Light the Darkness

A Day at the Beach

This is the view out of the restaurant, the Gazebo, where we ate breakfast.  It is in Kapalua, Maui.  The Macadamia Nut pancakes are tasty. Can you imagine having breakfast with this kind of view? We took this picture from Belinda'a phone before we headed out for a day at the beach.

While we were there a school of dolphins swam into the bay and played like Flipper.  We could see them rise out of the water and fall on their side.  Sometimes they rose up and fell backwards.  A couple of times they jumped completely out of the water and one time one of them did the Flipper move where they stand on their tail.  They could give those of us who are work-aholics a lesson on play (maybe I'm just talking to myself).  It was fun to watch!

I finished reading It by Craig Groeschel.  It is a super book.  I highly suggest you read It.  I'll close with It's benediction:  May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. 

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. 

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.  Amen.

I'm willing to pray this prayer, how about you?

Gary Kendall

Atheist no more

Here is another story from the latest Alpha class.  Four people have chosen Christ in the last ten days.  Or in this case, we don't know the day but the result is certain.  Here is a note to Cheryl Scott, Alpha team leader. 

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you the impact that Alpha has had on my life.  Several months ago, my wife Shay had started to attend the Alpha class at Indian Creek.  She asked me to go, but she pretty much knew the answer was going to be a resounding NO.  Besides, having her go with the children would give me an evening to myself, or an opportunity to work longer on the evenings when she was preoccupied.

She completed the classes, but never said much about her experiences.  I continued to see emails from Pastor Gary come through on our home computer, but really didn’t pay much attention. 

I grew up in a family that didn’t place much emphasis on church, religion or GOD.  As I grew into an adult, I continued to keep faith at an arms distance, although I was occasionally talked into going to church by my wife.  She would continue to tell me “a family that prays together stays together”… and that was enough to get me to go to church for a week.

After completion of her Alpha class, I was glad to get the week on a “normal” schedule… but horrified by the question when she decided to ask me to go with her to the next class.  I cowered at the thought of having to spend 10 weeks with a bunch of strangers talking about the bible and religion.  I never believed in God or Jesus, I thought that I was firmly planted in my beliefs that they were just stories, and the stories were only to teach a lesson, and not really based in reality or history.  I would have been classified as a “Atheist”, and had no intention to learn why I was wrong.

When Shay asked me to go, I could hear in her voice that this was very important for her.  I said yes.  Not because I really wanted to learn, but because I love my wife and it was something that was important to her.  As the first class approached, I kept telling myself, “Free food, I love my wife and am doing it for her”.

We were in the “Light Blue” table group, with Lisa Aguire as our table leader.  At the first session, my wife pretty much laid it out to the entire group that I was not a believer, and I was terrified at the thoughts of being judged and had visions of other table members standing on their chairs to declare to the 150 people in the room that “HERE IS THE NON BELIEVER!”  Much to my amazement, no one pointed and screamed. 

Throughout the 10 weeks, I pretty much kept quiet.  I listened to the conversations, participated when absolutely necessary, but overall was just a fly on the wall.  I enjoyed the great jokes, ate the food, listened and learned.  I even started to plan on Sunday as being a church day.  After a few weeks of attending, I started noticing a change…  I was suddenly compelled to do “something”.  We volunteered for the church’s volunteer day and we spent a whole Saturday working at a transitional housing facility.  We took the truck and equipment from our landscaping company and worked the entire day.  Oddly enough, it was fulfilling to help and volunteer our efforts.

I can’t tell you the time, day, week or even the month that it happened, but God must have snuck into my life.  I can only notice it now, as I look back, but my heart has changed.  My relationship with my children and my wife has changed.  I had heard many stories from different people stating the “exact time” when they felt God enter their lives, but I’m not one of those people.  All I can describe is that he must have snuck in the back door and taken up residence in my heart.  I had started Alpha with a thought that I couldn’t possibly be worthy of God’s love, I have said too many bad things, done too many bad things, and forsaken him at every opportunity.  I thought that the doubt I had, must mean that I’m not a believer. 

I don’t know when God entered my heart and life.  I only know that he did.  I look at everything differently and can’t figure out why.  My wife and I are more loving to each other.  We are more compassionate with each other and more thoughtful.  I find old scars in my mind and heart to be gone, resentment to be vanquished and a peace that I have never experienced.

Pastor Gary asked to testimonials on the last night of Alpha.  I felt that maybe my story wasn’t “good” enough.  The other speakers had far more difficult situations in their lives.  My story wouldn’t possibly be moving enough for me to share.  My wife cried.  I thought at first that she was moved by the other stories… but I think she was mostly moved by the fact that she felt knew God entered my heart.  Our marriage is very complex.  We have a blended family with 6 children.  We have always loved each other, but never really had that “tight, respectful and loving” relationship.  For the first time in 7 years, I know truly what it is to love and honor my wife.  I know how to be thankful for what I have, and gaze adoringly at my beautiful children.  God saved my life, God saved my marriage.  Maybe we would have gone through our lives and tolerated our journey together, but now, we can look forward to ENJOYING the journey together.  God has made me a better man, better father and better husband.  I know now that it is not enough to just make money, do the chores, or play the role of Dad and husband, I know what it means now to do all those things with the love of God in my heart.

I would like to tell Pastor Gary thank-you from the bottom of my heart.  Not only have you helped me to save the things I cherish, but you have taught me to cherish the things most important in my life.  I may not be a outspoken Christian, but I will do all I can to be the best Christian I can. 

Thank you.

T.C. Kim

Princor Registered Representative

Financial Services Representative

Principal Financial Group

7300 W 110th St Suite 620

Overland Park, KS 66210

Office: 913-317-6611 x 3508

Mobile: 913-284-8765

Welcome Home Valera

A friend, prayer partner, mentor, parishoner and teacher to my children graduated from here to her heavenly home this morning.  Valera was a part of the original core team at Indian Creek.  Valera and her mother Margaret were a part of the first twenty-seven brave persons who trusted this young pastor as we launched a new church.  We had no idea what we were doing but this saintly lady who was in her fifties decided to jump on board.  Maybe she knew I needed the prayer!

We built the church on prayer.  We met every Sunday night for years and then when I dropped out of that group to give attention to starting small groups Valera continued praying on Sunday nights until recently when her health slowed her down.  Our family will never know the effect of her daily prayers for us but I'm sure that what she gave us was priceless!  My theory about prayer is that she will still be praying for us daily in heaven.  Jesus is, so the prayer choir of Indian Creekers in heaven is one person larger!

Valera taught each of our children in Sunday School classes.  She was a wonderful teacher.  She had a way of making every child feel important.  Maybe it helped that she could look them in the eye :)  Valera would do funny little things for me every so often to brighten my day.  For example, she would call my phone at the church and leave me a message, only her message was usually something funny she saw or heard.  She would tell a joke, sing me a hymn (because she thought I'd forgotten them), tell me the virtues of cats (because I definitely have forgotten them) or advise me on something that was going on at church.  She was always gentle to remind me that she loved me as her pastor and that she knew it was a hard job.  

Belinda and I feel like we had a cheerleader, mom, confidant, friend and mother all rolled into one.  We will miss her tremendously.  Who else would say the day before she died, now you go to Hawaii and celebrate your anniversary.  If I die before you get back I want everyone to wait so you can do the funeral.  It is not about me anyway I'm going to my new home in heaven.  Isn't that just like Valera?  Valera, I'm happy for you but we will surely miss you.

Gary Kendall 

Indian Creek and Triiilogy Coffee

Yesterday we hosted over 250 persons from the Olathe business community in our facility.  The occasion was the Ribbon Cutting for Triiilogy , a culture center for the performing arts that is a partner with Indian Creek Community Church and located in our building.  Bridget and Damon Taylor run Triiilogy as a Christian ministry dedicated to raise up artists who will develop community and impact our world.  Check out their Web Site.

It was cool to say to have the Chamber members in our auditorium to tell them that we are all about helping people find their way back to God.  They responded positively to our emphasis on partnering within the community and to our goal of planting 20 neighborhood reproducing churches.  Many were in the facility for the very first time but we hope it won't be the last. 

I love the vision and passion our team at Indian Creek demonstrated to our city as we lived out the love of Jesus.  This was a great open door.  Let's pray that it touches hearts and changes lives.

Gary Kendall

40 minutes of miraculous stories

This is the last night of this semester's Alpha class at Indian Creek .  Attendees invite their family and friends to come to hear the stories and get a preview of Alpha.  The next class starts in the second week of September. There were 100 people in attendance and they heard 40 minutes of miraculous stories.  I won't share names but here are their stories (and I'm sure I won't capture all of them in this one blog).

A young lady shared that her husband left her two weeks ago.  She was devastated.  Last week she heard the Alpha lesson that God heals.  She believed it but tonight she said she has experienced it.  She said she is heartbroken but she knows God is her rock and He is giving her strength.  A young lady shared how when she came to Alphashe was having an affair but she's broken it off and rededicated her life to God.  A young man revealed that at the end of last week's session he prayed to receive Christ.  This week he learned his steady girl friend is moving but know he knows that with Christ in his life he will make it.  Two former alcoholics spoke of the freedom they've found in Christ.  One who is heavily tattooed cheered on a young lady who said she didn't expect to be welcomed at church because she had tattoos but gratefully she learned she was wrong. Now she says that since she's found Christ she doesn't care what people think.

Right in the middle of the stories a man said he wanted to accept Christ tonight so we stopped and I prayed with him.  The whole room burst into applause.  A beautiful black lady shared how that she grew up in a white church and always saw pictures of a white Jesus so she figured that there was no place for her.  At Indian Creek she's found she is welcome and accepted.  She now feels the love of Christ and the love of this church.  When the class ended a young man asked his table leader if he could pray to receive Christ. Also after class a lady who is a recovering alcoholic shared that she was heavily triggered right before class and she was tempted to go to the liquor store.  However because she had Alpha coming she found the strength in God to pray, deliver me.  She made it to class without drinking and was smiling from ear to ear.

I'm sure that the only reason there weren't twice as many stories is we ran out of time. It is such a privilege to help people find their way back to God.  This is why we do what we do! 

God at Work in His Body

Every so often someone will write something that I simply choose to import.  It is so good and it needs a wider platform.  This came to me today from Nancy Mitchell who leads Prayer Ministry at Indian Creek. 

I must express my heart this morning. What I saw last night in Alpha was an amazing, beautiful work of God. From the very beginning, Indian Creek was a church that valued connecting to God’s heart personally through prayer, praying for others, and seeking His power and direction.  Indian Creek has been and by God’s grace will continue to be a community where people can find healing and grace. We understand that the church is not the solution for the pain and challenges in our lives and our world. We are the carriers of the His hope. It is the power of Christ Jesus that is the hope in our hearts that brings healing and transformation in this age and eternal life in the next.

Over the years many have prayed for a powerful move of the Holy Spirit in the church and city to help people find their way back to God. One day several years ago I was prayer walking the church property and I heard the Holy Spirit speak this thought to me – Nancy, when the whole church prays you will see. I didn’t understand fully but I have pondered this dream in my heart since that time. I saw a glimpse last night at Alpha. The topic was healing. At the end of the session we always pray for people but something new began to happen – people were praying everywhere. As we started, Belinda came into the room and announced that Valera was on her way to the hospital unconscious. Everyone began to pray. Valera responded in transit in the ambulance and was fine by the time she arrived at the hospital.

The people continued on in prayer with others - no protocol – no waiting in line -  just a group of Christ followers praying alongside people with the heart of God all over the room and in the Prayer Room. People came to Christ, people sought healing for addictions and emotional healing, physical problems were laid before the throne of grace. We do not know all that happened last night but no one wanted to leave until every person seeking prayer was touched. We acknowledge God answers in different ways but believe when we pray we are assured mercy and grace.  I knew many of the stories of God’s love in that room. I saw the outpouring of that love into the lives of other people through prayer and encouragement. That is multiplication! No one seemed to care what time it was. People were present to the moment. I was so moved that it was not about a person – just people loving God and each other and bringing glory to Him. The word of our testimony is growing into a holy roar of praise to our God.

I must praise God this morning for His mercy, love and for His encouragement. I am so grateful and so joyful to be a part of a local church like Indian Creek Community Church   – a church that loves God and loves others – and prays.  Nancy Mitchell

There is nothing like the local church when the church is working right!  Thanks for being the church last night Indian Creek. I'm excited to be a part of a community of faith like this one!  You'll also want to read Belinda's blog where she tells Valera's story.

Gary Kendall

What Game are You Playing?

I enjoy talking to Dr. Paul Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of Heartconnexion Counseling Center.  Dr. Paul leads the Breakthrough process Belinda and I attended in 2001.  We've benefited from his counsel many times.  Last week I asked him to speak to the CMA (Church Multiplication Assoc) planters on the conference call I lead.  Here is the question he asked, what game(s) are you playing?

For example, let's say a woman who is an executive wants to do a good job and be esteemed as a leader also wants the approval of her employees.  She's playing two games at once. Those games are going to compete against each other at some point in time.  The question is, which game is the most important or most necessary.

Here is another illustration, do you play a game you know you can win?  Do you pick a game where the risk is low, where you know you can't loose? And if you do are you bored?  Do you find yourself unfulfilled and dis-satisfied?  Those choices go together.  If you are unhappy with your life consider if you've chosen the wrong game.

Or do you choose the game where you are challenged to be your very best?  If you choose that game then one of the requirements is, that it must be possible to lose.  If there isn't the possibility that you could fail it won't have the adventure that will tax you to the max.  So which game do you want to play?

Even more importantly which game(s) are you playing?  Why?  And is that the game(s) you want to play?

Gary Kendall

Healing Sunday

It is always great to see peoplee you've been praying for up and walking around.  You know there is a living God and He loves His children.

Mary Beth Blackwell

Mary Beth had brain surgery on the stem about 18 days ago.  Life was painful and uncertain for her and prayer went up from all over.  I can't even describe the feeling, but you know it if you pray for people, that you have when you see someone up, walking around at church, that has been prayed through.  She is on the road to recovery.  She's feeling a little weak and still has some pain but she's making progress and it looks promising.  Praise God and thank you for your prayers.

Lucy McMillan

Little three year old Lucy looks like she has a mitten on one hand.  It was severly burned when she tripped while running near a camp fire.  She fell into the fire and received third degree burns.  We prayed all week that she would not have to have a skin graph.  But by Friday it still looked like surgery was inevitable. John, Lisa and Jack went to the hospital still praying.  The doctors took Lucy back and then brought her back to Lisa saying, when we took the bandage off there was enough healing that we decided that we didn't have to do surgery. Praise God! Olathe campus Pastor Jim Davey was with them and they all went out to celebrate at First Watch.

I'm stoked that we serve a loving God who is able and willing to both hear our prayers and heal.

Gary Kendall

We Get to Do This!

Last Wednesday night I got to hang out with some friends from western Kansas.  At the end of the evening we gathered to pray for Parker who was going to Europe on a choir trip.  Our primary purpose was to pray for his protection and that he would experience God's presence and leading throughout the trip.  But just before we prayed his grandmother said, would you pray for his shoulder.  He hurt it wrestling and it was a constant pain.  She was concerned that the challenges of the trip would exacerbate the problem and delay the healing.

It was one of those times where even as she made the request I felt confident that God wanted to heal him.  I appreciated the Spirit's presence and the words flowed easily.  I love those times when family and friends gather to seek God together.  The next morning he left for the airport at 4 a.m. And he reported that for the first time in a long time his shoulder didn't hurt.  Isn't God good!  Just think, we get to do this!  We are a part of what God is doing on the earth!  How cool is that?

Last night we got to go visit a young couple who just had a new baby.  We sent pizza to their house for supper and then dropped by later in the evening to take them a gift.  Some in Indian Creek Community Church knew that the hospital stay was longer than anticipated after the birth of their child.  They also knew that the bills were greater than expected so they took action.  They passed on a substantial gift. And we got to deliver it!  We are so privileged to do what we get to do!

Today there is a Cancer Walk at Indian Creek.  Two people very dear to us have recently been declared cancer free.  They have  miles to go in their journey to heal but we get to walk with them, support them, and share their journey.  They are heroes of our faith!  We've prayed with them, cried with them, contributed to their financial need and now today we get to walk with them another lap to health.  Their faith is inspiring.  We get to do this!  Really?  God, thanks for sharing your redeeming love and for giving us a chance to get in the game! There is nothing better!

Gary Kendall

What's Next?

One of the things that a financial crunch does is cause us to focus and that is a good thing.  I want to send the message loud and clear that during a time when we are adjusting expenses are also prioritizing things that don't change.  Here are some:

Love is free.  It doesn't cost more to love, care, express concern, pray for one another and have each other's back.  We are a people at Indian Creek who exercise love and grace we will increase our love in the days to come.

We are all about the vision of helping people find their way back to God.  We will continue to reach out to those inside and outside the congregation who need to know the Good News.  We don't have a maintenance mode to hit, we aren't riding out the storm, we are setting the sail to the destination God's put in our heart of reaching 5,000+ who need to find their way back to God.

We will simplify to accomplish more. Water that is channeled into a dam produces great power.  The same water without boundaries creates a flood.  We will worship with our whole hearts privately and corporately, we will live life in community, we will serve inside and outside the church, we will provide age appropriate learning opportunities and we will give ourselves to the mission personally and financially. 

We will build the ministry on volunteers.  We each have different gifts. God gave us passions.  We have various life experiences and it is good for us to live out what God has put within us to share.  Leaders will build teams, train, deploy and release the body to do what God has designed us to do. 

We will talk about giving in terms of what it does "for" us not in language like the church needs something "from" us.  We are the church, together, all of us.  This is our church and yes, we have a cash flow need but the greater need is to have every heart ignited about what God wants to do through his people.  This is good for us to learn, stretch and grow.  We we step into His plan life gets more exciting and fulfilling.  We welcome what He will do for us as we join the adventure.

We will keep reaching out.  We plan to plant a new campus in 2010 and give more away than ever before.  The adjustments we are making are strategically aimed at impact.  We completely believe we will plant 20 neighborhood reproducing churches by 2020.  The challenges serve to grow us and glorify God. 

I'm interested, what is God birthing in your life during this time.  I'd like to hear and let's be a part of the next great miracle God does!

Gary Kendall