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Dr. Jo Anne Lyon



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Vision and Courage: Creativity of the Holy Spirit

Chadron, Nebraska, is a small city best known for its college. The college, with a good reputation for academic excellence, has been a center of higher education for this rather sparsely populated rural area. But, Chadron has also caught the eye of Jason Hurd, currently pastoring in Gordon, Nebraska. He and his congregation decided to be the mother church for a church plant in this city. As a result, he has a core group of people joining him. One of the members shared with the conference of the Colorado-Nebraska District: "I love my church so much that I find myself talking about it all the time in my office. Finally, one day four of my colleagues asked if they could go to church with me. I was stunned," she said, "So the next Sunday they came to the service. I was a bit nervous because I wasn't sure if they would still believe me in my enthusiasm for the church." After church they said, "Now we see what you are talking about, this is truly a church for wounded warriors."

Mountain View Wesleyan Church in Colorado Springs has been in a building program not unlike other churches. Again, not unlike other churches, there have been delays. But, I was not prepared to hear of the delay they described in the city of Colorado Springs. One early morning the pastor went to inspect the progress of the building and, to his astonishment, found extreme vandalism, exhibiting satanic rituals and markings, to the building. The congregation has become even stronger in their vision and mission for their community.

Greeley Wesleyan Church (Colorado) has added a video venue on the internet that is streaming their services live. They have found there are 1500+ people watching every Sunday. Their recently completed building received an award from the city for its state-of- the-art and energy-friendly architecture.

The city of Imperial, Nebraska, depends on volunteers for their fire department. The high school football games attract the entire city. However, many times during a game, a large number of people have to leave to tend to an emergency that has occurred in their county. The Wesleyan Church noted this large number and decided to honor the volunteer firefighters by having a "Thank You" chili supper; 86 firefighters attended. One-third of the firefighters have accepted the Lord. Recently, a radio manager of a station in the area asked to broadcast the church's AM service live, at no cost.

Harvest Christian Fellowship (Wesleyan) Church, North Platte, Nebraska, has become a center of healing for the community. As a result, they are reproducing "Celebrate Recovery" throughout the area.

Hopeton Wesleyan Church (Oklahoma) in the Tri-State District has 26 people in the town. I know this town well because I lived there as a child. The church has been vital for 70+ years. Actually, it would be a very good study for someone to research. People stream in from miles around to the church services. Alva is nine miles from Hopeton with a population of around 6,000, plus a university. The Hopeton church purchased a former department store and turned it into a Youth Center—"EXTREME." Here they have a gym, climbing wall, study room, video games, game room, snack room, etc. They are open every day, after school and evenings. Parents are invited to be involved. The outreach is so significant (with nothing else like it in the area) that the city is assisting in the financing. Yes, youth are seeing, hearing, and experiencing the love of God.

Speaking of old churches, another one is Etna Wesleyan Church, Geary, Oklahoma. The church still has no indoor plumbing. It is 101 years old and 17 miles from the nearest store. In spite of that, they are still reaching lost people and received an award for the number of converts this year.

Washington, Missouri, is a river town, now an exurb of St. Louis. But, for many years, it was known as a "hard drinking" city. Here is great opportunity for "Kingdom Lights." The new pastor, Matt Clayton, quickly began to research his community and found youth languishing. As a result, a "skate park" was built. Kentwood Community (Wesleyan) Church youth group from Michigan assisted this "restart" church in blitzing their community regarding the new ministries. The astonishing results include the transformation of a leader of a hard rock band who has been radically changed by the power of Christ.

A theater in Warrenton, Missouri, has opened its doors, at no cost, for a weekly prayer meeting of all denominations. The Warrenton Wesleyan Church is the leader in this endeavor.

I smelled the fragrant coffee beans in a brown paper bag with a computer-made label that read LEVI HOUSE. When the church planter presented this bag to me, I was delighted, as I love coffee. But, my excitement truly peaked when I found the purpose for all this. A new church plant is happening in downtown Bartlesville, Oklahoma, sponsored by First Wesleyan Church. The church plant is a coffee house. This is an enormous outreach in the selected part of the city where need is great and hope is lost. Not only is hope being restored in Bartlesville, but also the coffee is coming from the work of persecuted Christians around the world. Therefore, hope is being restored globally as well.

Along the way, I have heard some excellent sermons. One such sermon was from Matthew 16 from Steve DeNeff, pastor of College Wesleyan Church, Marion, Indiana. Here Jesus is calling out the Church in the midst of the power and wealth of the world. Following are some quotes:

"Hell would not be safe because of the Church."
"Beating down hell with heaven at your back-Reclaiming God's territory."
"Stop worrying about people who didn't show up and begin leveraging those present."
"Get an image of people fully restored. Win people back to how they were designed at creation."
"Not only restore people but redeem the world."

The two things where Jesus spent the most time:
(1) Time with the Father
(2) The least of these

GET INVOLVED WITH THE WHOLE PERSON-SPEAK UP FOR JUSTICE

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