Conference Fun!

What an amazing week! I can't believe today is Thursday and the majority of my co-workers go home tomorrow. It has been an amazing time to fellowship with them and get to know my co-workers better. Tonight there is a special banquet dinner prepared and we will be giving gifts from Discovery House Publishers and Walk In the Word. Tomorrow morning I will leave at 7am driving some of my co-workers back to Grand Rapids and taking many people to the airport.

Last night I was sad about the end of the week coming but I am doing much better now. I am looking forward to going home, seeing my wife and returning to "normal" life. Thanks for all your prayers and concerns for our conference.

Are you a horse or an alcoholic?

This morning Albert Lee challenged us as we look toward the future of our ministry. He asked are you a horse or an alcoholic? Both have the same problem, thirst. The difference between the two is their response to the need. Albert related this to us in examining how we respond to the needs for our materials around the world. We also must examine if the people are going to really use our materials or if they are just taking something that is available for free.

I am very excited about all that God has been teaching me during this conference and can't wait to see and experience what He has for the rest of this week.

Conference update

It is so exciting for me to interact with my co-workers from around the world during this International conference. In the mornings we have a time of worship including country reports and teaching time from the Bible. Yesterday David Roper spoke and today Alice Matthews encouraged us from the Word that our God is a God of hope. During the afternoon we have various types of business sessions including Graphics, Bible Conferences, Information Systems and Member Services. This morning we had a session with some of the writers of the Our Daily Bread. This afternoon we have reports from the Church Ministries, Outreach and Information Systems departments. I was particularly impacted by the Outreach department report. I think there is a great potential for impact here in the Americas region as we expand our Outreach.

 

More tomorrow...
 

Pre-Conference update

AHHHH crazy but very fun times here at RBC. Today our guest count rises to 25. The 1st day of Executive Leadership Team meetings has started and meetings are going well so far. I met Kevin from the UK today. He handles the finances for our offices in the UK region. He comes to us with many years of experience in inventory management as well as accounting and finance. I am excited to meet co-workers like Kevin whom I have only known as a name in an email. Each day at the office reminds me there are so many details to be cared for and at the same time we cannot handle them in our own strength. All of us, all around the world are dependent upon God everyday for the tasks He has given us to do. There is a great mission to fulfill and God has entrusted this task to us. May He alone give us the wisdom needed for this needful task!

Keep praying for us

As of tonight we will have 18 guests in Grand Rapids for the International Conference. By next Monday we will have 88! On the one hand I am very excited about these days of meetings and fellowship here in Grand Rapids. On the other hand, I realise that we are dependent upon God for every facet of this conference. Please pray for us that God would direct our steps, guide our thoughts and attitudes, and glorify Himself through this conference.

The month long mission conference has started

Guests for our International Conference have started to arrive. 6 guests arrived on Tuesday night with 3 more arriving last night. It is so exciting for me to see people whom I have met before as well as meet people for the first time who I only knew as a name on an email. One thing that impacts me a lot with my Asian friends is their work ethic. Once they arrive they start working right away. After our chapel service yesterday the RBC staff normally leaves and the Building & Grounds team starts to clear the chairs. Some of the International team there instinctively saw chairs that needed to be put away and chipped into help. I am very impressed and blessed to work with these servants of the Lord.

 

Hopefully I can post some pictures of my friends later on.