Spiritual Wrestling

"We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."


I really don't spend much time thinking about powers of darkness, or spiritual forces of evil unless I am watching Lord of the Rings! I mostly live out my day doing what I believe needs to get done, and on a good day I'll spend a chunk of it talking to God and reading my Bible. But when I come to verses like this one in Ephesians, I am compelled to ask myself if I believe it. Do I truly believe that my work in ministry is not against the doubts of people, or the hardness of hearts, or the secular culture, or sin focused media. But the struggle is really against demonic powers, rulers and authorities? I'm afraid my answer is too often, "No."

Three weeks ago, Megan and I started up another Christianity Explored class. This time with 6 guys from the City Mission. I was very excited to see 6 Mission guys on fire about Christianity and learning more about Jesus. However our first week we were already missing 2 guys. My friend Wade gave a strong encouragement, and warning for them to put this day and time first in their weekly routines. It is very important, and now that they have shown interest in turning away from drugs, alcohol, and violence to seek God, Satan will do everything in his power to stop them. I was amazed at how fast Satan acted! That same week, one of the guys got in a fight and was kicked out of his housing. He called me the next week to drop out of Christianity Explored. Another gent was tossed into prison, while still another turned back to drugs and was strung out all week. We are 3 weeks in and only 1/2 the guys are showing up. So far C.E. has been competing with family, drugs, football, clubs, and only God knows what else.

Still, for the 3 guys who show up consistently, I am proud and encouraged. They are seeking fast after God and I know He has a firm hold of them. This past week we read Mark 4 and the Parable of the Sower. It is interesting to actually witness first hand some of these things happening to the excitement of these guys. A few guys were picked off the road before they even set foot in the class or church. Another has fallen away quickly due to no firm root. I am sure there will be others who leave what God has to offer due to what the world has. But I am holding out for that last seed. My prayer is that the word of God finds ready soil in the hearts of these 3 remaining guys, and that they in turn, produce a harvest 30, 60, even 100 times!

Please join me in this prayer, and pray that God saves the others who are struggling to find their way. This struggle of theirs is not easy, it is dark, cold, lonely and terrifying. Indeed it is one against evil darkness. Glory to God for He has overcome evil and brought His own LIGHT!
Amen

I once heard it said...

Trying to do NieuCommunities can be a lot like:

Road Trips

This summer our team hosted and ran 3 Road Trips.
A Road Trip is not like a mission trip. They are journeys that invite people to be a part of. The total number of R. Trippers was 28! Each one was lead by a different person and involved a classroom experience, a look into what our team is doing in Glasgow, and volunteering in various ministries in the city. (mission, prayer walk, acts of kindness etc.)

Basically, these act as mini Nieucommunities experiences. Not everyone can be a part of a 42 week experience, but a 10 day experience in communion, community and mission seems more realistic. Our aim is to increase availability, impact, and turn over. We want more and more people to become infected with the sense of being a "called" one!  

The last Road Trip of the summer involved two friends of mine! I was excited when I heard that Sarah was going to come join us for 10 days! I was even more happy to hear that she was going to stay an extra few days with us! It was a joy to have her be a part of our lives, see our ministry, and put her to work; praying, baby-sitting, and flat cleaning! HA. (I'm not joking)
The second friend was Erica. She is a long time family friend. I may have had something to do with Sarah joining us... but I had no idea Erica was interested in this kind of a trip. She heard of it through her church Rock Harbor. I heard she was coming only a few weeks before she was to fly over. Again, it is so good to have friends and family come and join our lives in Glasgow.

Maybe you could be next?  
Come check out these Road Trips ... and come check out what is happening in Glasgow.

Christianity Explored

It is the last night of our first go at Christianity Explored. I have been very encouraged by this group and how they are so eager to learn. The mix is mostly young new believers as well as those just peeking at Christianity. My hope is for most to take the next step on their walk towards Christ by joining a new Bible Group. And for the others to start attending our church Re:Hope

In conversations with people who have been faithful by coming week in and week out, I am told they do not want to stop! They enjoy the group, the discussion, the times together, and that we care. I am very pleased to hear this because it is a direct answer to a prayer Megan and I had before we started our first lesson. Our prayer was that no matter the discussion, no matter the content, we asked that God would move in the hearts and lives of those who came, and that we would create a place where people wanted to remain.

What does it look like to be so intentional at creating a place that encourages others to abide in Christ so that once they are brought there, they do not want to leave? That was our hope. In our service, our hospitality, our love, our listening, our caring, in our interest in their lives we wanted to show Christ, and show them how to abide with Him. I believe that through the help of the Spirit that has been accomplished! Now, I have a new prayer.

Please join me in praying that we may hand these young men and women over to others who will continue to teach and develop them into imitators of Christ Jesus. I pray that they continue to grow and mature in faith and that we, along with others on our team may be obedient to what St. Paul says,"Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."

God has answered our prayers for this group, and I believe we have begun to fulfill our ministry to them.

If you're wondering what nieuCommunities is like...

nieuCommunities: taste n' see!

It is a place where you can find God @ work in your life.
It is a place where living in tight community is one of the learning environments.
It is a place where communion with God, community with man, and mission to the world is lived as you learn.
It is a place you will want to bring back with you wherever God takes you next!
It's a place we call, "NieuCommunities."