Hey guys!

So we have gone through several iterations of blog sites. The first few were less than successful between me not making time to write and various technical issues.

But now, we have a "for real" ministry news & blog site. Please visit www.Water4DryPlaces.com for the latest updates.

Thanks!

Ross

Ross' blog has moved!

I am glad to announce that the blog has been moved to a new site. However, we are experiencing technical difficulties getting it up and running. Please use the following link to access the blog.

http://rossthomas.icontact.com

Thanks for visiting!

God, today I . . .

Today I realized that it has been over a month since I entered anything in my "daily blog". Maybe that OK since it was over 6 months since the previous blog. :)

Maybe you've noticed that I'm a bit overwhelmed in the typical week and it gets difficult to squeeze much more in. Events and Bible studies take time. Planning takes more time. Building new ministries takes even more time. But people take the most time. I spend hours and hours each week on the phone and meeting with people. People take more energy out of me. I enjoy doing tasks more naturally. I can work hard, get something the way I want it, and then have the satisfaction of having completed something.

People, on the other hand, aren't so neat. They require much more time. But, I'm forcing myself out of the engineering mindset. It's more difficult to equip people to serve God, than just complete tasks. But the rewards are greater for everyone when people are the priority. I'm a builder. I like building our production ministry and cool stage setups, our teen ministry, events, our Home Group, Bible studies and lessons, advertisements, webpages, and online systems to organize our ministry teams. But, now I'm trying to build people.

God and I are building James to be a new Home Group leader, worship leader, and teen worship band leader. We're building Jean into a woman of God and essential member of our Home Group. We're building Matthew into a small group leader, youth leader, and a valuable servant in the church. We're building Sam into a man of God and worship musician. We're building Dallas into a church leader, small group leader, and possibly a future youth leader. We're building James and Bryan into men of God who will lead their peers into a relationship with God, set a pace for other Christians, and challenge the pace of our church. Half of these people I mentioned are our teens.

God is also using me to build teams of people. We've built a strong Production Crew which is now being led by leaders developed in that ministry over the last few years. We're building a Programming Team to run weekly functions of the church now that our pastors and staff are building new ministries, leading our Wilmington church plant, and traveling to various engagements. We're building an Advertising & PR team with actual creative people instead of myself and a few others designing fliers at the last minute. We're building a teen worship band and a teen home group. Our teens are organizing alternative weekend activities for their friends who have few options besides high school parties. We're building a successful college and young singles home group that is actually reaching new people, sharing the gospel, and going on mission trips together.

People take a lot more effort, but they are worth it. Plus, it's more fun to hang out with people than with random tasks.

God, today I am thankful for . . .
1. The $200 from supporters and $450 from church members that was donated toward High School Leadership Training
2. Hearing one of our teens pray at a church-wide prayer meeting
3. The first meetings of our teen Home Group being successful
4. For the first time in years my GCM reimbursements are all up to date and paid

God, today I put in your hands . . .
1. The fact that I'm already 15 minutes behind schedule for today
2. The replacement equipment we need from our production van that was stolen 2 weeks ago
3. Me playing guitar at Home Group tonight even though I don't really have much rhythm
4. Me learning to manage all the tasks and people in my life and still be disciplined enough to sleep, exercise, and take care of things around the house . . . and blog

God, today I read this cool verse . . .

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? -- Romans 2:4

God, today I . . .

As I was stammering around this morning trying to wake up, I followed the usual pattern of thinking, praying, and staring at the walls. The Lord gave me the idea of starting a daily blog where I can finish each of the following sentences every day. This is mainly a good reminder for me to stay encouraged every morning, but I figure it will give you guys a daily peek into the ministry here and my life.

God, today I am thankful for . . .
1. these hot dogs I'm eating left over from our dorm cookout at NCSU and the people we met there.
2. our High School students who want to start a teen Home Group & Worship Band.
3. Peter, who volunteered to do our Programming Team minutes & emails which sneak up on me every week.
4. the fact that we now have an official Programming Team as of this January.

God, today I put in your hands . . .
1. the report I need to send to GCM about the grant we received for worship band equipment last fall.
2. my GCM reimbursement forms that I am trying to send in this week early for once.
3. plans to follow up with the 50 or so people we met at the cookout Monday.
4. the design for the Bible reading journal I am behind on.

God, today I read this cool verse . . .

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. - Psalm 34:7

IGNiTE 2007

From IGNiTE 2007 -...

IGNiTE 2007 (Aug 25)
In Fall 2005, I helped rally the various ministry teams at Grace to organize an outdoor worship concert in the middle of campus at NC State. We've learned and grown a lot through this. Our ministry teams have enlarged their vision, involved new people, and raised the bar for excellence.

I'm especially proud of our Production Crew. They manage to put on a pro-quality worship concert complete with audio, lighting, and multimedia production - all without hiring outside vendors. The best thing is that most of our production equipment is borrowed, donated, or has been purchased at ridiculously bargain prices. These guys are definitely on their "A game".

This fall, we're repositioning IGNiTE as our central fall kick-off event for NCSU's campus. We've done this 3 times before, but this is the most ambitious effort yet. Every incoming freshman will receive a mailer, plus our advertising team will blitz the campus during the first week of class so that every student will know about IGNiTE 2007.

• Pray that every ministry team member will be yielded to God's Spirit, zealous and timely in their preparation, and fully supplied with resources, help, and God's grace.
• Pray for 1000 people to come through IGNiTE and 100 new people to connect with Grace.
  
• Pray that God provides abundant new leaders ready to lay down their lives for people and the gospel. (Pray especially for students desiring to serve in teen ministry and freshmen leaders.)
  
• PRAY FOR GREAT WEATHER & for all the details to go off smoothly!!!!!!!!

HSLT 2007

HSLT 2007 (July 21-28)
We head out to Myrtle Beach this Saturday with 8 students and 2 leaders for our annual High School Leadership Training conference. This is a week packed with awesome fun, fellowship, and spiritual growth. No other place have I seen so many teens passionately worshiping God, soaking up the Word, and dedicating their lives to Jesus. The students not only learn about Christ from some powerful and relevant speakers, but they also go out and practice sharing their faith hands-on in Myrtle beach - alongside their peers. This is the week where we see some of the most intense spiritual breakthroughs in students' lives.

• During HSLT, please pray for the students and leaders from Grace, as well as the students & leaders from our sister church in Woodstock, GA. (We'll hang close with these guys all week.)
• Pray for life change and spiritual breakthrough.
• Pray for students and leaders to develop a passion for the gospel and bold leadership.
• Pray against distractions, conflicts, and attacks from both ourselves and our adversary.

Thanks so much guys! I pray that God is blessing all of you. I know you can't all be here, but you play such an important role in what God's doing here. Prayer is especially a powerful way to make a difference. Thanks again!

Prayer Needed - The New Semester

I have been using a little time this summer to think and pray through what God might have in store for our teen ministry next semester. I've been realizing just how powerful and necessary prayer is. (I know. I'm always supposed to realize that, but sometimes God still has to give me reminders.)

Remember, even if just a few of you pray consistently, you can make all the difference. Just a couple people prayed for my trip to Nashville with me, and God let me meet some amazing people despite some initial kinks in the plan. And just this week God answered the prayers of a few people and saved 3 of our teens!

So, please pray with me for these key priorities in the Fall.

Pray that . . .

• God will create revival in this emerging generation (especially at Cary High).
• New teen ministry leaders will invest their lives in the students.
• We'll have a passion for getting the gospel out (especially to the teens).
• Our leaders and I will fall in love with Jesus and teach the teens to do the same.
• We'll multiply our faith into students - and they'll multiply their faith into their friends.

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story:
“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’

But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. - Luke 11:5-10 (NLT)