Haiti Missions Report

Below is a report from John Burr, one of the leaders of the Haiti missions team who returned on Saturday.  I was touched by John’s story and know you will be too.

Chris Drombetta

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Good evening everyone! I am back in the land of the free and the home of the beef! I had to go out for lunch today to get a hamburger and french fries! I was tired of overcooked goat!

The mission’s trip to Haiti was hard. It was hard to prepare for and it was hard to do. It began with lost luggage at the airport in Port Au Prince and never really got much better. We did retrieve the luggage a few days later. It rained 4 or 5 nights and if you have ever camped out in a tent, in a torrential downpour you know the feeling of sleeping in wet clothes and with a wet blanket. If it wasn’t raining you were soaked to the skin with sweat in the 100 degree temps with no ventilation in those tents. The rain did feel good after a hard day in the high temps. After a few days I got used to wet shoes or just flip-flops sloshing through the muddy puddles. I am still processing much of the memories and emotions, (they come in spurts of tears for no apparent reason) but I wanted to give you a brief update.

The land: it is beautiful as you would imagine a Caribbean island to be. It was however littered with rubble from the earthquake, with trash not from the earthquake, and with desperate eyes and open hands.

The people: Unlike the Dominican Republic where you can see the evidence of the wealthy and the very poor. Haiti does not show any evidence of wealth, at least as we would recognize it. I am sure there are some Haitians who have enough food and water and clothing. There are many who survive on what they can beg. There are some who live off the land quite literally, by eating the food God grows in abundance there, but do not have anything else.

We worked at and around a little compound about 50 miles south from Port Au Prince just outside of a little town called Petit Goave. It was near the ocean with a grand mountain behind. This little compound is half Christian school and half medical clinic. It sprang from the God given desire of a few Haitians and a few Americans with the help of Missionary Ventures International.

There were always people around, mostly children. At night there were always the sounds of cows, dogs and chickens. When it was quiet, in the still of the night, you sometimes heard the drumbeats and chanting way off in the distance, up in the mountain. The sound of Voodoo services. The people were trained from birth to seek a handout and every one of them, at least once would ask you for money or food or water. It really is hard to help them learn to be self-sufficient. That will be the trial of Haiti. They do love you for being there and it is sincere. They do also know how to work a mission’s team. They size you up and befriend you in hopes of getting all you have before you leave. Do not think badly of that. I would too if I was living that way, and so would each of us. They live in that little space between being deceitful and loving you more that you thought possible. I made some friends who if I never see again in this life will be a joy to me in our eternal life. I never walked far without little hands in mine. They just show up, you feel them slip into yours with little notice. If I sat down anywhere outside of the compound, there was little hands feeling my hair, my skin, or fanning my face. They live to please those frequent visitors. The one’s that put a lump in your throat are the ones who put their heads on your chest and hold on hoping you will take them with you.

The water flows down both sides of the street in man-made open trenches. I don’t know where it all comes from, but I do know that it is the bathroom, the laundry-room and the toilet. All at one time.

There is construction on-going there and we started a few and we finished a few. We roofed a house, we helped raise the block on another, we helped finish a floor, and we built furniture and ran some electric lines. Yes they do have electric, from dusk until dawn. The 2 wire system that is there is unbelievably dangerous with no circuit protection and in some places held together with scotch tape. During the day we needed a generator.

I learned all the normal things I expected to learn about poverty and living conditions. I also learned some things about humility and about how the hands and feet of the body of Christ…are dirty. It must be so, to do the good work He has prepared. I look forward to when Christ will wash the hands of His bride and says well done; now enter into eternity with me. Then, all those hungry eyes that chose to believe in the love that was shown to them will rejoice together as one.

John Burr
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Direction in the Last Days - Series Introduction

There’s a lot in the news these days that can freak us out.  The issues of politics, economics, environmental disasters, or terrorism can consume and even cripple us if we let them.  Unfortunately, I’m seeing a lot of folks being consumed and crippled.  There are some bad things taking place, to be sure.  At the same time, some of us are scared because we’ve lost the sense of priority and purpose that only God can give.

As a matter of fact, throughout the Bible we see instruction on how to live during strange and difficult times and frankly, I’m pretty convinced that’s the way the world has always been.  Jesus talked about it.  His followers did the same.  Our next teaching series will take us along that same path, as we study God’s word around the theme of “Direction in the Last Days”.   On Sunday mornings, we’ll be studying I and II Timothy,  I Thessalonians 4 and 5, Matthew 24 and 25, and other passages in Revelation and II Peter.  Over the next few months, we’ll learn from God’s word how we should live in the last days.  While this idea can rattle people, it’s one that has applied to the last 2,000 years of church history and is as current as tomorrow’s newspaper.

So this week, take a look at I Timothy 1-3 in preparation for the study of chapter 4 this Sunday morning.  You may also want to stop in to Nick Burkert and Ted Miller’s class at 11:00 AM on Sunday in the Great Room called, “What on Earth Is Going On?”  It’s a great class built around David Jeremiah’s book of the same title.

While I can’t tell you what will be in tomorrow’s news, I can promise you that God’s word holds the key to handling it successfully.  Come along for the journey, as we pursue the truth of God’s word for “Direction in the Last Days”!

Brent Allen

Baptism and Fullness

One of the books I’ve been reading this month is Baptism and Fullness by John Stott.  Bill Barnes (one of our elders) graciously gave a copy to each of the elders and pastors so we have the opportunity to study it together.  I wanted to pass along what I thought was a very cool excerpt from pp. 74-75:

“It is very striking that the first evidence of being filled with the Spirit is that we speak to each other.  Yet it is not surprising since the first fruit of the Spirit is love.  However deep and intimate our communion with God may seem, we cannot claim the fullness of the Spirit if we are not on speaking terms with any of our fellows. The first sign of fullness is fellowship.”

It seems simple, doesn’t it?  Simply speaking to each other? Sharing concerns, asking for advice, being encouragers and connecting with each other?  So many times we have thought that the filling of His Spirit becomes something supernatural or extraordinary when Ephesians 5:19-21 gives us such a natural outcome and ordinary responsibility.  As a matter of fact, you might want to spend some time in the rest of the passage seeing the three other evidences of that filling - because they all continue to reiterate what the Lord has been teaching us throughout the month of June.

Let’s continue this summer in unity, order, and authority as we exalt Jesus and live in obedience to His word!

Brent Allen

Reflection and Anticipation

As I reflect back on the month of June, I’m thanking God for the things He has taught us in some very unique ways. Old North is a diverse church but our unity is in Jesus Christ. God is affirming that truth to us more than ever. His providential hand through the month of June gives me great anticipation and excitement of things to come this summer!

Studying the book of Galatians this spring has taught us that it’s only by God’s grace we are saved through faith in Jesus. We believe that our authority comes from the written word of God revealed to us by the power of God the Holy Spirit - and it’s on that foundation that we stand. God has confirmed those truths over and over as we’ve transitioned into the summer season. As your pastor, I want to thank you for being part of what God is doing through this unique and special season in the life of our church. Thank you for your encouragement, participation, and perseverance, as we face some spiritual challenges that we’ve never faced before. We know that God is sovereign and “for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

As we’ve been studying 1 Corinthians 12-14 on Sunday mornings, we’re learning that the way we function as a church flows from our unity in Christ. This coming week, we will be very specific about that, so please join us in the study of God’s word. A key verse from chapter 14 says, “all of these must be done for the strengthening of the church,” so we’ll see that even with different gifts and perspectives, God strengthens and unifies us.

Interestingly enough, the next series we’ll begin this summer is called, “Living in the Last Days.” This teaching series will include admonition and direction from Jesus, Peter, and Paul concerning what is taking place in our world today and in the days to come.

By the way; if you didn’t hear Rick Enlow’s message on Father’s day, order a CD or download it free from our web site - you will be challenged and encouraged through God’s word and Rick’s incredible story. Thank you all for your participation in the Gospel and your continued commitment to connecting with God, one another, and our communities!

Brent Allen

Guys in White Suits

Why is it that when I think of prophecy, I think of guys on TV in white suits, sitting on gold thrones? Presuppositions are so interesting.

The truth is, God's Word speaks to the gift of prophecy and contrary to some stereotypes, it is a wonderful and profitable gift to God's church.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” Interesting that Paul pairs prophecy with love. This is especially potent, as the entire previous chapter of 1 Corinthians is dedicated to elevating love as the regulator for all the spiritual gifts, including prophecy and tongues. The Corinthians were in a situation where some within their church were elevating certain gifts (most likely the gift of tongues) above others. This is why Paul takes so much time laying a foundation of love and purpose for the spiritual gifts. With love as the governor, the purpose of all the spiritual gifts is “for the common good” and mutual upbuilding of all those within the church (1 Corinthians 12:7). This “common good” is also true of the gift of prophecy, for “everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Paul continues along this theme of upbuilding, noting “one who prophesies builds up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4). This truth also confirms that prophecy is even more beneficial to the church than tongues (less an intelligible interpretation), which would have really hit the Corinthians who were potentially elevating tongues over the other gifts.

Regardless of where we fall on the modern day use of tongues and prophecy, all of God’s people can and should rally around the truths of love, unity, and mutual upbuilding. May we walk in obedience to God the Holy Spirit, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians, “since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). So much for guys in white suits.

Join us this Sunday morning, as we gather to worship Jesus and continue in the study His Word!

Chris Drombetta