Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
In two weeks, Vileen and I will be traveling to Omaha NE to visit our families. We will spend time with our daughter’s family as well as some good friends. While we are in the Omaha area we will drive to Minnesota to spend time with our good friends in Owatonna.
At this juncture in our lives, every facet of our lives touches the development of Grace Rivers. We have several important meetings on our agenda that we are asking your prayers for. While we look to the future of Grace Rivers we are praying about those who would partner with us in financial and practical ways. We are building a ministry team to assist us in carrying out our mission. We would appreciate your prayers for these two things as we look at our Omaha Trip.
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
Financial provision for our personal needs
For Bart (ghost writer) and my book project
Our meetings while in the Omaha area.
Tags: Bart Green, family, financial provision, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nebrasks, Omaha, Owatonna
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Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
Grace Rivers Development
History Made – October 22, 2008!
On Tuesday evening, our Steering Committee met to make some very important progress in the development of Grace Rivers. The most effecient way for me to include you in on this event is to present to you the first formal minutes of Grace Rivers Ministry.
Steering Committee Members Present
- Phil Mischke
- Randall Johnson
- Scott Bailey
- Mark McKee
- Phil Bollinger
- John Smid
Members Not Present
Purpose of the Meeting
This meeting was held to discuss and establish the corporation of Grace Rivers Ministry. This is the first official meeting of Grace Rivers. The meeting was held at the Grace Rivers Office, 8020 Poplar Pike, in Germantown, TN 38138 at 7:00 PM.
Mark McKee opened in prayer.
Decisions Made
Phil Mischke made the motion to establish Grace Rivers as a 501(c)3 corporation. This motion was second by Randall Johnson and the motion was passed unanimously. The decision was made to use The Foundation Group to assist in the application process for the state corporation and the 501(c)3 non-profit application.
Phil Mischke made the motion to establish three men as the first official Board of Directors for Grace Rivers. This included Mark McKee, Randall Johnson and John J. Smid. Phil Bollinger second the motion and the motion was passed unanimously.
Phil Mischke made the motion to elect John J. Smid as the Chairman, Mark McKee as the Vice Chair, and Randall Johnson as the Secretary. Scott Bailey second the motion and the motion was passed unanimously.
Randall Johnson made the motion to hire John J. Smid as the first Executive Director for Grace Rivers Ministry. Phil Mischke second the motion and the motion was passed unanimously. The compensation package will be established at a later date.
Randall Johnson made the motion to accept the first preliminary budget for 2008, 2009, and 2010 to be presented to The Foundation Group for the application for the 501(c)3 status. Phil Mischke second that motion and the motion was passed unanimously.
The meeting was closed in prayer by John Smid.
I couldn’t be more thrilled to have these men commit their valuable time in assisting in the development of Grace Rivers. This team will continue to meet with the official board until the foundation is complete.
Please pray for:
- God’s continued work through the Grace Rivers Steering Committee.
- For successful completion of the applications for non-profit status.
- God’s further development of the GR Team
- Financial preparation and provision for our next few months of operation
Tags: 501(C)3, board, board members, Corporation, john smid, mark mckee, Non-profit, phil bollinger, phil mischke, randall johnson, scott bailey
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Phew! God has provided for us! We received financial provision at just the right time. Things were getting a little slim around the Smid household. I deeply appreciate your prayers and thoughtfulness. Keep praying for our finances and God’s wisdom as we continue our pursuit of developing Grace Rivers.
We are praying about some more long term plans for our financial needs and how God wants to direct our path.
Pray for:
Wisdom for John and Vileen
Financial provision for our personal needs
For Bart Green (ghost writer) and my book project
Tags: Bart Green, book project, financial provision, prayers
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Report on the Men’s Freedom Retreat
I stand in awe of God’s goodness. I was not prepared for the ways that He moved on our hearts while we were men – together – seeking Him for His grace and goodness. There were 38 men from every possible walk and life struggle standing together in fellowship and support.
I found myself with an experience of further integration into the world of men that was gratifying and comforting. I was asked to lead one of the general sessions and to help facilitate one of the small group processing sessions. It was an awesome privilege to serve others in this capacity.
Men who struggled with drug and alcohol, pornography, adultery, homosexuality, and deep father wounds found level ground at the foot of the cross of Christ. There was a tremendous sense of support and an outcome of deep joy as we ended the retreat arm in rm closely praying for God’s grace.
I am so thankful that I was asked to join in on this group. We are already discussing some follow up plans for further support and growth throughout the next year.
Tags: frank worthen, john smid, New Hope, retreat, Steps Out
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Monday, October 13th, 2008
Grace Rivers Development
An awesome 12 days in California!
Thanks to your prayers, I met with five pastors to discuss Grace Rivers. All of these meetings were incredibly productive from many angles. I began to get a better look at how Grace Rivers can serve our local churches. I received wisdom from each pastor that has helped me very much in the development of the practical application of our Grace Rivers ministry model. We walked away from each meeting pondering the prospect of Grace Rivers returning for ministry opportunities.
Our Family Retreat through Living Stones Ministries was really successful. Carol Wagstaff, LSM Director, was an excellent host for this conference. We had 28 participants which was more than we had expected. One of the personal highlights of the conference was that a good friend of mine and his wife, Josh and Jess Wenig, lead the worship time for us. A ministry highlight was the work we experienced with a family that was working hard to restore their relationships.
I stayed with the Wenig family before and after the conference and found some deepening friendships formed that were a real blessing to me both personally and in their support of Grace Rivers. Their encouragement was invaluable and I look forward to a future return to follow through with what God is doing there.
On Saturday evening during a free night of the conference, I met with a group of 12 men in a Same Sex Attraction support group in Glendora California. At first I felt a little uncomfortable but through the vulnerability of the men present I began to quickly feel connected. At the end of the evening we all went out to eat together and we discussed the possibility of Grace Rivers coming back and facilitating a weekend conference for the group.
I flew up to Northern California feeling little physically tired from all of the activity during the previous six days. I rode for about two hours to the St. Columba’s Retreat Center in Inverness, California, where we were meeting for the New Hope Men’s Retreat. When I walked into the building I became overwhelmed with warm and significant memories of the 8 years I had been involved in ministry in Northern California through Love In Action.
The men were on an outing when I arrived so I took the opportunity to walk around and experience the incredible ambiance of this awesome redwood “mansion” that was built in 1932. I was shown my room with a three sided view from the fourth floor. It had some of the same character of my favorite place to sleep in the world, the Faith Cabin at the Lord’s Land retreat center. I could see Tomalas Bay in Point Reyes, CA, the redwood forests, and I could smell the beautiful moist cedar-like fragrance that was so familiar to me. I was surely in for an awesome personal retreat alongside this ministry event.
I didn’t fully understand the scope of what God was doing in leading Frank Worthen, (director of New Hope Ministries and former director and founder of Love In Action) to invite me to participate with him in leading this retreat. But I began to see even more clearly, God’s blessing. I was pleasantly surprised when a man walked in that 22 years ago had worked with me at the beginning of my involvement with Love In Action. His presence was a tremendous gift to me and it just added to the wonderful memories from years gone by that I was experiencing there. He was there for a refreshing of his walk with the Lord and continued personal growth.
Frank expressed to me that he may not be leading this twice annual retreat next year due to the loss of his sight from Macular Degeneration. He asked me if I might be willing to help facilitate the future retreats and we discussed how this could grow into other areas of the country. From the beginning of the retreat I felt a sense that this deeply needed ministry must continue. At the end I could see first hand the valuable impact it had on those who were there. I told him that I believed this might fit within the vision of Grace Rivers and I would definitely consider his invitation.
I felt deeply privileged to be part of this retreat. With the upcoming new director for New Hope there, there were three generations of the ministry of Frank Worthen’s ministry present which made it even more special. There was a diverse variety of men from east coast to the west and all the way from Florida. How awesome that God allows us to participate in His redemptive process!
When I left the retreat I had a great meeting with Mike and Mona Riley from Church of the Open Door in San Rafael and the next day I went further north to the Sacramento area to meet with others regarding Grace Rivers. Those meetings were refreshing and rewarding.
In the end, I traveled from Southern California all the way up to Sacramento in 12 days and can only praise God for His wonderful provision and faithfulness to go before me in each and every way. Thank you all so much for your encouragement and prayers for this trip.
Please pray for:
- God’s continued work through the Grace Rivers Steering Committee.
- Continued development of the Leadership structures for Grace Rivers
- For divine wisdom for legal advisors as we work through the incorporation of Grace Rivers
- God’s development of the GR Team
- Financial preparation and provision for our next few months of operation
Tags: church of the open door, frank worthen, mike riley, New Hope, New Hope Ministries, northern california, retreat
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