Our July newsletter is hot off the press. Another milestone in our journey.
July Newsletter
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Surprises from God?
In many cases, we act surprised when God answers prayer. We had a moment this weekend. We have been praying diligently that God would raise up new partners as we meet with people. This weekend, we had a new partner ready to give, who just needed the necessary information. Surprise? Not in God's eyes - we asked for that. Then we had a new partner call us, who had said they couldn't begin until at least December, and they were ready to give monthly. God is great! - why don't we truly believe when we pray?
"God, help us to believe how great you really are when we ask for help. Help us to remember to be thankful and give you the praise you deserve."
"God, help us to believe how great you really are when we ask for help. Help us to remember to be thankful and give you the praise you deserve."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Update on Weekend to Remember - June
With the spring season of conferences winding down, it has been exciting to see the first time decisions for Christ. In Tucson last week with 479 in attendance, they saw 33 come to know the Lord bringing the total salvations for the spring to 1,719. It is really exciting to see numbers like this because it is like our pastor has always said, "The only thing you can bring to heaven is other people".
Here is a quote from the Tucson conference:
"After 29+ years of a very happy marriage, we learned things that can make it even better. Go from Good to Great! Both of us had a few "Lightbulb" moments that were very enlightening. We can't wait to get home, pray and work on our new and improved marriage."
Here is a quote from the Tucson conference:
"After 29+ years of a very happy marriage, we learned things that can make it even better. Go from Good to Great! Both of us had a few "Lightbulb" moments that were very enlightening. We can't wait to get home, pray and work on our new and improved marriage."
Friday, June 13, 2008
A Dad's Perspective
This week has been one of the most interesting and most rewarding weeks since we started looking for partners in the ministry.
We had 3 cancellations happen this week, but God was faithful in replacing every one. One was a presentation for our son and his future bride. It was a little chaotic at first since it was home and family, but once we started, we presented our story just like we would for anyone else. At the end, we fielded questions, like 'how come the mission board doesn't pay your salary?' So, in the usual fashion we explained that Campus Crusade doesn't have a central fund for paying missionary salaries, but depends on each of us to raise the support so the burden is not so great on Campus Crusade's part and it builds faith and relationships on our part. Then in the usual fashion, we ended with the question for support. David took our commitment card, filled it out and handed it back. At first, we were shocked at the amount he wanted to give us each month, but this was not a joke. Working 4 jobs, saving for school and wedding, and all his other expenses, we were all but overwhelmed with his generosity. We also had to ask, "are you sure?" and he replied with, "I've just been waiting for you to give the presentation and ask me". It is such a joy to my heart to see his love for the Lord and ministry. David is our son who is still unsure of what the Lord wants in his life, to be a Youth Pastor or be in a position to support ministry through giving and working with kids in a lay position.
In conclusion, it makes a father proud to see David walking in the ways of the Lord. Like Prov. 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." What a blessing for a dad on this Father's Day weekend.
Harold
We had 3 cancellations happen this week, but God was faithful in replacing every one. One was a presentation for our son and his future bride. It was a little chaotic at first since it was home and family, but once we started, we presented our story just like we would for anyone else. At the end, we fielded questions, like 'how come the mission board doesn't pay your salary?' So, in the usual fashion we explained that Campus Crusade doesn't have a central fund for paying missionary salaries, but depends on each of us to raise the support so the burden is not so great on Campus Crusade's part and it builds faith and relationships on our part. Then in the usual fashion, we ended with the question for support. David took our commitment card, filled it out and handed it back. At first, we were shocked at the amount he wanted to give us each month, but this was not a joke. Working 4 jobs, saving for school and wedding, and all his other expenses, we were all but overwhelmed with his generosity. We also had to ask, "are you sure?" and he replied with, "I've just been waiting for you to give the presentation and ask me". It is such a joy to my heart to see his love for the Lord and ministry. David is our son who is still unsure of what the Lord wants in his life, to be a Youth Pastor or be in a position to support ministry through giving and working with kids in a lay position.
In conclusion, it makes a father proud to see David walking in the ways of the Lord. Like Prov. 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." What a blessing for a dad on this Father's Day weekend.
Harold
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Newsletter by Email
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Newsletters by Email
Newsletters by Email
Monday, June 9, 2008
June '08 Newsletter
A new milestone was reached today as we finished our second newsletter/prayer letter. If you have some time and want read, here is the link. http://www.dsdgraphics.net/June08Newsletter.pdf
Praise the Lord, He's led us to 20% of our goal! (That includes some of you, for whom we are grateful.)
Praise the Lord, He's led us to 20% of our goal! (That includes some of you, for whom we are grateful.)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Beginning of June
It is great to be back on track talking with people about FamilyLife. We have begun to contact our long time friends on the west coast this week. What a blessing to be able to catch up with them and their lives. Some of these friends are "old" high school friends from church. The fun doesn't get much better.
Harold
Harold
Monday, May 26, 2008
Back on Track
Our full schedule of activities for May finally came to an end today with a trip to Tahlequah, OK to see my parents at Go Ye Village.
Jon performed in his last (?) band concert and graduated from Union HS. He will officially be done with school on May 28 due to the December ice storm. His graduation party was last Saturday with only a few friends showing up. Who knows if the Memorial Day Weekend was an issue or what, but he was still very grateful.
Kristi had a great time at her triple (two other friends with birthdays at the same time) 16th birthday party.
It was bittersweet as our youngest, Amy, graduated from elementary school. She was excited to have earned a place on the Principal's Honor Roll. Our children have had many special teachers and memories through the years.
Now it is time to focus on partnering with our friends in financial and prayer support. We are at almost 18%, which hasn't changed much due to the fullness of May's activities but God is faithful.
Harold & Charlotte
Jon performed in his last (?) band concert and graduated from Union HS. He will officially be done with school on May 28 due to the December ice storm. His graduation party was last Saturday with only a few friends showing up. Who knows if the Memorial Day Weekend was an issue or what, but he was still very grateful.
Kristi had a great time at her triple (two other friends with birthdays at the same time) 16th birthday party.
It was bittersweet as our youngest, Amy, graduated from elementary school. She was excited to have earned a place on the Principal's Honor Roll. Our children have had many special teachers and memories through the years.
Now it is time to focus on partnering with our friends in financial and prayer support. We are at almost 18%, which hasn't changed much due to the fullness of May's activities but God is faithful.
Harold & Charlotte
Monday, May 12, 2008
Training at CCC is Complete
We officially ended New Staff Training Saturday night and are happy to be on the way home. Our brains are on overload, but we are anxious to share our ministry even more and are motivated in anew to get to Little Rock as fast as possible. On Saturday night, we were commissioned by Campus Crusade along with all the other 40 new staff to serve as missionaries. What an awesome responsibility we have before us.One thing that stands out more than anything else is to 'out give' the Lord by increasing what are own personal giving has been. As we know, God blesses in so many ways when we are obedient in our giving. Giving back the first of what He has given to us is what He has commanded us to do.
Our new goal for arriving in Little Rock is whenever the Lord provides the support through partners like the many we already have. What a blessing you are!
Harold & Charlotte
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Three Days of Training
After three full days of training, we are already slowing down - thank goodness for sleep. We finished all the HR stuff with CCC yesterday and are now going into the Ministry Partner Development (MPD) phase with FamilyLife for the remaining days.
On Sunday, we were dropped off at a mall, Downtown Disney, or Int'l Street to share the "4 Spiritual Laws", which was a real stretch for me. What was interesting was that everyone around was very rushed and always moving from one place to another; hardly anyone had time. Charlotte was able to go through the booklet with with a young mother from Costa Rica, but I could not find anyone sitting still or stationary enough to talk to. I did have a trainer with National Seminars call, and I was able to share the ministry and our call with them, which was good. I really like the relationship building process that I get when I travel with other people so I can share my faith.
It's almost 8am on the east coast and we are headed down to our training. The kids seem to be doing fine, Kristi is getting better and Amy's asthma seems to be in check, so PTL for that. We're so grateful for those who are looking after them. Thanks for your prayers.
On Sunday, we were dropped off at a mall, Downtown Disney, or Int'l Street to share the "4 Spiritual Laws", which was a real stretch for me. What was interesting was that everyone around was very rushed and always moving from one place to another; hardly anyone had time. Charlotte was able to go through the booklet with with a young mother from Costa Rica, but I could not find anyone sitting still or stationary enough to talk to. I did have a trainer with National Seminars call, and I was able to share the ministry and our call with them, which was good. I really like the relationship building process that I get when I travel with other people so I can share my faith.
It's almost 8am on the east coast and we are headed down to our training. The kids seem to be doing fine, Kristi is getting better and Amy's asthma seems to be in check, so PTL for that. We're so grateful for those who are looking after them. Thanks for your prayers.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Off to Orlando
Today is travel day for all the New Staff with Campus Crusade. We will arrive around 3p EDT and meet up with some friends from JumpStart training in January. Charlotte is cramming to have the "4 Spiritual Laws" memorized by the time she gets to Orlando. I have mine down, but will be reviewing on the way. We ended up taking two different flights and different airlines to maximize frequent flier miles and save our partners a little money. (Thank you.)
Please pray that we will get the rest we need throughout the week. We had pretty good storms last night and didn't sleep well. I will probably fall asleep before the plane leaves the ground and wake up when the pilot screams at us about 15 min. later. Oh well.
Harold
Please pray that we will get the rest we need throughout the week. We had pretty good storms last night and didn't sleep well. I will probably fall asleep before the plane leaves the ground and wake up when the pilot screams at us about 15 min. later. Oh well.
Harold
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Only 8 Days Until New Staff Training
Training for our new ministry is only 8 days away now and we are tying up all the loose ends with the kids: places for them to stay, concerns of Amy's asthma care, etc. are prayers being answered.
The other thing that has been a challenge is word perfect memorization of the "4 Spiritual Laws". It has been a little harder because of the different Bible translations and the way I memorized certain verses, but the message is still there. We are all sinners and need Christ.
In the last 6 months, since our initial Preview Weekend in Little Rock at FamilyLife's headquarters, I have had a new friend keep me accountable, who I will get to see again since he is in Tyler, TX. What a blessing to have others who are concerned about us like this. It has also been a privilege to have my coach at FL (Keith) and my good friend in Forrest helping me through this process. The Lord is GOOD!
Harold
The other thing that has been a challenge is word perfect memorization of the "4 Spiritual Laws". It has been a little harder because of the different Bible translations and the way I memorized certain verses, but the message is still there. We are all sinners and need Christ.
In the last 6 months, since our initial Preview Weekend in Little Rock at FamilyLife's headquarters, I have had a new friend keep me accountable, who I will get to see again since he is in Tyler, TX. What a blessing to have others who are concerned about us like this. It has also been a privilege to have my coach at FL (Keith) and my good friend in Forrest helping me through this process. The Lord is GOOD!
Harold
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
April '08 Newsletter
Our first newsletter came out today for FamilyLife. Another milestone in our journey to FamilyLife Ministries.
Download Newsletter
Download Newsletter
Friday, April 4, 2008
April 4, 2008 Update
We are actually progressing in our partner raising process, but there have been many interferences in our lives keeping us from having appointments to share the ministry.
Please pray with us that, when Harold's travel ends next week for a month, we will be able to make many contacts. Also, please pray that we will be able to get additional names of people from our current partners with whom we can share the ministry with.
Please pray with us that, when Harold's travel ends next week for a month, we will be able to make many contacts. Also, please pray that we will be able to get additional names of people from our current partners with whom we can share the ministry with.
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