This past Sunday Morning, we showed a video about Gospel Translations, a group devoted to making “biblical books and articles freely accessible in as many languages as possible.” We are very excited about how God is beginning to use this ministry. If you’d like to view the video, go here. For more information on how you can participate, visit www.gospeltranslations.org.
- Steve
The KingsWay addition is coming along – and it’s a team project. Architects are planning, drafters are drawing, craftsmen are building, workers are digging. The church building is built by a team.
So is the church body. As each person plays his or her part, the body grows and is built up.
I am so thankful that God has led Tiffany and I to KingsWay. We are amazed by his goodness and wisdom in placing us here. This church is full of people that give their lives away to serve. We are excited to watch as God uses your talents, your service, your gifts to build up this church – and to prepare the way for the church still on the horizon in Fredericksburg.
- Ken
This is where the future King’s Kids Classes will be in a few months. We so look forward to meeting the new families that will come in the future and be served by these additional classrooms.
This past Sunday afternoon, in the sweltering heat, I played a couple games of basketball with Alan, Rob, and James Denison and 2 other guys at Rockwood Park. After having fun playing a few very competitive (and tiring) games, a few guys left and Alan and I decided to “throw in the towel” for the day. As I am chugging some water, trying to catch my breath, I notice Alan making his way to a bench, where one of the other guys was sitting. Alan began to draw him out about his church background and if he had found a church in the area. As I listened, I wondered if and how this might transition to talking about the Gospel. In a very gentle and winsome way, Alan transitioned the conversation toward the reality that life and salvation is not about going to church but it’s about a relationship with Jesus. He began to explain to our new friend what this meant, while briefly sharing his testimony in small, understandable chunks. Alan and I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with him over a 15 minute conversation. I so appreciated Alan’s heart to spend a few minutes (even when tired with many other things he could have left to do) talking with this man about the Gospel and taking a genuine interest. Alan got our friend’s phone number and planned to call him to follow up and invite him to a Sunday Meeting and we had the opportunity to pray for him as well.
To our knowledge, our new friend did not repent and believe there on the spot but we trust that God will use our conversation to help him see his need for the Gospel and perhaps someday he will be saved. Thank you Alan for your faithfulness and boldness in evangelism and for not giving in to your sinful (and tired) flesh. You provoke me by your example.
- Steve
9000 oz Mountain Dew
1400 Flavor-Ice Pops
63 lbs of M&Ms
48 lbs of Skittles
257 teens
194 parents
45 volunteers
7 churches
3 days
4 sessions
1 common goal—to encounter God
This past July 4th weekend, teens and parents from 7 regional churches (across Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina), came together for three days, ready to encounter God at YouthCamp ‘08. Each session included an episode of “The Adam Campbell Show” (game show from Charlotte’s late, late, late-night local access channel) followed by worship and a message.
Starting off Thursday night at a late 9pm, we loaded everyone up with some Mountain Dew and hit the ground running. Mickey Connolly opened the weekend with a message called “Am I Saved?”. The session ended with a time of ministry where several teens prayed to commit their lives to Christ!
After breakfast each morning time was carved out for teens to be alone with their parents for some face2face time so they could discuss the previous days messages. Friday morning’s message, “Honoring God and Parents” was yet another means of grace as God spoke through Keith Breault (even if he didn’t understand the question theme).
Afternoon activities offered an opportunity for games in the rec center, including the chance to challenge the pastors in 3-on-3 basketball. Mickey Connolly and Joe Lechner (both from CrossWay Community Church in Charlotte) and Bruce Chick (from Sovereign Grace Church of Roanoke) represented the pastors well by remaining undefeated throughout the afternoon.
Friday evening Gene Emerson shared a message on worldliness entitled “What in the World?” Afterwards, we headed to a nearby hill with Mountain Dew and Flavor-Ice in hand to watch some 4th of July fireworks.
After face2face time Saturday morning, Joe Lechner shared a message called “Is It Worth Your Life?” about the mission God has for each of us. After lunch and saying good bye to some new friends to connect with on Facebook, everyone headed for home.
By the end of the weekend it was evident that God has answered our prayer—that we would encounter Him. Not only did we encounter Him, but we were able to build relationships, minister to one another, drink a lot of Mountain Dew, and even have fun.
To download any of the messages or see pictures from the weekend go here.
Listen to this wonderful testimony from Danielle Ognibene:
“Last weekend, I had the opportunity to talk about the Lord with a good friend. Over the past year, my friend has been asking questions about the Christianity. My family and I believed that God was working in her heart for a while. I thought sharing the “How Good Are You?” booklet with her would help her understand salvation. After we finished reading through it, she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Last Sunday, she visited KingsWay again with us and felt that Mr. Campbell’s message gave her a better understanding of eternity. This week, she shared with her parents that she became a Christian. We’re praying for her and her family!”
Danielle, thank you for your faithfulness to come alongside of your friend and allow God to use you in proclaiming the Gospel!
-Steve
A very wise (and very old) senior pastor (with the initials G.E. ☺) recently gave me some great advice. “The key to discovering God’s will”, he said, “is not to tell him our plans and ask him to bless them. Rather, we should discover where God is at work, and join him in what He is doing.” Sounds very Biblical, an application of “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.”
Well, that’s exactly what we want to do in church planting. Where should we go? Where is God already working?
Just a few weeks back we knew God was directing us to a city in Virginia, but we didn’t know which one. In the past 3 weeks, however, God has been making clear the city that we should consider: Fredericksburg. It seems as though God is already at work in that city preparing the way for a church plant. There are several families meeting regularly for fellowship and praying that a Sovereign Grace church would be planted in their city.
We are thankful to God for his leading and for faith to follow him in this process. Over the next several months, we will be building relationships with these new friends and praying with them for continued direction.
Would you join us in prayer? Please pray that God would make his will clear, and that we would have the faith to obey. We are so thankful that God has given us this time at KingsWay to prepare us for the task ahead. It is such a joy to partner with all of you in the advance of the gospel!
- Ken
My name is Ken Delage, and this is my wonderful family! For those of you at the last Family Night, you’ve already met us. For the rest, we thought we’d take a few moments to let you know a little about the Delage clan.
I’m married to my high school sweetheart and best friend, Tiffany. We have four kids: Caleb (7), Isaac (5), Aaron (3), and Faith (1). My first career was in the submarine service and included a tour on board the USS Scranton (SSN-756) homeported out of Norfolk. During that time God graciously directed us to Sovereign Grace Church of Chesapeake.
Within the past several years, I began to sense a call to ministry and to plant a church. Last August, Sovereign Grace Church sent us to the Pastors College last year for an unforgettable year of training.
So from under the sea, to SGC, to the PC God has been faithfully leading us. Now, we are excited that He has directed us to KingsWay with an eye towards planting a church next year. We are so thankful to be here, partnering with you, in the advancement of the gospel.
- Ken
