R.A.M.

On the eve of our nation's birthday, I want to express my gratitude for being one of the 328 million plus citizens who make up this amazingly blessed country. Let me tell you a few reasons why: The United States is uniquely different from other countries in the world because it is defined not by geographical boundaries or ethnicity, but by an idea. Yes, we as a nation continue to reach higher to more fully embody this idea, but we are the one nation in the world birthed ou...t of the affirmation that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Consequently, the United States is home to people of many ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. We were once called the "melting pot of the world." This helps explain why the United States has more immigrants than any other nation in the world. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 14% of the US population was made up of immigrants in 2018. That's a little over 44 million people. Say what you will about this country, the world wants to live here. For those of us who have lived outside the US or traveled outside the country, we know how blessed we are to call this country our home. America is no utopia, but the simple fact that anyone in this country has opportunity upon opportunity to pursue their dreams, whether education, location, or vocation if they are willing to exercise their right to do so and the hard work it takes to reach them, gives all of us reason to be grateful. Many countries outside our borders do not offer so many opportunities as the United States. I am indeed grateful, and with this gratitude I will celebrate the birth of this nation tomorrow. I will also do my part, for however many more Fourths I live to enjoy, to uphold and defend the idea that created this country - that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is this truth that draws the nations of the world to these united states they now call home.

We just completed our first 7 Practices of Ministry training group online. This was a discipleship group consisting of four men in varying leadership roles in their respective churches and myself. Our group included an evangelist, a shepherd, and two bible class teachers. They were from rural churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and West Virginia. We met virtually every two weeks to explore and discuss each ministry practice, pray together and encourage one another in the impleme...ntation of each ministry practice during the off weeks when we did not meet. My love and respect for these fellow disciples of Jesus has only grown greater because of this time spent together! RAM will host another group in the Fall. If you are from a rural area and would be interested in participating in this group or if you know someone living in a rural area who would be interested in participating, please let us know!

Almost two years ago I was having a phone conversation with Brian Porter from Yale. This Yale is not in Connecticut, nor is it a University. Yale is a small farming community 20 miles east of Stillwater, OK and Oklahoma State University. Brian was one of the leaders of the Yale church of Christ. He called because their rural congregation, like so many across the country, was struggling to survive after a long history in the community of stability and growth. That conversat...ion led to a year of working together through the ministry of RAM. During that time we worked to strengthen and equip them from the inside out with a focus on reaching their community with the hope they possessed in the gospel. Since then God has shown Himself faithful to their steps of faith, courage and compassion. These pictures are an example of how a rural church in decline can faithfully embrace their calling as disciples and followers of Jesus and experience new life and impact in their community that gives Jesus the glory and their neighbors Jesus’ loving redemption! God still raises the dead back to life!