject for another post!
On Thursday morning, I left Chandler, drove down to Shawnee, OK, and turned left on I-40 to head eastward toward Tennessee. Another long drive (and no stopping at Golden Corral this time), but I could not help but think of some of the journeys that the Apostle Paul made, and that this is what the early church was all about: people running together, seeking after Jesus, and growing in Him. My heart was filled with thanks again for His blessing and the privilege of what He has called me to,
In Christ, John  God’s timing is always perfect. It was sometime several months ago, probably last fall, when my friend Ryan Bash and I finalized some dates to again come to his church in Milford Center, OH, a small town just outside Marysville and not far from Columbus, OH. This would be my second consecutive spring to be there. Little did we know at that time that Ryan and his family would be accepting a call to pastor a church in another part of Ohio before these dates came on the calendar. Therefore, my scheduled time at Trinity Chapel in March would be in the midst of an interim period when they are still awaiting a new pastor. After some communication with the church leadership, they heartily affirmed that it was their desire to go ahead with these revival services during this time. The enthusiasm in the church was so evident from the moment I arrived. One of the traits of Trinity Chapel is the warm and close-knit family feeling among people of all ages. It was encouraging to see how they have bonded together and stayed so active in ministry in their community during this “interim” time. It would seem that these special services could not have been timed more perfectly. The attendance was remarkable, and the response was even more significant. The entire demeanor and attitude of the congregation was one of openness and sensitivity to the truth, and I watched as people just responded to Jesus and the Word. It truly seemed to be a time of God moving and encouraging this church family. There was such a sense of joy and excitement there as I saw their faces and listened to their words. I praise God for that. I drove toward home with a renewed sense of the perfect timing of God even and especially when it is something we cannot see or anticipate. It gives me great peace and joy to know that this is way He always works, and I thank Him for the privilege of getting to see that once again at Trinity Chapel in Milford Center, OH. I am thankful for His calling and what I get to do.
Running together in Christ, John What a privilege it is to run alongside of my son, Carey. He is now 14 years old and among the finest men I know. Several days per week we drive over to our local park to do our 3 mile run (soon to increase). Having spent most of my adolescent years running, I never would have imaged that I would be coaching and running with my own son 30+ years later. It has been of great personal benefit to me to help maintain my own physical health (except for those sore joints that weren’t there 30 years ago!). But the greater and more eternal benefit has been the time together. Carey is becoming quite the runner, and he has equaled me much sooner than I anticipated. It is a joy to me to run alongside one another and to take turns pulling one another along. It truly has becoming the kind of “running together” in which I so firmly believe. I thought about this much on our recent trip to Issaquah, WA, just outside of Seattle. About four years ago or so, Trina and I felt from the Lord that it was time to begin taking Carey on trips with me. That trip to Seattle in February 2012 was his first plane trip with me, and this year was the fifth consecutive year for him to make that trip with me (among the many others that he now does as well). I was amazed to look back at the photo and see the physical growth in his life (no comments, please, on my own aging!). But Carey’s spiritual growth has been equal to physical, and for this I am most grateful. One large part of that spiritual growth has been not only being together and having experiences like this together, but also the people who have so invested in his life. Pastor Vanessa Chitwood and the people at Mountain Creek Christian Fellowship (MCCF) continue to love and care for Carey in a special way, just as this congregation has for our family over the years. My first time there was in 1994, and I have been there now more times than I can actually remember. It has always been a special place, and now it has been a part of my son’s discipleship as well. Mark Miller, the former pastor (who continues on various assignments for the district and still lives in Issaquah) continues to be a dear friend and it is a blessing to get to stay with Mark and Beth when we are there – it is just like home. Mark has been one of those godly men that God has placed in our lives, and, being a retired Marine officer, gets to coach Carey in using firearms and other things that Carey loves! (as some know, Carey feels led to be in the military). God is so good to lead us and place people in our lives through whom He shapes us.
I loved their theme for the revival and might adopt it for my own: “Renewed, Rising Up, and Running Together.” I told the congregation that I have not seen a congregation more prepared in prayer and focus for revival services, and the Lord worked mightily through that, I believe. We saw God moving in some amazing ways in these services, and it was often the still power of the Holy Spirit at the end of the services and during prayer around the altar that was often the most impactive, with people lingering for a long time in worship. People from all over the congregation of various ages were responding to Jesus. As is now usual with the places where God takes us, the life and interactions with the people were as much of a blessing as the services.
 Divine connections and the intersecting of lives. I don’t know if I have ever experienced a time more obviously orchestrated by God. I was at the Church of the Nazarene in Venice, FL for revival services November 15-18, a date that had been scheduled for well over a year. Even over the course of that year, a warm friendship had grown between Pastor Kip Hasselbring and myself as we corresponded, spoke by phone, and prayed for one another. That only increased when we met in person and spent time together. I have such a deep appreciation for Pastor Kip and his sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit seemed to be keen throughout the congregation, and there was a real overflow of Jesus in the services. There were those moments of His sweet and unmistakable presence --- in the way that we pray for and so desire. We had prayed for revival, and God was faithful to answer, with great response and many testimonies of how He had spoken to and transformed hearts. The hand of God was apparent in more than the services, however, and this was further evidence of how He was so at work here. The intersecting of lives and renewal of relationships was so supernatural that it is almost beyond description. I was blessed to stay in the home of Gary and Cindy Bibbee, who were members for a few years at the church where I pastored in Joliet, IL, where Gary had been temporarily transferred for a job. After a couple of other stops, they had since retired to Venice and joined the church there --- months after this meeting was scheduled. What a joy to renew that relationship and have that time together! We were further blessed Monday evening when Sam and Joy Burch drove down from Clearwater to be in the service, and were able to meet Pastor Kip, the Bibbees, and several others. Another surprising blessing was when a man with a familiar face walked up to me on the first day, and I recognized him as Dr. Charles Gailey, a favorite professor of mine from seminary --- who also has retired to Venice!
 Getting ready to get on the road toward home after Sunday dinner with the people in Chandler, OK Carey and I have been privileged to travel to Oklahoma every fall for the past several years. This trip was filled with many interesting obstacles that we came to realize as being part of the spiritual battle on this journey. It seemed to have been some of the most intense spiritual opposition I have felt in some time, experienced physically and spiritually, and so we were grateful to know of the prayers of our friends and family as we went. We began the first Sunday in Caddo, OK at the Church of the Nazarene, our very first time to be there. It was a privilege to get to know Pastor Timothy Traxel, his wife Sarah, and their two young boys, whom we were blessed to join every evening for a dinner so graciously provided by people in the church. The services continued through Wednesday evening, and we were touched by the gracious and warm hospitality of the people, and we were thankful to be able to share the Word with them from 1 Corinthians 11. I am also grateful for the way in which God is working through Pastor Tim and Sarah and others there to reach out to children and young people in this very small town. We prayed that this time would be spiritually strengthening for them and an encouragement going forward. From Caddo, we drove the two and a half hours to Chandler, OK, in the northeastern part of the state. Chandler has been our regular destination for these past several years as we are longtime friends (over 20 years) with Pastor Keith and Nancy Cole and the Chandler Church of the Nazarene congregation. Per the usual schedule there, we began services Friday evening and continued through Sunday morning, having two on Saturday. I was especially encouraged by this visit to Chandler.
I jokingly shared with everyone on our final night there that I like coming to Fallon for the health benefits. Most everyone understood the humor in this as I always seem to react to the many different allergens in this part of the desert of northern Nevada (Fallon is one hour east of Reno, and home of the Fallon Naval Air Station and the well known “Top Gun” school for naval aviators). In addition to this, physical adjustment to higher elevation (4,000 feet) and a full schedule make every trip to Fallon a “rigorous” time (I need to stay in shape to keep up with Pastor Paul Slaton). I went on to share, however, that there is a real truth to my claim in that Carey and I always experience the spiritual health and blessing of being around the body of Christ in Fallon. There is an amazing and visible demonstration of the kingdom of God --- the “front lines,” if you will --- in this place. The ripples of this church in the community can only be described as miraculous and very Acts-like (as in the book of Acts) as Jesus continues to draw and touch people from every walk of life. Among various things, it is a moving experience to get right into the middle of the weekly food distribution on Thursdays (Carey and I usually help people load their cars) and see not only the people, but their responses.  Weekly food distribution at the church's warehouse in Fallon This responsiveness seems to be the common thread that I see, whether it be at the food pantry, the thrift store, weekly meetings with recovery groups, various other small groups, or the services on Sunday and the revival services we have when we are there. I believe that the only explanation of this is the reality of Jesus Himself working through people who are available and dependent upon Him. Essential to this, I believe, is the genuine focus of this Fallon body on the Word of God. There is a continual hunger and seeking after Him in the Word, and new people that come to the church are drawn into this and discipled in the same kind of seeking. This is their “DNA.” I praise God for this group. It is truly the case that Carey and I are strengthened in Him every time we go there as we are reminded more of who Jesus is, what His kingdom looks like, and what He wants to do through anyone who is available to Him. It gives us a deeper hunger to be as available to Him. Thank you to our Fallon family in Christ for being such a witness. I would encourage anyone to consider Fallon as a possible destination for your work and witness or mission trip. You won’t leave the same!
In Christ, John
When I pulled into Brown’s Chapel, I was almost immediately struck by the sign which read, “Founded 1843.” Pastor Jeff Karnes has been here as senior pastor for around a year and half after several church staff and denominational assignments. I was very warmly received by the people of this very traditional country church, and two of the evening services saw the kind of response that we don’t often experience, with a vast majority of the people present coming forward to pray in response to the truth presented from the Word. As is so often the case, perhaps that best part of the time was to visit and fellowship with Pastor Jeff, his wife, Kim, their two children, Kaitlyn and Jamison, and also Kim’s parents who were staying with them and visiting during this time. We enjoyed meals together and also sitting outside to visit after the evening services. Pastor Jeff also got me out on the golf course after a 10 year absence on my part, and I have to say that I really enjoyed that time. Part of my problem in golf as a younger person was always trying too hard. Part of what made this time so much more enjoyable was that before every shot, when I was lining up, I said to myself three things out loud (this is probably way too personal!): “Keep your head down, swing easy, and don’t care!”
This camp is now at near capacity, and I am hearing the same with some other camps. I believe it is meeting a great need in our day.
The schedule of the day includes morning and evening preaching services (2 evangelists who take turns) and a morning Bible study (youth and children have their own morning services and join with the adults in the evenings). While I have been one of the tabernacle evangelists each of my previous times, this year I was privileged to be the Bible teacher. I loved every minute of this experience. There was a dynamic atmosphere and presence of the Holy Spirit each morning as we walked through 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, studying the Lord’s Supper, and discovered how we can be “Rescued from Normal.” It was encouraging and exciting to see the crowd that continued to show up for this 9:30 AM study, leading us to run out of printed hand-outs three different times. My heart has been increasingly thrilled with Jesus through the truth of this passage, and we heard amazing testimonies of people throughout the week which confirmed that others were experiencing the same. One of the culminating peaks of the week was on the final Saturday afternoon when we held an additional 2:30 session to offer some practical guidance on personal Bible study. We were “blown away” by the attendance and excitement at this event, and came away more encouraged than ever in the interest and enthusiasm of people to be in the Word. That is what will allow for our continued growth after camp. One of the most beautiful aspects of the camp was the unity of heart and message among all the workers. From the music of Tab Beechler to the preaching of Dr. Bill Ury and Dr. John Neihof, there was an emphasis on Jesus and responding to Him alone that permeated the camp. Each one of my family, including Trina, Chaili, Carey, and myself, was deeply and profoundly affected through the preaching and worship led by these men. What an amazing blessing it was for Trina and I to sit on the front row together and to drink in the deep and life-transforming truth of Jesus that came through. He spoke to us in such deep and significant ways, and we will forever remember and be thankful for those nights when all four of us met down at the altar to seek Him together. This is why I believe in this camp and experiences like this. Finally, but not least, we are forever linked in heart and spirit with the people of this camp. If I began naming them all here, it would not end. I can only say that they are family to us in Christ, and we have the deepest of love for them. There is something about living, eating, sharing a bathroom, walking the grounds, being in services, and sharing life together for 10 or more days. We think of it as a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Certainly the Jesus who we will see there has touched us in a real way in this place and through these people. It is all Him, and as Israel Houghton sings, “Your presence is heaven to me.” If you have never been to Camp Sychar, I would invite you to check it out. If you decide to visit, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you there sometime --- a place and a people that has a dear place in the heart of my family. In Christ, John
I was deeply grateful for the way in which the Holy Spirit moved and spoke God’s Word in such a living and powerful manner to the hearts of all of us there. I was especially touched by two junior high age boys who sat down on the front row with me and responded to the altar every service (morning and evening). As I looked over at them, I was impacted with this focus for a campmeeting and the holiness message. I was reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy, his “son” in the Lord, and that it is all about us passing on the baton. Surely this is our call and what we are to be about. “And the things that you heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” As I sat beside these boys in the final service, I prayed with them and for them, trusting what Jesus will do in their lives (and in all these youth) that will be revealed in eternity.
In Christ, John I go to Maine and Nova Scotia twice per year, but it could easily be four times per year or more because of the increasingly close relationships we have with these people and the work God is doing among these congregations. To be quite honest, it is increasingly difficult for me to be away from my family for a nine-day stretch, especially without the use of my cell phone when I leave the country. However, as a family we know it is where God would has placed me for these times and we believe in the eternal fruit that He is producing through it, not only among the churches, but also in our own lives. So it is that, when someone asked me recently if I could stay longer, I replied that it is something we will need to pray about. :)
As is my custom, after finishing the services on Wednesday night, I get into the rental car and drive to Nova Scotia on Thursday. This time, we had a Thursday evening service at the Nazarene church in Truro. From there, we began the regular “marathon” weekend services in Lower Sackville, which took place May 8-10. We had tremendous times in every service, and we heard the testimony that we seem to regular hear after these times, “This was the best time yet.” Indeed, there was a real and powerful moving of the Holy Spirit through the Word in these services. You may have seen me mention before that this is a small congregation, but it is pretty amazing to see the spiritual “reach” that Jesus has through this small church through the impact on people and other congregations in Nova Scotia. After finishing the Sunday AM service, we made our customary trip one hour back up the road again to Truro to have the afternoon service with Upper Room Fellowship. I just love these congregations and people who just focus on Jesus and leave everything to Him. Upper Room Fellowship still meets in Pastor Terry Dryden’s garage and has the potluck fellowship afterward in their house, but they are in the process of possibility looking at a facility. What a wonderful time we had there as always, and you can see the video here if you like. After the service and potluck, we were on our way back down to Dartmouth for the evening service at the Nazarene church downtown there.
Eight days and thirteen sermons, in addition to five online classes, and hundreds of miles (or kilometers!) driven in a rental car. It was a happy reunion at home at Nashville International Airport after a 20-hour travel day. But our heart are full – full of love for the people of Maine and Nova Scotia, and full of joy for all Jesus continues to do in our lives as a family. What a journey it is with Him! In Christ, John I would have never imagined that I would become so familiar with Smyrna, TN, a city northwest of Murfreesboro and southeast of Nashville. However, as I shared with the people in a service last weekend, Smyrna has becoming something like a “home away from” our home in Watertown, about 30 miles away. Over the past year, Carey and I have traveled to Smyrna every Thursday night (that we are not on the road to somewhere else) to meet there with our Civil Air Patrol Squadron. Also over this past year, we became friends with Pastor Tony Clemons at the Church of the Nazarene there and have been blessed to share some there. Then, I was invited to come at share April 24-26 at the Smyrna Free Methodist, where our old friend, Chris Curry, has been the pastor for the last few years. It is evident from both the church website and from visiting that this is a church that is being build upon the concept of responding to Jesus. I was encouraged to see this attitude in the weekend services as people came and responded. What an excitement there was among the people! After preaching in the services Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday morning, I was additionally blessed to get to share in the Hispanic service on Sunday afternoon. Some of those who know us know that Trina and I have had a longtime love for Spanish, “the language of heaven,” as my former District Superintendent used to call it. Trina has always had an ear for it and is better at understanding it, while I have had a more natural tendency to find the words to speak it. In this we make a great team. What a joy it was to just converse among some of the people in limited Spanish before the service. I felt a courage from the Lord to just step out and try it more than I have. Raquel did a great job of translating for me during the sermon. Yet, even as she translated, I felt that courage and desire from the Lord rising up within me again. There was a key question that resonated throughout the message from 2 Timothy 1:6 that still rings in my heart today. “Come esta el fuego?” In English, “How’s the fire?” I am deeply grateful for the experience of being with the people of both congregations at Smyrna Free Methodist and how it stoked the fire in own heart again for dependency upon Jesus and what He desires to do in my life. And I might just need to study Spanish more this summer! :)
In Christ, John Carey and I returned home this past week after twelve days in Nevada. The State of Nevada has a unique climate, and plenty of sunshine. But the reason we go there is the people. We were blessed to be with my mom and family there for a few days, having the funeral service for a family member, and getting to spend some time together. Then it was off to Fallon, where we spent the remainder of our time.
I was able to preach again at the 30-minute worship service they have at the church prior to the food being distributed, and was touched again by how many come from the community and consider this their church. There is an equally amazing ministry that takes place through the thrift store, with countless people coming and going each week, not to mention the connections with people who donate items. God is literally reaching into this community in incredible ways. I believe all of it, however, on flows out of what is taking place at the heart of the church, which is based on the Word.
We were immediately struck by the warmness of the fellowship in the church. The people there have a deep and genuine love for one another, and they extended that to Carey and me from the very first moment. While having revival services was something new to many if not most of the congregation, the response was nothing short of amazing. In short, the Lord answered our prayers for revival. The people responded to the moving of the Holy Spirit in each and every service, and there was a very real sense of something “building” throughout the meeting, culminating in a wonderful closing service on Wednesday night. I have a personal prayer and picture of what I always hope for revival to be. I have the image of a group of people on a hike up a very tall mountain. My prayer for revival is that the group “base camp” is moved higher up the mountain. This seems to have taken place in this time as people responded to Jesus, and we are so grateful.
It is encouraging to see how they have walked ahead through a beautiful pastoral transition from our longtime friend and brother, Mark Miller, who handed off the baton to Vanessa Chitwood, who has served as the associate for a few years. I wish every church could experience such a “handing off” of the baton. The people were so earnest and open as always in seeking and hearing the Word during our time there, with genuine response. One of the special things about these services was the privilege of ending this time with the Lord’s Supper together after I had shared throughout the meetings from 1 Corinthians chapter 11 and Paul’s message on the Lord Supper. I realized as I preached during these days in Issaquah that these truths were for me in a way I had not realized that I needed. I need to be rescued by His grace from some of the things in my life that have become “normal;” I need to be caught up more in Jesus; and I need to more be aware of how Jesus wants to make every moment and activity of this life “sacramental,” full of His presence. I came home from Issaquah more refreshed and encouraged. It is a special privilege and blessing for me to have Carey travel with me. As I looked at him, I realized anew how precious every moment in this life is, and way in which Jesus wants to fill every word and act with His presence and grace. I’m looking forward with excitement, in a new way, for how He will do that today and in the moments ahead.
In Christ, John 
Have you even been in one of those gatherings when the Holy Spirit just filled the room? That is the only way to describe our final class session with the students today. We began with prayer and singing (I just learned today that the class next door sometimes had a difficult time hearing their teacher this week because of the singing coming from our class!) as the students lifted their hands in praise. They were all very excited because this was the day they got to each have 5 minutes to present what they have discovered in the Word over these two weeks. They graciously listened, encouraged, and applauded at the end of each of the 25 presentations today. Many of them dressed up again today and were so proud to stand before the group to share from God’s Word. Each and every presentation was excellent. Most of all, it was exciting to see the passion in their hearts for Jesus and the gospel as they spoke.
The end of class was one of the most touching experiences I have ever had. I shared from my heart for a few minutes about what the class had meant to me, and admonished them to continue in what they have learned --- that my prayer was that this would be more than a course, but would become a lifestyle for them. I urged them to stay in the Word, to continue to seek Jesus, to disciple others, and to bring those people to heaven with them. I shared that we are brothers and sisters in this journey, and that we are now running this race together. I told them that if I did not see them again until heaven, I would look forward to rejoicing with them there for all Jesus did in our lives and others. As we prepared to close this last class, some students spontaneously and passionately stood to tell what this class had meant to them. One of them then said that it was their turn to gather around Simeon and me to pray for us. We joined hands in a circle and sang a song of praise (in Creole) that rang out loudly throughout the building and outside (I saw our door crack open a few times as other people we peeking in to see what was taking place). After this the students all prayed with loud voices, just as in the book of Acts, and then took turns embracing us as we went our ways. My eyes were full of tears as we experienced the reality of Jesus together in these powerful moments. Grades are all turned in, and we had a final supper tonight with the missionaries, who have so graciously served and blessed us in the Spirit of Christ. What a great fellowship we have had together with them and the other visiting professors. I head home tomorrow, but will forever take the students with me in my heart. I have been greatly affected by this time with them and feel that it will shape the rest of my life. I thank the Lord for this gift. Thank you for praying and being a part of what He has done here, which will matter for eternity. As my fellow professor, Bob Petruccio says, let's continue "to make much to do [or ado] about Jesus." In Christ, John
“The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.” As I studied this, I realized how God has given us this dynamic of His life in the class these two weeks, and this is how I feel this for these students. I am grateful for and amazed with the love of Jesus and how He can overwhelm us with His own heart. I will most definitely carry that with me for these students far past tomorrow into eternity. Thank you for your prayer that has opened the way for Him to make that a reality here these days.
In Christ, John I am amazed with Jesus and His Word. I can, as much or more than ever, relate to what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:3. “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.” This has been the emotions and sense that I experience every day here in Haiti. For the last several days I have just prayed the words following verse 3, that there would be a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I am still as nervous before class every day, not knowing how God will come through that day, but He is answering this prayer and doing something that is beyond me and I just want to thank Him for that. It is hard to believe but today’s class was even greater than yesterday. It may sound overly positive, but it is not.
I have to confess that the days are full and I am weary in every aspect of humanity. But the days are rich! After class, chapel, and lunch, Simeon and I spent a couple of hours grading papers before I went to the missionary prayer meeting. The other OMS missionaries and guest came over from the other campus for their joint weekly Bible study and prayer time. It was a blessing as my fellow visiting professor, Larry Lain, shared from Ephesians chapter 4. It was powerful truth. It was right from there to dinner, after which I am sitting down to write now before some fellowship time and a then later a video chat with my family! The time here is winding down as we only have two days of classes left before I come home on Saturday. I thought I would take minute here to share about my host family here, the Heckmans. They have been so gracious and made everything like home for Larry and me as we are staying with them. I appreciate their ministry here on the campus as full-time OMS missionaries, with Phil as the director of operations , overseeing grounds and maintenance staff (you should see the beautiful grounds!), and Emily serving through hospitality for visiting teams (a BIG part of what they do here), teaching, and helping lead worship in chapel.
|
John Juneman
Evangelist, Teacher, Writer, Husband, and Father 
Archives
August 2019
|
RSS Feed