iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

Let Your Light Shine!

“It’s gonna be a long day. I’ve got a ton to do today. I have to feed the chickens, slop the hogs, throw out hay and water the horses, pick the beans, wash the clothes and churn the butter. That’s not to mention my daily chores of cooking and cleaning

A cowboy’s wife’s job is never done. Living in the west is no picnic. Work is hard but I can’t imagine being anywhere else. The air is clean, there are wide-open spaces for the cattle to graze, the water is pure, the neighbors are mighty friendly and at night you can see millions of stars because the sky is so clear. Only complaint is there never seems to be enough time to get everything done.

Oh no, the hens are out again. They get out almost every day and I need to gather them up and put them back in the hen house.”

That’s how the evening started out at this year’s Stars Retreat as I portrayed the wife of a cowboy. As the evening progressed the girls participated and discovered how quickly tasks are completed when you have people that are kind enough to help. What can be a boring and not so enjoyable task can become fun. When we all take an active part, we can do amazing things. Through our kindness we show good deeds to others. We are like lights that shine, we become STARS of EXCELLENCE that give praise to our father in heaven.

Focusing on the scripture, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16,

I challenged the girls to let their light shine in such a way that people would see their lives and wonder what made them different and special. It is through their good deeds that people would see that they are different and discover that it is because of their relationship with Jesus.

Jesus changes our lives and gives us joy and hope. There were ~200 girls there that weekend, 10 made first time decisions to follow Jesus and 35 renewed their commitment to let their light shine for Him.

It is God’s desire that all come to know Him personally. We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” It is my desire that each of the girls that attended this weekend will be a light that shines for Jesus so that others may come to know Jesus personally.

 

Eurasia Experience Kid Style

Meandering through the marketplace and into the Holy place, children from around Wyncote PA came to experience Eurasia.

The Eurasia Experience is a cross-cultural, multi-sensory journey that brings the sights, smells and sounds of Eurasian life to your church, university or district event.

Walk into a bustling city scene.  Hear and feel the commotion of a crowded bazaar.  Taste the different candies and talk with people that haven’t heard about Jesus.

With the many different cultures and religions that make up the United States and the world, this weekend was an opportunity to demonstrate to children the need to share their faith in Jesus with others. God created John the Baptist to point people to Jesus. That was his primary purpose for being born. We were created for the same purpose, so that all would hear about Jesus. But according to Romans 10:14, “How can they call on him unless they believe in him? How can they believe in him unless they hear about him? How can they hear about him unless someone preaches to them?”

It is our responsibility to bring about an awareness of the need to tell others about Jesus and to educate our children in ways they can share their faith. Our children need to be aware of different cultures and religions so that they can be a light in a spiritually dark world. Our children can make a difference in the lives of others when equipped with the tools they need to share the gospel with others.

Jer. 24:7 “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”

I so enjoyed ministering alongside Pastor Josh and his team at Calvary AG in Wyncote PA this past weekend. They served with a level of excellence that gave honor to God as they committed their time and energy in making this an experience for the kids like they have never had before. Thanks to the Experience Eurasia team for providing the tools, sights, sounds and smells that made the experience real and thanks to all who spent time in prayer that people groups around the world would come to know Jesus as their friend and savior.

Now it’s our turn to take the message into the world and reach as many people as we can with the message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

To see more photos of the service visit our iRock Ministries Facebook photo album entitled “Eurasia Experience for Kids”.

 

 

Operation INASMUCH

Clad in the uniform of the day—a bright blue shirt with the Operation Inasmuch logo emblazoned across the front—groups of Christians serving as the “hands and feet of Jesus” perform community service projects from delivering cookies to the ER and the Sheriff’s Office to yard clean-up.

Made up of an interdenominational team of volunteers from area Tappahannock VA churches, Operation Inasmuch mobilizes believers in a hands-on local church mission blitz in their community.  It offers a proven model of local ministry for any size congregation in any location.

So what’s with the name? Inasmuch is taken from Mathew 25:40 which says “Inasmuch as you have done such things for the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done the same for me.”

Being invited to be part of such an event was an honor and privilege. I was asked to be part of Project 9, the Youth Project. Children that wanted to participate in the days projects were organized into two groups, each at a different location. Gleta and Steve Jones from Radiant Life AG coordinated one of the locations. The kids were instructed to make cards, place mats and favors for those in nursing homes, and on a star, handwritten words of encouragement for someone special in their lives. I was asked to address the children at both locations and to encourage them with a biblical perspective on the responsibility we have to help others in need.

You couldn’t help but notice the blue-shirted brigade of volunteers all over the streets of Tappahannock if you were anywhere in town on that day. More than one eyebrow was raised as people encountered them. The initial reaction from a lot of folks was “what’s the catch?” They couldn’t believe that the help, the paint, the cookies were free—no strings attached. The community spirit and goodwill radiated among the givers and, eventually, the recipients alike. Volunteers of all ages felt the priceless satisfaction of doing good for goodness sake.

Helping others is a conscious decision, one that pleases the heart of God. I am glad that I was able to be part of reaching the hearts of people in Tappahannock Virginia, Essex County.

 

Went to Farmville VA and never left Home!

Today was my first official skype video chat with a group of kids at New Life in Farmville Virginia. Pastor Josh invited me to be part of their BGMC service through skype. It was pretty exciting. I set up a little studio background, pulled my props together and set out for Farmville Virginia with one click of the mouse. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not new to skype or the concept of video chatting. I do it all the time with my own kids but this was the first time I was live, on a Sunday, with a group of kids. It has its advantages, no travel time being the main one but it also had its disadvantages. I was locked into a smaller space and everything needed to be within sight of the computers isight. Next time I might need to enlist the help of Rusty as my camera man and change things up a little. I missed not being in the same room with the kids but being able to at least see them and entertain questions was nice. I also had the opportunity to pray for the kids and encourage them as they become missionaries in their home, neighborhoods, schools and sports teams. Thanks Josh for the opportunity and may we continue to use technology to do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight!!

Deut. 6:18 “Do what is right and good in the LORD’S sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers”

Under Construction

Have you ever been passed over for a very important job? Then you are in good company. King David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David and pitched a tent for the ark of God. After settling into his palace he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a palace of cedar while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” David desperately wanted to build a house for God to dwell in, but because he had been involved in so many wars and had shed so much blood in battle during his rule, God wouldn’t allow David to build the temple. He had been passed over for the job and instead gave the job to a younger less experienced man, Solomon his son. Talk about age discrimination! Not really but it could certainly have felt that way. Instead David made extensive preparations so that his son would have all the materials and expertise needed to build a magnificent temple for God. David gladly passed the torch to his son and Solomon continued what a previous generation had started.

But this lofty endeavor took more than David and Solomon; it took the participation and contributions of many people to complete the temple for God. Scripture continues to say that “Everyone rejoiced at how willingly the people gave to the building of the temple.” God no longer resides in a temple made by human hands, but now lives in the hearts of all believers. We are God’s temple and when one of the least of these is without food, water, clothing or shelter, God’s temple is damaged and needs repaired. We can all be considered ‘the people that gave’ as we give to needs around the world. Along with helping meet these physical needs the most important thing a person needs is Jesus. Along with food, water, clothing and shelter, we can bring Jesus to a hurting people when we become people that give.

This is the message I’ve been bringing to children throughout our district. Let me come and share this message so that children will be given an opportunity to be part of a people that gave willingly to the temple of God.

Take some time and read 1 Chronicles 17,22, 28 and 29 for the full story