Hey guys! I'm Landon and I'm excited to share with you how I got called to go on this crazy adventure.
I'll tell you a little bit about myself. I'm 21 years old, I have one brother and one sister, both younger. I will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from New Mexico State University. I've grown up in church my whole life, but I didn't start walking with Christ until my freshman year of college. I'm an adamant believer and follower of Christ and He teaches me new stuff everyday. I'm the core leader of our freshman ministry at the Christian Challenge (BSU) at school. I play guitar and bass guitar on two different worship teams: my church and the BSU. I have a wonderful girlfriend that I have been dating for 2 1/2 years. She loves the Lord and we walk together trusting in Him in all things and seeking His glory always.
I am convinced that if you are really comfortable where you are... then there is a good chance you aren't listening... I had a pretty good plan for my life. I was going to finish school this semester, then possibly get married over the summer, then start into graduate school at NMSU where my girlfriend still has at least one semester and my young sister would be joining us as a freshman. It seemed pretty solid... then my plans got sucked down into a giant blue vortex of destruction and... What? It was an experimental textbook shredder I was working on. Okay just kidding. God just called me to go with Cam and plant a church, basically the same thing.
I spent 2 months this past summer with a team of 6 people from the BSU in South Aisa studying the language and culture, and sharing the gospel as much as we could with anyone who wanted to be our friend. God taught me SO much through that. At the same time my girlfriend was on a different mission in East Asia that lasted for 6 months starting in July. This was a huge learning experience for us both. What we learned most during the 7 months of separation was that God is faithful. If we trust Him with our lives and follow Him in anything that He calls us to do, then He will provide for all our needs. This sounds cliche but how many of us actually live that way? In COMPLETE surrender to whatever the good Lord may have for us? It is by no means an easy thing, and by no means can we do it by ourselves, but it is the ONLY way to truly live.
This all came about right after I got back from my mission to South Aisa. Cam said they were looking for people to go with them to Lakewood and he asked me kind of in passing and slightly jokingly if I wanted to go with them. I kinda shrugged it off but I realized that when he asked me, something tugged at my heart. So I began to pray. Then a couple days later Cam told me that in his prayers, my name kept coming up... So I went to a big collegiate conference with the BSU for the next week and it was one night during the worship I just felt a huge burden to go. I said, "Okay God, I'll go." And instantly I felt this huge peace come over me, and I knew that I had to tell Cam right away.
I'll tell you this, I'm scared. I'm not sure what is going to happen with my girlfriend. I don't have a job lined up. I'm not sure if i'm supposed to go to grad school or not. I don't have the money to up and leave like it looks like I'm going to do. But, this is what I DO know, if God calls you to do something, and you follow, HE WILL PROVIDE! Period. Would make sure you took care of your children? Then He will even more so. I am not worried. I am excited. This is going to be fun and I look forward to seeing what He is going to do in us, through us, and for us, but more importantly for Himself and His glory.
Peace!
Landon
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
It's on!!!!!
There is part of church planting which I think is really not spread enough. Let me first say that church planting is about reaching lost people. We are not leaving everything in Los Alamos, all our family, and friends, to preach the Gospel to saved people. Planting Churches is about shining the light of Jesus to the dark places in the world. What I want to warn and encourage other church planters, and really everyone who has the desire to spread the Gospel, is that Satan does not just retreat when we turn out into the dark places that are his kingdom.
Jesus did not tell us that taking enemy territory would be easy. Or that we would be protected. He told His disciples they would die in this endeavor, and they did. When you yourself decide that the way things are, are not the way that things have to be, you have just placed a target on your back, and your family's backs. Satan does not play fair. He hates your children, as much as he hates you, and the vision God has for the church.
When my family got home from "Fit for the Field" we expected to have some spiritual attacks. But, what happened, we never expected, or were prepared for. Our children were terrified by demonic presences in their room. They would wake up in the middle of the night terrified at something in their room. My wife on several occasions felt demonic presences in our bedroom. If you have never experienced casting out demons and that they are real, read the gospels. Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, and demons are still at work in the world today.
What I failed to recognize was the demons sent to me. To blind me to what I was going through, and let me see what my family is going through. Let me say this, if you have not nailed down your call, as a command from God, you will abandon it. If it is not sin to abandon your call, you will abandon your call. You will see all the things that the enemy is doing, and shrink back. Open your eyes to see the forest, and not just the trees. The way I have been attacked, is very different from the way the demons attacked my family. My focus on their well being and their attacks, blinded me to what was happening in my own spiritual life. I had become so obsessed with church planting, and all the things that go into planning it, I was doing everything on my own strength. I knew that hard work needed to be done, in so many areas, I ran around like a chicken with it's head cut off, doing a little in each area, but getting nothing accomplished.
I was so blinded that God used my wife to both rebuke me, and lead me back to a submitted relationship to Jesus. Men, your wives are invaluable in this journey you are about to undertake. Your wives will pray for you like no one else will. Learn to lean on their prayers. To cherish their prayers. In turn, realize that they need your prayers as much as you need theirs. Wives need comfort, leading and relationship, to assure them, that you will be their husband, before you are the pastor of a new church. If you allow your relationship with your wife and family to fall apart, the church will fall apart.
So why do this? Why subject yourself to all of this? Why put targets on your back, and your family's back. I think there are several reasons. First, God built into you a radical heart to do radical things. Church planters are those kind of people that stand at the foot of Everest and say, "I need to climb that." Church planters, and those that shine the light of Jesus in new and dark places, take the spiritual risks and adrenaline rushes that others just cannot comprehend. Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or jump off that cliff with only a parachute. They just don't understand. Second, it is a sin to disobey God. If you have been called by God to go, you have to go. He knows your situation. He knows your needs. If you have young children, God already knows that, He still wants you to go. If you have financial burdens, God knows, and will provide a way to fulfill them. Don't use those things as an excuse. Last, and of utmost importance, God wants to do something in you, more than He wants to do something through you. He could call more qualified, more submitted, more experienced people, but He called you. Not because you are so great, but because He is. Nothing will ruin your ministry faster than believing your own hype. If you start to think that you are so great, sprint into repentance and submission. Read Psalm 51, several times, and realize the heart that you need to have. The person that you are, is not the person you will be, when God turns your world upside down.
This catches most people up to date with where we are. I will continue writing as things progress, and hope to be writing to all from Washington soon.
In Him,
Pastor Cam
Jesus did not tell us that taking enemy territory would be easy. Or that we would be protected. He told His disciples they would die in this endeavor, and they did. When you yourself decide that the way things are, are not the way that things have to be, you have just placed a target on your back, and your family's backs. Satan does not play fair. He hates your children, as much as he hates you, and the vision God has for the church.
When my family got home from "Fit for the Field" we expected to have some spiritual attacks. But, what happened, we never expected, or were prepared for. Our children were terrified by demonic presences in their room. They would wake up in the middle of the night terrified at something in their room. My wife on several occasions felt demonic presences in our bedroom. If you have never experienced casting out demons and that they are real, read the gospels. Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, and demons are still at work in the world today.
What I failed to recognize was the demons sent to me. To blind me to what I was going through, and let me see what my family is going through. Let me say this, if you have not nailed down your call, as a command from God, you will abandon it. If it is not sin to abandon your call, you will abandon your call. You will see all the things that the enemy is doing, and shrink back. Open your eyes to see the forest, and not just the trees. The way I have been attacked, is very different from the way the demons attacked my family. My focus on their well being and their attacks, blinded me to what was happening in my own spiritual life. I had become so obsessed with church planting, and all the things that go into planning it, I was doing everything on my own strength. I knew that hard work needed to be done, in so many areas, I ran around like a chicken with it's head cut off, doing a little in each area, but getting nothing accomplished.
I was so blinded that God used my wife to both rebuke me, and lead me back to a submitted relationship to Jesus. Men, your wives are invaluable in this journey you are about to undertake. Your wives will pray for you like no one else will. Learn to lean on their prayers. To cherish their prayers. In turn, realize that they need your prayers as much as you need theirs. Wives need comfort, leading and relationship, to assure them, that you will be their husband, before you are the pastor of a new church. If you allow your relationship with your wife and family to fall apart, the church will fall apart.
So why do this? Why subject yourself to all of this? Why put targets on your back, and your family's back. I think there are several reasons. First, God built into you a radical heart to do radical things. Church planters are those kind of people that stand at the foot of Everest and say, "I need to climb that." Church planters, and those that shine the light of Jesus in new and dark places, take the spiritual risks and adrenaline rushes that others just cannot comprehend. Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane, or jump off that cliff with only a parachute. They just don't understand. Second, it is a sin to disobey God. If you have been called by God to go, you have to go. He knows your situation. He knows your needs. If you have young children, God already knows that, He still wants you to go. If you have financial burdens, God knows, and will provide a way to fulfill them. Don't use those things as an excuse. Last, and of utmost importance, God wants to do something in you, more than He wants to do something through you. He could call more qualified, more submitted, more experienced people, but He called you. Not because you are so great, but because He is. Nothing will ruin your ministry faster than believing your own hype. If you start to think that you are so great, sprint into repentance and submission. Read Psalm 51, several times, and realize the heart that you need to have. The person that you are, is not the person you will be, when God turns your world upside down.
This catches most people up to date with where we are. I will continue writing as things progress, and hope to be writing to all from Washington soon.
In Him,
Pastor Cam
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I have no Idea how I do this...
Last blog we talked about the call of God to plant a church. This time, I am going to talk about our journey to Murrietta, and learning to plant a church.
Shortly after my wife and I started to let people know that we would be leaving to Lakewood to plant a church, a first time class became available to us. Pastor Pat told us about a class in California called, "Fit for the Field." The course was for church planters by church planters. There was only one problem, it was a month long. I had a full time job, a mortgage, and no vacation time to take. So we prayed and took the first step of faith. I asked my boss for the month off unpaid. I still cannot believe that I was allowed to take the month off. So now I had the time, but still needed to have enough money to pay for the course, food, housing, my home mortgage, and other bills. So again we prayed. We started an announcement for the need, prayed some more, and got the money for the course covered completely. Later the money would be supplied for all our needs.
So we set out for California to try to learn how to plant a church. Now, if I were to write down all the things I learned, it would fill more than the thick notebook I filled while out there. So we will hit the high points. Several things I took away. The first was confirmation. One of the first people we met there were the Williams. They were from Olympia Washington, just down the road from Lakewood. Daniel's father is the Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Tacoma, and they had children around the same age as ours, who loved playing together the entire month. So right away I knew that we were in the right place. The Williams are in Del Ray Beach Florida planting a church, please keep them in your prayers.
I then started taking the daily classes under Pastors like, Jimmy O'Keffe, Daniel Fusco, Rob Salvato, Peyton Jones, and Sandy Adams. The entire course was led by Kevin Fitzgereld, who planted in Dublin Ireland, and whose time and wisdom I will never forget. The training I received there was like trying to take a drink of water out of a fire hydrant. On Wednesday nights we attended Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and had private question and answer sessions with Pastor Brian Broderson. In short, all that attended "Fit for the Field" had a great training and were blessed.
There were several people that made an impact on me and my family. One of them was Peyton Jones, the head of New Breed Church Planting. I knew that we saw eye to eye on most things, and had offered his coaching for free, which is good because over and over we were told that church planters are poor, we decided to take him up on his offer and have had regular conversations ever since. You can find out more about New Breed on www.newbreedcp.org.
After a month of staying in a place where all we did was focus on God and learn about church planting, we were ready to go. On the way home, Brittney and I decided to pray about a plan that God would have, because we were ready to pack our bags and go! After prayer and discussion we set July of 2012 to be the time that we would leave for Washington. We still have this plan today, it is getting ever closer, and we are more and more excited to see what God is going to do in Lakewood, Washington.
We have had others join our team, Landon Sutherland, who I am going to let tell you about his calling and decision to join the team. We are so blessed to have a man of his caliber, and so submitted to God to come with us, I know that I am embarrassing him now, but I am thankful.
I want to take the end of this blog to thank some of the people that have impacted me and my family. Kevin Fitzgereld, for his hard work, patience, and wisdom, that I will never forget. Jimmy O'Keffe, whom I will never forget the passion and love for church planters. Daniel Fusco, who has inspired many ideas and am excited to know that will be in Vancouver, Washington, near us. Brian Broderson, for making this class available to us and making it a great experience, as well as setting aside time to talk to a bunch of armatures about church planting. Peyton Jones, who knows that his words made an impact, and are still treasured to me. Sandy Adams, whose love for young Pastors and church planters still gives me courage. Demitri Nikiforos, who has impacted my prayer life forever. Rob Salvato, who taught us that we have to sacrifice our time to take care of our families. There are so many speakers that made an impact that I cannot mention them all here, but I am so grateful for your time and wisdom.
Next time I hope that Landon can share his calling to the team. I will move on to the part of church planting that no one talks about, which is your life falling apart.....
In Him,
Pastor Cam
Shortly after my wife and I started to let people know that we would be leaving to Lakewood to plant a church, a first time class became available to us. Pastor Pat told us about a class in California called, "Fit for the Field." The course was for church planters by church planters. There was only one problem, it was a month long. I had a full time job, a mortgage, and no vacation time to take. So we prayed and took the first step of faith. I asked my boss for the month off unpaid. I still cannot believe that I was allowed to take the month off. So now I had the time, but still needed to have enough money to pay for the course, food, housing, my home mortgage, and other bills. So again we prayed. We started an announcement for the need, prayed some more, and got the money for the course covered completely. Later the money would be supplied for all our needs.
So we set out for California to try to learn how to plant a church. Now, if I were to write down all the things I learned, it would fill more than the thick notebook I filled while out there. So we will hit the high points. Several things I took away. The first was confirmation. One of the first people we met there were the Williams. They were from Olympia Washington, just down the road from Lakewood. Daniel's father is the Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Tacoma, and they had children around the same age as ours, who loved playing together the entire month. So right away I knew that we were in the right place. The Williams are in Del Ray Beach Florida planting a church, please keep them in your prayers.
I then started taking the daily classes under Pastors like, Jimmy O'Keffe, Daniel Fusco, Rob Salvato, Peyton Jones, and Sandy Adams. The entire course was led by Kevin Fitzgereld, who planted in Dublin Ireland, and whose time and wisdom I will never forget. The training I received there was like trying to take a drink of water out of a fire hydrant. On Wednesday nights we attended Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and had private question and answer sessions with Pastor Brian Broderson. In short, all that attended "Fit for the Field" had a great training and were blessed.
There were several people that made an impact on me and my family. One of them was Peyton Jones, the head of New Breed Church Planting. I knew that we saw eye to eye on most things, and had offered his coaching for free, which is good because over and over we were told that church planters are poor, we decided to take him up on his offer and have had regular conversations ever since. You can find out more about New Breed on www.newbreedcp.org.
After a month of staying in a place where all we did was focus on God and learn about church planting, we were ready to go. On the way home, Brittney and I decided to pray about a plan that God would have, because we were ready to pack our bags and go! After prayer and discussion we set July of 2012 to be the time that we would leave for Washington. We still have this plan today, it is getting ever closer, and we are more and more excited to see what God is going to do in Lakewood, Washington.
We have had others join our team, Landon Sutherland, who I am going to let tell you about his calling and decision to join the team. We are so blessed to have a man of his caliber, and so submitted to God to come with us, I know that I am embarrassing him now, but I am thankful.
I want to take the end of this blog to thank some of the people that have impacted me and my family. Kevin Fitzgereld, for his hard work, patience, and wisdom, that I will never forget. Jimmy O'Keffe, whom I will never forget the passion and love for church planters. Daniel Fusco, who has inspired many ideas and am excited to know that will be in Vancouver, Washington, near us. Brian Broderson, for making this class available to us and making it a great experience, as well as setting aside time to talk to a bunch of armatures about church planting. Peyton Jones, who knows that his words made an impact, and are still treasured to me. Sandy Adams, whose love for young Pastors and church planters still gives me courage. Demitri Nikiforos, who has impacted my prayer life forever. Rob Salvato, who taught us that we have to sacrifice our time to take care of our families. There are so many speakers that made an impact that I cannot mention them all here, but I am so grateful for your time and wisdom.
Next time I hope that Landon can share his calling to the team. I will move on to the part of church planting that no one talks about, which is your life falling apart.....
In Him,
Pastor Cam
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