Thursday, February 01, 2007

Glad Tidings from Westlake, LA (Post 1 of 2)

back to Our Walk of Faith

Beverly Morgan (Pastor Singley's sister) came to pick us up Wednesday right before church, and we headed on over to Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church. Beverly is the director of the nursery and of the Mother's Day Out program. We had no idea how big the church was until we pulled up...wow...they have several different buildings--one each for the children, youth, Spanish-speaking services, & English-speaking services. All of which were damaged after Hurricane Rita ("the forgotten storm" according to the residents of Lake Charles, SW Lousiana, & SE Texas...Katrina got so much coverage that no one ever heard about the towns whipped away by Rita.) The children's building was brand new, so it only received a little damage...so the church was quickly able to begin using it again, but with 1200 in attendance on Sunday morning in the main worship service...it was pretty crowded. The youth building is still being worked on (over 1 1/2 years later), but it should be done pretty soon.
Beverly lead us inside and introduced us to one of the 9 pastors of the church, Gary Evers--the congregational pastor. He invited us back for prayer before the service, and offered us a cup of coffee from the coffee shop in front of the church. When we went over to the coffee shop, we met a ton of people--a man from Lake Charles, a lady from Peru, and a lady from Honduras, and several of the teenage girls who were enjoying a cup of coffee as well. Brother Gary came to get us when it was time to go back to the green room to pray. As each pastor came in, the presence of the Lord just got stronger and stronger. We shared just a little of what had been going on with us on our journey, and we started praying together. After we finished praying, Pastor Crank (the interim Senior Pastor) invited us to share testimony during the Wednesday evening service. We couldn't believe it...only God could work something out like that! The other pastors started filing out to go to the service, so we grabbed Brother Gary and asked him to pray that the Holy Spirit would give us words because we hadn't had time to pray or prepare. We were just amazed at what God did that night at the church. After the service, we talked to tons of people...some who were encouraged, some who were convicted, and some who wanted us to come home with them. We were able to talk with Pastor Crank a little more. We met Jose Perez-the pastor for the Hispanic ministry. We talked to sooo many people...only God can do something like that! Then several of the youth came over, so we chatted with them. They wanted to try on our packs and ask us some questions about our trip. It was such a God-filled evening. We went home with the Morgans--Tracy, Beverly, & Melissa. So then we were able to chat with them and get to know them a little more. After prayer, we all headed off to bed.

Thursday morning started with a phone call from Pepe, an investment banker from Peru. All we knew was that one of his clients, Ernest & Irma Carnahan, heard us on Wednesday night and told Pepe about us on Thursday morning. Pepe immediately asked for our number. (We don't normally give it out to everyone, but Mr. Carnahan asked for it on Wednesday night after the service.) So Pepe called and invited us to eat lunch with him. We didn't even know if he was a Christian or not, but only God could have lined up this meeting, so we decided to go. It turns out that Pepe is greatly in love with Christ. He shared testimony of coming to this country with only $300. His uncle agreed to help him pay for the 1st semester of college, so Pepe worked and went to school at McNeese State University. He ended up starting the school's soccer team (raising the money and everything), and getting a degree in accounting/economics. He still wasn't a Christian yet, but as he looks back now, he can see God's hand all over his life. Through a series of God-given connections he started working in a bank and eventually God moved him on to own his own investment company. About 8 years ago in this process, Pepe came to know the Lord. This is how Pepe explains his life...constantly giving glory to God for what has happened! As we were sitting down to eat lunch (home-made Gumbo...have we mentioned how good the food is in Southern Lousiana), we learned that Pepe is also a high school girls' soccer coach. Their season is right now, and they had a game that night! When Chris found out about that, he was pumped up!! Pepe invited us to ride the bus with them to Alexandria, LA for the game. Then he asked Chris to pray for the girls before the game. We had just read Psalm 18, and it was perfect for the rainy soccer game. So Chris asked if he could share some verses from the Bible as well. Pepe agreed...it was amazing! Only God can line up something like that!! The girls played a great game and won despite the rain!! On the ride back, Pepe shared a vision that God has been laying on his heart to minister through soccer in Lake Charles. He wants to partner with a Christian school in town to start a soccer academy for underprivileged kids. Pepe believes that God is almost ready to make this vision a reality because He is lining up contacts and resouces!! Wow!!

Friday was a pretty normal day...we worked on writing letters, journal entries, etc. At lunch Beverly took us to meet Tracy to eat...even the restaurants are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Rita...people who used to work in the service industry have moved away or taken better paying jobs that were vacant. So new people are constantly having to be trained. We really enjoyed talking to Tracy & Beverly though. They have a lot of wisdom, and they are willing to share what they know with us!! Beverly told us that Darrell & Gwen Bourgeois (the Children's ministers also pictured with Terry whose sons play in one of the praise bands) might be interested in our speaking in Children's church on Sunday morning. So Chris & I started praying and thinking about that. We were running a few errands and discussing what we would need if God allowed us to talk to the children. We had even picked a few things out when the phone rang. It was Gwen inviting us to speak to the children...if I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times on this trip--"God's timing is amazing." We excitedly accepted and ask about resouces that they had and what we needed to pick up!

Saturday: After calling Troy & Josie Picou to make sure it was okay (the interim youth pastor & his wife), the Morgans asked if we would like to get some of the youth together to hang out and to share testimony. We were pretty excited about that opportunity since we still miss our students and all of the opportunities that we had to interact with them through FCA. So Chris & I started preparing while Melissa, Beverly & Tracy started calling around. There ended up being about 30 of us who got together. We played games, ate pizza, chatted, etc and all around just had a great time getting to know the youth. Then there was a suprise for us...they youth band started going over song...they were going to lead the praise song (pick them out, play them, sing them...all of it!) They did a wonderful job just leading us into God's presence. We felt like there was nothing else to say...God had other plans though. We shared our story with them...how God brought us to Him and later to each other...then what He was doing on this trip. We are just praying that the seeds that were sown fell on fertile ground and that as God brings a new senior pastor and new youth pastors that revival will break out...starting with the youth!

Sunday morning: Tracy invited us to the high school Sunday school class that he teaches. He taught from Revelation 5. I began to understand a little bit more about the trinity...how God is 3 in 1...In Rev. 5:1, God is seated on the throne, but as John looks again in 5:6 The Lamb is standing there in the same place...It was an interesting observation. I'm pretty sure I'll never completely get my mind wrapped around the concept until I get to heaven, but I like how God gives us little glimpses of Himself!!
After Sunday school, we prepared for Children's church. We were quite shocked that they had their own band, praise team, sound people, and media people---I guess the shocking part is it's the younger teenagers who do it all! Their model is to start those who are intersted in these ministries as early as possible in Children's church(13-15). As they older and are still interested they move up and work with the youth services. Finally, they move into rotating positions in the adult services! This way, people don't get burned out, and they continue learning the process. There's never a shortage of help!! The Dream Team (the name of the Children's church band) started the service and did a great job preparing our hearts to hear from the Lord. We started by having several kids volunteer to go through an obstacle course blindfolded. By faith, they would listen to their partner to know which way to go. Then we talked to them about faith--what that is and how Abraham and Sarah showed their faith in God. With the help of the teens in the media booth, we showed the kids a map of our journey and the course we have followed so far. We shared of how God has increased our faith & that they are on a journey of faith too. Every day in school, they are missionaries, & they need God's help to know who to talk to and who to minister to. We enjoyed our time with the children and again continue to pray for the seeds that were planted!!

After the service, Pastor Darrell showed us a new tool that we can use to minister to kids on this trip. It appears to be a game, but it's a way to share the Gospel. Then we headed over to Ben, Dawnita, Jordan, Grant, & Jillian's house with the Morgans to enjoy some fellowship, food, and football! The Saints were playing, so we rooted for them. They had a great season this year, & we were pretty excited to get to watch the game in Louisiana!!

Sunday evening we went to the Spanish-speaking service. They were having a special message by Ronney Partin (the Music Minister) on Praise and Worship. They are hoping to start a praise band and music team, but Pastor Jose feels like the congregation needed to understand the importance and the signficance of praising the Lord. He encouraged us to live a lifestyle of praise and not to come into God's house and act a way that we didn't act when we were outside His house--to authentically praise the Lord all of the time. Our praise changes us and invites God into our lives and then He can work! Praise builds the house...worship is when God moves in! Many people came forward for prayer that night...it was a powerful message. After the service, Chris & I were able to meet Pastor Ronney and all of Pastor Jose's family. Pastor Jose, Sister Francine & Jonathan all went to eat with the Morgans, Michael, and Justin. Before leaving the church, I was able to talk to their daughter, Janice. She speaks 4 languages and just got married to a guy from Honduras, Alex. It turns out that the whole family speaks 3-4 languages. I was pretty impressed!! As we talked at the restaurant we learned that Jonathan is going through a rough time, so we ask for your prayers for him. Also...our waitress, Elisa, at the restaurant was from Ecuador!! She gave us her parents' contact information and told us to get in touch with her or them as we got closer to Quito (where they live)--God connections!!

On Monday, we had the privilege to sit down with Michael, a 19-year-old member of the youth group who feels called to be a pastor. He shared his testimony with us. Let me tell you, if you think you've been though it and can't go on, you should talk to Michael. He's moved 6 times just this year to try to stay in a safe place. According to those who knew him before Christ came into his life, Michael was one of the meanest people they knew. His father abandoned the family and his mother tried to abort him. When her mother wouldn't allow that, she wanted nothing to do with him. So he was raised by his grandparents, but they both passed away after he came to Christ. Then he had no where to go because his brothers wouldn't have him and his mother wouldn't have him. He had no choice but to turn to the church for help. So he's lived with quite a few families over the past 2-3 years. He works as close to full time as possible and goes to school. He's hoping that this last move is a permanent one...he's living with two Christian guys who just graduated from college. They are really seeking the Lord, and he's praying that he can stay there through college. God has shown him through dreams and visions that he is going to be a preacher and even what the church will look like. Michael drew out what the Lord revealed...one day, he's going to hang those plans on the wall of the office the Lord gives him. The Lord has been laying a message on Michael's heart for the youth group, and he's hoping to share it pretty soon. Pepe also called on Monday and wanted us to come over again for lunch on Tuesday. He wanted us to meet his family, to share more about his vision for the soccer academy, and to go to another of his girls' soccer games.

So Tuesday, we headed over to Pepe's house. We met Jace, their 4-month-old, first. Then Kim, his wife, came home for lunch. Jace had his 4 month check-up that day. Pepe & Chris talked a lot about the soccer academy, and he showed us the plans that he's drawn up and the land that they are looking at! So exciting to be apart of this...It seems that God keeps crossing our paths with people who are on the verge of taking that huge step of faith...it's encouraging to us to see others stepping out and we hope that it encourages them to go on...take the risk because your odds are 1:1 when you are relying on the Lord! Chris & I went to the library while they were at their appointment. Then I went to the Morgan's house, and he went to the game with Pepe. Melissa had a basketball game, so I went to see her play. She's been out for about 6 weeks with a knee injury, but she appears to be doing better now. Praise the Lord. Chris was able to share scripture and pray with the girls again at the soccer game! Such an awesome opportunity to witness to them!! Also it's pretty cool how God gave Chris that time to be with that team since he's not been able to coach his own team this year. Amazing how God knows our heart's desires and grants them as opportunities to share about Him!! We also learned that Michael was going to share the message God had given him at the youth service on Wednesday night! Wahoo...we knew our time in Lake Charles was getting short, but we were going to get to hear Michael preach!

Wednesday was a big workday for us because we didn't know when we would have time to sit down again...so we wrote more notes, posted to the blog, and wrote in our journals. Chris kept saying, "I don't know what's about to happen, but it's going to be big!!" I was excited!! As we were posting, Beverly saw a picture from Crowley. She looked again, and then said "Oh my, that's Tracy's cousin!" We couldn't believe how God was connecting us with the Morgans even before we met them or the Singleys!!

Wednesday night, we got to hear the youth praise band again and Michael brought the message. He examined the lives of Job and Jonah. Neither of these men had the best of circumstances, but they reacted differently. Whether your circumstances are going to conquer you or whether God's going to work through you to conquer your circumstances depends on 3 things--Where's your focus? (it should be on God) What's your attitude? (it should be praising God) How's your heart? (it should be seeking God) Whew...what a challenge...I'll remember this as we are walking and living my life! They're tough questions useful for examining your life!! After the service, we talked to Mrs. Willie (one of Michael's spiritual mentors who came to hear him preach). God has given her a healing ministry, and she prayed for healing for Chris's Uncle John. We are just trusting God for his healing!!
Well, Thursday came and it was time to hit the road again...Where were we going to end up? Who were we going to meet? No telling...but God is in control of it all!! I guess this is it for now, but we love you! God bless you all!


Description of the below pictures: 1) Kent wanted to carry our load. 2 & 3) Hanging out with the teenagers after the Spanish service on Sunday night. 4) After Pastor Ronney's message, these members of the Hispanic congregation are ready to get the praise band started! 5 & 6) Game time on Saturday night with the youth from Glad Tidings 7) Crosses that the children made to remember the only joy they will find in their journey through life is through seeking God first!! 8) Chris & I tag-teaming the message at children's church. 9) Jillian showing us how to be a ballerina. 10) The children enjoying a time of praising the Lord...lead by the Dream Team. 11) Pepe gives the girls a pep talk before the game.






No comments: