Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Spring Update

I hope and pray we are all more aware than ever of the depth of God's love seen in the Cross and the power of the resurrection!  

It is possible though, to move through this season spiritually asleep.  Sometimes it is a fight to stay awake to the reality of God with us.  It is the challenge of being a disciple when we have so little discipline.  Our culture keeps contesting Christ being first in all things and how quickly we yield.  Busyness, prayerlessness, distractions, 'the deceitfulness of wealth and the cares of this world' will all pull us away from the One thing needed.
"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."  Colossians 1:18
I am concerned for the Church, for my family and for myself.  There is a great gulf between what the New Testament calls for and the lives we are living.  I don't say this to condemn anyone, but rather to call all of us (myself included) back to the one true standard - Christ.   

I am also deeply concerned for those without Christ.  There is a strong push in our culture towards pluralism - the idea that all belief claims are equal.  I challenge people who hold this by asking, "Who else has risen from the dead?" And, I try to help people see the reality of Jesus and what he has done in a different light ...
"If someone has 'Risen from the Dead' on their resume and they are offering their services for free, you should probably hire them!  Don't you think?"
I have had numerous privileges of sharing Christ in the last couple months and look forward to the ongoing dialogue as people draw near to and trust in Christ for salvation.  

I was grateful for the opportunity to teach at two United Methodist District Training Days - Elizabeth River and York River Districts.  I've been corresponding with some of the people who took my class on "The Method of Jesus and the Method of the Methodists."  We need to take notice that our Lord did not start a mega-church while he walked among us, but rather a mini-church!  This is not a slam on mega-churches, just an endorsement of Jesus' strategy in making disciples!  We need small groups where we can share the deeper joys and struggles.
Connecting Small Groups and Missions to Nicaragua
Thanks to some of the guys at the Wednesday morning Churchland Group, there was a great connection made between the small group ministry and the missions trips to Nicaragua.  Les and Dube took up a collection and bought a guitar to send down with the team.  We used it during our group worship, prayer and sharing times.  Then on our last day we had the joy of giving it away!  Pastor Omar and his church in Tipitapa will get to enjoy the guitar.  I'm confident many will learn to play on this guitar!

Pastor Omar with the guitar from the Churchland Wednesday Morning Group
Dube & Les jamming outdoors!















On Spring Break Trip, we had 9 VWC students and Professor Allison Marganski who teaches Sociology and Criminology as well as 1 Old Dominion student.

We spent three days working with House of Hope, a ministry to women and children seeking freedom from prostitution and human trafficking.  We dug ditches, filled holes and painted - hard work which was rewarding knowing it helped such a needed ministry.  We listened to testimonies from women who have found freedom in Christ and met girls who had been rescued from brothels.  It's difficult to see and hear, but necessary.  I watched the group process and wrestle with the brokenness of the world while we talked about the One who redeems and makes all things new.
The VWC Team at House of Hope - Managua, Nicaragua

We have a facebook page from the Mission Trip up with pics, comments and videos if you'd like to see more:  http://www.facebook.com/vwcnicaragua 

You may be surprised to know that we have seven VWC graduates heading to seminary this Fall!  It's exciting to see a hunger within the next generation for the LORD and to be equipped for the work of the ministry.

Preaching & Teaching
Among many other recent speaking engagements, I preached revivals at Woodstock UMC,  in Woodstock, VA and Emmanuel UMC just outside of Winchester, VA.  The pastors, David Rash and Jim Smith are both great friends, for whom I have deep respect.  Their love for their congregations is evident.  Both churches are in the Shenandoah Valley.  I was amazed at the beauty of the mountains and all of creation.  

I will be in northern Virginia from the 20th through the 22nd at Pender UMC in Fairfax preaching at their Missions Conference. 

Crucifixion & Resurrection

Sam Brengle was a gifted communicator who served with the Salvation Army.  While in Boston a drunk man hit him with a brick, putting him in the hospital for 18 months.  While laid up, he wrote the book, Helps to Holiness.  The book was very popular and many throughout the years of Brengle's ministry would thank him for the book.  When they did, Brengle would say, "If it wasn't for the brick, there wouldn't have been a book."  And so it is with the resurrection . . . if it hadn't been for the crucifixion, there wouldn't be a resurrection.  They are forever linked and our faith in the crucified and risen One brings us near . . .

Sam Brengle
"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT)

We can experience the reality of who Jesus is and what he has done today!  Oswald Chambers wrote: "The Holy Spirit is the Deity in proceeding power Who applies the Atonement to our experience."  

Let's draw near and help others to grow into this holiness (Christ-likeness) that is available to all!


Thank you for your support, prayers and encouragement.  I am so blessed to be a part of the body of Christ.  There are many who have spoken a word, shared some thoughts, or simply prayed and I have been the grateful recipient.  

 

The Board of Life in His Name meets on a regular basis to guide the ministry.  Pete Kovalcik, Laura Houck, Pastor Brian Sixby and Mike Senecal are a great help.  


With great appreciation,


Greg West

Circuit Riding 2011

There is nothing like doing your taxes to put the year into perspective!  I knew I had a full schedule with my role as Evangelist and Chaplain, but seeing the list gave me a new view on the year.  I wanted to preach more than once a Sunday and ended up preaching well over 100 times.  Oh, and I have no idea how to line up the columns - I gave up after numerous attempts!

Greg West’s Schedule 2011                                                                                                          Mileage
January 3-23 - Nicaragua Mission Trip with Family  (to Rosslyn, VA for flights)                    390 miles / 3,828 flight miles
January 26 - Evangelical Fellowship, Discovery UMC, Richmond, VA                               210 miles
January 30 - Newtown UMC, Williamsburg, VA                                                                            88 miles
February 4-6 – Portsmouth District Youth Retreat, Blackstone, VA                                           225 miles             
February 11 - Virginia Senate Opening Prayer                                                                            185 miles                             
January 14 - Volunteers in Mission Training, Thalia UMC, Virginia Beach, VA                     45 miles
January 21 - Elizabeth River District Training, Centenary UMC, Portsmouth, VA                  11 miles
February 4 - York River District Training, Chestnut Mem. UMC, Newport News, VA            22 miles
February 17 - Evangelical Fellowship Gathering, Discovery UMC, Richmond, VA                              210 miles
February 16 – Norfolk District Pastor’s Meeting, Aldersgate UMC, Norfolk, VA                     35 miles
February 20 – Chesapeake Avenue UMC, Chesapeake, VA                                                    30 miles
March 5 – Christ Church UMC Seminar, Norfolk, VA                                                                   36 miles
March 6 – Charity UMC, Virginia Beach, VA                                                                                  84 miles
March 12 – 20 - Nicaragua Mission Trip with VWC  (to Dulles Airport)                                    410 miles / 3,828 flight miles
March 23 – Memorial UMC Series, Virginia Beach, VA  (from VWC to home)                        24 miles
March 26 – Westminster Presbyterian Church, Youth Gathering, Suffolk, VA                        44 miles
March 27 – James River Community Church, Suffolk, VA                                                          20 miles
March 30 – Memorial UMC Series, Virginia Beach, VA  (from VWC to home)                        24 miles
April 1 – Board of Ordained Ministry, Glen Allen, VA                                                                   200 miles
April 3 – Portsmouth District Youth, Main Street UMC, Suffolk, VA                                            48 miles
April 6 – Memorial UMC Series, Virginia Beach, VA  (from VWC to home)                             24 miles
April 7 – Peninsula District Pastor’s Meeting Presentation                                                         25 miles
April 9 – Evangelical Fellowship, Scriptural Authority, Discovery UMC, Richmond, VA       210 miles                             
April 13 – Memorial UMC Series, Virginia Beach, VA  (from VWC to home)                           24 miles
April 18 – Christopher Newport University with Fear 2 Freedom, Newport News, VA          35 miles
April 20 – Norfolk District Pastor’s Meeting, McKendree UMC, Norfolk, VA                            42 miles
April 30 – Virginia Beach UMC Men’s Retreat at VWC                                                           40 miles
May 5-6 – Mt. View Revival, Ruckersville, VA                                                                     360 miles
May 11 – Portsmouth District Pastor’s, Monumental UMC, Portsmouth, VA                            20 miles
May 22 – Preach at Licensing School at VWC                                                                              40 miles
May 24 – Lynnhaven UMC, United Methodist Women, Virginia Beach, VA                            52 miles
May 29 – Christ Church UMC, Norfolk, VA                                                                                     36 miles
June 5 - Charity UMC, Virginia Beach, VA                                                                                     84 miles
June 8-11 - Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Assn., Ocean Grove, NJ                                         720 miles
June 15-19 – Virginia Annual Conference UMC, Roanoke, VA                                                 535 miles
June 21 – July 1 - Nicaragua Mission Trip with Newtown UMC                                                   88 miles
July 24 – Newtown UMC, Nicaragua Team Sharing, Williamsburg, VA                                  88 miles / 3,828 flight miles
July 25-27, 29 - New Creation UMC, Youth Week, Chesapeake, VA                                       44 miles
July 31, Newtown UMC, Williamsburg, VA                                                                                    88 miles
August 14 - Lynnhaven UMC, Virginia Beach, VA                                                                        52 miles
August 14 – Elizabeth River District Welcome Dinner at VWC                                                  40 miles
August 21 - Village Church, Suffolk, VA                                                                                          13 miles
August 21, 22 - Verona UMC, Verona, VA                                                                                     420 miles             
August 30 - Western Branch Rotary Club, Chesapeake, VA                                                      10 miles
September 4 - St. Matthew’s UMC, Richmond, VA                                                                       212 miles
September 12-14 - Grace UMC Revival, Fredericksburg, VA                                                    340 miles
September 19-21 - Dahlgren UMC Revival, Dahlgren, VA                                                         290 miles
September 25 – St. James UMC, Gladstone, VA                                                                          250 miles
September 26 – Harrisonburg District Luncheon Presentation                                                          23 miles
September 27 - Emmanuel UMC, Stephenson, VA (Harrisonburg to Stephenson to VWC)                            310 miles
October 2-4 - Fairview UMC Revival, Danville, VA                                                                      430 miles
October 18 – Hickory UMC Men’s Group, Virginia Beach, VA                                                   60 miles
October 23-24 – Society for Wesleyan Studies Richmond, VA                                                 200 miles
November 6 - New Life UMC, Midlothian, VA                                                                          110 miles
November 6-7 - Evangelical Fellowship Retreat, Blackstone, VA                                             170 miles
November 12-13 - Smith’s Chapel UMC, Great Falls, VA                                                          215 miles
November 13 - Harrisonburg District Conference, Harrisonburg, VA                                      350 miles             
December 4 - Ebenezer UMC, Suffolk, VA                                                                                     19 miles
December 11 - Ebenezer UMC, Suffolk, VA                                                                                  19 miles
Jail Ministry Thursdays – Portsmouth Jail 22 miles round trip 15x                                            330 miles             
Jail Ministry Thursdays - Western Tidewater, Suffolk, VA 45 miles round trip 15x                      675 miles

Totals:  Preached 82 times plus times for 25 times for SOAR at Virginia Wesleyan and 9,434 traveled miles on the road and 11,484 flight miles on the 3 trips to Nicaragua!