Oh there's no place like home for the holidays...

I began my journey from Springfield to home at 9:30 a.m. cst on Saturday morning.

After way too much time spent in Kansas City airport, O'Hare and on various runways, I arrived in Harrisburg Sunday at 2:30 p.m. est. What a trip. 

One notable highlight was waking up from a one hour nap at 1:15 a.m. and finding that my previously full water bottle was empty. It had spilled into my bag, entirely drenching everything that was inside. Among these items were my Mac, iPod and digital camera. At the time, none seemed to be in working order. But I was so relieved when my computer turned on last night. Phew. I was also happy that my suitcase, which had been left in Chicago, was delivered to the house before I went to bed last night. So, even though the trip wasn't the most pleasant, it wasn't a total disaster. And now that I'm PA, the Chases have discovered a new way to entertain our vain little selves.

It's the Job

I decided to post an article that I wrote for work recently. I was able to interview the pastor in person and I found the transformations at his church and the passionate, humility with which he serves to be inspiring and challenging. This was originally posted on ag.org, the Web site for our fair fellowship.
I hope you take time to read this, not because I wrote it, but because I believe we all can learn from the example of First Assembly.

The heart of discipleship
December 19, 2007

Chances are a heart problem has never before been the catalyst for so much good.

Several years ago, Dan Miller, senior pastor at First Assembly of God in St. Joseph, Michigan, began having troubles with his heart. As he reflected over what he thought was his soon-ending ministry, he recalled many salvations, but recognized an absence of discipleship that troubled him. As the Lord gave him a vision to raise up leaders who would disciple leaders, Miller asked God for the grace to continue his ministry awhile longer. It was the beginning of a journey that has radically transformed First Assembly of God.

DIVIDED BY A RIVER

First Assembly was established in 1922 as a German church in the neighborhood of Benton Harbor. When Miller arrived in 1988, he was the first non-German speaking pastor to serve the congregation. The church was very traditional, but over the years, slowly progressed to become more contemporary and involved in evangelistic outreach.

In the late 1990s, the opportunity arose for First Assembly to move from its location in Benton Harbor and build a new facility in St. Joseph. Although only the St. Joseph River separates the "Twin Cities," at that time they seemed worlds apart. Nearly half the residents of multi-ethnic Benton Harbor live below the poverty line. St. Joseph is a predominately white, upper-middle class city. At first, Miller was hesitant to leave an area so in need of help, but felt God promise him, "If you'll move, I'll build a bridge."

Soon after the building project was complete, Miller developed a heart problem. While ill, he says it was only by the grace of God that he continued to preach, although during the week he was forced to rest. It was during this "down time" that Miller began to contemplate the impact of his years in ministry. Although he had seen many salvations, he knew many people were no longer walking with the Lord and he credited this problem to a lack of discipleship.

Miller asked his associate pastor to get everything he could on discipleship, small groups and cell groups. Soon he had accumulated a "huge stack of materials," including a book called "The Cell Church" by Larry Stockstill (Bethany World Prayer Center). Miller prayed, "Lord give me the grace to continue ministry, this is what I want to do." After working with a cardiologist to resolve his heart problems, the journey to become a discipleship-centered church began.

The first step Miller and the pastoral staff took was to learn by example. They traveled to Stockstill's church and a national church in Costa Rica to witness firsthand what could happen in a congregation that really discipled people and raised up leaders. After the trips, Miller began modifying materials and developing courses that would make discipleship, by way of relationships, the focus of First Assembly.

BRIDGED BY RELATIONSHIPS

Miller asked the Lord which 12 men should be in the first discipleship group. Miller's wife Pat also began leading a group of 12 women, establishing the precedent of men discipling men and women discipling women. This initial mentoring lasted about a year before the original 12 began leading their own groups. Only a few years later, Miller reports that First Assembly now has approximately 85 group leaders and 580 life group participants. Unlike some programs that center on common interest, First Assembly's life groups are solely committed to building relationships and discipleship. The church's School of Leaders is a yearlong, in-depth course that trains individuals to lead their own life groups.

Miller stills meets once a week with his original group of 12, who in turn continue to meet with their own groups weekly. The process of developing leaders is ongoing and requires commitments of time and energy, but the results are well worth the effort. Group members take care of their brothers and sisters in Christ, lifting one another up in prayer, making hospital visits and providing food when needed. And this selfless love extends to newcomers as well.

Miller's eyes glisten while recalling an interaction that epitomizes First Assembly's welcoming nature.

Every Sunday, a van picks up homeless people and brings them to services. Several men have become regulars and proudly sit behind Miller each week. On a recent Sunday, Miller asked everyone in the congregation to hug someone else. A woman noticed a new homeless visitor hugging himself, obviously aware that his appearance and odor might discourage others from getting too close. Despite the smell of urine wafting from the visitor, the woman embraced him and said, "You don't have to hug yourself." Later in the service the man responded to an altar call.

Another homeless attendee had not been to church in 38 years before coming to First Assembly. He said, "I didn't know church could be like this."

POWERED BY PRAYER

New believers are not lost among the shuffle at First Assembly. After receiving salvation, new Christians go through a process of "consolidation" to help firmly establish them in the faith. They receive visits and phone calls and are encouraged to attend Pre-Encounter classes. The four-week session covers basic topics of Christianity and is followed by an Encounter weekend retreat.

The purpose of the Encounter retreat is to create a setting where new believers can prayerfully deal with things that hold them in bondage and discuss past hurts that many have never talked about. At the end of the weekend, participants receive an 8-inch nail, which they pound into a crossbeam. With that symbolic action, the new believers renounce the stronghold of sin in their life. It is a powerful demonstration of Jesus taking all sin and hurt upon him through his death on the cross, releasing believers from their bondage.

Miller says watching the lives of new believers being transformed in that moment is "the most powerful thing I've ever seen." Post-Encounter classes ensure that these individuals continue to grow in their new faith.

The results of becoming a relational church committed to discipleship have been tremendous in terms of growth. Weekly attendance has doubled from 350 to 700, with a church family of 1,100. The once 98 percent white congregation is now one third African American and 10 percent Asian and Hispanic.

Although building relationships has been the avenue for effective discipleship, Miller says the power behind the changes at First Assembly can only been attributed to prayer. Since he arrived at the church, nearly 20 years ago, an intercessory prayer team has actively sought the Lord on behalf of First Assembly and its community. Corporate prayer and fasting are emphasized throughout the year, including the first two weeks of January.

Looking ahead, Miller wants First Assembly to plant new churches and continue multiplying wherever God leads. He believes the greatest resource the Church has is sitting in the pews and that with solid discipleship, every believer can be a leader in the kingdom of God.

When First Assembly first started to change demographically, Miller says people gravitated towards those with the same color skin. About a year ago, while preaching, it struck Miller as he looked across the congregation that he could no longer tell where certain groups were sitting, everyone was intermingled, regardless of race or income. The congregation is united, thanks to relationships.

Indeed, God has fulfilled His promise to Miller - a bridge has been built between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.

More information about First Assembly in St. Joseph can be found at http://1stassembly.com/.

Author(s):

Kara Chase

Don't Forget the Reason for the Season Kids

Another reason why I love (and maybe am a little terrified of) working at headquarters.

Life-size nativity scene.

33,000 Reasons to Squeeze a Stressball

By nature I think I am a worrier. Not so much about the trivial, day-to-day things, but about the big things... things that I feel I should have complete control over and be able to plan accordingly. Recently, I've been feeling somewhat anxious and overwhelmed about raising my budget to be a missionary associate. I have to raise approximately $33,000 in a little less than a year. As a recent college graduate with student loans and a salary that is a significant amount less than that number, sometimes I feel like raising the money will be impossible. It's scary. 

At a group meeting the other night, Dr. Martindale said the word, "powerless." He meant it in a good way, as in we are all completely dependent upon God. However, at the time, that word resonated within my heart because it described the desperation I feel when I think about my budget. Since the meeting, I've been thinking and praying a lot about this. To the core of my being, I know that God is calling me to Thailand next year. I just can't get away from that fact. So it's really time for me to step up and have the faith that He will provide. I know I have to do my part, but ultimately it's in His hands to provide. I'm powerless.

Yesterday I started reading "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day." Already the themes in that book are addressing what I need to hear. We serve a big God. He provides us with opportunities to better serve Him. Sometimes these opportunities seem scary and impossible, but He remains with us and hears our prayers. Well, I'm only on the third chapter, so I guess I still have a lot to glean from this book, but so far it's been challenging and reassuring. It also makes me want to attend the author's church, National Community Church in D.C. (They have some good podcasts too, see theaterchurch.com.) 

So, if anyone is reading this, please keep me in your prayers. I have a feeling that raising this money over the next year may be my personal lion. But I'm confident that this experience will only serve to strength my faith and reliance on God before the real adventure begins.

Do the Foxtrot

I remember reading a Foxtrot comic strip several years ago in which one of the kids, I think Peter, designed a method to hide the fact that he was sleeping in class. He cut ping-pong balls in half and put black circles on them, placing one half over each closed eye to create the illusion that his eyes were wide open. I've often wished that this were possible, especially on days like this, the first day back at work after Thanksgiving.

I also used to think that if I took clear stick on earrings and put them in my eyes, people would think I was cool and had contacts. Well, now I am cool and have contacts, so I don't need to place small, pointy objects directly on my pupils.

Give Some Away

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed at all that God has blessed me with. I sleep in a big, warm bed every night. I never go hungry. I have a wonderful (and equally weird) family and group of friends. I have a job that not only meets my needs, I actually enjoy it!!!! I really could go on and on.

I don't want glorify myself, so please don't take this as that, but one of the things I love about being blessed with so much is that through all of it, God has enabled me to give some away to those in need. There are specific times in my life, like distributing groceries in post-Katrina New Orleans and giving money to missions when I really couldn't "afford" it, that I felt more so than ever before that I was in the center of God's will and closer to who He wants me to be . I'm not sure what steps I will need to take to achieve my dream of a career in international development, but I know that is where my heart is one hundred percent. Meeting the most devastating of physical and spiritual needs., while living a life that isn't defined by what I possess. It sounds idealistic, but that is at the center of my heart, and it will only be by God's grace that he helps me grow into that person.

Tonight Hillary, Bethany (my roommates) and I are going to deliver a Thanksgiving basket to a family in need, as part of a n outreach at my church. I'm praying that we'll have a chance to just show God's love and the recipients will see that love for what it is.

Finally, a challenge for anyone who is reading this (all two of you). Please consider donating some time or money to an organization that is meeting needs during this holiday season. Of course we all know that Convoy of Hope is my favorite, so I encourage you to visit their Web site, where you can make online donations. They have been responding to many of the recent domestic and international disasters. Their international director spoke briefly in chapel this morning and said they are making plans for Bangladesh, where the cyclone killed 3,000 people last week and left countless thousands homeless.
www.convoyofhope.org

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Baby Got Mac

I'm typing this on my new MacBook.

This is my first grown-up purchase and I am quite pleased (even though I still owe my parents $200). This little guy will accompany me to Thailand and I will use the built in camera to talk to friends and family on Skype. On the most superficial level, it seems much easier to do missions work now than a hundred years ago, when you left for India, assuming you would never return and praying God would give you their language as soon as you stepped onto foreign soil. I mean, I still expect to be fluent in Thai as soon as I land in Bangkok, but nowadays I can rest fairly assured that I'll see my loved ones again... at least via the Internet.

Hanging Out with the Boss

On my first day of work at headquarters, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Brother Wood (officially headquarters title). As you might have read in my previous blog, I really admire him a lot and I was really excited about hanging out in the inner sanctum for awhile.

We talked about me becoming a missionary associate to Thailand next year, but unfortunately he didn't offer to waive my budget or anything like that. Geeze.. what's the point of being friends with the power brokers if they can't move a few mountains for you.


However, he did inform me that they have excellent hospitals. My parents can rest well.

A Photo

Here I am spending some quality time with Women's Connection Asia, the first of many hours together. We make a decent looking pair.

Tonight we are having a prayer service for Southeast Asia. Several of us missionary associates will be sharing briefly what we will do next year and how God's brought us to that point. It will be my first time to speak about Thailand and the magazine to more than a couple people. I'm a little nervous, but it will be good practice in sharing my heart and goals. Let's hope my public speaking and interpersonal communication classes at Evangel were not in vain.

Sound the Shofar

At 5 p.m. today, I begin my exodus from Israel's Redemption.

Shalom and Goodbye.

Caught in the Buckle

A week from today, I will begin my new job as Assistant Editor in the Office of Public Relations at AG Headquarters. Who would have ever thought I'd be so excited to work there? For years I told myself it would be the one place I would never work, in the one city I would never call home. As I find myself looking forward to walking through the doors at 1445 N. Boonville and once again calling myself an AG employee, I have to laugh at the way my plans never seem to work out the way I once envisioned. But, at this point in time, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.


*One of the only reasons I can speak in such endearing terms of Springfield and all things related, is the full knowledge that a year from now I will be overseas. I'm like Abraham, knowing that this is not my permanent home (crosses fingers, knocks on wood, throws salt over shoulder, rubs rosary).

Thai'm For An Update

So, I guess I should write a post about becoming a missionary associate to Thailand. After all, that is the purpose of this blog. I'm just scared it won't be what I want it to be. Here we go...

My senior year at Evangel was an incredibly busy time in my life. I was involved in campus ministry, volunteered 10+ hours a week doing public relations work at Convoy and was editor of the school yearbook. All of that, on top of schoolwork and a pathetic social life, left little time for job hunting. And, I figured that with all of the time I had invested at Convoy, they would end up hiring me. However, as the chances of Convoy employment diminished due to budgeting and graduation drew near, I began to get extremely anxious about the future. For those who don't know me too well, worry is something that comes a little too well for me, I guess because I like to have control. I can't count the times I've read Matthew 6:34 to myself. So yes, the uncertainty of life post-graduation was looming over me like a hawk ready to swoop down and grab a little field mouth with its talons. I was also questioning whether God could ever use me in a career that would impact lives for Him.

On a specific day that I was seeking the Lord for direction of some sort, a professor named Dr. Martindale, whom I really respect, approached me before Judges class with the most hated question of all, "What are your plans after graduation?"

"Good question," I responded bitterly.

He tossed a brochure on my desk and said, "Here's your answer."

As he began class, I looked over the brochure, which he had created to encourage soon-to-be and recent graduates to become missionary associates for a year in Thailand and teach English to university students. Immediately I was excited at the prospect, but dreaded the thought of having to raise a missionary budget, so we set up a meeting to further discuss the possibility. At our meeting, when Dr. Martindale discovered my love for writing and background in yearbook and magazine, he told me that there was a need for someone to work at a women's magazine. It's impossible to convey how God-directed that first meeting felt. I was overwhelmed that there was a way for God to use these skills that I didn't see as useful overseas. For the next week or so I prayed about the decision and sought the advice of family, friends and the girl who had held the position previously. Even though I wasn't 100% certain at the time, I agreed to start the process of becoming a missionary associate.

Since that time God has continued to reveal to me that he wants me in Thailand, working on the magazine at this point in time (well, Oct. 2008). Through group prayer meetings, discussions with the missionaries and even a summer job with Assemblies of God World Missions, he has confirmed my decision to be come a missionary associate. I have felt called to overseas ministry for several years, but always figured it would be further down the road, when I was more financially and spiritually prepared. But, if I've learned anything in recent months, it's that God's timing is perfect and He is always faithful. So, in September or October of next year, I will move to Bangkok, Thailand and serve as an assistant editor at Women's Connection Asia. The magazine is culturally relevant and addresses many women's issues and interests while sharing the Gospel in a way that Buddhists can come to understand it. I will help in conducting interviews, writing articles and the overall production. I believe that one of the draws of the magazine is that it is written in both Thai and English, because so many Thai people are interested in learning our language and this can be a tool for learning, while presenting Jesus.

While in Thailand I also hope to get involved with some sort of outreach to sex slaves and prostitutes. That industry is so prevalent in Bangkok and working with the most downtrodden and cast-off people is really where my heart is at. I would love to volunteer with a group, such as the Rahab Ministry, that not only shares God's love, but gives a means of rebuilding their lives, by teaching them new ways to make an income.

At this time last year I would have never guessed that the Lord had this in store for me, but I am so excited and humbled to know that he wants to use me in presenting the message of salvation to those who so desperately need it. I'm not worthy to do this, but the One who's calling me to Thailand is.

Four Booty Thrusts, Swim Forward Twice

Nothing says fun quite like learning/dancing Michael Jackson's Thriller choreography alongside two dozen middle-aged Baptist moms from the Ozarks.



I love Zumba.

I Like Where We're Headed

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to hear George Wood speak at my church (Central Assembly). For those of you who don't live in the AG Holy City of Springfield, George Wood (I don't think it's possible to write or talk about him without saying his first and last name) is the new general superintendent for the Assemblies of God.

Since he's a graduate of Evangel and attends Central, I've heard him speak multiple times, but on Sunday I was just overwhelmed by the sense of humility that George Wood exudes. I know it sounds cliche, but you can truly see Jesus in him. Hearing him speak and seeing the connection that he has with all generations makes me so excited for the next phase in the AG. I think that under the leadership of George Wood, the Assemblies of God will not only be relevant in foreign countries where physical need is great, but that we will finally start making an impact in our country too. You can tell he's there to serve and that attitude will trickle down to those under him. It's exciting.

I'm also excited about the changes at CLA. Since I'm usually the only one in the office at work, I've been able to listen to sermons from home. Pastor Wayde seems to be just what the church needed. The sermons are a great mix of the challenging and the refreshing. Hearing the Truth is exciting. I can only pray that as people from CLA continue to reach out into the community, more people will give "church" a try and find out what Christianity is really about.

New Things

Today is a day of new things.

I am at my new job (well it's about a week old now). I am writing in my new blog. I am about to do my first interview as a free-lance reporter for Springfield Business Journal, using my new digital voice recorder.

Although I'd intended to make my first entry extremely poignant and/or exciting, I'm kind of just writing this entry to take my mind off of how nervous I am about my first real interview. Of course I've interviewed people before for Evangel's newspaper and for articles I wrote at Convoy of Hope, but this feels different. I'm actually getting paid for this and if I don't write according to their expectations, my pay will be docked. But, I really shouldn't get too nervous because it's just an article spotlighting a cool little store and teahouse. An enjoyable topic always makes for a better article.

Well, I better go look at the questions I've prepared and try to slow my racing heart before I call the store's owner.

I'll definitely share about Thailand in the next entry. That's really the whole purpose of this blog. So, if by any chance you are reading this, please come back so that you can read all about the exciting new adventure God has called me to!