Monday, September 30, 2013

Revival in this Town

This weekend we had the Baseball Camp Revival. It was an amazing time with everyone! The weather was great and we were able to secure a place that was perfect to host the revival. There is a club field that is directly across the street from the military base that hosts baseball camp. There, we have a meeting room, outdoor tables and place to grill. The grounds crew, a man, his daughter and her husband, were so friendly to us and are excited to see what happens next with "Baseball Camp."  We had approximately 25 players show up not counting the student leaders/volunteers and in all, with parents and volunteers there were around 40 people that joined us this past Saturday afternoon.

I may have said this before, because it has been on my heart a lot lately, but one of my main goals involves all the many people that we have made contact with over the past 3 year in baseball camp. It is to continue to build that connection throughout the year. It is incredible the amount of people that baseball camp can reach and no not many of them are going to immediately start coming to church, however if we can maintain a consistent connection between the church and those of Baseball Camp, at minimum, they have a consistent connection with followers and believers in Christ. My prayer is that this consistency would penetrate their hearts and lead them to the church and ultimately to Christ.

My Challenge to you is to be praying about this with me as I seek to be more creative as the winter seasons approaches and temperatures drop. This makes it very challenging to do any outdoor activities. An easy fix to this would be wiffleball in a gym or large meeting room. You would think in a place where outdoor activity weather is not easy to come by there would be an abundance of gyms or indoor platz. There are some, but the great demand for those places makes it nearly impossible to find a place. We spoke with a lady with the city and she said there is no chance at all for this year to get into a gym. Crazy, huh? I know that the Lord will make a way and so I ask that you pray with me for a place that we could go to on occasions in order that we might be able to maintain a consistent and reliable connection with both the players and their families.

In addition, I am praying that my time here is effective not just when spent at baseball or church events but the many people that I meet outside of church would be reflected to the amazing work that Christ is doing in Siegburg. There is one guy from the military base that is very interested in being involved in what happens next year at baseball camp. He is soldier located at the base in Siegburg and is very draw to the work that we are doing. For now it only stands on a social/community interest, but I pray as times are spent together with those of the church he would see the truth and the light of Christ and His saving grace!

Following His Call

Nick

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Time to Hit the Books

Well, I have my school schedule where I will be involved in the PE class at the Christian school in Siegburg and I have started German class with the city. Today marks the first complete week. My first German class was last Wednesday. I learned 7 questions: Wie heissen Sie? (What's your name?) Wie alt sind Sie? (How old are you?) Was arbeiten Sie? (What's your occupation?) Woher kommen Sie? (Where are you from?) Sind Sie verheiratet? Und haben Sie Kinder? (Are you married and do you have kids?) Welche Hobbys haben Sie? (What are your hobbies?) Was sprechen Sie? (Which languages do you speak?) Today I had towrite about my family. Meine verlobte (Fiance), Meine Eltern (Parents) und Brueder (Brothers) und Schwaegerin Sister-in-law.


Outside of school Baseball has been great! We had 2 Saturdays in a row that we got a group together to play baseball. There was about 15 players each time and that was awesome! Many of these were not students from the church, which is awesome! This past Saturday we played in a tournament in Lubbecke with all the other Synergy camps. Syngery if you don't know, is the organization that has assisted all the many baseball camps that happen in Germany each summer! We took two teams to the tournament, and older and a younger team. The Older team took 2nd place for the second year in a row, which is amazing! The younger team went undefeated, taking 1st place!! It was a great weekend and we introduced the idea of a baseball league. This is in the mind of some of the players and many of the volunteers and pastors. We aren't sure when / if it will all come together. Maybe this spring and maybe in the coming years! We shall see.

I also met a youth pastor from Bruckeburg named Jacob Ferguson. He is an American from Ohio, I believe. He has been here in Germany for two and a half years. He has played a major role in organizing youth camps, retreats and concerts in the Bremen area. We talked for a few minutes, exchanged contact info and hope to work together throughout the year.

Aside from baseball, many of you know, but some of you  dont, that I have many years of sign language experience, specifically in reference to contemporary Christian Music. When I was serving as the youth pastor at Northview Baptist Church, God brought to my attentiont hat I need to always use the talents He gave me and so I began a class there. Here in Germany He is opening opportunities for me to use this talent again, in the schools. In addition to the PE classes I will be assisting with a couple Chapel services on Tuesdays. Next Tuesday I will be introducing sign language as a form of worship to the Chapel Services at the Christian school in Siegburg.

Continue to pray for me as God  open new doors and opportunities for Him to work through me.

Following His Call