Following the Footprints

As I prepare to leave for Israel soon, I am spending a lot of time researching the places we will visit.  I am reading the biblical passages, reviewing the history books, memorizing the maps, and reminiscing over the photos taken on previous journeys to the Holy Land.  While I pursue this endeavor, I grow more excited each day with the anticipation that I will once again be changed by the events of this journey.  

Each trip to the Holy Land brings new insights regarding scripture, a greater appreciation to God for coming to this earth and living as he did for me, and a humbling of my spirit as I follow the footprints of Jesus and his followers.  I am deeply changed by each journey to Israel and believe that this trip will bring the same results.

Every encounter with God is life-changing; I don't have to travel half-way around the world to experience the transformation that comes from the Holy Spirit.  I appreciate the life-change found in the Holy Land, but oh, how I long for the life-change that comes from a great moving of the Holy Spirit in our church.  Please pray for us to see the footprints of Jesus in the Rio Grande Valley and follow them with passion each day.

Praying for our daily journey,

Bro. Wade

Spiritual Renewal among Men

This week was the last meeting for a discipleship group that I have been leading for over a year.  Each time one of these groups ends, it is a sad time for me.  I have invested a night each week into the lives of these men and I count them as not only friends but fellow journeymen on the path of righteousness.  I have been sharpened as much as I have sharpened, and I have been loved as much as I have loved.  These men have been my accountability group and my prayer partners and not meeting with them each week will create a longing in my heart.

However, as the group ends, I know that the Lord has already begun to prepare my heart to invest in another group of people that he has already chosen.  I will soon join with another group for over a year and will be richly blessed by the journey the Lord will take us through together.  

I also know that the men that I have met with this past year were being prepared by God to disciple others, now they will embark on their new journeys as well.  What an exciting time in our church and community to see how the Lord will work through these men to change so many other lives.

The last three years have brought some great spiritual renewal among the men of FBC Harlingen. I am so excited about the beginning of the Rio Grande Valley IRONMEN.  This ministry will only serve to enhance the great work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the men of Harlingen and the valley.  So many men are ready to plug their lives into something that is filled with life-changing power and great potential.  I believe IRONMEN will be the beginning of just such a movement.

Pray for God to continue to move in the men of FBC Harlingen and the valley.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the lives of the men involved in IRONMEN.

Bro. Wade

Last Day, Great Day

Throughout the week at Champs Camp we have seen God work in the lives of so many children (and their parents). We have had the privilege of loving children who attend churches all over the valley and many children who do not attend any church. We had families from different religions and many denominations take part in Champs Camp. We are so thankful for the outreach to the community and for the opportunity for churches in Harlingen to come together.

We were blessed to see many children trust Christ as their Savior by the end of the week. Their lives have been changed forever as a result of all the love and labor poured into Champs Camp. One girl prayed to accept Christ as her savior on Thursday morning as her mother drove her to FBC; they prayed in the car and by the time she arrived, she was a new person in Christ. What a privilege to share Jesus with these great kids and their families.

Thursday night was a great and glorious night - a little LOUD, but it was great. We were in "standing room only" mode, but the many parents who attended were gracious and patient. The children revealed to us how much fun they have had this week, and our "Champions in Christ" were revealed to us as well. So many children dedicated their hearts and minds to Christ and will be his mighty champions at school and at home.

Please continue to pray for our "Champions" as they re-enter their schools this next week. Please pray for our volunteers, deacons and staff as the follow-up now begins. Please pray for the families that were challenged in their faith this past week. Pray that as they have been challenged and as the first Sunday after Champs Camp is Easter that God will bring many of those families into a closer walk with Christ during this time of year that we focus on Christ and God's love for us.

Thank you for serving in and praying for Champs Camp. It was a GREAT WEEK!

Challenged to be a Champion,
Bro. Wade

First Day - Great Day

The first day of Champs Camp was great; a little windy, but great. We had a few hurdles on the first day, but over all it was a really good day. The numbers were good. 426 children and 0 trips to the hospital. We had to move some of the sports inside because of the high winds, but we were able to see the children enjoy themselves throughout the day.

We were able to see children who did not want to leave their parents tell us at the end of the day how they could not wait for tomorrow to come so they could return to Champs Camp. So many children experiencing the Love of God was quite an overwhelming vision. Seeing the lives of these children change so quickly is our goal; and our goal was truly met on the first day of Champs Camp.

We are so grateful for all the college students and leaders that God has sent as missionaries to the valley, they truly love the Lord and are vessels of his love and grace. Thank you for praying for them. Our many members and friends who are serving in Champs Camp are truly the light of the world. Watching our people hold the doors, direct traffic, cook, serve the meals, clean the rooms, and find ways to love the children in the midst of their busyness, are all ways that we can truly see God in our midst. Thank you for prayer walking and continuing to support our front line soldiers through prayer.

May God richly bless the remainder of the week of CHAMPS CAMP.

Grateful to all who serve,
Bro. Wade

Direction in Life

My six year old son, Aaron, was riding in my truck recently. As we were driving down the road, Aaron made a strange statement to me. He said, "Dad, you and Mom need to get rid of those clickers." "What clickers?" He said, "You know the clickers in your truck and Mom's van." I had to think, what is he talking about? "What clickers?" I asked. His reply was confusing, "You know, those clickers that tell you which way you have to turn." I said, "do you mean the turn signal?" He said, that thing that clicks and tells you which way you have to turn. I then told him that the turn signal did not tell me which way to turn, but that I moved the lever to signal which way I had chose to go. He then looked at me a while and then said, "Naw, that's not right."

Aaron had wanted to go to McDonald's for lunch and when the "clicker" told us we had to go home, he was not happy. He was convinced that I would have taken him to McDonald's if I had control of the truck. It makes since, I love him and want the best for him and since he defined what was best for him as McDonald's then I surely would have taken him there if I could have. So, I must not really have control of the car, that clicker must be telling me what to do.

I believe that sometimes we portray this same image on God. We have decided what is best for us and then believe that God would have surely done for us what we wanted if he were in complete control of our situation. So when it does not work out the way we thought we begin to believe that our circumstances dictated what God could do, or we doubt that God really cares, or we just begin to worry and stress out because are not sure why it did not go as we expected.

Just like a six year old boy, we can sometimes develop a skewed way of thinking about things and then assume that we have to be right because of our opinion and logic. But, just like Aaron, we could be very wrong and refuse to believe the truth, because we already have it figured out.

Also, the question has to be asked; who is in control of your life? Does the Lord control your clicker, or do the circumstances of life dictate to you what you must do and where you must go? Who has control of your life?

May you never look at your "clicker" the same again.
Bro. Wade

Good friends and good fish

Adam and Aaron recently went fishing with some of our good friends in the Arroyo Colorado. They were fishing in the evening off a dock and Aaron caught his first trout. He was so excited and I think the photo reflects that. He was a typical six year old boy who talked the whole time, but was faithful to shush the older boys when they whispered because they were "scaring the fish away with their noise."

The older boys set such a good example of sacrifice and love. They only had one pole on the dock (planned that way by the adult so to keep hooks out of the kids and only in the water and the fish), so they took turns casting and reeling. The older boys would sit back and allow Aaron to take multiple turns without complaining once. They knew that Aaron had never caught a trout and they had, so they allowed him to take many turns in hopes that he would catch a fish. This was probably easier because there were few bites on the line that night, but never the less, the boys were faithful friends.

Our friends, Bill and Randy, made a special effort to take our boys fishing when Jennifer and I could not go. They were faithful to us, to our kids, and to the Lord. True friends are great to have in this world. Jennifer and I are blessed to have many good friends and we are so thankful to those adults and children who are teaching our children what good friendship looks like. Sometimes it looks like a shiny silver fish, but it is always reflected in the smile of a child.

thankful for good friends,
Bro. Wade

Questions Kids will ask

Tonight was a special night at First Baptist Harlingen as we held "Popcorn with the Pastor" during AWANA. I had the privilege of spending time with each of our three main groups of children. The Cubbies started the night of feasting on popcorn and questioning the pastor. These preschoolers were fun to visit with and had some good questions as our time wound down. They were interested in where their family members and pets went when they died. They were quick to tell me verses of scripture that were their favorites. They were also like vacuums sucking in the popcorn. They were such a joy and I was blessed to get to know these children even better.

The Sparks then came to the room and they were live wires. These younger children were quick to ask questions, some even had notebooks with the questions they had written down. They also wanted to know what happened after death, but they also asked many questions about my role as pastor. They wanted to know why I was called "Brother" Wade. They shared their favorite verses of scripture and asked many questions about things I had said in sermons and things they had heard about a pastor's life. It was a joy to share with these inquisitive children.

The TNT group was the last to meet with me, but they came loaded for bear. These older children offered some of the same questions as the earlier groups, but they went a little further. Such as: "Are there days that you do not like your job?" "Why are you a pastor?" "How can we hear God speak to us?" "Why should we love each other?" and many more great questions. It was fun to take time to answer all the questions they shared and it was rewarding to see how they made some great conclusions as a result.

Tonight taught me about the spiritual hunger that our children are experiencing in this world. I am drawn to ask the question "are we listening to the questions our children are asking, or are we always trying to give them answers to questions they are not even asking." Are we listening as much as we are talking?

Trying to be a better listener,
Bro. Wade