Mike Slaughter's Blog

Christmas in July

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 -0400

In my message on “Why Give” in worship on July 24/25, I asked you to be in prayer for what God is calling us to do in the Sudan in 2011 and beyond. In the past six years, God’s blessings through this congregation have impacted nearly a quarter of a million children, women and men. Almost 22,000 kids have enrolled in our schools, more than 80,000 have been fed, and over 100,000 of our Sudanese sisters and brothers have benefited from our safe water projects. Currently in Darfur, 22 percent of all United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) projects are 100 percent dependent on Ginghamsburg Church. That means if we stop our investment at the end of this December, 22 percent of the lives being served will be drastically impacted—no schools, no food, no hope. Our faithfulness is keeping people alive. This is all the more critical since the Sudanese government in 2009 kicked out half of all aid agencies and is not permitting new ones in.

After six years there, we have also earned the opportunity to plant our first church in Aweil, South Sudan. I can state unapologetically that the world needs Jesus. God has promised the rain of the Holy Spirit, and by faith we have been preparing the ground to receive the rain for the last six years.

On September 27, three of us will travel to UMCOR’s offices in New York City to meet with the head of UMCOR and other key staff, as well as a specialist on church planting in Africa from the Mission & Evangelism arm of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, to map out strategies for our projects in Darfur and the first church plant in Aweil. I’ve been thinking about this incredible God opportunity while also asking, “Lord, how can we do this thing?” considering the difficulty of financial sacrifice during the midst of the economic crisis. The other day when I was looking through the newspaper, I kept noticing the Christmas in July strategy of many retailers as they try to give the economy a shot in the arm, and it occurred to me that we needed to do our own Christmas in July with the goal of finding 1000 of us who are willing to make a commitment to raise $1000 for God’s work in Sudan by Christmas, starting in July. Sound irrational? Maybe. But we have a God who says all things are possible.

If you give $45.50 a week toward an interest-bearing Sudan Christmas Club contribution plan, you will total $1000 by Christmas. For some of us, it may mean giving $100 per paycheck for the rest of the year. I remember in the past hearing the great servant stories of cell groups or individuals who held garage sales or cleaned houses to earn extra income to keep people alive in Darfur. If 1000 of us bring $1000, that is one million dollars to save lives in Darfur while also planting our first church. All we need to do is to trust the promise of the Lord, to seek first the Kingdom of God, knowing in full confidence that all else will be fully provided.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "They have scattered abroad their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." -2 Corinthians 9:6, 8-9

Please pray for me as I continue to pray for you and for the people of Sudan…

Called To Make Disciples

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:42:00 -0400

A few of our Anderson Hills gang and their families

Last weekend Carolyn and I had the opportunity to return to Anderson Hills United Methodist Church in Cincinnati where we did youth ministry from 1976-79. I preached in the three morning services and got reacquainted with friends that we hadn’t seen in over 31 years. Leatha Graham, a youthful 98-year-old, told me that I didn’t look the same, "You used to have such beautiful dark hair!"

Anderson Hills was my first appointment out of seminary. I was 24 years old. Our time there would be a brief two years and ten months, but we got right to work on the mandate given to us by our Lord--“Go and make disciples!” That first summer we started a Wednesday evening Bible study with a group of 13 students who would become our core. We went to work identifying a group of adults who had a passion to work with teens. I remember the summer evening in 1976 when I drove the River Road east out of Cincinnati to recruit Dan and Sue Meckstroth to work with middle school students. They both made a commitment to Christ that year and now over 34 years later serve at Ginghamsburg Church. We met in our home one night a week to disciple teen leaders and another night to disciple adults. Each of the disciples that we worked with recruited groups of their own. We organized strategic trips and retreats. From Ocean City, New Jersey, to Port au Prince, Haiti, we worked, witnessed, studied, prayed, laughed and loved together.

The teens and adults that Carolyn and I left on the first Sunday in April '79 are now hovering around the 50-year-old mark. A few of our former adult counselors are approaching 80. The work of discipleship that Carolyn and I committed ourselves to in that brief 34 months continues to bear fruit through our Anderson Hills gang, who continue to reproduce themselves in others.

When Carolyn and I were moved from Anderson Hills to Ginghamsburg by our Bishop in 1979, we got right to work--identifying a core group, equipping and sending. Thirty-one years later, Tom and Elaine Sampley are reproducing themselves in the Czech Republic. John Ward has restarted two churches while he continued in his regular employment. Dennis Mikel has been instrumental in discipling Lay Pastors for the care of thousands. All of us are called to this work of discipleship. Carolyn and I are currently meeting with a group of 26 young adults in our home on Tuesday evenings. Carolyn is taking time to meet with the women and I with the men apart from our regular meeting time. Whom are you discipling? Discipleship doesn't happen apart from the hard work of mentoring. Church programs don't make disciples. Disciples make disciples! The process of discipleship is the focused work of moving people from believers to followers: from donation to sacrifice, from moralistic principles to lifestyles of self-denial, from the pursuit of success to true significance. Disciples learn to drop everything they have into the hands of Jesus to be directed by God’s purpose.

God bless…

Why, God?

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:30:00 -0400

Brandon serving with the Environment Team on Ginghamsburg’s campus

I have been in a state of numbness for almost 24 hours. Two families in our church experienced the senseless loss of their 22-year-old son, Brandon. His mom Kim, who has been one of our devoted teachers of two year olds on Sunday mornings, witnessed the horrific murder of her son. Brandon had been a “Treehouse” children’s teacher at Ginghamsburg for seven years. He was also one of the three organizing founders of Artists for Sudan and served with our campus Environment Team.

My office has been a revolving door for members of the press today, who have inundated me with questions like: “How can a member of your church whom you have known for years have committed such a horrendous act against his stepson?” “How can God allow such an unthinkable act against a young person of promise?” This weekend in worship we will address some of these questions, and I would appreciate your prayers for Brandon’s family and all of those who have been affected by this senseless tragedy. We will have grief counselors on site all weekend to meet with any children or adults who worked with Brandon.

A few hours before his death Brandon posted these words on his Facebook page: “Life is too short not to do something that matters.” Brandon did much to serve both God and people in his brief 22 years. Now how about you and I?

God bless…

Creating Saving Spaces

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:30:00 -0400

We’ve been reading about Noah this week in the Transformation Journal. I’ve been asking myself where is the redemptive narrative in Noah’s story for the Jesus community? I identify with Noah in that Christ’s call in my life is to create saving spaces and places. This June I traveled with my seminary class to many of Ginghamsburg’s mission sites around Dayton, from our medical equipment ministry, food pantries, gently used clothing store and car ministry to our inner city Clubhouse ministry, where children are receiving free lunches daily at six Dayton area sites.

I really see how as a Christ community we are creating a diversity of saving places for people, redeeming them from the torrents of economic and genocidal tragedies from Dayton to Darfur. As Christ’s redemptive community, we are helping to create hopeful pictures in hopeless situations and connecting people to God’s love and grace in Jesus. My question to those of you in other churches, how is your church intentionally creating saving, redemptive places in your community or around the world? I would love to hear from you. For those of you at Ginghamsburg Church, what is your saving place of service and commitment?

God bless…

What Fills Your Emotional Tank?

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Throughout the year I lay aside my summer “must read” book list. The list is fairly eclectic and usually includes at least two business-leadership books. This week I have been reading Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. Based on my own fast-paced lifestyle, I was caught by their analogy of an “Emotional Tank.” “The Emotional Tank is like the gas tank of an automobile. If your car’s tank is empty, you can’t drive very far. If your Emotional Tank is empty, you are not going to be able to perform at your best.”

Think about how our emotional connectedness impacts our faith. Belief by itself does not equate to action. The authors point out that, “Everyone believes there is tremendous human suffering in Africa; there’s no doubt about the facts. But belief does not necessarily make people care enough to act. Everyone believes that eating lots of fatty food leads to health problems; there is no doubt about the facts. But the belief does not make people care enough to act.” The authors’ premise: “Feelings inspire people to act.” Or, in biblical terms, “loving God and others as yourself.” Emotional health impacts spiritual, relational and physical wellness!

Loving self has a whole lot to do with resourcing our Emotional Tank. I intentionally set aside some time each day for self care issues, but sometimes the demands of a harried pace deplete my resources and I find myself too close to running on empty. Carolyn and I are taking some time this week for Sabbath rest. What is filling my Emotional Tank? Watching one of my favorite Bible teachers, Joyce Meyer each morning teaching on personal boundaries. Picking blackberries with Carolyn in the evenings. Seeing a movie or two, and-- believe it or not -- doing some landscape chores (something I rarely find the time for).

I would like to hear from you on this issue. What fills your Emotional Tank?

God bless…