Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Showers of Blessings

During this period of unparalleled rains in DFW, we remember the words of our African brothers:  “Rain is a blessing from God.  It cleans the air and gives fertility to the land.”  This month we have experienced unimaginable showers of blessings in our lives and in Mission Alive. 
 
Church Planters’ Retreat
 
We were blessed greatly during our first church planters’ retreat on June 11-12 at the Briarwood Retreat Center in Argyle, Texas, just north of Fort Worth.  Eleven couples and four singles attended from three states.   Randy Harris spoke on imagination as a spiritual discipline.  We then used our imaginations to envision authentic Christian communities within an urban context: 

  • Churches where every member is passionately, whole-heartedly pursuing full devotion to Christ.  Churches full of people whose very lives exist in relationship with God. 
  • Churches where Christians are not mere spectators but live in community.
  • Leaders equipping “God’s people for works for service.”
  • Christ breaking down racial barriers so that planted churches are composed of people who are “red and yellow, black and white.” 
  • Church compassionately caring for the weak­for children and the poor.
  • Churches existing as unique communities “formed by the calling and sending of God and reflecting the redemptive reign of God in Christ.”

During the retreat, stirring devotionals were led by Ben Wall, youth minister from Tyler; Robbie James, campus minister at Boles Home; and Joe Peebles from College Station.  Following Randy Harris’ presentation on prayer, we participated in an enriching and transforming prayer walk.  I described Mission Alive’s philosophy of training and equipping and the process of becoming a church planter.  We then heard about various opportunities for church planting in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.  Tom Green presented the need for new churches in Garland, Sachse, Murphy, and Wylie (the emerging areas east of the I-75 technology corridor).  Kevin Parker described growing areas north of Saginaw, where he preaches, and Tim Lowry challenged us to consider emerging areas in north Carrollton and Frisco.  We pray that God will raise up church planters for these areas that are “white unto harvest.” 
 
We were showered with blessings during this retreat.  We believe that God is raising up church planters in Churches of Christ in this generation. 

Summer Seminar in Missions
 
It was a blessing teaching in ACU’s summer Seminar in Missions.  During the first session of the seminar, Becky and I co-taught World Evangelization, the core missions course on the undergraduate level.  We have taught this course three times a year for 17 years.  During the second session I taught Strategies for Evangelism and Church Planting.   It was good to be with Sonny Guild, Wimon Walker, Kent Smith, Jack Reese, and other long-time friends and co-workers at ACU.  We were grateful to be able to spend time with Monte Cox and Evertt Huffard, professors of missions from Harding in Searcy and Harding Graduate School in Memphis, who both taught graduate courses during the seminar. 
 
During our time at ACU, we were once again amazed both at the lack of understanding of church planting (“out of sight; out of mind”) and the enthrallment with the idea once learners grasp the significance of churches which plant churches which plant still other churches.  We visited with several mature graduate students whom we pray God will lead to become co-workers with us in Mission Alive. 
 
35th Wedding Anniversary
 
The greatest blessing of the month was the celebration of our 35th wedding anniversary.  We have experienced exceptional joy and camaraderie as we have worked for God together in campus ministry, African missions, Christian education, and now in Mission Alive. 
 
New Board Member
 
We were greatly blessed when Charme Robarts agreed to become the fifth member of the Board of Directors of Mission Alive.   Charme serves as minister of involvement at the Skillman Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas.  She brings energy, organization, and empathy to the board of Mission Alive.  Her husband Dwight will serve on our Board of Advisors.
 
Dallas-Ft. Worth Church-Planting Workshop
 
God is greatly blessing the plans for the first annual Dallas-Ft. Worth Church-Planting Workshop.  This conference will be held Oct. 22-23 at the Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas.  The conference will present the need for all churches to plant churches, not merely as a matter of survival but because of faithfulness to God.  The process of planting a new church will also be addressed.
 
The Dallas-Ft. Worth Church-Planting Workshop aims to encourage existing churches to participate in future church plantings and to encourage gifted evangelists to become church planters.

Prayer Requests

Praise God for:

  • His mighty work in the recent church planters’ retreat
  • His guidance in developing the Mission Alive board
  • The generous supporters who have helped Mission Alive become a reality


Please join us in petitioning God for:

  • Those contemplating a change of life to become church planters 
  • Collaborative, godly, visionary relationships with church leaders in Dallas-Ft. Worth
  • Wisdom to involve many Christian leaders in Mission Alive
  • Continued guidance in selecting the board of Mission Alive.
  • Finances to support church planters in Mission Alive.
We would like to hear from you!

Arab Proverb:

"What is the greatest crime in the desert?"

"Finding water and keeping silent."
Posted by Gailyn V. at 12:00 PM
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