Mother Madelaine

She is just a few years shy of 100. She was helped to the front of the room this morning to share a word at the CUE Conference, calling us to be faithful, aggressive, and effective beacons of Christ's light in the city. This tiny, fragile African-American lady had a voice far stronger than her body led me to anticipate. She is Mother Madelaine Johnson, the grand-daughter of an escaped slave, and heroine in the Free Methodist Church.

Mother Madelaine and her husband Walter (recently gone to heaven) planted 9 different churches in the US and Canada over the years. Her husband was described as one who "showed the Father's heart." Together they were used of God to change thousands of people's destinies.

Mother Madelaine looked at us and called us all "beautiful young people". At 56, that felt pretty good. Then she leaned towards us and said, "My grandfather, an escaped slave, always said to me, 'If I could do it, YOU can do it.' And I say to you. YOU can do it. Don't ever quit. Keep going. YOU are needed in this world."

OK..I am pumped. Ready. This world needs us. ARE YOU IN???

Water for the World

One of my passions for the last few years has been providing clean, safe water for desperately needy locations around the world. Following a sermon I preached in June, 2007, our church picked up the challenge, and CLEAR BLUE GLOBAL WATER PROJECT was founded. It's quite a story to tell what God has done...many other people have joined with us, and 60+ water projects have been completed in almost a dozen nations since then! Right now, a couple of guys from Cornerstone are in Uganda, drilling a well there. Here is the source of water for these refugees until now!

World Water Day is fast approaching...March 22. Our church has posted 3 billboards around the Akron area. What are YOU going to do?? Check out our website at clearblueproject.com for ideas and more information. You could download a label, put it on an empty water bottle, and let people help you fill it with change at work or school. You know how creative you are. :-) You can think of something.

Roads in Romania

It is my last night in Romania...I left home exactly one week ago tomorrow, landed in Budapest, Hungary and spent a day there. Then, Carol Tatman and I traveled with Paula Dunn, FM missionary to Romania, on a train to the city of Arad where the Dunns serve.

Bceause internet time is very scarce for me here, I haven't gotten to blog--but I will when I get home, and add some super pictures. Just let me warn you--my heart has been stretched way beyond it's normal borders. I will never feel the same about Europe again. I have a new place and new people in my heart.

And our great God wants them all to come home..