Evan Rummell Update

This is a post from Evan Rummell.  He was one of our original members of St. Paul's way back in 2005.  This is what he's been up to...
 
Since my trip to Uganda during the summer of 2009, the idea of missions and integrating that into my lifestyle has been a huge conviction of mine. After only three months of being back home, I packed up my things and moved from Connecticut to New Jersey to pursue a position with Touch the World Ministries in charge of global media development. My role there would consist of traveling to the various international branches of TTW capturing stories of success, as well as stories of people in need, to bring back home. The goal for myself was to never exploit what was going on through media but rather just capture the essence of everyday life to show people where they could fit into that.

Making this move and transition in my life was one of the hardest things I've done and certainly has stretched me further than I had imagined. My main responsibility with Touch the World, aside from media development, is to support raise for my staff salary. Every dollar that I need to continue my ministry work comes from friends, families, and local churches. Stepping out in faith, knowing and expecting God to provide, has been the most rewarding and difficult part for me. But in the end, God has completely blown away my expectations. Multiple times, I have come down to the last minute for a financial deadline, either raising enough for a monthly budget or even a trips budget, and seen God work through specific people who provide financial gifts for me. With each instance like these that happen, I am more and more confident in my role at Touch the World and convinced it is where God wants me for this season of my life.

I spent three months in Uganda this past summer (2011) filming and living in the village of Adak, located 23km southeast of Gulu, and returned back home to the states rocked. Village life was much more difficult than I thought it would be but the stories I heard everyday were what wrecked me emotionally.

"My brother was tied to a tree and executed."

"My husband died last year and now I have to provide for 19 of my children and grandchildren alone.."

"My husband was beaten, I was bayoneted, my two sons and daughter were executed, my remaining son has AIDS, two of my grandchildren have sickle cell disease, one grandchild has epilepsy, and my remaining daughter has burns and scars all over her body from the rebels."

Each day, I visited 2-3 families and documented their stories. But with each family, I left more and more brokenhearted with a deep feeling of helplessness. But it was in this period that I began to see just how powerful a visit to them was. How powerful a prayer was. How powerful listening and loving them was.

By just opening up in prayer with them, God moved through me, speaking the words that were needed and sometimes answering the groans and prayers of the people in my midst. By simply being obedient and open to what was asked of me, I became a vessel for His Holy Spirit to work through and there I saw the true power of prayer and community.

Philippians 1 speaks of living a life worthy of the gospel, being unashamed of what brings us joy. Knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain. This chapter was all I read for the summer. God had me fixated on it and for a reason. I live my life in America with the notion that simply going to church is enough. But God has the intention of revealing to me that it's not.

Sharing my life and its story with people. Being a light in the darkness of this world. Living a life worthy of the gospel.

That's God's intention for us.

God did not call us to debate with people over our faith, to shove it down their throats until they believed. No He called us to be lights in this world. He called us to go and share with the world. For some that means sharing in our neighborhoods and backyards. For others, that means China. Afghanistan. Turkey. Germany. Uganda.

But at the end of the day, if you aren't sharing with people why you are different. Why you are changed. Why you are happy, you're doing them a disservice as well as yourself.

God calls us to go. Just go. He did it in my life and my biggest regret will be if I don't listen. My challenge to you is to never turn your ear from that calling. Because for me, I would've missed out on the last two years of my life, the last two years that has shaped and molded me into the Christian I am today. The Christian that is willing to share with any and all why I am happy and different. Willing to risk financial struggle and lifestyle hardship for His name and His renown.

What does that look like for you? Will you turn your ears to Him and join me in the greatest calling we can ever be a part of?

Cleaning Crew!

This fall we are starting a cleaning crew at St. Paul's.  We'll be meeting Satruday mornings 9am to 11am starting October 8th to clean the building.

If you'd like to help clean but can't make Saturday mornings, that's great.  Just email Jeanne Mullaney at jmmullaney@gmail.com (she'll be leading the team).  If you'd like to help clean and can make Saturday mornings, that's great.  Just email Jeanne Mullaney for more info.

If you don't want to clean at all, that OK.  Just email Jeanne and thank her for her service.

Worst/Best Feedback

On an all church evaluation several years ago (2007 I think) I received the worst/best feedback in my life.

Here it is…

Vince’s delivery on his sermons is so sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.  And he tends to repeat himself, repeat himself, repeat himself, repeat himself, repeat himself.  Am I being clear or do I need to repeat myself?

Do I need to explain why this was the worst feedback I’ve received?  It’s hard to hear criticism about something you’re passionate about.  It’s hard to hear criticism that contains no affirmation.  It’s hard to hear criticism that mocks/mimics/makes fun of you while critiquing you.

When I read this I thought __________, you buddy!  And I was very upset.  This feedback hurt.  And it hurt mostly because it was true.

And that’s why this was also the best feedback I’ve received.  It was true!  My delivery stunk.  It was way too slow.  And I repeated myself way too much.  I needed to change something ASAP.  And I did.  I went to preaching from outlines to preaching from manuscripts and my delivery dramatically improved.

The reason feedback often hurts is because it’s true.  I’ve received much nastier criticisms than this.  But they weren’t true.  They weren’t accurate.  They weren’t reality.  And so they didn’t hurt.  This feedback hurt because it was true.

So let me encourage you.  Listen to feedback.  Listen to feedback poorly given.  Listen to feedback given by someone mocking you.  Listen to feedback that hurts.  Listen for the truth--because the truth can come from anyone.  And the truth is always a friend. 

I’m thankful for this worst/best feedback I received.  It made me a better preacher.  I wish it could have been done a little better.  But at least it was done.  And I’d rather receive truth poorly given than no truth at all.            

Feedback Sandwich

Here’s how you give feedback in a way people will listen.  You give them a feedback sandwich.  Positive affirmation.  Constructive criticism.  Positive affirmation.

This is how Jesus does it in the Book of Revelation.  When Jesus addresses each church he begins with affirmation.  Then Jesus calls for specific repentance.  Then he ends with a great promise.   Jesus models the feedback sandwich. 

Positive affirmation.  Constructive criticism.  Positive affirmation.  That’s the feedback sandwich.  That’s HOW we give feedback to one another.  We’re simply following Jesus model.

But WHY do we give feedback in this way?

We give feedback in this manner because it reflects reality.  Nothing we do is so bad we can’t affirm something.  Nothing we do is so good we can’t critique anything.  So any honest feedback will have both “Well Dones!” and “This Could Be Better”. 

We give feedback in this manner because it challenges the speaker.  Some people have trouble affirming anything.  These people need to learn to affirm.  You can always affirm something.  Other people have trouble critiquing anything.  These people need to learn how to give constructive criticism.  We can always improve in some way.

We give feedback in this manner because it challenges the listener.  Some people have trouble hearing affirmation.  Affirmation makes them uncomfortable.  They need to learn how to accept affirmation.  Other people have trouble hearing criticism.  Criticism makes them angry.  They need to learn how to accept criticism

We give feedback in this manner because it reflects the gospel.  The first and last words are positive.  The first and last words are affirming.  The first and last words are good news.

So start handing out those feedback sandwiches!          

Our Vision.

A Message From Vince

At St. Paul’s Church we dream of more.  More and more people becoming more and more like Jesus Christ our loving Savior. 

We see a church extending Jesus’ love to all.  All are invited:  doubters and believers, young and old, the university and the community.

We see a church gathering.  More people assembling at weekend services to hear about God’s love.  More people congregating in small groups to experience God’s love.

We see a church learning.  More people feeding on God’s word.  More people delighting in prayer.  More people living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We see a church equipping and empowering.  More people discovering their unique passions and gifts.  More people becoming loving ministers in the church.  More people discovering their personal mission.  More people becoming loving missionaries in the world.

We envision eight hundred attenders, three hundred members, six full time staff.  We envision owning our own facility in Storrs, CT.

We dream of more for St. Paul’s because God’s love is more.  We dream of more for St. Paul’s because God’s power is more.  We dream of more for St. Paul’s because God deserves more—more of His glory to shine forth from His church. 

And we believe we’ll see this dream become reality.   And when we do we’ll ask God to give us an even greater vision—for God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.

Hurricane Irene Clean-Up: Service Opportunities.

From Bob Jeram.

It has only been several weeks since Hurricane Irene carved her path of destruction up the East Coast.  Many areas of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont have been left devastated by the flooding that occurred.  Pat and I have just returned from participating in the cleanup in Schoharie, New York, a village of 950 people about 30 minutes west of Albany.  We joined in an effort arranged by our friends at Lutheran's CARE.  While the exterior devastation is not as apparent as is found in New Orleans; as most of the damage is to the interior of homes that had 6 to 8 feet of water inside for around 18 hours.  The result of all this was no different than we found in New Orleans.  The 83 year old woman in whose home we were working was given 30 minutes to evacuate leaving a lifetime of memories to be destroyed under 6 feet of mud and water.  She wonders if her home will ever be the same within her lifetime.

Lutheran's CARE will be returning to these devastated areas during three scheduled work dates: October 22nd & 23rd, November 12th & 13th and November 19th & 20th.  We, the community of St. Paul's have the opportunity to join them.  Is God calling you to be there for all or part of these weekends?  If so, contact Bob Jeram for more details.

Question Number Four Gets Some Consideration...Finally!

Question four is a tough one to answer let alone consider.  It is the hardest one by far.  Here it is;

 

How amazing is it that God knows all the details of what concerns me? I am truly a foreigner. I don't know the language or customs of my hosts. I am not the driver. I am the receiver of much!

 

I love to be in charge of things.  I love to lead.  And I love to take care of the people who follow me.  But for 42 days, I was NOT the leader.  I didn't even drive until I came back to the United States.  And I love to drive.  I took a cross country trip before I was married and drove to various destinations that I dreamed of going to.   I loved driving my VW Jetta.   But this trip didn't afford me that opportunity.  And for that, I am pretty grateful.  Driving in some of these countries could only be a death wish!  And just in case you were wondering, I don't mind following either but that's not the point of today's blog.

 

As I was NOT the leader day in and day out, I trusted God even more.  I think there is something exponentially true about being less in control and God more in control.  And when I am not in charge, I am very concerned about a lot of things.  Things like our safety.

 

At one point, Jonathan (who likes to collect knives of all sorts) was drawn aside at a train station in Northern China.  After our hosts (5 including two very agitated, muscular nephews) continued in heated conversation, and after I watched people in the station back away from us, and after we were ushered into a side room for further inspection, I figured that the situation was not good.  I envisioned scandalous news stories being projected back to the U.S. and such.  We later learned that the knife that Jonathan had been transporting was an item in question.  In all the other cities, large and small, it was never a problem to go through all the security checks and scans.  But this city official was not going to let us proceed to the train we needed.

 

I pondered Paul at this point.  He had assignments in prison.  Perhaps our next assignment was at the local jail/police station.  We were told later that the nephews were threatening to beat the official up.  One of them actually offered to take Jonathan's place and go to the police station in his place.  Sounds kind of like a spiritual parallel to what God did for us.  But I digress...

 

The official kept the knife.  We got on the train.  I wondered if in the next 12 hours, as we were packed like sardines travelling a mountainous region, we would be escorted off the train at some local police station or if we would be hindered in any way on our way to another city.  The sleeper car packed us in three high with less room than there is in a coffin!  As I considered our safety, I had to conclude that God was in control and that I could still sleep that night, even though I didn't know what would happen in the next few hours.  We were fortunate to have gotten on the train.  And we were fortunate to get to our next destination without incident.

 

The transportation systems are so complex in China.  The schedules dwarf even the grandest stations in the United States.  The places we stayed were challenging on various levels.  I wondered how we would stay healthy through all the time away from home.  I asked God for a lot; and He delivered.

 

I had lots of concerns while I travelled.  When I came back to the U.S., I found that my faith had a "disconnect" as I walked it out differently.  I want to redeem the two; faith as I travelled and faith here at home.   I want to see the two halves come together as I shift my concerns to what concerns the Lord Jesus Christ.  I want to share my concerns, worries, anxieties, joys, and sorrows with the God of the Universe.  He wants to know about what concerns me.  He pursued me even before I knew Him.  And because He is God, He knows me in my innermost parts. 

 

For this, I am grateful.  He knows what concerns each of us.  He is a good listener.  And He acts on our behalf and moves the Heavens for His children.  I am grateful for this, too.

 

Where can we go except to the Lord?  And in seeking Him and His presence, we are not disappointed.  I know I never have been, especially through this trip around the world.

948

Be Smart! Consider Yourself Dumb

Be Smart!  Consider Yourself Dumb.

At some point I really want to do an entire message on this.  Be Smart!  Consider Yourself Dumb.

Be Wise!  Consider Yourself a Fool!  Be a Teacher!  Consider Yourself a Student.  Be a Leader!  Consider Yourself a Follower!  Be Smart!  Consider Yourself Dumb.

Humility is wise.  Humility is smart.  Humility is common sense.  Humility works.

Let’s take a look at Be Smart!  Consider Yourself Dumb.  Since I’m dumb I have to learn.  I have to read.  I have to study.  I have to listen.  I have to observe.  Since I’m dumb I have to learn.   This is a good.   Learning is a good thing.  Learning is what makes people smart.  Hence Be Smart!  Consider Yourself Dumb.   

Consider the alternative.  Be Dumb!  Consider Yourself Smart.  Since I’m smart I don’t have to learn.  Since I’m smart I assume I know everything--and if not everything then everything of importance.  Since I’m smart I don’t have to learn anything from anyone.  No reading.  No studying.  No listening.  No observing.  Since I’m smart I don’t have to learn.  In fact I should be teaching!

You can go through life with the attitude “I have a lot to learn” or you can go through life with the attitude “I have nothing to learn”.

I choose to go through life with the attitude “I have a lot to learn”.  I choose to go through life with the attitude “I’m dumb”.  I choose to go through life with the attitude that makes me what I am not.  I choose to go through life with the attitude that makes me smart.

I recommend you do the same.    

Free TV and Laptop (from Kim Mauger and Ashley Werth!)

Hi friends,

As you know Ashley Werth and I are moving to Boston in 2 weeks.  We have to be out of our present apt. by Friday Sept. 30th at noon so we are trying to get rid of a few things.  We have a 32" Sanyo TV with an RCA external satellite.  It works fine.  The other dimensions are: 26 3/4" height, 35" width, 21" depth.

I have a 2002 Dell Inspiron 2650 Laptop with Windows XP and a Linksys wireless card.  It has had a new hard drive installed two years ago and since that time only Word was used.  I will take the computer to Best Buy and have the Geek Squad totally wipe out the hard drive before I give it away.

Please send me an email if you are interested in either of these things. 

Take care,

Kimberley Mauger