I like to try and keep cool under pressure but I have recently been reminded that I need to simplify and trust the Lord. I typically don't give people specific things to pray for me about, and instead desire them to be led by the Spirit about what to pray. Contrary to my normal way of doing things I feel prompted by the Lord to ask for specific prayer:
1. Spiritual, mental, and emotional preparation about making the transition to TCI - continued trust in my walk with the Lord... even in the smallest of details. Closure for seasons of relationships that I have here.
2. Prayer for a seamless obtaining of a work permit.
3. Once the work permit is in hand then managing the upcoming move to Turks and Caicos. The logistics of getting stuff from Chicago and Phoenix to Florida to prepare for shipment to TCI.
4. Peace and financial resolution about changes occurring in Phoenix with the Lord's house that's under my stewardship there.
5. Joy - when I have a lot of things on my mind, I tend to focus on myself more than on the Joy of the Lord being my strength. Even as I type this, He restores my soul!
I trust Him, and thank you for your prayers in advance.
"Even when we are faithless, yet He abideth faithful!"
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Future God has for his Kingdom Work! - Turks and Caicos Islands
Without further delay, I have received an official letter about where the Lord is sending me through Harvest Bible ChapelThe place - Turks and Caicos Islands; google it. check it out... it is an island in the Caribbean-area; North Atlantic. The Lord definitely knows that I was made for warm weather climates and He knows what I need! (smile)
I took most of the below from an email that I sent to a good friend because it encapsulates how I feel pretty well...
While the location sounds exotic and all ... well it IS exotic... the most exciting part of about the opportunity is the people. I have met members of the core group in the island and I'll just give three words to describe them: passionate, diverse and dedicated.
Passionate - Men and women of prayer who are serious about seeking the Lord; seeking his wisdom, his direction and his provision. Each person/family had a different story about how they ended up on the island. Whether they were believers when they arrived or not, now that they are on the island, they are eager to seek the Lord's wisdom in how to direct their lives. Individually and corporately they are seeking the Lord's direction. Finally, they are dependent on the Lord in regards to his provision - even to end of providing a pastor, which God has used to allow us (myself and the people in the TCI) to connect.
Diversity - The group has a wide range of people - some people who are from the Turks and Caicos Islands, some who are from the Caribbean Islands in general, people from South Africa, Canada, the U.K., the Philippines, and other places! I had prayed for an opportunity to impact a variety of cultures for his kingdom, and this seems like a direct answer to that prayer.
Dedication - The saints on the island have embraced their relationship with Jesus Christ and have made a dedication in their heart to serve Him fully. This is exemplified by their commitment to worshiping together, serving together and being devout in their participation in Bible studies.
I am excited about this new opportunity and the plan is to be in place by mid-May. However, between the end of this time here (April 23rd) and when they are estimating they want me in place (May), I plan to come to Phoenix to spend time with family, friends and prayer warriors.
Therefore all of you, regardless of where you are, I ask for your prayers... I trust that you will hear from the Lord how to pray most effectively for both the ministry that He will do through the saints in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the church plant for his glory..
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.
Excited to see the glory of God manifested on Earth,
Pastor Steven
Finally a blog!!!!
Well readers (smile - I like having blog readers) I have been away from blogging for a minute for a couple of reasons: 1. I have been traveling a lot. 2. I was waiting for some confirmation of facts before posting information.
Thus, this third part to the previous few emails is actually going to be two parts.
On the travel note, I have preached a couple of times and have some sermons online which I will comment on in more depth later. But for now, if you choose to listen to some of these messages here's where I was.
I had the privilege of enjoying part of the evening of Easter Sunday with my family! I hung out in Cincinnati through Tuesday and I had great visit. It was rich being able to spend with family. Here is a picture of me and grandma!
The weekend of March 30th I preached at Harvest Bible Chapel in West St. Louis and had a wonderful time ministering to the people there and sharing a Word with them. Here is link to the sermon that I preached.-
http://www.harveststlouis-west.org/Blog.aspx?site_id=10167&entry_id=92850
Hopefully it works. And here I am with Pastor Michael Sust, a spirit-filled man who was gracious enough to share the pulpit with me!
During that week we took a trip to Michigan to visit "Portable Church Industries, Inc." which I'll go into at another time. Suffice it to say that this company provides resources to facilitate set up and tear down for weekly worship services for church plants.
This past weekend I went to Milwaukee to preach at Harvest Bible Chapel - South Milwaukee. A rich time of fellowship, albeit a brief time. Nevertheless, I pray that God allowed his Word to minister to the hearts of the people. This sermon is available on the iTunes podcast directory. It's the same text that I preached in St. Louis, but felt a little different.
Then Sunday night I rode up the highway to visit my buddy Jason who returned to his Minnesotan homeland after spending some time in Phoenix (where we were in a Bible Study together). It was again refreshing to reconnect with a friend from the past, see his new place
and hear about the great things that God is doing in his life. Another added bonus was that we had a chance to stop in to a church that had visited recently, and I always enjoy seeing the different ways that churches operate. It was unique because the church, which has been around for eight years, recently purchased an office park building and retrofitted it. I thank God for even divine appointments that allow me to get ideas about church planting potential.
So that's been a lot moving and shaking with more to come!!!
Thus, this third part to the previous few emails is actually going to be two parts.
On the travel note, I have preached a couple of times and have some sermons online which I will comment on in more depth later. But for now, if you choose to listen to some of these messages here's where I was.
I had the privilege of enjoying part of the evening of Easter Sunday with my family! I hung out in Cincinnati through Tuesday and I had great visit. It was rich being able to spend with family. Here is a picture of me and grandma!
The weekend of March 30th I preached at Harvest Bible Chapel in West St. Louis and had a wonderful time ministering to the people there and sharing a Word with them. Here is link to the sermon that I preached.-
http://www.harveststlouis-west.org/Blog.aspx?site_id=10167&entry_id=92850
Hopefully it works. And here I am with Pastor Michael Sust, a spirit-filled man who was gracious enough to share the pulpit with me!
During that week we took a trip to Michigan to visit "Portable Church Industries, Inc." which I'll go into at another time. Suffice it to say that this company provides resources to facilitate set up and tear down for weekly worship services for church plants.
This past weekend I went to Milwaukee to preach at Harvest Bible Chapel - South Milwaukee. A rich time of fellowship, albeit a brief time. Nevertheless, I pray that God allowed his Word to minister to the hearts of the people. This sermon is available on the iTunes podcast directory. It's the same text that I preached in St. Louis, but felt a little different.
Then Sunday night I rode up the highway to visit my buddy Jason who returned to his Minnesotan homeland after spending some time in Phoenix (where we were in a Bible Study together). It was again refreshing to reconnect with a friend from the past, see his new place
and hear about the great things that God is doing in his life. Another added bonus was that we had a chance to stop in to a church that had visited recently, and I always enjoy seeing the different ways that churches operate. It was unique because the church, which has been around for eight years, recently purchased an office park building and retrofitted it. I thank God for even divine appointments that allow me to get ideas about church planting potential.So that's been a lot moving and shaking with more to come!!!
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