A special note of thanks

Hi to all the prayer team,

Life if full of “New” SEASONS. I usually get settled and comfortable about the time that “SEASON” passes. So far, I don’t like this SEASON! It is like an unknown season with me not knowing the game plan and the rules. I did have a bout with it in 2003 with my appendicitis episodes. I didn’t deal well with it either. I didn’t want to have visitors and yet I wanted their prayers. I knew that only God could bring me through.

Every Mardi Gras preparation time brings new challenges and attacks. This year, it has been health issues on the guys and then for the past month with my wife. I pray for these every time I awaken in the night and stay in contact with them. Yet, it has been so exhausting and draining. Yesterday was the first day of relief that I have had with Jan. The Doctor is running some tests to find some solutions. Up to now, they have just been prescribing medicine and nothing changes. Jan had an EKG and today is having a sonogram on her gall bladder. Also they took her off some of the meds she has been taking and gave her a different pain pill. Just the change so far, is giving us some signs of hope!

Mardi Gras is coming soon! I recall some years when I have come home so sick that it took a month to recuperate. I wrestled with that and decided that this was my calling and I was not to question the “cost.” I also have to realize that I am older and therefore must adjust myself accordingly by turning over more of the ministry to others and this has brought new energy to the ministry. I do miss doing a lot of the things I once did, but I love seeing how others have taken over and are not only doing a better job, but also I am seeing the Lord call forth many of these men into service for Him throughout the world.

Thanks for your prayers.

Love ya’s,

Fred

PS: Jim Murphy’s phone number is: 618-318-3687 He appreciates call of encouragement!

This is always my “kick out the Old Year and welcome the New Year quote from Oswald “Leave the irreparable Past in His Hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him!"

Happy New Year!

Weekly Prayer Message, December 29, 2009

Hi prayer team,

Thanks for your faithful prayers throughout this year. I pray you all had a great celebration of our Lord's birth and I am praying for a great New Year working together for our Lord!

Prayer Needs:

1. My wife, Jan, is still doing poorly. She has COPD and Fibromyalgia. She is to return to the Doctor tomorrow.

2. NGL Men Sickness:
a. Jim Murphy is getting treatments for cancer in Denver, CO
b. Doug Neil is having physical problems
c. Carl Johnson will find out on January 5th about his cat scan on his prostate.

3. Pray for us as we wind up the year here at the office.

Love ya's,
Fred

Proverbs 29:25 (The Message), "The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that."

Encouraging E-Mails regarding Mardi Gras

Friends,

Below are encouraging words from Dave Monson from Georgia and Grant Armstrong from Pontiac, Illinois about Mardi Gras:

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Fred,

I'm excited about this year. Having been there once already, the whole learning curve will be eliminated this year. So i hope to be able to dig into these guys deeper.

I have heard from most of the guys from last year. All are wanting to come back to Vieux Carre'. Must be the cook'en! :-) I have contacted Pastor Greg Hand to see if there is anything I can do for him before I return.

We got a ton of Georgia boys who wanted and responded to our invitation to come. We got 50-60 names. Be nice if half would come. We'll see. Jim Crittenden and Jack Ludwick have done an awesome job keeping the torch lite here in Georgia.

They have contacted other churches about linking up and coming down too. Kudos to them both!

See ya soon.

David

*******************

Hello friends!
Here are my $0.02 ...

As a pastor of a mainline church, it can be too easy to fall into the trap of naval-gazing committee meetings that never bring a single soul into God's kingdom. I attend No Greater Love's Mardi Gras mission as a spiritual habit to keep my eyes on what is most important in ministry - sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a world in need so that some might come into a saving relationship with God through His Son. There is great power in gathering men together in Christ's name to encourage and equip one another for risk-taking, disciple-making ministry. That's why I wave goodbye to my comfort zone, and get on the bus to the Gulf Coast.

May God bless your invitations, both to mission, and the kingdom!
In Christ,
Grant Armstrong
Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Church - Pontiac, IL

PS - Merry Christmas!

Weekly Prayer Message - December 22, 2009

Hi prayer team,

I pray your Christmas Season is going well. Thanks for your prayers.

Prayer Needs:

1. Our church, Christ UMC had a wonderful Christmas Cantata last Sunday night. I got to go and it was a real blessing. I got to hear my grandson, granddaughter and my daughter in law sing specials and the music was awesome. I try to be home with Janie all I can.

2. My wife, Jan, has not had a good three weeks with COPD and Fibromyalgia. She has had to stay in and it has been depressing for her as she can’t do her usual Christmas things. She only gets up for short periods. She feels some better as she just called me on the phone. We enjoy good moments and try to use them wisely. We plan to go to Jill’s tomorrow and have Christmas with our family on Christmas eve. I pray this will work for her.

3. Jim Murphy started his Chemo yesterday.

4. Carl Johnson is waiting to get a Cat scan to determine how far the cancer is having to do with his prostate. Pray it is contained!

5. Pray for Leaders to respond as we are contacting them concerning Mardi Gras. Pray the ones the Lord desires will come and that will be good enough. It is always exciting AND pressure as we look at who can come and who can’t.

Thanks for your prayers.

Love ya’s

Fred

Weekly Prayer Message - December 12, 2009

Hi Prayer team,

December 13, is the best day in the Oswald Chamber’s Daily Devotional for all of us who pray for others. I have memorized passages from this day’s reading and use it often to keep myself on track. The message it has on “Intercession” is the best explanation I have ever heard. Please read it and use it for yourselves as I do.

Hebrews 12 is a chapter in the Bible that I have worked for a long time. Here are the verses that speak to me as I work toward Mardi Gras.

Hebrews 12 - (The Message)

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race to Mardi Gras

1-3: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever…

Prayer Needs:

o This Thursday will be our Administration meeting for Mardi Gras. Remember to pray for this meeting as we choose our camp leaders for the 5 camps.

o We start sending out promos to the over 400 men who have been with us in the past three years. Pray for the Lord to stir men’s hearts to go forth with us for our Lord.

o I have people who are family and friends outside of NGL that I pray for on my own not covered below.

People who need our prayers for healing:

o My wife, Jan

o Carl Johnson — Needs good report on Tuesday

o Jim Murphy - Starts chemo December 21 in Denver

People who are improving:

o Ernie LeQuatte

o Phil Miller

o Bill Erwin

o Howard Madden


Thanks you for your support and prayers.

Love ya’s

Fred

Weekly Prayer Message - December 7, 2009

Hi prayer team,

I pray you are all taking the time to enjoy celebrating Christmas the whole month. It is just too great a deal not to give it our full attention!

Prayer Needs:

1. We will be working this week with our Administrative team for Mardi Gras deciding on the camps and who to have in charge of those camps. Please pray for us to have wisdom and for the Lord to show us who and where each one should be. Then pray for the Lord to touch, anoint and call forth each of these men to lead the charge.

2. Pray for the Lord to call forth men from all the areas to step forth for the “harvest” at Mardi Gras as we begin our promotion to all those who have been with us in the last three years.

I want to thank all of you who have faithfully prayed this year for me, my family and the ministry. God truly answers your prayers and the ministry just keeps getting stronger. God is good!

Love ya’s,

Fred

Weekly Prayer Message - November 30, 2009

Hi prayer team,

I pray all of you had a good Thanksgiving!

Prayer needs:

1. Tomorrow is the first day of December and that is the day of transition for our ministry. Pray with me that the anointing of the Lord will be strong on those in each area of the country and now will be passed on to the men they contact for the Lord’s service at Mardi Gras.

Progression of Psalm 133 on the anointing:

· November is the month I trust for the anointing to go forth to the leaders in each area of the country. We have sent out our “Promo Packets” and I am trusting the Lord to have worked through those packets. We have copied 75 promo videos for people to use in their groups and churches.

· Now, please pray with me for the Lord to touch the hearts of all the men who have been with us the last three years as we start contacting them this week.

2. Finances:

We have our places to stay for Mardi Gras pretty well nailed down. However, some of the places are requiring more money for us to stay at their places. Peoria Bus Company has donated a bus and driver for the past two years and we are thankful for that. However, it has been a rough year for the bus company and they need for us to pay what we can to help defray the cost. I don’t feel we can raise the donation for the men as some are in tough times financially. So please keep this in your prayers.

3. Jim Murphy had a biopsy done on the growth in his mouth last Friday in Denver. Today Jim will go back to the Doctor for the diagnosis and the direction of treatment. Please remember Jim, Linda and the Doctors!!!!! Our God is a God of miracles and that is what is needed.

4. Personal:

Some of these things are weighing a little heavy and I noticed that I have gained two pounds. I am sure that part of that is from the stress. I get hungry under stress. I need to “lighten up” and give these things to the Lord. You people are such a tremendous blessing to me and the ministry. I feel that when I share these things with you that it is like having a large weight on my head and some of you, who have this ministry of prayer, each take a piece and the “weight” lessons.

5. I have 9 people that I feel very close to who are having physical problems that I am praying for daily. The other night I awakened with them on my heart and I could see their problems and the solutions for the some of them. So I got up and wrote down what the Lord revealed to me. Then, at the end of the revelation, I saw my problems and the solution was tough to deal with for me. Yesterday, I went to St. Louis to Barnes Hospital to visit one of the people I was praying for. I had my written analysis with me and I told the Lord that I wasn’t “pushing” anything, but if the Lord opened the “door” that I would share what the Lord had spoken to my heart. The “door” did open and the man received it warmly. I felt so relieved and thankful. However, I left the hospital feeling drained, but happy!

6. Tomorrow is the first day of Christmas for Jan and me. Janie sees Christmas as the MONTH of December. We try to decide different things we want to do to celebrate Jesus through events and others. This keeps the stress of “one day” away and allows us to enjoy many opportunities to appreciate anew the birth of our Savior! I am praying each of you will have a great month of Christmas as well!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love ya’s

Fred and Jan

Luke 2:10-11, "But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David"

2010 Mardi Gras Men's Ministry!

Gentlemen,

We are nearing the time to begin preparations for our 2010 Men's Ministry Trip to Mardi Gras! If you want to be spiritually challenged and have your life changed forever you will make plans to attend this event without delay!

Who can attend:
Men and young men (ages 17 or older)

Ministry Dates:
February 12-16, 2010

Kick-off Meeting Location:
Heritage United Methodist Church
3 Barracuda Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39482
Friday, February 12th between 12:00-3:00PM

Registration Donation:
$175.00 if received by February 1st, 2010
$225.00 if received after February 1st, 2010

For more information or for specific questions on the event you may click here to contact our office staff.

** Please note that the earlier you register the better. For your convenience you may register on line at

http:// www.nogreaterlove.org

Courageous Leadership

by Bill Hybels / Zondervan Press

I made a presentation at the July NGL Advisory Board meeting from the outline below. I highly recommend this book as a tool for the development of your life as a Christ-honoring leader in your family, your church, your career and in No Greater Love. - Roger Lipe

Chapter 4 – Building a Kingdom Dream Team
§ Character
§ Competence
§ Chemistry

Chapter 6 – Developing Emerging Leaders
Process -
§ Identify emerging leaders.
§ Invest in the development of emerging leaders.
§ Entrust responsibility to emerging leaders.

Chapter 7 – Discovering and Developing Your Own Leadership Style

§ Visionary Leadership
§ Directional Leadership
§ Strategic Leadership
§ Managing Leadership
§ Motivational Leadership
§ Shepherding Leadership
§ Team-Building Leadership
§ Entrepreneurial Leadership
§ Reengineering Leadership
§ Bridge-Building Leadership

Process –
§ Identify your style.
§ Does it fit?
§ Review your team members’ styles.
§ Commit to development.

Chapter 11 – The Leader’s Pathway

§ The Relational Pathway
§ The Intellectual Pathway
§ The Serving Pathway
§ The Contemplative Pathway
§ The Activist Pathway
§ The Creation Pathway
§ The Worship Pathway

Process -
§ Identify your pathway.
§ Lean into your pathway.
§ Appreciate the other pathways.
§ Help others find their pathways.