The Son & the Sand December 2004
One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
In 1997, I was a summer missionary at the Puu Kahea Conference Center in Waianae, Hawaii. That summer I really learned to appreciate the beauty of the beaches of Oahu and the Big Island. This was also the summer that I first heard the phrase “suffering for Jesus on thebeach.” I have heard it many times since then as well. The following summer I served as a summer missionary again, but this time I travelacross the globe to the Baptist Village in Petach Tikvah, Israel. Again I was struck by the uniqueness and beauty of the beaches along the Mediterranean Sea and the shores at biblical sites such as the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. In I married Thea, and we moved to GulfShores, AL. I am no longer a summer missionary (although I am occasionally introduced as one during the summer, that’s ok, I’m stilla summer missionary at heart); instead, I serve as summer missions supervisor and resort missionary. I have visited the beaches on the east coast. I have “suffered for Jesus” as a summer missionary in Hawaii (honestly, serving in Hawaii at the conference center on Oahu is not as glamorous as it sounds, try washing dishes three meals a day for hundreds of people…I really did have to suffer a bit). I have camped out on the Sea of Galilee, gone shell hunting at Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea, and floated like a cork in the Dead Sea. Beyond these globetrotting locales, I have handed out ice cold water with an encouraging message in Orange Beach, AL. I have face painted at the national shrimp festival in Gulf Shores, AL. I have participating in evening worship services on Alabama’s beautiful fine-white sand beaches on many occasions, and I truly believe that Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. Recently many people have inquired on the status of our beautiful sandy shores. The beach is still here! Lots of people have asked us what we are going to do this snowbird season due to the unfortunate effects of the hurricane. Although we may not have as many snowbirds visiting our area in January, February, and March of 2005 as we did last year, we know that many snowbirds will be returning. Actually we’ve been leading resort worship services for snowbirds at Island Retreat RV for the entire month of November. Many snowbirds have already returned. The beach is still here. Pray for Gulf Coast residents and visitors, workers and volunteers as we come together to restore the beautiful beaches and resorts of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL. Send Someone a Reminder >>> The Summer of 2005 We are in the process of putting together our 2005 summer calendar. In 2004, we partnered with over 1,000 volunteers to share the love of Jesus Christ with Gulf Coast visitors and residents. We hope to make a tremendous impact in the coming summer as well. Please send your church and / or churches you know information about this ministry. Email a church that might be interested today; and encourage them to consider a missions partnership with gulf area resort ministries. Just tell them they don’t have to go to the beach to go surfing. Ask them to surf on our website for plenty of great information on a 2005 missions / ministry partnership: December Prayer Points > Butch and Vi Reik (Mission Service Corp. Volunteers) will be moving into Luxury RV this month. Pray for this new partnership as we seek to minister to snowbirds together. > Gene and Ruby Buttrey (Mission Service Corp. Volunteers) will be moving into Island Retreat RV in January. This is the Buttrey’s third consecutive season to partner with us in ministry. Pray for us as we seek to minister to snowbirds together and as they assist with hurricane recovery. > Continued Hurricane Recovery Efforts, safety and productivity > Joe Friman’s continued leadership at the Baptist Campus Ministries of Faulkner State Community College > Resort Worship Services & Snowbird Ministries at Island Retreat RV and Luxury RV > Gulf State Park Campground Snowbirds & their “refugee” status (email me for more information) > Safe and Joyous Christmas for all of our partners in ministry, resort ministry committee members, prayer team, family, and friends > Jeff as he completes another semester of education at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Pensacola, FL > Thea as she completes another semester of teaching at Foley High School One Last Thing Jesus concluded the sermon on the mount with these words: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25 And Don’t Forget Have a safe and blessed holiday season. May your time with family and friends be joy-filled. Although this may be a busy time (it always is for us), don’t forget to slow down a bit and spend some time in reflection on the true reason for the season > Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to You, Jeff Ford
