WOW~ @iamsecond has a NEW LOOK–> Check

WOW~ @iamsecond has a NEW LOOK–> Check it out! http://www.iamsecond.com

City Launched… Lives transformed

The following email was sent to our primary Launch Coordinator in the TriState / Evansville area and think it is noteworthy for you to better understand the ministry of I am Second and how these films point people to Jesus.

Hi Miriam,
{A friend} gave us an update on some things with I am Second and it made me think that {Author} and I have not heard anything in a while about the event.  We are still very much interested in helping in any way we can.  I also wanted to let you know that I put the video of the Korn guitarist on my facebook page and my middle daughter watched it.  I didn’t know she did because she didn’t leave a comment about it.  I was talking to her on the phone a few days later and she told me she had decided to give her life to Christ.  I was so excited so I asked  her what had changed her mind and she told me she watched the video of him I posted and it made her think that if he is making a big change like that in his life that she has to believe there is a God who can change lives.  I give God the glory and I Am Second a big thank you.  

Please let us know how we can serve!

{A very happy Mother}

 

WOW!  I got chills! Even if that were the ONLY story that comes from the Evansville area, I would have to say it is worth all the time, money and effort to launch this city was well worth it.   Truth is, there are already a dozen churches on board and several are “all in”.  Lots of I am Second Groups are poping up on the map and God is moving in a mighty Way. This is just the first of many to come!

Thank you to all of our volunteers and Kingdom contributors!

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

61% of todays young adults once churched

61% of todays young adults once churched as teens, are now spiritually disengaged. Get connected at http://www.iamsecond.com/groups

Scott’s coat of (only) one color.

Scott's coat and my delayed obedience! Just do it! Swoooosh!

 When the Holy Spirit speaks… 

It’s laughable how often I sit in church, listen to an incredible message and then my mind wanders into life’s application of the Word and message. I guess that’s the intent, but I’m always left wondering…what did I miss while my mind was going down my own little rabbit trail?  

Recently, just around Christmas the message was (as it often is) about taking the love of Christ outside the walls of the physical church and into the community. At the time, our church family was collecting “A Bible, a blanket and something else” for the homeless in downtown Dallas. As a body of believers we delivered hundreds of presents to SOUL Ministries and it was no doubt in my mind a worthwhile endeavor.  

Personally, I also had a clothes drive from my neighborhood, SpringPark and from the people I work with at Integrity First Home Loans. I promoted heavily that SOUL really needed coats, gloves, sweaters, blankets and socks. People were very generous both from work and the neighborhood but there was more of a lesson God had planned for me. Here’s why:  

One homeless friend pictured above named Scott, asked me to find him a HEAVY winter coat and I committed to do so. (An earlier post references his coat that was only “good” through the November cold around Thanksgiving.) As I sometimes do, I posted the need on my Facebook status, sent a few emails to some friends and this time, I even called 2 or 3 people who I just KNEW would be able to help. With all of my attempts to collect a substantial coat in his size – nothing worked out and produced a good fit. Every time I failed to “collect” a coat for Scott, I felt a tug at my heart to give him my heavy winter coat. As you might have guessed, my coat was a perfect fit and EXACTLY what he needed. This “feeling” went on for several weeks and I always shrugged off the thought and increased my determination to “find” Scott a coat.  

Please visit the SOUL Ministries web site!

At the Sunday morning “SOUL church service” the following week, I was escorting my 18 and 9-year-old daughters to use the restrooms at “The Bridge” (a public shelter appropriately named) and the Lord hit me over the head. As we walked the streets of Downtown, the Holy Spirit told me in no uncertain terms that I was to give Scott my personal coat. WHAT? Give Scott my coat? My very own personal coat? Of course I had lots of others of different kinds to choose from, but I suppose the Holy Spirit knew that little detail too!  

As we left that day, I went to Scott and told him I wanted to give him the  (much coveted) double insulated, lined, heavy-duty winter coat. I was hoping he didn’t recognize that it was mine. Never the less, I think he knew it was mine because several weeks earlier he commented about the logo on the chest. For weeks I had tried to find someone ELSE to “give a coat” for him and do you know what?  I was really just being selfish by not wanting to give him mine.  

SOUL Church. Meets 7:15am every Sunday! Rain, Snow or shine!

My take-away: If we are going to “give to others and do good works” in the name of Jesus then we should search our hearts and motives for doing so. I firmly believe that my delayed obedience is not exactly what the Holy Spirit had in mind. Even more so now, I believe that God cares about the motive of our hearts and our actions and rewards us accordingly.  I may have missed an opportunity, but I learned a lesson in the process.  

You know, I haven’t missed that coat one bit, but every week when I see Scott, he unbundles his outer wear far enough so that I can see that brown coat. I also think it that demonstration might also be God’s gentle reminder that I need to obey the Holy Spirit, first time – every time.

I Am Second: the chair (By Elizabeth McElyea, Junior @ WPA)

I'm Elizabeth McElyea, I am Second and author.

 Sometimes it’s all a father can do is to simply say wow!  The following insights are from my middle daughter Elizabeth, who received an A+ grade on this paper.     My favorite line:  What about the people right here in our own back yard? Do they not need to know Jesus Christ just as much as others do? I am extremely proud and hope you enjoy the read.  If you happen to see Elizabeth, please let her know your thoughts.  From my “middle-ist”, whom I love very much:

“When you think of a symbol, what comes to your mind? Is it the Nike Swoosh?  Maybe it is the AT&T mobile networking globe?  A symbol can be more that just a picture; it usually has a deeper meaning.  Some symbols that are more that just a logo are the cross, the Ichthys, or a purity ring.  These are recognizable symbols of a Christian lifestyle.  A new symbol has emerged.  In December of 2008, the North Texas campaign of I Am Second was launched.  

I Am Second has a logo, which are the words “I Am Second” written on a black or white background, but that is not their symbol.  The symbol of the I Am Second campaign is a chair.  In this chair is where people create their interviews. The chair is where everything happens: the tears, the laughter, and the memories all unfold there.  The meaning behind the campaign is to put God first, and if we are putting God first we automatically become second, therefore getting their name, I Am Second.  They use relevant influences to capture the attention of people. Some people who have been able to share their testimonies are: Jason Castro, Josh Hamilton, Brian “Head” Welch, and Jason Witten. This is exactly what this generation needs, famous Christian figures that they look up to!

When people sit in that chair; they pour their hearts out to you because they want you to feel what they felt when they made God the number one in their lives.White, squishy, comfy, and square are all physical features that describe the symbol of I Am Second.  The chair also represents light or energy. Everything surrounding the chair is black but it is white, fresh, and a symbol to start anew. But that is not what makes the chair the symbol of I Am Second. The purpose of the chair is to provide a seat for the people who are sharing their testimonies.  I Am Second videos the people in the chair while they give their testimony.  They then put it on the I Am Second website where it will be used as an evangelism tool. The stories are usually personal faith stories, common spiritual questions that the person struggled with, or salvation testimonies.  At the end of each video they give an invitation to accept Christ.  The impact of the nation does not happen because of the chair, but because of the words that come from the people who sit in it.

There are many different ways that I Am Second gets the word about Jesus out.  The first major way that they do it is from the personal testimony videos on their website. They also have ways for you to get connected either to another human via chat 24/7 or to a local church. The other main ways they communicate their message are through billboards, television commercials, and merchandise like the bumper stickers or t-shirts. Radio, blogging, and word of the mouth are also ways that they use resources to get the word out about putting God first in your lives.

 Since I Am Second is an evangelical tool to reach the lost and hurting, I think very highly of it!  My family has gotten very involved with this campaign.  In fact, my dad is getting ready to go into the full-time ministry with them.  I think that it is a great resource for getting the word about God out. To me, it seems that everybody wants to go out of the states or country to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What about the people right here in our own back yard?  Do they not need to know Jesus Christ just as much as others do? They do need to know. That is one thing that I love about the I Am Second campaign, it is geared for people who live in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.  I also love how they communicate the message.  What better way to get peoples attention than be using people that they look up to or admire?  I honestly believe, that the impact that I Am Second is having on people is amazing!  Thru this campaign thousands of people are coming to know Christ and they are being plugged into churches that can help them grow in God’s word.

Life, love, joy, inspiration, and Christ are all apart of I Am Second.  Sharing the gospel can be as simple as wearing a shirt or watching the television, you never know; that person could get on the internet and go to the website and be saved. 

My name is Elizabeth McElyea and I am second.  Are you?”

(Yes, I am very proud of you.  Dad)

I Heard it through the Grapevine

No one said it would be easy, just worthwhile.   

No, I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops!...

 I have begun the ride of my life in raising financial support for e3 Partners and my role with I am Second.    I first learned about ”raising support” on November 12, 2008.  I attended the kickoff meeting of  I am Second several weeks before the website came online. I heard a presentation from three gentlemen about the vision of I am Second and I knew I was being called to something great. 

One of the speakers, Nathan Sheets spoke of his previous career before joining e3 Partners Ministry and how he was previously employed by a prominent advertising firm here in Dallas.  He spoke of how he left his comfortable job to go into “full-time ministry” by “raising support”.  In doing so, he said that he was able to ”come on staff”  with e3 Partners and follow the call that God had placed on his life.  Since I really did not understand what support raising was, I brushed it aside and listened to Adam Leydig & Norm Miller share the vision about  I am Second and the possible impact it could have on North Texas, reaching the lost.  Later I learned that raising support is how missionaries are able to financially exist.  These full-time individuals in ministry would ask that churches, businesses and individuals financially support them while they, in turn, serve God as full-time ambassadors. 

With that new understanding, about raising financial support, I spent four months of intense soul-searching , prayer, meditation, fasting and consulting with those closest to me about full-time ministry.  Soon thereafter, I attended a multi-day class where they taught “would be” full-time missionaries how to raise financial support for ministry.   Since that time, I have been getting in touch with people who I belive have a heart for reaching the lost and the cause of  Jesus Christ.  I have done so in the most personal way that I know how: an introductory letter or email, followed up with a personal call and request to meet in person. 

This is what I heard from one of my recent attempts to set up an appointment… “I heard it through the grapevine…”, he said.  Yep, it sounded something like this: I heard it through the Grapevine you’re raising support and might be calling about wanting financial support for your ministry.  He was only partially right.   Actually I wish he had said this: Andrew, I heard you were SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOP that you are raising support for your ministry and were calling me to support you with prayer and finances.  I would rather be known for shouting from roof top rather than “hearing it through the grapevine”.  

Scripturally, I hope to one day be called a ” laborer”.  That’s right, a laborer of the harvest.  Truth is, I am ready, willing and able to chase down the harvest and I hope to mobilize hundreds of thousands of other Christians to join me.  They’ll join by praying, going or giving (or all three).  Maybe that’s why they call it e3 Partners.    Hummmm?  I dunno.  Matthew 9:37 

Hear ye, hear ye!  I am raising support to reach the lost for Jesus Christ and spend my life helping to make disciples!  Yeah God!   

My next post is an excerpt from my “middle-ist” daughter Elizabeth about the I am Second icon: The Chair.   The excerpt is from a paper she wrote for English a few months ago.  I have never been so proud.   I’ll let you guess the grade she received, but I’ll tell you this right now:  It is worth the read.   Be blessed! 

I’ve Changed my mind about ministry…

 

I've changed my mind about ministry. I had no idea what to expect.

Sometimes the smallest of conversations can change your thinking dramatically. In the process of raising finances for “I am Second”, I have been confronted with a number of obstacles. Obstacles are not necessarily a bad thing if they’re designed to get you to a better place and, orchestrated by God. Now, I’m not speaking for God, but I do know that some of the obstacles and challenges I faced while raising support have been the product of my own thinking. Allow me to explain. But first, put yourself in my shoes : 

Imagine that you’re almost 50 years old and you you’re enjoying a successful career in sales since 1983 working for companies like Xerox Corporation and Hewlett Packard. Imagine that you have a nice home, three cars, four children and a spouse that has not worked outside the home in over seventeen years. Now, imagine God calls you, (the sole provider for your family) into ministry. Not too bad so far is it? 

Have you got the picture? Think as if this was YOU. Okay, God calls YOUR name and the Holy Spirit prompts YOU to leave your career and go into ministry on a fulltime basis… BUT here’s the kicker: YOU are charged with raising YOUR fulltime income to support YOUR family in the form of donations from individuals, businesses and churches. Hopefully, these donations are in the form of an ongoing monthly commitment but remember, YOU are the only one responsible for generating these support dollars. (Or so you think at the time.) 

As you might imagine, for me with a sales background, I THOUGHT (Past tense) my objective (given by God of course) was to raise support and finances for my income so that I could go into ministry. I could not have been more off base. Truth is, God has called me OUT of sales and INTO fulltime mission evangelism. Here’s my point and how a simple telephone call changed my thinking. 

Thank you Thomas Keiffer for keeping HOPE alive!

I received a call from an unknown attorney (because of the suggestion from my mentor, Sam Ingrassia) that helped me put into proper perspective as to the real objective. He reminded me that I was not called into support raising, but rather, I was called to reach the lost and make disciples for Jesus Christ. Thomas helped me to realize that my support raising efforts are really just looking for other like-minded people who share that same vision of the Great Commission. My thinking has gone from “please support my ministry”, to please support the Great Commission and reaching the lost through I Am Second. I’m grateful to a complete stranger who helped me realize that ministry is not about me and my needs but instead, about building the Kingdom of God. He also taught me that financial support and prayer are the tools that God allows other people to use to support Him in a tangible way. 

You know, I have been given my calling and there is peace in that fact. I’m not left with the nagging question of “God, what do you want for me”?  Now my job (in my opinion) is the most important job the world: Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with non-believers, inviting them into the Kingdom and giving believers the opportunity to join in building the Kingdom in tangible ways: action though finances & prayer.  It’s a new way of thinking for me and… I have some apologizing to do before I can continue. 

Next post:  “I heard it through the Grapevine”…

I Am Second 2010

I am Second - a look back and a look ahead. Team Strategy Meeting 12-09

If Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself. Yeah, that'll preach.

Where else would you start? A chair and a blank white board, of course.

This week, I had the priviledge of sitting in a dimly lit room with some of e3 Partners’ most gifted and talented individuals.   Coming from corporate America if was a little too “touchy-feely” at first pass, but in reflection, the intentionality of the lighting was to mellow the mood and ease the (creative) senses.  We gathered for two days from 8am to 5pm to review last year of  the “I am Second” ministry and to look ahead see what is coming in 2010.   I find it amazing where this media ministry has come from and even more amazed to see where it is going.  

If all you knew about this “ministry” was your exposure to the website, you may think that this was some media production facility with a huge staff of programmers and geeks.  You might wrongly assume that it is “all about the media”.  What may surprise you is that the web development team is really quite small.   The major tech contributors could be counted on one hand while another handful of “creative types” round out the team.   What may surprise you to know is that the ministry behind the media is what truly is amazing.  If you don’t believe me, just download the “Second Steps” manual and see for yourself.  

From the inception of the  I am Second “concept” to the 2010 direction, I was simply amazed how this vision turned into reality.  We ventured down memory lane and looked at the very first “concept” presentation given to Norm Miller.  Much to my likings, we were actually joined by Norm himself for a good part of day two.    Funny how Norm’s dream to reach North Texas has turned into a revolution sweeping the globe.    

All I can say is praise be to God.  He is great and greatly to be praised.

TOO much Football? Food? Famliy?

Find Hope. Homeless in Dallas & S.O.U.L Ministry.

      This Thanksgiving was one of the best.   Not too much family, not too much food and not too much football.  I mean really, can you have TOO much football?   Seriously this Thanksgiving allowed me the opportunity just think through stuff.  “Stuff” that…in the long run… doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.   I KNOW that God has a plan for my life and I simply need to keep moving forward and trust in Him.  It seems like focusing on helping and serving others is the key to happiness (mine as well as yours!).  Three things made this Thanksgiving special:  A new high school student came over to hang out during the Cowboy game, my dad got a “leave” from the rehab center and came to visit and I was able to spend time in downtown Dallas with some homeless men & women. In some miraculous way, by spending time with others, I received the greater joy.  You know, truth is,   I have NOTHING to worry about.  There’s nothing God can’t handle.    

Finally, I am starting a new I am Second Group and here are the details if you would like some Hope for the Holidays.

“Hope for the Holidays. Find hope. Share hope.”  I am Second Discussion Group  December 2nd, 9th & 16th Wednesday mornings at 8am

SpringPark Community Club - Join us Wednesday

SpringPark Community Center,  Upstairs in the Media Room at 3330 SpringPark Way, Garland, Texas 75044

For many the holidays are a time for joy and happiness. But For those who are hurting and lonely, the holiday festivities only make the pain more bitter.  Family, friends, eggnog and presents. The sights and scents of the Christmas season. Find hope in the real-life stories of other hurting people. Hear the story of a woman who has suffered through five marriages.  The story of a man who had all his wealthy dreams come true, yet does not have happiness. Discover the hope they found.

December 2nd:   Hope for Broken Relationships
December 9th:    Hope for the Lonely
December 16th:  Hope for the Hurting

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. As you trust in Him, So that you may overflow with hope By the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Paul, Letter to the Romans 15:13 (TNIV)

“Hope for the Holidays. Find hope. Share hope.”

 

I am Second Discussion Group: Hope for the Holidays starting Dec. 2nd

Thanksgiving and Christmas come too close together for me!  Really, I think that the commercialization of my Saviours birth has been completely overdone in America.  Because of that commercialization, Thanksgiving’s place of honor and impact has diminished over time.   For many, Thanksgiving has become simply the day that “Christmas music starts” or the “long weekend to get Christmas lights hung”.

To me, Thanksgiving is best of all when I can reflect on the things I most often take for granted.  God’s blessings in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the food and football, but what I enjoy most is the time spent alone reflecting on God’s gifts and God’s goodness.  Truly, I have been blessed with material “things” but more important are the blessings of a loving wife and incredible family.  A “family” that includes my precious children, a “church family’ made up of both long-standing friends and new relationships; a pastoral staff that makes me laugh, makes me think and makes me stretch!   It also  includes a family of co-workers at Integrity First Home Loans and a family of servant believers at e3 Partners and I am Second.  

Thankful for my wife, Mary and our four children pictured.

Unfortunately there are many that consider the start of the “Holiday Season”  as a time to reflect on lack and that of loss.   You may hear some ask, “What do I have to be thankful for?” as they tell you the things gone wrong.  Likewise, Christmas and Thanksgiving can be time when people reflect on loss of family members or relationships gone sour.  It is understandable how these things turn even the best of people towards the negative side of thinking.  Praise God there is something that can be done to turn things around.  In God’s Word, there are answers to questions, hope for the hopeless and unconditional love and forgiveness for those who ask.  Speaking of Hope, I’d like to ask that you help me to spread some “Hope for the Holiday’s” for those that may be hurting at this time of year.

Mark your Calendar for Wednesday Dec. 2nd, 9th & 16th. Hope for the

On December 2nd (the one year anniversary for I am Second) I am starting an “I am Second Discussion Group”.  For many the holidays are a time for joy and happiness.  But For those who are hurting and lonely, the holiday festivities only make the pain bitter.  We’ll be exploring how to find hope in the real-life stories of hurting people. Hear the story of a woman who has suffered through five marriages. The story of a man who had all his wealthy dreams come true, yet does not have happiness. Discover the hope they found.  Just be advised that my gifts from God include only a small dose of the “teaching” gift!  Fortunately these materials are written by prfessionals and downloadable for any small group to use.  Below you will find the details about times and dates.  I hope you can join us or send those you care about to the discussion group.

SpringPark Community Center – 3330 SpringPark Way ,Garland, Texas 75044
Upstairs in the Media Room 8-9am
           December 2nd: Hope for Broken Relationship
           December 9th: Hope for the Lonely
           December 16th: Hope for the Hurting

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. As you trust in Him, So that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”     – Paul, Letter to the Romans 15:13 (TNIV)