www.GAJohnson.org | Hebrews Twelve Two

salem hoopla

Loving God Fellowship has a team in the Salem Hoopla this weekend.  The Salem Hoopla is the largest 3 on 3 basketball tournement in the state of Oregon. 

Come watch us play this weekend in front of the capitol in downtown Salem!

We will be playing Saturday at

• 11 AM on court 12
• 2:30 PM on court 11
• 7 PM on court 12

I may even get some playing time!

gaj

following christ - there's nothing like it!

Becky and I have had a great week of following Christ.

• Sunday - Talked about Grace, Mercy and Praise at the www.LovingGodFellowship.org Salem Campus.  Listen or download by clicking here.
• Monday - Ministered to over a 100 homeless people downtown in our city.  Oregon, California and Washington have the highest homeless rates in America.  They are considered among the lepers of our day.  We love ministering  to them at their point of need, touching them, singing and praying with them.  They love to sing Victory in Jesus and ask us to sing it with them every time we are with them.  Right before they were fed for the night, I talked to them about Jesus and encouraged them to keep their eyes fixed on Him.  Jesus was there among us.  He ministered to the lepers of his day.  And he knows what it feels like to be homeless.  The last three years of His life, he had no where to lay His head.
• Tuesday - Met with young Latino men in our city.  I shared with them Psalm 119:9-16 and how we can stay out of trouble by knowing and obeying God's Word.   We have been trying to instill within them a hunger for God's Word for months.  I was thrilled as one of them was able to quote from memory my two favorite verses:  (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)  "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)  "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
• Wednesday - Talked about how Jesus as our example, touched the socially undesirables of His day at their point of need, met their needs and refueled for more powerful point of need ministry at the www.LovingGodFellowship.org Salem Campus.  Listen or download by clicking here.

gaj

missions portfolio

I'm excited to add the following two organizations to the LGF Missions Portfolio:

• Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
• Elizabeth Bowers Zambia Education Fund, providing education to girls from the Lumwana West area in NW Zambia

Both of these proven organizations are making a difference in our day and supporting them is what LGF is all about!

gaj

janie cavazos - lgf minister of the month

On Sunday, Becky and I recognized Janie Cavazos as the LGF minister of the month at the Loving God Fellowship (LGF) Salem  Campus.

Janie is one of our team leaders that goes into the Cavazos Center for Latino Youth and Families to conduct a weekly Bible study on Tuesdays.  The Cavazos Center is named after Janie's husband and our brother, the late Cat Cavazos.  Cat started the Street Vision gang intervention program here in our city and now it is named after him and is run by Catholic Community Services.

In recognition of Janie being what LGF is all about and fulfilling the LGF Ministry Model, we presented Janie with a yellow LGF messanger bag.  Afterword, she told us that yellow was Cat's favorite color.  

Join us in congratulating Janie for ministry well done!

gaj

What would Christ be doing in our cities?

Sad to say, there are a lot of churches in America have neglected following Christ in missional ministry.  Some cities have churches on every corner with homeless sleeping in their lots, drug addicts using on their steps and gangs fighting over their turf.  They have church and will minister to those that come in to their service.  They may even sell them a book, cup of coffee and a ticket to their latest event, but who are they touching during the week?

What did Christ do?  He attended church on the Sabbath "as his custom was", but He ministered daily at the point of need.  Most of the people He touched daily would not be welcome in the church.  He hung out with sinners and debated with the religionist of His day.  His friends were the sinners and the religionists nailed Him to the cross.

So what are we as Christ followers to do?  (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)  "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

I’m going to have church @ http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org , but the rest of the time, I’m going to follow Christ in point of need ministry.  I feel closer to Christ when I’m ministering to the drug addict, the homeless, the incarcerated and the gang member wanting freedom. 

Last night, I picked up a homie that is fresh out of jail and living in a transitional house and took him for a big mac.  We talked, ate and prayed together.  Jesus was with us.  I could sense His precious presence.  This man can’t come to our church because it would be a parole violation.  He doesn’t have to come to our church though.  I know where he lives.

gaj

in jail

Becky and I were in jail tonight.  From 7:30 PM until 10 PM we followed Christ in point of need ministry at the Marion county jail.  We met with the women first and then the men.  We had a powerful time together in worship, prayer and God's Word.  I preached and encouraged them to get rid of all distractions, keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and follow Him.

Our county has more jails and prisons than any other county in America.  When laws were passed in Oregon, it was decided to build all prisons and mental hospitals here in the capitol of Salem, Oregon.  People move here from all over to be close to those they love that incarcerated.  Prison ministry is a vital part of the LGF missions portfolio as we are determined to make a difference in our day and follow Jesus in point of need ministry. 

What a mission field this is and we are right where God wants us!

gaj

ministering to gangs

Tonight, Becky and I met with Latino young men in our city that need to leave the gangs.  I once again reminded them that following Jesus was a sign of strength and not weakness.  I also encouraged them to get rid of any distractions in their life that would keep them from following Jesus.  We looked at I Samuel 15 together and how Saul had all the right tools to be successful, but he allowed distractions to get in his way.  One of his big distractions was pride.  God detests pride and pride will always cause us to disobey God's Word and fall.  To succeed, we must humble ourselves and follow Jesus.  I continue to encourage them to memorize Hebrews 12:2 and 1 Peter 2:21.  Reuben was able to quote 75% of Hebrews 12:2 for us.  I love following Jesus in point of need ministry!

Please pray for these young men.  Also please pray for me and Becky as we continue to try to impact our city and our world with point of need ministry.  We are insurgents behind enemy lines and the devil is not happy with what we are doing.  He would rather that we just have church.  Following Jesus in point of need ministry makes the devil nervous.

We will continue to minister to the homeless, to those incarcerated, to the gangs, and to those coming out of incarceration in our city.  We will also continue to minister to the poor and suffering around the world.

We need prayer coverage.  Please help us through your prayers and click here to sign up as one of our prayer partners where you will be updated occasionally by email on our specific prayer needs.

We are always thankful for the help God brings us through praying people.

gaj

becky and I met senator and michelle obama today

Becky and I went out for a sandwich in our town in Keizer, Oregon.  Senator and Michelle Obama’s motorcade pulled up in Keizer for an unannounced visit.  We got to meet them.

Becky told Senator Obama ”God called you for a time such as this and as long as you are obedient to what God calls you to do, whether or not you are elected, you will be successful.  If you are disobedient, you will fail.”  He responded by saying “I believe what God says and that is very good advice” and than he gave her a hug. 

I told Senator Obama that we came from back east and planted a church here.  He asked me what the name of the church was and I told him www.LovingGodFellowship.org .  He said “we need good churches”.  I told Michelle that we were praying for them and she gave me a hug and said that they really appreciated prayer. 

I don’t think meetings like this are by chance. Do you?

gaj

stay home from church this sunday

If you don’t need Jesus to do something in your life, just stay home this Sunday and sleep in, spend time with friends or watch TV or something.  Don’t come to the www.LovingGodFellowship.org Salem Campus whatever you do.

If you need Jesus to do something in your life, you won’t want to allow anything to keep you away from the www.LovingGodFellowship.org Salem Campus this Sunday.  And you will do everything you can to get others there that need Jesus to do something in their lives.

• We won’t have anything entertaining that will appeal to your senses, but leave your needs unmet.
• We won’t be selling anything.
• We won’t have a mushy Mothers day message beginning with a joke and ending with a poem and a prayer. 
• We will have anointed and Christ exalting worship.
• We will have a timely message from God’s Word that will be very relevant to us.
• Jesus will work miracles and we will receive His grace and His peace.

Do you need a miracle?  See you at the www.LovingGodFellowship.org Salem Campus @ 10:30 AM Sunday.  Arrive early to make sure you get a place to sit!

gaj

LGF basketball time

We were 4-5 in the last league which was our fist league.  Click here for that post.

Today we start again.  Click here for the schedule.  Click on the "South River Road League".

gaj