See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands… Isaiah 46:16.

I write notes on the back of my hands almost daily, it drives my wife crazy. I have tried carrying notepads and electronic organizers but some how my hand ends up with a phone number, and appointment or a name written on it. You see my average day is crazy and my crazy days are well indescribable. When you work in at-risk communities life is a crisis. So I don’t always have time to fish out a notepad, much less try to type something into my Droid phone, so I grab a pin and scribble on the back of my hand. The other positive aspect for my hands to be my notepads is that it leaves the note ever before me. Anyone who has worked with me for 15 minutes will tell you my memory is, well not good. A combination of brain cells killed at Concord College and an ever changing schedule has left me that way. So if I write a note and put in out of my sight it will soon be forgotten. But not on my hand it is constantly in my ADHD line of sight.

I take great comfort that God keeps notes on His hand. The fact that I am engraved on His hand gives me two types of comfort. It is a reminder that I am important to him and that I am ever before him. You see God’s commitment is well beyond that of mine. Because the notes on my hands are written in ink that will eventually fade, but God engraves my name on his hand. A reminder that I have a security in Him that is beyond my understanding.

It’s been close to nine years since we have not had a Missionary living on Property at Cedar Point Apartments. While it is sad, God is still at work. It is transition time for this Glocal (Global + Local) Community. While we are trying to discern how God would have us to impact such a diverse international community, we are still impacting kids through a time to hang out with them on Mondays and a Homework Help on Tuesday. Please join us as we pray that God sends someone called to reach the people of Cedar Point.
It’s also a time of transition for Mission Raleigh. We have the smallest number of Mission Points since our second year. While it is sad God, is still at work. We have seen God work in several waves in Mission Raleigh. As the ministry began it was fully staffed by volunteers, this was the first wave. The second wave was some young people like Rick, Chris and Caroline pouring many hours into the communities. The third wave was more young people like Shanna, Corrinna, Hope, Joni and Hannah coming to work as semester missionaries. The fourth wave, which is ending, was Amy and George on staff with summer interns like of Daniel, Christianne, Matthew, Josh and others. Now we anxiously wait to see what God has in store for the next wave. No doubt he has a plan for Mission Raleigh and we are excited to be a part or it.

Once a youth accepts Christ and has shown fruit in his/her life we need to start disciplining them beyond youth group. We cannot go as deep into the scriptures with them in the youth group because the majority of our youth are radically lost. I know how hard it is to find extra time but it is imperative that we do. The Great Commission is not about making converts but about making disciples! We have seen a “closed by invitation only” bible study work very well at Raleigh North and Cedar Point if you have over three youth who are ready for discipleship. At Terrace Park we did a lot of one on one that also worked well; however, if you have more than 3 that will get time consuming. We have some great materials by Campus Crusade to help you with the discipleship process. Below are the Godly habits we need to impart to our saved youth.

Hang time with God (Quiet Time)
Accountability with another believer
Bible memorization and study
Involved with youth group
Telling others about Jesus
Serving others

Let’s take a quick look at this acrostic.

Hang Time:
Having a constant quiet time with God is hands down the most important habit to living a victorious life in Christ. We need to check with our saved youth and make sure they are developing this discipline; I am working on the assumption that we have this habit ourselves. I am not afraid to spend money by providing devotionals and journals that will help them in this pursuit.
Accountability
I hold that accountability is an under-taught principle in Christianity. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 (esv). At first we will have to be the accountability lead but quickly teach the youth to hold each other accountable. They are much more involved in each other lives and know each other’s temptations much better than we do.
Bible memorization and study:
Beyond their quiet time they need to learn how to study the bible; not just read it. Teach them how to cross reference, how to use a concordance, how to listen for God. Instill in them the importance of “hiding God’s word in their heart so that they will not sin (Psalms 119:11). Let me give you a gentle warning, you can’t teach what you don’t do. I trust you have a set time for study above your quiet time. If you need tools or training on how to use tools then let me know that is why I am here.
Involved with the Youth Group
Beyond involved; being the leaders of the youth group is the goal. If you do not teach your saved youth how to be leaders and constantly challenge them to be the leaders you are missing the greatest resource God has given you for reaching other urban youth. Teach them how to lead quietly, by example at first, and then as they are faithful assign them more responsibilities.

Telling others about Jesus
The greatest principle that I learned from EE is “Evangelism is more caught than taught. Take them with you as you go on visitation around your Mission Point. You are going on visitation around your Mission Point right? Let them see your heart for sharing Jesus with those who do not come. If they don’t see you doing it why should they think it is important? Yeah some teaching is needed. I like having them mark their bibles and teach the Roman Road. You can have them teach lessons and give a testimony in Kids Club.
Serving others Read the rest of this entry »

About 17 years ago (wow it seems like only yesterday), before I was saved, I stopped at a horrendous traffic accident. The truck was in danger of catching on fire so I pulled this guy out of his truck and he was bleeding from everywhere. He died as I held him in my arms and I kept crying, “I don’t know how to stop all the bleeding”. That event was a defining moment in my life.

I often feel the same way as I work in urban areas and watch youth make horrible decisions. I see them choose drugs, gangs, crime and sex as their way out but those just really lead them in deeper. Just this week I have seen one die, one tell me she is pregnant, and one join a gang. All three had shut me out of their lives prior to these events. I can tell how well a youth, either from Mission Raleigh or Mt. Vernon, is doing in their walk with the Lord by their proximity to me. The youth who I really help are not all about getting “stuff” from me but are allowing me to help them. They listen when I tell them hard stuff as well as when I tell them positive stuff.

The cross we often bare is one of perceived loneliness. As a Christian all loneliness is only perceived since Jesus told us in Matthew 28:20, “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” but as my friend Kevin Moore will tell you, “Perception is stronger than reality.” So when you hit that season of perceived loneliness, as I have right now, remind yourself that Jesus is in this with you for the long haul.

Over the years I have learned that meeting needs is a way to share the Gospel. It is a very biblical strategy used by Jesus, the Apostles and the 1st century Church. Meeting needs in a loving, compassionate and Christ centered way is one thing that makes us different from the world. It should be one thing that makes the Lost want to know more about what we have. Unfortunately many church benevolence ministries operate the same way that the world’s does. Tons of paperwork, rules and hoops to jump through are presented to you by people who seem more interested in “fixing” you or catching you in a lie than loving you and helping you. Too many churches have benevolence for members only and lose the one great connection they have to a hurting and dying world.

Mission Raleigh is all about meeting needs. We love to meet needs; it is our way to “earn” the right to tell people about Jesus. You want to know how to meet the need of an urban child. Show up in their community with a tire pump and few inner tubes. WOW you have met a felt need and you will be very busy. But during that time while you working on that tire there will be a child who will hang on every word you tell them as you meet their need. What about urban youth you say, well I am glad you asked. A few $10.00 cards will add minutes on to cell phones and you will have met a real need. How about just opening the computer lab and let them check their MySpace and Facebook. This will give you great chances to point them toward Jesus. Adults can be groceries, bill or rent assistance. But if you deliver that with a lecture or judgment then just keep it because it has lost any effectiveness. Don’t underestimate the need of listening when working with urban adults. The disenfranchised are disenfranchised because no one listens to them. Jesus taught us how listening meets a felt need in John 4 as he listened to the Samaritan women at the well. Listening leads to ministering. There can be no effective ministering without first effective listening.

Meeting needs will allow us to earn the right to share the Gospel with all cultures and all ages. Meeting needs has been clearly modeled to us by Christ and the Apostles. Let’s find ways to meet the needs of this needy world.

So every morning I get up and spend a few moments with God in reading and prayer. Then get some coffee and open my e-mail where I have my Goggle Calendar sending me my agenda for the day.

Today I saw something I haven’t seen since like May:

You have no events scheduled today.

What a beautiful sight

So this week I was attending another Mission Raleigh wedding. It is amazing that we have seen six couples that served together here get married. At the wedding God showed me something that I needed to see. As I looked around the wedding I saw at least 20 people who use to work with Mission Raleigh. There were so many things that had moved them on to other ministries and stages of their lives. The one thing it showed me was that Mission Raleigh has been staffed by people who were called for a season. I understand that will always be the case for many in Mission Raleigh but I don’t believe that it is all that God wants for all of Mission Raleigh.

We praise the Lord for all the workers that God has sent through Mission Raleigh. We are proud of how many have moved on to other ministries, raising their families and serving in other countries, but we are crying out for God to call some workers to stay planted right here. We are also crying out for more short-term workers.

Please join us as call out to the Lord of the Harvest for Workers. Both short and long term workers.

After a much need weekend escape to WV I hit Raleigh running this week. It has been perhaps one of the most stressful weeks of my ministry. It has involved fighting evictions, working with Social Services, temporarily shutting down the food pantry, finding a new home for MR ministries, trying to plan for the life after summer and of course a normal hectic summer week.
God has been faithful (as if there were any question). I am taking Pastor Joe to see a great location for MR. It has the potential to be a big step for MR. Closer to our people a chance for expanding the ministry including starting a counseling ministry that Kristi and I have always dreamed of having with MR.
Thank you to all who have prayed and by no means stop. the next few days and next week are going to be critical.

Last week I had one of those moments. A moment of clarity! Summer is winding down and I decide to go to Raleigh North Youth Nite. I had not been in 4 weeks so that I could be out with the teams.

I was sitting in the community center, after beasting at Candy Land, and leading 15 inner city youth in a study on Revelation. We were studying Chapter 4 and they were listening and engaged and it was just AMAZING. Then in that moment of clarity I heard God whisper, “Do you get it?” and I answered, “Yes sir.”

See teams and summer staffs are great. They help us find more kids, youth and adults to point to Jesus, but that’s not the real Mission Raleigh. The real Mission Raleigh is sitting in a community that you love and forming relationships that reflect Jesus and the relationship that He wants to have with them. It is laughing and crying with people. It is heartbreaking and rewarding at the same time. Some days it is just too easy, then some days it is just to hard. But it is what you do and you love what you do.

Thank you Jesus for The Call