ON MY WAY TO MY HOPE AND FUTURE IN WALES
Submitted by Pastor Frank on Sat, 05/23/2009 - 16:03.
I am travelling two and one half hours outside of London to Cardiff (Wales). I have left Joyce and Rachel in London and I am going to meet a friend Carl Brettle. First, let me set out why and how I got to London and then to Wales. When Rachel became a freshman, I encouraged her to before she got out of college to study abroad. I missed the experience when I had the chance. I did not have the vision for it and neither could my parents afford it. I saw the signs advertised on campus, but had no ability to see it as an opportunity for myself. I have always regretted that I did not based upon the fact that I have come to love to travel. As my teacher once said, “Travel broadens one’s horizons.” As a mentor of mine said == Travel extends one’s horizons.” After introducing the idea to Rachel, she came back last fall and said that she wanted to study abroad. She researched the possibilities and found that there were two – London and Sydney, Australia. I had just met a preacher in South Africa named Pastor Erica Goodman who lived in London. We hit it off so well – she was speaking at a conference that Joyce and I were speaking in and we had a ball. Based on the relationship with Pastor Erica Goodman, I recommended London. Rachel said she would consider both and I awaited her decision. She eventually chose London and I began to get the finances, airlines tickets, etc. Both Joyce and I decided to go to help her get set up. I thought it was too far to go without seeing where she was going to be staying and having a level of comfort with the program that would give supervision.
We left Memphis on Monday May 18 – to cut the cost, I purchased Rachel’s tickets with frequent flyer miles. This meant that she would travel a different route than we would. Rachel went through Chicago and we went through Atlanta. She would fly by herself, negotiate passport control by herself. Pastor Goodman would pick her up and we would meet her at the hotel. Joyce was nervous about this, but I was feeling that it was time for her to be able to handle international travel though we were tagging along just in case. She came right through by herself and we met her at the hotel. Pastor Goodman had a daughter that was 28 – her name is Sarah Jane. She and Rachel hit it off and I think a lasting friendship and bond was established. Sarah promised to take Rachel to Paris, Venice, and as she said to me, “We are going to travel.” We went to view the apartment Rachel was staying in and I was very pleased with that. I met the person representing the program Rachel was in and I was pleased with her and what she said. We left Rachel in her apartment and went back to the hotel. Rachel was settled and Joyce and I would spend some time with friends Pastors Douglass and Erica Goodman, Pastor Keith Ponto, and Carl Brettle.
Joyce and I got some rest – met up with Keith Ponto and went to Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street (Prime Minister’s residence), Big Ben, -- we did all the tourist stops. We spent some time with Keith Ponto. And then I set my mind to get to Wales to see Carl Brettle. I met Carl in South Africa preaching at a conference as well. We spent some time together and he talked to me about doing more to get my message out. He told me that I had a powerful message that God has given me and he thought that I had not taken enough responsibility to get it out. We talked about the internet as a vehicle and how he had published a prayer journal and he was moving it to online. This was of particular interest to me because I am working with the African American Pulpit (TAAP) and needed to get it to another level and internet was a capability. In our conversation, I told him if I ever got to London, I would come to see him. Well I emailed him and told him that I was coming to London and he invited me up. He said that I could do a workshop with some preachers on Friday night and possibly preach on Sunday. So here I am on the National Rail System, riding two hours and forty-five minutes to Cardiff to meet Carl.
The Lord has something special for me here. I am not sure what it is. I would like to do more international ministry. I like to learn and I like to see different cultures and different things. I like to see what God is doing around the world. It is amazing how God’s Spirit is alive and well in so many places that do worship and music so different than ours. God has a purpose and plan for me being in Wales. Leo sang this in church this past Sunday from Jeremiah 29:11:
I know the plan I have for saith the Lord
Plans to prosper you and not harm you
Plans to give you a hope and a future
When I read this text in the Bible, I found that the word was spoken to the captive that had been carried off into exile in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar has laid waste Jerusalem and took into captivity the king, queen mother, the leaders, the court officials, the craftsmen and artisans. Jeremiah sent word to them that God had a plan – a plan to prosper them. I can only imagine how encouraging this letter is to the exiles. They must have been feeling that God had abandoned them and their hope was gone. Everything they had known had been destroyed and they had been carted off to serve in a strange land. The prophet Jeremiah sends this letter to give comfort and hope to the exiles.
Submitted by Pastor Frank on Sat, 05/23/2009 - 16:03.
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Comments
This is wonderful. Since you came to THE BLVD. we have had many valleys. and hills. You were sent to THE BLVD for growth, for you and for us. I love your honesty.I love your various life lessons. If all adults were true to themselves, what you teach and preach on is mild compared to what some of us have been through.You teach and preach on lifes lessons. Sex, relationships, finances, health, and etc. are subjects that need to be talked about. I feel becuse of the way you teach and preach these lessons, others should also be Blessed to hear you by any means necessary. The writers, the singers, the movies, the internet, and etc. talks about or shows what is going on in real life. The church is left behind. Trying not to offend. Because of you teaching and preaching we can relate to, or prepare for the hills and valleys and know that we can make it, we are not alone , nothing is wrong with us it is a test or lesson to learn, we can be true to others and ourselves and know that we are GOING THROUGH. Thank you for being not just a Pastor, but a Pastor who has hills and valleys and is not afraid to admit it.
If I may be brutally honest........... I cannot take another Sunday hearing about diet, death, and finances!!! Pastor Thomas, I'm sure that you realize that our spending, eating etc. is a direct result of our spiritual lives. The spiritual man has to be dealt with first, then the physical, emotional, and mental needs are more amicable to change. Is it that you are not allowing for the proper preparatory time for your sermons. I can't continue and pretend.. and I am not leaving the blvd. I love my church and we need to hear the word of God from you. I love fried chicken, ribs, chicken and dressing, however I do work out consistently and I don't eat and bite my nails, etc....... I'm emotionally stable!!!!!!!!! Bethany
Pastor Frank, Lady Joyce and Lady Rachael I am really loving it that you took time to share your fatherhood journey. Your message encourages not only fathers and mothers but our young people about broadening the horizon. Yes God can speak to us in many languages. Jer 29:11 is a special verse for me and is a reminder from GOD that he has a plan for my future and today is just another stepping stone. So as long as I have air to breathe, I will continue GOD's journey. It is so exciting that you are able to share the gospel and receive thoughts to inspire your future messages through travel abroad. Please extend our congrats to Ms. Racheal and ask her to send us a blog for the college students about her journey and experience. We pray for a safe journey and look forward to the stories and pictures on your return! Verna Lambert