Long Island/Orlando Connection

For four of the last five weeks we have been in the great state of New York. It has been a time for ministry, friends, family, and new relationships. From August 12-20, we were in Florida with my family on vacation. It was great to be with my mom, stepfather, all of my siblings, my brother-in-law, 2 nephews and of course, my wonderful wife. We went to Universal Studios, Disney's Blizzard Beach, and even spent one day at Cocoa Beach.
During the week that followed we have had a great time with churches on Long Island. On Friday night we were able to go to an all-night event at The Christian Church at Holbrook with many of the students we were with at church camp. On Saturday morning, while we were very tired, we were able to go to South Nassau Christian Church and share with their missions team about the ministry we will be doing in New Zealand. Later on that same day we received a great email. North Shore Christian Church, a 2-year-old church plant that my family is a part of, committed to partner with our ministry financially! We are excited about this partnership and are so thankful that God continues to provide for us. This morning we were able to go to True North Community Church, which was our first partnering church. Although they meet in the same building that my church used to meet in, it is a completely different congregation planted there and Amy and I have never worshiped with them before. Being with them this morning got us even more pumped about planting a new church. We were able to meet several of the leaders from the church who were a huge encouragement. It was also awesome to see such a vibrant, thriving church here on Long Island. Amy and I are so excited about the partnerships and relationships with churches here in my native New York. We are blessed by their support and encouragement.
Tonight, after checking out True North's Elevate service, we will drive through the night from Long Island to Indianapolis, IN, for a weeklong team retreat. Please pray that we have safety in our travels and that God uses the team retreat this week for us to effectively plan and strategize for when we arrive in New Zealand.

Where has August gone?

The last few weeks have been full of activity. Since our last update, we spent another week at church camp, with the week starting when I baptized my 13-year-old nephew, Cody. The first week we spent at the camp was with jr. high students, but the second week was with sr. highers. I had been a camp counselor and Sunday School teacher for many of these students when they were in elementary school 8 years ago -before I left for college. Amy loved getting to know so many people with Long Island accents and a New York State of mind.
Along with speaking everyday at missions, we led a pod of students (the best pod, I must say), Amy stayed in the dorms with the girls and I was asked to speak at camp fire. On Thursday night we went to campfire and, after the music, no one stood up to speak and there was silence. Amy and I quickly discussed what we thought the plan was. Was this a plan that the dean or the speaker had come up with? Should I get up and save us all from an awkward situation? We concluded that Pete had a plan and that we should stay seated. But something amazing happened. Students spontaneously started to lead in singing. Many of the songs were disjointed, missing words and sometimes-whole verses, but it was sincere. After a few minutes, many of the students were crying and then one walked out from the benches toward the huge cross that stands behind the fire pit. She got on her knees there at the foot of the cross and others began to follow. In short order, almost all of the students were sitting beside the cross, many crying, and we went into a time or prayer. Several students and counselors counted this as the most powerful spiritual experience they had ever had. Later on I found out that I was supposed to speak that night, but had simply forgotten to get up. We later decided that God had erased my memory in order to do something amazing. I believe that many of these students had never experienced silence in God's presence, and it was more powerful than any words that could be offered. God spoke through a whisper and a still, small voice… just as He did to Elijah thousands of years ago.
Since leaving camp on August 4, we have been busy. Amy and I were able to speak at my home church, Nesconset Christian Church on Long Island, on Sunday, August 5. We were also able to share about the ministry in NZ at the Christian Church at Holbrook on Sunday, August 12. Pete, the preacher there, also let me preach the sermon that morning. Along with these visits we have seen a lot of our friends and family. We had my 26th birthday celebration with 4 of my closest friends from high school, 2 of their girlfriends, 2 of their wives, and 3 of their babies.
And in these last few weeks it has become apparent that things change. The places and people I knew so well seven years ago, when I first left for Illinois, have all changed. Some of the elementary kids I used to teach are going into their freshman year of college, some of my best high school friends are now proud husbands and fathers. What is especially difficult for us right now is to know that when we set out for New Zealand this fall, life will continue to change. We have accepted the possibility that the next people to get married might be our siblings and we will be 10,000 miles away as they get to know our families. We realize that South Fork Church of Christ will change, that Bloomington, IL, will change, that our friends and our families will change.
It is in this time that I take special comfort in the Biblical promise that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And although time continues to fly by, for now… it's Flammer Time.