NTM

This morning at our monthly chapel, Larry Brown spoke about ministry using Christ’s ministry here on earth as an example.  It was an excellent chapel and definitely caused me to think about where I am and what I am doing.  It is easy when ministry is your job, for ministry to become work.  Not just for guys like me, who are not "front-line" Christian workers, but also for the church planters and pastors out there.  Ministry can become a grind, just like any other job, and we need to be reminded that what we do IS ministry and not work.

Even having been at NTM for under a year, I many times find myself falling into the old habit of going to work and that is not the reason I am here.  I am here to be a part of a ministry, and I should be excited that I can have a part in it!  I needed to be reminded that it is for Christ and not for me.

Maybe you are not in "full-time Christan service", but you do take part in a ministry in your local church and you may feel like it is a job.  I encourage you to take a step back and remember that you are doing it for Christ and how He gave up everything for you (Philippians 2:5-11).  If that doesn’t spur you forward, I don’t know what will.

The chorus of the song, In Me by Casting Crowns, says this:

"Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong
When I’m blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don’t need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I’ll stand on Your truth, and I’ll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me"

It’s great to know that God isn’t depending on my ability, but by His power through me.  Read 1 Corinthians 1 for a great description of this principle.

Be encouraged that we serve the living God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

I guess I’m saying it should be ministry and when it’s not, we need to step back and get re-charged like I was this morning.

Thanks for your support.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Thank you so much for your prayer support. God has answered!  Since our last letter, we have seen God work in these areas:

• Rodd Harris and Jack have made progress, albeit slowly, in designing and developing Gravity, the new NTM personnel system.
• Our children, while having ups and downs, are growing physically and spiritually.
• Reports from Gorham, NH, on Alice’s dad’s health have been excellent! He has improved hearing and has gotten out more.
• Jack’s dad was able to come to Florida for an week, and then visit Jack’s brother Jimmy and family in Texas.
• Opportunities to talk with unsaved people have come in doctor’s offices, parks, and at programming seminars.  God has definitely supplied our every need, and the scale shows that we are not starving!

Here is an example of God’s provision:  Palmetto Avenue Baptist Church completed its annual missions conference with Faith Promise Sunday on March 16th. We knew that any Faith Promise commitment we made would be truly that, as while our needs are met, we certainly do not have many extras. We made a commitment, and two days later received a gift for almost twice the amount! We see God’s faithfulness over and over again. We are so thankful for the great, powerful, and loving God that we serve!

Jack is still battling an infection. He has had several courses of antibiotics, yet the symptoms keep returning. Tests have not revealed anything major, and the doctor says it may be a chronic inflammation. Jack is considering an herbal treatment, which reveals his frustration level.

We were blessed with several visitors in March, including Marshall & Marion Santy, Marilyn Jenkins, and Phila Brill. Jack’s parents came for a week and attended our church’s missions conference with us. During their visit we all went out to dinner with Al and Leora Host.

Jack’s parents liked it here so much that they are considering volunteering at NTM for at least part of next winter!  A lot depends on Jack’s dad’s health and what needs they could fill here at NTM.

Chad and Janeene Mankins and children joined us for dinner on March 25. They are planting a church in the Tobo tribe of Papua New Guinea, and are currently on home assignment. We met them in 2001 when they visited our church in NH, and we have stayed in touch. Chad and Jack are both Boston Celtics fans, so they are enjoying the C’s rise this year.

A friend within NTM was given two tickets to an Orlando Magic game, which he couldn’t use. Jack graciously offered to take them, and he and Evan had AWESOME seats–about 10 rows back. Jack claims he had a make-able shot from his seat. The Jumbotron showed Evan banging his Thunder Sticks in the 4th quarter. Evan’s favorite part was the indoor fireworks; he also enjoyed counting Dwight Howard’s dunks.

Danielle and Alice went on a camp-out with our church’s AWANA club. They were nice and comfy in cabins. The kids and adults had a great time around the campfire and getting out into the woods, and God provided beautiful weather.

Danielle (9) is still practicing guitar, grudgingly at times, but is improving. You can see her on YouTube, performing Every Move I Make with Evan and Regan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLaKqWH6Z64. Her motivation is to get an electric guitar, and dad has said, "Not until you can play the acoustic we have."

Evan (6) is loves to play piano and is getting good at it! Mom is really happy.  He wants to play at church.  At the rate he is improving it won’t be long.

Regan (5) is the happiest kid ever. He enjoys coloring with markers. Alice is working with him on reading and he is starting to get it. He spells out words he sees, and can sound most of them out with help.

Alice has played piano for several NTM conferences. She is holding off on more involvement until Regan starts kindergarten in the fall. NTM has many opportunities where she could serve!

Jack is working on getting the MS SQL Server computer for Gravity up and running, as well as ETL duties. ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load and refers to transferring data from existing systems to new systems, which are usually more restrictive.  For example, a phone number field may have previously allowed text, such as 1-555-555-1234 ext.123.  The new system allows only numbers, so you need to eliminate alpha characters and parse the string to get the extension and put it in the extension field. Oh, and how about international numbers?  Where does the international dialing code or country prefix go?  Jack has had fun and frustration in the process.

Jack enjoys participating in local programming groups, and is trying to expand his professional profile and development through a new blog (www.wiseman-wiseguy.blogspot.com). He has also written an article for SQLServerCentral.com. Through the programming group, Jack has had the opportunity to present NTM and its mission to other SQL professionals. As a result, the owner of a local consulting and training company has provided a consultant to assist Rodd and Jack at a discounted rate, and also invited them to attend a class, worth up to $3000, for free.

Praises:

• MANY answered prayers as noted above!!
• God’s awesome power, love, mercy, and grace
• Our visitors. Please let us know if you are in the Orlando area; we’d love to see you!

Prayer Requests:

• Wisdom for Jack and Rodd Harris as theycontinue Gravity design and development
• Wisdom in rearing our children, and that all of us would grow in Christlikeness
• Health for Alice’s mom, Mary Jane Ames as she has had recurring pain and fatigue recently
• Wisdom in battling homesickness. We each feel it occasionally.
• For God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen all believers, and enable unbelievers to see that they need Him
• Opportunities to present our ministry.
• Continued provision for all our needs.

Thanks very much for praying and partnering with us to reach unreached tribes!