illuminate-servant evangelism

Servant Evangelism connects people to people in a natural, easy, low-risk, high grace way.Who doesn't like to be given a hot cup of tea or coffee on a cold day? Especially by someone who is smiling, happy and having fun. Servant Evangelism wins the heart before it confronts the mind. A small act of kindness nudges a person closer to God, often in a profound way as it bypasses ones mental defenses. The average Christ-follower is willing to hand a stranger a cup of coffee or wrap a gift f or wash windows(low risk). The high grace is seen in the typical reaction. "Oh, thank you!" "This is so nice!" "I can't believe this is for free!" And, "Why are you doing this?" Kindness builds the bridge for the person to receive a touch of love from God. It's simple, practical, effective and fun!

I am leading a group called Illuminate, which is a servant evangelism team. We meet once a month and do practical ministries throughout the community. Our aim right now is the Heights are which is the residential area that is not so fortunate. We have a goal for 20 people of the Heights to come to Christ this year and so far we have 4 people who have started that journey!!

In december we offered free gift wrapping to shoppers in Coleraine Diamond Centre. People were just amazed that we were doing this for absolutely nothing in return.

We washed windows in the Heights area for free in February, and had a blast! We were able to chat with several people and tell them why it is we are out in the cold washing strangers windows for nothing in returm. We are here to show God's love in a real and practical way.

For Valentine's day we invaded the town with kindness in our annual Kindness week. We handed out goodie baskets full of muffins, cupcakes & sweets to local businesses in Coleraine. One an in his mid forties was so thankful...He said he has never recieved anything for Valentine's day before and was a bit overwhelmed. We handed out jelly hearts to the teens where they all gather on fridays after school. We hand delivered 1400 Father's Love Letters in the Heights area. These letters just tell of God's love for us and it is so beautiful and passionate. One man who has lead a very bitter life recieved the letter and just wept while listening as his daughter read it aloud to him. The words are so powerful and it touches you right at the core. We toped of Kindness week with teams to the Montague & Cromore Nursing Homes where we handed out beautifully wrapped flowers for the ladies and sweets for the gents. We sang old love songs and hymns and visited the old folk and had so much fun!

This month we are Going Green for St. Paddy's Day(to all you americans...apparantly Paddy is spelled with two"d's" instead of "t's"...I got told for spelling it the latter!!!)!! We will be handing out free energy saving light bulbs in the Heights along with a list of green ways to save money around the house.

I have also been working on building a relationship with the Diamond Centre. It is where all the shoppers are and a great place to reach the community. I have been in contact with them for the christmas wrapping and have offered to serve with anything else that they need help with. The assistant manager, Lynsey, and I have hit it off anh she is now calling me to ask if we could help them out with events! So we are offering free face painting for their events and continuing to bless them with a servant heart. Isn't God so great!!!???!!!!

It's amazing the response you get from people and it is a wonderful opportunity to tell the community of God's incredible love for us. Here are some pix...

New Years Eve Pix

Christmas in Ireland

Christmas

I know that Christmas was a while ago now, but I finally have some time to put up some pictures of my Christmas in California! I was all ready to spend Christmas in Coleraine when my family contacted me and told me they were flying me to California for Christmas!!! I had one day notice until I had to start traveling so I got my suitcase...which I took empty for a reason...and prepared to have a wonderful time back in the States. My friend, David, was kind enough to give me a ride to Belfast where I then took a 3 hour bus to Dublin where I camped out for a few hours and then hopped on a plane to Maine. All of my original traveling routes where thrown out the window because of bad weather, so I ended up flying all over the place. from Maine I went to Phili and from Phili to LA. I finally arrived in LA where my fam had been waiting for 3 hours!! They are such a good family...My luggage was lost, but luckily it was mostly empty so it was no big deal. They delivered to my house a couple days later. I had the most wonderful time seeing my family and was in awe at how much Cory and Saylor had grown. My dogs where so delighted to see me as I was to see them. The house was adorned with all the Christmas decorations that my mum and sis put up (I was surprised too to hear that shay helped!!!). It looked beautiful! My mum is so talented! I surprisingly did not have nay jet lag coming to Cali so that was something I was most thankful for. Being with my family was just grand, and I couldn't have asked for more for Christmas. We all decorated cookies and Saylor sung me some carols. My mum's family came over on Christmas eve and it was great to see everyone. We spent Christmas day at my dad's family where we had a white elephant party and lots of yummy food. I got to see my friends and it was just so great to see my girls. It's amazing how you forget just how special people are until you are around them again and experience them in all their glory! I had the most wonderful Christmas and I just thank God for letting me spend it with the fam. It was the best birthday party ever! Happy bday Jesus! Thanks for loving me so much and taking care of me. You truly are amazing.

Life of Risk

Today Ben and I were working in the church office when I looked out my window and saw this elderly lady walking down the street. She had a cane and was hunched almost at a 90 degree angle. My heart went out to her immediatly. And then God spoke to me and said if I wanted to live a life of extreme risk for Him, that I needed to get up out of my seat and go out to the streets and pray for her. I looked over to the other side of the room and Ben was watching her too. I asked Ben if he wanted to pray for her and he said yes. So I got up and got my coat and threw Ben his coat...Ben looked at me and said "NOW??" I gave him "the look" and we both ran down the stairs out to the streets and caught up with the lady. Her name was Ellen and she had some disked replaced in her back and had a bad hip. I explained to her that we were part of a local church and would like to pray for her to be healed. She said yes and then started walking away. We clarified that we would like to pray for her right there on the street right next to the wee shop. So, we did just that. She seemed like she was in a hurry to get somewhere so we couldn't really press into prayer...But she was thankful and even though we did not see immediate healing take place, we know that God was stirring something up in her heart. You tell God to use you and when He speaks and tells you what he would like to do, you have a choice to either listen and obey or turn a deaf ear. It's time to start listening...It's time to start obeying...you can never really see God moving until you get up and actually experience it.

My Mission Statement...

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

Coleraine Light Switch On

In Coleraine a week or so ago, we had the Light Switch On. Which is exactly that. Everyone gathers in the town centre and there is a parade of people walking on stilts and marching bands and little boys and girls dressed up in all sorts of costumes. Frosty the snowman and Santa Clause all make an appearance as well. There is a live band and all the shops are open extra late...which is big in Coleraine considering normal closing time for the shops is 5pm. The lights in the town are all switched on and the christmas decorations are lite up and the tree lights all flash on....It's so wonderful. There was even a firework show! The fireworks were great...they had the show right over the river bann and you could see the reflection in the water! oh what fun it was!! Christmas in Coleraine...does it get much better than this?

SNOW!

I just love this time of year! Christmas...Isn't it wonderful. I do have to say that it is completely different from a California Christmas...It's actually cold here in Ireland. I cannot leave the house with out my hat, scarf, jacket, and even gloves. Yes, it's that cold. I don't think I will ever say I am cold when I am in California ever again... I now know what cold means. Actually, its not so bad when you are all layered up and have the mindset that its going to be cold. I have done pretty well, me thinks! It has snowed though!!

Several times already...It's the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The way it falls from the sky in a downward spiral and lands on your eyelashes and nos; It's marvelous! It's a chilling and gorgeous sight!! It truly makes it feel like Christmas though. The thought of having a White Christmas just makes me so happy. They are saying that there is a very likely chance that we will have one. I think it's much more fun to have a cold christmas. you can cuddle up by the fire and drink your tea and watch the snow fall outside your window. Oh....I love Christmas in Ireland!!! Here are some pix of my house and the snow....I even have some of Katja and I decorating our trees. I let Katja decorate the big one, and I settled for the mini tree. I like it though...a mini tree for a mini me. I even strung the popcorn garland myself! It was quite difficult to string the popcorn when it smelled so good...I think I ate most of it! I did find the secret tip to stringing popcorn...wait until the next day after the popcorn is a day old. It is soggy and stale and you're not tempted to eat it anymore and it actually strings better too!