Pastor Pat's Blog

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Great trip - glad to be home

I'm dealing with some jetlag at the moment. Up at 2:30am! But God is also up at 2:30 am. and that sure is good! Just wanted to let you all know I had a safe trip back home from Budapest, Hungary. It is good to be home - and I'm really feeling pretty good, physically, in fact, I feel better than before I left. So I'm just grateful to my Lord for His blessings - and His Strength to see me thru a very busy week overseas.

Lot's more coming up this summer! I'll be posting a calendar later this week.

Don't forget to be praying for the work God is doing in Eastern Europe!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Thursday from Vajta

Last nite I visited Calvary Chapel Budapest - located smack in downtown Buda! The church is growing like crazy with two Wed. evening services and three Sunday morning services - 1200 plus of mostly 20-30 year old young people on fire for Jesus! I felt old but invigorated by this sweet and powerful move of God in the capital city of Hungary.

Pastor Bill Goodrich taught the study on How much God loves us out of, primarily, Ephesians 1.

Before heading back to Vajta (about a 90 minute drive) we stopped by an overlook of the city all lit up and quite beautiful. It again was one of those bittersweet moments of remembering. Joyce and I had gone to that very spot 9 years ago. Even as we were driving into the city earlier in the afternoon, I could feel the twinges of missing her. The reality of her not being with me and not back home either hit me harder than I expected. Such is the nature of grief.

Yet in the midst of my personal reflections, God was and is doing an incredible work of revival and raising up a whole new generation to take the Good News of Jesus to the nations of Eastern Europe and beyond. I'm blessed to be a very small part of it all.

So the conference is going very well. Every day, Bryon and I are connecting with more and more really incredible people. I've had the opportunity to talk, counsel, and pray with many folks. Some, seasoned missionaries. Others, students, interns, and young people just stepping out into their areas of service and outreach. Good stuff!!!

Thanks again for all your prayer support. I do believe God hears and has certainly been sustaining me and keeping me strong. May He bless you deeply and use you today for His purposes and glory!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Vajta, Hungary

Just a short note to say that I'm in Vajta, Hungary attending the Eastern European Pastors and Leaders conference at the beautiful CC Bible College Europe. God is graciously bringing so many dear people into my path. I'm so blessed to be here and doing well health wise. Pray that Bryon, my East Coast counterpart with Shepherd's Staff, and I stay open to what God wants us to do and be while here. Pray also that Bryon's luggage arrives today. Love to all of you!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Whew!

Time for an update! Both conferences last week were huge blessings! The Sr. Pastors Conference in Murrieta helped me reconnect with many old friends (and a few young ones too :-) And the Missions conference at CC Downey fed my spirit thru challenging teaching by Jeff Johnson, Don Richardson, Danny Lehmann, and John Michaels.

This week has been filed with many personal visits with friends and ministry partners along with a great midweek service at Revival Christian Fellowship in Menifee with my son, Jordan.

I deeply appreciate your prayer for my health and support of my work. If you'd like to know more about the ministries I'm involved with, click on Shepherd's Staff or Poimen Ministries.

May the Lord continue to not only bless you but use you for His Glory!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Friday, June 05, 2009

Downey Conference

Made it up to the Mission's Conference at Calvary Chapel Downey. I was pretty sore first part of the day but the pain eased up in the evening. Jeff Johnson kicked off the conference with A challenging message about 6 essentials of being prepared to go - things we need as we go. I had dinner with Pastor John Michaels and closed out the evening listening to "Peace Child"

and "Eternity in Their Hearts" author and missionary, Don Richardson.

Tomorrow, Don continues his teachings followed by Danny Lehmann - should be a good day. One comment made by Jeff J. struck me as so true - and something which needs to be instilled in every new believer: "You begin to become a missionary the moment you get saved.

Hope all is well with all of you!

In His Arm's,

Pat Kenney

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Sr. Pastor's Conference.

I had the blessing of participating in the annual Calvary Chapel Senior Pastor's Conference held this week at the Murrieta Hot Springs Bible College and conference center. The theme of this years conference was "Hold Fast To The Word" and featured a study thru 2 Timothy taught by Calvary pastors from all over the nation. In addition to the encouraging and challenging general sessions, I was able to have a display table for Shepherd's Staff and met and talked with many pastors from all over the world. Of particular joy were the numerous opportunities to pray on the spot for these men, their families, and their ministries. Having gone through suffering, loss, illness, and pain, I find myself moved to pray much more quickly - and especially for those I'm talking with who are going thru difficult seasons. It used to be, "Hey I'll pray for ya bro!" Now it's, "Can I pray with you right now?"

So today I'm resting up, organizing, and getting ready for the Missions Conference at Calvary Chapel Downey this weekend.

Thank you for your faithful prayer!

In Hs Arm's,

Pat

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Facebook & Newsletter

The pace of life and ministry has picked up again and I've been hard pressed to being creative on this blog site. Perhaps again down the road but for now, I'm just posting my recent newsletter to my support team. That will give you a more current update on what's happening with my ministry with Shepherd's Staff.

I am posting more frequently on Facebook. You can add me as a friend by entering my email address: escorev@gmail.com

I'm also gearing up for another ministry called Poimen (from a Greek word meaning 'workman or workmanship') with the focus being pastors serving pastors. Check out our new website for more details at www.poimenministries.com

Here's my newsletter:

Dear Support Team,

I pray you and yours are well, blessed, and growing in the Lord!

May has certainly zipped by and summer is almost upon us. I am encouraged to report that my health is improving! The severe ab pain I'd been dealing with has begun to lessen and I'm so grateful for all your prayer. Those of you who have endured lingering surgical pain (or chronic pain for that matter) know the impact that can have on your outlook on life, your output in work, and even your uplook in your daily walk with the Lord.

I rejoice today that thru it all God remains faithful! The Bottom line of all that we face and struggle with is:HE IS NOT DONE WITH US YET! We're here and we have a purpose and there is still so much to do! May He encourage and strengthen each of you as you serve Him and love those He has placed in your sphere of influence!

Thank you all for your continuing support of my ministry with Shepherd's Staff. The month of June will be very busy and July is shaping up to be pretty full as well. Of particular note will be me traveling with my East Coast counterpart, Bryon Mondok, to the Eastern European Foundations Conference being held at the Calvary Chapel Bible College and conference center in Vajta, Hungary. I leave June 20 and return June 28. We will be representing the ministry of Shepherd's Staff and personally encouraging the many missionaries who will be attending the conference. Please pray for travel mercies and strength as this will be my first overseas trip after all my surgeries.

I would also ask you to pray for a group of 7 future missionaries who will be attending Shepherd's Satff Field Intensive Training May 30 - June 13 in La Gloria, Mexico.

My schedule is shaping up as follows:

May 31 4-5pm Leading in prayer at the Global Day of Prayer event at Grape Day Park in Escondido

June 1-4 - Sr. Pastor's Conference in Murrieta - Representing Shepherd's Staff

June 1 - Monday 6:30pm - Teaching at the CC Escondido Men's Dinner & Fellowship

June 5-7 - Missions Conference at Calvary Chapel Downey - Representing Shepherd's Staff

June 10-11 - Shepherd's Staff Field Intensive Training for new missionaries in La Gloria, Mexico

June 20-28 - Foundations Leadership Conference in Vajta, Hungary - Representing Shepherd's Staff

July 5 - 9:30am - Teaching Sunday morning service at Crossroad Christian Fellowship in Oceanside

July 19 - 8:30 & 10:30 Teaching Sunday Services at Calvary Chapel Santee

July 26 - 9:30am - Teaching Sunday Service at Calvary Chapel Hidden Valley in Escondido

So, as you can see, lots coming up! In between all of this is my summer project of making personal contact with the sending churches of all my Shepherd's Staff missionaries.

I deeply appreciate all your prayer, encouragement, and financial support!

May the Lord pour out His Spirit in and thru you as you shine for Him in this dark and troubled world.

In His Arm's,

Pat

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Has it been more than a week?

Well, you blink your eye's and 10 days have zipped by. Life and work have picked up a bit so I thought I'd post some of my schedule for the next few weeks.

Fri. 5-15: Teaching a home fellowship in La Casta

Sat. 5-16: Walk for Life & Ministry Faire at CC Escondido

Sun. 5-24:Teaching Sunday Morning services at Calvary Chapel Yuma, AZ

June 1-4: Sr. Pastor's Conference - Murrieta, CA

June 5-7: Missions Conference - Calvary Chapel Downey

June 20-27 Eastern European Foundations Conference - Vajta, Hungary

And lot's of one-on-one stuff in between. God is so faithful! Health wise things seem to be turning a corner. Thanks so much for praying for me and my ministry.

In His Arm's,

Pat

Monday, May 04, 2009

Monday Update 5-4

All is well on the Kenney front :-)

This past week involved several doctor's visits, both with another surgeon to get a 2nd opinion on what's been causing my pain and a first visit to the Kaiser pain clinic. Both appointments were positive in narrowing down the cause - which now seems to be more neurological than muscular. Evidently, during surgery, a pocket of nerves became trapped by the procedure, and have been firing away, causing much of my discomfort. Good news is that, with time and treatment, they gradually quiet down. And normal activity will not cause any further damage.

I've really been feeling a lot better since I returned from Chicago and am glad that things finally appear to be on the mend. As always, thanks so much for your continued prayer.

Ministry wise these next couple of weeks look to be pretty full. I know, I can hear it now, "Don't overdo it Pat!" I am pacing myself, walking more every day, as well as getting the rest my body needs. You all know my heart to be serving and I'm just grateful for the opportunities ahead to glorify Him and to edify and encourage His people - because they have sure been a huge encouragement to me these past couple of years.

Love to all of you!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

prayer request update

Wanted to give you all an update on the prayer request for the missionaries in Kenya whose daughter was dealing with a possible tumor.

From Kelli Compean:

I have just returned from the neurosurgeon who had good news. His opinion is that while there has been some increase in size of the pituitary this is not yet cause for surgery. He said, since there is no visual or hormonal impairment he would like to just monitor her. He feels that her headaches are caused by what the opthamologist called benign intracranial hypertension. He feels this should resolve in 3-4 weeks with the medicine she is currently on. He said she definitely has something which needs follow up so the plan is for her to be on this medicine, follow up with the opthamologist in one week to see if their is relief of the pressure causing the optic disk bulging. He also said her vision and likely hormones should be monitored every 3-6 months, or sooner if there is a noticeable change. The other plan is to repeat the MRI in 4 months.

This puts her finishing school here on schedule, attending her job in Alaska and then checking in with a new doctor in California just before college starts. Thank you for your prayers and concern. While we still don't have a final word from the pediatrician, we do feel there is some direction. While we certainly get into a panic and her mom jumps to worse case scenarios, we do feel confident that all the doctors are working together to gain a clear picture of what is happening. Please keep us in prayer as this chronic, potentially serious issue is something we are all adjusting to and it really makes it hard to let Haley go and live her own life. We don't want to hold her too tightly or be over protective but give her the skills she needs to take care and be responsible for her own health.

We love you and thank you
Kelli

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