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I’m pretty good at losing listeners in a casual conversation.  Actually, I’m really good at it.  Want to know my secret?

I like to talk about poor kids in New Mexico.

“Well, Ash,” you could say, “that’s not exactly a fun, party-time topic.  Maybe you could stick to small talk…or you know…just talk about your own kids.”

And it’s certainly easier to do that.  It’s easier to talk about, think about, worry about, and invest in my own kids.  Just my own.  After all, I have relative control over them, their environment, their health, and a myriad of other things.  I don’t have control over anyone else’s.  What can I do for them anyway?  Why discuss something that seems outside of my reach?

Over the past 5 years or so, I’ve come to befriend some people who do have influence in other children’s lives.  They control their environment for large parts of the day and work to advocate for their mental, emotional, and physical health.  They invest large amounts of themselves into personally seeing to these kids’ academic success.  Who are these amazing people?

Teachers.

As I have often said, a large portion of our community’s future sits inside the classrooms of our local public schools.  In New Mexico, a great percentage of those children come to school with significant issues, ranging from food insecurity to neglect and abuse.  These are complex problems that we are not necessarily equipped to fix ourselves.  However, we know some people who are working hard to move these kids forward…to help them dream and reach and grow.  We know some people who are providing the security and support they desperately need, even if it is for only 6 hours a day.   We know some people who are impacting their futures with every lesson they teach.

We can support them.

Usually, we can bring our teachers cookies, help in their classrooms, give them hugs, listen to them, and share meals with them.  Right now, none of that is possible.   They are still trying to do the monumental tasks listed above…but through a computer screen.  Obviously, this is even more challenging, and quite a bit more discouraging. They need our encouragement and support more than ever.  What can we do?

• Don’t underestimate how massively your prayer impacts our community.
• Email an encouraging note to a teacher you may know. If you don’t know any, contact me and I’ll send you contact info for one.  If you want it to go to all teachers at our Shine school, send it to Jordan, the secretary, at bodette@aps.edu
• Consider signing up to do read-alouds using Screencastify for our librarian or a teacher. It saves them loads of time.
• Many teachers and staff members are still working at school in order to take advantage of reliable internet. Drop off some goodies at the front door of the school, then call to tell them the goodies are there.  505-281-0880

These actions seem small, but it makes a massive difference in the life of a teacher to know he or she is seen, appreciated, and supported.

Please consider ways in which you can lend support to the teachers who are investing in and serving “the least of these”.  Though it would be easier to focus only on our own issues at home (and don’t get me wrong…we’ve got them!), we are called to a higher purpose…to consider others as better than ourselves.  It may cost some time and comfort; but if we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, the chance to sacrifice for His sake is always worth it.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” - Phil. 2:3-4

“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink?  And when did we see you a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you?  The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” - Matthew 25:37-40

Greetings!

The sun has been out. That’s a huge answer to prayer. Though, as I write this, it is raining (as it inevitably does). But much of the past month or two have been extremely sunny.

Ministry at church continues moving forward. As a staff, we were just commenting the other day how amazing this season has been. At a time where COVID-19 could have shut us down, the church seems to be thriving under the current circumstances. Many people are meeting up in parks to spend time together, read the Bible, and generally just enjoy the each other’s company. People are gathering in their homes to watch service on Sundays (the UK Government still has a limit of 2 households per home if you are to meet your friends), and people are also quick to serve those around them as needed. Please pray that the church would continue to grow in this way. It’s been very encouraging to see. We are thankful how God is using this time to grow and stretch the church in various ways.

August in the UK is the time where most people tend to take time off to go on holiday. Therefore, I took a week to explore the island of Great Britain a bit more, spending some much-needed time up in the highlands of Scotland—the village of Tomintoul in the Cairngorms to be exact. Feeling the weight of all that has happened over the past 6 months (yes, it’s been half a year!), I really desired time away with Jesus to be outside, exercise, and process.

Upon my return I have felt rejuvenated, creative, driven, and these things are all good because starting this month we have finally started (officially!) my Masters of Arts in Christian Leadership through Sioux Falls seminary.

Many of you know how long this journey has been, and I am excited to say that I really do believe this school provides the best (as well as the cheapest), education available to me. Thank you for your support and prayers as we have worked to find the best school possible to come alongside my time in ministry in the UK. I will keep you updated as to how it goes!

Please Pray with Me:

• That my ministry would continue to grow in its love and effectiveness. Apart from my responsibilities of organizing and compiling the weekly service online, one of the things I have been doing is meeting weekly in the park with a man from the church around my age. Starting this coming week, we will be going through some ways to better understand people and personal interactions, as well as how Jesus has called us to love and serve those around us. Please pray for that time.
• For my schooling. That it would be helpful, uplifting, challenging, growing. And that we would find the best London based programs to partner with my coursework through Sioux Falls.
• For my host family, the Silverstone’s. Quarantine has added a weight and stress that has not been eased by having a new American with funny ways into the mix. They have been very gracious with me during my time here, and I ask for prayers for their strength and wisdom regarding their roles as they seek to love and serve.
• For the health of Redeemer Croydon. Due to many factors, it seems that it will not be possible for the church to meet in person for quite a while longer. Pray for our adaptation to the current situation, as well as for the spiritual health and growth of our members during this time.
• For your churches as well. Most of you either attend Heights Church in Arizona, or Mountain Christian Church in New Mexico. Regardless of what church you attend, please be praying for your leaders— especially your pastors, and your youth workers. I know how difficult times like this must be, and I have experienced first-hand the reactions of frustrated church members who simply want to meet again. Join me in praying for them, supporting them, and loving them. It really does mean the world to be unified in Christ, even as we experience frustration and anxiety regarding a mix of knowns and unknowns.
• My family. They are continuing to do well, and I am so thankful for their support and love in this time. Thank you so much for your support of them. They very much appreciate it as well!

It has been a huge blessing to walk this journey alongside you all. I know this season has been stretching all of you in so many ways, and I firmly believe that in spite of any difficulties we have, Jesus is there, offering love and support, ready to show himself in countless new and beautiful ways. Please continue to let me know how I can be praying for you, and as always, I can’t wait to see you all again!

Blessings, 

Brian Wade
 

In the midst of a global pandemic, our entire lives are drastically changing. Our family was planning a move, buying and selling homes, moving to a new state, starting new careers. It’s all stressful…….in today’s climate, it is stupid stressful. Certainly, your family has SOMETHING too. Our kids have a firsthand view to see how we manage this season and the inherent stresses involved in it. While it’s educational for them, it is also a little scary for us. We’re trying to be prayerful and we’re asking God to guide our decisions, but it’s hard to be patient.

All those verses about taking courage and trusting in the Lord? We are leaning hard on them, trying to live them out moment to moment and seeing them played out again and again. Yet, it’s still hard. Owning that it is hard, I think, is okay and probably even good.

In my daily Bible readings, I keep seeing things like:

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7 

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:13 

Then, just a few days ago, as I was making dinner, I was starkly reminded of how Jesus might be seeing my prayer life in this season. It wasn’t pretty. As I was chopping veggies, Langdon, our 8 year old, came into the kitchen and started asking questions about the move: Where will we live? When does school start? Will we live close to Grandma and Grandpa? What is my teacher’s name? What will our house look like? Will I have my own room? Are we going to have a tractor? You get the picture.

Right about the time I ran out of answers (and patience) Jesus gently reminded me that I have been asking HIM a lot of questions too. I suddenly realized that my prayer life has been a lot about me and not very focused on Him.

I came to the realization that I wanted the destination without the journey. I was so focused on being able to look back in a year and say, “look what God did in our lives last year,” but in truth, I wanted to skip that year entirely. I wanted to skip the unknown, the waiting, the patience and get right to the praise. Surely someone can relate!

Ironically, my 8 year old, brought into clear focus that living for God is living in the moment. I am asking God more and more to meet me in the every day. To straighten the road before us and make the next step obvious:        

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

And to trust in the plans He has for us:

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11

Being reminded that God wants to make a testimony of our lives and our faith, that this will be a season that we point back to again and again is powerful. We look forward to the day when we can say, “Look what God did in our lives during that year.” It will be awesome. But it won’t have any meaning unless we walk through it WITH Him. 

Dear Friends,

As a police officer I have been asked a lot lately about the political climate towards police in our nation. I would like to sit down at a table with an activist against police.

 I would start by asking them about their personal experiences so I could better understand where they are coming from. Once they were done telling their story I would apologize and recognize yes, racism still sadly exists and yes, there are some officers that abuse their power. I, as well as my fellow officers, despise officers that abuse their power. Not just because what they are doing is a complete contradiction to what we swore an oath to protect against but also because one bad officer paints all of us in a negative light. I would then ask if I could share my story and it would go something like this:

I became a police officer because I did not like people being treated unjustly. In my 12-year career I have been blessed to be part of helping a lot of people. I have never shot anyone although I have pointed my gun at many people. I have never had a complaint filed against me by the public or been accused of using excessive force. I look at each call as an opportunity to treat someone as I would want an officer to treat my loved ones.

My attitude and my file may not reflect an officer with a dramatic career of accomplishments, but I know I have made a difference. From making a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding of a suicidal woman, providing CPR to a teen who overdosed, to carrying a woman who had been shot up the street to paramedics. I’ve had a man thank me at court for arresting him and explaining to him the jail process. I’ve had the opportunity to pray with those who just lost a loved one. I’ve had countless opportunities to encourage the victims of domestic violence that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and are to be treated as such. I have responded to help where a fellow officer had been shot and had to wait to hear the news that he died. I have traveled to New Jersey for another officer’s funeral to show support to that community. I have been spit in the mouth by a man with Hepatitis C. I have had opportunities to encourage my fellow officers so they do not lose hope that their good works, that don’t make the news, are for naught.

This career does not come without its costs. When an officer is shot while I’m on shift, my wife has turned on the porch light fully expecting a command officer to come with the bad news. After seeing innocent children murdered, I have experienced symptoms of PTSD. When the protests started and the anti-police sentiment was in every headline the paranoia seeped in, ensuring I took a different route home each day and watch that no one was following me. I feel judged by the uniform I wear but I am not given a chance to be judged by my character.

Even with these negative consequences of the career I would still choose it all over again.

You may say I’m one of the good ones like I’m rare, but if you came on a ride along with me or any of my fellow officers you would see I am actually the norm. For all the events I listed above- I was not alone. Alongside me was another officer equally prepared to help and make a difference for good.

I would choose this career again because I know I am still making a difference. I can hold my head up high knowing I am one of the majorities of good officers that impact people’s lives for good every day. There will always be a cost to those who stand against evil. After our conversation we still may not see eye to eye but even if that is the case, I will keep my oath and show up for you every time that you call.  I will be ready to help you on your very worst day.

 “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” -Dallas Willard

I’m so far from who Jesus wants me to be right now. I’ve learned a mustard seed of what He would like me to know. However, it is exciting to look back and to see how God has brought me to this place.

 It all started in a small Baptist church where I saw many examples of discipleship. The very first memory that comes to mind is my Sunday school teacher introducing the topic of moral relativism. As I look back, these discussions seemed advanced for young adults. My teacher saw the ugly side of the world as a career judge. I believe her career allowed her to bring this point to life in a very relevant way. I quickly learned the meaning of moral relativism and how it was woven into my faith. This concept cannot be more important as it seems culture tells us every day that moral standards are up to individual interpretation.

There were others of course at that small church with outdated carpet that presented a Biblical standard via other means. Some memories stick out more than others. I recall being involved in a play that demonstrated the seriousness of the decision Christ asks us all to make. There was a Church camp where I really felt like I saw a glimpse of the Lord for the first time and started to learn His Word. There is a faithful woman who has been teaching Sunday school for 25+ years. To this day, she continues to encourage me on my visits home. Finally, I know that many prayers were offered for me and those around me to know God’s truth. I believe prayer may help someone more than anything else when it comes to discipleship.

However, my dad has had one of the largest influences on my life. My dad was always so humble, and I was impressed by this at a young age. This allowed him to see the best in people when I only saw the worst. My dad helped me see how judgmental I could be. I am still sometimes convicted of being judgmental, but it was his discipleship that first made me aware of this. There were other moments dear old Dad spoke wisdom in his own way. My most memorable Dad quote is “There are two things that I never regret: going to church and a good workout”. There have been times when I have not been sure about the workout part.

I have been transformed for the glory of God partly because I grew up with many strong Christian mentors. They prayed for me, taught me, and demonstrated the love of Christ to me. Though teaching Sunday school and leading youth group seems like a normal task within the Church, these cannot be left undone. Parents that disciple their children will always be invaluable.

Discipleship in general must continue for the survival of our Christian faith as it stands today. Without discipleship, we are living our lives with direction only from our selfish ambitions and popular opinion. How would things change if instead Jesus was living our lives? Who would He teach and who would He encourage given our individual circumstances?