New style of ministry

I am excited about a new way to reach out to people using the ineternet. I know most of you are already using the internet and things like MSN to reach out to people, but I have not used MSN as a ministry tool until today.

There are teens I have been trying to reach but it is tough when they are in a group setting for them to be themselves. So I figured if teens are most comfortable using things like MSN to talk with friends maybe I could really reach them through this avenue of 1 on 1.

My first conversation has been great. I was able to answer questions for a teen I work with on what heaven is like. I asked her if she could ask Jesus one question, what would it be and she shared that she would ask what heaven was like and if he (Jesus) really wanted to die on the cross. great questions.

I was able to point her to the Bible for those answers and she went and got her Bible and was amazed to find answers to her questions there. I am so glad that the Bible is truly a reliable source for answers to our questions.

If you have had great opportunites using the internet, let me know how you have been blessed.

Down on the farm

I recently shared about a young lady I met who has been battling alcohol for some time now. I have been hoping to surround her with good people who can build her up.

On Tueday I drove Catherine out to visit friends of mine, Bruce and Charlotte. They have an animal farm and are wonderful people. As we all sat together in their living room, I could see Catherines countenance change. She saw real people, who genuinely care about people.

After we left and were on our way home Catherine said" I can't believe how nice they are." She was so excited to meet them. In fact Catherine is going to start helping them out at their farm.

This morning Catherine started helping out. She was so excited to be around the animals, to dig in the manure, to stand in the warm sunshine, to feel that people really do care about her. I am trusting God for a real move in her life, and for Catherine to see that it is possible to have fun and joy and it does not have to include alcohol.

Discipling and teaching on our First Nations

Over five years have passed since I first began to do ministry at our local First Nation Indian reserves. It has been filled with many wonderful times and at the same time with very challenging issues to deal with. Last night I had the privilege of launching a new ministry that I want to share.

I have been praying often about training new believers on the reserves and helping them to understand the heart of God and His Word. As we sat in the home of a new Christian last night, I took a look around. There in our circle were seven other people. One lady has been a Christian for a few years, four have been Christians for just a few weeks, and others are not yet believers. I was so thankful for God honoring my prayer and those of others to be involved in teaching the Word and making disciples!!

I love my work amongst the First Nation people. It is a cross cultural ministry!!! It is, for the most part,with unchurched people and most often with unevangelized people. It is so refreshing to be able to sit with people who really want to learn and have so many questions. It is so exciting to hear them pray, and to see the joy on their faces when they understand in their hearts what questions they have been feeling confused about.

We will be meeting once a week. We are trusting God for growth within our group and within the kingdom. We believe that within a short time we will need a bigger place to meet. We will be faithful to meet together and trust God for those we are praying for.

Now that's funny!!!

Last night I was driving some kids home from the childrens ministry at the reserve. A song came on the radio that a couple of the older kids recognized. One of the kids exclaimed, "Oh my God".

Well the kids have been learning that it is not good to swear, which is good. So one of the kids wanted to correct the other and she said, "You took the Lord's veins". Well I can tell you that I had to laugh under my breath. It was so funny and so cute at the same time.

Exciting ministry continues to take place on the reserves and I am glad to be a part of it. Lord willing, this weekend I will be off to Nova Scotia to visit another reserve with some native friends of mine. They are hoping to establish a Bible study group there. I am going along to see what options could be a vailable for youth and how we could do things together.

Ministry can be full of laughs from time to time!!!

You never know what God has planned...

I received a call early Saturday morning from a friend of mine. I met Hal about four years ago during a ministry outreach here in Fredericton. Hal was planning to commit suidice when I first met him and through God's intervention our paths crossed on that day many years ago.

I had seen Hal on a number of occasions these last few weeks. I always tried to stop and talk with him. He has been battling alcoholism for the last 35 years or so. Right now he is losing the battle. In fact he is so sick with alcoholism that if he does not have a drink, he will go into seizures.

On Saturday when he called he asked if I could come right away to talk with him. He had a particularly rough day on Friday and once again had contemplated suicide. I immediatley headed to his home to talk. As he began to talk of his experience on Friday he shared how he even ended getting into a scuffle with another person in order to protect a young lady who was being pushed around by her "boyfriend". Then he said, "I know you are here to talk with me, but I think this young lady needs to have someone to talk with. Could you talk with her?"

I agreed and just a few minutes later this 15 year old girl walks into the room and begins to share her story with me. I am not allowed to go into all the details but I will share this, this young lady needs someone to stand beside her and help her through this difficult situation. We ended up talking for close to 2 hours and then I met with her again later for another 2 hours. I spoke very clearly to her about her options and how I was prepared to help. She needs to be delivered from alcholism and this abusive situation.

After she left Hal and I began to talk again. He began to weep as he shared how sick he was and how hopeless his situation was. Hal shared that he prays for help from God every morning and evening and he is unsure what else to do. Hal needs a miracle. He has tried to quit so many times. He is a man that believes in God and the power of Jesus.

It continues to amaze me how the Lord continues to lead me to invest in and cross the paths of hurting and desperate people. I love to do the work of the Lord and to invest my life in ministering to those facing enormous challenges.