Dear (Contact First Name)
The year 2016 has been filled with opportunities and continues to hold promise for even more ministry. The Basic Idea Ministries is served currently by our staff (Carol, Linda, and me); our Prayer Team, several Donors, and a team of 25 Encourager Couples. Carol and I have been blessed to serve the Lord and His Church here in Georgia (Atlanta, Roswell, Marietta, Gainesville, Rome, Armuchee, and Dawsonville), in Alabama (Bessemer, Hackleburg, and Dothan), in Texas (Houston, Magnolia, Dallas, and Austin), in South Carolina (Greenwood), in Missouri (Branson and Kansas City); in North Carolina (Harrisburg), in Ohio (Akron), and in Brazil (Londrina). We’ll be adding East Warsaw, Indiana and Orlando, Florida before the end of the year as well as revisiting some of the cities I/we have already listed.
Besides all that, we have “met with” many people for follow-up using Go-To-Meeting video conferencing as well as mentoring couples and leading IE small groups in person!
Though there are many stories to tell: A denomination moving toward relational healing in pastor/leader couples; churches developing marriage ministries where none has been; pastor/leader couples leading their church by example of personal renewal in their own homes; children seeing parents stabilize their homes; churches reaching into the community with the Gospel and inviting people into authentic love relationships, armies of volunteers developing and growing in churches; couples – who were “lost” in their marriage dysfunction – now healing and preparing to serve other marriages and families, …. and on and on we could go.
I decided to relay this one story due to my attempt to honor your time –
I’ve recently returned from a week in Brazil working with a church in Londrina, Parana. While serving the leaders and couples of the Mission 5:16 church, Holy Spirit allowed me to spend a few minutes with a group of high school students.
On Friday, Sept. 30, for about 15 minutes I had the chance to address twenty-five students between the ages of 13-17. These students were from public schools in Londrina, Brazil, and had signed up to come to the Cultural (center where Ely Torresin – the pastor of the Mission 5:16 church – and his staff are responsible for helping 1300 students learn English and/or Spanish. Students in the public schools of Londrina are offered a free course of study to learn life skills, character, and habits of success in a non-religious environment while practicing English).
I was asked to speak during this 15-minute window on the topic of “integrity and how to finish well in life or maintain credibility throughout life”. The group was what you might classify as “typical-looking teens” – basically children in growing up bodies, but they were respectful as they listened – well, most of them were. One couple talked to each other subtly and looked condescendingly at the old man addressing them….that would be me.
Holy Spirit took my jumbled thoughts and made them fit together in ways I had no idea could be done —- especially in 15 minutes. I told the group that life here on this earth and what we count as success depends on what we think about eternity. If “here” is all we have then we look to get everything we can now and accumulate stuff. But, if there is more than this life, then success gets redefined. I told them of the wealthy folks I knew in Naples, FL – retired CEO’s of Fortune 500 or 100 companies – and that having loving, lasting relationships, not money, was the real key to success and a life of meaning.
I showed them the cup from IE and Basic Training and quickly described how the cup accumulates poisons in our mind and heart. I gave them the illustration of my Mom and my Aunt, living on the same street and about the same age, yet opposites as far as success in life, relationships, and having a joyful end of life. The difference – my Mom’s cup was nearly empty of poisons; unresolved hurt, guilt, insecurity, self-condemnation, bitterness, and anger. She was filled with Holy Spirit and His fruit to a large measure. My Aunt just the opposite – sad story indeed.
Though I could not and did not mention Jesus, God, heaven, or hell, Holy Spirit broke through and these teens were connecting with the message by the end of the talk. As I described the cup, I realized I had no time to tell them what to do with it, but one of my points was that they should find people whose life they want to emulate and ask questions, spend time, invest effort to learn how to be truly successful and live a life that is worthy of imitation. I then pointed to their young adult teaching staff – all of whom are believers, recruited as teacher/mentors for leading small groups of students. Abba Father, loves these students so much, and I saw it and felt some of it while I spoke. They need to be saved for eternity and for today to become disciple-makers themselves.
Acceptance: Those students felt accepted and not judged as the Holy Spirit drew their attention to their own need and our concern for them. One of the teachers, Jonas, later told me – through tears – the following story about one of his 14-year old students.
Jonas said, “After you (Dave) spoke today, we all went to our groups to discuss the material from the Habitudes book as assigned. Everyone was sitting with their heads down and seemed very serious. One of the young men looked at me and said, “How did that man know every emotion I have felt all my life? He doesn’t know me and he was only here 15 minutes.” I could tell God was working in his heart so we talked after the group. Tears flowed from his eyes as the boy spoke of feeling so alone, unloved, and unknown. I (Jonas) told him of the love of God, of Jesus’ life and love, of God’s invitation to be in His forever family and how to take the steps. “
By this time Jonas and I were crying and rejoicing with Ely (who was trying to keep it together so he could keep on interpreting). We celebrated, fellowshipped in the spirit, praised our wonderful Savior who loves us and those kids.
This story by God’s grace will be repeated 1000’s and 1000’s of times in Londrina and around the world, as the Body of Christ, His Church, continues to make disciples who make disciples who love God and others, sharing the truth in love with those in our circles of influence.
Carol and I, along with our Board of Directors (Mike Glogorski, Jeanne Ward, Darrell Flowe, and Patty Cheek), and our Administrative Assistant Linda D’Avanzo are so happy to be in this work together and alongside you.
Let us know of ways we can pray for and serve your vision.
You certainly have been a blessing to us,
Dave and Carol