Dakar dedication
March 26, 2006
Four hours of pure joy.
That’s the only way I know to describe a church dedication, Senegalese-style. It’s been a while since I attended a 4-hour service (without intermission or potty-break, I might add), but that’s how it was this morning with Pastor Charles Bavelloni and congregation.
I’ll have pictures posted here soon, but today was the culmination of a dream come true – what literally began with a God-dream back in 1998 and over 5 years of concentrated involvement for CLC. Charles tells me that there are only about 20 Christian church buildings in all of Senegal and CLC has now provided the funding for 4 of them, including this central church for Dakar.
The building was designed to hold 300 worshippers, but about 500 people showed up today, including the Village chief & his assistant. I’ve never seen such joy as people danced all through the service…and at least 20 new attenders came forward to receive Christ at the close. CLCers, rejoice, for you had a part in all of this!
Senegal trip
March 25, 2006
Well, it was no fun getting here, but it’s sure been worth the journey! We’re participating in a mass crusade with the Norwegian version of Billy Graham or Oral Roberts, Aril Edvardsen. He has a unique way of lowering Muslim resistance and a powerful miracle ministry as well. Already we’ve seen the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, & last night after a little crippled boy was healed, the joy among the people was unbridled – pure JOY!
Tomorrow we’ll dedicate the latest building constructed with CLC funds – the central church for Dakar pastored by our friend, Charles Bavelloni. It’s the second-or-third-largest Christian church building in the country, and he tells me that our church is now responsible for fully 20% of ALL the church buildings in Senegal! CLC, we are making a difference in this nation – thank you for your faithfulness. It’s a joy to serve you!
unexpected joys
March 19, 2006
There’s something special about surprises – the happy kind, I mean. I’ve been like a little kid with joy lately because of one of those totally unexpected joys. You see, when my wife and I were missionaires in Cebu City, Philippines in the early 1980′s, I bonded with the Filipino pastor that we worked most closely with like no one I’ve ever been involved in ministry with – it was like a modern-day David & Jonathan. When we left the Philippines in 1984 for medical reasons, the pain of leaving was such that we really didn’t try to maintain contact. Of course, when I left the denomination in the early 1990′s, any thought of reconnecting was gone.
However, a few months ago we accepted an invitation from Global Advance to conduct a pastor’s conference in Davao City, Mindanao this November. For some reason, my nostaglia got the best of me, and I inquired from one of the denominal missionaries how I might contact my long-lost friend, thinking perhaps I could visit him when we’re there.
When Willy answered my email enthusiastically, it was almost like we picked up where we left off 23 years ago – and my joy at getting reconnected has surprised all rational thought – it really just seems like one of those over-and-above blessings that God sends to us just to show us how much we’re loved! We’ve been exchanging emails and pictures almost daily, and I’ve learned that Willy is scheduled to visit the USA this October – wouldn’t you know it – just in time to participate in CLC’s annual missions conference!
We serve a GOOD God!
pj
Proud Pastor
March 12, 2006
Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org
Radio opportunity for CLC
March 9, 2006
WYLL will broadcast live from our lobby this Sunday, March 12, to promote this new partnership. This partnership is not about marketing and advertisements; rather, it is missions. However, we need business partners and personal sponsors to be able to launch this vital ministry. Please stop by the WYLL booth in our lobby this Sunday and talk to the General Manger, Dave Santrella, and pick up a packet of information to see if you can be one of the business sponsors. You may also make a donation or a monthly pledge of support for this vital outreach.
See you this weekend as March Madness continues at CLC with my wife sharing how we can ‘Stand Out from the Crowd’!
Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org
more time together
March 1, 2006
I can’t say it enough: make time for each other! We just spend the better part of the morning just holding hands and walking around the grounds of this incredible retreat place – Big Cedar Lodge, in the Ozark Mountains near Branson, MO. The scenic beauty certainly made it majestic, but the real joy was again having time to just connect with each other. If it’s this good for us, after 33 years of marriage, it’s bound to be good for other couples as well. So, one more time: make time for your spouse, or if you’re unmarried, for the important people in your life.
Even if your ‘time together’ is just holding hands at Starbucks, drop the kids off with a sitter and do it! If you think you can’t even afford that, then find another CLC couple and ‘swap’ – you watch their kids for free while they go out, and then they watch your kids for free while you enjoy a date night. There’s really no excuse – whatever it takes, make time for relationships!
pj
