Well, it’s been a while, but here I sit in my “On-Line Cafe office” at Detroit’s Metropolitan Airport, waiting on NW 48 to Amsterdam. It’s been a while (too long) since I traveled this route, via AMS, to Birmingham, England. Perhaps money and scheduling are common problems for many of us these days.
Tomorrow morning when I land in the West Midlands region of England, I’ll be met by my friend Damian Pickett, who is a wonderful ministry partner, along with his precious wife Ruth Ann. They exemplify what it means to have the heart of servants. I always anticipate the time we get to spend together. Damian is the lead pastor of the Kingsmead Church, whose building was originally built in the 1700s as a preaching station for none other than John Wesley. I’m always thrilled to speak there (as I will this Sunday), and thrilled to know that three centuries after Wesley preached there, the Gospel is still being heralded from that specific location. Not all historic church builds have faired as well – some even destroyed or converted in Islamic Training Centers.
Next week is our first week of camp with the Baptist Bible Fellowship Churches of Great Britain – and is always a productive time. In recent years, this camp has always encouraged my personal prayer life and cultivated my love and passion for young people even further. Every day, I walk several miles in the Cannock Chase National Forest, praying by name for young people who should place their faith in Christ. During the evening services, I also pray, and what a joy it is to hear the reports each morning as leaders share who has accepted Christ as Savior the evening prior! I then draw a line under their names, and then pray with thanksgiving for each of them as I pray through my list each morning on my walks.
BTW, do you pray? If so, would you pray each morning specifically for the young people who will attend these camps over the next three consecutive weeks? It may very well be your prayers that God would answer that makes an eternal difference.
The following week, my friend Dan Brown and the LIFT Student Ministries team will return for the second year. We anticipate going over the 100-mark this year. Again, please pray that many teenagers will come to place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Finally, please pray for the churches who will follow-up on the new converts in a timely manner.
Well, time to close up “the office” and make that long walk to the gate A56 at McNamara Terminal. From here, I think it’s a country mile (at least at this time of evening), but the walk will do me well. I’m sure there will come a time during the 8-hour night flight, sitting in that Airbus A 330 seat, that I’ll wish I was taking a long walk!
Cheers!
1 response so far ↓
Cheryl Davis // August 2, 2009 at 12:31 pm |
Hello Mr Peterson, 2nd August 2009
Thank you for your ministry and words of encouragement and admonishment
We are sorry we didn’t make it to the service this morning at AIBC.
My husband Mike was due home from a trip (he works away periodically) and because of technical difficulties with the aircraft he has been delayed…. our son Michael was home from his employment, but on finding out that his employers had been remiss in giving a day off to one of his work colleague on his birthday, Michael volunteered to take his place.
Our daughter Christine has been home a couple of weeks from studying God’s word with New Tribes Mission at North Cotes in Lincolnshire http://uk.ntm.org/ …when she woke up this morning she did not feel too good…so we thought it best to stay home and listen on the internet.
We thank you for delivering the Lords message and pray that the Lord give you courage and strength continually seeking his will above your own
We were hoping that you would tell us about your ministry with the youth on the camps that the Lord has led you to minister in and through.
We pray that The Lord would open such an opportunity in Peterborough or Huntingdon…and every where really… So often we focus on ourselves, what we think is possible or not! But we know that ALL things are possible with God.
The Lord places brothers and sisters in Christ on our path for encouragement and admonishment-(to urge to a duty; remind: to admonish them about their obligations)… we need to take both on board if we are to hear what The Lord is saying to us. Before I came to know The Lord as my Saviour I always remembered the good times and the fun I had in my life and always blocked out the bad times, the times I am not proud of, or sad times.
But when I acknowledged The Lord as my personal Saviour and redeemer, those times I no longer wanted to block out, I remembered them and continued to, and gave them all to The Lord. Even for months after I acknowledged the Lord as my Saviour the Lord brought to mind things I had without realising blocked out for years. I knew then that the Holy Spirit was at work in me and through me to convict and nurture me. (I am Work in Progress) we never stop learning. Every day The Lord guides and shows me those things I need to do…. (He is the potter and I am the clay) Jeremiah:18 v:6 ‘O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.’
May your heart be open continually to the guidance and direction of the holy spirit that intercedes for our Lord.
As you are a blessing to others that they too would be a blessing too
With Love in Christ our Saviour
Cheryl Davis