Guest Post: Team Nicaragua Medical Mission, October 2015, part 2

From October 24th-30th, 2015 Team Nicaragua traveled to Managua share The Gospel and serve the medical needs of the beautiful Nicaraguan people in the Bluefields area on the eastern coast. Two LBC members, Brita Zuehlke and Angela Robinson were part of the team. The following are excerpts from Brita's daily Facebook posts during the trip. (Read part 1 HERE!) We are thankful for the work that was done to advance God's Kingdom and for Brita's willingness to share her story with us.

October 29th - Hospital Tour and Travel back to Managua:
We had the opportunity to tour the hospital in Bluefields.  For several of us it was like a step back in time and for others (our younger providers) it was quite eye opening.  One woman delivered a baby right there in the hallway and we were able to witness the baby's first cry.  The equipment is old and supplies are low and patients bring their own linen and medicine before they can have surgery.  Privacy, comfort and rest are not priorities here.  The one similarity that stood out was the medical students who acted just like our medical students filing in behind their attending like little ducklings and writing patient notes.

At 10 am we were back on the pangas heading back toward El Rama and the long bus ride back to Managua.  On the river we observed many shoreline dwellings, rusty but functioning fishing boats and small canoes.  This was yet another day without rain and we were again amazed at the beauty of His creation.

During the bus ride and at the evening devotion we shared stories and reflections from the previous few days.  Leith told us about a young family consisting of mom and 4 children who showed up as we were closing the clinic.  Leith was tired, we were running out of supplies and all of the kids needed glasses and had respiratory problems.  The children aged 8-15 and were very polite and answered all questions clearly.  The youngest was a girl and was asked:

“Danielle, do you need glasses, too?” 

“Yes ma'am, so I can read my Bible.”  

“Well, do you have your own Bible?”

“No ma'am.”  

We had just given away our last Spanish Bible, but Leith had a hunch that she had something in her bag and sure enough, there was the New Testament in Spanish that had been packed for another mission trip 5 years ago.  The girl was beaming and her eyes lit up as her name was written on the front page.  She was very proud to have her very own Bible.  The mom winked a “thank you” with her beautiful brown eyes.

Craig and Jackie told a story about a mother and a daughter who came to clinic around lunchtime.  The mother had a severe leg injury that required vascular surgery at the hospital or she would be at risk of losing her foot.  We tried to convince her that she had to go there immediately but she said she could not go because she had no one to take care of her daughter.  As a team we prayed for her, involved the church members to help take care of the young girl, then we called for a taxi to take her to the hospital.  During the tour of the hospital we saw her in a bed awaiting surgery and her face lit up when she saw us and she thanked us for everything. Father David, Craig, and Jackie had a touching moment where they prayed over her bed in preparation for her surgery and reassured her that her daughter was doing well.

Dr. Tellez, Indira, and Vladimir all thanked us on behalf of all the patients and were commenting the fact that we all are willing to give up our own vacation, pay for part or all of the trip out of our own pockets, and then work long days to take care of los Nicaraguense—“their people.” They were all amazed that there can  still be such kind and selfless people who give so much and get “nothing” in return.

October 30th - The Las Torres Neighborhood:
We spent a lot of time sitting on the school bus from Bluefields to Managua. But it was not until Friday, as we drove into Las Torres, that it was evident of something special. As our bus arrived at CALT, Christian Academy of Las Torres, we were greeted by the huge smiles and overwhelming excitement of children screaming with joy and laughter. This was quite a surprise!

When we started setting up clinic in the school, it was a culture shock to see dirt floors, poor utilities, and an infrastructure that didn't match the warmth and joy that all the children and teachers showed us. Before we saw our first patients, we toured the local neighborhood and housing arrangements of the people in the area. Often, small houses no larger than an American kitchen were home to whole families of parents and multiple kids.

One of the families invited us into their home and introduced us to Brittani, a 4-year old girl afflicted with cancer. Father David was asked to come in and lay hands on her and offer prayer. We would later see her in the clinic. Bordering between houses was a drainage ditch that emptied into Lake Managua and was full of trash and sewage. There were kids in the water collecting plastic bottles to recycle. It was truly an eye-opening experience to see the conditions people can live in.

In clinic, we saw a wide array of diseases ranging from chicken pox to congestive heart failure. Although the patients were all in need of medical care and prayer ministry, their spirits could not have been brighter. When Brittani arrived, she ran to us with open arms and began to “play doctor” with our stethoscopes and headlamps. She was playful and hopeful, as any 4-year-old kid should be. The group reflected on this patient encounter and were tremendously touched by how she was like any other kid, she just wanted to play! She demonstrated pure innocence.

Humbling. The one word that could describe the entire day for all of us. It was a reminder of morning devotion by Father David where we discussed humility and how God calls us to be humble so he can raise us up.

Final Reflections:
We have now all returned home to our respective families and friends and are processing and reliving all the stories and experiences from this past week.  We are posting on Facebook and longing to share.  But, how do you respond to a co-worker who asks how it was but only has 10 seconds to listen?  We can talk for hours if you let us.  What do you highlight? Which picture can sum it all up? We have all been changed by this trip, through the leadership from Ali, from the new friendships that were developed and by all the love that was showered upon us by the people of Nicaragua, young and old.  God worked through and in each of us this week and we were all blessed by it.

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Brita Zuehlke and her husband, Reed, live in Orlando and are members of Lake Baldwin Church. Brita is originally from Sweden but has lived in the US since 1983. She works as a physical therapist at Florida Hospital, Winter Park. Brita started traveling to Nicaragua in 2004 with the Medical Mission Team from Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta. She is also on the board of a Christian School in Managua for impoverished children where she has been able to develop deep lasting relationships with both teachers and students. She has a special place in her heart for the children of Nicaragua.

Guest Post: Team Nicaragua Medical Mission, October 2015 - part 1

At 5:55 pm Saturday afternoon October 24th Team Nicaragua departed from Atlanta to share The Gospel and serve the medical needs of the beautiful Nicaraguan people in the Bluefields area on the eastern coast. Two LBC members, Brita Zuehlke and Angela Robinson were part of the team. The following are excerpts from Brita's daily Facebook posts during the trip. We are thankful for the work that was done to advance God's Kingdom and for Brita's willingness to share her story with us.

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October 26th - Clinic Day One:
Dr. Tellez's church provided us the biggest clinic space we've ever had which was both a blessing and a challenge. The first day of clinic is always a learning experience as new team members adjust to working with our translators, experienced team members and our local helpers. We were overwhelmed by how many wonderful church members came out to make our day run more smoothly.

Our providers set up in the main worship building. Our “dentistas”, Vania and Debbie, set up in what we called “the cage” with Mylinh as their assistant. We had some airy, covered spots to spread out glasses, happy feet, evangelism and pharmacy stations.

Gene led the group in singing on and off throughout the day including a rousing chorus of 'Days of Elijah'.  Alvaro Jr. (a.k.a AJ) immediately took a liking to optometry and it was wonderful to have him and our bus driver Julio helping out there. This year we got our pharmacist, Pam, back. With her team of helpers, she got every one of our Nica friends taken care of. Mark “MacGyver” was also back this year and he built a zip line for the kids out back by the playground.

We were also blessed to have some U.S. missionaries who live in Bluefields able to help us out. And a major blessing, NO RAIN! Overall it was a wonderful first day and we've learned a lot to help us make our clinics flow better and keep ourselves and our patients happy and healthy!

October 27th - Clinic Day Two:
On our second day we left on panga boats to Rama Cay, which is a beautiful island about 20 minutes from Bluefields.  God provided us with blessings to serve 350 people. Last January, several of our team members served this same area and were assisted by a man named Rau'l who helped make it so successful that we all wanted to return.  Rau'l had asked if it was possible to get a Bible in large print if we ever returned.  Not only were we able to fulfill his request but we gave him a leather bound monogrammed Bible and we had it blessed by Father David as it was presented to him.

During our day a mother brought her 4 year old daughter with cerebral palsy to be treated by our team.  It immediately became clear that this loving mother spends all hours of her days caring for this child and carrying her wherever she goes, including the times she has to cook, clean and do laundry. The girl was unable to sit on her own and she cannot be placed on the floor or ground since she also can't crawl or control her head.  Brita and Mark put their heads together and created a “buggy” from a suitcase that had been donated to Bruce and Barb by their church in Idaho.  When our physical therapist and “MacGyver” visited the family they were able to make many suggestions as to how the family could utilize the buggy to improve the whole family's life going forward.  We hope that the girl will now have a different view of the world and will hopefully have a chance to improve on her sitting ability, the mom will have her hands free to do her household chores more easily, and this will help save the mom's back for the future as the girl grows up.

Many team members have switched to roles totally unrelated to their occupation or even out of their comfort zone.  The first example is Virginia who is a nurse by training but easily and eagerly jumped in to help in many other areas wherever she was needed.  Bethany, who is our team photographer, put her camera down and brought out paint and paper for the kids to create some art projects that were finished off with fun stickers for all.  Angela was our champion greeter and in charge of getting heights and weights of all 350 that came through the clinic, putting everyone at ease and smiling her way through the day. Father David and Pastor Danny washed the feet of many and Dave Neilson ended up helping in the “store”, distributing clothing to those in need, including handing out dresses to both girls and women!

Our last story of the day is about a small boy with Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and multiple deformities of both legs.  His aunt brought him in a small wheelchair; his mother was unable to come because she is terminally ill with cancer.  Carol (Swish) noted that the boy was dressed in very heavy garments and appeared to be overheated.  She immediately went to our “store” of donated items and found him a whole new outfit with a hat that had been donated from Redeemer in Atlanta.  Father David prayed over the boy and was able to fit the boy with a pair of sunglasses that once belonged to his own son.  This little boy had the most radiant smile and blessed all of us with his joy.

October 28th - Clinic Day Three:  
This day started out the same as every day in Nicaragua with a rooster crowing at 4:30 am, about an hour before any of our cell phone alarms were set to play our favorite wake-up melodies.  Breakfast at 6:30 and bags and people loaded on the trucks by 7:30.  The short open air back of the truck ride through town filled our nostrils with plenty of diesel fumes and other mixed fragrances, some better than diesel, others not so much.  Our clinic was held in another church and we were again blessed with plenty of help from the congregation.  Two young ladies manned the front area, others helped in our “happy feet” area which included both foot washing and new flip-flops, some served as translators and a couple of ladies controlled the flow through the clinic.

A middle aged woman with chikungunya and very unsteady gait came limping up to Ellen's table.  She ached everywhere, all her joints were swollen, her feet, her ankles, her hands, her shoulders and her neck. She was one of at least twenty patients this day that had been diagnosed with chikungunya which is a virus similar to Lyme disease but it is transmitted by mosquitos.  To date there is no medicine to prevent or treat this disease and it can take months or even years to recover fully from it.  Ellen examined her, gave her some vitamins and pain pills and sent her to our therapy section to get something supportive for her wrists and ankles.  Upon further examination we noticed that she needed some more supportive shoes than what she had.  As we searched high and low for her size Ellen asked why her patient was still sitting there and when we told her she said: “Well, that's my size, she can have mine and I'll get some flip-flops.”  So Ellen took her shoes off and gave them to her patient.

Our dental “office” was a smooth running machine by today and two nurses, Linda and Mylinh, who previously knew nothing about dentistry had quickly morphed into efficient and fast acting multitasking dental assistants who were able to sterilize instruments, set up the next tray, hold a flashlight and hand instruments to the dentists all while calming multiple crying children and explaining the medicine given to the previous patient.  Our dentists, Vania and Debbie said they have never been as productive as today.  Vania had a patient named Axel who arrived very afraid and crying so she sat down to just talk to him.  After a minute he said he just wanted to hug her and so they hugged, and he held her tight and would not let go so Vania in her wisdom continued the session by placing the topical anesthesia, and after that she injected him and proceeded to pull the tooth, all while he kept his arms around her waist.  Axel left happy stating that he didn't feel any pain and gave her yet another hug and a kiss to top it off.  Vania shared that this was the first time she has done anything like that and yes, children often teach us new ways of doing things.

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Here are a few reflections from our interpreters who stay at our side all day long, beginning with Devin who is with us for the 5th time and lives in Bluefields:

“I am a translator and I took my daughters to work today and my youngest, Abieli, asked if her grandfather was going to be there; she was referring to Bruce because she loves seeing his white hair and calls him grandpa. When I took her home she told her mom about every single person she met, she spoke about the dentist who gave her a toothbrush, she said a beautiful lady gave her sunglasses and another one gave her a toy (Bubbles) from the movie Home.  Joshabeth, my older daughter shared with me that she was so encouraged by what she saw that she now wants to become a doctor."

Our second story comes from Cristiam who came with us on last minute notice but immediately fit right in and hopefully will be joining us in the future.

“A young lady entered the clinic with severe abdominal pain and came to Ali's station.  It became apparent that this was much more than what we could treat and that she needed an ultrasound to properly diagnose her condition.  She had tried to go to the local public hospital but their ultrasound machine is currently broken and she had no money to go to a private clinic.  The ultrasound was going to cost 500 cordobas which is about $20.  Our gracious leader, Ali, with her big heart quietly gave the woman the money and then they both hugged and cried. The woman was heading straight to the clinic and was going to share the results with us as soon as they were available.”  

    This last story comes from Alvaro, our trusted Nicaraguan partner who helps Ali get all the permits, arranges for our bus, and is always here for us.  

“So this police officer came to the clinic to get a second opinion for his ear problems and leg pain since he heard the doctors from the US were here.  He was seen by the providers and given a referral as well as pain medicine but he was still not satisfied and seemed unhappy.  As he came through Father David's prayer station we simply asked what in his life we could pray for.  The man slowly started sharing little by little about his pain, his family troubles, and also asking for protection for his family.  As the prayer ended his body was relaxed and tears were rolling down his face and he thanked us and said he was really glad he came!!"

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Brita Zuehlke and her husband, Reed, live in Orlando and are members of Lake Baldwin Church. Brita is originally from Sweden but has lived in the US since 1983. She works as a physical therapist at Florida Hospital, Winter Park. Brita started traveling to Nicaragua in 2004 with the Medical Mission Team from Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta. She is also on the board of a Christian School in Managua for impoverished children where she has been able to develop deep lasting relationships with both teachers and students. She has a special place in her heart for the children of Nicaragua.

Guest Post: 2015 ICC Retreat Wrap-up

October 19-23, Mike and Molly Tilley and Joel and Katie Pollard attended the International Christian Community (ICC) Pastors' Retreat in Teisendorf, Germany. Our pastor, Mike Tilley, serves on the board of ICC, and the Pollards were invited to lead worship for this year's retreat.

This post, written by Katie, originally appeared on Joel and Katie's personal blog on October 23.

The majority of conference attendees at Mirabell Gardens during a day trip to Salzburg, Austria.

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The ICC Pastors’ Retreat drew to a close [on October 22], and I’m struggling to wrap words around the experience we’ve had. If you’ve been following along on Facebook or Instagram, you can see that we’ve heartily enjoyed our travels in Munich, Teisendorf, and Salzburg. I’m sorry our posts have not included more substantive information about the retreat, but it seems that it takes more than a handful of characters in an expedient social media post to capture the powerful ways that God is working here.

There were pastors in attendance from Aix en Provence, Leon, Marseille, Toulouse, St. Paul, and Nice, France; Munich, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; Iasi, Romania; Tblisi, Georgia; Toronto, Canada; and of course, Orlando, Florida. The keynote speaker was Tim Challies, a former pastor, writer, and blogger from Toronto. He preached from 2 Timothy, James, 1 Thessalonians, and Titus, and he covered a wide range of topics applicable to pastors, including the supremacy of Scripture, the dangers of envy, and the catastrophic effects of pornography and distorted sexuality in our culture. Although Joel and I didn’t participate in every session, we greatly appreciated Tim’s insight and his commitment to teaching the gospel candidly and clearly.

There were also a variety of breakout sessions which included presentations about the vision and future of ICC, doctrinal teaching, practical advice for assimilating into foreign culture, a panel discussion about the refugee crisis, and a special session on counseling techniques by Elizabeth Matthias.

Perhaps our favorite part of the retreat was the time set aside for “field updates” at the beginning of each session. All the pastors had the opportunity to give a 10-15 minute presentation about their particular churches and ministries. It was informative to learn about their common struggles and very uplifting to hear testimony of all the unique ways God is working to transform individuals, impact major European cities, and equip people as they travel to the far corners of the Earth with the good news of the gospel.

During one or two sessions each day, Joel and I led the pastors in a brief worship service. Joel designed these services to include several songs in addition to corporate prayer, confession, and readings from various catechisms and historic confessions. The meeting space was beautiful, with high ceilings and pine rafters, and the acoustics were perfect for voices and guitar. Joel’s worship sets were rich in gospel content and—as is often the case, thanks to the work of the Spirit—the themes aligned beautifully with the teaching each day. We were greatly encouraged by the feedback we received, and I do believe that God used us to edify these pastors as they rested and filled themselves with the Word.

We held a Communion service [Thursday] night, and it was a particularly poignant and moving time of worship. Because our group was small in number, we could face each other at a long table and share the elements in a uniquely intimate and communal way. The unhurried reverence was powerful, and I personally experienced very sweet personal worship. This is often a challenge as a musician and leader—and, I suspect, as a pastor—when the demands of facilitating a church service so easily distract us from the holy experience that is the Lord’s Supper.

We came here hoping to encourage the ICC pastors, but I think we have benefitted from this experience at least as much as they have. It has been so exciting to meet these leaders and hear stories of what God is doing all over Europe through the vibrant churches He has planted here.

I had a vague understanding prior to this trip that for many years Europe has been in a state of spiritual decline—that despite a wealth of rich religious heritage, the old traditions and monuments have become mere icons, and spiritual darkness is prevalent. But now, when I picture a map of Europe, I can see pinpricks of light piercing that darkness, scattered across the continent. I’ve had conversations with at least a dozen real people who are here on the front lines, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel is alive and active, and lives are being changed through the work of these men and their families. Thanks be to God!

I’m also very excited that in the coming months I’ll be able to participate in the ICC movement by helping redesign and invigorate their web presence. I’m thrilled to be able to use my writing skills and [a humble amount of] content marketing experience to help tell the story of what God is doing through this organization.

Update on October 30: It was a joy to lead at Bavarian International Christian Fellowship —one of the two ICC churches in Munich—on October 18th. On October 25th, our last day overseas, we also had the privilege of leading alongside the worship team at Munich International Community Church. Attending these two church services was a powerful experience, and we are thrilled that we were able to partner with the people of BICF and MICC by assisting with their worship services during our visit.

Worship at MICC on Sunday, October 25.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. We’re pleased to report that we raised 100% of our financial support shortly before we departed the U.S! We are humbled and grateful for this opportunity, and I’m very excited to see how God will continue to use the seeds he has planted in our hearts.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
– Ephesians 3:20–21

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Katie Pollard is the administrator and communications director for Lake Baldwin Church in Orlando, FL. She is also a writer, musician, avid reader, craft guru, wife, and mother. Katie loves intelligent novels, a good cup of tea, and those complicated board games that only your nerdy friends like.

Prayer Initiative - Day 31

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm 34:8

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Today's Prayer Focus

• Today let’s take time to rejoice in God’s love and his power to answer our prayers.
• Let’s give thanks to God that we can trust him for the future answers to our prayers.
• Take some moments to give thanks in the midst of your circumstances, knowing that we can trust that our lives are part of his larger story.
• Let’s thank God in advance for all that he will do in the months to come. 

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"Taste and See That the Lord is Good"
Mike Tilley

This is our last day of the prayer initiative. Thank you for being one of 83 people who signed up to pray daily for the work of the church in the coming months. Today we simply want to offer thanksgiving to God, as an expression of our faith in him.

A number of times in Scripture, prayer seems to be associated with both spiritual alertness and giving thanks. It seems that God wants all of our prayers to be accompanied by an attitude of thanksgiving. It is a wonderful habit, to give thanks as we pray. With thanksgiving, we trust God for answers that we do not yet see, while expressing gratitude for his presence and for the blessings that he has already given.

For all of us, my guess is that our daily prayers this month have often been a kind of discipline, a laboring in prayer. Don’t be discouraged when your prayers have grown faint, or when you’ve forgotten to pray. Let’s thank God that he is a loving Father, who does not upbraid us for our failings in prayer, but who welcomes our prayers with the delight of a Father. For some, perhaps your love for prayer has been nurtured, as an acquired taste. Let’s continue our fellowship with him. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 30

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2 Timothy 2:1

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:25

"Brothers and sisters, pray for us."

Today's Prayer Focus

•  For the staff who serve the congregation of Lake Baldwin Church.
• For Joel and Katie Pollard, and their children, Sam and Evie. For Joel as he plans and leads worship; for Katie as our administrator and communications director.
• For Fritz and Barbie Schalmo, and their son, Jack. For Fritz as he leads LBC youth and offers free counseling. Pray too for Lindsay Buono and Scott as they assist with youth.
• For Michelle Crouse, along with Joshua and their children, Daniel and Tiffany. For Michelle as she leads the volunteers, teachers, and children in SPLASH Kids.
• For Mike and Molly Tilley and their 4 adult children. 

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"Prayer for Strengthening Grace for LBC Staff"
Mike Tilley

While grace often refers to our full acceptance with God on the basis of the work of Christ, it is also associated with strength. All of us are in need of daily grace from God, strengthening us to obey him and to serve him. Paul urged Timothy to be strong in the grace of Christ.

Having prayed for our deacons, elders, small group leaders, and our many volunteers, today we want to unite to pray for our LBC staff. While they work hard throughout the week, they especially need God’s grace on Sundays, when they come prepared to serve our congregation and our guests.

I’m so thankful that God has blessed us with an inspired, hard-working team. While the work is often challenging, we know that we are dependent on the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and there is great joy and rest in that. Our heart is for people to enter into worship; for kids to have fun with friends as they learn about Jesus; for youth to take the next step in their faith journey; and for the grace of Christ to be shown in all that we do. We need your prayers for that!

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 29

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1 Corinthians 9:19, 22

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I may win more of them. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For the run-up to the Relational Wisdom 360 seminar with Ken Sande: vision among our whole congregation; logistics of running the event; promotion in the community.
• For the vision and planning lunch tomorrow; for all the pieces to fall into place.
• For Ken’s ministry to our congregation on the topic of relationships, with application to family, business, church, and other relationships.
• For our outreach to the community, through personal invitations, networking with businesses, and media outreach.

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"Free From All, a Servant to All"
Mike Tilley

Recently I was having lunch with a business leader in our city. Though he does not profess faith in Christ, he has a favorable view of Lake Baldwin Church. I’ll never forget one of the things he said to me: “Mike, I like that Lake Baldwin Church does intermediate events.” He was referring to his family’s positive experience with Kids Camp, an event where over 50% of the kids came from families outside our church. 

I think that the apostle Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 9, would love the idea of common ground events and relationships. Without letting go of the truth of the gospel, Paul worked to find common ground with people for the sake of the gospel. There was even an element of personal sacrifice: “I have made myself a servant to all.” This reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ, who put on flesh to “move into the neighborhood.” He came “to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The upcoming Relational Wisdom seminar (RW360) with Ken Sande is one of those “intermediate events” when the people of LBC build a bridge to the people around us on the basis of the common ground topic of relationships. Let’s unite as a church to bathe this event in prayer—for logistics, promotion, personal invitations, and the day of the event itself. It will take place on Friday evening and Saturday morning, October 9-10.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 28

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Psalm 1:1-3

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by stream of water that yields its fruit in its season..."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For God’s Spirit to give us an appetite for the Scriptures.
• For greater depth in our understanding of God’s Word; for growing levels of interest in classes that will be offered in the coming months and years.
• For eyes to see and savor Christ in the pages of Scripture, responding to him with love and devotion; for our hearts to be shaped by his love. “Christ in all of Scripture, grace in all of life.”
• For obedience to the Scriptures, prompted by love.

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"Rooted in the Word"
TJ Sellers

During my journey as a follower of Christ, there have been several seasons in which I found myself asking the question, “Do I REALLY believe the book that I am basing my values, beliefs and worldview upon, contains the true words of the only God?” The “counsel” of the world had convinced me that the stories contained within Scripture were too outlandish and made me want proof. I felt like there should be more tangible evidence of the Word.  My faith was being shaped by the “counsel of the wicked” and not “the law of the Lord.”

As I battled these feelings of doubt, reading the Word was low on my list.  However, as I made meager efforts to read Scripture, I can confidently affirm that it was the very Word of God that delivered me from skepticism.  My delight became rooted in the very book I was doubting, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

As we continue to pray for the needs of our church and for fruitful ministry, may we remember that our prayers, ministry goals and plans are to be rooted in His Word.  Personally, and as a congregation, let us continually ask for a deeper love for His truth—that our roots would go down deep and drink from the benefits of the Living Water.  Pray that the Word would guide our ministry and “yield its fruit in its season.”

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TJ Sellers and his wife, Anna, have attended Lake Baldwin Church since 2010 and recently welcomed their first child, Adalyn Emory. Originally from California, TJ moved to Orlando in 1991 at the age of five. A graduate of Boone High School and the University of Florida, TJ now works for a construction management company. In his free time, TJ enjoys anything outdoors including water sports, backpacking, beach volleyball, soccer and traveling. Combining his passion for building, travel, and the church, TJ enjoys participating in overseas missions in developing countries.

Prayer Initiative - Day 27

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Acts 20:17, 28

"Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him... Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For our elders, who have been elected by the church: Danny Anderson, Ed Holtz, Bart Johnson, Mike Mikkelson, and Richard Hostetter. 
• For Jim Cunningham, who will be presented to the congregation for election as elder.
• For the spiritual and family lives of our elders; for hearts and lives shaped by the gospel.
• For God’s grace as they pray for and shepherd those under their care.
• For God’s wisdom in decisions, as we meet to pray and chart the course for the future.

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"Elders to Care for the Church"
Mike Tilley

God loves his church, referred to in 1 Peter 5:2 as “the flock of God.” Elders who shepherd God’s flock have been made overseers by the Holy Spirit. And the church was obtained by the blood of Christ. What does it mean that elders are called to shepherd the flock of God?

First, shepherds are called to know their flock. At LBC, elders giver oversight to around 15-20 individuals or families. They know their names, and they pray for them.

Second, shepherds are called to feed the flock. While this feeding happens through sermons, small groups, and classes, elders are accountable for the quality of teaching.

Third, shepherds lead the flock. They give thought to the future of the church, and they are called to lead by example.

Fourth, shepherds guard the flock, seeking to protect the church from false teaching, divisiveness, and destructive behaviors that harm the church and dishonor God.

While the calling is a high one, elders are acutely aware of their inadequacy and need for God’s grace. Today, let’s pray for our elders and their families. 

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 26

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Romans 15:7

“Wherefore accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” 

Today's prayer focus

• For our acceptance of one another to result in continued unity in our church body.
• That Christ’s acceptance of us in the gospel would shape our heart for others.
• For every type of person to feel included at Lake Baldwin Church.
• For guests to feel that acceptance on their first visit... and every other visit!

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"Accept One Another"
Kim Anderson

When we consider the many different people, personalities and situations we encounter on a daily basis, what does it really mean when Paul commands us to "accept one another"? Does acceptance necessarily mean agreeing with one another?

What does it look like for business partners to accept one another when vision for their company differs? A husband and wife are not of the same mind regarding school choices, and two friends are in stark disagreement, yet each are called to accept one another. What does accepting one another practically look like for us at LBC in the midst of all our preferences? 

A hint is given in verse 5 when Paul says, “May the God who gives us perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”  Accepting one another doesn’t insist upon same-mind agreement on a particular issue. It does, however, imply that amidst our differences, we are to interact with others according to the same mind of Christ Jesus and his ways of love. In all its beauty, accepting one another is the practice of engaging others in ways that honor their dignity as image bearers of God, while remembering God’s acceptance of us.  As we at LBC seek Jesus’ ways of thinking and loving. Verse 6 says, “with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Would you pray that as a church, we would continue to grow in the practice of accepting one another, resulting in our one voice glorifying our great God?

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Anchored by God’s Word, Kim Anderson is passionate about awarding worth and cultivating growth in women by helping them understand their identity in Christ. Married for 25 years to her husband Danny, they have four children. A writer and speaker at heart, Kim is grateful for the gift of words! 

Prayer Initiative - Day 25

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1 Peter 4:8-10

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For the various small groups meeting in homes around the area. That they would flourish with gospel community and gospel growth.
• For God to raise up additional small group leaders as more people get involved.
• For our Small Group Leaders’ huddle on September 13, for vision, communication, and connecting to the big picture.
• For our homes to continue to be places of gospel hospitality in a fragmented culture, welcoming our church family and new guests who don’t yet have a church home.

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"Offer Hospitality to One Another"
Mike Tilley

It appears from 1 Peter that church is a place where love is both tested and practiced. In the testing part, love covers a multitude of sins. The church is also a place to offer hospitality, to serve one another, and even receive strengthening grace from one another. These things would most likely be experienced outside of Sunday worship, in smaller, home-based communities.

These smaller communities are the heart behind our LBC small groups. The groups are diverse and meet various needs: women’s groups and a men’s group; coed groups with singles and marrieds; groups for young adults; and others. Our hope for each group is that they would offer gospel community, gospel growth, and yes, gospel hospitality. It’s such a great experience to know and be known, and to get to know people in their homes, sharing meals prepared by various members of the group. 

For this fall, pray that our small groups would be places of great joy and refreshment. These groups will also be the “first responders” in times of crisis, so pray for those times too. May God use our culture of hospitality to create a thirst for Christ in today’s world.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 24

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Matthew 9:36-37

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For a spiritual movement among young adults in and through our church to the city.
• For a real sense of community among our growing numbers of both singles and marrieds.
• For multiplying small groups among young adults to grow organically.
• For a spiritual harvest among millennials moving into Baldwin Park.

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"A Spiritual Harvest Among Millennials"
Mike Tilley

The young Millennial Generation is comprised of those born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Much has been written to attempt to describe what they are looking for in a church. In Orlando, Millennial participation in churches is actually quite diverse, from large churches to small churches, from traditional to progressive. Like other generations, this group defies simplistic categories.

LBC was birthed with a mix of boomers and 20-somethings, setting the stage for an intergenerational community. We have been enriched by all age groups, and there is an amazing desire to learn from one another. From my experience, Millennials add incredible value to our body life. They lead us in social media and technology; they often think differently about social and political issues; they improve my sermons; and they have a built-in honesty meter. 

Jesus would view all of us through his lens of compassion. We all are like sheep without a shepherd. Millennials need for the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to love them, to show hospitality, to mentor them, to learn from them, and to introduce them to the good shepherd. May we all show the love and compassion of Christ for all generations, including the Millennials.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 23

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Proverbs 3:1-4

"My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For the wisdom of God, found in Proverbs and perfected in Christ, to be passed from generation to generation in our church.
• For the youth of LBC to take God’s wisdom into their hearts. For Fritz Schalmo and his team as they mentor and lead our youth.
• For LBC youth who have gone on to college, to take God’s wisdom with them and to find a good church.
• For teens who have not yet trusted in Christ, to embrace the gospel. For all the teens attending whose families do not yet have a church home.
• For those transitioning grades: 5th to 6th, or 8th to 9th. For those just becoming part of the youth group, to find friends and develop a heart for God.

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"Remember and Be Wise"
Rachel Glodo

A proverb is a concise, pithy statement that is meant to convey good advice or wisdom: think, “An apple a day…” or “Many hands make light work.”  Because we frequently encounter proverbs in daily life, it can be tempting to relegate the biblical book of Proverbs to a mere collection of useful sayings best quoted by grandmothers and the occasional pastor.
 
But Proverbs contains much more than handy quips about ants and sluggards.  The author of Proverbs urges us to consider what it means to be wise.  Wisdom is the demonstration of knowledge and good judgment in daily life, and the opening chapter of Proverbs makes it clear that wisdom is inextricably linked to honoring and serving God: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

Proverbs 3:1-4 reveals the means by which wisdom is developed in the Christian soul.  We find that wisdom is tied to the act of remembering, and indeed, the book contains numerous invocations to heed and hold fast to God’s teachings (ex, Proverbs 4:20, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live,” or Proverbs 7:1, “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you.”).   By reading, memorizing, reciting and meditating on the words of God, we effectively internalize his commandments and teachings, bringing God’s wisdom home to our wayward hearts.  These verses encourage us to spend time with God’s word, engraving it in our memories and treasuring it up in our hearts.

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Rachel Glodo is a young professional from Winter Park.  She studies musicology (the academic study of music as it relates to history, society, politics, economics, and philosophy) and has a particular passion for Russian opera and ballet.  She recently finished her master’s degree at Northwestern University.  She has enjoyed serving with the LBC youth group, worship team, and Splash Kids; she also loves gardening, visiting zoos, and eating borscht.

Prayer Initiative - Day 22

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Titus 3:4-7

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, being justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Today's Prayer Focus

• Praise God for another adult baptism during worship this Sunday!
• Pray for more adult baptisms in our church, representing the work of God’s grace and the washing of rebirth in the hearts of adults making a profession of faith.
• For the sacrament of baptism to be a means of grace for all of us, reminding us of our own baptism, strengthening us in hope, and stirring us to love and obey God.

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"Baptism and the Washing of Rebirth"
Mike Tilley

Throughout history, Christians have seen water baptism as a sacrament, the outward sign and seal of an inward reality. The outpoured water of baptism points to the lavish outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us in our new birth. It reminds us of the gospel, that we were saved, not by things we have done, but because of his mercy. This understanding of God’s generous grace is why we read Titus 3:5-6 whenever we have an adult baptism.

What does it mean for baptism to be a sign and seal? The late John Stott compared baptism to a wedding ring. The ring is a vivid and ever-present reality of the bond of marriage. It is a “sign and seal” of the marriage covenant. So every baptism is meaningful to all of us, far beyond our rejoicing in the baptism of an infant, or the profession of faith of an adult. It is a chance for all of us to reflect on our baptism and see it as a sign and seal of the gospel. Baptism reminds us of our cleansing from sin, our union with Christ, our membership in the body of Christ, and his mercy toward us.

So tomorrow in worship, let baptism be a strengthening for your own soul, an opportunity for us to see and experience the gracious gospel that our hearts believe.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 21

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Ephesians 4:11-12

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

Today's prayer focus

• Praise God for the many faithful leaders serving throughout our church.
• For God to raise up additional leaders for new community groups.
• For the nominating and training of deaconesses alongside our deacons.
• For a church-wide culture of investing in men and women, to serve and use their gifts for the maturing of the body of Christ.
• For the opportunity to offer internships and field education hours for students training for ministry at nearby Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS).

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"A Growing Number of Faithful Leaders"
Mike Tilley

Most people at LBC are familiar with our efforts to reach out to the non-churched, as well as our efforts to offer spiritual growth opportunities for believers. People might be less familiar with our vision for leadership development. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, part of the “job description” of the pastor is to equip God’s people for works of service. In other words, the church is not built on one leader, but rather a growing abundance of leaders, under the the leadership of Christ himself.

One of my favorite experiences this past year has been working with two “cohorts” or groups of people for officer training. We discussed theology and leadership, with application to the real world. In the coming years, we hope to expand this approach to include men and women for a variety of ministry roles in the church. Our community groups also serve as environments to nurture disciples and new leaders.

According to Ephesians 4, it is the risen Christ himself who gives leaders to his church. We can praise God today for the many men and women who are serving the body as elders, deacons, deaconesses, community group leaders, staff, and serving team leaders. Yet the needs are great for new leaders and teachers throughout our church, so let’s unite to pray for God to be the one to raise them up.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 20

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2 Corinthians 9:7-8, 11

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency at all times, you may abound in every good work … You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…”

Today's Prayer Focus

• For a culture of grace-inspired generosity at LBC.
• For broad-based participation in “the grace of giving.” 
• For God’s provision for all of our ministries and work on behalf of the gospel.
• For the specific need of a 20% increase in funding to hire the new assistant pastor, for the purpose of expanding our outreach and nurturing our growing congregation.

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"A Strange Command with a Remarkable Promise"
Bart Johnson

LBC and Orlando have much in common with the ancient church and the city of Corinth. The Apostle Paul wrote to our forebears in the Corinthian church (and to us at LBC) a very personal, emotive letter that includes the passage above. Isn’t it interesting that he “raises the bar” on giving, by insisting not only that we “must” give, but also that we give with a right attitude … “not reluctantly”, but cheerfully. Okay, Paul, it’s not enough that we give? We have to be cheerful about it too?!

But I love that along with the command, Paul makes a remarkable promise containing an amazing provision. Who among us doesn’t want to “have all sufficiency at all times”, and to “be enriched in every way”? And who among us doesn’t truly desire (in our best moments) to be “generous in every way”?

God commands only what He also enables by the power of his Spirit … only what He knows is for our good … and only what He also rewards. Would you pray with me that He will graciously give His congregation at LBC the Spirit of cheerful giving that He “loves”, and along with it the fulfillment of the wonderful promises that attend this way of giving?

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Bart Johnson is an elder at LBC. He has been "thankfully" married 42 years to Judy. He loves music, the solitude and beauty of remote wilderness high country, and the “clamor” of good fellowship in the city.

Prayer Initiative - Day 19

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Galatians 4:4-5

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

Today's Prayer Focus

• Operation Christmas Child, our partnership with Samaritan’s Purse to offer gift boxes to needy children around the world.
• Advent season, beginning November 29. Pray for our worship team as they prepare services. For the Advent series, Journey to Bethlehem.
• Our Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols, on December 24. 
• Outreach into the community for Advent services and Christmas Eve.
• A generous response to the our partnership with Glenridge Middle School, by providing Publix gift cards for needy families.

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"Advent"
Mike Tilley

One of the highlights of the year is our annual celebration of Advent and Christmas as a church. It’s not too early to pray! Our first step is always congregational participation in Operation Christmas Child, when we begin purchasing supplies at those back-to-school sales.

During Advent, we long for the coming of Christ, the light of the world. Galatians 4:4 reminds us , that he came when “the set time had fully come.” The prophets longed for the coming of the Prince of Peace, and God sent him at the perfect time. Christ was born under the law, and he perfectly fulfilled God’s law for us. The newborn babe became our redeemer.

We love the stories of Advent, because in them we hear the music of the gospel. We see the light of the world dispelling our darkness. This year, we’ll discover the stories of those who took the “journey to Bethlehem” and see ourselves in their stories. (Special thanks to SPLASH Kids for that title!) Speaking of SPLASH Kids, pray that all of our children would find great joy in this year’s Operation Christmas Child, and in the King who was born at the perfect time.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 18

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1 Corinthians 3:6

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."

Today's Prayer Focus

•  For Dave Abney, former staff with LBC, planting a new church in Jacksonville.
• For Mike Aitcheson, former staff with LBC, planting Christ United Fellowship in south downtown Orlando.
• For our partnership with the Florida Church Planting Network, pooling resources for church plants throughout Florida.
• For 5 future church plants in the cities of Europe, where we partner with International Christian Community.
• For LBC to grow as a sending base, investing in young leaders and giving financial resources for new church plants. 

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"Rejoicing When a New Church is Planted"
Mike Tilley

Lake Baldwin Church began as a new church plant, back in 2006. The agricultural reference in 1 Corinthians 3:6 is a vivid picture. We’ve worked to plant a lot of seeds in lives, and to water those seeds, but we are dependent on God for growth. That planting and watering will always continue as we sow the seeds of the gospel and nurture people in their faith.

Seeds that grow also reproduce. So we are part of a church planting movement, in the hope that other communities and cities can have gospel-centered churches. As God blesses us with resources, it’s healthy to look beyond ourselves and share those resources. We can rejoice in young leaders who have served at LBC and then have planted new churches.

We also feel called to give of our financial resources. We’ve taken on a commitment to give 3% of our church budget to the Florida Church Planting Network, pooling funds to help people like Mike and Lucy Aitchison. Today, let’s rejoice in what God is doing through the planting of new churches, and the part we can play in that by his grace.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 17

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Jeremiah 29:7

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Today's Prayer Focus

• Pick a story from the morning headlines, and pray for a needy part of the city.
• Elevate Orlando: serving urban youth. Jack and Sheri McGill as they lead.
• 306 Foundation: serving women in need. John and Jane Hursh as they lead.
• Grace Clinic: offering medical care to those who cannot afford such care.
• For the 40+ homeless children who attend Glenridge Middle School.
• For our serving with Habitat for Humanity. David Runnels, serving on their board.

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"Seeking the Peace and Welfare of the City"
Scott Crocker

Orlando is known as “The City Beautiful” and many consider a certain location in the southwest portion of our region as “the most magical place on Earth.” Tens of millions travel to our area each year for vacation, rest and to escape the realities of day-to-day life. Although most of us would agree that there are many beautiful and magical aspects to central Florida, we also realize that our community and its residents are as broken as anywhere else. Even as followers of Jesus, we remain as much in need of the saving power of Christ and cling to the hope of the gospel just as much as if we lived in a place that was not a tourist destination.
 
Just as Jeremiah the prophet gave instructions to those in exile in Babylon to “seek the welfare of the city” and “pray to the Lord on its behalf,” we as Lake Baldwin Church feel called to seek the good of our city and to bring its needs before the Lord in prayer. We, as followers of Christ, can do good for our city by shining the light of Christ in our neighborhoods, at our places of work, in our schools and in the public sphere. 

Furthermore, we have the privilege of bringing the needs of our friends, co-workers and leaders in prayer before our heavenly Father and asking Him to bring healing through His Son into the broken parts of their lives. When we read the newspaper or watch the local news, we often see the effects of living in a sinful world. Take that time to pray for the people involved and ask God to show up in supernatural ways to bring healing, hope and redemption.

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Scott Crocker is the Chief of Staff for Ethnic Field Ministry, a ministry of Cru committed to seeing spiritual movements launched among ethnic minority students and faculty throughout the world.  He is also a contributing author to "Finding Key Leaders and Building Impact Movements," a handbook for campus ministers seeking to reach African American students for Christ. His family attends Lake Baldwin Church, where Scott serves as a deacon and leads the church’s mercy ministry to those in need.  In his free time, he is a diehard fan of the Michigan Wolverines & Detroit Tigers and has coached youth basketball and football since high school.  An avid reader, he particularly enjoys biographies and books about culture and American history.  Scott and his wife, Lori, have four children and live in Orlando, Florida

Prayer Initiative - Day 16

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Ephesians 3:8

"Although I am less than the least of the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For the riches of Christ to be displayed in the worship and preaching this morning, especially as we see Christ as our comfort in life and in death.
• For the new sermon series this fall on the book of Ephesians, with its rich teaching on the person of Christ and the community of believers. Pray that the discovery of these riches will shape our congregation and our personal lives. Pray that new people will find Christ and his riches through this new series.
• For the riches of Christ to be experienced in our many community groups and Bible studies this fall.
• For the riches of Christ to be discovered by our SPLASH kids each Sunday morning, and by our youth on Sunday evenings. Think of some children or youth you know, and pray for them by name. 

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"The Boundless Riches of Christ"
Mike Tilley

One time a mother came up to me to let me know that her teenage daughter prayed for me daily. That meant a lot to me, because there is always a part of me that feels inadequate, even while preaching. Surprising as it seems, the apostle Paul may have felt a similar inadequacy: Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people...

But Paul did not remain stuck in his inadequacy: This grace was given to me. We all need grace (strength) from God, and that’s why our prayers make such a difference. Today, your prayers can be a means of grace for your pastor, for our SPLASH teachers, for our youth leaders, for our community groups, and for all the places where grace is needed.

There’s a pot at the end of this rainbow: the boundless riches of Christ. For all of us, there is more to see and savor of Christ, more treasures of love to mine, more drinks of mercy for our soul, more victories for his kingdom, greater majesty to contemplate in song. May this be a day to discover and live out of the emotional and spiritual wealth we have in Christ.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

Prayer Initiative - Day 15

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1 Corinthians 12:27

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

Today's Prayer Focus

• For the membership class Aug 21-22, for new members to gain a vision for their part in the life of the body at LBC.
• For the continued spiritual health of the body; for growth in spiritual maturity and in connecting visitors from the community to our church.
• For mutual love and care, in times of both suffering and rejoicing.
• For future care needs to be met, especially through community groups, our deacons, our elders, and friends.

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"One Body, One Spirit, Many Members"
Mike Tilley

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 presents a beautiful vision for the church as the “body of Christ.” That vision dispels three modern myths about church:

Myth #1: The church is a spectator sport, or a consumer enterprise. When we see ourselves as part of the mystical body of Christ, we see church as a participation sport, where each person offers their care and their gifts, and receives from the other parts of the body.

Myth #2: I’m not needed. It’s easy to compare ourselves with others and think that our personality or our gifts are not valuable. In the body of Christ, each person has spiritual gifts, and the seemingly “weaker” parts of the body are actually more needed.

Myth #3: I don’t need others. This is the peril of thinking that we can do fine on our own, or apart from the other members of the body. But all those relationships, the easy ones and the difficult ones, are part of God’s wonderful plan for our soul.

Looking forward to the fall, let’s pray that our church body will have just the right balance of healthy food for our souls, exercise in serving & caring for one another, and the joy of seeing each person flourish as part of the beautiful body of Christ.

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Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.