Converge

con·verge

[kən-ˈvərj] - (of several people or things) come together from different directions so as eventually to meet.

This is a perfect description of what happened last Tuesday night in Romania at our very first Master's Commission Romania graduation. Seven young people - four Romanians and three Americans - received their diplomas as two distinct happenings in time converged.

You see, in 1989 a revolution took place in Romania as the people of that nation shook off the chains of Communist oppression and became a free country. The same year, Donna and I traveled to Phoenix, AZ where we were introduced to a program called Master's Commission. At that time there was just one program located there in Phoenix, but I knew it was the kind of program we wanted here in Lafayette, so I came home and launched the very first Master's Commission program outside of the original. Many more would follow and now Master's Commission programs exist all over the world!  Thanks to one of the graduates of that first extension program here in Lafayette - Shawn Marcell (pictured here with Donna and I) - that list of nations with Master's Commission programs now includes Romania! The stage was set in 1989 by two events that would pull me in and allow me to experience their impact and last Tuesday, Donna, Shawn and I had the joy of watching those two worlds converge! 

This is what it's going to take!

Tying the Knot

I recently conducted the wedding ceremony of my nephew Jeremy Davidson and his new bride, Stephanie Zmijewski. I am so excited for them, they make an awesome couple! Donna and I are very close to Jeremy and his brother Jordy. They grew up here in Acadiana and we have seen them almost every day of their entire lives! Before our own kids were born, Donna and I honed our parenting skills on them and it was kind of like seeing one of my own children get married.

When Jeremy was little, his eye teeth came in before the rest and we nicknamed him fangs. We used to tease him and say he was a little werewolf - then he grew up and has the thickest hair/beard I've ever seen! Coincidence? Watch out on the night on those full moons Stephanie! (LOL) At some point he realized people liked being complemented. He would tell me every time I saw him, "Uncle Jeff (in his thick North Louisiana Accent) - I like your shoes!" Last night I got to complement him on a very nice pair of shoes he wore with his handsome wedding suit.

Stephanie came to us through Master's Commission from Florida. She was a stand out among a lot of incredible young people in her class. When I learned that she and Jeremy were dating, I was so happy because I knew she was the answer to all of the prayers we've prayed for Jeremy since he was just a little boy - Prayers that God would send him a wonderful, godly wife one day.

It was a fine celebration with friends and family and I tied the knot as tight as I know how.

A Little Good News!

Here's a great report concerning the movement Crossroads Church is affiliated with and I have my ordination through. 

The Assemblies of God, one of the largest Pentecostal denominations, is growing faster than the U.S. population.

AG reported that its U.S. adherents increased four percent in 2010, which is several times higher than the U.S. population growth rate, which is about one percent a year. Adherents of the Assemblies of God USA have surpassed three million followers, 3,030,944 to be exact, in 2010.

This is the largest annual percentage increase since 1983, according to AG records.

In terms of official membership, AG reported a 2.5 percent increase, to 1.75 million members. Attendance at major worship service, water baptism, spirit baptism, and conversions were also up, according to statistics.

The largest decline was seen in the Sunday evening service, where attendance drastically fell 4.1 percent, to 399,728.

“This is a unique moment in the history of our movement,” said Assemblies of God General Superintendent George Wood in a video promoting the denomination’s annual General Council meeting next month in Phoenix.