A Family For God (by Calvary Chapel Magazine)

Michael and I have really enjoyed reading Calvary Chapel Magazine over the years. Needless to say we were so honored when they asked if they could do an article on our family.

If your church doesn't receive Calvary Magazine you can get an individual subscription from their website. http://www.calvarymagazine.org

To read the article click, on the picture, then hold down "ctrl" and press the "+" button to make it large enough to read.

South Africa Conference 2010

It was a privilege for Michael and I to lead worship at the Calvary Chapel Pastors/Missions Conference in Capetown, South Africa. My Dad (he's the one playing bass in the above picture) and Mom accompanied us on the trip along with our precious 3-year-old son Jayden.

It was a God thing how this trip came about. Michael woke up the other morning and told me about a dream he'd had. In the dream he'd had some different ministry choices and he asked me, "What do you think we should do?"

In his dream I said, "I think we should go to South Africa!"

"What!" he said? "South Africa!?" Then he woke up.

After he told me the dream we laughed and he went to the computer to check messages and there before him was a message from a pastor friend and his wife from Capetown, South Africa asking if we'd consider coming to lead worship for their pastor/leadership conference. We were blown away how the Lord gave Michael the dream to prepare us and confirm to us that we should go.
There were pastors and missionaries from all over South Africa. It was such a blessing as we all praised the name of Jesus together adults and children alike.

Here's my mom talking with one of the South African pastors. We all enjoyed the diversity of the people and conversations we had as we fellowship with one another.

Our little Jayden also enjoyed all his new little South African friends as he was a part of the children's ministry there.

We also enjoyed leading worship at Calvary Chapel Capetown on both the Sundays we were there.

Our flight home was quite eventful. During the trip Jayden and Michael caught a stomach virus. Jayden was not feeling well when we got on the 15 hour flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta. The captain tried to talk us out of taking the flight. In the middle of the flight, the head stewardess told us that if Jayden was sick when we got the U.S. she would have to report him to customs. Well, while the stewardess was telling us all this, my Mom was dealing with the stomach virus 5 rows over but she had to keep a low profile so she wouldn't be seen sick and get reported to customs herself. We were able to give Jayden some medication that made him feel better. In the end we all put on our best faces as we deplaned and went through U.S. customs.

Click here to see all the fun pictures we posted from this trip.

Here's fun video of my dad, Evan, and Calvary missionary in England, Rob Dingman, having a good 'ol fashion blues jam as members of Calvary Chapel Johannesburg and Calvary Chapel Capetown look on.

Europe and Beyond

The "Beyond" part of the title stands for South Africa. Michael, Jayden (our 3-year-old) and my (Golden's) parents will be going to South Africa from October 8-18. We will be leading worship at the Missions/Pastors Conference in Capetown. We're really looking forward to this trip. For more on this trip and how it happened that we're going, which is a really interesting and fun God story, please go to this link. www.togetherministries.com/missionltrs/southafrica.html

Here we are (Michael, Golden and our daughter, Avalon) leading worship at Creation Fest in England for the children's ministry. Avalon lead all the hand motions while Mommy and Daddy did most of the singing. During the week long event we saw about 200 kids a day come through the children's ministry tent. It was awesome to have the opportunity to share Christ and hang out with all of them. There were 9 kids who made decisions for Christ which is really exciting because Europe is a hard place to reach.

We just had to do this; get our picture on Abbey Road. There's this street cam above us that broadcasts to the internet. So I called my Dad in MO at 4am his time and woke him up so he could log into abbeyroad.com and watch the 3 of us do all our antics back and forth across Abbey Road. I was inspired so I rewrote the lyrics to the Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" to "Here Comes the SON."

Chorus:

Here comes the SON, doo doo doo doo

Here comes the SON, and I say, "Be Ready"

Verse 1:

Little children, in the twinkling of an eye He's coming

Little children, on a white horse Jesus will return (chorus)

Verse 2:

Little children, let's see those smiles on your faces

Little children, He's the reason we are singing here (chorus)

Verse 3:

Little children, can you see the moving of God's Spirit

Little children, the Word of God has made it clear (chorus)

Bridge:

Son, God's Son, Here he comes (4x)

Next, we headed off to the Calvary Chapel Castle in Milstat, Austria for the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference.

Here's a picture looking out the window of the main conference room. The scenery in Austria is breathtaking.

Our primary function at the Missions Conference was to serve the people attending. I worked full time in the children's ministry 0-3 year olds.

Michael worked with the grounds crew but often got pulled in to help with the children's minsitry.

Avalon attended the conference with the other children. She's made friends from all over the world. What an awesome opportunity for her.

What really made this trip special was that we got to serve with our little girl. We're hoping to be able to serve with our whole family with next year.

Please keep us in prayer and may God richly bless you like only He can do!

In His Grip,

Michael, Golden, Avalon, Micah, Zachary and Jayden