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Below you will find an image with dates for our upcoming summer camps in the Southern District of Mennonite Brethren.  Here are some prayer requests: Please pray for the staff and campers.   Pray for safety to and from camp and during camp.   Pray that God would get all the glory and His kingdom be advanced.  Pray for salvation and for those with a relationship with Jesus to grow closer to Him. Pray against the spiritual battles and the schemes of Satan.

Don Morris, National Director of U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches spoke briefly to start our morning. We are people of the Word and we take God's Word seriously. Pray for a great movement of God locally, nationally, and globally.  God is up to something among us. Jesus is saying, "let's go deeper!" I want to see more broken people come to Jesus.  Let's not get upset about things that don't matter.  Stop fussing. Let's work together. Revelation 5-Jesus is worthy! Let's be about proclaiming the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.  Is there any other message more important? Speaker later in the morning was a missionary to restricted access countries. How are we to multiply? I am not happy when people just follow me.  I like to help and create leaders. I have to be ready for Holy Spirit to lead me the way He wants, not the way I want. Look what God can do! I don't like a one man show.  You need others. You don...

"We're singing for the glory of the risen King." Winnie Bartel, Speaker and Family Counselor from Shafter MB Church, California was our speaker. 1 Corinthians 12:27-Everybody has a job in the body of Christ. "Celebrating How Our Past Must Impact our Future" Celebrate-to seize an occasion for being festive! Why I am grateful for the Mennonite  Brethren heritage-3 stories Billy Graham-NAE (National Association of Evangelicals) Banquet-"Our rich heritage" 4th United Nations Conference on Women Beijing, China-8 member US team from USA and 2 Anglican Priest from New Zealand "Your People of the Bible" World Evangelical Alliance and European Alliance "I can take you anywhere in European Alliance, and You will be respected and welcomed to speak!" What was it in our past that caused the world to sit up and take notice? Our past must impact our future! It's time to seize this occasion to recommit ourselves to Carry...

"Great are you Lord" Aaron Hernandez, Lead Pastor at Grace Point Church, Texas was our speaker on Thursday evening. "Somas familia"-We are family. John 17:21 We don't just want to read books about God, but we want to experience God. 1 Corinthians 12:27-Theme Verse for the Conference All of you together are the body of Christ. Paul wanted to remind his brothers and sisters of this truth in 1 Corinthians. What we believe about ourselves determines how we behave. Remember in your churches that "you are the body." The body has many parts and God has put each part just where He wants it.  Everyone is part of something much bigger. Gary Inrig quote on unity and diversity. Three Very Important Aspects About the Body Unity Diversity Interdependence What We Need To Do: Pray for Unity-John 17:21 Stay humble in diversity-Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Peter 5:5 Embrace Interdependence-Ephesians 4:16

"I am not a slave to fear.  I am a child of God." Brad Burkholder, Lead Pastor of Hesston MB Church shared a testimony of three blessings in his life and church. Our speaker for the evening was Henock Tsegaye, Lead Pastor at Ethiopian Christian Fellowship Church from Olathe, Kansas. Ephesians 2:11-22-One of the greatest divisions is between Jews and Gentiles. But the division is broken down by God himself.  Because of Jesus, there is no more slave or free, no more Jew or Gentile. Acts 8-Ethiopian saved Acts 9-Paul saved Acts 10-Roman saved The salvation plan is not only for the Jewish but for all nations. There are no boundaries, no limitations for the oneness that God has created. Ephesians 4:3-Humbleness will help the unity to be maintained. Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit (power under God's control). The most important thing to keep unity is love (agape is unselfish and willingly gives). When the peace of God dwells in our he...

This week, I am attending the National Mennonite Brethren Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I am excited for the location and for our time together as the MB family.  I will also be leading a workshop entitled, "Pass It On" which will look at ways to share faith with your kids without guilt or shame.  I am looking forward to time away with my wife and for learning and fun together with people from all over the United States.  Check back here for quotes from the speakers and workshops.

I love summer camp!  How about you?  I have some of my greatest memories at camp including my decision to follow Jesus.  I am thankful for Westminster Woods in Fall River, KS.  I also have many great memories working at camps including Westminster Woods, Camp Tawakoni and now Southern District Mennonite Brethren Kids Camp at Tabor College.  Below you will find information for this summer's camps for 3rd graders through high school.  To register for these camps, go to www.sdcmbyouth.org If you have questions about Kids Camp, please contact me.  For Jr. High and Sr. High Camps, please contact our youth pastor, Jared Menard. There is also an opportunity for you to serve as a counselor or staff at these camps.  To serve at camp, you must apply.  If interested, you can apply at https://applysdcmb.campbrainstaff.com/ I am excited for this year's summer camp!

I had a great 5 days in Colorado for the Pastor's Conference and USMB National Convention.  For my highlights, go here

Pressing On.....Together-Ephesians 4:14-16-Matt Heard Ephesians 2:10-we are God's handiwork The work of art is not just the work itself but the people of God working together. Six Essentials of Pressing On Together: Compass -Where are we going? -Vision, USMB Future Story, Alignment Map -How are we going to get there? - 3 Core Commitments, Strategy, Goals Multitool -Do we understand our roles? - Awareness of each other's gifts and roles; Appreciation of mutual value Rope- Are we cooperating? - Collaboration, Trust, Communication, Leadership, Fun & Gratitude First Aid Kit -Can we fix what's holding us back? - Problem-solving skills, Conflict Resolution, Accountability, Affirmation, Commitment to the Vision Cake -Are we celebrating our progress? - Community, Synergy, Results, Worship

Pressing On-Philippians 3:12-14-Matt Heard We have never met someone who is not worshiping. The question is what are we worshiping. Four Pitfalls To Avoid: 1. Thinking too Highly of Present Position (vs. 12a, 13a) 2. Thinking too Lowly of Present Purpose (vs. 12b) 3. Thinking too Much About Our Past Track Record (vs. 13b) 4. Thinking too Little about Future Reward (vs. 14) When the church gets together it is a preview of the restoration that is to come.

Session 4-Matt Heard-Experiencing Eternal Life Do human beings ever realize life while they are living it? From Emily in Our Town We all have a longing to "realize life while we live it" Matthew 7:13-14-Our longings are ultimately for restoration Proverbs 13:12 (tree of life-mentioned 3 times in Scripture) John 4:13 Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Timothy 6:12 John 14:6-way-doing; truth-thinking; life-being (Part A & B)-Jesus didn't say pick two of three Way without Life-suffocating legalism, sub-cultural behavioral codes, works-based action, empty ritual (Matthew 23:27-28) Truth without Life-meaningless talk, foolish, unprofitable arguments, quarreling about words, judgmental tool (John 5:39-40) Way with Life-biblical obedience, healthy, God-glorifying action, Life-demonstrating & life-giving behavior Truth with Life-doctrine that illuminates and liberates, written word that leads to life Eternal Life is Not synonymous with heave...

Session 3-Matt Heard-The Life of the Gospel Why did the disciples give their lives? It wasn't for an ideology or a list of rules. Life with a Capital L-not just breathing here on earth, not just heaven, not a positive outlook--it is gospel 1 John 1:1-2 & 1 John 5:11-13 John 1:1-4 & John 20:31 Gospel/Salvation--Fall to Redemption-this is not complete but how we typically view salvation Gospel/Salvation--Creation to Fall to Redemption to Restoration-Part A & B The gospel is both proposition and plot. It's not either or. Genesis 3:4 Ezekiel 37:1-6 Isaiah 9:2 John 1:4 John 10:10 John 3:3 John 3:14-16 Colossians 1:18 Hebrews 12:23 1 Timothy 6:12 Ephesians 2:4-5 Ephesians 4:1

Session 2 with Matt Heard-Longing for Life Jeremiah 2:13--My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. John Calvin referred to us as idol factories. We are prone to wander. I'm thankful that the Living Water never leaves or forsakes us. The starting point of the gospel is God. We are created in His image. Our longings central to being human engaged and discerned rooted in eternity John 4:13-eternal life is not a synonym for heaven Isaiah 26:7-9-every person on earth has a longing for God; they just don't know it. We all have an eternal plug that we try to plug into temporal outlets. Psalm 63:1-when our fervency goes down, it is because we choose a broken cistern instead of turning to the only Fountain, the Living Water. There is Life Everywhere Painting based on short story by Leo Tolstoy The gospel comes to me to bring me to life. In the ...

My family is on the road today headed to Denver for the USMB Pastors' Conference and National Convention. We are looking forward to all of the activities as well as having some fun as a family.  We are planning to connect with friends from when we lived in Denver, headed to Winter Park to ride the Alpine Slide and more and an afternoon at Water World.  Pray for the USMB family, for safety in travel, and for a great vacation for us. I will also be posting here on the blog quotes and thoughts from the workshops as well as from our speaker, Matt Heard over the next several days.  Check back over the next few days!

Next week July 27-30, the USMB Convention will be meeting in Denver, Colorado.  Our speaker for both the pastor's conference and convention is Matt Heard.  I sent Matt some questions and below you will find his responses.  As I have read part one of this book, I believe Matt's keynotes will be a message that is very timely for our USMB family.  I hope this brief interview will whet your appetite for hearing more from Matt next week. If you are unable to be at the convention next week, I will be tweeting quotes @JL_Martin as well as posting on this blog what is going on.  Check back next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday for my thoughts from the convention. Why did you want to write Life with a Capital L: Embracing Your God-Given Humanity ?   I think many of us in churches are tragically less fluent than we should be regarding the grand “why” of the Gospel. Other than the forgiveness of sins and admission into heaven (both of whi...

Today's New Book Friday is from the author who will be speaking at the USMB Convention in Denver, CO next week.  I look forward to hearing Matt share about life.

Have you registered to attend the USMB National Convention and Pastor's Convention?  If not, there is still time.  Dates are July 27-30 in Denver, CO. The theme for the convention is Press On and our speaker will be Matt Heard. Here are the reasons why I am attending: I love to learn!  I look forward to the workshops and sessions led by Matt Heard. Hearing more about the Future Story of the Mennonite Brethren conference. It sounds like some great changes are being made and I look forward to learning more about how we can work together as churches for local, national, and global multiplication, intentional disciple-making and developing leaders. Networking with other church leaders-Each time I attend I meet someone new and reconnect with someone I had met at previous conventions. Special opportunities for children's ministry leaders-There will be a workshop on Friday morning during the pastor's gathering and a meet and greet on Friday afternoon just to chat and ge...

Today marks my 7th Anniversary at Hesston MB Church as pastor. I am thankful for the journey that brought us here and look forward to many more years.  As I begin my 8th year, I am seeking the Holy Spirit's lead as we consider how to minister to kids, families, church, community, and world.  Thankful for the calling to Hesston MB and ask for God's grace and empowerment as I continue as pastor for the years ahead.

Some of you might have read my article in The Christian Leader for March/April issue.  If you don't receive The Christian Leader , here is a  link to the article online.  It is on the importance of resting in Christian life and how that is accomplished through the finished work of Jesus. Enjoy and rest!

"The Greatest of These" was Ed's title. In his younger years in a dream, Ed realized he was afraid of Jesus. Through his journey, he is now not afraid any more. Who is Jesus? To understand Jesus, Ed took us on a journey through the gospel of John. The Holy Spirit is a He not an it. Surrender and submission can be fulfilling. Some of us are not good at loving or being unified. Jesus calls us to love one another! Psalm 115:1-all glory to Jesus!