Yesterday my wife and I attended a breakfast to kick off the 10th Anniversary of Yellowstone Academy. It was an amazing event! It was held at the Westin Galleria, an upscale hotel in one of Houston's Galleria, which is one of the cities landmark locations. The Galleria boasts of some of Houston's finer retail establishments and shops. We were invited by and were guest of kind friend from our church, the City of Refuge, Karen Geisen. She is a kind lady with a generous heart and it shows. We had dining on white linen tablecloths, fine china, and black tie servers.Yet for all the pomp of the hotel and its service, and the stores and shops in the Galleria, the most beautiful thing that would happen in the Galleria on that day would be the testimonials that would be given by the teachers, students and administrators for Yellowstone Academy.
Yellowstone Academy is a miracle. It is located in Houston's 3rd ward, and is a high quality, faith based private school for those living in poverty, below poverty, and some cases extreme poverty. ( See history here http://www.yellowstoneacademy.org/history/ ) But it is more then a school. It is a sign of hope. For too many children in the 3rd ward, like most poor inner-cities, poverty, crime, drug abuse and a lack of education are go hand in hand like a beach and sand. Its just expected and the way things are....but things are different at Yellowstone Academy. Yellowstone Academy is demonstrating that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27) The students there are excelling academically far beyond there peers and have high aspirations for the future., while still dealing with the struggles and trials of living in some of the worst and most dangerous situations imagineable. But, they are not allowing the struggles of today to determine their tomorrow. And the statistics show by the cyclical nature, that is not an easy task. But they see their future as given by divine decree. Jer 29:11 says "for I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope". They see that hope and dream of that future being able to be realized because of the faithful servants that poor their hearts into their lives at Yellowstone Academy. Because people step outside of their comfort zone to be a blessing to others.
Gadara Ministries is following the lead of ministries like Yellowstone Academy. Although we are not scholastic ministry to children, we see are call as one and the same. A call to make a difference by the power of God. Because real hope and real change only come about as the people of God do the "good works that good prepared in advance for us to walk in"....Eph 2:10
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Gadara Ministries Lauches Inductive Bible Study Methods class
Inductive simply means to use logic induction and reasoning by examining the particulars, facts and essence of a text first before making any conclusions. Thus, inductive Bible Study enhances the exegesis process by enabling us to read the Bible for all its impact, value and significance. In practice, we first examine the ideas and words of the text, then this leads us to the meanings and interpretations, and then we are led to the conclusions and applications. As we are interviewing a passage, we are also allowing His Word to intervene and interview us. And then we are to do this with reverence, respect and humility without our preconceptions or agendas. Thus, seeking what God is actually saying before we seek what a passage means. Then we can apply it to our life in a more effective and effectual manner. In other words, I want to know Christ and His Word better, to be convicted and impacted so I can line my life up to His.
The mission of the bible study is to provide the formerly incarcerated the training and skills needed to study extract and apply the doctrines and principle of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Many formerly incarcerated persons whom have given there lives to JESUS CHRIST often sometimes never get the chance too pursue a Christian education because of the tremendous challenges faced reintegrating into society. Things like housing, employment, and ect can prove difficult for the average citizen let alone one with a felony.
Many formerly incarcerated persons don’t come into society ignorant of the challenges. Those of us who have decided to give our lives to JESUS CHRIST even though there challenges exprience peace in the midst of the storms. Our faith is in, the little we know of, the applicable word of GOD we apply. GOD’s word will keep all mankind sane as we travel through life stresses. The bible study methods class will give a great advantage to those men and women returning from prison with a desire to live, not just right, but righteous as they become productive members of society. To the point of no return.
COMING SOON!!!!!!! 2011
The mission of the bible study is to provide the formerly incarcerated the training and skills needed to study extract and apply the doctrines and principle of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Many formerly incarcerated persons whom have given there lives to JESUS CHRIST often sometimes never get the chance too pursue a Christian education because of the tremendous challenges faced reintegrating into society. Things like housing, employment, and ect can prove difficult for the average citizen let alone one with a felony.
Many formerly incarcerated persons don’t come into society ignorant of the challenges. Those of us who have decided to give our lives to JESUS CHRIST even though there challenges exprience peace in the midst of the storms. Our faith is in, the little we know of, the applicable word of GOD we apply. GOD’s word will keep all mankind sane as we travel through life stresses. The bible study methods class will give a great advantage to those men and women returning from prison with a desire to live, not just right, but righteous as they become productive members of society. To the point of no return.
COMING SOON!!!!!!! 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Discipleship.....the heart of what we do.
Recently I began to think about what it really means to be a "Disciple". According to W.E. Vines Expository dictionary of New Testament words, the word itself comes from the Greek word Mathetes: a learner (from Manthano, to learn from a root Math-, indicating thought accompanied by endeavour) a disciple was not only a student, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.
I like the end of that definition....."an imitator of their teacher". As children growing up, we all have had someone in our lives that have had some effect on us to the point that we would "imitate" something about them. I was a big sports fan growing up and remember imitating Billy "White shoes" Johnson doing his dance in the end zone after making a long touchdown run. I remember imitating Ervin "Magic" Johnson making his Jr sky hook to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Championship. How many young boys did Joe Namath inspire to want to play quarteback in the NFL? We have all had teachers, family members, friends, other people that we admired something about them and have attempted to imitate. As I get older, I look back and find myself "imitating" my parents in some regards saying the same things to my children that my mother often said to me. While we are all unique and individuals, there are some things that are common to our humanity, and imitation of someone, somehow, someway, and at sometime is as much part of our humanity as it is to be born. I recently had a conversation with a friend and we talked about doing certain things because "thats the way we always did them". Some things we imitate for so long we forget where we got the from.
Jesus Christ had a group of 12 close followers that became known as his "disciples". My dictionary app on my Android smartphone (I love technology) defines disciple as one of the 12 personal followers of Christ . He was the teacher, they were the followers.....the imitators. He didnt call them to imitate only some parts of His life and not others. He didnt say "follow me boys while the lights are on, but when they are off, dont do as I do, do as I say". No, Jesus Christ lived his life everyday, teaching his disciples to be imitators of his conduct, character, and conversation. To think like Him, respond like Him, love like Him, give like Him, serve like Him, be like Him. They would fail often, but He would never give up the mission of making disciples. Shaping and molding them into His very own image.
At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus after He had been crucified, buried, and resurrected, met 11 of his disciples. Chapter 28 verse 18 Jesus said "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." The teacher was passing the baton to the students. Graduation time boys, now get out and go to work!
It is the goal of Gadara Ministries to pick up that baton and continue to imitate the Master. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ", and that is what we intend to do. Gadara Ministries is nothing if not a ministry of discipleship. It will always be the very heart of what we do. We will offer a lot of services to the formerly incarcerated in an attempt to meet their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs with different programs available throughout the community. We do so knowing that God doesnt just redeem the soul, His plan of redemption includes the whole person (Romans 8:23) But above all else, we are not in the need providing business, we are in the disciple making business. We are looking to not make disciples of our own, but those of the highest order, the greatest calling, the order of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So, we are heading our call to the great commission, to go and make disciples of all nations....anyone wanna join us?
I like the end of that definition....."an imitator of their teacher". As children growing up, we all have had someone in our lives that have had some effect on us to the point that we would "imitate" something about them. I was a big sports fan growing up and remember imitating Billy "White shoes" Johnson doing his dance in the end zone after making a long touchdown run. I remember imitating Ervin "Magic" Johnson making his Jr sky hook to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Championship. How many young boys did Joe Namath inspire to want to play quarteback in the NFL? We have all had teachers, family members, friends, other people that we admired something about them and have attempted to imitate. As I get older, I look back and find myself "imitating" my parents in some regards saying the same things to my children that my mother often said to me. While we are all unique and individuals, there are some things that are common to our humanity, and imitation of someone, somehow, someway, and at sometime is as much part of our humanity as it is to be born. I recently had a conversation with a friend and we talked about doing certain things because "thats the way we always did them". Some things we imitate for so long we forget where we got the from.
Jesus Christ had a group of 12 close followers that became known as his "disciples". My dictionary app on my Android smartphone (I love technology) defines disciple as one of the 12 personal followers of Christ . He was the teacher, they were the followers.....the imitators. He didnt call them to imitate only some parts of His life and not others. He didnt say "follow me boys while the lights are on, but when they are off, dont do as I do, do as I say". No, Jesus Christ lived his life everyday, teaching his disciples to be imitators of his conduct, character, and conversation. To think like Him, respond like Him, love like Him, give like Him, serve like Him, be like Him. They would fail often, but He would never give up the mission of making disciples. Shaping and molding them into His very own image.
At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus after He had been crucified, buried, and resurrected, met 11 of his disciples. Chapter 28 verse 18 Jesus said "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." The teacher was passing the baton to the students. Graduation time boys, now get out and go to work!
It is the goal of Gadara Ministries to pick up that baton and continue to imitate the Master. The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ", and that is what we intend to do. Gadara Ministries is nothing if not a ministry of discipleship. It will always be the very heart of what we do. We will offer a lot of services to the formerly incarcerated in an attempt to meet their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs with different programs available throughout the community. We do so knowing that God doesnt just redeem the soul, His plan of redemption includes the whole person (Romans 8:23) But above all else, we are not in the need providing business, we are in the disciple making business. We are looking to not make disciples of our own, but those of the highest order, the greatest calling, the order of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So, we are heading our call to the great commission, to go and make disciples of all nations....anyone wanna join us?
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