Freedom Assembly

Good Word

Yesterday I mentioned how God reminds me that He called me to be a pastor. Today I'm going to share with you a note that I got for one of our ladies at church. It's not dated but it was given to me early in the building process......Leroy, Do not listen to the conflicting voices around you. The Lord chose you to build this Church Body. Listen to and follow Him and it will be the right path.  I have read this note hundreds of times since receiving it. It brings some comfort at difficult times and it just encourages me to keep on going. Even when people think I'm wrong and don't agree with the direction of the church. There are many who voice there opinion some good, some not so good. This note helps me to keep it all in prospective. God did chose me and all the resposibility is on me. So at the end of the day I have to know what God is calling me to do and obey Him!

Baptism

So far this year I have had the honor to baptize 16 people. Evertime I think about what I do for a living I smile. It is stressful at times but it is very rewarding. I know most people don't think of pastors of being that big of a deal.....maybe even look down on them......I know I kinda had that opinion till I became one but being a pastor is a very high calling. I am totally humbled by that call and  have asked God more than once if He is sure He got the right guy. God has His ways of saying yes you're the right guy. So I just keep on doing the best I can trusting in God to lead and guide me. Smiling when I get to baptize someone because that is what I work for.....changed lives!

Near the End

We are near the end of RV season. I was at the building a few hours today and it looks like a ghost town. Only 3 Rvers left. They have done a great job. The doors and windows are in and I can lock up the building. The stucco guys are putting on the 1st coat and we hope the fire sprinkler guys are here this week. Talked to an electrical contractor today and the sound guy. I keep praying that the project continues to move forward. We have came so far so fast that we can see the end. I don't want to wait till the Rvers to come back in Nov. We will keep being patient and spend money only when it seems most beneficial. WOW! How exciting......I'm still living the DREAM!

Yard Sale and Fish Fry

Saturday thr youth had a yard sale and raised $1000 for camp. It was really cool to watch them work together and accomplish so much. To sell that much you have to move a lot of junk. One of our couples, Chuck and Nyla, helped them by getting and storeing most of it. Also another church member, Jack let them use his 20 foot box trailer. This is great stuff. I love it when we work together on projects. Yesterday was the fish fry which also requires a lot of people working together. We had about 175 or so show up to check out the building and eat some great fish. Thanks Lloyd and gang!

District Council

We started DC today. Not sure what that is! Its a once a year convention for all the AZ Assembly of God pastors. We make some decisions, fellowship, learn  and have church together. I just got home from Surprise which is about 90 miles away. I didn't stay because Diane is teaching school and can't go with me. I might stay tomorrow night. If I do I might not blog. I'm still challeneged in the area of being a techy guy. Thanks for reading my blog...love you all!

Fish Fry

One of the things we do every year is a fish fry. It has always been a great event. It is one those things that you can invite everybody to. Some times we get so caught up in Sunday morning worship and think about having our needs met that we forget that there is a whole world out there just waiting to be invited to church. What a great way to help someone get to know some of God's children and realize we are human too. So invite someone to eat fish and meet a few of your friends from church. They can also check out the new building!

Youth Group

Wow...we have some amazing kids in our youth group. They go over and above most groups. How many kids do you know that would set up a whole church and tear it down in one night.....clean, sweep, pick uptrash, come early and stay late. They do this every week with very little adult help. I still don't think I appreciate there effort. When I talk to other pastors and youth pastors they can't believe it. Most of their groups are the size of our leadership team. They say they can't hardly get there kids to do anything and they have buildings and youth rooms and special programs and finances!!! Way to go Mosaic......please pray for the youth of AZ City.

Where's the Beef?

Tucson....today I get to got to The U of A and pick up our meat. One of my greatest joys in life is to eat a tenderloin, t-bone or porterhouse steak that our family has raised. Did you hear that?..... my stomach just rumbled and I'm not joking it really did. Wow I can't wait. I also get to pick the 6 animals that will be going to the Home of Hope in Casa Grande. It is going to be an amazing day. It is a great honor to be a part of blessing someone else. I'm so glad that God has given me this opportunity to serve Him. I still can't believe that 3 years ago I got the chance to do the Cowboy Church and now God has done great things. I give Him praise for all He does as I stumble along trying to follow Him. It does your Spirit good when you actually see the blessing of obedience! Lord help us all at doing Your will! 

Rvers R Leaving

I have been having a hard time with our internet server again. So this will be quick. One of the RVers wife passed away and I'm headed to Mesa for a Memorial Service. It is really hard on these older people when they lose a spouse. I going to take one of our vans full of RVers. Theyreally support each other like family. The hard thing is watching these guys leave. By this time next week we will only have 2 left. So now we start spending money on labor. Scary........my goal is still to be debt free when the building is complete. God is still in the miracle business. Please pray with me as the project continues to move forward!

Good Monday

I'm having a great day! How 'bout you? Diane and I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel with a potential teacher for our school. She seemed very interested and seems to be a good fit. She has worked in the education field for about 14 years. She has her certification with the state of AZ and is willing to be paid less than she is worth.=) When we start paying full time salaries to our teachers we will have to be in better financial standing than we are now. Our school is a great blessing to us....challenging yet rewarding....some of our students have came a long way from when we 1st met them. Please pray for us! Thank you Lord for the chance to minister to and teach students.