Solid Rock
Climbers Reaching Climbers
for Christ
Email Update/Message – Volume 3, Number 2
January 11th, 2002
From Calvin Landrus,
National Director
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TOPICS:
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Report of Winter Gathering at Joshua Tree
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Outreaches
and Gatherings for 2002
Outreaches
happen when you do something on purpose to reach out to climbers. Some examples are coffee/cold drink distributions, free meal and presentation, and
literature distribution.
Gatherings
are where you get together to begin to get to know others in your area to team
up for future outreach events. Some time
will be spent in the Bible. You can go
climbing together but plan to “BE ON MISSION” as you do. (see
below)
Please
ask the Lord if He would want you to do one or both of these in your area in
2002. We need someone to take the
lead. Are you the one? Let me know!!!!!
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Addresses and Designer for Newsletter
Solid
Rock had 1000 person mailing list. The
time has come for it to be activated again.
But we want everyone included.
Please reply to this email, so that we have your current address. Some of you are just email addresses.
Also,
if you have access to MS Publisher, would you consider being the lay-out design
person for the Solid Rock Newsletter. We would get you the information. You would make it look good. Then you would send it back to us for
mailing. Let me know if you can do that.
What’s Happening with
Solid Rock
State of the Organization:
·
Board
Meeting again in 2001
·
Over fifty
new people receiving the updates in 2001, for a total of 170.
·
Four
outreaches happen in 2001
·
Giving
covered costs in 2001
Our Purpose: We exist to Encourage, Equip and Empower climbers to reach climbers
for Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica many
years ago these words. "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's
fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage
you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these
trials." (1 Thess.
3:2-3). Trials consist in the opposition and persecution we suffer as we
endeavor to share the gospel of Christ.
Where does this discouragement come from? First, it comes from natural pressure we feel
when we question someone's belief system.
We are risking rejection and the scorn of that unbelieving person. Second, it comes from spiritual attacks of
the enemy. Not that we need to be
looking for a demon behind every bush, but the Bible declares that we wrestle
against in a spiritual battle for the souls of people.
Recently, I had a conversation with fellow Christian
climber of Denver. She is excited about her
faith and wants to reach the climbing community for Christ. But after many years of climbing, she hasn't
met many Christian climbers. It's
probably true that there aren't many Christians who climb, add that to the
first two discouragements above and we find it very hard to share our faith.
Solid Rock can help with that! We can be an encouragement to each other in
several ways.
1. Prayer Support: The most important way we can
place courage in other climbers to share their faith is to pray for each
other. We need to intercede for courage
to witness and the effectiveness of events that are planned. Without the Holy Spirit reaching out, we
labor in vain.
2. Physical Support: Having another
believing by our sides when we share our faith is a huge encouragement. As climbers, we know the difference between
having a belayer who believes in us and one who
doesn't. Witnessing as a team is
powerful.
3. Big Picture Support: Knowing that
we are part of something bigger than ourselves is an encouragement. Realizing that there are climbers all across
the U.S. trying to reach climbers with the gospel is motivating.
Three years ago, I built addition onto our house. Not being a person who works in the
construction trades, I often found myself trying to perform a task I wasn’t
equipped for. Sometimes I lacked the
knowledge on how to do things and other times I didn’t have the right tools for
the job. Often I was less the effective.
When it comes to performing the key event of reaching our
fellow climber for Christ, I believe we often find ourselves not fully
equipped. One of Solid Rock’s primary
missions will be the building of the right set of skills and knowledge base
into us (including me) so we can more effective in doing the work of an
evangelist. The other side of the coin
in equipping is having the tools in hand to do share our faith to climbers.
- Ability to build relationships with non-believing
climbers.
- Functional understanding of the Gospel.
- Importance of prayer in reaching out.
- Confronting others with the truth in a loving way.
- Knowing how to do outreaches.
- Functional understanding of the major world belief
systems that climbers tend to follow.
- Literature
a. Business cards with contact information and gospel (we
have)
b. Tracks directed at climbers
c. Fact sheets and brochures about the ministry
- Website to send interested people to.
- Contact information about other Solid Rockers to join with
in this mission.
Where are some of the most empowering words found? That’s right… in the Bible. And the very most empowering statements came
from our Savior on the theme of evangelism.
After his resurrection, Jesus gave this commandment in
Matthew 28:19 & 20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. “ Who did Jesus give responsibility of sharing
of the gospel to? You and I!
And then shortly before his accession to heaven, Jesus gave
us the one who can empower us to do this most awesome responsibility. He says in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit come on you; and you will be my witnesses in
I envision thousands of climbers across the
Qualities and Duties of Area
Contacts
1. Be devoted, growing follower of Christ, connected to a
local body of Christ
2. Be an active climber in local area/community/gym
3. Actively pursuing friendships with non-believing climber
4. Have a list of non-believing climbers and be praying for
them
5. At least annually, help organize and execute an outreach
event
6. Allow their name to be posted on the web site so climbers
who are looking for local beta/partners could be assisted.
7. Support Solid Rock financially as the Lord leads after they
have supported their church.
1. Twenty Area Contacts activated, receiving regular contact
for Solid Rock
2. Ten area outreaches happen
3. Giving that covers the operating expenses of the SR/CRCFC
and begin to build reserve for future ministry
4. Bi-monthly Email Updates/Message
5. Keep Web-page update
6. Re-established database for regular mail
communications. (Solid Rock once had a
mailing list of around 1000) Send out at least four mailings.
7. Have Board of Director’s Meetings on a regular basis
8.
Tools
for Sharing our Faith
a. Tracks directed at climbers
b. Fact sheets and brochures about the ministry
9.
Have
a monthly, outreach e-mail that relates the truths found in God's word to a
climber's everyday life
Be “On
·
Pray
something like this, “Lord, if it’s Your desire
that we give witness of You today, please allow us be open to those divinely
appointed opportunities that could happen.
Help us to have the boldness and sensitivity as we are “on mission” for You.”
·
When
this is prayed, all you are really doing is asking that the Great Commission,
stated by Jesus in Matthew 28, happens.
It says, “Go and make disciples.”
Often we think that only means for those missionaries who have gone to a
foreign land. But I understand that the
word “Go” has the meaning of “as you are going.” For us as Solid Rockers that is saying, “As
you go climbing, look for ways to give witness to Jesus our Lord.”
·
The
beauty of this is that it won’t take anymore time, but will give you and I a higher
purpose when we go climbing!
How to build a
A plan
for sharing your faith
Good friendships are usually
intentional, rather than accidental. Developing friendships with unbelievers
often requires going the second mile, taking some risks, and moving outside
your own comfort zone. And with our busy lifestyles, it takes planning.
If you don’t plan to cultivate friendships with unbelievers, you’ll find that
you never have the time to do so.
“We should make our plans -
counting on God to direct us.” Pr. 16:9
STEP #1 :
BECOME AWARE -
·
Of
the unbelievers God has placed in your life.
·
Make
a list of them by name.
·
Realize
that they are your responsibility.
·
Assess
each person’s level of spiritual receptivity.
·
Discover
and write down what their interests and needs are.
·
Look for areas of common ground that you can build on.
·
Figure
out what kind of testimony each would respond to.
STEP #2:
COMMIT TO PRAYER -
·
Use
your list to pray daily for your unsaved friends.
·
Pray
that God will draw them to himself. John
6:44
·
Pray
that God will remove their spiritual blindness. 2 Cor.
4:3-4
·
Pray
that the Holy Spirit will make their heart receptive. Jn.16:8-13
·
Pray
you’ll get the opportunity to share a clear witness. Col.4 3-5
·
Pray
that God will give you wisdom in what to say.
James 1:5
·
Pray
the Holy Spirit will use the words you say.
1 Thess. 1:5
STEP #3:
SHOW YOU CARE
·
Treat
everyone with respect as people, not as “prospects”.
·
Be
a genuine friend. Help them in practical ways.
·
Be
a good listener. It is a great way to show love.
·
Make
service your aim, not recruitment.
·
Invite
them into your home.
·
Consciously
focus your concern on meeting their needs.
·
Go
out of your way to love them until they ask you why.
·
Accept
people as they are without being judgmental.
STEP
#4:
BE
READY TO SHARE
·
Identify
yourself as a positive, joyful follower of Christ.
·
Share
a testimony when the occasion naturally arises. (It will)
·
Never
force the Good News. Be patient. God is working!
·
Use
crisis situations to show why we all need God.
·
Ask
questions that lead to spiritual discussions.
·
Give
them appropriate message tapes or books to read.
·
Concentrate
on the essential. Don’t get sidetracked by hang-ups.
·
Invite
them to your church.
·
Offer
to lead in a prayer to commit after sharing the Good News.
Taking a Risk in Faith
"Don't play for
safety. It's the most dangerous game in
the world." - Sir Hugh
Walpole
“Taking risks is not only
necessary to achieve worthwhile success, it's unavoidable.” - John Maxwell
Three
types of people where risk is concerned.
1.
Reluctant
Risk-Taker
2. Unrealistic
Risk-Taker
3.
Ready Risk-Taker
1.
GATHER
INFORMATION Wisely .
James 1:5-6
"Until you know the worst that could possibly happen and the best
that could possibly happen... your equation is incomplete." Paul Shultheis
Questions to ask
·
Who will it effect?
·
What will the
impact be on your organization if you don't succeed?
·
What will
happen if you back away from the risk?
·
What does God
want you to do?
Proverbs 15:22
2.
Prepare THOROUGHLY
2 Timothy
1 Peter 3:15
3.
BE SENSITIVE TO Timing
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"The competitive marketplace is strewn with good ideas whose time
came and went because inadequate attention was given to moving rapidly and
hitting an open window of opportunity.
The same marketplace is strewn with broken glass from windows of
opportunities hit after they were slammed shut.” - The president of Conoco,
Constantine Nicandros
4.
MAINTAIN THE RIGHT Perspective
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do
the children of man as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright
exposure”. - Helen Keller
Romans 8:28-39
Who
was and is the greatest risk taker?
The
Proper Risk Perspective
By John C. Maxwell
Generally
speaking, when it comes to taking risks, a lot of us have a warped perspective. Many people fear dying in a plane crash, but
the odds against that are 250,000 to 1. A person is more likely to be kicked to
death by a donkey than to die in a plane crash.
Another common fear is being murdered.
Yet, a person is 8 times more likely to die while playing a sport than
to be shot by a stranger.
What is it
that keeps you from moving forward? Is
it the fear of failure, embarrassment, or rejection? Is it the uncertainty of the outcome that
stops you?
If you have
difficulty taking risks, your problem may be an improper perspective. Before you turn down your next big
opportunity, ask yourself these five questions; their answers will give you the
right perspective and may provide the boost you need to move forward:
1. WHO
ELSE HAS DONE IT? Drawing from the experience of
others can be both a confidence builder and a great teacher. William Knudson said, "Experience is merely knowing a lot of things you shouldn't do." If
another person has taken a similar risk and not succeeded, take time to learn
from their mistakes. on the other hand, if another
person has risked in a similar fashion and succeeded, your feelings of
uncertainty about your risk will be curbed significantly.
2. HOW
BAD CAN IT GET? Lord Rothschild said, "There
is no point getting into a panic about the risks of life until you have
compared the risks that worry you with those that do not." Asking,
"How bad can it get?" is not intended to scare you off. It is intended to help you determine your personal
commitment, assess your personal ability and resources, and gain confidence
knowing that the worst that can happen is not that bad after all. But if you can't handle the worst, don't take
the risk.
3. HOW
GOOD CAN IT GET? Alexander Smith said, "Everything
is sweetened by risk." Don't evaluate a risk in terms of the probability
of success but in terms of the value of your dream. However, when answering this question, do
more than just take the cream off the top of your dream. Establish a goal. A dream is simply imagining what could
happen. But a goal is a dream with a
deadline. Determine your goal, then weigh it against the possible outcomes of taking the
risk.
4. CAN
I TRY IT ON FOR SIZE? If a trial run is possible it can
save you the heartache of failure. It
can turn a stupid decision into nothing more than a popped trial balloon. If your trial is successful you'll have
momentum to help you move forward. Like
David, you'll be able to bank on the knowledge of having killed a lion and a
bear before you go up against your Goliath.
5. DO I
BELIEVE IN MYSELF? Bruce Barton said, "Nothing
splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that
something inside them was superior to circumstance." A low belief in
yourself creates an invisible ceiling that stops you from attempting to
progress beyond your self-imposed limitations. on the
other hand, if you strongly believe in your ability to achieve success, the
disbelief of skeptics won't keep you from moving forward.
Larry
Osborne once quipped, "Both my theology and my life have taught me
long ago that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. It has something to do with what the Bible
calls 'the Fall, and the world calls 'Murphy's
Law."' Although that may describe how you feel at times, it's not
the right perspective to have regarding risk.
Starting today, take the time to check your perspective before you shy
away from taking a risk.