Saturday, June 8, 2013

Greetings from the Missions Field 6-08-2013

From the Field
     The Fellowship of Christian Firefighters International has been busy ministering to first responders. God has been opening many doors in the fire service, and I have been very busy just trying to keep up. I have recently come back from Canada. God recently reopened a door for FCFInternational to meet with the New Brunswick Fire Chiefs Association. What a blessing to meet fire chiefs, chaplains, and fellow Christian first responders up north. As quickly as God set this up it appears that He is opening up a door in Mexico as well. For many years George has been ministering to Mexico and it appears that I will be able to attend a chiefs conference down there in November. Please join us in prayer as we desire to minister in these areas.
     Here in the states FCFInternational has been working on reestablishing a discipleship ministry. I thank God for Keith and Wayne who have been working very hard on creating this ministry for first responders. Our prayer is that God would use this to grow first responders closer to God. I desire to see firefighters regularly reading and studying their Bibles. Here in Washington, DC at firehouses all over the city we love to play "stump the chump". Someone will start with a question from one of our department manuals and the next thing you know everyone is trying to ask a question that stumps those who are participating. I look forward to the day when FCFInternational members play "stump the chump" with Biblical questions.
     The International Office have been receiving calls on starting new chapters. What a blessing to be able to talk with firefighters all over the country who desire to start a chapter. Recently I put a map of the United States on my desk top and I have been praying for each State. My prayer is that God would raise up a chapter in each State. I look forward to the day when God provides a chapter in each State and I have to visit each one. The International Board has developed a document outlining the three types of local chapters. The idea is to meet the needs of local first responders through one of three local chapters. The chapters are the Tail Board Talk Group (designed for groups of 2 or 3 first responders), the small group (designed for larger groups who desire to be less formal and do not have a checking account), and the local chapter (designed as a formal group with a bank account). Check out the web site, www.fellowshipofchristianfirefighters.org, for all of the details.
     FCFInternational continues to offer monthly on-line Bible studies. Attendance has begone to drop of in recent months. Please pray with us as we desire to have at least 100 first responders attending these studies. What a blessing to be able to study God's Word the Bible with firefighters from all over the country.

The Family
     Holly continues to work for a Bible book store near our home. As I move closer to retirement we have been talking about where we would like to live. The cost of living is very high in Maryland and we would like to move somewhere more cost effective to live. My prayer is that we would be able to start a retreat center for first responders and chaplains in order to minister to their spiritual needs, especially after disasters. Pray for Holly as this idea of moving is very stressful for her. The boys are well and I appreciate your prayers for their spiritual growth. Seth is still trying to find a position as an Assistant Pastor of church. He is finding it rather difficult as a lot of churches do not want a single young man to work with the youth of the church. Andrew has been talking about marriage. What a joy to be able to help walk him through that potential. Christopher and Justin are both working and seam to be waiting on where we are going to live before making any major decisions in life.

Prayer Requests
  • For the completion of the Discipleship Ministry. Pray that God would use this in a mighty way to reach first responders for Him.
  • Family Camp is next week. Pray that Wayne would be enpowered to teach us about discipleship within our families.
  • Families of first responders who recently lost their lives. Houston firefighters, Helicopter crash that killed 3, and the ambulance accident that killed 2. Pray that God would grant much grace to the families and coworkers.
  • Pray for a chapter in each State.
  • Pray that God would save 2 million first responders world wide.
Consider This
    Blogs are designed to be a way for people to exchange information. Besides informing those who would like to know what is happening in FCFInternational I would like the blog to be used to have a dialog on Biblical subjects. The idea would be "iron sharpening iron". So consider II Timothy 2:2 which states; "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." How does this apply to the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters? I see 3 major talking points in this verse, what do you think they are?

Craig W. Duck
President/Missionary
FCFInternational