Letter to the Editor - Post and Courier newspaper

After watching Sunday's night edition of EXTREME HOMEMAKOVER on the ABC network, I think it would benefit each reader of this newspaper to let them know something very important that the show did not highlight in it's one hour episode.

In addition to the new home the Suggs family received in Loris, SC, Charleston Southern University gave the four children in the home full-tuition scholarships for four years. As a 2004 alumn of Charleston Southern University, I thought it would be beneficial to make aware the readers of the Post and Courier newspaper.

I am thankful for Charleston Southern University, and this incredible gift to the Suggs family that estimated today would be well over $400,000.00! Charleston Southern University deserves special recognition for this reminder that they are serious about learning, leading, and serving in South Carolina.

Respectfully submitted,
Peter Copeland

Uganda Mission Trip from the Hansens

I had some friends recently go on a mission trip to Uganda, and I wanted to share some of their testimonies and a picture of each from their missional journey...

Dennis Hansen wrote...

"This was my third trip to Uganda and it never ceases to amaze me at how appreciative and thankful the people of Uganda are. They don’t know that they are poor and they are just as joyful as can be. It’s truly an example for me. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (Phil 4:11) We could all take something away from that…are we truly content? Also, the Ugandans always have a smile on their faces…another example for me! I need to let our joy of the Lord shine through my face, what better way to do that than with a smile. This year I had the privilege of being part of 'one on one' evangelism for two days. As we went to the different villages each day, our evangelist would preach to the people while the medical team set up the clinic. Our Ugandan friends would go to the medical clinic, then on to the pharmacy to get medications, then they would come to our tent. If they were already saved, we would pray with them. Their top four prayer requests were: better health, husband’s salvation, school fees for their children, and for jobs. If they weren’t saved/born again, I would ask them if I could tell them about Jesus. No one said no. I used an “Evangecube” as illustration to share the gospel. (If you don't know what an Evangecube is, it’s a cube with pictures that helps illustrate the scriptures and story of Jesus and what He has done for us. It is an excellent witnessing tool.) All this is done with an interpreter, of course! Even if I would mess up, my interpreter could help me out! I had the privilege of seeing about 35 people come to the Lord...the highlight of my trip. It was also a blessing watching Terri and Dustin on mission and seeing them “in action.” They both do great. It’s not as natural for me, so it was good to get out of my comfort zone. Again, it was a wonderful experience that I would hope you all can try sometime. You go to be a blessing, but you end up being the one that was blessed. Thank you again for your prayer and financial support. Your prayers held us up and we couldn't have done it without you. God Bless!"

Dustin Hansen, Dennis' son, wrote...

"Back in my routine and back to the grind. And I actually did come home with more than just a tan! I had a lot of incredible experiences, but the ones that stick out above the rest are the times I got to spend with a special friend and mentor that I met last year in Uganda. Pastor Anthony, a Kenyan pastor living in Eldoret, came to Uganda to join us in ministry. Having spent years in Uganda pastoring, Anthony knows the local languages and understands the culture greatly. His love for the people in the Uganda is a real blessing to watch. Most days, Pastor Anthony and I ended up doing "door to door" evangelism or "hut to hut", as I like to call it. One thing that I learned from Pastor Anthony is praying in faith. I've never heard a man pray in as much faith as he does. His whole countenance changes as he prays knowing that God will touch those that he prays for in His will. Pastor Anthony and I had the privilege of seeing many come to know the Lord. From those experiences, I've learned a boldness I never knew before. The way that he could change any conversation he was having into a witnessing experience was amazing. Now that I'm back at school and work, I am more aware of my responsibility as a Christian to share the Gospel, and I recollect on all those experiences in Uganda and remember Pastor Anthony's example. When I got home, I challenged myself to learn how to love my own people as much as Pastor Anthony does his. Once I acquire that love, the next step becomes so much easier. Thanks to everyone who made this trip happen by your prayers and financial support."

Praise the Lord for their Christ-centered lives in reaching the world with the Gospel. Terri Hansen, Dennis' wife and Dustin's mother who also went on this mission endeavor, asked me to share with you the ministry of Mission Link International based in Charlottesville, Virginia, by clicking here.

And Lots more books that i've read

Lots more books that i've read

i am .... (part two)

my nicknames are peetah and pedro
i am an avid sale-shopper
i enjoy watching movies in the theater
i dislike people who are unprepared
i vow to never drive a neon
i hate it when people only go on international mission trips
i cut out coupons weekly
i like my pillow to be cold
i would like to one day teach youth ministry in a liberal arts institution

everyday, i try to live by His grace and for His glory....

i am .... (part one)

my middle name is john
i cant stand nail filers
i enjoy traveling in planes
public audiences don't scare me
i dislike events that bring attention to me
i am a struggling phd student
i have a great ministry position
i wish popeyes had its naked strips still
i am a msc missionary with namb
i like the hgtv station
i dont coook very well
i enjoy drinking out of wakka juice cups
i could wear a shirt and tie everyday
i like reading books, some more than others

everyday, i try to live by His grace and for His glory....

B-RUNS-WICK finally

Greetings to you!

I am finally making it to a post on the Connector Blog. I have so many things to update you with that I'm going to go bullet-style:

1. I live in Brunswick, Georgia, which is on I-95 - Halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville. My brand new apartment is incredible. Positive: love not living at the office like I did at Myrtle. Negative: there are only two instead of fifty putt putt courses!

2. I serve as the Mission Projects Coordinator for the Southeast Baptist Association. I partner with my Associational Missionary to help serve 34 southern baptist churches from as far north as Darien as far south to St. Marys. This is a similar position like I had in Myrtle Beach, and the resort name here is Golden Isles Ministries.

3. School! I am struggling through online statistics (spss program if you really want to know) and enjoying my Youth Ministry in Culture PhD seminar this semester. I fly out of Brunswick into New Orleans three times during the semester, and my last weekend this semester is December 3-5. In Spring semester coming up, I am taking 2 PhD seminars along with 1 reading colloquial. (doesn't that just sound like fun)

4. Books... Books... Books! I want to share with you some of the books I have read since May 25th when summer missionaries invaded my life in Myrtle Beach. The first four are for the PhD seminar and the last one is the small one i started during the summer and just finished this past week:






5. Travels: since my summer missionaries left me in Myrtle Beach on August 1st and before I started here in Brunswick, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit some places for work and vacation:

Columbia, SC...
Mom and Dad moved to a newer house in town and I helped them move

Chicago, ILL....
Todd Wood, Pastor Rob pierce & I made a 24 hour whirlwind trip on Spirit airlines to see the Cubs beat the Nationals... and eat that famous Chicago pizza!

Nashville, TN...
I had a personal conference at Lifeways Youth Ministry event and got to share in some great corporate worship with other youth ministers and Dwain Hayes of FBC North Myrtle Beach (who I went with to Wales back in April of this year)

New Orleans...
school work - enough said!

Grenville, SC...
Attended the North Greenville Missions Conference and to visit summer staff from all the summers I have been at ICO

Vandalia, IL...
Where I was one of the featured missionaries for the local baptist association's On Mission Celebration. Spoke at five different churches and had the pleasure to stay with and fellowship with Pastor Don & Dianne Price. Pastor Don shepherds the flock at FBC Farina & we shared many glasses of hot tea in their new, beautiful home

and,
This past week I attended the Georgia Baptist Convention in Woodstock, GA, and it was surprising to see former ICO mission group leaders (who were from GA) there and to see the pastors from the association here. And, the folks at NAMB on Tuesday afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am totally blessed. I have wonderful friends. A donated washer/dryer that works. A place to call my own. Parents who love me so much. all of this and it is His Grace that is...
"Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful, untameable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God" - Chris Tomlin

My last Waccamaw Baptist Association meeting:

The following address was shared tonight, Monday July 20th, to the messengers of the Waccamaw Baptist Association's Executive Meeting...

Tonight, you will find my report about the summer ministry on page 6 of the book of reports you received this evening on your way in. I can not do any better giving an oral report of the WBA’S resort ministry Intracoastal Outreach than our summer missionaries shared with us during the meal tonight. I am so proud to have had the opportunity to serve alongside them this summer and I want to thank this association for the continued opportunity to have summer missionaries serve alongside us each year. I hope that your hearts tonight have been filled by the stories and conversations across the table you shared in with them tonight.

This month marks 4 summers with Intracoastal Outreach, and it has been an incredible faith journey for me personally in my walk with the Lord. As I look beyond the month of September I wonder where Almighty God will have me serve and minister in Kingdom work. I want you to know that place, position, ministry field, and the ones whom I will work will be grateful for the opportunities and experiences you have shared with me to work and minister in this county for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Many of you have asked the question: What’s next? What I know at this point is that this fall, I will begin pursuing my Research Doctoral Degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of Christian Education with the desire to train future student ministry leaders to reach students with the Gospel and Love of Jesus Christ. I am prayerfully seeking a position in which to be involved in ministry while obtaining this degree, as well.

As I look over the audience tonight, I see faces that have encouraged me along the way. There have been pastors who have given me the opportunity to break open the Bread of Life to their churches, while others have prayed for me and the work I have had the opportunity to do serving on your behalf in this county. Tonight I am thankful for Brother Rick, Todd Wood, Marty Minto, Diane Hutto, and Lugene Hammond in their service to me, the help they have given along the way, and the weekly prayers lifted up on my behalf.

I have received hugs from you here and those who are unable to be here for whatever the reason, that have brought compassion and care to a sometimes run-down and tired body. I have received notes of kindness from you that have lifted me up along the way both my e-mails and snail mails. And as I remember the way you have reached out to me, a single middle-twenty something year-old seminary graduate, I resonate in the words which the Apostle Paul wrote to the church of Corinth: “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” You have showered your love and appreciation for me in the past two and half years serving as your US/C2 resort missionary, and for all of your support I will be eternally grateful.

Just this afternoon as I looked outside my office window to 17 Business / Kings Highway just near First Baptist Church downtown Myrtle Beach, I am reminded that still to this day -- our field is ripe unto harvest. Over my time here, I have urgently and passionately tried to equip you, the churches of our association, and the myriad of ministry teams from all across our country each year, to empower-equip-excite local churches to do the Great Commission through the Great Commandment. It is with this same urgency and passion that I leave Waccamaw Baptist Association walking, trusting, believing, and worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So continuing in the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31 I say thanks tonight, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

Mid-May 2009, summer's coming, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES

I have nine more days till all 18 summer missionaries come in for ten full weeks of ministry. I got back earlier this evening from a 35 hour round-trip to Jackson, Georgia for a pre-project training event that all new group leaders must go through with me to bring a summer mission team to ICO. There are thousands of things to do this week in the office, in addition to getting myself ready for the onslaught of summer m's coming on Memorial day.

Thursday at 4pm I am leaving to attend the graduation ceremony at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary of my two bestest friends in the whole world, Ryan and Melissa Peduzzi. They also will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary (which in and of itself is a whole another story that puts us 3 first together in ministry on dorchester road in the Summer of 2002 serving as summer missionaries with Charleston Outreach). So to keep the details of that away, I thought a post was in order to say CONGRATULATIONS RYAN & MELISSA. (PhD Ryan?)


The plane ride to Atlanta yesterday morning from Myrtle Beach connecting in Charlotte gave me some great time to catch up on some reading (since the last flight to Pittsburgh a couple of weekends ago) so here are two more books to add to the library--- the books read one that is!

What Women WIsh You Knew About Dating by Stephen Simpson. Ryan laughed at me through text today on this book. My singleness is the end of a lot of his jokes, but I do seem to find a 'single, need a date, maybe a little bitter' book each year to read. I liked this one actually. Blunt, to the point, honest, and a little controversial. Simpson writes from his heart on a subject many either blow up in your face about or shy away from, so way to go Simpson!

The Generosity Factor by Truett Cathy and Ken Blanchard. I had always wanted to read this book, since I delight in eating the Christian Chicken regularly. Picked it up for like $2 at a used bookstore back in the fall and I really enjoyed this one. I liked the dialogue between the broker and the executive, whom gave generously out of his wealth not just to give money but to build significance in people. I think its the same 'factor' we find in the live and ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Quick read, yet full of reality ... specially in our recesional-bail/out world today.

Myrtle Beach FIRES! and 3 more books

Many of you have inquired and thought about me in the latter part of this past week concerning the fires here in Horry County. Below is a picture my friend and ministry partner, Todd Wood, took while with Horry County Emergency responders as he worked with our association's Disaster Relief:

I had the opportunity to do fly to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a 25 hour whirlwind trip this weekend, and I got two books finished:

Counted Righteous in Christ by John Piper, I started in 2007 and it has been a deep struggle to comprehend and understand.

Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America by Jeff Pollard, I picked up used and 60% off and let's just say "it was interesting".

Here is a throw-back book I finished at the end of last year, 2008. I never got it on the blog, so here is to forgetfulness. I really enjoyed reading this book (written before the national election in November) and specifically about the unbiased writing of Mansfield. He (to my lack of knowledge) expounded greatly on the controversy of Obama's previous pastor, Reverend Wright. I am interested (and have obtained) others books by Mansfield regarding former President George W. Bush and current Pope Benedict XVI.

Book update 2 (2009) and SUMMER is COMING...

Wow, Easter has passed and the summer is just around the corner. I am five weeks away from our summer missionaries coming in on Memorial Day for the 10 weeks of Summer at Intracoastal Outreach! We have around 800 volunteers coming in as well throughout those 10 weeks which divide out into about 25-30 different churches. PRAISE THE LORD. We have prayed hard and worked very hard recruiting this year and are looking at about 250 more volunteers than in 2008 in our summer and spring break ministries.

I had the opportunity to go with some adults and students from the First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach to the country of Wales April 4-11, and the time we shared with the students there was a great experience as we shared Christ and hung out with them. I did a lot of serving and praying which was a little different for me but I was glad to just be a part of the team.

I am adding two books to the library that have i have completed and read in the past two months. I have a goal of one book to read every month, so lets see how much I can exceed that goal like I did last year:

I was able to read this one on my trip to New Orleans to take the PhD entrance exam and to do the department interview. What an incredible book and insight to the "call" I have experienced like many others who faithfully serve in ministry. Iorg pointedly and thoroughly explains the difference between how every Christian is to be a minister and those who are "called" to be ministers in ministry leadership. Great read, well written, and a must for those who feel God's calling and those who may be questioning theirs.

I got this one read on the Wales trip, and had to finish up the ending this afternoon. This was a great read for those who are stuck and complacent in their student ministry endeavors. Nothing really new, but more of an insight into how to move from shallow complacent student ministry to life-changing and tranformational ministry to today's students. With personal victories and struggles along with testimonials from those in the trenches, Clark and Powell provide a worthy read to encourage student ministry leaders (adults, ministers, and students) to continue on in their students lives for the purpose of mature Christian growth!

Book update 1 (2009)

NEWS: PhD process is continuing, I have done the application, taken the entrance exam, and have had the interview. The committee meets end of the month, and I hope to hear something from them soon. I will keep you updated. For those of you who do not know, I am pursuing a PhD degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of Christian Education. This will require three seminars a semester (Thursday noon - Saturday noon) on the campus.

I have had the opportunity to read a few books in the new year thus far. Here they are, and look for others to be added soon as i have a couple I'm reading to finish:

Zigarelli, a professor at Charleston Southern University, illustrates a number of principles to influence people like Jesus. There are a lot of principles, and plenty of examples in which to lead and influence others in the name and for the glory of Jesus Christ. Maybe a great book for the businessman or the church staff person interested in leadership, but I'd probably not use it for small group study. Thanks Zigarelli for bring the principles of the Word to the area of leadership, and go bucs!

This is our ICO summer staff 2009 book. Grieger (co-author of Simple Church with Thom Rainer) accurately delves into 1 Peter 2:9-11 and how our identity should be found in Christ and Him alone. He uses this verse to show Christian and non-Christian how intimately involved God the Creator is involved with man His creation. I am very excited to use this book to encourage and challenge our summer missionaries this summer as we seek together to find our all in Christ Jesus.

In effort to continue the tremendously successful rebuilding of the Big Easy, the New Orleans Marriott has launched "Build & Bond," offering voluntourism groups a special nightly rate of $84, including all taxes. This rate is based on an occupancy of one to four, which could bring the price per person, per night as low as $21.

"Build & Bond" makes it easy for groups visiting New Orleans for mission trips. It offers a resource kit including information on area transportation companies and city guides; a complimentary meeting room, where the group can congregate to discuss and plan the day ahead; complimentary parking for 15-passenger vans; 50 percent off parking for personal vehicles and discounted pricing for box lunches to keep volunteers fueled "on the job." For guests in need of some direction about where to lend a hand, "Build & Bond" provides recommendations on a variety of local volunteer organizations so do-good guests can plan where to donate their time.

For more information about the New Orleans Marriott or to book "Build & Bond," call 504.553.5526.