Absentee Birthday / a Powerful Video

A few of my musings after a visit to the Great Lakes National Cemetery earlier today, on what would have been my oldest son Justin’s 34^th birthday.

Two years ago today my oldest son Justin, a Captain in the USMC, was killed in Iraq. For some reason this anniversary has been tough, but in spite of that, could I encourage you to watch the following video - This film is the hottest thing on the internet and on Fox News today. Lizzie Palmer who put this You Tube program together is 15 years old. There have been over 3,000,000 hits as of this morning.

Watch all of it.......and, pass it on!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Dale

Out Bound Again!

Usually on Monday’s I’m in an airport somewhere, heading back to Detroit. Today (Monday), I’m out-bound from Detroit, heading for an important meeting in Washington, D.C. with two of my three board members, David Brown, pastor of the First Baptist Church of East Longmeadow (MA), and David Stokes, pastor of the Fair Oaks Church in Fairfax (VA).

The third board member, Rick Cochran, pastor of The Bridge Church in the northern Indianapolis (IN) area is not able to make it for the meeting. Let me explain and enlist your help.

Not quite two years ago, Rick had to undergo open heart surgery and, although the surgery went quite well, he has never quite felt “quite right,” to use his term. A few days again, Rick emailed with some reservations about how he was feeling and asking me to pray for him. Last night, we talked at length … and I did not like the symptoms that he described over the phone. I strongly suggested that he not make the trip, but rather make a trip to either see his cardiologist or to the closest emergency room.

BTW, do you pray? If so, I would really appreciate you praying for my friend Rick Cochran over the next few days as the medical team sorts out what is going on with his cardiovascular system and takes appropriate steps. I’m sure that his wife Jill and his three children would also appreciate your prayers as well.

And while you’re praying, ask the Lord to infuse Dave, Dave, and Dale with fresh vision and wisdom as we discuss strategy for the future of my ministry in Great Britain and the securing of the funds to make several projects happen on that side of the pond.

Cheers!

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Dale Peterson - August Newsletter

Dear Ministry Partners:

Only a few weeks ago, plans were being made for three summer camps – and now those camps are history already! And just as quickly, plans are already underway for the camping season 2009! But first, let me give you the results of the 2008 camps.

The first of the camps was our senior camp, coordinated by the combined efforts of Baptist Bible Fellowship churches in England, Scotland, and Wales. A seasoned work force of both American and British leaders combined their efforts and lead over 60 campers – mostly teenagers from their various churches, but amongst them young people who had never put their faith in Jesus Christ. However, by the end of week one, six of those young people accepted Christ as their Savior personally.

The second week of camp was what I have affectionately called my “street kids” camp. With more than 60 kids total (unfortunately a few really rowdy teenagers had to be taken home), this camper composition was quite different from week one, in that almost every teenager in week two was atheistic, agnostic, or ambivalent about Christianity. It was a tough crowd. And yet, God is greater and draws people to Himself … and draw teenagers, He did! During the week, 31 young people – just over half the camper population – became Christ followers!

Let me brag on a few people for a moment – because I take no credit for this awesome week where God worked. I had a team of people that were willing to partner with me – giving themselves in anticipation that God would work miraculously through our combined efforts.

First, there was a husband-wife team responsible for the majority of the campers attending. Ian and Marie Hutchings have planted a church near The White House, where our camps were conducted. In addition to their recruitment efforts, Marie also served as the camp chef, emergency medical, and child protection officer! The Hutchings have pledged themselves to follow-up and discipleship of many of these young converts.

Second, Dan Brown and LIFT Student Ministries of Somerset (KY) provided the vast majority of the leadership structure for the entire week. This team of college students, under Dan’s leadership, made the week happen logistically. If jet lag wasn’t enough fatigue, they came into Great Britain following nine weeks of youth camps throughout the eastern United States. Without these valuable players from LIFT, week two of this summer’s camps would not have happened at all.

Third, the insane duo – Rick and Mick Vigneulle – along with Rick’s son Brandon, rocked the house with their comedy, music, and messages each night. But they offered more than just those ingredients, as important as those elements are. They also interacted with the kids throughout the week, often talking one-on-one with teenagers, leading them to put their trust in Christ.

Finally, there was a team of behind-the-scenes players – quietly, skillfully working to keep the building complex clean, to keep the campers filled with “junk food” from the tuck shop, to instruct American leaders in the do’s and don’ts of ministry in the UK, and helping whenever and wherever they were needed.

And yet, these are not all the partners who made it happen – there are many more, unnamed and unsung. There are those who prayed for months, asking the Lord to supply financially and to work mightily in the hearts of those who would attend. There are also those who gave financially to make it possible for these 60+ young people to attend their first-ever Christian camp, and whose gifts made it possible for 31 young people to hear the Gospel and be saved.

The third week of camp was the smallest of the three British camps this summer – 35 junior-aged campers, and yet, once again, God was present and working in the hearts of all participants. Of the 35 campers, five of them accepted Christ as their Savior as well. So the combined total number of campers placing their faith in Christ was 42 – for which we are thankful.

In addition to the camps, our ministry was used in the Kingsmead Baptist Church where in the three services where I spoke, another nine people – mostly twenty-somethings – accepted Christ!

To all of you who partnered with me to help make Summer Camps 2008 a reality – thank you. Your investment was indeed worthy and you can know that you have helped to sow, water, and reap with your investment! Be watchful of plans being released in the coming weeks for events expanding dramatically the efforts to reach the younger generations for Christ throughout 2008 and well into 2009!

Cheers!

Dale Peterson

P.S. If you would like to set aside financial support for 2009 summer camps or Strategic Youth Leadership Summits in 2009, please make your checks payable to Gospel Alive, Inc. and mail to 7850 Meadow Drive, Waterford, MI 48329. Please indicate whether your gift is for camps or leadership summits. Thanks!

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Dale Peterson - July 08

UPDATE:

• Arrived in England July 15, 2008.

• Will be there for three weeks of camp, plus some strategy meetings toward Youth Leadership Summits in the Fall 2008 and into 2009.

PRAY FOR:
• Workers for Youth Leadership Summits

• That God’s will be accomplished

NEWSLETTER:

As I recently walked the busy streets of London, and also looked out over the spires of Oxford, home of one of the world’s finest universities, I was struck by the amazing visual evidence of the long, rich history that is very much part of British daily life – a history which is often taken for granted.

The same is unfortunately true of Christianity in Great Britain. From massive cathedrals towering over surrounding buildings to smaller parish churches occupying prominent locations in almost every town, the visual evidence of Christianity’s impact on England, and Europe in general, is obvious. However, what is not so evident is the fact that many of these churches stand virtually empty as interest in Christianity has dramatically diminished.

A recent survey revealed that over 40% of the British people believe that religion is not a force for good in society and that Christianity does not have an important role in public life.

Great Britain has become a post-Christian nation. Christianity made a tremendous impact through such people as Charles Spurgeon and John and Charles Wesley. But now, many would say that the days of Christianity are over in Great Britain. The visual presence of churches throughout the country are more a part of history in general and seemingly have little to do with the present, or the future.

Five major denominations in the United Kingdom have publicly stated that if things continue to decline at the present rate, they will be non-existent before the middle of this century. Countless towns and villages throughout the country do not have even one evangelical church. In the last 50 years, almost 50% of churches associated with these denominations have been closed and are now used for other purposes including apartments, and increasingly, mosques. Islam is now the fastest growing religion in the U.K., and if trends continue, within 20 years there will be more Muslims in Great Britain than Christians of any persuasion.

What should be our response as the body of Christ to this situation? Is there hope for a reigniting of the Christian fervor which was once a hallmark of this great nation?

The Scottish Reformer John Knox once said, “God, give me Scotland, or give me death.” His passion and faith was influential in changing Scotland from being one of the most “sinful, wicked and superstitious nations of all Europe” to becoming one “noted for its honesty, piety and morality centuries after his death.”

John Wesley once proclaimed: "Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation." Wesley’s “Methodist” or “Holiness” movement changed not only England, but the United States as well.

One university student stated that, “God [and his church] is dead in Europe.” This diagnosis may seem like reality to her, but it is wrong. God is developing a new generation of spiritual leaders whose faith, like that of Spurgeon, Knox, and Wesley, can change cities and nations. We must believe God for the emergence of new leaders and new churches that can be a part of spreading God’s kingdom afresh throughout the United Kingdom.

I do not believe that God is finished with Great Britain. I have witnessed firsthand how God is changing lives through churches like Kindsmeade Baptist in Cannock, England, pastored by my good friend Damian Pickett.

Martin Young, pastor of Rising Brook Baptist Church in Stafford, England is encouraged by the fresh vision God is giving his church to make an impact in their local community and across the nation.

There is no question that reaching Great Britain with the gospel will be a difficult task. But it must be done! More and more missionaries, along with British pastors and youth leaders, are realizing that young people are the hope for reestablishing strong churches in the U.K. But, they also realize that this requires having more Christians step up and become leaders – and that these emerging leaders need to be trained.

On a recent trip to England I met Pastor Neil Henley during a casual meeting at a local restaurant along with Damian Pickett. Neil voiced a common concern I have heard numerous times (that I include in my soon-to-be-released video) – “We need help recruiting and training new youth leaders!”

After 35 years of pastoral ministry in the U.S., God has given me a fresh vision and burden to help reach Great Britain with the gospel. The fact that Britain has been greatly ignored because it is such hard spiritual ground has further motivated me to become involved. It is true that compared to other parts of the world where establishing a ministry can take a relatively short amount of time, doing so in the U.K. may take years, or even decades. However, I believe that we can trust God for a miraculous speeding up of this process.

After meeting with numerous Christian leaders in the U.K., I too have come to the conclusion that the best approach for rebuilding the Christian fervor that was once prevalent is by reaching young people who have the energy and drive to become effective disciple makers.

The typical U.K. young person is at least two generations removed from any connection with the church. This means there are no ready-made church youth groups or even any effective programs designed to reach young people. Thus, the task is challenging. But, the growing concern among committed British believers to reach their nation for the Lord is greatly encouraging. Great Britain can be reached for Jesus Christ!

The opportunities for dynamic youth ministry are available through churches across Great Britain. However, more workers need to be recruited, and along with existing workers, become better trained if we are truly going to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

God has strongly impressed upon my heart that now is the time to use the talents and abilities he has given me to help our brothers and sisters in Christ in Great Britain develop effective means of reaching their young people. As a result of what God has been showing me, I have established Strategic Youth Leadership Summit as the vehicle through which this ministry will be fulfilled.

My primary goal is to work in partnership with local churches across Great Britain to help provide leadership training for youth workers. Working closely with these pastors and churches I will be conducting weekend workshops to help train their people in effective avenues for reaching and discipling teenagers. The ultimate result of proper discipleship is the development of committed disciples who will in turn become effective disciple makers.

Additional training opportunities will include regional seminars in the U.K. as well as a yearly international conference bringing in leaders from across Europe.

A key element of the training will be to help churches develop both youth retreats and youth camps patterned after ministries that have proven to be effective.

But, how can all of this happen? I certainly can’t do it by myself! It requires partnership.

First, it requires developing solid partnerships with British churches that will be providing the workers to be trained, and who will be doing the work of the ministry. Second, and equally important, it requires developing partnerships with churches and concerned believers in the United States who will stand with me through their prayers and financial support. While many churches in Great Britain have the desire to reach out to the youth in their communities, they just don’t have the resources to be able to do so effectively.

On a recent trip to England, the title of a travel book in a bookstore window caught my eye. While my desire is not to travel the world, I have the compelling desire to make the most of my remaining time on this earth for the glory of God.

I hope you will join with me in helping reach British youth by reaching and training effective youth leaders. God has not abandoned post-Christian Europe. Together, we can help fan the flames of revival and once again see God’s Spirit move mightily across the entire nation of Great Britain.

In addition to my friends who contribute each month to my personal missionary support through Central Missionary Clearinghouse in Houston, Texas, I need ministry partners who will make a financial investment in something that will out-live each of us – the leaders of tomorrow, who must be trained today.

Would you consider helping to underwrite one Strategic Youth Leadership Summit for 2008 with your gift of $2500. A gift of $2500 will help train ten young leaders who can make an eternal difference in Great Britain. Almost any American church, no matter how small, and many adult Bible classes, could make this a missions project!

And while numerous individual Christ-followers could easily make this investment in the future of the United Kingdom, others cannot – but could underwrite the cost of training one future youth leader for a gift of $250.

In the Spring, I’m returning to England, accompanied by a few key American youth leaders who are partnering with me to mentor young leaders. We will be finalizing each Strategic Youth Leadership Summit for the Summer and Fall 2008 at that time.

I would like to be able to assure the British pastors with whom we partner that Christ-followers in America believe so strongly in God using the Strategic Youth Leadership Summit, that they have totally underwritten the expense, and there will be no charge to their young leaders.

Please let me hear from you – that you can make a special investment of $2500 to help underwrite one Summit. If you simply can’t make that kind of financial gift at this time, please let me know that you will sponsor at least one young leader – perhaps another John Knox or C.H. Spurgeon – with a gift of $250!

From my heart to yours,

Dale Peterson

President, Gospel Alive

P.S. Contributions for the Strategic Youth Leadership Summit should be made payable to Gospel Alive, Inc. and mailed to Gospel Alive, Inc. – 7850 Meadow Drive, Waterford, MI 48329. Gospel Alive, Inc. is a Michigan-based 501(c)3 organization chartered for the purpose of world evangelization.

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www.dalepeterson.co.uk