Friday, February 8, 2013

FBC Leadership Summit is March 23

UNLEASHED FOR THE GOSPEL


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Eye Clinic in Busia, Kenya


More Pics From Busia, Kenya







Kenya Pics

Susan and I were very blessed to be in Kenya together in January. We will be sharing more pics as well as video of our mission trip. Thanks Patty H. for the pics!
 







Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Africa Mission Banquet - You Can Help!

We are excited about the opportunities that God is giving us to minister in a holistic way as we prepare for our Kenya Mission Trip. I would like to share 7 reasons why we would love for you to attend the Missions Banquet. The banquet is FREE and we will be receiving a love offering to support the trip. It takes place August 3rd @ 6:30 PM at First Baptist Church of Bloomfield, NM.
 

¨ Malaria kills 3,000 children every single day. We will be providing insecticide treated nets to villages in Western Kenya. You can help!

¨ Many women who are caring for children barely have a roof over their head. We will be providing “houses of hope” in rural villages. You can help!

¨ Our Kenyan brothers and sisters always indicate the importance of an eye clinic and so we will conduct a clinic in several areas. We will also conduct a veterinary clinic. You can help!

¨ Millions die each year of water-born illness and so we will be sharing water filtration systems for numerous families. You can help!

¨ Schools are greatly needed and so we will be helping to add a classroom(s) to a primary school that is currently being built. You can Help!

¨ Children need to hear about the love of God and so we will be teaching children in schools and churches. You can help!

¨ Evangelism and prayer will be at the heart of our mission trip. We will be sharing specific ways that you can pray for and support the trip.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Church and Culture

Well it's time to do some updating and get back to blogging. Who knows, twitter might even be in the future.  I wanted to share briefly about what I am seeing on the church landscape these days. I often go back to Isaiah 58 for a dose of "Hey it's not about me." It's also "not about us"...by "us" I mean the "church" ...specifically the church in America. 

We have been asking (perhaps with different words) the following question,  "Why have we fasted and you see it not?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" The only thing worse would be a total lack of expectancy. Back to the question, we have moved through the church growth movement, saddleback sam, seeker sensitive, small groups, emergent church, and now multi-site church just to name a few. The Big Question...Where are we today?

Perhaps we intentionally ask the wrong questions in an attempt to stay satisfied and feel good about ourselves. What about this question...Is the CULTURE being impacted by the church? Do we recognize that our faith should include costly sacrifice and passion for seeing lives and communities transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Monday, April 9, 2012

Advice for Dads and Husbands

I was asked this question recently: What would be your top ten pieces of advice for Dads/Fathers?

My Response was:

1. Live for Jesus every single day in every circumstance.
2. Love your wife passionately.
3. Tell your wife you love her in the presence of your children.
4. Tell your children how special their mother is.
5. Spend significant time with your children.
6. Tell your children that you love them every single day.
7. Don't show favorites with your children.
8. Don't try to live vicariously through your children.
9. Speak Gods truth into your children every single day.
10. Be a strong spiritual leader in your home and guide your children toward Jesus.
11. Involve your children in mission/ministry on a regular basis.
12. Help your children to care for and love ALL people.

I know I was only asked for 10 but I had a hard time stopping!

For the Sake of His Name,

Craig

Monday, April 2, 2012

The Joy of Being On Mission

Well I thought I would get back into the blogging world after a 4 month absence. In doing so I would like to express my joy at the opportunity to serve on the staff team at FBC Bloomfield. The participation at our Leadership Summit on Saturday is evidence of the fact that we (the staff team) have the privilege to work hand in hand with committed, passionate Christ followers.

Our passion to minister in a holistic way is leading our members to be involved in significant ministry throughout our community and around the world. We believe that we have a biblical mandate to take care of those in need. To that end our members are serving meals to homeless individuals and under-resourced families 4 nights a week. We have the opportunity to minister in both Farmington and Bloomfield.

A word of testimony from one of our servant team members: "Serving the homeless has been a tremendous blessing and really pushed me outside of my comfort zone." Through other ministry opportunities such as our "Church Without Walls" events, Christmas food box distribution, and mission projects, we are able to follow the model of Christ through intentional incarnational ministry.

Currently we have three ongoing mission partenrships. One is on the Navajo Nation in the Beclabito area. We are also working in Western Canada and East Africa. God has given us many blessed mission experiences. We stress partnership because it results in greater collaboration as well as sustainability. With all of the excitement about what GOD is doing, we truly believe that our most significant days are before us.

For the Sake of His Name --craig

Friday, December 9, 2011

Books Read in 2011

I thought I would share some books that I read in 2011. I would have to say that there was something profitable in each book and they were worth reading. I am putting together a reading list for 2012. I am also taking suggestions. I plan to read the Bible again and 23 others.


Books Read in 2011

And: The gathered and scattered church – Hugh Halter and Matt Smay

Barefoot Church: Serving the least in a consumer culture - Brandon Hatmaker

Bible - God

Economy of Love – Darin Peterson

Erasing Hell: What God said about eternity and the things we made up – Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle

Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story - John Sowers

Generous Justice: How God’s grace makes us just – Timothy Keller

Gospel in Life: Grace changes everything – Timothy Keller

Radical Together – David Platt

Sacrilege: Finding life in the unorthodox ways of Jesus – Hugh Halter

Speaking of Jesus: The art of not-evangelism – Carl Medearis

The Hole in Our Gospel: The answer that changes my life and might just change the world – Richard Stearns

The King Jesus Gospel: The original Good News revisited - Scott McKnight

The Man who makes a Difference: 10 keys to a life of impact – Jim George

The Poor Will Be Glad: Joining the revolution to lift the world out of poverty – Peter Greer and Phil Smith

The Tangible Kingdom: Creating incarnational community – Hugh Halter & Matt Smay

The Tangible Kingdom Primer – Hugh Halter & Matt Smay

To Own a Dragon: Reflections of growing up without a father – Donald Miller

Tribes: We need you to lead us – Seth Godin

When Helping Hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself – Steve Corbett and Brian Fickert




...stay off the paved road




-craig