I guess summer always messes with my self confidence. Especially July, when it seems like 45% of my people are on vacation any given week. During those times, I watch the numbers and the feeling of being organized sag a bit.
And it messes with my confidence.
But this morning as I sat in church at Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill, Pastor Wade spoke about being ready for battle. As he did, I felt the Holy Spirit seem to prod me, and tell me that this was for me, and He had some things He wanted to say.
Wade reminded us about Eph 2:6 God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. Wade talked about a famous Ronald Reagan gaff, when Reagan, new to the most powerful office in the world, walked up to a microphone and, realizing that sound checks were not done, goofed with the reporters by saying "5-4-3-2-1, we just bombed Moscow", almost causing an international incident. President Reagan was not yet accustomed to being seated in a high place, a place of incredible power, where every word was scrutinized way too much because of the powerful office he was seated in!
Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that this word was for me- that He was raising up Freedom Valley, and even me along with it! He said that though we were yet unaccustomed to living in a place of influence that He placed us in, that He was training us to use it, handle it, and humbly live it out.
The Holy spirit reminded me that our success would not come through brilliant ideas that we came up with, or amazing strategies, or any of that stuff, valuable as it is. This would come through something easier and more brilliant- obeying His voice. The reading, the learning and growing, and all of that stuff, was just to grow our capacity to think the big thoughts He would give us if there was room in our heads to receive it.
This may not mean much to anyone else. But to one frightened leader who was in the midst of his usual self-questioning and wondering if he could come back from vacation and put the yoke back on, it was like a cold, fresh glass of water of a sweltering hot day.
He "saved" my soul July 16, 1972. But this is just one more time that He saved me yet again.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bike week in Gettysburg
Thousands and thousands of bikes are in Gettysburg every year for Bike Week. I hear that every hotel and campground is sold out months in advance. One biker told me tonight that they were told that nothing is available for many, many miles around.
That is why I put out the little signs "Free Camping for Bikers". And so far, 5 bikers showed up! They (the ones who showed up) said that many more did not come because they called and we told them "no alcoholic beverages".
All of these bikers told me that they heard about us from Battlefield Harley Davidson, which was nice. They were very happy to have a place to put up a tent and get some sleep.
It's an honor to host them. We have space and it seems like a no-brainer to offer it. Now, I wonder how I can use it for God somehow?
That is why I put out the little signs "Free Camping for Bikers". And so far, 5 bikers showed up! They (the ones who showed up) said that many more did not come because they called and we told them "no alcoholic beverages".
All of these bikers told me that they heard about us from Battlefield Harley Davidson, which was nice. They were very happy to have a place to put up a tent and get some sleep.
It's an honor to host them. We have space and it seems like a no-brainer to offer it. Now, I wonder how I can use it for God somehow?
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Sorting out the projects
Things on my plate that I should pray about (for days, each)
My daughter's upcoming wedding
The Armenia Pastor's training
Our building expansion plan
The feasibility study about expansion
Re-organizing staff positions for a better fit
The next teaching series
Catalyst meetings
The Harvest Cry-Gettysburg outreach with Johannes next June
The Signs & Wonders festival in 2010
Development of our training school
Development of our Sites
I am so glad the cycle ride is coming up, where I hope to have hours and hours to think and pray.
My daughter's upcoming wedding
The Armenia Pastor's training
Our building expansion plan
The feasibility study about expansion
Re-organizing staff positions for a better fit
The next teaching series
Catalyst meetings
The Harvest Cry-Gettysburg outreach with Johannes next June
The Signs & Wonders festival in 2010
Development of our training school
Development of our Sites
I am so glad the cycle ride is coming up, where I hope to have hours and hours to think and pray.
Tattoo Parlor Outreach Robbed and Vandalized
Two nights ago, our Tattoo Parlor outreach (In the Blood, Tattoos and Rock & Roll on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh) was robbed and vandalized. Everything of value appears to have been stolen, the rest savagely smashed or destroyed. The regularly scheduled Monday night Bible study that is held there, was turned into a crisis situation meeting.
This puts the Tattoo Parlor out of business, and shuts down the outreach. There is no insurance.
Our missions budgets are stretched to the max, but I am committed to helping. I have told Melisa Whitman-Leventry that we will help with $1000, by the grace of God.
I am asking my Heavenly Father (who is quite well off) to help us get the rest of the $10g needed.
This puts the Tattoo Parlor out of business, and shuts down the outreach. There is no insurance.
Our missions budgets are stretched to the max, but I am committed to helping. I have told Melisa Whitman-Leventry that we will help with $1000, by the grace of God.
I am asking my Heavenly Father (who is quite well off) to help us get the rest of the $10g needed.
Monday, July 07, 2008
leadership training in Armenia
So I got this leadership training coming up in Armenia. Pastor Karen Khachahtryan put it together and asked me to come and provide training for hundreds of Pastors there is basic church leadership ideas and principles. The dates are approximately August 17-26
I hope to do a lot of work in putting it together. I really want to be helpful to these hard working men and women, and to advance the cause of The Kingdom while I am there.
Brian Bolt is thinking about going with me. Perhaps Sam Masteller as well.
So many projects, so little time...
I hope to do a lot of work in putting it together. I really want to be helpful to these hard working men and women, and to advance the cause of The Kingdom while I am there.
Brian Bolt is thinking about going with me. Perhaps Sam Masteller as well.
So many projects, so little time...
Friday, July 04, 2008
ideas for the next several summers
Two weeks ago, our outreach efforts culminated in 99 baptisms (that's the number as of this week). I cannot imagine a more exciting week.
Unless maybe ...
Johannes, Peter, and I had a lunch after the leadership training that Saturday morning two weeks ago. During that lunch, we started dreaming together about what more we could do to reach people next summer when they come back (June 18-21). And then we also talked about the year after that.
Next year, we would like to do a "Harvest Cry" event such as they do it Norway. This is a full fledged effort at reaching people through outreach events of every kind, including witnessing teams, flyering, mini-outreach events in various towns, prayer events, and so much more. Evening evangelism meetings would feature cutting edge cultural events, bands, and everything else we can think of to help people see God for who He is.
Then the next year (or year after if we cannot pull it off this soon), we would like to do a "Signs & Wonders" festival; the kind that results in numbers of churches being planted. and hundreds of souls coming into the Kingdom. We would like to share this with other church, perhaps some of which can adopt one (or more) of the church plants for their own, launching the Kingdom of God to a whole new level in our community.
ARDA.com has listed Adams county as one of the few counties in the nation where we have grown in percentage of people attending church in the past 10 years. I wonder what would happen if we became one of the few counties where the church attending market share grew a lot in the next 10! Maybe it could spread to other counties or communities in the US!
They say "it can't be done" here in the US, like it is around the world in Johannes meetings. Maybe it can! But we might never know unless we try.
To pull this off of course, we will need a lot of things. We'll need to talk more about that as we march forward.
Unless maybe ...
Johannes, Peter, and I had a lunch after the leadership training that Saturday morning two weeks ago. During that lunch, we started dreaming together about what more we could do to reach people next summer when they come back (June 18-21). And then we also talked about the year after that.
Next year, we would like to do a "Harvest Cry" event such as they do it Norway. This is a full fledged effort at reaching people through outreach events of every kind, including witnessing teams, flyering, mini-outreach events in various towns, prayer events, and so much more. Evening evangelism meetings would feature cutting edge cultural events, bands, and everything else we can think of to help people see God for who He is.
Then the next year (or year after if we cannot pull it off this soon), we would like to do a "Signs & Wonders" festival; the kind that results in numbers of churches being planted. and hundreds of souls coming into the Kingdom. We would like to share this with other church, perhaps some of which can adopt one (or more) of the church plants for their own, launching the Kingdom of God to a whole new level in our community.
ARDA.com has listed Adams county as one of the few counties in the nation where we have grown in percentage of people attending church in the past 10 years. I wonder what would happen if we became one of the few counties where the church attending market share grew a lot in the next 10! Maybe it could spread to other counties or communities in the US!
They say "it can't be done" here in the US, like it is around the world in Johannes meetings. Maybe it can! But we might never know unless we try.
To pull this off of course, we will need a lot of things. We'll need to talk more about that as we march forward.
Friday, June 27, 2008
the after glow of Kingdom work
Last week may have been one of the most incredible of my life. Highs that were higher and lows lower.
It started with a frantic phone call from Alisa explaining that a Codorus park official called to say that Jocelyn Rife was missing after swimming in the lake.
We gathered, prayed, faced the press... and buried her yesterday. Tough, tough loss. She is quite a kid, and I loved her more than I knew.
But it (the week) ended with 97 baptisms in water, numerous healings, salvations, and baptisms in The Holy Spirit.
There is simply no rush like watching while God washes away years of pain, frustrations, and depression, and makes a person new inside. I watched for example, as a 55 year old man who came to church glowering, ended up dancing on an ankle that was miraculously healed and a heart that was gloriously saved. There is nothing in human existence to compare with that experience, and that reality.
Our prayer teams never worked harder. Our ministries never reached out more. Our people never fasted and invited, and believed harder for their friends.
I love this Kingdom God got me into. God help me not mess it up.
It started with a frantic phone call from Alisa explaining that a Codorus park official called to say that Jocelyn Rife was missing after swimming in the lake.
We gathered, prayed, faced the press... and buried her yesterday. Tough, tough loss. She is quite a kid, and I loved her more than I knew.
But it (the week) ended with 97 baptisms in water, numerous healings, salvations, and baptisms in The Holy Spirit.
There is simply no rush like watching while God washes away years of pain, frustrations, and depression, and makes a person new inside. I watched for example, as a 55 year old man who came to church glowering, ended up dancing on an ankle that was miraculously healed and a heart that was gloriously saved. There is nothing in human existence to compare with that experience, and that reality.
Our prayer teams never worked harder. Our ministries never reached out more. Our people never fasted and invited, and believed harder for their friends.
I love this Kingdom God got me into. God help me not mess it up.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
In a few weeks (June 18-22) Johannes Amritzer will be with us again. Give me souls, or I die! I am trying to pray more bold, outrageous, stretching, breakthrough prayers. PLEASE join me.
I am crying, begging, desperately reaching out to God for:
The ability for us to see those around us who do not know Jesus
A deep love for our unconnected neighbors
Favor in our unsaved neighbors' eyes
A God moment to talk to them about our faith, and invite them to church
Faith to reach the most unGodly
Faith to win Satan's biggest leaders in the community!
To turn those leaders-for-Satan into great leaders for God!
That at least 5 drug dealers would get saved
To bring in 100 new families during that week
Great anointing in make disciples
Break though in finances ($20,000 a week in tithes)
That hundreds of our barely connected people, would get deeply connected to Christ and one another
That new addiction breaking skills, would be found
That God would raise up 100 new leaders!
That God would raise up 5 (each) new evangelists/ worship leaders/Pastors/Apostles/Prophets/Teachers in our church
I am crying, begging, desperately reaching out to God for:
The ability for us to see those around us who do not know Jesus
A deep love for our unconnected neighbors
Favor in our unsaved neighbors' eyes
A God moment to talk to them about our faith, and invite them to church
Faith to reach the most unGodly
Faith to win Satan's biggest leaders in the community!
To turn those leaders-for-Satan into great leaders for God!
That at least 5 drug dealers would get saved
To bring in 100 new families during that week
Great anointing in make disciples
Break though in finances ($20,000 a week in tithes)
That hundreds of our barely connected people, would get deeply connected to Christ and one another
That new addiction breaking skills, would be found
That God would raise up 100 new leaders!
That God would raise up 5 (each) new evangelists/ worship leaders/Pastors/Apostles/Prophets/Teachers in our church
Sunday, April 06, 2008
11 ways to kill pride
Sven Bengsston's 11 ways to identify pride
1. talks about self
2. wants the glory
3. is not impressed by others
4. is a bad listener
5. lies to maintain a false front
6. lies to avoid embarrassment
7. will not admit wrong
8. has a hard time asking for help
9. wants to be different
10. is demanding
11. always wants to be boss
If you want, you can watch or listen to this message at www.freedomvalley.org, in the sermons section. Hopefully you will be helped as much as I was!
1. talks about self
2. wants the glory
3. is not impressed by others
4. is a bad listener
5. lies to maintain a false front
6. lies to avoid embarrassment
7. will not admit wrong
8. has a hard time asking for help
9. wants to be different
10. is demanding
11. always wants to be boss
If you want, you can watch or listen to this message at www.freedomvalley.org, in the sermons section. Hopefully you will be helped as much as I was!
somessed up tonight
Wow, God messed me up tonight.
Sven Benggston preach tonight on 11 ways to know if pride is creeping into your life. To my dismay and humiliation, I pretty much found myself in all 11 of them! Instead of praying for a lot of penitent sinners at the altar, I led them there and wept, while the Holy Spirit scrubbed my rotten little heart.
I left my notes in my Bible at church, so perhaps later I can write them out for you here. But until then, his sermon (which probably will not hit you like it hit me) is available on our website if you care to watch or listen to it.
And while I am at it, please forgive me, all of you, for my pride and my arrogance. If I know anything from years of counseling and leading people, it is that you-all saw this in me for years already, and were patiently waiting for God to deal with me on it. I usually marvel when someone repents, that they are the last person to see it -everyone else already knew. So I would guess you-all saw this in me years ago. I am horrified and humiliated, and so sorry.
You-all must have put up with a lot, while waiting. I am sorry. Please pray for me. And thank you for your friendship nonetheless all these years.
Gerry Stoltzfoos
Sven Benggston preach tonight on 11 ways to know if pride is creeping into your life. To my dismay and humiliation, I pretty much found myself in all 11 of them! Instead of praying for a lot of penitent sinners at the altar, I led them there and wept, while the Holy Spirit scrubbed my rotten little heart.
I left my notes in my Bible at church, so perhaps later I can write them out for you here. But until then, his sermon (which probably will not hit you like it hit me) is available on our website if you care to watch or listen to it.
And while I am at it, please forgive me, all of you, for my pride and my arrogance. If I know anything from years of counseling and leading people, it is that you-all saw this in me for years already, and were patiently waiting for God to deal with me on it. I usually marvel when someone repents, that they are the last person to see it -everyone else already knew. So I would guess you-all saw this in me years ago. I am horrified and humiliated, and so sorry.
You-all must have put up with a lot, while waiting. I am sorry. Please pray for me. And thank you for your friendship nonetheless all these years.
Gerry Stoltzfoos
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