July 28 – August 7: Zacatecas, Mexico It had been nearly a year since I had been to visit Pastor Jesus “Chuy” Ortega, his family and the church in Zacatecas. I decided to go a few days ahead of the team to spend some personal time with them. The church is growing and doing well under Chuy’s leadership. Thanks be to God, Chuy’s sister Teresa, is miraculously healing from a horrible hit and run accident. The team, all from Covenant Christian Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan, arrived on Friday, September 31. The team included Pastor Dan Head, and his wife Glenda; Steve and Alice Janssen and their daughter Amanda; and Sue Baker (who is a Spanish teacher). I had a wonderful time with the team, and they were a genuine blessing to Chuy and the folks in Mexico. As we always do, we visited several sites, which those who have been to Zacatecas know so well. We took several meals with Chuy and his family, as well as with different families from the church. Amanda kept us laughing. Sue kept me from toying with the group in Spanish, and Dan and Glenda kept us in order. Steve and Amanda had the folks weeping in church, sharing a bit of their testimony. Alice used her freshly learned Spanish, too. Dan was able to share an encouraging message with the church, and I shared a new message on covenant. One of the memories that will stick with us all is that Dan had an attack of appendicitis beginning on Wednesday evening. By Thursday morning he was in severe pain. Glenda, after much haggling with Mexicana Airlines, was able to get them a flight back to the U.S. Thursday afternoon. Dan had surgery when they arrived back to St. Joseph that night. The remainder of the group stayed with me, and on our final night we had a very intimate and “tearful” time of fellowship with Chuy, Maria, Isaac and Anisa, along with Isaac’s girlfriend Mili. We ended the night sharing communion around Maria’s kitchen table. For those interested, I hope to return to Zacatecas sometime after the first of the year. I would love to take another team with me.

August 19: Stafford, Virginia Tony Fitzgerald, who is the founder of Church of the Nations (known as COTN, pronounced cotton), has invited Kathy and me to join his apostolic network. After meeting several times with Dan Wolfe, Tony and with other leaders, unanimously we have decided this was from God. Dan has not only blessed this decision but has also strongly encouraged me to do this. Therefore, on Wednesday, August 19, a summit meeting of tremendous importance to Kathy and me was held at our home in Stafford, Virginia. Along with Tony and Dan, Kathy and I hosted our son Sean, Dennis Harding, Bradley Stuart, Dick Nielsen and Don Coleman. At the close of our discussion, we took communion together, and then enjoyed further fellowship over lunch. Currently, Kathy and I are fellowshipping with Tony and his wife Marilyn to learn more about the ramifications of this decision. As I will mention later on, Kathy and I will be attending the European Leaders Conference for Church of the Nations in late October.

August 21 – 28: Michigan It is a privilege and blessing for Kathy and me to continue to relate closely to and provide a measure of oversight for three families in Michigan. They include Dan and Glenda Head, Jeff and Cheryl Bennethum and David and Judy Van Horn. On August 21 Kathy and I traveled to Michigan to meet with each of these families.

August 22: Pinckney, Michigan On Saturday afternoon we arrived in Pinckney, Michigan (near Ann Arbor) to spend some time with David and Judy Van Horn. They host a “simple church” meeting on Saturday nights with about two dozen people. Having been asked by David to share with the group, I gave a message that was inspired by Tony Fitzgerald on the book of John called “I Go to Prepare a Place for You.” The message was well received, and there was a nice time of discussion before we closed. Please join me in praying for David, since he struggles with severe headaches and battles some arthritis. Judy is in a highly stressful position as the director of student athlete eligibility compliance at the University of Michigan for the NCAA.

August 23 – 25: Benton Harbor, Michigan We left Pinckney early Sunday morning to arrive in time for the Sunday morning service at Covenant Christian Church in Benton Harbor. Pastor Dan Head had requested that I share on the subject of covenant, a message which the team had heard in Zacatecas. The remainder of Sunday and Monday was spent “feasting and fellowshipping” with various friends, family members (my brothers Tom and Don) and even a reunion with the Zacatecas ministry team. Travel does not help one’s effort to slim down, as you may have observed.

August 25 – 27: Gaylord, Michigan Kathy and I rolled out early on Tuesday morning heading for northern Michigan to visit Jeff and Cheryl Bennethum and their son Josh. The family owns an extremely fine restaurant called Bennethum’s Northern Inn. Josh is the amazingly talented chef, and together Jeff and Cheryl manage the business. Now, when I said above that travel does not help one’s diet, well, I am required to accept the burden of being a “gracious eater.” I wouldn’t want to offend my hosts, you know. So, again Kathy and I were privileged to some outstanding meals, great times of fellowship with both employees of the restaurant and various friends, and especially enjoying time with Jeff, Cheryl and Josh. Stepping on the scales after returning to Stafford just brings back sweet memories of “meals gone by.”

August 29: Stafford, Virginia We arrived home from Michigan on Friday, August 28, and the following morning I had the mixed blessing of helping my worship leader Wayne Haines pack a rental truck to relocate to Pennsylvania. It is a great opportunity for Wayne and his family, but we will sorely miss them. I will continue to relate to the family as a spiritual father, and we will make a concerted effort to fellowship regularly.

September 3 – 5: Charlotte, North Carolina In route to our vacation, Kathy and I made a detour to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit our close friends Bill and Gwen Eubank. We always have a wonderful time with them, and this was no different, except Gwen was a bit “under the weather” from a surgery to remove a growth under her jaw. The incision had not yet healed, and she was in a great deal of discomfort. On Friday evening, nearly the entire Eubank family came over for pizza. As always, it was a great blessing to just hang out and fellowship with the Eubank gang. I ask that you remember Gwen in your prayers, as she recovers from this surgery.

September 5 – 7: Palm Coast, Florida Kathy and I left Charlotte on Saturday morning to make the day’s journey to the gulf coast area of Florida. As most of you know, Matt has relocated to Palm Coast, Florida, but in recent weeks he has been working in Oklahoma. We were delighted to get a phone call while on route to his home that his work was finished and we would see him Sunday. Now, let me tell you, one of the greatest gifts God has given us is our grandchildren. It was raining as we were coming into their neighborhood. As we turned the corner headed for Matt and Tina’s house, Kathy’s and my heart leaped with joy. There stood the grandkids (Taylor, Emma and Levi) in raincoats, under umbrellas, jumping up and down as they recognized our car. Kathy almost jumped out of the car before we arrived. Grandchildren have a way of drawing out laughter, hugs and tears from Grandparents, you know. WOW! What a moment. Matt was still in route from Oklahoma, but we spent the evening being entertained by the grandkids with stories, songs, dancing and Emma’s gymnastics. Tina blessed us with an excellent meal – including one of my favorite desserts – tapioca pudding. Actually, Taylor made the pudding, and used an entire box for the one meal. On Sunday morning, we joined the family at Coastal Community Church, where Matt and Tina are involved in leadership. It was our first opportunity to see Matt, and that was also a great blessing. We had lunch with David and Carol Cape, Rod and Val Palmer and our family, and after lunch we spent the remainder of the time with Matt and Tina and the kids. As we were leaving, both Kathy and I were weeping with joy – and a bit of sorrow. Matt phoned us later to tell us that the kids chased the car down the street. Since we were crying, we did not look back to see them. I simply thank God for family. What a great idea He had in creating it.

September 7 – 19: VACATION As we have done for three years, we booked a beach side apartment on the Gulf of Mexico near Destin, Florida. This is the one time a year for Kathy and me to totally relax. Kathy read over five books (yes, over five), and I spent time reading through the draft of the new revision of the sonship book. We did make a trip to Pensacola to watch a performance of the Blue Angels (the Navy special flight team). My grand nephew Brandon McNally, a Naval Academy graduate stationed at Pensacola, was able to join us for this. All in all, the entire vacation was a well-needed and great time for Kathy and me, making our eighteen hour trip home worthwhile.

September 20: Stafford, Virginia In this season I have raised up a team to help lead Harvest Christian Fellowship. Dennis and Lauralee Harding, whom many of you know, are leading the team, joined by Jeff and Linda Ellenwood, Bill and Melody Bannister, and Bradley Stuart, when he’s in town. Dennis (whom we all call D.) has accompanied me in travels to Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and Mexico, so many of you know him. Lauralee is my talented secretary, who types faster than an auctioneer talks, sings better than most professionals, and speaks Spanish like a native. After having said all this about her, she’ll probably want a raise. The team and I have discussed at length what it means to function “outside the box” as a church. One of the ideas was to use a Sunday morning to clean and repair a widow’s house. So on Sunday morning, September 20, the folks of Harvest showed up at the home of Linda Ellenwood’s sister, who was widowed last year. We tore down old sheds, cut trees, mowed lawn, weeded garden, replaced drywall, hung new doors and power washed the entire house in about three hours. I know this is not a typical Sunday meeting, but we all felt the favor of God in doing it. We used the admonition from James 1:27 “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress…” as our inspiration, and perhaps our justification for doing it. The vision statement for Harvest was given to me several years ago during my morning devotions. It is the acrostic: R.E.A.P., which fits our name, Harvest. 1) R. is Reaching the lost. 2) E. is Equipping the saints. 3) A. is Advancing the Kingdom. 4) P. is Preparing a people. We are trying to bring clear and practical application into our vision.

September 21: Kathy and I, along with Jeff and Linda Ellenwood, attended a Church of the Nations cluster meeting in Richmond, Virginia. We took this opportunity to go to Richmond to connect with more of the people involved in COTN. It was an hour and a half drive each way, so after all our travels of the preceding week, and the work day on Sunday, I was feeling quite fatigued but blessed by all God is showing us. I guess for almost everyone I know, that this is a time of transition. Epochal change is taking place everywhere I look. Still, I thank Our Father regularly for the journey He has had for me, allowing me the privilege and honor to walk with His Son and His people for over four decades. It is a journey that I do not regret.

September 23: Richland, Michigan On Wednesday morning, Kathy and I began the twelve hour drive to Gull Lake Conference Center in Michigan to meet with Dan Wolfe and the leaders and wives that Dan has related to over the past decades. I was blessed to see a number of people whom I had not seen in several years. Jim Newsom was the featured guest, and he shared a couple of messages on being natural in the supernatural. Ron Milton shared an inspiring report on working with “street people” in the Lansing area. Tripp Sheen gave us an update on equipping disaster relief teams, which he is coordinating throughout the state. The conference began on Thursday evening and ended with communion on Friday afternoon. So, Kathy and I began the long journey home as soon as the conference was finished. A major highlight of the conference for me was the worship being lead by Glen Head and two of the worship team from Benton Harbor. Also, Glen and Monica Janssen did a powerful skit leading into communion. I had seen the skit the last time Kathy and I visited Benton Harbor, but it still had us in tears as we watched it again.

TODAY: September 30: Stafford, Virginia Perhaps the above will give you a clue as to why I have been a bit guilty of neglecting to communicate. As I close, we are preparing for the annual Harvest Men’s Retreat this weekend. Below is my calendar for the days ahead. I deeply appreciate each of you, and I deem it a real privilege to journey together, making every effort to advance His Kingdom in the earth. Your prayers are invaluable, your financial support is essential, but your friendship is what I treasure. Please keep in touch, and if there is some way in which we can serve or encourage you, please contact us.

CURRENT CALENDAR

October 2 – 4: Stafford, Virginia Harvest Men’s Retreat

October 5 – 19: Sydney, Australia Ministry and personal visit with Gerard and Lorraine Schokman including a weekend Business Person Retreat and Seminar at Colloroy Beach in New South Wales. (Possible visit to Queensland is pending.)

October 22 – 26: Plymouth, England Kathy and I will be attending the European Leaders Conference sponsored by Church of the Nations in Plymouth, England.

November 10 – 13: Dayton, Tennessee Dick Burton, who resides in Raymore, Missouri, is a sales representative for a tech company, but also serves as the head coach of a very successful private school football team. I have served Dick and Carolyn as a pastor and spiritual father for many years. Dick’s team will be playing in the NACA National Football Tournament in Dayton. His son Josh, a high school senior, is a member of the team. I will join with Dick and other members of his family to enjoy some time of fellowship and to cheer them on to success. By the way, three times in the past six years under Dick’s coaching, the team has won the national championship.