weekend report

Every weekend that I get to stand and watch all of our staff and volunteers' weekly work come together to create the services and children's and student's classes- takes my breath away.  Why the Almighty God of the universe chooses to use any of us is one of the greatest mysteries known to mankind!  But, that's how He chooses to spread His Gospel.  

And this weekend we added a beautiful guest family and Executive Director from Asia's Hope to be part of our worship services.  There are perhaps no one I admire more then these people who give their lives to rescue children from horrible circumstances in Asia and India.  It was a weekend of taking account of our own lives as we worshipped with them and learned more from them.  Here's a few pictures from our time together!

Our Setlist:

Announcements

Jesus I Come

Oceans

10,000 Reasons

Message:  Justice - Pastor Dave

Special Music:  Break Every Chain - John McCullom

To watch or listen to our services on line go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

We'll see you next weekend as we begin a very powerful message series on Nehemiah!

weekend report

Despite snow and cold we met together - as the church...  as our We Are One series came to an end.

It's been a fabulous time of discovering what the Lord had in mind when He created and chose the church as the vehicle to tell others of Him and as the place of community that would help us to do life together.


Our Setlist:

Instrumental:  My Girl

Announcements :  Aaron Nicolas - FOH Engineer

A Mighty Fortress

Our Great God

We Believe
Video:  This is My Family - Asia's Hope   https://vimeo.com/104507094

Prayer for Cambodia Mission's Team
Message:  One Heart; Community - Pastor Dave Vance

Video:  We Are One 

Exit Song:  We Believe

As I walked the halls at Crossroads today, these were just a few things I saw that made me proud, and thankful and excited for the future of The Church!

Student Ministry worship

It would be interesting to find out how many years Doug has taught in the Elementary area of Crossroads!

Doug Wolfe - loving our kids

Many behind the scenes things are going on
during our services.  This morning I found a room
with quite a few people learning about what it
means to become a Member at Crossroads!

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries did in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

my day off

I'm finished with all the Christmas decorating I will do this year.  It's simple - consisting mainly of twinkle lights and old items saved from years past.  I added nothing new.  I like that.

Now I sit, which I haven't done in a while and reflect on the whirlwind of the past couple of weeks.

Just days ago you heard me describe my communion with the Lord on a level that I hadn't experienced in a while - while we were on vacation.  Not because He did anything different or moved closer toward me.  But because I was available.

I came home fully rested, renewed and ready.

The blessings that I've experienced since vacation have been too numerous to count.

The ones that come to mind are my job at Crossroads - working with people I adore, and last week working with Dr. Kevin Leman.  This man is a riot while being a wealth of knowledge and accomplishment yet remaining very approachable and Godly.  I LOVED my time working with him.

Following that weekend event, we created our Christmas set design discovering things I didn't know our Environmental Projection was capable of doing and continued working on Christmas@Crossroads.

This was a very special weekend, as I got to watch the young worship adults from the Student Ministry at Crossroads lead our congregation in worship!  Knowing we have this kind of young adult base gives testimony to the fact that we have a very healthy ministry.  Of course the biggest blessing to me personally was that my son and daughter and son-in-law were part of that team.  There is perhaps no greater earthly blessing than to watch your kids serve their Lord!

And finally yesterday we celebrated Katie and Garrett's wedding.  These are both Crossroads young adults that discovered one another after being at Crossroads together for years.  What a great night it was as I watched one of the girls that I got to build into during times of single girls groups and doing ministry together!  She deserved a great guy like Garrett!

And now, on my day off, we get to meet with a beautiful lady from across the world, who is here in the states for a short time.  Tutu is one of the most giving - loving - Godly ladies I've every known.  She serves with Asia's Hope in Thailand.  She hosted our kids years ago when they served 2 weeks with her.  So we'll all get to be with her in just a couple of hours!

The Church is not a building, it's God's people serving and caring for one another.  Gathering on the weekends to learn and to fellowship with one another.

If all you do is attend a church, but your life isn't connected to what God's doing during the week through that body of believers, then you're not partaking in what God intended for His Church.

I invite you perhaps as a New Year's resolution to get involved, really involved and begin not only to serve others, but to experience God's family in it's fullest!  It will change your life...forever!

Simplicity

Matthew 6:33English Standard Version (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Yesterday we studied 'Simplicity' .

We talked about how we've made Christianity something completely different from what God intended in many cases.  We've made it way too difficult, empty of grace toward others, and continuous busyness.

"It's the wavering between the gods of things and THE God of everything, and that's what has us drowning in it all.  Every moment you live, you live bowed to something". This is a powerful quote from Ann Voskamp.

EVERY MOMENT I LIVE, I LIVE BOWED TO SOMETHNG...

The reason The Lord told us to Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness - is because if we live that way everything else He has for us lines up, falls into place.  Is as He created us to be.

Simplicity ...this place Cambodia is simple yet even in their simpleness they bow to the wrong gods.  I believe the children of Asia's Hope raised up and nurtured in The Lord can be used by Him to change everything here!

Simple.

To the beach

We had the privilege of taking our Cambodian children to the Indian Ocean today.  For many of them it was the first time they've ever seen the ocean - we were so thankful we got to be the ones that showed it to them!

Today's festivities take little explanation, but I did want to say what a contrast this little one was to our rescued children.  

She sat on a low rail next to us gathering empty bottles to exchange for food.  She disappeared after we gave her all of our bottles and returned with a large piece of seafood that she sat and ate.  She was so dirty it broke our hearts - we gave her many treats and cared for her while we were there.

Our Asia's Hope kids were probably all rescued out of similar circumstances... Today seemed like a lifetime away from any lonliness or pain they knew before arriving at Asia's Hope!

A generous donar sent money along with us for sea toys!!  The kids loved them!

Aaron looked lovely in Sem's hat!

After several local, meals we opted for pizza while the children enjoyed local sea food!

Thanks to all the sponsors who donated the money that made it possible to provide the children with a sea-side seafood meal and trip to the beache!

Quite possibly one of the most precious rescued faces on earth!

While we were sitting on the beach I looked over and saw Savorn and Savy - two of the men I respect the most on earth, deep in thought.  I wondered what problem they could be solving or young life they could be discussing.  

Both Samuth and Savy, the fathers of our two Crossroads' homes are amazing men under Savorn's strong leadership.

Watching these children grow in The Lord is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life, and as I watched them eat it dawned on me in a country onlyas big as Ohio - these children could be the ones that change this Cambodian nation for Christ!  Definitely worth pouring our lives into!!

Worshipping in Cambodia

I watched Crossroads worship this morning on-line, but it was Saturday night back home.  I marveled at the blessing of freely worshipping on both sides of the world simultaneously.

The rescued children of Asia's Hope have a much deeper understanding of God's mercy and saving grace then we do, they were physically saved from evil and then began to know God.

It moves my heart so deeply to watch them worship, and I count it a privilege to join them when we come.

This PE home visually demonstrated being soldiers of The Lord VS the young soldiers that were forced into horrifying evil years before them in Cambodia.

I thought this little one worshipping next to big 'daddy' Greg, was a perfect contrast of small innocence just starting out on his journey against this grown man of God.

I even got the privilege of being taught by Aaron today, my son-in-law shared God's Word with all of us and it was great!  He's extremely gifted.    I think God has amazing things in store for him!!

As I close my eyes - hoping to sleep despite the relentless noise from the busy street outside, I thank The Lord for granting me this day and for all the amazing things it contained!!  

The team is heading to Cambodia

We made it to Korea safe and sounds - when we board here we only have about 5 1/2 more hours until I attack my daughter and son-in-law!!  Can't wait!

Please pray for us we're weary after traveling 24 1/2 hours so far!

Keep your eye on our blogs and we'll keep you updated!

Praying Crossroads is filled with God's amazing presence these next two weekends!!

Love you all!!

First day in Cambodia

We just finished our first breakfast in Cambodia - we are thankful for a night's rest, but our hearts are heavy for our friends back home who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Separated by miles of ocean, sky and culture does not remove the depth of sadness we carry in our hearts today for our friends.

Pray for us today as we begin to unpack the mystery of why God chose us to be here - representatives from Crossroads coming to see what God could possibly use us to accomplish for His kingdom...

I will try to write more later - we love you all!

Our first day

The hard working Asia's Hope Country Directors and house parents of Prek Eng

Finally with my precious daughter!!

A darling little one peeking into the Prek Eng campus .  God has provided in amazing ways in Phnom Penh!! 

So blessed to be here !

Above the sun

So...is it still called a sunrise when you wake up in the plane and it looks like you're above the sun?

This morning after traveling through the night I opened my eyes to a brilliant sun filled sky - and it immediately evoked worship! Breath-taking!

Traveling this far away kind of feels like you're somewhat upside down!  It's difficult to keep things straight in your mind  and remember what day it is and where you are.  But, within the confusion I find freedom and I hope I'm ready to re-enter the pace of home.

This trip has been a blessing - I loved the team more than I can say and I feel like we got to know the house parents and children so much more.  We got to meet some needs in their homes and surprised them with gifts and promised to return as soon as we could.  

The thing I love about visiting the kids of Asia's Hope is this, it feels like a direct investment in eternity.

I'm not sure it's as easy to know you've made a difference in America.  I understand The Lord calls us to faithfully serve whether we get to see the fruits of our labor or not, but man, when you KNOW the last 2 weeks of your life FOR SURE made a difference - 

that's a blessing straight from heaven...Above the sun!

Final good-byes

The time has come - the most difficult part of the trip for sure, good-bye... Made more difficult of course by Ron and my personal goodbyes to our own daughter and son-in-law.

Surrounded by prayer of precious friends we are ready.  Ready to release our children to these children.  There is no sadness in the leaving because of why they stay.  Yet still it is a huge release the likes of which I've never known.

My own children being used by ,God to raise up the next generation - Jocelyn and Aaron in Cambodia, and Eric and Alyssa with the youth of Crossroads back home.   This makes me eternally grateful!  The tears that fill my eyes are tears of thankfulness and worship, not sadness!

As I look around the campus I remember one of the things I see here that I love is the willingness that the kids have to help in any way they can.  And now our kids get to help them.  They pick up trash when they see it, help cook, do laundry and hang it and help those younger without being asked.  Things that make me thankful to the house parents raising and training them.  

And so we say good-bye for now, with wonderful memories, experiences, and praises to our God!  Here are today's sites.

Finally - I took a walk all alone (which is hard to do) back to see the future BB10 now under construction and prayed for the precious souls The Lord will rescue and fill the house with.  Takes my breath away to understand there are tiny ones being hand chosen by The Lord to be saved...

Thanks be to God for the privilege of being born into freedom allowing me to serve those less fortunate...and now I leave them in your hands...amen

Today so far

So far today we've held children who once were hopeless, we saw the beautiful new sewing center that didn't exist a year ago where our girls are learning to sew, we listened to the children sing one of the songs that Jocelyn and Aaron helped them write and record last year - a song whose lyrics were written  by the children, we purchased beautiful handcrafted jewelry made by some of our rescued young men who are being trained to be silversmiths', visited an exclusive private school that some of the Asia's Hope children tested high enough to attend, and ate at a great local resturant started by an American determined to teach local young adults how to cook for foreigners.  It's been amazing already.

Out team is resting now and then will take all the house parents on the entire Asia's Hope campus out to eat.  It's always been very important to the Crossroads GoMissions team that we treat everyone on campus - not just our own church's homes.  The parents are very excited for a night out with us!

These people work night and day to care for the children and seldom get time to themselves as a couple, so it's our privilege to serve them in this way.