Saturday, April 23, 2016

Broken Hearted Marine

A young man, a Marine who had finished his time in the military shared his story of a terrific career. Then the painful countenance appeared, one witnessed so many times on Run For The Wall, around a table in the bar, a conference room, a living room, in churches and the list goes on. It has become so painfully clear there is nothing more painful than to train, sacrifice, hurt and push yourself to stand with your brothers in combat and not be given the opportunity.

It has been stated there is no greater sin in leadership than to prepare and motivate people and not give them the opportunity to exercise that energy, that passion, that desire that is deep within a person. Unfortunately, this sin happens week in and week out inside the American church. There are words of encouragement and challenge and then nothing happens for that Spirit to flow out of the individual.

As I traveled early this cool, damp Saturday morning to speak to a group of men the words of this young Marine could not be escaped. How many men would we challenged and how many would respond? Is it really worth the effort with so many voices screaming for their attention? Can they truly hear or does the Words of Jesus, '... For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand', Matthew 13:13 NLT, apply to them? Can we be different? Can I be different?

Upon reflection, the memories of being trained at Youth Camp in June 1968 to take Jesus to the streets, then being taken there and the adults stood by watching to make sure we remembered to do things correctly. The feeling that this was the thing that needed to be done would not depart. Upon returning to the local church, I made phone calls to some of the guys from the same camp. We did the only thing we knew, dressed up like we were going to church because we were told we needed to 'represent Jesus' (when all we were doing was representing the church folks). There was the crawling through the window in the back of the church, having prayer and then heading out to neighborhoods to knock on doors and share our Faith. Well, we did not change Norman, Oklahoma, we did not fill any churches but there was this feeling that we were on the battlefield. The one thing about Christianity that is truly awesome, it is a personal thing. We must remember, we will answer for ourselves when we stand before the Almighty God. There will be no figure pointing at 'leaders' that should have, could have but did not.

Then there was the thought of the first Leadership role, Lifeliners In Action or LIA. Eighteen teenagers joined in front of Pastor Damon and Marilyn Burrows home, frustrated because we would get all fired up during summer camp, sit in services and classes and lose all the passion we had gained. We decided we would join together once a month, minister to each other and keep the challenges before us. We did not wait to be led, we began leading. It was not long before we were filling the largest churches in the conference with as many as 400 teenagers.

That same spirit lives today, only with greater passion (intense feelings driven by deep convictions). We travel thousands of miles, challenging people to do something beyond the four walls of the church to serve people, be a fragrance of His spirit (2 Corinthians 2:14). We attempt to live a life and give others a platform that would make people 'ask' us about the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). Let us list Mission:M25's endeavors to activate men and women on the National Level:

  • Free Camps across the USA, Philippines and Mexico 
  • Run For The Wall, May 18-28, 2016
  • 50 CC Diaper Run, July 10-21, 2016
  • Native American Outreach, August 16-22, 2016
Before leaving the Men's Meeting a gentlemen introduced himself with, 'I am 67 years old and I am dying with cancer'. He presented me with a blanket to explain his battlefield. He gives these away in the hospital as the stories of death and pain flood him. He speaks with a tenderness but a directness that only a warrior can carry. He speaks of the miracles the Lord has brought because of these blankets of love in very troubled times. There was the 38 year old lady who later received the miracle (combination of God's mercy and grace and modern medicine) of a cancer free report. Then the report of the old gentleman who found the miracle of peace to travel this journey by the Lord's mercy and grace. The warrior was pale, had to stop talking to take a breath and walked with a slow pace, but the he fought on! He was not looking for an excuse, not waiting for someone to lead him, he continued to challenge the enemy of destruction on his battlefield, the hospital. 

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Battle Cry - Men are rising

Battle Cry 2016: A Call To Arms

By: Mégan Alba

They came from Lake City, Charleston, Lancaster, and beyond. They came – some out of curiosity, some seeking answers, some with a passion to live out God’s call on their lives. They came as men, but left as warriors. 

The cause: Building the Kingdom. The call: Awaken the warrior within. 

Approximately 50 men from 10 churches attended the first ever Battle Cry, hosted February 20 at Camp HayesThis was an event unlike any other previously hosted in the South Carolina Conference. 

The vision for Battle Cry came to Pastor Cory Jones after he noticed a disconnect between most men in the American church and the men portrayed in scripture. “The Bible is full of warriors and soldiers who fought valiantly for King Jesus, but in the American church most men sit on the sidelines instead of joining the fight,” he said. “But there are those who know that’s not reality, men who want to fight for the kingdom … those are the men we’re trying to reach.” 

Jones, who pastors Emmanuel P.H. Church in Lake City, said he’d had a vision for this type of event for some time. Last fall, God told him it was time to make that vision a reality. 

The goal was to host an event that got men out of the four walls of the church and into a setting where they could be real. He also wanted the event to be kingdom-minded instead of focusing on building a program or increasing church attendance. Immediately, Jones knew who he wanted as the guest speaker: Bishop Gary Burd of Mission:M25.

Gary Burd said the event was definitely different from other men’s events he’s been a part of in the past. “The focus was more on the raw side of being a man,” he said. “This was the first true men’s rally I’ve attended within the IPHC.” 

Burd’s message focused on challenging men to Embrace their Manhood, Discover their Identity, and Define their Transcendent Cause. He wanted men to understand their God-given role as warriors for the kingdom and to catch the vision for a cause worth fighting and dying for. 

Pastor Cory Jones said the biggest takeaway from Battle Cry was “A sense of urgency and responsibility for what is truly expected of one who bears his cross daily. It’s not just about what happens on Sunday when we’re in church, but about what we do in our daily lives. The kingdom needs more men who are willing to do the ministry OF the saints instead of TO the saints.” 

Battle Cry isn’t just about attending a yearly event and getting “hyped up.” The real purpose is about creating lasting change by challenging men to step up in their homes, churches, and communities“Men must find places to express their manhood through service,” said Burd. If there is no opportunity to take this beyond serving inside the church, it becomes just another program.”

Men who attend a Battle Cry can keep that momentum going by signing up for Knight’s Training, an intensive discipleship seminar taught by Rev. Wes Alvarez of the Alpha Conference. Emmanuel P.H. Church hosted its first Knight’s Training March 11 & 12, with a knighting service on the 13thIn that service, 10 men from three conference churches were knighted in front of the congregation. 

Those who want to go deeper can follow up Knight’s Training with a course entitled “The Warrior Soul.” The 26-week training was developed by Rev. Mark Richardson of the N.C. Conference and is based on the book of the same name by Lt. Gen (Ret) Jerry Boykin.

The men who attended the first ever Battle Cry probably didn’t realize they were making history. But Jones is certain that the South Carolina Conference, the IPHC in general, and communities across this nation will be changed because a small group of men found a cause worth fighting for. “Most men’s events are just an event,” said Jones. “This isn’t an event. It’s a movement, and we’re just getting started.” 
If your church wants to learn more about Battle Cry, or if you are interested in hosting a Battle Cry or Knight’s Training, contact Bishop Gary Burd at (806) 670-9669 or garyburdm25@gmail.com
Rev. Cory Jones greets men at the first ever Battle Cry.

Bishop Gary Burd challenges the men with a hard-hitting message.

 Emmanuel P.H. hosts the conference’s first knighting ceremony on March 13. 



Angel Alba kneels as Rev. Wes Alvarez pronounces him a knight. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

RFTW 2016- Year number 12

RUN FOR THE WALL
MISSION:M25 OUTREACH
2016

On May 15, 2016, Mission M25 will begin to gather in Los Angeles CA from ten states to cross the USA on two routes to serve our TRUE AMERICAN HEROES. This will be the eleventh year M25 has serve in areas of Chase Chaplains, Emergency Chaplains, Platoon Chaplains, Chase Vehicles, Hydration Team and Sr. Chaplains. There are 43 people committed to ride across the nation in packs of motorcycles to hold Memorial Services, Wreath Laying Services, school visits and War Memorial Site visits. 

The picture of a 'church' being held at the funeral of one of these heroes back in 2004 is one of the motivations for our going. This was the only church 'out there' expressing it's opinion for these great men and women of sacrifice. M25 decided to make a 'positive' statement and as you know, it takes a lot of positive actions to overcome a negative. 

Another great motivation, in 2004 we flew three World War II soldiers and their wives to DC for the unveiling of the WWII memorial. One of them was my father-in-law, Robert Young. Our government put him on 100% financial support, we wheeled him around in a wheel chair. He was one of them who never talked about his experiences living on the Pacific Island and dealt with bodies decaying, with the exception of once or twice. As people asked for his autograph, tears would swell in his eyes. This moved us to see the value of healing in efforts like honoring our veterans. 

You can be involved in this effort several ways:
  1. Please pray for the men and women as we ride across the nation in packs of motorcycles. 
  2. You can find out if we pass your area at www.rftw.org. Then come out and hold a homemade sign that thanks our veterans, stand on a bridge with a USA flag or come and meet us at a stop. 
  3. We are in great need of financial help, the picture attached is of our banner that is posted on our trailers. You can place you name on there for a minimum of $250 donation. We ask churches, individuals and businesses to join our efforts. Comments of our Heroes as they read the banner list, 'I did not even know the church cared'. 
  4. Join us on FaceBook, Mission:M25 Network, for our daily devotions. We will be live at 8:30 pm at the varying time zones, depending on our journey but you can watch at any time. 
You can help - you can be a part of not forgetting our Heroes. Test POWMIA to 71777 and follow instructions to use your credit card. 

Mail your check by May 1, 2016 and made out to  M25
M25 
POB 30309
Amarillo TX. 

                                        Thanks for our Heroes
Gary Burd, National M25 Director
Westboro Baptist Church
Heroes Funeral 2004
Run For The Wall
Banner of support