Getting Settled ~ in Iowa

One of the most popular questions we've received is this: 
So, are you settled?  It makes me feel like a pioneer, like one of the early settlers.  Sure, we did move West from Michigan to central Iowa.  But it took only 8 hours on interstate highways (I-80 mostly) instead of several weeks in a wagon train on two track trails.

Anyway, I digress.  Yes, we're getting settled in our new state and our new community and our new house.  This past week we took a big step in getting settled.  We put new license plates on our vehicles.  Now the Dodge Caravan and the Honda Accord both tell the world that we live in Iowa.

Prison Passages

I love God's Word.  And I thought it would be a helpful exercise to list off a few prison passages.

God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.  (Psalm 68:6) 

The LORD upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets prisoners free.  (Psalm 146:7)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.  (Isaiah 61:1)


Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  (Matthew 25:34-36)


Jesus answered him (the criminal on the adjacent cross),  I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.  (Luke 23:43)


The Identity of the Apostle Paul: I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.  (Ephesians 3:1)


Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13:3)


You can probably think of a few other key verses.  Feel free to share those with us in the comments section.

The Land in Between

I'm in the Land in Between.  In the land-between you look back at what God has done and you look forward to what God will do.

What God has done: Last Friday, I passed my classical examination to become a brand new minister in Classis Central Plains (formerly Classis Pella) of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.  Big stuff.  God gave me the ability to answer the questions calmly and confidently.  The trickiest question was the first from Pastor Art: Who are you cheering for ~ Da Bears or The Packers?  Didn't know what to do with that one since my first questioner was a fan of Da Bears and my second questioner (Pastor Jeff) was a Packer-Backer.

Heated rivalry in the NFC North: Windy City vs. Cheeseheads!

 The right answer is neither one: I'm a Buffalo Bills Fan!

My favorite section of the exam was the Biblical section.  Pastor Jeff named a passage of Scripture then I had to tell where it was found, what it meant, and how it related to the rest of the Bible.  I'm grateful that God gave me joy in the moment and strengthened me so that I could clear that hurdle.

What God will do: Next Sunday (Feb. 6) is my Ordination Celebration.  Family and friends are traveling from all over the United States (Florida, New York, Michigan, South Dakota, and Iowa) to join us on this special occasion.  It's going to be great!  Fellow Prison Pastors will extend their greetings to the new pastor of the new prison church.  Music will carry a tone of celebration.  My Uncle Henry will preach the message ~ God's Word is not chained!  Ministers will come forward to lay hands on me.  And I'll finally have the privilege of raising my hands to bless God's People!

 

Big Day ~ Please Pray

Friday is a big day so please pray!  On Friday night (Jan. 21), I will show up at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella for my classical examination.  It is a special meeting for Classis Central Plains, in which delegates will decide whether I'm ready to be ordained as a minister of the Word in the denomination.  Right now my best suit is getting dry cleaned.  

And today I'm praying & studying the day away so that I'll be fully prepared for tomorrow's session.  They tell me it will go this way...

First step: listen to evaluators who have read and heard three of my sermons (New Testament, Old Testament, and Heidelberg Catechism).  By the way, the sermons were based on Hebrews 13, Genesis 40, and 2 Corinth. 5, respectively.  And all three touched on prison ministry at some level.  

Second step: answer questions from Pastor Art Van Wolde in the Practica section.  This step involves questions dealing with personal spirituality and practical pastoral matters.  

Third step: answer questions from Pastor Jeff Sajdak in the Biblical/Theological section.  Following those three steps, delegates representing the churches will vote.  

Pray that God will help me think clearly so that I will be set free to minister to prisoners.  May His will be done.  May His Kingdom come!

New Life!

Recently I received a letter from June V.H. of Third Christian Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI.  Third was our home church before we moved to Pella, Iowa.  June writes: 

     When I read the name of your new church, the words of this song immediately came to my mind.  The words are so fitting for prisoners and all of us as well so I felt impressed to find it, copy it and send it to you.  May God be closer today than yesterday and closer tomorrow than today!

Here is the song June found.  The words ring true - it fits!

NEW LIFE!
Words and music by John W. Peterson, 1963 Singspiration, inc.

Verse 1
Gone is the guilt of my sin,
Peace is now reigning within;
Since I believed, pardon received,
Happy, so happy I've been!

Chorus
New Life in Christ! Abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin,
The searching and strife,
Forever gone, there's a bright new dawn!
For in Christ I have found New Life!

Verse 2
Brighter the journey each day,
Tho there is much to dismay;
Heaven awaits - Bright pearly gates,
There at the end of the way.

Verse 3
Come with your sin-burdened heart,
Christ will his cleansing impart;
He will forgive - in him you'll live,
O how the joy bells will start.

Field Trip to Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge Visit

Written by Ken Van Zee, 
  Launch Team Member & Member of Faith CRC in Pella 

   Rick and I had the opportunity on Friday, January 14 to go to Fort Dodge and visit with the pastors and inmates of The Church of the Damascus Road prison church. 

Link to Church of the Damascus Road 

   In the morning we met with Pastor Paul Stone, the prison pastor and Pastor Carroll Lang who takes care of the follow up of the inmates once they have been released.   Pastor Lang also takes care of the content and layout of their newsletters.  We met them in their office at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. 

 

In the afternoon Pastor Stone took us to the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.  He gave us a tour and then showed us the chapel where they have their meetings and worship.  In this chapel, they have a great library of Christian books, videos, and a nice sized assortment of Christian music.  During the afternoon we visited in the office Pastor Stone has in the back of the chapel.  While there we experienced a constant number of inmates who wanted to check out materials.  We enjoyed visiting with several of the inmates.  Many were willing to share their story and tell us what this ministry has done to change their lives.  It was great to hear about God working in their lives. 

Worshiping God at Church of the Damascus Road

   In the evening we were given the opportunity to experience “prison” food.  Then about 6:00 p.m. inmates started to arrive in the chapel to visit and prepare for the Bible study that was scheduled for 6:30 p.m.  Pastor Stone led the group of about 50 inmates.  Rick and I had the opportunity to witness and participate in the great interaction and excitement as they discussed Matthew 6.  

   We had the opportunity to tell them about the New Life Prison Church and they were very encouraging.  We closed the evening with a time of prayer.  God is truly blessing this ministry and changing hearts.     

Please Pray

Prayer is a Christian's most important work

Please pray for us in the next two weeks.

Tuesday, January 11: First meeting of the New Life Prison Church Launch Team.  (It was supposed to be on Jan. 4 but I was having an appendectomy!)

Friday, January 14: Field Trip to Fort Dodge, Iowa with Ken Van Zee (fellow launch team member).  Fort Dodge is the site of another prison congregation: a Lutheran church known as Church of the Damascus Road.

Friday, January 21:
Classis Central Plains examination.  If I satisfy my questioners, I will become an ordained minister during a special service on February 6th.  Lord willing.