Kris and I ask you to pray for us this next two weeks. Our daughter, Cassie
will be attending Christian Youth In Action camp (CYIA) put on by Alaska
Child Evangelism Fellowship. This is Cassie's third year. Kris and I have
agreed to help out on staff this year for the camp. It begins this next
Tuesday and runs for two weeks.
Many of you have heard us talk about CEF. Many of Cassie's travels into the
bush regions of western Alaska have been with CEF. In the past, "road system
kids" would travel into the bush with CEF, putting on 5 day clubs. But,
over the last few years, there have been more and more kids from the bush
that have gone through the training, which means more of kids from a group
of villages traveling to another village to minister. This is way cool!
This CYIA camp will have over 100 in attendance, with 2/3 of the people from
rural Alaska villages.
In many villages, family structure is somewhat lacking, and any missionary
or pastor in a small village is first hit with the huge responsibility of
caring for the kids who seem to have nowhere to go. Child Evangelism
Fellowship comes along side and assists wherever possible.
We will be hosting a missionary friend in our home later in June, along with
a couple that he is bringing up from the lower 48 to look at joining another
couple in village ministry. We will also be housing some kids for a few days
before and during the middle weekend of CYIA
Chelsie will be traveling to Indiana to visit friends and family a few weeks
in june, and Cassie will be back in the village of Naknek during the month
of July, working at the Christian radio station that serves the Bristol Bay
area. Then Kris and I will be off to visit family and supporters in Georgia
and attending a Grace Brethren conference in July. During this time, ABM
will be involved in several camps in different areas of the State, as well
as helping in a building project in Bethel. In one sense, ministry slows
down for us because we are not doing as much of the emotion-laden trips like
we do in the winter months, and are enjoying the summer like everyone else.
We would be just as active in the summer if we could, but it costs a lot to
do what we do, and we tend to "shoot our wad" in the winter months, when
people really get hit bad with depression and spiritual battles.
Thanks for your prayers on our behalf as we seek to raise additional funds
to support our ministry. God is so faithful. We covet your prayers. For
those of you who give to ABM financially as financial partners with us in
ministry, we sure do appreciate that as well.
THERE or in the air!
Gary & Kris Harris
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Village, Fund Raising and Tech 5/5/04
Our current focus in ministry is slowly changing a bit from Village/Admin
to Village/Fund Raising/Tech.
----------VILLAGE----------
Kris and I will always remain dedicated to our calling of encouraging and
equipping our brothers and sisters in villages of western Alaska. I know I
have said this before, but my heart aches with some of the things we know
and must keep in confidence. Not to violate this trust but to give you a
glimpse:
- SUICIDES - This winter was not without these in several villages. A
friend once told me "I was asking a young boy what he wanted to be when he
grew up. He listed off several job possibilities and then added 'committing
suicide'". My heart sinks to think of a level of hopelessness where suicide
is mentioned as some sort of "career choice."
- DIS-HARMONY - There is one place in particular where believers of
different organizational backgrounds don't seem to want to communicate with
each other. I'm not talking about some sort of ecumenism here, but about
those who hold similar beliefs but refuse to work in harmony because of
century-old differences.
- PERSECUTION - In a few villages a "Stick Dance" is practiced. To some it's
a way of honoring the dead. To others it involves a spiritual connection to
dead ancestors. And to still others (outsiders looking in) it is often made
into something even the locals might say "Where did they ever get that
from?" So, a person comes to Christ and gives up a common practice because
they believe it to be un-Scriptural. The result? One dear friend told me
of being shunned when he and his wife took a stand for Christ and said "No"
to a particular practice. Friends and family would have nothing to do with
him or his wife for many months. In a small village, that can be almost
everybody!
- ISOLATION - I don't mean isolation in terms of being in a remote place per
se, but being isolated from similar leaders in Christ. Kris had it put to
her this way once by a missionary wife. "There's no one of like mind
spiritually for me to turn to." They are always giving, giving, giving, and
have so few chances to recharge.
----------FUND RAISING----------
Kris and I need to focus on the numbers and raise additional financial
partnership. You know what I always thing of when this topic pops up? I
think of one of our first financial partners . . . the only person who has
ever stopped giving to ABM on our behalf. He sent a check to our home
mailbox, once a week, for $5.00. We knew this man's situation, and this was
the closest thing that I have ever experienced to being on the receiving end
of "a widow's mite." The Lord took this dear saint home a year ago. But not
before he used him to show me the real meaning of giving. His example comes
back to me over and over again.
We have had several speaking engagements here in Alaska recently, and have
several more over in the coming weeks. We will be traveling to the Lower 48
in late July, to a Grace Brethren Conference in Tennessee. Our sending
chruch in Soldotna, Alaska, is a Grace Brethren church, and I was saved in a
small Grace Brethren church in Orlando, Florida almost 30 years ago. Kris
and I spent the first 17 years of our marriage (minus a one year internship
back in Florida) involved in Community Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw,
Indiana. We want to connect with churches who might take interest in
partnering with us and ministry here in Alaska
(Mom - I got your e-mail. We wouldn't think of coming to Tennessee without
visiting you, family and your dear church. I'll call you in the next few
days).
We would like to get out more often or sooner, but we aren't sure how we
will swing this one as it is. Ooops! Sorry, didn't sound very
Missionary-ish did I. If you would like to help us with these
expenses, over and above any regular funds you already give on our behalf,
we would really appreciate it. Just mark any such gift as HARRIS PARTHERSIP
DISCOVERY. Also, Kris and/or I would gladly hop on a plane to just bout
anywhere where our way was paid. Summer slows down for us here in the sense
that EVERYBODY is very busy. We at ABM get involved, but not like in the
witer months, when there seems to be a much grater sense of urgency and when
no one else wants to go. We would love to share at a Missions Conference or
something like that. But, at 54% of our required fund raising level, we are
somewhat "tight" right now.
----------TECH ----------
You have heard me talk about how my computer savvy is used to get me on the
fast track of building relationships, right? I mean, who would you call if
you wanted to connect? A pastor, or a pastor who also knows how to fix your
printer? Seriously, I'm somewhat chagrinned now how I once thought I was
putting aside my skills to "go into the ministry." When we take our skills
and apply them to the Body of Christ and building His church, that IS
ministry.
I have been bouncing back and forth between ABM and several other ministry
organizations with whom we work closely, helping with organization and
alleviating computer woes. What is great about this is that it keeps me
"sharp." NOTE: Tese next few lines may be a bit too GEEK-ish for some of
you. If so, hust skip to the next paragraph. But to the other one or two of
you, I really need a licensed copy of Windows 2003 server and a 5 user
client license for my network at home. It's my 'test lab" for what I come
across in the bush. (Wait until my kids really find out what headaches
computers can be. Once they leave home, there won't be a tech support guy in
the family!) I have Windows 2000 Server and peer to peer networks now,, but
I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to the latest and greatest. I need
to stay current as much as possible. So, if this really strikes a chord
with you, let me know.
----------LAWN CARE-----------
What? That wasn't on the list! Well, last winter the snow started falling
in earnest while I was out in the bush, and by the time I got home, all the
leaves of fall (many, many leaves) were then being compressed and fossilized
under the snow. The last of it melted away last week: The snow that is, not
the leaves. I took a few days raking leaves and "piddling" in the yard. I
even fell asleep once on a military-style hammock that I strung up in the
back yard, listening to SONICFLOOd on my MP3 player.
Our home was a true gift from the Lord (a whole 'nother story) and I really
enjoyed being a steward of that gift in this way a few days over the last
two weeks.
When I get to Heaven, I want to find Bill (the $5 a week guy) and thank him
for his partnership. What about you? Are you using your resources and
talents, whatever they may be, for the building up of the Church? It's
amazing what will happen if you don't bury them like those leaves were
buried, but dig them up and toss them "to the wind of the Spirit's enabling
power. God will then do great things.
Scoopin' Up the Manna,
Gary & Kris
to Village/Fund Raising/Tech.
----------VILLAGE----------
Kris and I will always remain dedicated to our calling of encouraging and
equipping our brothers and sisters in villages of western Alaska. I know I
have said this before, but my heart aches with some of the things we know
and must keep in confidence. Not to violate this trust but to give you a
glimpse:
- SUICIDES - This winter was not without these in several villages. A
friend once told me "I was asking a young boy what he wanted to be when he
grew up. He listed off several job possibilities and then added 'committing
suicide'". My heart sinks to think of a level of hopelessness where suicide
is mentioned as some sort of "career choice."
- DIS-HARMONY - There is one place in particular where believers of
different organizational backgrounds don't seem to want to communicate with
each other. I'm not talking about some sort of ecumenism here, but about
those who hold similar beliefs but refuse to work in harmony because of
century-old differences.
- PERSECUTION - In a few villages a "Stick Dance" is practiced. To some it's
a way of honoring the dead. To others it involves a spiritual connection to
dead ancestors. And to still others (outsiders looking in) it is often made
into something even the locals might say "Where did they ever get that
from?" So, a person comes to Christ and gives up a common practice because
they believe it to be un-Scriptural. The result? One dear friend told me
of being shunned when he and his wife took a stand for Christ and said "No"
to a particular practice. Friends and family would have nothing to do with
him or his wife for many months. In a small village, that can be almost
everybody!
- ISOLATION - I don't mean isolation in terms of being in a remote place per
se, but being isolated from similar leaders in Christ. Kris had it put to
her this way once by a missionary wife. "There's no one of like mind
spiritually for me to turn to." They are always giving, giving, giving, and
have so few chances to recharge.
----------FUND RAISING----------
Kris and I need to focus on the numbers and raise additional financial
partnership. You know what I always thing of when this topic pops up? I
think of one of our first financial partners . . . the only person who has
ever stopped giving to ABM on our behalf. He sent a check to our home
mailbox, once a week, for $5.00. We knew this man's situation, and this was
the closest thing that I have ever experienced to being on the receiving end
of "a widow's mite." The Lord took this dear saint home a year ago. But not
before he used him to show me the real meaning of giving. His example comes
back to me over and over again.
We have had several speaking engagements here in Alaska recently, and have
several more over in the coming weeks. We will be traveling to the Lower 48
in late July, to a Grace Brethren Conference in Tennessee. Our sending
chruch in Soldotna, Alaska, is a Grace Brethren church, and I was saved in a
small Grace Brethren church in Orlando, Florida almost 30 years ago. Kris
and I spent the first 17 years of our marriage (minus a one year internship
back in Florida) involved in Community Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw,
Indiana. We want to connect with churches who might take interest in
partnering with us and ministry here in Alaska
(Mom - I got your e-mail. We wouldn't think of coming to Tennessee without
visiting you, family and your dear church. I'll call you in the next few
days).
We would like to get out more often or sooner, but we aren't sure how we
will swing this one as it is. Ooops! Sorry, didn't sound very
Missionary-ish did I
expenses, over and above any regular funds you already give on our behalf,
we would really appreciate it. Just mark any such gift as HARRIS PARTHERSIP
DISCOVERY. Also, Kris and/or I would gladly hop on a plane to just bout
anywhere where our way was paid. Summer slows down for us here in the sense
that EVERYBODY is very busy. We at ABM get involved, but not like in the
witer months, when there seems to be a much grater sense of urgency and when
no one else wants to go. We would love to share at a Missions Conference or
something like that. But, at 54% of our required fund raising level, we are
somewhat "tight" right now.
----------TECH ----------
You have heard me talk about how my computer savvy is used to get me on the
fast track of building relationships, right? I mean, who would you call if
you wanted to connect? A pastor, or a pastor who also knows how to fix your
printer? Seriously, I'm somewhat chagrinned now how I once thought I was
putting aside my skills to "go into the ministry." When we take our skills
and apply them to the Body of Christ and building His church, that IS
ministry.
I have been bouncing back and forth between ABM and several other ministry
organizations with whom we work closely, helping with organization and
alleviating computer woes. What is great about this is that it keeps me
"sharp." NOTE: Tese next few lines may be a bit too GEEK-ish for some of
you. If so, hust skip to the next paragraph. But to the other one or two of
you, I really need a licensed copy of Windows 2003 server and a 5 user
client license for my network at home. It's my 'test lab" for what I come
across in the bush. (Wait until my kids really find out what headaches
computers can be. Once they leave home, there won't be a tech support guy in
the family!) I have Windows 2000 Server and peer to peer networks now,, but
I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to the latest and greatest. I need
to stay current as much as possible. So, if this really strikes a chord
with you, let me know.
----------LAWN CARE-----------
What? That wasn't on the list! Well, last winter the snow started falling
in earnest while I was out in the bush, and by the time I got home, all the
leaves of fall (many, many leaves) were then being compressed and fossilized
under the snow. The last of it melted away last week: The snow that is, not
the leaves. I took a few days raking leaves and "piddling" in the yard. I
even fell asleep once on a military-style hammock that I strung up in the
back yard, listening to SONICFLOOd on my MP3 player.
Our home was a true gift from the Lord (a whole 'nother story) and I really
enjoyed being a steward of that gift in this way a few days over the last
two weeks.
When I get to Heaven, I want to find Bill (the $5 a week guy) and thank him
for his partnership. What about you? Are you using your resources and
talents, whatever they may be, for the building up of the Church? It's
amazing what will happen if you don't bury them like those leaves were
buried, but dig them up and toss them "to the wind of the Spirit's enabling
power. God will then do great things.
Scoopin' Up the Manna,
Gary & Kris
