Family Reunion; Global Missions Conference

The last three weeks have been exceptionally busy. The following are two highlights:

The Van Rheenen Family Reunion

Becky and I spent four days at the Van Rheenen family reunion on beautiful Anderson Island in the Puget Sound just south of Seattle, Washington. My brother Dwayne has a house on the island. My mother, all five of us children (I am No. 3 squeezed in between older and younger brothers and sisters), some nieces and nephews, and their children all gathered on the fellowship, stories, walks, and meals. Mom, now 85 and living at Harding Place in Searcy, AR, flew from Little Rock to Dallas to spend a day with us both before and after the reunion. It was a time of refreshment, catching up, reminiscing about family, and connecting. We greatly missed our Dad who passed away in 1994 and was a great example to all of us both as a father and a struggling Christian leader.

A special time was visiting with Dwayne’s son Nathan and his wife Emma and their family. Nathan and Emma have 11-month old triplets (named Quincy, McArthur, and Xavier!!) to go with big brother Nathan, Jr., aged 3.

Global Missions Conference

Immediately upon our return from Seattle Becky and I were privileged to attend the Global Missions Conference, organized by our close friends at MRN (Missions Resource Network). The purpose of the conference was to bring churches of Christ together to focus on more effectively reaching our world for Jesus Christ. Altogether 800-1000 attended the conference.

The most enjoyable part of the conference was networking. We met families and individuals wanting to know more about church planting. Many were feeling God’s call, others were searching, questioning, desiring to learn more. Church leaders were asking questions about their personal and congregational involvements. We felt God moving in many lives.

My role in the conference was interesting. On one day of the conference I taught three classes on diverse topics, one on the need for domestic church planting, a second on the use of American money in global missions, and a third on international missions partnerships (with Dr. Phil Slate). The most enjoyable forum was a plenary panel facilitated by Jay Jarboe in which Stan Granberg and I spoke of how ministering internationally had prepared us for domestic church planting.

God blessed us greatly during the family reunion and the Global Missions Conference.