An Updated Challenge!

Many of you may remember the “Isaiah-Challenge” that I presented just before the New Year.  If not, please look up the blog spot so that you can be up to date on the basics of this challenge.  I have been working to further the challenge with Elia Moreno, Cal Farley’s Neighborhood Navigator Coordinator. Our desire is to take the Challenge and place it on a bigger scale to create a much larger impact.  Here is how.

#1- I will be contacting local churches/businesses/organizations to gain participation. 

#2- The Canyon Newspaper will be doing a monthly feature story on The Challenge.  The story will cover a local business/group and how that business/group is participating.  (My second goal for this challenge is to encourage and promote local small business owners to keep the Canyon economy booming!)

#3-Each Church/Business will choose how to spend the money they raise.  (Yuganda orphanages, local single mom’s, child-abuse, etc, etc)  Put your money where your heart is!

I will be giving an extended training seminar on the challenge on August 28th, 2013 at Cal Farley’s Training Room on 11th and Monroe (Amarillo Texas) from 1-5pm.  Please contact Elia Moreno at eliamoreno@live.com to reserve a spot.  We will also be offering training seminars outside of our local area.  If you would like to find out more about how to get the Isaiah Challenge going in your community then please e-mail challenge@angelaasbill.com.

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;

Not All Churches Hit

My husband and I have been involved in ministry together now for twelve years.  Both of us had been raised as "Church-Goers" but for the first time, just this past year; we have both experienced something in Church we had never experienced before. . .the desire to invite others!  I know that is a sad statement, but it is the truth.  Unfortunntly we had several experiences in ministry that left us feeling battered and bruised; like a woman in an abusive relationship.  For anyone out there who may have suffered the same experience I am writing this blog to share some great news with you!  Just as I have told battered women that I counciled in the past: "Not all men hit". . .I need you all to know as well. . ."Not all churches hit".  (My blogs are full of bold statements so don't at shocked.)

(I want to make it clear to any reader that not every church we have been part of in the past left injury. . .so please don't hold a specific place in mind if you know us personally.  BUT due to painful experiences we really had no desire to invite others to our services "just in case".)

This past year that changed for us.  We found a church that holds strongly to the sacredness of worship, the liturgy of the Word, the holiness of Gods Law, and the beauty of Gods Grace! We have found a place that knows how to disagree and still walk in love with one another.  Our physical family has times when we rub each other the wrong way, get on nerves, and don't see eye to eye. . .but we love each other!  Shouldn't the Church family operate in the same way?  Ours does!  The first time I saw a disagreement between a member and clergy I thought for sure one of them was history. . . no such thing.  A member of fifty plus years knew the art of disagreement and the minister knew it was okay if someone did not share  his doctrinal opinion.  They were still "family" when the conversation ended.  I have also experienced a genuine love and "help" from church members.  Our middle son is suffering some health issues (inherited scoliosis).  We were immediatly covered in hugs, prayers, cards and inquirys (some from members we had never met).  We have not been left to fight this battle alone.
 Another beautiful thing we have experience is good old fashion church fellowship:  The Church Bazaar; Hanging of the Greens; Family Movie Nights; Wesley Hoe-Down; etc, etc, etc.  (I thought the only church that held a Bazaar was the church from the movie Pollyanna!)  This may seem like a silly small thing but it helps feel like a close knit community.    
I am so concerned with the amount of christian's who have disconnected from church due to past hurts. . .having felt the same way. . .I don't blame them!  But I am here to tell all of you there is hope.  NOT ALL CHURCHES HIT!  If you live near the Canyon or Amarillo area I personally invite you to visit mine.  http://www.firstchurchcanyon.com/  If not, please don't give up!  Your children need to be a part of a community of believers; they face a harsh world and so do you.  Keep searching until you find what we have found at First Methodist Canyon.  God will lead you, just ask Him!