I have been around MINISTRY all my life. I began my ministry at 13 when I taught Sunday School. As i grew older I was a Childrens Church Director in various churches all around the United States. I began working for David Wilkersons ministry that turned into World Challenge Inc. I used to get to travel with my Dad on his bus watching him preach to thousands and thousands in huge auditoriums, seeing thousands come to the alter weeping for salvation. I grew up around Teen Challenge. When I was 8 I ran around the Teen Challenge building on Clinton Avenue hearing the addicts singing, There is power, power wonder working power, in the blood of the Lamb. That seemed to be their favorite song whenever I visited with my father. Dad gave me a dime for the soda machine. I loved the cold feel of the soda bottle watching the bubbles come out as I opened the lid. As I drank the bottle I could hear AGAIN them singing in chapel the same song. To this day I can still hearing them singing it and it brings me comfort. I liked peeking in my Uncle Dons office cause he made me laugh and happy. I have worked for World Challenge over 40 years. Watching it flourish to help the poor, the lost, the needy, the unsaved all across the oceans. I saw firsthand the beauty of a truly GIVING MINISTRY. My Dad and Uncle Don founded a church in NYC. Times Square Church. It is still thriving and touching hundreds and hundreds of people in the needy city of New York. Pastor Carter preaches deep from his loving heart. Please Pass the Bread, is an awesome ministry of World Challenge feeding ministry feeding thousands and thousands of hungry mouths of poor children around the world. We have community development that teaches the poor how to grow their own food overseas. Roger is director of Missions for caring for and opening up orphanages around the world. We also minister one on one to widows, the poor, and needy in and around our community and in the U.S. My brother Gary founded an amazing vital ministry being founder and Pastor of a beautiful church in Colorado Springs called The Springs Church. They impact their community in so many ways. My brother is now President of World Challenge, taking on the mantle of my father. Doing a heck of a job! Garys spirit is gentle and giving. His sermons speak to my heart. My brother Greg, which you dont hear about much is producing a movie entitled, Victor, which will be out in theaters soon. It is a touching story of an ex drug addict and gang member, Victor Torres. His story matches the story in importance as Nicky Cruz. Greg has a lot of my Dads heart of revelation and wisdom. He has suffered a lot and the devil has tried to stop him many times. But the devil has NOT succeeded. God has carried Greg through from the fiery furnace now to a beautiful Movie Producing ministry. You can tell I cam proud of my brothers. LOL So you can see my world has been that of seeing first hand different types of ministry. I have met big names in ministry, I have seen every one of us and them not perfect and messy like me. And like you. But God in his mercy and grace continues to let ministry flow like it should. HOWEVER....what is ministry to me in its greatest, raw, getting in the dirt, unconditional loving sacrificial grit. It is the behind the scenes, where no one sees or know what you are doing....it is those who help a widow by sending a check to pay bills, it is investing one on one to fatherless city kids. Roger and I had a ministry called Front Porch Farm in Pa. A 50 acre farm. We had boys from NYC who were poor and troubled and fatherless come to the farm. We took them in as family. We still minister to them and invest our lives in them. We flew them to be by Brandons side at the funeral. Many of them shared at the funeral how Brandon touched their lives. These boys are family and are like brothers to David and Brandon. As long as I live even if I grow to be in my 90s I will still invite them to my home and let them by ministered to their deepest needs. That is a vital ministry to me and will always be. But the greatest ministry I saw firsthand was during the last 2 months of my son Brandons life. It is the core of how Jesus lived his life here on earth. Behind the scenes. Ministry no one sees except those next to him. My dads greatest ministry was when he walked the streets of NYC and would come across a widow and he would hand her money and send her to our Womens Home we had one time. But still the most touching valid ministry I have seen first hand is CAREGIVING. I saw it in my nephew Matthew as he dropped his work and flew to Brandon and Christinas house the day Brandon was brought from the hospital to Home Hospice Care. He literally slept in a chair closest to Brandons hospital bed in their living room. He sat by his side day and night. He only left his side to have a few breaks to drive to get a sandwich and soda in town. He only left his side to sit outside Skyping his 2 beautiful children. I could hear Ava and Grant laugh with Matthew and talk so excitedly. He then went back to his spot near Brandon. My son David put a mattress next to Brandons bed to be near him at night and to be there for every need Christina needed as she was the main caregiver always making sure she administered nursing that the Hospice people would explain how to administer the medications at correct intervals on the clock. Matthew and David were soldiers lifting up their lieutenant Christina. The strongest one in the bunch. She was 24/7 courageous Patton. She had to care for and see in front of her eyes the love of her life suffer unimaginable pain and suffering. Brandon swelled up in many places. He had a colonoscopy bag that he did not like and they had to help him pee and poop. Sorry but that is reality. They lost much sleep. Christinas parents and Roger and I were there to help. Roger and I went home to sleep. Christinas mom cared for Aria and her father helped her daughter is so many ways. He lost money as he had to leave his job for weeks at a time. Davids girlfriend Mary came to help in intervals. Taking care of Aria and doing all the house hold chores. Where am I going with this story. Where did the story remain ministry. It was 100 percent ministry. Caregivers all over the world know the intense work it is. They are the ministers in this world that is 100 percent Jesus.100 percent ministry. My father and mother had someone who gave 100 percent to them as a caregiver etc. His name is Joey Sosh. He was like a son to my mom and dad. He gave unconditionally for many years to make my mom and dads life easier and bearable. He even moved to Colorado when my mom and dad moved here at my home for Roger and I to take care of him. Joey was always there for them. Joey is my hero. Our family and World Challenge owe him a lot of respect and love and care. Along with Matthew, David, Christina, Mary and Christinas parents and Christinas best friend Haley Phillips that came to Christinas side. Haley was an avenue for Christina to weep, talk, laugh etc. They are all my heros of true ministry. You dont know who they are. They arent in the limelight. You never see their sleepless nights, the sight they had to see as Brandon died as a husband, brother, nephew, son in law, son and friend. You never have heard about Joey Sosh who was my Dad and Moms right hand man. They are ministry at its best. So to all who caregive, help a widow, someone that is physically challenged, allowing fatherless boys be part of your family, helping the addicts and providing shelter for homeless women and children, bringing food to a grieving family...Telling others about Jesus...Winning souls one on one... cheering people on that you meet,...all the things people do not see. God sees. And Jesus knows, because that IS the main thing Jesus did on earth. I could go on and on of this kind of ministry many do no consider ministry. Bravo to all of you that have taken on the mantle of the ministry Jesus did on earth. Thank you for listening. I hope the government and the IRS listen as they now have taken the throne seat of what ministry is and what it isnt. What you can do and what you cant. What is considered ministry and what is not. Jesus rendered to Ceasers what is Ceasers but never bowed down to them. He went on doing the work of his Father. In spite of government. We in America are in a dire problem now as the government regulates more and more to those who minister. Such as the elderly man that was arrested for feeding the homeless. I am done. Hear my heart. There is no evil intent in my heart. I speak from a heart that KNOWS ministry and has seen it first hand my entire life. Thank you Jesus for giving us the true example of ministering on earth. I love you Lord.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:38:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015