Staff Infection

As you can see by the pictures, I have a member of our staff who is in danger of committing the unpardonable sin, being an Alabama fan. She recently put this Bama chair in my office as a gag. As many of you know I’m an LSU graduate and avid college football fan. With the start of the season less than 1 week away I’m pumped. Many don’t realize that my dad is from north Alabama, but I’ve grown up here and like the Tigers. I really enjoy the staff that God has put together here, we have a ton of fun and I genuinely like to be around them. I really believe that the people with whom you surround yourself with are important. To a great degree, your friends determine your level of success because the Bible is clear that you will live up or down to their level. I’ve been blessed with great family, great friends and great staff. I have one friend who wants me to do a leadership meeting for his church during the LSU-VT game. I agreed but asked if he knew he was scheduling against a home LSU game. He told me that they couldn’t do it the next weekend because that the was start of bow season and he couldn’t compete with that. Each city is different and God placed us here with great people and a great task before us, change the world we live in. I’d never be able to do it alone, thank you Jesus for those who partner with us. By the way, I’m picking LSU 31-17 over Miss. St. Go Tigers, Go Jags, Go Saints, Go Crusaders. High school is going to be interesting this year.

Meet a new member of the family

Say hello to our new cat, Jay. Our children have wanted a pet for so long and we’ve resisted that because of the on-the-go lifestyle that we lead. Well, our neighbor found some kittens and long story short is that we now have a cat named Jay. We are using the cat to teach them how to be responsible for the well being of some other living creature in prep for their futures, also our grandkids. They promised us they would do everything including scooping the poop, but they have to be reminded of what they agreed to at times. You should see them cradle Jay like a baby wrapped in a towel, it really can be quite hilarious. I think the most awesome thing is seeing them lavish love on something besides themselves. Our hope is that they begin to understand how fulfilling it is to give love rather than just be loved. Jay eats it up and tries to sneak inside whenever he can. I’m looking forward to the day when they begin to show a little love to one another and stop the fighting. Maybe a cat is a step in that direction. Maybe we need a dog now also!!!

Writing The 1st Check

As many of you know, I sensed the Lord speaking to me about our church believing God for $100,000 to fund a church plant/ CAREPOINT in one of the African nations being devastated by HIV. In January I shared that vision and HOF has really grabbed it with gusto. Much has happened in these 7 months of this year and I want to give God the credit. When I shared my heart we didn’t know whom, where, or how it would all take place. I had made some trips to Africa and knew about a ministry that was doing work like this. As we have been faithful to what God spoke He has been busy taking care of the details. God has connected us with the Ohlerkings of Children’s Cup, who will oversee the feeding center aspect of this outreach. As I shared this vision with our church one of the ladies of our church, Lita Veron came to see me with story of how God had been dealing with her to do something in Zimbabwe, but she couldn’t see how. Just happens that the Ohlerkings know of a Pastor Dixon Chingara with whom they have worked in the past. Pastor Dixon was sending Pastor Samson and wife to the city of Masvingo in Zimbabwe as a church planter so we had our man on the ground there. Our church and friends have responded by giving $82,000 towards our goal of $100,000. Lita Veron has been responsible for a large portion of that as she has tremendous favor on her life for this cause. It was our joy to host the Ohlerkings on July 29 in our Sunday services and give them the first installment of $34,700 that will purchase a car for Pastor Samson, buy the equipment to begin feeding the children, and buy equipment for the new church which is meeting in a school for now. It’s been amazing to watch, and great to be a part of this mission. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

Writing The 1st Check

As many of you know, I sensed the Lord speaking to me about our church believing God for $100,000 to fund a church plant/ CAREPOINT in one of the African nations being devastated by HIV. In January I shared that vision and HOF has really grabbed it with gusto. Much has happened in these 7 months of this year and I want to give God the credit. When I shared my heart we didn’t know whom, where, or how it would all take place. I had made some trips to Africa and knew about a ministry that was doing work like this. As we have been faithful to what God spoke He has been busy taking care of the details. God has connected us with the Ohlerkings of Children’s Cup, who will oversee the feeding center aspect of this outreach. As I shared this vision with our church one of the ladies of our church, Lita Veron came to see me with story of how God had been dealing with her to do something in Zimbabwe, but she couldn’t see how. Just happens that the Ohlerkings know of a Pastor Dixon Chingara with whom they have worked in the past. Pastor Dixon was sending Pastor Samson and wife to the city of Masvingo in Zimbabwe as a church planter so we had our man on the ground there. Our church and friends have responded by giving $82,000 towards our goal of $100,000. Lita Veron has been responsible for a large portion of that as she has tremendous favor on her life for this cause. It was our joy to host the Ohlerkings on July 29 in our Sunday services and give them the first installment of $34,700 that will purchase a car for Pastor Samson, buy the equipment to begin feeding the children, and buy equipment for the new church which is meeting in a school for now. It’s been amazing to watch, and great to be a part of this mission. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.