Just When You Think You're Done....

     Ruth and I both play the guitar and have lead music & worship in the Spanish churches that we planted in Ecuador over the last 20 some years. But, when we decided last year that we needed to leave Ecuador and return to the USA, we were pretty sure that the music ministry chapter of our lives was over. We were comfortable leading music in a small church of 20 or 30 people, but there are so many really talented music people in our churches in the US that it just didn't seem like we would be needed. So when we packed the van and headed west last summer, we didn't even take our guitars with us. We did know, however, that our church in L.A. had a Spanish ministry and we were anxious to be involved with that group in any way we could. Little did we know that we would be heavily involved in the music ministry.  
     Within weeks of our arrival in L.A., a change was made in the music ministry team of our newly adopted Spanish congregation. We were soon asked to be part of a rotation of worship leaders, each of us taking every third week to lead music. Fortunately I was flying back to Indiana at just about that time so I was able to pick up my guitar and bring it back to L.A. with me. Ruth was able to borrow a guitar from one of her long-time friends here. So before we knew it, we were heavily involved in a church music ministry again. In fact, we are probably more involved in the music ministry here than we were for most of our time in Ecuador.
     It is funny how we sometimes think that when we make a big, life changing move in our lives, that all things good must come to an end. Oh sure, things are different. But God wasn't going to let us off the "music ministry" hook quite that easily. He had been training us for ministry for many years. Sure, we were experiencing a change of location, but God knew that we would be needed at Church of the Open Door at just this time of change in their history. And we are becoming more involved in the music as time goes on.
     That is the wonderful thing about having a God who sees the big picture in our lives. We can easily get disoriented and confused by change. God can see the overall plan. He knows how it is all going to work out. He even orchestrates our life changes in order to put us in just the right places to serve Him best. Have you had a major life change lately? Well don't just sit there.... Find out why God sent you there and get involved in what He is doing in your new place of ministry....

Doug & Ruth

Easter & American Culture

Fact: Easter is a part of the American Culture

     Our Pastor recently pointed out that Easter is one of those days on the US cultural calendar when it is totally acceptable for everyone and anyone to attend church. People who don't go to church all year long will search out a church to attend on Easter.
     Knowing this fact about our culture is important, because it gives us the opportunity to be pro-active, to invite our friends and neighbors to come to church. Something as simple as "Hey... I know lots of people go to church on Easter. Are you looking for a church to attend? We have a great one. Do you want to come with us?" can be totally comfortable to say at Easter.
      So why is it so difficult to invite people to church on the other 51 weeks of the year? Are we afraid it might make us look like a "Jesus freak"? ( Not really a bad thing if we mean just being totally excited about Jesus. Could be a bad thing if we mean being totally obnoxious about it.) Can we handle the rejection if they say no? If they say no, is that any worse than if we didn't ask in the first place?
     You know, the great thing about Easter is that we get right to the nut of Christianity. Its all about Sin, Separation (from God), Payment, and Restoration. That message can be told in many different ways. Some churches tell it through special programs, or dramas, or speakers. For me the key is making sure that people leave remembering the message and not the event. Easter is a great time for inviting visitors to church. If someone wants to know what following Christ is all about... this is it!
     We really enjoyed spending Easter with the Spanish believers at Church of the Open Door this year. Ruth and I, along with several others, lead the music and our Spanish Pastor told the redemption story in a powerful way... and our people invited their friends and family. Our little group of believers swelled to over 50 in attendance with several of them returning the next week.
     But don't wait until Easter next year to invite someone to church... A week later, Ruth was in the dentist's office. As she returned to the waiting area after her appointment, a lady was talking to our son David in Spanish. She was very impressed with David's ability to speak Spanish, and told Ruth so. Ruth was able to share with her a bit about our background in South America and then invited her to church on Sunday. Turns out, this lady had been looking for a new church in the area. She came the very next week... and invited 3 other people to come with her. So don't wait until next Easter. Invite someone to church this week.

Doug & Ruth

Who's Big Idea is This?

     I had the great privilege of joining some of our pastors on a trip to Mexico yesterday. Our church has been working with a local pastor there for years and a wonderful international relationship has developed as a result.  So when some of our staff caught a new vision for international ministry, our thoughts turned to our Mexican partners.
     However, we were not too sure just how they would see the idea. Would it be another idea from the outside that they felt obligated to accept? Was it just one more thing they would have to squeeze into their busy schedule because they didn't want to offend us? Or would this be something that would help them better reach their community for Christ?
     Have you ever had a great idea for ministry? Have you ever wondered if it is your great idea or if it is God's? It can be pretty difficult to determine the difference sometimes. We naturally want to think that its God's idea. We want to do great things for God. But wait... is this a God thing or is it really me? Will I only feel like I am serving God well if I have a large and well known ministry?
     There's nothing wrong with dreaming big. But let's remember that Jesus Himself started out with very humble men and a very humble ministry. He didn't have big cathedrals to preach in. He often didn't even have a place to sleep indoors. His followers were not the mighty and important elite of His day. They were poor fisherman who worked hard each day on the open seas. Yet the impact He had in three short years continues to change the world.
     I think one of the great confirmations of God's will is when we see Him out in front, bringing together people and resources before we even ask. It is the realization that God was already working, planting ideas, giving vision and then bringing people together at just the right time. And so it was yesterday as we talked to our partners in ministry. God had already been working, giving our partners a similar burden. It is so comforting to rest in the knowledge that we are only a part of the vision and that God is already preparing everything that we will need ahead of time.
     Oh it might not be something that launches you onto the international stage. But it will be something that God wants to do in your church, your community, your sphere of influence. And that is good enough for me. I don't need to be known by many.... I just want to be known by One....    
   
Doug

World Missions & World Cup

Pitch #1 Ready for the First Game

     On Feb 2nd our church, Church of the Open Door (COD), kicked off their annual Missions Conference. We wanted to do something that would get our young families excited about missions. So the church asked me to organize our first annual... "COD World Cup Soccer Tournament". We formed 7 teams representing countries in which our missionaries serve. Teams were required to have at least 3 of their 6 players on the field under the age of 15 at all times. They also had to have at least 2 female players on the field at all times, one over 15 years of age, and one under. The games were only 10 minutes long, and we had two games running at the same time. Competition was pretty even and everyone had a great time. Most of all, we got a lot of young families out to help kick off our missions conference and begin to think about "the nations" where our missionaries serve.

COD World Cup Soccer

     COD has a long legacy of supporting missionaries around the world. It is easy to forget how the church is impacting the world when our missionaries are not here all the time. I found over the years that people just couldn't relate to us when we lived overseas. The "mission field" is not something we can feel, touch or smell, unless you have gone to visit a missionary. Even then, we have an "experience". Our missionaries live the life, smell the smells, and touch/feel the mission field every day. To them, missions is life.

Family Fun with a Missions Spirit...

     So think about a missionary today and write them a note, send them an e-mail or message them on Facebook. Let them know that you remember them. That alone will encourage them. You might even find yourself praying for them, once you get to know their "life" better... Then maybe we will begin to think about "The Nations" the way God thinks about them.     

Doug

P.S. Who won? Well the big winners were our missionaries.... but Team Tanzania took the trophy home.

Does it Really Matter?

     I was talking to someone recently about the Adult Soccer outreach that I have been involved with on Thurs nights at our church. His comment was, "It doesn't really matter. None of those guys will ever come to the church anyway!" That comment has made me think, "does it really matter?"

     I think it does matter. Ruth and I have dedicated our lives to telling others about Jesus. But we don't always see the results right away. We live in an age of instant everything. So if we don't see something happen quick, we think that it isn't working, we are not being effective, or we are doing something wrong. But ministry is not really about numbers or programs or outreaches. It's about people. We do outreaches like adult soccer as a means of creating relationships.

     I feel like I was able to begin a relationship with some of these young men who came to the church gymnasium every week. Did any of them "accept Jesus"? No... but I didn't expect them to either. Relationships take time to build and cultivate. They are like plants in a garden. They need lots of care and lots of time... Eventually you see a little green shoot poke its head out of the dirt.

     We have finished up the games for this fall. But the growing process has not stopped. Growth is still taking place underground. Please pray that the seeds of the Gospel that we have planted in the lives of these young men will continue to grow until we meet again in January. Pray too that some of the men will attend some the special activities that the church has planned for the holidays.

Doug & Ruth