Final Update:

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 saw the completion of our formal ministry in the Sioux City area and what a day it was. We began the day distributing flyers for Heartland Community Church in the north part of town near the church. We didn’t quite meet the goal of 2000 but we did leave over 1200 postcards at homes in the community surrounding the church. We cut that outreach short in order to finish the cross that we had began working on Monday. At noon we gathered one block west of Kansas Avenue and 3^rd Street to carry a 26 foot cross up the hill and raise it for all to see.

 

This white cross stands on private property on a bluff overlooking the intersections of Interstate 29, running north and south along the Missouri River in Iowa, and Highway 77/75, running east and west across the Missouri River between Iowa and Nebraska. Anyone traveling north or east will be hard pressed to miss it. It was a thrill to be a part of preparing, carrying, and raising this landmark testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The memory of that day will stay with all of us for our entire lives. Should you ever travel that road you can look up at that cross and know that the high school choir of Vista Grande Baptist Church had a part in putting it there.

 

Wednesday night we had our final concert at New Life Baptist Church in Kingsley, Iowa. With love and energy Alive brought an excellent ministry of encouragement to this church. We had prayed that the pastor of the church would be pleased with his church’s response and that the people would be uplifted. They were. Many of our students visited with and had extensive conversations with church members after the concert. We were both blessed and a blessing.

 

With some emotion we packed up Thursday morning and said our goodbyes to Pastor Gene and Cheri Stockton and church members that had served us so well while we served them and the community. As we left town we made a loop on the highway that allowed us to see the cross from the ground and then we turned south to begin the journey home.

 

We stopped in Omaha to unwind at the Amazing Pizza Machine. We stayed about six hours and had two meals and four hours of unlimited play in the arcade and amusements. Even in this context all of our students conducted themselves with maturity and grace and were a credit again to their families, their church and their God. We spent the night at the Omaha Baptist Center and headed for home early on Friday. God granted safe travel and we arrived home at 8:05 p.m. on Friday night.

 

We completed our tour and choir year with the Home Concert on Sunday night. The trip was a spiritually significant event in all of our lives. We are grateful to our church for making it possible. You supply the funds needed for music and vans and part of the trip cost. Thank you for the investment you have made in us. It has already paid dividends in our lives, in the church’s life and in the lives of those you sent us out to touch. 

Please visit the Photo Gallery to enjoy more pictures.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

We have worked, we’ve been stretched, and we’ve been blessed.

We rose early on Monday to begin our outreach ministry support for Heartland Community Baptist Church. The morning’s responsibilities took us to a disadvantaged area of town. We divided into three teams. The first team grabbed gloves and plastic bags and picked up trash on the streets and sidewalks in an eight square block area. We spoke with several people in the neighborhood about the church and about Jesus. The second team began clearing brush and small trees to prepare a prayer walk area between a memorial to early missionaries and a new cross being raised on a prominent bluff overlooking Sioux City. The third team had the privilege of digging the hole for that cross and working on the preparation of the cross itself. We will be a part of the group that moves the cross to the site and raises it up for all to see tomorrow (Wednesday). Monday afternoon we were free to visit the ice cream capitol of the world in Le Mars, Iowa, the home of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. We even received a tour from one of the founders family members. Luke provided the false teeth seen in the photo! That evening was spent in a church members private pool. What a treat.

We rose early on Tuesday to prepare fifty bags of food for fifty households in need. We delivered those bags going door to door until they were gone. Our young people were surprised by the responses they received when they offered free food. Most recipients wanted to know what the catch was but, of course, there is no catch when we give as God gave to us. We prayed that we might be a part of the “seed” planting ministry and prayed that there would be fruit in God’s own time. A second, smaller, morning team prepared gift bags and delivered them to families that had visited Heartland Church. Tuesday evening found us at Goodwill Camp, just outside of South Sioux City, across the Missouri River in Nebraska. This camp is dedicated to providing the camp experience for children who would not otherwise be able to go to camp. The cost per camper is around $260 but their families only have to make a $5 commitment. All other costs for the child are met in other ways when necessary. The camp has been in constant operation since 1927. It is one of only two such camps owned and operated by Goodwill Industries. Alive presented an excellent concert for about 100 children ages 8-12. The ministry was very well received.

The group continues to conduct themselves with grace, maturity and professionalism. They are faithful ministers of the Gospel. They are credit to their God and their church.

Sunday Night, July 8, Sioux City, IA

As I write we have completed two days of ministry and the kids are unwinding with a high energy game of spoons. We have presented two full concerts and we participated in the morning worship service here at Heartland Community Church. Each concert has presented challenges and blessings. Saturday afternoon we partnered with Ron Goombi of All Nations Ministries at the Winnebago Reservation. Ron and his wife, Alpha, are members of the Kiowa nation of Oklahoma who are catalytic missionaries to the Indian nations of Northeast Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. Ron has been serving in this area and working on the Winnebago reservation for fifteen years and just now feels like he is beginning to see some fruit. We helped by leading the Children’s Bible Club on Saturday afternoon and then presenting our concert. The concert was particularly challenging. The children were constantly active in the stands during the presentation and sometimes even the adults were not attentive. It was difficult to sense the Spirit’s presence or work and it was very distracting for the choir members. However, they sang with heart and energy despite the difficulties and God was honored as they ably presented the gospel through music and drama.