My Mission Experiences

I am sitting here in my office thinking over the different mission experiences I have had in my life. I was raised in, and now work in a denomination with "missionary" in its name and DNA.  (Christian and Missionary Alliance).  Missions has always been close to my heart.  So the opportunities that I have had to go on different mission experiences, and even lead these experiences, have been amazing for me!

I know that each person who follows Christ is called to be a missionary.  Where and how we do that varies vastly.  For some, it is a lifetime commitment to move their families to other countries to serve God.  For others, it is to be an example and witness for Christ in their workplace and neighborhoods.  Neither is more important, both are needed!  I have had the opportunity to serve Christ here in my neighborhood as well as in other countries.  Here are some of the mission experiences I have had.

Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation - Dunseith, ND - Turtle Mountain Alliance Church 
When I was in Junior High, I was able to go on my first mission trip to Dunseith, ND.  My first youth pastor, Mike Palkie, led this trip.  Our main purpose for this trip was to do clown and puppet ministry for the Children at the church and in the neighborhood.  It was a great stretching opportunity for me, and the rest of the team.
On this trip is where I first learned that things doing usually go as planned when you go on a mission trip.  We had so many problems on this trip!  We had the trailer separate from the van and crash into the ditch (breaking our puppet stage before our first show, damaging the sound equipment and scattering puppets throughout the ditch.  So there we are, in our clown outfits walking through the ditch picking up puppets.  It was so strange, that one truck pulled up and said the man inside said "I am headed home from the bar and I had to come back and make sure I really did see clowns in the ditch."  yeah.... that's my strongest memory haha) we also had a boat break down on a HUGE lake.  Ask Mike Palkie about the trip, and he might start twitching.
It was a great trip though.  It was were I first saw the importance of missions.  It is also interesting that I am now friends with the youth pastor at the church.  God is still working there!

Piedras Negras, Mexico - Repairers of Broken Walls 
The summer I graduated from high school, I was able to go on another mission trip.  This time, I got to leave the country!  Even if it was just a few miles across the boarder.  My second youth pastor, Matt Drietz, was our leader for this trip.  We teamed up with Repairers of Broken Walls for this trip.  RBW is a mission organization who helps churches go on short term trips.  It was the beginning of a great relationship between myself and Carol and Enrique Acosta (RBW Missions).
On this trip, I experienced HEAT!  I remember working hard in the extreme heat!  I remember mixing cement by hand, and putting in a decorative driveway at the mission we were staying at.  I remember attending a church service that was conducted in a different language for the first time.  This trip opened my eyes to the rest of the world.  I saw poverty in ways I didn't even really know existed.  
We did service projects at the mission, visited an orphanage, and hosted a Vacation Bible School.  We were able to see young people give their life to Christ through our time there.  I remember coming away from this trip thinking, THIS WILL NOT BY MY LAST MISSION TRIP.  Thankfully it wasn't!


Sabinas Hidalgo, Mexico - Orphanage - (version 1)


After graduating from Crown College, and becoming the youth pastor at Sebeka and Menahga United Methodist Churches, I was able to team up again with RBW to lead a trip to an orphanage in Mexico.  This was exciting for me because I got to work again with RBW and because instead of being a student on a mission trip, I was now the youth pastor bringing students along!  
On this trip we worked at the orphanage, visited churches, and hosted a VBS.  Again, we were able to see young people come to Christ through our work there.  We were also able to help the orphanage as they were just beginning.  We painted and did whatever other work was needed around the orphanage.  
My favorite memory of this trip was seeing our students grow closer to God through their service.  These students saw more of the world that they had ever seen before.  For some, it was like a light bulb went off in their head.  I will never forget the trip we took to hand out clothing in a poor neighborhood.  We had car troubles and things didn't go as planned (all part of the mission experience).  That night when we were debriefing, one student said "All I wanted to do was run out and give the people clothes, but then I realized, if we don't give them Jesus too, they are no better off then before we gave them clothes."  Still one of my favorite mission trip moments.
I also was able to see our students come up with $500.00 to give to a church that was wanting to build a new building!  That 500 bucks came from their extra money that they had with them.  AMAZING!  We came back to church, told our congregation about the need, they responded with almost $1000.00 to help build a new church!  It was amazing!  All spearheaded not by me, but my the students!


Tanzania, Africa - 
I have always wanted to go to Africa for a mission trip.  I don't know if it was because growing up, my aunt and uncle were missionaries there, or because we always here about Africa when talking about missions.  Whatever the case, I have always had a desire to go there.  
So when the opportunity came for me to go, I TOOK IT!  It was different from any other mission trip I have ever been on.  I went with two older ladies from the church I was working in.  Our purpose for going was to work with an organization who put in water wells and taught hygiene and sanitation.   We were able to provide clean water while talking about the LIVING water!  It was a great experience.  I was also able to preach in one of the churches that we visited (through an interpreter).  I was able to assist in repairing wells, as well as work at the beginning of a new well project for a Masai Tribe.  I was able to go on a safari and see animals I had only seen in zoos and books.  I was able to talk with a group of young seminary students about the importance of youth ministry, and give them a few resources (donated by Simply Youth Ministry).  This was a great trip! 
The thing that I walked away with from this trip was one though.  In Africa (and I am sure, in other parts of the world) people are Christians because they need it to survive, but in America we are Christian because we don't want to go to Hell when we die.  I realized that my faith was small... 


Sabinas Hidalgo, Mexico - Orphanage - (version 2)
Fast forward a few years from the last trip to Sabinas Hidalgo, Mexico.  I am now the youth pastor at Alliance Church of the Valley.  I again was able to team up with RBW to go back to Sabinas, this time leading different students, from a different church, even a different state!  It was great to be able to go back and see how God has been working in the orphanage. 
The orphanage was almost 3 times larger!  It was so great to see more young people living there!  We were able to help with painting, and other projects around the grounds.  The orphanage facilities are much better now!  
We again were able to host a VBS and again see young people come to know Christ.  One little girl in particular was amazing.  She was visiting her grandmother and happened to come to VBS.  She was actually from Texas.  We were able to talk with her in English!  So cool!  We traveled all the way to Mexico to share the Gospel with a young person in English.  
My favorite moment of this trip was the night before we left.  We got in a circle and prayed for the  children and workers of the orphanage.  As we were praying, it was amazing to our students with tears in their eyes as they prayed for these children.  Their hearts were breaking for them!  
It was also amazing to go back to that church that needed money to build a new church building (so they could stop meeting in the pastor's home).  The Church is now built!  In fact, the pastor remembered me, and thanked me fore the gift the students made, as well as the $1000.00 the church raised!  I didn't remember what the totals were, but he did.  So cool!
Another GREAT EXPERIENCE!


I could write many blog posts on each of these trips (in fact, this blog started because of the Africa trip.  If you go back in the archives you can read my blog posts from Africa.  Each of them has changed my life to some degree.  Each of them taught me something different and new about who I am, about who God is, and about missions and my role in it.  


So... what's next?  Well, right now I am currently planning a trip to South East Asia along with other youth pastors from our district.  You will hear more about the trip on this blog in the near future, and for sure while I am there.  But for now, just be praying for myself and the team as we prepare for this trip.  Fundraising is always a daunting task.  We will be gone October 18-19, 2010!  We will be traveling to Taiwan, Cambodia and Thailand!  I am excited to see what God will teach me though this trip.  I am also excited that it might lead to more trips to one of the countries!  


Stay tune fore more!

Ugly Sweater Contest

Last night at youth group, we had an ugly sweater contest!  It was a ton of fun to see many of the students come in their mom or dad's sweaters.  I did receive a facebook message from a mom "complaining" that her daughter wanted to wear one of her sweaters to the ugly sweater contest. :)

It made for a very fun night.  I am sure that it will not be the last time that we have an ugly sweater night!  Guess I need to keep my eyes out for next year's sweater.  I was not a part of the contest, but I think that I would have had a good shot at winning if I were.

To capture the night, we brought in a photographer to take pictures of everyone.  Here is the picture of my sweater.

My last week...

I realized that I haven't made any updates about my week on the blog yet, so here it goes.

I am now the daddy of the cutest little girl ever!  Avery Joy was born on December 10th and was a whopping 6 lbs 4 onces and 18 inches long.  We've really enjoyed having our Christmas present come early!  She is so much fun to cuddle with.  Since we got a stocking from the hospital, we thought we better take the "Christmas Picture" so here it is...

I also got to spend Monday night in the ER with Caden.  He had a croupy cough and was having troubles breathing, so we brought him in.  A couple Nebulizer treatments, 2 x-rays and 3 hours later, we were home.  I was able to be back in bed by 4am.  He did a great job at the ER.  Didn't fuss a bit and let the doctor do all sorts of different tests.  They did have us get a nebulizer so that we can avoid trips to the ER in the future, which will be very nice to have.

here's a pic of Caden in the ER.  doesn't it look fun?

That's what's been happening in our world... What has been happening in yours?

Things to be thankful for

Today is thanksgiving, and I have much to be thankful for.  This year, because of our little guy that's on the way, we were not able to travel back to Wadena to celebrate with our family.  Though this was a bummer to us, we still found ways to celebrate here in SCF.  It was a good thanksgiving, but I have to admit, it just doesn't seem the same not being with our extended family.

The day started with a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items for the meal we were preparing.  I picked up apples and whip cream and brown sugar for the pie, and eggo waffles for breakfast (just cause they sounded good),  Walked to the check-out line and checked out.  I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.  As I pull out of the parking spot, I notice this big 6'3, 300+ lb guy come barreling out of the store.  I smirked at the sight, but didn't really give it much thought till I hear him knocking on my driver side window.  Struggling to catch his breath, he asks if I had purchased brown sugar.  I told him I did.  He informs me that I had forgotten one of the bags on the carousel and that he would bring it out to me if I drove up to the door.  He smiles and takes off running back into the store.  Sure enough, I pull up and this out of breath guy hands me my brown sugar.  As much as I wanted to break out laughing at this dude completely out of breath over a bag of brown sugar, I couldn't help but be thankful for his thoughtfulness.  The smile on his face was a clear indication that he was glad to help me out.  I don't know that man, but today I am thankful for him.

We were able to have a nice Thanksgiving lunch with good friends, the Scottums ( - Nate).  Because they were going to be having turkey for supper, we decided to go with a smoked ham on the egg.  Great decision! It was so tasty!  Smoked Ham, green beans with bacon, cheesy potatoes, and biscuits made for a great thanksgiving feast.  It's always great to hang out with good friends with good food!  I am thankful for the friends we have!

I am also thankful for the nap that I enjoyed after they left!

After my nap, we put together a new shelving unit we picked up at IKEA.  its for the baby's clothes.  Its fun to see us starting to prepare our home for our new addition.  Tomorrow, we get to go and see another picture of our little guy!  I am excited for that!

Finally, we hung out in the living room, read bedtime stories with Caden, and watched the Gophers win!

I am thankful for many things, but today I am so thankful for my family!  Kate and Caden are the greatest people to spend time with, and today I got to hang out the whole day with them!  I hope that everyone had a great thanksgiving and nobody spends too much on Black Friday... but if you feel the need to spend money, I would love an ipod touch.

I'll leave you with this picture of our smoked ham.  Come on over for left overs!

Need to get back to the blogging

Here are a few things that are on my mind right now:

1. My desk is a mess and I need to clean it up
2. How can people hear stories of missionaries and just think, "that's neat" but do nothing about it?

- You can give

- You can pray

- You can go!

3. Can't wait to see my new son! Now if only we could give him a name...

4. This is going to be a different Holiday season with the new one on the way. Thanksgiving and Christmas will more than likely be spent with Kate, Caden, #2 and I (Hopefully Christmas is the only one he is actually here for). excited non-the-less.

5. I have a great family, job, and life...

I will try and stop by the blog more often. That is if there is anyone besides Brad who still stops by...

True Hall of Famer

This past week, David Robinson, Michael Jordan and others were inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. This is the biggest honor for Basketball players and coaches. As always, each of the individuals were able to give a speach, thanking the appropriate people and saying whatever it might be that they would want to say.

David Robinson was one of my favorite basketball players growing up. I loved the fact that he was good, and a Christian. One of the things that continues to stand out is that he is a man of class. I hope that when I am older, I can carry myself in a simular fashion. Please take the 8 minutes to watch David Robinson give his speach. It is worth it. Especially listen to the end.

Jordan also was inducted and gave a speach. Jordan is probably the best basketball player to ever live. He played at a higher level than anyone for a super long time. As a basketball player, he has earned the respect of many, including myself. I am not here to say that his speach was bad or selfish... you can make your own decision. I do think that it is interesting though that David and Jordan gave their speaches on the same night, and they couldn't have been more different. Watch and see what you think. **Be Warned... he does swear once at the begining of the speach** if you don't have time to watch the whole thing, at least watch the last minute or so of his speach.

Thoughts?

My thought is this: David Robinson has class! What a great role model... still today!

Caden and I went to the St. Paul Saints game last night with some friends. It was so much fun! Twins games are great, but Saints games are were the fun is at... especially with kids! And the fireworks that followed the game were the best fireworks I think I have ever seen! Next year, grab some friends and tickets and go to a Saints game! And what's best, our tickest were $12.00 and that was the most expensive ticket we could have gotten! Great seats!

In the Line of Fire

I like working in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. There are good people, great churches and I believe that theologically, its a sound denomination. What I really like about being a part of the Alliance, is the deep history of missions that is continued with a continued passion for covering the globe with the message of Christ.

This passion is an expensive one. The value of the US dollar continues to put a strain on the missions work through the Alliance. In an economy that is causing people to re-evaluate their giving, and causing others to stop giving all together; the mission of sending others becomes a daunting one.

This morning I came across this link that reminds me of two things:

1. The "cost" of missions is high

2. The cost of missions is worth every penny...and life given.

After reading this article and seeing this video, I am again reminded of the importance of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. But even moreso, the importance of doing our part to bring the message of Christ to the nations. What part can you play?

http://www.cmalliance.org/about/history/in-the-line-of-fire/

Sad week...

This week I lost a fellow youth worker and a friend. Nathan Loved life, Loved music, especially concerts, (I remember that he brought his new born to SonShine to have a picture with a band, I believe it was Switchfoot) Love the Word of God and loved serving young people. I am so thankful for the time that I had with him. Just this past year we took a 3 day training together through Youth Leadership. It was good to connect with him, and to hear his different thoughts on ministry. Nathan was a thinker.

As I look back on this tragic situation, I cannot help but to think about how Nathan's life was an example of Christ. The compassion he had for others was Christlike. The love that he had for others was amazing. He was always finding new ways to connect with our culuter and to share Christ with others. And, ultimatly he put his life on the line for another.

Jesus, while we were drowning in sin, gave His life so we could HAVE LIFE. Because of that sacrifice, and ONLY because of that sacrifice, we have the oportunity to have a relationship with Christ and we have the security of eternaty with Him. Have you accepted this? Do you have a relationship with Him? Nathan lived this relationship out on a daily basis, and now he is experiencing the ultimate reward, eternity in the presence of God!

Here is an article writen in the Star Tribune. Please read it to know more about who Nathan. http://www.startribune.com/local/49558237.html?page=1&c=y

Thanks Nathan, for living out your relationship with Christ on a daily basis! May I do the same.

A trust fund has been set up to help support Nathan's family. You can find out more information here.

Mexico, here we come!

Very excited about our upcoming trip to Mexico. On July 7th, 14 students and 5 adults from our church will be headed to Sabinas Hidalgo, MX. I am excited to be able to be leading my second trip to the Orphanage there! This morning we had our last meeting together as a team before we meet up to pack the trailer and head to the airport! I'm very excited!

My excitement was "cooled" a bit when I che

cked out the weather for Sabinas Hidalgo. I did the 15 day outlook (which will cover the days we are there) and it looks like it is going to be a warm one! Check this out!

If you want to follow our progress while we are on the trip, you can check out acvmissions.blogspot.com for out up-to-date information as well as nightly (hopefully) updates on the progress of the trip.

Just WRONG

So, today I stumbled across something that I think is just plain wrong. It does, however, remind me that this is infact how many people view Jesus. Remember the good old Magic 8 Ball? Well, there is now the "Answer Me Jesus" doll.

Any thoughts? I know that its just a joke, but still... Wrong

Busy, busy times

Its been a busy couple weeks.  We celebrated our seniors in our student ministry, closed out the school year ministry schedule and Kate and I made our way to Louisville, KY for the National Council for the CMA. 

Summer is now here, and the schedule doesn't look like it is getting any slower.  Next week I will be spending the week as the camp speaker at one of my favorite places on the face of the earth... Big Sandy Camp.  I am excited that Kate and Caden are going to be able to come and join me for the end of the week :)  Always fun to have them come along to camp.

The remainder of the month of June is jam packed with friends, family time and some fun youth group stuff. (YUCKFEST to name just one).  

Here's hoping your summer schedule doesn't get too crazy.  Let me remind you of one important thing as we come into the summer schedules... Don't forget about the important stuff, specifically your relationship with Christ.  So often we get so busy completing our schedules that we forget about that which is the most important.  Schedule time into your day for some time with Him.  Schedule time in your week to spend an hour at church.  It's not always easy to do, but it will be the most important thing on your schedule!

Have a great summer!  I look forward to keeping you updated on things in my life.  Please do the same!

chris 

Did I just hear that right?

Can you say Tax Break?  I can!

My son is so awesome!

Swine Flu in Wisconsin... Dang, I think my son has it!

Wow, I guess I need to get on here more

So its been a long time since I was last on this thing.  Sorry... Life has been crazy the last few month.  I miss blogging, even if nobody is reading.  It is good for me.  It makes me think.  It makes me pause.  It helps me to think about what is going on.  

Here are a few things that are currently on my mind:

1.  Will my schedule ever get any easier?

2.  Will I get my sermon finished up before I preach it on Sunday?

3.  Will I ever get back to the gym (I am paying for you it you know!)

4.  Will I ever get back on track with my Ordination stuff?  (WAY behind now!)

5.  Will the Twins get things together?  (Especially the pitching staff)

6.  Will I actually continue to blog my thoughts in the coming days and weeks? (I hope so!)

Until next time my friends!  

The New Addition Announcement!

Here is the new addition to our family... The Big Green Egg!  I will be smoking, grilling and even baking on this this VERY soon... like TONIGHT!  

Hope everyone is ready to come over for some good food!

Brad, does this help encourage you to come for Easter?  I sure hope so!   Can't wait to grill something for you guys!

I haven't named the egg yet, but maybe I should.

Our family is growing!

More details to come soon...

Finally, a solution!

We've been trying to decide how our family could be more "green."  Well, I think that we have our answer!  It's about time!

Drop it like its hot

Caden loves to come to youth group and listen to the youth worhsip team practice.  Last night, when I started youth group, he climbed up on one of the chairs next to one of the students.  So instead of sending him to the nursery, I let him hang out for a while.  While True Faith was playing, I was in the back getting things ready for the night.  When I came to the front, I saw Caden and one of his friends dancing away.  It was so awesome!  Finally we caught him dancing on video!  

Sermon prep with Chuck

Just thought I would share my new sermon prep notebook.  I used to use a really nice Moleskin notebook to jot down ideas and sermon outlines.  I was in WalMart and was inspired to change my sermon prep up a bit by using this amazing new notebook.  Be honest, you want one!

I love my job!

On Sunday we held an event for our senior highers at the Mall of America.  It was called MIA @ MOA.  What a fun night!  I lined up 12 different adults to disguise themselves and hide in the mall.  Our students walked throughout the mall with their small groups looking for the "hiders."  As they found them, they signed a picture that each group had of them.  I think everyone had a grea time.  2 of our hiders didn't get caught even once.  (groups walked right by them) and the group that found the most people only found 7 of them.  Fun was had by all... 

Here is a quick example of the hiders...

Photo in need of a caption

This is risky, but I am looking for a good caption to this photo.  My buddy Gabe sent this to me this week. At any rate, let's hear your captions:

now that's cold

And it was only -4 when I did this!  Think of what would have happened if it really would have been cold!

BBRrrrrrrr @ Yahoo! Video

Cold

(*disclaimer*) I know that my brother in Bemidji, and much of my family in northern Minnesota are experiencing even colder weather.  This post is for my friends around the country who think they know what cold is.

Here is what weather.com is reporting at 9:46am today.  Keep in mind, it has warmed since early this am.

This afternoon I will post a video of what -30 wind chill looks like.  Stay tuned.

For the record, I love this weather!

Things I am excited about...

Gophers Basketball - They're rated 17th in the nation and they are playing some exciting basketball.  Maybe the best part about it is that they will almost all be back for next year.  9 for 9 from the three point range is amazing.  

Oasis - Our district youth retreat that is being held at Camp Forest Springs.  Great speaker, great band, and skiing/snowboarding... what could be better.  Oh yeah, and a broomball tournament as well!  The end of the month cannot come quick enough!

MIA @ MOA - a fun scavenger hunt at the Mall of America.  Adults will be "hiding" in the mall while small groups try to find them.  Always a good time!  

*update* 24 - I almost forgot about 24!  Excited to see where the season will lead to!  It's been a good start.  Hopefully tonight will not dissapoint.  My guess, they will front load the season with surprises and twists.  They need to keep and gain attention, they've been off for nearly 2 years.

what are you excited about?

WOW!

You know it's cold when warnings like this are put out!

Emergency officials warned people need to be on the lookout for frostbite and hypothermia during this week's cold snap.

Wind chills of 20 below can cause frostbite in just 15 minutes. Anyone with loss of feeling and a white appearance in their extremities should get medical help.

People also should watch out for uncontrollable shivering, disorientation and drowsiness -- all signs of hypothermia.

Stay tuned to see a video illustration of just how cold it really is.