Tim Harlow

Rachel's Senior Recital

We’re coming back from Nashville today.  We’ve been at Rachel’s Senior Recital. I do have amazing children.  Can I say that?  Oh yeah, it’s my blog. The recital was awesome. Mostly her original music, accompanied by her friends who are some of the most amazing musicians you can imagine.

What’s really hard to believe is that it was her SENIOR recital, as in she is graduating in two months – from college.  It seems like yesterday we dropped her off.

I’m driving to get back for the sermon, so I can’t blog much.  I’m really looking forward to finishing up this series.  This weekend’s word from the cross is “I thirst.” There is amazing meaning in this simple little phrase. It almost seems out of character with the rest of the spiritually deep stuff like “Father, forgive them,” and “It is finished.” But when you really start to look at it, it’s one of the most meaningful.  He thirsted so we don’t have to.

Don’t miss it, I’m driving 8 hours to get there!

PT

What a Weekend

We had almost 7500 people in four services to hear Jim Caviezel.  That's more than Easter last year.

It was crazy.  Let me apologize to you if you came Saturday at 4, it was insane.  We had people leave because they couldn't get in.  I hate that but there isn't much we could have done.  We did add a service. It's hard to plan for a 50% increase in one weekend unless you know it's going to happen.

From the comments I've received, this was a great event.  I know hundreds of people, literally thousands actually, came for this who wouldn't have been here otherwise.  Some were guests from other churches, but many were people who had no church home and came to visit.  That is what Reach, Raise, and Release is all about.  We released our people to go share, and they reached a bunch of people who were blessed by Jim and his message as well as the opportunity to commune with God.  It was fantastic.

It WAS different at every service, and it was a little unnerving to me as I really had no control over the situation, but I can tell you that JC is an awesome, Christian man.  I'm praying for him in Hollywood and I hope you will as well.

(He came over for lunch)

Let me allow Mike Rhodes, one of our great volunteer leaders tell you his thoughts as I close.

"The weekend was spectacular as “the masses” were moved by the message of His forgiveness and grace.  Moved by the reality that His love for us comes without condition.  Moved by the truth that He works in ALL aspects of our life and impacted by His sacrifice for each of us.  
This weekend was spectacular because He humbly, and powerfully , and lovingly presented Himself for all to accept.
This weekend was spectacular because Parkview stepped up and served Him collectively as we were called.
This weekend was spectacular because His message was heard.
His message came through the obviously-ready first impression servants, the always-on worship team, Tim’s gifted guidance and confident commentary, Jim’s passionate sharing, a most-powerful drama/worship team element and again through Tim’s call-to-the-Cross at communion.
(what I didn’t witness first-hand as a visitor, but no doubt had a part in His message, is the experience visitors had with the kidz connection staff, the welcome center team, communion servers, library staff,  Youth Ministry staff personnel etc. and of course the coffee makers!)
Here is what I did witness: The crowds were “focused” (not always the case) and engaged at “communion time” (not always the case) at all 4 services.
And lastly – but most telling; there is distinct difference in “mood” as people leave (and “when” they leave).  Hard to put into words…  that categorize their impact level. But I will tell you from experience that this weekend’s effect was an obvious “deep impact”… I witnessed the intense body language, focus, affirmation and emotion (lots of tears)… and a level of new or renewed commitment.  
This may sound like over-hype … not so… I am telling you what I witnessed – as you requested.
“Wow” was a common phrase overheard.  One person I never met (or saw) before said “this changed my life” (9:00).  “Powerful” was another common phrase that was heard.  I prayed with/for several who left early – too bottled up to speak.  I saw hope.  Overall, there was a spirit of confidence and hope.

Just throwing it out there …. From my (experienced) point of view."

THANKS TO ALL YOU VOLUNTEERS LIKE MIKE FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN,

PT 

Two Things - JC is on the plane, and my parents celebrate 50!

 I’m headed to the airport in a few hours to pick up Jim Caviezel.  All systems are go for our weekend.  PLEASE TRY TO COME SATURDAY NIGHT AT 6! I’m really concerned that some of our services are going to be so full that people will be turned away.  Everyone I talk to is coming.  The last time we thought he was coming, the 4 on Saturday was completely jammed.  I believe the 6 is the one that will have the least amount of people.  If you can switch your schedule, please do.  Sunday will be a zoo.  11 is always the one to avoid if you can.

I also ask for your prayers for this weekend.  It is going to be powerful in many ways.  Our choir is singing, we have some great special elements, and it will be a touching service.  And there will be hundreds of people here – maybe in the thousands – who are here to see Jim and need to find the real Jesus!  Please pray for things to go smoothly, and pray for these hearts to be opened by God and the testimony of a movie star who really lives his faith.  I’m feeling as much pressure and spiritual warfare as I would if I was preaching.  I don’t think the evil one wants this to happen.  People are going to change sides this weekend and he doesn’t like it.

Pray.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN AND FAYE HARLOW ON 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!

I want to say thank you to my parents for sticking with their marriage for 50 years – yesterday.  Congratulations mom and dad!  I love you and I’m proud of your commitment to God and to each other.  You have left a legacy.  (We’re having a party in June so I’ll write more about them then – but I can’t miss the opportunity to say thanks).  Dana and i couldn't have had a better life or a better example.  

 

Africa 2

There is so much to say and so much jet lag to push through.  Let me just say this.  When I came here for the first time two years ago there were 260 kids in schools at Mission of Hope in Nairobi and now there are 2600!  Unbelievable.  I’ve never seen such a transformation.  It makes the growth and building at Parkview pale in comparison.And 800 of these kids are ours!  Yours.

After about 21 hours in transit and losing 9 hours we got there late Saturday night.

Sunday morning we went out to Josca.

It's the boarding school that they have built away from town, out where the Ostrichs run free.

This is a pic of the entire floor that VBS is building because of the money they raised last year.

Then they pulled the “Hey, you’re a preacher, why don’t you preach on Sunday Morning” thing on me so I preached to the 500 students that were there, and my girls sang and gave testimony and Denise did her puppet.

It’s all in a temporary facility of sheet metal and sticks until they get the new buildings built.  But the awesome thing is that these kids are here 24\7 and away from the slums – learning about Jesus.

Then I got to see my boy - Collins.  He's my sponsored child.  I met him with his HIV infected mother and no dad and a bunch of siblings on my last trip.  I could tell he was very sharp, but he was not going to be able to afford high school.  Now he is in his second to the last year and headed towards college.  His brother is also sponsored by a PCC family.  I also met a bunch of your sponsored kids.  It makes a difference.

We did some touring of the other facilities and visited the slums again.

Then we started VBS for part of the school at Pangoni.

Pangoni is where I visited last time I was here; the only facility that Wallace and Mary Kamou were running back in 07.  Now they have 5 and they’ve built a 6 story facility in the place where they played soccer last time.  There were 260 kids, now there are 900 – just at Pangoni.

This entire building wasn't there two years ago - now there are 6 stories of classrooms.

Our Parkview team started VBS with part of the kids last week and my family took another part this week.

I will have more pics on this site as we go.  I can't stay awake any longer.  It is the work of God, people.  And you are the ones who make it happen.

Here are some quotes from Rob, one of our team members from last week... 

"Deb and I were tremendously moved in seeing how our sponsorship of one girl, Keshana, along with the near-900 other sponsorships of Parkview is making a difference.  Mary and Wallace Kamau have moved on a tremendous vision, inspired by the love of God and the desire to make a difference in the poorest children, with their families, and in their community, the Mathare Slums.  If you've never gone to their website please check it out at:  CMF Hope Partnership

Mary and Wallace's vision was simple.  Reach the children before they go to the streets to find ways to survive, where they learn to steal, beg, and sniff glue.  Feed them, educate them, love them, teach them about Jesus, and give them hope and vision.  And if you can reach the children, you will then be able to reach into the homes (inside Mathare) to help the families. And if you can touch the home, you can reach into the community and make a difference.  Today this ministry is effecting 2,666 kids that live in the slums of Nairobi, and about 480 more that are at a boarding school, Josca, outside of Nairobi.  One life at a time.  The entire team was "blown away" by the love we experienced from the 360 kids and teachers that we served for a few days.  And the expressions of thankfulness, appreciation and love for what Parkview is doing there was amazing.  These kids and their families understand that without sponsorships this could not happen.

One story for now.  On our first day at Pangani School in Mathare, we broke into groups of 2-3 with a teacher and walked though the slums.  We visited homes (small make-shift huts of unbelievable condition), and made contact with the people along the way.  Kids of all ages greeted us as we walked.  Some older people smiled and greeted and many just watched.  One girl of about 3 years age took my finger and walked about 100 feet with me before I could turn her back.  Yes there was a lot of stuff there that looked really bad, and yes there were some people that didn't look too friendly.  But after walking about for about an hour I asked our teacher Wilson, "Why do I feel safe? This is one of the worst places I have ever been."  He smiled and replied, "because you are safe......they know who you are......they know you are from the school and you are here to help."  The stories we heard and experience of the next few days confirmed what he told me.  

Life is very simple in Mathare.  No it's not entirely safe.  But it is simple.  The people want help for their children.  They want their children to have a chance inside the walls of the Pangani School, where they can be fed food for their bodies and food for their souls.

We were moved by the children.  We were moved by their eyes and their touch.  Their love was unconditional.  Their thanks was amazing.  And their tears when we were leaving were overwhelming."

God Bless You Parkview!  I know we have a big weekend with Jim Caviezel this weekend and we keep talking about "Jesus" coming, but I can assure you Jesus is alive and well in Nairobi.

Asante Sana (Thank You in Swahili)

Tim

PS.  Don't forget we have Saturday night at 4 and 6 this weekend!

Tragedy in Maryville

Please pray for the family of Pastor Fred Winters and the congregation of First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois. Tragedy in Maryville

The staff spent time in prayer for his widow and two children as well as the people of First Baptist at their All Staff meeting on Monday. What a heartbreaking incident. 

They also spent time praying for those who have lost their jobs. Please continue to lift up our country's leaders as they make hard decisions that effect us all.

Tim

Africa

Jambo (Swahili for hello):

As you read this my family and I will be somewhere in the middle of the 20 hours it takes to get to Kenya. Our team is there now and we will be following up doing VBS at our school. I mean “our” school – as in one of the ones we sponsor as a church. I’ll be meeting with some pastors and Leadership Resourced to work on training pastors in the future also.  

Please pray for the team as they return and for my family as we spend the next week there. Pray for safety and ease of travel and that we can be an encouragement to Wallace and Mary and the gang over there. I get to see my High Schooler, Collins, whom I met last time I was there and decided to sponsor.  I’m mostly excited about the kids. I can’t wait to hear “How Are You?” as we walk into one of the most hopeless places on earth.  

Jason will be preaching, please pray for him too.  

Can’t wait to tell you the stories,

Tim

P.S. This week we've experience a lot of e-mail problems. If you e-mailed us and didn't receive a response, please send it again. Our apologies.

Also, this weekend please help us stock the area food pantries by bringing a bag of non-perishable groceries and placing it on the hood of your car.

Finally don't forget to SPRING ahead.

Fox Holes

I have several uncles who have been pretty special in my life.  One of them, Ray, was kind of like another grandfather because he was 16 years older than my mom.  He always encouraged me towards ministry and all of his family.  He recently told my mom why this has been so important to him.

It goes back to WW2.  He had been in the Philippines for 2 years in hard battle in anti-aircraft division.   They were shooting from the ground as planes came over then, shooting at them.  They had lost many, many men and were to go into Japan on a Mission that would be deadly.  They were told likely 95 % of them would not get back.  He said he never prayed more than that day.  He made one of those “foxhole” promises to God that if he was spared, he would do whatever he could to get the Gospel out.  They never had to go and obviously he came home and started his family.

When he got back he felt he needed to go preach, but had no education for it and one of the older preachers told him he could do just as much by going into business and telling everyone he met about Jesus, while at the same time helping to send other people to preach. 

So he did and God blessed him and he was able to be a strong support for the college most of us went to, Ozark Christian College.  He really encouraged his little brother, Roy, to go into ministry.  And he did and led thousands of people to the Lord, and two of his sons are in ministry to this day.  My cousins both lead great churches, one in Detroit, and one in Kansas.  Another one (Ray’s son) preaches in Arkansas.  My mom also went to the college and married a preacher and you know the rest of that story.  And there were others that he helped along the way to make good on his promise.  I don’t know how many people may be in heaven someday thanks in part to a guy who kept a promise to God.

But what I want you to get from the story is that you don’t have to be on a church staff somewhere to make a difference.  You can do what God calls you to do to make a difference around you.  And along the way some of it might be encouraging some young men and women around you to think about going into full time mission work or ministry.

When I think about Ray, I think about the people he encouraged in ministry – but more importantly – the people he came into contact with whom he personally guided towards the Cross. 

Do I know why God answered his prayer and not another person’s foxhole prayer?  No idea.  But I do know that when you ask God for something and he gives it to you – you should be grateful enough to serve him back – like Uncle Ray.

I love you Ray and Gene. Thanks for the example.

Tim