Published November 18, 2016
Southside Baptist Church, Sebring, Florida
Ryan
Ministry Highlights
Our young adult class has seen another couple with two young children join, a 20-something young man, and an unequally yoked mother who has a first grade daughter. The Lord continues to be at work!
As a church and as a leadership group, we are specifically praying for a revival in our church and in our community as we desire to reach out to the younger family demographic. The Lord has blessed us with an amazing campus and a church body that has a love for God, a love for His people, a love for His Word and a love for the lost. Praying that we can align our hearts and our ministries with that of God, and see His blessings overflow.
The Lord put on Nicole’s heart to reignite the CARE ministry at Southside, which is the ministry to shut-ins. She has the gift of hospitality and care, and this ministry is something that she excels at. While we have visited and been blessed by making some visits as a couple; this past month our two girls as well as Nicole and I visited four shut-ins on a Saturday. During our visits we were able to pray, fellowship, and the girls brought a guitar to sing a couple of hymns. What a sweet way to spend time together and to serve and be used by God!
We participated at a local outreach event sponsored by the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Youth For Christ ministries. Alongside six other churches they had four Christian rappers on a stage who gave testimonies, a youth leader lead in message and invitation, numerous games/activities, food, fun and a number of decisions for Christ. Recently our city endured a recent police shooting of a young black man and then a retaliation gang event that took the life of another youth. The location of this outreach event was within walking distance of both the shooting and our church. The diversity that the Lord brought to this event was amazing! The Lord has unified a number of the area’s youth leaders. With a couple of decisions for Christ taking place in the lives of some of the youth that live in this area, the other youth leaders brought these youth to me to encourage them to join us on Wednesday nights and to get connected. I was able to share the gospel with a young lady (15) and she affirmed her faith in Christ. Later that day her sister trusted Christ as well. She had a friend that said she would join her on Wednesday nights too! Another young man, Tim, also came to Christ, and we had a great talk about the next steps in his life and that connecting with a local church is imperative. In total, we could have around eight new youth joining us because of this event. To God be the glory! Interestingly I had asked our church to open our gymnasium to the local girls basketball team to do conditioning on Mondays. Their coach is now a good friend and fellow youth leader at a local church. During his practice I’ve been given the opportunity to mingle with the girls on the team (many from this rough area of town) and a number of their siblings that come to just hang out. We’ve brought out crayons and other things to do as we interact with them and build relationships. It was awesome to see many of these young people at the outreach event and it provided us with a basis of trust and communication, the Lord is so good. Praying the Lord continues to soften hearts and bring more into His Kingdom and that we might be faithful and obedient in our roles! Please be praying for DeeDee, Kiera, Aniyah, Tim, Matthew, David, and Tyrone. I was reminded of Psalm 86:9, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.”
Praising the Lord as our youth event at Passion Nights Florida with Louie Giglio was a great experience as 17 of our youth and six leaders worshiped and heard a great message on the love and victory/protection found in Christ in Psalm 23. A mountain top experience that I pray we can build on as the kids were excited and on fire.
Attended the state GARBC meetings this month where the Lord provided some great new and old contacts as well as being a great encouragement for Nicole and I.
Attended a two-day intensive training seminar in Orlando with Nelson Searcy on Assimilation. Overwhelmed with information and praying for discernment and guidance as we look to improve and implement aspects of what was presented.
Key Prayer Requests
We are praying for our young adult ministry as I’m beginning to lead our small group to be disciples and disciplers. As we look to follow the command of Christ (Matt 29:18-20) we are looking to build fellowship, teaching, prayer, ministry, multiplication and accountability by reading and sharing the Bible together. Our prayer is that this isn’t just a program or class, but rather a lifestyle that is modeled after the life of Christ where we all are growing spiritually.
I’m leading our youth group through an interactive study on evangelism. Praying that the Lord will use this group of teens to be the influencers rather than the influenced, the bold instead of the fearful, and provide them with the courage to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
Last month we asked for prayer for Nicole as she had to study and prepare for a Critical Care Nursing Exam for her position as a RN in Endoscopy and Post-Surgical Recovery. We are praising the Lord for providing the time and strength to study as she passed the difficult exam with relative ease. To God be the glory!
Continuing to pray and wait on Lord to bring a family to Fargo, North Dakota to buy our home.
Patience, guidance, discernment and a right heart in dealing with difficult people. Need to continue to model servant-leadership and focus on people!
Prominent Lessons
I went with my oldest daughter to a CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) meeting for our county a couple of weeks ago to make some connections and gather some information for her as she had been a CEF missionary for the past two years. Ryleah worked as a supported CEF missionary this past summer in Fargo and worked the entire previous school year at an after school CEF at one of the elementary schools. She was excited to see what Sebring would have to offer. At the meeting we found out that the school board does not allow anyone 18 or under to work in any of the area schools during the school year, which brought along with it one disappointed young lady. Nonetheless, there are possibilities for her to continue to be a counselor again this next summer that raised her spirits once again. During this meeting it was relayed to us that there was a need for a teacher to help out with the club at my other daughter’s elementary school. Being the new guy in the room they immediately asked me if I could help them out by agreeing to teach on Mondays. I could literally see the desperation in their eyes, so I half-heartily agreed to lead the teaching. With an already busy schedule, I really didn’t want to undertake another slot of my time; however, I prayed about it and decided that it was a great opportunity for me to get to be a part of my youngest daughter’s school and to be able to interact with some of her peers, teachers and administrators. Our first club was this past week, and the Lord powerfully showed me the impact that this ministry has on the lives of young children. With about 30-40 kids on our first day, after the lesson I was able to share the gospel with three young boys. While there were no commitments, the seed has been planted and they were asking some good questions about the topic of the day which was turning to God. Just as I was going to return to the group another young boy came over (a fourth grader named Jacob), and he began to share a bit about his life and that he had some questions about his sin. He had some church background and we talked about the gift of salvation. At the end of his questions and us looking at Scripture together he knew it was time to trust in Christ. I’m always humbled by the opportunity to used by God in such a way, especially with someone at this tender age. He excitedly shared with some of the other leaders what had happened and that he had put his faith in Christ as we concluded the day. We are planning to follow up with him and his church about his decision and he said he couldn’t wait until next week! Needless to say I’ve now gone from being half-hearted about my involvement in this ministry to being all in!
This past month I was reminded that we’re not in Fargo anymore. While I’m accustomed to 40 below and large amounts of snow and wind, this was our first encounter with a hurricane. After talking with a Haitian friend of ours as Matthew was approaching that small country, the forecast of destruction and chaos equaled that of the storm’s fury. With a direct hit, the poor and small island remains in a struggle for daily life. The storm was heading our way and we were only some 70 miles from the eye of the category 4 storm. We were planning and preparing with the essentials of water, batteries, food and a place of refuge if we encountered a direct hit. With a constant eye on the weather channel and weather reports, a certain anxiousness filled the aisles of grocery stores and long lines at the gas pumps. I was reading Psalm 107:23-32 and was reminded of the mystery, power and beauty of the ocean and of God’s sovereignty over its waves, wind and path.
As I see the Lord at work in and through the number of relationships and opportunities that I’ve had to minister to people in the Name of Christ, I stand in awe of the goodness of our Lord and Savior. Nevertheless, it appears that the world, my flesh, and the Devil are warring against me as I look at the number of physical, mental and other incidents that have also marked our time here. I know God is preparing both our church and us for great things for His glory, and I also know that the reality of that statement is a threat to the prince of the power of the air. While I’m not blaming anything on him, it is a stark reminder of the spiritual battle that we are engaged in and I found great comfort recently in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Key Goals for the Next Month
Presenting beginning stages of our assimilation plan to deacons and leadership. Praying for discernment and guidance as we lead through changes to tradition and getting people to catch the vision.
We are having a Thanksgiving meal and fall outreach event next week for our youth group. We’re inviting a number of guests as we plan time for fellowship, hayrides, lawn games, food and a challenge from God’s Word.
Planning a Christmas outreach and service event for our youth group to be a blessing to the community.
Finishing my last official class at BBS, The Exposition of Ephesians, well.
I have the great opportunity to preach four times this month. Praying for the Lord to prepare my heart to share and communicate His Word with conviction and application.
Praying for direction and discipleship in our young adult class as we look to equip, encourage and train in the biblical command of discipleship through Bible reading, leading, fellowship, teaching, ministry and prayer. I’m excited to see how the Lord builds and uses this part of His Body.
Nicole
Ministry Highlights
Being asked by Pastor Altman to take over the CARE Ministry of shut-ins and nursing home members.
Taking the youth group to Passion Nights Florida with Louie Giglio.
Praying for members in our church.
Getting to know many of the members, visits with our girls to home-bound members, singing songs and good conversations.
Social events with members of church.
Joining the church choir.
Seeing the Young Adult class grow.
Praise—I passed my Critical Care Exam at work.
Praise—A friend from work has been coming to church consistently.
Key Prayer Requests
Please pray for wisdom at work so that I may continue to learn all the skills I need to do my job well.
Time management, to fit in time in with my girls and Ryan.
Prioritizing time for all of the things I want to do in ministry at this time.
For our home to sell in Fargo and that our transition into new rental home goes well in a few weeks.
Prominent Lessons
I had the opportunity to intervene in a dispute between a couple of members. I used a loving approach towards the conflict and helped both parties see the two sides and give grace and understanding. The result was great! I learned I can be a leader in these difficult times and promote the love of Jesus towards one another.
Key Goals
I have been praying about getting involved in a ministry called “Choices,” a family resource center in town. After speaking to the director, there is a need for church liaisons in the community. I feel the resources of this ministry would be beneficial to some of our church members and the greater Sebring community. I may want to learn and train in their counseling program as well.
