This past couple of weeks have been a challenge. There has been turmoil and it is not over yet. Spiritual warfare is very in our face and aggressive. Yesterday I had to have one person taken from our property as he was drunk and causing trouble. Then later the same day, I had to call the police for one young man who came drunk and Under the Influence of drugs. I asked, then demanded he leave the property. He became belligerent and would not leave. I had to call the police. It sounds cut and dried to write it out but I'm here to tell you that it was very difficult to do this. I have gotten to know these guys and care about them, then to have to call the police to have them removed. You can't really understand the stronghold that alcohol and drugs have on people. Only God can deliver them, but they have to want to be delivered. Why do people take chances with their lives, their families just to have a drink to settle down, to feel better, etc. Those and many more are lies from satan to enslave good people. One man has spent the last 20+ years in some type of alcohol program...all his adult life!
There have been 'successes' also. One man who has a professional background has developed a hunger for the Word of God. It is refreshing to have him pop into my office throughout the day asking questions. He can't seem to get enough.
Another man who has a prison background is also developing an ear for the Word. He is not as outgoing about it but you can see him changing as time goes by.
There are some others but you get the idea. God is the key to their success.
However, a change in direction has come. Through a series of events Pastor Bob Phelps and I have resigned our positions at Set Free Church. He was forced out for no other reason than that he was not bowing down to one particular person. Since he and I have been a team since I started there several months ago, I also resigned. God is not through with either of us, nor with Set Free Church. My statement now-a-days is, "Father, I have plans for today, however, your will be done in my life today. Please over ride my plans at any time."
I will keep you informed as the Lord leads me along on this journey of my life.
Love ya'll and wish you all the most blessed Christmas ever!
With you in His service,
Troy
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Saturday, December 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What I'm Doing Now
OK, I'm now at Set Free Church of Denver. In April I was voted on by church membership to become the Director of the Men's Discipleship Program. This Program is for men who have been homeless, are recovering drug or alcohol addicts, just out of prison. We offer a live-in program that is a year long where they receive acceptance, spiritual training, guidance and nurturing on their road to recovery, productivity and maturing in the Word of God. The men, we only can house 8 at a time, attend Bible based classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as Sunday morning.
The men are encouraged to find work. To use a slogan of another program - work works. We charge the men $8 a day for rent, and then give them credit of $8 an hour for work that is done for the church, ie, mow grass, clean parking lot, help when food distribution takes place, going and loading food donations, and similar work. This credit comes off their fees for rent. They do 'chores' which are cleaning restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, class rooms, and other similar work. These are normal duties without pay.
The men struggle with addictions and we pray with them and show them in the Word how they have the victory in Jesus. These addictions come from a drink taken at a high school party, or a joint, or a hit with something that will make them feel good, or have more energy. These 'innocent' slips can many times turn into full-blown addictions that may last a life-time. It still amazes me how strong these addictions are. Satan gets a foot hold at a young age, then it becomes a stronghold. There are consequences to our choices that can lead to a life-time of pain and suffering. Most have lost jobs, family, children, self-respect, their health.
The hard part for me and Pastor Bob is to see someone get clean and appear to be turning their life around, then one day they fall and are too ashamed to show back up here. It is heartbreaking. They are afraid they won't be accepted one more time, that grace, love and acceptance won't be extended one more time. They have a hard time accepting that we love them and will always extend forgiveness and acceptance. There are consequences to their actions, but love, acceptance and forgiveness is always given.
We could double, triple, quadruple this size of this ministry because the need is so great. We are limited by space and resources, ie, money and personnel. In fact, there is a desire on some women's hearts to do the same ministry for women, but with the same limitations.
Pray for us as we are His hands extended in Love.
I remain with you in His service in love,
Troy
Pray for me as I am truly a missionary in an inner-city ministry. I am completely depending on the Lord to meet my financial needs. Thanks for your continued support of the journey the Lord has me on.
The men are encouraged to find work. To use a slogan of another program - work works. We charge the men $8 a day for rent, and then give them credit of $8 an hour for work that is done for the church, ie, mow grass, clean parking lot, help when food distribution takes place, going and loading food donations, and similar work. This credit comes off their fees for rent. They do 'chores' which are cleaning restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, class rooms, and other similar work. These are normal duties without pay.
The men struggle with addictions and we pray with them and show them in the Word how they have the victory in Jesus. These addictions come from a drink taken at a high school party, or a joint, or a hit with something that will make them feel good, or have more energy. These 'innocent' slips can many times turn into full-blown addictions that may last a life-time. It still amazes me how strong these addictions are. Satan gets a foot hold at a young age, then it becomes a stronghold. There are consequences to our choices that can lead to a life-time of pain and suffering. Most have lost jobs, family, children, self-respect, their health.
The hard part for me and Pastor Bob is to see someone get clean and appear to be turning their life around, then one day they fall and are too ashamed to show back up here. It is heartbreaking. They are afraid they won't be accepted one more time, that grace, love and acceptance won't be extended one more time. They have a hard time accepting that we love them and will always extend forgiveness and acceptance. There are consequences to their actions, but love, acceptance and forgiveness is always given.
We could double, triple, quadruple this size of this ministry because the need is so great. We are limited by space and resources, ie, money and personnel. In fact, there is a desire on some women's hearts to do the same ministry for women, but with the same limitations.
Pray for us as we are His hands extended in Love.
I remain with you in His service in love,
Troy
Pray for me as I am truly a missionary in an inner-city ministry. I am completely depending on the Lord to meet my financial needs. Thanks for your continued support of the journey the Lord has me on.
Monday, October 29, 2012
WOW!! I'm kinda shocked that I haven't written on here for 11 months. While this journey the Lord has started me on took a turn, I didn't share with you what was going on and what is still going on. Yes, the journey still continues.
Why haven't I written in all these months? Writers block? Busy? Depression? Lack of motivation? Yeah, all that and probably more. While I have ideas for this blog, I seem to just let them rattle around in my head. Well, the Lord is not going to let me continue like this. He has given me things to write and I will do it!
Last December, I started calling churches in a 50 mile area around Denver. I didn't call any churches in Denver Metro area. I called only small towns. I was calling and asking if they or any church in their area was in need of an interim pastor. I told Richard Silversmith, you remember that Richard pastors Christian Indian Center, what I was doing and he encouraged me to look on Denver Seminary Job Site. I joked with him that he was trying to get rid of me. There were listing from all over the country for all kinds of positions. The last listing was for a small church that met on Saturday evenings. They needed someone to fill in as Teacher while their pastor healed from a tragic fall. There were 4 men who answered the ad. One I never met, one was, or is, the chaplain at the Denver Rescue Mission, and the other one....well that's where my journey takes a turn.
Bob Phelps and I took turns teaching. Did I tell you that the worship music is old Southern Gospel and Bluegrass? Bob and I met and became friends almost immediately. He likes to say that he and I were raised together, miles apart. We tend to think alike about ministry and related fields. But, he is an accomplished musician and singer, and I am accomplished at listening to music. He was attending a small church in Denver, filling the pulpit and trying to guide them through a rough time in the church's life. He asked me to pray about coming over and helping out. What he said was needed were mature Christians to help pray with, counsel, and generally be a help to others. Bob was voted in as Senior Pastor in April, if I remember right.
I started going on Wednesday evening as I was still going to Christian Indian Center Sunday mornings. And going on Saturday nights to the Old Country Church.
Well, I also got fill the pulpit every 3rd Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set Free Church of Denver can be classified as an inner-city church. Our neighborhood is the poorest in Denver Metro. Many people live on about $10,000 a year, about 75% make less than $15,000 a year, more single family homes than any other neighborhood in the Metro area, and the staggering statistics go on. Set Free Church gives out an average of 40boxes of free food every Sunday, with emergency boxes during the week. All the food is donated.
But that is only the beginning of the turn the Lord started in my life. I'll tell you about some amazing work He has me involved in next time.
In a devotional I wrote, this statement and verse means so much at this time in my life: "Today I will not try to figure things out or try to understand all there is." Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
Love ya'll and I'll write more later.
Troy
Why haven't I written in all these months? Writers block? Busy? Depression? Lack of motivation? Yeah, all that and probably more. While I have ideas for this blog, I seem to just let them rattle around in my head. Well, the Lord is not going to let me continue like this. He has given me things to write and I will do it!
Last December, I started calling churches in a 50 mile area around Denver. I didn't call any churches in Denver Metro area. I called only small towns. I was calling and asking if they or any church in their area was in need of an interim pastor. I told Richard Silversmith, you remember that Richard pastors Christian Indian Center, what I was doing and he encouraged me to look on Denver Seminary Job Site. I joked with him that he was trying to get rid of me. There were listing from all over the country for all kinds of positions. The last listing was for a small church that met on Saturday evenings. They needed someone to fill in as Teacher while their pastor healed from a tragic fall. There were 4 men who answered the ad. One I never met, one was, or is, the chaplain at the Denver Rescue Mission, and the other one....well that's where my journey takes a turn.
Bob Phelps and I took turns teaching. Did I tell you that the worship music is old Southern Gospel and Bluegrass? Bob and I met and became friends almost immediately. He likes to say that he and I were raised together, miles apart. We tend to think alike about ministry and related fields. But, he is an accomplished musician and singer, and I am accomplished at listening to music. He was attending a small church in Denver, filling the pulpit and trying to guide them through a rough time in the church's life. He asked me to pray about coming over and helping out. What he said was needed were mature Christians to help pray with, counsel, and generally be a help to others. Bob was voted in as Senior Pastor in April, if I remember right.
I started going on Wednesday evening as I was still going to Christian Indian Center Sunday mornings. And going on Saturday nights to the Old Country Church.
Well, I also got fill the pulpit every 3rd Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set Free Church of Denver can be classified as an inner-city church. Our neighborhood is the poorest in Denver Metro. Many people live on about $10,000 a year, about 75% make less than $15,000 a year, more single family homes than any other neighborhood in the Metro area, and the staggering statistics go on. Set Free Church gives out an average of 40boxes of free food every Sunday, with emergency boxes during the week. All the food is donated.
But that is only the beginning of the turn the Lord started in my life. I'll tell you about some amazing work He has me involved in next time.
In a devotional I wrote, this statement and verse means so much at this time in my life: "Today I will not try to figure things out or try to understand all there is." Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6
Love ya'll and I'll write more later.
Troy
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