Please pray with me for my trip

1 05 2014

TIME FOR MY AFRICA FIX!

Tomorrow I leave for Ethiopia…my fourth annual trip. Each year, I have been privileged to partner with my friend, Girma Deselegne, in fulfilling the vision God gave him to bring Biblical and ministry training to his homeland. Last year, we graduated 108 church leaders – elders, pastor, women’s leaders, evangelists – from the two year diploma program of “Vision Leadership Institute”.

I believe that prayer changes things. Praying believers can head off disease and trouble. Praying believers can increase fruit of ministry. Praying believers can open doors, arrange divine appointments, and protect those who go and stay. Prayer makes a difference!!

So please pray with me:

  1. That God would cause His glory to be enlarged in ways that He alone knows.
  2. That the extended families of those on this mission trip would be surrounded by God’s protection so there are no emergencies to take us away from this task.
  3. That we who train, through those who translate, to student who listen and interact would partner together to affect growth of the body of Christ in East Africa and lead to multiplication of vibrant Christian communities in unreached places.
  4. That evening meetings would be arranged for the community, and that many would come and hear the gospel proclaimed, resulting in many new followers of Christ, many deeper commitments to live obediently, and deliverance from evil.
  5. I will be teaching on Character & Integrity in Leadership, and Mission: Our Greatest Journey; pray that several will take seriously the call to bring the gospel to the 31 unreached people groups of Ethiopia.

 

We will be in four cities this time: Debrezeit, Sheshemane, Nazret, and Zaway. We expect to graduate over 150 students this time.

In case you haven’t received it, here is our prayer letter for this month. Let me know if you would like to get this on a regular basis.

https://www.onechallenge.org/letters/rasmussen0514.pdf

 


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Categories : Uncategorized

One New Friend – sermon from John 4:1-9

30 03 2014

Here is the sermon given March 30, 2014 at Monte Vista Chapel annual mission conference.

One New Friend


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Categories : Mission

Disturb us, O Lord

22 03 2014

This prayer is attributed to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu adapted from an original prayer by Sir Francis Drake.

Disturb us, O Lord

when we are too well-pleased with ourselves 
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, 
because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, O Lord

when with the abundance of things we possess, 
we have lost our thirst for the water of life 
when, having fallen in love with time, 
we have ceased to dream of eternity 
and in our efforts to build a new earth, 
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.

Stir us, O Lord

to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas 
where storms show Thy mastery, 
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes 
and invited the brave to follow.

Amen


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Categories : Death Burial Resurrection, Mission, To the heart

Waterfalls and mountain trails

19 03 2014

2014-03-18 12.39.312014-03-18 13.02.58My wife and I recently had a beautiful day in the Olympic National Forest. Taking in God’s creation is refreshment to our souls!


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Categories : Travels, Uncategorized

Factors for positive change in a church

16 03 2014

A church leader who desires to bring about change in his congregation could learn from past experience. Here are some suggestions.

Think of a major change of attitude, or an emerging value, that has been embraced by the people you lead. Ask questions like these to learn about change in your context:

  1. What expressions of graciousness were evident? By what individuals or groups?
  2. What role did the preaching play?
  3. What did the formal leaders supply?
  4. What did the non-formal but recognized leaders supply? Who were they?
  5. How was perseverance evidenced? What enabled the congregation to persevere through difficult changes?
  6. Were any structures changed? How?
  7. What communications were helpful?
  8. How was strategic planning or restating the vision involved?
  9. How (and who) did leaders first need to change? What prompted change in the leaders?
  10. What precipitated the need for change?
  11. How did the congregation first respond?

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Categories : Amazing Potential of One Surrendered Church book, Mission

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