Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/9

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. Today, I am remembering Gabriel, the messenger angel. I am remembering that Gabriel stood both in the presence of God and appeared to both Zecharias and Mary.
May I stand in the presence of God and before people and bring the them the message of HOPE, PEACE and LOVE that they so long for.
Luke 1:19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story 12/8

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas story. I am remembering the silence of Zecharias. I am wondering how Elizabeth felt when Zecharias got home that night. I wonder if it was a normal evening, except that Zecharias could not grunt and say “Thanks for dinner. It was good.” I wonder if he spent the evening in front of the tv, like always or whether he had a burning desire to say the things he had been putting off. Initially, when I read this, I figured that Elizabeth and Zecharias would write notes to each other in the dust. But then, I remember that probably, as a woman, Elizabeth would not have been educated, so she probably couldn’t read or write. The baby, John the Baptist was conceived after Zecharias was struck silent, so I figure he was silent for 9+ months. What would you say today if you knew you were going to not be able to speak for 9+ months? What about the other way around: What would you learn from others if you couldn’t speak? Does anyone remember the movie “What the Deaf Man Heard”? Will you Celebrate the Real Christmas Story by speaking up or being silent?    

Luke1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story - 12/7

Today, I am celebrating the Real Christmas Story. I am celebrating Zecharias, a priest and servant, who was called to a task, which he did. When the angel Gabriel appear to him to let him know that his 40+ year old prayers were going to be answered, Zecharias was a little shocked and he doubted. I'm thinking what was I praying for 20 years ago? 10 years ago? Do I still want that? Is there anything I'm still praying for after 40 years?

And for all of you, who think you are beyond all this , I hope you get that pony in your stocking that you prayed for 40 years ago. Or puppy. Elizabeth and Zecharias are getting a baby.

Luke 1:8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[b] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[c] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Celebrating the Real Christmas Story

I have been posting each day on Facebook some aspect of Celebrating the Real Christmas Story.  This year, as in many years, there is not $ to give the gifts to my daughters that I would like to.  The idea of saying "I know you want a tablet, here's a coloring book and crayons" just ain't working for me!  The idea of a Christmas Tree seems empty.  I never dreamed that someone - i.e., me, who is so in love with the Real Christmas Story and the Real meaning of Christmas, could find this season so empty.  So I decided I would celebrate the REAL Christmas story - Like an advent calendar - each day, unfolded a little bit, like a much anticipated Christmas package.  I started on 12/6 - so a little late - but I am celebrating the Christmas Story!  (I'm on Facebook - Dottie Cooper Hinesley - if you would like to follow there!)

12/6 Today, I am celebrating the real Christmas Story. I am celebrating, that God answers prayer, sometimes, waaaaay after we pray and long after we think He has said "No" because waiting is all over and the opportunity is way gone. Elizabeth & Zechariah conceived a baby, probably long years after they prayed, after they were old, probably years after they had say good bye to the dream of having a family.

Luke 1:6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Today, I'm going to keep praying, keep believing, keep hoping because of the Real Christmas Story, because of God's faithfulness to Elizabeth & Zechariah. 

My most recent ministry letter:

September 25, 2013

Dear Friends & Family:

Thank you for your faithful support, both financially and in prayer.  Because of the intensity of the spiritual battle I was involved in, I haven’t written a letter for a while.  However, I do write about ministry related events and issues at dottiedch.blogspot.com  if you would like to keep in touch there.

The Update

I have been helping on- campus Christian Clubs (since 2007), Baccalaureate (since 1999) and the Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance (since 1991) – just as a reminder of what I have been doing in Pearland.

 

2009 was a year where everything was looking up.  Club ministry was really coming together.  People were coming to help.  Pearland was becoming a team. The vision (and the task) was becoming clearer.

2010 was the pivotal year.  At the very end of the year, the on- campus Christian club support team was destroyed by a divisive partner.  A youth pastor put himself in charge of Baccalaureate and the Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance.  He also attempted to take control of all on-campus Christian Clubs as well.

2011 was the healing and affirming year.  After the move  to put me out of everything I had been doing, I had two simple goals:  1) Finish well: finish the 2010-2011 school year with one club. 2) Move on: move  out of Pearland to another community.  By April 2011, I realized I was doing more clubs and working with more students than I had been, before the clubs were taken away.  Graciously, someone pointed out that God will prosper you in what He has called you to do – I couldn’t have figured this out at that time: I was too wounded.  My calling was affirmed.

By November 2011, something was taking place in me.  I realized that I was the point person for unity and working together in my community; it was unity and working together that was Satan’s target, not me.  I realized that the number one group hurt when we don’t work together is our children, our schools and the poor and weak among us.  I moved from licking my own wounds to a new healing and trying to rebuild, trying to help my community regain the ground that had been lost.

During this time, I started to view what I was doing differently.  Rather than just someone doing what she could, I saw myself as uniquely called, uniquely trained, uniquely designed by my Creator for my community, for clubs, for students, for such a time as this.  Rather than just doing a good thing, I started to see myself as engaged in strategic warfare for a generation.  My perception-shift  was critical:

   A unique  person, in a critical position, who is called by God to bring people and churches together, to reach students for Christ. 

I did not attend Baccalaureate 2011 – the first Baccalaureate I’ve missed since 1994.   The attendance was about 35 graduates per high school..  The low attendance was a balm to my ego, but also an assault to my community spirit – how could they ruin such a wonderful opportunity to influence students to godliness, and enable churches to work together?  I attended Baccalaureate 2012.  Attendance was even lower – about 24 graduates total.  I helped with Baccalaureate 2013 (because my daughter, Allie was a graduate), the attendance of the graduates from both HS schools was down to 12 graduates.
   The 1999 through 2010 Baccalaureate programs had been attended by about 100 graduates per year.

During July 2013, the ministry I was working with, Cross in the City, closed down very quickly:  I had less than a week’s notice.  This left me without an income and without a way to raise any support.  With only my husband’s income, our income is at poverty level;  it is a critical situation for our family.  Frankly, without God’s intervention, I don’t see how we are going to get through this one.  It is difficult enough to go without a paycheck, let alone without 6 months of paychecks.

In spite of our situation, I knew I needed to be sure of what God wanted me to do, not just continue to persevere because He was prospering my work, or run out and take the first job I was offered because our family was so desperate for the income.  It was definitely a challenge to wait on God at this point.

I also had real questions about whether I wanted to continue in Pearland.  I had two contrasting realities:.  God was clearly prospering what I was doing with on- campus Christian clubs:  6 clubs were receiving support at various levels, totaling about 600 students a week.  I was interested in supporting any type of on-campus Christian Club.  But, the local youth pastors decided that they would push a certain model of club with their youth groups.  So, if I supported a sponsor or student in their desire to do a different type of club, sometimes sponsors received critical emails.  It was an odd position to be in:  I want to support Christian Clubs.  I want to encourage students to attend church.  I want students to live out their faith on their campuses.  However, doing this caused me to be to be at odds with the youth pastor community. 

I prayed.  I looked for jobs.  I evaluated my strengths.  I considered my family and their needs.  I really thought I was going to give up on ministry and find a “real” job.

The Future 

And then, I got this exciting invitation:  to work with Youthworkers Support Network (“The Net”).  I have the opportunity to be part of a team and create community.  I will have the opportunity to encourage clubs all over the Greater Houston Area.  I will have the opportunity to help develop youth ministry networks all over!  This is the biggest thing I have ever done and I am excited about the possible impact. 

Some of the best news is that it will be part-time (20 hours per week), which will allow me to juggle my family issues, and will also allow me to continue encouraging the Pearland club leaders.  It will also give me time to evaluate whether I should develop a 501(c)(3) organization to provide this support for Pearland.  (YSN will avoid developing or supervising direct-ministry programs, so it can focus on networking and leadership development.)  In the process, I will get to serve at a level that will be both challenging and fulfilling to me.  I will get to help sponsors and students from all over our metroplex, start and improve their on -campus clubs.  I will get to help youth workers, who have just realized their community could be better if they worked together, start networks.  I will get to connect people. … .    

I am:

A unique person, in a critical position, who is called by God to bring people and churches together to reach students for Christ.

Since joining YSN’s staff on September 1, I have two immediate  projects: 

#1  Rebuilding my support base:  I’ve never had time to focus on fundraising – I’ve always jumped into doing ministry, and fundraising was put aside.  Now I will have a season to do this.  My prayer is, that by January, 2014, I will be fully funded!  Please pray for my family’s needs during this time.

#2  Researching area See You at the Pole efforts:  “Where is SYATP going on?”, “Who is promoting it?”, “How can we help them next year?”

Will you consider joining me?  My initial goal is $30,000 per year.  This will cover my part-time salary of less than half that of a starting school teacher (which I’ve never received before), plus my taxes and basic program expenses  This will take as a little as 100 people giving $25/month, or $300/year – to keep me in this critical position.  Will you be one of my 100?  Will you be two?

                                                                                                            Please pray for me.

                                                                                                Serving Him,,

                                                                                                Dottie Hinesley

                                                                                                Schools-Network Coordinator

 

Building a cathedral

  Sometimes I think about the people who built the cathedrals.  Building a cathedral took 25 years to 600 years.  It is difficult for me to imagine what kind of vision that you would have to have to build something that you would never physically see, but that you would realize would have value for your children and your children's children and your children's children's children. 
  That would take vision!  I wonder what it took to pass on the job.
  Sometimes, what I do seems like that.  build, build, build.  No fruit.  sow, sow, sow, no fruit.  again and again and again.  Ministry wise, I'm building a cathedral.
  I am fascinated by the concept of market place chaplaincy.  I am also fascinated by the concept of the working poor.  Partially, because I have joined those ranks. 
  So, there is a local McDonald's.  I go there almost every day, either for meetings or to use the wifi.  I speak to the employees.  I work. 
  On another blog, I wrote about helping Donna get an oven.  Donna works for McDonald's.  On Thursday, Donna saw me starting to pack up.  Dottie, will you talk to Carrie?
  Okay.  Carrie's eye was swollen.  Her husband had beaten her up last night.  He was now in jail.  Her precious baby - probably close to a year old - was crawling all over the table.  The staff cleared the area, so I could talk to Carrie.  I prayed with her and referred her to local ministries so she could get help with her electric bill. 
  This small thing has probably taken close to a year to develop.  But I can see that fruit could come from it. 
  Pray for Carrie.  Pray for Dottie.

Good bye to Cross in the City: At this point

It is with great regret and sorrow that I let you know that the ministry I was serving with has closed down.  It has happened very suddenly and I am still a little dazed and confused.  This has happened in less than a week, from initial notice to closing.  It will take them a little while to officially close down the 501c3, but at this point, that is the plan.

At this point, I know I want to be open to whatever God has for me to do.  There has not been time to pray, assess, to figure out.  All I know at this point is that want God to clearly direct me if He wants me to continue in ministry.  This is a point of decision, of reassessment for me.

At this point, I am strongly suggesting that you not sent any contributions to Cross in the City.  I have 2 other options.  Hold on to your contributions and I will let you know if I am continuing – as soon as I know!, where I am at, what is going on.  If you aren’t concerned about a receipt for taxes, feel free to mail your donations to me.  God knows what we need.

Dottie Hinesley

2537 Lazy Bend St.
Pearland, TX  77581

Thank you for your gracious support, both financial, prayer and those words of encouragement that have meant so much.  My plan for a little bit is to seek counsel, pray, seek God, assess my skills, consider what God is calling me to.  School starts soon, so there isn’t much time for this. 

My simple assessment at this moment in time is that God has uniquely gifted me for ministry in schools, that there are thousands of students in Pearland schools without a church home and without Christ.  Both student leaders and club sponsors welcome my services, but the Pearland youth pastor community has become hostile to me, which has made this ministry community fairly abusive and lonely.  I think the community in general would be open to supporting this if they knew who I was and what I am doing.

I appreciate your prayers during this time as I count the cost of continued service.  Please check my blog: dottiedch.blogspot.com as I will try to put updates there.

Thanks again for what your support has meant to me.

Dottie Cooper Hinesley