God doesn't always call the equipped

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As my time is winding down here in Colorado, I figured that the stories I would be writing would be similar to those I have written all summer about church plants. While these stories do excite me, I would not be honest if I said that I wasn't growing weary on doing similar subjects repeatedly. I had hit this point in my summer where I was having to really press into Christ to change my heart and help me to finish strong. Just when I thought things would be ordinary until my leaving date, the extraordinary fell into my lap by the grace of God.

My supervisor, John Howeth, received a call from Ryan Heller, the lead pastor of The Edge Church in Aurora, Colorado, as we were driving home from a hiking trip. Heller left a voice mail telling him that a church member of theirs, Pierce O'Farrill, had been a victim in the Aurora theater shooting the night before. O'Farrill had already been interviewed by multiple media outlets including FOX and CNN. In each interview, he was outspoken about his faith and his forgiveness for the shooter. Heller wanted to know if the college girl doing stories on church plants this summer would be interested in doing a story on O'Farrill. :)

We called back right away and began work on the story that would consume the next five days of my life. To keep things brief, lets just say that the phrase "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called," sums up that week in a nutshell. This was something unlike anything I had ever written before. When I had no idea what to do next, the Lord showed me a step. When I wasn't sure how to write in a manner worthy for national publication, the Lord provided a wonderful mentor/reviser and new friend, Claudean Boatman.  When everyone wanted to talk to O'Farill and many did not get the chance to, the Lord provided an interview. When Satan told me that I wasn't good enough to be writing this kind of story, Jesus said, "Trust me. I will speak through you." When I was sure that I would be fortunate just to get the story up on the Colorado Baptist website in a timely manner, the story was published the day after I completed it on The Baptist Press and The Baptist Standard. The following day it showed up on The Associated Baptist Press. Two more days later, the transcript from a phone interview I did with O'Farill also showed up on The Baptist Press.

Can I remind you that I am a college student with very little experience?! How great is our God! He has a story of light and forgiveness to tell in the midst of dark tragedy, and by His amazing grace He allowed me, an at times clueless rookie, to be the vessel to help tell it. It still gives me chills.

It has been incredible to watch God use Pierce O'Farrill's story to bring people to himself. If you have not had a chance to read about him, let me just share with you one of the most profound things he said to me.

"I am so blessed to have His grace in my heart because you know; I want to talk to James (the gunman). I want to hug him. I want to hold his hand, and I want to pray with him. I want my first words to him to be, ‘I forgive you James.’ I just want to tell him about the Light. I want to pray that the Light will come into his heart."

When I asked O'Farill how he is able to feel this kind of compassion and forgiveness toward Holmes, this is what he told me:

"I am blessed to know the Lord, and He is deep, deep in my heart. The Lord has forgiven me. I had a number of years in my life without Jesus. The fact that God forgave me after everything I’d done, and pulled me back… I mean, I pray that he uses me everyday."

God is using him to help many people find healing through the forgiveness of Christ. I, myself, was struggling with anger and bitterness toward the shooter, and I was not even a victim! The Lord used O'Farill to remind me that I was once just as lost and that the Lord forgave me so I too could forgive Holmes in my heart.

O'Farill spoke about his experience and forgiveness at his home church, The Edge Church, on July 29th in front of hundreds of people and 10 different major news organizations. That morning 23 people gave their lives to Christ at church. Who knows how many more that were not even there but were watching on TV or reading the articles also turned their hearts to Christ. 

If you are interested in what the service was like that morning and what went on, you can read my story about it on the Colorado Baptists website. I thank the Lord that O'Farrill is choosing to use his difficult circumstance to be a light in the darkness. God always has a way of turning ashes into beauty.

Incomparable Riches of His Grace

I'm finally back in Colorado after some world travels! As many of you know, the focus of this trip was to finish and dedicate a home for orphaned children in Lusaka, Zambia at Tree of Life Children's Village.

Here is a little back ground for everyone... This home was extremely personal for our family. It was through the legacy of Jim McCarver (aka my PapaJim) and the amazing provision of God that this came about. Before PapaJim had passed away in January, he urged us to start a foundation that would support orphan ministries as a family. We called it Friend to the Fatherless. It has been a cool journey to go on as a family and asking for the Lord's direction in where he wants the resources from the foundation to be used. PapaJim truly had a heart for orphans. He wanted to see them clothed, feed, given a home, educated and most of all taught about Jesus. His passion has also infiltrated the rest of our family and God has made it a big part of our lives. My Aunt Melina was also excited about helping these children, however, she did not get the opportunity to see much of that through before she passed on about a year and a half ago. The deep pain of her loss has been turned to joy and gladness knowing not only that she is with the Lord now but also that her and PapaJim's legacy is now being carried on through Melina's House and the new classrooms and cafeteria at the Faith Christian Academy for the Tree of Life kids. The Father has such a way of turning ashes into beauty!

In front of Melina's House

The entrance for the village

The Melina Kelley House was not the only house to open last week. There were also three other new homes- Glory, Blessing and Luke's Lighthouse. All of the homes had their own unique story and individuals with caring hearts behind them. In total, there would now be 48 more sweet children that could move into the Tree of Life Children's Village! The village is set up to where 10-14 kids live in each home with two Zambian house mothers who care for and feed them three meals a day. Every child there also attends Faith Christian Academy on site. They go to school for three months and then take a one month break all year round. The kids are also given excellent medical care. Many of them receive ARV's for their AIDS and treatment for other sickness as well. This place represents literal rescue from the grave for these children. The Hope of Christ truly permeates through this place as the least of these who were once alone and forgotten, learn, laugh and play thriving in the new life that God has given them.

We had only five days actually in Lusaka but it felt like we were there for much longer because we kept so busy. During the days leading up to the house openings on Friday, we worked hard getting the houses ready. We decorated, assembled, colored, cleaned, and organized. It was fun to get everything looking perfect for the little ones that would soon be taking the house by storm. Each child had a personalized Bible, stuffed animals and a hand written card waiting for them on their beds. The doors had colorful signs that showed who would be in each room. Toys were laid out throughout the bedrooms and in the living room to make it a fun, playful environment. We also visited the compounds of Lusaka. These are highly congested and impoverished communities that end up being breeding grounds for crime and disease. Many of the children come from these compounds and have never experienced what it means to have a real family or home of their own. It was hard to go through these communities but it provided a better perspective of the needs and where our kids used to live. I had to really rely on the Lord's strength to get through some of these visits. I felt overwhelmed and burdened and wanted to be able to help every child that came running to us for love and attention. We could not do much else besides smile and cuddle them. I rest in the fact that God is in control and He is working to change the culture of these communities and shed light in the dark places through the ministry of those who follow Him.

This trip was such a gift. I have written about, advocated and prayed for orphans but often struggled with the fact that there was some element of the crisis and Gods heart for these children that I haven't been able to fully understand having never seen their faces. It was a struggle for me when I wrote articles for World Orphans about issues associated with the orphan cycle to become bogged down with statistics and loose the humanity of each individual child. It was hard to keep myself from thinking about the issue in terms of percentages as opposed to separate and equally valuable souls that have a name and a story and need rescue. So going to Zambia meant that I would finally see for myself a glimpse of the harsh reality for the approx. 163 million orphans across the globe. I could now hold their little hands, wipe their tears and be apart of God's great redeeming plan for them. The Father opened my eyes to better understand the plight of the orphan. I can now write more vividly and accurately. Our family will be able to share from experience and encourage others to join me in caring for the fatherless with more passion than before. As I was reading in Ephesians today, I felt like the Lord made these verses stand out to me and remind me of how experiences like welcoming orphans into a home in Zambia are results of Gods INCOMPARABLE grace...

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed to His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 2:6-7 (NIV)

The riches of His love make this life worth living! I hope to write specific stories about kids that particularly touched my heart. Each one of them has an amazing testimony to share. Keep an eye on the blog, and praise God for all the orphans that now have families at Tree of Life :)

The Immeasurable Sum of a Summit

Saturday proved to be one of the most fantastic days to date up here so far. I had the sweet chance to hike Twin Sisters in Estes Park with great company and the most incredible views. To say that the journey was a good time would be an understatement. I limped away feeling satisfied, accomplished, joyful, exhausted and FULL with the peace that only Jesus can give.

Kali and I joined Leo Glass and a friend of his Andrew for the 7 mi. round trip journey. We were thankful for the guys that prepared a little better than we did! They brought gallons of water and extra food that we did not even think about! We had our nalgens but wernt prepared for the amount of water we consumed on that trip. About 30 mins in, a game warden came by on her horse to notify us that a wildfire had started in Estes Park and that the area was being evacuated. Hugely disappointed we set out back DOWN the trail to the car. As we walked however, we saw more people continuing up. They said that the game warden let them know but did not say that they had to come down so we decided to turn around once again and complete the trek we set out to do. We did not have problems with smoke and could not even see the fire really until we got near the top. It was a fairly good distance from where we were.

This is one of our training hikes to prepare to do the famous Longs Peak fourteener by the end of the summer. So far the altitude hasnt been too much of a problem but I did sound a little bit like Weezy from Toy Story 2 at one point on hike.. lol.

Once we got to the top, Kali and I found a couple side cliffs to play on. We love the challenge and having to use all fours. It feels good to really feel like we are scaling a mountain.

Some of my greatest moments in my relationship with God have been on top of mountains like Twin Sisters. I feel so close to Him. Its like He's drawing me into His arms and giving me a big hug and saying, "I love you Amber. Look at what I've made for you to enjoy." All the mountains point to Him and proclaim his mighty power. It is in these times that I feel so small but in the best way. I realize how significant my God is and how little my problems really are.

Going back down the mountain. NOT Kali's or my own favorite part. At this point I am starting to feel tired and no longer look forward to the peak to summit. The hike back just feels SO long. I also have to concentrate a little more going down so as to not jam my toes too much or slip on loose rocks. Its still great to enjoy the scenery, but its just not my idea of the best part of the hike. However, it does teach me about how though finishing a task that the Lord has set before me to completion is so challenging and even uneventful at times but it is necessary as God uses faithfulness and perseverance.

Leo and Andrew were troopers! We enjoyed hiking with them and had some great conversations about Colorado, life, Christ, and everything in between :) This was a day for the books.

Divine Appointments

In a week where I had no official appointments and was literally improvising every day, the Lord used that time to allow me to experience several divine appointments from Him. Last week I had the opportunity to hang out with youth groups at Power Plant in Colorado Springs. This is a mission experience for junior high and high school students centered around church planting. For those of you who have never heard of such a program, I hadn't either until I was asked to attend and meet the distinctive church plants in the area that each of the groups were partnering with for the week of service and sharing.

I posted early in the week after my first day, but quickly found myself totally immersed into Power Plant and what God was doing through it that I am not posting again until now! The whole week was a great growing experience in which I saw God at work in many ways, but there are two specific stories that I just have to share that I believe God orchestrated, in His loving grace, for me to be a part of.

The first moment happened on Wednesday- my second full day at Power Plant. I had just finished up interviewing Clay Ross of grassROOTS church, when we went downstairs and found a man named Allen Robinson waiting for him. Allen had agreed to help Clay get prepped for the BBQ outreach that was going to happen later that night and had showed up to start working. Clay introduced him to me as a member of their church family who just recently became the director for the church's hospitality team. We went outside to put up signs by the busy nearby road and Clay quickly had to leave to go get more tools. While we waited, I started chatting with Allen and he shared a few tidbits of his story with me. 

He had been invited to the church by a friend from the shelter he was staying at. Allen used to be an alcoholic but was now 15 months sober. He recently was baptized and gave his life to Christ and now serves at the church directing the hospitality team. It was clear that Allen had a dark, painful past and that him sharing even what he did with me was a challenge for him. 

 I told him his story was powerful and asked him if he would be interested in doing a video interview with me since I had been working on collecting videos about grassROOTS that day. Allen was hesitant and asked a few questions about why I wanted it and what it was for. But he agreed to do it because as he said, "I'll do it because I feel like God is directing me to."

I was happy that he agreed but got even more excited when I heard what Clay had to say about it. "I cant believe he agreed to do that for you. He doesn't tell his story. Thats something I have been trying to work with him on," explained Clay. 

Knowing now that this was largely out of Allen's comfort zone, I decided not to bring it up for a while until Allen asked. It didn't take too long before Allen said, "When can we do this thing?" I told him we could do the interview whenever he was ready and asked him where he would feel most comfortable for me to ask him questions. He choose the sanctuary where he was baptized. 

At that point, I am not sure who was more nervous.. Allen or myself! He explained that sharing this was extremely difficult for him and I promised him that I would try to make it as much of a normal conversation as possible. I even made an exception and allowed my voice in the interview, which is something I don't typically do but it seemed right for this situation. I told him I prayed that the Lord would just speak through him and that his nerves would be calmed. Alan then prayed out loud, "Holy Spirit just speak through me, give me words, help me." Oh and the Spirit totally did. Allen poured out his soul, leaving us both emotional and knowing that God had just moved in that place. Here is the uncut and unedited version of the interview on YouTube, I plan to edit later and add it to bigger story I am working on about grassROOTS church...

To view the interview, click here: Allen's Story or watch below.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/w0ckFImZOHo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I am so humbled at the opportunity God gave me to be a part of that story. As I travel and write as a missional correspondent, it is so evident that the Lord has much more in mind than me just reporting. He has given me an opportunity to use my interviews and storytelling as a ministry. For that is my prayer, that the Lord would guide me to the right people at the right time. That i would have ears to hear what He is doing under the surface and the grace and clarity to tell those stories through my writing. 

I think I decided to make my second moment that I was referring to, its own post! This one is getting lengthy. Thank you for reading and thank you for praying. I am so grateful for your support. 

Adventure at Power Plant

Heyooo from Colorado Springs!!

  I have left my home base in Loveland for the week for a unique youth program called Power Plant. Youth groups have come from Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico for a youth camp type formatted week to learn about church planting. I had never heard of such a thing, but i think it is stinkin' cool! Each youth group gets partnered with a local church plant for the week to do outreach during the day and then all groups come back to where we are staying at a church for big sessions and worship.

Thanks as always for your prayers. I need energy and clarity to see the stories that God wants me to tell. Also pray for the church plants and other believers that are hard at work to reach the lost. We learned a staggering statistic this morning. Only 17% of the people of Colorado springs is involved in spiritual activity of some sort and of that only 7% is Christian... so that means that out of the 600,000 in Colorado Springs, approx. 500,000 don't know Christ. Ironic seeing as CO Springs is considered the "Christian Mecca" as it is home to over 100 ministries including Focus on the Family.

 Today I went out with Union Valley Baptist Church from Ada, OK as they helped Breathe Worship Center pastored by Drew and Rachel Van Gorder.

I was blown away at how awesome each of these groups are. To be honest, it was a challenge at first coming here this week because I was little sad to leave Foco for a week and wasnt sure how the whole youth camp thing was gonna be. But God is so faithful and rid me of myself today so that I could see Him at work in this amazing followers of Him.

 I spent time interviewing and hanging out with Drew and Rachel as I learned about their ministry at Breathe Worship, their stories of accepting Christ, their call to church planting, and the lives that have been reached as a result of their obedience.

The youth group offered to help with yard work in the Van Gorders' neighborhood to people they had been working on building relationships with. One of their neighbors appreciated it so much that he approached Drew asking how he could repay him. Drew said come visit church just one time and his neighbor agreed! One simple act of kindness opened up the door for the Gospel to be shared. Later on I went out with the group to help pass out fliers about their upcoming VBS and was able to talk to and encourage people.

I was so blessed by today- especially the incredible testimonies of Drew and Rachel as they lead their church plant filled with ex-strippers, wiccans, gangsters, etc.. Truly inspired by their whole hearted devotion to reaching the people right around them for the sake of Christ. Not to mention they have the cutest kids ever.

Keep on the lookout for a more in-depth article I will do about Breathe Worship Center and the awesome stories they shared with me. Tomorrow I will be teaming up with a different youth group and different church plant.. Cant wait!

Other blogs to check out!

Here are some links to blogs/articles I've also done recently:

Colorado Baptists.org:

-Rounding Up Cowboys for Christ

Texas Freshman.org:

-Cooking at Home in College

-Finding a Church


Also please keep praying for the High Park fire in Colorado to stop!

A Full Week and a Full Update...

It has been quite the week here in Colorado. The two new summer missionaries, Kali and Gabby,  got here on Tuesday from Texas. I love em already. They are incredible, Godly women that will surely touch lives as they love on Fort Collins. Gabby is on the left and Kali on the right!

We went through the traditional orientation on Wednesday. And as tradition goes we did a personality profile... I think those things dont know what to do with me because I am 3 all combined into one. Welp only God knows haha

Thursday we went to Denver for the Front Range church plant coalition meeting at the Colorado Baptist General Convention building. I got to meet some great people including the media coordinator for the CBGC who taught me some helpful photography and video tips. I have had very little training in both of these areas so I was thankful for all the info i could get!! 

That was just a cool day for me in general. I realized how God had been orchestrating this whole thing since the day that I left Fort Collins back in 2010. I am so humbled that He would choose to use me. As I listened to their meeting and got assignments I knew immediately that this was a task beyond my current skill level but felt at peace remembering that in my weaknesses God shines through all the more. I dont think I ever believed in the saying, "God doesn't call the equipped, but He equips the called," more than I do now. But I'm excited and encouraged to see how God is moving through Colorado church planters. 

Also had the chance to take advantage of all the greatness that CO has to offer and hiked Horsetooth twice this week! Once with the summer missionaries and John and then again the next day with Anne and John. Its a great hike right here in Foco that we plan to do a few more times. We want to build up to doing the difficult fourteener Longs Peak by the end of the summer!!

Tonight we got to see Matt Kearney in concert at the Taste of Fort Collins festival. All the fun was slightly ironic the High Park wildfires burn nearby. It was eerie to watch the smoke slowly creep over the city as we sang along with Kearney.... Be praying for the fires to get under control. The summer mishies are spending the night with us tonight in Loveland to get away from all the smoke in town!

This morning John, Anne and I visited Life Song Church in Erie (about 45 min from Loveland). They were dedicating the building they have been renting for 5 years and have now been able to purchase. Friends of the church spoke and a beautiful message of total selflessness and abandon to expand God's kingdom rang through each message. I was touched by the genuine spirit of the people in this group of believers and their dedication to seeing the Gospel spread.

I miss everyone back in TX and appreciate your prayers so much. I will be in Colorado Springs all this next week to visit several more church plants and a youth camp focusing on church planting called Power Plant. Looking forward to heading to a city I have yet to visit and getting the opportunity to meet some more awesome people. Please pray for wisdom and the ability to hear and tell the stories that God wants me to share that will encourage and point people to Him. Thanks and gigs :)

Church Planting: Cowboy Style

Last night Anne, Alex and I went to Round Up in Glory Cowboy church in Loveland. When they call it a cowboy church it is not a joke! I mean, I don't know what I expected but its the real deal- boots, chaps, cowboy hats and the works. We stuck out like a sore thumb in our "city wear" but certainly were welcomed with open arms. here is a link to some great photos someone captured of their church

Although neither country music or the cowboy lifestyle are really my thing, I was truly moved at the beauty of God at work in this group of believers and seekers. Several years ago, the Deal family began to ask the Lord how they could be more effective in reaching their friends and neighbors for Christ. After realizing that many of their neighbors were not a part of a community of believers because they were afraid they would not be received well in a traditional church with their lifestyles, the Deals began inviting their friends over to worship and learn about the Word in their backyard. People showed up and were encouraged with Pastor Deal's simple message of abundant life and hope in Jesus Christ. The Deal family learned the culture they were a part of and contextualized their ministry to meet these individuals right where they were at while faithfully sharing the Gospel.

Their meetings grew and grew. Now roughly 60 to 65 people that make up Round Up in Glory Cowboy Church meet every Saturday night in a dairy barn that a church member donated to them. Their example of ministry with a "come as you are" attitude is a great picture of how the love of Christ knows no one specific language or culture but transcends all labels we may try to put on it.

Here is a picture of Anne with Jodie Deal (one of the pastor's daughters)! It was sweet seeing them reunite as they have been long time friends bonded over being PK's. A club which I am also a part of ;)

We managed to get a quick shot with me and Alex in it as well!

     Anyhoo, this was a good first night back. I am looking forward to meeting other inspiring church planting families like the Deals who are reaching the different communities all over the front range of CO. 

This morning I actually got to return to a church plant that was just getting on the ground when i was here back in 2010. Pursuit Church in Fort Collins has grown and changed. I was blown away at how much God has done there in two short years. It was great getting to hear Pastor Alan Reed preach on why Jesus is THE way to God in a culture where the popular opinion is that there are many "right ways" to God. 

While we know we are living in a culture where having the belief that Christ is the only way is viewed as "narrow-minded, big headed and arrogant," Alan reminded us that if we are Christians, the most compassionate thing we could do is to share that Christ truly is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through him. (John 14:6) 

No one wants to be viewed as a bigot, but as believers in absolute Truth that comes from the Father, it is our duty to share that in love and in a palpable way for those outside the church culture. 

Home again, Home again jiggity-jig

As many of you know I have returned to the Longs Peak area of Colorado where I was a summer missionary two years ago. That summer was truly the most pivotal of my life as the Lord used the people here to teach me what it means to live missionaly and to open my eyes to the mission field all around me.After I left Colorado that summer, I thought about going back every single day.

 The mark made on me was substantial, and I knew I could never live the same. I often wondered if there was something the Lord still had for me here and if I would ever return. By the grace of God, here I am in Colorado once again. This time, while I am still here to build relationships and share Christ with the locals, I will be a missional correspondent telling the story of how God is working in the different church plants throughout the Front Range of CO. I feel incredibly privileged to be doing this as being in Colorado and getting to write is a dream job for me.

The fact that the Lord (and thanks to John Howeth for his help and mentorship) is allowing me to do it as an "internship" is amazing to me. I still don't think I'm over it. :) The verse I named this blog after is so true:

 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen!" Ephesians 3: 19-21

 What the Lord has done in my life has always surpassed anything I could have ever come up with for myself. This summer I will be using this same blog that I used two years ago as a missionary to keep everyone updated on what's happening here and to talk about little adventures I'm having.

 Today is my first day back! Dad and I drove from Austin to Denver yesterday and then this morning after dropping Dad off at the airport I headed over to Loveland where I will be staying with the Howeth family. They have graciously opened up their home to me once again and I am so thankful for them! They were basically my colorado fam in 2010 so it is so fun getting to be with them again. Hence the blog title... ;) Currently I am watching spongebob with their 11 year old Alex while I blog. Like I said.. right at home. I am looking forward to getting reunited with other fort collins friends in the coming week! Ive missed everyone a ton.

Tonight, John's daughter (also in college and home for the summer, aka my roomie!!) Anne and I are going to visit a Cowboy church up right next to the Devil's Backbone in Loveland to see what their church service is like. Yeehaw! ha 

Okay thats all for now..


 Please pray for the people that the churches are reaching here in CO. Pray for me too as I venture to tell the story of God at work and that I will have His words and not my own!! I appreciate all of your prayers and support more than you know. Thank you!