Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Our Adventure Continues...

Dear Friends,
It is with much anticipated joy that I write to you today!  First of all let me say thank you to each of you that blessed us with finances for our recent trip to minister in Alaska.  We can say that God did some amazing things in the lives of those that we ministered to and also in both Amy and my lives.  We had opportunities to minister to people through multiple settings.  We were able to participate in outreaches to the homeless community of Anchorage and also, to many wonderful Alaskan Natives through times of Bible Study, and also through preaching and altar ministry.  God was faithful to move freely among each of us.  As you know from our previous letter, this trip was for many reasons.  One of which was to look into a ministry opportunity that our Intercultural Ministries Director and also the Superintendent of the Alaska Ministry Network asked us to pray about.  The church that many of you heard us speak of during our times of itineration, “Anchorage Native Assembly of God”, has been without a Pastor since November 2013.  As of this past Sunday, we were voted in as the New Pastor!  This is a unique situation, as the church cannot fully support a Pastor financially.  We are able to fill this position, due to our current supporters and hopeful future supporters along with what the church can afford.  We are still keeping our U.S. Missionary Status, but will be labeled as U.S. Missionary/Pastors of Anchorage Native Assembly. 
Let me tell you more about this wonderful opportunity.  Anchorage Native Assembly (A.N.A.) is approximately 95% Alaskan Native.  This church has a fingerprint that reaches into every village of Alaska.  It is a kind of “Crossroads” church similar to what we read about the church of Antioch.  The potential to reach EVERY village in Alaska with the life changing message of Jesus Christ is in this church.  They currently live stream the services directly into several villages.  Also, as people travel into Anchorage from the villages for supplies or to visit with loved ones or to try to get a new start in life, they find themselves looking for a Native Community such as A.N.A.  We believe God to help us identify and train future leaders and ministers in this church to be sent out to reach every area of Alaska!  Just as you may remember from our times together, this is a huge portion of the ministry that we felt God calling us to.  We are overwhelmed at the potential to reach into villages all across the Alaskan landscape!  Initially we thought that we would be in one village trying to reach it and its people, but God has opened this door to reach into all of them!  I am always amazed at how God’s plans are so much larger and more than we could have imagined! 
Another opportunity that A.N.A. presents is the ministry to the homeless community.  A.N.A. has weekly outreach to the homeless people throughout Anchorage.  You probably remember me sharing about this need while I was with you.  During the cold winter weather, they feed approximately 350-500 homeless on a weekly basis and also have them in the church services.  There is a major need to reach out with the love of Christ Jesus and be His hands and feet extended to each of these people.  Many of these have deep emotional, mental and spiritual scars from being the products of rape, child abuse, molestation, and incest.  Many turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain and found themselves on the streets of Anchorage.  This outreach into the community may be the matter of life and death, both physically and spiritually for many people!
The third opportunity that A.N.A. presents is Missions Trips.  Many of you have expressed the desire to come and assist with ministry in Alaska.  Since we will be based in Anchorage, this will make flying in a lot easier & less expensive for each of your teams!  There are many needs, and as such many opportunities for ministry!  We can work out all the details after we get there and get established in our ministry calling!
For it to be possible for us to fulfill this calling, we need a few things.  First we need your continued prayers and financial support!  Without your support, we cannot go.  If the support doesn't maintain, we cannot stay, as we would have to return and raise more funds. This would leave this ministry without leadership. We are so thankful for each of you that God has partnered us with!  We know the sacrifice that each of you are making both as a church and also our individual supporters!  We know that each of you are being the hands and feet of Jesus extended by faithfully supporting our ministry!  On behalf of my family, and all those that God is sending us to pour into their lives, I say Thank You!!!  Secondly, we are making plans to be back at A.N.A. by the middle of April.  This means that we must now hit the ground running.  We will have approximately 4 weeks to sell the majority of our household items, sell Amy’s car, obtain an enclosed trailer, pack what we can take, raise enough support to make this relocation trip, and say good bye to our family and friends.  So to say that we are going to be busy is kind of an understatement.  It will take approximately 2 weeks of driving (due to weather), to go from here in NC through Canada and back into Alaska.  We truly appreciate your prayers during this entire time! 
Many of our Support Team (Churches & Individuals) has asked how they can help, so here is a list.
1.)    18’-20’ Enclosed Trailer:  (with trailer brakes); this is of EXTREME importance for relocation.
(If you or your church is considering this, I need to know a.s.a.p. so that I don’t try to finance one)
2.)    Relocation Finances: To move 5,500 miles is a major undertaking.  We need our Supporter Churches to consider taking up an offering for this & our Individual Supporters to consider a onetime donation.  It is requiring many thousands of dollars to cover fuel, food, lodging, and many other relocation expenses!
3.)    Monthly Financial Support: If you have been waiting till closer to time to begin your monthly support, now is that time!  We need as many of you as possible to partner with us to make this possible. 
For the Lord of the Harvest,

Rev. Phillip J. Boswell

(U.S. Missionary/Pastor of Anchorage Native Assembly)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

"Boundaries"

Why is it that in our lives, we often limit what we believe God can/will do?  I guess it is the fact that we look at things through our limited understanding...  Think about it, God is not bound by time or space or by any weakness that we possess!  God is LIMITLESS!!!  Often, I believe that we get so bogged down with the cares of this life and the situations we face, because we lose sight of how Great God Is!!!  All throughout the word, we read of an all powerful (Omnipotent) God!  We read of a God that is everywhere (Omnipresent) at all times! We read of a God that is all knowing (Omniscient) of everything & every situation!  So why is it that we read of this from His Word, but yet we place our own personal limits on who He is and what He can do?  The Bible also tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever...  As we enter this year of 2014, let's not hold to our own limitations, but let us truly have faith.  Faith in an All Powerful, All Knowing, Always Present, loving, caring, concerned God!!!  I don't know what you face this morning, but if you are truly following Him and seeking His face, then believe in what He can & will do!  All it takes is one touch of God's Favor, and lives change, situations are transformed, mountains that stood in your way melt like wax, and the impossible becomes possible!  As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any specific prayer request, I would love to pray for you.  Feel free to email me at pastorphillipb@gmail.com anytime!

For the Lord of the Harvest,

Phillip

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

To Grow or Not To Grow?

To Grow,
-or-
Not To Grow...

That is the question...
I was finishing off my cup of coffee this morning and as I did, you could see the levels of the coffee as it left the cup.  With every sip/gulp it showed how much coffee was consumed.  It brought to mind the annual rings of a tree.  The annual rings develop at the beginning of the tree's life.  Each year, you find another ring.  The space in between the rings shows how much the tree grew.  Scientist use this to determine if it was a wet year or a dry year or if there was something that took place in the trees life that caused a scar, such as a fire.
      I wondered what each of us would look like if you could open us up and see our "Spiritual Annual Rings"?  Think about it for a moment, spiritual growth is not normally taking place as much in the rich times of great rain, but more in the dry times.  Even more than that, during the fires of life, growth may be unprecedented!  So it would be the opposite of the tree's rings.  Most often, when we are in the dry times, the "Valley Times"  the times that we are in search of an answer from God or divine intervention in our circumstances, we don't feel that it is a time of growth.  We feel like we are at the end of our rope!  But in reality, this is when growth is taking place.  This is when faith is stretching us!  This is what is allowing us to see God move on a whole new level!

     I am reminded of James 1:2-12

(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (5) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (6) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (7) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (9) The brother in humble circumstances out to take pride in his High Position. (10) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. (11) For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. (12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

     When I go to the gym to workout, if I don't get sore from it, then I get upset.  I feel that I haven't torn down my muscle tissue as much as I could have to produce more growth.  In the same manner, how can I expect it to be any different in my spiritual life?
      So when life throws us a curve ball or we get hit with a line drive we can choose to find growth in it, or we can fold up and stop.  Growth hurts a lot of times.  Can you remember the "growing pains" during your growth spurts as an adolescent?  With a lot of growth, it is usually accompanied by a lot of pain.

     I don't know where you are at this morning in your spiritual walk, but know this, we have a loving Father that wants you to be complete and not lacking anything!  The trick is to look towards our loving Heavenly Father for strength, direction, and faith.  This is where growth is taking place, if we allow it to!

May God strengthen you, stretch you, grow you and root you soundly in His Word; that you may stand through the trials, increase your faith, persevere to the end, mature, and become complete not lacking anything!  Amen!

Blessings,
Phillip

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Where Is Your Song?

Over the past 11 months, our lives have consisted of many challenging moments.  Not to say all bad, because when you find victory in the challenges it is a mountain top moment.  But I must say that while you are walking in the challenges, it feels like a deep valley.  Our family has been putting together a support team for our missions work in Alaska.  This involves a lot of letter writing, a uncountable number of phone calls, personal meetings and traveling constantly all over our state to present our calling to churches.  Through it all, I felt like we had maintained good attitudes of faith and optimism.  I have been very happy about that come to think of it...  But this last weekend, brought a new perspective for me.  Our family had the opportunity to spend a couple of days at the "Barnabas House" in Edenton, NC.  This is a house/ministry that allows ministers in transition or in need of vacation to stay there.  This is to allow a season of rest.  We were speaking not far from there at the Inner Banks Outreach, and their Pastor set it up where we could stay at the Barnabas House.  This place is what brought my perspective... During just the first day, I found myself sitting on the deck overlooking the Chowan River, and I found myself singing... I felt as though peace had overwhelmed me.  Well, as time was going on and I was walking through the house when my oldest daughter said, "Wow Dad, is everything o.k.?"  I asked what she meant.  She said, "I haven't heard you sing like this in a long time."  You see, even though I have been trying to maintain a positive attitude.  Even though I have been trying to be a voice of faith and optimism, I had allowed the cares of life to take away my song!  It wasn't until that moment that I realized it.  I would like to encourage you this morning.  If the cares of life have silenced your song, or if your song has changed from one of praise to one of "Gloom & Despair", you need to do as the Bible teaches and cast your cares upon Him!  I thought that I had been doing that, but in reality, I as the head of my household, the husband to my wife, the father to my children, was holding on to some of the control thinking that I had to fix it.  That I had to provide and make things happen.  I have come away from this past week/weekend with a renewed childlike faith in my creator!  I am sure that our Heavenly Father can do a lot more than this earthly father can!  We are in His hands; for His purposes.  All Praise and Honor and Glory to Him... and my song has returned to sing praise to His Name!  He tells & shows us throughout the word, "It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God"...

Be encouraged, and find your song again!!!

Blessings,
Phillip

Monday, September 16, 2013

An All Powerful God

     Last week I was reading again of an account in scripture that many are familiar with.  I have heard this taught since I was a child growing up in church.  I have read it for myself many times, and I have even preached from these scriptures.  But until last week there was an element of the truth of this scripture that I had never contemplated. The scripture I am referencing is I Kings 18.  This is where we find Elijah standing alone before the people and the 400 prophets of Baal on Mount Caramel.  This is a powerful scripture speaking to an all powerful God.


     But like I said, until last week there was a truth of this that I never caught on to, that the Holy Spirit brought out of the scripture to reveal to me.  We know the story, it was a challenge between Baal and God.  It was to determine once and for all in the eyes of the people who was the one true God.  We know that through all of their efforts and chanting and cutting and various ceremonial practices that Baal never showed up.  Then we find Elijah having his altar and wood saturated with water and then praying and God consuming everything with fire, water included.  The part that I never caught on to was this.  The prophets of Baal were confident that Baal would show up, right?  Obviously they have seen displays of power prior to this day, or they would have never been following him.  I am sure there was a new desperation in their hearts and minds as they were going through all of the motions like normal, but without the results.  Why is this? It is because God, Jehovah, the One True God, The  Great I AM did not allow it!!!  Think about this.  It was not that there could not have been a display of power from Baal and his prophets, but it was that our all powerful God said, NO!!!
     I have always believed in an All Powerful God, that is capable of anything.  But this just takes it to another depth!  I don't know what you are facing this morning.  I don't know what mountain lies before you, but I do know an All Powerful God that commands every force known and all those that are unknown!!!  There is nothing too hard for Him!  There is nothing that is hidden from Him!  Maybe it is time that we truly trust and believe that He can do more than we could dream of, and that He desires what is best for us! Trust that His plans and His ways are perfect, and allow Him to lead the way!

Blessings,
Phillip

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Blackberries

 I am always amazed at how God chooses to speak to us!  Often, it is through my two girls or our relationship together.  But this time He decided to use something new... fresh blackberries!  Here where we live in NC, it is full blown summertime!  It is about 90 degrees with a humidity percentage to match!  We have had thunderstorms quite frequently and the rainfall has been unseasonably heavy.  A few days ago, I was out early in the morning picking some fresh blackberries.  As I often do, I was spending the peaceful time praying.  I had picked probably about 3/4 gallon of blackberries as I was working my way around the vines.  I stopped and was about to call it quits because  I was sweating like crazy and my arms and hands were scratched and torn up by all of the thorns...  Just as I was about to turn and head to the house, a nice ripe blackberry caught my eye.  I hadn't seen it earlier due to the amount of vines and leaves around it.  I found myself holding the jug with all of these blackberries securely in one hand and reaching painfully through the multitude of thorns that surrounded this one single blackberry.
Just as I reached it, God spoke to me... my mind immediately went to the scripture of the lost sheep. (Luke 15) How the shepherd would leave the 99 to find the 1.  I found myself looking at this blackberry in a whole new light!  I remember when I was the "one".  I remember when a loving savior reached through the multitude of thorns surrounding me just to bring me securely into His hand!  I then found my thoughts were on Romans 8:39 "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  I so vividly remember this love reaching through the thorns many years ago!  I believe that in Christian circles, we forget where we came from.  May we never forget the price that was paid to bring us to our loving security!  This same loving God, is using our family as His hands extended, to reach through the thorns that surround so many people in Alaska!  This is why we go!  Because there is a ripe harvest ready to be brought into the kingdom.  There will be thorns, but the end result is the sweetest cobbler you could imagine!!!  Will you help us reach?

Carrying Hope to the Alaskan Villages,
Phillip

Friday, June 7, 2013

A Quick Thought

Recently there have been many people that have asked how they can partner with us.  There are several ways to become a financial partner, but the most streamlined way is through the Assemblies of God US Missions online giving site.  But before I post any more about that, I just have a couple of thoughts for you...

In our current economy, many people are nervous about making a financial commitment to anything.  Many are only willing to step out for commitments for a home or maybe a car.  It makes many anxious to think about committing to a ministry.  But let's take a moment and bring some perspective to this.  It is a matter of priorities...

Think with me for a second... Many of us have at least one loved one that we would love to see in a real relationship with Jesus Christ!  If we get honest, we probably have many family and friends that this is true of! You might have shared with them, or maybe you are just praying for them hoping they will come into the light of salvation.  (Which you should be praying for them, so don't stop!) Now what if there was a person or a family that said they were going to give their lives to commit to reaching this/these loved ones for Christ.  What would that be worth to you?  

This is what Missionaries all over our world are doing.  They are going to someones lost loved ones and investing with their lives to reach these.  Everyone, is someones loved one!  Now, not everyone is called to go, but everyone is called to something...  whether it be prayer, or financial support or both!  Now before you say, "Well, I will pray for these missionaries, but I can't commit financially", let me ask you this.  Have you prayed about it and sincerely know that your part is only prayer or is it that you don't see how you could currently give?  Let's look at it for a moment...

If the average family of 4 gives up going out to eat just once a month, that is roughly $40.00 - $60.00 a month that they can commit.  Just for deciding to cook at home once a month... What is that lost loved one worth?

If a person gives up just one Starbucks coffee a week, that is roughly $20.00 or more a month that they can commit.  Just for deciding to brew their own coffee at home once a week... What is that lost loved one worth?

Many people are more committed to their activities than they are about investing into their loved ones...  The average person pays in excess of 100.00 a month just on Cable or Direct TV.(Not to mention cell phones and internet, etc.)  For all these wonderful channels with nothing on that you want to watch...  What is that lost loved one worth?

If you are doing what God has lead you to do, for this ministry, or for another, let me commend you!  God has called specific people to be a part of specific ministries.  The important thing is to be obedient in what God calls you to!  We are missionaries, but that doesn't remove us from our calling to invest into other ministries as well!  If you have been on the fence with giving, let me encourage you to obey what God is leading.  Again, What is that lost loved one worth?


Blessings,

Phillip