This is the last day of three solid weeks of ministry for the Father. It has been tremendous. The first week was at Sierra Heights where I pastor. I co-lead VBS with Ruth Smith. She is a great worker with the kids. She is a true blessing to Sierra Heights for her ministry to the children there. We had around 130 people. We had three life changing decision, one of those for salvation. PTL!!! A great thing happened with our VBS offering; the children gave over 200 pounds of coins that added up to $615. I preached that Sunday on Forgiveness and the Father moved mightily. I left that afternoon for two weeks of STRAM Camp. The first week of camp was Southern Youth STRAM Camp. We had a small number but still had a great spirit amongst us all. We ended up with three decisions; one for prayer, one for recommitment, and one for salvation PTL!!! On one of the days the camp divided into two groups for community ministry. The recipient of our work was Lifeway Church in Vista. They had just finished their VBS and needed us to help put the church back in order. Pastor Frank was very complimentary of our youth and the work they did. There was one young lady that I was praying would make a life changing decision on Thursday, It did not happen. However, the Word was planted and now we wait to see it take root. My golfing buddy and the camp music leader, Rick Bennett, did a fine job for us during the week. The only sad thing that happened our whole time in Southern California was Rick getting sick Sunday evening. It got so bad that he asked us to take him to the nearest hospital. So around 11pm, Dale and I drove Rick to the Tri-City hospital. It was and still is not a good experience for Rick. We left town on Friday morning with Rick still in the hospital. To this point I do not know how he is doing. I will not speculate as to his condition because the doctors know what it is not but not what it is, the problem that is. We prayed the entire week for Rick. We are still praying for him. I returned to Fresno the week-end in-between camps to preach Sunday morning. I picked up Ciera and we left at about 2pm. The second week of camp was our Southern Youth STRAM Camp. We had 90 paid campers, five gofers, five camp staff, and 9 kitchen staff led by Blue Cap Charlie Carney. This was the first time we had the pleasure of seeing five senior pastors in attendance. That is so good for the kids. One of those senior pastors filled in for Rick as our guest music leader. He is the senior pastor of Clovis Hills Church, Pastor Shawn. My good friend and brother in Christ, Lito Solorio served once again as our camp pastor. Because of Shawn and Lito the camp was very exciting. Worship was a pleasure to be a part of. Lito was one of the original STRAM Campers as a young boy, he also served as a gofer several times and this is his third time to serve as the camp pastor. Thursday was our decision time and 37% of the campers made life-changing decisions for Christ; four for salvation(PTL!!!), four for missions, four for vocational ministry, and 13 for recommitment. It was a great evening. Through the entire two weeks and the Northern STRAM Camp our missionary was Mike Campbell. Mike serves as the IMB missionary in Siberia. The kids loved him as well as my oldest Granddaughter, Hunter. She said he was good to listen to and that he was fun to talk with. After three solid weeks of ministry and little to no rest, I am tired. But I am getting more and more inspired knowing that I get to share from the father’s Word once again tomorrow morning and evening.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 04:00:09 +0000
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