40! Strong BUT Stronger in the next 40!

40! Strong BUT Stronger in the next 40!
Joshua 14:6-14 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb... said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.
      I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.  So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

     “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.  Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as He said.”

     Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

     

     I LOVE this passage. I only heard it for the first time in the Fall. I mean "heard" it, really. Mind and heart-deep. I am counting on living a parallel of this in France. I am asking for that country as an inheritance for me and one day my future children. I am counting on God that my strongest days are ahead of me. In 40 more years I plan to be as valiant and devoted in the battle for France and just as vibrant and sharp of mind! Will you pray that for and with me?

I am doing my part my exercising and eating right. My glucose levels have been normal again for weeks since I started running again! I even had ice cream and birthday cake at my Surprise Party tonite with no adverse effects!

      I leave for training in NC with a full but heavy heart. Both for the same reason...the distance from my family and friends here...many who showed up tonite for a celebration and farewell-for-now. I love you guys so much and am so proud of how you have loved me all these years. I look forward with grateful anticipation to the next 4 decades of that love and those friendships. This song is for you guys. It's not just about "How He Loves" you but how I love you!!!

Please check out the previous 2 posts to see where I am headed for the next 3 months and then where I will be moving after!!!

End of May Update and Video- Forever Reign

End of May Update and Video- Forever Reign
I have been cleared to leave for training in North Carolina at CIT! http://www.cit-online.org/ Training lasts 3 months and covers  cultural strategies and language assimilation. I'm at 63% and will continue to raise monthly support until 100% fully funded.
After training I will continue to travel in Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Charlotte, Lancaster and wherever else invited to raise support and new partners until we reach 100% together. 
     Only then can I depart for Brie-Comte Robert, France where I'll be moving permanently to aid my already beloved teammates at Brie Church.
     So what happens now?
1-On Sunday Jun 5th my family at Christ United Methodist will send me off to NC with prayer.
I then move to Union Mills NC to begin training on 6/6.
BUT I continue to raise support today and onward even during training. I will still be available to travel to share with groups and churches or individuals on the following weekends:
May 24th-June 4th
July 8th-10th
July 23-24th
August 13th-14th
August 20th until ???
(843)446-3348 or Walker.Ricardo@gmail.com to schedule.
       So that' how you can help. You can share for me with your group or church or you can help me secure an invitation to share there. I NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER. Tell your friends. Share this website/blog. 
             http://ricardo33ad.blogspot.com/
Share our May Newsletter. Here's the secure link:         
             http://j.mp/ivrKP6
        Our goal is to end training at at least 80%! So keep praying and stay in touch. I am sure this next few months will be an emotional taste of that final permanent move later this year.
       I'll close with an opportunity. In October at Catalyst I pledged my birthday to Charity Water. Several celebrities have led Birthday campaign's that have raised millions. Every $20 provides clean water for one person. An average water project costs $5,000 and can serve a community of 250+ people. In honor of my 40th Birthday June 1st I am attempting to fund ONE water project. Here's the link to find out more and to give clean water (Eau Claire) the way Brie Church will bring Living Water to the people of France!
http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/campaign/?campaign_id=16384
      To donate & partner with me for France with Brie church
1-Go to www.uwm.org
2-Click Give
3-Click Register (to Create an Account)
4-Click Missionary and choose Walker, Ricardo 31348 from a drop down list
5-Make your first donation and set it as recurring!
A bientot (see ya soon)!
Here's another new worship favorite. May it be true for us!

NC Here we come!!! Next Step-Training 6/6-8/19

God did it! Through new partners and my coaches and directors I have been cleared to leave for training in North Carolina at CIT! http://www.cit-online.org/ Training lasts 2 and a half months and covers Bible basics, cultural and language studies. I feel confident about having a head start in all of these areas thanks to phenomenal programs like Your Next Step Institute here in Myrtle Beach! We graduate that training this Wednesday night.  http://www.yournextstep.ws/
     Here is the text I received today (Sat morning 5/21) from my support-raising "coach" Mark with UWM.
"Ricardo. It is a go. I will call [the CIT registrar] Monday to let her know you'll be coming. Also you'll need to call to get your [housing] arrangements set." My heart soared and as I told Mark I did a Pentecostal dance of holy happiness. We had set Monday 5/23 as the day we would evaluate whether enough progress has been made to warrant heading to training. However we passed the progress goal of 60% early! How can I thank all the current partners who doubled (and quadrupled) their pledges? How can I adequately show the gratitude I feel for new partners who took us from 50% at the beginning of this month to 60% in only 3 weeks!!!
     So what happens now?
1-On Sunday Jun 5th my family at Christ United Methodist send me off to NC with prayer. I move to Union Mills NC to begin training on 6/6 BUT I continue to raise support today and onward even during training. I will still be able to travel to share with groups and churches or individuals, mostly on weekends only. So that' how you can help. You can share for me with your group or church or you can help me secure an invitation to share there. I NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER. Tell your friends. Share this website/blog. Share our May Newsletter. Here's the secure link: http://j.mp/ivrKP6
Our goal is to end training at at least 80%!
2-After training I'm not sure where I will live but I will then continue to travel in Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Charlotte, Lancaster and wherever else invited to raise support and new partners until we reach 100% together. Only then can I depart for Brie-Comte Robert, France where I'll be moving permanently to aid my already beloved teammates at Brie Church.
So keep praying and stay in touch. I am sure this next few months will be emotional taste of that final permanent move later this year.
Last night I attended a preview of the Global Leadership Summit. It's the MOST EMPOWERING SPIRITUAL event of my year every year. http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/  In August of 2010 in particular the last Summit found me in a depression over a lost relationship and down to 5% of monthly support for France. I was perfectly placed to hear Jeff Manion's talk "The Land Between" which is the talk we watched again last night. It was quite moving to hear how the "Sinai Desert"s of my life can be fertile ground for bitterness and depression like in August 2010 or fertile ground for growth and trust. The first time I heard it I decided to just trust God that all was going according to His plan and...WOW! Look where we are today! Here's a link to that talk, in case you find yourself "in between." Let Manion's walk through the word bring you to a place of trust and healing. http://www.viddler.com/explore/jkeller116/videos/6/
I'll close with an opportunity. In October at Catalyst I pledged my birthday to Charity Water. Several celebrities have led Birthday campaign's that have raised millions. Every $20 provides clean water for one person. An average water project costs $5,000 and can serve a community of 250+ people. In honor of my 40th Birthday June 1st I am attempting to fund ONE water project. Here's the link to find out more and to give clean water (Eau Claire) http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/campaign/?campaign_id=16384
 the way Brie Church will bring Living Water to the people of France!
To partner with me and with Brie church
1-Go to www.uwm.org
2-Click Give
3-Click Register (to Create an Account)
4-Click Missionary and choose Walker, Ricardo 31348 from a drop down list
5-Make your first donation and set it as recurring!
A bientot (see ya soon)!
Here's a recent worship favorite. Enjoy!

Departure-Stage 1
June 6th Training in NC
May Newsletter
Link= http://j.mp/ivrKP6
¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled. 
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, 

   for they will be called children of God. Mt 7:1-9
Hunger = la faim, to be hungry = avoir faim
There is NO greater poverty than the lack of the Gospel.
The French are hungry and empty. They take more antidepressants than any other nation on the planet. They have left their catholic roots so far behind that they really have no point of reference when Christianity comes up. They have faith in nothing...but down deep they WANT to! France is more than 98% unreached! They think that Gospel is just Black people singing. The few who know Jesus do not share their faith and the gospel with their neighbors or friends!
Something must be done for this to change. THAT is why UWM has planted a new kind of church that avoids the stigma that church is boring and draws even the cautious French into relationship with bold thriving believers. But the church only has a few families.
Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
That's where I come in. My hands, feet, heart and voice are needed to support this Kingdom Work. In addition to training and mentoring  small groups leaders I will teach English and perform as a Gospel Singer. Our hope is that my students and musical relationships will lead to opportunities to draw a wider range of French people to small groups and to the church as a whole.
I am only $54 short of 58%. I am sure I will reach 58% by Monday 5/23 which will clear me to depart in Stage 1. Stage 1 is leaving for training in North Carolina for 2 and 1/2 months. After that training ends on 8/18 I will continue to raise partners and support until I reach 100%. I can then immediately depart (Stage 2) for France!
"Some places take years of work and cultivation to grow a crop but it's always worth it."
This dream has been a long time in the making but I can see how God has timed everything so perfectly. Could you...WOULD you pray about becoming a MONTHLY partner to support this permanent ministry. I have committed my service to the Lost of France until Jesus returns. You can help send a committed laborer to the harvest fields and JOIN GOD in the exciting work of Bringing a Nation back to Him! I long to see that day, when all of us from every Nation, Tribe and Tongue are worshiping Him as ONE Church.
This song has at it's heart that kind of longing and dreaming for that Perfect Day.

MAY UPDATE EXCITEMENT

¹ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Tim 2:1-7

News!!!!!
In order to attend training in June I have to be authorized/given the greenlight THIS week by my Coach, the Europe Director AND the Candidate Leader at UWM. They ALL have to agree and believe I'll be at 70% by June, or close enough, in order to give me the go ahead.
My coach just called to make sure I'm pushing for June to go to Union Mills, NC for training. He agrees this makes sense so I can leave as early as possible in the Fall.
He also informed me we have to make sure there is an opening/room. Apparently many have already "registered" for the June-August Session.
Will you pray for the next 3 days with me for a YES and for an OPENING? For those who can I will also be fasting Lunch the next few days until he calls with an answer.

Here's the link to our latest update:
France Church-Planting May Newsletter
http://j.mp/ivrKP6
Audacious Goal for May-Raise $1100 per month in new pledges!

Here's how to get involved and GIVE : )
1-Go To www.uwm.org (United World Mission)
2-Click DONATE NOW (bottom middle block (Donate Online Invest Globally)),
3-Click NEW DONORS (unless you've given before),
4-You'll be asked to create an account where you can make a one-time OR recurring donation.
5-In comments section put Ricardo L. Walker 31348