Queen's Breakfast

Queen's Breakfast

The Serving Ladies and
some of the Served Ladies
Due to security not all young ladies
 could be included in photo

On November 22, 2017, ten women from three different churches, The Journey Church in Siler City, NC and The Refuge in Conway, SC, The Rock Worship Center in Monroe, NC, with the leadership of Carolyn Burd, National M25 Director woke after a short night of sleep at the Royal Home Ministries (RHM) to prepare a meal fit for a Queen. RHM is a home of hope, love and support for young ladies that are carrying a child with no family or friend support. It is a home dedicated to the tireless effort and vision of Rev/Mrs Marvin Whitfield, built across the road from Falcon Children's Home in Falcon, NC, hosted by North Carolina Conference of the IPHC. 

The young ladies were totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to make this a breakfast so special, bathed in love, that a Queen would have been blessed to be there. The passion and drive exemplified by these ladies could do nothing but lift the young ladies in the home. There were glass plates, real silverware, long stemmed glasses, cloth napkins and table clothes. There was even a warm wash cloth for each young lady to wash with before partaking of the meal. 

Some of the ladies eating

This meal was intended to elevate their self-esteem, many of whom could not even be in the picture due to their identity being concealed for safety sake. Anyone who has experienced giving birth or witnessed the trauma of bringing a child into this world, knows how painful it already is without all of the negativity of having no family or friend support. There was a desire to bring a good ole healthy dose of elevating love through service. 

One of the young ladies (a mere child of 13 years of age) grabbed a plate and chose to eat alone. When inquiring the situation, Carolyn learned this young lady was 'sold' by her mother to a man. (There is no point of reference for most of us. Can you imagine being so desperate that you 'sold' your daughter to survive? We read of these type things in foreign countries, we read of this level of desperation in Biblical times, but here in the most prosperous nation in the world, not here... but it did happen). The man chose when faced with his purchase bringing extra baggage of financial and emotional support, dropped her off at the curb, so to speak. This young child had experienced abandonment, abuse and rejection at levels will never know (so thankful this is a rarity and not the norm in our country. May we pray it never becomes the norm.) 

The meal

As the day ended and the young ladies went on with life in the RHM housing, as the eleven women returned to their families, we can only pray there was a positive lift in the young ladies in the home and the ladies who served will be impacted to a point they make this bigger and better next year. 

Sanding My Feet

How beautiful are the feet....

Having a 65 year old foot takes up time that has been allocated for things like: reaching for success, doing good for others, growing in my Faith Walk, spending time with those we love, etc. It is very tiring and boring, getting the file out (looks like a grater for cheese), spending time 'sanding' the foot, a lot of time. Then there is the ointment, the creme to keep it from cracking. Today, during the boring task of restoring my feet, this text came to mind.

Just an ugly 65 year old foot

•  How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news.. Isaiah 52:7
•  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" Romans 10:15

Let's put those text written in perspective to when they were written. Many had to walk everywhere they went. Plus they did not have hiking boots or high dollar sports shoes. No insoles made of memory foam, most were just sandals. Remember the environment, have you been to Israel? Have you seen the desert, the rocky terrain? What about those areas were the weeds are growing, climbing to En-gedi (it was muddy and slick with rocks and vegetation).

Sitting there, sander in hand, creme on the table beside the chair, all I could think was, 'Really?'. Then the devotion the Lord had began to become clear.

As our feet get older, carry the scares of adventurous lives, show the stress of caring for family and friends, the burden of the load of serving in the Kingdom there were some warnings: The foot can become dry, cracked, rough and very ugly.

If the foot is not 'sanded', adverse situations grinding on the foot, it becomes so calloused and abrasive no one can stand to touch it, looking at it is bad enough. There should be a joy inside of us when we encounter adversity, it is removing the callouses, keeping us smooth. Preparing us to hurled into a world of evil as one of the smooth stones a Shepherd boy picked up, hurled toward a giant's forehead which caused that enemy to fall to the ground.

The creme keeps me teachable and pliable in the hands of an Almighty God, the Holy Spirit. Can you see balm of Gilead in His hands rubbing it into the hardness of the callous and the pain the adversity to get me tender again. Callouses brought by so many miles of demanding, spiritual terrain that no one has taken the time to look at my 'feet' to notice.

Feet, who goes around looking at people's feet? How many times have you seen people 'model' their feet? Oh, there is the craze of flip flops and women in open toed shoes but most of us men never care for our feet and never notice the feet of anyone else. Yet, it is the feet the Lord inspired the author's to pen that was beautiful.

As the time came for the creme to applied, it said on the directions, 'massage thoroughly into the skin and in extreme situations, cover with a cotton sock for quick healing'. Now, that is in incredible advise:

• Get alone with the Holy Spirit today and allow Him to massage His love and tender care into your life. Let Him take that sweet balm of Gilead and refresh your journey. 
• If you are hurting really bad, the callouses are really hard and the cracks have made it difficult to sleep at night due to catching on the sheets, let the Holy Spirit cloak you with His sweet presence and bring you peace. He is still able to calm the storm in your life or maybe, just maybe, He is desiring to just wrap you in the Power of Grace to get you through the storm! 

Feet.... beautiful, only in His presence when they are doing what they were designed to do.... take the Good News, the Gospel to a hurting and dying world. Remember, we are M25, a ministry outside the four walls. The question screaming inside me, 'Are you living your life in the desert areas of your community?' 'Are you taking the risk that your feet might take you to some dangerous places?' 'Are you actually traveling enough outside to even expose your feet to pain?' 

A day to ponder......

Toys For Life Motorcycle Ride

TOYS FOR LIFE

November 21, 2016 at 7 pm will be a historic moment! 

Motorcycles joining together for a rally at the Chapel on the property of Falcon Children's Home to bring physical, emotional, financial and spiritual support for the ladies living at the Royal Home Ministries. RHM is a beautiful home for girls who have an unexpected pregnancy who have no support at home. This is a  place they can stay with their baby until they are 21 years of age to receive support, motherhood training and finish their education. 

First 50 Bikes receives this patch free

The Rally will feature speakers and drama skits from guest and the girls in the home. It will be a power packed one hour event. 

Then at 8 pm, the bikes, dressed in Christmas Lights, will lead the other participants (carrying lit candles) to the Royal Home Ministries. Upon arrival there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly acquired Baby Boutique building. This will be a place where the girls can go and get the needs for their baby free of charge. This facility was purchased with money raised from the 50CC Diaper Run in 2016 and will store the 56,000 plus diapers and 62,000 plus baby wipes along with the toys for their baby's Christmas and birthdays. 

Everyone is encouraged to bring a toy for a baby 0-3 years of age, both girl and boy. We are asking for new toys, wrapped in original package and no stuffed animals. 

Ladies are encouraged to come and assist in preparing a breakfast, led by Carolyn Burd, for the ladies living in the home at 7 am the next morning. This will be a great time to let these girls know you care for them in their crisis. 

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting, first ever (which we hope will be an annual event). Then hang around for the Harvest Train the next morning. 

For more information, please feel free to call Gary Burd 806-670-9669 or Carolyn Burd 806-570-4556 or email us at gburd@arn.net. 

Battle Cry

Battle Cry

Men Stepping UP and Stepping OUT

www.missionm25.org

Battle Cry is a movement birthed out of S Carolina Conference by Pastor Cory Jones, Emmanuel PHC in Lake City, SC and National M25 Board Member, Angel Alba, along with National Director, Gary Burd. 

So far in 2016, there have been four Battle Cry Events where approximately 220 men have been challenged and inspired to wake up from the spirit of apathy and passivity that has invaded and neutralized the men of the Kingdom. In two locations it was followed by training to be Knights of the Kingdom where over 40 men have received intense training and honored with the presentation of a 47" stainless steel sword. 

The events have taken place in S. Carolina, Florida, Hawaii and California, with more to be held this fall. Men have given of their time and churches, conferences and men's ministry leaders have sacrificed to make these events full of manly challenge. 

The subjects in all Battle Cry events deal with the following:

• Embrace Your Manhood
• Discover your identity
• Define your mission

We have come to realize the men in the Kingdom struggle with the loss of the adventurous spirit, the desire to live risky lives and have been harnessed with a life of boredom and a mundane schedule. We have been reduced to good little boys that have learned a series of life patterns that have taken the fight out of our church and left the church vulnerable to an enemy that has taken our influence from our nation. The result is churches of men that give the Kingdom a couple hours a week and produced a society that has been defined as 'post-Christian'. 

We discuss how men in the church is in need of CPR because we have lost the Culture, succumbed to a life of Political correctness and have learned to exist in a Rut (a grave with both ends open). In Psalms 138:7, we are told He will "revive" (breath fresh breath, the same breath God breathed in Adam) in the midst of trouble (a vice squeezing the breath out of us). 

There is a challenge to be more than 'saved', more than confessing the 'sinner's prayer' and move to a life devoted to see Jesus brought back to a place of honor and to aggressively Advance the Kingdom. It is the heart of Battle Cry events to challenge men to "step up" (to a new level of selfless and sacrificial love) and "step out" to serve people outside their comfort zone in order to earn the right to plant the seed of God's love in 'all soils' (Mark 4). To depend on the Holy Spirit to operate in them the 'creative power' to bring this culture back to the Judeo-Christian values the USA was built on. 

Hawaii Knights

The final thing we deal with is the idea of 'running to the fire' rather than away. The military that protects this nation is taught to advance when fired upon rather than run the other way. Lt Col Grossman writes 'the nation must become prepared for what is coming our way'. He states in his book, "On Combat", the things you are not prepared for will do deep seeded emotional damage which will take much counseling to overcome. The church must change it's approach from, 'if this happens...' to 'when this happens...' if we hope to see our churches thrive in the face of oppression that is coming, (Jeremiah 29:4-6). We urge leaders to build their ministries on challenge not blessings. We have become so 'blessed' and embraced the 'entitlement' spirit of our country in the church, that we have produced a very weak institution called the church. Believers are taught they are 'entitled' to all these blessings because.... It is our heart to move to a place where we could be called upon to be a 'warrior' (Hebrews 11:32) or a martyr (Hebrews 11:35) in order to pass the Freedom of Religion and Life to the next generation. 

The Swords

The Knights training focuses on three basic codes that drive our life with classes to help us embrace them:

• A WILL TO FOLLOW
• A WORK TO DO
• A WOMAN TO LOVE

Whatever the tool, may the churches in this country move from casual Christianity, a love for this world that creates risk-free living, and a spirit of apathy that prevails. May the men of the church rise and become aggressive, risk takers and transformed men who are not afraid to give 100% to the Kingdom of God. 

If you are interested in a Battle Cry in your church or area, please contact us at gburd@arn.net or 806-670-9669.

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. 

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 Hayes. This 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 13th. In 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. 

50CC Diaper Run Report

November 2, 2015, at 0600 sharp, six motorcycles (we had two fail  mechanically before we left) roared with excitement from the Hampton INN on the west side of Jacksonville, FL. Pastor Dave and Jennifer Ragan, along with members from both the churches they pastor, Harvest Church and Destiny People Worship Center to serve coffee, burritos and lots of encouragement. Ellen Richardson, Kristen Coleman and Betty Ann Gee were in the lead vehicle to get things ready for us before we arrived at our stops. Bishop Doug Beacham, Carolyn Burd and Herman and Carol Strickland were in the chase truck pulling a 24’ enclosed trailer to pick up the diapers. 

There was a threat of rain in the skies but riding was clear for a while, then torrential rain began to fall. But soon we were through the storm where sunshine prevailed until the last 156 miles. The final leg of our journey took us across the Alpine Mountain Range, almost 5,000 feet, to experience freezing rain. 

Our riders, Pastor Wes Alvarez, Pastor Kevin McBride, Rodney McCray, Pastor Mark Richardson and Jude Rodriquez (this was his first long ride, HE DID IT), pushed through “the wall” (pushing yourself beyond the natural limits) to complete the ride in 44 hours and 51 minutes! There is no way of communicating the endurance it took to make it happen. Bishop Doug Beacham rode on the motorcycle behind me for one leg of the journey, drove the pickup and even helped change a couple of tires on the trailer. A Presiding Bishop, General Superintendent with a International Church to lead that took time and put his body through a hard day for the cause, is to be commended. While it is not customary for a man to carry a man on a motorcycle, it was an honor to have our Bishop behind me, knowing the encouragement and honor it was to our team to have him with us. I will let him speak for himself on the experience.  

There were people meeting us at all but five of our stops to cheer us on, provide coffee, donate money and diapers.

• Pastor Steve and Yvonne Dow 
• My Father’s Vineyard (served us lunch) 
• Bishop Mike Gray, along with pastors
• Al Bethea 
• Joe Collins
• Todd Erskine
• Rick Fountain
• Clayton McCormick
• Landon Willis
• Bishop Gordon Atwell
• Rev. Joe & Jennifer Connors
• Pastors Jerry and Donna Williams
• Rev. Travis Evins
• Bishop Scott Hampton and folks from two GPC Churches
• Pastor Hector and Maria Chavez from El Paso and 
• Danny and Glenda Stewart and Rev Stephen Walker from Christian Heritage in Amarillo, TX
• Representatives from Rev. Demetrius Miles in Tucson, AZ’s church and Rev Bill Hepfner in Mesa, AZ’s church
• The last leg from Yuma AZ to San Diego, representatives from M25 ministries in Southern California, led by Jerry Plent met us, fed us and rode with us across the mountain. 
• They paid for our rooms! 
• They collected over 7,500 diapers
• When we arrived at our hotel around 3 am on Wednesday, we were welcomed by Bishop Tom Murray and two of his pastors, Rev. Bill Kenedy and Rev. Billy Wood (also Pointman for M25). 
• The celebration meal at noon on Wednesday was furnished by “Way Of Life Church” with Pastor Bruce Balcombe. A good breakfast was enjoyed as our first meal in three days.

To top this all off, our Run For The Wall family met us at several stops from Louisiana to Arizona! It was so good seeing folks along the way, for them to bring the diapers, fill our tanks with fuel, clean our windshields, ride with us for a while and make donations.  I regret I did not get all their names written down, that will change next year. 

We will ride in the Harvest Train, November 24, 2015 in Falcon, NC and present almost $6,000 in cash and over 30,000 diapers (estimated value over $10,000) to Jonathan Hill, director of Royal Home Ministries. We would welcome all riders to join us that can make it (bring lots of candy to give to the kids during the parade).