DEANO’S STORY: Called Back Home to Mound

Here’s a ‘Mission Moment’ story from our church planting mission in Mound, MN.

In Acts 16, Paul is called to the region of Macedonia in a vision. I believe God still calls people to particular places to bring the gospel. That’s why I’m in Mound. But I’m not alone.

Another unsuspecting “victim” of the divine summons is Deano. Deano graduated from Mound in ’01 and has been living in Otsego/Elk River area an hour or so away. However, Deano has spent the past few springs/summers coaching baseball in Mound.

Deano surrendered his life to Christ in 2009, and since then has been sensing God nudging him back to Mound to reach his old town and classmates for Christ. Amazingly, Deano says this call became strongest last August, but Deano kept waiting because he knew he couldn’t accomplish much on his own out here.

Little did Deano know that at this very same time last summer, we began holding MainStreet Launch Team gatherings and asking God to bring others around our vision to plant a new church in Mound! Isn’t that just like our God!?

Deano first heard about MainStreet from our local chiropractor, and we finally connected this past month. In January our Launch Team prayed specifically that God would bring a bold, evangelistic personality to our Launch Team to help spread the word in the community about MainStreet. Deano is a direct answer to that prayer!

Deano is filled with passion for God and a burning desire to draw others closer to Christ. Deano has hit the ground running, is moving back to Mound in March, and wants to use his house in Mound for hosting his own LifeGroup and other MainStreet ministry events.

Thank you LORD for answering our prayers, and thank you Deano for hearing His call and responding in faithful obedience.

“Do not be afraid….For I have many people in this city.” -Acts 18

Why I Believe in Jesus (By Sam Yapa)

I didn’t always feel that way.

I came to the United States to attend a small state college.

I planned to go on to medical school. My first year of college was perfect. I was getting great grades, and I had a girlfriend and lots of friends. And I was quick to point out to people that I had all of this without relying on anyone but me.

I knew plenty of Christians. In fact, I read the Bible often, just so I could argue with Christians. I wanted to know what they believed so I could break down their reasons for believing. For example, my biophysics professor was a Christian. He would tell me about the miracles in his life, the ways he supposedly saw God’s work in the world. But I thought he was way off. I’d argue with him, and try to convince him he was foolish to believe in Jesus. His faith was a joke to me.

It didn’t take long for God to change my mind. During my junior year of college, everything in my world started to fall apart. My girlfriend broke up with me, I ran out of money and I had to drop out of school. So much for having it made. I thought about going back to my family in Sri Lanka, but I didn’t want to face them when I’d failed so miserably.

One night, I sat in the college library, trying to come up with ways to get out of my situation. The only solution that seemed “reasonable” was suicide. But as I sat there thinking of the best way to kill myself, I heard a voice say, “Have you ever asked me for help?”

Read more of Sam’s story here.

VIDEO: Spontaneous Worship on the Street

I found this video at The Resurgence. Apparently some Christian guys were shooting a music video for a Sunday service and a homeless man came into the frame and started singing to Jesus out of the blue—wow.  A beautiful moment caught on video to be shared by all.

This video is from @loswhit and the guys at Buckhead in Atlanta.

My Faith Story: A Collision of Stories

Testimonial Sermon originally given at Bethel Methodist Church in my hometown of Mound, Minnesota, on April 30, 2006.  This is my story and I’m stickin’ to it. Thanks be to God!

Introduction

As I was preparing to preach this first sermon in my hometown, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ preaching debut in his hometown of Nazareth. Remember the story? Jesus stood up in the pulpit, read a passage of Scripture, and after a short, poorly received sermon was chased to the edge of town by the angry congregation who then attempted to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:16-30)! Then Jesus said, “a prophet is never welcomed in his hometown.”

Trusting that he knew what he was talking about, let me make it clear right now that I am no prophet. And if I say anything this morning that offends anyone, I pray you will be more merciful than those Nazarenes.

The Million-Dollar Question

Perhaps the first thing the senior high youth discovered about me when I arrived at this church some months ago is that I LOVE STORIES. I love books. In fact, all winter they have been forced to gather every Sunday night in my basement filled with books, which I have called “The Professor’s Study.” My love for books, however, goes deeper than an appreciation of good literature. My love for stories finds its root at a much deeper level of my being, at the core of my identity, my understanding of who I am and why I am alive.

This morning I want to share my story of how God flipped my life upside down—or more accurately, right-side up— simply by reading a book. I want to share with you how God gave me a new purpose, and a new identity, through the power of a His Story.

Sam and Frodo, the two hobbits in The Lord of the Rings, have been struggling along for quite a while on their journey. They are exhausted, confused and desperately searching for direction and hope when Sam asks the million-dollar question: “Frodo, I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into?”

An Interview: Some Personal Thoughts

We Christians in the Christian blogosphere can easily isolate ourselves and our writing into a little club of associates who all speak our language and understand our biblical framework.  This goes for Christians in general who only surround themselves with other Christians and pastors whose social interaction is almost exclusively with fellow believers.  

When was the last time you had to answer some very basic, fundamental questions about your Christian faith and beliefs to somebody not completely immersed within the Christian subculture?  I was recently interviewed by a family member for a college paper for a class on an Introduction to the Christian Faith.  

How would you answer the following questions? For what it’s worth, here’s a glimpse at my off the cuff answers.

Remembering Todd Johnson

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

Psalm 116:15

A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 1

In the winter of 2000 my entire life was turned around, flipped upside down and spun inside out. I was a confused, well-intentioned, yet directionless 20 year-old sophomore at Bethel College decided to open up the Book of Acts in hopes of some general inspiration. Something remarkably simple yet profoundly powerful took place that evening as I began reading the story of the early church in Acts.  I was swept up into the action as I read of their struggle to follow the Spirit’s leading as they brought the message of Jesus and the resurrection across the pagan Roman Empire. At that moment, some powerful exchange took place deep within the contours of my mind and my understanding of God, Scripture, history and the meaning of my existence was forever transformed.

Years later during my seminary studies in San Diego I would begin to understand the powerful dynamic that was at work in me that winter night years prior that triggered such a radical and sudden transformation. That night I had discovered the power of NARRATIVE. That night I had experienced what George Stroupe calls “a collision of narratives”

MOVIE REVIEW: The Neverending Story (1984)

Keri made me watch it.  I didn’t want to. I watched it when it first came out in the mid 80s when I was about 8 years old.  It was creepy. Do you remember The Neverending Story? 

 Bastian is a boy bossed around by his dad and bullied by schoolmates, all the while grieving the death of his mother. The story is about finding hope and meaning through the power of imagination and story. Bastian is losing hope in a world filled with pain and suffering, and quickly losing confidence in himself as he seems to have no one around who believes in him.  

Bastian seeks refuge from three bullies in an old bookshop where he encounters the cranky old Coreander. Coreander is pleasantly surprised when he finds out Bastian loves to read great adventure books like Lord of the Rings, Tarzan, and Robinson Crusoe. After listing some of his favorites Bastian’s eyes are captured by a magical looking book resting in the old man’s hands.  Here’s the conversation that follows:

Bastian: What’s that book about?

 Coreander: Oh, this is something special.

 Bastian: Well, what is it ?

 Coreander: Look. You’re books are safe. While you’re reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe.

 Bastian: But that’s what I like about them.

 Coreander: Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.

 Bastian: What do you mean?

 Coreander: Listen (he motions for him to come nearer.) Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you ?

 Bastian: Yes.

 Coreander: Weren’t you afraid you couldn’t escape ?

 Bastian: But it’s only a story.

 Coreander: That’s what I’m talking about. The ones you read are safe.

 Bastian: And that one isn’t ?

“Your books are safe,” says Coreander.  What does he mean?  He seems to mean this:

30th Birthday Reflections: New Calling

San Diego Buddies (2002)

On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s.  

I made a critical decision between my sophomore and junior year of college to switch my major from Education to Biblical & Theological Studies.  I had no clue what jobs a Bible degree would open up for me.  I had no real plans to pursue ministry at that time, and so this major seemed incredibly impractical.  My outlook on life and my future had had taken a bold and countercultural shift.  I decided to pursue my new found passion for studying God’s Word even if that meant resisting a more practical, financially safer path to a more marketable degree and good paying job.  Upon graduation in 2002 I enrolled at Bethel Seminary in San Diego and continued my quest for deeper knowledge of God and His Word.  

The following entry is from an email I sent to a friend while in San Diego that reveals my personal struggle with insecurities and future uncertainty over how I will use my Bible degrees to make a living.  

30th Birthday Reflections: New Anxieties & New Peace

Bethel Campus

On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s.  

I had my share of days where anxiety over the future and insecurities over the person I was becoming brought about short bouts with depression.  I often felt lonely and misunderstood at home during these years, and sought refuge and sanctuary on a walk in the woods or a drive to the bookstore to find a friend in a book.  

Thankfully, I also learned to cast my cares upon the Lord during these times.  I had turned my future over to God in a very real way, and I was learning to wait upon the Lord, hoping and trusting that He would open the right doors at the right time.  

The following journal entry takes me back to my favorite place of refuge — the hollow behind Bethel Seminary under a giant oak tree along the shore of Lake Valentine.  This was a truly great moment with God.  I’m so glad I wrote the following down.  

I hope my words below adequately paint the scene.  Enjoy!

April 1, 2003

Not much fooling around on this April Fools Day.  I awoke in an uneasy spirit of discontentment.  Feeling the purposelessness of my life right now.  I am 23, blessed with an expensive college education, gifted with knowledge and abilities to succeed, but lacking the drive and courage to compete in this rat race world of “survival of the fittest.”  I feel worthless with my huge debt of college loans and no steady income to show for my education.  I am trying to substitute teach but receiving no calls the past few days.  I can’t afford NOT to work.  Flustered and emotionally disheartened by the last conversation with [a girl], I am just not happy.