World Renewal International
Thursday, May 31, 2007
New Church Plant
I want to ask you to pray for a new situation. Pastor Ramiro Matinez, Mexico City will start a new church this Sunday in Xochimilco, Mexico. He has requested prayer for this new start.
This is what Pastor Ramrio said to me today: We will rent a place for special meeting next Sunday in the new church of Xochimilco, (we will try to do this every month), I will preach and please pray that new people may be saved and other could make a commitment with the church too. People from San Lorenzo are working with me giving discipleship to new people there.
San Lorenzo is a fairly new congregation that started meeting in one of the parishioners carport. I have called it the carport church at times. It still meets on that property in a very nice garage that is converted to a church. It is great that they are helping with this project. They would like to be farther along themselves but have taken up this challenge. Xochimilco is only about 25 minutes from San Lorenzo. We have found that new church plants need the support of other congregations. San Lorenzo is providing food and leadership. Pray for this new effort.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
BC-RC-AC
The Clint Clouse Women's Leadership Conference in Haiti got off to a good start even though our main speaker/teacher Wes Davis did not arrive when we had hoped because of flight challenges. WRI Staff Rep. to Haiti Max Wright [above left at our orphanage this trip] had a decision to make for the first service. He decided that he would give his testimony. Max's first wife passed away leaving him with a four year old son and a four month old baby son. The youngest son passed away as a young teenager. He shared of Christ's love for him and his family. The room was quiet as Max finished. Haitians expect such testimony of lost family from another Haitian but not an American. Then Max asked them to divide up in pairs with someone they did not know and give their testimonies.
One lady did not find anyone and was spending extra time around the drink area. Because of an odd number at the conference our national leader Pastor Luc offered to be her testimony partner. He gave her his testimony then asked to hear hers. She said, "Well, I don't think I have one." Pastor Luc said, "Would you like to have one?" She stated that even though she was a leader in her church she had never really given her heart to Christ. Pastor Luc lead her on the journey to receive Christ as her Savior. Frank Penna (seen in picture above with some of the ladies at the conference) later told Wes Davis, "This will be Gary's favorite part of this conference." He was right.
Pastor Wes Davis [pictured] of Riverton, Kansas is WRI's Director of Education Development.
I still find it amazing, the value the Bible and its leaders find in a testimony. The Apostle Paul could give a thorough apologetic defense of the Christian faith I am sure. However, when given the opportunity in Acts 26 before the powers of the nation what did he do? He told a wild story of his encounter with Jesus Christ while lying on a road leading to the city of Damascus!
It left the model, blueprint, of how to give a testimony for all of us who follow. I sum it up this way: BC-RC-AC Before Christ-how I Received Christ-life After Christ.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Am I Really Out of Touch or What?
It has been a long time since I was able to write to those of you who pray and think of us. I am hoping my traveling can be more friendly in the future to this blog site. Thank you for your patience and not giving up on us.
[Doug Newnum leads worship at New Life]We had a wonderful time in Virginia being a part of the tenth anniversary celebration of New Life Community Church, Ridge Way, Virginia. The worship band Renewal was as good on Saturday night and Sunday morning as I have heard them. Oh they have been better muscially they would be quick to tell you but, I really felt the Lord as they sang on Sunday morning and in the second half of the service Saturday night. Their remakes of "In the Sweet By and By," and "Where Could I Go But To The Lord," are really sweet and this church really loved them. Me too. The travel is tough on them. We have been doing this together for 18 years. They work hard so they can leave their jobs and families then travel for 12 hours with little sleep, get to the church with little time to set up their sound equipment and instruments and try to get comfortable with their sound. It is not easy. I looked at them when they arrived and could read their body language. These are good men who do tough stuff for Jesus. Thanks for the weekend Gary Jones, Doug Newnum, Steve Lindley, Mike Cruse and Dan Downer. Of course they will not read this because they are too busy trying to make up for being gone. How about you asking God to bless them? Thanks!
There is a phrase in the New Testament, it appears twice in the KJV and once in the NIV. "Many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 20:16 KJV. "Many are invited but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14 NIV. I was reminded of these verses during the weekend in Virginia. Saturday night I had a clear witness in my heart that someone I was preaching to was "called to preach" themselves. It was a youth event, but all ages were there. At least two people made commitments for His service in some way.
[Pastor Terry Knighten and myself, I am holding a rock that is from Pastor Terry's "Prayer Spot" on the side of the hill on the church property he presented to me. He knew I collect rocks from my travels as prayer reminders.]
I was reminded how hard it is in our culture for anyone, especially youth, to say, "God has called me to preach." It is just not politically okay to say that. So they say, "Youth Ministry, Ministry, maybe Pastor." Never do I hear "preach." I am not saying people are not called to do those things. Nevertheless, when you look at all the churches across the country and around the world there are millions of people preaching. God needs gifted anointed preachers! How many people miss their purpose in life because they were not "chosen" in spite of the fact they were "called". I believe they were not "chosen" because they never said, "Yes!"
I remember the night in Trueblood Field House in Richmond, Indiana August of 1966 when I sensed the Lord ask me, "Gary, I have called you to preach the Gospel, will you do it?" I would not have felt more honored if I had been asked to be President of the United States! In fact, purely hypothetical for sure, if I was asked to do the later, I would have to turn it down. I do not say it in arrogance or pride, I feel I have a higher calling that I must answer too. I have to do a lot of stuff at my job. Some of it I really feel inadequate doing it. I feel that way about preaching at times but I know He asked me to do it and He will help me do it. Oh, I know the Matthew passage is about God calling people to Himself in a more general way but it is so true about the preaching ministry. There was a time when parents and grandparents felt pride if their children or grandchildren felt "called." Christian college staff tell me that students greatest opposition to ministry today is from their families! Financial security is often the reason for not going into ministry. Am I just getting old and out of touch or what? Come to think of it, 1966 was not a good time to tell people you were a preacher either. Maybe I have always been out of touch. Thanks for stopping by.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A Knighten In Virginia
I am heading out the door so tomorrow's post will be today. Thanks for your prayers. I am on my way to Ridge Way, Virginia, near Martinsville. It is the 10th anniversary of New Life Community Friends Church and they have invited Renewal and I to minister as part of the celebration. We were there at the dedication of their first owned church facility. As a new church they met for several years in a truck garage. It was the first time I had preached and sung to the smell of diesel fuel. These folks are hard working and creative. It was amazing to see the ways they planted this new church under difficult circumstances. It is an honor to celebrate with them. They have over 200+ on a regular basis.
Their pastor is Terry and Donna Knighten. [Pictured above]They are a wonderful couple that I love dearly. Terry actually gave me a start in the radio ministry. I would tell stories of changed lives and he would put them on his own radio show! It took some extra effort and yet gave me some radio experience. Goodness knows I needed all the practice I could get! I will speak at their men's prayer breakfast Saturday morning. Renewal and I will minister Saturday night at their youth event and then the celebration Sunday morning. Please pray for us. The struggle of yesterday is still very real today. Blessings to you.
Thanks for stopping by.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Transportation Is A Go!
Can you imagine never having a car? You never had your own transportation? Have you looked at the high school parking lots in the USA lately? Awesome cars and trucks for teens. It is the norm! However, our pastors in Haiti have never had their own transportation until last week. They are thrilled and so are we. Brandywine Community Church, Greenfield Indiana, gave part of their Christmas Offering for the purchase of 8 motor bikes for these pastors. Here they are! Thanks Brandywine Community Church Congregation and Pastors!Pictured on top is Pastor Luc Joesph's brother, Pastor Solamon Joesph who is pastor of our church at Dourin. He was my roommate during the pastors conference last October. On the left is Pastor Mabel Montelus of the Petite River Church. I want to introduce you to our new National Children's worker Anslene Mercelus, below.
We just ended our first Clint Clouse Women's Leaders Conference in Cap Haitian, Haiti. Our leaders, Pastor Wes Davis, Pastor Frank Penna, WRI Rep. Max Wright and our translator Herve Louis are all safely in their homes tonight. We are grateful to all of you and the Lord. Thanks for praying for all of these needs. I am told the women had a great time of learning and many had great spiritual happenings in their life. Our thanks to Clint and Joy Clouse for sponsoring this conference.
Brandywine Commuity Church has given 10% of their gross income to missions from their first day of existence. They have never really struggled to exist financially and have had growth of over 100 new people each year for many years. This year as they moved in September to their first owned facility (For years they had met in a store front) they jumped 400-500 people. They had over 2020 for Easter Sunday. Over 70% of the congregation say they received Christ at Brandywine. There has been little transfer of memberships from other congregations. My youngest brother Mark and Kathy Wright are Senior Pastor and Women's Ministry Director. Brandywine's generosity has always been blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ and is a wonderful example for individuals and churches that you can't out give the Lord. Amen!
Thanks for stopping by.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
GREENSBURG KANSAS RELIEF FUND
{Pictured is the house of Ron Roe who was part of my prayer and accountability group when World Renewal first started. He is a mental health counselor at the Iroquois Counseling Center which was destroyed and now is functioning on the Barclay College Campus. }
World Renewal has set up The Greendsburg Kansas Relief Fund for the tornado disaster in Greensburg, Ks. This is where World Renewal started in 1986. Our original charter for a non-profit organization when we started was at the county seat, Greensburg, Kansas. Since the first response needs are being met by the large organizations we will endeavor to meet more specific needs of the churches and families in the community as the weeks go by. We know that in the coming weeks many will go on to another need somewhere. We want to stand with this community long term in the process of rebuilding. Our eye will continue to focus on opportunities to reach the poor and the unchurched and to support the church in these areas. We know and are friends with many of the pastors and their congregations who have lost so much. As always we will endeavor to practice careful stewardship in how we focus your donations to these matters.
Gary Wright
President of World Renewal Intl
Send Donations To:
Greensburg Kansas Relief Fund
World Renewal Intl
PO Box 399
Greenfield, IN 46140
You can donate by debit or credit card by calling World Renewal from 9AM-1pm at 800-248-6512. Ask for Peggy, Carol, or Edna. Thank you!
Gary Wright
President of World Renewal Intl
Send Donations To:
Greensburg Kansas Relief Fund
World Renewal Intl
PO Box 399
Greenfield, IN 46140
You can donate by debit or credit card by calling World Renewal from 9AM-1pm at 800-248-6512. Ask for Peggy, Carol, or Edna. Thank you!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Sabbath Needed
My apologies to those of you who have stopped by and not found a new post for about a week at this site. My wife and staff talked me into taking some time off. Preaching and teaching, missions, pastoring and ministering on the radio are all very rewarding to me. However, it does some strange things to my brain at times. I was mentally out of gas and energy. My wife convinced me to take some time away from all. I am so excited to be back to my work again. Sabbath times are needed. Thank you for understanding.
It was a little overwhelming to find out that many of the people I pastored and care for in Greensburg, Kansas and the surrounding area experienced and still are experiencing the tragedy of the tornado that destroyed 95% of the town Friday night. It was April 20th that I stopped by Greensburg, Ks. to visit some friends and thank them for friendships and help their help to this ministry. I walked downtown Main Street into businesses to share my gratitude. (See my April 16 & April 24 posts for those days at Barclay College). Kiowa County and Greensburg, Kansas is where World Renewal Intl began and was first registered in the county courthouse.
It was a little overwhelming to find out that many of the people I pastored and care for in Greensburg, Kansas and the surrounding area experienced and still are experiencing the tragedy of the tornado that destroyed 95% of the town Friday night. It was April 20th that I stopped by Greensburg, Ks. to visit some friends and thank them for friendships and help their help to this ministry. I walked downtown Main Street into businesses to share my gratitude. (See my April 16 & April 24 posts for those days at Barclay College). Kiowa County and Greensburg, Kansas is where World Renewal Intl began and was first registered in the county courthouse.
Our friends' houses are gone, their churches are gone, their places of work are gone. However, the friends we know are all alive and in good health. Haviland Friends Church where I pastored from 1979-1986 is 10 minutes from Greensburg. Haviland is also the home for Barclay College where I was Chairman of the Pastoral Ministries Department from 1986-1990.
Brian Hanneken, who is an administrator at Barclay College stated to me that the college is serving as the headquarters for F.E.M.A., the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Samaritan's Purse is also part of the response organizations. The men's dormitory is housing 62 National Guard soldiers, the girl's dormitory is full of relief workers. The college gym is serving as a distribution center for food and clothes. The first response organizations have flooded the town with semi-trailers full of clothes, food and other essential needs of victims of this kind of disaster. These initial needs are being met.
Haviland Friends Church worship service Sunday was seen around the world on international news television as it is one of the few churches left standing in Kiowa County and a gathering place for a county-wide worship service. Please pray for Barclay College President Herb Frazier and Haviland Friends Pastor Everett Jantz. They find themselves in a great challenge of both opportunity to serve and stretching resources to meet the needs of hurting people and serving those meeting the needs of those people.
Brian Hanneken, who is an administrator at Barclay College stated to me that the college is serving as the headquarters for F.E.M.A., the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Samaritan's Purse is also part of the response organizations. The men's dormitory is housing 62 National Guard soldiers, the girl's dormitory is full of relief workers. The college gym is serving as a distribution center for food and clothes. The first response organizations have flooded the town with semi-trailers full of clothes, food and other essential needs of victims of this kind of disaster. These initial needs are being met.
Haviland Friends Church worship service Sunday was seen around the world on international news television as it is one of the few churches left standing in Kiowa County and a gathering place for a county-wide worship service. Please pray for Barclay College President Herb Frazier and Haviland Friends Pastor Everett Jantz. They find themselves in a great challenge of both opportunity to serve and stretching resources to meet the needs of hurting people and serving those meeting the needs of those people.
We have been encouraged by the leaders in this community to wait a few weeks and then form a plan to help in the rebuilding process. This what World Renewal will do. We know it is going to be a long process of rebuilding and restoring. When the initial time of early response has passed, we want to be there for the people who helped us start WRI.
In other World Renewal News, the first Clint Clouse Women's Leadership Conference is taking place in Cap Haitian, Haiti this week. Pastor Wes Davis[pictured lower right], Frank Penna [pictured lower left} and Max Wright along with Herve are providing leadership. Please pray for their safety and fruitfulness this week.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Tonight I preach at 6:30 pm at Brandywine Community Church, Greenfield,IN. It is what they call the First Wednesday Service. It is a service for Christ followers. I do the service every other month alternating with author Mark Tabb. We were asked this year to do a Biblical Character Series. I have done sermons thus far on Moses and Joshua. Tonight I will talk about Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was just a teenager most likely when God called him to be a prophet to the nation. It was a difficult calling in the sense that Jeremiah would suffer much for telling the truth to a nation that was headed for judgement from God. Jeremiah warned them but they hated him and his message. Tonight I will mostly deal with his "Calling." There is much to be learned about all of us from what God told the youngster.
Have you ever been around someone who was so negative it seems like when they walk in the room someone turns the lights out? When they leave the room, it is like a breath of fresh air and sunshine. To most people this preacher was a failure. Today he would have been fired from most churches in a short period of time. He was not liked. He would have been considered far too negative. He always seemed to have such a dark message. However, in heaven, he is a hall of famer. Thousands of children have been named after him, his name is Jeremiah.
The Call- God gave Jeremiah the call! Some of you have had that call in your life. A call to ministry, to be a missionary, a pastor. I want to remind you of Romans 11:29 “For God’s gifts and call are irrevocable.” Please notice his words to Jeremiah “Before I formed you, I knew you.” How is that possible? There is only one way that is possible. We are his idea! You are God’s idea! He thought you up. You were not, are not, an accident. Before he formed you,” I knew you,” God said. Psalm 139:16 is very specific. He has a plan for your life. Dr. Dennis Kinlaw says “The only disappointment one can have in heaven is if God would set us down and show us the blueprints He had for our lives and how we deviated from the plan.”
Are you walking in the plan God has for you? Are we doing it His way or our way?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
"Now That I Am Old and Gray"
When I was 18 I adopted a life verse. I wrote about it on April 10 at this site and this is what I said,
"My life verse is found in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "It simply says God's power shows up best in weakness." I was 18 years old when I first read that with understanding. I remember thinking, "If that verse is true, I really have a chance to be used of God." I stood in the aisle of South Meridian Church of God in Anderson, Indiana, and said, "God, I believe your word is true, I take this verse and claim it for as long as I live." I have claimed that verse over and over in the 37 years since that day of February 1970. I noticed the word "best" in the LBT. I am not sure what I might have done "best" in anything. I do know there are things I do better than other things I do and those things I do best seem to really involve Him. It seems to me there is self-confidence and then there is Christ-confidence. Christ-confidence is what I believe he can do through me. There is no question in my mind which has worked best for me down through the years. How about you?
I will be 56 in June. Over the last couple of weeks God has given me another life verse. I think this one is for the home-stretch. It is Psalm 71:18. Even the verse before 18 is true in my life. I was blessed to have a childhood surrounded by Godly family who loved Jesus and loved me. It reads, "Oh God, you taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do." I believe this is my testimony. I started telling my friends about Jesus when I was in grade school. My dad had to caution me during this period about being too aggressive in my evangelism. He said I was being a little too persuasive in bringing children into our house to accept Christ. He said I needed to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to their heart and that I should not put so much pressure on them. Dad was an evangelist himself so I must have been really over doing it!
Now I have stood in auditoriums and open air meetings and gatherings all over the world "constantly" telling people how great God is. I have really tried to find the best and most effective ways to influence people to become Christ followers. God has blessed many of those efforts. I have seen their faces change as the wonderful witness of God's Spirit conveyed the sweet relief of forgiven sin and the joy of eternal salvation. I have seen their faces break into smiles, laughter or tears of joy.
I will be 56 in June. Over the last couple of weeks God has given me another life verse. I think this one is for the home-stretch. It is Psalm 71:18. Even the verse before 18 is true in my life. I was blessed to have a childhood surrounded by Godly family who loved Jesus and loved me. It reads, "Oh God, you taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do." I believe this is my testimony. I started telling my friends about Jesus when I was in grade school. My dad had to caution me during this period about being too aggressive in my evangelism. He said I was being a little too persuasive in bringing children into our house to accept Christ. He said I needed to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to their heart and that I should not put so much pressure on them. Dad was an evangelist himself so I must have been really over doing it!
Now I have stood in auditoriums and open air meetings and gatherings all over the world "constantly" telling people how great God is. I have really tried to find the best and most effective ways to influence people to become Christ followers. God has blessed many of those efforts. I have seen their faces change as the wonderful witness of God's Spirit conveyed the sweet relief of forgiven sin and the joy of eternal salvation. I have seen their faces break into smiles, laughter or tears of joy.
Now these days I am concerned about finishing the race. I want to finish strong. However, I am still well qualified for 2 Corinthians 12:9. That is still scary to me. I feel I need Him more than ever! Men and women who think because God has used them they are somehow immune to the enemy's tricks! Well I have seen their lives of sorrow and despair. I do not wish to join them.
Therefore, the Lord seems to have given me this verse to claim and comfort my heart. "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Psalm 71:18. With all my heart I pray, "Thank you my precious Lord Jesus, I really needed that, I really need you Lord Jesus." Does this make sense to you?
Thanks for stopping by.
Therefore, the Lord seems to have given me this verse to claim and comfort my heart. "Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Psalm 71:18. With all my heart I pray, "Thank you my precious Lord Jesus, I really needed that, I really need you Lord Jesus." Does this make sense to you?
Thanks for stopping by.
