Rick McPherson

May Newsletter, 2010

 

“Outstanding!” “We loved it!” “Over the top!” “Home run!” “Excellent, keep up the good work!” 

“Impressive!” “Can’t wait for the next one!” “Great job!” These are just some of the comments that have come our way since the second annual, Hope Benefit. It’s now a “done deal” and all that’s left is the memory. But, what a memory! 

 

We had over three hundred people  for a delicious catered meal with pot-roast, stuffed chicken breasts, green beans, candied carrots, garden salad, Indian fry-bread and cheese-cake for dessert. The Kyle Lewis Jazz Quartet was featured throughout  the evening with Stinta Praise Band and Dancers from Klamath Falls, Oregon providing a sight and sound spectacular of Native American culture. It was wonderful!

 

 Our special guest speaker  was Richard Twiss, a member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe, Co-Founder and President of Wiconi, International and author of, “One Church Many Tribes – Serving Jesus The Way God Made You.” He is committed to seeing Native people emerge into a powerful place of ministry in reconciliation and healing within the Body of Christ around the world.  Richard has been a national conference speaker for Promise Keepers in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. He is a member of the International Reconciliation Coalition, Mission America National Committee and has appeared as a guest on the Focus on the Family radio program, the 700 Club, Trinity Broadcast Network and numerous other programs. 

 

Frontier Missions is such a wonderful mix of diversity, giftedness and culture. Throughout the evening those characteristics were so evident. As I looked around the warehouse and talked with many guests  I was reminded that with God’s blessing and anointing,  and the generous donations from people who care about Native Americans, both physically and spiritually, we are able to do this ministry. None of us can do this alone. We need one another.   And, working together enables us to accomplish so much more. 

 

In the context of Scripture, we’re reminded of the metaphor of the human body. To be a healthy person we need all the individual parts to be healthy and work in harmony with other parts of the body. So, the eyes, ears, hands and feet, although completely different from each other,  work together to provide a form and function that is pleasing and practical. Everyone who sees it, agrees that it’s good. So too,  the work of Frontier Missions is the result  of, “eyes, ears, hands and feet” that are all doing their part. 

 

The annual Hope Benefit gives us the opportunity to review, evaluate and celebrate the ongoing work of Frontier Missions. Even though the Hope Benefit is now a done deal, the memory of the evening will continue to remind us of God’s blessing and the calling of working hand-in-hand with Native Americans. 

 

Now, I think I’ll go back through the buffet line for another serving of fry-bread. 

Rick McPherson

March Newsletter, 2010

You just never know who’s listening. Every day on the radio we talk about the work of Frontier Missions. We talk about victories, ministries, opportunities and even struggles. We talk about our needs and many times just ask if there’s anyone who can help us. When you’re on this side of the microphone, you never know who’s listening. They could be in a truck, an office, at home or jogging along a mountain trail. You just never know.

Not long ago, I mentioned our desire to grow our ministry and reach out to more Native Americans. I specifically said that there might be a person listening, who could help us with another truck and trailer. Little did I know that there was.

Later, we sat in my office and he told me his story and how God had moved his heart to be involved and help us. He is planning to buy a truck and trailer and help us do our work. He is passionate about this ministry and helping Native Americans. He is related to people in the grocery business. He is excited. I am, too!

From our conversation came an introduction to his sister who is the manager of a distribution center for a large grocery store chain in another state. After a phone call she said she would be happy to help us and supply groceries to help needy Natives . In fact, she would introduce us to other contacts she had to further help us do our ministry. And, she wanted to know when we could have a truck and trailer at their loading dock to get the first load!

The reality is that Frontier Missions is a multi-faceted ministry that relies on numerous and various friends who help us do this work. We could not accomplish much if it was not for this large group of people. Much like a symphony orchestra is composed of many instruments being played in harmony with each other, we conduct a daily ministry that is the result of many parts and people.

There have been times when people have talked about Frontier Missions in a restaurant or at church or on a bus or in a lobby and someone has been listening. Someone has heard the story. And, they’ve caught the vision of what we do. So, we’ll keep talking and telling the Good News…on the radio, at the coffee shop, in the living room or garage or shed. We’ll keep talking. After all, you just never know who’s listening.

Rick McPherson

February Newsletter, 2010

 

I had just read the verses that morning. Little did I know that later in the day, I would really need them. 

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety (care) on him because he cares for you.”   I Peter 5:5(b)-6; Proverbs 3:34 TNIV

 

Later in the day,  arrived around 4:00 PM when one of the FMI drivers completed his run to our major grocery supplier. “This is for you,” he said, and handed me an envelope. I was within two hours of a Board of Directors’ meeting with a number of very important items on the agenda. I wasn’t  prepared, at all, for the contents of the letter.  After nearly twenty years of doing business with Frontier Missions they were informing us of a corporate decision from their main office back East,  that they would no longer be supplying groceries to us, effective immediately. Now they were aligning themselves with another national program and all the distribution centers across the country were being directed to comply. There would be no more groceries for Frontier Missions.  I was numb. 

 

When someone, somewhere, makes a decision to pull the plug and it affects a major portion of what you do every day, well, numb is the result.   I quickly put the letter and its contents on the agenda for the meeting and then informed our Board members.  We talked, listened, discussed and prayed. We comforted each other with the fact that this decision was no surprise to God. We reviewed the admonition to cast our care on Him because He cares for us. Literally, the writer says collect everything up, as if it had all been scattered on the floor, and toss it, as in a heap, at His feet. Graphic, right? 

 

But here’s the best part. We spoke of God’s promises. He is our source. No supplier, vendor or business trumps God’s provision. If one source dries up, then God has another. It’s His way. He is The Source. Think of the manna…the cruse  of oil…the water that became wine…the loaves and fish…all of them show us that God is not confined or defined by us. He is not restricted by anyone, anywhere, making any decision regardless of how we interpret the results. 

 

With a resolution to remain humble and repent of any pride, we gathered everything up , as in fact it was scattered on the floor and deliberately gave it all to Jesus.   He cares more for us than we will ever know and I’m convinced, uses circumstances and decisions like this, to prove it. As much as life will every so often, “pull the plug” on us, He never will. In fact He is bound by His word and has promised that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. That’s good news! That’s plug insurance! That’s the anti-dote to numb. 

 

Since the letter, we have seen God provide groceries that we thought would never be available.   We have been reminded:  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 TNIV   And that, is a very good thing.