Post weekend reflections

Well the weekend has come and gone. There were so many last minute changes in the team that I didn't have time to post. Sorry if you felt left in the dark.

There were 22 candidates to begin the weekend with 1 leaving after lunch on Friday.

I've had a little time to reflect and some questions come to mind:

• Harry Carter was told to make up a menu when he heard that I was going to be Rector, but then had to leave the team when his son Jadyn was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of his skull. God knew that the tumor was there so why did He call Harry? Maybe Harry, Staci and Jadyn needed the additional prayer cover from the team and community for this trial? Thanks to Rick Lary, Dan Songer, Cliff Jones and Harold Davis Jr for stepping in and carrying through Harry's menu.
  
• The Ideal Rollista withdrew a few days prior to the start of the weekend. Did I not understand God's direction for this team member? Was I not supposed to recruit him? If he was a mistake, why did it take so long to become evident? Was It a test from God for this team member? Did he not grow into the position that God wanted him to? (BTW thanks to Orv Allison for filling in at the last minute!)
• The same situation with another Rollista a Coordinator and 2 Auxillaries. Did I get in the way during selection and not listen? Did the first selection guys fail to step up to the call? Was there a lack of communication? Thanks to Lee Lyon, Rick Erickson, Erick Robb and Pat O Keefe for last minute fill ins.
• I had a blast! It was so much fun and the time flew by! Thanks to everyone who was there, that served, that prayed that helped in any way. I was a very pleasant honor and one that I hope to remember forever. Thank you God for allowing me to serve You in this manner!
• We were able to get 3 first time Rollistas; train a new Spiritual Director (Butch), and a musician (Al Churchill). We have some great talent in the community and these "new" guys will really add to that pool!
  

The team as it ended up:

Rector	Andrew Abrams		Study	Frank Struth
Co-rector	Aaron Mallo		Action	Jack Blakeman
Head Coordinator	Harold Davis		Leaders	Mike Hetrick
Coordinator	Pat Okeefe		Environment	EricK Nelson
Coordinator	Floyd Groner		CCIA	Steve Harmon
Coordinator	Kim Kimbrell		Head Cook	Richard Lary
Spiritual Director	Den Slattery		Cook	Dan Songer
Spiritual Director	Brad Heiple		Cook	Cliff Jones
SD in training	Robert Reed		Cook	Harold Davis Jr
Head Cha	Dennis Soule		Auxiliary	Dan Adams
Cha	Ray Doyle		Auxiliary	Jason Scoggin
Cha	Rob Hall		Auxiliary	Rick Erickson
Cha	Bob Piekarczyk		Auxiliary	Richard Stinnett
Ideal	Orv Allison		Auxiliary	Erick Robb
Laity	Lee Lyon		Head Musician	Jack Bishop
Piety	Frank Price		Musician	Al Churchill

Some changes

We've had our first team meeting and there are a few changes. Please continue to pray for the team members and the candidates. Please also consider sponsoring someone to attend. I'm told that we currently have 2 confirmed and 4 more that couldn't make the last weekend for a total of 6, so there is plenty of room. One of the excuses I hear the most from men when I approach them to attend is that thay have work commitments. But with the economy and job situation as it is God has taken the "work excuse" out of the equation for many.

Here is the team list as of this morning:

DeColores 87
		Inside Team List
Rector	Andrew Abrams	1st Baptist Chruch of Newberg		Action	Jack Blakeman	1st Church of God St. Joe
Co-rector	Aaron Mallo	1st Baptist Chruch of Newberg		Leaders	Mike Hetrick	Oak Tree Community Church
Head Coordinator	Harold Davis	First Church of God, Niles		Environment	EricK Nelson	Hope Community
Coordinator	Joe Sharkey	Hope Community		CCIA	Steve Harmon	Chapel hill Missionary Church
Coordinator	Floyd Groner	UMC Dowagiac		Fourth Day	Aaron Mallo
Coordinator	Kim Kimbrell	Buchanan Church of the Nazarene		Total Security	Andrew Abrams
Spiritual Director	Den Slattery	UMC Ionia		Head Cook	Harry Carter	1st Baptist Chruch of Newberg
Spiritual Director	Brad Heiple	Sand Creek Community Church		Cook	Richard Lary	Mapleview Free Methodist
S D in training	Robert Reed	Voice Ministries		Cook	Al Floyd	Portage Road General Baptist
Head Cha	Dennis Soule	UMC Dowagiac		Cook	Don Williams
Cha	Ray Doyle	Pen Friends		Auxiliary	Dan Adams	New Life Community
Cha	Rob Hall	Fellowship Bible Church		Auxiliary	Mike Baker	Portage Road General Baptist
Cha				Auxiliary	Larry Udell	Hope Community
Ideal	Calvin Travis	St. Joseph (White Pigeon)		Auxiliary	Richard Stinnett	1st Church of Christ
Laity	Isiah Cornelius	Portage Road General Baptist		Auxiliary	Ken Andrews	Granger Community Church
Piety	Frank Price	Lighthouse Baptist		Head Musician	Jack Bishop	Fresh Start Church
Study	Frank Struth	Pioneer Church of God		Musician	Al Churchill	1st Baptist Chruch of Newberg

Only 1 position left to fill

We're 1 week prior to the first team meeting and we have 1 coordinator position to fill. Almost every one that I called was very enthusiastic about serving, although with some it did take several phone calls to get through to. I do look forward to getting to know the team members better. For some the only contact I've had are the telephone calls. Thanks again guys for sacrificing your time.

And to all of the DeColores community thank you for entrusting me with this honor. Please pray for these guys and the candidates that God has prepared for this weekend.


Rector Andrew Abrams
Co-rector Aaron Mallo
Head Coordinator Harold Davis
Coordinator Joe Sharkey
Coordinator Floyd Groner
Coordinator
Spiritual Director Den Slattery
Spiritual Director Brad Heiple
S D in training Robert Reed
Head Cha Dennis Soule
Cha Gene Deubner
Cha Rob Hall
Cha Pat McFarland
Ideal Calvin Travis
Laity Isiah Cornelius
Piety Frank Price
Study Frank Struth
Action Jack Blakeman
Leaders Mike Hetrick
Environment EricK Nelson
CCIA Steve Harmon
Fourth Day Aaron Mallo
Total Security Andrew Abrams
Head Cook Harry Carter
Cook Richard Lary
Cook Al Floyd
Cook Don Williams
Auxiliary Dan Adams
Auxiliary Mike Baker
Auxiliary Larry Udell
Auxiliary Richard Stinnett
Auxiliary Ken Andrews
Head Musician Jack Bishop
Musician Al Churchill

Only 3 positions left to fill on inside team

We're down to only 3 inside team positions to fill. auxillary, coordinator and action rollo.

The banner is done, having trouble uploading it to the site as it is a pdf file and blogger only want image files.

The theme is: The Ransom from Heaven".

The song is Jesus Messiah.

The scripture is Isiah 44:22 "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

Now to work on the outside team. Glen Carpenter has agreed to organize the kitchen help. If you would like to help out you can contact him in Buchanan. Email me for his telephone number, I don't feel as though I should post it.

Denis and Judy Lynn O'Neil will be Holy Hour hosts, Dustin Cornelius will be doing the special music, Newsboy's He Reigns! It should be a great Holy Hour at the Federated Covenant Church in Dowagiac.

Just a few positions on the inside team left!

It is so very cool to watch God put this together! Here is the team list as of Monday afternoon:

Rector Andrew Abrams
Co-rector Aaron Mallo
Head Coordinator Harold Davis
Coordinator
Coordinator Floyd Groner
Coordinator
Spiritual Director Den Slattery
Spiritual Director Brad Heiple
SD in training Robert Reed
Head Cha Dennis Soule
Cha Gene Deubner
Cha Rob Hall
Cha
Ideal Calvin Travis
Laity
Piety Frank Price
Study Frank Struth
Action
Leaders Mike Hetrick
Environment Erick Nelson
CCIA Steve Harmon
Head Cook Harry Carter
Cook
Cook Al Floyd
Cook Don Williams
Auxiliary Dan Adams
Auxiliary Mike Baker
Auxiliary Larry Udell
Auxiliary Richard Stinnett
Auxiliary
Head Musician Jack Bishop
Musician Al Churchill
Musician

Please pray for all of us as we prepare our hearts and minds to minister to the candidates. And please begin to pray for candidates that God may reveal to you.

Finally a theme "The Ransom from Heaven"

Well it finally was revealed to me this afternoon. The theme that is. We've all heard about the young woman who has her entire wedding planned decades prior to having even met a husband prospect. I suspect that some Rectors or Rectoress' have similar experiences. The whole weekend planned far ahead of when they're called; a particular scripture, a favorite song, their "dream team". That wasn't me. I simply told James not to let a weekend pass because no one would come forward; Since I had met the minimum qualifications I would serve if no one else was willing. I expected to wait some time before I was selected. Have a few month or even years to make the plans...........

As I wrote earlier the really cool aspect to me of working a weekend is being able to actually see God work. To be a tool in the Creator's hand. I've begun to see that far before the actual weekend begins. The scripture was revealed to me through a blog that I subscribe to; a pastor named John Fischer writes daily a piece entitled "The Catch of the Day. He sent this out on May 22nd:

"The preposterously Good News
by John Fischer

I have some really good news for everyone today, but it's not just good news; it's preposterously Good News.

"I, the Lord, made you, and will not forget to help you. I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Isaiah 44:21-22)

Here it is: God forgave us first; then He invites us home.

It could just as easily have been: Return to me and I will forgive your sins. That would have been remarkable enough. But instead, it's: Come home because you've already been forgiven.

This was precisely the case for the prodigal son. He was forgiven before he ever reached the front driveway. That's why his old man was running to meet him. There was no discussion. No lesson. No: "I hope you learned your lesson." He needn't even ask for forgiveness, for it had already been granted.

This is our message to the world: You have already been forgiven, so come home. Christ has already paid the price to set you free. He has removed the barrier between God and us. How can anyone resist so great a love? No wonder Paul calls it Good News. Can you imagine anything better when it comes to God and our sin?

We know we are guilty. Our consciences tell us that. We know the demands of the law. We have the commandments for that, and we aren't doing very well by them. We know that if we mess up in just one thing, we are charged with breaking the whole law. God does not grade on the curve. Instead, He offers us a blanket pardon -- the only thing that could ever save us.

"Oh, return to me, for I have [already] paid the price to set you free."

Preposterous, isn't it?"

I wanted to make sure that his thoughts were transmitted in it's entirety so as to not compromise his messege. To subscribe go to www.fischtank.com.

This afternoon while singing along with the car stereo the theme song Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin the phrase "The ransom from Heaven" leaped out at me. Even though I've sung it dozens of times in the past (and not all that well if you ask anyone next to me while I was singing),

The same has happened with inside team members. I'll go through the listings and a name will jump out at me, so I call and the brother's reply is "sure, what to you want me to do?", I'm getting really encouraged as there are only 10 positions yet to fill.
Thank you Jesus for letting me be a part of this!

The team is coming together

One of the joys that I and probably many of you have during the "weekends " is seeing God work. I've started seeing Him bring the team list together, it has been really encouraging to make a call and have the prospective team member turn into a confirmed team member immediately. The Rector / Rectoress manual states that God will develop the team by prayer and circumstances. We have a little over half of the inside team together and awaiting prayer answers and secretariat decisions to progress on a few key positions.

Our Scripture will be from Isiah 44:22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. In the passages proceeding this one God is reminding Israel of who He is and is not. Israel has been worshiping idols and He is calling them back, similar to what our society bas been facing for the last several decades. Worshiping the gods of wealth, of automobiles, of celebrity, of decadence, of gluttony. He continues to call us back.

Listed below is the team list as far as God has revealed it to me. Please pray for these men as we prepare to minister to the candidates that He has already selected.

Rector	Andrew Abrams
Co-rector	Aaron Mallo
Head Coordinator	Harold Davis
Coordinator
Coordinator	Floyd Groner
Coordinator
Spiritual Director	Den Slattery
Spiritual Director	Brad Heiple
Spiritual Director in training	Robert Reed
Head Cha	Dennis Soule
Cha
Cha
Cha
Ideal
Laity
Piety
Study	Frank Struth
Action
Leaders	Mike Hetrick
Environment	Eric Nelson
CCIA
Head Cook	Harry Carter
Cook	Al Floyd
Cook	Don Williams
Cook
Auxiliary	Dan Adams
Auxiliary	Mike Baker
Auxiliary
Auxiliary
Auxiliary
Head Musician
Musician	Al Churchill
Musician