From Jim:
I just attended a memorial for a very dear man of God who passed last Saturday afternoon. This is a man who loved deeply those around him and showed it by the life he lived.
As I drove up to the church I saw an ocean of cars in the parking lot and I knew this was not going to be the usual memorial service, as we walked up to the door the line was outside the building and all the way across the front to get in.
I told Joy that this was a testimony of who this man of God really was.
The memorial started with music that encouraged us to celebrate this occasion of home going after which there was testimony of how this man encouraged and sowed into so many lives that they could not be numbered.
The message was good as well but the thing that stood out the most was how this man celebrated life, he would let you grieve, complain, even pout for a little while but he would soon let you know you needed to get on with living your life.
We celebrated pastor Dom's life with a few family members who were encouraging us as they grieved in their hearts, not for him, but for those of us who have to wait to see him again on the other side.
We left encouraged to continue with life's every day battles, we left knowing we were a little bit better for having known this man and because of knowing Pastor Dom, we left encouraged to sow into peoples lives every where we go, both to those who think they need help and those who don't.
There is a reason I wanted to blog on this man, I think we all want to be remembered like Pastor Dom, I think we all need to be encouraged to live like him because he only wanted to live like Jesus.
That therein is the answer, live like Jesus, live life as a celebration, live life sowing into the lives of those no one else wants to sow into.
Pastor Dom Duarte, was very much loved, and he will be very much missed. He already is!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Busy Weekend coming!
from Jim:
This weekend we have Goodman Correctional Center for women on Friday evening, Tamara is heading up that team.
Saturday we will be ministering with Perry Shaw at Cabarrus Correctional Center, Joy will be doing mime with Perry bringing the Word.
Sunday we will be doing our first Sunday morning service (we usually do the evening service) at Tabor City Correctional Inst. where I will be bringing the Word and Lee, Denea, and Martha will be bring music.
Monday evening we will be back at Cabarrus with Joe bringing worship and Phillip bringing the Word.
Please keep all of these in prayer as this will be busy for us but we want to go where Father wants to take us.
This weekend we have Goodman Correctional Center for women on Friday evening, Tamara is heading up that team.
Saturday we will be ministering with Perry Shaw at Cabarrus Correctional Center, Joy will be doing mime with Perry bringing the Word.
Sunday we will be doing our first Sunday morning service (we usually do the evening service) at Tabor City Correctional Inst. where I will be bringing the Word and Lee, Denea, and Martha will be bring music.
Monday evening we will be back at Cabarrus with Joe bringing worship and Phillip bringing the Word.
Please keep all of these in prayer as this will be busy for us but we want to go where Father wants to take us.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Cabarrus Correctional Center
from Jim:
Great service tonight at Mt. Pleasant, The men from the Mt. Pleasant choir shared in song for us and one of the inmates shared about his son being hit by a truck and then walking away with out any harm to him which got the men excited.
Lee shared in song and about her brother who is not supposed to live much longer (BUT GOD!!! can change all that) and how he is witnessing to everyone he sees.
Lori spoke encouragement to the men just as she is so well known for.
Denae gave testimony about someone who gave their life to Jesus because of a song, then had Lee sing the song she had previously sang about the names of God, then Denae sang a song about personal revival.
Perry then brought the word which culminated in everyone in the chapel falling on their knees in prayer.
I had the honor of closing out in prayer!
Great evening, those of you who can go but do not are really missing seeing how Jesus moves in the lives of the inmates (and us). NO CONDEMNATION! I'm just say'n :-)
Great service tonight at Mt. Pleasant, The men from the Mt. Pleasant choir shared in song for us and one of the inmates shared about his son being hit by a truck and then walking away with out any harm to him which got the men excited.
Lee shared in song and about her brother who is not supposed to live much longer (BUT GOD!!! can change all that) and how he is witnessing to everyone he sees.
Lori spoke encouragement to the men just as she is so well known for.
Denae gave testimony about someone who gave their life to Jesus because of a song, then had Lee sing the song she had previously sang about the names of God, then Denae sang a song about personal revival.
Perry then brought the word which culminated in everyone in the chapel falling on their knees in prayer.
I had the honor of closing out in prayer!
Great evening, those of you who can go but do not are really missing seeing how Jesus moves in the lives of the inmates (and us). NO CONDEMNATION! I'm just say'n :-)
Friday, May 7, 2010
Stonewall Jackson YDC
from Kevin:
Tonight at Stonewall Jackson we had a group discussion on Proverbs 14. (A somewhat risky move with teenage boys!) Even the staff was impressed with the insight the guys came up with! It went so well that a lot of the guys were upset when the time ran out. Thank God for hunger for the truth!
Tonight at Stonewall Jackson we had a group discussion on Proverbs 14. (A somewhat risky move with teenage boys!) Even the staff was impressed with the insight the guys came up with! It went so well that a lot of the guys were upset when the time ran out. Thank God for hunger for the truth!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Swannanoa CCW
from Jim:
Great service at Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women this morning, we started out with prayer as usual with Martha following in songs of praise and worship.
Victoria spoke to the women with a great word of encouragement that spoke directly to the needs of many women who were present.
Danny then brought a very short word followed by songs that spoke directly to all of us as we worshiped together,
Don finished the service speaking to all of us about "Fear Not", he spoke to our hearts concerning carrying fear when we should completely trust in Him who we believe in. When we worry or carry things ourselves, we do not completely trust God as we so often tell others.
Great service at Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women this morning, we started out with prayer as usual with Martha following in songs of praise and worship.
Victoria spoke to the women with a great word of encouragement that spoke directly to the needs of many women who were present.
Danny then brought a very short word followed by songs that spoke directly to all of us as we worshiped together,
Don finished the service speaking to all of us about "Fear Not", he spoke to our hearts concerning carrying fear when we should completely trust in Him who we believe in. When we worry or carry things ourselves, we do not completely trust God as we so often tell others.
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