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Victory Weekend

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On Victory Weekend, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, Southeast celebrated the 2,765 individuals who made decisions to be baptized or become members of the church in 2011. It’s a traditional celebration at Southeast to stop and thank God for all He has done.  

As the worship team at each campus sang “Oh happy day, happy day that took my sins away,” hundreds of new members on all three campuses were escorted to the
front of each Sanctuary to celebrate what God has done.

People in the procession were all ages from grandparents to young children, men, women, children, young couples, teenagers and whole families.

Once all new members were on stage, there were whistles, cheers and loud applause.  

“In 2011, God did something spectacular,” said Senior Minister Dave Stone. “We are grateful for every story of life change. The great composer Johann Sebastian
Bach signed S.D.G. on the music he wrote, which stood for Soli Deo Gloria, ‘to God alone be the glory.’  

You have decided to sign S.D.G. on your life. You are saying, ‘All I do, I want God to receive all the glory and honor.’”

Stone called the sea of new members “humbling.”

In reviewing what God has done this year, Oldham Pastor Kurt Sauder said the 2,700 people who launched the Oldham Campus are full of passion and energy for
new life in Christ. Indiana Pastor Eddie Johnson said that campus grew 20 percent in 2011, and life change is evident.

Stone said the weekend 686 were baptized at Southeast’s three campuses was one of the most incredible weekends of his life.

“At the Blankenbaker Campus, 120 were in line waiting to be baptized,” he said. “And each one had a story.”

Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman told of a Presbyterian minister who approached him. At first, he thought he might want to debate the merits of baptism. Instead, he
wanted to be immersed.

Stone told the story of an assistant football coach at the University of Louisville who called after losing the game to the University of Cincinnati earlier that afternoon.

“We lost this afternoon, but I’m ending the day with a win,” he said.

Stone encouraged new members to begin their journey in Christ-likeness.

“When you give your life to Christ, the past doesn’t count,” Stone said. “God says your slate is wiped clean. His unconditional love accepts you just as you are, but he
loves you too much to leave you there. Put Christ on the throne of your life and keep Him there.”

He challenged everyone to a new mission.

“You should be a walking advertisement of the difference Jesus can make in someone’s life,” Stone said.

‘The Story’

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Americans buy the Bible. About 25 million of them every year.  

Americans revere the Bible. According to a Gallup Poll, 75 percent of Americans say they believe the Bible is the Word of God. Americans even share the Bible.
According to the “Baptist Standard,” a publication of the Texas Baptist Convention, an average of 86 Bibles are distributed every minute in the United States.

But while Americans buy, respect and share the Bible, few know it.

According to a Gallup poll, fewer than half of all adults can name the four Gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the 12 disciples.

Sixty percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. Only one-third know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (many name Billy Graham,
not Jesus).

A 1997 Barna Research poll showed 12 percent of Christians think Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.

Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that more than 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

Throughout 2012, Southeast will study “The Story,” a book written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee that gives a narrative of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Sermons, Bible studies, weekend groups and children’s groups will focus on the biblical narrative. None will be repetitive.

A special 50th anniversary edition of “The Story” will be available in The Living Word bookstore for a $10 suggested donation. In 2012, the goal will be to read “The
Story,” study “The Story” and know “The Story.”  

It’s done at a pivotal point in Southeast’s history—the 50th anniversary of the church.

Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman sees studying “The Story” as a church as the perfect way to honor what God has done at Southeast in the last 50 years.

“What better way to celebrate than to reaffirm our commitment to God’s Word for the next 50 years,” he said. “That’s the foundation the church was built on, and it will
continue to be the foundation we stand on. ‘The Story’ allows us to spend a year studying God’s Word in a way that all of us will have a deeper understanding and
appreciation for the metanarrative (the big story) of Scripture that sometimes gets lost because we are so focused on a particular passage of Scripture.”   

Idleman said “The Story” gives a fresh understanding of the Bible as a seamless story of God’s love and plan of redemption.

“I’m also excited that our groups and classes of all age levels will also be going through ‘The Story’ because it will unite us as a church around our anchor—God’s
Word,” he said.

Since “The Story” was released in 2005, churches around the United States have used the chronological retelling of the Bible to help members learn and grow.

Bill Search, who leads Groups Ministry at Southeast, said though we live in the middle of the Bible Belt, many believers know very little about the Bible, even mixing
fairy tales with Bible stories. And few have any sense of the biblical timeline.

“Few know when things occur in the Bible, if Jacob came before or after Joseph,” he said. “Going through ‘The Story’ in sermons, Bible studies and small groups will
reinforce faith. Understanding God’s story through the Bible is crucial. We can’t believe in what we don’t know.”  

Search, who has listened to an accompanying study DVD narrated by Pastor Randy Frazee, said it is one of the best curricula on the market and explains the biblical
narrative in a way that makes sense.

“Randy Frazee has a gift for seeing the big picture in the narrative,” Search said. “For example, in the story of Noah and the ark, there are so many facets to the story.
Frazee brings out the fact that when God looked at His creation, he could find only one righteous man—Noah—and yet decided to save humankind through him with
all his faults.”

Search said everyone should become involved in “The Story” study by listening to sermons and joining a small group or a weekend group.

A special edition of “The Story” is being printed by Zondervan in recognition of Southeast’s 50th anniversary. It contains a special eight-page foreword about Southeast
and a special dust cover with a 50th anniversary and Southeast logo.

This special edition will be available in The Living Word bookstore beginning Jan. 7 for a suggested donation of $10.

Other books also will be available:
- “The Story for Little Ones” – suggested donation of $10
- “The Story for Children” – suggested donation of $10
- “The Story for Kids” – suggested donation of $6
- The Story Teen Edition” – suggested donation $8  
Prices will not be effective until Jan. 7.

How you can get the most out of 'The Story'
1. Get the commemorative edition of “The Story” in The Living Word bookstore for a reduced price of $10.
2. Hear Senior Minister Dave Stone and Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman preach through “The Story.” Take notes and read the biblical record.
3. Be part of a community group or a weekend group to learn even more about the Bible.
Men’s and women’s groups and Children’s and Student Ministries also will participate.
 

A new beginning

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When John Boel was arrested for his second DUI a little over a year ago, his own words came back to haunt him. Twenty years ago, when his brother-in-law checked
into a rehab facility in Minnesota, John told his wife, Brenda, “He’ll lose his job. He’ll lose his wife, and, ultimately, he’ll lose his life.”   

They watched it happen. After three stints in rehab, he ended his life with a .44 Magnum.  

Suddenly, John was standing on the same sinking sand as his brother-in-law decades earlier with everything at risk. Seventy Ohio Valley Regional Emmy awards for
outstanding news coverage didn’t save his job as an anchor with WLKY-TV, the Louisville CBS affiliate. The award-winning journalist, who spent much of his life in
front of the camera, stood against a blank wall for a mug shot that captured some of his sadness.

Within hours, his arrest was the lead story on his own and rival TV stations. It was posted on hundreds of websites from Memphis to MSNBC.

Salvaging what was left of his life took more grit than anything John had ever done, even the grueling Ironman triathlons he completed, running 26 miles, biking 112
miles and swimming 2.4 miles.    

John checked into a rehab center in the North Woods of Minnesota, near his hometown. It’s the same place his brother-in-law had been three times before he
committed suicide.

There, John learned a lot about himself, about addictions and about the road back.

Nothing was easy about facing the truth.

“Every morning after our meditation and prayer session, I’d go downstairs to the laundry room where no one could see me cry, and the dryer could drown out my
sobbing,” he said. “I’m a thousand miles away from friends and family at holiday time. I’ve been publicly humiliated in the media. Lost my job. Killed my career.
Humiliated my family. I can’t imagine being humbled lower.”   

 A year later, John is sober and 45 pounds lighter. He chose “grateful” to describe his life now.

“That’s a long way from the anger I felt a year ago,” he said.

John is open about his life, telling about his successes and failures in his book, “On the News … In the News,” which has reached No. 3 on the Best-sellers
(Louisville) list, published by The Courier-Journal based on sales at Louisville branches of Carmichael’s Bookstore. Since it was released, people have been calling
John for hope and help.

He recently signed a contract with WAVE-TV, the Louisville NBC affiliate.    

“I take a look at myself,” John said. “I lost my job, but I didn’t lose my wife or my life. I found a sea of wonderful people I never knew existed. God has been able to turn
that back around.”

John’s decision to stay in Louisville where people know his whole story rather than start over in another part of the country comes from his belief that he can impact
lives for good.  

“I decided to take the thing that digs me every day and embrace it,” he said.  

John isn’t looking too far into the future these days.

“I concentrate on the next 24 hours,” he said. “Doing the next right thing in every decision I make all day long. Then when I wake up tomorrow, I have no regrets about
yesterday. My biggest challenge is being the person God wants me to be.”   

In her book, “Get Out of That Pit,” author and teacher Beth Moore says, “We are better healed than whole.”

John is living that now.

“When I look at how I failed and what I lost, it’s hard,” John said. “I would like to go back and rewrite all of it. But the truth is that it had to happen. One of the sayings in
recovery is that your likelihood of recovery is related to how bad you got your tail kicked. I believe what I’ve been through will help me now.”

John’s wife, Brenda, and their daughters Brianna, 11, and Kelsey, 19, have held him up through the darkest days. After John’s arrest, Brenda began working two jobs
as an engineer to support the family. Even as she tried to stretch her income to cover the bills, she insisted on tithing. Putting God first was something she refused to
relegate to another day.

Changes she’s seen in John are profound.

She keeps an email John sent from rehab:

“I’ve spent a lot of time looking back at my life through all this trauma … I’ve always taken you for granted. Now that my head is clearing up, I realize new reasons every
day why you are the most phenomenal person I’ve ever met. What you’re doing for me now and what you’ve done for me in my life is truly the greatest gift I’ve ever
received … Our kids have turned out better because of you. My relationship with my parents is better because of you. My relationship with God is better because of you.
I am still alive because of you.”  

Kelsey sent John cards that she signed with encouraging Bible verses.

“Here is my daughter helping me when I should be helping her,” John said. “Fathers should be encouraging their daughters, not the other way around. But she did it, and it meant more than she will ever know.”   

On his one-year anniversary of sobriety, Kelsey wrote: “I’m extremely proud of you, Dad. One year sober! That is a long time. I’m sure it has felt much longer. Maybe you
feel ashamed of suffering from alcoholism and the way it has affected our family. Dad, I can’t see how it has affected our family in one negative way. You’ve gotten
help, maturing in the process. You and Mom are closer, both relying on God more. Our family is closer knit, thanks to God. He has provided for our family and that is
enough. Everything is happening for good. James 1 is God telling you that these trials are testing your faith, which produces perseverance so that you can be mature,
not placing anything before God. The most you could ever give me is a life dedicated to knowing and walking with the Lord. One year is victory. Now persevere.”

John came back to Louisville just before Christmas 2010 to be with his family and continue recovery. He filled empty hours writing his book, spending time with family
and taking on the chores while Brenda worked. Even then, when John’s days included laundry, a bike ride to the grocery store to get something for dinner,
housecleaning and yard work, people came into his life with words of encouragement.

It happened at the unemployment office when a woman in line who recognized him from television said, “Don’t you even think of giving up. Your life was bought at a
price. Don’t ever forget that. God is always with you.”

Southeast member Chris Wood got to know John sitting in church.

“For a long time, I knew John as the guy in front of the camera and never took the time to know him beyond that. That was my loss,” Wood said. “As I began to know
John, it was a stark reminder of God’s redemptive process continually at work. John has encouraged me and given hope to others. If that’s the rest of the story, then to
God be the glory.”  

John returns to work with a different agenda.

“I love journalism,” he said. “I love experiencing things to impact people to live positively. That’s my goal now.”  

When the Boels volunteered at Wayside Christian Mission on Thanksgiving Day as usual, John watched a young family checking in to the shelter. They carried all they
owned in a little bag. Their only question was, “Is there any lunch left?”

“That’s a story I would like to tell,” John said. “Every single person out there has a story. Those are the ones I would like to tell.”
 

Brenda Noyes’ story

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Brenda Noyes has little in common with the 50 women who gathered at Janet Backman’s home near Southeast in her honor. Few of them have been homeless,
jobless, ill and utterly alone. Most have a full set of teeth and more than an eighth grade education. None wear a size 3X.

But on Tuesday, Dec. 13, they gathered to pray and provide for Brenda. Guests brought gifts wrapped in Christmas paper. Under the wrappings were things Brenda
needed, such as paper towels, tissue paper, a robe and slippers. A pile of Christmas cards included donations to help with rent and utilities.

Though Brenda was not able to go to the party, that gathering was all about friends helping friends. Many women in the group have never met Brenda, but they have
prayed for her.

Friendships began to form on a bitter November day three years ago when Southeast member Teresa Doyle saw Brenda and her late husband, Richard, hitchhiking
on Interstate 64. Brenda sat on a collapsible stool beside two suitcases that held all the couple owned. Richard was tethered to an oxygen tank.

Doyle had never stopped for hitchhikers before. Never. But that day, she exited the expressway and circled back to see how to help.

“I stopped for two reasons,” she said. “Christ’s love, and I knew this couple needed help.”

When Doyle rolled down her window to ask what they needed, all Brenda asked for was some water and someone to stay with Richard while she went to the gas
station at the exit to use the restroom.

Doyle said from the beginning, God sent the help she needed. Southeast member David Owens, Doyle’s boss at the home health agency Home Instead, encouraged
her to care for the couple, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to cover the cost of a few nights in a local motel until they could find more permanent
housing.

It wasn’t easy to get the couple off the streets. They needed background checks, a security deposit, a month’s rent and a housing history to qualify for federal housing
assistance. Doyle realized it would not have happened without help. The couple had no money, transportation, phone or access to the Internet.

Doyle learned that Brenda and Richard had been together for 20 years, though they never married. They both were battling a bundle of health issues.

At one point, as Doyle juggled a full-time job and her family’s and the Noyes’ needs, Richard asked if she was going to give up on them.

“Those eight words were life-changing for me,” she said. “I thought of all my ugly sin and selfishness over the past four years. I know Christ never gave up on me. He
showed me mercy and grace no matter.”

Doyle’s prayer was that they would understand God’s love for them and decide to follow Him. When the Noyes said the only reason they hadn’t married was the cost of
a wedding, Doyle recruited a group of friends to plan a wedding.

People donated Richard’s 10-gallon hat and Brenda’s dress. Wayne Backman, Janet’s husband, walked Brenda down the aisle. And that group of friends prayed that
the two would come to know Christ in a deep, personal way.

As the couple settled into their small apartment in Frankfort, Richard began calling churches. He explained that they wanted to get to church, but they would need a ride
with someone willing to bring his wheelchair and oxygen. After many rejections, the pastor of a small Nazarene church near their home said someone would pick them
up each week.

From that point on, the couple rarely missed a Sunday, becoming part of a small group that loved and supported their newfound faith. They also stayed in touch with the
group of friends from Southeast that helped them.

The couple had been married a year when Richard died last March. Brenda has been alone since then. Her sixth-grade education makes getting a job almost
impossible. And the fact she has tuberculosis limits the jobs for which she is qualified.

Doyle has helped her file all the paperwork for disability benefits; however, she has been denied twice and has a hearing before a judge on March 9. She has been in
the hospital three times in the last two months.

“She has no family, no way to earn money,” Doyle said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to have nowhere to go.”

Doyle said Brenda has never asked for anything.

“Brenda represents all the people in the world who have no one,” Doyle said. “She is one of the ‘least of these.’ She’s not the only one, but she is the one God has put
in our path this Christmas.”

When Doyle stopped on the expressway three years ago, she knew only one thing for sure: God compelled her to turn around. Caring for the Noyes has not always
been easy, but for two people without much hope, it has made all the difference.

Sportsman’s Challenge

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When more than 3,000 people sit down next month to enjoy venison sausage and barbecue at Southeast’s annual Wild Game Feed, many will take time to remember
the homeless and hungry in Kentucky.

Aside from the food and fellowship, the Wild Game Feed is held to draw attention to the Kentucky Sportsman’s Challenge, a program sponsored by Kentucky Hunters
for the Hungry and Bass Pro Shops. It was created to encourage hunters to harvest deer and donate the venison to feed the homeless and needy.

Since the Sportsman’s Challenge became associated with the Wild Game Feed in 2007, area hunters have provided enough venison for more than 732,000 meals.
The group had set a goal of breaking the 1 million-meal mark by the end of the hunting season, which ended Sunday. As of press time, the effort was about 200 deer
short of the goal.

The program started with the fledgling Hunters for the Hungry donating venison to Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville. It since has spread across the state, with
satellite chapters involving churches, nonprofit organizations and even business and civic leaders.

The meat that has been donated to homeless shelters over the years has been invaluable.

“When we first started, (Wayside CEO) Tim Moseley was so enthusiastic because, as he explained, they had people who were eating out of dumpsters, so for them to
get the necessary protein from the venison was welcome,” said taxidermist and Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry chairman Mike Ohlmann. “The venison has become a
vital part of their food program.”

Venison used in variety of ways
Moseley’s wife, Wayside Chief Operating Officer Nina Moseley, said Wayside receives venison shipments about every week. The meat is served as steaks or in chili, stew and other dishes.

“The venison we receive is very important to us because meat is so hard to come by these days,” Nina Moseley said. “There are so many different ways to use it and
people seem to like it.”

The protein found in venison is important to the well-being of the homeless people served by shelters such as Wayside, Nina Moseley said. The shelter currently
serves as many as 650 people a day.

“A lot of the homeless population suffers from illness and disease because of a lack of protein,” she said. “The venison is a good source of that protein.”

That protein is important for adults, but even more vital for children, which unfortunately are a sizeable portion of the clientele at local shelters.

It is estimated that the average age of homeless citizens in the United States is 9 years old. Louisville is no different. Nina Moseley said all of the family shelters in
town are full, and there is a great demand for meat.

“We have the impression that the homeless are guys on the street with signs and beggars who ask us for money,” said Ralph Swallows, the volunteer organizer of the
Sportsman’s Challenge and the Wild Game Feed at Southeast. “The reality is 90 percent of the homeless in the U.S. are between the ages of 1 and 14. Providing for them is what the Challenge is all about.”

Hunter, family see purpose in harvesting deer
In 2007, when Mike Matthews and his sons learned about Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry, they made a pledge to contribute a portion of their annual deer harvest to the program.

Matthews’s sons, Jason and Jonathan, now 16, are students at Christian Academy of Louisville, and Mike, now 29, lives in Alabama.

Over the past five hunting seasons, the four men have combined to donate 60 deer to the cause, including 11 this hunting season. Matthews estimates that based on
a 4-ounce serving, each deer yields about 440 meals. That is a total of 26,400 meals the family has provided since 2007.

“There is no doubt that God is blessing this ministry,” Matthews said. “We consider this our mission field. It’s a way of serving the church and the community.”

After each deer is harvested, Matthews and his sons stop in the woods to give thanks to God and pray that the meat will be used to bless homeless men, women and
children in the community.

Matthews said he occasionally is asked by people how he could kill God’s creation. He politely explains that Kentucky has a rapidly growing deer population, which
threatens agriculture and can become a safety hazard on roadways. Thinning the population benefits the state in addition to providing a much-needed food source for shelters.

How the process works
When a hunter harvests a deer that will be donated to Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry, it is taken to one of nearly 50 processors across Kentucky who prepare the
meat at the hunter’s cost. Participating processors typically discount their fees by about 40 percent for the donated meat, Ohlmann said.

The meat is picked up from the processors by various distribution agencies, including Louisville-based Dare to Care Food Bank, and taken to homeless shelters.

“The shelters always show an overwhelming amount of gratitude when they receive the venison,” Ohlmann said. “And the fact that Southeast has been such a big
contributor through the Sportsman’s Challenge is something that’s talked about throughout the state.”
 

‘More Than a Gift’

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Volunteers lined the entrance to the Pavilion at Churchill Downs for the Christ Chapel Christmas party on Monday, Dec. 12.

Ninety-three families who attend church on the backside were treated to a special dinner and a time of gift giving.

Guests sat at decorated tables, talking and laughing as Chaplain Ken Boehm called their names and numbers.

When it was their turn, guests walked with their families and escorts to the employee café at Churchill, which was decorated for the special night. Stacks of gifts, each

one specifically purchased for families and individuals at Christ Chapel, were organized on the floor.

Their names were among the 784 men, women and children that Southeast families, groups and individuals purchased gifts for this year.

Many volunteered to help at the Christmas parties so they could learn more about partners in the community and meet people in that ministry.

Volunteers dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus sat at one end of the room so children could get their picture taken with Santa.

Wide-eyed children followed parents, who seemed overwhelmed as they caught a glimpse of the gift room.  

Most of the members at Christ Chapel work and live on the backside as groomers, trainers and hot walkers. Now that the racing season is over, life on the backside is
quiet. Many have left to work at racetracks in Florida, but many have decided to stay in Louisville to raise their families.

Raul Vizcarrondo, an exercise rider from Puerto Rico, stayed in Louisville after the racing season ended this year.

He wants to settle in one place with his family. Attending Christ Chapel was a big factor in his decision.

“This is amazing,” was all he could say as he walked into the room with his three children.  

Southeast member Phil Miller came to the party with his community group.

“We chose the names of four single men at Christ Chapel,” he said. “This time the guys in our group did the shopping, and we had a ball. We will celebrate Christmas
with our own families, but this is special.”

Southeast member Lowell Grady was there with his small group. His ties to Christ Chapel run deep, as he and his wife, Shelby, volunteer year-round, running the
clothes closet at Christ Chapel every other week. He saw familiar faces in the crowd.

“This is an incredible ministry,” he said. “It’s fun to be here.”

Maria Gonzales came to the Christmas party with her two children.

“This means a lot,” she said. “There are no words to explain what it means to have presents for the little ones. This year we stayed at Churchill Downs to raise our
family.”

National Guard Staff Sgt. Jarrod Blanford came to the Christmas party in fatigues.

He is on active duty, and he chose a family at Christ Chapel when he talked with Local Missions in the atrium at Southeast. He has served in Japan, Haiti, Afghanistan
and Iraq.

“It’s amazing to be here tonight,” he said. “I wanted to meet the family I chose. This makes Christmas for me.”

After the holidays, Blanford will be deployed. Someday, when his days of active duty are done, he would like to volunteer for mission work.

Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and his wife, Sheila, came to support the outreach, mingling with families as they ate dinner.

“This is great,” Pat said. “The church is incredibly giving. The support we get in the community for this ministry is second to none. God is doing amazing things here.”   

Boehm said it was a night families in his church will never forget.

“This was done with such love, such an outpouring of Christ’s love,” he said. “Many of our members have never experienced that before.”

It’s why we celebrate

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Nobody has changed the world the way Jesus changed the world. Nobody.

His arrival was surprising. There was little fanfare for the Son of God. No crown. No throne. No grand ceremony or proclamation.

Serenaded by angels, worshiped by shepherds and wise men, Jesus was born to simple parents who were young, poor and uneducated. His nursery was a small barn or cave, His bed a handmade trough that held food for animals. It hardly had the makings of a birth that would radically change the world.    

But it was a radical moment, the arrival of Immanuel, “God with us.”

Hardly anyone noticed. In this unfathomable mystery, God sent His son to a dusty little village called Bethlehem to show His love and His determination to redeem mankind. From the moment He was born to the moment He would die on a Roman cross, the clock was ticking.  

God’s love went the distance.

“For every promise, God was in control from His throne in heaven,” said Southeast Senior Minister Dave Stone. “But Christmas was different. When God kept His promise that first Christmas, He left his throne, became human and was laid in a manger. The birth of Jesus changes everything because God showed us just how far
He will go to keep His promises. He will travel the distance from heaven to earth.”

Details of how that night would unfold were told in more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament. The likelihood of that happening without a plan is mind boggling.Years ago a math professor named Peter Stoner calculated the probability of one man fulfilling eight of the 300 prophecies about Jesus and published his research in
“Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible.” He found that the odds of one person fulfilling just eight prophecies was 1 in 1017 or 10 followed by 17 zeroes. That’s 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.

The number is so enormous that he explained the odds this way: If someone scattered 1017 silver dollars across the entire surface of the state of Texas, which has an area of 268,581 square miles, they would be two feet deep. If someone marked one silver dollar and threw it in the mass of coins and asked a blindfolded man to
find that marked silver dollar, the chances of him finding it would be about the same as the prophets would have had of writing just eight of the more than 300 prophecies written about Jesus in the Old Testament and having them fulfilled by one man.

But Jesus’ birth unfolded exactly as prophets said it would in the Old Testament.  

- Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the Old Testament prophet Micah predicted the arrival of Jesus (Micah 5:2).

- David described how Jesus would die 1,000 years before the crucifixion and 800 years before that form of punishment was invented. (Psalm 22:16).  

- Daniel gave specific details about a future leader of the world, who would come some 500 years later (Daniel 9:25).

According to Dr. John Ankerberg, author of 92 books on apologetics, Jesus had 456 characteristics that identified him as the Messiah. He fulfilled all of them and more. The list is not so pretty for the newborn king, the Son of God.

He had to be born in the small town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), be hated without cause (Isaiah 49:7), rejected (Isaiah 53:2), plotted against (Psalm 2:1-2), betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9), betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 1:13), forsaken (Zechariah 13:7), slapped on His face (Micah 5:1), spat on (Isaiah 50:6), mocked
(Psalm 22:7-8), beaten (Isaiah 50:6) and thirsty as he died on the cross (Psalm 22:15).

Jesus fulfilled all of them and more.  

Jesus’ birth was so significant that it became the center of the world timeline. Everywhere people use B.C. to mean “before Christ” and A.D. for “anno Domini,” which is Latin for “in the year of our Lord.”

Jesus’ birth also changed the Roman world.

In one of his letters, Roman Governor Plinius Secundus wrote that Christians loved “the truth at any cost.” Although he was ordered to torture and execute them for refusing to curse Jesus, he was continually amazed and impressed with their firm commitments “not to do any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft or
adultery.”

Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence that Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world.

“This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed and Napoleon; without science. … He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken
before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.”

And Jesus’ arrival changed individual lives.

Lew Wallace, a famous Civil War general and literary genius, was a known atheist. For two years, Wallace studied in the leading libraries of Europe and America, seeking information that would forever destroy Christianity. While writing the second chapter of a book outlining his arguments, he suddenly found himself on his knees
crying out to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

When confronted by solid indisputable evidence, he no longer could deny that Jesus was the son of God. Later, Wallace wrote the book “Ben-Hur,” one of the greatest English novels ever written concerning the time of Christ.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “I search in vain in history to find one similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the Gospel. Nations pass away, thrones crumble, but the church remains.”

Christmas traditions

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Every family has a treasure trove of traditions that are uniquely their own. Sometimes it’s a variation of something their family has done for decades or a new idea that has become part
of family times together. Sometimes fun, crazy traditions mean the most over time.

Some families wear matching pajamas on Christmas morning or new, crazy Christmas stockings. Others don goofy Santa hats or the ugliest Christmas sweaters they can find at
resale shops. Some play bingo on Christmas Eve, camp out in the living room, read the Christmas story by candlelight or take a nighttime drive to see the lights.   

When Southeast member Candy Konkler was growing up, her mother gave each one in the family a big, black trash bag filled with necessities such as paper towels, toilet paper,
laundry detergent, bars of soap, napkins and dish soap.

“I loved that gift from my mom, but my children made fun of the trash bags tied with a bow until they grew up and got married or moved out,” Konkler said.

After the death of her mother, Konkler continued the trash bag tradition  in memory of her mother.

So this year, she already has the bows and the black bags.

Here are a few different family traditions. Maybe, just maybe, you will want to copy some to observe in your own family.

- On Christmas Eve, Amber Clark’s family always has a breakfast-style, candlelight dinner of homemade waffles.

- Hezekiah Barnes and his wife, Rachel, make stockings the main gift. Every year, they retell the story of the real St. Nicholas who was born into a wealthy family. After his parents died in an epidemic, he began using his inheritance to help the needy, the sick and suffering, often filling stockings with fruit, treats and small toys. Traditionally, each of the Barnes’ three boys gets an orange, a few small toys and candy in their stockings.  

- On Christmas Eve in Karla Lows’ family, the main event is an epic duel with the cardboard rolls from wrapping paper. The Christmas Eve battle is always something to remember.

- Mike and Kathy Berry always bake and decorate about 100 butter cookies on Christmas Eve. Kathy makes sure there are plenty of snowmen cutouts, which happen to be Mike’s favorites. As long as they can remember, he paints a little yellow trickle down one sad-faced snowman’s leg, and every Christmas, the family searches through mounds of cookies for that special one.

- Esther Jaggers’ family still goes out caroling through the neighborhood.

- Camille Keller’s family has a traditional fondue dinner on Christmas Eve that provides plenty of quiet time to talk.

- Lindsey Trent’s family keeps the tradition of eating Christmas breakfast at the local Waffle House.

- Kelly Childers’ entire family stays in pajamas all day on Christmas.

- Brad McMahan’s family so “over decorates” the gazebo at his home that it seems like perpetual noon, even in the middle of the night. They always watch the movie “Christmas Vacation.”

- For her entire life, Stacie Gitschier has awakened at her parents’ home. When she got married and had children, the whole family joined the Christmas Eve campout.

- Julie Snipp grew up in the South, but her family always had a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Day, often with all the windows open.
 

The star of Bethlehem

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ …and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed” (Matt. 2:1, 9).

It was no ordinary star.

The Wise Men packed gifts for a king as they followed it in the night sky. King Herod feared it once scribes and priests told him about the arrival of a new king. It would end his reign.

Some guess that the Bethlehem star was a comet, but ancient records of comet sightings do not match the time of Jesus’ birth. Others have said it was an exploding star or
supernova, but there are no records of that, either.

Many believe the Bethlehem Star was a miracle—God’s special creation to announce the birth of His son.

Legal professor Rick Larson was intrigued by the Bethlehem Star and wanted to know more. He studied it for eight years, approaching that special event in the night sky like a puzzle
with clues from the biblical record. He matched facts from the Bible with a computer program called Starry Night that lets people view the night sky from anywhere on earth at any time
past, present or future. He worked with the biblical timeline and historical records to discover as much as possible about the Bethlehem Star.  

Through years of research, Larson came to believe that the Wise Men saw Jupiter, which is called the “King Planet,” move in a shallow circle like a halo to crown Regulas, a star that is
often called the “King Star.”

Then Jupiter continued on its path through the sky until it moved next to Venus in the western sky. To someone watching the night sky at that time, the two planets close to one another
would have created a spectacular star.

After asking Herod about the birth of a king, the Wise Men saw the star stop over the village of Bethlehem. According to Larson, stars do not stop, but planets periodically appear to
reverse course and move backward through other stars. Astronomers call this effect retrograde motion.

Larson believes on that spectacular night, the King Planet “crowned” the King Star while moving in a small orbit that looked like a crown.

It was a spectacular star in a special night sky designed by the Creator of the universe. It was one of many amazing happenings that night.

A king was born in a barn. Angels sang to shepherds on hillsides. Wise Men brought gifts to a newborn baby. A star stood still. Larson believes God is in the details.

“Our solar system is like a clock. It is mathematically correct,” he said. “The star is part of that incredible natural order. From the moment God flung the universe into existence, He knew
He would enter the human race as a man.”

If you would like to know more about the Bethlehem Star, visit www.bethle hemstar.net.

Taking a walk

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Southeast staff Christmas party looked a little different this year.

There were no gifts or parades. No programs or funny videos. This year was all about prayer.

On Dec. 8, staff from all three Southeast campuses boarded buses with eight Local Missions partners and fanned out over the city of Louisville to prayer walk through neighborhoods.

Senior Minister Dave Stone led a busload, along with local mission partners Jonathan Braden and Trent DeLoach, to Southside Ministry in Louisville’s South End where they prayed for
people from 40 different countries who live in the area.

Every year, nearly 1,000 refugees from around the world come to Louisville seeking freedom, a safe haven from persecution and a community that will become home as they settle in to
raise their families.

Outreach to refugees is a new priority in Southeast’s vision to serve the community by going to them in the name of Jesus.  

The group stopped to pray at apartment buildings, schools, businesses and churches.  

“This neighborhood has great needs,” Braden said. “As you walk, pray for families who are raising children, for people who are settling here. When you walk, don’t look down. Look up
and talk with the people you meet. Hear their stories and learn about their needs.”

The large group broke up into smaller groups who walked and prayed through the South End neighborhood, stopping to pray in front of Rutherford Elementary School, where children
from 40 different nations come every day, at ethnic grocery stores, where people try to make a living, and at churches, where pastors try to meet needs.Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman
and Churchill Downs Chaplain Ken Boehm led a group to the racetrack, where ministry centers on meeting the needs of grooms, hot walkers and trainers who live and work on the
backside. Boehm explained that many arrive at Churchill with just a seed sack of belongings.

Boehm took the group from Southeast on the same walk he takes every morning as he checks with workers about needs in their families.   

A busload of other staff members went to the Shawnee neighborhood, where they prayed at the high school and Shawnee Christian Medical Clinic, which opened this year to meet the
needs of those who have no health care.

Another bus went to Seventh Street and Berry Boulevard, where strip clubs line city blocks. Rachelle Starr, who founded Scarlett Hope, a ministry to dancers in strip clubs, took the
group on a tour of neighborhoods where the women live and work as she explained their struggles and their needs.

Lead Team Member Rick McIntire took a group to the Portland Promise Center where Angel Gustavison told her story of being a “Portland kid” and the difference the Portland Promise
Center made in her own life.  She now has a master’s degree and works with youth at the center.

Staff members from the Indiana Campus and Country Lake took gift baskets to the staff at Parkwood Elementary School in Clarksville, Ind., where they prayed for teachers and
students. Then they prayed in the parking lot near Theatair X and a nearby motel where there is evidence of child prostitution.

Camille Keller, who works at the Indiana Campus, said it is a dark area that is always on their prayer list.  

The staff at the Oldham Campus went to Camden Elementary School where they prayed for the school board, students and teachers. They took a gift basket to Chase Bank near the
campus where employees told them how much they appreciated the work the congregation did to spruce up the shopping center.

When employees at the bank said, “We’re glad you’re here,” it was music to the staff’s ears.

The group that went to The Cabbage Patch Settlement in Old Louisville heard about the organization’s mission to help at-risk children through educational and recreational activities.

Cabbage Patch Recreation & Youth Development Manager William Rasinen got teary eyed as he told the story of a 10-year-old Cabbage Patch participant who witnessed a murder on
the front porch of his housing complex. Following the shooting, the boy’s family moved out of the neighborhood and moved in with a family member—putting nine people in a
two-bedroom apartment.

Next Gen Leader Matt Reagan went to the Park Hill neighborhood of Louisville with Local Mission partner Todd Keane to pray through neighborhoods where many Somali Bantus live.
They were praying and walking when a woman in one building lifted her window to ask if they were hiring.

“We’re not hiring, but we are praying,” said Reagan. “Can we pray for you?”

The woman ran downstairs with her 4-year-old son.

“It’s too cold out here,” she said. “Come on in to pray.”

The group went into her home where she was getting warm by a space heater. They prayed for her and her son and a cousin.

Cary Meyer, who leads the Communications Ministry, said the day didn’t unfold as they planned. They went to pray for Somalis, but prayed with others God put in their path.

“Prayer walking is new,” he said. “It’s different to go up to someone and ask if you can pray for them. But the truth is, we learned that we shouldn’t just be prayer walking, we should be
walking in prayer all the time, everywhere, every day.”

Debbie Ward, who leads Local Missions, said there’s never been a better Christmas party.

“This was a great day to connect the vision to be a praying church who reaches out and challenges everyone to follow Jesus completely and to the strategy of serving the community by
going to them in the name of Jesus. In the end, this isn’t about a Christmas party or a one-time event. This is a way of life.”

 

The universe

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When Jesus was born, God drew shepherds and wise men to His birthplace through a spectacular star set in the night sky.

Though that was a one-of-a-kind moment in time, the vast majesty of the universe still “shows off” his glory and points people to God.  

The expanse of God’s creativity in the universe defies human imagination.

Louie Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta and co-author of the book, “Indescribable,” said, “If we were to count stars in the Milky Way, one star per second, it
would take 2,500 years to count all the stars in our galaxy alone.”

And there are hundreds of billions of other galaxies in the known universe.

Just as the heavens declare the glory of God, his significance and greatness, the Bible teaches that this magnificent Creator God knows us, loves us and invites us into
a relationship with Him that will never end.

Though we are a speck in a vast universe, we are significant to Him.   

Southeast member Randy Baker, a meteorologist who has studied the universe, sees God’s hand in its precision.

“We can now measure to a precision of 1 part in 10 to the 23rd power (1 followed by 23 zeroes) with a gravity wave telescope,” he said. “Some of the fine-tuning in the
universe indicates a precision of 1 part in 10 to the 60th power. That’s engineering at least 10 trillion trillion trillion times more precise than anything a human engineer
has devised.”

 Physicist Hugh Ross, founder of a ministry devoted to integrating faith and science, has identified more than 90 characteristics of the universe that must be precisely
balanced for life to exist (www.reasons.org/fine-tuning-life-universe-aug-2006).

Even some scientists who don’t believe in God admit that the design of the universe points to a Creator.

In a Physics Today interview, Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, put it this way: “The statistical probability that organic structure and the most precisely
harmonized reactions that typify living organisms would be generated by accident is zero.”

In “Life, the Universe and Everything,” Dr. Paul Davies, an author and professor of theoretical physics at The University of Adelaide, said, “The really amazing thing is not
that life on Earth is balanced on a knife edge, but that the entire universe is balanced on a knife edge, and would be total chaos if any of the natural constants were off
even slightly.”

Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, a self-proclaimed atheist, said in his book “A Brief History in Time,” “It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should
have begun this way, except as an act of God who intended to create beings like us.”

Giglio said the precision of the universe points to a masterpiece, but it also points to a message.  

“While it’s stunning that we can glimpse a solar burst some 13 billion light-years away, it’s far more incredible that the One who fashioned that star and our own galaxy,
and everything seen and unseen through the universe, would step onto planet Earth on a rescue mission that defies odds. They are the exquisite proclamation of an
unfathomable God. As we lift our eyes, these wonders light up our hearts and pour fuel on the fire of our praise. Every worshiper, indeed, every soul, needs time to simply
stop and consider.”

The universe is vast.

On a clear night, you can see about 2,000 stars, but that’s only a small fraction of our vast universe. In 2003, researchers at Australian National University estimated that
there are about 1,000 sextillion stars in the universe.   

Researchers have estimated that there are 1 billion galaxies in the universe.  

The universe is precise.

The Earth is located at exactly the right distance from the sun to get the right amount of heat and radiation. If the earth were closer than 93 million miles from the sun,
humans could not survive the heat or atmospheric pressure. If the earth were positioned 10 percent closer to the sun (about 10 million miles), there would be too much
radiation and heat. If the earth were 10 percent further away from the sun, there would be too little heat. Either scenario would end life on Earth.

The ozone layer, which is located some 12 to 18 miles above the earth’s surface, filters out most of the ultraviolet rays from the sun that would be harmful or fatal in larger
amounts.

The sun is the center of our solar system.

The sun is a raging ball of fire, a powerful star that rotates on its axis about once every 26 days.

According to published research, the sun converts 4.7 million tons of matter into energy every single second, and has an interior temperature of more than 15.7 million
degrees Celsius. To put that in perspective, in the book “The Mathematics of Truth and Beauty,” K.C. Cole writes that “A pinhead heated to the temperature of the center of
the sun would kill anyone who ventured within a thousand miles of it.” Yet it is set in the universe in a specific place that supports life on Earth.

The Earth’s orbit and speed are perfect.  

The Earth rotates on its axis at 1,000 miles per hour at the equator and moves around the sun at 70,000 miles per hour (approximately 19 miles per second), while the
sun moves through space at a speed of 600,000 miles per hour. The sun’s orbit is so large it would take more than 1.2 billion years just to complete one time. The
Earth’s rotation gives us day and night, and if the earth turned slower, the days and nights would be too hot or cold to sustain life.  

The earth completes its orbit roughly once every 365.25 days, or once a year. This orbit, along with the fact that the earth is tilted on its axis, gives us seasons.  

As the earth moves in its orbit around the sun, it deviates from a straight line by 1/9 of an inch every 18 miles. According to a Science Digest report, if the earth moved 1/8
of an inch, we would come so close to the sun that we would be incinerated. If it departed by 1/10 of an inch, we would find ourselves so far from the sun that we would
freeze to death.

The earth is tilted on its axis at exactly 23.5 degrees. If it were not tilted, there would be no seasons, the tropics would be hotter and the deserts would get bigger. If the
Earth were tilted 90 degrees, much of the earth would switch between very cold winters and very hot summers.

The moon is the perfect size and is set in the perfect place in the sky.  

The Earth is set in space some 240,000 miles from the moon. The size and distance of the moon is just right. If the moon were significantly closer to the Earth, the tides
would be so enormous that they would reach 35 to 50 feet over most of the earth.

Orphan Care Alliance launches program to help children in crisis

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When a 19-year-old single father needed help caring for his 18-month-old toddler, Southeast members Carol and Jerry Hickey took the baby into their own home.

For three weeks, this single dad didn’t have to worry about childcare while he looked for a job and a place to live.

At that time, the Hickeys were members of an Indianapolis church that participated in the Safe Families program to help children in crisis.

This year, the Safe Families program will launch in the Louisville area through Orphan Care Alliance, an adoption support organization founded by Southeast members.

The Hickeys, now members of Southeast’s Indiana Campus, are ready to help again.  

Darren Washausen, executive director of Orphan Care Alliance, said the goal of beginning the program in the Louisville area is to come alongside families in crisis,
share God’s love with them, give guidance when asked, help them navigate resources in the community and prevent children from going into the foster care system.

 Parents who need Safe Families most are those who have no safety net to help them through difficult times.

“Referrals will come to us through hospitals, Neighborhood Place (social-service offices), alcohol rehabilitation facilities, shelters, anywhere families land when they are
in crisis,” said Stacia Washausen, who will direct the program. “Calls we already get at Orphan Care Alliance are from single moms who must be in the hospital for
surgery and need someone to care for her children until she gets back on her feet.”

Stacia said the predominant fear in many families is that the children will be taken away.

Safe Families gives people a chance to help children even if they are not able to adopt.    

“Our home is big enough and we both have good jobs,” Carol said. “We had considered adoption, but didn’t know if that was for us. Providing for a more short-term need
seemed manageable.”

The Hickeys baby-proofed their house once again, since their children were 3 and 6 years old.

They met the baby’s dad for lunch before final arrangements were made. Time together seemed to ease his worries about letting someone else care for his son, even
for a short time.

“He knew that he needed some help to get on his feet,” Carol said. “He wasn’t sure if letting someone else care for the baby was the right thing to do. But meeting us and
seeing that we were willing to help seemed to make him feel better about everything. Hopefully, we had an impact on his life. We have prayed for him ever since.”

Stacia has talked with authorities in the foster care program and believes the Safe Families program will be in demand.

 “We need families who are interested in forming a relationship with a family in crisis,” she said. “We also need case coaches who will help manage communication and
make sure all notes are entered in the database. This is a great way for those who are not able to adopt to help children in crisis. We need volunteers.”

Robin Chamberlain, national director of operations for Safe Families Alliance, said it is a ministry movement that calls the church back to the forefront of caring for
orphans and widows.

“Safe Families helps us as the church mobilize to help families in the community,” she said. “It’s an ancient, biblical concept.”

According to Chamberlain, so far in 2011, Safe Families Alliance has had 1,834 hosting arrangements that served 1,140 children nationwide. To make that happen, 707
families opened their homes. Of those children, 88 percent went home with their parents, 5 percent went home with relatives and the remaining 7 percent went into more
permanent placements.

Chamberlain sees how much the program means to families who need help.

A dad who had a warrant for his arrest because of some previous legal violations needed help for his 2 1/2-year-old son.

The child would have gone into foster care if Safe Families hadn’t agreed to help him. In the three months the child was with a host family, the host father and the child’s
father developed a friendship.

“We pray that it will continue to blossom so this dad will end up seeing Jesus through this family,” Chamberlain said.

Those who volunteer to be host families are screened, have background checks, in-home screening and on-line training as well as support through family coaches.

To learn more about Safe Families, go to www.orphancarealliance.org.

All I want for Christmas

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Nolan Thompson’s wish list is not long this Christmas, but it is surprising for a normal 10-year-old.   

His dream is to make room for 700 children at the Tumaini Center Orphanage in Kenya. Orphans trump the guitar he would like to play some day.

Nolan already is a veteran fundraiser. Last May, when tornados swept through Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi, he organized a food drive at Spencer County
Elementary School, where he is a fifth-grader. So many students pitched in to help that Nolan’s parents had to rent a truck to haul the canned goods.

“Helping someone else was so much fun and so gratifying that ever since then, Nolan wanted to do it again,” said his mother, Jenifer Thompson.    

Nolan was looking for another project last August when he asked his teacher, Southeast member Beverly Hill, for suggestions. She had heard about the Tumaini Center
Orphanage in Kenya from Jerry Schooling, a friend at Southeast, who had been on a recent, short-term mission trip to the orphanage and knows the orphanage director,
Charles Juma, who is finishing a doctorate degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In Swahili, the word “tumaini” means “hope.”

That’s what Nolan wants to give to children who have been orphaned by AIDS, to little ones who have been abandoned by parents who cannot care for them and to children
who need to know that someone cares.

According to UNICEF, there are more than 1 million orphans in Kenya.

At the Tumaini Center orphanage, children have a safe, loving environment where they go to school and learn about Jesus. About 300 children now live on the first floor.
Finishing a second level would make room for 700 more children.  

To help with construction costs, Nolan has organized the Kenya Orphanage Project Variety Show. It will be held at Spencer County Middle School on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
The event is free, but there will be an offering collected for the orphanage.  

Middle and high school students and adults in the community will perform, and some local bands have asked to play.

Perhaps Nolan’s biggest dream is to go to Kenya one day to spend time with the children.

Fulfilling Frank’s dream

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Angela Spitzer, 65, never had a house of her own.

Last New Year’s Eve, Angela’s husband, Frank, died suddenly after a mysterious, brief illness. By then, none of their shared dreams mattered much, but there was one dream Angela didn’t quite know how to handle.

For the last seven years, Frank had been refurbishing the 1930s bungalow in Jeffersontown where he grew up. Working in his spare time after work at Southeast with the technical team, it had taken years to completely gut the inside of the house. Angela had no idea what to do with the empty shell. She couldn’t live in it or sell it.

The plain white clapboard house on a quiet street is not fancy. But to Frank, it was home. His goal was to make it brand new for Angela. Everything had to be redone: the plumbing, electrical, drywall, kitchen and bathrooms.

The project was far from finished when friends gathered in the intensive care unit at the hospital last New Year’s Eve to say goodbye to the quiet, kind man who took the time to train and encourage others. Angela mentioned that she had never paid the bills; and she had no idea what to do with the house.

Friends and family decided then to finish the house for Angela.

Frank’s death was a major life blow. He had only been sick a few days with what doctors believed to be a sinus infection.

When he didn’t get better with antibiotics, Angela rushed him to the hospital where he died the next day.  

No one knew exactly why it happened.  What they did know was that Frank left behind a house that needed to be renovated and they were motivated to preserve his legacy by fixing it up. The project ramped up as soon as the weather cooperated.

The house has come together one piece at a time with the help of volunteers from the worship team, a small group of friends and Angela’s family.

Deniece Loyd has been the contractor for the project, pinching pennies, finding people to do drywall, put in electricity and plumbing. She scouted for best buys on kitchen cabinets and carpet, paint and appliances.

Teams volunteered as work schedules allowed, often into the night.

Brian Roggow, who worked closely with Frank at Southeast, said working on the house was fun.

“Frank was always reluctant to ask for help,” Roggow said. “Sometimes I’d go by when I knew he was working on the house, but he never asked. Working on this for Angie has been fun.”   

Angela watched the project unfold. No one has ever done anything like this for her before. While it is at times overwhelming, it also is exciting.

She will move in by Christmas. These days, Angela is packing boxes and sorting through Christmas decorations.

“I can’t wait to see what it will look like,” she said. “There are not enough words or paper to thank everyone. I never would have been able to do this on my own. I wouldn’t have known how or had the resources to finish it. I don’t even know all the people who worked on it. Whenever I go to see what is done, I say the angels have been
there.”

Loyd’s e-mails asking for volunteers are titled, “Merry Christmas, Angie.”  

It’s been a year of hard firsts. The first birthdays without Frank. The first Christmas and anniversary.

“For a while, I would say over and over how much I miss Frank,” Angela said. “But now I know better. Frank is where Jesus wants him to be. It’s Jesus I need. I know I’m not alone. God is using all this to draw me closer to Him. I don’t need Frank. I need God.”

Southeast Lead Team Member Greg Allen said Frank was always an artist.

“Before Frank joined our staff, he was the foreman for a drywall company,” Allen said. “He viewed his drywall job as being a drywall artist. He spent many hours helping me finish my basement. I can attest to the fact that he did beautiful work. He didn’t talk much. He just showed up, went to the basement, did his artistry and went
home. That sums up the life of Frank to me. He never drew attention to himself. He just did his job, did it beautifully and went home."

Allen said Frank was loved by everyone who worked with him.

“I loved Frank dearly,” he said. “I always called him my ‘Frankie Bro.’ He is missed, but Frank knows what I don’t—he knows what Jesus looks like.”

Amy Jacobs’ faith strengthened by harrowing horse accident

Amy Jacobs wears a silver horse necklace around her neck and carries a cross made of fence wire as reminders of a series of what she calls
“God-incidences” that happened to her on May 28, 2011.

Jacobs, an orthodontist and Southeast member, can click off seven events on her hand. A change in any one would have changed what happened that day.

That perfect summer day, Jacobs texted five different people to go on a trail ride at Salmon Horse Farm just outside Jeffersontown. When no one was able to
go, she decided to go alone, as she had many times.

“A ride is always good therapy,” she said. “It’s my escape, my quiet time. I do a lot of praying and worship as I ride. Sheik, my horse, is the best listener.”

Walking to the barn, Jacobs savored the beauty of the country, noticing clusters of wild daisies and honeysuckle.

“I was talking to God, thanking Him for the beauty of the day,” Jacobs said. “I don’t know how somebody can look at a daisy and not believe there was a Creator.”

Jacobs had been riding for an hour on the 900-acre farm when Sheik caught his left rear hoof in a panel gate hidden by weeds and fell onto Jacobs’  left leg. He
tried to stand up, but the hoof was caught in the fence wire as if it had been woven.  Jacobs tried to free her leg. Every time Sheik tried to get up, he fell back
further on Jacobs’ leg. Soon she was holding Sheik’s head, trying to keep him calm.

Jacobs knew she was in trouble.

“God, it’s all up to You now,” she prayed.

Jacobs knew both she and the horse were in a dangerous position. Sheik could panic, break his leg and crush her as he tried to right himself.  

Jacobs reached for her cellphone, grateful that it still was in her pocket. Getting a signal had always been hit or miss on the trails. This time, her signal was
fine. Coincidence  No. 1.

First Jacobs dialed her husband, Steve. No answer. She called her son, Bart, who also knows the trails. He was in Bardstown, too far away to help. Jacobs
dialed her daughter, Stephanie, who also knows the trails at the farm. No answer.

Calling 911 didn’t seem like a good option. Jacobs believed that no one could find her on the remote trail near Floyd’s Fork Creek. She called the owners of the
horse farm. She knew it might be futile as they were at a horse show in Pennsylvania and rarely answered their phone when they were away. This time,
however, Tim Sparks, the farm's owner, had gone to their trailer for a nap when the phone rang. Coincidence No. 2.

Tim called his daughter, Jamie, who decided not to go to her horse show at the last minute. Coincidence No. 3. She knew the trails as well as anyone.

Jamie “just happened” to be in her apartment on the property and got to the trails in about 10 minutes.  In the meantime, Sheik’s 1,200-pound frame seemed
heavier and heavier on Jacobs’ leg, which was numb. But as she stroked Sheik’s head, he didn’t struggle to get up. Coincidence No. 4.

“God can make a donkey talk; He can make a horse stay down,” Jacobs said.

Just then, Jacobs heard voices. In 20 years of riding, she had only seen canoes on Floyd’s Fork three times. This was one of those times. Coincidence No. 5.

“I called out to them, and they came up the bank, just as Jamie’s little dog found me just before Jamie arrived. I could tell by the look on her face that it was bad,”
Jacobs said. “Jamie began taking care of Sheik. After years with Sheik, she knows how to handle him.” Coincidence No. 6.

Jamie found that Sheik’s leg was woven in and out of the fence. He never could have freed himself; Jacobs could not have done it either.

From Pennsylvania, Tim called Jamie’s grandfather to bring a heavy set of bolt cutters. Eight cuts later, with the help of the three men in the canoe, Sheik was
free. He bolted to stand up. After 45 minutes under the horse, Jacobs was fine. So was Sheik. Neither one even limped. Coincidence No. 7.

That night, Jacobs went out dancing with her husband. She showed friends the bruises down her leg.

“I told them it was a miracle,” Jacobs said. “God took care of all of us. It’s the only way the story came out like it did.”

The Jacobs went to church as usual that Memorial Day weekend as Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman talked about devastation in Joplin, Mo. With the
congregation, Jacobs sang “I’m alive because of Jesus Christ ….”

Jacobs stayed long after everyone left the Sanctuary.

“If anything had been different that day, both Sheik and I would have died,” she said. “Maybe there’s something I haven’t finished yet. Maybe there’s something
God wants me to do.”

Jacobs went to the hardware store on Memorial Day and bought the strongest bolt cutters she could find and went back to the spot where she had fallen with
Sheik. The fence was so strong she couldn’t make a notch in it. She was amazed that her rescuer did.

One other thing Jacobs noticed.

At the beginning of her trail ride, she used her cellphone to take photos of the daisies. After hitting the trigger, the message on the phone always said “saving.”
The day she went back to take some pictures of where Sheik fell,  the message on the phone said “saved.”

That, she believes, was no coincidence.

God working in Egypt

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

News of unrest filled headlines as Dr. Magdy Khalil prayed about co-leading Southeast’s first short-term mission trip to Egypt Oct. 21 through 29. He followed
news stories and heard firsthand accounts from family members living in Egypt.

Protests escalated through January and February as citizens called for President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster. His resignation on Feb. 11 ended 30 years of rule.

Life in Abundance, Southeast’s partner in Africa, also kept careful watch on events in Egypt. Its leaders have been praying about how to begin outreach there.

While the country is famous for pyramids, pharaohs and its place in biblical history, it has needs. Since Egypt is one of the most progressive nations in Africa, it
also is a haven for refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia, who seek better living conditions. About 20 percent of the citizens live below the poverty line and
a large group of Coptic Christians live in “garbage villages” among the trash and recyclables that they gather, sort and resell. In the refugee camps, many suffer
from disease, unstable housing and unemployment. Christians, who make up 10 percent of a population of 84 million, often face persecution.

As the team gathered in mid-October to pack supplies for clinics, they talked about risk in reaching out in the midst of political unrest.

Khalil, who was raised in Egypt and speaks fluent Arabic, was uneasy.

“Two weeks before we left, I had cold feet,” Khalil said. “If it had been up to me, I would have said we should cancel. But when we met, our devotional pointed to
the fact that God would be with us, and we should go so His name would be glorified.”

Team member Sandra Moore, who works in missions ministry at Bates Memorial Baptist Church, prayed about going to Egypt before signing up for the trip.

“God gave me an answer before the unrest,” she said. “I prayed again as political unrest unfolded, and God let me know that He hadn’t changed His mind. I
knew then that I was supposed to be in Egypt.”

Southeast member Linda Saling, who led the trip with Khalil, said attending Global Missions Health Conferences at Southeast fortified her resolve to go,
regardless of events.

“The truth is that missions isn’t always safe,” she said. “Southeast is committed to going into dark areas where many have never heard the Gospel. We pray for
our safety and for traveling mercies. We are not heroes for going. Egyptians we met there are the heroes. They put their lives on the line every day. We were
there to encourage and serve them.”

The team visited Christian churches that were already working with refugees who have massive needs and few resources. They worshiped in a Sudanese
Christian Church and visited Coptic Christians who live at the foot of the Moqattam Mountains in a village widely known as “Garbage City.”  

The team also put on four medical clinics where they worked with Somalians, Egyptians, Ethiopians and Sudanese.

Many of those who came to the medical clinics wore veils.

Khalil’s fluent Arabic came in handy during the trip.

Pediatrician David Brough, a longtime Southeast member, said the trip was a reminder that it’s never about the clinics or the “doing.”

“When we got to one clinic, it was all adults,” Brough said. “That is challenging stuff for a pediatrician. All I could do was pray. God was letting me know that he
didn’t need my skills as a pediatrician for anything. He wanted me to pray.”

The group saw many sites referenced in the Bible. Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus fled to Egypt after Joseph was warned by an angel in a dream to leave
Bethlehem. According to early church records, the disciple Mark went to Egypt as a missionary. Alexandria was the center of early Christianity. Everything
changed in the fourth century with the Islamic conquest of the country in 640 A.D.

Moore said life has looked different since going to Egypt.

“I think about the trip every day since I went,” she said. “I know the Lord has a purpose for my life. I have taken the first step, the second step. Now it’s time to go
to the next level. I would go again tomorrow.”

University of Louisville medical student Daniel Bachman said what he learned in Egypt is that God can use anyone, anywhere, anytime.

“Egypt came at a really important time in the midst of school,” he said. “It reminded me that God makes our burdens light if we let Him work through us. God’s
focus and mission is unchanging, but sometimes He asks us to be on a plane or in a van ready to serve before we see it as clearly as He does. Through the
trip, God revealed that Egypt is not nearly the ends of the earth, but was a special place of refuge for Jesus, and continues to be that for many people from many
nations. This land provides an opportunity to minister to these people, to send them out to the corners of the globe and to impact some of the toughest areas to
reach in the 10/40 window (the area from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator in the Eastern Hemisphere) and beyond.”  

Khalil said prayer made a difference for the trip and the team.

“When you have hundreds of people praying, it changes everything,” he said.

Bachman said prayer must be the foundation of further outreach in Egypt.

“Please pray for new leaders the people will elect,” he said. “Pray that if they are not currently Christ-followers that they will respect the Christians in Egypt and
come to know Christ soon. Also pray for Life in Abundance as they map out a plan to strengthen and empower churches in Egypt to reach out in their own
communities.”

Lee Ebner reflects on attack

By Jacob Glassner | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

As a young Navy signalman stationed in Pearl Harbor, Louisvillian Lee Ebner was high above the water in the signal bridge aboard the battleship USS West
Virginia on Dec. 7, 1941.

In the early hours of that infamous day, he came face-to-face with a Japanese pilot as the attack on Pearl Harbor began.

Seventy years later, Ebner, 92, vividly remembers the encounter.

 “I saw a guy exactly like this,” said Ebner, pointing to a black-and-white photo of a Japanese pilot in Life magazine. “He had goggles over his eyes. He had a
mustache. That one plane came right over us. When I saw that red circle on the plane I knew they were Japanese. At first I didn’t know what they were.”

And then the mayhem began.

In his secure compartment about 60 feet above the water, Ebner began to hear muffled booms and rumbles as the ship was hit by aerial torpedoes.

“We took seven torpedoes (by some accounts more) and two bombs,” Ebner said. “One bomb went straight down through our bridge.”

The West Virginia was docked on Battleship Row alongside the USS Tennessee.

“We were on open water on our side; that’s how come we took all those torpedoes,” he said.

Taking on water, the West Virginia slowly sank to the bottom of the 40-foot-deep harbor.

“We were flooded. Our main deck was three feet above water,” Ebner said. “We lost a lot of men below decks.”

Many of those men were trapped below deck for several weeks before dying.

Ebner helped out where he could.

“I’d been on watch, and I had a full set of whites on,” he said. “Here this guy—I didn’t even know him—he’s standing there with just a pair of shorts on. He looks
at me and said, ‘You’ve got on two shirts; give me one of them shirts.’ I took the T-shirt off my back and gave it to him.”

The attack lasted a little more than two hours, and 106 men were killed aboard the West Virginia, including its captain, Mervyn Bennion.

“There’s so much going on, I guess you don’t have time to get scared,” Ebner said. “You’ve got things that you’re supposed to do, and you’re so busy ... that’s
what you do.”

After the attack, Ebner helped oil-covered crewmates from below deck onto rescue boats.

In all, more than 2,400 people died in the attack. Three ships were lost completely, while another 18 were damaged but later returned to service. The West
Virginia was repaired and returned to service July 4, 1944.

Ebner is chairman of the Kentucky Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, which currently has about 10 members.

“The reason Japan attacked at Pearl Harbor is they wanted control of the whole pacific, and they thought that the United States would give up and sign a peace
treaty,” he said. “Well, it didn’t turn out that way.”

Ebner, who used to draw editorial cartoons for The Southeast Outlook, attends Walnut Street Baptist Church. He was the staff artist for The Courier-Journal and
The Louisville Times for 32 years. His wife of 52 years, Wanda, died in January.

He grew up going to church and attended a Presbyterian prep school.

In his six years in the Navy during World War II, he saw some unspeakable sights while taking part in battles such as Saipan, Peleliu and Iwo Jima in the
Pacific, but he maintained his faith.

“You can’t blame God for things that go on in this world—all the tragedies,” he said.

He survived yet another close call aboard the destroyer USS Newcomb, which was hit by five Kamikaze suicide planes during the Battle of Okinawa.

“I was lucky at Pearl Harbor, but I was really lucky to survive that one,” he said.
 

Pritchards thankful for adoption

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

From the time she was a little girl, Lindsey Pritchard knew she wanted to adopt children.

“It bothered me that so many kids didn’t have moms and dads,” she said. “I knew I didn’t want to have kids. I wanted to take some that were already here.”

Lindsey believes that God put that desire in her heart, but she did not know why until she was diagnosed with stage 2 uterine cancer at age 23. She had a
hysterectomy three days later. At the time, she was single and a student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she met Jason Pritchard, who
shared her heart for adoption.

In their wildest imaginations, the Pritchards never dreamed that would mean adopting five children at once. But that is what happened on Aug. 24, when they
became Mom and Dad to Derek, 8, Nathaniel, 5, Alex, 4, Hallie, 4, and Chloe, 23 months.

“God is funny. He really does have a sense of humor,” Lindsey said. “‘He who sits in the heavens laughs’ (Psalm 2:4) has become our theme verse at home.”

Jason and Lindsey married in 2005. About three years later, they started planning for their first adoption.

“We wanted to start with a baby because we didn’t know what we were doing,” Lindsey said.

So the couple bought some baby furniture. They also bought a twin bed because they knew they wanted to adopt again in the future.

They went to the Adoption Seminar at Southeast Christian Church in May 2008 and started foster-to-adopt classes in July.

By December, they were approved as foster parents. Around February 2009, they received a call asking if they were willing and able to foster two brothers:
Nathaniel, who was 2 at time, and Alex, who was 1.

“When we went to pick them up, Nathaniel asked Jason, ‘Are you my new Daddy?’” Lindsey said.

From time to time, the couple would take the boys to visit their birth mother, who eventually signed over her parental rights, which made them eligible for
adoption.

During one of the visits with a social worker, the Pritchards learned about three siblings—Derek, Hallie and Chloe—who also needed foster care.

Looking around at their 900-square-foot rental home, with three small bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen table for four, they knew it would be tight. The social worker advised the Pritchards against taking in three more children, especially since they had only fostered Alex and Nathaniel for a little more than a year. 
“I told her that God was telling me these are our kids. I was madly in love with them before I met them, and we prayed for them,” Lindsey said.

It saddened them that there was a 6-year-old boy out there who was old enough to understand what was happening in his family’s life and know that he was
facing yet another relocation.

Today, Derek is happy to be the big brother to not only his baby sisters, Hallie and Chloe, but to Nathaniel and Alex as well. And the family now lives in a larger
home with more room for the children.

Adopting them has given Lindsey and Jason new insight into what it means to be adopted into God’s family.

“We are all adopted as children of God,” Lindsey said. “Our kids thought that was amazing.”

After the judge finalized the paperwork and announced that the Pritchards were officially the parents of five children, the celebration started.

While still in the courtroom, each member of the Pritchard family, including Lindsey and Jason, took off their outer shirts to reveal T-shirts they had hidden
underneath.

Printed across the front of the shirt was one word: “Adopted.”

Life-threatening trial

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Last summer, Jeremy Moremen lamented that he didn’t have a dramatic testimony like others he heard at church. He didn’t have a wicked past or a dramatic
conversion. He never had been on a mission trip or grappled with disobedience or doubt.

That was before being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer.

The 27-year-old has a dramatic testimony now—not because everything is OK, but because of the remarkable way God is leading him through the journey.

Life changed in a moment.  

Last June, Jeremy was on his way to work with the Geek Squad when his right side suddenly went numb.

To the 6-foot-4, strapping athlete who loves a challenge, it seemed like a crazy, random, it’s-not-happening moment. When the numbness didn’t go away, Jeremy
called his older brother, Jacob, a physician in Macon, Ga. His instructions were clear and simple. Go home. Get Meagan. Take Jackson (their 1-year-old son) to
his parents, Pat and Dick Moremen. Get to a doctor.

It began a whirlwind journey down a road Jeremy and Meagan never wanted to travel. The doctor sent them to the hospital where tests found a golf ball-sized
astrocytoma brain tumor in Jeremy’s frontal lobe, along with two more tumors doctors called “fruit.”

From the hospital, they went to specialists.

The tumors are inoperable.

Through June, Meagan said she cried more than she slept. Elders came to pray for Jeremy. One specifically prayed that Meagan would have more courage than
ever before.

Life looked so dark after the diagnosis that Jacob drove from Georgia to see Jeremy and Meagan face to face.

“That was a turning point,” Meagan said. “He said we were acting defeated, which is so unlike us. Our family is strong-willed and stubborn, with Jeremy leading
the pack. Jacob expected to find us full of energy to fight and praying for a miracle. From then on, I stopped crying. God has already done a miracle by giving me
peace to care for my family.”

In a consultation at the University of Kentucky, Meagan heard a new phrase regarding Jeremy’s treatment regimen: “If it comes back in five to seven years …”

“I didn’t hear anything after that,” she said. “It was the most hopeful thing we heard from a doctor all summer.”

Jeremy started a Caring Bridge blog (www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeremymoremen) to enlist prayer warriors and keep people informed about what was happening
through treatment. He printed up business cards with the site address. Those became an evangelical tool as he gave them out in hospitals and doctor’s offices.

Through the summer and fall, Jeremy had chemotherapy five days a week and specialized radiation therapy that zeroed in on the tumors without damaging
surrounding tissue. Jeremy called himself “the man in the plastic mask” because he had to wear a custom mask during the treatments.

When his hair fell out during chemotherapy, Jeremy said, “Think of the money I’ll save on haircuts!”

Jeremy said God continues to hold him up through good days, but especially on difficult ones.  

“I knew from the beginning that someone would have to carry me through this,” Jeremy said. “God has done that for me. It has been a blessing. I have come to
the realization that even with an inoperable brain tumor, I am blessed beyond measure.”    

Jeremy has a tattoo on his arm with a cross and the reference Ephesians 6:13 (“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you
may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”). On his shoulder, he has a compass with “Jesus” in the middle and the words,
“Never Lost.”

 “It truly reminds me that God chose me to be one of his warriors and that part of this is a spiritual battle, not just a physical one for me,” he said.

The family gains strength from Jeremy.

They hold onto verses such as, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4,6-7).

Jeremy’s mother, Pat, said the one constant since Jeremy’s diagnosis is God’s faithfulness.

Tests showed the tumor has shrunk slightly through radiation. Pat said the uncertainty of the future makes them “learn to live one day at a time in total
dependence on God.”

“We learn to stop fretting about what we do not know,” she said.  

Tim Hester, chairman-elect of the Board of Elders at Southeast, said he has been amazed at this family’s faith.

“At this point, they hold onto the fact that God is God. He’s sovereign. What He wants, they want,” Hester said. “Through this, Jeremy laughs at his situation
—whether it’s something at work or at home. He makes you feel OK with what’s going on. Jeremy could shake his fist at God. He doesn’t do that. When I get to
the end of my life and list the people who have inspired me, the Moremen family will be on that list.”

This Thanksgiving as Jeremy gathers with his family at his parents’ house, he has a long gratitude list.

First of all, he’s grateful to be with Meagan and Jackson. There was a time in June when they weren’t sure he’d be alive at Christmas.

“I have been given so much,” he said. “You don’t know who your friends are until something horrible happens. There has been such an outpouring of giving to us
that we can’t help but be grateful. People have brought meals. My parents have watched Jackson so Meagan can teach school. People have helped with bills and
in all kinds of other ways.”  

Pat said they continue to pray for a miracle.

“We pray for that miracle, but we trust God no matter what,” she said. “As a result of Jeremy’s growing faith, the rest of us close to him have been able to give this
to God.”

Jeremy will continue to have intense chemotherapy and MRIs every three months for life.

He’s willing to take that.

If you would like to read more about Jeremy’s journey, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeremymoremen.

Thankful

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Early on July 11, 1989, 16-year-old Jenny Smith went to cheerleading practice at Seneca Park. The group from Christian Academy was preparing for an upcoming competition.   

That morning, a soft blanket of dew covered the grass. Like she had done a thousand times before, Smith bent her knees, whipped her arms up and around for a backflip.

But this time, she slipped, fell face first on the ground, and something popped.

Friends nearby asked if she was OK. But this was more than a fall.   

“Don’t move me,” Smith told her friends.  "I think I hurt my spinal cord.”   

A lot of dreams died with that backflip that day. Smith injured the C6 and C7 vertebrae in her neck, breaking the superhighway of messages between her brain,
arms and legs.  

Spending life in a wheelchair isn’t what any teenager plans.

Though some of Smith’s dreams died that day, determination didn’t. Neither did gratitude for every day.

“Later on, I learned that it is not about me,” Smith said. “I can be grateful for what happened 22 years ago, and I can be grateful for so many things God has done
since. I’ve grown through my disability. I don’t follow the ‘what ifs,’ but my life would have been totally different if I hadn’t slipped that day. It has opened up all kinds
of opportunities.”

While waiting for the ambulance, Smith asked her friends to pray.  

“From that point on, the whole situation was covered with prayer,” Smith said. “Word spread fast. People at Northeast Christian Church, Southeast and Christian
Academy prayed. The North American Christian Convention was going on that week. Soon they were praying, along with everyone who heard about it.”

Doctors can do a lot, but they couldn’t fix Smith’s injury.    

After two weeks in Kosair Children’s Hospital in downtown Louisville, she moved to Baptist Hospital East for rehabilitation. Friends and family crowded her
hospital room.

Three months after the fall, Smith went back to school and began going out with friends who “tossed her in the car.”  

She didn’t deal with anger or depression–although years later, Smith realized part of her thought that “good Christians” don’t get mad or depressed.

“My favorite verse through everything was Isaiah 40:31,” Smith said. “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’”

At times, she struggled with God’s ability to heal and the fact that He didn’t heal her. Some of those questions remain unanswered.  

“For me, the key is holding onto hope,” Smith said. “I have something wonderful to look forward to in heaven. All this is temporary.”

Dancing is on her “heaven agenda.” So is running, doing gymnastics and playing piano.

Smith graduated from high school a year early, earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville and went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling
psychology.

She bought a condominium and an equipped van that has logged more than 100,000 miles.

She offers to chauffeur large groups and often has house guests. She has played tennis with the University of Arizona, for Frazier TNT quad rugby, and for the last
seven years, she has rowed with Louisville Adaptive Rowing.

She doesn’t think much about what she can't do.

A whole new ministry opened up in 1998 when Smith learned from missionaries that many people with disabilities in other countries have no access to
wheelchairs.

Some never leave their homes. Others are carted around in wheelbarrows or handmade carts. They cannot make a living or build a life.

She began to think about how to change that. Smith talked with Southeast members who wanted to take wheelchairs into Central Asia, where many suffered
profound injuries from landmines and to Mexico, where few with disabilities have access to mobility.  

“When they asked if I wanted to go to Mexico that first time, I laughed—a little like when Sarah laughed at God about having a baby in her old age. Six months
later, I took my first mission trip to Mexico, and it was the beginning of a whole new life,” Smith said.  

Smith began working with a non-profit organization, taking refurbished wheelchairs to countries that needed them most. She went to Afghanistan in 2003, soon
after the Taliban had been removed, and returned five more times.  

“The thing that kept me going back and back again is seeing the smile on someone’s face, whether it is an adult or child, when they get a chair and see what
they are capable of doing,” Smith said.

Southeast member Larry Freibert was part of several teams to Afghanistan.

“I’ve seen Jenny in some really tough spots,” he said. “One time when we landed, the officials wouldn’t let her have her chair. I tried to argue with them, but Jenny
just smiled and talked with officials until they released her chair. She is like that all the time no matter what she faces.”

These days, Smith now works in Member Care for Team Expansion, a church-planting organization active in 43 countries. She encourages and spends time with
young missionaries going to the field.

“She has total confidence in God’s will,” Peterson said. “She’s here to minister to others. It’s remarkably humbling to all of us—especially when we want to complain about something. Jenny lives with a constant attitude of gratitude.” 

Snow baby

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On Jan. 17, 1994, millions followed Michelle Schmitt’s race to get a new liver. There were obstacles: 17 inches of snow; Louisville International Airport was closed; roads
were impassable; bitter cold and wind shear made air travel treacherous.

Volunteers shoveled the Southeast parking lot, then on Hikes Lane, so a helicopter could land and take Michelle, then just 3 years old, to life-saving surgery in Omaha, Neb.

Newscasters nicknamed her “snow baby.” To this day, people who followed that drama still recognize her.  

On Nov. 1, 2011, Michelle’s kidney transplant was not nearly so dramatic.  There were no radio or television commentaries. But it, too, was lifesaving—another chapter in the
Schmitt family story. Much of it is hard, but the family does not focus on what they have lost. They focus on the good things God has done for them.One of Michelle’s best
friends since elementary school donated a kidney. It’s a gift the family does not take for granted.

Back in 1994 when volunteers made their way to Southeast with snow shovels in hand, the Schmitts already had been through more heartache than many families face in a
lifetime. Both Michelle and her older sister, Ashley, were born with biliary atresia and needed liver transplants. Ashley had a successful transplant in 1990.  

The family was just beginning to breathe easy when Theresa, the girls’ mother, died suddenly of Wegener’s granulomatosis, a rare blood disease. Their father, Howie
Schmitt, and his parents, Ed and Barbara Schmitt, cared for the girls. They were still grieving for Theresa when Michelle’s liver failed.

Michelle weighed just 16 pounds and her big blue eyes stood out against bright yellow skin the morning Howie heard a liver was available. That day, church neighbors and
members pitched in to help.   

Retired Southeast Senior Minister Bob Russell arrived with a shovel, working alongside almost 200 others in sub-zero temperatures and whipping wind to clear a path. He
prayed for Michelle and the family before the helicopter took off.   

Transplant surgery saved Michelle’s life. Later the Schmitts learned about the donor, Bryan Friesen, a little boy who died of a brain aneurysm. Bryan’s family told of his bigger-
than-life faith in Jesus and how not long before he died, he left notes and messages throughout the house for his family. One note said, “I love you all, and Jesus does, too.”

The two families have stayed in touch ever since.  In 2001, Michelle was baptized by her Sunday school teacher, Charles Denny, the day before her 10th birthday.

All along the journey, teachers, Sunday school teachers and friends stayed close to the family.

“We could not have survived without all the people who have come along to help us,” Howie said. “We have been blessed by people who cared.”   

Southeast member Linda Ratti, the girls’ music teacher, kept a careful watch on them, along with the Dennys and other friends.  Ashley and Michelle graduated from high
school and went on to college. Ashley now has a master’s degree in business healthcare while Michelle is working on her degree in psychology.

Throughout their lives, doctors warned that the anti-rejection drugs the girls took 20 years ago could cause kidney failure. Ashley had a successful transplant last June. Good
friend Crystal  (who wished to keep her last name anonymous) volunteered to donate then, but a good match became available two days after Ashley’s name was on the list. 
When Michelle’s kidney was damaged during a bout with mononucleosis last January, Crystal spent a lot of time at the hospital with Michelle and Ashley. As it became clear
that Michelle needed a kidney, Crystal offered again. Tests showed she was a perfect match, and the transplant took place at Jewish Hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 1.  

A kidney is an unbelievable gift.

“It means so much that she was willing to do this,” Michelle said. “I’m so grateful.”  

Crystal does not see herself as a hero.

“Michelle and Ashley have taught me so much about life,” she said. “They don’t take anything for granted like most people. I would do about anything to keep them in my life.”

A die-hard University of Louisville fan, Crystal teased Michelle that the kidney might change Michelle's allegiance from the University of Kentucky.

Michelle continues to recover at home.

Howie believes life will be different now. Fewer illnesses. Fewer setbacks.  

“My dream is that my girls bury me,” he said. Michelle and Ashley have dreams, too.

“I want to travel, get married and have a family,” Michelle said.

Ashley said the road to good health has been long but worth it.

“I want to get married one day, get season tickets to Kentucky basketball and go to Europe,” she said.

Howie said their journey through illness and transplants has taught them to never take anything for granted.

“I know that everything can change in a day,” he said. “We are so grateful for Crystal, for her gift, for Ashley’s donor, for all the people who have helped us. We know, without
doubt, that God has saved their lives.”

Making change happen

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Darius Daniels chose to succeed.

A student at West End School in Louisville, Daniels is realistic about the past and optimistic about the future. For him, moving to the year-round boarding school was the beginning of a new day.  

“Before this, I was always in trouble,” he said. “All the way through school they told me I needed to switch things around. Even when I came here, I had to
make some decisions because I was on the edge of getting kicked out. I had to decide if I wanted to be here or go back to where I lived, get in trouble and not
learn things.”

Daniels made the decision to stay.

“I’m a pretty different kid (now) than when I came,” he said. “My Grammy is proud of me.”

West End School runs on discipline, high expectations and faith. Students are referred by pastors, family members or teachers and counselors in the public
school system. It is a new partner with Southeast Local Missions.

Robert and Debbie Blair founded the school in 2005 by taking three students into their home. They taught, mentored, made teens accountable and worked on
character development.

In seven years, the school has grown to include 24 students who live at the school Monday through Friday, then go home to be with family or guardians on
weekends.

Robert and his wife live in a faculty apartment at the school, along with Ben and Amanda Payne and their baby daughter. Ben, who has a master’s degree in
architecture from UNC Charlotte, is resident faculty, mentor and coach. There are 12 dorm rooms and two faculty apartments.

Robert, formerly the headmaster of Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, believes every child can succeed.

“Just because some kids had a rough start in life doesn’t mean they can’t succeed,” Robert said. “Odds are statistically stacked against African-American
males in the West End of Louisville.  They are nearly as likely to go to prison as graduate from high school. That’s why we’re here. We’ve failed them to this
point.”

Robert points to Acts 1, where Jesus said to go to Jerusalem, Judea and the end of the earth.
“There are huge needs here,” Robert said. “The first thing I say to kids is they are here to get a good education in a safe and stable environment, but character

is more important than intellect.”

Curriculum is tough. Character training is even more rigorous. There are consequences for lying, cheating and not treating other students right. The boys live
a somewhat monastic life. There are no televisions, cell phones, iPods or video games on campus.

Seven years after they began, West End School is silencing skeptics with the success of students.

Southeast volunteers have worked on the school building. Rick Steinrock, who owns a roofing company, is replacing the aging roof, and Jay Lowe has
worked on several interior renovation projects.

 Southeast members Len Moisan and Junior Bridgeman serve on the board of directors.

 “Robert and Debbie Blair are with the kids 24/7, and they are urban missionaries in the strictest sense of the word,” Moisan  said. “Board members are
involved with the boys, teach classes and help with housekeeping issues. At one point last year, we realized that the combined jail sentences of our boys’
parents was more than 200 years. We believe that West End School equips them to write a new life script.”  

Moisan believes Southeast members will love the new partnership.

“If we are going to be salt and light as Jesus commands, we can’t just do it in the East End of Louisville. This is a great opportunity to get involved in urban
mission. Debbie and Robert Blair are literally saving lives of these young boys, but there is much more that can be done. These kids are so bright, so
engaging that they steal your heart. It’s a joy to be involved with them.”  

Steven Stivers, now a student at Louisville Collegiate School, was being raised by his 24-year-old brother before he came to West End School. He now is
working on a pilot’s license through United Parcel Service.

Jordan Duff’s mom brought him to West End School. His father was incarcerated and he needed direction. He now is an honor roll student at Kentucky
Country Day, where he is a starting running back on the school’s football team.

Len Adams has been a student for three years.

“He is maturing into a terrific young man,” Ben said. “In the beginning, the structure and discipline were difficult for him. Some weeks were so rough that he
didn’t talk to me or my wife, but he decided to get in line. Now he texts my wife often and asks about the baby. The turnaround we see in these young men’s
lives is amazing.”   

Robert said the school could not exist without the support of the community.

“The school is run on volunteers, donations and faith,” said Robert. “It’s faith first, but we wouldn’t be here if the community didn’t support it.”

Parents bring in supplies. General Electric and other local businesses have brought volunteers. Panera Bread donates food, and Horton Foods donates
fresh fruits and vegetables. Church groups throughout the community send casseroles. According to Robert, literally thousands of volunteers have helped
reclaim the old school building, which is the National Register of Historic Places.

“We have teachers here who never have been paid a nickel,” Robert said. “We have volunteer tutors, cooks and those who clean up.”   

On an average day, students get up at 7:30 a.m. Those who need to finish homework get up earlier. They go to class from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students help
maintain buildings with chores that begin at 4:30. Then there’s time for practice, dinner, homework and lights out.   

Robert’s dream is to start a girls’ school not too far away and expand the number of boys at the present campus.

“We know lives are being changed here,” Robert said.

To learn more about West End School, go to www.westendschool.org. If you would like to volunteer, contact Bonnie Epperson at bepperson@secc.org.
 

More Than a Gift

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Christmas outreach from Southeast into the community will have a wider reach this year.   

Since Southeast is focused on prayer, building meaningful relationships and reaching out in Jesus’ name, there will be more than one opportunity for
members to be involved in giving and serving.

In short, the church will have the opportunity to be the church to hurting families in the community.

It has been a hard year for many families beset with unemployment and illness.

More than 1,000 families in the area already have been identified by partners in the community as needing help this Christmas.

Each one has a story, and each one has a unique set of needs.

Debbie Ward, who leads Local Missions at Southeast, said the Christmas outreach is patterned after Jesus’ sacrifice described in John 3:16.

“When Jesus accepted the cross, He showed that the needs of others outweighed His own needs,” Ward said. “This outreach is a chance for Southeast to
be the church in our community during the Christmas season and through the year.”

Outreach will last far beyond the holidays. Members will be asked to pray specifically throughout the year for the family they help at Christmas.

Ward is especially excited about the prayer component.

“This gives us a chance to put into action our desire to be a praying church,” she said.

More Than a Gift Calendar
There will be several opportunities to meet needs in the community.

1. Families, groups or individuals may provide gifts for a family.
In addition to providing gifts, there will be an opportunity to write personal notes of encouragement in a Christmas card, interact with partners and families at agency events.

2. Groups, families or individuals who choose not to provide gifts for a family can participate through the churchwide food drive to provide two weeks worth of food and Christmas baskets.

3. Members can sort food and prepare Christmas dinner baskets.

More Than a Gift Schedule of Outreach
1. On Nov. 12 and 13 and Nov. 19 and 20, members will be able to pick up the gift list for local families in need after services at the Blankenbaker, Oldham and Indiana campuses. Fulfilling wish lists will cost about $50 per person. Groups may work together to make that possible.
Individuals, groups or families will purchase and wrap gifts, sign a Christmas card and deliver the gifts and food to the partner organization.  

2. On Nov. 19 and 20 and 26 and 27, people will donate food for Christmas baskets and food boxes.Food items will be collected during services at all three campuses.

3. On Dec. 3 and 4, at LifeBridge on the Blankenbaker Campus, volunteers will assemble food boxes and Christmas baskets.

For more information, visit www.southeastchristian.org and click on More Than a Gift.

 

Serving the world

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Evangelists in Sierra Leone were thrown out of some villages before they were trained by mPower, a Louisville-based nonprofit organization that teaches basic health care and dentistry to national pastors and church leaders.

In six days, Illinois dentist Brian Evans taught them how to care for abscessed teeth and relieve suffering.  

After training, the dental health workers went back to one of the villages.   

“Does anyone have a toothache?” the dental health workers asked.

Villagers lined up. Many had been suffering for years. As these dental health workers worked on teeth, they prayed with villagers and told them about Jesus.
After a few visits, leaders in the village offered free land for a church. In the last two years, the church they planted has started seven additional churches in the
area.

And ministry continues—not only in Sierra Leone, but also in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Myanmar, Uganda, Haiti, Kenya, India and Ecuador. Next year, mPower
will train dental health workers in Indonesia. And last year, Southeast member Dr. Tom McKechnie developed health training modules that have been used in
South Sudan and Haiti.  

Each year, mPower sends between 30 and 40 medical professionals on teaching mission trips. They train about 100 nationals in the countries they serve.

That’s success according to mPower Executive Director Linda Webster.

“God is using this model around the world,” she said. “When we give pastors and evangelists these basic medical and dental skills, it’s like a light goes on
in their eyes,” she said. “They now have something to give their own people. Many were not welcomed into villages they wanted to evangelize, but dental and
medical training gives them skills that are valuable in villages, and they open doors to share the Gospel.”

mPower reaches people who have little or no access to medical or dental care.

“The people we treat really are the ‘least of these,’" Webster said. “They are so grateful for help. Then they hear from health workers that they don’t come from
the government or even an organization. They come in the name of Christ.”

mPower was founded in 2007 by Southeast member Charlie Vittitow, who now serves as director of International Missions for Southeast.

 He established mPower with Steve Saint, who grew up in Ecuador and provides medical and dental equipment for national churches. Saint's nonprofit
organization, ITEC, invented the lightweight, solar-powered dental chair that mPower uses to equip nationals. Because the chair can be folded into a
backpack, dental health workers are reaching remote villages.   

mPower trainers go into countries with a three-year plan that includes an exit strategy.

On a first dental trip, mPower dentists train nationals in basic dental skills, test and graduate students. The second and third years, they check on skill sets
and add additional skills. After the third trip, they are independent and self-sustaining, setting their own fees, purchasing their own supplies and setting their
own schedules for outreach.    

In Ghana, it costs about 10 cents for dental work. In Uganda, it is about $1. No one charges for widows or orphans.   

In Haiti, a former construction worker, a pastor and a hotel worker were trained by Dr. Steve Cherry, an oral surgeon and Southeast member. He recently
returned from Liberia, where there is only one dentist in the entire country.

“People in these countries have nowhere to turn,” Cherry said. “They live with pain. We’re there to relieve pain and suffering by training nationals, but the real
goal is for them to use dentistry as a platform to spread the Gospel. That will last long after we are gone.”

On a typical dental mission trip, an American dentist will extract about 300 teeth in six grueling days, packing up to leave even as long lines remain of people
seeking help. On an mPower trip, that same dentist trains six nationals to extract teeth that cannot be saved. If those students work in villages just two days a
week, more than 7,000 people are helped. Cherry said graduation day is memorable.

“These students are so thrilled to have the skills to help people,” he said. “They are elevated in the eyes of the community and that skill opens doors to share
the Gospel.”

Webster hears stories long after mPower teams leave.

In Uganda, an mPower team trained Pastor Peter Okello. Word that he helped people with dental pain circulated through the community. When a government
dentist broke a tooth while doing an extraction, causing further pain, people said, "I’ve heard of a man who cares for this kind of pain. His name is Peter.”

They found Peter, and in about 10 minutes, he was able to relieve the patient’s pain.  

“How can we repay you?” the patient and his friends asked.

“You don’t have to repay me,” Peter said. “Let me tell you about the group of Americans who trained me so I can take the name of Jesus to every village.” 

mPower’s goal is to spread Jesus’ name to the nations.

It’s working in Nigeria, where community health workers relieve suffering in Muslim villages while telling patients about Jesus. In India, pastors were beaten,

harassed and even killed before learning to be lay dental health workers, who were able to extract abscessed teeth, insert fillings and teach oral hygiene.

“They’re not killing us now,” one pastor said.  

Pastors in Ghana who have been trained to be dental health workers reach out in Muslim villages, sharing faith as they relieve suffering. Kingspride
Hammond, founder of Alabaster Ministries in Ghana, said using the mPower model has changed outreach in the predominantly Muslim country.

“When people open their mouth for help with pain, it opens the door to their heart,” he said.

One afternoon during training, a local witch doctor brought her son to the clinic with a deep leg wound. Doctors on the team and students found that it was
packed with dog hair. They learned that according to local custom, the witch doctor packed the wound with dog hair because it was a dog bite.

The witch doctor and her son left the clinic wearing handmade crosses fashioned by prisoners at Luther Luckett Correctional Institution in LaGrange, Ky.,
given to them by mPower missionaries.

In India, national pastors trained in mPower dental ministry set up a clinic in a Christian church. Hindus with toothaches came for help. One high-caste Hindu

watched the clinic and saw how pastors cared for his own neighbors and friends.

“I don’t like you Christians,” he said. “But I see what you are doing in the name of Jesus. I will sell you some land so you can be here for the people.”

Local churches benefit from each outreach. In Uganda, before dental training, Peter Okello struggled to feed his family.

“Training Peter as a dental health worker has given him a way to support his family and tithe to local churches in the villages he visits,” Webster said. “It also
gives him a way to take the Gospel everywhere."

In the end, it’s not just about dentistry or health. Every patient is prayed for and every patient has the opportunity to invite Jesus into their hearts.

For more information on mPower, visit www.mpowerapproach.org.

Remembering Brett DeYoung

By Bill Search

My introduction to Brett DeYoung came when I was considering coming to work at Southeast. I sought advice about the position from a trusted friend in
Chicago. His response was, “I really don’t know much about the job, but I would walk from here to Kentucky to be able to work with Brett DeYoung.”

So strong was his reputation!

But I soon learned that this reputation had less to do with his abilities as a leader and more to do with who he was as a servant of God.

Brett moved from West Michigan with his wife, Sandie, and three boys, Jesse, Casey, and Micah to serve Southeast in November, 1999.

As the congregation continued to grow, so did the variety of roles and responsibilities that Brett undertook. He worked hard to develop the groups ministry
because he knew that people develop best and experience God best in community.

He and Sandie have a home group that has met for years. He also taught two weekend groups. Over the years, he directly influenced the lives of hundreds of
adults at Southeast, and indirectly, through his staff, he influenced thousands.

But in spite of his broad impact, Brett was not proud or arrogant.

It wasn’t important for him to be in front of others or occupy a visible role. Quite the opposite, he was quick to give others the platform and cheer them on from
the sidelines.

While he loved to teach the Bible, he was just as eager to encourage others to grow as teachers.

His leadership style was what I call “confident humility.”

Although these traits may seem mutually exclusive, in Brett both of these qualities flowed from the same source of belief in the character of God.

Brett knew his Savior and was confident that he had been both called and equipped to be a minister.

Brett considered this calling to be more than just a job, but a sacred appointment.

He didn’t simply put on his “minister’s hat” when he was at church, but rather this role was part of his DNA.

One thing I greatly appreciated about his leadership was his acceptance of “good enough.”

Because Brett knew his place—and our place—as servants of the mighty God, he was able to let go of human success and allow God to work, not just through
our strengths, but also through our weaknesses.

He was convinced that ultimately God who works to change lives and draw people to Himself, so when results weren’t as we wanted, Brett had a “let’s go back
to the drawing board” approach. He loved to tweak, modify and change things—not simply for the sake of change—but for the good of the church. This isn’t to
say that he didn’t have high expectations. Rather, Brett knew that we serve a perfect God who is worthy of our best efforts, and that sometimes we need to try
different approaches to find what works best.

He was intentional that all our efforts should build God’s church and draw people into a deeper relationship with Christ.

Brett loved all of God’s creation, and he connected with God best when he was in the midst of it.

Whether it was a walk across the campus, a long bike ride or a camping trip, when Brett was outside, he felt closer to God. Breathing fresh air and appreciating
the beauty of trees, animals, and rivers was his “sacred pathway” to connecting with his Creator. Even his home demonstrated this with decorations and a
beautiful fish pond that reminded him of God’s workmanship.

However, as much as Brett loved God’s design in nature, he loved God’s design in people even more. He thrived in community and appreciated friendships
deeply.

For me, he quickly became a great friend and like a second father. He always listened first to my ideas before giving advice. He loved brainstorming new ideas
for ministry and problem-solving various complexities. Our wives occasionally teased us for the hours we spent on the phone or chatting via e-mail at night! But
he was always careful to not call until the kids were in bed because he knew a man’s first ministry is to his family.

Brett was very proud of his family. His office was dominated by photos that reminded him of his sons and the times they shared together. He was equally proud
of Sandie and shared ministry responsibilities with her, encouraging her to lead Bible studies and to build up the lives of other wives of the church staff. My wife,
like many others, has been extraordinarily blessed by Sandie’s faithful example, especially through the adversity and pain brought by the brain cancer.

In leadership and in life Brett modeled the words of the apostle Paul in the first part of Philippians 1:21, “For me, to live is Christ.” Brett poured himself out for
the Gospel, and when the brain cancer reasserted itself, his desire for healing was so that he could continue to serve God.

Many times I prayed selfishly that he would be healed so I could learn more from him, and simply because I loved him and wanted his encouragement,
teaching and leadership.

But more often I prayed as Sandie desired that God would be glorified in every aspect of Brett’s life. And I learned even more from my friend by the way he
handled the cancer.

In spite of the grim outlook Brett received when the cancer was first discovered, I never saw him afraid or angry about what it would do to him. Brett was only 54
when he died. Personally, I can’t help but feel cheated.

I know Brett would love this season at Southeast.

Just a few weeks ago, nearly 700 people were baptized!  As the church becomes more intentional with prayer, discipleship, evangelism and preparing the next
generation to lead, I know that Brett would roll up his sleeves and get to work.

He would be so excited to be a part of what God is doing in our church! So it hurts me to know that he won’t be here.

I have sometimes thought it was unfair in the Old Testament story of Moses that God didn’t allow him to take the Israelites that he had led for so long into the
Promised Land. After meandering the desert for decades and putting up with their whining and complaining, it seems a little harsh that Moses didn’t get to
enjoy the fruits of his labor. He died after surveying the Promised Land from Mt. Nebo. From a human perspective, it seems unjust. However, if we take a
second look at the story, we realize that Moses actually got the better end of the deal. Instead of having to go through more battles and motivate his aged
muscles to walk further to gain a home on earth, Moses was brought into the presence of the God he loved and served and received a home in heaven, which
is far better than any Promised Land on earth.

On Monday, Oct. 31, Brett left his beloved family and went into the very presence of the God he loved and served. Although we rejoice for Brett, we grieve for
ourselves. Brett is a man worth mourning over. In his shortened life, he did more to advance God’s work than many Christians ever attempt. His wisdom,
knowledge, humor and friendship will be missed; his memory will continue to challenge and inspire us to pour out our own lives for the sake of God’s
Kingdom. Brett’s confidence will direct us to remember that our God is worthy of our best efforts, and his humility will remind us that God who deserves all the glory.

I love you, my friend. Thank you for your example of faithful service.

Big SPLASH at U of L

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Clapping echoed through the Ralph R. Wright Natatorium at the University of Louisville for each one of the 35 athletes baptized Monday, Oct. 24.  

Many called it the perfect setting: warm, humid air, the smell of chlorine, divided lanes, buoys and bright fluorescent lights, stands full of athletes, coaches and
pastors.

University of Louisville swimmer Kevin Bandy, who came to support friends, said he would  never look at the swimming pool at the Ralph R. Wright Natatorium
the same again.

That night, more than 100 coaches and athletes, including football players, basketball players, swimmers, soccer players, baseball players, Ladybirds,
athletes from Lacrosse and tennis filled bleachers around the pool. They came to applaud more than a win or a new record. They came to applaud faith.  

Earlier that night, some 180 athletes met for Bible study with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They had been studying the book of Romans with U of L Chaplain
Chris Morgan.

“Throughout the study, we had been talking about building a relationship with God through faith,” Morgan said. “We talked about putting our faith and trust in
Christ. He is the model for baptism. We follow Him to be obedient. And that night, we had been talking about Jesus touching the lepers—how Jesus wants to
make us clean as we identify our lives with Him.”

That message struck home with athletes.

At the end of the study, Morgan gave athletes the opportunity to make the monumental decision to follow Christ and be baptized. Thirty-five chose T-shirts from
Southeast that said "Freed," "Forgiven" or "Alive."   

U of L women’s basketball player Cierra Warren was one of the first to be baptized.

“It was such an amazing night,” she said. “I’ll always remember it.”

Later that night, Warren called her mom in California to tell her all about it.

“FCA has been so incredible through college,” she said. “Being baptized was a way for me to be obedient.”  

U of L swimmer  Lindsey LaPorte grew up in a Christian home where her parents and sisters supported her walk with Christ, yet never had been baptized. She
made the decision to be baptized when Morgan talked about the significance of being obedient.

“I don't believe baptism is the way to get to heaven, but a proclamation that I believe Jesus is my Savior,” she said. “My personal mission is to love God and love
people with the same unconditional love that Jesus showed me through His sacrifice. I'm not perfect and I know I can't do life on my own, but like it says in
Matthew 17:20, with faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing is impossible with God.  I want to stand by that every day in every aspect of my life.”

U of L soccer player Jimmy Crick came to cheer for friends being baptized. He has been involved in FCA for the last four years.

“It was the first time we ever had anything like that,” he said. “To see that obedience of Christ in so many athletes’ lives is phenomenal."

High jumper Megan Schubert said she never worried much about the fact she had never been baptized.

“God gave me the opportunity to truly dedicate my life to Him and rely fully on Him in my sophomore year of college by knocking me flat on my face,” she said.
“As I became a regular FCA attendee, I was amazed at how many student athletes were able to navigate the challenge of being a true follower of Jesus so
gracefully. God, through FCA and the people involved, got a hold of my life in a major way. Since then I have been working desperately to help my family, friends
and teammates come to know the crazy love of God.”

Schubert decided to be baptized while studying the book of Romans in FCA.

“I was thrilled when Chris offered us the chance to be baptized,” she said. “Initial thoughts crossed my mind. What will everyone think? My hair turns green in

chlorine and that isn’t a good look for me. But I was overwhelmed by how many people wanted to be baptized and how many from the community came to
support us. I was awed and humbled by the work God has done on campus.”

Former U of L soccer player Emily Prockopic drove from Nashville to be baptized with her best friend.

She graduated from U of L last year and now leads mission trips for Soles for Souls, a non-profit organization that recycles shoes for people around the world.

 “Being baptized was a way for me to be obedient and washed in the Spirit,” Prockopic said. “The setting was picture perfect. Four years ago, when I was a
freshman, I sat in a study with 10 other athletes. To see how much the Lord has done in four years is incredible.”

As the U of L swimming coach, Arthur Albiero spends a lot of time at the pool training swimmers. He also attends the FCA coaches' Bible study with Morgan. 
He came to the night of baptisms to cheer for student athletes.

“The pool is normally where we work,” he said. “To see that same setting used for a great purpose was humbling and exciting. It turned out perfect.”  

Former U of L football player Scott Long, who now works with FCA, was baptized by Morgan, then baptized his wife.

“I was raised in a Christian home,” he said. “I was exposed to the Gospel. In fact, I could tell all the stories, but I wasn’t walking with the Lord until l was in college.”

He described the night as “humbling.”

“To see how far God has brought me is amazing,” Long said. “Just to think He would want to use me and change my path in life is something special. I wanted to be baptized as an act of obedience. To share that experience with my wife is something I’ll never forget.”

U of L soccer coach Ken Lola cheered for each baptism from the sidelines.  

“That evening was a testament to what Chris Morgan and FCA are doing on campus and the overwhelming sense of the Sprit moving among students. It was a
beautiful evening,” he said. “It was wonderful to see so many athletes there.”

Southeast member Lizzie DeVries baptized her friend and teammate on the U of L rowing team.

“It was such a blessing that the Lord would allow us to witness the conversion of friends we had been praying for,” she said. “The whole night was full of
decisions and commitments that were made out of obedience to the Word’s commandment to be baptized.”

Eight pastors from area churches also came to support athletes being baptized.  

Steve Wigginton, regional director of FCA, watched the evening unfold.

“It was good to see a diverse group of athletes come together as one body with Christ as the head,” he said. “What an encouragement thing to see them cheer
for each other—to be one team. That night, for those baptisms, multiple teams came together as one team.”

To learn more about supporting ministry on the U of L campus, email Chris Morgan, cmorgan@fca.org or call (502) 777-0400.  

Capturing promise

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Portland Promise Center comes alive when school ends and more than 50 children arrive for check-in. They know the drill and the rules.

For most, walking into the center is the best part of the day.

There, everyone knows their name, and there always is something to do and someone to care.

Some children head to the computer room for help with homework. Others make a beeline for a game of basketball in the gym or join Children and Youth
Coordinator Angel Gustavison in a game of kickball behind the center.  

Portland Promise Center, a new partner of Southeast’s Local Missions Ministry, is a faith-based community development center in the heart of Louisville’s
Portland neighborhood. But to hundreds of families, it is even more.

It is where children learn, go to meet with friends and mentors and learn about Jesus.

Larry Stoess, the executive director of Portland Promise Center, envisions neighborhood transformation.

“We believe transformation happens as individuals and families anchor their lives on a foundation of faith and build their future filled with hope,” Stoess said.
“Our mission is to love God and love our neighbors by working side by side to revitalize Portland.”

The Portland Promise Center meets Southeast's goal of neighborhood transformation through service to the community, said Debbie Ward, director of Local
Missions for Southeast.

When Larry and his wife, Kathy, packed up their home in Pewee Valley and moved to Portland in 1999, their neighbors in the Oldham County community weren’t
sure what to think. Neither did their new neighbors in Portland. They were more used to people moving out than moving in.

Now, Larry and Kathy say it is one of the best decisions they ever made for living, ministry and raising their family.

“It has broadened our understanding of the kingdom of God, stretched us socially, politically and theologically,” Larry said. “And all those things are formed by
what you see out the front door.”   

Typical days at Portland Promise Center are packed. More than 100 children are enrolled in the after-school program. They come in and register with Linda
Lewis at the front desk, then go to work on homework, shoot baskets in the gym, talk with interns and staff members.

Gustavison first came to Portland Promise Center as a volunteer while a senior at Shawnee High School.

“Initially, I fell in love with the kids,” she said. “They are like kids anywhere. They want to be loved, and they want someone in their life that will love and support
them and believe in them. We provide that place for them to come.”

After finishing a degree at Asbury Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in Christian Education and going on a mission trip to Kenya, she knew the
Portland Promise Center was the place God wanted her to work.

Gustavison said “her” kids in Portland don’t see themselves as needy. “They want to do more mission work,” she said “They want to serve and help others.
They have a lot to offer.”   
 
In addition to after-school programs, the Portland Promise Center has offerings for adults.

More than 60 adults come to the Celebrate Recovery program operated by the Portland Promise Center.

And, on Sundays, the center opens its doors to the community for a worship service, something it has done since 2001.

 “Several of our folks struggled with addictions,” Larry said. “We have seen God use the church to help them find hope and healing. And the church is a home
for many of our families.”

Good things are happening.

Five families from Portland Promise Center now own homes through Habitat for Humanity. Children in the after-school program are graduating from high
school and going on to college.  

Southeast member Brad Phillips volunteers at Portland Promise Center.

“It took me a while to see the rose bushes around Portland,” he said. “God is doing something there. Teenagers at the center know Christ. They don’t know
what the future holds, but they are strong believers meeting life challenges.”

Phillips believes mentoring is the key to supporting children in the program.

“My prayer is that the Lord will continue to use that building, volunteers and mentors,” he said. “Mentoring is the single greatest gift a volunteer could give. If
people from Southeast can model good behavior, be consistent, it would be such a witness to these kids. There are a lot of hidden jewels among the kids.”

Phillips said he is amazed by children like Jose, who tells others at the center, “You don’t need drugs. You don’t need tobacco. You don’t need money. You just
need to get to Jesus.”

For more information about Portland Promise Center, visit www.portlandpromise.org. To volunteer, call Bonnie at (502) 253-8153 or email bepperson@secc.org.
 

Southeast embosser retires

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

John Coffman loves watching people give their lives to Christ through baptism.

As their names are being added to the Book of Life, as is written in Revelation 3:5 and 20:12, Coffman cannot help but think about writing their names on the
cover of the new Bible they receive as a gift from the church.

Every name represents a new life in Christ, and as a volunteer over the last 10 years, Coffman has embossed at least 10,000 of them on Bible covers. He
recently has retired.

“It was an interesting job,” said Coffman, who bought the embossing equipment when he learned of the need for someone to emboss. He and his wife, Sherry,
intended to give the machine and tools to the church after they made the purchase, but the volunteer lined up to do the embossing stepped down because of conflicts.

So, he moved the machine to the embroidery shop the couple owns.

“It’s always fun, unless you make a mistake,” John said. “Then it’s a long process to fix it.”

Not many people knew John did the Bible engraving. People that sat around him and Sherry at church were some of the few that did.

Whenever there would be a lot of baptisms or one with a complicated name, John would get a razzing from them.

Tongue-in-cheek, he said that he is glad he retired before the recent weekend when 686 people were baptized among the three Southeast campuses.

“Six hundred Bibles—I would have had a heart attack,” said John, who is 64.

As he ages, he said “everything starts falling apart.”

His eyes have trouble seeing the small letters. And, he and his wife like to travel to see family members who live out of state.

If he and Sherry were gone more than two weeks, Bibles would really start to pile up.

At 10 to 15 minutes per Bible, 30 to 40 of them would mean a day or two worth of work to get them all done.

John came to Southeast after listening to The Living Word broadcasts on the radio.

At first, he thought the church was out of town, but when he heard a reference to a local neighborhood, John and Sherry decided to find out more about
Southeast.

They attended one Sunday morning at the original Hikes Lane location, and have been coming ever since.

But it was a long time before he and Sherry were baptized.

That happened after John met a man experiencing some trials in his life. He told John life had been cutting him a bad deal and he wasn’t happy with himself.

“I asked him, ‘Do you ever go to church.’ He looked at me like I was asking him a question he never heard before,” John said. “He said, ‘Do you go to church?’ I
told him, ‘I sure do. You ought to come out some time with me.’”

The next weekend that man came to Southeast.

He laughed and enjoyed hearing a message that resonated with him. Then, John did not see the man for several months until one day he came up from
behind John to surprise him with good news.

He told John he had become a member of the church and was baptized.

“He said, ‘I want to thank you. You helped give me a new life,’” John said. “Here I am telling him to come out here and I looked at my wife and said, ‘You know,
we’ve never been baptized.’ Here I am helping him turn his life around, and he turned around and helped me.”

That happened more than 20 years ago.

As soon as John learned how to emboss names on Bibles, he put his own name on the cover of his Bible.  

He has learned over the years that people want their names on their Bibles for different reasons.

“It kind of makes them feel like they have a closer connection with God. That personalization makes them feel like a part of what’s in the book or relate to it a
little bit more,” John said. “There’s also the fact that they won’t lose it in church.”

When your HEART stops

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When Southeast member Jill Abrams got up early Thursday, Sept. 8, she had no idea that her world was about to be rocked.

The healthy, devout mom of three loved her life. If there was anything she would change, it would be to go even deeper into her faith.

After seeing the kids off to school that morning, Jill asked her husband, Mitch, to linger a little longer before leaving for a business appointment in Hodgenville, Ky.
He agreed, even though as a senior member of Signature Healthcare LLC, every day is busy.

Crushing chest pain began as Jill was putting on her tennis shoes.

“It felt like somebody was pushing on my chest,” Jill said. “Then I had shooting pain down my right arm.”

Mitch said Jill looked worse every minute until she was the color of dull pewter and her breathing seemed labored. He put her in the truck and headed to the
closest emergency room.

The last thing Jill remembers about that crazy day was nurses at the emergency room saying, “You come with us,” as Mitch filled out insurance papers.

As Mitch filled in the blanks, he kept one eye on Jill and the nurses, noticing within seconds, a hub of activity in that direction. As he followed the commotion, Mitch
saw a blue flashing light above Jill’s door.

“It dawned on me that was code blue” he said. “I knew that meant she had flat lined.”

“My world crumbled,” Mitch said. “I immediately called a few people to ask them to pray.”

As Mitch paced up and down the sidewalk outside the hospital, minutes passed like hours.

Finally a doctor explained that Jill’s heart “collapsed.” Three shocks with the paddles brought her back. She had been seizing, and they were transferring her to
Jewish Hospital in downtown Louisville.

From the hallway, Mitch heard Jill thrashing and yelling, as the doctor asked him to calm her down.

He described his first glimpse of Jill as “something out of a horror movie.”

“It was so far from her usual demeanor,” Mitch said. “Jill never yells. But in that room, she was hollering, flailing, blood was running down her mouth, chest and
gown, and I could not console her.”

Mitch dropped to his knees beside Jill’s bed and began to pray, “God, I can’t even comprehend what has taken place this morning. This doctor has told me I need
to calm Jill down. I have accomplished nothing. You have to do something here.”

Mitch later described it as the most “blatantly answered prayer of his life.” Jill took a deep breath and lay back in her bed. The change was so immediate that Mitch
looked up at the monitor to make sure she was still breathing.

At Jewish Hospital, doctors tried to piece together what went suddenly wrong.  They mentioned “heart trauma” and some kind of “cancerous blood clot.”

Mitch clamored to find answers for all that had happened. His close friend and mentor, Tim Marcum, drove from Campbellsville to see and pray with the couple. On
the way out of the hospital room, he told Mitch, “You have to be ready for the doctors to find nothing because miracles don’t leave calling cards.”

It was an epiphany for Mitch.

“All along, my prayers had been me telling God how to fix the situation instead of trusting Him,” Mitch said.

Though Jill had a battery of complex tests, doctors never found a reason her heart stopped beating that day. As a precaution, she now has a pacemaker/defibrillator.

On a short-term mission trip to Haiti last June, he was struck with the excesses in his life—a fancy house, a car, a country club membership, all the stuff he had
worked hard to buy, but knew it had no eternal value. And he was so grateful for the things that money could not buy.

A few weeks ago, at a Faces of Christ retreat at Country Lake in Underwood, Ind., Mitch realized that his view of God was skewed. He longed to be in control—to
call all the shots rather than let God do what He does. Surrender was a new concept.

When Mitch went back to work, a co-worker asked, “Who are you now?”

Change continues.

There’s a “For Sale” sign in the Abrams’ front yard. They already have found a house that is one-third the size of the one they own, but it is within walking distance
of the children’s school.

As Mitch listened to sermons at Southeast on baptism, he realized that he didn’t remember much about the day he was baptized as a 5-year-old.

“I classified myself as a ‘closet’ Christian,” Mitch said. “I’ve heard preachers say that you will remember the moment. That hadn’t happened to me.”

He was still thinking about baptism on Sunday, Oct. 16, when the family left for the 9 a.m. service at the Blankenbaker Campus. Jill packed shorts just in case God
did the unexpected.  

At the end of Senior Minister Dave Stone’s sermon, as Mitch looked at Jill, she pulled out the shorts she had brought to the service, just in case.

Jill wanted to be baptized to signify surrender in her second chance.

Back in the First Step Room, Jill picked up one of the free T-shirts given to those being baptized during services that day. She picked a maroon shirt because it is
one of her favorite colors. What she didn’t immediately comprehend was the significance and irony of the message on the front of the shirt.

When Mitch saw her again, just before they were baptized by Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman, Mitch zeroed in on the word emblazoned across the front of the shirt. It
said “ALIVE.”


 

SECC helps Buffalo church launch

By Don Porterfield

After more than a year of planning, Village Church of Buffalo, N.Y., became a reality on Sunday, Oct. 9, when 127 people attended the inaugural service.  

It is a church plant sponsored by the Orchard Group, Southeast Christian Church, and four other church congregations.

Jeremy Hazelton, with his wife, Audra, both graduates of Kentucky Christian University, and their two children, Harper, 3, and Aynsley, 5, relocated from Arundel, Md.,
in January to plant the church in the northern New York community.

Village Church meets in a private, Catholic girls school, Nardin Academy, in the heart of Buffalo’s Elmwood Village.  

“We wanted to locate our church within easy walking distance of Elmwood Village,” Jeremy said.  

A tour of the community would remind Louisville residents of Bardstown Road and Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood. With 1.3 million residents, the greater
Buffalo area is similar in size to Louisville. The city has six universities, with a student population of more than 100,000, which adds to its diversity.

“Audra and I always thought about planting a church,” Jeremy said. “We just didn’t think it would be in Buffalo.”

Jeremy’s most recent job was as worship pastor at Arundel Christian, where his family lived right across the street from Southeast member Carl Kuhl and his wife,
Lindsay.

The Hazeltons met the Kuhls at Mosaic Church, where Carl is in his third year of his own Maryland church plant.

Carl’s congregation is in the planning stages of moving from Mosaic’s current home in a movie theater to its own building.  The congregation already has
committed about $180,000 to fund the move.  

The neighborhood connection led Jeremy to learn about The Orchard Group, a church planting organization focused on planting churches in the northeastern
United States.

Soon after Jeremy made a connection with Orchard Group representatives, they began recruiting him to plant a church.  

“I was sure they wanted me to plant a church in the Baltimore area, but for a number of reasons, Buffalo was their choice,” Jeremy said. “I told them that having
grown up in Detroit, there was no way I was moving to Buffalo.”

After being asked to at least visit, Jeremy and Audra boarded a plane for Buffalo.

“We were in town for less than half a day when we not only knew we could do this, but that we were supposed to do it,” Jeremy recalled. “We’ve found Buffalo to be
one of the best-kept secrets in the country.”

Prior to the move to Buffalo, Jeremy and his family moved in with his parents in Pittsburgh to save money.  

“I sold jeans at the mall for 14 months,” Jeremy said. “But it’s been great to see all the moving parts come together.”

A chance conversation between a church staff member and a local optometrist led Village Church to secure ideal office space for the staff.  

“We learned that a local business owner had just bought a three-story building in Elmwood Village, and needed a tenant for one of the upper floors,” Jeremy said.
“We were able to rent the very space we needed before it was ever advertised.”

 Jeremy was convinced this was God showing the way. Village Church already has made use of the space for small-group meetings.

In the coming weeks, the church also will hold a dinner party for the public, sponsored by the church, and catered by Jeremy’s friend, who is a well-known
Canadian chef.

The staff of Village Church also includes Chris and Beth Hall, both Johnson University graduates, who relocated to Buffalo from New Orleans to join the Hazeltons
in the launch.

Chris, who is the creative director for the church, tells the story that it was love at first sight for him when he met Beth in school.  He adds that she was very focused
on her ambitions.

“She told me early she was all about planting a church in the northeast and if I wasn’t about that I could keep moving,” Chris said. “I wasn’t sure how I felt about
that, but I was sure how I felt about her, so I decided to hang around.”

Chris also believes God intervened in the office search.  

“God put us on this block for a reason.  This isn’t just a place for desks, but also a place to do things we couldn’t do otherwise,” Chris said. “We’ve had several
prayer and worship gatherings before our first service, where evolving conversations with area residents have taken place.”

The third member of the staff is Sean Cronin, a Buffalo resident who graduated from Ozark Christian College.

Sean, who is in charge of the youth ministry, has had a vision since middle school for a church plant in Buffalo.  

“All of us wanted to create an environment where people can encounter the whole Gospel; to take the whole gospel to the whole world,” Sean said.  “People here
are genuinely concerned for each other.  Compassion is high for a northeastern community, but many didn’t care about Jesus,” Sean said.

The Village Church ministry team mailed postcards throughout the community to announce the start of the church in early October. Jeremy and his team knew a
slice of the community could be described as hostile toward Christianity. Many described themselves as “post-Catholic.”

Comments from the postcard mailing were also eye-opening.  

“I am not very close to God, but your postcard reminded me that it is time to fix that,” said one.  

“Our family stopped going to our Catholic church a few years ago, not sure why…but we are glad we came today,” said another.  

“I came because of your postcards, but saw two of my friends are a part of your church already,” said yet another.  

“I didn’t know what to expect our first Sunday,” Jeremy said.  “At 10 minutes to 10 I hadn’t seen anyone I didn’t know yet, then I saw one couple on the walk outside,
then another, and then several more in both directions. That’s when I knew all the time praying and working was showing that this is actually going to work.”

On Saturday, Oct. 15 and Sunday, Oct. 16, a work team of eight people from Southeast, led by Eugene DePorter, joined Village Church for its second weekend
service.

The Southeast team split into groups on Saturday afternoon. Volunteers worked on various projects, including closing a community vegetable garden for the winter,
building risers for the high-definition televisions used in worship, building shelves and cleaning at the church’s Elmwood Village office.

“We’re here to do whatever is needed to help get this congregation off the ground,” Eugene said. “God has put together a strong team to plant this church, and it’s
exciting to see the commitment these young people have made to move here and build it.”

Parkwood Fall Festival

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

One of the key strategies of Southeast Christian Church is to serve the community by going to them in the name of Jesus.

This was demonstrated in Southern Indiana on Friday, Oct. 21, when more than 120 volunteers from the church’s Indiana Campus helped staff the Fall Festival at Parkwood Elementary School in Clarksville.

Volunteers manned game booths, oversaw craft tables, painted faces and handed out food and soft drinks to the more than 400 people who attended the event.

“Everything was fantastic,” said Parkwood principal, Janice Korfhage, who was thanked by numerous appreciative students as she walked about the school’s
gymnasium. “The children had a wonderful time. It was well-organized, and a lot of the staff members were overwhelmed with how well things went.”

One of the students who attended the festival, Cortaveous Gray, 9, said he was impressed with all the festival had to offer. He took some time from playing games
and getting his face painted to decorate a picture frame.

“I’m glad I came,” Gray said. “I had the most fun playing games.”

The night also was rewarding for those who volunteered.

Dee Dee McCarty, a retired teacher, said she felt back in her element when she interacted with the kids who stopped by her soccer booth in the gymnasium.

“I love the little things like just seeing them smile and helping them tie their shoes,” McCarty said. She was one of nine people from a Southern Indiana home
group who took the night off from their Bible study to serve.

“This was such a nice event, and it is great because it didn’t cost a lot, but it meant a lot,” McCarty said. “I wish they would have had this around when my kids were
little. I was a single mother with four children. They would have loved something like this.”

Zachary Leonard, 10, had strands of cotton candy in his hair and on his clothes as he passed out sticks of the fluffy confection to attendees. As he served with
friends, Nathan Babcock and Cody Spaits, the smile rarely left his face.

“It makes it easier to do community work when you can have fun and do it with your friends,” Leonard said. “I really enjoy doing it. I would love to come back again next year.”

Although plans for a follow-up event next year have not been decided, Korfhage said that based on the success of this year’s event, it is likely that there will be a Fall Festival at the school in 2012.

“When you start a new initiative you just never know how it’s going to turn out,” Korfhage said. “But I think there’s room for this to grow.”

But the fledgling partnership with Parkwood is bigger than an annual event, said Janet Warren, a ministry liaison in the Local Missions Ministry at Southeast.

Southeast will partner with Parkwood to provide volunteers for a reading program.

Church volunteers also will serve as tutors for before-school and after-school homework help, and women will participate in a Hispanic mothers group, which
helps immigrants who settle in the Parkwood neighborhood become acclimated to the area. Southeast families also will participate with Parkwood students and
their families in service projects at the school, which is located near the bustling Veterans Parkway corridor.

“We want to build community,” Warren said. “We are looking to this partnership to be our test model for how we can connect with neighborhood schools.”

Tell your family’s faith story

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

God is writing a story with your life right now.  

It has the drama of good and bad choices, moments of victory and defeat, times of disappointment and rejoicing.

Stories are powerful communication tools.  

They tell where we’ve been and where we’re going. Before days of television, stories were front-porch entertainment.

My kids and grandkids love our family stories. There’s the one about “Bop” racing his Camaro, about the time he put his braces through his lip while playing basketball, about
the time Grandad almost backed his car through the garage door and the time they almost blew up the neighborhood burning leaves.

But one story trumps them all.

It’s the story that changed our lives and set the stage for generations. It’s about our inheritance of faith. The  characters in the story are gone, but we passed it on to our children
and grandchildren.

My father was 9 years old in 1924, living in a household of alcoholics when he first heard about Jesus. The last seven years had been a fight for survival since his father died at
age 32 of typhoid fever on a warm summer night. No one expected it—least of all my grandmother, who was just 22, caring for two young sons still in diapers. My grandfather
owned a furniture store in Decatur, Ill. He had lots of merchandise but very little cash.  

After burying my grandfather in an unmarked pauper’s grave at the local cemetery,  my grandmother moved into a bedroom in her parents’ home in Detroit.

It was a necessary, but not ideal, arrangement. The men in the house drank heavily, shifting from one job to another, drowning their troubles around the card table at night. My
father told stories of selling newspapers before school.

Family life was difficult but relatively uneventful until a visit from Uncle Greg, a sheriff from North Dakota, and his wife. Everyone wanted to hear crime-fighting adventure sagas,
but Uncle Greg had come on a mission. He’d found Jesus, turned his life around, and began to travel and tell others about it. The hard-living, lost relatives in Detroit were his
first stop on the salvation trail.

My great-grandfather listened along with the rest of the family—altogether there were 10 adults and five children. According to the story, Uncle Greg did not push too hard. He just
told his story of finding Jesus as if it were the only thing that mattered and time was short.

He stayed a few weeks at the rambling house on an alley. When Uncle Greg saw billboards advertising a revival with George Bennard, writer of “The Old Rugged Cross,” he
asked the members of the household to go to the meetings with him.  They couldn’t find the words to turn him down and took up more than one pew in the little downtown
church night after night.

On Thursday, two of my father’s uncles went forward during the invitation. Friday night, three more went forward, along with my father and his brother. The last night of the revival,
my great-grandfather, the patriarch of this needy clan went forward to give his life to Christ. And he was never the same. None of them were.

Things in that house on the alley changed after that. One Sunday, the whole group put on suits and white carnations for their baptisms. My grandmother was so grateful for what
God had done that she fretted about finding a thank offering. Since the only thing she still owned of value was her wedding ring, her only remnant from happier days, she
dropped it in the offering plate during services one night.

Even as a young man, my father began a life dedicated to sharing Christ with everyone who crossed his path, especially those who struggled. He never bypassed someone
who was ill, someone needing help with a broken-down car, those who needed a meal or a few dollars to get by. Though his wallet was thin, his heart was huge. Most of his life
was spent shepherding a small, inner-city congregation of foreign students in downtown Detroit.

Not long after Greg went back to being a sheriff in North Dakota, his appendix burst. He died a young man. My great-grandfather also lived only a few months after he became a
Christian.

“Wish I’d done it sooner,” he said in his last days.

Some of my father’s uncles continued to battle alcohol and died far too young.

The salvation story of our family tells our history clearer than any photo album or family tree.

In a family tradition as sure as the Easter egg hunt after dinner on Easter Sunday, the story is still handed down one generation to another. So far, Uncle Greg’s visit has made
all the difference to five generations who followed, including my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Everyone who knows Christ has a faith story with its own drama of being lost, then found. Each harbors remnants of failure and loss, hope and redemption. And each one
should be the fabric of our message to succeeding generations, handed from one life to another, as surely as a baton in a relay race.
 

To the ends of the earth

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What people hear at the Global Missions Health Conference at Southeast changes the direction of their lives.

It happens to the hundreds of students who come from medical schools across the country, along with doctors, dentists and physical therapists who learn how to use their
skills to share the Gospel.

This year, the conference will be at Southeast's Blankenbaker Campus Nov. 10 to 12. It will feature more than 100 breakout sessions, covering topics from malaria in children,
snake and insect bites to emergency dental care. There also will be 175 organizations in the exhibit hall where people can connect with mission agencies around the world.

Each day of the conference is packed with worship, learning and networking.

“This is where you can hear from the best and connect with world-class organizations health missions,” said Will Rogers, executive director of the GMHC.  “Christ met the basic
needs of people. That’s what medical evangelists do. When thousands of them meet together in one place to learn and connect with others who have the same goals, God
works in incredible ways.”

Dr. Charlie Vittitow, who leads International Missions at Southeast, said what he learned at the conference changed everything.

“At first I wondered why I was there,” he said. “I believed God had a plan for my life, but I never considered how He could use my skills as a dentist to share the Gospel.”

The conference was the catalyst to train lay dentists around the world to share the Gospel while relieving suffering.

This is the fifteenth year of the conference at Southeast. Plenary sessions with speakers from around the world are free and open to the public.  

People will hear Kingspride Hammond, who leads Alabaster Ministries in Ghana, Dr. Gil Odendaal from Saddleback Church in California, Nathan Cook, who leads Christ
Community Ministries in Memphis and from Dr. Rick Donlon, one of the founders of Christ Community Health Services.  

Donlon is the keynote speaker on Saturday, Nov. 12.

When graduating from medical school, he made a pact with three other physicians to start a medical clinic that would serve the poor.

They chose Memphis, one of the most underserved areas in the United States. The city has one of the highest mortality rates for infants, the largest food stamp office in the
country and a high percentage of people who do not have health insurance.  

“The goal was to serve the forgotten poor living among us,” Donlon said. “It’s difficult for many to realize that there are 42 million Americans living without health insurance and
another 36 million who rely on Medicaid but have a difficult time finding someone who will care for them.”  

The plan was to open the clinic and care for patients in Jesus’ name.

“We thought we would move, make sacrifices, start a clinic in a needy place, we would stamp out disease, people would embrace the Christian faith and make hordes of new
disciples,” Donlon said.

But it took time to build trust.

They met patients like Fred, a man in his 30s who had been HIV-positive for 10 years. He came to Christ Community Health Fellowship after multiple admissions to the local
county hospital for serious infections.

“When we first saw Fred, he was dying,” Donlon said. “Though he knew about his disease and the possibility of treatment, he had never been willing to attend the local public
HIV clinic. His reasons were a complex combination of shame, denial and a culturally rooted distrust of the medical establishment.”

In time, doctors and nurses at Christ Community were able to establish a degree of trust and convinced Fred to take anti-HIV medications.

“By God’s grace, they worked quickly and powerfully,” Donlon said. “After less than three months of treatment, Fred’s appetite returned and he gained weight, his HIV was
suppressed and his immune system began to grow stronger.”

Donlon said he will never forget the day Fred returned to the clinic to introduce his new wife to the staff.

“Fred and I are big guys, but when we recalled how far he had come, we hugged and cried like babies,” Donlon said.

That level of caring and involvement with patients is the goal at Christ Community Health Fellowship.

Fifteen years later, Christ Community has grown to include six health centers, three dental clinics and a family medicine residency program. Thirty full-time physicians, 15 nurse
practitioners and six dentists care for more than 125,000 patients and deliver 1,000 babies each year.

Donlon, his wife and seven children live in the Binghamton community within walking distance of the clinic. His children attend the local public school. They have started a
house church that meets in their home and includes neighbors and friends in the community.

In the last 15 years, the clinic has become a training center for young doctors and nurses who work among radical Hindus and Muslims in dangerous areas of the world.

While in training at Christ Community, young doctors Joe and Sima—their last names have been withheld to protect their identity—lived and worked with refugees in the
neighborhood, quietly providing housing for needy neighbors and starting a boys’ club that continues to meet every week.

After living and working in Memphis for five years, they moved to rural India where they served low-caste Hindus.

Brent and Jodi—their names also have been withheld to protect their identity—trained at Christ Community before moving to Afghanistan to oversee a tuberculosis treatment
project.

In cooperation with the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme, their work grew to encompass thousands of patients in hundreds of villages. In an
unprecedented way, the project allowed workers ongoing access to an extremely and isolated unreached people group.  

“There is no way to measure how God has used this conference to make His name known around the world and in the U.S.,” said Rogers. “Our hope is that people will take a
few days to come, connect and find their place in God’s mission to reach the world.”

Each year, hundreds of Southeast members open their homes to students and missionaries attending the conference.

If you are able to have guests, send an e-mail to gmhchousing@gmail.com.
 

Together we shine

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Hundreds clapped, cheered, whooped and waved pompoms as Amy Torti walked down the red carpet in front of the Worship Center at Southeast’s Blankenbaker Campus for
Shine, a disability prom held by the church on Friday, Oct. 7.

Amy’s parents, Dick and Bette Torti watched her grand entrance from the sidelines. Decked out for the evening in her formal gown, sparkling tiara, professional makeup and
hairdo, it was her moment to shine.

Amy waved and smiled for the crowd, which included celebrities such as WHAS-AM radio personality Tony Cruise, Former Jefferson County Judge-Executive Rebecca Jackson, 
Senior Minister Dave Stone, Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman, a dozen Ladybirds from the University of Louisville and  Chick-fil-A cow mascots.

But at Shine, the only celebrities on the red carpet were guests with special needs.  

“I never saw anything like this,” Dick said. “It’s incredible.  

Amy and her parents heard about Shine while attending a wedding in Florida. Southeast member Beth McBride described the special night designed to pamper, encourage and
love on people with special needs.

The Tortis decided it was a night they didn’t want to miss, put Oct. 7 on their calendar, stayed in touch with McBride and drove nine hours from their home in Little Rock, Ark., so
Amy could be part of Shine.   

“This church has done real good for me,” Amy said. “I never saw this many people in one place.”

This is the second Shine formal at Southeast.

Stone called it the “church’s finest hour” as hundreds of volunteers served to make that night memorable for more than 600 guests with special needs.

Guests were pampered from the time they arrived in cars and limousines. The night had the flair of a Hollywood debut with two red carpets lined with adoring fans.  

Earlier, guests were outfitted with ball gowns and tuxedos, tiaras and ties. They were greeted with leis as they arrived and were paired with escorts for the evening.

Southeast member Christy Holt brought Brian Joest to Shine.  

“He was so excited,” Holt said. “Later I found him on the dance floor. He was like a different person at Shine, having fun, laughing and playing games. I was so proud of our
church.”

Southeast member Joyce McClain volunteered as an escort last year and signed up again.

“I didn’t want to miss this,” she said.  

McClain danced on her knees so she could be eye-to-eye with her guest.

Southeast member Lauren Gassman met her guest, Roy, on the dance floor at Shine last year.

“This is so much fun,” she said. “Wait until you see Roy dance.”

The two went from activity to activity, making sure they didn’t miss out on anything.

The church was transformed for Shine.

Lower Fellowship Hall became a formal dining room, where volunteers served dinner.

Classrooms on the second floor were set up like a top notch salon with candles, a live DJ and under-the-sea décor to go along with the theme for Shine.

Professional portraits were taken in a makeshift studio on the second floor, not far from a shoe-shine station where volunteers, including David Mack and Robert Durall, made
brown and black leather shine like mirrors.  

Caregivers and parents were not forgotten. They, too, were pampered and encouraged with special food, music and manicures.  

Southeast member Heather Adams volunteered to give shoulder, neck and back massages.

 “All night, we heard how much people appreciated all the church was doing for our celebrity guests,” she said. “Parents and caregivers were amazed that they were pampered,
as well."

Guests played ring toss, hoops, Jeopardy and all kinds of carnival games in rooms set up around the Atrium. Everyone was a winner.

A crowd filled the dance floor in upper Fellowship Hall where Southeast member George Fields was the DJ. Escorts danced to every genre of music including rock and roll and
country. The room popped with YMCA, the Cupid Shuffle,  the Macarena,  Chicken Dance and the Electric Slide.  

Parents and caregivers watched in wonder from the sidelines.

Jeff and Bettye Herman came to Shine with their son expecting something more like a high school dance than a “grand ball,” as they described the event.  Jeff, who is Jewish,
said it was his first time in the church.

“This is one class act,” he said. “I’m amazed it is so organized and so extravagant to care for those with special needs.”

Julie Wallace and Bill DeSancto brought their son, David, to Shine.

“He’s been waiting for tonight ever since he came last year,” DeSancto said. “He especially loves to dance.”  

Amy and Zane Cooksey brought their son, David, to Shine.

“He loved the red carpet and he loved being pampered,” Zane said. “This is special. It’s his time to shine.”

Following God’s lead

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Kyle and Courtney and their three young children live in a danger zone that many governments call the “no-go” area. That area in Southeast Asia is unstable
with random terror attacks, al Qaeda training camps and the highest concentration of Muslims in the world.

To protect Kyle and Courtney’s work in this closed country, their last name and exact location are not given. They serve alongside fellow teammates and
Southeast members Carree and Stephen. Courtney and Carree are sisters who came to faith as young children at Southeast.

This winter, mission teams from Southeast will begin serving with Kyle and Courtney, along with Carree and Stephen.  

Though they are in Louisville for a few months, Kyle and Courtney say they wouldn’t trade places with anyone now. The country that few people are brave
enough to visit now is their home, and they are seeing God work far beyond any hopes and dreams for outreach there.

The nation Kyle and Courtney serve has a long history of persecution. Early missionaries were eaten by cannibals, died of disease and saw few converts. In the
last 100 years, the Christian minority has turned inward to save their own lives and preserve peace.

The focus of Kyle and Courtney’s ministry is empowering national believers to reach their own neighbors.

The team is focused on training nationals in church planting through theological training, developing sustainable agriculture programs, health, medical and
dental worker training, small business development, safe water and sanitation, working with orphans and vulnerable children and training community leaders.

Sharing faith is a new shift in this country, where it is against the law to evangelize.

Kyle is one of the few in the country with a visa that says "spiritual man." He can teach and preach in the international church where he is the pastor. He also is
permitted to answer questions about faith and visit villages. He cannot openly seek to convert nationals.

God is filling the gaps and opening doors.   

“We sit back and watch God work,” Kyle said. “He is sending people who want to know more about God. Each one opens a network of other people who are
open, and the chain continues.”

In one village, one of Kyle’s church planters met a woman who was sick. Her husband was the local witch doctor, but when he could not help her, his own
power diminished in the community.

When a group of national believers prayed for her, the woman began to get better and decided to follow Jesus. As they continued to pray, she was completely healed.

Outreach in her community continues.  

Mission work in this country with 210 unreached people groups centers around empowering nationals, but decades of persecution have driven the evangelical
church inward.

“People have learned that if they keep their heads down and stay out of trouble, they can live and their churches won’t be burned to the ground,” Kyle said.
“Church planting is a new shift for these believers.”

Kyle and Courtney see how God has prepared pastors to shift from protecting people in their own churches to reaching out to those who are open to the
Gospel. Often that isn’t tied up in a neat package.

Everything changed for one pastor of a house church when he saw a movie called “End of the Spear” about five young missionaries who were speared to death
trying to reach the Waodoni Indians in Ecuador in 1956. Their deaths shocked the world, but what happened also initiated a worldwide mission movement
among unreached people groups that continues to this day.

That true story spoke to this pastor, who believed that God was calling him to lay down his life to reach people in his own country. He prayed for open doors,
which opened in unexpected places.

A sex worker from a completely unreached people group came to his church looking for a group of believers who would tell her about Jesus. Other churches
had closed their doors to her because of her background. He welcomed her into the small fellowship of believers. The next week, she brought two more
women from her people group. Today, God continues to open doors to reach this group.

Kyle trains national pastors to be church planters. Since they cannot openly evangelize, they look for “people of peace” in a community and wait for them to open
their door.

When a national pastor goes out into a new area, they pray that God will send a person of peace.  

“We are privileged to see how God heals people and brings us partners,” Kyle said. “It’s all God. He is doing everything.”
For more information about this ministry, contact kyle.courtney.overseas@gmail.com.

Pray for Outreach in Southeast Asia
- Pray for open doors to unreached people groups.
- Pray for safety of house church leaders as they reach out.
- Pray for more believers to move to this part of the world.
- Pray for strength and wisdom for Kyle and Courtney.
- Pray for funds to open a training center where pastors can learn how to study the Bible.
- Pray for Christians couples who are willing to relocate to Southeast Asia.

Heart of a champion

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dominic Holly, 14, has his eyes on the prize—playing in the National Football League someday.

Right now, football is everything for this Southeast member, a middle school athlete who plays defensive tackle for the Hikes Point Lobos senior team.

At 6-foot-2 and already wearing a size 12 shoe, he literally is head and shoulders above the rest.  

Few people who watch him play know what it has taken to be there or how much he has overcome to be part of the team.

That’s the way Dominic likes it.

His first hurdle began at birth—a stroke on the left side of his brain probably caused by a difficult delivery.  

The stroke affected speech and gross motor skills. As a baby, he didn’t use his right side.

Years of therapy with First Steps, a statewide early intervention program for children with developmental disabilities, helped him overcome challenges and build
new pathways.

Dominic and his mother, Debbie Marasa, spent a lot of time with therapists.

As a single mom, also working fulltime as a Louisville Metro Police officer and caring for Dominic’s older sister Erin, life often seemed overwhelming

Those were tough days for Marasa.

“In the beginning, I was really mad at God,” she said. “Dominic hadn’t been around long enough to have a problem. I felt as if I was being punished.”

Therapy worked, and Dominic progressed even further at Emmett Field Elementary School, which specializes in helping developmentally challenged children.

Then the second whammy hit.

When he was 6 years old, Dominic was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and went through eight rounds of chemotherapy and 10 rounds of
radiation.

In the middle of this second, serious challenge, Marasa began to reach out to God instead of step away.

“This cancer normally is diagnosed in teenage boys,” Marasa said. “While I couldn’t understand why it happened to Dominic after all he had already been
through, I was no longer angry with God.”

Dominic does not remember therapy after the stroke, but he does remember cancer. He looked at difficult treatments as something that had to be done. It took
an invisible toll.

Dominic was so sick during chemotherapy and missed so much school that he had to repeat a grade. While recovering, he lost touch with friends and had to
spend a lot of time alone when blood counts were low. When he went back to school, it was hard to find his place and make friends in a new classroom.

Marasa worried that he was too quiet. He didn’t even bother his sister.

Those days are done.

Dominic has found his voice. He is funny, engaging and focused on sports.

“Football is my favorite, but I also like basketball,” Dominic said. “People tell me I’ve come a long way, but there are a lot of things I want to do.”

When he was 11, Dominic asked to play football. A Baltimore Ravens and Ohio State University fan, he watched games with his dad and wanted to be on the
field instead of in the stands.  

“It took a while for me to agree to let him play,” Marasa said. “We had worked so hard for so long to keep him healthy that I couldn’t think about an injury or even
worse, a brain injury that would undo everything.”

She finally relented to let him try. Since then, football has become the best part of Dominic’s day. He likes the challenge of the game and being with friends.   

Marasa, Dominic and Erin go to Southeast together on Saturday nights or Sunday morning and often listen to the service in Café 920.  

“We are the coffee shop class,” Marasa said. “It’s like having our own small group.”

On June 29, 2011, they decided to be baptized together.

“We are just now settling into all the things the church as to offer,” Marasa said.

“I plan to take the Financial Peace class and the kids look forward to getting involved in Student Ministry.”

‘Courageous’ opening

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

“Courageous,” a film that examines the lives of four police officers, and stresses how important it is for men to embrace the role of father and spiritual head of
household, will open in theaters Friday, Sept. 30.

One of the film’s supporting actors, Tony Stallings, feels like a proud papa.

It was the first feature film for the Southeast member, who plays T.J., a thug who has a run-in with the law. Stallings said that watching the anticipation for the film build worldwide since filming wrapped up in June 2010 has been like waiting for a baby to be born.

“You’re excited when you first find out you’re having a baby, then as you see your wife’s stomach get bigger, that excitement grows. This has been a lot like that.”

Since filming ended, there have been various screenings with clergy members and others, including law enforcement officials—the main characters of the
story are police officers—and there has been a major push by the film’s producers to introduce supporting materials, such as a book,  a Bible study and
clothing with the “Courageous” logo and movie message.

“I think the pre-screenings made it real,” Stallings said.  “I sat through five of them and it was interesting to watch the reaction of the crowds.”

He added that in each of the screenings, people generally laughed where the movie’s writers intended them to laugh, cried where they intended them to cry and
got angry where they intended them to get angry.

“It’s a rollercoaster ride,” Stallings said. “They did a great job of telling four separate stories and tying them all together to come up with one resolution. It was
really clever.”

He gives that credit to “Courageous” producer and co-writer Stephen Kendrick and director and co-writer Alex Kendrick, the masterminds behind Sherwood
Pictures. It is the Albany, Ga., film production company responsible for Christian films “Flywheel,” “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof.”

Sherwood Pictures is a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, and most of the cast members aren’t Hollywood actors, but members of the church.

“It was so much more than just filming a movie,” Stallings said. “We studied our Bibles every morning and prayed. We were ministered to about fatherhood.”

It’s an issue Stallings is passionate about.

“There are a lot of dads out there who are doing the bare minimum,” Stallings said. “But being a dad is so much more than feeding your kids, paying the bills
and maybe going to a few of their games. God calls us to go above and beyond that. He wants us to be the spiritual leaders of our families and to really be
there for our kids. Being a part of this movie really made me take a look at my role as a father, and I hope that’s what all men will take away from this.”

When miracles happen

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Stormhaven specializes in “broken.”

The five-acre ranch outside Shelbyville with a rambling white farmhouse and black two-story barn is where Southeast members Mike and Gaye Cox raised six
sons. Their nest has never been empty long. In 2007, when the boys were grown and on their own, Mike and Gaye founded Stormhaven, a place where abused
and abandoned horses bond with kids.

Gaye and Mike believe all things are salvageable. Each one who comes to Stormhaven has value. Everyone needs hope, and everyone needs God.

Stormhaven is home to 12 horses, two miniature horses, five cats, two dogs, nine chickens, a one-legged duck and a huge rat snake.

Each one has a story.

So does every one of the hundreds of kids who come to the ranch each year. It is a haven for those who deal with bullies at school, anorexia, sexual abuse,
health issues, depression and low self-esteem. As the kids reach out to heal the horses, who also were abused and abandoned, kids and horses heal
together.

It happened to 14-year-old Lexy Mathers, who came to the ranch four years ago with boiling anger that seethed into most everything she said and did.

Lexy’s mother, Amy Mathers, read about Stormhaven in a doctor’s waiting room and called Gaye. The ranch was different than anywhere Lexi had been before.
She was drawn to Raya, a horse whose name means “friend.” He accepted her “as is.”

“Raya is my angel in horse hair,” Lexy said. “He is so forgiving. If I accidentally bump his sore leg, he lets it go. And he’s always glad to see me. He has taught
me about patience and unconditional love. In many ways, Raya brought me to Jesus.”

This summer, Lexy, her mother and brother were baptized in a trough at Stormhaven after their decision to follow Christ. Now Lexy is the one offering
unconditional love to Raya.

She tries to get to Stormhaven every day.   

It is close to 100 degrees in the burning sun the Thursday in August that Lexy beelines through the clusters of kids already at the ranch for the gate where Raya
stands near the fence. He is nearly blind with bony ribs that poke out of his sides. Rings of dry skin pock his coat.

None of it seems to matter to Lexy.  She hugs Raya’s neck and whispers, “I love you,” into his ear. She rubs diaper rash cream and massages Raya’s hips and
back.   

This horse, now 30 years old, has a broken leg that cannot be fixed with surgery.

“Even this, even Raya, I am learning to give to God and trust Him,” Lexy said. “I have learned that no matter how bad it can be, God can make good things come
out of it.”

Lexy is one of hundreds of kids, ages 5 to 18, who go to Stormhaven each year. They bond with horses like Ziporrah, who was on her way to a testing lab when
Mike and Gaye heard about her. A champion hurdler who severed a nerve, she held zero value to trainers. Some children partner with Tex, an aging
thoroughbred who was abused by overuse and now is racked with arthritis and bad feet. Echo was raced on pavement against four-wheelers, and Gracie and
Abraham were abandoned in muck-filled stalls.

Their issues speak to the kids.  

 Southeast member Maria Lanham, 15, went to Stormhaven nursing deep hurt after being bullied for four years.

“Bullying really changed me as an individual,” she said.  “I need an escape. It has taken a long time for me to recover spiritually and emotionally, but
Stormhaven has been a great place for me to heal.”

In a strange twist, Lanham bonded with Gabriel, a horse with bully tendencies.

“When I came, even Gabriel tried to bully me,” Lanham said. “But he has helped me learn to forgive others as I work with him.”

Sophia Borkstron, 16, came to Stormhaven after moving to Waddy, KY, with her grandmother.

“Being here has taught me a lot about horses, but also a lot about God,” Sophia aid. “When I came, I didn’t know much about Him, but on Saturdays, we come to read from the Bible and learn.”

Erin Rommann works as a drug and alcohol counselor at Ten Broeck but volunteers often at Stormhaven.

“I love it here,” she said. “This is where we walk through life. When it’s hard, we see Michael and Gaye model grace and gratitude. They fall back on God
through everything. It’s been important to see that God didn’t promise easy. He asks us to give every aspect of life to Him. “

Mike and Gaye do not charge families who come to Stormhaven.

Though “free” can be dangerous in a tight economy, Gaye and Mike believe God will provide, and He does, whether it is a load of hay for the horses, the vet who
provides free medical care or the farrier who gives a huge discount for his services. Each month in the five years the ranch has been open has been a step of
faith.

This year, kids at the ranch have endured hard things. Horses they nursed and loved died, and they had to deal with loss and grief.

When Lexy learned that Raya had a broken leg, a large group of girls surrounded her to tell their own stories of hope and healing. One ran to the farmhouse to
get a Bible. That, Gaye said, took her breath away. In that one happening, she saw the chain of healing.

At Stormhaven, everyone sees God answer prayer for practical needs such as a load of hay, medicine for a horse, more volunteers, equipment or hands to help
with chores.  

 Sometimes answers come at the last minute.  

“God loves to wait until the eleventh hour because He gets the glory,” Gaye said. “By the eleventh hour, there’s no doubt it is God providing for us.”  

Parents and kids volunteer at Stormhaven. They muck manure, landscape, move hay, paint and work with kids. The Coxes have no regular supporters. The last
five years have been a walk of faith.

“We see miracles in kids’ lives,” Mike said. “God totally does it. God does all of it. He brings every horse and every child. I believe everything is unfolding
according to God’s plan.”

For more information about Stormhaven, go to http://stormhavenyr.org.

Jamaica trip

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Eight days can make a difference.

It happened often throughout the summer on short-term mission trips to Jamaica.

Most were family trips that gave moms and dads the chance to serve with their children.

Southeast members Chad and Lisa Harper had no idea how they could afford a short-term trip, but they had been waiting several years to serve as a family.

 Filling out the application was a step of faith for Chad and Lisa and their three children: Cameron, 11, Christian, 9, and Grace, 8.

“We just wanted to be used by God somewhere,” Chad said. “We had no idea how God would provide, but He did.”

Eight days made a difference for this family. The Harper kids cried when it was time to pack up and say goodbye.  

The group was busy.

“We were careful to serve the Jamaican church,” said trip leader Jesse         DeYoung, who is the Youth Pastor at the Oldham Campus. “We did not want to walk in like we
owned the place or that we knew the best way to do everything. We went to serve and learn.”  

The team painted the interior of a church, prayer walked through a community and helped put on a Bible camp for 150 kids.

At the end of every day, the team met to share what they had learned that day.

But those conversations never were about painted walls, crafts or completing tasks.

They centered on new friends, and a new way of looking at life and ministry. The group spent time with Kenyan missionaries Joseph and Alice Mullah, who serve in
Jamaica.

“They helped us understand why we serve the way we do,” said Southeast member Mike Vance. “As they shared their journey of life, we learned about following the Holy
Spirit in everything.”     

Southeast member Kathleen Meyer, a senior at Christian Academy, went to Jamaica on her first mission trip. She found few differences with new Jamaican friends.

“The kids were the best part,” Meyer said. “I definitely want to go back to see the kids again, to spend longer than a week there and go on more mission trips wherever God
sends me.”

Biggest changes usually happen within the team. There is a shifting of priorities, needs and spiritual awareness during these trips.

Sometimes teams become part of baptisms with mission churches. But this time, five members of the Southeast team were baptized in Jamaica.

One of the girls on the team had made a decision during camp at Country lake to be baptized.

 The next day, another asked to be baptized. Then another and another until there were five baptized on the beach one day.

The Harpers already are praying about where to serve next.

When they first signed up, the Harpers were concerned about cost.

“We can put up all kinds of barriers about going on a mission trip," Chad said. "In Matthew 28, Jesus said to go to all nations. He didn’t say to wait until you raise the money.
He promised to provide. This was one of the best things our family has ever done.”

To learn more about short-term trips, go to www.southeastchristian.org and click on missions.

Clubs welcome Scarlet Hope

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Scarlet Hope founder Rachelle Starr was inside a strip club talking with dancers when a church group left a box of Bibles at the door. “Repent or Go to Hell” was handwritten
in big, black letters across the box top.  

The club bouncer took the Bibles inside where a crowd gathered around.  

Some of the women who read the words on the box seemed hurt. They turned away without a word, while still others seemed angry.

“Ultimately, they threw that box of Bibles away,” Starr said. “They didn’t want anything to do with them. That’s why we do what we do. We believe as we build relationships
with women inside strip clubs that God is creating a way to show His unconditional love. “   

The name Scarlet Hope comes from Matthew 27 when mocking Roman soldiers put a red robe on Jesus before the crucifixion. Starr founded the ministry in 2008 to reach
out to men and women who had been on her mind a long time. In just three years, Scarlet Hope volunteers have gone into 15 clubs in the Louisville area. More than 250
volunteer to cook, go to the clubs or fix hair and makeup. More than 1,200 are prayer warriors.  

Much more has happened in three years. The ministry now has a home where women can go for Bible studies, private conversations, discipleship and training. Men and
women are discovering God’s love for them and are being baptized. Some are new members at Southeast.

Scarlet Hope, which has been replicated in nine other cities, is not driven by a denomination or a single church. The goal is not to close clubs or even get women to quit
dancing. It is about reaching the heart of those in the sex industry with the message that they are loved by God.

Starr believes God longs to redeem every life–wherever they are lost. A strip club. An East End home. Wherever.

“I don’t believe God looks down from heaven and says that reaching women in sex clubs is off-limits,” she said. “He specializes in redeeming broken people.”

Starr believes brokenness among men and women in the sex industry is no different from brokenness in anyone else’s life.


Q: Why should people care about reaching dancers and strip club owners?
A: We should care because none of our sins are any prettier than anyone else’s. Our mission as Christ’s people is to be His literal hands and feet, going into all the world to share His truth and love the lost and hurting people we meet.

Q: How do club owners respond?
A: We’re getting calls from club owners who want us to come into their clubs. Owners and managers respond exactly the same as the dancers. Their sin is no different than our sin. They need the love of Christ to be shown to them. Relationships take time. An owner of one club would not let us say “God” or “Jesus.” But we just kept taking dessert to the club and talking to him. Recently, he let us pray with him. Now he’s the one asking questions about faith.

Q: What is the biggest surprise in Scarlet Hope?
A: It amazes me that God can take someone whose heart has been hard for decades and turns it around. We see Him work in hearts that know nothing about Him.
Another thing that surprises me is how God provides for this ministry. The other day, we got a gift card from a homeless man who heard about Scarlet Hope. He found a $10-dollar bill, then worked until he got $10 more and bought a $20 Home Depot card to help with construction costs on the house.

Q: How do most women in clubs perceive volunteers with Scarlet Hope?
A: They see us as people who are persistent in loving and showing the Gospel. I’m grateful God was persistent with me. We like quick fixes. You can’t always take a pill and get better instantaneously. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes we talk with women for years before they begin to soften. And we talk with others who like what they do in the clubs. We do not judge them, but we speak the same truth to everyone we see.

Q: Can you describe some of the women you meet in clubs?  
A: A typical American stripper is not a carefree, blonde Barbie doll like the media portrays. She probably came from a poor upbringing and might look like she has been through the worst. Their average age is 38. Eighty percent have a history of abuse or rape and become addicted to drugs and alcohol to numb their shame and depression.  
Q: What happens as women in the clubs begin to seek God?
A: We meet women in the club who are Christians who feel they have no other options. We also meet a lot of women who went to church at one time. Some even made a decision to follow Christ, but no one came alongside to teach and mentor them. It’s our responsibility to teach them how to follow Christ. Those are some of the women the Lord is using in those places.

About three months, I was sitting at a bar with one of the girls who was working on a Bible study. She said at first everyone was making fun of her, but eventually other dancers wanted to do the Bible Study with her. To me, it’s amazing to see how God uses women in this industry for His glory.
If you go
What: An Evening of Hope (Scarlet Hope’s only fundraiser)
When: Sept. 23
Where: The Galt House
Info: To reserve a ticket, go to scarlethope.org
 

Faith comes by hearing

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dr. Vladimir Canela and his wife, Dr. Auris Canela, care for about 10,000 patients a year in medical clinics outside Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Their patients come
from remote sugarcane villages, communities built on landfills and rural villages so far in the country that no medical help is available.   

Though the two doctors meet needs every day, they could not help their own baby, Eliezer, who was born with microtia or closed ears.

“Here we are doctors, but we were painfully worried,” Auris said. “We could not help our son. We felt so burdened until someone told us that he is special, one in 20,000,
and we began to pray.”

Some 1,670 miles away, in Louisville,  Jeff and Vicki Rogers, G.O. Ministry missionaries supported by Southeast, heard about Eliezer. The young couple is tuned in
especially to children who cannot hear since their own 6-year-old twin daughters, Sophi and Raena, are deaf.

The couple moved to G.O. Ministry headquarters in Louisville so the girls could get cochlear implants that allowed them to hear sounds. They also received therapy and
education at the renowned Heuser Hearing and Language Institute. Vicki and Jeff learned sign language along with the girls.  

As soon as she heard about Eliezer, Vicki sent a message to his parents and began searching for some way to help. She knew help was limited on the island. While living
In the Dominican Republic, the Rogers met deaf children in rural villages who had never learned how to communicate.

“When I would begin to sign for a child in a village, I noticed that that they had no idea what I was saying,” Vicki said. “Even more devastating was the fact that when I asked
other children for that child’s name, they said, ‘El mudo,’ which means ‘the mute kid.’”

Vicki began making sure called each  deaf child she met by name.

When she met 16-year-old Yordy, who was deaf, she met with his family, taught them to sign his name as well as other words and left materials for them to learn as many
communication tools as possible.  

“We continue to pray that many other children soon will be called by their names, too,” Vicki said.

Since Eliezer did not have a functioning ear, he needed a Baha programmable bone conduction device that bypasses the outer and middle ear, sending sound around the
damaged area, stimulating hearing through bone. The device, which costs about $7,000, is not available in the Dominican Republic.  

The Rogers began raising funds and talking with staff at the Heuser Hearing Institute to help the family. One man on their call list was Southeast member Len Moisan, one
of their supporters who has taught the Emmaus Weekend Group at the Blankenbaker Campus for the last 20 years.

“How could we not respond to a request to help this family?” Moisan said. “A lot of times we think of Third World countries in an abstract way. Through Jeff and Vicki, we
connected with a couple who could do anything with their medical degrees, but they chose to help those who need them most. We put the need out there, and our people
gave as they always do. The offering totaled about $5,000. It was just a matter of looking at needs and trying to meet them.”

The Heuser Hearing Institute provided pro bono services.  

On Thursday, Aug. 11, at 8:30 a.m., Eliezar received his Baha hearing device through a thin blue band wrapped around his head and heard his mom’s voice for the first time.

Vicki watched it happen.  

“It was beautiful to watch Eliezer’s eyes light up as he heard the toys he had been playing with make noise for the first time,” she said. “He looked over at his mom with an
astonished expression. Her eyes filled with tears as she searched for her voice and the first words she wanted Eliezar to hear. It was truly a miracle and a beautiful memory
for me as I thought back to when my daughters heard for the first time.”

That miracle moment was priceless, but more surprises unfolded.

On Aug. 14, Auris, Eliezer and the Rogers visited the Emmaus Weekend Group to thank them.

Through tears, Auris thanked the large group of people she had never met for helping her son.

Southeast member Jane Knight, a retired audiologist and speech therapist, listened to Auris and decided to donate the equipment she and her husband needed to do
hearing screenings in the Dominican Republic and later trained Auris how to use it.

Just a few days later, when Vicki went with the family to visit a surgeon at the Heuser Institute to evaluate when and if they could restore Eliezer’s ears, yet more pieces fell
into place.

The surgeon had been to the Dominican twice with Operation Ear, working just 20 minutes from where the family lives and agreed to perform surgery when Eliezer is about
6 years old to reconstruct his ear canal, ear drums and form ears from the buds he currently has. When Auris asked how much it would cost, the doctor’s answer drove her
to tears yet again. The surgery is free save hospital costs.  

“Oh, how I love God’s story,” Vicki said. “I watch it every day with my miracle daughters who glorify Him with their hands and voices, and I had the incredible opportunity to
watch Him do it again with this family.”

The Canelas are forever changed. So is their ministry. Both doctors are planning to specialize in pediatrics so they can help more children in Dominican Republic, and their
faith is strengthened.

“A few weeks ago, I preached about how God has control of everything,” Vladimir said. “This was tough as a doctor, but through this I realized that I did not have the
resources to solve this problem for my son, but God answered right away as we prayed. The lesson we will never forget is God is wonderful.” 

Miscarriage support group

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jason and Jackie Bragg already had two young children when they went through a miscarriage on July 23, 2010.

It was hard. The young couple, who had chosen the name Elijah for their baby, already wondered if he would look more like their son, Jacob, or have blonde hair like their daughter, Addie.

As they grieved, the Braggs were determined to find purpose in their loss.  

But they found that there were not many places to go for support through pregnancy loss, and they began looking for ways to reach out to others.

“After a couple of months, we decided not to let our hurt go, to find purpose in it,” Jackie said.   

On Sept. 29, Elijah’s Miracle, a support group for those dealing with miscarriage will begin at Southeast.

It will be informal, for both men and women, and it will focus on hope and healing.

According to Patti Eubanks, who works in Counseling Ministry, couples often call the church for help with grief after miscarriage, but until now, there has not been a place to direct them.  

“We had been praying about this a lot,” Jason said. “It’s not like we woke up and said this is the ministry we want to be in. It’s not our choice, but at the same time, we believe it is what
God wants us to do. We believe there are a lot of men and women who aren’t sure how to handle it.”  

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 10 to 25 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and there is a grief process that is difficult to navigate.

Jackie said cards and meals helped. Especially meaningful was the card she opened on her due date and the one she received a year later.  

“We have great friends and a great family,” Jackie said. “But even then, no one I knew had been through a miscarriage. When you’re going through the grieving process, you need
someone who understands. Sometimes it seemed that people expected us to get up and get going. But to us, we lost a baby. He had a name. We were ready. I needed assurance that the
grief I was feeling was normal.”

Those who took it lightly did not help. Neither did comments that it was God’s will or questions about when they would get pregnant again.

They talked with Michael and Jill Kast, who had been through two devastating losses. Their daughter, Michelle, was stillborn just a week before Jill’s due date, and a son was stillborn at 6
months.

“When you go through this kind of loss, you become part of a club you never wanted to join,” Jill said. “It’s like anything else. If you’re going through cancer, you want to talk with someone
who has survived. When you grieve the loss of a pregnancy, you want to talk with someone who understands. When you have Christian support, it makes a huge difference.”

Jill said the “whys” are impossible to figure out.

“You can’t change your situation, but with help in dealing with it, you can allow your faith to grow,” Jill said. “I want to reassure women that they can end up with a happy ending.”

Over the years, the Kasts have reached out to many couples grieving the loss of a pregnancy. Women also have told her how loss led to divorce. According to USA Today, the likelihood of
breaking up is 22 percent higher for couples who experience miscarriage, and new research finds that loss may cause a  breakup even years later.    

Jill said she often thinks of a sign in Alaska that says, “Choose your rut carefully, you’ll be there a long time.”

“I think that can describe the grief process,” she said. “You don’t want to get in the wrong rut. I always go back to 2 Cor. 14-5: ‘…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.’”

Jackie said two weeks after the miscarriage she realized that there were three attitudes toward what happened: hope, despair or resentment.

“I chose hope,” she said. “I know Elijah is in heaven, and someday we will see him again.”

Jason hopes this group will be an outreach for those who are looking for answers, whether they attend a church or not.

“Often when you go through hard things, you look for answers,” he said. “We are praying that this will be an opportunity to help couples to run to God, not blame Him, to keep their families
together and their marriages stronger, to provide help for people who don’t know where to turn.”

The Braggs named the support group “Elijah’s Miracle” because of all the miracles God accomplished through the Old Testament prophet.

“Our prayer is that Elijah’s Miracle will give people the miracle of being able to know God and be comforted by Him,” Jackie said.

Christians reach out

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

New York City was still smoldering after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, when Khader El-Yateem, pastor of the Salam Lutheran Arabic Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., answered his phone.

Like most New Yorkers, he still was reeling from the attack when two New York church planters, Paul Curtis and Bill Altman, asked if he would meet them for lunch.

The three had never met. Curtis and Altman explained that they were part of an effort by churches across America to help victims of 9/11.

Nearly 10 years later, El-Yateem points to that lunch as a turning point in his quest to make sense of suffering in New York City.

The death toll was staggering, with nearly 3,000 lives lost.

Piles of rubble, a gaping hole in the New York City skyline and vacant streets in what was the hub of the business world, were constant reminders of the havoc 19 terrorists wreaked in
America.  

Arab communities struggled with less visible destruction in the shadow of 9/11.  

Leading a church of Arab Christians changed El-Yateem’s biggest concerns from raising funds and meeting new families settling in New York to dealing with attitudes toward people of
Middle Eastern descent. Suspicion and anger settled on New York City streets much like the layers of dust from widespread destruction at Ground Zero.  

El-Yateem had been in the middle of conflict before. Born in Bethlehem, Palestine, El-Yateem was raised in a warzone and witnessed constant conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. He left Palestine in 1992 to attend Lutheran Theological Seminary and become a missionary to the Arab community in New York City.

El-Yateem and his wife, Grace, raised their four children in Brooklyn as they planted Salam Lutheran Arabic Church.   

Normal life was another casualty of the attack. Some Arabic believers in his church were afraid to leave their homes, and they worried about their children at school. Until the terror attack,
they were just families living out everyday life in New York City, one of about 3 million Arab Americans who live in the United States. In the wake of 9/11, it was difficult for Americans to
differentiate between terrorists and Arab American Christians, who make up 88 percent of Arab American citizens.    

 El-Yateem was unsure how to reassure members of his church and reach out to New Yorkers in the middle of difficult days. Lunch with Curtis and Altman gave El-Yateem hope that
bridges of faith and understanding could be built. They listened as he related a host of hurt compounding in the Arabic community.

“Our church is the last refuge for Arabs,” El-Yateem explained. “I came to New York to reach out to these people. Somehow we must reassure others that we are not part of radical
terrorism, but that we came to the United States in search of peace and freedom.”  

Curtis and Altman offered to help.

“What are your greatest needs?” they asked.

El-Yateem talked about the roof on Salam Lutheran Arabic Church that leaked like a sieve, about the food pantry that always needed restocking and about English classes that provided an
outreach to Muslims in the community.

He also talked about families in the congregation who had been harassed and children who needed adult escorts to school.

And he talked about forgiveness and reconciliation. Somehow Christians in New York City had to reach out to Muslims, Jews and people who had no faith.

The pastors listened, agreed to work with El-Yateem on new initiatives, then pulled out a ministry checkbook from an account filled with funds from churches, including Southeast, to help
victims of 9/11.

“Churches in the Midwest have given this money in Jesus’ name,” the pastors explained, as they wrote a check to help the church with immediate needs.    

 “That was as great encouragement,” El-Yateem said. “I’ll never forget how they came to me. They showed us that other parts of Christ’s body were caring for us.”  

A lot has happened in 10 years.

“We have come a long way since Sept. 11,” El-Yateem said. “Many friendships and deep relationships have developed. So many in our community need spiritual support, and we continue
to bring a message of hope, understanding and forgiveness. We reach out to diverse people in the community, including Muslims and Jews, and we work hard to build bridges with our
neighbors, to educate them about our community and build relationships.”

El-Yateem said the biggest challenge has been to create a culture of forgiveness and understanding.   

“We need to continue to do our best to show that love and forgiveness are the strongest tools to overcome difficulties,” he said. “As we come to the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, I ask
everyone to pray that we will overcome this difficult experience in our history and pray for true change through Christ. “

 In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, millions of Americans flocked to church, but in most parts of the country, the shift was short-lived. As the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, approaches, the Barna Group traced the long-term effect in the metropolitan New York City area.
- New Yorkers are more spiritually active today than they were in 2001. Reported weekly attendance in evangelical New York churches has grown to 3 percent of the city's total population since 9/11.
- Active-faith adults who pray, read the Bible and attend church in a typical week has increased from 17 percent to 24 percent.

Familypalooza

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

More than 15,000 people came to the Blankenbaker Campus, and another 3,000 came to the Indiana Campus for this year's FamilyPalooza celebration, held Monday, Sept. 5.

Families wandered from one station to another–from waterslides to inflatables, to pony rides and face painting. There was a bubble truck and petting zoo, train rides and carnival games.
There always was a laughing crowd around the dunking booth and the food tents where treats were priced at 50 cents to $1.

Steve Young, director of Children’s Ministry at the Blankenbaker Campus, said God provided a great day for the event.

“There were a ton of new faces,” he said. “The goal of FamilyPalooza is to give our neighbors a great first experience at Southeast. We hope they see that we’re a church that loves them and
recognizes how important families are to God.”
 

9/11: A decade later

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

September 11, 2001 changed everything.  

Southeast members Jim and Kim Baker were packing for a Caribbean cruise when hijackers flew planes into the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C.

Flights were cancelled, and cruise ships were grounded. No one knew what was ahead, and fear and uncertainty eroded carefully constructed plans for the Bakers’
vacation.

As they moved to Plan B, the Bakers decided to drive to the Smoky Mountains for a few days. They left on Sept. 16, less than a week after the attacks. As they drove
east on Interstate 64, they heard an interview with a disaster relief team from the Louisville-based Kentucky Baptist Convention. Team members described preparing
and serving meals for first responders under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

Kim picked up her cell phone and called the convention to see if they still needed volunteers. When they said “yes,” Jim turned the car around and headed toward
New York. It was more spontaneous than anything they had done before.

Ten years later, on the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, Jim said, “It’s the best thing we ever did.”

But what is clear as they talk about all they saw and heard at Ground Zero is that the experience still is not easy to talk about. As memories bubble up, it is hard for the
couple to find the right words. There are long pauses and tears as they remember details of their time in New York City.  

The Bakers never had been to New York before 2001. Without a GPS, they weren’t even sure how to get there, but they were sure it was what God wanted them to do.
Through the duration of the 16-hour drive they saw homemade signs on overpasses that said, “God Bless America,” and it seemed that American flags were
everywhere.

 “The first thing we saw in New Jersey was a giant mountain of debris from Ground Zero,” Jim said. “As we saw crushed fire trucks and cement, it became real.”

A warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge served as the staging area for relief. It was there that the Bakers were told to buy sleeping bags and pick a cot on the second
floor. Stacks of peanut butter, food, flashlights, bottled water, raincoats and work gloves from donors across the nation filled the first floor.

The Bakers met other volunteers from across the United States who dropped everything to help. One group brought a portable shower for volunteers. That provided
welcome relief after long days at Ground Zero. The contingency from Kentucky brought a mobile kitchen that could feed 3,000 meals at a time.

No one complained about their tasks. The Bakers were assigned to the food detail, where they prepared meals for rescue workers and first responders, then
cleaned up.

Jim said he was glad to do dishes 16 hours a day. It was not a sacrifice when he saw weary firemen, police officers and EMS workers. They saw pain, sorrow and
shock. When they took the trash to a United Parcel  Service parking lot, the Bakers saw smoke rising from the giant hole where the Twin Towers once stood.

“Being at Ground Zero was eerie. Surreal. Like nothing we’d ever seen before,” Kim said. “When we got closer to Ground Zero, everything was covered in gray soot.”  

The Bakers never will forget shop windows covered with photos of those who still were missing, homemade monuments for family members and friends, candles
that burned day and night and endless bouquets of flowers placed around Ground Zero.

Talking with New Yorkers

One night, they listened to a college choir sing worship songs and hymns to comfort those working at Ground Zero. And they talked with New Yorkers who told their
stories about where they were when the planes hit, who they knew at Ground Zero and how life changed with that day.

“I had always heard that New Yorkers weren’t friendly,” Jim said. “That certainly wasn’t true at Ground Zero. Everyone wanted to tell their story.”

The Gideons, a nonprofit organization that distributes Bibles around the world, gave volunteers at Ground Zero stacks of Bibles to distribute. One night, the Bakers
went to Wall Street with a group of volunteers. Jim was asked to read portions of the Bible out loud to passersby while others in the group talked with those who
stopped.

“It was way outside my comfort zone,” Jim said. “But things began to change as I kept reading. Within 15 minutes, people began stopping to talk. It seemed that the
Word was drawing them in. Since we were close to Wall Street, many of them were executives in business suits.”  

Kim met a refugee from Liberia who was trying to start a church on Staten Island. They became friends and stayed in touch for years.

Repeatedly, New Yorkers stopped to say, “Thank you for coming.”

Kim said they never felt vulnerable or afraid working at Ground Zero.

“I think we had a real peace because we were where God wanted us,” she said.

As life changed for New Yorkers after 9/11, it also changed for the Bakers. They returned to work at their real estate company in Indiana, but it changed their view of
missions.

Jim said one of his goals this year, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, is to return to New York City on a short-term mission trip. The city also holds a special place in

Kim’s heart.

 “I’ve gone back twice for short-term mission trips,” she said. “I have seen their suffering, and I have seen their needs, and on these mission trips, I have seen their
openness to the Gospel.”

On a mission

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Southeast Senior Minister Dave Stone will never forget standing in Mathare, one the world’s largest slums, during a mission trip to Kenya this summer. A maze of tiny
tin shanties propped one against the other stretched as far as he could see.

Mathare is home to some 800,000 people, who live in about 3 square miles. Images are stark. More than 70,000 of the residents are children.

He expected to see poverty and despair, but what he saw was little children laughing and playing as he walked through the narrow maze of paths.

He saw young women carrying babies on their backs, and many selling fruits and vegetables from small squares of cloth on the ground.

What Stone saw is representative of what he would like each person in the Southeast congregation to experience.

His vision is for every member of Southeast to go on a short-term mission trip.

“Whether it is someone who is young, has a family or someone who has discretionary time as they retire, everyone needs to go on a mission trip,” he said. “They may
go to Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville, to a church plant in New York or Maryland, to Dominican Republic or Haiti. God will work through all of them. And I love
to see parents and children serving together.

It teaches that faith is real, and it takes the spotlight off them to serve others. It is one of the healthiest things a parent can do with their kids.”

Dr. Florence Muindi, Southeast’s partner in Africa, knew that once Stone saw the conditions in Mathare, he would want to give away every dollar he brought with him.
Before Stone went to Mathare, Muindi talked with his mission team, with his family, Oldham Campus Pastor Kurt Sauder and his family and Mission Ministry leader
Charlie Vittitow and his family.

“When Americans pass out money, it sets up an unhealthy pattern,” Muindi told the group. “If that is all we do, Kenyan nationals become dependent on people. That’s
not good. We want them to be dependent on God.”

In the Life in Abundance model of ministry, local churches are empowered to meet needs in their own community. It is working in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Egypt
as nationals serve Africa’s poorest communities in new ways.   

The team followed Muindi to the homes of two single moms. Both have AIDS, but they were not despondent. Both believe in Jesus, and their medical and spiritual
needs are met through Christians in the local church. One sells small fish in the local market while the other makes French fries to sell along the road.

“Those women have a real sense of self-worth,” Stone said. “Their work gives them value, and their faith gives them strength. They care for their families, as the local
church reaches out to support and care for them. That model works. They are not dependent on Americans to provide for their needs. They look to God.”

Stone talked with people as he walked through the slum and played with children.

“Most of these people have nothing, but I never saw a sense of discontent,” Stone said. “They had a lot of joy—especially the Christians. In every church we visited the
joy was overwhelming.”   

Stone said it is impossible to go on a mission trip and not be radically changed.

Being in Kenya created a new sense of gratitude.

“My dream is that in America we will realize how wealthy we are, that we can learn from believers in other countries who have learned the secret of being content in
everything, in plenty or want,” he said. “As Americans, we may say we are not wealthy, but someone on welfare in the U.S. has more than 95 percent of the people in
any developing nation. When we realize how God has blessed us, we will be more generous with mission organizations. I encourage people to find one for which
their heart beats and share with those needs and people.”   

Another takeaway was prayer.

“Kenyan Christians are prayer warriors. They pray for one another, for us and for the nations,” Stone said. “In fact, they pray for everything. As a family, we learned a lot
about praying without ceasing, and that continues. Now prayer is a first response in our house rather than just a perfunctory habit.”

After landing in Louisville, Stone, his wife, Beth, son, Sam and daughter Sadie, carried in their suitcases, then circled up in the living room, held hands and prayed for the next 10 to 15 minutes.

Stone’s vision for the direction of Southeast was affirmed in a meeting with Pastor Simon Mbevi, who met with the team for 30 minutes. As Mbevi explained the three
things for which he was praying, it was exactly the same three things Stone and leaders of Southeast had unveiled to Southeast six months before: That Southeast
will be a praying church, equipping godly men to lead and growing in the area of discipleship.

“It was like God sent me to Kenya to confirm and validate the mission, vision and strategies back here at Southeast,” Stone said.  


 

Rebecca St. James

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Christian recording artist, actress and author Rebecca St. James will be a special guest at Southeast Christian Church’s Blankenbaker Campus, Saturday, Sept. 3
and Sunday, Sept. 4.

In addition to singing worship songs, St. James will meet worshipers in The Living Word bookstore after each of the three services, which will be held Saturday at 5
p.m. and Sunday at 9 and 11:15 a.m.

“My past experiences at Southeast have been absolutely amazing,” St. James said. “I felt like I was immediately welcomed as a part of the family. Pastor Stone and
his family have become very dear friends to my heart—almost like my extended family in Kentucky. I felt on my very first visit to the church that the Holy Spirit is very
much present and at work in the church family at Southeast. I feel really blessed to be coming back.”

Southeast Worship Leader Brian Sites said St. James, who last came to Southeast in January 2010, was invited back because of her heart for worship.

"We were just so struck with her authenticity and humility," Sites said. "We enjoy her and her heart for the church."

Later this month, St. James, who was married in April, will release the book “What is he thinking??: What guys want us to know about dating, love and marriage.” It is
the ninth book she has published.

In April, St. James also released her first studio album in six years, “I Will Praise You,” on the Provident Label Group LLC music label. The album was produced by
Mark A. Miller of the band Casting Crowns.

“As we were recording, one of my prayers for the new songs on the album was that they would really connect with the church and be used by the church,” St. James
said. “With that in mind, I’ve been actually singing at a lot of different churches across the U.S. since the release of the album. I’ve had a real desire to serve the
church in that way. It’s been a real blessing to share the new songs.”

St. James, who has won a Grammy and multiple Dove awards as a recording artist, said leading a congregation in worship is “one of the most fulfilling things for me
in my ministry.”

“I love looking out on a sea of faces and seeing people encountering God and connecting with Him in worship,” she said.

“In my travels, it’s a very beautiful sight to see people who may even be from different parts of the world coming together as part of the family of God to worship Jesus
together. It’s a very powerful, very unifying experience.”

In September alone, St. James will lead worship and hold concerts in Kentucky, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Tennessee. Although that might sound like a
daunting schedule, she sees it as an opportunity to cast a wide net for Christ.

“I sometimes sit back in my life and just feel overwhelmingly awed with the privilege and honor I have to be pointing people to Jesus as the hope we have in this
world,” she said. “So much of the time in ministry we can be so caught up in what we’re doing that we lose the introspection. When I have those moments of pulling
back and being quiet in front of God I’m reminded again and again of how thankful I am to be doing what I do.”

Witness during adoption process

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

If finances are the biggest fear in adoption, then God’s provision might be the biggest lesson.

Southeast members Vince and Kelli Monks have two biological children, adopted two sons in Ethiopia last December and are waiting for final approval to adopt a daughter from
Ethiopia. They are not wealthy. Vince works at the Louisville Water Company while Kelli homeschools the children.   

Vince said when they looked at the bottom-line cost of $35,000, it seemed overwhelming in the beginning but they filled out papers anyway.

“We learned that adoption actually has nothing to do with finances,” he said. “It has everything to do with God’s prompting to do something. If you say ‘yes’ to God, He will lead
you down paths you never thought possible.”  

On Saturday, Sept. 17, Orphan Care Alliance, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to adopting and foster care families, will hold a free adoption seminar at
Southeast’s Blankenbaker Campus. Representatives of Orphan Care Alliance will cover different types of adoption with breakout sessions about funding, adoption myths,
making choices and choosing an agency.

As they began to research adoption options, the Monks attended a similar seminar in 2009.

That gave them hope and courage to follow through on what God called them to do.

Looking back, the Monks see that God had prepared them to adopt for a long time. In 2002, they simplified their lives, eliminating cable television to spend more time together
as a family, downsized to one car for a while and curtailed their schedule.  

At the Orphan Care Alliance seminar, the Monks learned that they would not be alone in raising the funds to adopt. Grants and interest-free loans would help cover costs.  

The Monks got creative with the balance.

Kelli made coasters that she sold for $5 each. That added $800 to their adoption fund. The family had yard sales and sponsored a pancake breakfast at Applebees. Kelli put a
donation button on her blog, and they sent letters to friends and family.  

“Every donation was humbling,” Vince said. “But each one was a reminder that God was providing for our family.”

In the end, one-third of the money came from friends and family, one-third from Orphan Care Alliance and another third from their own savings.

Southeast member Amy Coleman, who volunteers with Orphan Care Alliance, said adoption fees are the biggest barrier to families considering adoption.

“Many give up, never realizing that help is available,” she said. “Time and time again, we see that when God puts adoption on a family’s heart, He provides. When families come
to Orphan Care Alliance, we give up to $4,000 in a matching grant and up to $10,000 in a covenant loan. And we walk alongside families as they adopt and parent.”

When Mark and Diane Shreve began raising funds to adopt two boys in Ethiopia, fees far exceeded their savings.   

For years, Southeast supported them as missionaries to Papua New Guinea, where they translated Bible stories in the people’s heart language, trained leaders for the local
church and lived life with a remote tribe.

Now settled in Louisville, adoption is yet another adventure in faith.

After applying to adopt in Ethiopia through Arise for Children, they were matched with 7-year-old Yemisarach and 5-year-old Abel, 5, who will join their three biological children:
Noah, 8, Hadassah, 5, and Tizrah, 18 months.

The Shreves turned to friends in Couples for Christ Weekend Group to help raise funds. Rather than simply seeking donations, they partnered with a nonprofit organization
called Both Hands, which reaches out to widows while providing funds for adoption. It follows the model set forth in James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”  

In the Both Hands program, adopting families enlist sponsors, who pledge money for the adoption. In return, the adoptive families pledge to help fix up the home of a widow in
need.

It was through Both Hands that the Shreves learned about Yenedesta, an Ethiopian-American widow who needed help after her husband died of cancer. Though she had
worked hard in food service at a downtown hotel to provide for her children, her home needed repairs and upgrades.  

On Saturday, July 9, dozens of friends who heard about the outreach showed up at Yendesta’s house with tools in hand. Each one had asked their friends to sponsor that
workday to assist the Shreves’ adoption fund.  Children served alongside their parents as they worked on Yenedesta’s yard, fixed railings and painted interior walls.  

The money raised on that workday helped the Shreve’s meet their fund-raising goal, and a few weeks ago, the Shreves traveled to Ethiopia to meet Yemisrach and Abel.

“It was a sweet, surreal moment in time for us to meet our children,” Mark said. “We saw our normally shy toddler embrace them with pats and giggles as the children bonded.”

As Coleman said, God has been faithful to provide the funds the Shreves needed.

In addition to their own personal funds, donations from Both Hands project and LifeSong for Orphans, a grant from Orphan Care Alliance and a grant from Show Hope, Steven
Curtis Chapman’s adoption foundation, they are seeing financial needs met.

“We are grateful for all who have worked this journey with us—and to God, who is providing for all our needs. We were adopted by the King. Now we are adopting for the King.”

Challenge to eliminate debt

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Wearing a backpack filled with 70 pounds of weights that represented the burden of debt, Southeast Senior Minister Dave Stone challenged members of the church to dramatically
reduce or eliminate their debt in the next seven years. The Aug. 20 and 21 sermon titled “Seven Years” closed a series that included “Seven Days,” which focused on honoring a
day of rest and “Seven Weeks,” which focused on forgiveness.

Stakes in gaining financial freedom are high. Stone pointed out that in America, where half of marriages end in divorce, the No. 1 cause is financial conflict. The average American
carries $5,000 in credit card debt and an average $172,000 in mortgage debt. In addition, the typical American tends to live on 108 percent of what they make, Stone said.

“Debt will rob you of your sleep, your joy and your generosity,” Stone said. “Debt is giving ourselves something God hasn’t given us yet.”  

Stone outlined four steps to eliminating debt:

- Give generously to the work of the Lord.

- Assess your personal financial situation.  

- Spend less than you earn.

- Develop a budget and get started today.  

 “When we are faithful, God will stretch our dollars,” Stone said. “It will take time, strategy and discipline, but it can be done. And it will create a new testimony in the community
through generosity.”

It wasn’t a challenge for just the congregation.

Stone said church leaders have been working to eliminate debt in their own lives and in church finances. Five years ago, Southeast accelerated debt repayment on the
Blankenbaker Campus and paid off the note last January. The next goal is to retire the debt on the Indiana Campus, which opened in April 2009.

Stone also told those who have no debt: Be humble, be a resource to others and be generous.

He urged everyone to take seven days to pray about the next seven years so that by August 2018, members of the congregation will be debt free except for the mortgages on
their homes. He cited Deut. 8:18a: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who give you the ability to produce wealth…”   

At weekend services, Aug. 27 and 28, people will be able to indicate what God has led them to do through prayer. Members will be encouraged not to sign their names, as this
is a commitment with God and not with Southeast Christian Church.

9/11: A decade later

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The date Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 is indelibly etched into the minds of anyone who lived through the horror and uncertainty of that day.

People around the world tuned in to see drama and death as 19 terrorists crashed two commercial airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and
one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth plane went down in Shanksville, Penn., as passengers tried to wrestle control of it from hijackers.

In the days following Sept. 11, Southeast mobilized with prayer and a special offering that totaled $485,000 to help victims of the attack.

Ten years later, those funds still are making a difference. Evil did not win, and God is bringing good out of the rubble.

On Sept. 10 and 11, Senior Minister Dave Stone will preach a special sermon, focused on New York, titled ‘Love Prevails.” Also that weekend, 9.11 percent of the offering

collected at the church’s three campuses will be donated to the Orchard Group, a church-planting organization with offices in New York City and North Chelmsford, Mass., that
works in the Northeastern portion of the United States.  

Brent Storm, president of the church-planting organization called the Orchard Group, said the Love Prevails offering that will be taken in many Christian churches across the
country, will continue progress in new church plants and “forward thinking,” such as training urban pastors.

The landscape of New York has changed since 9/11.

The Orchard Group has planted 12 churches in New York City and another 24 in the Northeast corridor. Those churches, which reach 10,000 people each week, have baptized
about 2,000 people over the past decade. Before 9/11, just 1 percent of New Yorkers attended an evangelical church. Today 3 percent attend evangelical churches, and doors
continue to open.

But there is more to be done.

“Churches in New York City are making a mark on the community,” Storm said. “More people are coming to church and they are a stronger presence in the community, but I
believe the tipping point will happen when 10 to 15 percent of New Yorkers are involved in evangelical churches.”  

Paul Williams, who was president of the Orchard Group on 9/11, has seen New York change in the last 10 years. It began as funds from Southeast and other churches across
the country gave New York pastors the opportunity to lift up the name of Jesus. Williams walked Manhattan streets with Stone to distribute money to shop owners, meet with
widows, school teachers and principals, firefighters and police officers.

Before the Orchard Group pastors wrote checks, they talked faith with recipients, and asked them how they were affected by 9/11. However, they gave freely, without regard to the
recipients’ faith background. What mattered was that the recipients had a need and Christians wanted to help. The memo line on each check read, “In Jesus’ name.”

Outreach propelled the Orchard Group into the spotlight as the story of Stone and the New York pastors made the front page of The New York Times on Dec. 1, 2001.

“We began to see God turning evil to good,” Williams said. “In addition to reaching out in New York, we saw young Christians from all over the country coming to New York
because they wanted to make a difference. The population of school-age children has grown 300 percent, and New York has become a great environment to plant churches.”

Southeast’s involvement with the Orchard Group didn’t begin with 9/11. For years, the church has supported the Orchard Group’s church plants.  Short-term mission teams have
served in New York, Annapolis and Baltimore, and outreach continues, said Eugene DePorter, who leads U.S. Missions at Southeast.

New York City has been a major focus of the Orchard Group’s efforts. Southeast partnered with the organization to plant Forefront Christian Church on the east side of
Manhattan, Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue and Everyday Church in Inwood, which will launch this fall.

Paul Williams’ son, Jonathon Williams, will plant a church in Brooklyn in 2012. He is a third-generation urban church planter.  

“Before 9/11, there was a sense that New York was invincible,” he said. “As everything was shaken with the attack, New Yorkers began to look at something beyond their jobs
and their success. They looked for hope, and they knew there had to be something more.”

Jonathon Williams said wounds from 9/11 are still raw.    

“I believe the city is ripe for outreach,” Jonathon Williams said. “Sept. 11 opened a spiritual window in the city as people began asking questions, and it paved the way for church
planting and evangelism. The goal is to build a foundation that can never be destroyed.”


How to Pray
>Pray that hearts of people in New York City will be open to the Gospel.
>Pray for effective community outreach.
>Pray that that the community will be impacted by Christ.
>Pray for urban pastors.
>Pray for the Everyday Christian Church launch this fall in upper Manhattan.
>Pray for the Orchard Group.
>Pray for new leaders to plant churches in New York City.

 

Evangelism in Cuba

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Going door to door to talk to people about Jesus might be part of a bygone era of evangelism in the United States.

Not so in Cuba, said Southeast member Jay Melgar, who went there on a short-term trip in June.

There, members of Eduardo Otero’s church, which has grown from three to 50 home churches scattered around the island, went through a local community, knocking on doors.

Melgar wasn’t so sure about the outreach.  

At the first house the team visited, three generations lived in one dwelling. The grandfather of the family answered the door. For 10 minutes, the elderly man talked with Melgar,
the only Spanish-speaking member of the group, about how no one could force him to accept Christ.

He said that he had been a revolutionary and didn’t believe in God.

Melgar didn’t translate the conversation to others in the group, but at the end asked Southeast staff member John O’Neal if there as anything he wanted to say.

Without hesitation, O’Neal began laying out the plan of salvation, pausing to let Melgar translate the message. The grandfather seemed to listen carefully, then said that he
wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior and be baptized.

“I was totally shocked and in awe,” Melgar said. “It just shows that God always does more than we ask or think. It was amazing to see that people in Cuba are hungry for the
Gospel. ”

He already has signed up for the next trip to Cuba.

 Southeast member Steve Scott, who has led dozens of trips to Cuba, said it’s always amazing to see how God works.

For decades, the church in Cuba was called “church of the silence.” There was no evangelism, sports ministry or worship under communism. Much of the island was
developed as a social experiment with limits on faith as formidable as the Havana wall that keeps ocean waters at bay.

History tells of persecution and imprisonment of Christians. But when restrictions began to ease in the 1980s and early 1990s, Southeast member Dan Garcia, whose
grandparents fled Cuba in 1903, went to Cuba to explore the possibility of ministry there. He found Otero living in the baptismal font of a small church with his wife, Vivian, and
two young children.

Southeast’s partnership with Otero has grown stronger over the years.  

Southeast member Jason Bragg said the church in Alamar is changing the culture in Cuba. Church members have used baseball to reach out into communities. Mission
teams that go to Cuba serve wherever the church chooses. They might revamp baseball fields for more outreach, work with players and coaches, women’s ministry or children.
But ministry isn’t always “doing.” Since life in Cuba revolves around relationships, ministry also means sitting down with church members for a cup of coffee, sharing a
homemade meal of rice and beans at the church, studying the Bible or gathering at a house church for worship.  

Otero said his vision is to see all of Cuba affected by the presence of the church.

“There’s been enough time for atheists to tell people there is no God,” he said. “My dream is that the color of my country will change on the world map. In 1997, I saw a map with
atheistic countries in brown. Cuba was brown. I pray that someday I will live to see the color change by seeing people walk with the Lord.”

Allowing God to work

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The doorbell rang at 4:48 a.m. on June 27 at Lisa and Rick Schardein’s home in Fisherville. A representive from the coroner’s office delivered the worst possible news. Lisa’s
19-year-old son, Ben Koier, had been killed in a head-on crash with a drunk driver just a few minutes from home.

It was hard to believe.

Earlier that night, Ben had been at their house for dinner, bear hugged everyone and told each one how much he loved them before leaving to spend time with friends.   

It was the last time they saw him alive.

Devastating news shook the ground under two families that night, but it did not steal their faith.

From the beginning, the Schardeins, as well as Ben’s father, Jeff Koier, and stepmother, Teri Koier, shifted their focus from why the crash happened to what God wanted them to
do next.  

The two couples are best friends. When Ben was 3 years old, they decided to raise him together. There would be no “us” or “them,” no mind games or power plays.

Over the years, Jeff took Ben to Saturday Morning Men’s Bible study at the Blankenbaker Campus, and the two served communion together in the balcony on Saturday nights.
Ben was baptized when he was 12, and they were comforted with the fact that Ben knew Jesus.   

In dark days after the accident, Jeff held onto Psalm 30:11-12: “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks forever.”

He was determined Ben’s death wouldn’t be turned into an automobile accident, that they would celebrate and commemorate his life rather than simply mourn something they
weren’t prepared to face.

Looking back, both couples believe God prepared them for the hardest day of their lives.

The Sunday night Ben died, Jeff and Teri had been to the Night of Worship at Southeast with the theme, “Beautiful Things.” Part of the song says, “You make beautiful things out
of the dust. You make beautiful things out of us.”

All four parents held onto the promise of Rom. 8:28 that God would make something beautiful in the brokenness of their loss. As they looked for the meaning of Ben’s death,
they focused on hundreds of Ben’s friends who filled the funeral home. Many of their lives were broken by life challenges. Over the years, the Schardein family’s 17-acre farm
had been a frequent hangout, and Ben’s friends were as close as extended family.

Those friends saw Ben’s faith lived out in real life.  

“Ben was the loving one,” said close family friend Karen McQuade. “He was the one who encouraged us as parents. He was a faithful friend, a gentle giant who loved kids, his
family and his friends.”

Mark Sarlls saw raw grief when he met with the family after Ben’s death.

“I can honestly say I have never seen so much emotional pain,” he said. “And to witness the strength that their faith gave them was inspiring. I hope someday I have that kind of
faith. I just pray it’s not tested in the way they were tested.”  

Before the funeral service, Lisa asked Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman to make “He makes beautiful things out of dust” the theme of Ben’s funeral and to include an invitation to follow Christ and be baptized.  

The Koiers and Schardeins asked Ben’s friends to come to the Schardein farm for a Bible study on Sunday nights. They started with the basics of sin, sacrifice and forgiveness.
As Rick saw that they were anxious to make decisions to follow Christ, he fast-forwarded to a lesson on baptism so each one would understand what it meant.  

The list of those wanting to be baptized grew each day as those who gathered at the study asked to be baptized on Ben’s twentieth birthday, Aug. 6. The Schardeins and Koiers
rejoiced in each one.

“We kept seeing them coming and coming and tears of gratitude for what God was doing poured down our faces,” Jeff said.  

Soon, there were 10. Ben’s brother, Spencer Schardein, an Air Force Academy graduate in pilot training, counseled with New Member Minister Don Waddell via Skype. Ben’s
sisters Amanda Koier Sayles and Sarah Schardein Burton also asked to be baptized.   

The group filled the baptistery on Saturday, Aug.6. Idleman told Ben’s story and how God was making something beautiful out of a tragic situation. Rick and Jeff baptized one
after another as Lisa and Teri watched from their seats in the sanctuary.  

Lisa said it was an incredible way to celebrate Ben’s birthday.

“I believe the angels threw Ben a heck of a birthday party,” she said.

Ben’s parents and stepparents knew Ben was loved, but they had no idea how much until they were surrounded by hundreds of his friends at the funeral home.  

Friends told stories of his faithfulness. Parents of his friends told Ben’s family how he stopped by just to talk with them.

Then there were the children.

“Ben had a real gift with children,” said Ben’s dad, Jeff Koier.

Some called him “gentle Ben.”

Going through school, Ben battled attention deficit disorder. Despite his challenges, he graduated from Trinity High School and went to Western Kentucky University. His real
love, though, was working on cars.

Ben liked to check in at home and rarely missed a family celebration. When he saw Jeff at Southeast, Ben was not ashamed to say, “I love you,” in front of his friends.

“I miss Ben like crazy,” his mom Lisa Schardein said. “Bad moments come, but the bottom line is I trust God through it, and I love how He is using Ben to change lives. I know
where Ben is, and I’m comforted with that. My concern now is all these young people who don’t’ know Jesus.”  

Two-part harmony

Step parenting is not always easy.

The Schardeins and Koiers chose early on to raise Ben together.  

Lisa Schardein, Ben’s mom, and Teri Koier, Ben’s stepmom, often went to parent teacher conferences together.

“That really messed people up,” Lisa said. They sat together at soccer games, sent each other Mother’s Day gifts and birthday gifts. One card Lisa sent Teri said, “Thank you for
taking care of my son.”

One night, when Ben wanted to go to a DC Talk concert with a friend, both couples went along on a double date.

Lisa and her husband, Rick, called themselves “Creastors,” going to church at Christmas and Easter, while Ben went to Southeast each week with Jeff and Teri.  

Life changed in 2007 when Teri invited Lisa to hear speaker and writer Liz Curtis Higgs at the fall kickoff for Women’s Ministry.

“That was it for me,” Lisa said. “I knew that was what Rick and I needed in our lives.”

The two couples mourn Ben’s death together, and together they lead the Bible study with Ben’s friends.

“We believe all that has happened is a beginning,” Lisa said.

From the beginning, the Schardeins and Koiers knew they would have to forgive 38-year-old Melissa Graham, the woman who crashed into Ben early on June 26.   

As details of the accident unfolded, Lisa sat down for an interview with WHAS-TV. She was nervous but prayed for the right words. The room was packed with Ben’s friends.

When asked about Graham, Lisa said that she already had forgiven her. She had been praying for days that forgiveness would be more than a word and awakened that
morning knowing she had no bitterness toward her.   

“I believe she had her demons,” Lisa said. “And I believe that God allowed it to happen, and we need to learn from it.”  

When asked what she wanted to come from Ben’s death, Lisa said, “I want to see every one of these kids get saved and be in heaven with Ben someday.”

Teri listened to the interview.

“I got the Holy Ghost goose bumps, ” she said.

Since Ben’s death, Lisa has gone to see many of Ben’s friends.

“You have a second chance,” she told them. “We won’t see Ben again here, but I want you to see him in heaven.”




    
 

Daybreak

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Casey Schraffenberger was  a “struggler” before taking Daybreak, an eight-week class designed to encourage and equip single moms.

“I loved going to Daybreak,” Schraffenberger, 25, said. “Each one in the group was different, but as single moms we deal with a lot of the same struggles.
At Daybreak we learned life skills like budgeting and parenting, how to forgive and practical life skills. One of the best times was hearing the testimonies
of other single moms.”

Daybreak Classes begin at the Blankenbaker Campus Sept. 22 and on the Indiana Campus Oct. 4.

They are free and include dinner and a program for children that builds self-confidence and coping skills.  

 Schraffenberger still keeps in touch with the Daybreak  encouragers who called her during the week: Jill Foust, Jill Frawley and Betsy Gengo, best
friends who volunteered together for Daybreak.  

At first, Foust signed up to help because the task was manageable. All she had to do was encourage the women at her table.

 “That was doable for me,” she said. “As encouragers, we do a lot of listening. Each single mom in the group is going through different stages. Some are
going through a divorce. Others have been single moms for a while and need some direction and support. Often there’s still a lot of hurt.”

Foust sees walls come down week by week during Daybreak.

“Many of the women are wounded when they come,” she said.

“But over the next couple of weeks, they begin to change," she added. "Soon they are giggling and helping each other, sharing deeper issues and connecting with the speakers. When women leave Daybreak, they know that they are not alone. Even more important, they know Jesus is the only one who can get them through the yuck. No boyfriend or windfall of funds can fix it like He can.”   

Vladyslava Glenn learned about Daybreak while browsing the Southeast website.

A single mom who grew up in Ukraine, she was looking for direction.

“I call eight sessions of Daybreak eight days of Jesus,” she said. “Imagine hands that take you from where you led yourself, to a place of
encouragement. Imagine eyes that choose not to look back in your past and words that comfort instead of condemn.”

Glenn said she loved the caring approach.

“I’m a baby in Christ,” she said. “Leaders at Daybreak taught, led and coached us. We learned how to pursue goals, how to manage finances and
remain pure in heart. It continues to be my daily blessing."

Encourager Betsy Gengo said Daybreak is a big blessing for her.

“Some of the girls we get to know haven’t experienced love in their entire lives except for guys who say they love them,” she said. “Some have never been
in church in their lives. They learn that Jesus loves them no matter what they do. We get to see real life change.”    

Gengo said she learns a lot through Daybreak speakers, who are different every night.

Most have been single parents and understand the challenges.  

“The speakers are phenomenal,” Frawley said. “They relate to the women. So do the women who give their testimonies.”

Since Southeast members Karen Aroh and Lori Bordas began Daybreak 18 years ago, more than 1,000 women have graduated from the program.

Many of the graduates return to serve as encouragers.

Rescuing children in Darfur

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What drives a successful businesswoman to quit her job and begin a ministry to orphans in the most dangerous places in the world?

Rescuing children brutalized by the sex trade was nowhere in Kimberly Smith’s life plan as she juggled family and career. Though she had reached the
top tier of the corporate ladder, success suddenly seemed empty as Smith realized that her game plan didn’t line up with God’s dream for her.

In an “aha” moment, she visualized her own funeral. Co-workers would attend, but they’d already be vying for her office. Her husband, Milton, and her six
children would be devastated, but they would find the strength to go on. Smith longed to invest time and energy into something of eternal value.

“I had a good life, but it wasn’t enough. Something essential was missing,” she said. “I longed to be part of something bigger than myself.”  

Smith told her story at the Adoption Summit at Southeast in May, describing her dangerous journey to violent hotbeds of the world to rescue women and
children who are caught in the sex trade.

“I tell my hard story because I want people to see how God’s heart is breaking for all believers so busy pursuing the American dream that we forget to
look at what God is dreaming,” she said.

In 2002, Smith quit her corporate job, and she and her family moved to Spain, where her husband’s ministry focused on reaching international students.
Smith was engaged but restless until she heard about a couple running a home for African immigrant children across the border in Portugal.

In a shanty with dank rooms and bowling-ball sized holes in the plywood roof, they found 19 children living with “Uncle Buster” and his wife. The
temperature inside the shanty was below freezing. All the children had horrible coughs. “Uncle Buster” asked for funds to feed and clothe the children.

So the Smiths bought food, medicine, clothes and building supplies to repair the home, but when the children asked Smith for some medicine to soothe
some sores, she realized that “Uncle Buster” was selling them as sex slaves.

Kimberly had found her mission.  

For the next two years, as the Smiths worked with the Portuguese government to rescue the children from their captors, they educated themselves about
human trafficking. Their classroom was the streets, sewers, desert and jungles in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as books and government reports.
But they learned even more by spending time with victims of trafficking.  

In 2003, the Smiths founded Make Way Partners, a nonprofit organization that reaches out to victims of human trafficking, those forced into prostitution
and other forms of modern-day slavery. They go to the most dangerous places where no other help is available because it is considered too dangerous,
too expensive or too remote.   

As they prayed about where to go in 2004, life for children in Darfur, Sudan, worsened as thousands were murdered by soldiers, and rape and sexual
slavery happened everywhere every day.   

Since Milton battles diabetes, Kimberly went to Darfur alone. There, she connected with tribal women, orphaned children, those who were starving and
those who had nowhere to stay. Deeper in Darfur, she saw mile after mile of refugees who were stringing up any pieceof cloth they could find to make a
scrap of shelter from the scorching sun. Most were sick and starving.

Kimberly Smith met Mary Achai, who was taken captive with her six children. Achai fled when she learned that her 10-year-old daughter was to be sold as
a sex slave, but her captor found her and her children hiding under a bush and set it on fire. Achai survived alone, though she was horribly burned.

One night, as Smith prayed and walked through a bush area in Darfur, a woman handed her a small wad of bloody rags. She pulled them back to find a
filthy, sick, newborn baby. Kimberly learned that the baby’s mother had been attacked by a rabid dog and died giving birth. According to folklore in this part
of Sudan, anyone who helps the newborn of a dead mother received a witch’s curse, so no one cared for the baby, which was left to die. She slowly
nursed the newborn back to health and named him Elijah after the Old Testament prophet.

Smith never was the same. She began raising funds to help the Marys and Elijahs she met in Sudan, Congo, Romania and Uganda. Whenever
possible, she began partnering with indigenous organizations already working in their own countries.  

Now, Make Way Partners cares for 550 children in Darfur where the organization has built a home, a clinic, a school, a church and a restoration ministry.
Make Way also is building an orphan care network throughout the country. Last year, they broke ground for a new orphanage near the border of Uganda
for orphans at high risk.

Smith asks believers to consider God’s heart for orphans, widows and vulnerable children.

“We must be willing to look at what is breaking God’s heart,” she said. “Then all of the other big questions in life will be clear.”

Smith has written a book, “Passport Through Darkness,” which tells her true story “of danger and second chances.”   

Finding peace in Christ

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Luke DeVries walked through the wilderness after turning his back on everything good in his life.

“I had the best family, the best examples,” he said. “But I didn’t care. I was throwing it away.”

His parents, Brad and Jennifer DeVries, felt their son slipping through their hands.

They did not know who he was becoming, who his friends were or where he was most of the time when he was away from home and not at school or
work.

They butted heads at every turn, and angry outbursts from both sides filled their once-peaceful home.

“If you went left, he wanted to turn right,” Brad said. “It was an issue of his heart and good old-fashioned rebellion.”

At age 16, Luke remembers going through the motions. He went to church with his family, but his heart was hard. His life was changing, and he didn’t
look to God to help him through it. In part, he faced discouragement over having to quit the football team because a spinal condition made it dangerous
for him to play.

He used drugs and ran around with a mischievous crowd.

“I didn’t walk by faith,” Luke said. “I didn’t have faith.”

The summer after his junior year in high school was a turning point for Luke.

“I told my dad I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing,” he said. “I wanted to go somewhere where there were no distractions.”

Not being able to help his son left Brad, the head and spiritual leader of his household and an elder in the church, feeling frustrated and helpless.  

“This is the one area where I was really broken. I felt at some level like a failure,” he said. “I desperately wanted to be successful in helping my son be a
godly man, and that wasn’t happening.”

Luke and his parents considered Narrow Gate, an intensive Christian discipleship experience for young men ages 18 to 25, as an option.

The wilderness life discovery experience helps participants find the answer to two of life’s most difficult questions: “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”

Luke, his twin sister, Lizzie, and Brad made the drive to Narrow Gate, which is located in Williamsport, Tenn.

Brad said that the moment he stepped out of the car, he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke remembers experiencing an overwhelming peace.

“God put Narrow Gate in Luke’s path. If he had gone to any high school his senior year, it would have been one pothole after another,” Brad said. “Narrow
Gate was exactly what God had in mind. God changed his heart through some other godly, imperfect men who shared what Luke was finally ready to
hear.”

Luke entered the program in January 2010. Just as the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert after His baptism, the program sent Luke and some other
young men into the wilderness for their own experience in the cold mountains of Tennessee. With a tent, a Bible and some food, Luke spent 35 days
learning to be content with the basics of life.

He engaged in Bible study and let his heart explore for the first time who God is, how to live in a personal relationship with Him and how to know that the
Bible is His authoritative Word.

He decided that he wanted to give God a chance after figuratively seeing people "raised from the dead, who had done a lot worse things than I had
done."

"If that can happen for them, what can the Lord do for me?” Luke wondered.

The next several months were spent in group study, outdoor adventures, working around Narrow Gate and learning to transition back into the world as he
prepared to graduate.

During his time at Narrow Gate, Luke became a follower of Christ and his life was transformed.

Now, more than a year later, Luke’s goal is to serve the Lord daily.

When Luke left the program, he felt called to move to Scottsboro, Ala., where his uncle, Greg DeVries, is pastor of The Rock Family Worship Center. Greg
runs an internship program for students who believe God is calling them into a preaching ministry.

Luke spent the latter part of 2010 and the first half of 2011 studying under his uncle’s direction and traveling around North America sharing the Gospel.

While he is home this summer, Luke is working as a lifeguard and groundskeeper at Country Lake Christian Retreat in Underwood, Ind.

He will head back to Alabama this fall for another nine-month internship in his uncle’s ministry, and he will study and seek what God has next for his life.

“Our son had made a profession of faith, but there was not a lot of evidence that he was following Jesus Christ,” Brad said. “All the way from January
2010 to today, the Lucas that we know is madly in love with Jesus Christ and longs to do nothing more than to serve Him.”

Luke went to Narrow Gate confused, doubting and rebellious, but he now wears a ring with a cross engraved to remind him of his covenant with Christ.
Jesus is not only his Savior, but his Lord.

“The Lord is not dead. He is not in a distant, far off land,” Luke said. “It’s such an awesome thing to see His work in the land of the living. This past
year-and-a-half has been the most crazy, unexpected, adventurous time in my life. This is everything that I want to do, and that only continues to
increase.”

Awaken Night of Worship

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

At the first Awaken Night of Worship on Sunday, July 31, the music was loud and strobe lights were bright.

At times, the beat of the music shook the floor as people between the ages of 12 and 30 worshiped together.

The group that packed The Block at Southeast's Blankenbaker Campus  included teenagers from junior high and high school at all three Southeast campuses, as well as young adults from
the Post.

Each group wore a different color wristband: red for junior high, blue for high school and green for those who attend the Post.

Abbey Bushnell, 13, said she loved reading the Bible verses on the screen about awakening a generation to live for God.

Words written in red, blue and green were read by the group wearing that color wristband.  

The theme of the night was “Awaken a Generation.”  

Denise Griffis, 14, who will help lead a C-Group next year, said the worship was amazing to watch,

“I loved the prayer moments when everyone huddled into small groups to pray for their generation,” she said. “That was really special.”   

Shelbi Draper, 18, said she hopes there will be more intergenerational nights of worship.

“It was cool to see three different groups coming together as a whole to worship in spirit and truth,” she said.

Cookson Hills

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sierra King, 17, wants to be president someday.

Not bad for a “Cookson Hills kid” who suffered horrific abuse and neglect while growing up.

She recites a litany of horrors in such a matter-of-fact voice that it seems they could not possibly belong to the charming, friendly, articulate teenager telling about them.

“I had one mom and 50 dads growing up,” she began. “I happened one night when my mom was 15 and my biological dad had too much to drink.”

She tells of days growing up without food, electricity or running water, and weeks when her mom was AWOL.

There were years when her mom was drinking and drugging and living with abusive boyfriends whom she said took advantage of her and her younger sister.

Being the U.S. president never crossed her mind those days. King focused on survival.  

Cookson Hills Christian Ministries became her lifeline in June 2010, a turning point for a kid who had nowhere else to turn.

For the fatherless
Cookson Hills is a new partner of U.S. Missions at Southeast. Several short-term mission teams already have served on the 1,000-acre campus in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in rural northeastern Oklahoma.

Last week, a team from Southeast worked in blistering 100-degree heat to build a meeting house for the ranch, refurbished and organized the store on campus and painted apartments.
They ate meals with Cookson kids and even challenged them to a volleyball faceoff.

Eugene DePorter, head of U.S. Missions at Southeast, said the partnership with Cookson Hills will allow the church to reach out to hurting children.   

An alternative to the government foster care system, Cookson Hills cares for about 100 children who live in a family setting with house parents whose job is their life ministry. There
always is a waiting list. Referrals come from churches and families.

Rick Bayless, the executive director, has a long history at the ranch. So does his wife, Melinda.

“When something happens to separate families, we want to be there to offer something of eternal value,” Rick said. “Restoring children and families in crisis to a life-changing
relationship with Jesus Christ is what we do. When children come in and instantly become part of a family that lives their faith out loud in front of the kids, lives change.”

According to Rick, it costs $280,000 to care for a child in the state foster care program. At Cookson, the cost is $28,000 per child per year. The ministry does not accept state or federal
funds.  

“I know how it feels … ”
As the Student Life Coach on campus, Melinda meets with every child coming into Cookson Hills.

“I am you,” she begins. “I know how it feels to be taken from your family, to live with people you have never seen before. When you feel like crying, come into my office, because I have lived
this life. I understand, but I will be harder on you than anyone here. I refuse to let you be a victim.”

Melinda arrived at Cookson as a 9-year-old.

Her mother died when she was 2 years old, and her father could not care for his seven children. He married seven times in seven years.  

People at a local church called Cookson Hills about the children. At first, Melinda hid food in her pockets in case she didn’t get another meal. For the first time she could remember, she
had people who cared for her and talked to her.

Rick Bayless moved to Cookson Hills in the eighth grade when his parents joined the staff. He and Melinda were high school sweethearts who married after a year at Ozark Christian
College. Over the years, they were foster parents to between 40 and 50 children in addition to their two biological children, Jared, now a physician and Matt Bayless, who is the worship
leader at The Post, Southeast’s ministry to twentysomethings.

Life at Cookson Hills is busy but orderly. Children attend school on campus where they progress at their own speed, receive counseling, participate in the equine therapy program and
attend one of four local churches in the area.

“When the Lord starts healing people, they take off,” Rick said. “We see real healing here.”   

Maybe president someday
Soon King will leave Cookson Hills for college. She’s thinking about being an English teacher if she doesn’t reach the White House.

“Now God is one of the biggest things in my life,” she said. “I gave up on Him when I was 13. I remember yelling at Him. I cried until I had nothing left. I had the feeling He was laughing at
me, figuring out ways to ruin my life.”

King considered suicide. She was tired of youth shelters and foster care, trying to fit in with her mom and dad, hoping for change that never seemed to come her way.

Cookson Hills changed that.    

“My (biological) dad brought me here in June, 2010,” King said. “I fell in love with it. My house parents made me feel good. I’m in a family where I have a mom and dad, brothers and
sisters. I know I’ll eat the next meal. No one hurts me physically, and I’m not neglected anymore.”

In perhaps the biggest change, King says “God is my best friend.”

“I rededicated myself to God last July,” she said. “It lit a fire in my heart. If I could take back anything, I’d take back the words I said to Him.”

Prison yard revival

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Danny Sams calls putting on a concert for inmates at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in La Grange “one of the best gigs in the city.”

On Saturday, July 23, a blistering day with the heat index near 100 degrees, hundreds of inmates in uniform khaki pants and shirts took seats in lawn chairs, on the grass or leaned on
the fence in the yard to hear Fourth Watch, a band with musicians from Southeast.

Chaplain Casey Heilman, who pastors more than 1,000 inmates at Luther Luckett, planned the event, lined up the musicians and asked Southeast’s Prison Ministry to provide hot dogs,
chips and lemonade.    

Musicians with Fourth Watch have been to the prison many times.

“We love going into the prison,” Sams said. “The guys there are so appreciative of anything we do, and it’s just fun to worship with them.”  

It’s familiar territory for volunteers such as Fourth Watch and Southeast members Bill and Beth Filiatreau, who have volunteered at the prison for 20 years.

The group gathered at the prison’s front desk long before the concert began, handed over their driver’s licenses, walked through the scanner and received yellow wrist bands that
identified them as visitors.  

Chaplain Heilman sat in the middle of the crowd. He said outreach behind prison walls is much the same as the churches he has pastored in other places.

In addition to outreach events, Heilman spends a great deal of time counseling, teaching Bible studies, leading daily worship and coordinating small groups such as Men’s Fraternity.

“Men behind bars are no different from the outside,” he said. “They need guidance, hope and encouragement. They want to be better husbands and fathers.”

Myron Parsons, who works in Heilman’s office, has been incarcerated for five years. He carried ice and containers of lemonade.  

“This outreach provides a chance to fellowship with guys in the yard,” he said. “We hope some will come to a Bible study or worship service.”

Parsons attends a Men’s Bible study group and goes to worship services at the chapel most every day.

“I fell by the wayside,” he said. “I repent of the things I’ve done. Now, anything I do, I have to pray about it. I always pray we can bring guys together. We are locked up for crime, but it can be
a time for guys to come to know Christ and establish a relationship with Him.”

Dustin Moore sat in the yard to listen to the music. He said the concert was a nice break from the routine.  

“I like it,” he said. “I may come back here.”

Steve Duncan watched the concert from the grass. He attends a Bible study during the week.

“When I came here, I cried out to God again,” he said. "My dream is to serve my time and be with my daughters and grandchildren again.”

Linville Cox said that seeing a group like Third Watch come in to give a concert is very meaningful.

“A lot of outside people forget about you when you’re incarcerated,” he said. “It means a lot that they come here. It helps us know we’re not forgotten, that we matter to someone.”

Fourth Watch played music from every genre to please an audience with a wide variety of music tastes. There were country songs, rap, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and worship praise
songs. The crowd clapped and cheered for each one.

As Southeast member Clinton Sims performed his signature song, “I’m Clean,” men in the audience echoed the theme, repeating the phrase “I’m Clean” with Sims. After singing two hip
hop sings, Chris Forehand told about his own “gangster, prison” days.

Forehand told the crowd how he began to write rap songs when he was 13, and opened for rap acts such as Master P, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Eight Ball, MJG, the late Notorious B.I.G.,
Heavy D, and UTFO. Although the money was good, Forehand discovered that he could make more money selling drugs.

He was shot in 1995 in a drug deal gone awry and spent almost three months in the hospital. He knew then that he needed to turn his life around, but rap and drugs kept him on the
streets.

After several run-ins with the law, he was convicted of dealing drugs, theft and being a persistent felon and sentenced to six years in prison. There, Forehand finally realized that the
calling on his life was truly from God and made a firm commitment to give his life to Christ.

He currently is an Associate Minister of the Mt. Sinai A.O.H. Church of God in Louisville.

“I was sitting in a cell in LaGrange,” Forehand told the crowd. “I was addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. That was what sin was doing to my life. Then I began to understand the Gospel
with a sober mind. He changed my life, and He’ll do the same for you.”

Southeast member Jon Renner said he loves playing for the crowd at Luther Luckett. He played drums for the concert and told the men gathered in the yard that there were few
differences between them.

“We’re all sinners,” he said. “It’s only by God’s grace that we’re here. In God’s eyes, all of us are sinners inside and out. We’re no better.”

Sams echoed the sentiment.

 “We see them singing along,” he said. “We see their faces. They’re a captive audience, but you don’t see it in faces or in their disposition. They worship God along with us.”

 

Preparing for an empty nest

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Rhonda Kletter cannot stop the tears from coming as she talks about how her youngest child is getting ready to leave home and go to college.

Kletter is thrilled for her daughter, Kristen Korfhage, 18, to have such an outstanding opportunity and would never dream of holding her back. She will be
a student at University of Kentucky this fall.

“I have always told my kids to take risks and live life with no regrets,” she said. “I want them to go after their dreams.”

At the same time, becoming an “empty nester” is one of life’s most difficult transitions for Kletter, whose son, Jared Korfhage, 24, also is on his own. He
graduated from U of L last year, and is getting married next year.

Kletter is one of millions of parents who deal with empty nest syndrome—feelings of sadness, depression or grief that parents or guardians experience
when their children leave home. It’s more common in women than in men.  

Kletter said she feels she didn’t always make the best decisions while raising her kids, but knows she cannot change anything in the past. She
continually asks herself, “Did I do enough right?”

As she looks at pictures of her children, she finds herself thinking thoughts such as, “I should have done this differently; I should have spent more time
with them or I should have gotten down on the floor and played with them more.”

“Take time to enjoy them,” she said. “It goes by in the blink of an eye, it seems.”

Kletter finds herself turning to God more and more for peace, comfort and assurance that He will watch over Kristen and Jared.

“They don’t need me,” she said. “They are God’s children, and He just loans them to us.”

Kletter grew up in church, but was taught that God was a punishing God. She avoided Him for a long time.

While going through a divorce 14 years ago, she began to pray and seek God during her healing process. She began attending Southeast in 2007,
discovered a loving God and came to know that He would never leave her.

“No matter what happens, He’s right there with me, holding my hand,” she said.

Kletter immediately talks to God when she feels overwhelmed. If she is sad, lonely, panicked or confused, she does her best to look to the Lord and ask
Him what she should do. The answer she gets is always the same.

“Be still and know that He is God,” she said. “I ask Jesus to hold me and help me through this 24 hours.”

To fill the hours that she once spent at home with her children or taking them to activities, Kletter has turned to volunteering.

She helps with the Kentucky Humane Society, the Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center, Lifehouse and the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen.

 

Paper found at Oldham Campus

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In January 2010, Oldham Campus Pastor Kurt Sauder stood with a small group in the vacant Winn Dixie grocery story in the Crestwood Station shopping plaza.

Electrical wires hung from ceiling tiles. Cement floors were littered with bits of drywall damaged from stripping the room of grocery store shelving. Bare
wires hung from light fixtures. The giant room looked more like a vacant warehouse than the future Sanctuary of a church. But it never was about the
building.

Sauder and that small group prayed as they walked through the former store.

“Like Joshua in the Old Testament, we circled the whole area and prayed, ‘God, starting this new campus is all about You. Would You change lives?
Would You do more than we ask or imagine?'”

As they walked through the building, Kurt’s wife, Kristen, noticed a paper stuck in a small hole in the wall. She reached in and pulled out a copy of The
Kentucky Christian News, dated March 1996. The headline on a section front said in big, bold letters, “Southeast Keeps Growing and Growing.”

The article by Deborah Joyce Williams-Smith began, “If the original people had foreseen in 1962 that the church they were attending would grow to
become 10,000 people, they would have been shaking their heads in disbelief. It continued with a quote by now-Senior Minister, Dave Stone: “The main
reason we have grown is the Lord is blessing this church—this is the first and foremost reason.”

A sidebar in that same newspaper was, “Seven Reasons Why I Love a Big Church” by then-Senior Minister Bob Russell.

No one knows who put that paper in the wall, and certainly at that time no one would have imagined that the Winn-Dixie store eventually would close and
be replaced by a Southeast campus. But Sauder, who knew opening the Oldham Campus would involve all kinds of challenges, felt that God used the
article to remind them that He has a plan.

The article further talked about the fact that Southeast has grown because the focus is Jesus.

That focus hasn’t changed in 15 years since the article was printed.

On Easter Sunday, 2009, Southeast opened a regional campus in Indiana. Less than two years later, the Oldham Campus was opened.

“It was as if God was telling us that He has a plan to move in Oldham, Trimble, Jefferson and Shelby Counties,” Sauder said. “We’re seeing Him do that
now.”

On launch day, Jan. 16, 2011, the former grocery store was packed with 2,700 people who attended two services. By the time worship services began,
every chair was filled and people stood along the back and side walls. There were 1,000 more attendees than anticipated.

True to the headline of the paper printed 15 years ago, Southeast “keeps growing and growing.”

Growth at the Oldham Campus meant adding two more worship services and training additional volunteers. Informal surveys showed that the church
was meeting needs for the 30 percent in the neighborhood who did not attend a church.

“We don’t do church to make us feel good,” Sauder told attendees at worship services on June 19. “We do church because there are lots of people who
don’t know Jesus.”

Growth at the campus has been much quicker than anticipated.

“Average weekend attendance is about 2,200,” Sauder said. “In the last six months, there have been more than 140 decisions for Christ, and it’s been
exciting to see what God is doing.”

In the first six months, a Saturday morning Men’s Bible Study has started, Women’s Ministry has kicked off and youth meet each week. Groups huddle to
pray between services and people linger to connect with others long after services end.

“At times, I have to ask myself why I’m surprised,” Sauder said. “We’ve prayed that God would bring people to us. That’s exactly what He’s done.”  

On Aug. 21, the Café will open at the Oldham Campus so people can enjoy a cup of coffee and pray, encourage and serve one another.

Sauder believes the campus is moving into yet another chapter.

“If we continue to ask great things of God, He will do more than we ask or imagine,” he said.

New preschool ministry leader

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Kristy Greene’s “sweet spot” is the nursery suites at Southeast.  

As the new nursery director at the Blankenbaker Campus, Greene believes a biblical worldview is shaped at an early age, and preschoolers can learn
eternal truths.

“There are three simple truths I want to plant in the hearts and minds of every little one,” Greene said. “God made me, God loves me and Jesus wants to
be my forever friend.”

Her goal in nursery ministry is to mentor young parents, provide a network of support for families and mold the hearts of children.

If they seem like lofty goals, Greene believes they are attainable.

“This job reignites what has always been on my heart,” Greene said. “My goal is to go beyond church walls to minister and encourage families at
Southeast to live abundantly for Christ in their everyday lives. I genuinely want to come alongside little ones and their families and offer the hope and
help that only Jesus can give us all.”

Greene joined the staff in February.

“I love coming to work every day,” she said. “I love the staff and the volunteers. One of our goals in this ministry is to show others what a godly family
looks, sounds and feels like. The sweet families that come through our doors every weekend need to experience a warm, friendly and encouraging
environment. It is our desire to create a living picture of a loving family that has a solid, biblical foundation.”  

While some people call themselves multi-talented, Greene calls herself “multi-twanged.”

Growing up in a Christian home in Georgia, she acquired a soft, southern accent.

Even then she was drawn to the little church members.

In college, she veered from her love of children for a time to get a degree in hotel and restaurant administration.

Greene now calls the few years she worked in hotels “tweaking time” when God turned her back toward preschoolers.

After college, Greene added yet another accent when she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to earn a master’s degree in Children’s Ministry at Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary.

Since then, Greene has worked with young children in ministry, been a stay-at-home mom to three sons and returned to preschool ministry at Christian
Academy of Louisville after the family moved to Louisville in August 2010.

Greene’s husband, Loren, is a government accountant.

Their oldest son now is in middle school, and their twin sons are in the fourth grade at Christian Academy of Louisville, where Greene was the lead
teacher in the preschool.

They already knew about Southeast, met staff in Leadership Conferences and settled in at the church soon after moving to Louisville.

“I love what I do every day,” Greene said. “I love the sweet moments of Family Dedication when we get one-on-one time with individual families. Every
parent who comes in here desires to do the right thing. We want to encourage them and be encouraged by them.”

Greene has goals for the ministry, including a discipleship ministry for moms and dads that will be led by couples who already have raised their
children.

She plans for the ministry to provide more encouragement and practical hands-on suggestions to mold the heart of a child.

“Every child is a unique gift from God,” Greene said. “You can mold a child’s heart from the get-go, speak truth from the Lord into the lives of parents,
encourage and mentor, and families will be different.”

Into India

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On the last day of a pastor’s conference in India, elders from Southeast hid buckets of water and washcloths under tablecloths. They prayed about how to close out their time with Caleb Premanandam and the 25 pastors in Harvest Ministries who reach out in 10,465 villages in the Telangana District.

At the end of their final night meeting, the elders pulled the pans of water out from under the tables and began to wash the pastors’ feet. Some pastors cried. Others prayed.

When they were finished, for the next two hours, each person at the conference shared their story.

In spite of opposition, in the past 15 years, these Indian pastors have started 70 small groups, seven churches and baptized more than 11,000 people.
They live on meager funds in the villages where they evangelize.

Some have been beaten and threatened as they go from village to village on bicycle.

When a pastor was doused with acid and killed, it only strengthened their resolve. The dedication to evangelism shown by Harvest Ministries' pastors is
humbling, said Southeast Elder Gary Ottman.    

That week, elders and pastors at the conference visited outreach ministries together. They saw women learning how to sew on machines donated by
Southeast. Once they graduate from the program, these women can support their families and repay the loan to purchase their sewing machine so
funds are available for the next  group.  

Elder John Schmitt, a business owner in Kentucky and Indiana, said the microenterprise model has worked well.    

“There, a woman can make enough money to make the payment on their home or buy food for the children,” he said. “That means so much when they
are the only ones supporting their families, and the program is self-sustaining as women pay back their loans. Southeast has made a tremendous
investment in the ministry there.”

Hope with HIV
That same day, the group went to another outreach of Harvest Ministries—an  HIV Clinic where patients receive medical care, support and help with food and medicine.  

Though the clinic is for both men and women, Ottman said only women came for treatment while the elders were there.

 “Caleb told us the men are either dead or have fled,” Ottman said.  

Many of the women who come to the clinic are confined to one room of the family home. They are only allowed to leave for clinic appointments.   

The group also visited a school, where 350 children live and learn. None would be able to attend school without sponsorships through Harvest
Ministries.  Many have no parents, and  others come from single-parent homes, where the mother is HIV-positive.

As the elders prepared to leave on June 30, Premanandam agreed to take in another 30 children. Eighteen of them had no sponsors.

Schmitt said the Harvest model of ministry is unique.  

“Being in India changed my perspective of what we do in the U.S.,” Schmitt said. “We open our doors and expect people to show up. There, the pastors
went out into the community to show the love of Christ.”

In India 80.5 percent of the people are Hindu, 13.4 percent follow Islam and just 2.3 percent say they are Christians.

“Those who follow the Hindu religion have a thousand gods to appease,” said Southeast Elder Phil Flora. They work hard to be good enough, offer the
right sacrifices and pray to the right god. The only way they will see the difference in Christianity is to see it lived out.”

Flora saw lessons in the way Harvest Ministries' pastors reached out into the community with medical, dental and HIV clinics.  

“We have everything anyone could want at Southeast,” he said. “All people have to do is come. The problem is, not everyone comes to us. We must go to
them. It’s what the apostles did, and it’s what Jesus did. He went to the woman at the well and to people’s homes. We will follow His example to take
ministry to the community. We will not neglect what we’re doing in the Sanctuary and within our walls, but we can reach out to the lost in our community.”

Pastors in India go into dangerous, difficult places to save people for eternity. They are creating house fellowships, training leaders and starting
outreach ministries that teach life skills, Ottman said.

An eternal investment
Outreach has a high priority at Southeast, where 16 ½ cents of every dollar go into the missions budget to support and empower ministries locally, in the
United States and around the world.

That 16 ½ cents is a great kingdom investment, Schmitt said.

“I believe God blesses our church because we are blessing others,” he said. "Places like India are key to reaching unreached people groups. One-sixth
of the people on the planet live in India, where only 2.6 percent of the population is Christian. There’s so much we can do there.”

The elders encouraged pastors in the conference as they shared lessons on leadership and faith.

In many ways, it was hard for the elders to leave.

Ottman said one purpose of the trip was to see firsthand the work being done in India.

“We saw our investment in Harvest Ministries multiply many times,” he said. “And we learned from the pastors there. We hope we were able to
encourage them.”

Trystan Magnuson keeps trek to the big leagues in perspective

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Trystan Magnuson keeps baseball in perspective. A member of Southeast who is active in Bible studies at the Post, his path to the big leagues has not been easy or typical. At Manual High
School, Magnuson was cut from the baseball team twice, finally pitching in his senior year.

He earned an academic scholarship for mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville and walked on to the baseball team. For a time, he was No. 15 of 15 on the depth chart, but
Magnuson persevered. He worked on mechanics, listened to Coach McDonnell and focused on fundamentals.

Toward the end of Magnuson’s college career, he was closing for the Cardinals as an ace reliever who helped the team get to the College World Series. When Magnuson graduated, he was
ranked fourth in the school’s history with a 3.97 career ERA (earned run average).

He was drafted 56th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft and began making his way through the minor leagues. In December 2010, he was traded to the Oakland A’s with Danny Farquhar for big league outfielder Rajai Davis and put on the 40-Man Roster. It was one more step to the big leagues.

In May 2011, he was called up to the majors. A week later, he was sent back to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. At the end of June, he was called up again for three more days in the big
leagues.

Major League Baseball is a wild ride.

“I’ve been praying recently that I remember why I’m here,” Magnuson said. “Good baseball players come and go. The turnover is incredible. My purpose for baseball is for those times I’m
signing cards for fans and they ask about the verse I write down, what it means to me, what Jesus has done for me. It is for those times I get to serve my teammates. It is for those times I get
to go to speaking engagements and talk to people I’ve never met before. Maybe, just maybe, they might get the briefest glimpse of a heart that in some small way demonstrates the heart of
God, and they will praise Him because there is something different about this guy that can’t be anything other than that.”


Q. What’s been the hardest part of working your way to major league baseball?
A. Not having an established role has been tough.
At the beginning of the season, I was closing in Triple-A. Obviously, being called up to the major leagues changed that a bit. A Triple A pitcher will not step in and assume a late-inning role right off the bat. So, being a middle guy or a long relief guy in one place and different somewhere else is difficult. Not being settled in either place is tough, too.

Q. How difficult is it to stay grounded amid the pressure of being on the road?
A. I think one of the most difficult things about being in the baseball world is the slippery slope toward being deceived about what is important. As the 152 days of the season (not including the month and a half of spring training) wears on, it is a lot of time spent in an atmosphere of materialism, selfishness and lust. Slowly but surely, the whispers of “Did God really say ... ?” happen, like Satan asks Eve in the Garden of Eden. It comes in many forms—from thinking about vehicle choices, to gadgets, time and girls. Realizing that this world is going to try to deceive you about what you’re worth, what is important and what is fun is so important because nothing satisfies except Christ.

Q. Do you attend chapels/Bible studies?
A. Yes, we have chapel every Sunday because we play every Sunday at 1 p.m. We also have had a Bible study going this year. It has been great to get into the Word with my teammates. We have been doing a study called the top ten struggles for professional athletes, and it has been a blast. Our prayer is that in our short time in Bible study we don’t just learn about God, but we get to know Him personally. What a blessing.

Q. Who inspires you?
A. I have role models in baseball players like Mariano Rivera, who is an awesome role model for Christian ball players. Guys like Josh Hamilton for his honesty.

Q. You’re already one in a million, living every kid’s dream. What are the top takeaways of all this for you?
A. I think one of the coolest things has been hanging out with all these guys I’ve watched on TV and realizing they are just people like me—who enjoy normal things and have ups and downs like everyone else. I remember being in big league spring training this year for the first time and getting to face Ichiro, a future hall of famer. Getting to pitch against these guys, the best baseball players in the world, is such a blast.

Q. What advice would you give a ballplayer who aspires to follow in your footsteps?
A. In the baseball world, it is so important to make adjustments and improve. When you stop improving, that’s when you’re on your way out. You are going to lose, but if you make adjustments to improve, you’re going to win more than you’ll lose. In my career, I have always been improving, even this year, and I believe that is the only reason I am where I am right now.
In life, it is so important to realize that baseball and success, even making it to the big leagues, will not make you happy or satisfied. There are tons of guys in my position and higher who are unhappy, bitter and searching for happiness because they thought they could find it in money, relationships or success, but it ends up being brief and unsatisfying.

You can follow Trystan Magnuson on Facebook. Sign onto the group, Trystan Magnuson updates.

Divine support

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In Sudan, they call Debbie Stone “the spider killer.” She’s the one grown men three times her size called to take care of the African-sized “beasts.” She is the Southeast
mission team member who totes a baby on each hip and the short one others often overlook when she is in a group of teenagers. She stands less than 5 feet, but
don’t be mistaken. “Little Debbie” is a giant.

At Southeast, her name is on a list of the volunteers who stay with ministries long after initial outreach ends.

When potent chemotherapy to kill her stage 4 ovarian cancer is over this fall, she plans to take another mission trip to Africa, finish her degree to teach Math to at-risk
kids in Louisville and go back to serving in the community.

For this 50-year-old in perpetual motion, cancer came as a shock.

She looked at a hysterectomy and what doctors thought was a hernia repair last March as a temporary inconvenience, a quick fix so she could get back to traveling and
holding babies, jogging and finishing her college degree. The doctor assured her that she had less than a 1 percent chance that it was cancer.

But “routine” surgery last March 21 showed that her case was in that 1 percent.

Stone took the bad news in stride.   

“When they told me about the cancer, I knew two things,” Stone said. “I had to be strong for my kids, and second, that I am in the Lord’s hands. Whether He chooses to
heal me here or in eternity, I win.”

Southeast member and close friend Candy Konkler was with Stone in those first few weeks after surgery. They began using a saying they had learned through the
death of Konkler’s mother a few years ago: “It is what it is. Now what are you going to do about it?”

“From day one, Debbie’s attitude has been to praise the Lord that He chose her to walk this road for His purpose,” Konkler said.

Stone seriously considered quitting the six-month regimen after her first chemotherapy treatment.

She is on a three-week cycle that puts her in the hospital for 32 hours on a bed that is flipped up, down and around to move the chemo into her bones. Afterward, she
cannot walk, has no strength and has to deal with pain and nausea. For weeks afterward, she is too sick to eat or drink. Stone has learned to savor the three or four
good days she feels decent before the next onslaught.

Her three grown children convinced her to persevere.

Stone told friends and family that if she was going to continue treatment, she needed prayer.

“It’s great to have people praying for you,” she said. “But I need people praying with me—like when Moses was praying for the Israelites doing battle. I need them to
help hold my arms up to get through this.”

Stone prayed for one more thing.

“I asked the Lord that if He wanted me to go through this and bring people closer to Him, I needed my smile,” she said. “He’s been faithful to do that. I prayed if God
chose to keep me here that He would help me do my best to live a life pleasing to Him.”

When Stone goes to the doctor or the lab for tests, the hospital or pharmacy, people often say, “I love it when you come. You encourage us so much.”

Jason Dilday has been on several mission trips with Stone.

“Debbie was an inspiration before cancer,” he said. “It’s easy to see Christ in her words and actions. In the midst of this, Debbie has fallen back on prayer, and she’s
using this as an opportunity to point others to Christ.”

Stone packs her three or four good days each month. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and gets together with friends and family, who have organized a
bowling fundraiser on July 23 at King Pin bowling lanes to help Stone with medical bills.

As a lifelong giver, it’s been hard for Stone to learn to accept help, but she already has a payback plan in mind.

“My prayer is like Hezekiah’s prayer in the Old Testament,” Stone said. “That God will give me 15 years to serve Him and others.”

SECC members who have redefined the word

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The word “retirement” is not in the Bible.

In fact, white hair is a crown, the aged are revered and those in the second half of life are called into service.

Anna the prophetess served at 84 (Luke 2:37). Titus 2 lays out a busy agenda for older men and women to guide and teach the younger generation, and the psalmist prays, “And now when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not leave me; until I have declared your strength to this generation and your power to everyone who is to
come (Psalm 71:18).”

Yet in America, many view retirement as time to kick back, relax, abandon the stress of everyday work and whittle away at a bucket list of things to do. Everyone has seen commercials with sun-splashed golf courses, cruise ships and carefree retirement communities.

But is that really paradise? Is there a biblical perspective of the “golden years?”

When Consumer Reports surveyed 24,000 of their readers, they found that retirees are happiest when they have enough funds, good health and meaningful activities. Those who failed to invest newfound time and energy in something that mattered were restless and discontent.

The truth is that God’s plan will keep us busy until we die.

Each person in this series retired to something, instead of just from something. In the process, they discovered a new sense of purpose for this season of life.

Bob Russell
'I didn’t want to retire to a life of self-indulgence, but a life of service.'

When Bob Russell retired as senior minister at Southeast after 40 years, leading a congregation that grew from about 150 people who met in the basement of a house to more than 20,000, the transition could have been difficult. He was used to preaching, leading, mentoring and working through packed days.

Any lingering doubts about the next step were erased by an unusual encounter at a Washington, D.C. church.

Three or four months before retirement in June 2006, Russell was the guest preacher at a church he’d never been to before. After the second service, he introduced himself to one of the administrators, and the conversation turned to retirement.

“How old are you?” the man asked.

When Russell said he was 62, the administrator said, “I guess this letter is for you.”

The administrator explained that a woman he had never met approached him after the first service. She said she had been awakened in the middle of the night with a message from the Lord that she was supposed to give to someone 62 years old. She didn’t know anyone that age, so she told the administrator what happened and
gave him the note.

Russell said the message “made the hair on the back of my arms stand up.”

It said to get ready for another assignment that “will involve all your gifts and experiences, to get ready for what God will do in your life.”  ..

It’s a good description of what happened once he left as senior minister at Southeast.

“I didn’t want to retire to a life of self-indulgence, but to a life of service,” Russell said. “I wanted to take on a different role and continue to make a genuine contribution.”

Since retiring, Russell has established Bob Russell Ministries, has preached more than he did at Southeast, speaks at leadership conferences, teaches DVD Bible study series and mentors young pastors in retreats called “A Time of Refreshing.”

That is impacting the next generation of preachers who need encouragement and mentoring.

Russell said retirement has been rewarding and meaningful.

“I wake up every day with plenty to do,” Russell said. “I don’t have the kind of pressure as before, and now I enjoy everything I do.”

For someone planning for retirement, Russell said it would be wise to use interests and gifts, to stay involved and keep your mind active.

“Retirement can be a change of pace, but everyone needs something meaningful to do,” he said.

Nina Brown
“I want to be of service to the church and to the Lord.”

Nina Brown is a little miffed that cancer is eating into her busy schedule.

At 91, she has no plans to slow down.

“I’ve been kind of busy,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I want to be of service to the church and to the Lord.”

According to her children, Brown has been in church most every week of her life. She always has been involved in Bible studies, led service projects and been the president of the board of directors of King’s Daughters and Sons nursing home. Residents were like family. Brown washed hair, helped with therapy, mentored and
encouraged.

Her family has no idea how many children passed through the house as they were growing up. They were friends, orphans and street kids. Her late husband often brought home kids who played in the alley behind his car lot.

“Mom would clean them up, give them new clothes and take them out to our grandparent’s farm for the weekend,” said her daughter, Southeast member Joann Ridge. “Our home was always the place everyone could come to receive unconditional love and acceptance. She brought us up to love one another and the people around
us.”

Brown hopes to get back on her feet soon and have renewed energy to continue her volunteer activities.

“No one wants to just sit around,” she said. “Being involved in what God is doing is exciting and rewarding.”

Bob Speas
“I don’t think God wants us to sit around and get fat.”

When the church is quiet and few people are around, Bob Speas gathers his carpet clipping tools and gets to work.

For years, he has clipped ravels in the carpet at Southeast. He gets down on his hands and knees to clip the little pieces in seams and doorways that can damage the carpet or, even worse, trip someone coming into or leaving the church. Those in maintenance say it has saved the church thousands of dollars in carpet
maintenance costs.

Few know what Speas does at Southeast. That’s the way he likes it.

“I try to come when no one I around,” Speas said. “People think I’m nuts crawling around on the carpet, but I love doing it. It’s a pleasure to do something for the church.”

Speas retired from his job as an elevator mechanic in 1992. His life changed drastically after surgery to remove his esophagus.

“I was a Christian, but I didn’t have a lot of faith,” Speas said. “When I was diagnosed, I knew I could go two ways—booze or faith. I was too much of a Christian to choose anything but turning to God.”

Speas spent a week in intensive care. No one knew if he’d survive.

His prayer was short and to the point: “It’s up to You, God.”

Speas survived and loves to serve behind the scenes.

One night, when he was clipping carpet at Southeast, a preacher came through the atrium and asked what he was doing on his hands and knees. Speas explained that he was clipping carpet.  

“Didn’t know that carpet grew,” the preacher quipped.

Speas said retirement has been a blessing. He has more time with his wife and to work on his classic cars.

“I know for sure God spared my life,” he said. “My volunteer service is a small thing. I love to be busy. I don’t think God wants us to sit around and get fat.”

John Foster
“I want to finish strong.”

John Foster enjoys a good game of golf, but when he retired in 1989 at age 57, he knew that he didn’t want to play golf every day.

“Before I retired, I had already decided to work just as hard as I did as the sales manager for Proctor & Gamble, only for a different Master,” he said. “I don’t think people want to sit on the front porch in a rocking chair and gaze out on what’s happening. It’s not the vision for people who belong to the Lord. Psalm 92:14 says, ’they will
still bear fruit in old age.’ That’s the goal.”  

Foster was chairman of the board of elders at Southeast when he retired.

He began raising cattle on his farm as he looked for what God wanted him to do next. In the beginning, Foster said he said “yes” to too many things that didn’t fit his interest or gifts.

He took on a huge “next” when he agreed to be the administrator at Southeast for $1 a year. Foster enjoyed the challenge and continued in that role for two and a half years.

Foster is still busy, working with Bob Russell Ministries, teaching pastors how to work with elders.

“I would advise anyone approaching retirement to find balance and something productive to do with their time and resources,” he said. “Several short-term mission trips opened my eyes to the needs out there. It’s a blessing to be part of meeting those needs. I believe retirement is the time to finish strong.”

Barney Long
“Early retirement allowed me to serve the Lord.”

Barney Long retired in 1986 when he was just 45, two years after selling the company he built. He had become a Christian just two years earlier.

“Early retirement allowed me to be able to do what I felt called to do—to serve the Lord,” Long said. “I played some golf and traveled, but began praying about where the Lord wanted me to invest time, resources and energy.”

Long got involved in Young Life, a ministry that reaches kids with the Gospel, the Christian Businessmen’s Association evangelistic events, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Cabbage Patch Settlement, a ministry to children in the Louisville area.

“I think the key to meaningful retirement is not to (just) sit,” Long said. “God never retired. Why should we? Retirement isn’t for sitting back and counting your blessings or looking at your laurels. It’s time to ask the Lord to lead you to where He wants you to be and to what He wants you to do. Over a period of time, He has led me into
a lot of mentoring young guys in and outside church.”

Long mentors a lot of younger people who face issues with their marriages, careers and discovering God’s will for their lives.

Ed Roby
Biggest decision he ever made

When people walk forward at the end of the 11:15 a.m. Sunday worship service, they might talk with Ed Roby, who has served as a Decision Guide at the Blankenbaker Campus for about 15 years.

Roby was impressed with the personwho helped lead him to Christ when he walked forward to join Southeast 18 years ago. It was a conversation he never has forgotten.

He had come to the service at the invitation of a friend who knew he had been searching for truth in his life.

About three years after joining, Roby decided to become a Decision Guide so he could help others in their search for truth.

At the time, Roby was employed at Beltone, where he worked for 19 years before retiring. He then worked as a driving instructor.

Now, 78-year-old Roby is completely retired from his professional endeavors, but he continues to serve as a Decision Guide.   

“It’s just about my life,” he said. “When I turned my life over to Jesus Christ, I wanted to get more involved in volunteering,” Roby said. “Helping people to learn about the Lord is the best thing about the whole thing.”

Jack and Paula McLarney
"We are so grateful to Him."

Jack and Paula McLarney love meeting people from all over the world. No, they aren’t world travelers. They are Southeast tour guides.

They help groups and individuals that come into the Welcome Center at the Blankenbaker Campus during the week to find out more about Southeast. Some of them are just passing by, while others are national or international travelers.

“That’s where I get the most fun,” said Paula, who enjoys telling visitors all about the place that means so much to her and Jack.

Jack, 77, worked in the automobile sales industry from 1972 until he retired in 1995. Paula, 74, worked in customer service for a federal printing company. The two married in 1993 and started volunteering at events such as the Adoption Summit, the Easter Pageant and Leadership Conference.

Jack also serves communion on Sundays during the 9 a.m. service and serves backside workers in the chapel at Churchill Downs about twice a month.

The couple also facilitates a Bible study in their home.

“Bob Russell asked for three hours in the church: One on Sunday morning, one hour of service and one hour of Bible study either in home or in church,” Jack said. He took that to heart and found that it was easy to serve more, especially since the couple is retired.

For Jack and Paula, service to the Lord in their retirement is spurred on by one thing.

“God has done so much for us here,” Paula said. “And we are so grateful to Him.”

Paul Gohmann
"It’s a privilege to serve."

Paul Gohmann knows what it is to trust in the Lord with all of his heart and lean not on his own understanding (Prov. 3:5).

He used to recite that verse every morning as he headed out to sell real estate during his 35-year career. Although, he keeps his real estate license current, he doesn’t do much home or property selling anymore.  

He spends his time talking with people about the Lord and praying with them as a Minister on Call. For several hours each Friday morning to early afternoon, Gohmann stations himself at the Welcome Center, ready for that next visitor that walks in the door, or the next voice on the other end of the telephone line.

Some need temporary assistance, and others just need to talk or pray.

“I pray with everyone,” said Gohmann. “I don’t think of myself as a minister, but as far as the Gospel is concerned, we are all ministers.”

Gohmann, 79, also facilitates an in-home Bible study group on the first and third Mondays of each month.

“It’s a privilege to serve,” he said. “By the grace of God there I go. We do what we are called to do.”

Dr. Robert & Debra Schroering
“I will do what … will have eternal significance.”

Dr. Robert Schroering thought he would go into the mission field when he was a lot younger. “But it seemed like the door was closed quite often,” he said. “I’ve been anxious to go for years.”

Now, at age 50, doors are swinging wide open, and he knows the time is right.

Schroering retired from his dental practice on June 9 and he, his wife, Debra, and their six children hope to be somewhere in Asia by fall. Schroering has traveled on more than 20 mission trips, during which he trained nationals in dentistry. He hopes to do similar work in his retirement.

His priority, however, will be sharing the Gospel with as many people as he can.

“For me it is about spreading God’s Word and seeing people come to Christ,” he said. “Jesus said, ‘Go, and make disciples of all nations.’ The most important thing He wanted people to know were His last words. We can do that much more significantly with those who haven’t had the opportunity to know that there is a God who loves and cares about them.”

In his dental implant business, Schroering traveled back and forth to Moscow every three months for about 10 years. It touched his heart to see children in the streets and learn that there were 1.5 million orphans in the country. So, he and Debra adopted their Russian children Hannah, 9, John Paul, 8, Joshua, 6, Bo, 4, Christina, 3,
and Abigail, 2.

Schroering enjoyed the work he did in dentistry.

“I’ll miss it in a way, but in many ways, I will do what is more meaningful and more fulfilling and something that will have an eternal significance to me,” he said. “We have eternity to spend in heaven. If we’re only here for a short while, I think we need to make it count.”

Grass-cutting volunteers

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Daryl Rollins rides a zero-turn mower at Southeast’s Blankenbaker Campus three days a month.

Cutting grass around the ball fields takes about three hours.

In spite of the drone of the mower, Rollins calls it “quiet time.”

A pilot for UPS, Rollins has volunteered to help in outdoor maintenance for about six years.

If he’s flying, another pilot friend, Dave Giddings, rides the mower around the ball fields for him.

“I like to cut grass,” Rollins said. “I figured it was one way to help out at church.”

Dick Sorrell also cuts grass at Southeast. He answered the call for more volunteers at the Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study a few months ago.

“Mowing is a lot of fun. Rick Razor is good at pulling me out of the ditch if I get stuck,” he said with a laugh.

Razor, who coordinates outdoor maintenance at Southeast, said that mowing volunteers save Southeast about $60,000 a year. Right now, there are about 35 volunteers,
who mow from once a week to once a month. More volunteers are needed to fill gaps in the mowing schedule.

Those volunteers are gold to the outdoor maintenance team. It takes about 100 man hours to cut the 40 acres of grass that must be cut on the campus each week. In
addition to mowers, volunteers can plant flowers or adopt a spot on campus that they keep free of weeds.

“Our volunteers are so faithful,” Razor said. “They have demanding jobs and families, but they serve the church behind the scenes.”

Volunteers are all ages and from all walks of life: pilots, business owners, retirees and homemakers.

Training is provided, and Razor said that he can “put everybody on every skill level to work.”

Southeast helps Everyday Church reach NYC

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Alex Blanco, 5, held a tennis racket in his hands for the first time at the Everyday Kids Tennis Camp at Inwood Park in upper Manhattan, New York on June 10. The
camp, put on by a short-term mission team from Southeast, is an outreach of a new church plant in New York City.

It is an outreach to this urban community where Jesus is brand new, where ideas about religion are shaped by TV evangelists, skits on shows such as "Saturday Night
Live" and preachers who shout about sin and salvation through megaphones on street corners.

Alex’s mom heard about the camp at the new Everyday Church, which meets in nearby apartments. The new church plant near Manhattan already has grown to 30-plus
adults and 12 to 15 children.

Chris Travis, the lead pastor at Everyday Church, calls the tennis camp a “gift” to the community.

High-rise apartments frame tennis and basketball courts at Inwood Park. In this community of working families, most people live in apartments, travel by train, shop at
small open-air markets and take a break to walk in the park.

Outreach is something new.

The majority of those who live in Manhattan do not go to church. The Everyday Church planting team that includes Chris Travis, his wife, Lindsey, Larry and Wendy
Bennett and interns Matt Mueller and Nathan Winstead, is determined to break stereotypes by loving, serving and building relationships.

The tennis camp is one of many outreach events in the community.

Making a racket
“Teams coming to serve remind us that we’re not alone,” Chris said. “When teams come in to serve the community and do things we could not do alone, it makes a big
difference.”

More than 30 children from a wide variety of backgrounds come to the tennis camp. Most, like Alex, are touching a tennis racket for the first time. In this community,
there are few backyards or gyms, so Inwood Park is the place to be for teens playing pickup games of basketball, for people walking their dogs or for older couples
sitting side by side on park benches across from ball fields.

The team from Southeast includes tennis players and instructors who understand how to coach and teach: Bob Strong and his son, Tyler; Jeff Mallory and his
daughters, Lindsey and Emily; Jim Dunn, Kim Baker, Carol Lutz, Larry Riley and Eugene DePorter, who leads U.S. Missions at Southeast.

The first hour was a little rough, with lots of flying tennis balls littering the fence line. Instructors saw a few “home runs” and a lot of missiles. But by the 60-minute mark,
tennis balls were sailing over the net with the pong of a ball well hit.

People perched behind the fence along the sidewalk to watch the camp. Through the fence, some asked about the camp, the words Everyday Kidz on the T-shirts and
Everyday Church.

At the 5 p.m. break, 8-year-old Lorraine asked Wendy Bennett if they were going to play more tennis.

When Wendy said yes, Lorraine grinned and said, “Great! Thank you!”

Another player said, “I love tennis because I’m so good at it.”

Corina Merkel, who just moved from Germany, said she forced her son to try the tennis camp when she heard about it at the children’s school.

An hour after the clinic began, he ran up to her.

“Mom, I love it! This is great,” he said.

An urban mission field
There is no doubt that New York City is a mission field. Only 3 percent of the 20 million people in the New York City area go to church. In this large metropolitan area,
which is larger than the combined populations of Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, thousands never hear the Gospel.  

In 2008, Chris and Lindsey moved to New York City from their home in Cincinnati. Then on the staff at Life Spring Christian Church, they said they felt God’s call for
years to move out into a church planting venture. During their first two years in New York City, Chris taught middle school in Harlem while Lindsey began working as an
actress on Broadway.

Planting Everyday Church has been far different from what they expected.

 “Our fears coming into this area were that many have not had a great experience with the church. We knew it would take time to build trust and relationships. We’ve
been surprised by how quickly it has happened. And we’re finding they’re open to faith,” Chris said.

They named it Everyday Church to echo their purpose in planting the church.

“We need more concern about how the church lives and acts every day than what happens on Sunday,” Chris said. “We are everyday people serving an extraordinary
God. And we’re interested in reaching everyday people. We dream of a church that shows kindness, loves, accepts, serves and lives the Gospel. We want to be people
who don’t just go to church, but are the church every day.”

By the end of the first day of tennis camp, kids were able to play the game. Parents watching from the sidelines cheered for their children, and people watched from the
fence.

That is the point of the outreach. Build relationships. Serve the community. Reflect the love of Jesus.  

Strong said he’d go back tomorrow.

And Alex? He said he’s ready for a game of tennis.

Dudley Rutherford

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Senior Minister Dave Stone said the church is in for a treat when Dudley Rutherford, senior minister of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Granada Hills, Calif., preaches during
weekend services  at the Blankenbaker Campus June 25 and 26.

“Dudley and I have been friends for a couple of decades,” Stone said. “He is one of the most inspirational preachers you will hear. He has helped build an exciting
congregation in the Los Angeles area with about 10,000 members. One of the things that stands out about his church is it is one of the most ethnically diverse
congregations I’ve ever been to. Somehow through God’s blessing and intentionality, they have been able to do a great job of reaching all cultures of people.”

Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman was on staff at Rutherford’s church before helping establish Real Life Church, a Los Angeles church plant of Shepherd of the
Hills.

“I was 21 years old when Dudley called and asked if I would help plant a church in Los Angeles,” Idleman said. “I moved to California not knowing anything. Dudley believed
in me and that was a huge encouragement. His bold preaching and commitment to God’s Word was a great influence on me. God has used him in some unique and
incredible ways, and I know that will be true when he preaches here.”

In 10 years, Shepherd of the Hills grew from a congregation of about 350 people to more than 10,000 people with 20 different worship services each weekend at four
daughter churches and four satellite campuses.

Preaching is a Rutherford family tradition, handed down from one generation to another.
Dudley Rutherford’s father was a preacher. So was his grandfather. His call to preaching happened after one of his father’s sermons. Rutherford describes it as “God grabbing hold of my heart.”

When he walked forward during the invitation, Rutherford’s dad was a bit puzzled. From his perch on the platform, it appeared that Rutherford had not been paying attention.

“Why did you come forward today?” he asked.

“I want to dedicate my life to being a preacher,” Rutherford said.

It has been his mission in life ever since.

Rutherford graduated from Ozark Christian College and earned a master’s degree in Church Growth from Hope International University and an honorary Doctor of Divinity
from St. Charles University.

Now he delivers sermons at weekend church services and through television, radio and Internet ministries.

He also speaks to professional sports teams and was the featured chapel speaker for the World Series.

Rutherford is the founder of CallOnJesus.com, an Internet ministry, as well as DreamofDestiny.org, a ministry designed to encourage ethnic diversity within churches.

His church is known for creativity and innovation in reaching the unchurched.

“Los Angeles is one of the most difficult areas of the country to start a church,” Rutherford said. “There are millions of things for people to do on any given weekend. They can
go to Disneyland one weekend and snowboard the next, take a short ride to Vegas or San Francisco. All kinds of activities compete with church. However, what we do have is
a lot of lost people who are hurting and have messed up lives. So as we find ways to minister to them, care for their needs and be a blessing to those who are hurting and lift
up Jesus and boldly preach the truth of God’s Word, I believe so many people will come that we’ll have to find a place to seat them all.”

Besides being a popular preacher, Rutherford is an author and the president of the North American Christian Convention this year.

He also has edited a new book, “Unleashed,” that has a chapter written by Stone.

It is based on Acts, when the church has an impact on the world by changing the culture from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the Earth. The book will be
available at all three campuses.

As the president of the North American Christian Convention July 5-8 this year, Rutherford chose the theme, “Unleashed,” which focuses on the incredible reach of the first-
century church in Acts.

Stone said Rutherford has pulled together “quite a lineup of speakers for the convention.

“The convention is just an hour and a half from Louisville, so I hope that many of our members will be able to attend for an evening, a day or the entire week.”
 

Devotion in motion

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dressed in jeans, a cowboy hat, lariat and shiny black tap shoes, David Siewert dances to the syncopated rhythms of songs such as “Elvira” and “Steppin Out.”

Six years after a stroke paralyzed his left side, it is difficult to find any residual damage.

He can heel toe, skip, ball tap, touch, stomp and brush.

His grin smiles back through the full wall of mirrors in front of him at the studio. He has come a long way.

But his progress has not been instantaneous. It’s been closer to one step at a time.

David met Southeast member JoAnn Fryrear when she choreographed dance routines for an over-60 group that performs. His left leg dragged as he walked and he had
trouble with balance, but he wanted to be part of the program.

Fryrear told Siewert that dance therapy might help him regain some mobility.

In the last 30 years, she has worked with special-needs children, those who are blind and deaf, little ones with cerebral palsy and those who had never stepped onto a
dance floor. Helping someone regain motion five years after a stroke was a new challenge.

Fryrear was a bit surprised when David said, “Let’s do it.”

And so it began.

David and his wife, Karen, began going to the JoAnn Fryrear School of Dance twice a week for tap lessons. In the beginning, Karen stood on David’s right and Fryrear stood
on his left as they worked out along the bar that runs the length of the studio. David didn’t put on tap shoes for a month, but in time, he danced to the music.

JoAnn called his progress “super exciting” and said studies are being done to see how simple dance moves can plow new pathways to the brain. She said God has
blessed the studio and calls what happens there “devotion in motion.”

JoAnn’s husband Ray, the pastoral minister at Southeast, has seen it happen.

“What happens at the studio is ministry,” he said. “If you go to a recital, you’ll see all kinds of people with all kinds of issues from all kinds of places. It’s a place of healing.
JoAnn put a photo of the international children she works with at Louisville's He Visto la Luz church in the lobby with an inscription that says, "As for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord." That’s what she does at the studio.”

David knows that dance has worked miracles in his life.

He no longer drags his left leg.

In fact, now he and Karen dance at nursing homes where David also plays his guitar and sings favorite songs.

His single goal in life is to encourage others. He had always wanted to sing and play the guitar someday. After surviving the stroke and heart attack, David knew his
“someday” had arrived.

He bought a used guitar and took seven lessons. At first, David could barely get a finger on the right string, but with tedious practice and determination, he began to play
hymns and personal favorites.

And he began to sing.

“I guess my personal favorite is ‘Precious Lord, Take My Hand,’” he said. “That’s what I believe the Lord has done with me. He’s taken my hands to do His will. Until then, I
didn’t realize that when you bring smiles to other people, you get 10 times the joy back.”

Since giving a surprise recital for his physician, Dr. Kerri Remmel, he also performs for nurses who work with stroke patients.

Last week at a recital at the dance school, a little girl about 10 years old, approached David and said, “I hope when I get old I can dance like you.”

David loves the compliment, and at 68, he has no plans to stop dancing or singing.

Neither does JoAnn.

“We have a lot of fun and have seen some amazing things happen here,” she said. “It’s been a real joy to see David’s progress. I love teaching dance, and I really love
seeing it change people’s lives like this.”

Beautiful things

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Take a deep breath. Be quiet before God. Listen to Him. Speak to Him and reflect on the truth of His Word.

That’s what the June 26 Night of Worship at the Blankenbaker Campus is all about.

“The beauty of Night of Worship is that we get a chance to sit back a while and refocus,” said Worship Leader Brian Sites. “We have so many different elements packed into
worship services, and that’s good. At Night of Worship, this is the destination. We don’t have to hurry this.”

The theme is “Beautiful Things.”

“That night we’ll celebrate God’s promise that He is making all things new,” Sites said. “God takes broken, dirty, unlovable people and makes us new. Everyone needs a

Savior, a Redeemer. That’s what God is busy doing—making things new.”

Night of Worship packs some surprises—a video and some creative elements never tried before.

Kendall Rutledge, who sings with the worship team, said the night is about far more than music, videos and neat lighting.

“It’s almost indescribable what these nights of worship end up becoming,” she said. “You go into the planning process bathed in prayer, asking God to take over. It would
make very little sense for us to try and piece together an evening of worship and then as an afterthought ask God to show up. We might end up with some nice elements, but
that’s not what our church is about. The message we want to communicate is an eternal one. We want people to know that God wants a relationship with each one of us and
that He can redeem anything.”

As she has sung on the platform during previous Night of Worship events, Rutledge has seen tears streaming down faces, arms stretched out, people worshiping and
praying together. And it’s clear that God is at work.

Misty Yates, preschool worship ministry assistant at Southeast, doesn’t miss a Night of Worship service.

“I was emotionally and physically wiped out after a crazy, busy week when I planned to meet friends for Night of Worship,” Yates said. “One by one, for various reasons like
sickness and car issues and surprise visitors, they all cancelled on me. I found myself walking in by myself to sit in Section 103.”

At first, it was hard to concentrate on worship instead of the “cool set up, the stage, the tower of stuff,” Yates said. She prayed that God would overwhelm her with His love.

It happened as she saw one of the preschoolers she works with in Children’s Ministry “rocking out on the drums completely and totally worshiping Jesus.”

The verse on the screen, All Your Words are true, was the verse she was studying with the children in worship.

“Nights of Worship are the best,” Yates said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Focused on a solution

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Heather Colbert believes in the “worth of one.”

It drove her to move to the Dominican Republic to work with orphans after college, to a four-month tour of the worst sex trafficking countries in the world and it is taking her
back to the Dominican to work with women caught in sex trafficking, prostitution and sex tourism.

Colbert, 24, has learned that they often are invisible, but they are everywhere.

Colbert has talked with victims of the sex trade in India, Cambodia, Thailand, the Dominican Republic and Atlanta and seen firsthand the transformation that happens when
people reach out to them.

Her path back to the Dominican Republic to work with women is not yet crystal clear, although she hopes to return there this fall. She is not naive: the problem is huge and
the solutions are not simple.

But Colbert also believes that whatever she does, it will be worth it for those whose lives are changed.

Hope in the Dominican Republic

Colbert said she has never traveled a “normal” path, but it’s one she wouldn’t trade.

For 18 months, she lived at two different orphanages. One is home to 43 girls and boys, and the other is home to 22 boys.

“They are my family now and always will be,” she said. “I can’t wait to watch them grow up and see where the Lord takes them.”

She believes the Dominican Republic will be her home forever.

“My goal is to live out the Gospel in the Dominican and bring restoration to the Dominican people,” she said. “I am passionate about women and seeing them released from
the bondage of prostitution, sex trafficking, sex tourism and abusive homes.”

On a much lighter side, Colbert also is obsessed with coffee, Chai tea, road trips, maps, Spanish and hearing people’s stories.

She has sat with women in villages in the Dominican Republic to hear their stories. Prostitution is accepted there.

According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of Dominican women working overseas in the sex trade is the fourth highest, following Thailand, Brazil
and the Philippines. The number of Dominican sex workers currently abroad is estimated to be more than 50,000 women.


“Women in the Dominican Republic resort to prostitution to support their families,” Colbert said. “The No. 1 reason they go into prostitution is poverty. It is difficult to care for
their children or parents when they cannot get jobs. In that culture, women are not educated or valued.”

The country has high poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, teenage mother and fatherless family rates. The government does not fully comply with minimum standards set forth in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report, which is published by the U.S. State Department.

In spring 2010, Colbert felt that God was calling her to stay in the Dominican Republic and work with women coming out of sex trafficking, abusive homes and prostitution.

Her goal is to show them the love of Christ and the new life that comes from that love. She believes that God makes all things new.

Seeing the problem firsthand

Last January, Colbert went on a four-month trip called “The World Race Trafficking Edition” with 32 other people to learn about sex trafficking around the world. The tour is
designed for people interested in ministry in the areas of human trafficking, prostitution, sex trafficking and sex tourism. Teams spent four months living in community with
other people who share the same interests, doing ministry related to trafficking, learning and gaining wisdom from organizations already fighting this battle.

She spent the first month in Cambodia, where the team worked with ministries that mentor, counsel and disciple girls who are victims of sexual abuse.

The second month, the team went to Thailand, where bars and clubs lined the streets.

They took prayer walks through difficult areas where it was easy to be overwhelmed by the problems.

“We met incredible people in ministries there, and God is doing amazing things,” Colbert said. “We saw how one street that used to be the worst place for bars and clubs
now has reputable businesses. We saw outreach in bars and clubs where people go in and build relationships. Life change began as people invested in women, talked
with them and spent time with them. You can’t go in and share about the love of Christ without relationship.”

The team heard stories from women coming out of the lifestyle and worked with ministries devoted to providing jobs and sharing the truth of the Gospel.

“The women we met who have come out of the bars and clubs are extremely passionate about going back into the bars to share their stories,” Colbert said. “They are

incredibly grateful for those who reached out to them and want to do the same for others. They inspire me with their lives and their commitment.”

Colbert saw the value of friendship as she followed ministry leaders into the clubs.

“One night we went out with one of the women leading a restoration ministry,” Colbert said. “She’d been there three or four years, and we could see how much everyone
loves and respects her. They know she loves them and they trust her. They know they could call anytime and she would answer.”

In India, Colbert worked in slums.

“I was so impressed with the people,” Colbert said. “They are joyful in spite of everything. The women there love and care for one another. They love their families, each other
and us, as well.”

Colbert said her month in Atlanta was the most eye-opening.

“Atlanta is close to home,” she said. “But the sex industry is in our backyards. It is affecting so many women and children. To talk with these women changes your
perspective. You see that they are searching for hope.”

Colbert carries pictures of women she met around the world who have been transformed by the love of Christ.

She said she learned that cycles can be broken and that there is hope.

“People invested in me,” she said. “My prayer is that I can invest in one woman. If we have the power of Christ in us, nothing is too big for Him. While walking in Thailand one
day, I realized that I could have been born in that country. I could have been trafficked like the women I met. I would hope someone would fight for me.”
 

Sermon prompts teen to create soccer league

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

As 14-year-old Amanda Otten listened to Senior Minister Dave Stone’s sermon, she knew that just listening wasn’t enough.

That weekend, almost a year ago, Stone preached about the importance of investing in youth and gave some staggering statistics on the high percentage of

teenagers who walk away from church and their faith. To illustrate what that looked like, he pointed to a large section of the Sanctuary that would be missing in
action if the trend continued.

It was hard to imagine that kind of loss, and Amanda began to brainstorm ideas to change the statistics.  

She had attended Southeast with her mother, Nancy Otten, and 11-year-old brother, Ben, since 2004. Bible classes and sports quickly became an important part
of their lives. Amanda played soccer, softball and volleyball and volunteered in the preschool chapel. She watched Ben’s baseball games with her mom.

Wanting to reach her friends for Christ, Amanda often asks them to spend the night at her house and go to church the next morning.  

“I look at it as a way to get my friends involved at Southeast,” Amanda said. “Teenagers tend to get into trouble, but a lot of my friends are open to coming to
church.”

Through the years, she also invited those who enjoy sports to sign up for a team where they meet other teenagers and coaches who model the Christian
lifestyle.

But as Amanda reached her teenage years, there were fewer opportunities to be involved in recreational leagues at Southeast. The church didn’t offer a soccer
program for teens 14 and older. In fact, Amanda found that there were few recreational sports leagues in the city.

She surveyed friends to see how many would be interested in playing in a soccer league for teens between the ages of 14 and 16.

“I have a big imagination,” Amanda said. “I thought creating something for teenagers to do might be one solution to get them involved in church.”

Amanda wrote a proposal for the new soccer league and sent it to Neal Gossett, who directs the Sports and Fitness Ministry at the Blankenbaker Campus, and
to John O’Neal, the Youth Sports Ministry Assistant.

They took Amanda’s proposal seriously. The Premier soccer league will begin in the fall.

As they checked with youth leaders and teens coming to the Sports and Fitness Center, Gossett and O’Neal found about 30 teenagers who were interested in
playing soccer and decided to form the new league.

Amanda, who waited about 10 months for a definitive answer to her proposal, said she screamed when she heard that her idea will become a reality. She
already is adding to the long list of friends she plans to invite.

Best friends baptized together

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When Riggs Hardy, 9, wanted to be baptized, he talked it over with his mom and dad, Danielle and Jeremy Hardy.

“That’s wonderful, buddy,” they said. “Do you understand what that means?”

Riggs knew.

“It means I believe that Jesus is my Savior, that He died for my sins and I’m going to have Him in my heart forever,” Riggs said. “I believe it today, and I’ll believe it
my whole life.”

During Sunday school at Southeast’s Oldham Campus, Riggs talked with his best friend, Colin Schaffner, about his decision.

Nine-year-old Colin also had talked with his parents, Nathan and Mandy Schaffner, and close family friend, Scott Long, a former professional football player now
with Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Louisville. Colin understood the commitment and asked to be baptized at the same time as his best friend, Riggs.

It seemed only right since the boys do most everything together.

The two families have a long history.

Riggs and Colin are best friends, but so are their fathers, Jeremy Hardy and Nathan Schaffner. Their late grandfathers, Randy Schaffner and Dale Hardy, also
were best friends.

The three-generation best-friend saga began as both grandfathers were growing up in Louisville. Their friendship endured through high school and continued
into adulthood. When they married, their wives became best friends, too.

The two families went on vacations and celebrated birthdays and holidays together.

Both couples had sons about the same time. Since the families remained close, Nathan Schaffner and Jeremy Hardy became best friends as they grew up.
They even enjoyed wearing identical Superman pajamas.

When the Schaffners moved to Texas for a job, the Hardy family followed within a year.

Living near their best friends played a huge part in the family’s decision to move.

Five years later, the Hardys moved back to Louisville, but the two families continued to travel back and forth to be part of family events such as weddings,
birthdays and anniversaries.

Both Jeremy Hardy and Nathan Schaffner went to college in Kentucky, married their college sweethearts and settled in Oldham County. They live just a block
away from one another.

As might seem likely for these two families, both had sons about the same time.  

Danielle Hardy said the two boys are as close as brothers.

“I’ve never seen two boys so close,” she said. “They stay in touch much of the time, check to see how a baseball game went, swim together in the pool, and they often stay over at each other’s houses.”

On May 22, the two boys were baptized together at the Oldham Campus. In the back, before the baptism, they played the game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to
determine which one would go into the baptistry first. Colin won the game.

Both grandmothers were in the Sanctuary, along with extended family and friends. As the service ended, Colin and Riggs gave each other a high-five.

Colin said that being baptized together means a lot.

“It was really cool,” he said. “It means we both believe in God and that He sent Jesus to die for our sins because He loves us so much.”

Colin would like to play professional basketball when he grows up. Riggs said he wants to be a preacher one day. Both hope to continue the ties between the
two families that have been forged over three generations.

“A lot of it began with the grandfathers,” Danielle said of the strong bond and strong faith that the families share. “They lived their Christian lives out every day.
They were the patriarchs of our families, and we try to continue the things that they taught us.”

Hope for Manhood

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Some might say Southeast member Jason Jackson is overqualified to coach a basketball team made up of urban teenagers. While living in California, he
coached high school teams and later a college team at California State University Stanislaus, which has a student body of more than 8,000.

But after moving to Louisville, joining Southeast and reading a story in The Outlook about a new outreach program with Youth for Christ, created for high school
athletes, Jackson decided coaching urban kids was the perfect serving opportunity for him.

“Coaching is my spiritual gift,” he said. “I volunteered and have been with City Life ever since. This is a chance to pour into these kids. What I’ve learned is these
kids deserve everything they get. It’s also a gut check for me. These kids hold me accountable. Eighteen eyes watch most everything I do. Coaching them is a
privilege.”

On the weekend of June 3 through 6, City Life coaches took 25 players to Country Lake Christian Retreat in Underwood, Ind., for a Hope for Manhood retreat.
Though their teams are chalking up victories in tournaments around the region, what they do week after week is about far more than basketball.

Basketball is a tool to share Christ.

Changing direction
Malik Carr reeled in a basket of bluegill as he explained how he became part of a City Life team. He heard about tryouts for the traveling team while playing a
pickup game of basketball at the Americana Apartments in South Louisville. He went to the tryout with his friend and was chosen for one of five teams.

Being part of City Life has been life-changing.

“I love playing basketball,” he said. “But it’s not just about the basketball. These coaches are forming us into good Christian men so we can grow up, live our
lives and teach our kids in the same way.”

Carr lives with his dad near Shawnee Park and attends St. Xavier High School, where he plays forward on the basketball team and tight end on the football team.
He was baptized last year and attends St. Stephen Church in West Louisville.

“City Life has given me good coaches like Chris Harper and Coach Jason Jackson who teach us how to live,” he said. “It’s hard when other kids are messing
with jails and stuff and you’re trying to read your Bible and form better relationships with people.”

Carr’s dream is to go to law school after college.

At Country Lake, players camped in wigwams, put on a basketball slam-dunking exhibition for a visiting 4-H group, went swimming and talked with coaches
while milling around bonfires. They heard testimonies from professional athletes and urban hip-hop performers, and they took classes in wilderness survival
and sexual purity.

For many of the teens at the retreat, it was a whole new world.

Targeting leaders
For many of the players, coaches are the only father figures in their lives.

Athletes in the program are 99 percent unchurched and attend public high schools such as Shawnee, Iroquois and Southern. They are natural leaders, and 99
percent play on their high school basketball or football teams.

The main goal of the program is to influence leaders for Christ so they can go back and share their faith with teammates. The discipleship plan is to “influence
the influencers.”

There are five teams with between 12 and 15 players on each team. Three teams travel to tournaments in cities such as Nashville and Indianapolis every other
weekend and also play in local leagues. When playing out of town, teams attend churches in the cities they visit, and players pray before games. Practices
always include devotions.
 

It’s Dad’s day

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Each child came with a phone call.

Mark Chaddic was working with autistic children at Churchill Park School when he agreed to be a foster dad. By then, he had been divorced a long time, and his
daughter was mostly grown. During the day, Chaddic worked with kids, but the house was quiet at night.

At first, he cared for 17- to 18-year-olds who needed a temporary home as they aged out of the system. But one day in 2004, he answered a call about a
7-year-old boy living at Ten Broeck Hospital in Louisville. Chaddic agreed to give him a place to stay for the night. Jack, now 15 years old, became the first boy
Chaddic adopted.

Jack remembers settling into the foster home that became permanent.

“Before Dad came to get me, it was the same thing every day,” Jack said. “Wake up. Go to school. Come back. Watch a movie. Go to bed. Every once in a while,

Having a dad was a whole new concept for Jack.

“Every Friday, after he came home from work, we would do something just for fun,” Jack said. “We would go to Chuck E. Cheese or to the mall or a movie. I
wasn’t used to that. I was used to staying with 12 to 20 different kids.”

Chaddic adopted Jack seven months after that first visit. He said that they chose each other.

Two years later, Chaddic’s phone rang with another need. This time, it was about a 7-year-old boy living at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home. He talked it over with
Jack before saying yes.

“I’d been thinking before that call that I would like to have a brother,” Jack said.

The two went together to St. Joseph’s to meet Craig, who moved in with them soon after that first visit.

Craig often talked about his 11-year-old brother, T.J., who was living with another foster family. Chaddic found him in northern Kentucky and began picking him
up for weekend visits.

On Sept. 28, 2006, Chaddic adopted both Craig and T.J.

“It’s been amazing to know I can never be moved,” T.J. said. “I’m permanently here. Before that, nothing was permanent in my life. I was taken away from my
mom the day after my seventh birthday. That was the beginning of foster care for me.”

Now, Jack is 15, T.J. is 16 and Craig is 13.

Chaddic said the boys bonded with him quickly, but it took time to work with them on trust, hygiene, reading, homework and taking responsibility. He’s the only
dad any of the boys have ever known. The house runs on a structured schedule with time set aside for homework and reading from 3 to 5:30 p.m. every day. The
boys learn to help out at home, serve at church and help one another.

There are no excuses for missing family dinner at night.

“That’s the time we talk,” Chaddic said. “We often go around the table so each one can talk about the best and hardest parts of their day. And sometimes I ask
them to tell three nice things about each other.”

The boys have come a long way in seven years.

“These kids are smart,” Chaddic said. “Some couldn’t read when they came. Now they’re getting the highest scores on achievement tests. Jack plays the
trumpet, French horn and mellophone. T.J. is a great cook, and he loves to serve at church. They’re all loving, wonderful kids. I couldn’t ask for better sons.”

Family time together might include a game of basketball on the driveway, a cookout or a sporting activity. Over the years, Chaddic has built an extensive home
library with used books. Now all three boys love to read.

They have big dreams. Jack isn’t sure exactly what he will study in college, but he is considering several careers. T.J. wants to be a chef, and Craig wants to be
an Air Force pilot.

They joined Southeast as a family on April 4, 2010. That day, Chaddic was baptized, then turned around and baptized the three boys.

T.J. said he loves coming to church.

“We all usher, volunteered every night during the Easter Pageant and Momentum,” he said. “We learned that we could cover a lot of the auditorium when we
worked together. I love serving at church. I wish we could do more.”

A few weeks ago, Chaddic answered another call. Corey, a 10-year-old living in a foster home in Waddy, Ky., needed a home. The whole family piled in the car to
get him.

Corey already is on track to become a Chaddic.

T.J. said having a dad means he has a father figure who will be there no matter what.

Corey says his new dad “helps me brush my teeth and he plays basketball with me.”

Chaddic said building his family through foster care, then adoption has been pretty amazing.

“I didn’t just go out and say to these boys that they should come and be my sons,” he said. “We chose each other. We formed this wonderful group, weather
bumps in the road together and have a lot of fun. “If I didn’t have these kids, I’d be lonely and bored.”

Celebrations are big at the Chaddic house. Each boy in the family celebrates three birthdays a year: the day he was born, the day he was adopted and his
spiritual birthday—the day he decided to follow Christ and be baptized. With four sons that’s a lot of celebrations, but no one is complaining.

Chaddic does not see himself as a “hero dad.”

“My ministry is to love and serve these kids,” he said. “There is a big need for families to foster and adopt children who are 10 years old and up. All it requires is
patience and grace. These kids will make a ton of mistakes you wouldn’t even imagine because you didn’t raise them from babies, but the rewards are
amazing.”

Chaddic said that he wants to retire to a condo in Florida someday, but he doesn't know when that will happen.

What he does know is his family dynamics could change with the next phone call from an agency seeking to place another foster child.
 

Servant of God

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dr. Florence Muindi was one of 20 children born to one of her father’s two wives. Growing up in Kenya, she had one dress and—sometimes—a pair of shoes. She hauled water, bathed in a river and shared a bed with two sisters. Because school was one of the best things in her life, Muindi studied at night by kerosene light to
earn good grades.    

It seems like a harsh history, but Muindi loves her past. It formed her future.

“All of it was preparation for what God wanted me to do,” Muindi said. “These experiences molded my heart to be sensitive to the needs of the poor.”

Muindi is the founder and executive director of Life in Abundance, Southeast’s partner in Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and Kenya.

Her love for those who struggle shows up in Life in Abundance’s outreach projects such as medical clinics for those who never have seen a doctor, work with
vulnerable children and orphans, outreach programs where the church cares for those who have AIDS and in microenterprise projects that enable fathers and
mothers to care for their families.

In 18 years, Life in Abundance has become a model for ministry across the globe, empowering local churches to transform their own communities.

Those who work with Muindi on mission trips simply call her “Dr. Florence.”

Growing up, Muindi’s dream was to become a nurse. At home, Muindi’s parents taught her about Jesus. With 20 children, there never was much extra food in the house, but Muindi said they never went hungry. She watched her mother cook meals over an open fire in the yard and wash laundry in the river.

Though Muindi couldn’t go to school one year because her father couldn’t pay the fees, her parents believed in her and encouraged her to reach much farther than her
dreams. It might be why she sees possibility in people whom others dismiss.

“Who would have thought I was a possibility?” she said. “We all are made in the image of God. Everybody is a possibility.”

Muindi’s personal encounter with Christ during a revival at school changed her life.

“Everything looked different,” she said. “When I went to draw water from the river, I saw my poor neighbor’s house through different eyes. I began to see people in
need and look for ways to help them.”

When Muindi asked to be baptized at her church, leaders told her it was not possible because of her “family situation.” Muindi’s father had been relieved of his duties
at church when he took a second wife, but a year later, church leaders reconsidered and allowed Muindi to be baptized. As is custom in her culture, Muindi adopted a
“Christian” name when she was baptized. She chose the name Florence, which means prosperous, to signify her new life in Christ.

High scores on national exams allowed Muindi to go to medical school, which was far beyond her dreams. In college, she met her husband Festus, who has a
doctorate in missions with an emphasis on leadership development.

He now works with church-based microenterprise businesses.

As a newlywed, Mundi was the medical officer in charge of health in a women’s prison. That was a training ground, as she worked with women who had murdered,
stolen from others, used drugs, fallen into prostitution, dealt with HIV/AIDS and raised newborn babies in prison.

At that point, she believed God began speaking to her about starting a Christian health organization that would work through local churches. The organization was
built on John 10:10: “ ... that they may have life and have it in abundance.” Nine years later, that organization, Life in Abundance, was legally incorporated.

Today, Life in Abundance works in seven countries in Northeast Africa. More than 100 communities have been trained and empowered to care for their own needs.
Thousands have been trained to make a living in skill-development programs, more than 1,200 orphans are in special programs run by local churches and more than
20,000 youth have been in sexual health programs.

All Muindi’s brothers and sisters know Christ and are involved in a relationship with Him. Eight of them are in full-time ministry. Her mother is a strong prayer warrior  who prays for her children, grandchildren, members of her church and Life in Abundance.

Muindi’s organization continues to expand into difficult countries.

“We meet so many who are waiting for good news,” Muindi said. “Many are wondering ‘what else?’ They’ve seen that the ideal of their religion falls short. They’ve lost
hope and are desperate for good news. Churches want to do something, but are not sure how to change their own communities. That’s where God allows us to help.
We fail by not going to them.”

Muindi has been in dangerous places, and she is prepared to lay down her life, but she said she believes she will continue to live “until God is done with me.”

Muindi believes the partnership between Life in Abundance and Southeast works well.

“We can think through options together,” Muindi said. “We can be truthful. We even have the freedom to fail. It’s a trust relationship. They know us, and we are not
ashamed to be known by them. They are like family.”

International Outreach leader Dr. Charlie Vittitow met Muindi on a 2002 short-term mission trip to Afghanistan. They have been ministry co-workers ever since.

“Dr. Florence has taught me to look at our approach to missions in new ways,” he said. “So many at Southeast know her as a leader, a dynamic strategist and
appreciate her heart for God.  I learn from Dr. Florence.”

Following God’s plan

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Clinton Sims rarely misses a friendly pickup game of basketball before dawn on Wednesday and Friday mornings at Southeast. Good-natured banter is part of the competition as players call their own fouls and keep score.

Few who see him on the court dunking and snagging the ball know that he also is an artist who creates oil paintings of horses, that he is a Christian rapper or that he
runs a successful swimming pool cleaning business.

Sims, 34, has played basketball since he was a kid growing up in the projects near Paris, Ky. He and his brother, Alvin Sims, were standouts in high school and
caught the eye of college recruiters. In time, Clinton shot up to 6-foot-3, with a 7-foot wingspan from fingertip to fingertip.

Through high school, Clinton specialized in sports and art—a rare combination for most athletes.

His love for horses grew out of the bus ride to school that he took each day from the projects. Along the route, he saw Thoroughbreds grazing in well-manicured
pastures. He began sketching them in art class.

“I just loved watching them,” Clinton said. “I could never express what I saw in words, but I could put it on canvas.”

After a divorce, Clinton’s mother, Jan Sims, worked to provide for her sons. She was determined that they would stay out of trouble, keep away from teens who ran the
streets and avoid alcohol and drugs. Clinton describes himself as a “mama’s boy” who usually stayed in the house with her on weekends to avoid trouble.

Life had a certain rhythm. Clinton and Alvin went to school, played basketball, spent free time in the gym at the local YMCA and worked weekends at local tobacco
farms. It was grueling work, even tougher on scorching hot days when they came close to collapsing in the heat.

If the work was backbreaking, it also was good strength training for arms and legs.

Basketball became Clinton’s ticket out of the projects. In 1997, he was recruited by Boston College, where he averaged 18 points a game his freshman year. SIMS,

He has never figured out why hard work on the court never took him to big-time professional basketball.

When his playing time at Boston College decreased, Clinton transferred to St. Catherine College in Kentucky, then to Eastern Kentucky University where he played for
the Colonels while finishing his degree.  

“As a kid from a small town, I didn’t know that playing basketball could be political,” Clinton said. “With nothing in my life going quite right, I began seeking God. Even
though I was dunking on people and shooting threes, it seemed like I never got a break.”

He prayed and fasted and began attending church services. He turned his whole life over to God.

For a while, Clinton played professional ball for the Kentucky Colonels, the low-budget reincarnation of the American Basketball Association, while Alvin began playing
for the University of Louisville.

In 2003, Clinton married Kim Akridge, a member of Southeast, and the two began attending church together. Clinton hoped basketball would last a long time.

When doors opened for him to play in the Dominican Republic, Clinton felt it was his last best chance to play ball. Kim was in a high-risk pregnancy with their first
daughter, Annie, however, and Clinton didn’t want to leave his family. Having children was a miracle for Kim, who had barely survived a near-fatal car accident. Her
lifelong dream was to be a wife and mom.

“Clinton gave up his dream to take care of us,” Kim said. “He became the muscle for the pool business, doing a lot of hard labor to care for our family. We decided to
build the business together.”  

After Annie was born in 2004, the Sims had another daughter, Alana.

Sometimes life has seemed like an uphill climb.

“Our biggest challenges have been praying, fasting and tithing,” Kim said. “We  have struggled at times to do things God’s way.”

Clinton began painting horses whenever possible. When he is not engrossed in basketball or art, Clinton is exploring a budding music career. He cut a Christian rap
CD called “I’m Clean,” which features songs about his changed life.

Southeast member Danny Sams said Clinton has “a heart for God and a heart to serve.” The two play basketball together and have performed at concerts for
prisoners at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in LaGrange, Ky.  

“On the court, I call him ‘wind’ because he’s so hard to catch,” Sams said. “When he performs, he’s amazing. Clinton is ‘the man.’”

Clinton’s goals in life have changed.

“When I was young, I felt like Superman,” he said. “But then I realized that I wasn’t. I needed God to lift me up. Now I spend more time with God than basketball. My
dream now is to share my testimony with kids who don’t know that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.”

Southeast reaches out to Joplin

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

When a killer tornado hit Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 23, the devastation hit home at Southeast.

In Louisville, Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman, Worship Leader Brian Sites and Post Worship Leader Matt Bayless tracked the devastation in the
town they once lived in after the deadly, 200 mph tornado cut a path a mile wide and six miles long. It left 139 people dead, 500 injured and 29 people still
missing as of May 28, according to a Reuters report.

By that night, they began making plans to take relief supplies to College Heights Christian Church, which quickly became a hub for relief in the community.

At the same time, Indiana Campus Student Minister Cody Walker and his wife Rachael packed up their family after a Sunday night phone call from Joplin. A
neighbor rescued Cody’s mother from the rubble of her home there, and they were still searching for Cody’s brother, who had gone to a movie at a nearby
theater. He later was found, unharmed, at a friend’s house.

The Walkers weren’t sure what they would find at the end of the eight-hour drive. They arrived in Joplin early the next morning, about the same time as the U.S.
Outreach team at Southeast was packing a truck with generators, lights, batteries, bottled water and food for Idleman, Bayless and Sites to take to College
Heights and Christ’s Church of Orongo.  

Miles of carnage
Nothing prepared the Walkers for what they saw in Joplin: Miles of carnage; blocked roads.

It was difficult to find anything with no landmarks or street signs. Cars literally were wrapped around trees. There was nothing left of whole neighborhoods. Big
box stores such as Home Depot looked like they had been bombed.

Cody’s mother hid in the shower during the tornado. She had little memory of all that happened, but she remembered the force of the wind.

It was difficult to find what was left of the family’s home. Only two of four walls are still intact. There is no roof. All possessions were destroyed.  

The next morning, the family searched through the rubble for keepsakes.

“Joplin will never be the same,” Cody said. “My family will never be the same, and I will never be the same. I watched my mom weep over torn photos of her
grandparents, childhood, my brother’s baby book and our family Bible. I also saw her laugh when she pulled her bath robe out of the closet where it still hung
untouched by the carnage. We joked that not even the tornado wanted her bath robe.”

Monday night the Walkers headed to College Heights Christian Church, walking in just as Idleman, Sites and Bayless arrived with the truckload of supplies. It
was exactly what the church needed for outreach.

Empowering the local church
Idleman said that outreach from Southeast meant a lot to people in Joplin.

“I love the generosity of our people at Southeast,” he said. “Because of the knowledge and experience of our staff, we were able to be first-responders in
Joplin.”  

At College Heights, Idleman saw a wall map marked with at least 50 dots where the homes of church members were decimated. Teams from the church
were going to each location to see what could be salvaged in the rubble.

Later that day, Idleman stood with his childhood best friend in front a pile of “nothing”—all that was left of his friend’s home.

Sites said that though Joplin is not huge, it is a lighthouse that reaches around the world.

“Joplin is important not because of commerce, location, influence or size, but because there are world-impacting ministries headquartered there,” he said.
“Joplin is a city where God is busy at work impacting the world.”

Joplin is home to Ozark Christian College; Christ in Youth, a ministry that connects teenagers to Christ; The Bridge, a cutting-edge youth ministry and Good
News Productions, International, an organization that is accelerating global evangelism through media.

Even now, emergency teams and cadaver dogs continue to pick their way through the rubble of thousands of homes and businesses as shaken family
members look for missing family members and mementoes in the rubble.

Sites, Idleman and Bayless unloaded supplies under a little overhang at College Heights Christian Church that said, “Worship Center.”

“I saw all those folks working, serving and helping under the banner of the worship center,” Sites said. That was profound. At that moment, the center was
used for pure worship.”

 

PGA members share faith stories

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On Wednesday, May 25, professional golfers Ted Schulz, Tom Lehman and Loren Roberts, who were in Louisville for the Senior PGA Tournament, spoke at a
“Night of Champions” dinner at Southeast.

The night was created with the goal of reaching golf fans with the Gospel.

Hundreds of high school golfers were in the audience to listen to a panel discussion featuring the professional golfers, and led by retired Senior Minister Bob
Russell.

Schulz, Lehman and Roberts are all men who follow Christ. Never during the discussion did they talk about great success on the tour or their finest moments.

When asked about their most memorable shots, they talked about personal faith and how that has carried them through wins and losses.

Southeast member Ted Schulz told the packed crowd of more than 600 that a shot last year at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California barely made it over an
ocean inlet and onto the green, but short of where he wanted the ball to land.  

“What was memorable about that bad shot was that it didn’t devastate me,” Schulz said. “I bogeyed that hole, then went on and played good after that.”

Tom Lehman, who won the Senior PGA Championship last year, said a putt defined him.

He was playing in a tournament when he prayed, “God give me the strength to play this to the best of my ability and to accept whatever happens.” He ended up
winning that tournament.

He prayed that same prayer on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open and hit the worst putt of his life. Lehman found a life lesson in that.

“God doesn’t do for me what I can do for myself,” he said. “But he does for me what I can’t do for myself. He gives me eternal life through his Son, Jesus
Christ.”

The following responses are excerpts from the panel discussion:

Russell:  We see golfers in their glory moments. We don’t see what happens behind the scenes. What are the hard times?

Lehman: The biggest grind of golf is keeping your attitude in gear. The public doesn’t see when you’re missing cuts and playing poorly. Golf isn’t so easy
when things aren’t going great. They don’t see when you’re constantly getting knocked down and have to pick yourself up and go forward. And they don’t see
the lonely side of golf, when you’re missing birthdays and significant family events.

Russell: A lot of young golfers in the audience want to sit where you’re sitting tonight. What kind of counsel would you give them about golf and life at the same
time?

Schulz: Work hard and believe in yourself. Stay true to your moral compass.

Roberts: Finish your schooling first. Focus on the best parts of your game.

Lehman: I always tell young people not to do anything to make a strength a weakness.

Russell: Tell how you came to faith in Christ.

Roberts: I grew up in a great family that went to church all the time. But when I went away to college, I got sidetracked with other things. The first time I
understood a personal relationship with Christ was in a PGA Bible study in 1982. My wife and I had everything we owned in the back of our 1978 Oldsmobile.
I’d made about $8,000 that whole year and missed the cut in Milwaukee. I went back to our room in the Motel 6, got on my knees and said, “Lord, there has to
be a better way…” It’s been a journey ever since. Just because you’re a believer doesn’t make the ball go in the hole for you, but it does make you order your
life right.

Lehman: My vision of God when I was 15 years old was He was up there with a big hammer waiting for me to get out of line and smack me a good one. I lived
with fear and incredible guilt of never measuring up. I went to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting and listened to guys I looked up to in high school. I
learned God wanted to have a relationship with me and be intimately involved in my life. At age 15, I decided that was what I wanted.

Schulz: When my wife Diane started going to Bible studies on the PGA tour. I thought they were a bunch of Bible beaters. I thought I knew God, but I wasn’t
happy. I missed my first set of cuts and was losing my tour card. Diane’s life change attracted me to God. I decided to go to Bible studies and learned what it
meant to be a Christian. It’s been a long journey with ups and downs in my Christian walk. I have peace of mind and hope for a future. I know I’m going to
heaven some day.

Russell: What’s the toughest thing you deal with as a golfer?

Roberts: Anger. We are all driven to play well. When we hit shots we don’t like or give away a tournament, it’s easy to get angry.

Lehman: To remain humble and dependent on the Lord. Once I understood what real success is, my walk with Christ was steadier whether I won or lost,
played poorly or played well.

Schulz: My struggle was placing my self-worth in what I do.

Russell: There will come a day when everyone’s career is over. How do you want to be remembered?

Lehman: Reggie White, the great football player, said his goal in life was to be a man of God, and that fact would be so overpowering that people would forget
that he played football.

Who we are is far more significant than what we do on the golf course. I hope people say I loved God and cared more about people than trophies.

Roberts: I hope people remember integrity, humility and service to others.

Schulz: I hope people said I was a good dad and husband.

Angels of hope

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

A haunting call to prayer blares from loud speakers at community mosques five times a day beginning at dawn. The muezzin chants Arabic phrases that are translated, “There is none to be worshipped but Allah” and “Allah is great.”

Most women wear black naqabs—garments that cover them from neck to ankle, and hijabs, or headscarves. Store signs are in Arabic. Restaurants and
markets specialize in Middle Eastern foods.

But this community is half a world away from the Middle East. It is Dearborn, Mich., home to more than 30,000 people—about a third of the total
population—from many Arabic countries, including Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt.

The largest mosque in the U.S. sits down the street from the high-rise executive offices of  Ford Motor Co.

Middle Eastern influence is so strong that the football team at Fordson High School practices in the middle of the night during Ramadan, and the local
McDonald’s serves a halal version of chicken nuggets that meets dietary needs of Muslims.

If Dearborn is the land of opportunity for a wide range of people groups, it also is an international mission field in the U.S.

Eugene DePorter, who leads U.S. Outreach at Southeast, said reaching those who come to the U.S from other countries is vital because of our mission to
share Christ with the world.

“God has brought these people to us,” he said. “They provide a tremendous opportunity to share faith.”

A Muslim land
A U.S. Outreach team from Southeast went on a short-term trip to south Dearborn May 18 through 22.

They served at Angel House, an outreach housed in a plain brick building across the street from the oldest mosque in the United States. They worked
one-on-one with women in the community who came to learn English and computer skills, visited a local mosque where they talked with a local imam,
worshiped at a Christian Arabic church and learned about Islam.  

Many on the team, like Adam Speaks, already work within the Muslim community in Louisville.

Most mornings, between 25 and 40 women from the community come to classes at Angel House.

According to Islamic law, men and women cannot learn in the same room, so men in the community come in the evenings.

Each student at Angel House has a story.

They come from different backgrounds and countries, speak different languages and have different faith backgrounds. Some have fled war and persecution.

Aidah has lived in Detroit for six years and has learned a little English from her husband. She comes to Angel House to learn how to read in English and work on the computer. While working on an alphabet game that helps her learn to type, Aidah asked if she could see her neighborhood in Yemen on a Google Earth map.

“I went home last year to see my family, but I was glad to get back,” she said. “I love life in America.”

Diane Frank, the founder and executive director of Angel House, is not naive about needs, challenges or dangers while working within this Muslim community.
She is aware of political unrest and the threat posed by followers of radical Islam. For decades before founding Angel House, she worked for a social agency
in the area and dealt with tribal leaders and imams at local mosques. She learned the customs, beliefs and needs of people settling in the area.   

People in this community know her name. As women arrive for class, staff and volunteers in a long receiving line greet them with a hug and a traditional kiss
on each cheek.

Each takes off her shoes before entering a classroom.

 In many Muslim countries, school is off-limits for females, and classes offered at Angel House offer a new world of empowerment. Some have never held a
pencil or written their own names.

Here, they begin to dream again.  

“Most of the women who come to us have never been allowed to attend school,” Frank said. “We teach them, guide them and nurture them, giving them
courage and confidence to step out and overcome challenges and hurdles for the first time in their lives.”

People in the Dearborn community know Angel House is overtly Christian, but they also know that the outreach they provide is important in the community.

Chad Blanchard, who works in U.S. Missions, said many ask why Southeast teams serve Muslims.

“We serve because the need is overwhelming,” he said. “And we serve because there is darkness. We offer hope.”
 
A bridge of trust
Outreach at Angel House is based on building relationships and a bridge of trust.  

“Our goal is to give these people hope in this life and the life after,” Frank said. “We pray to heal the lives of those the Lord sends to us. We meet their needs,
hear their problems and impart divine Truth. We know that education alone cannot change these people, but we believe that as we follow Jesus’ example to
do good deeds, love them and give them hope, things will happen. We believe if we are faithful, if we plant, we will have a harvest. We have seen the harvest
begin.”  

To learn more about Angel House, visit www.AngelHouse.org.    

 

Egyptian doctor leads initial mission trip to his home country

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Though he has lived in the U.S. for 32 years, Egypt is always on Dr. Magdy Khalil’s mind.

He left his home in Cairo, Egypt, for a residency in anesthesiology in Memphis, Tenn.

In time, he became a U.S. citizen, married his wife Maureen and settled into what he calls the “good” life in Louisville with his practice and family.

He never forgot friends and family in Egypt, returning to visit them every year.

“More than 20 million people live in Cairo,” Khalil said. “The city is crowded, noisy and smoggy. I’m always glad to be there, and I’m always glad to come back to Kentucky.”   

In October, he will return to Egypt as the co-leader of a short-term medical mission trip. It is Southeast’s first venture into Egypt.  

Risks are real. On May 8, a Christian church was burned, 12 Coptic Christians were killed and more than 200 people were injured in a clash with Muslim extremists.

Tension has been high since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in a revolution last February.

Christians in Egypt are just 12 percent of the population with a Muslim majority of 86.6 percent.  

Coptic Christians trace their roots back to the New Testament when Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt after the visit of the Magi.

According to historical accounts, the disciple Mark took the Gospel to Egypt and was martyred in A.D. 68 during Nero’s violent persecution of Christians.   

The word “Coptic”  means Egyptian. The Coptic Christian faith is similar to Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Persecution of the country’s Christians has increased over the last 20 years. It is reported that Christians pay extra taxes.

Though conversion is not illegal, some believers have been imprisoned for “despising” Islam.

Those who convert to Christianity cannot change their identity cards and register as Christians.

Even so, God is moving among the Egyptians.

Ben Thornley, who works with mission partners around the world, planned outreach in Egypt.

He has talked with partners in Africa and local church leaders in Egypt.

“Many in Egypt are waiting for good news,” he said.

According to Operation World, Egyptian religious authorities claim that as many as 1 million Muslims in Egypt have become believers in recent years.     

Faith that impacts life
Khalil came to Southeast the first time in 2003 after hearing about a five-week marriage series taught by then-Senior Minister Bob Russell.

That series made a difference, and he was baptized two years later.  

He had sought real life change since he was a young boy, believing at the time that he should become a monk some day and live in a monastery and pray all day.

Going back to Egypt with a medical mission team is like going full circle in faith. Southeast member Linda Saling will co-lead the trip with Khalil.

“I saw Dr. Khalil care for patients while we were on a mission trip to Ethiopia together,” she said. “He was so gentle and kind to patients. He understood their needs and their
culture. God is using him in big ways.”

Khalil said many will come to the free medical clinic for help.

Though they cannot openly evangelize, the team can share the love of Christ by meeting needs.

“The people who come to the clinic will see that our faith is a way of life,” he said. “They will see that we serve everyone. It does not matter if they are black or white, young or old,
Muslim or Christian.”  

Khalil knows that Christians in Egypt need encouragement.  

“My hope is that they will see that American brothers and sisters in Christ love and support them,” he said. “The Egyptians are poor physically, financially and spiritually. They need to see that American Christians have left their comfortable homes to serve them. We pray they will see that God’s love is so big.”  
 

Shingleton’s understand costs of serving country

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Susan Shingleton, 25, keeps her cell phone next to her pillow at night. It goes with her everywhere—even into the bathroom and the shower. Missed calls from her husband on the
front lines in Afghanistan create gut-wrenching anxiety.

It happened once when Susan was working. She missed Josh’s call by five minutes and didn’t hear from him for another 36 hours. There for his second tour with the U.S. Army in
Afghanistan, Josh has been gone for eight weeks. Susan has another 44 weeks to wait until he comes home.

She says counting the weeks is too painful because the number is so large.

A time to remember
Memorial Day, May 30, is a time to remember those who served and those who have died protecting the United States, but it’s also a day to remember those who serve now.

As he serves in Afghanistan, Josh said he always is aware of the soldiers who serve alongside him on the frontlines, those who support his unit, those who have paved the way
before he came and those who will take his place when he goes home.

Susan knows his job is dangerous. He describes his position with the Tenth Mountain Division from Fort Drum, New York, as “one step ahead of the front line of combat.”

He often sleeps on the ground among the Taliban at night. He told Susan that he and his fellow solidiers take turns staying awake in the cold night air, trying to grab a straight
hour or two of sleep before dawn.

“We’re doing a good job,” he said.

Josh does not complain about sacrifice. He does speak of duty.

“Josh loves the Army,” Susan said. “He says he has a job to do. It’s a job he loves and one that is important to peace and security.”

Susan said that personal faith has brought them through long separations. Other soldiers in Josh’s unit ask Josh if Susan will pray for them, too. There is no chaplain where they
serve, and Josh is one of the few with a Bible.

“Josh really misses church,” Susan said. “He didn’t even have an Easter service.”

The two met at Berea College in 2008. They dated long distance during his first deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. They never had the luxury of going on dates to restaurants or
the movies, or even taking long walks and sharing a cup of coffee together. They got to know each other through e-mails, Facebook and phone calls.

“We got to know each other’s hearts before we had time together,” Susan said.

Josh came back in December 2009 and asked Susan to marry him in September 2010.

Wedding dates were difficult to plan, as the Army changed deployment dates. In the end, Josh had a four-day pass from where he was stationed in New York to fly home, get
married and report back to work. Their pre-wedding meeting with the minister who conducted the service had to be conducted via Skype.

Josh flew out on a Friday at 6 a.m., and married on Saturday. The couple drove 12 ½ hours on Sunday, arrived at their apartment about 3:30 a.m., then Josh reported to work at
5:30 a.m.

There was no time for a honeymoon.

The young couple spent two months together in New York before Josh was shipped out at the end of March. They tried to squeeze in some of the things such as going to Niagara
Falls, Gettysburg and an aquarium.

Until Josh returns, Susan is living with her parents in Louisville. They have a baby due in December, and Susan already knows that Josh will not be able to come home when their
child is born.  

Susan hears news reports of causalities in Afghanistan. She knows the risks, but she refuses to live in fear.

“If you allow fear and anxiety, you’ll go insane,” she said. “I have bad days, but I try not to wallow in sadness or depression. I’m determined to enjoy every day that God gives me.
Every day with Him is a blessing.”

Josh has a wish list of activities he wants to enjoy when he returns home in August for a break. The couple will finally honeymoon for a few days in Gatlinburg, and Josh wants to
go to an aquarium and eat a hot dog.   

Susan does not dwell on the fact that she can't spend each day with Josh.

“We know thousands of people have done this before us, and thousands more will do it after us,” she said. “The wives of soldiers in World War II, Korea and Vietnam weren’t able
to talk on the phone or have e-mail. They didn’t hear from their husbands and sons for months or years. They didn’t know where they were stationed or what they were doing. I
know where Josh is, and I get to talk with him.”

While they are apart, Susan spends a lot of time praying for Josh and for the soldiers in his unit.

“A lot of times, these soldiers feel forgotten,” she said. “While life goes on here, they’re in the middle of a full-blown war.”

Camping wild wild west style

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

After more than two years in the making, Country Lake Christian Retreat will open its newest venue, Wilderness Village, to the public June 1.

Since the facility could not officially open without a working bathhouse, the project was stalled until sewer line work could be completed.

Executive Director Ross Knecht plans to celebrate the completion of this last step with a ceremonial flushing of every toilet in the bathhouse.

Delays were caused by the enormous amounts of storm damage to the Wilderness Village site.

Seven covered wagons have been constructed and are set up to simulate pioneer families stopped for the night while making a cross-country trek. In addition, seven 24-foot-tall
tepees have been constructed and are arranged nearby to mimic a Native American village.

Each wagon and tepee sleeps up to eight campers, which makes it a great venue for family getaways, reunions, small-group retreats and camping trips, Knecht said.

“It’s unique,” he said. “It gives groups a place to connect and follows the mission of the church.”

And it provides another, affordable place where visitors can commune with God and deepen their relationship with Him and each other.

Knecht said pricing is $10 per person, per night. Group pricing is available depending on the size and needs of the group.

Campers looking for a more authentic camping experience will benefit most from the Wilderness Village, which will be offered at a lower cost than staying in the lodge or in one of the
bunkhouses.

The experience is closest to tent camping, but campers can either cook over an open fire or eat their meals in Country Lake’s dining room.

Groups can bring their own food onsite, or have the Country Lake kitchen staff ready supplies and food for outdoor grilling at the campsite.

“They can order food from us and still cook it themselves,” he said.

Simple menu options provided by Country Lake include hot dogs and hamburgers with condiments, chicken, chips and S’mores.

In His service

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Rick Nally held an umbrella as he walked around puddles in parking lots at the nursing homes he visited on Sunday, May 15.

Earlier that morning, he had been to a worship service at the Blankenbaker Campus, served in the Junior High Ministry, picked up his visitation list and disposable communion set, then headed out to see people.

For the last 10 years, he has volunteered to take communion to people who are homebound, in nursing homes or in hospitals. He serves on this particular week, even though he
has just buried his father.

“Serving is the best medicine for a hurting soul,” Nally said.  

Each week there are between 80 and 90 names on a list that Southeast Deacon Don Harris divides among eight volunteers. A team from the Indiana Campus visits those who
are homebound in their area, and a team is ready to launch at the Oldham Campus.

These volunteers have slogged through blizzards with 10 inches of snow, deluges of rain, sleet and oven-like temperatures.
“We’re better than the post office,” Nally laughed.

His first stop is the Episcopal Church Home on Westport Road to visit Dorothy Jean Herrick.

Nally said that taking communion to shut-ins is a blessing he doesn’t want to miss.  

“Anybody you ask on this team will tell you that we are more blessed than what we give,” he said. “These people are so grateful, so thankful for what we do. I always go back to the
verse in Matt. 25:36, ‘I was sick, and you looked after me.’”  

He often sees familiar faces on the rotation—people he has met at church or during earlier visits.   

At the Episcopal Church Home, the sound of singing songbirds in elaborate glass houses fills wide hallways. The birds are not too far from small carriers where pet cats curl up
for naps.  

Nally finds Jean in the dining room with her husband, Ray, who is feeding her Sunday dinner a spoonful at a time.  

Ray tells Nally that they came to Southeast in 1962, before even Bob Russell arrived as the new preacher, and services were held in the basement of a house.

“I worked in that first basement at the red brick house they had,” Ray said.  

Nally and Ray forge an instant bond by talking about church history. Ray tells stories of playing softball with Russell and longtime member Bob Dabney. While they talk, Ray holds
one of Jean’s hands while Nally holds the other. Jean seems unaware of the conversation, but it’s clear that Ray enjoys the company.  

After talking a while, Nally takes out a little communion box containing plastic communion cups, a little jar of juice and crackers.

He talks a moment about the significance of communion, prays with the Herricks, then dispenses the bread and juice.

Nally’s second stop is Jefferson Place, where Southeast member Maury Poulter is staying because of an infection after a knee replacement. Years ago, Poulter volunteered to
take communion to those who couldn’t get to church. Now someone comes to him.   

Nally gives him the wafer and the juice, prays with him and promises to keep in touch through the next surgery.

Through the afternoon, Nally stops to see Wilma Thurman, a diehard University of Louisville fan who has been at Jefferson place since a stroke several years ago. Nally, a
University of Kentucky fan, teases her about her team.

Family photos on the walls in Thurman’s room highlight happier days.  

Helen Koch is in the bed next to her. She has never been to Southeast, but appreciates Nally’s visit.

“I’ll be 100 on July 12,” she said. “I’m here for the duration. I’m ready to go.”

Nally stops to pray with her, and she smiles when he calls her “young lady.”  

“As you see these people, you can just imagine how much this ministry means to them,” Nally said.

Southeast members began taking communion to the homebound many years ago, said Bob Carpenter, a longtime elder.

“It’s a great outreach,” he said. “Many of those we see are lonely and appreciate so much if somebody visits and prays with them.”  

Kent Evans, the deacon in charge of this area of the Care Ministry, said men have a “blast doing this, but the volunteer pool has been shrinking as need has increased.”

Evans takes his sons with him on communion visits.

“It’s a real blessing for them to be part of this,” he said. “They’ve loved it. It’s a great chance for us to serve together.”  

Deacon Don Harris said people never forget those who visit.

“As a church, we’re a body of believers,” he said. “We’re called to serve those who are in hospitals, rehabilitation units or homebound for some reason. We cannot forget them.
They are part of the household of faith.

“I always come away blessed,” Harris added. “These people are thankful and sweet. They tell me that they’re praying for my family.”

If you would like to volunteer to be part of this team, call Teresa Kemp, (502) 253-8447. There is a screening process.  

‘Not a Fan’ grows across America

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

More than 25,000 people have logged onto www.nota fan.com to tell their stories of moving from fan to follower of Jesus. The numbers grow every day.

Some heard about it on Twitter or Facebook, from a friend or from Zondervan Publishing Co., which will release the "Not a Fan" book on May 22 in a webcast that will feature
Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman, best-selling author Lee Strobel and Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns.

The question, "Are you a follower of Jesus?," is resonating across the United States as people begin to understand that admiring Jesus isn’t enough. He is looking for people who are committed to following Him completely.

“It has to be follower all the way … ”
Mary Sharp
First Baptist Church
Kissimmee, Florida

Mary Sharp missed the first week of the "Not a Fan" discipleship series at First Baptist Church of Kissimmee, Fla., on Easter Sunday, April 24.

Her pastor, Tim Wilder, a promotion for "Not a Fan" on the Internet and ordered 100 T-shirts, 300 journals and study materials.

The shirts caused quite a stir as members of the church wore them around Kissimmee, where much of life revolves around Disney World.   

For the last 10 years, Sharp, 31, has dealt with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of heart muscle.

She hated missing that first lesson, but hospital visits have been chronic and discouraging.

Life-threatening illness and the possibility of a heart transplant drew Sharp to faith in Christ. And it’s what keeps her living on the edge.

She was still hurting and a little down when she went to the second "Not a Fan" class. In the video, called “A Follower’s Story,” which accompanies the "Not a Fan" study, a
main character deals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

“That got my attention,” Sharp said. “The only other time I’ve heard my heart problem discussed was in a meeting with 12 specialists.”

"Not a Fan" changed how Sharp sees life.

“I don’t have time to be a fan of Jesus,” said Sharp. “It has to be follower all the way. I realize that even with all my cardiac disabilities, I still have the ability to serve God. It took
me a long time to figure out that even when I’m stuck in the hospital and it seems like jail, I can talk with doctors and nurses about Jesus.

I am not a fan. I am committed to following Jesus, no matter what.”

“This is the closest thing to real revival we’ve ever experienced.”
Not a Fan changes priorities at Calvary Christian Church
Brian Walton
Pastor of  Calvary Christian Church
Winchester, Ky.

Pastor Brian Walton did not know Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman before using the "Not a Fan" discipleship study at his church. Things began to change as the
church studied the whole concept of raising the bar on complete commitment.  

“'Not a Fan' was a big deal for our congregation. The words that come to mind to describe our experience are ‘Wow, thank you and revival,’” Walton said. “Every now and then
a concept or a question comes along that is God-inspired. Are you a fan or follower of Jesus has already changed thousands of lives and will continue to do so.”

At Calvary Christian Church, more than 600 teenagers and adults signed up for the study. Walton said there has been a 26 percent increase in Sunday attendance and more
than 30 baptisms since the study began last month.

“This has been the closest thing to real revival we’ve ever experienced,” Walton said. “People were sad to see the series end. When it was over, people kept bringing more
and more people with them as they strived to live out what they learned in the series.”  

Some volunteered in a soup kitchen with their small group, while others signed up for mission trips to Kenya and Guatemala.

“People in our congregation are certainly living in the tension of what is the best use of their time, money and material possessions,” Walton said. “We want to be followers
of Jesus.”

“In the Bible, God didn’t beg people
to follow Him.”
Heath Tibbetts
Discipleship Pastor of Stewartstown
Baptist Church
Stewartstown, Pa.

Discipleship Pastor Heath Tibbetts doesn’t usually open promotional material that comes in the mail from publishers.

“I usually just throw them in the trash,” Tibbetts said. “There are so many books out on how to be the ‘perfect’ Christian.”

But "Not a Fan" caught his eye, and Tibbetts began to read through the study materials.

“For a few years, I have been responsible for leading that ministry in our church,” she said. “After watching other ministers do it in previous churches and working on it as an
actual job, I realize that as a church, we can never push people into a discipleship program. Either people care to learn more or they don’t.”

Tibbetts began studying invitations in the Bible.

“I found that people weren’t begged to follow God,” he said. “They were challenged to follow God. I realized that God was telling me to stop trying to program discipleship and
start encouraging it. 'Not a Fan' is exactly what we need at our church.”

“Not a Fan gave us a
tremendous boost."
Dale Harlow
Pastor of Northfield Church of Christ
Fort Dodge, Iowa  
 
Dale Harlow, pastor of Northfield Church of Christ, graduated from Cincinnati Christian University with Southeast Senior Minister Dave Stone, and he tracks the worship
messages from Southeast.

“We did Kyle Idleman’s ‘H2O’ series at our church,” Harlow said. “It was so good that from that point on, we wanted to be part of new studies.”

“'Not a Fan' gave us a tremendous boost,” he said. “It’s been exciting to see people move from being fans to true followers of Christ. Jesus never said to go make converts.
He wanted disciples.”  

“This belongs in NFL locker rooms.”
‘Not a Fan’ resonates with
professional athletes
Caleb Campbell,
Linebacker, Detroit Lions

Caleb Campbell is a linebacker for the Detroit Lions football team. He also is a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he played football before being drafted by the Lions in the
seventh round of the 2008 National Football League Draft.

In addition to being an all-star athlete through high school, Campbell was active in his youth group and continues to twitter about his faith.

No one knows exactly how Campbell plugged into “Not a Fan,” but he sent a message to Idleman: “Would love to bring you guys into the NFL locker rooms and small groups
there. I will start promoting you guys to them. I am a big fan of 'Not a Fan.'”
 

Making his WAY

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Matt and Justine Hahn bought their first house in Columbus, Ohio, in 2003.

It was close to grandparents, school and Matt’s job at a local Christian radio station with the River Radio Network.

In 2004, Matt was recruited by WAY-FM, a contemporary Christian radio ministry, to help start a station in the Nashville, Tenn., area. All of Justine’s dreams of raising her
children in the home they had prayed for came crashing down.

“I remember running the vacuum and mumbling in my head, ‘We prayed so hard for this house, Lord. This is where I want to stay,’” she said. “I felt the Lord speak and say,

‘It’s just a house.’ It still brings me to tears. It was at that moment I surrendered and said, ‘You’re right.’”

She and Matt also were studying Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” at that time, which further led her to trust in God’s provision as He plucked her out of her comfort
zone.

“God showed me so clearly that it’s not about us and what we want. It’s about His will and what He wants for us,” she said.

It has a meant a great deal to Matt to have Justine’s support as God has called him into full-time radio ministry.

The Hahns went from Nashville, back to Columbus for three years and then to Southern Indiana, where Matt was asked to take on another WAY-FM launch, this time in the
Louisville radio market.

Justine was much more receptive to seeing what God had planned and embraced the idea of moving again.

“This time I was a little bit more trusting and willing,” she said. “I had been there and experienced His faithfulness. I knew if this is where He truly was calling us, then we
would go.”

Through the counsel of close Christian friends, Matt believes the Holy Spirit was saying, “Trust Me. I’ll take care of you.”

The Hahns wanted to be obedient, and through a lot of prayer, took that leap of faith again and put their house up for sale.

Matt lived at the Legacy Center on the campus of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville as a trade for advertising on WAY-FM.

For seven months, he commuted back home to Columbus on the weekends to be with his family until their house sold.

Justine and the couple’s children, Joy, Janna and Josh, moved to Sellersburg, Ind., in July of 2009.  

With the grind of getting a radio station up and running, Matt sought encouragement and spiritual growth at Southeast’s Indiana Campus.

“I needed to be fed,” he said. “By the time Sunday came around, I was depleted.”

Matt met former Indiana Campus Pastor Rusty Russell, with whom he had great conversations. He formed a relationship with Southeast that has become a partnership in

the WAY-FM ministry. When his family settled that summer, they started attending worship services at the campus and joined in October 2009.

Whenever the Hahns go out of town on a weekend, Matt said his children always ask if they will be back by Sunday.

“Southeast became home to us,” Matt said. “We’re growing together, and when your kids are excited to go to church, that makes a big difference.”

Matt’s faith journey began by listening to Christian radio.

In the early 1980s he often tuned in to the Children’s Bible Hour Ministries’ "Uncle Charlie" devotional radio program. One day, when it was over, he walked into the kitchen
and told his mom that he wanted to know Jesus.

They prayed together, and Matt accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Years later during a youth conference, he knew he wanted to be involved in ministry somehow as an adult. He worked for his high school radio station and later broadcast
sports for Clear Channel Communications.

“I thought I’d work for ESPN one day,” he said, but soon after college, radio ministry became his career.  

WAY-FM’s mission is to do life together with families and minister to them through music that mothers, fathers and children can agree upon. Matt wants the station to serve
as “church” in between church time; a resource that listeners can relate to as a family.

“We try to be real, relevant and challenge families to open that line of communication,” Matt said.

E-mails pour in from people who are not churchgoers or even believers.

“We’re opening doors for them,” he said. “They are beginning to look at life differently. It gives a new perspective to folks that are hungry. It’s a blessing to see lives changed.
It’s why we do what we do.”

One of his favorite parts of the job is partnering with other Christian radio stations to promote concerts, then seeing thousands of people coming together in one place to
raise their hands in praise.

WAY-FM staff prays for listeners who e-mail requests or post them at wayi.wayfm.com.

Matt said he is encouraged by the growth of the station, which is clear at pledge drive time. The first drive yielded about 200 callers, and the last one brought in more than
800 responses.  

Matt is quick to give the credit for the success where it belongs.

“It’s not about what we’re doing,” Matt said. “It’s about what God is doing. It’s about lives being changed.”

Bob Russell to speak at the Cove

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

It’s an opportunity to rest, learn and be renewed in a beautiful setting.

Sept. 6-8, retired Southeast Senior Minister Bob Russell will be the featured speaker at The Cove, the Billy Graham conference center in Asheville, N.C.

The property fit Ruth and Billy Graham’s dream of providing a place where people could get away from the demands of daily life, study God’s Word and be trained to reach the lost for Christ.

The conference center is located on 1,200 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes a training center, two inns and the Chatlos Memorial Chapel, which houses the Billy Graham Visitor Center.

“The Cove is a great combination of spiritual renewal and physical relaxation,” said Bob Russell. “There are study sessions in the mornings and evenings with afternoons free to sightsee, play golf or shop.”

Russell will teach about “Transformed by Grace.”  

“We can make the most significant contributions to the kingdom of God in the final quarter of our lives,” Russell said. “But that doesn’t happen automatically. Believers need to prepare with anticipation and wisdom. We all need hope for tomorrow. The goal is long obedience in the same direction. This will be a time to look forward into the future and remember that the best is yet to be.”

Southeast members Cecil and Frieda McGee have visited The Cove at least six times.

“It is a wonderful format of Bible study in a beautiful setting,” Cecil said. “We loved the beauty of The Cove itself, the accommodations and food. And while we were there, we
met people from all over the United States.”
 

Leaning on God

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Wendy Carpenter was waiting on tables at Steak 'n Shake when someone said, “You’re Wendy! I know you!”

Wendy lit up like a light bulb with those five words.

Being known simply as Wendy, a member of Southeast’s Indiana Campus, means everything.

For the first time in 20 years, it’s not “Wendy, the black sheep,” not “Wendy, the addict” or “Wendy, the ex-con.” It’s simply, “Wendy.”

She doesn’t hide her past. But it’s behind her now.

A dangerous path
Wendy Carpenter had lost everything that mattered when she walked through the front doors of Southeast’s Indiana Campus in August 2010.

She asked for food, but knew she needed so much more. Addiction had destroyed everything good in her life, and she had no idea how to save herself.

Wendy traces addiction to an inner ache she could never fill after the death of her mother on Good Friday, 1990.

Life spiraled out of control as she turned to drugs to numb her pain.

Wendy walked away from her husband and two daughters. She was arrested in 1999 and sentenced to three years in a federal prison.

“In a sense, that saved my life,” Wendy said. “It was the beginning of seeking God, though I didn’t know how to follow Him.”

In prison, another inmate handed her a Bible and told her to read it. Wendy held that Bible up and let it fall open to whatever chapter and verse. The first verse Wendy saw
was already highlighted. It was Hebrews 12, a chapter about faith and discipline, which already had been highlighted by another reader.

Wendy believed God let her go to prison to discipline her and save her life. She continued to read a Bible, signed up for some Bible studies and earned a stack of graduation
certificates.

“They talk a lot about jailhouse faith,” Wendy said. “But I did try to take it out of prison with me.”

Her father and stepmother, Charlie and Linda Heck, helped Wendy get on her feet when she was released.

She held steady for a while, working at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and paying her own bills. Life seemed better than ever when Wendy married her second husband,
Chris, in 2004.

But Wendy’s world spiraled downward once again after a doctor prescribed pain medication for a gall bladder infection, and she slipped back into addiction. This time, she
trolled the streets for meds and stole money that Chris set aside for rent and utilities.

“If I didn’t have the drugs, I felt like I had the flu,” Wendy said. “Before long, I needed $100 a day to get by.”

The couple teetered on divorce as the bank repossessed their car.

Losing their home was the last straw.

One afternoon after work, Chris noticed that Wendy was especially antsy, pacing back and forth in their townhouse. He knew something was terribly wrong. About 3:30 p.m.,
Wendy told him that they were being evicted in an hour. Chris left with his 9-year-old son to go to his mother’s house while Wendy moved into a motel with her two cats and
three dogs.  

“That day, I lost my home, my husband, everything,” Wendy said.  

In her job as an administrative assistant at the Indiana Campus, Camille Keller often talks with people who come to the church for help.

“So many come in with the saddest stories,” she said. “When Wendy came, I explained the resources that are available and prayed with her. When I went to hug her, it
seemed like she held on for dear life.”

Finding freedom
From then on, Wendy stopped at the campus often to pray with Keller. This time, she knew she could not overcome addiction without God’s help.

“It was the same old thing with me,” Wendy said. “I couldn’t do anything right. For a while, I prayed to die every day. Nobody wanted me.”

Often Wendy doubted that even God wanted her. When she stopped at the Indiana Campus to pray, Keller assured her that God did love her and has a plan for her life.

Wendy went off methadone, realizing that she was addicted to it as much as other drugs. It cost $13 a day, which was money she didn’t have to spend. Getting totally drug
free was a battle, but one that Wendy knew was vital to survival.

The more she was at the campus, the more people recognized Wendy. She began to feel that she belonged and that people cared.

On Oct. 10, 2010, Wendy joined the church and was baptized by her father, Southeast member Charlie Heck.  

“I was glad to baptize Wendy,” he said. “I pray that it is the beginning of a new life for her.”

Chris began to see Wendy change, and the couple got back together last February. When things are tough, they sometimes stop at the Indiana Campus to ask someone to
pray with them.  

Wendy is proud of her job as a waitress at Steak ‘n Shake, where she often waits on Bible study groups from the Indiana Campus. She and Chris are working together to pay
their bills and save a little to get on their feet once again.

On Mother’s Day a few weeks ago, Wendy received cards from her daughters, who now are in college. That was a major breakthrough for her.

“They’ve forgiven me,” Wendy said. “I just can’t forgive myself.”

Wendy has an answer for those who doubt that God exists or cares.

“God saved my life,” she said. “I know He’s there. I’m living proof.”

Wendy said that being part of the Indiana Campus means more to her than anyone knows.

“People here know my name,” she said. “I belong here.”  
 

Bellarmine’s Luke Sprague talks hoops, faith, future

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

What happened on March 26, 2011 will always be a favorite memory for Luke Sprague, a member of Sojourn Community Church.

That’s the night his basketball team, the Bellarmine University Knights, defeated Brigham Young University-Hawaii 71-68 to become the NCAA Division II national champions.

Five busloads of students made the trip to Springfield, Mass., to cheer on the team.

“We ran the trophy to the student section and celebrated with them,” Sprague said. “It was awesome to share that moment with my family, as well.”

That night, Sprague notched a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. An hour after the game players still were signing autographs.

The Outlook talked with Sprague about his basketball experiences, his faith and his future plans.

Q: How did you choose to go to Bellarmine University?
A: The summer of my junior year at Castle High School in Newburg, Ind., there was a week when college coaches were allowed to contact us. I hadn’t gotten many phone calls. I did get an offer from Princeton University but no scholarship offers. I worried about that, prayed about it and the next day, I got two calls. One was from a coach in Hillsdale, Mich., and the other was from Bellarmine. Coach Davenport offered me a full scholarship, and that made my decision to go to Bellarmine very easy. The decision felt right. Now I know I wouldn’t be happy anywhere else.

Q: You are outspoken about your faith. How did that develop?
A: I was raised in a home of faith where you were expected to go to church on Sundays. It wasn’t a choice. In high school, it became my choice, not just something my parents decided we’d do. I had some struggles when I first got to college, but this year I’ve met a lot of people who are good influences and I’ve grown in faith the last 18 months.

Q: Were you always a basketball fan and player?
A: I started playing basketball in the first grade, though most of the time I just played driveway games with my two older brothers. As I grew taller, eventually to 6 feet, 8 inches, basketball became my sport. I played through high school and enjoyed that so much that I wanted to go on to the next level.  

Q: What do you plan to do after college?
A: My major is biology, and I plan to go to medical school. In fact, I’m taking the entrance test this summer. I plan to use that (knowledge) in the United States but also go on short-term medical mission trips.

Q: What date are you looking forward to on the calendar?
A: I’ll be going on a basketball mission trip to Poland in July with Shelbyville Christian Church, where we’ll use basketball to share the Gospel with kids. That’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.  

Q: What’s your advice for young athletes?
A: Stay focused on your goals. If you want to play college sports, you must be disciplined, take care of your grades and stay out of trouble. Coaches don’t appreciate baggage like grades or athletes who get into trouble. Don’t let silly or stupid things keep you from achieving.

 

Should Christians rejoice over the death of Osama bin Laden?

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

After a 10-year manhunt, terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is dead.

On Sunday, May 1, U.S. Navy SEALs stormed his compound in Pakistan and killed him in a confrontation.

As the news of his death spread, cheering crowds waving American flags gathered to celebrate at Ground Zero and Times Square in New York City.

The New York Post ran an online headline that read, “Justice at Last.” A print version front page simply said, “Got ‘em!” The St. Petersburg Times headline read “Dead.” The New York Daily
News headlined their story about bin Laden’s death with, “Rot in Hell.”

While the mood of the moment was celebration, newspapers reported that those who lost loved ones in 9/11 responded with a mixture of cheers and tears.

Over the days that followed, a debate was waged over how people should feel about the death of bin Laden. The debate was especially strong among Christians.

There’s no doubt that as the leader of the al Qaeda network, bin Laden caused a lot of heartache. He is linked to several deadly attacks, including suicide missions against U.S. embassies
in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000. He also claimed to be the mastermind of the destruction on Sept. 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people died after
19 hijackers flew planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. A fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pa.

Since that attack, many American soldiers have died fighting “the war on terror.”

Southeast member Don Waddell was an Air Force Colonel, an F-4 fighter pilot in Vietnam and he now leads the New Member Ministry at Southeast. In 28 years of military service, he
grappled with the morality of killing enemies. Waddell said he is not cheering bin Laden’s death. He is, however, relieved. Waddell discussed how he believes Christians should react to the
death of bin Laden.
 
Q: Should we celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden?
A: Osama bin Laden was a human being created by a God who loved him. He had a family. At the same time, he has brutally murdered many people and instigated terror. So I celebrate that the world is safer with him gone, I celebrate a huge victory in the war on terrorism, but I grieve that he died without knowing Christ as his Savior. Former Southeast Senior Minister Bob
Russell put it this way: “Israel rejoiced when Goliath was slain. However, Prov. 24:17-18 warn us, ‘Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles do not let you heart rejoice, or the
Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.’ There’s a difference between being relieved that an enemy is no longer a threat and gloating over his defeat—President
Obama said he didn’t intend to ‘spike the ball.’”
 
Q. Can we celebrate justice, not death?
A. Yes. I am not critical of those who cheer bin Laden’s death, but I am personally uncomfortable with celebrating anyone’s death, even my enemy.
David grieved over Saul’s death, even though Saul tried to kill him repeatedly. When David heard that Saul was dead, “David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel ... ”
(2 Sam. 1:11-12).
 
 Q. Should we pray for terrorists?
A. Yes. Matt. 5:44 says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of you Father in heaven.” When it comes to someone like bin Laden, this is a hard saying; but Christ wants us to pray for our enemies as a first step to loving them, as He loves us.  
 
Q. How did you reconcile the commandment not to kill with your own military service? Does the commandment apply to war?
A. War is a detestable activity that should be pursued only as a last resort. All sensible, God-fearing people abhor fighting and killing, but we live in a fallen world inhabited by evil people, and I believe the Bible allows for nations and soldiers to fight and kill under some circumstances.
Joshua’s invasion of Canaan is a good example. Deut. 20:1 says, “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.” The profession of soldiering is never condemned in the Bible. In fact, soldiers are praised for their faith, loyalty and courage.
While Jesus taught us to love our enemies, he used violence against the moneychangers in the Temple. He also resisted evil. We are told to do the same thing (John 2:14-16; Romans 12:9 and James 4:7).
 
Q. As a soldier, did you question your job in light of the biblical mandate not to kill?
A. I remember rolling in on a target described as a “known enemy location" in Vietnam. My job was to kill other human beings. As a Christian, I was conflicted about that. At the same time, I knew that my enemy, the North Vietnamese, had brutalized our POWs and killed friends of mine in battle.
My job was to kill the enemy who was trying to kill my Army and Marine buddies on the ground, but I took no pleasure in knowing I had taken the life of another human being.
 
Q. According to some news reports, bin Laden’s location was discovered as a result of waterboard torture at Guantanamo Bay, where prisoners of war are held. How should Christians respond to that?
A. This is an extremely complex and difficult issue, and I can’t find any scriptural precedent except according to Romans 13, we must submit to governing authorities unless it pursues policies contrary to God’s Word. What constitutes “torture?” Is torture even effective? I’d like to think that torture is not reflective of American values, but in a day when a nuclear weapon could be detonated in a large city, wouldn’t we do most anything to obtain information that might preclude that attack?
 
Q. Should Christians be conscientious objectors?
A. This has been a difficult issue for Christians throughout history. I respect the conscientious objector who refuses to fight, though I disagree with his or her position.  What would have happened in World War II if all Americans had been Conscientious Objectors?  
Certainly Christ called us to love our enemies. However, there is a distinction between how we respond individually, (Love your enemies) and how nations are to defend themselves from evil governments. Romans 13:4 says, “For he (the one in authority) is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
     
Q. Do Christians have a responsibility to take a stand against evil?
A. Yes, of course. We must speak out when we observe evil in our culture. We must oppose it by speaking the truth in love, by prayer, preaching and evangelizing. Evil is spiritual, and we should oppose it by spiritual means, for the most part. For instance, by speaking out against the evils of pornography and abortion, believers are seeking to restrain it, if possible.  
We cooperate with the police and authorities who seek to eradicate evil and crime, but we should never act individually to bring about justice. “ … It is mine to avenge; I will repay says the Lord,” (Romans 12:19). Sometimes He uses appointed authorities to execute justice, but that’s His job not ours.
 

A place to call home

By Patti Smith | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Vestine Muhoza remembers watching planes fly over her village in Rwanda when she was a little girl.

She thought flying would be fun and dreamed of becoming a pilot.

“I love traveling so much,” she said. “I want to travel the whole world.”

A little later on in childhood, she changed her mind and thought of becoming a police officer to help bring about justice.

“I wanted to do something that would not just help me but help others as well,” she said.

Muhoza, 18, has settled on becoming a doctor. She will graduate from Oldham County High School this month and major in pre-med at Centre College in Danville, Ky., in the fall. She hopes
to work for the United Nations Children’s Fund, commonly known as UNICEF, where she can help care for children in third world countries. Muhoza benefited from UNICEF as a child and is
passionate about being part of the good it does for those in need.

She was orphaned when her parents were among the more than 800,000 Rwandans murdered by genocide in 1994. She was not even a year old. Muhoza lived with different family
members as a small child and went to a religious boarding school in Uganda when she turned 7.

A teacher at the school talked with her about the Lord.

“She helped me through many things, and that’s how I got to know God and who He really is,” she said. “All my life, He has planned out for me wonderful things.”

At 15, Muhoza moved to Louisville with an uncle who had come to the United States to earn his college degree. She started coming to Southeast with her uncle’s wife, where the two met Teri
Ashley. Ashley quickly became acquainted with the family, and offered to take in Muhoza so she could have more opportunities in a new environment.

“People here are really nice. They help each other,” Muhoza said. “They are different.”

When Ashley learned Muhoza needed a place to stay, there was no question in her mind that she and her husband would offer their nearly empty nest. Muhoza has been just as much a gift
to the Ashleys as they have been to her.

“When my uncle told me (about the impending move), I was kind of sad. I mean, I didn’t really know her,” Muhoza said of the woman she now refers to as “Mom.”

Then she reflected on all the different homes she lived in while growing up, and it made her feel better about it.

“I was used to it and told myself, ‘I can do this. I have done this before.’ After two months, they felt like family.”

Muhoza has spent three years with the Ashleys, who have legal guardianship of her for educational purposes. They plan to see her through college and beyond.

“Sometimes I don’t know why God does these things,” Muhoza said as she reflects on His goodness in providing a place for her to call home. “He just does.”

Southeast couple trades in retirement for ministry

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dave and Donna declined to allow the Outlook to use their last name, citing a concern to protect their identity as they return to Central Asia.


Dave and Donna were ready to “kick back and enjoy life” on a Florida beach as they headed for retirement.   

After 40 years of hard work in busy careers, their dream was finally within reach. Donna looked forward to digging her feet in the sand and collecting shells. Dave planned to read, volunteer
and polish his photography skills.

Then God turned their plans upside down.  

Radical life change began with baby steps spaced out over 10 years.

On a short-term mission trip to Jamaica, Donna took blood pressures and pulse rates by going door to door through the town. After 40 years of working in a Louisville hospital where
complaints often outweighed thanks, the Jamaicans’ gratitude shocked her.    

“Contrary to what I’d believed all my life, I enjoyed the outreach,” Donna said. “I remember falling into bed exhausted at night and realizing at the same time that I was so happy.”     

Plans shifted again during a Perspectives Class at Southeast where the couple learned about God’s heart for all people and the biblical mandate to “go and tell.”  

Once they knew that everyone has a part in missions, there was no way to turn their backs on it.

Their future plans were drastically altered by numerous short-term trips to a Muslim country in Central Asia where needs are overwhelming, the land is barren, people are hungry and there
are no jobs. It was far from surf and sandcastles.  

Donna held onto a piece of her dream until she picked up a copy of John Piper’s book, “Don’t Waste Your Life.”

She didn’t have to open a page to see a message that seemed crafted just for her. On the back cover, Piper wrote about a couple who took early retirement and moved to Florida where they
cruised on their 30-foot trawler, played softball and collected shells.

“Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy,” Piper wrote.

For Donna, those words cut like a knife.

Within the book, she read of the danger of getting caught up in a life that counts for nothing.   

Investing retirement

Dave and Donna put beach plans aside, raised support to cover expenses, packed up a few belongings and moved to Central Asia.

Life is not easy there. It’s not always safe. Dave and Donna shop for food in an open market, put kerosene in a stove to get a little heat, deal with intermittent electricity and hot water and
have learned to live with security threats. They keep a bag with essentials packed at all times in case they need to flee. They have cancelled lunch meetings because of bombings, and they
have buried friends. But they say that they are not afraid, and they have no regrets.    

“We decided we’d rather die serving in Central Asia than of old age,” Donna said.

Dave and Donna do not describe their life as hard—just different. They serve in a place where they are closer to God and each other. They stay because God is working in the lives of people
who have never heard of Jesus, touched a Bible or heard that God has provided a way to heaven through Jesus. Donna calls it a “ministry of presence.”

They walk alongside Muslims, and even though they come from different cultures, connections happen. The people they meet and interact with are wives, mothers, husbands and workers
who want to care for their families.  

“If people know you are Christians, they watch to see how you react to life,” Dave said. “We try to provide an example that is worthy of our faith. In that part of the world, there are so many

obstacles to becoming a Christian that it seems insurmountable, but it’s happening. We are empowered and renewed when Muslims tell us how Christ is working in their lives.”

Some Muslim friends come to Dave and Donna’s home to study the Bible. They were surprised to learn that Muslims love genealogies in the New Testament and references to visions,
dreams and angels. Some have told stories of how seeing Christ in their dreams started their faith journey. The couple connects with Muslims who worry about doing enough good deeds to
get to heaven and those who talk of having a good demon on one shoulder and a bad demon on the other shoulder.    

Donna said at times she has prayed to be “uncalled,” but God has never sent that message. She also said it is a privilege to serve. The couple plans to return to Central Asia this summer.

“It’s a miracle that God plops a Kentucky girl in the middle of Central Asia,” she said. “I might kick and scream and ask to be sent to a mission field like Belize, but it is a privilege and a joy to
live with Muslims. God put a passion in our hearts for these people. I cry when I see beggar children who are starving, and I know that I feel only a small bit of what God feels for these
people.”  

For more information about short-term international trips, go to www.southeastchristian.org, or call (502) 253-8069.

Comedian keeps the laughs coming

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

It’s good to laugh—even in church.

Southeast member Tim McClendon used humor as a family pastor in California. He now uses it as a professional comedian at comedy clubs, churches and events around the
United States. At Southeast, he uses it to interact with parents and 2-year-olds in suite E of the Preschool Ministry.  

Children’s Volunteer Abbie Malone watches it unfold each week.

“Put Tim in any area of the ministry, and he’ll make it fun for everyone else,” she said. “He has a gift for putting everyone at ease and making it fun to serve. He’s hilarious without
trying.”

He banters with visitors and plays with the little ones. Tim’s one-liners keep the volunteer crew laughing.

To male volunteers checking in to teach for the first time, he might say, “Real men wear smocks.”

To nervous parents bringing their children to childcare for the first time, he may say,  “My first priority is your child’s safety. My second priority is to make sure I get animal crackers.”

He makes funny faces or falls down to make children laugh.

“I’d bring is a lawnmower if it would keep little ones calm,” he said.

A new mission field
When McClendon isn’t managing a suite of 2-year-olds at church, he isn’t sitting on the sidelines. As a decision guide, he counsels those who go forward after worship services to
accept Christ. As a vocation, he works with churches as a consultant on safety issues. He takes gigs as a stand-up comedian at retreats, church functions and the Comedy
Caravan.

With a degree in pastoral counseling and seven years as a family pastor in California, comedy is a different calling.

Full-time mission work always was in the McClendons’ minds.

Tim and his wife, Jenny, are passionate about ministry and seeing people accept Christ. The young couple now believes that they have found their mission field in the world of
comedy.  

McClendon is billed as a clean, G-rated comic, often sandwiched between acts that are not so clean. But if anything has shocked him about professional comedy, it’s that so many
in the business are willing to talk about God.

“The world of comedy is so accepting,” McClendon said. “They think it’s fine I’m a Christian. They think I’m a freak, but they think it’s fine. Just a few days ago, I sat with a guy for two
to three hours, going back and forth about religion. I was the first person he met who actually believed in the creation story. He was absolutely dumbfounded that I really believe
God created the world.”

The first time Tim performed in town, he opened his act with jokes about his dad being a pastor and his life growing up as a pastor’s kid.

There were no laughs for five minutes.

But when he finally got off stage, a couple of veteran comics who had been in the business for 25 years, told him that his writing was really good and encouraged him to continue
even though that crowd didn’t get it.

Well, they’re “getting it” now.

McClendon doesn’t use heavy-handed evangelism, but he does weave faith into his work. He talks about growing at a Christian camp in the San Bernardino Mountains in
California, where his dad knew nothing about child labor laws.  

“When kids are born, normal dads think about baseball games,” McClendon tells audiences. “My dad looked at me and saw unlimited sermon illustrations. When most kids get in

trouble, they get timeout. When I got in trouble, I got a sermon with three points and a conclusion.”

Tim got a degree in counseling from Liberty University in Virginia and was a family pastor in California for seven years. There, he kept crowds laughing while honing comedy
rooted in biblical truth.

“Sometimes we think it’s not appropriate to laugh in church, but that may be because so much comedy is negative. But we can be funny in a positive light, and we can use humor

to teach a lot of truth,” he said.  

The McClendons left ministry in 2007. By then, they’d grown the children’s ministry at the church they served from 17 kids to more than 200. They were busy with outreach activities.
Then Jenny had a miscarriage, endured temporary paralysis with Bell’s Palsy and had her back go out. Prayer brought no immediate answers or relief.

“We’d grown far from God by serving but not worshiping him,” McClendon said. “In a completely broken moment, I asked God if we could leave ministry. My first thought was to
come back to Louisville because of Southeast. We’d attended the church while I was studying at Southern Baptist Seminary. We knew that this church would point us to Jesus,
and we would not get in the same trap of serving without worshiping.”   

Those first few months away from ministry after leaving California brought a strange new territory for a time, but it also was healing.

The McClendons watched as volunteers embraced their daughter, Molly, in the Preschool Ministry. Eventually, they began volunteering.

Diane Mansfield, in the Preschool Ministry, said the McClendons are master encouragers for staff and volunteers.

Sometimes they send a handwritten note. Other times it’s a pat on the back or one of Tim’s famous one-liners.

“We are so grateful they’re part of our team,” Mansfield said.    
 

Southeast to become Red Cross shelter site

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Disaster moves into a community in many forms: flood, fire, earthquake, tornado or ice storm.

Beginning in June, Southeast will be an American Red Cross shelter in case of such disasters.  

Longtime Southeast member Don Scheer, who has worked with the Red Cross for 10 years, said it is a great opportunity to minister to hurting people in the community.

“When people are in a shelter, there’s a lot of downtime,” he said. “We can minister to them, show them we care about them and give them ongoing support. Often people who
experience a disaster together forge such deep ties that they don’t want to leave when the disaster is over.”

Alek Jozic, who works with the Red Cross, called the outreach simply “neighbors being neighbors.”

Volunteers who are willing to help at the shelter must take a four-hour class offered by the Red Cross and undergo a background check. In most situations, people who are assigned
to the shelter at Southeast will be members of the surrounding community.

At the class, volunteers will learn how to register people coming in, how to set up cots, care for those with special needs and work with the Health Department to get prescription
medications. Advanced classes will be offered for those wanting to go a step further and learn CPR.

The Red Cross provides cots, blankets, personal care kits and toys for the children. The first class will be limited to 40 people.
 

Irene Hedgspeth

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

This week, USA Weekend Magazine listed Southeast as the fifth-largest church in the United States.

Pretty amazing.

But Southeast wasn’t always a megachurch.

It began in 1962 with 53 people who left South Louisville Christian to start a new church in Louisville’s growing East End. They were an ordinary group of people God used in
extraordinary ways. Building a church with nearly 20,000 in attendance was never their goal. They simply wanted to serve God and share the Gospel.  

On April 15, one of the women in that original group, Irene Hedgspeth, passed away after a 17-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She and her husband, Garland, were part of that original group who worked hard, sacrificed and served. None of them were wealthy, held impressive degrees or had ambitious
goals beyond being faithful.  

In 1966, they hired a young preacher named Bob Russell. He was just 22 years old, a Pennsylvania farm boy who wowed them with his preaching. He was not much older than
their children, but that group of charter members adopted and encouraged him.

Nine months after Bob preached his first sermon at Southeast, Garland approached Bob with an offer he’s never forgotten.

“Bob, we really appreciate your ministry with us,” Garland began. “We think you’re more likely to stay if you own your own home. If you find a house you like, I’d be willing to loan you
the down payment.”

Bob and Judy were excited and grateful. They’d been living in an apartment and had no savings. A few weeks later, they found a tri-level home off Six Mile Lane for $23,500.

“Garland never flinched at the $4,500 down payment,” Bob said. “When I asked how I should pay back the money, he said however I could afford it, so we paid $35 a month for 15
years. Garland never told another person about the loan.”

Judy Russell said Irene was a “classy lady, beautiful, humble, loving and giving.” Their home was open for church get-togethers. It wasn’t unusual for the whole church to head to
the Hedgspeths after an evening service.  

 The Hedgspeths’ sons, Glen and Larry, who were not yet teenagers when the church began, grew up at Southeast.  

Glen said everyone worked. Whole families helped tear down buildings and landscape the grounds.

“When the doors were open, most everyone was there,” Larry said. “Everyone worked and sacrificed with a clear vision that this was going to be something for the Lord.”

Garland served as an elder and deacon, and Irene worked with the Lydia Circle, a small group of women who supported ministries of the church.

While Butch Dabney was the worship leader, elder and visible leader of the congregation, Garland was the behind-the-scenes businessman.

He made sure the finances of the church were transparent and that expenditures reflected the mission of the church. And behind Garland was Irene, a stay-at-home mom who
loved her husband and her sons. Bob Dabney, Butch’s son, called Irene “a Proverbs 31 woman who served at home and at church.”

Of course, there were disagreements among the original group over the years, but they left board meetings and church gatherings unified. They talked often of leaving egos at the
door, of going the extra mile and serving with humility.

Bob Dabney said Garland and Irene typified the Southeast goal to do everything with excellence.

Garland served with humility, especially after Butch Dabney put out an all-points bulletin for male singers in the choir.

“Now Garland wasn’t much of a singer, but he sang for a year to help out,” Bob Dabney said. “He was much more comfortable in the board room than the choir room.”

Charter member Doris Waddell said that Bob Russell set the tone for people in the church to work together.

“Bob talked often about choking out gossip, jealousy and pride,” she said. “We didn’t have the nerve to gossip.”

By 1973, the attendance at Southeast reached 1,000 for the first time, and it became clear the congregation needed to stretch to make room for more. Ten years later, the growing
congregation needed still more room, and members put off vacations, retirement, remodeling or buying new homes to finance a new campus further down Hikes Lane. That
offering totaled more than $1 million, and the church rejoiced.

The Hedgspeths watched the church grow with a lot of joy. They, like everyone else who started the church, knew they were part of something bigger than themselves.

Garland died suddenly of a heart attack in 1987, just before the congregation moved into the new building. Irene continued to serve and give. When Larry and Glen married, she
adopted their wives as daughters. When it was time for another church-wide offering to build the Youth and Activities Center, many members donated boats, motorcycles, cars and
jewelry. The items were auctioned off to help with the building fund.

Irene donated a diamond ring that Garland had given her, believing it was a good investment. That ring was purchased by Southeast members Jack and Linda Webster, who later
gave it back to the Hedgspeth family as a keepsake.  

There are not many charter members of the church still living, but Southeast owes them a huge debt. Their sacrifice laid the foundation for what God has done in the last 49 years.

Doris Waddell said the early theme song of the church was, “To God be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done.” It was true then. It’s true now. 

Prayer alters autism diagnosis

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Miracles aren’t meant to be hidden, but in the telling there’s always the risk no one will believe it.  

Years ago, Susan Steitz saw a miracle unfold in her family. This one was documented by baffled specialists at the University of Louisville. There’s no doubt in Susan’s mind that
what happened was a dramatic and profound answer to her prayers.  

Twelve years ago, Susan and her husband Andrew Steitz weren’t sure what was ahead for their family. Their son, Christopher, then 3 years old, was diagnosed with autism, a
neurological developmental disability that usually appears before age 3.

 There is no cure, but autism is treatable. In the United States, one in 110 children are diagnosed with it each year with a rapid rise in the number of children diagnosed in the last
15 years. According to the National Autism Association, environmental triggers may affect these children.

Susan tried to understand what happened.  

“I used to have a tumor on my pituitary gland,” she said. “I was taking some medication before I realized that I was pregnant with Christopher and stopped taking immediately
when I found out because there were risks to the baby. But one of the most serious health side effects were central nervous system disorders."

Symptoms of autism were subtle. Christopher led them to what he wanted, wandered off, had difficulty with simple coordination such as giving a thumbs up and repeated phrases
instead of answering questions.  

Committed to helping Christopher, the family set up occupational therapy, speech therapy and applied behavior analysis so he could learn fine motor skills. Susan prayed beside
Christopher’s bed every night.

The regimen to help Christopher became prayer and therapy, prayer and therapy, prayer and therapy. That began to change the Steitzes as much as Christopher.  

“We weren’t going to church then,” Susan said. “We didn’t realize at the time we named Christopher it meant ‘Christ bearer.’ That’s what our son has been to us. He is the reason
we sought a relationship with Christ.”

For kindergarten, Christopher attended Summit Academy, a nonprofit school in Louisville for children with learning differences. Two years after he was diagnosed, Andrew and
Susan took their son back to the University of Louisville for a follow-up evaluation with the same specialists who diagnosed him.  

They told Christopher’s parents that they had never seen such dramatic change in a child.

He went to Christian Academy for first grade and has been there ever since.

Christopher had no signs of autism.  

“No one who knows Christopher would ever guess that piece of his history,” Susan said.

He plays trumpet in the marching band, has good grades and has played soccer and football.  He also is in a C-Group with High School Ministry.

Whatever plagued Christopher during his early years, autism is no more. Susan says her son is a walking miracle. 

Church at Churchill

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

As the chaplain at Churchill Downs, Ken Boehm has met the rich and famous—movie stars, rock stars and celebrities.

That’s fun, but his most memorable moments are those recalled when looking back at the ministry on the backside. He recalls the Monday night he met a groom sitting in the back of Christ Chapel during a worship service.

The sermon that night was “Second Chances,” and Boehm used an Etch-A-Sketch to demonstrate how God forgives our sin and allows us to start with a clean slate when we ask
Him to forgive us.

It’s a message that hot walkers, grooms, jockeys and trainers yearn to hear. In a world plagued with alcohol, drugs, divorce and complicated by seasonal employment, the need is
huge.

When the service ended, Boehm made his way to the back of the crowded chapel and asked the man if there was anything he could do to help. The man nodded.  

“I tried to hang myself tonight,” he began, and pulled back the collar of his shirt to show Boehm a purple ring of flesh around his neck. He explained that he’d written a suicide note,
made a noose, put the rope around a pipe in the ceiling, slipped the noose around his neck and let go. The pipe bent under the weight and as he was choking for air, the man’s
toes touched the ground.

Minutes later, still shaking from the failed suicide attempt, he heard the call to come to church over the backside loudspeaker.

He walked down the gravel road, past the horse barns to take a seat in the chapel.

As he pulled the rope with the noose out of his pocket and handed it to Boehm, he said, “You saved my life tonight.”

Boehm corrected him.  

“Jesus did that 2,000 years ago,” he said.

Along with the rope, the man gave Boehm the suicide note he had written that afternoon.

“I’m sorry for any mess I may leave behind. I’m sorry for not doing my wife and children right. I’m sorry for the bad life I’ve led—not respecting my parents. I’m sorry for my
misleading and lying ways. I’m sorry for turning my back on God and everything I believed in. I’m sorry for not believing in me. I want my pain to end. I don’t want to go to sleep. I
miss my life and I miss my wife. I’m sorry I screwed it all up,” the man wrote.

He signed the letter, “Nothing.”

The next day, Boehm called 20 men, including Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and Derby-winning trainer Elliott Walden, a member of Southeast, to pray for that man for the next 30
days.

The man later went forward after a service to accept Christ and be baptized. He told Chaplain Ken to keep the rope and the note.

A surprising place to find salvation
Churchill Downs is not always thought of as a place of transformation.

Amid the pageantry, thrill of racing and beauty of the thoroughbreds is a backside culture of thousands of workers, including trainers, exercise riders, farriers, jockeys, grooms and
hot walkers who dedicate their lives to the industry.

Around Derby time, the place bustles like a small city. Roads on the backside are dirt. Transportation often is via bicycle. The barns house 1,700 elite horses, plus several hundred
horsemen and horsewomen. There are administrative offices, a recreation hall with pool tables and washers and dryers beside some stalls. The place is pristine, neat and
meticulously organized amid a distinct, but not overwhelming, fragrance of manure and hay.

Religion has a firm presence on the backside at Churchill Downs.   

For years, part-time chaplains led worship services in the recreation hall on the backside, setting up folding chairs around pool tables and putting a lectern in front of the betting
windows.

But Day and Walden wanted something more.

They know needs on the backside. Since most work at the track on Sundays and have no transportation, the men decided to take church to the workers.

Partnering with the Racetrack Chaplaincy Program, they hired Boehm as the first fulltime chaplain in 2003.

Leighton Cruse, a hot walker at Churchill, has attended Christ Chapel since the days services were held in the recreation hall. In a world where winning, working and succeeding
is fleeting, the church is something he can count on.   

“I’m not the example of someone being successful and living for the Lord,” he said. “I have a certain brokenness to me, and I’ve seen a lot of living here on the backside. What we
need here is hope. That’s what Christ Chapel gives us. A lot of people don’t even realize we’re back here, but the needs are everywhere. A man hung himself in the tack room.
Another racked up gambling debts and committed suicide. There are health issues, injuries, addictions, marriage and family problems.”

Message makes a difference for Cruse
Cruse has seen his share of despair. After breaking his ribs, Cruse lost his job at the track and spent six weeks living in his car. He has been lonely, sick, injured and
unemployed. He admits to a string of bad choices.

He began attending services at Christ Chapel on Monday nights.

Walden said the ministry is making a difference in hundreds of lives.

“God is breaking down traditional religion and replacing it with real relationship,” he said. “Most of the backside workers have been exposed to traditional religion with the formality
that comes with their heritage. The chaplain comes in and replaces it with a real person who is there to talk to, learn from and get help for physical and spiritual needs. They are
seeing Jesus through this ministry.” 

Weekend Group shows love for class member through wheelchair purchase

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Dick Benz calls his new wheelchair his Mercedes Benz—a play off his own last name.

Friends in his Two by Two Weekend Group at Southeast’s Blankenbaker Campus, who purchased the chair for him, tease that it’s more like a Rolls Royce.

He does not take the chair for granted.  

Dick’s wife, Karen, said it is a gift they can never repay.

The motorized wheelchair with touch controls on the arm and a tilt-back seat is Dick’s ticket to ride through hallways at church and Hillcreek Manor Rehabilitation and
Nursing Facility, where he has lived since breaking a hip seven years ago.   

Passing the hat
When doctors said Dick needed a new chair to ease pressure sores and a weak core, it became clear a new chair was not a luxury. It was a vital need if he was going
to get out of bed each day.

But the price tag of $7,000 put it far beyond anything the couple could afford since it wasn’t covered by insurance.  

Friends at Southeast heard about the problem.

The Benzes have been attending the Two by Two Weekend Group for some 30 years.

They visited the church after realizing they weren’t getting much out of the sermons at the church they had been attending. They visited for nine years before taking the
leap to become members.

“We never make rash decisions,” Karen quipped.

It is a life decision that has had a huge impact.  

People in that weekend group became close as family. They have watched as Dick struggle with one health crisis after another since being diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis in 1991.    

When the group talked of passing the hat to offset the cost of the chair, one voice in the crowd urged them not to wait another week, so they passed the hat that day.
The grand total exceeded $7,000—all the Benzes needed to buy the chair with a little left over to create a slush fund for repairs.

Karen was overwhelmed.

“There are no words to thank them for this,” she said.  

Dick Snider, who teaches the weekend group, explained why class members were adamant on taking up the offering.

“Small groups become family,” he said. “When someone hurts, we all hurt.”

He said there is no mistaking the Benzes' faith.

When Southeast was located on Hikes Lane, Dick Snider spotted Dick Benz driving his scooter along the sidewalk toward church one blustery winter day. Many
people had stayed home that day, but Dick Benz put on his hat and coat and started motoring in his chair an hour before church because Karen, who works full time at
T.J. Maxx, was working that day.   

“Snow had collected on his head, and he was soaking wet when he wheeled himself into class, but he never complained,” Snider said. “I decided never to complain again.”

Dick Benz rarely misses a weekend service or a Wednesday night with the couple’s small group, which meets in the Benzes’ home.

Pressing on through MS
Dick Benz’s life is challenging.

Living in a nursing home never crossed his mind back in the 1980s, when he was playing softball, volleyball and running in mini-marathons. MS moved in like a thief,
robbing him of mobility and his ability to design sprinkler systems for a living.

The power chair gives him some measure of independence. For a while, he leaned on a cane, then steadied himself with a walker.

When his MS worsened, he rode in a scooter, then a power chair. His new chair takes pressure off his spine and allows him to sit up.

Dick Benz now passes time at the nursing home by cutting out articles in the Outlook newspaper and mailing them to different people. Karen keeps him stocked in
stamps.

“God has been so good to us,” Karen said. “We are on a tough journey, but He’s cared for us in amazing ways.”
 

Phil Vetter makes a pencil, iPad and canvas tell a story

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Southeast Motion Graphics Specialist Philip Vetter grew up sketching “stuff.”

His specialty is drawing with his finger on an iPad. Not too detailed. Not too time consuming. No more than 20 minutes invested at a time.

People who regularly attend weekend worship services at Southeast likely have seen his work. He illustrated “The Dragon Story” that Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman told
with his sermon last winter.

When he can’t grab an iPad, Phil picks up a moleskin notebook and a pencil.

At the Vetters’ house, blank paper is a prized possession.

Phil’s wife, Tonia, sets aside junk mail, envelopes, anything with a little white space for art. She keeps a bin of crayons, markers and water colors on the fridge, away
from little hands that have decorated walls, rugs and bunk beds. To their three boys, who all are under the age of 4, everything is a potential canvas.

Art often is a family project. For example, Phil started a story with the boys that grows bigger every evening. He draws a page, and the boys make up the next page.

It is the epitome of Vetter family fun.  

Tonia said her husband always is sketching something. When she or the children are watching a television program, Phil might be sketching them. It happens
everywhere.  

Phil doesn’t talk much about his work for the church. You don’t see his signature on many works. That’s because communicating the message is a team sport
backed by a group of specialists in the Communications Ministry at Southeast.

Phil loves being part of that team. He came to Southeast as an intern in 2005, not quite sure how God could use his degree in graphic design. He had visited
Southeast to see the Easter Pageant one year and knew the church looked for innovative ways to share the Gospel.

The Vetters planted deep roots in a year.

“We fell in love with the staff and the message of the church,” Phil said. “It’s been our home ever since. I love using art to tell God’s story.”

Phil was raised in a Christian home and grew up going to church. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in computer graphics.

Art is so deep in his veins that he visualizes Bible stories as he reads and posts some sketches on his website.  

“Sketching the story keeps me on track when I’m reading the Bible," Phil said.

To see more of Phil Vetter’s work, visit http://Indianasketch.wordpress.com or http://philipvetter.com.

Indiana Campus adjusts service times

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The popularity of the late Sunday service at Southeast’s Indiana Campus has forced the church to adjust the times of both of its Sunday morning services.

Beginning Sunday, May 1, weekly worship services at the Indiana Campus will be moved from the current 9 and 11 a.m. worship times to 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

The early service is being moved a half-hour later to make it easier for visitors and families with young children.

The late service currently is about 80 percent full, and church leaders hope that pushing back the start time of the early service will encourage some people to attend the
early service. That will free up room for people who want to invite friends, family and neighbors to the late service.

Church leaders also have observed that when the parking lot is full at the 11 a.m. service, visitors are driving off rather than parking at the adjacent MKM Machine Tool
Co., Inc., factory parking lot and taking a shuttle bus to the church. That concern should be eased later this spring when a new parking lot opens between the campus
and the MKM building, Indiana Campus Pastor Eddie Johnson said.

“As (retired Southeast Senior Minister) Bob Russell used to say, the methods might change, but the message will remain the same,” Johnson said. “In order to grow and
serve God in the best way you can, sometimes you have to change your methods, and this is one of those instances.”

Johnson said that moving the early service to 9:30 a.m. also will make it easier on people who serve in volunteer roles.

“We ask people to attend worship for an hour and serve for an hour, and we believe that by shrinking the time between services, that will encourage more people to
serve,” Johnson said.

He added that he continues to be amazed by the growth of Southeast’s first regional campus, which opened two years ago.

“We didn’t start this campus as a convenience to our members,” Johnson said. “We started it to reach more people for God, and this growth is a sign that we’re continuing to do that.”
 

Combating the lie

By Chuck Colson

For more than two years now, I’ve produced a weekly Web video called the “Two Minute Warning.” We post a new one every Wednesday at www.ColsonCenter.org.

In every “Two Minute Warning,” I explain how the Christian worldview alone conforms to reality; that we cannot understand the issues facing the Church, the nation and the culture,
except by looking through the lens of a Christian worldview.

But just understanding the Christian worldview isn’t enough. We have to communicate it in a way others can understand. And frankly, we Christians don’t do that well enough. We often
come across as angry or judgmental, which is no way to persuade anyone in a discussion.

That’s why on a recently produced “Two Minute Warning” titled: “The Art of Persuasion,” I teach how to engage people about truth and how it applies to any number of issues. But we
have to do it in a way that will persuade them—appealing to reason and universal human experience. We build on the truths of Scripture, of course, but in a way that is accessible to
those who don’t believe in the truths of Scripture.

Why is this so important? Well, as my colleague T. M. Moore writes in his weekly ViewPoint column on the Colson Center website, our culture, our civilization, many of our friends, family
and neighbors, and even many within the church are in the grip of the lie.

And what is the lie? Moore says “The lie insists that God either does not exist or is not really relevant to human happiness … (that) every human being must decide for himself” where
to find happiness. “This is the way that seems right” to so many people these days, but, as Proverbs 14:12 says, “in the end, it is the way of death.”

The most obvious manifestation of the lie afflicting modern culture is relativism—the idea that there is no absolute truth. Relativists, Moore points out, “insist that truth is what people
understand it to be, depending on their circumstances. A relativist cannot say definitively that this or that idea … is true; the most he can say is that it may be true for me, for now.”

It’s not hard to see how moral relativism lies at the heart of so many of our cultural pathologies: greed, abortion, the breakdown of the family, so-called “gay marriage” and on and on.

But “those who know the truth in Jesus Christ,” Moore writes, “cannot simply stand by while the lie ravages churches, communities, families and individuals.” We need to engage the
culture, engage those who disagree with us. And engaging others means, first of all, listening patiently to what they have to say.

And then when we speak our turn, we must respect them as men and women made in the image of God, realizing that because they are made in God’s image, they are always
“susceptible to the in-breaking of truth when it is offered in a firm, gracious and clear manner.”

Moore nails it when he writes that instead of engaging in “angry, nasty denunciation,” we need to respond in “careful, pointed and effective ways” that leave those entangled in the lie
“with nothing left to say.”

Amen. I talk more about this in “The Art of Persuasion.” Please, go to www.ColsonCenter.org and watch it. Come back to the website every Wednesday because we are going to be
doing this frequently, explaining how we can make our case in a winsome way to the people around us; you’ll find great resources to help you.


Chuck Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship.
 

What’s in a name?

By Jacob Glassner | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

I’m new here. And in the last few weeks I’ve met scores of people—friendly, kind people—and I really wish I could tell you some of their names. Unfortunately, I’m bad with names.

I ran into “Laura” last week for the second time after an initial introduction, and we both had to ask, “What was your name again?” I put her name in quotation marks not to protect her
identity but because I still can’t remember it.

I really should be ashamed of myself, but everyone seems to be bad with names. We even warn people we meet that we are bad with names, and yet we still forget them.

Or there’s the classic line: “I’m good with faces but horrible with names.”  Everyone is good with faces. My dog is good with faces, too.

This got me wondering. If being bad with names is a human condition, and since Jesus was fully God yet fully human, was He bad with names?

I think He might have been.

Read through the Scriptures. He calls people “children” all the time, and He even refers to his own mother as “woman.”  Now, even I can remember her name.

“Dude,” “buddy,” “bro”—they are all just codewords for “I can’t remember your name, but I recognize your face.”  I tend to favor calling people “man.”

And then there’s the curious case of Simon Peter. Jesus didn’t forget his name, but He decided to give him a new one as soon as He met him.

“Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter)” (John 1:42).

Peter means “rock” in Greek. Maybe Jesus was using that old trick for remembering names: word association. And Peter just happened to look rock-like, so He gave him a new name.

Before I start getting emails from theologians, I do realize the name change was symbolic.

Matthew 16:18 says, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

But really, if I had the option of changing people’s names to a descriptive term, I’d never forget them.

I’d have friends named Tall Guy, Mr. Sweater Vest, Eats All the Nachos, Dances with Wolves … wait, maybe the Native Americans were on to something.

But unless Jesus gives you a new name, or you decide to go through all the paperwork and red tape of legally changing your name, you’re stuck with the one your parents gave you.

I’m Jacob Edward Glassner.

And, no, I’m not named after either of the characters in the “Twilight” series. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence, a very unfortunate coincidence.

Actually, when I was younger, Jacob was an uncommon name. I could never find neat pencils or stickers monogrammed with my name. Now I hear my name shouted down grocery
store aisles as wayward Jacobs run from their mothers. It’s been the top baby name in the U.S. for several years running according to the Social Security Administration.

So maybe I’m due for a name change. It wouldn’t be unprecedented. God changed Jacob’s name in the Bible to Israel. But then my wife would have to go out and buy all-new
monogrammed pillowcases, and that’s just not economically viable at this juncture.

Of course, I often get called Jason for some reason, so that would solve the monogramming issue.  I’m to the point where I just respond to Jason, Joseph, Jackson or whatever I’m
called. As long as the first syllable is right, that’s close enough for me.

But in all seriousness, it doesn’t really matter what your name is or who on this earth remembers it.

While being bad with names may be a human condition, there is One who knew your name long before your parents named you.

“Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name” (Isaiah 49:1b).


 

Questions for Siri

By Jacob Glassner | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Well, after three years of using the original iPhone, I’m now the proud new owner of an iPhone 4S.

The most interesting aspect of this incarnation of the iPhone is the computerized personal assistant named Siri.

You’ve probably seen the TV commercials: You can ask Siri to call a friend, write a text message or remind you to take out the trash when you get home. She talks (I say “she” because Siri has a female voice) and interacts with you. You simply push a button on your phone and ask away.

And you can ask anything; it doesn’t have to be business-related. She’s friendly and knowledgeable, and even a little sassy.

In my non-scientific tests of Siri, she has understood me—Kentucky twang and all—much better than other talk-to-text applications I’ve tried in the past.

“Siri, what do you look like?” I asked.

“In the cloud, no one cares what you look like,” she replied.

For the late adopters out there, iCloud is an online virtual hard drive to store documents, photos, music and other files.

Next I pitched her a curveball, thinking there was no way she would understand me.

“How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” I asked.

“Forty-two cords of wood, to be exact. Everyone knows that,” she said.

“Siri, tell me a joke,” I asked.

“Two iPhones walk into a bar … I forget the rest,” she said.

These questions might have been too easy for her, so I decided to ask some theological questions.

“Who is Jesus?”

She pulled up an encyclopedia entry on my phone screen with facts about Jesus, which read: “Central figure of the Christian religion, seen by most Christians as the Son of God or God incarnate.”

If Siri doesn’t have a response, she’ll often suggest a web search to answer your question. That’s what happened when I asked, “How can a man be saved,” and some other theological questions.

I also asked her the first question of the Westminster Catechism: “What is the chief end of man?”

I was hoping she’d say, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever,” but she had no response.

So I rephrased the question, and this time I got a response.

“What is the meaning of life?” I asked.

“I find it odd that you would ask this of an inanimate object,” she said.

I wasn’t satisfied with that reply. Siri often gives different answers to the same question if you ask her more than once, so I asked again.

“What is the meaning of life?”

“I can’t answer that now, but give me some time to write a very long play in which nothing happens.”

Funny, Siri.

I asked again.

“Life: the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity and continual change preceding death,” she replied.

She tricked me and gave me a definition of the word “life.” At this point I was getting a little embarrassed because Siri talks kind of loud and I was hoping my coworkers weren’t hearing me repeatedly asking my phone for philosophical advice. So I shut my door and asked one more time, and this last time she gave me a real
response.

“Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations,” she said.

While her answer may include some good advice, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. And as it turns out, I Googled her response and it’s a quote from the Monty Python film “The Meaning of Life.”

Next I might just have to explain the Romans Road to Siri.

Christianity and freedom

By Chuck Colson

Heaven help us, literally, if Americans truly forget where their rights and freedoms come from.

A recent op-ed in the Los Angeles Times asked “What’s God got to do with it?” The “it” being referred to was the security and freedom that Americans enjoy and
often take for granted.

The answer to the question is “quite a bit,” and arguing otherwise requires taking something else for granted: our way of life’s debt to Christianity.

The man asking and answering the question was Michael Shermer, the publisher of Skeptic magazine.

Shermer took exception to the words of a recent House resolution to keep “In God We Trust” as the national motto. The resolution read: “Whereas if religion and
morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured.”

Shermer was troubled by the “belief that religion has a monopoly on morality,” especially, he says, “in this age of science and technology, computers and
cyberspace, and liberal democracies securing rights and freedoms for oppressed peoples all over the globe.”

According to Shermer what really makes people “feel free and secure” are things like “the rule of law,” “education for the masses,” the establishment of “fair and
just laws,” and the “equitable enforcement of those fair and just laws.”

What Shermer doesn’t tell us is that things like the rule of law, mass education, and the other things he credits with making our freedom and security possible,
didn’t spring fully-formed out of nowhere. They are part of Christianity’s legacy to the West.

Take the rule of law. It was Christianity that taught the West that rulers are not free to do as they pleased and that they are not above the law. According to John
Calvin, resisting tyranny was the duty of those “who desire that every individual should preserve his rights, and that all men may live free from injury.”

The same can be said about mass education and even the science that Shermer puts so much stock in. They are the result of what Christianity taught: that God
created the world, and we were called to explore every aspect of it.

Most of all, our ideas about what constitutes a free and secure society are derived from Christianity.

Political scientist Glenn Tinder has written about how much of what we celebrate in our society, like the “respect for the individual and a belief in the essential
equality of all human beings,” has “strong roots in the union of the spiritual and the political achieved in the vision of Christianity.”

It was Christianity, you see, that taught the West that all human beings are created in the image of God.

Without that understanding, the very words of the Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights,” could never have been written.

Without this Christian vision we wouldn’t have the freedom and security that Shermer ascribes to science, technology and politics.

The issue isn’t what’s inscribed on our money but whether Americans understand what makes our way of life possible.

Sadly, I’m afraid the answer to that right now is “no, they don’t.” So it’s up to us, the Church, to explain just how vital the Christian faith has been—and still is—to
our rights and freedoms.


Chuck Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship.

Myths about missionaries

By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Missionaries I met as a child came to church once a year in out-of-date clothes and do-it-yourself-hairstyles that screamed out of touch and out of date. They
seemed a peculiar lot who lived in faraway places and showed slide shows that never seemed to end. People in the pews were nodding off by the time the
lights went back on.

But that stereotype was convoluted.

In the last 20 years, I have met missionaries from around the world and know, without a doubt, that I am a spiritual midget beside them. Eternity is on their
radar more than the last fashion. They are different, for they have turned their backs on the American dream to follow Jesus. If I had taken time to hear their sometimes disturbing, always convicting, life-changing stories, it could have changed the direction of my life.

This week, thousands of medical missionaries from around the world will be at the Global Missions Health Conference at Southeast’s Blankenbaker
Campus. They are a new breed of missionary—doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, pastors and teachers. They could make big money
practicing medicine in a secular setting, yet they choose to use their skills, their time and the best years of their lives empowering churches, training
nationals, relieving suffering.

They are not out of touch or out of date.

They do not fit any stereotype.

Here are a few of the myths about missionaries that cloud how we give, whether we serve and how we include missions in our own life stories.

Myth: In this modern world, there is no need for missionaries.   
Fact: To reach the 2.7 billion people who have never once heard the Gospel, every missionary active today would have to reach 450,000 people. Matthew 9:37 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” It was true then. It is still true today.

Myth: We need more people to focus on needs close to home.    
Fact: That’s always true. We do need people to focus on reaching neighbors, coworkers, those in our community who are hurting and have no idea that God care about them.
But needs close to home do not negate the need to reach out around the globe. If we are concerned about the eternal destiny of people here, we also must be concerned about the destiny of those in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. By almost every measure, needs are more stark in Asia, Africa and South America. Children in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal are being sold by their parents into the sex trade. Children in Ethiopia and Somalia are starving. According to UNICEF, there are 143 million orphans in the world. Every 90 seconds, an orphan dies of malnutrition.  

Myth: Modern communication has made it possible for everyone to hear the Gospel.   
Fact: There still are 6,700 ethnic groups who have never heard that Jesus loves them, died for their sins and offers everlasting life for those who believe in Him. According to the International Bulletin of Missionary Research, close to 2 billion people have not heard the Gospel, and many more need to hear it again. According to Mission Mobilizer, 66,000 individuals in unreached people groups die every day.  
Myth: Missionary outreach is antiquated. We shouldn’t force our beliefs on anyone.
Fact: According to the Pew Forum, seven in 10 Americans who call themselves “religious” believe that many religions lead to heaven. That changes how we view our responsibility to share the good news. If the lost really aren’t lost, and all will reach heaven regardless of what they believe, service and sacrifice are not important.
Everyone must come face to face with Jesus’ words in John 14: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Myth: A few “super Christians” are called to be missionaries.  
Fact:  The truth is everyone is called to missions. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands all of us to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” That call includes our neighborhoods, factories, schools and families.   Wherever we are is a mission field.

Myth: American missionaries have done their part.
Fact: Since more than 70 percent of believers are found in Africa, Asia and Latin America, this statistic can’t be true. Countries in Africa, Korea and South America are sending missionaries around the world. God is calling a new breed of missionaries into service. They are doctors, nurses, dentists, teachers and businessmen, contractors, teachers, dentists, men and women who are wiser than my generation. They already know that accumulating material the buildup of materialism is meaningless, that there is more to life than a paycheck and a title.
They understand that time is short and God calls everyone to a role in reaching every tribe and nation. They are establishing clinics in Oldham County, West Louisville, Somalia and Sudan.  
 

TV in a culture of sloth

By Chuck Colson

Ah, television.

Hundreds of channels with thousands of shows designed to distract us from what matters most.

May I ask you a question? Why do you watch that junk they put on television?

I don’t mean to imply that all television shows are junk. And I think that a certain amount of entertainment is good for us. But the deluge of TV trash is astounding. To increase
audience share, TV happily produces increasingly provocative content and well-intentioned people — including well-intentioned Christians — tune in.

“Dancing with the Stars” for example, has been a success in part because of the dancers. Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay danced. Professional athletes, journalists,
actors and singers have also danced gathering enthusiastic audiences for 13 seasons.

But by nature, entertainment is governed by the law of diminishing returns. If the stunt rider jumps his motorcycle over one school bus today and we all cheer, tomorrow he’ll
have to jump over two school buses to even get our attention.

And “Dancing with the Stars” is no different. Its producers need to take the audience to the next level.

So, as I mentioned recently on my “Two-Minute Warning,” which I urge you to watch at www.colsoncenter.org, this season the show features Chaz Bono, the transgendered child
of Sonny and Cher. Why? Merely to draw the curious — like the old-fashioned side-shows at carnivals.

But many of us will watch “Dancing with the Stars” and other such drivel. After all, we’ll tell ourselves, we just need a little distraction.

Media critic and Columbia University professor Todd Gitlin in his book "Media Unlimited" looks at our need for distraction. “Distraction is one of those terms,” he wrote, “…that
requires an object to make sense. The question is, distraction from what? Morality? God? Pain? Subjugation? Changing the world? More than one of the above? …Your answer
to the question Distraction from what? reveals what you value.”

It’s true that life today is complicated, exhausting and often heartbreaking. But ducking life through distractions like hours of mind-numbing and morally questionable TV is not
the solution.

We need to deal with the root problem, which is the insidious sin of sloth. We shrug our shoulders and mindlessly say “whatever.” Caring about nothing, we slide through life.
Our culture of distractions is the market’s response to a culture of couch potatoes.

Sloth causes us to ignore the opportunities God gives us for growth, service and sacrifice — and even true rest. Rather than interact with spouse or kids, we watch “The Biggest
Loser” or “Monday Night Football.”

Rather than making time for reading and prayer, we see what’s happening on Facebook. Instead of helping with the dishes, we check our e-mail.

After all, what could be more important than e-mail? Instead of interactions, we choose distractions.

Which brings me back to my opening question: Why do you watch that junk they put on television? Is it really just an innocent distraction or is it a convenient way to duck out of
the demands of life, including God’s call upon you for growth, service and sacrifice, for loving Him and caring about others?

Enough honest answers to that question could change the way we approach our family, our faith and our culture. And who knows, it could change the culture itself.

Face to Face(book)

By Nathan Thompson

I recently attended a seminar in Nashville that addressed the effects of social media on our mental and emotional health.

I went to the seminar semi-cynical, expecting to hear a full blown attack on networks such as Facebook and Twitter. I was pleasantly surprised, though. The seminar instructor
was fair and seemed balanced in his assessments. While the social media craze is still in its childhood stages, and no current study can offer conclusive results, there were
several insights I learned, and have thought about since, that are worth sharing.

The presenter discussed the rapid rate of growth that Facebook and Twitter have achieved. Currently, there are more than 800 million Facebook users. Nearly half of those
users log on daily. No doubt, the frequency of use has been made more accessible due to the hundreds of millions of smartphone users, another issue altogether. So,
essentially this means that about one-sixth of the entire world is on Facebook. The really impressive thing is that it only took seven years to reach this total. Twitter, which has
been around a little more than five years, already has 200 million users, and reaches a little more than 200 million tweets a day.

Something that has grown at such a staggering pace should perhaps make us stop and evaluate some of the causal factors that might be related to its popularity. We should
be appropriately suspicious of anything that grows with such enormity and velocity. As the Proverb goes, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will
increase.” The proverb applies to commodities beyond money as well. So what does Facebook offer that most of us are buying into? What is valuable and what could pose
potential problems?

Let’s look at the good aspects first. The New York Times reported that bringing valuable and important information to others was the main reason people posted on Facebook.
In other words, Facebook has become a newer form of e-mail. I find this to be true for myself. Another reason, and this one is a really good one, is to grow and nourish
relationships. This is the second greatest commandment at work through social media, and has been a part of our church’s slogan for years now. People will always desire
down deep to be connected. People also use Facebook in order to get the word out about particular causes and brands. Again, both are pretty noble in intent.

On the down side, as most of you are probably aware, some people are Facebooking for some less than virtuous reasons. One of the findings revealed that many are using
Facebook as a way to project an inflated image of themselves to the world. It’s not necessarily that people are lying about themselves on their posts, even though some
certainly do. Instead people are selectively sharing information that would reflect a desirable image of themselves. In biblical terms we would call this fostering pride.

On the flip side, this also reveals that people are using Facebook to boost their self-esteem. In fact, a research team at Cornell University conducted a study in which three
different groups of people were asked to participate in a self-esteem evaluating exercise. For 10 minutes, the first group was asked to stare at a blank piece of paper, the next
was asked to stare into a mirror and the last was asked to interact on their Facebook account. After the 10 minutes was up, the sample group that used Facebook reported
having a better sense of self and a greater self-image than the other groups. To no surprise, those who were given the mirror consistently reported having the lowest self image.

And maybe the saddest reality of all is that some people are simply seeking self-fulfillment. Loneliness was a common variable for many users. This statistic was found
especially true in marital couples who felt lonely. There’s a social media term called retroactive dating. It’s where a person starts browsing for their ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend,
hoping to reconnect in a meaningful way. In this way, social media can become a secret portal into adultery.

To keep your social media endeavors a good and God-honoring experience, you must first examine your motives before the Lord. Ask yourself some tough questions about the
nature and purpose of your social media connections. Second, consider ways you can incorporate accountability if you determine you need it. This might include sharing a
Facebook account with your spouse if you are married or posting a profile picture of you and your spouse or family if applicable. Third, consider eliminating Facebook from your
daily diet a couple of days a week. If this seems radical or unreasonable, see the first recommendation. Distractions can become addictions quickly. And I believe it would
behoove us all to be open and accountable to one another on this issue. Hopefully, through setting up some internal and external checks and balances, we can keep a good
thing, a good thing.

  
Nathan Thompson is a counselor in the Care Ministry at the Blankenbaker Campus.
 

Digital age

By Chuck Colson

So, how many friends do you have? Well, that depends on what you mean by “friends.”

A recent Toyota ad features a teenager sitting with her friends. That is, she’s on Facebook alone in front of her computer. Older people, she laments, are “becoming
more and more anti-social.” That’s why she pushed her parents into joining Facebook.

But despite all her efforts, her parents only have 19 friends while she has 687 friends. “This is living,” she adds.

Meanwhile, the ad cuts to mom and dad, who are mountain biking with other actual, live, humans. That is, they’re spending the day with their friends, while their
daughter stares at Facebook.

In “Faux Friends,” an essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, William Deresiewicz writes, “We live at a time when friendship has become both all and nothing at
all.”

Husbands and wives, parents and children, bosses and employees, pastors and church members, waiters and customers, politicians and voters are all “friends.”
And now thanks to Facebook and other social networking websites, people who barely remember each other from junior high school are “friends,” too.

We’ve come a long way from David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi, two classic examples of friends in the Bible. Such friendships, with their emotional intensity,
personal commitment, and sacrificial love, are rare today, even in marriage. They take time, effort, and a willingness to know and be known as you really are.

Facebook, as Deresiewicz argues, gives us the impression of friendship, not the real thing.

On Facebook all our friends are assembled in one place. “Except,” as he says, “of course, they’re not in the same place, or, rather, they’re not my friends. They’re
simulacra of my friends, little dehydrated packets of images and information, no more my friends than a set of baseball cards is the New York Mets.”

As one woman told him, “It’s like they’re all having a conversation. Except they’re not.”

Online you can be whatever you want to be, carefully crafting your image. Or —even worse— you can indiscriminately broadcast all your inmost thoughts and feelings,
things that are better kept for private conversations with, well, with your real friends.

Of course, the problems with friendship today are bigger than Facebook, MySpace, and other sites. Friendship was in trouble before they came along. They’ve just
made the situation worse.

Deresiewicz correctly identifies the idea implicit in social networking, “that identity is reducible to information,” specifically our “consumer preferences.” And social
networking is, for the most part, nothing more than sharing information.

But data tell us little or nothing about another person’s character—the most important quality of a good friend. We only learn about that as we patiently share and hear
one another’s stories.

Exchanging stories, he says, is mutual and intimate. It involves “probing, questioning . . . It takes patience, devotion, sensitivity, subtlety, skill,” all of which sharing stories teaches them.

While social-networking sites may have their place, Christian friendships, inspired by God’s love, have to go much deeper than digital chumminess. Indeed, we need
to demonstrate the kind of relationship Jesus has with us when he calls each of us “friend.”


Chuck Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship.
 

‘Upward mobility’

By Don Waddell

I was scurrying out of the Ministry Resource Center recently when I bumped into Nancy Aguiar, the perpetually bubbly, spirit-filled wife of Southeast’s chief of security, Ron Aguiar.

“Colonel, where are you going in such a hurry?” she asked.    

 “I’m going to pick up some makeup for Bob Russell,” I replied.  Nancy gave me a “you gotta be kidding me” look, so I stopped to explain.  “He’s taping his latest DVD
in the Matthew series and his usual cosmetologist is out of town, so I’ve got to get the makeup to him for tonight’s taping.”  

 I realize as a man, having a cosmetologist is not exactly, well, manly, but is necessary when in front of the camera. As Bob’s administrative assistant (read “secretary”
absent the skirt) it was my duty to pick up the makeup and get it to the church/studio in time for the shooting.  

  Nancy winked at me and I knew what she was thinking.  She often calls me “Colonel,” recalling my days in the military where, as a “full bird” Colonel, I enjoyed a
certain status that did not require running errands for a civilian. As a wing commander, I had 2,500 people working for me, a budget of $220 million and was
responsible for one-third of the nuclear weapons in Europe. Now I am responsible for getting makeup for Bob Russell.

 I was struck by the irony of the current situation and reflected upon my days as an officer in the Air Force. At that time I was obsessed with the concept of being
“upwardly mobile,” meaning I was on an upward vector to promotions, new career opportunities, higher pay and greater status. As a matter of fact, when I went
through Officer’s Training School, we had a class where a senior officer talked about a career in the Air Force and assisted us in mapping out our career from second
lieutenant to four-star star-general.   

 I wrote down years 1-30 horizontally across a sheet of paper and then entered certain prerequisites at the appropriate time.  I’d graduate from pilot training, spend
two tours as a pilot perfecting my expertise, attend Air Command and Staff College, serve a tour in the Pentagon, become a squadron commander, attend Air War
College, then fly, then back to the Pentagon, eventually leading to my promotion to General Officer.  I told myself I only desired promotion to enhance my Christian witness.   

 Actually, it didn’t work out that way. Despite all the career planning, countless hours of conniving, maneuvering for the best jobs, and endearing myself to the right
senior officers, I never got promoted to General.

You see, while I was praying to get promoted to General, my wife Nancy, who abhorred the thought of all the additional social duties associated with being the wife of
a General, was praying that I wouldn’t get promoted. Since she’s always been more spiritual than I, she prevailed. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I had the “right
stuff” to be a General. To be even more transparent, I thank God almost daily that it worked out the way it did. I love serving as the New Member Minister at Southeast
Christian Church.

While the world stresses career advancement and being upwardly mobile, the essence of the Christian life is just the opposite:  It’s about humility and the Bible is rife
with examples of godly men who thought less about “career” advancement and more about how they could honor God by being obedient to Him. Abraham left his
hometown of Ur and followed God’s lead to a far off land. John the Baptist’s profile diminished when Jesus came on the scene and eclipsed John’s popularity.  Of
course Jesus clearly demonstrated “downward mobility” when he left heaven to live in the squalor and corruption of this fallen world.  

In doing so, He taught us about the humility required to be a follower of Jesus. Writing to the church at Philippi, Paul said:  "Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:5-11).

 In the upside down world of faith, it is a “great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory” according to the Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

 In the Air Force, I worked hard to become upwardly mobile, and it resulted in eventual promotion to Colonel before I retired.  

But, working at the church is a totally new paradigm.  Now I don’t have to work for promotion, because I am already upwardly mobile (heaven bound).

Give your all

By Bob Russell

Why did the Lord insist that Moses be the one to confront Pharaoh? Obviously, Moses didn’t want the job; he tried every way possible to squirm out of it.
“Who am I?” “They won’t believe me.” “I am not a good speaker.” “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

The Lord’s anger burned against Moses and He said, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Why didn’t God move on to an alternate candidate since Moses was so uncooperative? Couldn’t Aaron, Miriam, Joshua or Caleb have done just as
well?   

Why did God insist that Moses—and only Moses—was right for this unique assignment? It appears that God, in His providence, had trained Moses from
birth for this task and only he had the giftedness, experience and credibility that were necessary.

Moses had been raised in the palace and was familiar with royal protocol. Moses wasn’t all that intimidated by Pharaoh because he knew from firsthand
experience that even powerful kings have feet of clay (a fatal flaw). And only Moses would have instant credibility with the Hebrew people. Although he
was outside of God’s will when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster 40 years earlier, even this may have added to his legendary status. Moses, and Moses
alone, had been fashioned by God for this weighty responsibility.  

God appoints a variety of people to leadership roles. Amos was a farmer, Simon Peter was a fisherman, Dwight Moody a shoe salesman and Billy
Graham a country boy. But there are times when God drafts a person with special gifts and experiences for the most critical tasks.  

Saul of Tarsus is a good example. Why did God choose Saul to be his ambassador to the Gentiles? Why make a special appearance to him on the
Damascus road and recruit him as one “abnormally born”? Since Saul hated the church and persecuted Christians, why didn’t God use Simon Peter to
reach the Gentiles, confront kings, debate the intellectuals in Athens and write half the New Testament?

Again, God in His sovereignty had been fashioning Saul of Tarsus from birth. The man who was to become the Apostle Paul had the best education, the
right pedigree, the keen mind and the strong temperament for that all-important assignment. God told Ananias, “This man is my chosen instrument to
carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

The important application for us is that God needs the best and the brightest for His service. He often chooses the foolish things of the world to shame
the worldly wise. However, well-educated, prominent people like Moses, the Apostle Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis and Charles Colson have
been especially valuable in His service.

On occasion, a bright high school graduate will say, “I was considering Bible college, but I got an academic scholarship, and I just couldn’t pass it up.”
Perhaps it is God’s will to accept that scholarship; however, to assume the scholarship overrules God’s call to ministry is an insult to the importance of
kingdom work.         

Sometimes parents protest, “My child is too sharp for ministry.” Really? Since when do we give God only the leftovers? We need the best, the brightest,
and the most talented to heed God’s call, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Old-fashioned or biblical?

By Denny Dillman

Which is biblical and appropriate for the Christian family—dating or courtship? I’m guessing as soon as you read that question you passionately picked
a side. Many of us never experienced courtship as a young person. We dated. Our only understanding of courtship was something we saw in movies
that looked old-fashioned, boring and unromantic. We went out on dates. We “went together.” We were “going together” or “going steady.” Sometimes
we “fell in love.” We fell out of love. We broke up. This was our pattern. It is what we did. It’s no wonder many of us allow dating for our kids, and we reject
and make fun of “courting.”

If we are honest, there is a seedy side to this “dating” that we did. “Making out” was the activity of the “cool kids.” I remember being at church functions
where guys would celebrate the success of how far they went with a girl. Guys who went “all the way” were considered cool, but girls who did were
quickly classified as “easy” or worse. Guys in my generation wanted to date the “easy” girl but marry the “virgin.” Take a moment and think about that.
Honestly, does that make any sense?

Leap forward in time 35 years. Can we all agree that the moral fabric of our nation has dramatically unraveled in the last 35 years? And yet we defend the
model of dating, a model that was a mess when we did it. So many of the checkpoints we had when we were dating don’t even exist today. And yet, there
are those who cannot believe that I won’t allow my daughter to go out on a date with their son so he can spend four to five hours alone with her with little
or no adult supervision. They expect me to let her ride in their son’s car and go to a movie that invariably projects a non-biblical worldview of
relationships and modesty. Then I’m supposed to allow her to ride alone with him while his hormones are firing like a Fourth of July fireworks show.
Take a moment and think about that. Honestly, does that make any sense?

Second Tim. 2:22 tells us to “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of
a pure heart.” Take a moment and consider modern dating. Does this verse match that pattern?

My oldest daughter, Lauren, is 22 years old. When she was a freshman in high school she informed me that she had decided not to date until she
graduated high school. “Praise the Lord!” I shouted. She had watched her friends in middle school constantly caught up in their hormonal soap operas
and decided she did not want that kind of life. She watched her friends give away more and more of that which is to be reserved for their husbands, each
time being used and rejected and losing a little more of themselves. She initially was considered weird, but over time she gained the respect of her
classmates, who, at the end of her high school experience, voted her Senior Superlative. They didn’t understand what she was doing, but they respected
it, and some I believe envied the freedom she experienced.

After high school, Lauren followed a pattern of dating like most people her age. She found it was extremely difficult to honor the God she loves and
maintain boundaries in the modern dating model. She has come to realize that God desires for her to honor Him by submitting to her earthly father’s
direction until God brings a husband into her life. Eph. 6:1-3 reads: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and
mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’” This command
does not end when the child enters middle school. It does not end when the child gets her driver’s license. It does not end when she turns 18 or 21. As
long as the parents are “in the Lord,” it does not end until the child reaches Gen. 2:24 status: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

I confess: I did not follow this pattern. I am deeply ashamed to say I did not honor my father in-law by asking his permission to marry his daughter. When
my wife and I were engaged, my in-laws did not know me, and my parents did not know my wife. The dating model we followed did not include the
parents until the wedding. This was wrong. While I would call this a fail, I pray that we honor them by loving each other, serving each other and training
their grandchildren in the ways of the Lord.

I will be continuing this discussion in my next editorial and focus on the specific “how-to” of courtship.

Denny Dillman is the Financial Care Ministry Leader at the Blankenbaker Campus.
 

Painting on the wall

By Chuck Colson

What can ancient cave paintings tell us about what makes us human?

In 1994, three explorers discovered a cave in southern France. The cave, named the Chauvet Cave after one of the men, was unlike any cave ever discovered: It contained
hundreds of prehistoric paintings, most of which were of long-extinct animals.

Not only was this the largest collection of cave paintings ever discovered, it was also the oldest, estimated by some dating experts to be 32,000 years old.

Chauvet Cave is the subject of a new film by German director Werner Herzog, “The Cave of Forgotten Dreams.”

While most of the commentary centers on Herzog’s film techniques, especially his use of 3-D, what’s really worth talking about is what the movie says about those whose
dreams are depicted on the walls.

That’s because it’s impossible to look at these paintings—or cave paintings elsewhere in southern France and northern Spain—and think that man is just another animal.

At least it ought to be impossible.

You don’t have to be a Christian or even a theist to agree. Paleontologists claim that about 50,000 to 70,000 years ago, humans underwent a profound transformation. It
wasn’t physical, and saying that they got smarter doesn’t do it justice.

The word that best captures the change is “imagination.”

Our tools, which hadn’t improved much beyond stone axes, became much more sophisticated. Even more telling was evidence of symbolic thinking: Art began to emerge,
beginning with decorative beads, and culminating in the caves depicted in Herzog’s film.

The effects of what Scientific American calls “the Human Spark” weren’t limited to the works of our hands. One of the most persistent questions in anthropology involves the
origins of human altruism. In fact, I talk about this today on my “Two Minute Warning” video commentary, which I urge you to see at ColsonCenter.org. The materialistic
account reduces altruism to a kind of evolutionary quid pro quo survival tactic.

A far better explanation lies in the human imagination: We are concerned with the well-being of others because we are able to imagine ourselves in their shoes. We can
empathize with their plight because our imaginations take us beyond ourselves and our subjective moods so we can see the world, however fleetingly, as others see it.

Thus, while zebras gather in herds for mutual protection, people throw themselves on grenades to save their friends and go without food so that others might eat. Likewise,
while a chimp might use a twig to gather termites, people use technology to transform our environment, not only for our benefit but for generations yet unborn.

And it goes without saying that no lion or panther ever depicted its prey on a cave wall.

Why this should be the case isn’t a mystery to Christians. We understand that human beings imagine, create and empathize because they are created in the image of a God
who does the same, albeit on an infinitely vaster scale.

We believe that God created us in His image even though He knew that the same imagination that made us unique in all of creation also made us uniquely capable of

rebelling against Him: after all, the Serpent asked Eve to imagine being like God.

Herzog’s film is an unintentional—and for evolutionists, inconvenient—reminder of how our imagination has always set us apart from the rest of creation, no matter how
hard we try to deny it.

The blessings of disaster

By Tony Gore

“This is worse than a warzone.” Those were words from a pilot friend of mine as we surveyed the devastation on the ground in Joplin, Mo., last week.  

I had seen the damage that tornados can do, and like many of us in Louisville, I had seen the recent damage that ice, high winds and flooding can cause.  

But I’ve never seen anything like this … block after block of devastation and rubble as far as the eye could see. When we first entered the pathway of destruction, we saw
familiar sights—trees blown over, houses with holes in the roof, a fallen tree on a car. But as we ventured deeper into the heart of the area, we noticed that the houses had
no roofs. Most of the time, there were no exterior walls on a house. And second stories of buildings? Forget about it. None were standing.  

We dropped some supplies at a local church then checked in with a relief agency to see how we could help out. Samaritan’s Purse, an organization under Franklin
Graham’s direction, was well organized, well respected and had made several contacts with local homeowners to see how they could provide assistance. They gave us
thorough documentation to read ahead of time and showed us a brief video about how to approach the cleanup safely.  

But most importantly, they set our minds and focus on two things: Being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and serving the homeowners’ interests.  

It was while serving on a home site in Joplin that we met Judy. She lived in the heart of the disaster zone and ran a small business out of her garage behind her house
called Just Judy Embroidery. Judy was between 65 and 70 years old and lived in this house with her husband who had Parkinson’s disease. Judy’s adult son was in town to
check on his parents when the tornado struck. He pulled his mom and dad into their interior bathroom and sheltered them with his body as the house collapsed around
them. They had a few bumps and bruises. Judy thinks maybe she had a concussion, but they all walked away from the disaster safely.  

The day we met Judy, she was surveying for the first time the damage that had been done to her house. Judy walked around shaking her head with a faraway look, then she
went back to her van and sat for a while, obviously overwhelmed with it all. That first day it was difficult for Judy to put into words what she felt.  

As volunteers, we became overwhelmed with the piles of debris that needed to be moved from the back yard, side yard and garage area and taken to the front curb where it
could be picked up and hauled off. But a few moments walking around with Judy reminded us that this wasn’t just debris. These were tangible items that were significant to
Judy and her family.  

We unearthed pictures, documents and keepsakes. Judy asked us to keep an eye out for a maroon afghan that was precious to her. We never found it. We did, however, find
a handgun that was important to her husband, as well as cast iron skillets that Judy seemed excited to have back.  

Days two and three on Judy’s property brought some more perspective. The second day, Judy jokingly scolded me for pouring out her potting soil, which she said she
planned to use to pot plants for the back porch. There was no back porch.

After finally clearing the foundation of the house of any more standing structures, Judy looked at us and said, “Well, it’s about time you got my front porch swept off.”  

Judy’s personality and sense of humor were returning. We prayed with Judy. She and her family had a faith that put everything in perspective. They were alive. They had each
other. Their house was gone and their property was a mess, but they still had their faith.  

Judy’s perspective reminded me of the passage of Scripture found in Hebrews “ … without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must
believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).  

You want a good healthy dose of perspective?  

Put 90 percent of your possessions out in the rain and the weather, tear your house down, smash your cars up and move it all to the curb. Then see what you have left.

Judy and her family and so many others in Joplin have done just that. And indeed they have found something—something bigger, richer, deeper and more meaningful than
all their stuff. They have been reminded that their faith is not in all this stuff. They have placed their faith in God. They have found their joy in connecting to Jesus and one another.  

It reminds me of the words found in Matt. 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.” 

No storm can take that away.


Tony Gore is the Team Leader for the Care Groups Ministry at the
Blankenbaker Campus.

Greed isn’t good

By Chuck Colson

The purpose of any business is to maximize profit, right? Wrong.

In the 1987 film, Wall Street, a corporate raider named Gordon Gekko tells an audience, “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works.”

Gekko’s audience applauded. But we’ve all seen where that profit-above-all else philosophy led us. It’s an approach to business that damages customers,
co-workers and the country as a whole. Witness the 2008 economic collapse. Clearly, greed doesn’t work.

I recently took part in a “Doing the Right Thing” panel discussion in Minneapolis, in which participants talked about business ethics and examined the broader
business picture.

We noted that greed as a business philosophy was taught approvingly in business schools in the 1980s. It legitimizes the profit motive and self-interest above
all else. Many people glorified this approach until the results came crashing down around us. The darlings of Wall Street now are on everybody’s hit list.

Christians ought to have a different approach to business. As believers, we should view work as both service and a form of worship. Our work, our vocation, is a
high and noble calling and a means of expressing ourselves.

We also have the concept of shalom—that is, human flourishing within a community. This means Christian businessmen should be thinking about more than
just profits. Their business philosophy should reflect a commitment to shalom.

As one of our panelists noted, businesses are rarely confronted with a choice between pure evil and pure good. Instead, they are often faced with awkward
choices. Morality gives us the truth about what reality is about. Ethics asks how we make decisions when we’re faced with imperfect choices.

For example, one of our panelists, Steve Tourek of Marvin Windows, talked about decisions the company had to make when the economy went south. His
company’s leaders considered what would happen if they laid off a lot of employees. They’d have difficulty paying their mortgages. Mass layoffs in towns where
their plants were located would also affect schools, stores and other businesses. The well-being of the entire community would be harmed.

So the company decided not to lay off any employees. Instead, executives took reductions in salaries and benefits. Shareholders also took less, and so did the
workers. As a result, they kept the company, they kept their customers, and they kept their communities whole.

Ten years ago, people would have criticized this decision for being bad business. Not anymore.

Good ethics can make a profound difference in public affairs in terms of how we live as a society. This is why the Colson Center and the Templeton Foundation
have produced a DVD series called “Doing the Right Thing.” America simply has to recapture its belief in right and wrong—in ethical behavior. Our prosperity, our
freedoms and our future as a nation depend on it.

If you’re in business, it will help you not to think like the reptilian Gordon Gekko—and instead to ask yourself, “Am I doing what I could do for other people who,
like me, are made in the image and likeness of God?”

Fatherhood

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jan. 26, 1999 was one of the proudest days of my life. After 21 hours of labor, my wife, Heather, gave birth to our first child, Dylan.

I still remember welling up with pride (and a few tears) as I sat in the hospital room and held him at length. I just stared at him and breathed in that new baby
smell. I wondered what his life would look like as he went through his progression of years.

Fast forward to Sept. 11, 2002, and I was in the same position with the birth of our daughter, Kayley. As I looked at her, I wondered the same things I had
wondered about Dylan. But I also wondered if I was going to be able to devote the same amount of love and attention to the second child that I did to the first one,
who had become such an important part of our lives.

OK, in light of Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman’s recent sermon about lying, I’ll come clean. Admittedly, Dylan was the center of our lives, sometimes
more than even God.

It wasn’t that I was trying to be disobedient to God. Quite the contrary. I was trying to do right by these precious gifts that He had given us. I took the job of
fatherhood so seriously, that the kids got a disproportionate amount of my attention.

I since have worked hard to recalibrate my priorities, but acknowledge that I’m a work in progress.

Fatherhood has been very rewarding and fulfilling. I have found that there was plenty of time and love for both children. I love teaching my children new things,
and I love the passion and enthusiasm that they have for life. I also love watching them develop their budding relationships with God.

Fatherhood also has been a learning experience. And I’m not just talking about learning how to French braid hair and reach new levels on the Super Mario
Brothers video game. I’m talking about learning how to see my children as God sees me.

The innate sin nature that we all possess is apparent in children from an early age. I could pay the church’s light bill for a year if I had a nickel for every time I
walked into the room to referee an argument or discover a mess, only to be told “It wasn’t my fault” by my stone-faced children.

I can’t tell you how many times, out of frustration, I have uttered “How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?!”

Then one day it dawned on me. How many times does God, my heavenly Father, watch me and say “How many times have I told you not to do that?!”

That realization was quite humbling because it put God’s mercy and grace into perspective.

It would be awful easy to be harsh with our kids and hold a grudge against them when they repeatedly make the same mistakes, even after being scolded for
making them.

But then again, is that the kind of treatment we would want from God?

The beauty of having a relationship with a heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally is that He doesn’t abandon us when we make mistakes. He holds us
accountable and expects us to repent for those mistakes and not live a life of sin, but He doesn’t want us to be riddled with guilt. We can’t effectively reach people
for Christ if we’re shackled by our past transgressions.

I take comfort in the encouraging words found in Prov. 3:11-12, which give us some insight into how God operates as a father: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s
discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

Being a father is a tremendous privilege. I often have wondered how anybody who has witnessed the intricate development and birth of their child could ever
question God’s existence. Watching that little life grow and develop and enter the world is a true miracle that only the Creator of the universe could engineer.

Once that little one is in your arms, it becomes your responsibility to abide by one of the most widely quoted parenting directives in the Bible, found in Prov. 22:6:
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

As a father striving to raise children in the same manner that God raises us as His children, I believe it is my duty to teach them the Word, live it out and be there
for them unconditionally, much like the man who was there for his prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.

In that story, the brother of the prodigal didn’t understand why his father was so quick to forgive the wayward, yet repentant, young man.

“You are always with me, and everything I have is yours,” the father explained. “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and
is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

That is what I want my children to realize, and what I never want to lose sight of. No matter what bumps in the road we encounter along the way, as long as I’m
alive, I will always have a duty to be there for my children, and I will never turn my back on them.

After all, we, as fathers, have a great model. For God has told us, as is translated in Heb. 13:5: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Lost at sea

By Chuck Colson

Medicare as we know it will change because we sacrificed, or because we went bankrupt. The question is how.

We really don’t get it, do we? A recent Associated Press poll reports that more than half of Americans believe we can balance the budget without cutting Medicare
spending.

As the late great Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.

And the facts are clear. By the year 2024, unless we make real changes, Medicare will go broke. Done. Kaput.

This is not a doomsday prediction like Harold Camping. It’s reality. Go ahead and Google “Medicare 2024” and read the results.

Oh, and for the six out of 10 Americans who believe we don’t have to make any changes in Social Security, well, at least we have until 2036 before it runs out of cash.

The urgent question before the American people is this: Are we willing to restrain ourselves now in a reasonable way or wait until bankruptcy forces us to—with
disastrous consequences?

Given the recent congressional election in New York, if the political pundits are right, the answer is frightening. In fact, Democratic politicians seem emboldened to
hammer Republicans on Medicare reform, while many Republicans are becoming contortionists trying to avoid the topic. They’re both dead wrong.

Even the liberal New York Times gets it. “Sooner or later,” it opined recently, “Democrats will have to admit that Medicare cannot keep running as it is—its medical
costs are out of control.”

So, we fix things now, or we go under later.

It’s like the old mariner’s tale of the ship lost in a storm. The captain and eight surviving crew members found themselves in a small lifeboat far out to sea. By the
captain’s calculations, given their position and the currents, it would take 24 days to reach shore. But the boat only had enough food and water to last 12 days. So, if all
aboard agreed to half rations, they might just make it.

But the crew refused. They demanded full rations, and they made it very clear to the captain that he had no choice in the matter.

The captain kept a diary of their perilous journey. By day six, it became even more clear that they would run out of provisions before reaching safe harbor. Yet still the
crew would not agree to reduce rations. Even though the sun beat down on them mercilessly, at least their bellies were full and they had yet to feel real thirst.

By day 12, the captain recorded that the food and water were gone. Yet shore was nowhere in sight. By day 13, panic set in among the crew. It took every ounce of
leadership skill to keep order on that little boat, surrounded by the endless expanse of the sea.

On day 24, just as the captain had predicted, the currents had dragged the boat ashore. At least that’s what the recovery crew surmised after they found the captain’s
diary aboard—along with eight dead sailors. The captain was nowhere to be found—unless the gnawed bones found on board...well, that’s another story.

Folks, the moral of the story—and of our predicament today—is that we can make it to safety if we marshal our resources wisely.

Or we can starve to death later.

We must save Medicare and Social Security. But to do so, the American people will have to summon the courage to make sacrifices. And to do that, we’ll have to
re-learn what once was called the Protestant work ethic, and re-invigorate a nearly lost Christian virtue called delayed gratification.
 

The art of conversation

By Brent Adams | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Do you have trouble following God’s commandment, found in Psalm 46:10?

I’m here to confess that I sure do.

I’m reminded of the bumper sticker I have seen on some occasions: “Let go and let God.” I have read it, and it makes perfect sense, but it sometimes is easier said
than done.

I have been in the midst of making some big decisions over the past couple weeks, and it has become apparent to me that, even though I know better, I still can think
that I know my situation better than God does.

It makes me laugh to see that typed out in black and white, but it’s true that I’m guilty of selling God short.

So how do we even get to the point where we think we are a better navigator than the Creator of the universe?

It is likely that it comes from not allowing ourselves to “be still.”

Sure, I have time alone with my thoughts, and I often will pray for guidance, but a friend recently posed a valid question: How well do we really listen for a response?

Is your quiet time with God a true conversation, or is it more like a kid sitting on Santa’s lap at Christmas, bombarding him with a “wish list?”

Do we make choices because we thought we heard God’s response, even though what we heard was really what we wanted to hear, or do we truly listen and allow
God to speak to our hearts?

I realize that the more mature I become as a Christian, the more important that dialogue with God is. It’s not a one-way conversation. We need to be still and allow
God to guide our steps.

We are constantly overwhelmed with decisions that affect the course of our lives and possibly the lives of those around us. There are decisions about jobs, homes,
vehicles and family issues. There also are decisions about how we should devote our time and resources to serving the Lord. How much should I tithe? How should I
volunteer my time? Should I go on mission trips? How should I be sharing the Gospel with those around me?

The problem is, in the instant-gratification society we find ourselves in, people often want us to make decisions at the drop of a hat (yes, even in church).

My wife and I once were looking at a house we were interested in buying. We were being pressed to make a snap decision because other couples also were
considering it. We wanted to go home and spend some quiet time seeking God’s direction rather than making a hasty decision, but the Realtor wanted an answer by
the end of the day.

Does God have an “express lane?” Should we expect that we can lay our quandaries and challenges out there and God will have an answer for us in the time it takes
to bake a frozen pizza?

Just ask someone dealing with the breakup of a marriage, grappling with a cancer diagnosis or trying to beat an addiction. I don’t think it’s that simple. Getting prayers
answered isn’t always as easy as phoning in a request to a radio disc jockey and waiting for him to play your song. Prayers aren’t always answered according to our
schedule.

But make no mistake about it, God does answer prayer. The answer might not be what we want to hear or it might not come as quickly as we desire, but the answer
will come if we have faith in God.  

The answers to prayer might come in a variety of ways. They might be spoken through a friend or family member, or they could pop into your head during a period of
quiet time and reflection. The answer to prayer also might become apparent in the midst of a trial.

In Matt. 7, Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who
seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

In Matt. 21, Jesus tells his disciples, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Does that mean that if you ask God for a shiny new Porsche you will receive it? I don’t think it’s likely because God is not interested in fulfilling our materialistic
desires. I’m not talking about name it and claim it. After all, it was Jesus who said in Matt. 6: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”

If we put our trust in God to lead our steps, He will be there to guide our way. But, we need to be still in His presence and listen for the answers to those prayers.

Caring for the elderly

By Chuck Colson

What do you do with parents when they can’t take care of themselves any longer? It’s a tough question.

I was traveling in Texas recently when I bumped into an old friend; a man whose opinion on financial matters I really value. We got into a fascinating
conversation.

My friend said, “I’m in a very good position financially, but both my parents, and my wife’s parents, are on Social Security. One night I sat down and thought
about the cost to the taxpayers of the members of my own family. And then I realized that my wife and I could easily pay for those benefits ourselves. But
somehow it had never occurred to us that we ought to.”

His comments really struck me. I remembered that when I was 10 years old, my grandparents moved in with us. During the Depression, there were no
government programs or nursing homes for the elderly. When relatives became sick, their families took care of them. But it wasn’t easy. My grandmother had
terminal cancer. My mother exhausted herself caring for her day and night and never complained, even though she had so many other responsibilities,
including me. But my point is that it never occurred to my parents that they were making any special sacrifice. This is just what you did for your family.

How different things are today. Now, when an elderly person becomes ill, it’s typical for relatives to strip him of all his assets and then put him on Medicaid. Is
this the right thing to do?

Is it honest to take away everything from a sick loved one, and then claim he or she has no assets? And how do our parents feel when we choose to put them
in a home instead of bringing them into our home?

A bigger question is, what is our country’s philosophy now, given our current debt crisis? Do we go back to caring for our own, or do we palm everybody off on
Uncle Sam?

Well, the biblical model is quite clear: You care for your own family if you possibly can. Centuries of church history back up this view.

I know what many of you are thinking: If I take care of mom, I’d have to quit my job. And if we pay for all of her care—prescriptions, doctor bills—we’d lose
everything we put away for our children’s education.

These are legitimate concerns. But we ought to be talking about it in the church. So far, all we’ve seen is religious believers attacking lawmakers for cutting
programs for the poor and sick, bankruptcy or no bankruptcy. It doesn’t seem to have occurred to these folks to ask what the Bible says about this.

Families are responsible for sick and elderly relatives, certainly if they can well afford to help. (The Bible has a lot to say about the evil of debt, too, I might add.)

I have to admit: My own mother died in an accident before I had to make any difficult decisions about her care. I do have an autistic grandson, however, and I’m
not about to let the state take over our job.

Most Christians will have to face this choice. Do we know what the Bible teaches? Are we prepared to follow God’s commands?

Let’s start talking about it. Go to BreakPoint.org and click on “Speak Out with Chuck.” Share your thoughts. Let’s be open and honest with one other, all the while recognizing that caring for the elderly and the infirm is a difficult, even traumatic, issue for so many.




 

Once saved always saved?

By Bob Russell

Can a saved person ever be lost?

One of my closest Christian friends believes that once a person is saved, it’s impossible for that individual ever to be lost again. My friend isn’t a hyper
Calvinist who believes God has predestined some to be lost and others to be saved, but he is convinced that eternal security is a biblical promise. He quotes
Jesus, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).        

When I relate the story of a former preacher who has renounced the faith and now indulges in gross sins of the flesh, my friend insists, “He wasn’t really
saved in the first place.” I understand his reasoning and acknowledge that God sees the future and knows who will be faithful and who will not.  

To be honest, there’s a part of me that wants to believe, “Once saved, always saved” because it would give me an even greater sense of assurance. But the
danger of believing that way is that people can become flippant about their own sin and indifferent about reclaiming the fallen.

Disagreement over this issue shouldn’t be a test of fellowship that divides believers. Let’s concede that there are proof texts on both sides and practice the
slogan, “In doctrine unity, in opinion liberty and in all things love.” But the problem I have with the teaching of eternal security is there are some Scriptures that
strongly indicate otherwise.

The book of Hebrews contains several warnings against falling away, none more ominous than Heb. 6:4-6: “It is impossible for those who have once been
enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to
public disgrace.”  

That’s an explicit, frightening warning! Heb. 10:26 is another: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice
for sins is left … ”  

The Bible teaches that our relationship with Christ is secure. We are not saved one moment and then excommunicated as soon as we commit a willful sin.
Our relationship to the Lord is one of a child to a loving father. My sons can flagrantly disobey, and they still are my sons. They still are in my will. But I could
envision a day when one of them becomes so rebellious and lives so counter to my values that, with a broken heart, I would disinherit him, knowing he would
use my resources to lead others astray. That would be extreme, but possible.

God’s warning against falling away is another expression of His love. The Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As we grow
closer to our heavenly Father, perfect love casts out fear. But if believers forsake their first love and begin sliding down the slippery slope into sin, God’s final,
loving barricade is the fear of losing our eternal inheritance.

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it” (Heb. 4:1).


Bob Russell is the retired Senior Minister of Southeast Christian Church and the founder of Bob Russell Ministries.
 

Christianity

By Nathan Thompson

As I understand it, much of Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky’s writings can be summed up thematically by the following question: “Can man be good without God?”

This question seems to pop in and out of literary, philosophical and theological circles from time to time.

In recent history, the topic has become a kind of live wire again. The question is aimed at seeking out the necessity of God for moral goodness. The notion is if man could be good
without God, then he wouldn’t need God. Perhaps societies would flourish better if there were no need for God. Another way of framing this question might be, “Is God any good
for man?”

Most of the time when this subject is broached, it’s done so from the vantage point of someone who is either trying to communicate to someone who has no faith in God, or they
themselves are seeking a faith in God. Rarely is it formatted as a discussion between believers, in particular, those who are followers of Christ.

But I think this discussion needs to happen more frequently. I believe a better understanding of the nature of our own moral goodness could benefit us as a church family. In
return, perhaps we can communicate this truth more effectively to those who are sitting on the fence of faith.

Usually, when we think of morality, we think of ethical behavior. Brought up in the evangelical church, I was raised to know right from wrong. I was taught how to follow what was
good and how to reject what was bad. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn why certain things were bad and certain things were good. And while this lack of understanding wasn’t the
causal factor of my prodigal years, I can’t help but think it might have contributed to my self-destructive tendencies. What made certain things moral and other things immoral, and
what role does God play in this, if any?

I have witnessed three immoral paradigms during my spiritual journey. Let me share them with you for what they’re worth. The first I’ll touch on briefly. As I mentioned, I had a
prodigal experience during my youth. This moral issue here is pretty clear for me, and I think it is almost assumed for most Christians. If you walk away from your faith as a
teenager, and you no longer are concerned about morality, then immoral behaviors are quick to ensue. Man cannot be good apart from God under these conditions, mainly
because he is not trying to be morally good.

The second issue I have faced is more vicarious. It appears there are a good number of folks living in the world who reject any religious affiliation, yet they are indeed trying to live
moral lives. They have divorced themselves from any external source of goodness and are operating under their own devices. Ultimately this leaves the person as his or her own
source of goodness. The end result tends to be self righteousness or moral superiority. Righteous indignation spoils goodness with its prideful moral comparisons and angry
defenses against others. Consequently, ego defenses go way up in this moral system because being right is a protection of one’s goodness. As it turns out, attacking the
wrongness of others is a bad way of being good. But this moral attack and defense cycle is exactly what you will find under these conditions.

Lastly, I believe there is a dilemma more crucial for evangelical Christians. I think of it as non-relational morality. This is where a follower of Christ actually believes in God, strives
to be moral and those efforts continuously end in vain. This pitfall begins when a believer makes morality an end rather than a means to an end.

Non-relational morality is very appealing because it is solely propositional morality—a set of ethical principles, or what Israelites would have called the Law. Most practicing
Pharisees believed they could be saved by knowing it. Jesus clearly pointed out that this is a bad approach to morality. The Apostle Paul points out in Romans, “we know that the
law is good,” however the goodness of the law resides in where the law leads us, not just in the law itself. God issued the written code to both convict people of their wrongness
and lead them into righteousness. That righteousness is Christ himself.

I think this is why Jesus says that He has come to fulfill the Law. So we don’t have to be enslaved to the utter futility of trying to practice goodness toward others to validate our
personal goodness. None of us created goodness, we can only experience it. The moral law was spoken through God to point to something beyond itself, and that something is
deeply relational. Relational morality begins in a relational dynamic with God, the source of goodness. This relationship is made possible by Christ’s sacrifice for our estranged
relationship with God. Christ’s goodness is imparted into us through a relationship with the triune God, and is extended toward our relationship with others. In this way, all
goodness ends where it begins—with God. 

Value of human life

By Chuck Colson

English author Samuel Johnson once wrote that some truths are too important to be new. I’ll share with you some important old truths about human life.

A few weeks ago a friend sent me something he thought I would enjoy reading—something that had been published nearly 30 years ago by Ronald Reagan. I found it so moving, I
want to share it.

In 1983, then-President Reagan sent an unsolicited manuscript to the editors of Human Life Review, who published it in a small book. It was a heart-felt plea to the American
people to recognize the sanctity of life of unborn babies—and to never give up working to protect them in law.

Reagan reminded readers that neither the American people nor our legislators had ever had a chance to decide if they really wanted to legalize abortion through all nine months
of pregnancy. That’s still true today.

Nor is abortion a right guaranteed by the Constitution. Reagan wrote that Roe v. Wade was “not the first time our country has been divided by a Supreme Court decision that
denied the value of certain human lives.” The Dred Scott decision affirming slavery has that dubious distinction.

He wrote of the great need to clearly frame and present the issue of abortion, just as abolitionists exposed the terrible truth about slavery.

And what is the real issue? Reagan asked. “The real question today is not when human life begins,” he wrote, “but what is the value of human life? The abortionist who
reassembles the [torn-apart] arms and legs of a tiny baby to make sure all its parts have been [removed] from its mother’s body can hardly doubt whether it is a human being.”

And in 1981, Senate hearings on the beginning of human life involved many medical and scientific witnesses who agreed, based on scientific evidence, “that the unborn child is
alive, is a distinct individual, [and] is a member of the human species.”

So “the real question,” Reagan wrote, “ … is whether that tiny human life has a God-given right to be protected by the law—the same right we have.”

Reagan quoted Lincoln, who wrote that “nothing stamped with the divine image and likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on.” He quoted sociologist William Brennan,
who warned: “The cultural environment for a human holocaust is present whenever any society can be misled into defining individuals as less than human and therefore devoid of
value and respect.” And he quoted Malcolm Muggeridge, who said that “Either life is always and in all circumstance sacred, or intrinsically of no account; it is inconceivable that it
should be in some cases the one, and in some [cases] the other.”

How right these men were.

In order to bring back protection for the unborn, which involves fighting the powerful abortion lobby and activist judges, Reagan said, quoting Mother Teresa, we must become “a
soul of prayer,” In fact, we must be like William Wilberforce and his friends, who, Reagan recalled, prayed for decades for the end of British slavery. “Let his faith and perseverance
be our guide,” Reagan wrote.

The Gipper would be pleased to know that, thanks to the ceaseless efforts of many Christians, more Americans now call themselves pro-life than ever before.

Integrated life

By Chuck Colson

What is the proper goal of business? One new book has a surprising, yet thoroughly biblical answer.

Imagine walking into a bank to withdraw some cash. As a bank employee hands you your money, he asks you an unexpected question: “Now, is there anything I can pray
about for you?”

You may be surprised to learn that there is such a bank—in Otsego, Minn. It’s called Riverview Community Bank, and it was co-founded by a man named Chuck Ripka. The
bank was designed to minister to the needs of the people in the community.

As businessman Ken Eldred writes in his new book, “The Integrated Life,” the bank has become so successful that people drive for up to three hours to visit “the bank that
prays with people.”

Why don’t more banks do that? I could use an extra prayer when I stop at my bank’s drive-thru window. The reason more banks, or other businesses, don’t do things like this
is because they don’t have a proper understanding of the goal of business. According to Eldred, it’s to “serve others to the glory of God.”

All too often, even Christian businessmen and women compartmentalize their lives, putting their private, spiritual lives in one sphere and their work lives in another, with
different goals and standards for each. But that’s wrong. In business, as at home or at church, we should obey the command of Jesus to love God and love our neighbors as
we love ourselves. We should daily be living out the command to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

This means that someone who sits next to you in the pews on Sunday should not discover on Monday that you engage in unethical business practices.

A view of business as serving others does not mean we should forget about profits. Obviously, profits are necessary or a business won’t survive. But, as Eldred notes, “if our
goal in business is to serve others to the glory of God, our work assumes spiritual value.” It means putting a priority on serving others in love, and running our business with
a servant’s heart, not as a tyrant—or as one simply trying to make as much money as he possibly can.

For example, at Riverview Community Bank, the management does everything it can to help people who are having problems repaying their loans. Instead of sending out the
loan collectors, the bank instead asks the customer how its employees can pray for his particular situation. In taking this approach, the bank is going far beyond providing
basic financial services. Employees are discerning and meeting customers’ “latent needs for God’s help,” Eldred says.

This approach has made Riverside Community Bank so popular that the bank exceeded by nearly two years its own asset and income projections.

All the prayer in the world, however, would not make the bank popular if it were not also conducting business in a biblical and ethical manner. Every Christian-run business
ought to be known for its strong work ethic and the excellence of its products. And the work we do must be “in harmony with God’s creational purposes,” Eldred says. This
means we should not involve ourselves in the sale of pornography, for instance, or exploit workers.

I urge you to read “The Integrated Life.” It’s an excellent book written by a man who’s had great business experience himself, and has a strong faith. You can get a copy at our
online bookstore at BreakPoint.org. Share it with the business people you know.
 

‘Little Ricky’

By Lisa Griffin | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Beautiful evening? Check. Patio chair? Check. Tongs and lightly seasoned ribs? Check. A fire in the ol’ grill to slowly smoke the meat to tender perfection? Ch … oooh.
Nope.

So that’s what that weird piece of metal was for that I found—and threw away—when I last mowed the yard. Sigh.

I took the meat inside to cook an inferior-tasting baked version, and booted up my laptop to watch “Howard’s New Life” on YouTube while I worked around the kitchen. That’s
the episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” where Howard Sprague moves to an island in the Caribbean to escape the rat race. That had sort of been my plan with the escape to
my back yard, now that I think of it (less grand, but much more affordable).

One Internet link led to another, and the next thing I knew, I had learned that one of Opie Taylor’s pals, Johnny Paul Jason, was played by Keith Thibodeaux, who I then
discovered had portrayed Little Ricky on the “I Love Lucy” show a few years earlier. Learning something new about shows that I’ve watched for years led me to poke around
on the Internet for more information about Thibodeaux, which turned out to be even more impressive.

I came across an extensive video interview with the now 60-year-old Thibodeaux on the Archive of American Television website. It seems he took the route that so many child
actors take after an early brush with fame—disillusionment with life and a descent into drug addiction. He was the drummer for the rock band David and the Giants, and
when one of his friends “became basically a vegetable” from the same drugs that he was taking, Thibodeaux knew that he needed a miracle to save him from “the atomic
bomb that had blown up in (his) life.” It was a bomb that brought clinical depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Thibodeaux finally had all he could take and was ready to accept help. He found his way to God, began reading the Bible, and his life began to change. His band mates

began telling him “you’re a different guy,” and as he shared his faith, they also became Christians. The band began playing Christian music, and they became one of the
earliest Christian rock bands. They toured around the world and eventually recorded nine albums (check ‘em out on YouTube!).

Thibodeaux met his wife, Kathy, an internationally celebrated ballet dancer, when she came to one of his concerts. She, too, became a Christian, and the two began Ballet
Magnificat! (Latin for “to magnify him”), the country’s premiere Christian ballet company, which seeks to restore dance as a means of worship and disciple dancers to spread
the Gospel.

Wow! How like God to take a life in shambles and turn it around in such a glorious way. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now
being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20).

At the end of the interview, when Thibodeaux was asked how he would like to be remembered, he thought for a moment, then said, “As one who followed God with all of his
heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength; one who is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ … a good husband and a good father.”

It sure sounds to me like the former pint-sized “Babaloo” drummer is making the transformation that Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman explains in his new book,
“Not A Fan” (see page 1 for more info)―moving from being an admirer of Christ to a completely committed follower.

Respected Christian researcher George Barna also writes about this transformation in a new book “Maximum Faith: Live Like Jesus.” After six years of conducting in-depth
research, he has concluded that there is a 10-step process involved in genuine transformation. Barna asserts that “genuine transformation to wholeness and freedom
requires a long-term commitment, a solid partnership with God, the willingness to grow through pain and hardship, and the willingness to live a counter-cultural life.”

In no-wonder-the-world-is-in-the-mess-it’s-in evidence, Barna shares some troubling statistics:

- Most Americans never get beyond step three (awareness and concern about sin and its effects, but not cooperating with Christ to alleviate it).

- Most Christians never move past step five (inviting Christ to be their Savior and engaging in a lot of religious activity).

- Among adults who claim to be Christian, just one out of every seven (14 percent) say that their relationship with God is the highest priority in their life.

Perhaps the most discouraging statistic was that:

- Less than 2 percent of the public has reached either of the final two steps in the process.

If it sounds like an “I’ll-never-make-it” proposition, keep in mind that Barna says our transformation potential lies in how we handle “inevitable regression,” euphemistically
known as “two steps forward, one step back”―or more often, “one step forward, two steps back.” It’s about truly coming to the point of surrender, diligently striving with the
help of the Holy Spirit, and remembering that “ … nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

I figure if He can turn life around for “Little Ricky” in such a dramatic way, He surely will do the same for yo