2015 In Review
Dear Friend,
I want to thank you so much for standing by New Dimensions Evangelism in 2015. We saw God move in amazing ways—despite some challenging times. I want to share with you a brief re-cap of the ministry events of this past year–events that without your prayers and support would not have happened.
As is often the case at the beginning of a new year, January, 2015, was not packed with programs, but I was able to present program outreach events in both Florida and Tennessee schools. Also, I was able once again to set up a display booth about this unique ministry at the annual Pastors’ Conference held at First Baptist, Jacksonville. This included my presentation on creating outreach events, and I am looking forward to returning there this year, 2016.
February 2015 was a month full of travel. It started with school outreach events in the Florida Panhandle, followed by a trip to Kansas City. I had been invited to speak there to a group of church pastors and leaders from around the United States followed by a church outreach conference where I promoted the WonderFull Weekend and my other outreach events. From Kansas it was back to Florida with a couple more events. After just about a week at home, I was off again, this time to Temple, Texas. It was there that I shared the Gospel in an Upward Sports outreach event and also spoke at First Nazarene on Sunday morning. From there, back home for two days, then on to First Baptist, Pell City, Alabama, where we did three school outreach events, the fourth of which had to be canceled due to snow! That weekend I spoke at a middle school retreat, then again that evening at a family night outreach with more than 400 in attendance. In these events we proclaimed the Gospel—and hearts were both challenged and changed.
The first week of March took me to South Carolina for events, then back to my hometown to be at First Baptist, Eustis. From home, the next venue was in New Philadelphia, Ohio. There I did more school events, family night, Upward Event (with more than 1,000 in attendance) and spoke at the sponsoring church on Sunday morning. Then it was back home for a few days of rest before speaking at a local mission conference for children. Next, it was back to South Carolina for school outreach events which drew massive crowds.
By the second week of April, it was a return trip to Kennett, Missouri, where I spoke in the local schools. Then back to Florida for a few programs. The middle of the month found me in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, for a family weekend at Grace Point Church. Then, home for two days before heading to Menchville Baptist Church, in Newport News, Virginia. We had school outreaches and an incredible weekend there. Hearts were transformed and many lost came to Christ!
The beginning of May found me in Las Vegas, Nevada. I spent three days shooting video content for our Wonder-Full Weekend Commercials. It had been more than six years since the videos had been updated, and I am proud to say that the new ones are fun, engaging, and inviting! It was then back home to finish some more school outreach events. By the end of the month we (the family) were on the road speaking for First Baptist, Brandon, Mississippi’s, kids camp.
The first of June found us traveling northeast from Brandon just up and over a bit to return to Lake Forest Ranch near Macon, Mississippi. This was the start of a busy summer at LFR– my 17th summer to partner with them! When our first weeks there ended, we traveled to East Tennessee with programs in Kingsport and Johnson City, then back through Nashville west to a WonderFull Weekend at First Baptist, Camden, Tennessee. From Tennessee, we made it back home to Florida in one day—12 hour drive—and began a few local events for the next 10 days. More lives transformed in May and June. It was amazing how people of all ages responded to God’s word.
July the Fourth found us in Nashville on the way to Indiana. We spent the 4th with friends and stayed the night at our favorite RV park. The next morning we began a long drive to northeastern Indiana. It was there for the next five days we shared at a children’s camp where many little ones gave their hearts to Jesus! From there, we drove back through Tennessee and on to LFR, Macon, Mississippi. This began Mission Camp Macon–a week of multiple events for kids and teens—and speaking to more than a thousand at the Noxubee High School Gym during family night. This was followed by another week of speaking at a LFR Children’s Camp, then at the end of the month, we left Lake Forest headed for Fort Smith, Arkansas.
July turned into August while at River Valley Church It was there—a small church of just about 50— that we saw more than 100 visitors and dozens of life changing decisions for Christ. These included a young couple, just married, who had received the invitation card to attend. They both came forward and accepted Christ! From Fort Smith it was back towards Florida. From a crazy summer on the road, we arrived home ready for a break!
The family got to stay—but it was just two days later that I boarded a plane, again. This time it was to Las Vegas for a conference, then on to JC Naz in Junction City, Kansas, where we saw more than 100 decisions for Christ during the WonderFull Weekend. I came home from that event for a day before leaving to be with First Baptist, Carthage, Tennessee. It was there we did two school outreach events and a WonderFull Weekend at the local agricultural center and saw dozens of visitors and many good decisions.
It was then back home again for an event at an Melbourne, Florida, Episcopal School. Home another day, then back to Kingsport, Tennessee, for another WonderFull Weekend at Southview Community Church. This little church had great response and many folks came to a saving knowledge of Christ that weekend!
If you were keeping track—yes, I was home just four days in the month of August. That makes just 14 days in three months. And speaking of numbers, from the end of July to the end of August, we saw more than 300 decisions for Christ!
Just as August was incredibly busy, September slowed way down! A quick school event in Charleston near the beginning, followed by another in South Florida. An amazing family night event with more than 600 at New Life Church in Lehigh Acres, Florida, was fantastic! Next, it was back to South Carolina for an event, then again back to Florida for another two school outreaches which rounded out the month. It was a nice change from the very hectic travel of the summer!
If September was slow, October stopped. A church we had on the schedule had pulled the plug in August—which left a hole that was not going to be filled. And with just three other events for the entire month, it was the most challenging of my twenty-one years in full-time outreach ministry. My wife was dealing with on-going illness—so I am glad that I was at home to care for her. The loss of income, however, was significant. As you know, I don’t take a salary from the ministry—my income is produced from the school outreach events and the church love offerings. So, October was indeed a challenging time. With the loss of insurance three years ago the medical issues have greatly compounded the challenges. I’d like to forget October!
The first of November found me speaking in two services at the bilingual Living Word Church in Orlando, my third event with them in the past eight years. The first service was translated into Spanish as I spoke. That’s always a challenge! As I stood among the congregation singing songs in Spanish I so enjoyed this other language praising God! It was refreshing to my soul! November was a huge improvement over the preceding month. A conference in Daytona was a fun trip for me and my young son, Nate. It was then on to an event in the Florida panhandle. The middle of the month found me at home with local programs in Highland City and Winter Haven. Thanksgiving found me presenting a wind-filled event at a beautiful place in Vero Beach, Florida, and then back home in time for a Thanks-filled afternoon brunch with my family. By the end of November, I was back on the road again.
For a couple of decades now, early December has found me doing events in Brentwood, Franklin, and Nashville, Tennessee. This year following Nashville, I went on to Jackson, Mississippi, for a Pastor & Wives Christmas event, then to another one up the road in Memphis, and then– making a full circle–another just outside of Nashville. A Sunday morning event at Trevecca Community Church was a delight—then followed by a flight to Baltimore.
It is about a three hour drive from Baltimore-Washington Airport to Oakland, Maryland. It was there that some amazing Christian folks put on a community-wide, multi-day event called, “The Joy of Christ Fellowship.” I was invited to kick off the event. It’s a fun filled evening. And it’s all free. Dinner and program. For anyone in the community. We had about 500 or more—and the Gospel was proclaimed! After an amazing week and a half with more than 14 programs, I made it back home for two days–including another Pastor & Wives Christmas event–then back to South Florida for an annual school outreach event. Back home for a day before heading for programs on Eglin Air Force Base. My young son Nate joined me on this trip and we had a great time. Leaving the Florida panhandle, we made a long drive back east to Palm Coast for an evening event followed by our late night trip to home.
Isn’t it amazing that our perspective on things can make all the difference in our attitude on things? 2015 was a great year. It was also an extremely challenging one.
Thank you, dear friend, for standing by this ministry, me and my family and our mission in 2015. May God continue to guide and direct each of us as we follow Him!
