Ministry In Wal-Mart's Parking Lot

On Friday, December 17th, 3:18 Ministries hosted a Christmas party for the children and staff of the San Carlos Youth Home. We go to the Youth Home on Fridays and provide a Bible story, crafts, snacks and games. Friday the 17th was a special time together. People all across the United States sent money, gift cards, fleece blankets, fleece hats and quilts so we could bless the children and staff with a wonderful Christmas memory.

Instead of being at the Youth Home, two staff members brought the children to our local Wal-Mart. The mother of four of the children, who was visiting them at the Youth Home, also came. Kara had met her at the parenting classes. Ron & Peggy Dew, 3:18 Ministries’ Board members, also joined us for the adventure. We spent an hour at Wal-Mart helping the children pick out a toy or two and then finding a piece of clothing they needed. It was so much fun to see the children receive a special gift and have a small need met. Next we invaded McDonalds for dinner. Happy Meals all around! Melissa Brown, 3:18 Ministries’ teammate, joined us there. The kids ate, laughed and played on the playground for awhile. To wrap up our evening, the children and staff came back to our house for hot chocolate and Christmas goodies. The kids also were able to pick out a hand tied fleece blanket and a fleece hat.

My highlight of the evening occurred as we were leaving Wal-Mart. During our time at Wal-Mart I helped the two older boys from the Youth Home get what they needed. We have known these two boys, ages 6 and 8, for a couple of years and have had a lot of fun spending time with them at the Youth Home. A couple weeks ago we were already at the Youth Home when the boys got home from school. When the 8 year old walked into the living room he said, “Finally I get to see you guys again!” I had a blast the evening of the Christmas party shopping with the boys. The younger boy needed shoes. It was quite an adventure trying on many different pairs to find just the right one. Two of my boys were helping him try to find the right pair. Shoes were flying everywhere. Several people walked by the shoe department and stared. It was quite the scene! We laughed a lot, but eventually found everything we needed.

As we were leaving Wal-Mart, Kara said, “My kids…get a hand.” Josiah, the 6 year old, looked up at me and held out his hand. I asked him if he wanted to hold my hand in the parking lot and he nodded his head yes. He grabbed my left hand and my 6 year old grabbed my right hand and the three of us walked out to the vehicles together.

As we were walking to the vehicles I realized this is what ministry is all about. For that moment, ministry was providing security and safety for a 6 year old in the scary world known as the Wal-Mart parking lot. It was simply walking alongside a young man who needed a hand to hold during this time of his life. Walking alongside, holding his hand and pointing him towards Jesus. I love my job!

I believe there are two truths about ministry from this encounter. Ministry can’t happen at an arm’s length. You have to be close to those to whom you are trying to minister. You have to be close both physically and emotionally. You have to be close and you have to build trust. Trust does not happen overnight…and especially with kids who find themselves at the Youth Home, or children of alcoholics, or children who have been abused. Trust takes some time as you continue to build relationships. Our goal from day one has been to walk alongside our Apache brothers and sisters and build a relationship with them so we have the right to share Jesus. We don’t have all the answers. We don’t have perfect solutions, but we know a man named Jesus who has changed our lives. And we are willing to walk hand-in-hand as we face this life together.

tory

Dognapped!

Several years ago a girl named Jasmyn came over to us while we were parked in the Basha's parking lot. She asked us to put up a sign for her puppy that had been stolen from her house. Her puppy was now lost and they were offering a reward for the small dog. She was very upset about her puppy that was taken right off of his tether in front of their house.

It caused me to think of how Satan is stealing children left and right from the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Sometimes he just snatches them away with force and children are robbed of their childhood by bad choices the adults in their lives make. Many times this causes them to be angry and bitter. Others are lured away like a puppy with a toy or snack. They are offered things like alcohol or drugs with the promise of a good time. It breaks my heart more than Jasmyn losing her puppy to see the souls of children who Satan is holding tight in his grip.

Although this is a grim picture, there is HOPE!! God loves them so much that He gave His one and only son Jesus as a ransom for all these precious souls!! There is an amazing reward waiting for the children as they surrender their lives to a God that loves them more than they can ever imagine!!

Please pray as we continue to share with them about their rescuer, Jesus, that they would see the sacrifice He made and accept the reward!!

His Child,
Kara

Words of Wisdom from the Prophet Joel

I love studying the prophets of the Bible. I am not completely sure why I have been so drawn to them. Maybe it is their close relationship with God...hearing His voice daily. Maybe it is the concept of continuously proclaiming God’s Word in the wilderness and wondering if anyone is listening (that hits a little close to home at times!). Maybe it is the urgency of their message. I am not really sure.

The prophet Joel is probably my favorite. I find myself drawn back to this little three chapter book time and time again. God has taught me so much from the book of Joel! The biggest challenge and encouragement God has given me is from Joel 3:14-16. It reads,

“Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. It is there that the day of the Lord will soon arrive. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the earth and heavens will begin to shake. But to his people of Israel, the Lord will be a welcoming refuge and a strong fortress.” (NLT)

That first phrase motivates me and haunts me all at the same time. There are thousands upon thousands in this world who are lost, dying and going to hell. They are waiting in the valley of decision. The suicide rate in San Carlos is seven times the national average. During our first trip here in 2001, Kara was teaching the first day of the Vacation Bible School on “sin.” She asked the kids to give her an example of a sin. A 5 year old boy in the front row raised his hand and with the first answer to the discussion said, “Suicide.” I am haunted by the tragic deaths of teenagers we know. Death on reservations is not limited to the elderly. I look around and I see so many who are separated from God. Can a relationship with a welcoming refuge and a strong fortress make a difference in peoples’ lives? Most definitely! How many more are in the valley of decision? And then I begin to wonder...Has the church become too complacent? Is the church more concerned about being comfortable or about reaching out to those in the valley of decision? I pray our eyes will be open to the lost around us, both on the reservations in our country and those who live right across the street from us.

tory

Interesting Article

I read an interesting article last night.  It was posted to Facebook by a fellow missionary to Native Americans.  I am still thinking about what I want to say and how I want to say it, but thought I would share the article.  What are your thoughts?  Please comment!

tory

http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/25375/Article.aspx

Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

I wanted to take a few minutes to make my list of Thanksgiving. This blog is usually about what is happening in 3:18 Ministries, but I wanted to hijack this space to share with you what I am thankful for! Here is the Top Ten list in alphabetical order…


The Board of 3:18 Ministries – We are just getting started, but already I am confident that God has put together a strong team to help guide this ministry. We need accountability and have a team around us who have the permission to hold us accountable. We trust them. I am so thankful for our board.

God – The author of life. Our sustainer. Our provider. Our salvation. Our hope. I am so thankful for all He is, all He has done and all He is preparing to do.

God’s Call – I know me and I’m sure I could find someone better, more qualified than myself. I don’t understand God’s call, but I am so thankful that He would call me to such an important ministry.

My Family – I can’t imagine what it is like for a couple to go to their families and say, “We are becoming missionaries and moving.” Our parents have been more than supportive over these past 7 years. They have never made us feel guilty and in fact have gone out of their way to be our biggest cheerleaders and supporters. We are so blessed by our parents.

My Kids – Our family isn’t quite the traditional family (just look at our family picture on the Tory & Kara Satter page!) and not even close to what I imagined my family would look like, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I am humbled that God would choose me to be a father to these kids. They bring me joy beyond words!

My Wife – No words can completely express my gratitude for my wife. She left her ministry ten years ago to become my wife. God, in His goodness, gave us a ministry where both of our gifts can be used. I am so blessed to walk alongside my incredible wife for this journey.

Our Journey – These past seven years have not been the easiest road, but looking back, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. I am thankful for the journey we have been on that has brought us to today. However, I am more thankful for the journey ahead, for what God is going to accomplish as we begin to see that tomorrow can be different.

Our Support Team – One of the toughest parts of stepping into the mission field was not knowing where our next paycheck was coming from. The fear of the unknown has deepened our faith in God, our provider. We could not have been on the mission field for these past 7 years without our support team. Thank you for your sacrificial giving which has allowed us to do what God has called us to do.  I am also humbled that we have over three hundred people receiving our Prayer Warrior Updates and battling with us through prayer.  Thank you!

Our Supporting Churches – We are so thankful for the churches who have supported us from day one as well as our most recent supporting church who began supporting us last month. We are also thankful for the churches who send Short-Term Ministry Teams to partner with us on the front lines. It has been some great partnerships and we are grateful.

The Team of 3:18 Ministries (both present and future) – I am looking at this team God is forming and there is no one else I would rather do life and ministry with than this team. God is building and bringing the right people at the right time. I am excited for the present and future of this team God has called! I know eternity is going to be different because of this team God is forming.

-tory

Christmas Project Update

3:18 Ministries' Christmas party for the San Carlos Youth Home kids and staff is December 17th.  The director and staff are really excited about this event.  To date we have received a little over $500 towards the Christmas project!  We have also received hand-tied fleece blankets and will be receiving handmade quilts.  Please keep praying for this wonderful opportunity to share Jesus with the staff and kids at the Youth Home.

For more information about the Christmas Project read this post.
http://3-18ministries.blogspot.com/2010/10/318-ministries-christmas-project.html

Words Of Wisdom From A Five Year Old

This past Friday at the Youth Home our lesson was on creation. My wife was reading from The Early Reader’s Bible. “God Made Many Things – At one time there was no world. There was no sun. There was no moon. There were no stars. ‘I will make a world,’ God said. So God made our world. Will you thank Him for our world.” And then the kids all said, “Thank you God for our world.” The story continued, “’I will make a sun,’ God said. God made the sun. It helps you see all day long. Will you thank Him for the sun?” And then the kids again said, “Thank you God for the sun.” And in that moment of us enjoying the children’s unison chorus before Kara continued to the creation of the moon and stars, our 5 year old said, “The dark needed the light so God made the sun.”

I am amazed at the profound wisdom in those words. I know he didn’t understand the depth of what came out of his mouth, but I have been unable to shake those words from my head. The dark needed the light. The statistics of the poverty, suicide rate and unemployment of the San Carlos Apache Reservation are overwhelming. They are thrown around all the time and our minds cannot fathom what they really mean. And yet the greatest need is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Across the United States, approximately 1 out of 10 Native American have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The dark needs the light.

In the midst of wrestling with this I was reminded of a story from Frederick Buechner’s book The Magnificent Defeat.

“It is a peculiarly twentieth-century story, and is almost too awful to tell, about a boy of twelve or thirteen who, in a fit of crazy anger and depression, got hold of a gun somewhere and fired it at his father, who died not right away but soon afterward.

"When the authorities asked the boy why he had done it, he said that it was because he could not stand his father, because his father demanded too much of him, because he hated his father. And then later on, after he had been placed in a house of detention, a guard was walking down the corridor late one night when he heard sounds from the boy's room, and he stopped to listen. The words he heard the boy sobbing out in the dark were, 'I want my father, I want my father.'"

I am convinced that if we could really hear the cries on the reservations across the United States, not the physical cries or the superficial cries but the cries from the depths of the souls, that we would hear “I want my Father.” The dark needed the light so God made the sun. The dark needed the light so God gave His Son.

Thank you God for the Son.

-tory

3:18 Ministries Update

We are heading out again this afternoon for our weekly ministry at the San Carlos Apache Youth Home. Our relationships with the kids and the staff continue to deepen. Kara has been asked to provide some training for the Youth Home staff. The first training will happen during the week of the 15th. She also continues to partner with the counselor at the Youth Home to provide training during the San Carlos Social Services Parenting Classes. Anytime Child Protective Services is involved with a family, the parents are required to participate in parenting classes. Kara and the counselor are teaching parts of those classes and have received great feedback.

We already have 2 short-term ministry teams on the calendar for 2011. If you are interested in bringing a team to partner with 3:18 Ministries, please contact us as soon as possible. Dates will begin to fill up quickly!

God is moving and opening doors. Thanks for your prayers and partnership!

tory

More from Oswald

I am so thankful for Oswald Chambers.  Here are some thoughts from My Utmost For His Highest October 26th.

A missionary is one sent by Jesus Christ as He was sent by God. The great dominant note is not the needs of men, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in work for God is behind, not before. The tendency to-day is to put the inspiration ahead, to sweep everything in front of us and bring it all out to our conception of success. In the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, the Lord Jesus. The ideal is to be true to Him, to carry out His enterprises.

Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and His point of view is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary enterprise the great danger is that God's call is effaced by the needs of the people until human sympathy absolutely overwhelms the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, the conditions so perplexing, that every power of mind falters and fails. We forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary enterprise is not first the elevation of the people, nor the education of the people, nor their needs; but first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations."

Two things I want to highlight from this selection.  The first one is that I think somehow we have a specific idea in our mind of what a "missionary" is.  I know from my days growing up in church that I had a preconceived idea of what a missionary looked like (plaid polyester pants, foreign looking button up shirt and a slide projector under one arm).  This can be our first thought of a missionary and yet God has called all of His followers to be missionaries.  The Great Commission in Matthew 28 says to go, baptize and teach.  That is for all followers.  We have all been called!

The second thing that jumped out at me was "In missionary enterprise the great danger is that God's call is effaced by the needs of the people."  According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary: efface - to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface.  As the foundation of 3:18 Ministries continues to be formed, we are striving to keep the Great Commission at the front of our focus.  We could be distracted by the enormous physical needs or the perplexing conditions.  We could get stuck on a perceived need and totally miss the real, spiritual need.  We must stay focused on those who are lost, dying and going to hell.  We must continue to be a voice crying in the wilderness.  We must go, baptize and teach.

3:18 Ministries' Christmas Project

We will be blessing the children of the San Carlos Youth Home and staff with gifts and dinner out! The Youth Home is the tribal-run group foster home for children who have been removed from their families. We want to let the kids and staff know they are loved and appreciated. We especially want them to know the love of Christ during the Christmas season.

We will be taking the kids and staff shopping at Wal-mart for a toy and some clothes for each child. We would also like to bless the staff with a gift card so they can treat themselves! After our Wal-Mart excursion, we are hoping to take the kids to McDonalds for a special dinner of Happy Meals.

We would like donations of Wal-mart, McDonalds gift cards or designated checks by December 10th so we can plan accordingly. We will have the party on December 17th in the afternoon and evening. Thank you for helping make Christmas special for kids who are away from their families on Christmas and the staff who care for them.

Gift cards or checks with a note attached designating the gift for the Christmas Project can be sent to:
3:18 Ministries
P.O. Box 349
Globe, AZ  85502

October's Newsletter

October's newsletter is in the mail.  If you are not currently on 3:18 Ministries mailing list and would like to receive a copy of our newsletter, email us at threeeighteen@hotmail.com.  Blessings!

The Ministry of Presence

I remember one day at my first full-time ministry the senior minister and I were going to be with one of our church families who was taking their elderly mom off of life support. As a person who tends to say stupid things when I am uncomfortable, I asked Shane, the Senior Minister, what I should say. He said, “We don’t have to say anything to them. Our presence will let them know that God is with them.”

That day I began to understand a little about the powerful ministry of presence. We didn’t have to preach a long sermon or offer an eloquent prayer. We didn’t have to have all of the answers or something profound to say, we just had to be there. (and luckily I didn't say anything stupid!)

Several years ago my phone rang around 10:45 p.m. on a Friday night. I was a little apprehensive as to the late night call. One of our Apache friends was on the other end. He proceeded to tell me that he had just been down all day. His sister had been flown to a Phoenix hospital with congestive heart failure and work had not gone well. The worries and stress of life were weighing him down.

He was so down that this man that eats, sleeps and breathes baseball was ready to walk away from the little league team he was coaching and walk home (about 5 miles). He told me he was ready to walk and then he looked down the sideline and saw us there cheering for him and his team. Choked up he simply said, “Thank you for being at the game.”

No sermons were preached. Not a single profound thought was shared. However, we were where God wanted us to be and ministry happened. Don't overlook the powerful ministry of presence. Are you where you need to be for ministry to happen?

tory

Fatherless Generation

A new book showed up in the 3:18 Ministries' mail box this week...Fatherless Generation by John Sowers (thanks for the blessing friend!).  I am so anxious to read it that it leapfrogged over several other books that were patiently waiting in line.  I hope to begin reading it this week.  Have you read it yet?  If you have, what are your thoughts?  If not, get it and then post your thoughts!  In the meantime, check out 3:18 Ministries' Board Member Mike Andrews' thoughts on the book.

http://theoquest.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatherless-generation.html

Just Playing in the Dirt

I love gardening. There is a rush as I wrestle with the soil, plant the tiny seeds, water and care for the delicate little plants, watch as life breaks forth through the surface, encourage the plants as they continue to grow and then harvest the fruit at the end of the battle. Plus, there is nothing quite like enjoying the fruits of your own garden.

Let me rephrase my earlier statement...I love gardening in the Midwest. In Nebraska it seemed as if I just had to think about a garden and things began to rise out of the black, healthy soil. There was no such thing as soil prep. Arizona gardening is completely different.

As I prepared for my garden in Arizona I knew I needed to turn over every ounce of soil in the area. The top soil was gray and completely robbed of all nutrients by the elements. Shovel load by shovel load I dug deep looking for better soil. I kept hitting rocks (which isn’t surprising when you are digging in a desert), but what did surprise me was the root systems I kept encountering. For plants and trees to survive in a desert, they send out an extensive root system near the surface. After several hours of battling, I finally had mixed up the soil and removed many of the larger rocks and root systems. I made a quick trip to the local Wal-Mart and picked up good soil with extra nutrients to put into the mix. My little patch of land was beginning to resemble a garden.

As I was working on the garden the parallels to ministry became clear. We are working in a dry and barren land. The elements have robbed so many kids of the nutrients they need to survive. As we dig deep there are so many obstacles we encounter including an extensive root system. And yet as we have battled and battled, we are beginning to see the truth sprout in the lives of some of the kids. It has been a slow process and yet God is moving and working in the lives of many. There is hope because we serve a God of hope!  We long to see revival break out in San Carlos and believe that day is coming!

Just playing in the dirt,

tory

10 Sentences that Define Native American Youth

Several times over the past few years we have watched a video series on working with Native American youth. The videos were from a leadership training hosted by On Eagles’ Wings Ministries, a Native American ministry. During the first session they talked about 10 sentences that define Native American youth. Here are those sentences:

1. There is no future.
2. I think I can’t.
3. There are no boundaries.
4. I messed up - it is over.
5. Whatever it takes to stop the pain.
6. I feel powerless.
7. Anything to belong.
8. It is all about me.
9. It is hard to trust.
10. It is never going to change.

I don’t know about you, but as I heard those sentences the first time and as I continue to think about them, it is depressing. I find myself overcome with hopelessness and despair if I spend too much time dwelling on them. And yet, these are the realities of the students we work with everyday. This is not just some random list, this is their lives. I can think of specific kids for each sentence and many kids that encompass many of the sentences.

In the midst of wrestling with this list I continue to be drawn to one simple fact: Jesus is the only one who can redefine the students we are so privileged to walk alongside. Please pray for us to be able to effectively point these students to The One!

-tory

From a short-term ministry team member

Here are the thoughts from a friend who was here on a short-term ministry team in August.  Thanks Eric for your insight and perspective!  I was going to link to one post, but then several other ones would be overlooked so I am just linking to his blog.  Scroll down his page to read his thoughts about their time in Arizona.

http://ericandtheblog.blogspot.com/

A post from a friend

So many times over these past 7 years God has reminded me...and reminded me...and reminded me that His timing is not always my timing.  Recently I have found myself frustrated when things were not moving faster (see previous posts!).  A good friend of ours posted this on her blog this morning.  A great reminder for me and maybe for you.  Enjoy and be challenged!  Thanks Joell!

http://jomamasvillage.blogspot.com/2010/09/do-you-wonder-why-you-have-to-feel.html

-tory

A Life Lesson

Last week I got a text from an Apache teenage girl who wanted me to pick her up and take her auntie’s house. She was frantic. She was afraid that her other auntie would call the police and have her put in jail because she was at her boyfriend’s house. I wasn’t sure what to do and if I should get involved in this family drama. While texting this teenage girl, her mom, whom she doesn’t live with, called me and asked me if I would help her daughter. She said they had been having problems with her and she needed someone to help her. I decided that I would help her and went and picked her up at her boyfriend’s house. When talking with this girl I asked why her auntie was so upset with her. She said that her auntie didn’t want her staying with her boyfriend because she didn’t want her to become pregnant like her cousin. I asked her if she thought her auntie wanted what was best for her. She said that she did, but it made her mad.

I thought to myself, “How many times do I get mad when I hear things from others about myself that I don’t like?” It wears on me. It makes me frustrated. Why? I think it is because deep down I know the truth of the matter. Instead of letting it affect me negatively I need to see it as positive no matter how the information was delivered. Knowing those things make me into a better person. They refine me into who God wants me to be.

As I encouraged her to take what her auntie was saying, I came away with insight to myself and what God wants me to become. I pray for my Apache friend that she will seek God’s best for her and hear that people are trying to help her. I pray I can take the criticism that I am given and use it to make me into the person, wife and mom that God wants me to be.

His Child - Kara

Thanks Oswald. Sorry God.

So if I am going to be completely honest here, the truth is that these past few weeks have left me discouraged, frustrated, overwhelmed and feeling like I am running through mud (you know when the mud keeps piling up on your shoes and the more you keep going the harder it is to move?). Stuff that should be pretty simple has become monstrous tasks. Things just aren’t falling into place. Every task is a task (and a half!). In total transparency, I have found myself several times wondering if the greener grass on the other side would be a heck of a lot easier.

And then today I pulled out Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost For His Highest.

The first thing that happens after we recognize our election by God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our preconceived ideas, our narrow-minded thinking, and all of our other allegiances— we are turned solely into servants of God’s own purpose. The entire human race was created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Sin has diverted the human race onto another course, but it has not altered God’s purpose to the slightest degree. And when we are born again we are brought into the realization of God’s great purpose for the human race, namely, that He created us for Himself. This realization of our election by God is the most joyful on earth, and we must learn to rely on this tremendous creative purpose of God. The first thing God will do is force the interests of the whole world through the channel of our hearts. The love of God, and even His very nature, is introduced into us. And we see the nature of Almighty God purely focused in

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world. . . .”

We must continually keep our soul open to the fact of God’s creative purpose, and never confuse or cloud it with our own intentions. If we do, God will have to force our intentions aside no matter how much it may hurt. A missionary is created for the purpose of being God’s servant, one in whom God is glorified. Once we realize that it is through the salvation of Jesus Christ that we are made perfectly fit for the purpose of God, we will understand why Jesus Christ is so strict and relentless in His demands. He demands absolute righteousness from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God.

Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Thanks Oswald. Sorry God.

-tory

Angels and Demons

During the summer of 1999, I had the privilege of helping at a junior high week of church camp at Northeast Iowa Christian Service Camp. One evening we played a game called “Angels and Demons.” The campers were all blindfolded and their task was to find their way to heaven. Along the way there were angels and demons (roles portrayed by the staff). The campers were allowed to ask any question they wanted. They then had to choose whom they trusted and whom they wanted to follow. (The angels always told the truth and the demons could lie.)  The angels led the campers to "Heaven" and the demons led the campers to "Hell."

This game began as just another fun evening activity at camp. The camp faculty joked around when we decided the chapel would serve as our "Hell" and the cafeteria would be "Heaven." Even as this activity began we just saw it as another evening activity like the faculty hunt or the talent show. I know you are not suppose to have favorites in youth ministry, but I think most of us do. A little while into the game, I saw one of my favorites wandering around lost. I made my way over to him and started talking. I was beginning to earn his trust when one of the "demons" came over and began convincing this camper not to trust me. Within minutes, I found myself with my back 5 feet away from the “gates of hell” begging this young man to listen to what I had to say. In that instant, as I begged him to listen, it was no longer just a game I was playing. I had my back to the gates of hell and was pleading with him for his soul.

One of the rules for the activity was that when a student told you to leave, you had to leave. This young man told me to leave. I begged and pleaded with him to reconsider.  I promised him I was telling the truth and he was heading in the wrong direction. He told me to leave and I stepped back quietly. I will never forget as I stood and watched as he was escorted through the gates of hell.

Eleven years later, we are daily fighting with our backs 5 feet away from the gates of hell. Today our battle is not just a game. We are fighting a battle for the souls of children, teens and adults on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. We are fighting where there is a 76% unemployment rate, the poverty rate is 77% and the teen suicide rate is 7 times the national average. We are fighting where over 30% of the population is under the age of 18 - where teen moms are struggling to raise families. We are fighting where drugs, alcohol and gangs are rampant, where hopelessness is the norm. We are fighting and will continue to fight the battle that we know He will win.

tory

Prayer Tent in Anaheim

Please read this blog from a close friend.  We have been wondering how this idea would work in San Carlos.  What do you think?

In the middle of my day yesterday I set up the "Prayer Tent" on the sidewalk outside the Church. (KACC in Anaheim) The people who are usually there weren't able to be there. As I sat there with no one asking for prayer I wondered, "why am I sitting here?" I actually said out loud, mockingly, "I have this great idea for YOU!" I mean I didn't have this idea. That guy should be here not me. I have a lot of things I could be doing...
http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2010/09/im-rambling-bitso-what.html

An Amazing Opportunity

Last week I started my first day substitute teaching at the San Carlos Primary and Intermediate schools. It was a great day! I was so nervous walking into the school not knowing what I would be doing. It has been a number of years since I worked at the schools. When I found out my assignment for the day I was relieved that I would get work with someone who had taught the curriculum before and had received training! Then I started seeing familiar faces of the children I know and love. It was such a great time to see them and hear how they are doing. One little girl told my fellow teacher I was the person who taught her about Jesus! I was thrilled to know that was the one thing she remembered about me.

Each chance I got to see the kids I have known for years I tried to remind them of how much I love them and that I am there for them because God loves them. I pray that they will be able to tell their friends God loves them too! I hope to get to see many more students and have an impact on them and the faculty as the school year progresses. I am looking forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays when I get to spend time at the San Carlos schools!

His Child - Kara

September's newsletter

We just picked up September's newsletter from the printer.  If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email us at threeeighteen@hotmail.com.  Let us know if you would like to receive it via email or a hard copy to your house.  Thanks for your support.

3:18 Ministries...The Foundation

Foundations are probably the least exciting part of a house.  The roof and rafters...pretty exciting.  Windows and lights have a visible purpose.  Usually foundations are boring and not thought of most of the time.  And yet if the foundation is bad, the whole house is in trouble.  At 3:18 Ministries, we are in the process of laying God's foundation for His ministry here.  We have 4 people who have agreed to be on our board and several other people praying about their involvement with the board.  We have begun working on our bylaws.  Once the bylaws are completed then we can begin the process of applying for our 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service.  Things are moving forward.  It is not the most glamorous time in the history of 3:18 Ministries, but it is such a vital part!  Please pray for God to lay His foundation for His ministry to the San Carlos Apache people.

Two things

C.T. Studd wrote...


"Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell."
 
Read the rest of Robert's post here:
http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-things.html

A Life Cut Short...

Sunday I attended a funeral for a 17 year old that we have known since 2002. He had been hit by a car early on the morning of August 9th. He was a boy with a sweet, kind heart that often had a wall covering it to appear as a tough guy. He had many obstacles before him; sometimes home was tough, he was deaf and he was longing for a place to be accepted and loved.

I was full of emotion and memories as the Master of Ceremonies asked us to rise while they brought in the casket. Rolling in the double doors of Rice Gymnasium was a casket with about 15 young men dressed in blue t-shirts with blue bandanas in their pockets and covering their faces like bandits. They were all members of his family or his gang family. My heart was broken. I looked around at other young men who were showing where their loyalties lay. I knew their souls were hanging in the balance. This could have just as easily been any one of them in this casket, but it wasn’t …this time.

They began the service with a worship time. I prayed. I prayed each person there with a broken heart would let Jesus be their sustainer and comfort. Then the eulogy began. I heard the wails of a mother who was mourning the death of her teenage son. No mother can fathom losing a child that they love. Again, my heart was broken.

I remembered all of the times we had spent with this young man. His smile, wit and talents were gifts he would share with those around him. His hurt, pain and struggles he wore on his face. We had watched him grow and now I participated in mourning his passing. At the funeral they spoke of his relationship with Jesus. I pray he continued to walk with the Savior. I hope the seeds we planted and the love we gave helped him on his journey to walk with the Lord. I continue to pray for the young men who carried his casket, and his huge family, that they too would truly know Jesus personally.

His child,
Kara

Thoughts from a board member...

Here is a link to Mike's blog. He is one of our board members.

http://theoquest.blogspot.com/2010/08/318-ministries.html

Arizona Recap Video

3:18 Ministries Short-Term Ministry Team Partner
Parkcrest Christian Church Long Beach, CA
August 9th - 15th

Thoughts from a short-term ministry team member

Here are the post-trip writings from Evan.  He was here with the group from Parkcrest Christian Church.  We are already looking forward to next year!

http://www.realevanmcelrath.com/blog/2010/08/arizona-wrapup-post

What a day...

This was my day on August 9th.


A man, Manuel, came to the door looking for help. Hold on, I happen to work at a church in our Cross-Cultural Ministries department. I work with the homeless and people who are looking for all kinds of assistance. Anyway, back to Manuel, he lost his job, the person he was renting a room from up and moved and took/threw out his belongings. His daughter is on Sec. 8 housing so he can't stay with her without jeopardizing her housing.
He needed a place to stay for the night. I sent him to a motel to find out if they had a room. On the way back he put in an application at the .99 cent store. When he came back, they did have a room so we paid for a night.
He was so happy he started to cry. He wanted to shake my hand and when I did he grabbed it and kissed it.
He said he had talked to some other Churches but they couldn't help.
He sat down, looked up at the sky and prayed for help. A guy came up and told him to go to Knott Ave. Christian Church because "they care there."
That was a good day.

Well, here is an update on Manuel.
He came to Community Assistance later that same day to get food and when Jim, one of our volunteers, talked to him, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior.
A good day indeed!

Later in the afternoon I got a phone call from Tory. He told me that an Apache kid, Donnie, I knew from a few years ago; actually I taught him how to do a magic trick while I was there on a Short-Term Missions trip, was hit by a car and killed that morning. Donnie was deaf and involved in gangs.
That day isn't so good any more.

Kids like Donnie are the reason Liz and I are being called to the Reservation. And guys like Manuel are the reason I'm here at Knott Ave. for now.

In Him,

Robert

Interesting week...

Several nights ago I spent some time out watching the stars. It was a beautifully clear night, the night of the Perseid Meteor Shower. I didn’t see many shooting stars, but I was amazed by the vast expanse of the stars. You can’t help but look at the stars and feel so small.

Tonight I was driving our teenage boys back to their biological parents’ homes and there was a thunderstorm surrounding us. We watched lightning dance across the sky for 30-40 miles around us. As the lightning bolts zigzagged down and the expanse of the storm enveloped us, I felt small.

Monday we received word that a teenager we have known for 7 years was tragically killed. Details are still sketchy, but it is a horrible situation. Thursday and Friday we were privileged to spend some time in a neighborhood in San Carlos. We have been spending time with those kids for more than 7 years. On Thursday several of the teenage boys stopped by to chat. They talked about drinking and partying. My heart broke as they joked about the emptiness they were chasing. We talked a little about the boy who was killed. One boy callously said, “That’s life. We are all going to die.” Earlier that day I talked with a close friend who was given until Tuesday to be out of his house. He was broken as he looked at his family being homeless in 5 days. On Friday a good friend of ours had the opportunity to dialog with a teenage girl. This girl shared her desire to have someone to talk with. She feels like she has no support, no boundaries and no one who cares.

This week I have been overwhelmed with the pain and emptiness that surrounds San Carlos. It makes me feel so small and so hopeless. How can we even make a dent in the darkness? How can we help these precious children see that there is more to life than what they can see? How can we give them hope when a teenager dying is just another day?

The truth is that we are small. We are just a speck in this universe. However, there is a God who made the stars and knows them by name. He holds the lightning bolts in His hands and they obey His voice. How can we make a dent in the darkness? We can’t, but there is a God who is real, who is powerful, who is filled with love and compassion, who can. I’m small, but He is big!

tory

First summer of 3:18 Ministries!

I can't believe our summer is over and we had the privilege of serving alongside so many incredible high school students and adults.  This summer we had groups from Ridgeview Christian Church in Rolla, Missouri; Kingsway Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska; Central Christian Church in Saint Joseph, Missouri; and Parkcrest Christian Church in Long Beach, California.  These groups served the people of the San Carlos Apache Reservation by presenting Vacation Bible Schools in several neighborhoods, serving the Youth Home (tribal run group foster home), fixing the exterior of the San Carlos Cultural Center as well as painting inside, painting outside and inside the San Carlos Fitness Center and providing a Sports Camp for the youth of San Carlos.  God did some amazing things are we are excited to see what He has in store for the future!