Discover the Cure for the Mission Bug

"I don't know how, but next year you all are coming on a mission trip with me," Curt Knouse told his family after returning home from a Volunteers in Mission project.

He wanted them to experience the joy of sharing the love of God with the underprivileged. Sure enough, his family accompanied him on the next trip and they are now hooked on serving others. 

Once his interview is posted...you too may catch the mission bug. Knouse,director of Volunteers in Mission, has the cure for that. You can accompany him to Costa Rica or West Virginia in 2013 to see how God can use YOU to give a comforting embrace to His children. 

To learn more about upcoming missions visit the Missional Board Site.

Faith Breaks Interview

In the next Susquehanna Xpress I interview a fellow media person. She has been hosting one minute "Faith Breaks" on the radio for 15 years. It's amazing the stories she is able to share with her listeners in such a short time.

You can listen to an archive of her Faith Breaks HERE. My favorite clip is the background of the praying hands painting/symbol that we know so well. It's a story of sacrifice and love. Check it out, and be sure to check back in for the interview!

Tying the Knot, and Taking the Plunge

"Tying the Knot" and "Taking the Plunge" are phrases often associated with weddings, yet this is what I titled my testimony message a few weekends ago. You could tell I had weddings on my mind, especially since I gave my testimony at a church fair in between my friend's wedding and her reception. Yet, I think that those phrases are excellent terms for describing how to follow God's will in your life.We need to tie a rope to God, hold on and take a leap of faith.

Often we veer off in many different directions while trying to find God's call. Sometimes we hear His call, yet we're afraid to suddenly make an 180 degree turn in our lives to the direction he is leading. Yet, if we are not living out God's plan for our life we will not find fulfillment. This was true in my case as I heard God's call into the communication field, but chose to stick with something more financially secure. During this time I constantly had to rely on my weaknesses to get through the day. This led to me feeling miserable not only during school but through the whole day. You're never going to be satisfied and content if you aren't walking in God's will.

I heard God say, "Why would I grant you strengths, and then ask you to live out the majority of your life barely getting-by on your weaknesses? Follow where I call."

I eventually listened to God's nudging, and you know what? God blessed me. I received this job at the conference, in which I am able to share ministry stories of the 900+ U.M. churches in our conference in Pennsylvania. I continued to receive many other blessings from God after I followed where he led. These blessings served as affirmation to me that I was living out God's will.

I will conclude by saying that God doesn't even let our 'frivolous' dreams die. I wanted to travel to Europe during college, because my sister had had the opportunity to do a semester abroad. Yet, it was my last semester of school, and the opportunity had not worked out for me. Then one day, I got an e-mail from the college saying that 12 slots were available to travel to Germany for a Conference on Media and Religion.To apply a student had to write an essay describing why he or she should be chosen. I KNEW God had provided this opportunity for me. I was working with a religious organization, and studying communications, so my background fit the trip's theme very well. Still, I was ecstatic when I opened up the e-mail that said "Congratulations, you have been chosen, to go on this trip." and that is what God is saying to you right now. "Congratulations, YOU have been chosen to go on this journey of a life time, if you only follow me."

Tie a knot to God, and take the plunge, knowing full-well that He will not let you fall. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Mission of Peace

Brittany Halverstadt shares her experience on the Mission of Peace to Nicaragua.

Father's Day

 Every year my family vacations in Chincoteague Virginia. This year, as most years, it falls over Father's Day weekend. Unfortunately this year, Steve and I used our vacation time on our honeymoon and were not able to travel to the beach with my family. Thus, this year was the first time that I did not spend Father's Day with my Dad.

Yet, some people have spent many years without their fathers on that day. The reasons vary. It could be because their father lived far away, needed to work, spent time in jail, is estranged from the family, or has passed on. Whatever the reason, I would like us to take time during our prayers this week to remember both the father and the children in these situations.


I admit that sometimes I forget to look beyond my own family circumstances to pray for those who may not have a father as a regular part of their life. I also have a tendency to pray "thanksgiving" prayers, in which I thank God for all cf the ways He has blessed me and my family. Yet sometimes, prayer needs to go deeper than that. I hope that when I pray I begin to look at both sides of a situation. When I thank God for a loving father, that I also pray that he be with children of an abusive father and the father himself. When I thank God for a father who has provided for my financial needs and beyond, that I also pray that God lead me to a way that I can help another father in need.

This afternoon, I thank God for the loving Godly fathers who have provided a strong foundation in Christ, and I pray for those of you who long for your fathers to know God as you do. Our heavenly father loves you very much and you will always be his little princess/prince.

Love God, Others, Self

"LOVE God, Others, Self" is the Bishop's parting hope for the conference and the church.

Bishop Middleton is the first Bishop that I have had the privilege to meet. She has been supportive of my work here and Susquehanna Xpress. She has been very personable and sincere in my short time knowing her. She even wrote on the front page of my scapbook of wedding advice from coworkers at the conference.

 The communications team put together a short blooper film thanking her for the "good times." I enjoyed watching it, because I've been there running the teleprompter while she patiently waited as we prepared the media equipment (you'll see in the video that she spent her time waiting wisely...by getting in extra steps on her pedometer)

If you would like to watch the Bishop's celebration service at Annual Conference 2012, and the blooper film click Here.

Join me in praying for she and her husband Jack as they transition to a new phase of life and their retirement home in Connecticut.

God's Math

On Saturday May 19, I was joined in holy matrimony with my love of seven years, Steven. Our pastor, Rev. Pat Woolever, added a special part to our ceremony involving a braid. Not only do the husband and wife join together as one, she said. Rather, God is also woven into a marriage relationship like a braid, and the three cords create one that is much stronger.

It was a beautiful metaphor that reminded me of another one. It is an image of triangle with God at the top and the husband and wife on either side. The closer that the husband and wife grow with God, the closer that they also grow to each other.

This is my hope for Steve and I in marriage. That we may always seek our Father first, and by doing so build a stronger relationship and grow closer together.