World Renewal International

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Keeping Up With the Jones!








It was a Sunday night to remember at Clear Creek Congregational Church near Winchester, IN. Eleven year old Eli Jones, son of Gary and Kelly Jones, filled the drum sticks of Renewal drummer, Steve Lindley, who was in the fields planting as a result of rainy weather, 12" of rain, that had already whipped out what little he had been able to plant this spring. Let me encourage you to pray for all our farmers who are in similar straits of trying to provide for their families and others.
Second, thank the Lord for the way God is blessing Gary, Kelly and sons Avery,14 and Eli, 11. Avery later played the lead guitar as his mother sang "He knows my name" and dad played the keyboard and Eli played the drums.


Eli, however, played the drums the entire concert. He came Sunday afternoon, learned the songs and did an awesome job. Even the challenging "Why didn't I repent" number that has a big and difficult drum section was handled right on the target. It was so interesting to see Doug, Mike and dad, Gary, patiently encourage young Eli to not be bashful when he played but to be strong. He was.
Avery is great on the lead guitar. Both have considerable experience playing in their home church worship team as do all the Renewal members. Gary Jones has been a member of Renewal for over 15 years.






Kelly, is a Music Ed. grad of Anderson University and has taught music in the public schools. She has a great voice. Kelly and Gary have ministered in a wonderful way together over the years of their marriage. Kelly's parents, Pastor Neil and Karen Hammons, are on staff at Van Wert's Trinity Friends Church. Neil was on staff when my wife Carol was on staff there.

It was a joy to be reunited with Pastor Steve and Mary Jean Connor of Clear Creek. I met Steve when he was a teen and they were still dating. In 1971, I was asked to do the Jay County Youth Crusade in Portland, IN. Steve reminded me I gave him his first preaching job. We were doing a tent meeting here in Greenfield and we were trying to encourage prayer and participation from area churches and I sent Steve to share in one of the churches. Steve and Mary Jean have had a wonderful ministry and continue to serve their community.






Wayne Phelps came for the weekend and was on the Welcome Home Broadcast last Thursday. He gave his testimony and shared about recovery ministries both on the radio and in each service at Clear Creek. He was right on target as well.






We had many commitments in each of the four services. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.



Thanks for stopping by.
:: posted by Gary Wright, 10:19 AM | link | 0 comments |

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Haiti-On My Heart






Haiti is on my heart today. We have a wonderful ministry there with Pastor Luc and Rosana Joseph. Our Christ Compassion Orphanage is doing well because so many of the God's people in the USA help us and the Haitian staff do a wonderful job of caring for the kids. [Max Wright-Haiti Director above left at Christ Compassion Orphanage at meal time. Above right- Pastor Luc Joseph and wife Rosana the founders of World Renewal-Haiti.]






Pray for our director of World Renewal-Haiti Max Wright as he leaves next week for a short time in Haiti. Max is my double first cousin. What is that? Two Wright brothers married two Milner sisters so we children of those marriages have always been close. No matter which side of the family we showed up on, they were there too. We grew up with Godly grandparents and parents. All seven grandchildren from those two marriages are serving Christ and most in global ministries, especially World Renewal.






Max has done a wonderful job in Haiti. In spite of some challenging health issues he will soon be making his 30th trip for the Lord Jesus. Please pray for this trip. He needs some extra strength and God's protection. Pray for our Haiti pastors and their families. We continue to raise funds for them to distribute food among those in their congregations in need. Our schools are full our churches are full, the orphanage is full. [I had the honor to recognize four new pastors as ordained of the Lord this spring.]
Thanks for stopping by.
:: posted by Gary Wright, 2:39 PM | link | 0 comments |

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

MINISTRY WEEKEND


Renewal and I will minister this weekend at Clear Creek Congregational Church near Winchester, IN. Friday and Saturday @ 7pm and Sunday @ 9:30 AM @ 6PM. The church is located at the corner of HWY 27 & CR 500 North.
Pastor Steve Connors (765-730-5025) is a friend from way back. He was a teenager when my first ministry team [Carol-Keyboards, Dana Howard-Soloist, Mike Breese-Soloist] lead the Jay County Youth Crusade in June 1971, near Portland, IN. His dad, Jim, would bring the kids and drop them off at the campground services. However, Jim had a hard time predicting when I, the 20 year old evangelist would finish my sermons. He would have to set in the car and listen to me finish as I was and I am sure still am a long winded preacher. One night Jim walked from his car to the alter and gave his life to Christ. We became good friends and Carol and I often stayed at their house. I so look forward to being with Steve and his family and his mom, Patty. Jim is in heaven. Steve is a wonderful pastor and preacher. If you live near Winchester you will have the opportunity to hear the "new" Renewal sound. It is awesome.
By the way, Mike Cruse has a new solo album. I heard cuts and it is great and Renewal has promised to finish their new album. PTL.
Thanks for stopping by.
:: posted by Gary Wright, 2:16 PM | link | 0 comments |

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Wright Family Wedding David and Katie June 7





[From left to right- Jon Wright, our youngest, his fiancee, Keely Radosevic, Gary and Carol, Katie and David, our oldest son, Micah, our daughter Christine, her husband Adam Young and grandsons Addison and Andy]

The Wright Family had a wonderful time Saturday June 7 at Brookville Road Community Church as our son David Wright married Katie Olson. David and Katie are both graduates of Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN were they met and started dating during David's last week at Bethel.
Katie graduated this spring from Bethel as David completed his second year of his masters at Ohio University. David received a fellowship to study for his doctorate at Texas A&M starting this August. It will take David six to seven years to complete his doctoral work in philosophy and he will be required to get an additional masters in literature as well. David's goal is to teach at a Christian liberal arts college.












[Jonathan, Best Man escorts his sister Christine, Matron of Honor.]












Katie's family is from the Mishawaka, IN area. Her father, Dr. Roger Olson is a math professor at St. Joseph and her mother Hope is on the staff at Bethel College. Katie's grandfather, Dr. Gerber, is a retired Bible and Greek professor from Bethel College and is an active leader in the Keystone Project which trains leaders for church planting around the world.






Hope Olson, Katie's mom, was Christine's Mentor at Bethel College when Christine was a student. They studied the Bible and life's issues together. Now they are family.






Christine had two Mentors during that time at Bethel. Mentoring is a formal part of the Bethel spiritual life for students, faculty and staff. Christine's other Mentor was Connie Young who is now her mother-in-law. [Right-Christine and husband Adam Young live in Colorado Springs.] Adam Young is a computer software something for Verizon. He creates software, sorry I can't be more specific but I don't understand enough. I just know when he walks into our house and the WRI office we have a long list of technology problems for him to fix and he does. The are part of a wonderful Evangelical Free Church in the Springs. They sing in the choir and have been encouraged by their small group studies this last year. Christine has started singing solo ministry again as she did in her youth. Christine taught English in middle school but is now a stay-at-home mom.







[Below-Katie and David are on their honeymoon in the Boston area.Katie was an English/Literature major at Bethel and very artsy, she painted the designs on her wedding dress!] David taught Intro. to Logic as part of his graduate training these last two years at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. He just turned in his first draft of his thesis which was over 70 pages.





















Jonathan and Keely became engaged to be married last Christmas as did David and Katie. However, they have much college to complete and plan on waiting a while until






they are married. Keely is a sophomore at Purdue University studying nursing. Jon is an Elementary Education major at our local community college, Ivy Tech.






Micah, our oldest son, is a senior at Ave Marie University in Naples,Florida studying for the ministry. However, he has been home this semester and will return in the fall. After many years in the hotel management business he felt called to ministry. He will have four years of seminary after completing his work at the university. He is seen here with Christine's sons Addison, age 4 and Andy, age 2. Micah is very devoted to these boys. He ran the sound and projector graphics for the wedding. Micah gets the top vote for having the "Smart Mouth" in the Wright family, and that is saying something. Micah and Jon have great sense of humors that keep us all in stitches.











Here are my three sons, Jonathan, David and Micah. I know many of you have prayed for my family over the years. In 1986 we were a family who ministered across America living in homes, motels and a travel trailer and even tents when the others were not available. Our children are all Christ followers and have their own unique stories. They will tell you that they had some real challenges being children of, not one, but two preachers kids. We thank God and you for praying for them.


Thanks for stopping by.










:: posted by Gary Wright, 11:07 AM | link | 0 comments |