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for August, 2008.
By pastorbillwalden
Just a few thoughts here…
The reason for the 101“b”, is that there is a difference (at least to me) in planting a church you are going to stay at versus planting a church that you are planning to step away from. The differences aren’t huge, but they are there.
101a: plant and stay. 101b: plant and pass it on to someone else.
Church planters may gain some insights out of this. All Believers can probably unearth a few nuggets.
We planted Cornerstone in October of 1991, with the intention of staying. It has been different with St. Helena Community Church (SHHC) in that for a while, I thought I might pastor at two locations. I have been with this group for two years. The Lord finally made it very clear that I was not to be their permanent pastor, and my thought processes began to change. Here are a few things that I learned or was reminded of… Read more »
By pastorbillwalden
Neanderthal Man Also Wondering About A Title
I could entitle this post in any of the following ways:
1. Church planting 101.
2. Lessons in faith.
3. Great news for the Napa Valley.
4. Bill Holdridge to pastor St. Helena Community Church.
It doesn’t take much insight to connect those dots, but there have been many interesting details and “opportunities to grow in faith” during these last two years.
The short version and quick encapsulation of the title ought to be some clever combination of #’s 3 & 4.
Read more »
By pastorbillwalden
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you…”
Psalm 139:13-17 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Isabella Grace at 20 weeks
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Isabella is the daughter of our daughter Sarah and her husband Caleb. Isabella is expected to come into this world around January1, 2009.
We thank God for her, and commit her to the Lord. May God be glorified through her life, and may she know His love and grace.
By pastorbillwalden
“Kids with Cameras” & “Project Rice and Beans”
Vizcaino, Baja California Sur, Mexico
(Written By Laura Vitale)
Kids with Cameras is a ministry that started in Baja California Sur while serving in the mission field with Cornerstone Ministries of Napa, CA. These images were created by children living in the Worker Camps outside of Vizcaino. The kids are shooting with disposable cameras and are documenting their daily lives within the ranchos and campos (migrant worker camps).
The Rice And Beans project developed as a response to the needs of some of the families that are enduring hardships and economic struggles.
By purchasing their work (images) through greeting cards, 100% of the proceeds will go directly back into the mission field to support those families in need. It is my desire to continue serving in Baja and bring cameras into the Campos to teach the children the art of photography.
For further inquires about this ministry you can contact: lauranorcia@gmail.com
Thank you for your sponsorship and God Bless you!!
(Editors note)- If you would like to make a donation to Cornerstone Missions, we will send you cards to sell in your church bookstores, or to give away as gifts. If you would like to help feed needy families, you can donate to Cornerstone Missions. The food items are delivered by local missionaries who are building relationships with these poor families, and also holding weekly Bible studies in these Campos. All donations are tax deductible.
Cornerstone Missions
PO Box 2506
Napa, CA 94558
Included below are photos of a work camp, some taken by the kids. This is their world.
By pastorbillwalden
This may sound critical, but here goes.
(Actually, since reading this a few more times, it does start off sounding critical. 
Please read past that vibe and understand the heart of the issue.)
A few years ago, I heard a senior pastor say to another senior pastor regarding short term missions:“Where is it really happening? We want our kids to go and have a great experience”.
I understand the sentiment behind those statements. The pastor who was asking wanted his High School kids to go to a foreign mission field and have a life changing experience. He wanted them to go somewhere where God was obviously moving, and where the power of the Gospel could be clearly (and quickly) seen. I assume that that was what he meant. By the way, this pastor is a great guy, and very gifted and “successful” as a senior pastor. I could have totally misunderstood his heart.
And yet, his question struck me as sounding very wrong. Read more »
By pastorbillwalden
Las Sierras de San Francisco
Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
The Bible says that “there is no temptation except that which is common to man”. (1 Corinthians 10:13) My interpretation of that is this: we all struggle with the same basic issues. The details may be different, but the root issues are the same.
One of the things that we struggle with is self worth. Is my life making a difference?
Let me share with you how the Lord ministered to me through this verse during my time in Baja Sur. A little background information is needed. Read more »
By pastorbillwalden
So far this year, I have spent nearly five weeks in South Baja, Mexico. After our Leadership Conference in October, it will be six weeks.
I hope to take the next few days to share in detail, but here are some initial thoughts.
Read more »
By pastorbillwalden
Hola,
We are heading back to Mexico today (August 2) and will return August 9. About 14 of us from Cornerstone Napa will be co-laboring with 15 hermanos y hermanas from Calvary Chapel of San Quinitin, Baja Norte. CCSQ is bringing their youth worship team to share music, while us Gringos do food, VBS, and other kid related ministries.
Basilio Nunez is the pastor of CCSQ. 20 years ago we took a pastoral training class together at CC West Covina, Raul Ries’ old location. The Lord knew that we would connect in 2008, and here we are, working together. The Body Of Christ working together is a beautiful thing.
We will be doing three outreaches along the Pacific Coast in north Baja Sur, and co-laboring with local, Bible teaching churches. I will also be teaching the Sunday morning service at CCSQ on August 3.
We appreciate your prayers. I’ll post updates if I am able, but things are a lot more primitive in the fisihing villages along the Pacific, so there might not be internet access. We’ll see. (Vamos a ver).
Until then, blessings and love in Jesus,
Bill
A quote to consider, from the late Jim Elliot.
“He is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose”.
