Men in Ministry, Horseshoes; Are you kidding?

Horseshoes? What the heck are you thinking? Horseshoes in San Francisco, California the cosmopolitan city and you want to have a Men in Ministry event around Horseshoes? That is a dramatization of the response which pastor gave me when we first suggested a Men in Ministry Horseshoe Tournament. What trust! He agreed to it and supported it. That was 4 years ago. The first tournament was a smashing success!

May have never played, the intensity and the fun becomes
obvious very quickly

The success is not by chance it is designed into the shared experience around horseshoes. That shared experience is no experience. Yes, no previous experience throwing horseshoes is the common ground, which creates a tremendous bond the men share. In other words, few men have any experience at throwing horseshoes or competing in a horseshoe tournament. This creates a natural bond among the men. It gives them the one thing necessary to begin to fellowship; something in common, which then becomes the seed to a conversation. From this simple seed, the conversation can then build into other common interests.

The common ground, when put into a competitive event, creates excitement and fun. There is one social rule in the Glad Tidings Men’s Ministry International Horseshoe tournaments. All the 2 man teams are made up of men who either do not know each other or know each other very little. This creates the potential for new friendships; men creating a bond and a purpose to serve God with another man.

I believe God created man to be in Christian relationship with other men. This is evident throughout the Bible. Moses and his brother Aaron, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, Jesus and James, John and Peter just to name a few close supporting relationships. “When 2 or three are gathered in my Name.” God is present when we are alone and seek no question, but when 2 or 3 are gathered in His name there is power!

Plenty of time for conversation

Certainly at the beginning of the event everyone is practicing and talking with their friends. After the opening prayer; a photograph of 50 men in a circle praying wow! Back to the story; after the opening prayer and before we eat, BBQ is always a part of the event. Each man will choose a man he does not know as a team-mate. After the teams are decided, I do a casual check with the purpose of pairing people who will benefit from the pairing and breaking up teams of friends. The teams eat together. The tournament begins.

It is an exciting competition. It is structured in such a way that the games move quickly and everyone will play at least 5 games. Every team will have at least one win! The competitive juices start to flow; the bond between the new friends has an opportunity to gain traction. It is keen to see the excitement and the friendships that start in a few short hours of sheer fun.

Everybody wins, one team finishes first

This last year was the best as the tournament went down to the wire. Possibly the two most unlikely men, who a few hours earlier did not know each other and did not know which end of the horseshoe to hold, won it all. They came from behind with multiple ringers in the final throws to win. No one in the tournament lost we all won with fellowship. We each met men we did not know. The Glad Tidings; Godly fellowship gave us greater potential to grow and become a disciple of the living God.

That is what it is all about: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

Men in Ministry

Men in Ministry Going to Ecuador

The planning is complete. Sixty people from Glad Tidings Church and Sequoyah Community Church are ready to go. In less than 24 hours, we will board the plane to Guayaquil, Ecuador. For the first time, we have more Men in Ministry on the trip than women. This is a bold step forward in winning men to Christ, one man at a time.

The ministry teams have been practicing for 6 weeks with ever increasing intensity. We have raised $170,000.00. 1,000’s of hours of prayers and 1,000’s of days of fasting have taken place. The prayer team is part of the mission trip. A powerful prayer group will remain in San Francisco. The mission team has purchased nearly 1,000 Malaria Pills, received 100's of essential shots, bought plenty of insect repellent, Imodium, and sunscreen. We are ready!

There has been teaching in Spanish and the local customs of Ecuador. When we are in Ecuador, we will become like Ecuadorians. This is necessary to be accepted by the local people.

The ministry teams include:

· Construction team to build 2 classrooms and lay a foundation for a new church well outside of Guayaquil

· Dance team of men and women, dance is a popular form of worship in Ecuador.

· Puppet team will perform with the children, 2 songs and a play all in Spanish

 

· Choir team includes all 60 participants. The team will perform 4 songs in Spanish and English. The choir is always a large impact.

· Drama will perform Zion, a play written many years ago by Pastor and Christina Beiser. We have performed it all over the world.

· Prayer team will be the lead prayer warriors throughout the trip.

· Each team has a leader. Each ministry team can be split into 2 complete teams, to be able to give 2 performances in different regions at the same time.

Work will take place at the school in Guayaquil and the outlying areas. Janice and Jerry Smith, the missionary hosts, founded the school. They came to Guayaquil with the vision of starting a school. Through the school, they could spread the Gospel. As God would have it, the school would also meet a large need to school what today are 300,000 children in Guayaquil who cannot fit into any of the current school facilities.

In April 1987, the Liceo Cristiano opened with 700 children in grades 1 through 6. The school grew each year. The Smiths added a grade each year until it included all grades through secondary school in 55 classrooms with 3,000 students. We will be building 2 classrooms in the school to help move closer to their goal of 25,000 students. Each classroom holds 40 students. They are used multiple times during the day to accommodate over 100 students per day.

Ecuador is a Socialist Country, with free schooling. There are not enough teachers or classrooms so 300,000 children are unable to find a place in the education system.

Why are we going to Guayaquil? The school has had to turn away 1,000′s of children because they do not have sufficient facilities or teachers. The poverty in Ecuador effects 38% of the population. It is common to have children ages 5 and older working while their parent’s lie in a hammock submitted to alcohol or drugs.

In the city, of Guayaquil children live in desperate poverty. The children live on the streets without hope and open to exploitation of all kinds. Children should dream of baseball and Christmas and birthday parties and friends. The children's dreams are stolen by their situation. Malnutrition stunts the growth of children, which is common in third world countries, but not acceptable. Add to these conditions the occasional natural disaster. The picture should be clear.

The calling came a year ago when we were in the Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol on the return trip from Malawi, Africa. We are ready to go.

God has prepared an exciting time for us in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Men in Ministry

Be Like Little Children...Aspen Turns One

It is pretty amazing that Aspen blasted into the world July 26, 2011. On that day, I am sure she just wanted to go back in, all warm and protected. In a week, she will be one. Many things happen in the course of a year. Other than her immediate surroundings, I am sure Aspen did not notice.

Obamacare passing the Supreme Court so the President can tax us in many more ways. Aspen did not even flinch that day, nor acknowledge that it even happened. I think her greatest interest on that day, the most noteworthy thing to her was her first Popsicle. It was orange, sweet and cold. The cold stunned Aspen each time she put it in her mouth. She may have thought of giving it back to her mom, but that did not happen.

When the St Louis Cardinals won the World Series, was Aspen excited? On that day, October 28, 2011 Aspen was excited about a bath in the morning with her mom. The gentile warm water, washing over her soft baby skin, trumped any sporting event, no matter how big. Aspen has a way of setting her priorities. She enjoys those things that are simple and good.

Now the Super Bowl everyone watches the Super Bowl. On February 5, 2012, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21 to 17 at the Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The commercials were all sold out by Thanksgiving at $3.5 Million for a 30 second add. Madonna was the half time show. Aspen 111.3 million people watched the game. Aspen was older she was 193 days old. The Super Bowl was not even on her most remote radar. A kiss from mom a hug from dad, breakfast that day and the bath, 2 very comfortable naps and dinner, were all on the most important list. The Super Bowl did not even need to be played.

Jesus said; we must become like little children, to enter the Kingdom of God. Should we debate the age of little children? Not sure that will have any merit. Aspen is a little child. Her needs are basic; she has not gotten wrapped up in the world and worldly things. As a matter of fact, a hug from mom, a kiss from dad a little food and a bath are the greatest events of her day every day! She smiles and speaks, her own language, she communicates well.

When we are born again, we have the opportunity to be Born A-New. The things we focus on can change, if we want them too. Ask God every day to make them change to the things that are important to God.

Aspen will be one in a week. Her attention is on those things that are necessary love for her mom and dad, joy after a hug, a bath or a meal, peace all around her and the kindness that she receives and in turn gives. The fruits are beginning to show.

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Happy Birthday, Aspen

Grandpa Frank

Frank Slovenec is the founder and leader of Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International

Men in Ministry

Traveling with My Best Friend

Glad Tidings, God has taken back Japan! Men in Ministry; force the Kingdom to come, in your city. God has taken back your city. God is Faithful! Hebrews 11:1

I am in Japan and have been for the last 4 days. Japan is interesting for many reasons. It has a wonderful culture; the people are friendly open and engaging. The Japanese seem to be a hard working, self-reliant people. After the tsunami in March of 2011, that destroyed significant parts of the country and crippled many nuclear power plants, the Japanese self-reliance is obvious. Japan, in an independent self-reliant way, will repair itself without outside help. Japanese people do not have an entitlement mentality. The entitlement mentality, exist is Europe and is growing rapidly in the United States.

That is not the subject of this writing it is a good background. The last time I was in Japan for more than passing through the Narita Airport was about 25 years ago. I realized then and again felt the demonic presence near me as I entered and moved around the country. I am not sure what or why this is, but I am sure of the need for prayer and the Word of God even stronger.

I looked at some statistics. Today 6% of the population of Japan claims Christianity as their faith. This is up from the ever stagnate 1% for the prior 400 or so years. Praise God for the Glad Tidings! The growth has been among the young. Praise God for more Glad Tidings!!

I always travel with the Bible, my best friend. I read and study it in the morning. I read it throughout the day as I have gaps in the schedule. The most comforting thing I do each day is pray and read the Word and let it fill me up. The Bible gives us a glimpse of home each time we read it. The Bible brings us in a more intimate relationship with the Lord each time we fill up on His message. Prayer and reading the Word, plus our witness forces the presence of the Kingdom.

God loves the people of Japan. He died on the cross for each one of these beautiful people. It seems, from my travels, the message of the Gospel is not yet evident anywhere I have traveled in Japan. A business associate brought me to a shrine. He wanted to show me the beauty and tell me how they pray to Shinto or Buddha or the spirit of Japan, some demonic thing. He washed before he prayed and was proud to take me into this outside shrine. A time to witness; it probably was but I missed it. Jesus put me here at this time to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Japan. He does this with all believers. Jesus lives in us. We are on a mission, to bring the Kingdom wherever we go. I did not have a calling to witness to him. Normally when I miss an opportunity I have a burden. I pray that I have a burden for all people who I meet.

Japan is like San Francisco as to the presence of the real Lord in peoples' lives. About 6% of the 127 million Japanese people say they are Christians. The difference I found in Japan is people are more open to listen. They have an apparent interest to learn, there are other ways than the one they know in many areas of their lives. They do want proof.

To a few friends, I told the story that Chuck Colson, one of the Watergate conspirators tells as to why he accepted the Lord as his savior. He says; as the Watergate Cover-up was unraveling it became obvious to the conspirators that they were going to be discovered. He tells that he and his co-conspirators were at the pinnacle of power. They were in the office of the President of the United States, the most powerful person and office in the world. A few men had all the power. These men, as they realized they were going to pay for a silly crime, they stopped lying and told the truth to save their skin.

Chuck Colson tells the story then says; the Apostles each could have denied Christ and the authorities would not have executed them. They did not deny the truth and they suffered mightily for it. Jesus is the truth!

The correlation is men will deny a cover up, even if with this denial they lose overwhelming power. They will deny the lie to save their own skin. The Apostles believed the truth. They were executed for their belief in Jesus Christ.

I was able to tell this story. The people did not accept the Lord; however God Promises his word will never return empty. Isaiah 55:11

I started this writing thinking that the devil had a hold on Japan as I finish the writing; I see that God is doing a remarkable thing in Japan. The growth of 600% and having the main growth in Christianity be among the young is fabulous!

Traveling, once again, with my best friend brings reinforcements to the Army of God enhancing the reality of Our Kingdom on Earth. 

Frank Slovenec is the founder and leader of Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International. www.gtmmi.com

Men in Ministry

Men in Ministry, What Track are You on?

Men in Ministry, the track to heaven is a difficult track to follow. It is nearly impossible without support from a brother in the Lord. Recently I was in Japan, on business. During the course of 5 days, I had many meetings in different parts of the country. I traveled by train to the cities for the meetings, once I had landed in Tokyo from San Francisco. The transportation system in Japan is easy to navigate. Train travel is comfortable. Let me get back to my message.

Traveling by train, which I had not done since the 80’s and 90’s when I lived on the east coast, made me realize, the train, on its track, could only travel in one direction. There were a number of stops along the way, but the train was heading in one direction. The trains started out slow then picked up speed in the direction of the destination.

The travel made me think of a new Christian. In the first station, the person accepts the Lord as Savior and agrees to follow and obey. The ultimate destination is heaven. The person goes through life and stops at many stations. The stations can be those that strengthen their faith. It could be another man or women who encourages and strengthens the person’s faith, it could be a loving Pastor who loves the Lord and fills the person with wonderful truth from the Word of God. It could be a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. The person stays on track and completes the journey. At the end of the journey, we all want to hear; "Welcome, good and faithful servant."

I could not help but notice in the Japanese Rail System, on my ticket, was a car number and a seat number. It was essential that I boarded the right car. It was not long before I discovered that the train will break up along the route and sections of the train will go to different destinations. I was very glad that I learned this early in my travels. I learned that boarding the right car, on the right train, in the initial station, early in the journey, certainly made my travel much easier. Most times I had to walk a little distance to board the right car in the initial station.

Men in Ministry it is up to us to lead men to the right car and make the walk with them. We need support them in their life work to stay on the right track. Important also to help them visit the stations that will support their work. Not my job, you might say. Jesus said; the second great commandment is love your neighbor as yourself. I love myself. I am going to work to stay on the track, stopping at stations that build my faith so that I reach the prize. If I love my neighbor as I am commanded, I will work my entire life so that my neighbors also get on the right car and stop at dedicated stations of support, so that they too reach the goal and win the prize.

The track to heaven is the only track to be on and stay on with our neighbors for our entire life.

Frank Slovenec is the founder and leader of Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International.
www.gtmmi.com  Love God and Make his love known though love for family, ministry work and each other. 

Men in Ministry

Uncommon Faith Invites the Extraordinary

Men in Ministry living for God mentoring disciples to be the next generation of leaders, requires uncommon faith. A leader in the church, by the definition of leader, will be mentoring the next group of leaders. To win the nations for Christ, multiply yourself. Leave the work to someone else and it will not get done. This all takes uncommon faith. Faith that is above the norm, passive and just get along or just get “in” attitude.

Extraordinary results can be one more soul saved and working for Christ in the Kingdom. Jesus said; “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” Matthew 9:37. The workers are few they are an elite group of Kingdom Workers. This being the case a worker will produce extraordinary results.

As a leader your uncommon faith, the faith to mentor a disciple will produce extraordinary results for the Kingdom of God.

The Apostles exhibited uncommon faith as they immediately followed Jesus and obeyed Him. This is a powerful example.

Uncommon faith is the father who prays with and over his children. Uncommon faith is spending an hour each day, first fruits, with the Lord in Prayer. Uncommon faith is working in the local church with Pastor, behind the scenes, to help the ministry go. Uncommon faith is carrying your Bible everywhere you go. Giving testimony to the stranger is uncommon faith. Uncommon faith is the wife consistently praying her husband into the Kingdom.

God will always honor the act of uncommon faith. A number of years ago, on a Sunday evening I was sitting in my home office, reading the Bible. There was a small window in the office, which faced the street. The distance from the house to the street was about thirty feet. A person walking by the front of the house could see me sitting in the office but certainly would not be able to discern what I was doing.

A neighbor drove by the house. Let us call him Mike. He was a friend his wife served the Lord faithfully she was consistently praying him into the Kingdom. She exhibited the uncommon faith of a wife praying for her husband. Two or three days later I came to find out that Mike had accepted the Lord. When asked what prompted him to make this commitment, he answered; “I was driving home and saw Frank reading his Bible in his office.” No way! His human eyes could not have possibly seen the Bible. The Holy Spirit, because of his wife’s uncommon faith, moved him to see what God wanted him to see. He now serves our Lord.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28: 19.

Uncommon Faith Invites the Extraordinary!

Men in Ministry

An Arrival Meeting

Jackson Senyonga in Action

Recently, Jackson Senyonga, a powerful evangelist from Uganda, spent 4 days with us in meetings at Glad Tidings Church in San Francisco. I cannot say enough about what I experienced and what I saw others experience in those 4 days. The schedule was intense. His mission was intense. Before I discuss the schedule, here is some background.

Glad Tidings Church has been experiencing a dramatic move of God for 12 years. Twelve years ago when Pastor Beiser preached his first sermon as pastor of the church, there were 37 people in a dilapidated 85-year-old building on prime 2 acres in San Francisco. There are many moving parts. The most important is, Pastor is a spirit led, prayer warrior servant of Jesus Christ. I joined the church about 6 months after that first sermon. I moved to San Francisco from Boston; I was not serving the Lord, at the time. I had a calling to Glad Tidings. The first minutes that I was in the sanctuary listening to Pastor Beiser and meeting the few people in attendance, I knew I was in the right place.

Altar Call Sunday Night

Pastor, led by the Holy Spirit has directed every move we have made at Glad Tidings. The congregation began to grow, the building has an active remodeling plan and most important, with a powerful foundation in prayer and fasting, Pastor continues to take us to new levels. Levels in the Lord that are always a desperate reach.

There have been many prophecies over Pastor and the church about growth in the Lord through the leading of the Holy Spirit. All I can say is they all have come true in their time. This Sunday, a “regular” Sunday in June, 800 to 1,000 people will be in services. The congregation has representation of 40, plus or minis a few, countries and all social economic and educational ranges. It looks like heaven. We financially and spiritually support missionaries all over the world, this year we will talk 75 to 100 people on a mission trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador. This is the 5th or 6th trip of this kind.

I hope it obvious, from the background, that Jackson was sent to Glad Tidings at the perfect time. He would in the 4 days increase the momentum to another level in God.

Jackson’s schedule:

· 2 Services Sunday Morning

· A Pastor’s service at 4 PM Sunday

· Evening Service at 6 PM Sunday, ended about 9:45

· 8 AM Monday, Memorial Day Breakfast (after about 75 of us were in a prayer meeting from 5 AM to 8AM, getting ready

· 7 PM Service on Tuesday, ended 10:45 PM

Prayer Meeting Monday Morning

· 7 PM Service on Wednesday, ended at 10:45 PM

It was an intense, overwhelming and a miracle filled 4 days. We witnessed real miracles every day!

Jackson needed to raise about $27,000.00 for his orphans in Uganda. If he could not send the money the orphans would be asked to leave their school, that week. I was with him as was Pastor when he took the calls. The man is non-stop for God. In the 4 days, we raised $22,000.00 from the congregation I suspect Pastor made up the difference on Faith.

Jackson knew we prepared, so he said this is not a revival meeting this is an arrival meeting. A meeting where we expected the arrival of the Holy Spirit in a huge way, that expectation was realized every meeting


Frank Slovenec is the Leader and Founder of Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International the Men's Ministry Outreach from Glad Tidings Church, San Francisco.