VOB News October 2023 “Thank you Gary”

Carol praying for team members. . .

South Carolina trip: You’ve heard it said, ‘this is just what the doctor ordered.’    I can attest to you that the Global Tabernacle of David leaders gathering was, in fact, just what the LORD ordered!! Small in nature, very community oriented, and completely focused on worship, I had the amazing privilege of being deeply encouraged, as well as being able to deeply encourage others.  Bible study and reading, personal sharing and ministry time, and glorious times of worshiping the Lord together, both publicly and privately, were among the main items of interest.  I found years of things the Lord has taught me and put inside me, just flowing out to encourage and edify other worship leaders just getting their feet wet in the area of leading.  It truly was so fulfilling in that regard, and reminded me of a calling the Lord has been putting on me for sometime now, to help raise up and encourage others in worship leading.  We all have a contribution to the Kingdom of GOD and the furthering of it on this side of Heaven.  It is my extreme honor, to assist others in knowing, learning and growing in this knowledge, both in practice and in theory.  I love this, and whether it’s in this country or another, I thank the Lord for such opportunities.  As a wise friend once said to me, “you can never worship the Lord too much”…..oh how right that is.  VOB is so pleased to be a part of GToD, and may the Lord bless David Gereghty and his family, as they work to pioneer this ministry. Let us know if you wanna be notified when we do our online global worship streams! 

. . . and Wayne just had some good KC barbecue with team members.

Kansas City Missouri trip: Lithuania, Poland, Germany, France, Chile, and the Philippines were some of the nations represented at our biannual Living Waters leaders conference. This conference had to cancel in 2021, due to pandemic, thus it had been 4 years since we last gathered. And what a gathering it was. There is just something about having brothers and sisters who are quite different in shapes, sizes, colors, tongues, culture, etc, but united in having One God in common. Also knitted together in our likeminded truth telling about what the Lord has set free in our personal brokenness and woundings. This truth that helps set the captives free because Jesus said it would!! He is The Truth and the work He does in this healing ministry of Living Waters sparks us all to spread that freedom! Such a blessing to work with Desert Stream and the amazing team of wounded healers who work tireless schedules of mentoring, teaching, counseling, proclaiming – online – in small groups – church platforms – all around the world. And if I might add, some of these international laborers sacrifice even greater, as they are persecuted and threatened with persecution in their homelands for being truth tellers and Truth followers! 

5/26/48 – 10/21/23

Gary: This isn’t a “lastly” addition to this update, but instead, mentioned here at the bottom because the 2 reports above may never have happened without Gary Goodells ‘welcome to San Diego,’ almost 28 years ago. As Wayne said in his tribute on Facebook, The Lord told us to “Go” (from NC) and Gary invited us to “Come” (to SD), but then taught us how to serve and follow that One who sent us.  We could never convey here (though many of you who have followed us all these years, know) how much Gary imparted, released, extracted, motivated, tolerated from us – how much he gave platform, permission, generosity, favor – or how much fun we had celebrating, proclaiming, demonstrating the Lord and His Gospel.  Gary has joined the cloud of witnesses – the known Biblical and famous theologian ones whom he loved and often quoted, and also the many known colleagues we had the privilege to serve with over all these years, who have gone before us. No possible way to say goodbye-only certainly, ‘see ya later pastor friend!’ 

Carol, Gary and Wayne in San Francisco (Summer of Love 30 year anniversary – 1997)

VOB News June 2017 “Summer of Love”

 

20 years ago, Carol, myself, Mark, and Gary from our church leadership staff, took a team to San Francisco to celebrate 30 years since the Summer of Love – a revolution of peace and love that emerged in the late 60’s.  A counterculture arose amidst this revolution, but so did the Jesus movement, one of the greatest ingathering of souls for the Kingdom of God in

that generation.  As I read over our newsletter from that July 1997, I was reminded of all the amazing opportunities we had to do worship and evangelism all over the city. Many people were reached and ministered to. What an amazing opportunity for the Lord, and what great memories for us!

 

(both photos above) Gary, Carol (guitars) and Wayne (hand drum) leading worship in a couple of San Fran city squares July 1997.

Fast forward 20 years, and another event is being organized to celebrate-now-50 years, since the Summer of Love outpouring. Our friend Melody Green, asked Wayne to come

and assist her, as she ministers at the event. She and her husband Keith, were among those who came to know the Lord through the birthing of the Jesus movement. They were also among the ones who took the reins, and continued leading others to the Lord through that revival movement. Her voice is valued for this milestone. We will be doing outreach in the parks again, and look forward to sharing our encounters with you. If you are curious in reading more about the event you can do so at www.thesound2017.com   Prayers appreciated July 5-9th.

We had a great visit with Melody last month. She has a wealth of wisdom and years of experience that is very inspiring. We are not beginners, after 21 years of full time ministry, but we recognize one who has given her entire life to the Lord and His service. I have often shared how much Keith Green’s music inspires my work with the poor. And how listening to it regularly, helps me stay on track.   One of my favorite things to do is drive around Tijuana, connecting with the faces and surroundings, while listening to Keith’s song;

Open your eyes to the world all around you. Open your eyes, open your eyes. This world is much more than the things that surround you, open your eyes…”   www.melodygreen.com

 

On this occasion, I got to drive around with the actual writer of the song! Melody rode jump seat with me, to deliver food to the orphanage one day. What a treat. She loved it and took some great photos of the kids helping me unload the truck. And of course we enjoyed some delicious tacos!