Time For an Update

Wow!  So much has happened since I last wrote in March.  I'll do my best to give you the highlights.  I am still not working in the field of nursing and I am getting quite good at explaining how the Lord called me out of nursing and into ministry in several forms.  It has been amazing so far.  Tim and I have been blessed to be involved in High School ministry at our church in several ways.  Tim has been teaching Saturday evening several times as well as at various other events.  The kids really like his style of teaching and have requested some of his methods on occasion.  I have been working on some behind the scenes stuff as well.

In May, Tim and I were both able to be leaders on a "servant's trip" with the HS kids.  We took them up to a retreat where they cooked, cleaned and prepared meals for a men's retreat.  Boy, did these kids work hard.  I was very impressed.  It was a great time for Tim and I to get to know some of the kids better as well.  A few weeks later, I was able to again be a youth leader for the week-long HS summer camp.  I felt so blessed and fortunate knowing that if I was still working I would not have been able to get the whole week off to be with the kids. 

And what a blessing it was.  I taught two workshops.  One was about proper speech and the other was about characteristics of a godly woman.  Both had a great turn out and positive results.  The workshops were optional and during the kids' free time so it was nice to see some kids attending the workshops who are dedicated to improving their relationship with the Lord.  Each morning I lead cabin devotions with the 9 girls in my cabin and we had some great discussions. All this to say, it was not only the HS kids that heard from the Lord that week.  During the week I fell more in love with the kids as well as bonds and trust was formed.  This is definitely a life calling for Tim and I.

Tim was not able to get the whole week off from work, though his boss was gracious enough to allow Tim to leave at noon on Friday to come up.  The kids missed him so much.  As soon as Tim arrived Friday afternoon, one of the guys who is particularly fond of Tim immediately laid claim to him and told Tim that there was room in their cabin for him to stay and he would show Tim where it was.  We hadn't even had a chance to say hello to each other yet!  It was great to see.  That night Tim did the final wrap up session and it was very impactful.  The Lord was at work mightily that night.  At the end of the night the kids were invited to come up for prayer and both Tim and I were able to pray for several of the kids.

Since being home from camp, Tim and I have been mentoring some of the HS kids as well.  A friend of ours let me borrow and amazing counseling book for women that has been quite helpful.  Tim and I looked it up on the internet and found two others along the same lines for biblical counseling in general and biblical counseling for youth.  They have been amazing resources for us.

Another big event for us was that we finally got to go on our European vacation!  After rescheduling three times we finally safely made it on our trip and we were so blessed by it.  I will write more about it in a separate blog, maybe with some pictures.  Being away in Europe was a great adventure but in the back of our minds, we knew that as soon as we got home we would be hitting the ground running.  And it has been true.  The last night we were in Paris, we were able to have a long, relaxing dinner alone to talk about matters at home.  While vacation is always nice, we felt it was time to be heading back home.  It was so nice to get each others perspective and insight.

We have had a friend move in with us and we are excited to see what the Lord is going to do in this situation.  It is an answer to prayer for both us and our friend.  For about a year now we have been wondering why God had us move into a three bedroom home when we really only need the one room.  So we prayed for the Lord to put someone in our path who needed a place to stay.  So we are now more than happy to be hosting our friend during his time of need.  We aren't sure who is going to receive the greater blessings from the situation, Tim and I or our friend?  We are excited to see what the Lord works out.  Please pray that we can be a good example of how godly marriage should be as our friend is trying to repair his own marriage and that the Enemy's plans to sabotage this situation are thwarted.

God has been so gracious and merciful to us during these months (when is He not?!).  We have been very diligent in cutting out unnecessary financial obligations, budgeting and shopping wisely.  And the Lord has miraculously been providing for us financially.  I have no other way to explain the fact that we gave up 2/3 of our income when I left my job and yet all our bills still get paid.  God's economy works on faith and trust, not dollars and cents.  So when Tim and I walk in faith, we can rest assured that He will provide for us as long as we are in His will for our lives.  Having said all that, it seems that He has opened a door of opportunity for us to gain some additional finances.  I am looking into starting my own Pampered Chef business.  It seems ideal for our current situation in that I don't have the obligation of a routine work schedule, leaving me available for ministry needs 24/7 as needed.

This is wonderful since I have already had an incident with one of the HS girls that demanded immediate attention and I spent all day with her.  Of course I was more than happy to do it but a typical job would not allow me the freedom to drop what I'm doing and be their for these girls in their times of need.  Also, Pampered Chef seems to fall right in line with my other ministry calling of "practical domestic diva" as I minister to Tim here at home the way a Christian wife should.  And most importantly, it will provide me a platform to be able to share my story and witness with women of how the Lord has given my a specific calling.

During this short time that I have been away from the "working world" the Lord has shown so much to Tim and I and we both look forward to how He will use us both in the time to come.  All the glory goes to Him.

New Video on Thursday Night Downtown Market Outreach‏

Hello friends,

I've posted a new video on our Thursday Night Downtown Market Outreach here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MolterFamily

Check it out and Go Serve Your King!

June 2010

We know commonly an evangelist (Greek = euaggelistēs) as someone who is a witness for Jesus Christ.

• Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"

In this passage we see that an evangelist is someone who equips the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. So what is the Biblical definition of an evangelist? Strong's Concordance says that an evangelist is someone who brings the good news of Jesus Christ, and heralds salvation through Jesus Christ. But we just read that an evangelist is someone who equips the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. So what are we missing?

Evangelism is for ALL Believers because we are ALL called to witness, it's either obedience or disobedience on our part. "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching... do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2-5). 

To get your feet wet in witnessing, an easy first step is learning to be friendly and talking with people. This may seem obvious, but make a habit of talking to your family members and friends regularly. Then practice being friendly with people at the park, at the gas station, or at the grocery store. If you tend to be a shy, introverted person, try to regularly open up a little and start talking with people.

A simple "Hi, how are you?" isn't difficult. Or say, "Nice day, isn't it? My name is so and so ... " With a bit of practice, anyone can learn to be friendly. Most people respond warmly to warmth. Then kick it up a notch by handing out some ice breakers (gospel tracts are for people not places). Then ask someone if they've had a Christian background. You can do it. God will help you.

God has saved multitudes through ice breakers (gospel tracts are for people not places), so always carry them with you, and take a moment to encourage other Christians to do the same. Let them know that Christian literature can be used as a conversation opener. One of the most difficult things about witnessing is starting up a conversation about God.

An ice breaker (gospel tracts are for people not places) can do that for you. It can be left with the person you have spoken to, so that he or she can read further about the way of salvation. Tracts can be given to people when it's not convenient to speak to them. Simply say, "Did you get one of these?"

Whatever you do, never let a day go by when you don't do something to reach the lost while you still can.
Seek and save that which is lost and press on in Love,
Tim Molter