For those of you not so keen on Bloomberg, I thought you’d all be interested in discussing the obscene amount of money Bloomberg spent on his close call of a third term. Here are the details:

To eke out an election victory over the city’s low-key comptroller, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spent $102 million of his own fortune — or about $174 per vote — according to data released Friday, making his bid for a third term the most expensive campaign in the city’s history.

Mr. Bloomberg, the wealthiest man in New York City, shattered his own records: He poured $85 million into his campaign in 2005 (or $112 per vote) and $74 million into his first bid for office in 2001 ($99 per vote).

And the $102 million tab is likely to rise, because the mayor has not yet doled out postelection bonuses to campaign workers, which have routinely exceeded $100,000 a person in years past. That spending will not be reported until after his inauguration in January.

Mr. Bloomberg has now spent at least $261 million of his own money in the pursuit of public office, more than anyone else in the United States

Government watchdog groups criticized the nine-digit price tag for his re-election, saying it undermined a widely admired campaign finance system that Mr. Bloomberg helped install in the city. Mr. Bloomberg did not participate in the system, which rewards candidates who raise small donations with large matching money from taxpayers.

The downside for the billionaire mayor: It caps spending at $6 million in the general election.

“He has done long-term damage to the system,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney at the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Throughout the campaign, the mayor’s aides sought to project an air of inevitability, but data released on Friday revealed just how anxious they had become in the final weeks.

From Oct. 20 to Nov. 26, his campaign burned through $18.6 million, much of it on last-minute television and radio advertising.

As the mayor’s consultants and pollsters realized that a large bloc of undecided voters either favored Mr. Thompson or planned to stay home on Election Day, the campaign scrambled.

A few hours before the polls closed on Nov. 3, the campaign issued a flurry of recorded telephone calls to registered voters, in which Mr. Bloomberg requested that New Yorkers head to the polls and pull the lever for him.

At the start of the race, Mr. Bloomberg’s aides promised to run a political operation that mirrored the austere times. But that promise quickly evaporated.

The mayor’s campaign, which leased a 35,000-square-foot headquarters in Midtown Manhattan and paid a disc jockey $300 to perform as volunteers called voters, was widely expected to crush his Democratic opponent, William C. Thompson Jr., the city’s chief financial officer.

Mr. Thompson, who participated in the campaign finance system, was outspent by 14 to 1, and he struggled to attract experienced staff members and raise money.

His press releases misspelled his own name; his aides groused about their jobs on Facebook; and his media team was so short on cash that it resorted to running 15-second blink-and-you-miss-it TV commercials.

But Mr. Bloomberg’s unpopular drive to overturn the city’s term limits law, his lavish campaign and a sputtering economy soured thousands of New Yorkers on him, even though most admired his record in office.

On Election Day, their frustration erupted into public view: Mr. Bloomberg won by fewer than 5 percentage points, at a cost of about $20 million for each point.

Turnout was unusually low — 585,000 New Yorkers cast votes for him, compared with 753,089 in 2005 and 744,757 in 2001, records show.

“He didn’t seem to get very much for his money,” Mr. Russianoff said.

Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the mayor’s campaign, said that a harsh political environment helped oust incumbents in Westchester County and New Jersey.

“The reason this anti-incumbent wave stopped at the Hudson’s edge,” Mr. Wolfson said, “is because the mayor ran an effective campaign based on eight years of success.”

A free-spending ethos infused the Bloomberg campaign. The latest filing shows that staff members charged Mr. Bloomberg for expensive meals, rides home, even to retrieve a towed car.

The campaign’s union coordinator, Patrick J. Brennan, spent $520 to dine with labor leaders at Smith & Wollensky, the Midtown steakhouse.

Mark Botnick, who focused on outreach to Jewish voters, charged the campaign $223 for taxi rides. And a Republican operative, Matthew Mahoney — whose campaign wages totaled $100,000 — sought about $5,400 in reimbursements from the campaign, for items big and small. A rental car bill from Hertz exceeded $700. A burger meal at Wendy’s cost $8.36.

Some of the spending seems to have directly benefited taxpayers. A campaign worker named Andres Berry paid $185 to a tow pound in Brooklyn, presumably after he ran afoul of parking rules that, under the Bloomberg administration, are strictly enforced, even if you work for him.

Mr. Bloomberg, the wealthiest man in New York City, shattered his own records: He poured $85 million into his campaign in 2005 (or $112 per vote) and $74 million into his first bid for office in 2001 ($99 per vote).

And the $102 million tab is likely to rise, because the mayor has not yet doled out postelection bonuses to campaign workers, which have routinely exceeded $100,000 a person in years past. That spending will not be reported until after his inauguration in January.

Mr. Bloomberg has now spent at least $261 million of his own money in the pursuit of public office, more than anyone else in the United States.

Government watchdog groups criticized the nine-digit price tag for his re-election, saying it undermined a widely admired campaign finance system that Mr. Bloomberg helped install in the city. Mr. Bloomberg did not participate in the system, which rewards candidates who raise small donations with large matching money from taxpayers.

The downside for the billionaire mayor: It caps spending at $6 million in the general election.

“He has done long-term damage to the system,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney at the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Throughout the campaign, the mayor’s aides sought to project an air of inevitability, but data released on Friday revealed just how anxious they had become in the final weeks.

From Oct. 20 to Nov. 26, his campaign burned through $18.6 million, much of it on last-minute television and radio advertising.

As the mayor’s consultants and pollsters realized that a large bloc of undecided voters either favored Mr. Thompson or planned to stay home on Election Day, the campaign scrambled.

A few hours before the polls closed on Nov. 3, the campaign issued a flurry of recorded telephone calls to registered voters, in which Mr. Bloomberg requested that New Yorkers head to the polls and pull the lever for him.

At the start of the race, Mr. Bloomberg’s aides promised to run a political operation that mirrored the austere times. But that promise quickly evaporated.

The mayor’s campaign, which leased a 35,000-square-foot headquarters in Midtown Manhattan and paid a disc jockey $300 to perform as volunteers called voters, was widely expected to crush his Democratic opponent, William C. Thompson Jr., the city’s chief financial officer.

Mr. Thompson, who participated in the campaign finance system, was outspent by 14 to 1, and he struggled to attract experienced staff members and raise money.

His press releases misspelled his own name; his aides groused about their jobs on Facebook; and his media team was so short on cash that it resorted to running 15-second blink-and-you-miss-it TV commercials.

But Mr. Bloomberg’s unpopular drive to overturn the city’s term limits law, his lavish campaign and a sputtering economy soured thousands of New Yorkers on him, even though most admired his record in office.

On Election Day, their frustration erupted into public view: Mr. Bloomberg won by fewer than 5 percentage points, at a cost of about $20 million for each point.

Turnout was unusually low — 585,000 New Yorkers cast votes for him, compared with 753,089 in 2005 and 744,757 in 2001, records show.

“He didn’t seem to get very much for his money,” Mr. Russianoff said.

Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the mayor’s campaign, said that a harsh political environment helped oust incumbents in Westchester County and New Jersey.

“The reason this anti-incumbent wave stopped at the Hudson’s edge,” Mr. Wolfson said, “is because the mayor ran an effective campaign based on eight years of success.”

A free-spending ethos infused the Bloomberg campaign. The latest filing shows that staff members charged Mr. Bloomberg for expensive meals, rides home, even to retrieve a towed car.

The campaign’s union coordinator, Patrick J. Brennan, spent $520 to dine with labor leaders at Smith & Wollensky, the Midtown steakhouse.

Mark Botnick, who focused on outreach to Jewish voters, charged the campaign $223 for taxi rides. And a Republican operative, Matthew Mahoney — whose campaign wages totaled $100,000 — sought about $5,400 in reimbursements from the campaign, for items big and small. A rental car bill from Hertz exceeded $700. A burger meal at Wendy’s cost $8.36.

Some of the spending seems to have directly benefited taxpayers. A campaign worker named Andres Berry paid $185 to a tow pound in Brooklyn, presumably after he ran afoul of parking rules that, under the Bloomberg administration, are strictly enforced, even if you work for him.

ELIMINATED: www.myspace.com/runningwiththevision

ADDED: www.myspace.com/shanetriapetersonmusic

http://www.xianz.com/shanetriapeterson

http://www.myspace.com/makingthevisionplain

www.myspace.com/runningwiththevision has been eliminated as I incline my ear to hear the voice of God. GRO MINISTRIES is now in its season of manifestation.  We now have a NETWORKING page on My Space:

www.myspace.com/makingthevisionplain

I have eliminated www.myspace.com/runningwiththevision as I incline my ear to hear God’s voice.  The previous page was my personal networking page, but now, GRO MINISTRIES has an official networking page. WE HAVE worked on incorporation and still have a few steps to go. I thank God for allowing this vision to manifest into the fullness of what GOD INTENDS for it to be.

http://www.myspace.com/makingthevisionplain

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

This is my first post. It has been a long time between when I felt the desire to start this blog and this post.

For several years I felt a desire to use my talents in marketing to help spread the Gospel but I’ve been busy with other things. Looking back it was stuff that really didn’t matter. Luckily God kept nudging me.

My goal for this blog is pretty simple: help churches connect to their community. The great commission using modern technology. As a Methodist I look at it as following in our founder’s footsteps. John Wesley went out and preached where people were. He did not wait for them to show up. The tools have changed but the message has not.

I hope you will join us as we reach out with the Gospel message in new and creative ways.

For those of you that follow along on twitter, a little while ago I asked for some help finding space and astronomy songs for our Dark Skies, Bright Kids end of semester party. And did I mention that my twitter friends are freaking awesome! I got TONS of lists and suggestions and promised to compile a list once I had it all done. For the party itself, I threw these all together into a big playlist and just hit “shuffle.” For listing purposes, I tried to separate the more educational songs from the pool of general space song awesomeness. This also includes suggestions from our other club members here at UVa. Where possible, I’ve provided links for you to download (if free) or buy these songs. Enjoy, and feel free to add even more to the comments!

Of a more educational bent:

"Glorious Dawn" by Colorpulse ft. Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking - song, video, and more
"Far (365 Days of Astronomy Theme)" by George Hrab - song and video
"Cosmic Carl" by Dr. Paul Shuch aka Dr. SETI - mp3 and MORE songs
"Galaxy Song" by Monty Python - video
from Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants (really, get the whole album!)
    - Science is Real - video
    - Meet the Elements - video
    - What is a Shooting Star?
    - How Many Planets? - video
    - Why Does the Sun Shine? - new version and old version
    - Why Does the Sun Really Shine? - video
    - Roy G. Biv - video
    - Put It to the Test - video
    - Speed and Velocity - video
    - Solid Liquid Gas
"Stars by the Colors" by Alan Marscher - song and lyrics and more songs
AstroCapella by the Chromatics - buy the CD or sample free songs
"Elements Song" by Tom Lehrer - video
"Interplanet Janet" by Lynn Ahrens for SchoolHouse Rock - video
    (I could not find the Man or Astroman version! Help?)
"The Planet Song!" from Blue's Clues - song and others
"Yakko's Universe Song" from Animaniacs - video
"Our Solar System" from Animaniacs - song and video
"Big Bang Theory" by Barenaked Ladies - video

For the fun, spacey, and starry-eyed songs, stay tuned for part II…

Threatened hunters of the Kalahari Desert.

Threatened Hiunters leopards and lions of Khutse Game Reserve

Leopard ecology & conservation has been promoting research into the conditions of the population of loins (about 30 or more) and leopards in Khutse Game reserve since the year 2000. The aim of the project was to study and understand the movements of these predators, their behaviour patterns, genetics, population structures, health status as many are suffering from feline aids outbreak, and their ecological role in the food chain pyramids and to successful develop a strategy to effectively protect farm animals from these marauders. Some ideas have been to promote sustainable solutions such as maternity kraals for cows and calves, one- way gates, education programmes, community gardens and using scientific finding to further understand nature’s ways.

The study area covers the edges of the park where livestock farming and ranching comes into conflict with these predators. Many of the radio collared animals have been shot when crossing into the local human population livestock areas. The research project aims to see if fencing off territory might be of help. Much of the time the field researchers fill in holes and gaps made in the fence to keep these predators apart from the local villagers livestock.

What is the Mokolodi project trying to achieve?

 David Mills and Monika Scheiss-Meier from the leopard ecology and conservation team are keen to find out the behavioural habits of Leopard near to a high population area like Gaborone. The benefits to Mokolodi are both educational and revenue generating in that the radio collars fitted enable students to track the animals, to find and study spoor and other related evidence of a predator, and also it is of benefit to the paying guests of Mokolodi to know that they may get to see a Leopard and possibly follow it.

The radio collars are fitted with a transmitter that gives out a intermittent beep that can be heard which is exciting to the paying guest to think that they are in the vicinity of a Leopard.Mokolodi need to get an antenna to be able to pick up the sounds from the beeper, and as the locations are beamed via GPS, a GPS would be of benefit to the park also.

 The treatment of the Leopards was of some concern to David and it was stressed that the Mokolodi Rangers would need to have a day’s training in how to approach and behave near the Leopards and this protocol would have to be followed for the safety of all concerned both human and Leopard.

Techniques need to be used would be taught by David ie. How to approach the animal – not head on but from the side, watch the signs that the animal is giving, ie ears down means back off. These animals must not be allowed to become stressed or overly habituated by getting too close as this is when they become even more dangerous.

This leopard is being observed for on going research in Khutse

Nigel Titus who is coordinating the 2010 Final Draw Outreach in Cape Town from December 4th – 6th, 2009, is also a graduate of the Ambassadors’ Alliance Academy of August 2008. It was through our first 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Newsletter that was distributed by Michael Rogers of Living Waters Africa that our Lord Jesus connected us.

Here are a few photos of Nigel evangelising in Cape Town.

We look forward to laboring with you brother in our Lord’s harvest field. Nigel can be contacted at ngtitus@chevron.com

Dear CrossWay Community Church,

The first semester of Mission28 is coming to a close. Picking up from the middle of October, we had our ‘All Day Fun Day’, which consisted of the guys playing flag football on campus and then all of us hanging out at the church for pancakes and a bon fire.  Over 3 different Thursday meetings we had Nick, Mickey, and Mike each give a message.  We are very blessed to have our pastors come and share their hearts and teach God’s word on campus.  [Thank you, Pastors!] Earlier in October we had a Girls Retreat, in the mountains, where we gathered with Jeanie Lechner and Kathryn Flanigan to come to a fresh view of God’s personal, intimate, measureless love for us as individuals.  

Mission28 just had our annual coffee house.  This year, we had ‘Already Not Yet’ Band play, as well as, Daniel Renstrom and Shelly Moore.  There was an estimate of over 200 people there.  It was an awesome time to relax, listen to some music, eat and get to know new people!

Update with OD’s…. Each dorm has had new people come out consistently each week. That’s good news!!! Just a few weeks ago, in Moore dorm, we weren’t able to knock on doors, so no one came out, except one girl. God’s perfect plan! She came out and opened up to us some tragic things that have been going on with her family the past few months and had asked us what to do.  Not able to give any answers, we turned to prayer! So that night we were able to sit and pray for this girl.  I’ve had the pleasure to talk with her more and I believe God is going to do some wonderful things in her life. Please pray God would work through her and she would turn to Him and TRUST in what he’s doing in her life!

Looking back on this semester I see the changes God has done on campus. Many relationships are being made and students are either coming to know Christ as their Savior, or growing more in their walk with the Lord! I’m encouraged!

Thank you for your prayers.

In Grace,

Stephanie Jilek

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Sports Fan Outreach International:  Super Bowl XLIV Outreach Newsletter Edition #27 November 24, 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are 72 days to go until the first day of the Super Bowl XLIV Outreach.  There are a few spots remaining so if you are still interested please register today.

Super Bowl Outreach Registration.

SFOI at upcoming games…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SFOI will be at the Auburn vs. Alabama game this Friday, November 27th in Auburn, AL; the Atlanta Falcons home game Sunday, November 29th; the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday, December 6th; the Falcons home games December 7th & 13th; the Jacksonville Jags game Thursday, December 17th; the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, December 26th;

Also, God willing we’ll be at the last Miami Dolphins game Sunday, January 3rd & the Orange Bowl Tuesday, January 5th both held at the Land Shark Stadium where the Super Bowl will be held.

We might even be at the BCS Championship game at the Rose Bowl Thursday, January 7th.

If you know any evangelists in Charlotte, NC; Miami, FL or the Pasadena/Los Angeles, CA area would you send their contact information to me?

Contact us if you want to join us at any of these events:  Contact.

NBA All-Star Weekend Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weekend after the Super Bowl is the annual NBA All-Star weekend.

If you are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area make a plan to join us as we preach Christ to the NBA.  The All-Star game itself will be played in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.

NBA All-Star Weekend Outreach.

Look for more details in the next SFOI emails & if you know any evangelists in the area would you send their contact information to me?  Thanks.

 Ministry web sites

The following are web sites of friends also doing outreach.  Take a look at each one & see if you are in their area or maybe they are doing an event or selling tracts that you’d like.

David MacMillan Lexington, KY:  Testament Bible Felllowship

Ron Martinez Dallas, TX:  Gospel to the Perishing.

Alex Burt Athens, GA:  Preach On Ministries.

Jeff Hopper Clovis, CA:  Links Players.

Wayne Albrecht Jasper, GA:  His Feet on the Street.

Zach Baxter Atlanta, GA:  The Gospel Messenger.

Donnie Legg, Indialantic, FL:  Second Adam Ministries.

Neil Cox Indianapolis, IN:  Indy Christian TV.

Bob Loy Jacksonville, FL:  Jacksonville Port Ministries.

Wes Tyler Melbourne, FL:  Crosswalk Ministries.

Mark Cahill Atlanta, GA:  Mark Cahill Ministries.

Robert Houghton Orlando FL:  Bring The Noiz & ministry videos at:  YouTube.com/bringthenoiz

Len Qualls Jacksonville, FL:  One Over 99

Gary Crous Pietermaritzburg, South Africa:  Luke 9:23 Evangelism.

Michael Rogers Johannesburg, South Africa:  Living Waters South Africa.

Keith Higgins Atlanta:  Saved From What?

Keith’s friend Ty in Chattanooga, TN:  Further the Kingdom.

Dennis Feely Melbourne, FL:  Fishers for Men.

Justin Pierce Bristol, TN:  Evangelism-Alliance.

Chris Galloway Atlanta:  TNT Ministries.

Mike Porter near Indianapolis, IN:  Good Messengers.

Marv Plementosh somewhere up north:  One Million Tracts.

Jon Speed Dallas, TX:  Lost Cause Ministries.

Tony Miano Los Angeles, CA:  Ambassadors Alliance.

Greg Marlin Springfield, MO:  Born of Him.

Butch Morley Bradenton, FL:  J316ball.

Robert Specter Fairfield, Ohio:  Rock of Israel.

Tamara Cline Maidsville, West Virginia:  Fan the Flames.

Marcus Pittman Norfolk, VA:  East Coast Evangelism.

Steve Kaplan Atlanta:  Jewish Outreach International.

Scott Autry Covington, GA:  Fish for Christ.

Jim West:  Pocket Testament League.

Do you have a site you’d like to ad?  Email me:  bill@sfoi.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are pictures from our preaching at the Alabama vs. UT, UGA vs. LSU & the UGA vs. UT games recently.

UGA vs. UT   UGA vs. LSU   Alabama vs. UT

This week has been amazing.

God is really pouring out his love and power into us as we approach these last few weeks before outreach. For an awesome example of this, I refer you to Angela’s blog on Blessings. Earth Care had a fun afternoon learning some more conversational Khmer, and praying for each members roles on our team. Angela and I are taking on the roles of co-treasurers. And, I will be helping Sam with photography and making a video after we return. Soon we will start practicing short skits to preform in Cambodia. For dinner, we had an American Thanksgiving meal, complete with yorkshire pudding and pumpkin pie made from an actual pumpkin. (They don’t even sell canned pumpkin here.) I would like to say, Happy Thanksgiving to all my family at Grandpa Reimer’s today. I miss you, and I’m sorry I can’t be there with you in person.

A big hug from me.

In case you didn’t catch this gem on the New York Times’ website, I thought I’d share it with you:

ALBANY — City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., weighing his options in the wake of a surprisingly close loss in the mayoral race, is seriously considering challenging Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand in next year’s primary elections, according to people who have spoken to Mr. Thompson and his advisers.

Challenging Senator Gillibrand is one of three options being mulled by Mr. Thompson and his advisers. He is also considering a run against the state comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, in the primaries, or returning to the private sector for now and running again for mayor in 2013.

With the primary 10 months away, he is expected to make a decision on any statewide bid by mid-January at the latest. Those with knowledge of the deliberations between Mr. Thompson and his advisers spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he has not yet decided which course to pursue.

That Mr. Thompson is considering a run for the United States Senate underscores the challenges Ms. Gillibrand faces in holding her seat. A number of Democratic politicians and party activists have privately urged him to consider taking her on, sensing vulnerability in her mixed poll numbers as she continues to seek her political footing since being appointed in January by Gov. David A. Paterson.

The conversations have taken place despite the White House’s having previously encouraged other potential Democratic challengers to Senator Gillibrand to stand down, a tactic that has led to second-guessing in state political circles.

Concern has been fueled by the mention of some high-profile Republicans as potential opponents of Ms. Gillibrand, including Rudolph W. Giuliani and George E. Pataki, though it is unclear whether either man is seriously considering a bid.

The names of challengers continue to circulate from all levels of the political sphere. On Tuesday, Elizabeth N. Feld, the Republican mayor of Larchmont, said she was considering a run for the United States Senate, despite falling short last year in a bid for the State Senate.

Aides to Ms. Gillibrand and Mr. Thompson declined to comment.

“I think the more the numbers keep coming out saying she’s vulnerable, the more people will try to figure out where she stands on the issues,” said Representative José E. Serrano, one of the most outspoken Democratic critics of Senator Gillibrand, referring to her shifting stance on issues like gun control.

“I think Thompson would make a great candidate,” he added. “He is a progressive voice that hasn’t moved one way or the other over the years, and people would respect that.”

Mr. Serrano also said that Mr. Thompson’s candidacy would be “a national candidacy.”

Indeed, a number of party activists said that a Senate bid by Mr. Thompson, who is black, would be elevated by the pending departure of Senator Roland W. Burris of Illinois, the only African-American currently serving in the Senate, and could help him raise money nationally.

The White House might also be hard pressed to block Mr. Thompson after having already urged Mr. Paterson, New York’s first black governor, to drop out of the 2010 race.

Mr. Thompson is also buoyed by having run such a close race against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, despite being outspent 14 to one.

“I think whatever Billy runs for, especially in the aftermath of the mayoral election, he’s a formidable candidate,” said Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright, the new chairman of the Democratic Party in Manhattan. “I don’t know if he runs against Gillibrand, he’s never expressed that to me, but one never knows.”

But Mr. Wright also said of Senator Gillibrand: “I think whoever underestimates her does so at their peril. She’s been defying the odds most of her political life.”

Ms. Gillibrand’s strengths include her appeal upstate, particularly in her old Congressional district, which stretches from Lake Placid to the Hudson Valley. She is also known for her tenacity and fund-raising prowess.

But recent polls have suggested that she has not solidified her support in voting blocs where Democrats are traditionally strong: among black and Latino voters, as well as the elderly, female and Jewish voters.

Of the two potential races Mr. Thompson is considering for next year, taking on the state comptroller, Mr. DiNapoli, would be perceived as a safer and far lower-profile move.

Mr. DiNapoli is untested: He has yet to run a statewide race, having been appointed by the Legislature in 2007 to replace Alan G. Hevesi, who resigned after pleading guilty to a felony.

The greatest shortage in God’s work is not money, time, materials or equipment. It is workers. Working workers. Two thousand years ago Jesus said “The harvest is great but the workers are few.” (Luke 10:2). That is still true today.

Jesus told us to ask the Lord of the harvest to throw out workers into His harvest. Then, through His interaction with the 12 (Luke 9) and later the 70  (Luke 10) He modeled how to develop these workers.  He gave them training, provided all the equipping they needed, activated them and sent them out into the harvest, and then for three years He provided on-going mentoring to help them become Christlike in their thinking, actions and ministry.

How would your congregations be better off if you had a clear plan to train, equip, activate and mentor your members in soul winning? In time would you see exponential, rather than numerical, growth? Would God send you more and more people because you were ready to help grow them? Would your members be better off at the end of next year spiritually than they are right now?

NPUC Conference and Union leaders have decided to make lay soul winning training, equipping, activating and mentoring a priority for several reasons–

1. Jesus made this a priority in His ministry.
2. We have Ellen White counsel to make this a priority. (See for example books such as Acts of the Apostles, Christian Service and Evangelism)
3. The early Seventh-day Adventist Church made this a priority.
4. This is what is happening in all the consistently fast-growing churches of all ethnicities and languages in the NPUC (based on spring 2009 research). At least two of the three characteristics we discovered these churches have in common can only happen when lay members are trained, equipped, activated and mentored in soul winning-
   • Regular reaping meetings at least twice a year
   • Lots of members giving Bible studies
   • Small groups of some type

Local pastors and churches and conferences can continue to develop plans to train, equip, activate and mentor their lay members in soul winning. In addition the NPUC and Conference leaders are providing training and equipping at “Momentum Festivals” in the major metro areas on Sabbath afternoons in January and February 2010, and at other locations in the northwest throughout the rest of the year.

At each Momentum Festival there will be two specific types of training–

• The Andrew TEAM will train, equip, activate and mentor members in how to SHARE their faith, distribute literature and give Bible studies.
• The Jethro TEAM will train, equip, activate and mentor members in how to LEAD small groups

Plan now to bring a group from each of your churches to one of the Momentum Festivals near you or contact your Conference Evangelism Coordinator or Pastor to have one scheduled near you during this next year.

“The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members, but for unbelievers. If in one place there are only two or three who know the truth, let them form themselves into a band of workers. Let them keep their bond of union unbroken, pressing together in love and unity, encouraging one another to advance, each gaining courage and strength from the assistance of the others. Let them reveal Christlike forbearance and patience, speaking no hasty words, using the talent of speech to build one another up in the most holy faith. Let them labor in Christlike love for those outside the fold, forgetting self in their endeavor to help others. As they work and pray in Christ’s name, their numbers will increase; for the Saviour says: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19.” {Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7: 21.4}

Blessings to you,

Dan Serns

This month we received requests from three individuals about volunteering at our facility.  This alone is exciting news, given that most of the pre-existing volunteer base decided to vamoose after our old archivist left.  Just having the company is a good thing, as the world of small-town archives can tend to get pretty lonely sometimes.

When I first started (as in 3 months ago…) I had envisioned this wonderful bustling place full of volunteers to assist me with my everyday duties.  Unbeknownst to me, this was not what I had in store. 

After about 2 months of muddling through (although I am told I am doing quite well, it’s still difficult to believe sometimes), I decided to send the word out that we were taking volunteers of all ages, shapes and sizes!  A volunteer casting call, so to speak.  The response has been less than totally enthusiastic, but I only needed a small base of volunteers that I could count on.  So, I posted a volunteer section on our organizational website.  By posting the volunteer application form on our website, I received a few ‘hits.’   

Since that time, I have had a high school student in doing some volunteer service hours (mandatory here in our wonderful province of Ontario), one in to catalogue my reading room resources, and a third who will be starting next week organizing our photographic (copy) collection in the reading room. 

I’m so happy they’ve chosen to use our little facility to give back to their community!

Let’s keep ‘em coming!

“When I meet with groups of pastors through the years I like to ask them which two Ellen White books did she say would especially help new members be grounded in their faith. Almost every time they mention The Desire of Ages and Steps to Christ. Those books are wonderful and helpful, but the two she said that would establish new believers in the truth are Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy.”* 

               – Dale Galusha, President, Pacific Press Publishing Association. Dale Galusha has been a pastor and is now president of the publishing company that prints Ellen White books. He Knows What He Is Talking About. (H.K.W.H.T.A.)

* “Many will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits. Patriarchs and Prophets and The Great Controversy, are books that are especially adapted to those who have newly come to the faith, that they may be established in the truth. The dangers are pointed out that should be avoided by the churches. Those who become thoroughly acquainted with the lessons in these books will see the dangers before them, and will be able to discern the plain, straight path marked out for them. They will be kept from strange paths. They will make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.–Letter 229, 1903.” {Colporteur Ministry p. 129.3}

LONE STAR RANCH PUBLIC TOUR

Join the Greenbelt Land Trust this Saturday, November 28th (9am-12pm) for a tour of the Lone Star Ranch, 199 acres of high quality upland prairie and oak woodland in Philomath.  This property, a conservation easement with the Greenbelt, contains a beautiful mix of oak woodlands, grasslands and upland prairies, all rare habitats in the Willamette Valley.  The ranch is located within a conservation network of conserved lands including Fitton Green, Lupine Meadows, and properties in Wren and the Kings Valley region. 

We will be walking a portion of the property, so please bring muck boots and be prepared for rain!  Meet at the Greenbelt office (101 SW Western Blvd., Corvallis) at 9 am for carpooling purposes due to limited parking at the ranch.

For questions or more information, call the Greenbelt office at (541) 752-9609.

Being a current graduate student interning at RCASA, I knew September would bring the usual introduction into a new school year, new settings, and new classes.  However, this time included my first experience at a therapy site in relation to the Clinical Psychology track in my program.  I was feeling comfortable and confident coming into the meetings, having been in the field for a while and having already spent a year working at a Domestic Violence agency, which required a similar type of training.  However, this was a more informative and exciting training that I had ever expected, and I am partially talking about Corey this time.

The trainings helped me to understand the depth and the core of the issue of sexual assault.  It was something that no previous experience in the domestic violence realm or any class or textbook could explain to me as powerfully as Corey and her many helpers did, her team of educators.  I thought I had an idea of what the issue of sexual assault meant and what it meant to me as a future interning therapist, but I was wrong. 

Beginning with the training and continuing into what I am doing today, RCASA has taught me a lot.  Whether you are in the field or just looking to do some volunteer work, this is an experience that will fulfill you in multiple ways.  The skills and tools you will learn will not only help you in your RCASA role, but will help you to better deal with your everyday life and maybe even help your friends to cope at times!  Active listening, understanding, and empathy are skills that will better anyone’s life and the relationships you maintain.  Working with these skills to do what you can to help another human in a crisis situation is only the current frame of skills you will learn in training.

Coming into Corey’s trainings with an open mind is the best thing to can do to help yourself most clearly understand what the issue at hand is and what RCASA is about.  She has a special way about helping one to understand the gravity of the situation, while making the trainings a time to be thoughtful and thankful. Thankful that you are currently in a position to be able to offer your own special form of help.   It is a special talent that Corey has, to be able to take a subject that is so heavy, yet inspire you to want to do all that you can to help anyone and everyone who comes across your path.

Kaitlan

We Give Thanks!!

1Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry.

My latest blessing was to return 3 yr old David Larty to his family in Ghana.

David had been in the USA for surgery to repair bilateral hip displacement suffered at his breech birth. He also needed a bone to be shortened in his left leg. After all these donated procedures being completed it was time for his foster family to part with this sweet courageous boy. David not being able to walk, crawl, sit or scoot since birth; now after 12 months in the USA he was able to run to his family who met us at the airport in Ghana. God is so Good!

October was a month of blessing for another boy we have in the USA for medical attention. 10 yr old, Wisdom received a heart catheterization to correct a birth defect. The large patent ductus arteriosus; a vessel failed to close after birth causing abnormal blood circulation between heart and lungs was corrected at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He also received hearing aid devices that allow him to hear at 100%. After a few months of speech therapy he will be returning to his family in Gomoa Fetteh. I know Wisdom’s foster parents will miss him dearly but are excited that he will be re united with his mother and live a productive life in West Africa.

The National Missionary Convention was held just last week and we met with friends from all over the world. African Hope is continually asked to speak through out the USA and has also been petitioned to visit several additional African nations. Invitations to share include the 4 corners of the USA any many cities in between;

Seattle Washington Portland Maine

Longbeach, California Naples, Florida

The previous 5 months have been invested in speaking and sharing in the USA. African Hope will continue fund raising as time allows for traveling in the USA. Please contact us through our website www.africanhope.com to request speaking dates. Plans being made for African Hope in 2010 include traveling to multiple African nations; Malawi, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana. Invites to Kenya, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are also being considered. It will be a year of invitation and multiplication as we visit to share and expand African Hope through;

Evangelical crusades and revivals

Youth Rally

Participating in Pastor Conferences

Development of rural schools and orphanages

Development of rural libraries

Assisting children with extreme medical needs

As we look forward we are truly excited what God gas done through this ministry in 2009. Many rural churches have been planted, hundreds of baptisms, several pastors in Ghana are now matured and training others in Kingdom Building. On July 1, Youth Rally 2009 saw over 10,000 attending and over 1,000 first time decisions. The church in Ghana is growing! Praise God!

Thanksgiving is a daily practice for this ministry; we pray you will begin daily prayers of thanks for the miracle of living this life. We also thank you for your continued prayerful support of this ministry. Please consider a year end tax deductible donation to this ministry of Hope.

Keep praying,

Pastor Charlie