Pastor Archer's Blog

Another Men’s Annual Wild Game Dinner done and gone.  We’ve seen some tremendous growth in the desire for such an event. In 2007 we had an attendance of 160.  In 2008, we had 210. This last year we had approximately 340 people in attendance, including the many workers.  I don’t remember the numbers for 2007 of those who responded to the call of Christ, but last year 26 indicated that they responded to Christ’s call, and this year another 20 indicated so.  Hallelujah!  On top of that, many indicated their willingness to recommit to their relationship with Christ and in following Him.

This year we had Brent Henderson back as our Main speaker.  Brent is a great musician, singer, songwriter, as well as an avid bowhunter of whitetails and other beasts.  And here in the North-central country, men need to hear that you don’t stop being a man, nor are you expected to do so when you become a Christian.  In fact, we are to become MORE of what we were intended to be in the first place. Men, who others can look up to.  Men, who protect their families.  Men, who lead their families.  Men, who are becoming the Adam that was initially created to live on this planet.  Men, who walk with God.

But, for men to be looked up to, they need to be men of integrity; men who mean what they say and follow through with actions to their words, their vows, their promises, and their implied intentions.  Men, who are faithful to their wives so that there is absolutely NO ROOM in their lives for any other, whether real, on paper, or digitally.  Men, who follow through with what they tell their kids and who their kids can follow as their example not just follow their words.

Men who lead their families are men who LEAD.  They take the time to model a spiritual life to their spouse and their children. Men, who are active in their family’s interests, thoughts, and yes, feelings.  Men, who SHOW and MODEL to their daughters who and what to look for in a man that they may some day choose to marry, and who do the same for their sons to teach and model what kind of men to become in order to be the man after God’s heart who will take care of the woman and children God will give to him to love and honor and cherish.  Is it easy.  No.  I am finding I lack in many or these areas, but I am committed to learning and pursuing these things as I learn.

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I just read an interesting interview of Becky Pippert. She is one of those people who has been gifted and doing evangelism for many, many years now. She has written “Out of the Saltshaker” and leads seminars around the world. She touched on, I believe, the core of our issues regarding our fear of evangelism. She was asked by Lindy Lowry of Christianity Today:

“In the past year, you’ve led your Salt Shaker evangelism training conferences not only in the United States, but overseas as well. What one commonality surfaces everywhere you go?”

Becky’s answer, “That everyone has the same sense of inadequacy and the same fears about sharing Christ. I gave Salt Shaker (saltshaker.org) conferences last summer in America, England and Malaysia—and believers from all three countries felt the same thing. They think they’re required to answer every question, never reveal a flaw and have perfect communication skills. They fear everything is up to them.”

The interview went on:

So how do you deal with these very real fears and insecurities?

The first thing we do is look at the incarnation of Christ. By exploring how God related to us through Christ, we learn what it means to be human. I believe understanding the incarnation is foundational to effective evangelism.
The biggest reason people give for not witnessing is their sense of inadequacy. But the incarnation reveals that our inadequacy isn’t the problem. Jesus depended on His Father without embarrassment or shame. I tell people, “Facing our inadequacy is critical, because it leads us to depend on the Spirit’s power.” Read the rest of this entry »