GREAT NEWS...got word yesterday that the water has been connected in the church parsonage! Whoop...Whoop...!
So...our tentative plans are to head back to Anchorage on Tuesday December 8, spend a few days in Anchorage picking things that we can ship/take to McGrath cheaper, then head back to McGrath on Friday December 11!
Christie and I, along with the church, are in the process of getting all the furnishings together! Things are coming together very well! Hopefully we can get everything picked out, ordered, and shipped up prior to us getting to McGrath.
I am very excited at how the church has come together and worked really hard to get this project completed. These are some amazing people and we are looking forward to serving with them.
We are looking forward to the annual Christmas Eve service that is attended by many in the village. I had heard great things about this service.
WEBSITE UPDATE: We are getting close to having the website up and running. Once it is up we will be tweaking it and adding features to it. But the big thing will the centralizing the blog, online giving, and all the updates you will need about the work in McGrath, the work of Momentum Ministries.
Please be in prayer for Christie and I over the next couple of weeks as we prepare to head to our new opportunity for sharing the love of our Savior!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
McGrath Community Church Mission Work - Update November 11, 2015
Just Think About It
Tony Campolo was speaking to a conference of about 300 women. Before he was to speak the president of the organization was giving updates and read a moving letter from a missionary. The missionaries had spoke of their need for $4,000. The president said, "We need to pray that the Lord will provide the resources to meet the need of this missionary. Brother Campolo will you pray for us?" Tony Campolo very simply said "No!". Taken back, the women said, "I beg your pardon." Again he said, "No, I won't pray for that." He said, "I believe that God has already provided these resources and all we need to do is give. I tell you what I am going to do. I'm going to step up to this table and give every bit of the money I have in my pocket. And if all of you do the same, I think we will find that God has already provided." The president of the organization nervously laughed and said, "Well, I guess we get the point. He's trying to teach us that we all need to give sacrificially." "No," said Tony, "that is not what I am trying to teach you. I'm trying to teach you that God has already provided for this missionary. All we need to do is give it. Here, I'm going to put down all of my money I have with me." He put down the $15 he had in his pocket and then looked at the organization's president. She reluctantly opened her purse and took out the $40 she had, and put it on the table. The rest of the women walked one by one up to the table and laid their money down, too. When the money was counted they had collected more than the required $4,000. Tony looked at them again and said, "Now here's the lesson. God always supplies our needs, and He supplied for this missionary, too. The only problem was we were keeping it for ourselves. Now let's pray and thank God for His provision."
Update on the ministry in McGrath, Alaska - Still shooting for December 1!
Spoke with the church today and things are really progressing. Everyone has come together and really been busy tying up all the small things that need to be done in the parsonage. All the construction stuff is being moved out and next week the big cleaning of the parsonage begins. The only construction that needs to be completed is the indoor plumbing, which is about 90% complete. The hold up is the city hookup of the water to the house. There has been a "changing of the guard" at the city water works and they hope to talk to one of the other water works guys on Thursday of this week. After the city does their thing it will take about four hours to get water running in the parsonage! This has been a major issue and it just does not seem like it is a priority to the city. Please pray that the new guy at the city will see the importance of getting this finished!
We are making good progress on the furnishing for the parsonage. I have been in contact with the Fred Meyer store in Anchorage and they are working very hard to get us good prices, not only on the furnishings, but the freight as well! If we can buy the major stuff at one place it will save on the freight to McGrath. Freight rates run about $0.80 to $1.00 per pound shipped. So you can see that discounts are very critical.
I have set up lists, similar to wedding and baby shower registries, on the Walmart and Target websites. If you would like to contribute to furnishing the parsonage you can check these sites for what is needed. The things we are working on: sofa and love seat, arm chair, bed and mattresses, dresser and end tables, cookware and flatware. If you would to provide any of the other items on the lists it would be much appreciated.
To access either list:
Target paste this link into your browser
http://www.target.com/targetlists#public/fc9384bad0d949e8bdb5fee45d0df2ba
Walmart Go to www.walmart.com; Click on Lists at the top of the page; In the Pop-up box select Find A List; Type in mason (last name box, lower case) and Alaska (state box); Select McGrath Community Church Parsonage - this will open the list
If you would like make a contribution to the furnishing the parsonage, make your check out to McGrath Community Church and note on the check "Parsonage Furnishings". You can mail your check to McGrath Community Church, P.O. Box 82, McGrath, AK 99627.
Website Update
We are getting close to having the website up and running. Hopefully, by the end of next week we will have it active. One of the big things we are working on is online giving. This will allow donations and contributions to done safe and secure online. We are hoping to have the ability to setup recurring donations. Check back to the blog for more details
Fund Raising
I want to thank all of you that have given financially to this work. However, we still need partners to help with the monthly expenses, or a one-time gift. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord may want you to help with this incredible opportunity to partner with us and reach the bush village of McGrath, Alaska for Jesus!
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath.
Have a great week!
Tony Campolo was speaking to a conference of about 300 women. Before he was to speak the president of the organization was giving updates and read a moving letter from a missionary. The missionaries had spoke of their need for $4,000. The president said, "We need to pray that the Lord will provide the resources to meet the need of this missionary. Brother Campolo will you pray for us?" Tony Campolo very simply said "No!". Taken back, the women said, "I beg your pardon." Again he said, "No, I won't pray for that." He said, "I believe that God has already provided these resources and all we need to do is give. I tell you what I am going to do. I'm going to step up to this table and give every bit of the money I have in my pocket. And if all of you do the same, I think we will find that God has already provided." The president of the organization nervously laughed and said, "Well, I guess we get the point. He's trying to teach us that we all need to give sacrificially." "No," said Tony, "that is not what I am trying to teach you. I'm trying to teach you that God has already provided for this missionary. All we need to do is give it. Here, I'm going to put down all of my money I have with me." He put down the $15 he had in his pocket and then looked at the organization's president. She reluctantly opened her purse and took out the $40 she had, and put it on the table. The rest of the women walked one by one up to the table and laid their money down, too. When the money was counted they had collected more than the required $4,000. Tony looked at them again and said, "Now here's the lesson. God always supplies our needs, and He supplied for this missionary, too. The only problem was we were keeping it for ourselves. Now let's pray and thank God for His provision."
Update on the ministry in McGrath, Alaska - Still shooting for December 1!
Spoke with the church today and things are really progressing. Everyone has come together and really been busy tying up all the small things that need to be done in the parsonage. All the construction stuff is being moved out and next week the big cleaning of the parsonage begins. The only construction that needs to be completed is the indoor plumbing, which is about 90% complete. The hold up is the city hookup of the water to the house. There has been a "changing of the guard" at the city water works and they hope to talk to one of the other water works guys on Thursday of this week. After the city does their thing it will take about four hours to get water running in the parsonage! This has been a major issue and it just does not seem like it is a priority to the city. Please pray that the new guy at the city will see the importance of getting this finished!
We are making good progress on the furnishing for the parsonage. I have been in contact with the Fred Meyer store in Anchorage and they are working very hard to get us good prices, not only on the furnishings, but the freight as well! If we can buy the major stuff at one place it will save on the freight to McGrath. Freight rates run about $0.80 to $1.00 per pound shipped. So you can see that discounts are very critical.
I have set up lists, similar to wedding and baby shower registries, on the Walmart and Target websites. If you would like to contribute to furnishing the parsonage you can check these sites for what is needed. The things we are working on: sofa and love seat, arm chair, bed and mattresses, dresser and end tables, cookware and flatware. If you would to provide any of the other items on the lists it would be much appreciated.
To access either list:
Target paste this link into your browser
http://www.target.com/targetlists#public/fc9384bad0d949e8bdb5fee45d0df2ba
Walmart Go to www.walmart.com; Click on Lists at the top of the page; In the Pop-up box select Find A List; Type in mason (last name box, lower case) and Alaska (state box); Select McGrath Community Church Parsonage - this will open the list
If you would like make a contribution to the furnishing the parsonage, make your check out to McGrath Community Church and note on the check "Parsonage Furnishings". You can mail your check to McGrath Community Church, P.O. Box 82, McGrath, AK 99627.
Website Update
We are getting close to having the website up and running. Hopefully, by the end of next week we will have it active. One of the big things we are working on is online giving. This will allow donations and contributions to done safe and secure online. We are hoping to have the ability to setup recurring donations. Check back to the blog for more details
Fund Raising
I want to thank all of you that have given financially to this work. However, we still need partners to help with the monthly expenses, or a one-time gift. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord may want you to help with this incredible opportunity to partner with us and reach the bush village of McGrath, Alaska for Jesus!
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath.
K4G (Kids 4 God) Update
If anyone would like to help fund the "K4G" Club we would appreciate it very much. The things we need most are snack items; powder drink mixes, maybe hard candy for prizes, and maybe kick balls, soccer balls (all deflated of course). I am looking for an earth ball. It is a very BIG ball that the kids can play with outside. If you feel led to help us please send them via postal service, Priority Mail to Mike Mason, P.O. Box 133, McGrath, AK 99627.
Have a great week!
Monday, October 26, 2015
McGrath Community Church Mission Work - Update October 26, 2015
Update on the ministry in McGrath, Alaska
Things seem to be progressing on the parsonage in McGrath. We have been in contact with several folks from the church and they say it is really taking shape inside! That is very good news. I am not sure what is the status of the plumbing and water hook up, but everyone seems to be excited about what is happening. The target date to be back in the community is December 1. Just in time for the river to be frozen (which means snowmobile trips on the river), snow for Christmas and for "Ma in her kerchief and me in my cap, to just settled down for a long winter's nap!" Since we were not able to get back to McGrath as originally planned, to "ease" into winter, I have been going to Walmart every day and spending time in their freezers to try to prepare myself for the "cool" temperatures!
Painting Party For Missions
Christie and my daughter Hannah, along with my beautiful granddaughter Dayleigh, were in our old hometown of Geneseo, Illinois last week. While there they hosted a painting party to help the work in McGrath. A very HUGE thank-you to David and Debra Jones for opening their home for the party! Also, thanks go out to Hannah for coordinating the party, and all the awesome ladies that took part!
Website Update
I have been working over the last few weeks with my web designer on the Momentum Ministries website. We have selected what we want the site to look like and finally getting down to putting it together. Hopefully in a few weeks the site will be up. We hope to have a lot of good information on the site, as well as access to the blog, a donate online, and a store where we will be selling many of the items painted at the painting parties. Hannah has really done a great job on her work. I hope to post some of her work in the next blog update so you can order any of the items before the website is up!
Fund Raising
I want to thank all of you that have given financially to the work we will be doing over the next 6 months. You guys are awesome. However, we still need partners to help with the monthly expenses. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord may want you to help with this incredible opportunity to partner with us and reach the bush village of McGrath, Alaska for Jesus!
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath. We are in the process of refreshing our website, and hope to provide the ability to donate online. Check back for updates!
If
anyone would like to help fund the "K4G" Club we would
appreciate it very much. The things we need most are snack items; powder drink
mixes, maybe hard candy for prizes, and maybe kick balls, soccer balls (all
deflated of course). I am looking for an earth ball. It is a very BIG ball that
the kids can play with outside. If you feel led to help us please send them via
postal service, Priority Mail to Mike Mason, P.O. Box 133, McGrath, AK
99627.
Youth Pizza Nights
The Saturday pizza nights have been incredible. The turnout has been great and the kids are starting to get engaged, even though it was moved to the church. Thanks to Grant and Lenna Funk, and Barney and Megan Funk for heading this up! Continue to pray for this group of youth, that many relationships will be built!
Just Think About It
The other morning I was reading a devotion from Solid Joys (John Piper, Desiring God). I was in a place where I needed to really hear a word from the Father. Over the last several weeks the voice of the enemy has been pretty loud! You have been there I am sure...seems like all you hear is "SILENCE"! Yea, you know what I am talking about. Then, in His usual way, He brings a word!
God's Final, Decisive Word
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son . . .Hebrews 1:1-2
"When I complain that I don’t hear the Word of God, when I feel a desire to hear the voice of God, and get frustrated that he does not speak in ways that I may crave, what am I really saying? Am I really saying that I have exhausted this final decisive Word revealed to me so fully in the New Testament? Have I really exhausted this Word? Has it become so much a part of me that it has shaped my very being and given me life and guidance?
Or have I treated it lightly — skimmed it like a newspaper, dipped in like a taste-tester — and then decided I wanted something different, something more? This is what I fear I am guilty of more than I wish to admit.
God is calling us to hear his final, decisive Word — to meditate on it and study it and memorize it and linger over it and soak in it until it saturates us to the center of our being."
It was like one of the God billboards...you know, the black ones with the white writing...yep, this was one of those. Sum it up....."Listen to Me!" God Enough said!
Have a great week!
Things seem to be progressing on the parsonage in McGrath. We have been in contact with several folks from the church and they say it is really taking shape inside! That is very good news. I am not sure what is the status of the plumbing and water hook up, but everyone seems to be excited about what is happening. The target date to be back in the community is December 1. Just in time for the river to be frozen (which means snowmobile trips on the river), snow for Christmas and for "Ma in her kerchief and me in my cap, to just settled down for a long winter's nap!" Since we were not able to get back to McGrath as originally planned, to "ease" into winter, I have been going to Walmart every day and spending time in their freezers to try to prepare myself for the "cool" temperatures!
Painting Party For Missions
Christie and my daughter Hannah, along with my beautiful granddaughter Dayleigh, were in our old hometown of Geneseo, Illinois last week. While there they hosted a painting party to help the work in McGrath. A very HUGE thank-you to David and Debra Jones for opening their home for the party! Also, thanks go out to Hannah for coordinating the party, and all the awesome ladies that took part!
Website Update
I have been working over the last few weeks with my web designer on the Momentum Ministries website. We have selected what we want the site to look like and finally getting down to putting it together. Hopefully in a few weeks the site will be up. We hope to have a lot of good information on the site, as well as access to the blog, a donate online, and a store where we will be selling many of the items painted at the painting parties. Hannah has really done a great job on her work. I hope to post some of her work in the next blog update so you can order any of the items before the website is up!
Fund Raising
I want to thank all of you that have given financially to the work we will be doing over the next 6 months. You guys are awesome. However, we still need partners to help with the monthly expenses. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord may want you to help with this incredible opportunity to partner with us and reach the bush village of McGrath, Alaska for Jesus!
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath. We are in the process of refreshing our website, and hope to provide the ability to donate online. Check back for updates!
K4G (Kids 4 God) Update
I have been preparing for the weekly Bible clubs that will get started January. We have a huge opportunity to reach a lot of kids during the dark, cold months. Looking at some exciting stuff to use to share the Gospel with the kids in McGrath.
Youth Pizza Nights
The Saturday pizza nights have been incredible. The turnout has been great and the kids are starting to get engaged, even though it was moved to the church. Thanks to Grant and Lenna Funk, and Barney and Megan Funk for heading this up! Continue to pray for this group of youth, that many relationships will be built!
Just Think About It
The other morning I was reading a devotion from Solid Joys (John Piper, Desiring God). I was in a place where I needed to really hear a word from the Father. Over the last several weeks the voice of the enemy has been pretty loud! You have been there I am sure...seems like all you hear is "SILENCE"! Yea, you know what I am talking about. Then, in His usual way, He brings a word!
God's Final, Decisive Word
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son . . .Hebrews 1:1-2
"When I complain that I don’t hear the Word of God, when I feel a desire to hear the voice of God, and get frustrated that he does not speak in ways that I may crave, what am I really saying? Am I really saying that I have exhausted this final decisive Word revealed to me so fully in the New Testament? Have I really exhausted this Word? Has it become so much a part of me that it has shaped my very being and given me life and guidance?
Or have I treated it lightly — skimmed it like a newspaper, dipped in like a taste-tester — and then decided I wanted something different, something more? This is what I fear I am guilty of more than I wish to admit.
God is calling us to hear his final, decisive Word — to meditate on it and study it and memorize it and linger over it and soak in it until it saturates us to the center of our being."
It was like one of the God billboards...you know, the black ones with the white writing...yep, this was one of those. Sum it up....."Listen to Me!" God Enough said!
Have a great week!
Sunday, October 18, 2015
McGrath Community Church Mission Work - Update October 18, 2015
Hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather lately! The temperature in McGrath is running from highs in the mid 30s to lows in the lower 20s! Winter is well underway in McGrath.
I had the privilege to visit with the folks at Paoli Presbyterian Church in Paoli, Pennsylvania the weekend of October 11. Paoli is the church that has supplied the work mission teams to McGrath since the construction of the parsonage started. The mission team presented a report from this year's trip and I was able to share about the work we will be doing there over the next six months. They also got to put a face with the name of the first people to occupy the parsonage.
Parsonage Update
I talked with the church this past week and got an update on the work. They have seen more church folks get involved in this work than ever before. Everyone has a specific job to do and things are progressing with folks working after they get off work and on the weekends. I was excited to hear this.
The two big things left to do are install the heater under the house to protect the pipes and have the water connected and plumbing inside (includes the city making their water connection and installing the meter). Most of the major inside work has been completed. They said 2-3 weeks and all but the water and plumbing would be done.
I received an email today from the church asking to push the expected date back in McGrath to December 1. They wanted to make sure that all the work was done, the house was cleaned up, and we get the furnishing in place. Christie made a list of the furnishing from Wayfair.com. We sent this list to the church. Today the church had a brief meeting and approved a furnishing budget that will well cover the stuff Christie picked out and they also gave us some money to have personal things shipped to McGrath. So it seems things are moving along.
Youth Pizza Night
Saturday night was the second pizza night for the youth at the church. There has been a good turnout with the location being moved to the church from a private home. Please pray that this outreach will lead to continued connection with this group. This group is one of our primary outreach ministries.
Potential Mission Partner
I will be meeting with The Vine Church in Troy, Alabama this weekend. I am not sure of all the details about the visit, but I do know that I will be able to share the work in McGrath with the Missions Pastor. The church is looking for new mission partners. Lisa Michael, the very first connection I made re: Alaska, attends that church and has been talking with them about the work in McGrath. If you will recall, my involvement in the work in McGrath was started by the relationship I had with Lisa as part of Momentum Ministries' work on the campus of Troy University. The Father works in unusual ways sometimes. I am very grateful to Lisa. She is a close friend and has been a valuable asset in preparing us for the work in Alaska. Lisa attended Alaska Bible College and was a missionary in Alaska, and part of the original work started in McGrath. Because of the hard work, and continued interest in McGrath specifically, by the teams that have gone before us, we are able to do the work before us.
Please partner with us in prayer for the work in McGrath. If you would like to be a financial partner with us, you can make a one time gift, or help support us on a monthly basis. You can make your check payable to Momentum Ministries and mail it to Momentum Ministries, 90 Anna Grace Lane, Wetumpka AL 36092. Please note on the check "McGrath Mission Work". Momentum Ministries is a "Not For Profit Organization under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code". Your contribution is tax deductible and year-end tax statements will be provided when a valid mailing address is provided.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath. We are in the process of refreshing our website, and hope to provide the ability to donate online. Check back for updates!
I had the privilege to visit with the folks at Paoli Presbyterian Church in Paoli, Pennsylvania the weekend of October 11. Paoli is the church that has supplied the work mission teams to McGrath since the construction of the parsonage started. The mission team presented a report from this year's trip and I was able to share about the work we will be doing there over the next six months. They also got to put a face with the name of the first people to occupy the parsonage.
Parsonage Update
I talked with the church this past week and got an update on the work. They have seen more church folks get involved in this work than ever before. Everyone has a specific job to do and things are progressing with folks working after they get off work and on the weekends. I was excited to hear this.
The two big things left to do are install the heater under the house to protect the pipes and have the water connected and plumbing inside (includes the city making their water connection and installing the meter). Most of the major inside work has been completed. They said 2-3 weeks and all but the water and plumbing would be done.
I received an email today from the church asking to push the expected date back in McGrath to December 1. They wanted to make sure that all the work was done, the house was cleaned up, and we get the furnishing in place. Christie made a list of the furnishing from Wayfair.com. We sent this list to the church. Today the church had a brief meeting and approved a furnishing budget that will well cover the stuff Christie picked out and they also gave us some money to have personal things shipped to McGrath. So it seems things are moving along.
Youth Pizza Night
Saturday night was the second pizza night for the youth at the church. There has been a good turnout with the location being moved to the church from a private home. Please pray that this outreach will lead to continued connection with this group. This group is one of our primary outreach ministries.
Potential Mission Partner
I will be meeting with The Vine Church in Troy, Alabama this weekend. I am not sure of all the details about the visit, but I do know that I will be able to share the work in McGrath with the Missions Pastor. The church is looking for new mission partners. Lisa Michael, the very first connection I made re: Alaska, attends that church and has been talking with them about the work in McGrath. If you will recall, my involvement in the work in McGrath was started by the relationship I had with Lisa as part of Momentum Ministries' work on the campus of Troy University. The Father works in unusual ways sometimes. I am very grateful to Lisa. She is a close friend and has been a valuable asset in preparing us for the work in Alaska. Lisa attended Alaska Bible College and was a missionary in Alaska, and part of the original work started in McGrath. Because of the hard work, and continued interest in McGrath specifically, by the teams that have gone before us, we are able to do the work before us.
Please partner with us in prayer for the work in McGrath. If you would like to be a financial partner with us, you can make a one time gift, or help support us on a monthly basis. You can make your check payable to Momentum Ministries and mail it to Momentum Ministries, 90 Anna Grace Lane, Wetumpka AL 36092. Please note on the check "McGrath Mission Work". Momentum Ministries is a "Not For Profit Organization under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code". Your contribution is tax deductible and year-end tax statements will be provided when a valid mailing address is provided.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath. We are in the process of refreshing our website, and hope to provide the ability to donate online. Check back for updates!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Sharing Mission Work at Local Churches
Christie and I had the opportunity to share the work in McGrath, Alaska with the faith family at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Gardendale, Alabama this past weekend. We would like to thank Pastor Wayne Shelton and the church for inviting us. We had an awesome time meeting the great folks at Redeemer. We would also like to thank Charlene Holmes, one of the founding members of Redeemer, for helping us make the connection.
I will be traveling to Paoli, Pennsylvania this weekend to be a part of the McGrath Construction Team presentation from this past summer at Paoli Presbyterian Church. I will have a few minutes to share about the opportunities for ministry in McGrath and the work we will be doing there over the next several months, as well as a question and answer time.
I will be traveling to Paoli, Pennsylvania this weekend to be a part of the McGrath Construction Team presentation from this past summer at Paoli Presbyterian Church. I will have a few minutes to share about the opportunities for ministry in McGrath and the work we will be doing there over the next several months, as well as a question and answer time.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Momentum Ministries Is Now A Charitable Organization On AmazonSmile
If you are an frequent shopper on Amazon.com please support Momentum Ministries by shopping
at AmazonSmile. This will link your supporters directly to
smile.amazon.com to support Momentum Ministries https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-3669797.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
McGrath Community Church Mission Work - Update September 30, 2015 Parting Thoughts
It has been a week or so since I arrived back home. Over the last few days I have tried to reflect back over the summer in McGrath and look forward to what opportunities ahead. It was a great summer of connecting with new folks, spending time following up with the kids after Vacation Bible School, and just doing life in McGrath. The time this summer gave us a new perspective of the culture, people, and life in the bush of Alaska. By hanging out at the ball field, having lunch or picking up pizza at the cafe, attending local activities, or just talking to the folks of McGrath, we have gained a much deeper understanding of how life is in this part of Alaska; it is much different than you might think.We want to thank the McGrath Community Church for allowing us the opportunity to fill-in for Pastor Wayne over the summer; the community of McGrath for allowing Christie and I to "do life" there this summer; and the awesome people of McGrath for making us feel welcome. We want to especially thank the kids of McGrath for a great Vacation Bible School, Kids Club, and the opportunity to get to know many of them better. McGrath is an awesome community!
On Sunday afternoon before I left it appeared that everyone wanted to come and say good-bye. I had never seen all my moose friends in the yard at the same time...PLUS, a new friend came by, Ralph! Ralph is a young bull moose and have not seen a bull moose, well, a live bull moose, the whole summer! I think Ralph was more interested in the females than he was in making friends with me!
 |
| Ralph |
 |
| Ralph |
 |
| Henrietta & her twins - with Ralph watching |
 |
| Lucy & her calf |
On Sunday September 20, I finished the series "I Challenge You" with "I Challenge You To Surrender It All". After the challenges to "Read and Study The Scriptures" and "Make Prayer A Priority", I challenged us to give everything to Christ and follow Him...out of the four walls of the church building, and into the community of McGrath where many of the people do not understand how much God loves them, and that He gave His Son on the cross to prove that love! In closing, I offered a challenge to spend 31 days in the Word. I challenged the body to read a Proverb a day for the next 31 days starting Monday September 21st. I passed out cards that had each day and the Proverb for the day listed. I suggested as they read the Proverb for the day, let one or two verses rise to the top and focus on those verses throughout the day. In fact, I encouraged them to email, call, or text someone what verses stuck out to them and encourage each other. I closed the service with this comment: “We must get to the point that we are no longer content with our walk with Christ, just “doing enough” to get by! If Jesus had had that attitude about His relationship with us He would have NEVER took the route to the cross!"
Update on Future Opportunities
As many of you know from following the blog or receiving our newsletter, the McGrath Community Church has extended an invitation to Christie and I to serve the church for an extended period of time. We met last month with the church and discussed this opportunity. We agreed to serve as missionary "pastor" for a six month interim period, leading the church and helping the church get connected in the community. We set a start date of November 1, 2015.
There is a real need to make Christ known throughout the community of McGrath. We feel like the starting point will be in the children's ministry and the church body being more intentional about being Christ Followers! We feel very strongly that the current body wants to grow the church, but it must come from the "church" BEING the church outside of Sunday mornings.
For this opportunity to come to realization, two very important things need to happen; first, the church must complete construction of the parsonage and have it furnished and ready for us to move in November 1 (the parsonage and utilities are to be furnished by the church as their part of compensation); second, Christie and I must secure support for the initial setup in McGrath (getting several items of critical winter clothing, flights back to McGrath, initial grocery needs) and partners to commit to supporting us on a monthly basis. The church has invested the majority of its income in the construction of the parsonage. The church has no debt, but at this time cannot provide housing and utilities plus a salary. They hope to very quickly get to a point where they can provide some living assistance. There may be an opportunity for Mike to be the local Library Director, which will provide some monthly income. But the job has not been posted and there will be a interviewing process.
As of this update, I am not aware how close the parsonage is to being ready to move in. I am waiting on updates from the church for this. I know that September was a busy month with everyone in the village out moose hunting (most of the people in the community rely on killing a moose to provide meat for their family for the coming year). As for our support, we are well short of the initial funds needed to get setup and we have only five people who are partnering to support us on a monthly basis. I am scheduled to share our work with two churches over the next two weekends, one, Paoli Presbyterian, being the church responsible for the parsonage project. My goal is to share the potential ministry opportunities in McGrath, and make these churches aware of our part in these opportunities.If these two are not met we will to delay the start date until we can secure the funds, or potentially allow the church to seek another ministry to fill this position.
There is an old African proverb, “If you want to run fast, run alone. If you want to run far, run together.” We believe the harvest is great in McGrath, but we need folks to come along side us and pray for McGrath, Alaska, and for us as we move forward to minister there. I have to admit, since that meeting with the church back in August, the enemy has launched an all out attack on Christie and I personally, and on us as a couple. I have been in some tough battles in my walk with Christ, but NONE as intense as this one. The enemy is not happy that someone dare to enter his territory, where he is destroying lives with alcoholism (one death this summer related to alcoholism), where he has created a sense of hopelessness, where he uses addictions to rob people of their joy and future, and where he makes every attempt to make the name and power of Christ meaningless. The love of Christ must be made know in McGrath, and the enemy needs to be out on notice that his territory is about to be invaded!
We would much appreciate your prayers as we work through the things needed to make this happen. We believe that prayer is where this battle will be won! Please partner with us in prayer for the work in McGrath. If you would like to be a financial partner with us, you can make a one time gift, or help support us on a monthly basis. You can make your check payable to Momentum Ministries and mail it to Momentum Ministries, 90 Anna Grace Lane, Wetumpka AL 36092. Please note on the check "McGrath Mission Work". Momentum Ministries is a "Not For Profit Organization under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code". Your contribution is tax deductible and year-end tax statements will be provided when a valid mailing address is provided.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please give us a call at (334) 543-2000 Home, or (334) 292-0090 Mike US Cell / (907) 574-0624 Alaska Cell, or email us at momentum.ministries7@gmail.com. We would love to speak to your church, Sunday School class, or Small Group about the work in McGrath. We are in the process of refreshing our website, and hope to provide the ability to donate online. Check back for updates!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)