1/12/O4  11:40 am Teaching by Bobby Crow

You need to know where God wants you.  Listen to him; he will speak to you.  Sometimes directly or sometimes very strong impressions in your spirit and there will be peace.

The further away you are from the center of God's will, the less peace you have.  What is the desire of your heart?  The driving force within you?  Then you'll do the very best.


1/13/04  1:30 pm   Teaching by Jeremy Crow

People ask "What's it like to grow up in the mission field?"  It's home.  The US is strange to Jeremy.  He left college to be in full time ministry--since 1997.  Married Gaby in 2000.  Their child is Stephen.  Gaby and Lynn do a Women's Magazine.  Jeremy is easing out of the television ministry.  He now helps Bobby in overseeing/organizing the ministry.  They work as a team here.  

An Acapulco church asked him to pastor.  Answer was no to pastoring but he could help organize.  Goes once a month to pay rent and stuff.  A pastor moved down from Brownsville.

Gaby is having treatment for colon cancer.  Started Chemo yesterday.

Ministers have a desire to serve God.  But priorities become a problem.  god lets us choose.
God
Family
Friends
Work/Ministry

People put God first.  Yes.  He is important.  But God is separate from the Ministry; they are two separate things.  Family is considered part of the ministry so often gets pushed aside with everything coming before family.

We have the ability to choose.  Usually when something goes wrong, it's because of a bad choice.  We have to learn to take responsibility for our actions.  

God is first but family is to be second in your life.  At one time Jeremy blamed God for taking his father away from him (when Bobby had to commute to a job in Dallas to keep the ministry afloat).  Bobby saw the family was hurting so quit the job.  Bobby took him on a trip so they could rebuild the relationship.

Christians want to blame the Devil.  But the Devil didn't make you eat McDonalds and get fat.

Let your kids know that being in the ministry is fun and makes you happy.  Show how great it is by example.  They won't want to serve God in ministry if you gripe and complain.

Jeremy is determined to set a good example so that when Stephen grows up, if he chooses to do another type of work, it's because of his abilities, not because he hates the ministry.

Book called Before we kill and eat You by Ruth Garlock (about John Garlock in Africa).

Make your child feel part of the ministry.  You teach them Now that they can do stuff--or the world will teach them that they can't.  God wants to see your heart and obedience, not your ability.  He supplies ability.

Make plans.  Visit the country.  Learn the language.  Make the house into a home where you are comfortable going to at night.  Get something safe--not just cheap.

The Crows have been here for 25 years--never needed a Sabbatical because of burnout.  God wants you not to suffer but be blessed and to bless others.

Going to the world be be just going next door to your neighbor.  If there is a job to de done, Bobby is the first person doing it.  Don't worry about getting your hands dirty.


1/14/04 1:30 pm  Teaching by Lynn Crow

We can't take a vacation from God.
 
You must set a schedule for yourself in ministry.  Take time for the family.  Quality time is when your attention is on them.  Not while you are on the computer and occasionally you answer a child's question.  We have too many "unhealthy" adults who came from a bad home life.  

Take time to rest.  It will be there when you get back.  When rested you can listen better to the Holy Ghost.

Proverbs 5:23

Don't take offenses.  It's easy for women to get offended.  Lynn's grandmother never seemed to criticize people.  Most of the time it isn't intentional.  Tiredness and stress can sound harsh and hard.  More people are out of the ministry because of offenses.

Matthew 24:10  First they were offended and didn't deal with it.  Then they began to hate.

When a thought comes into the mind...consider if that person would really want to offend you.  If you think you have offended someone, go make it right.

Bobby used to be the first to start picking up trash after an activity.  Finally, people are starting to tell them they'll clean up and he should sit down.  He set the example.

Don't whine.  People who whine don't prosper.  Have a good attitude.

Be willing to submit to authority.  Take what they say and try to apply.  At times you should go back and say that you need to re-talk about something.

Hook yourself up with people with vision.  Apply what God has put into your heart.  Be loyal to the ministry you serve.  Nobody agrees 100% with the boss.

If you help make something happen for others, then things will happen for you.

Finances...This is a major problem in ministry.  Especially if one partner is a giver and the other isn't.  You have to work together to be in agreement.  The Crows agreed to give the money they'd been saving for a couch to someone for a house.

Lynn once gave her last $25 (when the Holy Ghost insisted); she felt a release when she put it in the offering bucket.  Her grandfather died that night; her office took up a collection that paid for her trip to the funeral and more.

You will never go to the levels God wants you to if you don't tithe.  A love offering is after the tithe.  Bless others to be blessed.  When it has come into your hands, tithe on it even if it was already tithed on.  Lynn tithes on the money Bobby gives her for herself.

Missionaries think (often) they are "owed" something.  It's God who is responsible.  You are on your own with God.  Don't ever go visiting to churches and expect them to buy your meals, give you clothes, etc.  Don't have your hand out.

If they take you out to eat, ask the host what they are ordering even if they say order anything.  Then order within the same price range.  Be people of character.  Don't buy steak and lobster unless everyone gets it.  One missionary would visit and demand they provide special brownie and ice cream.  

If you are sowing and not reaping, you are standing in someone else's field.  Hook up with other successful people.  At the Pastor's conference, Bobby bought donuts and put them out for the students.

1/15/04  1:30 pm  Teaching by Bobby Crow

Lynn gave us info about the Garlocks for ordering books.  They can be emailed at garlockmin@cs.com.

Bobby gave us a sheet of Keys to a Successful Ministry.  He said these are very important.  He's learned them over the years.


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Bobby's discussion of Keys to a Successful Ministry

Is it of God?  Get to know him so you will know God and that you are called by Him to the ministry.  God does not change his mind--he doesn't withdraw His call on your life.

Everyone makes mistakes.  But that doesn't mean God takes it away.  Bib Tilton is an example.  People say bad things and they'll be believed.  The Media can say anything.  People believe it even if it isn't true.  "Sources" are out to get ministers.  Don't ever start believing your own press reports.

Don't become easily offended.  However, there is a limit to how far you should be pushed around.  May have to sit them down for a talk.  Don't let a jealous spirit come in.  You can't be jealous of other ministries.  Who has what?  Don't be jealous of other churches?  Are they doing more than you to grow?  There is no shortage of sinners.  

Rejoice with others!  If someone is given a car, praise God!  Some day you may be given a car.

Don't compete even if others want to compete.  Stay Focused on what God wants You to do.

Don't embarrass others.  Take someone aside to talk to them.

Have some backbone.  People look at us as examples.  Like kids doing what Grandpa does.  People watch.  Bobby's example of picking up trash was the he was willing to do stuff.  

People have poverty spirits.  If you are down at other people's level, then they don't have anything to look up do.

The Crows had no money to build their house.  It was going to be built by faith.  Might as well have faith for a big house they wanted as for faith for a little house that would suffice.

1/15/04  7:50 pm  Teaching by Bobby Crow

Lomotil--powerful stuff for diarrhea

If you get to the point where you don't love people (becoming hard and critical), get out of the ministry.  There's a way to correct.  The gospel is a message of love.

If you love people and care about their needs, you will always have people to minister to.  They'll stand with you through times of trouble.  People will come.  They are looking for someone who cares and loves them.

Stay with the basics:  Salvation by Jesus, Faith, etc.  Who cares how many angels can stand on the head of a pin?

Ministries/missionaries should still tithe and give.  People must be willing to work to be in Bobby's ministry.  Doesn't matter what your title is--you have to be willing to sweep the floor.

Eph. 3:20  God is able to do far more than you ask or think.  Don't limit God.

The Bible says a lot about the Joy of the Lord.

Be hungry for more of God.  Stay hungry for the anointing of God--don't be satisfied.  This is part of the success of Palabra de Vida.

Patrick McManus--writes for Outdoor Life.  Reading his book during the safari healed the relationship between Bobby and Jeremy.  Kids should not have to compete with ministry.

Sheep follow; you can't drive them.  Sheep leave droppings; if you follow them, you'll step in the stuff.

Always pray about positions of leadership and titles.  Jerry is the pastor of P de V.  There are deacons and elders (doing the job) even if they don't have the title.

Spend time with people who have an anointing that you don't have--to expand your vision and thinking.

Jorge is in charge of Praise and Worship.  He is to pray and lead until people are really worshipping.  P&W is important.  It's not just something to do while people are arriving.  The pastor/minister should be at a service the whole time.

Personal Prophecy to Mark and Virginia by Lynn Crow

She kept hearing the words "new beginnings" (not sure if this means fresh start or opportunity or change).  Said:  Don't let circumstances hinder what the Lord wants us to do.  That he will equip us to do what he wants.  Don't limit God.

Personal Prophecy to Mark and Virginia by John Walton
Joy-- You both have been misunderstood.  You have many talents.  You each have many talents and God is meshing these talents together.  You are going to have a ministry far different from anyone else at CBC.  They will be amazed at the things you do in ministry.  Don't let anyone tell you that you are crazy.  Do what God has told you to do.  God is going to do mighty things.

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