4th of July

Harvest held a 4th of July BBQ outreach at Justin & Melissa's home. They arrived in March from Tucson, AZ. Their current plan is to be here for 1 year, and then see how the Lord leads. The BBQ was a great success, 3 neighbors came over, and enjoyed the BBQ'd sausages and hamburgers. The weather was just right, it rained all weekend, until church ended on the 4th..then puffy white clouds, and lots of sunshine. The kids (big and small :) played in the jumpy house and kicked the football (soccer ball) around in the back yard. There was lots of great fellowship, and opened doors with their neighbors!

UK Pastors/Leaders Conference - 1 Year in Northern Ireland

It's been one year now that we have been in Northern Ireland and what a year it has been. God has shown us over and over, in subtle ways, how clearly it is His will for us to be here. To be in ministry for Him full time, with people that we enjoy, doing what we love and fulfills us so, is such a blessing. But God isn't finished working in us, either. One statement from the Pastor's conference has summed it up: "It's not the work that God is doing through you that matters, what is important is the work God is doing in you."

In this past year, the Lord has graciously provided perfect transportation for us and a wonderful house to live in. He even supplied a kitten to comfort and entertain us! He has opened doors of opportunity to minister to others through children's church and the retirement community at Moreland Close, as well as prison ministry and Christian ministry in the greater community.

But at the conference, in talking with Phil Twente, the missions pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, he said how difficult the first years are for those of us who have left the familiar and are serving in a different culture. The harsh reality is that there are difficulties and we are in a spiritual battle. We "fight the good fight of faith" with enemies within (our own sinful human nature) and enemies without – unseen enemies that are trying to confuse us and discourage us from following the course the Lord has laid before us.

Second Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us, "Yet the Lord is faithful [literally: utterly to be depended upon] and He will strengthen you and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil one."   Another encouraging message from God's word says to us in Philippians 1:6, also in the Amplified Bible, "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ – right up to the time of His return – developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." May the Lord Jesus keep working in us in the years ahead and even work through us!