Hey guys,

Sorry I haven’t written in a while.  I am posting on donnieslade.com though, so you can catch me there.  Just a quick update: I have been traveling a lot lately.  Well that is an understatement.  I was in Rome just 6 days in January.  But God has done some very big things.  Again, an understatement.  For example, just last night in Tucson, AZ, I had an event with about 700 people.  It was a great event and when we did the invitation at the end of the night, the altar was full.  It never gets old watching all of the kids come forward and give their lives to Jesus.  Before I left, the children’s pastor came to me and told me that they had counted the decision cards and there were 133 children and parents who prayed to receive Christ as personal Lord and Savior.  Praise God.

Thank you Life Church for allowing me the privilege of traveling all across this country presenting the Gospel of Christ.  God is doing amazing things.  Because of all that you do in the children, student, and family ministries, I know that things are taken care of back home and it gives me the freedom to do KidzBlitz.  God bless you guys as we serve together.

Thanks again,

Donnie

It has been a long time since I last wrote and a lot of things have taken place.  I will try to keep it short and sweet, but if you know me, well that might not happen.

First things first, I am writing from Buffalo, NY.  I have been on the road now for 11 days now and I only have 9 more to go.  I am missing my wife and kids, but I know they are in good hands, God’s hands.  I have had and unbelievable time.  God is good.  I have been in Fort Mill, SC, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Medina, OH, Buffalo, NY, and tonight I was in Rochester, NY.  I go to Hudson, Massachusettes at the end of this week and then home.  I have seen over 120 salvations and some of those were parents.  It has been an exciting time.

While I have been gone, my wife Christy, Jackie Mull, Linda Jones and Bert Hunt have been taking care of the Village.  They do an excellent job.  If you see them or talk to them, let them know how much you appreciate their service for Christ to our kids.

PULSE, our student ministry is flourishing as well.  I am really excited about what God is doing.  A big thank you goes to Ron and Resa Patrick for the use of their house for our students.  We have been averaging over 20 each week.  The biggest blessing is that we are seeing spiritual growth take place.  Just this past week one of our students, Mason (Tiny) Mull, taught the lesson.  It was his first time teaching and he did a fantastic job.  This week David Reeves will be teaching.  Please be praying for our students as they seek God’s place for them.

Please pray for me and my family as I am on the road.  Pray God’s protection and pray for lost souls to come to HIM.

Serving our Savior,

Donnie

It has been awhile since I last posted.  I have been in and out of town and am looking forward to being at Life Church this morning.  (It is 12:02am on Sunday morning.)  I have to be up in 5 hours so I will make this short.  I have been glued to the t.v. for the past 9 days as I watch people from my country compete against the world.  It makes me so proud to see the USA win another medal, especially another gold.  Phelps is a monster!!!  But as I watch I can’t help but think about the words that Paul spoke, “Run the race to finish strong.”  I saw Phelps race hard, but he was always racing for the gold, which he won in all 8 of his events.  But as I watched the ladies marathon tonight, a woman from Britain was running with an injured leg.  About 20 miles into the 26 mile race, she stopped running and started walking.  The commentators began to tell her story of her injury and how she could not train like the other runners.  But instead of stopping, she began to run again and finished the race through pain and tears.  I began to think about the words of Paul, “Run the race to finish and finish strong.” (paraphrased)

We will all run the race of life but what will be able to say.  When we are all running and things are good (we can see the gold) it will be easy to run strong.  But when things are tough and there is no gold ahead or even a silver or bronze, how will we run?  I pray that I will be able to say that I ran hard and that I finished strong.  More importantly, I pray that I will hear God say the same.  Let us run!!!

Donnie

God is doing incredible things on this road trip.  I had events on Thursday and Friday at Rainbow Forest Baptist Church in Troutville, VA.  We had 29 decisions over the two nights.  Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we are having events at Parkway Wesleyan Church in Roanoke.  Sunday night was great and I am looking forward to Monday and Tuesday.

I can’t wait to get back home though.  I miss my church family but most of all I miss my wife and kids.  Christy does such a good job when I am gone, she is such a God-send.  It takes a special person to do what she does.  I love her so much.  God blessed me immensely when He gave her to me. 

Just wanted to let everyone know how blessed I am and what God is doing.

Thanks Jesus,

Donnie

Today I went and got my hair cut.  I needed one.  If you know me, I hate for my hair to even begin to get long.  I like the quick fix when it comes to my hair.  I don’t want to have to spend time every morning fixing my hair; so, I just keep it real short.  I got my hair cut a few months ago and while I was there one of the ladies asked if I wanted my eyebrows waxed.  Now here is where the story gets interesting.  See, all my life I have had one eyebrow, you know, the proverbial UNI-brow.  I loved my eyebrow.  I believe God put me on this Earth with one full eyebrow and I planned on going out of this world with one.  I was going to meet God how He made me.  But my wife wanted me to get the wax job to make two eyebrows, so reluctantly I did.  WOW, what a difference.  Just looks cleaner and all around nicer. 

I started thinking, I am 36 and I just had this done for the first time.  I was hard-headed and stubborn and was not going to change.  About my eyebrow!!! Good Grief, an eyebrow.  You know what, I do the same thing in my spiritual life at times.  God wants me to change, but I am to hard-headed.  Whether it is the music I listen too, or prefer, or the things I watch on t.v., or the way I think about certain things.  You know what I am talking about.  We have always done it that way, so why change.  You ever heard that?  That is what I said about my eyebrow, God made it that way, why change.  Change is good.  Change is necessary if we want to grow.  We must step out of our comfort zone and move into new areas that we are not comfortable in.  When was the last time you stepped out into something new?  Try it sometime, you may just get a blessing.  And who knows, your wife might just think you look even better.

Donnie

Tonight I had an event in Sumter, SC. At the end of each event I do an invitation and tonight we had 37 first time decisions, two were parents. What a night. I thank God that He allows me the opportunity to see His hand at work in such a personal way. I also thank God for a church that has the heart and understanding to allow me to be gone for so long. I look forward to being back and spending time with my church family. I pray for LIFE Church to continue to have the heart to be about Life change. Thanks to all of you who are serving in the Village while I am gone. You guys are great. I will continue to let you know how things are on the road, God is doing big things.

-Donnie

I have been on the road for the better part of two months now and I am really missing my family. Especially my beautiful wife. It proves to me that relationships are not important, they are vital. I have been blessed to stay with a buddy in Spartanburg, Nic Snow. The cool thing is that I get to spend time with a friend who has moved away, the bad thing is that Nic left SC to go home to spend the week in Rome. Nic left me his extra keys so I could stay at his place between events and so that I wouldn’t have to stay in hotels. I can’t tell you what a blessing that has been. The best part about this whole thing is that I have had the opportunity to meet some of Nic’s friends. Micky took me to play golf and his wife Kim fixed us dinner. Kyle took me to play golf and his wife Jackie fixed us dinner two nights. I had to take my car to the shop and Kyle let me have his vehicle for a few days. I didn’t buy lunch or dinner for 4 days, and these people just met me. They knew Nic and I were buddies so any friend of Nic’s was a friend of theirs. (More like family) Because of my relationship with Nic and his relationship with Micky and Kyle, and their relationship with Christ, the last week of my life has been blessed. They have made me feel at home and have made it easier to be on the road away from my family. After witnessing the hospitality of these guys, I have come to realize that I take my relationships for granted. I have a new appreciation for my family and my friends. I am looking forward to being home and spending time with those I love. Just a thought from the road.

-Donnie

I too, had a great meal tonight. Mine wasn’t from the Huddle House, but from Taco Dog in Spartanburg. I ate chicken quesadillas and chips, salsa, and goat cheese. Oh, and I almost forgot about that big huge chocolate chip cookie. I too, had a great conversation. The center point of our conversation was ‘is it a sin to drink’. I won’t go into to many details, but the conclusion was this, it is not a sin, but we should not do anything that causes anyone to stumble or become confused. But we also spoke about not judging others; that is not our job. Plus, the Word teaches us that we probably have the proverbial log in our own eye. We must not judge but love. How are you doing with that? Do you love the sinners that you run into. The homosexuals, the adulterers, the liars, cheaters, thiefs, dissenters, those that complain, those that hurt your kids, etc. Our conversation was a tough one and one that was very challenging. I had a great time and I pray that I will stay humble and remember that God is merciful and gracious and I should be too.

Loving people,

Donnie

FOCUS. God is putting that word in my heart right now. FOCUS. What is He trying to tell me? I don’t think it is as hard as I am trying to make it. FOCUS. On what? On HIM!! Not on what I want or what I think the way things should be, but on HIM. God is not a God of confusion, He is clear. I need to FOCUS on Him and HE will put things in order, not me or anyone else for that matter. My heart for me, my family, my church, my friends; FOCUS on Him not us. My question, where is our FOCUS?

-Donnie

If you have not visited the Jungle or the Village, you are missing out. Our Guides, (that is what we call all of our leaders) are doing an incredible job of teaching our kids. The kids are having a great time as they are learning about our wonderful Savior. As you may or may not know, I have been out of town most of the past month. During this time, the teamwork that has been exemplified has been overwhelming. We have the best team of people ever. I know that the tech team will argue this point, but I know the truth. JK. I know that it takes all of us to make LIFE Church what it is. There are exciting days ahead and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do. Come join us in the Jungle or Village and be blessed as you serve Christ and watch our kids come to know our Creator. Thanks to all of you.

God Bless,

Donnie