• Today was an absolutely awesome day at Westbrook
• It was my first Sunday back teaching at Westbrook in five weeks.  I always enjoy taking some time off in July.  Led a mission trip to Mexico, took a couple of vacation days, and even was able to speak at my home church last weekend.  On this same trip, we also celebrated my father’s 80 birthday.  His actual birthday is August 19,   What a great weekend to spend time with my family.
• I think everyone at Westbrook was blown away with our special guest musician today.  His name is Hector David and he is acclaimed to be one the finest violinist in all of Latin America. From what we witnessed today I think everyone around our place would probably agree.  Phenomenal!  Thanks to our own Pastor Jonaton for being the Chicago pipe line of fabulous Latino musicians.
• After a few weeks of teasing the info out, we unveiled a brand new ministry.  Avenue 56 is specifically geared for 5 and 6th grade students.
• Gente Unida ministries is doing well this summer.  Pastor Amado, Joy and Myah  returned home Friday morning from a two week vacation.
• We passed hundreds of books this weekend in preparation for a new series that begins on August 31.  The series is entitled The ABC’s of Financial Success.  Let me know if you need a book.
• Had a great summer with a cool intern.  Thanks Tim Captain.
• Getting ready for a new week!

Headed to Robinson for a few days.  We’re going to be celebrating dad’s 80th.  I’m ready for a great back to school season.  We’re going to be announcing some really cool brand new ministry initiatives in a few weeks.  You’re gonna love them.  See you in a few days!

I’ve still got a lot of catching up to do from the first of July and one of those things that I want to share is a “spoken word” that I was blessed by a few weeks ago at the North American Christian Convention.  Among the meetings that I attended, one of them was hosted by Pastor Dudley Rutherford and Dream Of Destiny.  Dream of Destiny is a ministry to encourage and equip our Bible Colleges to reflect the wonderful and diverse landscape of believers around the world.  One of their guys named Phillip Allen presented an amazing piece of original work called Colorblind - Not Colorless.  You can watch a video of this piece here…  but I also wanted to post the words.  It’s amazing!

(Imagine A Church) Colorblind But Not Colorless

The church has been hiding behind

Stained-glass ministries for too long

And stained-glasses dictate the color of the light

That shines through and we live behind the tinted windows

Of our comfort zone

Imagine a church that looks like God

Colorblind but not colorless

And the rest of the world can actually see

Themselves in it

‘Cause they begin to see the faith as real and not counterfeit

Imagine my transparency impacting another life

‘Cause they relate to the complexion of my heart

Not my shade of black or white

Because pain can minister to pain

Hurt can relate to hurt and love

Doesn’t distinguish the hue of a man

‘Cause pure love itself is only hu-man

Jesus taught that one

Imagine a culture of discipleship

Extending a hand to mentor the man next to you and vice versa

Imagine all of America answering this altar call

‘Cause the church overcame its spiritual inertia

Imagine if I would nurture

the same world that Jesus died to save

According to grace

The umbrella that protects with no partiality to race

Imagine if I presented the world a church

That any and every non-believer would embrace

‘Cause they all would see a face…that looks like them

“It might not work!”

Well Christ didn’t make excuses so don’t hand me that

A church without diversity is a church that’s handicapped

If we truly want change

We have to be change and not react to the change

That’s already in action

But the church is afraid of the change it’s supposed to make happen

And the world is a greater attraction

‘Cause it’s making change along color lines

Just without the moral attachment

Even though the deadline has passed

It’s not too late for Dr. King’s prophetic dream to come to pass

In the pews and the pulpit

Satan has made diversity look like the culprit

For too long

Imagine a church that’s colorblind but not colorless

‘Cause where we worship has come down

To who looks like us

So Sunday morning has become a family reunion

Well whether we like it or not

God says “Guess who’s comin’ to dinner!”

My Dream of Destiny will be a reality

Because my church will be colorblind but not colorless

© Phillip Allen 2008

Thanks for your prayers. The week was great. There were a few interesting moments, but overall… awesome!

We leave for our Mexico trip at 4AM tomorrow morning.  I’ll share some pictures and some great stories in a few days. Please pray for us!

We are just days away from heading to Tijuana for our annual Mission Trip to Mexico.  A team of 39 missionaries will be working again with Amor Ministries from San Diego.  Over the last 10 years we have built 27 houses, one firestation and this year we will be building a school.  We are all pretty pumped and ready to live out our theme for 2008…  Take It In!

With the last minute flurry of details upon us, let me ask of behalf of our entire team…  Please keep us in your prayers.  Not only will our team be building this school, several of our group will also be ministering to an orphanage that we have connected with in the last year or two.  I can’t wait to show you pictures of what God is doing.

I  really think that the Church at large is  beginning to think about Multi-Culturalism in our churches.  I really think that the consistent passionate appeal about the church of today mirroring the world that we live in,  is beginning to spring forth and flourish.  I think that the efforts of so many have taken deep root and a harvest is on the horizon.

Why do I think this?….  more and more people are talking about it.  More and more churches are focusing upon it and more and more people are beginning to write about it.  For instance this past week I was interviewed by a researcher and author from Marymount University in Virginia.  This gal is a professor in the Theology and Religious studies dept. and is working on a book about the rise of intentional Multi-Ethnic  churches.  This is so wonderful if you ask me….  for we are a diverse nation.  In fact as I write this post I am sitting at a McDonald’s waiting  for Griffin to finish at a birthday party.  Talk about diverse:  There are three white people in the store- me and two other employees.  A nice Latino family just left and the last eight people who walked in were either Indian or African - American.  Diversity happens at Walmart, it happens at McDonald’s.  It should happen every Sunday in God’s house.

So we have this awesome young Youth Pastor at Westbrook. His name is Rick Marcum and he has just begun his sixth year of ministry with our students. We are so blessed to share ministry with he and Mindy and Mylan. While we love them beyond words… we’re gearing up to lose them one of these days to church planting. When that happens our loss will be the kingdom’s gain.

While Rick and Mindy are at CIY this week with our students, Rick’s Mother ~ Chelle is here hanging out with Mylan. Rochelle May Gonzalez Pe Benito Marcum is her full name. She came to America from Iloilo City, Philippines in 1968. She gained her US Citizenship in 1996. Christie and I were able to have her over for dinner tonight and now see why Rick is so awesome. And yes, Rick has a great father… but his nanay, (mother)~ she’s awesome!

A great friend of mine named Joe Putting just listed a cool list on his blog. I need to see and hear this kind of stuff all of the time. Thanks Joe.

11 Observations of Bold, Godly Leadership for 21st Century Churches

1. They seek God’s will through His Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
2. They have a spirit of fearlessness/boldness.
3. They have a desire to build the Kingdom, not please people.
4. They have a powerful sense of destiny, mixed with humility.
5. They have a personal commitment to observable ministry, missions, stewardship, and servitude.
6. Their leaders work together in unity.
7. They make bold decisions based on vision of God and need of culture.
8. Their decisions always involve faith, not sight; even more so when there is no money.
9. There is trust between elders and pastoral staff.
10. There is no micro-management at any level.
11. They dare to do the impossible daily, as the church did in the first

Today is Father’s Day and I’m writing this post as our first service is taking place.  (Pastor Rob is preaching.) It’s great to be able to honor our earthly fathers and we Praise our Heavenly Father.  You might say that you have a wonderful father…  but I’m sorry to “one up you”,  My Dad is the GREATEST.  I am so Thankful for him.  My Dad taught me how to love Jesus.  He modeled patience and mercy.  He taught me a healthy and strong work ethic.  I could fill up this entire post with all of the amazing things that he taught me and did for me and for my family.

I was able to spend this past week with my dad.  Last Monday he had his left knee replaced and I took a week of vacation time to go spend it downstate.  I was able to help my mother and visit my dad each night at the hospital.  During the day I stayed around the greenhouse ( a business that he has owned and operated for nearly 60 years).  I think I worked harder this week than I have in 20 years.  You know preachers only work one day a week!  I planted flowers, put in their garden, cut grass, helped with some tree work and made some floral deliveries.  It was challenging (using muscles that haven’t been flexed like that in years) but enjoyable.  In the evenings I drove to the hospital and hung out.  It was weird seeing my dad sitting there.  I’ve never even seen him sick let alone in the hospital.  In fact it was his first hospital stay ever.  He turns 80 in August.  Even still dad was his jovial, loving self.   He’s home now and doing super.  Please keep praying for him.  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to have the greatest dad ever!