Category Archives: conference

New Mexico

Yes, another road trip. Lots of time together in our van. Lots of laughter and smiles and memories.

God opened up an opportunity to serve in New Mexico at the 40th anniversary conference/celebration for CHIEF, a Native American ministry that focuses on discipleship. Dad was asked to help with recording, share about The Storyteller, and our family was invited to sing.

So, as is our custom with long road trips, we loaded that van to the ceiling (or almost), piled in, and drove the long three-day trek to New Mexico. We drove to our grandparents’ house in South Dakota for the first night, and the second night landed us in Colorado Springs. We were excited to be able to visit Focus on the Family, especially since we’ve enjoyed many Adventures in Odyssey as a family.

we also enjoyed meeting (a cardboard version of) Dave Stotts from Drive Through History while we were there

the scenery in Colorado Springs in amazing

At the CHIEF conference it was encouraging to hear what God is doing in Native North America. It was a time of celebration for the last forty years, but at the same time looking to the future and being exhorted to press on. We also made some good connections for the work we’re involved with.

each person here represents a different ministry in Native North America

Huron Claus, director of CHIEF

we shared in song

Mr. Vern, one of the speakers, shared an especially powerful message about how we can’t lose when we have Jesus

the Hendersons led the worship for each session

the boys were eager sound-booth help

Dad and Huron

After the conference, we headed to Albuquerque for an outreach concert put on by our friends at Garfield Gospel Chapel – a church that a few of us have visited the last couple of years. We had a great time meeting new people and getting to know our host family.

evening in the pool!

having fun Lego-ing

Mrs. Lennox and Mom

On our way out of Albuquerque we stopped in Old Town for a family morning of touring shops and eating frozen yogurt.

yay yogurt!

we liked the farewell

We saw so much beautiful creation on our trip…mountain ranges, clouds, rays of sunlight, rainbows, flowers, rivers…everything declaring the glory of God.

even the rainy weather was beautiful

On our way home we stopped at our grandparents’ again, where the go-carts are always a hit.

Thank you for all your prayers on this trip. We know God works in ways that we may not even be aware of, and we’re thankful for His faithfulness.

Vessels of Honor

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Memorial Day weekend found us heading south to the Kansas City area for the Vessels of Honor conference. Sara and I went two years ago and this year Abigail was able to come as well. Vessels of Honor is a young people’s conference where there are challenging messages and much fellowship.

This year Randy Amos, Scott Degroff, and Mike Attwood were the main speakers, and the theme of the conference was “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.”

Randy Amos speaking

I really can’t begin to share everything we learned from the Word of God this weekend! It was such a rich time. But here’s a few things anyways.

Randy Amos spoke on the church–what God’s plan is for us and the fact that we are the bride of Christ. As His bride we need to keep ourselves pure for Him and have a single heart for Him.

Scott Degroff challenged us from Romans 13:11-14 to wake up–to rise from a lying position; to cast off the works of darkness, at once and once for all; to put on the armor of light; and to make no provision for the flesh. He emphasized that many of us who are saved eternally need to be saved now–from sin, from a lethargic, non-aggressive, lazy Christian life. We don’t know how much time we have on earth, so we need to wake up and redeem the time.

Mike Attwood shared from Song of Solomon. He showed many parallels between the relationship portrayed in that book and our relationship with Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom. The more we are captivated with our Savior, the things that used to thrill us won’t be so captivating. Satisfaction comes in a love relationship with our heavenly Bridegroom. Mr. Attwood challenged us: in order to be effective for Jesus, fall in love with Him.

In between main sessions there were a variety of breakout sessions we could choose from to attend. Probably the most challenging to me was Josh Lindamood speaking about what it means to follow Jesus. The spoken words of Jesus recorded in the gospels somehow are not always emphasized as much as the epistles are, yet as His followers we are to do everything He commands us. Sometimes we place more importance on things that make us feel spiritual rather than on trying to obey Jesus. Mr. Lindamood cautioned us to beware lest our zeal go towards the wrong target. Jesus commands us to love God and to love our neighbor. What would our lives look like if we really obeyed Jesus’ commands?

Josh Lindamood’s session

There was a lot of sitting time…which was a good thing, because that was when we heard God’s Word. So since there was a lot of sitting, it was also a good thing we had to climb these……multiple times a day (including to get to the cafeteria).

Some other highlights of the weekend were times of prayer, seeing and making new friends, singing with our brothers and sisters, and being able to participate in an outreach.

singing in the main sessions

a hymn sing in the old church building

singing praises

friends…

…friends…

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…and more friends!

praying before the outreach

There were a few rather healthy-looking cats running around the campus during the weekend. We happened to discover an afternoon napping location of theirs one day while we were out walking.

and this is not where the cats were...but this was a beautiful building

and this is not where the cats were…but it was a beautiful building

It rained a fair amount during the weekend, but by the last day the sun had come out and probably helped to re-energize us a bit. It was a wonderful weekend of fellowship and teaching…we are looking forward to next year!

rain-washed roses

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:20-21

Oh Canada

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It’s that time of the year again when we head up to Pickle Lake, Ontario. Actually, last week was when we went up–we got home this week. For the past several years we have been invited by missionary friends to sing at a conference for Christian workers who work in the north. After the conference we helped with evangelistic meetings at the town hall. We have lots of pictures… so for the most part I am going to let them tell the story.

it’s a long, long road

We left for Pickle Lake on a Monday and spent that night at NYP headquarters in Dryden. They are always such willing and hospitable hosts…what a blessing to us! We spent the evening after supper singing, first us for them, and then they sang for us.

trying out instruments

beautiful a capella music

much fellowship and many laughs!

We arrived in Pickle Lake the day the Christian workers conference started. It was so good to see our missionary friends and the church family there. One thing we really enjoy about Friendship Baptist is the way they sing. They love God and sing like they mean it. It is a joy to be a part of that.

we shared a few songs each night

Deborah and Mrs. Rassmussen sang

lots of food prep and cooking to be done

the lovely chefs along with generous others kept us well-fed

After the 3-day Christian workers conference the outreach, called “Freedom in Christ Conference,” began. One of the meetings specifically addressed the issue of alcohol addiction. Some needy people came out to it. The day it began it began some of us went into town to hand out fliers to invite people. So many people up there have alcohol addictions and they need Jesus in their lives. We were praying for people’s salvation.

setting up chairs in the town hall

tuning instruments

cable man

setting up the sound system

sharing a salvation story…

…and another

“Father hear us when we pray.”

“There is hope!”

Gary Quequish spoke each night and Sunday morning

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;

with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness

to all generations.”

…Psalm 89:1

coming forward for prayer

On the last of the three “Freedom in Christ” nights, a man accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior! Pray that he will grow strong in the Lord.

pray for him

Gary Quequish has pancreatic cancer and was not, according to the doctors, supposed make it to Christmas of 2013. But, as you can see, God still has plans for him. He needs prayer; he is in pain but he is still serving God. It was so good to see him again. He had us in stitches a good part of the time with his hilarious stories and comments!

he’s holding a portrait of himself that Daniel drew

Both of these conferences were encouraging to be a part of. Praise God with us for what He did in people’s hearts! Thank you for all the prayers!

The following were also an enjoyable part of our time in Pickle Lake.

Canadian bowling

our crowd

the mamas are always reliable scorekeepers

tag after the town hall meetings

Jonathan made friends with many Pooh-bears

a quick selfie before the lava hit the the house. no wait, this was the bonfire after church one night. duh!

Monday after one last breakfast with our friends, we said farewell, and headed down the long, long, road home, caravaning (is that a word?) with Mrs. Rassmussen’s step dad who was heading back to Minnesota as well. Before we left, Mr. Crisco played us a hilarious version of “Happy Trails to You” that had us laughing so hard we were still laughing when it was done.

Jonathan and Mr. Crisco…and Abby being mischevious

We stopped in Sioux Lookout at Tim Horton’s for lunch (where you can get a doughnut as a side!), and had an unitentional-but-would-have-been-intentional-if-the-phone-had-service meeting with Mr. Quequish and his wife, who live in that town. So we visited a good while before continuing on. It was great.

ten people, two booths and two chairs

rugged beauty

Now we are home, trying to catch up with life since it’s been a month since we’ve had any kind of “normal.” What a ride it has been! We are calling to mind things to bless the Lord about like it says in Psalm 103. He is faithful, and without Him we can do nothing.

Special thanks to Mrs. Rassmussen, Deborah Rassmussen, and Mrs. Sweat for taking pictures for us. We appreciate it!

And more to come on Alabama…

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5