[re:New]

Calvary Chapel Healdsburg has been a fellowship for over 7 years now, and from the beginning, ministry to our youth has been very important. Within the first 6 months of our church start, God provided us with our first youth pastor, Sean.

Over the years the Jr. High and High school kids were fed the Word of God. They worshipped together, camped together, served in Mexico, traveled, played, and simply just loved being together. The group grew as the kids shared the love of Jesus with their friends at school. All I can say is, it was good.

Then, about a year and a half ago, Sean felt it was time to move on. That's kind of the way ministry happens. You go where God leads. Anything else just wouldn't make sense. And so...we were left without a youth pastor.

My husband Chris decided to step into that roll to fill the need, and we prayed like crazy for a new youth pastor. Chris and I both have a lot of experience in High School and youth ministry, but let me tell you...that doesn't make a bit of difference if God hasn't called you to the job.

So, Chris faithfully taught the kids the Word, and other servants filled in for the group from time. But, the kids seemed to flounder, for the connection to a "youth pastor" just wasn't there. Don't get me wrong though. They loved Chris. I mean, what's not to love? But it wasn't the same. It felt temporary, and the group dwindled. It was sad to watch. So...we prayed harder.

Now, can I just tell you that God answers prayer? OK, I will. God answers prayer. And not only does He answer, but He goes above and beyond what we could ask or think. I guess that's because He knows best just what we need.

7 months ago, God sent us Dave Ower and his beautiful wife, Heidi, in answer to our prayers. God's response was so timely, so precise, and above and beyond what we could ask or think. Dave is young and energetic (key in youth ministry), and faithful in the teaching of God's Word. It's been such a blessing to watch the Lord breathe new life into our youth ministry.

I guess the main reason for this post is to direct you all to Daves web site. It's called [re:New]

Dave put together this web site as an alternative way to connect with the youth in our fellowship, or anyone who might want to stop by for that matter. You can read a great bio on Dave and Heidi and what God has done in their lives, or look at pictures of youth group events. And make sure you visit the [re:Write]page. You'll be blessed by what you read there.

So, there's my plug and praise to God for Dave and Heidi.

Did I tell you that God answers prayer?


very thankful,

Mary

Seeing The Invisible - Part 2

Just wanted to share another "eye opener". This is another truth that I know I've known, yet for whatever reason, for me, I've only been experiencing it through cloudy eyes.

This next quote is taken from Major Ian's book, The Indwelling Life Of Christ

"Salvation is so much more than a change of destination from hell to heaven! The true spiritual content of our gospel is not just heaven one day, but Christ here and now. In the economy of God, conversion is only an essential preliminary to discipleship, which is a lifetime of allowing Christ to live in you and do His work through you.

"Your salvation is also a million times more than simply knowing your sins are forgiven. As a forgiven sinner you are to be reinhabited by your Maker, reinvaded by Deity, so that your humanity becomes intelligently available to an intelligent God for the intelligent purpose for which He intelligently created you. That is the true sanctification, as the Bible explains it."


"And this is eternal life: It means to know, to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand You, the only true and real God, and likewise to know Him, Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, Whom You have sent."

John 17:3, AMP


What do you think? Maybe it's time we open our eyes and start experiencing heaven today!


Heavenly Father...Thank you for making me "intelligently available" for Your "intelligent purpose" in my life.

Intelligently seeking Him,

MB