Men with a Passion

I just returned home from spending three days at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, ND. The college invited several guest to come and share about ministry in rural America. The President of Trinity, Jack Strom, is passionate about training their students to reach rural America.

One of the individuals I was blessed to hear from was Zollie Smith.

Zollie L. Smith Jr. was elected executive director of Assemblies of God U.S. Missions at the 52nd General Council in August 2007. Smith coordinates the ministries of six departments: Church Planting; Chaplaincy Ministries; Teen Challenge International, USA; Chi Alpha Campus Ministries; Intercultural Ministries; and U.S. Mission America Placement Service (MAPS).

Prior to U.S. missions, Smith served as the Executive Presbyter representing the Ethnic Fellowships and as president of the National Black Fellowship. He served the New Jersey District of the Assemblies of God as assistant superintendent (1998-2005) and as executive secretary (2005-07).

Smith served as pastor of Eternal Life Christian Center (ELCC) of the Assemblies of God, Somerset, New Jersey for 15 years. During his pastorate, the church grew to over 300 members and completed a $2.7 million educational enrichment center. Prior to ELCC, Smith pioneered a church that later became Plainfield Assembly of God, a New Jersey district affiliate.

Smith has spent his life in service as a former police officer/detective; U.S. Postal Inspector; and Airborne Infantryman in the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. (Info. from www.ag.org) (Watch a video of Zollie, ff to 30 minutes)

Zollie Smith is a man with a passion. His heart can be described in one phrase, "That none parish". Zollie encouraged those in attendance to make an impact where you are and to not get discouraged when it's not going your way. '"The steps of a righteous person are ordered of the Lord'". I was personally refreshed by Zollie's vision to reach America with the Good News of Jesus Christ. I feel blessed to have such incredible leadership in the Assemblies of God.

Cowboy Church

I am currently attending a symposium at Trinity Bible College on churches in rural America. One of the presenters is Duke Edwards. In the spring of 2006 he started the Wray Cowboy Church. He was born and raised in Washington state and started riding bulls professionally in Canada at the age of 16. In 1996 he was rookie of the year and final champion in Canada and in 1997 he was the Season Champion Bullrider for the Canadian Pro Rodeo. In September of 1999 he found God and started to do ministry with the PBR. In 2005 we moved to Holyoke, CO and began the planning for Cowboy Church.

When I asked Duke, "how many bones have you broke"? His response was, "it would be easier to tell you which bones I have not broken". That's nuts! How does one decide that they're going to jump on a bull, strap themselves to it, open a gate and hang on with all your might. Actually it sounds like a blast!

I love the diversity of the body of Christ. Each one of us is so unique and are called to reach out to a variety of people. I am wondering if Cowboy Church would work in my community. Maybe "Farmers Church" or "Military Church".

Everyone deserves to hear the gospel. The message of hope from the Word of God does not change, but the methods do. I am challenged to do whatever it takes (ethically) to reach people for Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." 1 Cor. 9:22-23.

Never Been There

Since I have lived in Minnesota all of my life, you may fine this hard to believe. Today I am leaving to go to North Dakota, a place where I have never been. People in the church look a little confused when I tell them I've never crossed the border into North Dakota. I simply remark, "I've never had a reason to go there". Do I need a passport to get in?

I will be spending the next three days at Trinity Bible College. They are having a "Rural Ministry Symposium" of which I will have a small part. Roger Stacy, from the Mn District office has invited me and a couple other Pastor's to share about church planting in rural settings. Two key things I have come to learn about church planting (there are many more) 1. I don't have all the answers, 2. It is God's passion and He has the answers.

I look forward to rubbing shoulders with some of the other speakers. It is in settings like this that I seem to learn so much.

Pray for me that I do not get detained at the border! :)

Reggie Dabbs

Today is a great day in Central Minnesota. Reggie Dabbs, the #1 Youth Communicator in the country will be speaking in the area. He will be in Upsala and Swanville this morning and Pierz this afternoon. He will be back to Pierz tonight at 7 PM. Reggie is joined by the band, OA, which is made up of students from North Central University.

I had the opportunity to get to know Reggie when we were both students at North Central. He has an incredible life story to share. He is a guy that can make you laugh and cry within seconds. I love the way the Reggie is able to be real with the youth about the tough issues they face, yet offer them such great hope.

If you're in the area, you will definitely want to be at Pierz tonight!

Wally Hilgenberg

One of my heroes of the faith passed away yesterday. Wally Hilgenberg, former Viking linebacker died at the age of 66 from ALS.

I first met Wally when I was a young teenager. Wally and his family began attending the same church my family was going to, Christian Life Church in Farmington. As a big Viking fan, I was star struck seeing him in church. There were Sundays when he would bring with him some of his teammates like "Bench warmer" Bob. I had a hard time focusing on the sermons on those days.

Beyond the Viking player was a man that dearly loved his family, the Lord and the outdoors. I became friends with one of his daughters and had a few opportunities to be in their home. I especially enjoyed playing pool. I will never forget seeing the autographed picture that O.J. Simpson signed for Wally. It was a picture of Wally tackling O.J.

I am so grateful for men like Wally. A tough football player, a rugged outdoors man, and a man with a passion for God. I believe that a man who gives his life to Christ doesn't become a sissy, he becomes everything God intended for a man to be. It is in Christ that we live life to the fullest.

Perhaps Wally will now be able to encourage the Lord to give the Vikings some extra help from above.

Transformation

A month ago we began the process of removing several trees in our yard. The first few days we cut down about 25-30. Today we brought the total to 54!

As you look at these pictures you can begin to see the transformation of our yard take place.

Why take down so many trees? Tonight I am actually wondering. I'm stiff and soar! When we moved into this house almost five years ago we thought the "woods" in the back yard was pretty sweet. As the kids have grown we realized that their play area was quite small because of all the trees. The pine trees where planted so close that were looking pretty bad. Several of them were actually dieing. The plan was put into place and the transformation has begun.

We have a vision of a beautiful lawn, an area for a swimming pool, a small baseball/football field, a volleyball court and an area to have a fire. Today I'm tired and feel like leaving the yard as is. I would, but the vision spurs me on to complete the transformation.

My life can be like that. I know that I am a work in progress, being transformed a little at a time. There are moments when I am tired and think it would be easier to stay as I am. The vision that God has given me compels me to press on. To see what the finished product will be if I finish the race, if I allow God to transform me to be more like Jesus.

I love what the Bible says about Jesus. "Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross". What an example of having a vision and pressing on through the pain to experience the joy.

PS If you have any expertise in making my lawn look like the 13th hole at Augusta National, give me a call.

More pictures will follow as the work continues on.

Left Behind

The following news clip reminded me of a dream I had one night. I must have been around 10 or 11 years old. The church I had just started attending was showing the left behind movies "A Thief in the Night" and "A Distant Thunder". Even though I was a Christian, one of those nights I had a dream that the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) happened and I was left behind. I was so scared and the only place safe I new to go to was the church. When I arrived, I was surprised to find that there were a few others who had apparently attended church but never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I can't tell you how relieved I was to wake up! Have you ever had one of those dreams that you woke up from and thought, "thank God I was only dreaming"?

I believe that Jesus Christ is returning soon and I am concerned for family, friends and the entire world. It seems that others are too. Apparently a few creative thinkers have put together a web site where you can enter the names of people that will receive an email if the rapture happens.

Check out this story.

YouveBeenLeftBehind.com lets subscribers send an e-mail message to up to 62 people exactly six days after they've disappeared from the earth because of the rapture. The website, run by Mark Heard along with four other Christians, dispatches the e-mails when at least three staff members fail to log in for six consecutive days. Its purpose is to give Christians one final shot at evangelizing their loved ones.
Christian Post 6/8/08