Christian Service
This assignment is for the transitional month of April to May. There is a lot of change to talk about in this assignment. I was sent into the mission field two years ago by my former home church. Now that work has come to an end and the Lord has decided to move me else where.
This month has brought me many things:
This month has brought me many things:
- joy
- sadness
- new relationships
- saying goodbye to loved ones (death, and a family member leaving the country)
In short, He never said it would be easy, but he did say it would be worth it.
April/May 2014
1. Type of ministry, and name of organization if any.
2. The number of activities (at least two are required)
3. The number of hours (at least five are required)
15- 20 hours per week,
4. A thorough description of what you did for Christian Service since the last report. (At least two hundred words)
On Sunday Mornings my service involves running the weekly power points for the service. Most of the people who attend our church are visually oriented so I got the idea to create power point slides for the worship songs that will attempt to teach them what the worship and the songs are about. These power points have actually been a major improvement. In addition to the media team; I also am one of two and a half members of our church worship team. The worship team consists of my wife, my daughter, and myself.
Preparing for the media transitions between songs and Power Points, along with the song preparations themselves usually takes quite a bit of time throughout the work week. On Sundays, my wife and I do like a wrestling tag team and swap in and out between the sound board and worship stage; with one another.
In addition, since my last report, I have started disciplining two individuals. One who suffers from substance abuse. The other has been sober for three years, however; he recently lost his 8 hour old newborn. I am meeting twice a week with the substance abuse disciple, and we talk on the phone every night. In addition, I am also meeting once a week with the other new convert.
5. Your reaction to this ministry. What did the Lord help you accomplish? How did the ministry encourage you or help you grow spiritually?
This last month at the church has been the same as just about every other month; busy. The church has had a lot of remodeling projects going on. I am not as involved with the church as I use to be. This is due to a multitude of circumstances, therefore; I have been focusing on doing the best job that I can on the media, and making sure that my wife is ready to lead the church in worship.
In regards to how did the ministry encouraged me or helped me to grow spiritually this month; I would have to say I have grown in my faith and patience/waiting on the Lord. This month I have answered a call that the Lord has placed upon my heart. However, I did not answer it until l I was sure that it was of Him. This is the scripture the Lord has been showing me.
Proverbs 16:9:
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
What this means to me personally is that it is a call in a different direction. Within the last few months the Lord has dropped three individuals in my lap that need to be discipled. In addition, the Lord has also dropped about one thousand dollars’ worth of electronics in my lap that can be used for teaching. One other noteworthy thing is that I went into urban missions in the first place to go where the fight was. However, I have since realized that the fight has moved to my own back yard. Every time I pass the local paper, I see food stamps this, and heroin that in Northern Kentucky.
In short, I have a strong desire to teach and disciple (A man’s heart plans his way), and the Lord is bringing me all kinds of people and equipment on the Kentucky side of the river (But the LORD directs his steps); as opposed to Ohio where I am currently serving. Therefore, through much prayer and waiting on the Lord and His confirmation, my wife and I have decided that the Lord is leading us back to my former church (the one that sent me into the mission field in the first place).
When I approached the Pastor of my old church; he informed me that he had been believing that the time was soon at hand. God is cool. The pastor and I determined that I will be able to teach a weekly class there, and I will eventually be brought onto staff as the Discipleship Coordinator. My family and I are very excited for this tremendous opportunity.
We will greatly miss the friends and relationships that we have acquired in Ohio. However; this is not the end of that, it is just the beginning of something new.
- Cincinnati Urban Promise: At risk teens who are living in the inner city.
- Kentucky: Men’s Discipleship
2. The number of activities (at least two are required)
- Sunday Morning Service (5 hrs. per week)
- One on One discipleship/counseling (10-15 hrs. per week)
3. The number of hours (at least five are required)
15- 20 hours per week,
4. A thorough description of what you did for Christian Service since the last report. (At least two hundred words)
On Sunday Mornings my service involves running the weekly power points for the service. Most of the people who attend our church are visually oriented so I got the idea to create power point slides for the worship songs that will attempt to teach them what the worship and the songs are about. These power points have actually been a major improvement. In addition to the media team; I also am one of two and a half members of our church worship team. The worship team consists of my wife, my daughter, and myself.
Preparing for the media transitions between songs and Power Points, along with the song preparations themselves usually takes quite a bit of time throughout the work week. On Sundays, my wife and I do like a wrestling tag team and swap in and out between the sound board and worship stage; with one another.
In addition, since my last report, I have started disciplining two individuals. One who suffers from substance abuse. The other has been sober for three years, however; he recently lost his 8 hour old newborn. I am meeting twice a week with the substance abuse disciple, and we talk on the phone every night. In addition, I am also meeting once a week with the other new convert.
5. Your reaction to this ministry. What did the Lord help you accomplish? How did the ministry encourage you or help you grow spiritually?
This last month at the church has been the same as just about every other month; busy. The church has had a lot of remodeling projects going on. I am not as involved with the church as I use to be. This is due to a multitude of circumstances, therefore; I have been focusing on doing the best job that I can on the media, and making sure that my wife is ready to lead the church in worship.
In regards to how did the ministry encouraged me or helped me to grow spiritually this month; I would have to say I have grown in my faith and patience/waiting on the Lord. This month I have answered a call that the Lord has placed upon my heart. However, I did not answer it until l I was sure that it was of Him. This is the scripture the Lord has been showing me.
Proverbs 16:9:
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
What this means to me personally is that it is a call in a different direction. Within the last few months the Lord has dropped three individuals in my lap that need to be discipled. In addition, the Lord has also dropped about one thousand dollars’ worth of electronics in my lap that can be used for teaching. One other noteworthy thing is that I went into urban missions in the first place to go where the fight was. However, I have since realized that the fight has moved to my own back yard. Every time I pass the local paper, I see food stamps this, and heroin that in Northern Kentucky.
In short, I have a strong desire to teach and disciple (A man’s heart plans his way), and the Lord is bringing me all kinds of people and equipment on the Kentucky side of the river (But the LORD directs his steps); as opposed to Ohio where I am currently serving. Therefore, through much prayer and waiting on the Lord and His confirmation, my wife and I have decided that the Lord is leading us back to my former church (the one that sent me into the mission field in the first place).
When I approached the Pastor of my old church; he informed me that he had been believing that the time was soon at hand. God is cool. The pastor and I determined that I will be able to teach a weekly class there, and I will eventually be brought onto staff as the Discipleship Coordinator. My family and I are very excited for this tremendous opportunity.
We will greatly miss the friends and relationships that we have acquired in Ohio. However; this is not the end of that, it is just the beginning of something new.