First Day of Class

I (Renée) want to extend a post of gratitude to those who made it financially possible for me to take college courses via correspondence. I enrolled this weekend and today (Monday) started the classes. I am so excited to take these courses, learning more about health, lifestyle and anatomy. This is going to be a good fit for me and I hope to take this knowledge and apply it long term on the mission field. 

So thank you thank you, I am so excited to delve into the amazing world of natural health.



**Renée is taking courses at Trinity School of Natural Health. The first year is a certification level of Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) From there she is planning on attaining the Master Nutritionist (MN) and then going on to Doctor of Naturopathy (ND).

Some highlights from End of July through August

Our first stop worth mentioning was Montana!::

The beautiful F Family!

Lots of machine fun at L & D's house!

The kids became fast friends :)

Beartooth Pass, highest elevation in Montana: 10,947 feet above sea level

Getting into the Montana spirit

Onto Washington State!!::

Dear Grandma Ann

A lot of Joel's lovely family

South to Oregon!:

The lovely S Family!

The men and boys went on an 8 mile hike in the mountains.

Best friends forever

Joshua and O were baptized in a mountain river. A little chilly but a momentous occasion!

 Back north to Washington!:

The wonderful C family, Yes the llama is included.

Mount Ranier

Mount Ranier and four wonderful troopers!

Washington sure loved their espresso kiosks!
Here's Dutchman Brothers Coffee- good coffee and positive messages on the lids.

British Columbia, Canada!::

Met our newest nephew and his beautiful mommy K.

I (Renée) enjoy Canada's road signs. Here's a deer being hit by a car.

Biggest truck in the world. Sparwood, BC.
See the kids in the wheels?

Alberta!::

Camping with Joel's family

Joshua and Nana

Juneberry Pie with homemade ice cream.

Cousins!!

Cousins again!

Cousins! They all had so much fun together.

Sister and Brother and an inlaw.

Back home through South Dakota:: 

We stopped at one statue the whole 4800 miles.
It was a doozy.

Later on in August::

Rachel got baptized!

And that concludes our summer! Hope you had fun seeing the pictures! We loved seeing our wonderful family and friends this summer!!

Missions Adventures: Pine Ridge Reservation July 12-18, 2015

I feel porous. Yet short on capacity to absorb much of the great roiling mass of hopelessness that hangs like a cloud over this reservation. The poverty here is second only to Haiti in the western hemisphere.  Yet, sitting in the teepee-shaped gathering place at the Lakota Hope Center a brilliant ray of the setting sun pierces the cloud and the day’s exhales breathes new hope into my soul, even to the background sounds of drunkenness drifting down from the streets of White Clay, Nebraska. I’m grateful for the cross of Jesus Christ, where the Creator Himself absorbed all that is evil and condemned it to hell so that the restoration of His love could blow through the darkest corners of our world. White Clay is one of those places. A mere 3 blocks long and 3 wide, just across the NB border, White Clay is primarily a place for the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to buy alcohol.  There are 2 inhabited houses, 2 ministry centers, 1 grocery store, a general store, a couple café’s and 3 liquor stores that sell 10,000-11,000 cans of beer a day. The beer companies even have a special kind of beer with higher alcohol content (8-12%) for White Clay. 1,000 of those cans are drank every day by the 30 or so men and women who live on these streets. They are the lowest of the low, forgotten and ignored. They don’t often shower or change their clothes. They smell of booze and urine. Rotting teeth, hair long and matted, skin scabbed and bleeding. And we were there to love them, the “Risen Warriors” as they were named by our ministry hosts.Renée and the kids and I, and four other YWAMer’s were facilitating a Mission Adventures trip for two church youth groups, one Conservative Baptist and the other Converge Baptist. They spent their time: doing a kids club for the children of Oglala, SD, participating in two Suicide Prevention Concerts, hosting a ministry event called Night Of Another Hope, joining the local churches to pray for Pine Ridge, putting on a pancake breakfast for the Risen Warriors, as well as work projects around Lakota Hope. And we cooked and cleaned and organized, encouraged and supported the youth. I get shivers thinking of how they experienced God like they had never before.  On the second night ten of our Baptist youth and one native guy asked to be baptized! 

On Thursday morning I met a man named Brent at the pancake breakfast. He was one of the Risen Warriors especially on the hearts of our hosts. Last year he’d been in an alcohol-induced coma for a month. Our hosts visited him in the hospital in Rapid City. They’d felt led of the Spirit to say to Brent “Risen Warrior, arise!” at which he stirred for the first time, although he didn’t come out of the coma until later.  Recently Brent had told them he’d heard God speak to him while he was in the coma, saying “Risen Warrior, arise!”  Still, here he was drinking his days away on the streets of White Clay. Brent was quiet.  Not pushy or begging like the others. We talked over pancakes and tea. He was embarrassed for his five kids to have a father in White Clay. If he could stop drinking for a little while he’d have money to take them to the carnival in a couple weeks. I laid a hand on his shoulder that had been broken years before but never treated properly. I asked Jesus for sobriety by the power of His Holy Spirit. That evening after returning from the burial site from the Wounded Knee massacre we gathered around the fire pit for s’mores, worship and testimonies. Brent heard the music and came down to the center and sat on the fringe of our circle. As I wrapped up leading a song, I saw Brent and asked him to join us.  The youth pulled up a chair for him and he became one of us. 

THIS is what we are called to do.  Wrap our arms around the least of these and bring them into the center of God’s love.  This is what YWAM Minneapolis does (see the “Fringes” funding campaign at ywam-mn.org).  

 So this simple act of calling Brent into the circle was significant for me. To our surprise, in the midst of the testimonies of the youth Brent spoke up. He talked of how uplifting it was to be with us. He thanked us for trying to make a difference on the ‘res’. He told us he’d only drank two beers that day and we erupted in cheers. He talked of how his mother and his uncle were in Rapid City in the hospital and how he wanted to be with them. An idea flashed through my being like a comet. I looked at Renée and she shook her head because she knew what I was thinking.  With the OK of the youth leaders and our ministry hosts we could drive Brent to Rapid in the morning, only going a little out of our way to our free day in the Black Hills.  But in the morning I couldn’t find Brent, only because I didn’t recognize his shoes sticking out from a blanket where he slept on a concrete stoop. We’d given up on the idea, but when we pulled our vans into White Clay there was Brent, sitting on the stoop wondering how he was going to get to Rapid.  Praise God we were the answer. It wasn’t just a lift for a 100 miles, it was the potential start of a new life. Even Brent said so.  Please join your faith with ours that on that day White Clay became one drunk emptier because that man was told he was a precious child of God with potential and a purpose in this world. There are other stories of God speaking love through us, through the youth and their leaders, and through our four children.   We grew greatly in our love for the Oglala Lakota people. We grieved with them. But we also worshiped and danced with them in the way that comes from their heart. Because there is hope in the Wounded Warrior who lives that they may live. As we proclaimed during one of our worship times at YWAM with our hands stretched out toward Pine Ridge,

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

In Christ, the Pikes. 

 

loveminneapolis247.com

Our comfort zone is gaining new territory.

Love Minneapolis 24/7 is an evangelistic push going on in the city all this week, from 6/21-6/28. There are 28 outreaches planned for the 8 days, one every six hours, all week long, with the final outreach being concurrent with the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday. At this outreach last year on the same Sunday 80 people with sexual brokenness received Jesus. 80 from the LGBTQ community! LoveMPLS is backed by mandatory training and 24/7 worship and intercession. And we went.
 
Actually, it was mandatory for Renée as part of her School of Ministry Development. (Which ends tomorrow!!! Tonight (6/25) is her Commissioning Night. 7 pm right here at YWAM Minneapolis. All are welcome to attend!) So yes, Renée didn't have much choice in the matter, but we thought it would be good for the whole family to join her class. Street evangelism, why not? We are being trained as missionaries, right? Renée's spent a few Friday afternoons in this school out in the parks and malls looking for people to pray for or share the Gospel with. She wouldn't say it's gone all that well or that she's even enjoyed it. Just being honest.

So, 9 am we arrived at an Alliance Church, which they calling the Firebase for LOVEMPLS. There was a 45 minute briefing held with Hans L. who would be our outreach leader and the 40 other 'messengers' we were to go out on the streets with. Hans asked if there were any worship leaders among us. I raised my hand. He asked if I had an instrument along. I'd felt led to bring my guitar, so yes I was now to lead a 'flash mob' worship time once we got to the streets. (Which is cool because I'm planning on taking my Worship Focus students in this Fall's DTS out for some worship evangelism, and I need practice!)

Following the briefing was 2 hours of worship and 'consecration' time to prepare our hearts to go out. Knowing that would be too long for the kids we brought UNO and some snacks. Our friend Christine, Renée's mentor, offered to hang out with the kids so she could stay in the worship time. Does two hours seem a little long? Not to me anymore.  The real work of evangelism belongs to the Holy Spirit. Prayer and worship is how we come into alignment with Him, allowing Him to remove anything that would hinder us from hearing His voice as we go out to talk to people. We'd be on the streets for 2 hours. So 2 hours of heart preparation seems reasonable to me. (The worship leading is going on night and day ALL WEEK, with new leaders setting up as the previous one finishes every two hours, night and day.)

After the worship time we loaded into our vans and drove downtown, paid $20 for parking because there was a Twins game last night, and walked 4 blocks to Nicolett Ave just at the noon hour. I pulled out my guitar and led all 40 of us in It Is Well right on the busy street corner. Someone suggested I Love You Lord, then another Bless the Lord and we finished up with Set A Fire (gotta have something for this younger generation too!) People walking mostly skirted us, rather than taking the lane we'd made through the middle of our group. After the singing we dispersed in groups of 2, with the exception of our family of 6.

This is when it got awkward. Now what? We sang a song that I wrote for the kids at Cornerstone and the kids and Renée did the actions. Really awkward. The kids were armed with Revive Twin Cities Bibles and bracelets. Rachel was very eager to tell someone about Jesus, but we didn't really know what to do. Renée doesn't like being in the city, especially with the kids. We were hungry and getting testy. We walked back to the van and put my guitar away, crossed the street to a pharmacy to find they didn't have public restrooms.  Well, lets find a place to eat. Qdoba? What's this Lunch Cube down the block, or hey, the Dancing Ganeesha, maybe we'll meet some people from India to talk to. Nope. The server was from Ecuador and our hostess was Persian, from Iran. Tried to make conversation with them but it didn't go very far. The food was amazing though. Then we wandered down the street to Loring Park where they were setting up tents and booths for the Pride celebration. Tried to talk to an older couple on a park bench. No, they didn't want prayer for anything. Couldn't find a playground for the kids and there wasn't enough time to cross over to the Sculpture Garden so we prayed for the Pride Parade outreach and started back toward the van taking a different route. As we were walking Rachel told me she'd seen a lady give her life to Jesus while we were singing back at the beginning.  "That's cool," I said. Rachel has a tendency to see more than is really there. Crossing through the courtyard of University of St. Thomas School of Law we found ourselves just down the street from the Dancing Geneesha, and our hostess was outside taking a smoke break with a friend. "Rachel," I said, "Do you want to give our hostess from the restaurant a bracelet?" She did, but I had to help her. "Hi again!" I said, "Rachel here would like to give you something."  "Aww..." was the response. That's the great thing about kids. I don't get "Aww" when I try to give people something. We gave the hostess and her friend Bibles and asked them if we could pray for them. They said yes, so Renée and I prayed for each of them. I guess we could've tried to talk further with them, but, well, we're still kinda new at this and I suppose we made our get-away while we were still in good standing. "That was easy!" Rachel said as we got back to the car. We were hot and sticky, somewhat deflated, trying to teach the kids that evangelism was a lifestyle, not just a one-time event.

Back to the Alliance Church for a 45 debrief. We filled out Encounter Cards (they do a really good job of making sure there is follow-up with people who were engaged with the Gospel) and people told stories. 4 people saved! A lady came up and introduced herself to me. She thanked me for leading worship on Nicolett and said it was really anointed. As we were singing a little boy on a scooter had rode right through our midst. His mother had walked around us. This lady talking to me had stopped the mother and engaged her in conversation. By the time those few songs were over she'd gone from not having anything to do with that 'Jesus stuff' to saying, 'This is for real!', surrendering her life to him and being filled with His Spirit! Whoa! The lady who led her to the Lord insisted we record it on our Encounter Card and not hers because she felt strongly that it was the worship that opened her heart to Jesus.

Notice the little guy on the scooter on the left whose mother gave her life to Jesus.  

So, that was our day. Then we had to run down to Savage to the chiropractor. Got home exhausted. Spent a couple hours on the mower to deflate and went to bed.

Thoughts on the day:

We have great kids. They can put up with a lot. And other people don't mind hanging out with them. They are "outreach worthy".

We're thankful the Great Commission is not, "Go and make converts, " but, "Go and make disciples," because Renée is finding herself loving to disciple while evangelism is not her strength. I don't mind talking to strangers, but I've never actually led someone to accept Jesus.

God uses us when we don't even know it. When we're faithful to what He calls us, moment by moment, He will use our lives to move people closer to Jesus.  THAT is what we've seen Him do over and over, and THAT is why we are at YWAM Minneapolis, because THAT is what we want most in life: That through our lives the kingdom of the Jesus we love will flourish.  Amen?

June Newsletter

   Renée’s pre-school “apprehension” about this role reversal was not unfounded, on many levels.  But within the first week of school she was coming home with Divine and life-changing revelations, and I was gaining a deep, experiential respect for all that she does as a homemaker!

What the SOMD has done for Renée is to make ample space for God to speak truth into the areas in which she’s believed lies for many years. Often this process is very painful.  It has not been a pleasant time emotionally for us.  But the fruit is worth it, in being better prepared for future ministry. In the last few weeks I’ve seen Renée step out with boldness, speaking the word of God into other’s lives. I’ve seen her catch a vision for what her ministry could look like overseas. I’ve seen her heal emotionally. And although I’m not good at letting my face show it, I’ve been repeatedly astonished at the work of the Holy Spirit in her life. 

In one way we are moving forward as a family is by looking back.  Who has God shaped us to be?  What has God planted in us that we can cultivate?  Renée has, through the years of dealing with disease and diet restriction in our children, developed a passion for healthy living (she hosted a seminar on that topic last Thursday!) By September Renée will begin pursuing a 4-year degree in naturopathic medicine by correspondence through Trinity School of Natural Health. 

For myself, years of interest in missiology, music, recording and a passion for calling out creative worship in others is leading me to the field of ethnodoxology (the theological and anthropological study, and practical application, of how every cultural group might use its unique and diverse artistic expressions appropriately to worship the God of the Bible.)  In November I’ll fly to western India for a 20-day Cross-Cultural Worship Ministry Seminar for credit with YWAM’s University of the Nations. 

We see these passions, naturopathic medicine and ethnodoxology, as a way for us to be serving among the unreached within 5-10 years.   Thank-you for your friendship along this journey!

Upcoming Dates:

June 25: SOMD Graduation

July 9-18: Joel leads a Mission Adventures trip to Pine Ridge,  SD

Sept-Nov: Joel leads Worship Focus in the Fall DTS.

Sept 8: Renée begins course work at TSNH.

Nov 2-20: CCWMS in India

Jan-Mar ‘16: Renée & Joel teach ECCO Bible Class

Finances:

Renée: 1^st year tuition & books, Certified Health Specialist:    $893.39

Joel: CCWMS fees and flights: ≈$1500

We will need your help with these expenses as we are about 10% or $300/month short of being fully supported.  Thank-you!