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We Have a Dream… A Dream of Destiny

Written by admin on . Posted in diversity, Kansas City, NACC. 2 Comments on We Have a Dream… A Dream of Destiny

Do you recognize these two staff members from Shepherd???

I am currently in Kansas City at the North American Christian Convention, and tonight, I introduced a new ministry that is geared toward helping our churches be more active in training and equipping African American pastors. You would NOT know by looking at Shepherd because we are so diverse, but the Bible Belt has thousands of churches where very little is being done to reach those of different ethnic backgrounds.

Tonight, I met with Bible College Presidents, Mega Church Pastors and the ’07 and ’08 executive committee members and issued a challenge to begin meeting for the purpose of coming up with a game plan to help raise up leaders of tomorrow.

I am calling this ministry “We Have a Dream… a Dream of Destiny.” That idea came about as I was reading the famous speech of Dr. Martin L. King. In this famous talk at the mall in Washington D.C., he talks about people who were there that day who were NOT African American, and he states that the reason others are here is because “they know that their destiny is linked to our destiny.”

It was a great success, and I’m thankful that our church, Shepherd of the Hills Church, is taking the lead on this particular issue. I want to thank each of you for doing your part.

Also… Our own Michael North and about 20 of our staff made the journey here to Kansas City and are involved in one way or another. You can Google North American Christian Convention to learn more about this event…

Thanks for your prayers…. and hope to send another report soon…..

And by the way….. I love you…..

In love,

Dudley

Kerri and her Dad

Written by admin on . Posted in children, Kerri, NACC. 2 Comments on Kerri and her Dad

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I have been soooooooooooo busy, and things are getting even more hectic… Just wanted to mention that I’ve enjoyed preaching through the ten commandments and have heard so many good comments about the series so far. There is a biblical truth that the word of God never returns void, and that is certainly the case during this series.

This next week, my family will be attending the North American Christian Convention in Kansas City, where I am involved in many different things. I’m hoping to write several posts this week from Kansas City. In the past two years, I have served in the capacity of planning this year’s convention. The focus of the ’07 convention is church planting, and we are hoping that thousands catch the vision of planting and birthing new churches.

Please pray for my family as we travel, that God would be with us and that the Convention would be blessed.

Check back for more updates.

Looking forward to preaching this weekend and the next service here at Shepherd. I hope to see you here…

In love

Dudley

YO! Watts

Written by admin on . Posted in Kisa Hughes. No Comments on YO! Watts




Many of you remember Kisa Hughes, who I wrote about in an earlier post (see March 8th). She was 33 years of age, 6’5” tall, played basketball for UCLA, and was a member of our church. She passed away on March 1st.

Kisa had worked for an organization called “YO! Watts,” which stands for Youth Opportunity in the Watts community. It is located in the heart of Watts, and it’s an organization that helps high school students graduate from high school, and then helps them get into college.

So this past Friday I attended and prayed for a classroom that was dedicated to her honor. There were three deserving students that each received a $1000.00 scholarship. I believe that in some way, our church needs to partner with YO! Watts.

The photograph above was taken during Kisa’s last days on earth at a blessings ranch in Palm Springs. Someone took the picture as Kisa was driving down the lane, and Kisa said that she saw an angel.

If you turn the picture sideways, you can make out an an in the clouds an Angel.

I’m not sure what to think of that, but I do know that Kisa was an angel to many here on this Earth and she spent her few years trying to lead others to Jesus. I pray for her family, but I also pray for YOU, that we will join together in making a difference for the Lord each and every day. And the next time you’re looking for something to do that’s worthwhile… why not try YO! Watts?

Japan and the Tall Man

Written by admin on . Posted in evangelism, Japan, missions. 1 Comment on Japan and the Tall Man

Recently, I took my wife, Renee, to Monterrey for a couple of days, and for some reason 🙂 I took my golf clubs, so WHILE she was shopping, I could hit the links. I ended up at Spyglass and was paired with three men from Japan.

These men did NOT speak English at all, and it was very interesting to spend 5 hours with three men who were probably spiritually lost, and yet I could NOT communicate with them in their language.

They had a guide that was able to teach me their names before we tee’d off on the first hole, and I was able to learn a few details about my three golfing partners.

The gentleman to my right was named “Oya” and all day I shouted his name whenever he hit a good shot…. “Ohhhh Yeahhhhh Oyaaaaaaa” He laughed every time I said that, and I could tell he wasn’t used to this type of excitement from a golfing partner.

Then to my immediate left was a man named….. are you ready for this…. his name was Sunami… yes….. Sunami….. and the entire round, I would call his name out…. Both Oya and Sunami were 71 years of age…. yet hit the ball a long long long way….. (not as far as me, of course, but a long long way nonetheless) (I just thought I’d throw that last bit of info in there… hahaha).

Then the gentleman to my far left was named Shirai. He pronounced his name She-rahh–eee.

He was 65 and I rode in the cart with him.

I spent five hours wishing I could speak Japanese so that I might share the gospel with them. I was able to share a little through the interpreter, and I told them about my blog. I told them that I would be posting their picture and telling the world about our day at Spyglass.

When the day was over… it just reminded me of our need to reach Japan with the Gospel. We have Mike Ackerman serving at our church right now, and he and four other couples are committed to going to Japan for the next seven years to start a church.

I have mentioned to you my desire to do the same. Japan is populated by 130 million people, and 99% of them are NOT believers in Jesus Christ. How long can we sit on the sidelines and just act like that doesn’t really matter to us? It should matter a LOT to us…

Please begin to ask God what you can do to make a difference in the world…

I hope and pray that my example, in spite of the language barrier, would begin to lay the foundation so that my three friends from Japan would one day find Jesus.

Perhaps my encouragement, clapping, and shaking their hands with a genuine deep love and respect would one day allow them to listen to a gospel presentation…. One never knows what God can do….

In love,

Dudley

Graduates and Justin Holiday

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Justin Holiday and I went out for dinner together this past week. Justin just graduated from Campbell Hall High School and is headed to University of Washington on a full ride basketball scholarship. I was privileged last summer to coach his summer travel basketball team, and during that time, I was able to get to know him quite well. I wanted to let him know that I’d be praying for him as he goes off to college.

We have sooooooooooooooooooo many High School students headed off to college that I want to encourage everyone who reads my blog to say a prayer for all of our High School seniors. I know that it is such a big step going to college, and it’s my prayer that all of our students will continue growing in their faith, even though they are in college.

Justin is just an example of the high quality of young people that we have going out from this church to make a difference for the Lord. I am so thankful for all of our student ministry team leaders and sponsors. Our youth program is becoming one of the better youth ministries around. We even have a special Sunday morning worship service for Jr High and High School students starting next weekend, I believe.

Also, I want to say that we have many college students graduating as well. I am so thankful for the way the Lord has blessed us with so many people that are going through all the graduating ceremonies. I didn’t know we had so many SMART people in our church…. but I’m so impressed with the number of people who’ve put in so much time getting their college degrees, too.

I just want ALL of our graduates to KNOW that we are PRAYING for YOU.

Let your light shine…. and come back to see us every chance you get….

In love

Dudley

20 YEARS and COUNTING

Written by admin on . Posted in Blog. 2 Comments on 20 YEARS and COUNTING

Wow… This past Sunday marked the 20th year of my ministry here at the Church. I moved out here from Des Moines, Iowa on Father’s Day, 1987. Can you believe that??? That was a long long long time ago, but I am just as excited about the next 20 years as I was about the past 20 years.

I know that I really don’t know HOW many years the Lord will tarry….but every year he gives me, I want to use it to the fullest…. I want to thank EACH of you who have been here along the journey….. It’s kinda amazing to be listening to the same preacher for 20 years…. I really think you deserve some type of an award or a reward for listening to the same guy, week in and week out.

Please accept my gratitude in stating what an incredible privilege it has been working side by side in ministry with each of you…

In love..
Dudley