THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Read a recent article on my old friend Phil Kingsley's blog about how the church God birthed through our team in Dublin is doing. Click here to read it. Encouraging!

Durand

We've been living double lives this weekend. Oak Mountain PCA and Covenat PCA (both in Birmingham, AL) chose the same date for their conferences. We've been partnering with both of these churches from the beginning and didn't want to miss the chance to celebrate with them, so we're fitting as many events as possible into the same short time.

We've probably talked enough (and eaten enough) for two lifetimes in a single weekend. I also got the chance to play with some incredible musicians last night at Covenant for the service.

Another joy is reconnecting with friends who serve in other places around the world. I first met the speaker at Covenant's conference when he was one of my hyperactive junior high students back when I was a youth pastor. Tim Simpson and his family have been serving in Kazakstan.

We're privileged to be able to represent folks that really honor the Lord and his Word by committing to actively sharing him throughout the world.

It's 7:15am and I've already got to run to meet and eat more food. (I feel a diet coming on...)

Durand

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Tonight is the last night of this year's Candlelight Dinner in Kandern, Germany. Seems funny not being part of it this year being back in the States. Pray for all those coming, both those who know God personally and their friends in attendance who may not understand what that means.

I put a little slide show together to share some of the highlights of the last couple of years' events CreativeWorks has helped facilitate. I've included, among other things, some photos of past Candlelight Dinners. The variety might surprise you.

If you've done something fresh with your church that has been helpful for those considering what faith in God might look like in their lives, I'd love to hear about it and pass it on. Just send me an email or a comment.

Durand

Labels: concerts, dinner theater, events

OK, so it was fun to wear the Birthday Bunny badge when you were 3 or 4. Now you're 18 and technically a sophomore in college. But that doesn't mean you don't win the title for the day.

We haven't had the chance to talk together, but we sure are thinking of you, Laura on your birthday. We love you. Happy birthday from Mom and Dad.

PS. Hope you don't mind the picture.

We had a great time with friends old and new over the last week of travels.


In Columbia, David, Andrea and of course our newest little "wedge" Ben treated us royally. Dave's growing business is amazing. I've never seen so many laptops in one place. They've got a heart for missions and are giving Ben one too. His play rug in his room is a giant world map.






Then on to Charlotte, NC to meet Kyle and Theresa and the music folks at Lake Forest Church in the heart of NASCAR land. I'm so excited about them. We're trying to work out a way to serve our Polish partners this summer in a series of outreach concerts around Warsaw.






Then we went up to Durham, NC for an evening with a former GEM'er and her husband, Nicole and Matt. They're part of a church plant in the area while Matt finishes up at Duke. They'll be moving up to Chicago in a few months, looking for another place to plug in.




On the way back to Birmingham, we had a quick stop at Dennis and Verna Law's house (so quick I forgot to take a photo) to prepare some for the coming missions conference and to talk about a recording I might be able to do with folks from Fellowship Bible Church there in Roswell. Then on through Atlanta traffic and safely "home" in our little apartment.

Time for a day's break before the next two missions conferences beginning simultaneously on Saturday.

Durand

(Our home away from home... the 2000 Honda Accord has been so good for us. Hard to believe we'll be selling it in 2 months!)

This week we took some time to visit friends/partners up in Decatur, AL. While there we spoke with a couple really feeling the call to Europe. How exciting. It's not a straight-forward process, but we've helped get them together with some of our GEM colleagues to look into opportunities that they might be suited for.

Today we visited with some friends who've been supporting us for years. We're blessed to have people committed to the Lord and to us that help keep us somewhat "rooted". Also got to stop by and say hi to my parents and help with some light chores.

In the morning we're off to Atlanta for lunch with more partners, then on to Columbia SC to visit my dear friends David and Andrea Wegener. We've got some real computer issues we'll take care of there as a side benefit (Dave has a great computer repair company called Wegener Media.)

Then Saturday and Sunday it's on to Charlotte NC to visit a new church for us that has some really talented musicians interested in helping with outreach concerts in Europe through CreativeWorks.

Monday, we'll head up to Durham, NC to visit a former coworker from GEM and her husband. Tuesday, it's back through Columbia to pick up our computers and retrace our steps back to Birmingham on Wedensday.

I can almost hear Willy Nelson in my mind singing "On The Road Again."

Keep us in your prayers. We've got to complete our support before our return tickets expire on April 18th.

Durand

Thought you'd enjoy seeing the family from a picture at Christmas. Laura's at Wheaton, Emilie's at Bethel, Anna and Matt are at Metro State in Denver.

And we're holding down the empty nest. But at least we've been able to see them throughout the year.

Enjoy the ones you love on Valentine's Day!

Labels: Christmas, family photo

I've never really understood economics. I freeze with numbers. The main part of it that I do grasp is that God's in control and I'm not.

I received word from a church that has been supporting us for over 10 years that because they want to send everyone in their church on a short term experience in the coming years, they've decided to no longer provide support for our salary (or any other of their missionaries.)

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. This trend in churches today has begun to erode our financial base for ministry and others like us.

I'm not against short-term missions trips, but I believe there needs to be a balance between having short term teams as well as missionaries "imbedded" in the culture. Without that balance, short-term efforts become shots in the dark rather than strategic.

I cannot change that trend. But Ruth and I will need to begin to change the way we're supported. Half of our financial support comes from churches. The other half comes from a small team of partners. We have been privileged to work in Europe these past 24 years because these churches and individuals see the need in Europe and want to be part of reaching people and multiplying churches there. They've chosen to do this through partnership with us.

Our call is still as firm as the day we left in 1984. I'd appreciate your prayers for the following:

For perserverance. Nothing is more discouraging than seeing real need overlooked or ignored. We believe God wants a witnessing fellowship within reach of every person in Europe. May God help us to perservere.

For divine intervention. Our need is far bigger than Ruth and I can "work out." We're asking God for something only he can do. May God give our partners promptings about introducing the ministry of CreativeWorks to those God might have join our support team.

For provision. God's call never comes with out the provision necessary to respond to the call. We believe God is still asking us to invest our lives on behalf of the people of Europe. Let's trust him for the means to do that together.

For blessing on the church. We don't understand or even agree with what seems to be an unbalanced emphasis on short term teams. But what is important is that God be glorified through what he empowers. If he chooses to use something that seems foolish to me to show his wisdom, it wouldn't be the first time. Receive honor God, no matter what.

Keep us in your prayers.

Durand