Category Archives: Ministry

Ministry

NICK’S LAST TIME IN CHURCH

I just wanted to post a note about our friend Nick White’s funeral.

What an amazing crowd that game to show their respects here at Prescott First  Assembly this last Sunday.

A large group of his biker friends roared into the parking lot an when they arrived the service began.

One of my favorite parts of the service was my soon to be daughter in law’s song “More than Life” and a song by Krya and John where they mixed “Stairway to heaven with Amazing Grace.”

Nick’s death mad it possible for 58 of his friends to make a decision to follow Christ at his funeral.

What an awesome service.

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cycling, Ministry, Mountain biking

BIKE FOR THE LIGHT GOES TO SEDONA

Saturday we had the opportunity to take Johnny Kelley mountain biking in on of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Sedona was just the perfect  place to let a “roadie” enjoy some red rocks and dirt.

We did about 18 miles and really road some trails that I had never done before.

Johnny is a natural at mountain biking even if he is used to road stuff only.

His Bike For The Light Tour is a speed the light missions endeavor to raise money for missions around the world.

http://www.bikeforthelight.com/

Also here is a youtube video from our day.

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=67892828584&h=yvcWW&u=BKUjC

I thought it would be great to get him off the road and man was I right. He did fantastic!

Here are some of the pics of our day.

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Johnny did a great job and a great message was brought to the church today…His message was “make a difference of make a change.”

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church farm, Ministry, Prescott

CHURCH FARM BEGINS

Today we staked out the first section for our church farm.

For five years Prescott First Assembly in Prescott has given away food through our food pantry. This year, I thought why not grow our own organic produce and give it away through the ministry.

We have about four acres of vacant land that has basically just sat there for years.

When Gary Heiney a missionary friend from Venezuela told me about his orphanage and how he funds it through growing peppers it really sparked something in me.

So we start in year #1 and I am really excited to see how God can use this tool to cultivate redemptive relationships with people in our community.

Thomas is one of my mountain bike friends here in Prescott that just happens to be a genius at farming here in Arizona.

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All the materials, seeds or fruit trees will be donated for this project.

We accept anything from dirt to compost to fencing to dollars and labor.

If you would like to contribute manuel labor or funds you can become a share holder in the harvest.

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“When you arrive in the land where I am taking you, 19 eat the crops that you grow there”. Numbers 15:18,19 (nlt)

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Ministry

PLANTING SEEDS OR PULLING WEEDS

 

I received one of those messages on my facebook that grabbed my attention and I wanted to share it.

The message is from Sean Carpenter, a young man who was in my youth ministry in Davenport Iowa.

I am blogging about this not to build myself up but rather because too many times we don’t see tangible results from our labor in God’s vineyard. But that doesn’t mean it is not there.

Here is the note from Sean.

“Steve,

 Your looking a lot older than I remember. You don’t blame me for any of that grey or hair loss I hope. Just wanted to say thanks for sowing into my life so many years ago. You made a difference in me…KEEP IT UP!

I am and forever will be product of Pastor Barnett, Pastor Bill Wilson, and Pastor Steve Lummer, and the families of Westside. Lord knows, you may want to forget about those days I must have tormented you as the Youth Pastor! I have spent over 25 years as a youth pastor.

I believe in you, Sean Carper.”

Sean is now a youth minister in Florence Kentucky at a great church.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6 a powerful statement that says; “I planted,the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

We might be spending way too much time PULLING WEEDS instead of PLANTING SEEDS.

SEEDS ARE YOUR POSSIBILITIES YOU SOW INTO PEOPLES LIVES.

1. PLANT THEM.

2. WATER THEM

3. WATCH THEM GROW.

It is really satisfying to get results even if they are years down the road. 

Planting seeds not pulling weeds.

Steve Lummer

planting-seeds

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Ministry, Prescott

HONORING HEROS

When you live in the Prescott National Forest , firefighters are on the top of the list when it comes to heros.

This Sunday February 22nd our church is going to honor our heros.

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Here are some interesting facts about firefighters.

The first fire departments were paid by the insurance companies. If you didn’t buy insurance, they would let your house burn.

The firefighter badge of today is patterned after the famous Maltese Cross of the Knights of St. John. During the Crusades, those that battled the naphtha fires of the Saracens to save their fellow crusaders were recognized and awarded the Maltese Cross. Today, as in medieval times, this badge remains a symbol of protection and honor for those who fight fire and sacrifice their lives to save others.

The Dalmatian or “fire dog” originated in England as a carriage dog. It would run beside the carriage keeping other dogs away from the path of the horses. The Dalmatian served the same purpose for the horse-drawn fire engine of the early days.

Really looking forward to honoring these people this Sunday.

They deserve a BIG THANK YOU!

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Ministry

FIREPROOFED part 2

Are feeling burned?

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Continuing my  series “FIREPROOFED ” this weekend.

Part two is dealing with being fireproofed against a Broken Spirit.

Proverbs 18:14 says it perfectly,  The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

If a persons “spirit” is dysfunctional ….everything else seems bad.

The reality is that there are many things that can burn you and break you.

Here are just a few we must guard against.

1. DECISIONS WE DON’T AGREE WITH.

2. FALSE ACCUSATION ABOUT OUR CHARACTER.

3. THINGS THAT RUB YOU THE WRONG WAY.

4. DELAY OF A DREAM.

5. JEALOUSY (when it seems like others get ahead but you get left behind)

6. REJECTION FROM PEOPLE.

Jesus is the only way to fireproof ourselves from being burned and broken.

His promise to us is found in  Isaiah 43:2 “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. ” (niv)

Remember, God can’t use you if you are burned out, beaten up, and have a broken spirit.

When it comes to your spirit, Protect it and fireproof it with God’s Word.

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Ministry

JOURNEY CHURCH

I just read the blog post of our good friend Jesse Quiroz and wanted to share it with my friends here on this blog.

Jesse and Missy will be planting a brand new exciting church just outside of St. Louis and I will keep you updated as to their progress.

Here is the latest from Jesse’s blog.

“WELL…I want to be the first to welcome you to what I believe to be the start of something that will literally bring a ‘GOD’ impact to the St. Louis area.
‘Journey Church’ is a Non-Denominational church-plant that will open its doors in on June 7 of this year in Lincoln County and know the doors are open to ANYONE. If you hate church…just wait. If you’re experiences with people that go to church are ‘negative’ (and that’s a nice word to insert) to say the least…hang on…or if you’re just not too sure about the whole ‘God-thing’…you are what we want.
…and trust me, you’ll have never seen a church quite like this one.
I’ll be checkin’ in quite a bit…stay tuned.
Jesse (Pastor – Journey Church)”

http://www.journeychurchmo.com/

journey-pastors

Brenda and I are really excited for what God is going to do through this dynamic dedicated couple.

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Australia, Ministry

PRAYING FOR FRIENDS IN AUSTRAILIA

The news of the fires in Southern Australia has touched our church family. Pastor Ray and Belinda Morel’s daughter Alisha attend our church with her husband Jake.

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I received a message on facebook from pastor Ray and Belinda this morning  and wanted to share it on my blog.

“Thanks Steve, it is really devastating over here at the moment, the lives taken are up to 130 pp they haven’t been able to go to every location yet so there will be more! Some of the towns completely gone were our favorite places to visit.. So sad, one of our close farmers in church have lost stock due to the heat, yet he still smiles when he …  Read Moresees you, we have alot of farmers who do it tough but hang in there and display the goodness of God. They are great examples…. Leash will keep you updated Ray for Sudan in 2 weeks would really appreciate your prayer… Take care Belinda”

Our church family prayed for Australia yesterday and trust that God will keep all safe on the farm and send rain to that country quick.

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“The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

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Life experiences, Ministry

THE GIFT OF FRIENDS

This past week was a great time to reconnect with some friends and say goodbye to  others.

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Paul Callaway and I left for CBC back in 1975.

From left to right – Adam and Natascha, Brenda, Beth and Caleb, Paul and his son Ben …What a great night of laughter and fun.

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Paul Price, Steve Lummer and Paul Callaway The three of us all went to college together in the late 1970’s.

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I said good bye to Ceasar Garcia this past week. He and his family are moving back to California where he will manage a Dillard’s store. What  a great family. Its been my privlege to be their pastor for the past five years.

The best part of being a pastor is the gift connecting with a lot of great people in your lifetime.

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marriage, Ministry

FIREPROOFED

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Really Xcited to start my new series of messages this Sunday called, “FIREPROOFED”.

Over the next few weekends we will be looking at biblical ways to fireproof our lives, our marriages, our teen agers and our finances.

Isaiah 43:2 “you will walk through the fire and not be burned.”

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