Whirled Views with Dan Burrell

Dr. Charles Wood is a dear friend and mentor to me and any time he takes the time to write something or tell me something, I listen and I listen intently.-á He sends out an almost daily challenge called “The Woodchuck’s Den” in which he thinks outloud and often stimulates my musings for the day.

Today, he really invited discussion and thought with a headlines that starts off with, “The Biggest Problem…” which is a sure-fired way to get discussion going.-á Frankly, I don’t even know that I think what he wrote about is the biggest problem in the circles he mentions, but I do think it is a major problem and I appreciate the challenge.

So without further introduction, here’s Dr. Wood’s comments…

———-From the Woodchuck’s Den — 9.28.07———-

-á-á-á-á “Last week I mentioned that I would tackle this subject this week so here goes.-á There is a lot of discussion today about social drinking and the Bible (the discussion-á was around more than fifty years ago when I can remember some rather heated exchanges around the coffee pot when in seminary).-á I donGÇÖt think that is the biggest problem we face by far.-á There is much discussion today about seeing movies in theaters (just about everyone watches them on DVD and other technological advances at home).-á IsnGÇÖt it neat how technology has enabled so many to agree to - or even sign –á GÇ£church covenantsGÇ¥ and other agreements without having to take then seriously?-á But this also isnGÇÖt, in my opinion, our greatest problem.
-á-á-á-á-áThe music wars continue to rage (and, again in my opinion, do little to change the tastes and preferences of anyone, including those who readily sign statements on the subject and just as readily violate them at home, in the car, etc.).-á But no matter how much importance certain educational institutions attach to the subject, IGÇÖm not convinced that this is evangelicalismGÇÖs greatest problem.-á There are also battles about other issues such as-á standards, versions of the Word of God, degrees of separation, etc., but no matter how vehemently such peripheral issues are debated, they do not constitute the greatest problem we face.
-á-á-á-á Our society is beset by social issues of significant concern to evangelicals.-á Same sex marriage, school sex-education programs, the decay of modern higher education (so amply shown in recent headlines), and even abortion on demand (as horrible and dangerous as that matter is) are all current issues.-á I am not convinced, however, that even these issues with cosmic significance comprise the greatest problem we face.
-á-á-á-á-áThe greatest problem?-á I am convinced it is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people sit in the pews of evangelical churches on a weekly basis who have never even so much as shared their faith with anyone else much less personally led anyone to the Lord.-á I serious doubt if many of these multitudes have even so much as ever invited someone to church (unless it was on the GÇ£pack-a-pewGÇ¥ night of an evangelistic meeting when they invited someone from another Bible-believing church to be their guest.)
-á-á-á-á-áThe last words of Jesus didnGÇÖt include any mention of alcohol consumption, dancing, movie-going, Bible versions, standards, same-sex marriage, abortion on demand or even a diatribe on musical tastes and preferences.-á Surely some of those matters are of importance to many and some are to all who name the name of Christ, but they were not included in the words spoken during those precious last few days spent with His disciples.-á I have always attached greatest importance to the words spoken by someone who is in His right mind and knows he is dying.-á Jesus fits that picture, and it is interesting to note that His concern was with sending His disciples into all the world on a quest to make more disciples.-á How easy it is to get involved in GÇ£goodGÇ¥ things and even GÇ£betterGÇ¥ things and to leave the GÇ£bestGÇ¥ things undone.
-á-á-á-á-áMight it not be possible that some of the problems plaguing society now would yield to a greater body of believers who truly believed what they claimed to believed and who lived out their Christianity in the world in such a way as to gain the respect of the unsaved world (rather than its reprobation as is so often currently the deserved case)?
-á-á-á-á-áUnfortunately, this problem is made worse - in my estimation - by the fact that many believers, especially in fundamentalist churches - donGÇÖt even really know anyone who is unsaved.-á Surely they work among the unsaved and have relatives who do not know the Lord, to say nothing of lost neighbors, but they donGÇÖt really know their neighbors or co-workers and stay fairly clear of many of their unsaved relatives.-á Often, they are encouraged in this evangelism-discouraging conduct by pastors who teach, at least by example if not by word, that preservation of a specific religious culture is more important than presentation of the glorious Gospel.-á GÇ£Stay away from the world lest you become infected.GÇ¥-á GÇ£Now that you are saved, youGÇÖre going to need a whole new set of friends.GÇ¥-á GÇ£Come to church every time the doors are openGÇ¥ (even if it keeps you from ever getting to really know someone you might have otherwise led to the Lord).-á How different from the approach of the Lord Jesus!-á He went to dinner at more than one tax collectorGÇÖs home.-á He would not take the cured GÇ£Maniac of GadaraGÇ¥ with Him when he departed from Gadara; telling him, instead, to go tell others in his town what had been done for him.-á He told a big-time female sinner to go tell her friends and relatives (can you image what most of them must have been like?) about the man who knew all about her.-á A woman taken in adultery was told simply to go and sin no more.-á Obviously, Jesus simply didnGÇÖt know that contact with the world might cause some of them to violate some aspect of a code of conduct that is at best derived from Scripture rather than specifically declared in it!
-á-á-á-á-áYes!-á There is room for teaching on some of the issues evangelicals - and especially fundamentalists - hold dear, but I really do question if those matters actually out-weigh the basic purpose for which Jesus came: to seek and to save the lost.-á Would we really have someone who smokes, drinks socially, goes to movies, dances, etc., go to hell rather than risk contamination by trying to get close enough to reach him or her with the Gospel?n++
-á-á-á-á-áAlthough I have reservations about the mega-church movement as a whole and about some particular churches of that genre in particular, I also have some personal first-hand observations that I think are interesting and revealing.-á There is a major mega-church near our church.-á Granger Community Church is a Willow Creek spin-off that operates much like Saddleback.-á Several people that I could not reach for Christ for one reason or another have now found the Lord through that church.-á When I run into them, I am always warmly greeted, and I find that all they want to talk about is the Lord and what He is doing in their lives and in the life of their church.-á I also run into former members of our church who have left us because of our GÇ£liberalism.GÇ¥-á They are also usually very courteous, but I find it almost impossible to engage them in any meaningful conversation about spiritual things that lasts more than two or three minutes.-á Asked about what God is doing in their lives of the life of their current church, they often respond with a blank look as if I had just spoken to them in Chinese.-á Maybe some of the time we spend criticizing the mega-churches for their GÇ£John 3:16 onlyGÇ¥ approach and their :shallowness,GÇ¥ could be better invested in trying to win people to Christ.

Right at the moment - and this is not just my opinion as it is backed by statistics - we are not doing a very good job of what I consider to be our most important task.-á This - to me - is the greatest problem of conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism.-á”

——————-

If you’d like to receive Dr. Wood’s daily email challenge, write him at LORCHUCK@aol.com — and tell him that you read his stuff at “Whirled Views”, will you?

I originally needed to post this link for my SES students who are in my Discipleship course, but as I prepared to post this for them, I realized that I might as well-á encourage others to take a look at this as well.

I have been friends with John Honeycutt for about fifteen years.-á John is, in my opinion, one of the best missionaries in the world.-á God has used him, and his father before him, in the Phillipines and more recently all across Asia.-á Several years ago, John developed a Discipleship plan with resources that is revolutionizing Biblical Discipleship in many foreign countries and across the United States.-á I had John visit our church a couple of years ago to teach this method of Discipleship and I believe that this is a serious tool for people seriously interested in becoming serious disciples of Christ.

So take a look for yourself at THIS link or copy and paste this URL into your browser:

http://web.mac.com/johnhoneycutt/visitjourney/Home.html

You’ll be glad to do.

For my SES students, this is the link I told you I would post for your project.

It has been-áa tremendous joy and privilege to have served with two of the finest youth pastors I have ever known over the last seven and half years.-á Ben Rudolph and Frank Shimkus-ápersonally embody what I believe a youth director should know and do.-á I have watched teens (two of which were my own) absolutely blossom and aspire to be used by God under their leadership.-á However, I also believe that Ben and Frank were rare finds in a-áchurch culture that seems bent on entertaining rather than discipling.-á Much of my impetus in writing this article-ágrew from seeing youth ministry “done right” by these two men (one of whom is now a pastor in Denver, NC) and it is my desire that church leaders re-evaluated what is happening in what passes for “youth ministry” these days.-á

For too many churches, the youth pastor has become little more than the spiritual equivalent of an activities director on a cruise ship.-á He -áplans GÇ£eventsGÇ¥ and activities, they hang out with the kids, they entertain and provide some semblance of oversight in order to keep the kids reasonably safe and occupied.-á Many churches have designed GÇ£youth programsGÇ¥ that allow their teens to grow up with a sense of GÇ£entitlementGÇ¥ wherein they expect to be amused, indulged and isolated from the adults with most every whim of appetite and interest being met by the church.-á They have separate services GÇô sometimes to the point where they never even have an opportunity to go to the adult service which is often described as GÇ£dryGÇ¥ and/or GÇ£irrelevantGÇ¥ to what they need.-á (Think about this GÇô many children are growing up in a church culture wherein they never sit under the pastors teaching or with their parents and family in a church service from infancy through adolescence because of our nurseries, childrenGÇÖs programs and youth programs.)

Parents frequently demand that the church hire a youth director/pastor whose primary job description is to keep their kids GÇ£engagedGÇ¥ in church GÇô preferably through weekly activities, contemporary music and activities and youth centers equipped with video games and comfortable lounge areas exclusively reserved for teens.-á Youth pastors are expected to be GÇ£hipGÇ¥, accessible, relevant, and responsible and masters at keeping teens GÇ£occupiedGÇ¥.Thus, many teens develop an GÇ£usGÇ¥ vs. GÇ£themGÇ¥ mentality which sees the older generations within a church (those of their parents and grandparents ages) and many of the GÇ£olderGÇ¥ generation are quite fine with that because, letGÇÖs face it…teenagers can be rowdy, messy and ornery.-á-á They become compartmentalized apart from the church GÇ£bodyGÇ¥ with their own facilities, program, ministry leadership, music and calendar.-á They arenGÇÖt encouraged to and sometimes even permitted to be integrated into service opportunities generally reserved for adults like serving as ushers/greeters, participating in the adult choir or even working in various aspects of the childrenGÇÖs ministries.-á-á Over the passage of time, they buy into a GÇ£consumerGÇ¥ mentality of church wherein they expect to have their GÇ£needs metGÇ¥ rather than looking at their role and function within an overall body life.

TodayGÇÖs youth ministry has been dumbed-down for a variety of reasons and I offer a limited list of causes here:

1.-á-á-á-á-á We have created an extended adolescence.Western culture has normalized a premature adolescence and a delayed adulthood that has extended puberty into a nearly two decade-long process that begins with little girls wearing make-up in elementary school and ends up with 30-year old college grads living in our basements with mom still doing their laundry.-á

2.-á-á-á-á-á We do not believe that teens will listen to or have a thirst for strong teaching of Scripture. By listening to our culture, we have bought into the fallacy that kids canGÇÖt or wonGÇÖt tolerate GÇ£deepGÇ¥ stuff and that we must GÇ£keep it realGÇ¥ by offering them intellectual and spiritual pabulum.-á-á We fear challenging our students with meaty subjects might bore them or turn them off to spiritual interest.

3.-á-á-á-á-á We have bought into an entertainment mentality that sees keeping our teens occupied as an adultGÇÖs obligation.The mantra of todayGÇÖs teens is often GÇ£IGÇÖm boredGÇ¥ and angst-ridden parents with inflated sensations of guilt seem all-too-willing to rush to provide more and more activities and distractions for their precious progeny.

4.-á-á-á-á-á We fail to recognize the raw potential that most adolescents possess.If youGÇÖll study the culture of families when Jesus walked the Holy Land, youGÇÖll soon realize that most of the 12 who were his disciples were probably in their late teens to middle twenties.-á Children were expected to put away much of their childhood once they reached majority which is age 13 in Jewish culture.-á From that landmark age, apprenticeships and jobs were soon to follow with many teens getting married in their mid-to late teenage years.-á TodayGÇÖs teens are no less capable of acting maturely and making an impact even in their youth.

5.-á-á-á-á-á We have low expectations and even lower accountability for teenagers.Many parents have surrendered their kids to an extended period of foolish behavior marked by rebellion, anti-social (toward adults) behavior, irresponsible conduct and a lack of accountability during which they are GÇ£expectedGÇ¥ to experiment, sow their GÇ£wild oatsGÇ¥ and push the limits.-á TodayGÇÖs parents expect too little from their teens and seem more than willing to shrug their shoulders and roll their eyes at behavior that could threaten their health and heart for many years.

So with those causes in mind, what are some challenges that youth pastors should consider in bringing back some sanity to our strategy for spiritual development among adolescents?-á Here are some thoughts.

++-á Emphasize teaching, not activities.

Expectations need to be changed as to what parents and their teens should expect from their youth ministries.-á If itGÇÖs about drawing a big crowd of kids GÇô then build a huge lounge, order the PS3GÇÖs, buy a pizza oven and hire a band.-á If itGÇÖs about training young people in Scripture and equipping them for ministry, then let every parent know up front that the youth ministry does not view it as the churchGÇÖs responsibility to provide recreation, entertainment, amusement and a complimentary buffet on a weekly basis.-á Kids need to spend more time at home, not less.-á Mom and dad would be smart to park the cars in the driveway for a few years and turn their garage into a family GÇ£rec centerGÇ¥ and have their kidGÇÖs friends over to their house.-á Let the church be used for equipping.-á This doesnGÇÖt mean that you wonGÇÖt have the occasional fun activity or food GÇô it just means that it is the occasional treat not the expected norm.

++-á Have a GÇ£grown-upGÇ¥ youth pastor.

The kids donGÇÖt need their youth pastor to be their GÇ£buddyGÇ¥ GÇô he needs to be their pastor.-á He doesnGÇÖt need to dress like a mortician, but he doesnGÇÖt need to pretend heGÇÖs sixteen any more either.-á (There are few things more pathetic in the world than an adult who refuses to grow up.-á Neither real grown ups nor real teenagers respect that.)-á-á Balance is essential in being an effective ministry leader.-á The youth pastor must be mature enough to know what his objectives should be, where his boundaries should lie, where the authority should reside and how to move students forward spiritually.

++-á Challenge teens toward maturity.

Our Western culture exalts values that promote rebellion GÇô from hard-edged rock-n-roll to extreme sports to uncensored expression.-á ItGÇÖs almost become synonymous with being GÇ£AmericanGÇ¥.-á Fast cars, loose morals and risky business in all its permutations have been the generational mantra from James Dean to Tom Cruise to Britney/Lindsey/Paris.-á But even many teenagers are now becoming aware of the soulless vacuousness of such a lifestyle.-á They desire something more substantive, more concrete, and weightier.-á Certainly not every teenager is sick of low expectations, but there is a core that is ready to get a jump on their peers and start taking life appropriately seriously.

++-á Spotlight Prioritizing

Youth leaders can train teens by teaching them to comprehend establishing priorities in their life.-á What role is authority going to play in their lives and where is that authority found?-á Every teen should be confronted with the principal of GÇ£First PrioritiesGÇ¥.-á Are we willing to give the Lord the first and the best in what we do vocationally, with whom we will spend it (marriage), how we will spend our money and how we will use our talents and gifts?

++-á Teach Doctrine, Apologetics and Rhetoric

Many within fundamentalism have bought into an GÇ£isolationistGÇ¥ mentality that withdraws from the world rather than engages it with Truth.-á Without a doubt, it is foolish to shove our kids into a world system intent on ignoring and countering spiritual truth without adequate preparation.-á TodayGÇÖs youth ministries have an opportunity and an obligation to equip our next generation of leaders with a sound grasp of Biblical doctrine, the education to tell people GÇ£whyGÇ¥ they believe what they believe and the skill to fluently communicate and articulate Truth and itGÇÖs logical defense in the public forum.

++-á Encourage Service and Ministry

In a generation thatGÇÖs GÇ£all about meGÇ¥, Christian teens can make a difference by living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.-á By this authorGÇÖs definition, service involves using our skills and talents to be a blessing to others and ministry involves directly bringing the souls of men and women into contact with the Word of God.-á Our teens can learn and practice service and ministry at an earlier age than most give them an opportunity to do so.

++-á Promote Cross-Generational Interaction

Rather than isolating our kids from the older generation, we should be integrating the generations.-á There is much that older generations can teach teens and there is much that teens can do to inspire and encourage older generations.-á This will mean that we, of the older generation, are going to have to accept the fact that todayGÇÖs teens arenGÇÖt quite like they way we were and to patient with them as they grow into maturity.-á It also means that teens are going to need to be taught respect and consideration for those who have traveled a few more miles down the road than they.-á Our current approach of inflexible isolation is making generational transfers of ministry and leadership difficult and at times, impossible.

++-á Include the Pastor in the Ministry

The lead or senior pastor needs to be plugged in to the teens of his church flock.-á He needs to spend time with them, preach to them, and get to know them.-á He should be a cheerleader for them.-á Too often, teens view the senior pastor as some out-of-touch stiff who wears a suit and prays in King James English.-á No wonder he makes little, if any, impression on them.-á Most people in ministry today surrender to go into the ministry in their teens with the fast majority doing so by the time they were fourteen years of age.-á Any pastor who spends time with his teens is using his time wisely.-á The youth pastor isnGÇÖt a substitute for the senior pastor; he should be an extension of him.

++-á Create a positive spirit toward the youth

ItGÇÖs long been a sort of sport to trash-talk teenagers.-á Sure, they are pimply, hormonal, gangly, unpredictable messes in sneakers.-á But they are also witty, gifted, vibrant, gregarious, curious, reflective gifts from God as well.-á Let everyone else put them down and diminish them in word and deed, but let the church and her leadership be their cheerleaders.-á When we project a love, enthusiasm, interest and confidence in our teens, we will create a positive spirit and a positive relationship that will benefit both sides of the generational divide.

++-á Train and Equip the Parents and not just the Teens

TodayGÇÖs generation of parents who have teens often grew up in dysfunctional homes themselves.-á These are the parents who first experienced the consequences of the 50% divorce rate.-á These are the parents who parents had tuned out during the free-love, drugs and rock-n-roll craziness of the 1960GÇÖs and 70GÇÖs.-á Many of these parents did not have a stabilizing, spiritual role model during their own formative years and the church has an opportunity to train and equip them as the parent their teens.-á Church youth pastors and ministries ought not to be a general substitute for parents, but rather an extension of them.-á We can serve the teens by serving the parents and helping them to adopt healthy leadership strategies and Biblical values in their God-given roles.

TodayGÇÖs ministry leaders need to smarten up and counter the dumbing down of the youth ministry.-á There is an unfathomable well of opportunity at hand and the wise pastor and spiritual leadership must recognize it and the alert and conscientious parent should anticipate it as they work together to see teens come of age into the leaders God created them to be.

Feel free to share your additional thoughts in the comment section.-á I would particularly love to hear from folks who have been blessed by a youth pastor or youth ministry-áand what it was about him or the ministry that helped them.

This article was written for and can also be found at “Sharper Iron“.

The Northside Christian Knights (Charlotte, NC) brought home a victory over Asheville Christian for their homecoming.-á Homecoming is always one of the most exciting nights of the year for any school and NCA does it right with a parade, half-time festivies and the coronation of a queen.

-áCongratulations also go-áto Taylor McGee who was crowned Homecoming Queen 2007 by last year’s queen, Jenny Minor.-á Senior attendants were Amy Ronstadt and Jamie Hudson and any one of these three fine young ladies were worthy of the honor.

I’m proud to be the dad of one NCA alumnus and-áanother will be-áa member of the class of 2009.-á This is the school where I used to be President and they have some of the finest students and faculty in all of North Carolina.-á Headmaster David Kilgore is an outstanding educator and does a great job leading this good school.

Congratulations from “Whirled Views” and “Pastor Dan” to the Knights on a great Homecoming victory.

Fall has finally started to arrive in Charlotte.-á We are now staying in our new house.-á The fact that it is not next to a major interstate highway (unlike our former house)-ámeans that we could-áactually turn off the A/C over the week-end and open our doors and windows to enjoy the cooler temperatures. Nice!

I like the change of seasons. Part of that is probably nostalgia in that I grew up in the Midwest where 4 distinct seasons were part of our climate. (My wife, a native South Floridian, still marvels at the changes.) Another part of my enjoyment is probably part of the ADD/Love of Variety side of my personality. I like change and new experiences and variety.

The seasons tend to bring out something else in me GÇô a fresh dose of wonder over GodGÇÖs creativity. Exodus 15:11 reminds us, GÇ£Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?GÇ¥-á Years ago when I was a principal, I traveled to-áGreenville, SC-áin October for some sort of conference or recruitment or something I canGÇÖt now remember. I got bored (as I often do) and decided to go for a drive up into a local park situated around Paris Mountain. I drove as far up as I could and then I hiked the rest of the way to the top. I found a log and I just sat/lay on it for over an hour taking in all of GodGÇÖs majesty. I found myself praying, worshipping and even hearing hymns in my mind. (I didnGÇÖt sing out loud as I didnGÇÖt want to frighten the coyotes.)

I was struck by GodGÇÖs awesomeness and as a result, I was filled with reverence. ThereGÇÖs a word to which we donGÇÖt pay enough attention GÇô GÇ£REVERENCEGÇ¥. The LordGÇÖs Prayer even reminds us that the very NAME of God is to be GÇ£hallowedGÇ¥ (holy).

IGÇÖm afraid our generation (and the one we are teaching in our classrooms) has not only lost a sense of awe and reverence, but weGÇÖve made God common (in our minds) or worse yet, we are irreverent. Last night, I read a news report that Gidget herself (Sally Field) was censored during the Emmy Awards on Sunday evening for using GodGÇÖs name horrifically in vain. The week before, so-called comedienne, Kathy Griffin, at the MTV awards went on a vicious, blasphemous rant against Jesus and at the conclusion actually said GÇ£Suck it, Jesus.GÇ¥ (Can we imagine for a moment what would have happened had she said GÇ£MohammedGÇ¥ instead of GÇ£JesusGÇ¥?)

Sadly, we believers have become accustomed to this as well. IGÇÖve heard preachers say GÇ£O my GodGÇ¥ or GÇ£Bless GodGÇ¥ in ways that were less than reverent. It is not uncommon at all to hear people specifically use the name of Jesus as an GÇ£oathGÇ¥. One leading fundamentalist preacher recently used some egregiously profane illustrations in a sermon by being so audaciously arrogant as to offer a hypothetical conversation between God the Father and Jesus the Son that was heretically offensive regardless of his motivation or intentions.

WeGÇÖd all be well advised to remember the thundering awesomeness of our God daily. Bowing our heads in reverence as we pray GÇô not out of tradition. Taking care not to use His name lightly GÇô or even slang derivations of it such as Gosh, Jeesh, Golly or the like. Praying personally to the Lord and not to whomever is listening. (Have you ever wondered why a lot of Christian publicly pray in Old English as in using a lot of GÇ£thousGÇ¥ and GÇ£lovethsGÇ¥ and GÇ£verilysGÇ¥?) Stopping and thinking about what we are going to say and to Whom we are speaking before we pray. Asking people who feel comfortable verbally maligning our Savior in our presence to stop abusing His name. Turning off a TV show or walking out of movie that makes light of God.

Standing in reverence is not legalistic.

It is acknowledging that He is the great GÇ£I AmGÇ¥ and that-áwe are not.

Most of you know my passion for the island nation of Cuba.-á Spending a couple of days each week in South Florida as I have for the last month has reminded me of the great spiritual need that exists among Cuban expatriats and nationals.-á Recently, I was able to talk to my Cuban pastor friend, Pastor-áNRC as I work toward a return visit to Cuba this fall sometime.-á In the short-term however, he made me aware of some very specific needs that I wanted to share with you.

Specifically, they are in need of:

Moving and Set up Support for Two Missionary Church Planters - $2,500 — $1,250

These two men and their families will be moving to towns where there is no gospel witness during the month of September.-á For $1,250 USD, they can set up their ministry and take care of their family needs.-á I have been able to locate the funds for one of the pastors already, but I am still in need of an additional $1,250.

Digital Camera — $300 Need Covered!!!

We want and need to document the work going on in Cuba.-á This assists with financial accountability and gives a record of what God is doing there.-á A simple digital camera is essential to this effort.

Laptop Computer — $2,500

Computers are very difficult to obtain in Cuba unless you are with the government.-á The laptop computer is used in conjunction with a projector I have already delivered there so that the Jesus film can be shown, seminary classes can be taught and other projects can be completed.-á Currently, Pastor NRC has a computer, but it is 5-years old and not long for this world.

Monthly Support for a Missionary Pastor for One Year — $240

For $20 per month, you can support a missionary pastor with minimal food and expenses for his family.-á One year’s support is $240.

Transportation — $3,500

We have been able to purchase a car (1940’s Mercury) but it is expensive to maintain.-á By selling it and adding $3,500, we will be able to obtain a diesel-powered vehicle which would be extremely valuable.-á Currently, infrequent bus service and hitch-hiking is the only way for Pastor NRC to visit the fledgling churches and mentor the pastors.

Portable CD/mp3 Players and Adapters — Four @ $50 Each for a total of $200

These inexpensive units allow there to be music for the house churches that are being started.-á

I am pouring every available dollar I have personally — mostly earned from teaching a few side courses and doing some consulting/interim work — into the needs there.-á If you would be willing to help, I have established a fund with the Grace Baptist Church in Moberly, Missouri which will serve as the accountable American partner for these projects.-á Every dime that is given will be used for Cuban ministry.-á None of my travel expense, no administrative costs, nothing-áis taken from outside donations.

If you would like to give to these projects, you may send it to:

Grace Baptist Church
(Cuban Ministries Fund)
533 East Rollins Street
Moberly, MO 65270

If you are giving for a specific need, please note that on your contribution.-á Please make sure you note also that it is for Cuban Ministry.

On behalf of Pastor NRC and-áour brothers and sisters in Christ-áin Cuba, thank you for praying for and giving toward the spiritual needs that exists in this nation.