The Better Place News

The third and final session of the Regional School of Prayer was held on the 25th of September 2010 in Gerry, NY. This was a one-day School that ran from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The topics for the day were: “Call to Humility,” “Call to Pray,” Call to Seek God” and “Call to Repent.” These teaching were all based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.

The responses of the participants to their experience were all glowing, as usual. Here is a sampling of those responses: “I especially liked how biblical it was and how willing the leader was to help.” “I learned more about prayer than I ever knew before.” “Each session was more involved and provided challenges etc. and gave opportunity to share and to experience growth.” “The Holy Spirit is invited to come and stay and to work amongst us, to engage us together as one-on-one, as a small group or as the whole group in unity.” – And so the comments go.

God was palpably present as he always is at these events. People were ministered to in life transforming ways. – At the beginning of the day, Dr. Miller asked the participants what expectations they brought with them. Some of those expectations could not have been anticipated by anyone other that the Holy Spirit and the Spirit was ready to meet people at their points of need. At the end of the day when the question, “Were your expectations met?” was asked, the answer from everyone was a resounding YES!

This session of the Regional School of Prayer will be the last session for some time to come. See Prayer Letter #21 to learn about the direction that will be followed in 2011.

Proof positive that God does not want us to be separate from him, but that God deeply yearns for us to be in relationship with him is the price he paid when he became one of us. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. And now, what keeps us from him? – Someone once said, “If God seems far away, guess who moved!” Let’s redouble our determination this Advent and Christmas season to move ourselves Godward. Here is an old piece of rhyme that helps to put our day-to-day activities and God’s desire for us into perspective:

THE DIFFERENCE

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task.

“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.

He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

but the day toiled on gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn’t show me.

He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence.

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

“My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Author unknown

The Better Place ministry derives its name from the words of Jesus to Martha when he said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better…” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV). The Better Place is at the feet of Jesus; where Mary chose to linger. Christmastime is a very “hustle-bustle” time of year. Let’s hold tight to Jesus throughout it all.

Here follows an open letter to the people of Blackwell Chapel, A. M. E. Zion Church in Jamestown regarding their gracious hosting of the Regional Concert of Prayer on the 27th of October 2010:

Dear Saints of God,

I just have to say – in writing this time – one more big THANK YOU for opening your doors to the Church of the Jamestown area as we gathered to pray and seek God last night. Thank you to the praise team; you radiate joy! And thank you to Rev. Hood.

As I looked around the room I recognized people from Healing Word Ministries Church of God, Park Church of Sinclairville, Falconer Wesleyan Church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and Revolutionary Life Church. And there may have been other congregations represented that I was not aware of. – The thing is; God is attracted to unity like iron to a magnet or like a bee to honey; and God was powerfully present last night.

We may never know the full measure of the effect of the prayers we prayed, but we can be certain that they were a pleasing aroma to God, that the powers of darkness were pushed back and that Jamestown is a little more blessed today with the blessings of God because of those prayers. This happened because of your faithfulness as a congregation of God’s people and because of your willing and gracious hospitality. – I am grateful to each one of you and to your Pastor, Rev. Hood.

As Concerts of Prayer are scheduled for 2011, I will be sure to let you know when and where they will be held. I look forward to seeing many of you at those gatherings.

Our Chautauqua Lake Region Men of Integrity (CLMI) – a ministry of The Better Place – brought Psychologist/Media-personality/marriage and family expert, Dr. Kevin Leman to Jamestown on Saturday the 16th of October 2010. Our CLMI leaders met for lunch with Dr. Leman at Roberto’s restaurant on Friday the 15th to go over final details for the big day. Then on Saturday they keep Dr. Leman very busy!

The Day of events began with a free breakfast for pastors and their spouses at the Falcon’s Nest in Falconer, NY. After breakfast and a time of worship – led by the CLMI band – Dr. Leman imparted an encouraging and challenging message about leadership. Of course, his message was well seasoned with humor – one of the many reasons for his great popularity as a public speaker and author.

From 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. men from throughout western NY state and western PA gathered in the downtown Jamestown Civic Center to be entertained and edified by the message Dr. Leman brought. This was also a free event. Similar to the morning format, this gathering began with a time of worship led by the CLMI band.

At 6:00 p.m. the Civic Center was filled to capacity on the main level. Over seven hundred married couples and also single adults gathered for an evening of rousing and powerful worship, special music and the unique ministry of Kevin Leman. And it was effective. There were couples who were on the road to divorce who were brought to the meeting by the Spirit of God. They left hand in hand. Other couples who were struggling in their marriages were so positively helped and encouraged by Dr. Leman that they were telling anyone who would listen to them the next day.

During the evening gathering the CLMI presented the first annual “Outstanding Service Award” to a man from the Jamestown area who models the Men of Integrity commitments. The award recipient was Mark Summers from Clymer, NY. The award was a complete surprise to Mark. His wife helped the CLMI leaders to make certain everything was in order to pull the surprise off. – Mark is the treasurer for the CLMI and also the current chairperson of The Better Place Board of Directors.

The CLMI anticipated more sponsorships than they received from area churches and businesses to cover the total cost of this grand day. As a result, this day of events generated a deficit of over two thousand dollars. Nevertheless, whatever the financial anxieties it may have produced, the leadership is grateful to God for all the good he worked through the day. Many lives will never be the same again. – Anyone who desires to help cover the deficit and position the CLMI to move forward with future events may send designated gifts to The Better Place at P.O. Box 532, Jamestown, NY 14702.

This October we had the smallest Agape Prayer Ministry School we have ever had. There were just six students and all of these students were first-timers. But size sure did not limit power or the work of the Holy Spirit. – If people of the world can say, “holy cow” when they are really amazed, I guess we will just say, “Holy Spirit!!!!” Wow! The joy, the victory, the freedom; wow! God showed up; just like always.

This School was held over two very intensive days – from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Friday the 8th and from 7:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday the 9th – at the Warren Wesleyan Church in Warren, PA. Due to the small size, we were able to meet around tables in the library/lounge of the building. Worship times and some other events were held in the church sanctuary.

Take a look at some of the accompanying photos to see our leads, our students and our gourmet cooks.

Here are the ministry recipient responses to our little response forms that they complete after receiving ministry at the School:

Was there an atmosphere of love and acceptance?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Did the team listen and pay attention?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was the Holy Spirit free to work?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was there unity among the team?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Was the session helpful to you personally?

Yes, yes, yes, very, yes, yes, yes very much – thank you!

Please make any comments regarding any strength or weaknesses of the School to help us improve in the future.

Strengths – I really like that you put a mix of people in the room. With their different gifts and such, it really rounds out the experience.

Having the session part of this School is very helpful. Being a part of and having this session helps with learning the set up and how it works.

I AM FREE!!  Praise God!!

My session: Great listeners to me and to God. Teaching: well done. Atmosphere: very good. Food: outstanding

[And this e-mail was sent later to some of our leads from a recipient who did not have time to write comments on the form]: Good morning, I just wanted to thank you so much for all your time, energy, and love in helping me … – You’ve shown me a whole other side to the word AGAPE… not just God’s agape love, but human agape love for others. I’m so grateful…. we all were! Please extend my thanks to the whole team for their agape love. It was incredible to feel so much unconditional love in one place to help us move from condemnation into conviction.