Creating Space For One More Person

A Faithful Servant

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:19:00 +0000

With Father's Day around the corner, I've been reflecting on my own father and the legacy he left. This is the second Father's Day since his death. The older I get, the more I realize how much my life has been shaped by his faithful example.

If there is one word that described my dad, it's the word faithful. The virtue of faithfulness has fallen out of vogue in our culture. We value new, variety, novelty, exploration, and self-expression. Faithfulness is boring, constraining, old fashioned, and restrictive. In that regard, my dad was "old school!" Dad valued character, being a person of your word, following through on commitments, timeliness, and taking care of business. He was faithful in everything he undertook.

It's not that dad wasn't willing to learn new things and to change. At the age of 78 he got his first computer and learned to use email. It was a great upgrade from Web TV! He used online banking but preferred to deal face to face when it came time for financial transactions. During the last days of his life, he was so glad that he made it to May 1 so he could receive another month of railroad pension. He made me log onto his bank account to confirm that the money had been posted!

Dad followed cultural events and was conversant on the latest piece of news, whether local or global. But there were some things that were non-negotiable. There were a few things that he wouldn't compromise. You don't compromise your word, your commitments, and your obligations.

My dad lived out Micah 6:6-8.

"With what should I enter the LORD’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the LORD accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for rebellion, my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God."

What does the Lord want from us? To be faithful! The Scriptures put a high value on being faithful and so did my dad.

Dad met Madelyn Elaine Rank when he was 17, a senior and she was a sophomore in high school. They later attended a Billy Graham movie together in the same gym in which my dad played basketball for his high school team. That day, when the invitation was given, my dad realized his sin problem and placed his trust in Christ. For the next 65 years my dad faithfully lived out His commitment to Christ in a quiet, unassuming way.

As a follower of Jesus Christ dad knew he was to be faithful. He knew he was to be a faithful:

Employee who worked hard at whatever he was assigned
Husband who loved the woman he married and to faithfully live out his marriage vows
Provider for his family
Father who provided spiritual direction to his children
Servant in his church
Friend to a group of men

So, how my did dad do? 81 years provides an adequate amount of time to assess a persons life and legacy. Faithful is the word that comes to mind as I review my dad's life.

Faithful Employee - Dad worked 42 years for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. I was always so proud of him. He had the coolest job in the world! Sometimes he would take me to the depot with him! Everyone knew and respected him. One summer he worked it out so that we could catch a freight train going from Iowa Falls to Tama. The engineer, one of my dad's fiends, let us ride in the engine with him and even let me run the throttle and blow the whistle at the intersections!

Faithful Husband - Dad married my mom on December 31, 1949. He was 21, she was just 18. They were married for 48 1/2 years. Not always easy years, but they loved one another and expressed affection for one another. I never heard my dad criticize my mom. He faithfully served her, did the dishes, helped with grocery shopping (my mom didn't know how to drive a car), and willingly supported and helped with my moms country craft business. They were a wonderful team. And he stood by my mom as she died of cancer 13 years ago. My moms last words to me were, "Make sure you take good care of your dad." My mom would often say, "I married the most wonderful man in the world!"

Faithful Provider - My dad made a modest income. I remember during my high school years that he was making $12,000 a year. My mom didn't work outside the home and helped raised three kids. He worked hard at his garden that helped feed our family throughout the year. My dad could have taken promotions for his career, but choose not to so we could continue to live close to family. He had perfect attendance on his job year after year. He built the first home our family owned, learning the various skills by reading a how-to book. He saved and spent cash for everything he purchased, using his vacation time to work on house projects. When I wanted a bike, rather than give me the money, he taught me how to earn it. He took me door to door selling Christmas cards for the new Huffy three-speed bike that I wanted. At the end of his life he left his family a substantial financial estate built by frugal budgeting, shrewd investing and living within his means. One of his last requests to me was to see that each grandchild got a financial gift. He was still providing right to the end.

Faithful Father - My dad was a beloved and faithful father. After his diagnosis my two sisters and I stayed by his side for the last 19 days. It's the least we could do for a man who had given his entire life to his family. I'm blessed with many wonderful memories of time spend together with my dad playing catch, attending church together, coaching baseball, fixing up our Spicebush Trail home before we moved from Syracuse to Iowa, digging potatoes in the garden, attending a Twins game with my boys and a trip to the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. I'm not certain when it began to happen, but later in life we began to hug every time we met and he would tell me that he loved me. There's no sweeter sound this side of heaven that to hear the words, "I love you." spoken by your father.

Faithful Servant - My dad was a faithful servant in his church. Over the years he served as the church treasurer, 5th grade Sunday School teacher, helped plant/remodel the Fellowship Baptist Church in Tama, and faithfully served at the Sanibel Community Church. He set aside an amount of cash weekly that he gave when the offering plate was passed. Later in his life I had opportunity to have many spiritual conversations with my dad. On one trip to Florida, Jason and I stayed with him so we could catch some spring training baseball games. We spent time each day reading and discussing the Purpose Driven Life together. At the end of his life when Hospice asked my dad if he would like to talk to a Pastor or Chaplain, he told them, "My son is my Pastor. He's taking care of everything."

Faithful Friend - My dad was a faithful friend to many. On Sanibel Island my dad had a rich collection of friends ranging from neighbors, a daily morning coffee group, a coffee group a Baileys Store, a cribbage group, and the Brown Baggers at his church. In Tama and Toledo he had a morning coffee group. At his memorial service and visitation, I met men who knew my dad his entire life. And I learned that "coffee" is a verb, as in "I have been coffeeing with Bud for over 15 years."

My dad didn't seek anything for himself. His only thoughts were about his faith and his family. As we sat in the exam room by ourselves on Thursday, April 26 after Dr. Kutteh delivered the devastating diagnosis, we talked about life and death. My dad said, "I don't think there is anything that can prepare you for a moment like this." I replied, dad your whole life has prepared you for a moment like this. You're at peace with your God and are trusting him for your final destination. You're at peace with your family. You have three children who adore you and 9 grandchildren who respect and love you. There is no unfinished business. You're ready. And his response? "I just wish I could have done more!"

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. One servant received five talents, one two talents and one one talent. The servants that were given five and two talents each used what they had been given to multiply their return. Each heard the words, well done, my good and faithful servant and then entered into joy of their master for their reward. My dad was a two talent servant who used faithfully leverage all that he was given.

Vernon Leroy Pagel was born on August 6, 1928, and died on May 15, 2012. Bud was born in Tama, Iowa and lived most of his adult life in Toledo. My dad lived a simple, humble life. He didn't aspire to greatness. He simply lived each day as a faithful employee, husband, provider, father, servant and friend.

In the living of his life my dad showed us all what true greatness looks like. In the living of his life, he left his family a legacy worth aspiring to. By God's grace, I hope to faithfully pass on the Pagel legacy and the life of Christ to the next generation who will impact generations yet unborn.

Well done my good and faithful servant! I love you dad!

Days

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:48:00 +0000

In 2005 Steve Jobs stated that he looks in the mirror every morning and asks himself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" This is a great question.

On Thursday, April 26 I accompanied my father to several medical appointments here in Cedar Rapids. He had called the day before and asked me if I could go to the appointments with him. My father is very independent and he never makes a request like this. So I cleared my calendar and met him the next morning at the urologists office.

Later in the day we met with oncologist Dr. Kutteh. In a matter of 30 minutes our world was turned upside down. Dr. Kutteh read off my father's blood numbers and wasted no time in delivering the devastating news ... acute leukemia ... days to several weeks to live ... I can't allow you to drive home ... do you have a place where you can stay here in Cedar Rapids ... would you like me to set up an appointment with hospice ... we will keep you comfortable.

We brought my father home to live with us. Three days later he was admitted to the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha. At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 15, my father shed his earthly tent and was welcomed to his new eternal home!

Days! The word rang in my ears. Days ... Days ... Days. What would I do, what would I say if this was the last day of my life? What would I do, what would I say if this was the last day I would see my father?

In God's providence, we were given not one day, but 19. 19 days, some too short, some very long. Days filled with expressions of love, laughter, tears, sorrow, joy and hugs. For 19 days life seemed to stand still. I arose each morning wondering if this day would be my father's last. 19 days of crystal clear focus. 19 days of eternal perspective. Today may be my father's last day to live. Today may be the last chance I have to tell my father how much I love him. Today may be the last time I get to sit in the same room with my father and enjoy his presence. Today is all that matters.

Nothing in life can adequately prepare you for a moment like this. God's presence walked with us and His grace surrounded us. God gives good gifts to His children. The gift of time ... presence ... family ... friends ... days. All sweet gifts. All received with a grateful heart. Thankful for just one more day.

For those who are interested, the visitation and memorial service will both be at the Kruse Phillips Funeral Home in Tama, Iowa. The visitation will be on Sunday, May 20 from 4:00-7:00 PM. The memorial service will be on Monday, May 21 at 10:30 AM. The graveside service and lunch will follow.

The lunch will be held at the Reinig Community Center in Toledo. In lieu of flowers, we request that gifts be made to the Hospice of Mercy in Cedar Rapids.

If you are traveling to Tama on highway 30, please note that the new bypass may not appear on your GPS. Traveling from the east, take the first exit for business 30 and then proceed to the funeral home.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Almost There!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:57:00 +0000

I'm excited to let you know that to date almost $70,000 has been donated to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Fund! A special "thank you" to all who contributed to this cause!

$165,000 was the total for the entire Drilling Rig Project. However, reaching $89,000 would enable us to purchase the drilling rig, ship it to Zimbabwe and purchase a vehicle to tow the rig. Anything that is raised over and above $89,000 will go toward the cost of drilling individual wells. New Covenant plans to donate $34,000 through our Advent Conspiracy Offering that would drill 10 wells!

If you have not yet done so, you can still give to this project online or by check. Help us reach our goal! All gifts go directly to MCDF. MCDF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization and is a New Covenant Kingdom Partner. And best of all, 100% of your gift goes to the Drilling Rig Project. There are no administrative or overhead fees!
To Give Online

Go to www.mcdforphans.org and click on the Donate link.
On the Donate page click on the “Donate” button at the center of the page. If you don’t have a Pay Pal account, click the “Continue” link under the credit card logos.
Fill out the credit card information.
When you get to the payment confirmation page you will be asked for “Any Special Instructions?” Enter “Kim Pagel Rig Fund”.

To Give by Check

Checks should be made payable to MCD Orphans.
Write “Kim Pagel Rig Fund” in the memo line.
Mail checks to Dennis Matangira, 670 Beaver Hollow CT SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Because of your generosity, 7500 school children will have clean drinking water this coming year. Because of you, the good news and the good works of the gospel will be shared in a powerful way in the country of Zimbabwe. You are helping make the invisible kingdom visible!

This is a Win, Win, Win proposition:

7500 children in Zimbabwe Win. Most of these children are orphans. If we don’t help them, no one will! Schools will receive clean drinking water, families will be able to grow self-sustaining gardens, villages will be transformed, women and children will spend less time gathering water, churches will be planted and the gospel will be preached!

Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation Wins. God has given this Christian ministry incredible favor with the village leaders and the government. This drilling rig will help MCDF drill more wells, plant more churches and to share Christ more effectively. Your gift enables MCDF to share the Good News and the good works of the Gospel with their own people.

You Win! Giving to this important project will help you put your faith in action and store up treasure in heaven. James 1:19 says – “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Thank you for caring! There are many things in the world that we have to accept and cannot change. This is not one of those things. Bringing clean water to 7500 children in Zimbabwe is something that we can do.
This is something that we must do! Together, this is a God-sized vision that we can accomplish for His glory. Thank you for helping!

Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Our Christmas Letter is published! After several years not getting it done, Sharon thought we needed one this year. I guess she thought that two college graduations, two weddings, my 60th birthday and 20th work anniversary, and our church relocation was deserving of an update!

Enjoy! May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas as you reflect on our Saviors birth.

A Good Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:18:00 +0000

What an awesome time we had at our Open House Celebration yesterday. Good times, good food, good friends combined with a good cause that seeks to share the Good News! Does it get any better than this!

Thank you Dennis, Girlie and Donald - for your passion and love for Christ and the people of Zimbabwe. Thanks for sharing your vision of purchasing a drilling rig and the community transformation that it can bring.

Thank you Jesus who has given me life and a purpose for living. He gives us good things for our enjoyment and so that we can share with others. I am truly rich!

Thank you to all who made generous gifts so that 7500 children can gave clean water. Thank you for your friendship and for caring about the things that God cares about. Thanks you for your gracious words of affirmation!

Thank you New Covenant, for taking a risk and hiring me as one of your pastors. My boys were 10, 7 and 3 when we moved to Cedar Rapids 20 years ago. Today they are all married, walking with God and serving His purposes.

Thank you Sharon, for loving me through the ups and downs of married and family life. It hasn't always been easy. Thank you for trusting God, for believing in me and for never giving up. Together, we make an awesome team!

Gifts for the Drilling Rig Project continue to come in. It's not too late to give. We will continue to receive donations through the end of the year.

You can give to this project online or by check. All gifts go directly to MCDF. MCDF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization and is a New Covenant Kingdom Partner. And best of all, 100% of your gift goes to the Drilling Rig Project. There are no administrative or overhead fees!

To Give Online

Go to www.mcdforphans.org and click on the Donate link.
On the Donate page click on the “Donate” button at the center of the page. If you don’t have a Pay Pal account, click the “Continue” link under the credit card logos.
Fill out the credit card information.
When you get to the payment confirmation page you will be asked for “Any Special Instructions?” Enter “Kim Pagel Rig Fund”.

To Give by Check

Checks should be made payable to MCD Orphans
Write “Kim Pagel Rig Fund” in the memo line.
Mail checks to Dennis Matangira, 670 Beaver Hollow CT SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Eyes to See

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:45:00 +0000

I take so much of life for granted. Even though I'm working at raising funds for a drilling rig, I'm not sure I fully realize what clean water means for those who live in Zimbabwe. What started out as a birthday/anniversary celebration has turned into a battle of cosmic forces for the hearts and lives of thousands of orphans, children and families in Zimbabwe.

I got this special prayer email today from Dennis Matangira. He and his family are praying for our Open House Celebration. You can read it for yourself.

This coming Sunday ranks high on God's calendar and ours. Kim Pagel, a good friend and Executive Pastor at Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids hosts this special fund raiser for the purchase of a well drilling machine for Mushayamunda Christian Development Trust.

We are inviting family to prayer and fasting today for this event.

Lord bring clarity of vision to Pastor Kim's friends so that they see the benefits of this rig the way God sees it.
Jehovah God, let any and all impediments to attending this function be removed in Jesus' name.
Lord protect our friends and helpers from satanic attacks that are meant to erode their ability to give and to stand with us.
King Jesus, what comes to our mind, heart and spirit is how from nothing you fed over 5000 with 12 basketful of left overs. Let our cup run-over this weekend in Jesus' name.
Holy Spirit, grant Pastor Kim all manner of wisdom as they arrange for this event.
Let heavenly favor cover these plans from the West, the East, the North and the South.
Let the devil's sworn design of poverty on all God's children be frustrated in Jesus' name.
Spirit of the living God, we glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for what you accomplished before the foundation of the earth and the manifestation thereof this weekend.
Jehovah Jireh, our provider, we wait upon you now; have your way Father, in the strong name of Jesus to which all principalities should bow and surrender, now and forever. Amen.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

The people of Zimbabwe are calling out in prayer asking that you and I will see the benefits of this drilling rig the way God sees it. May we have eyes to see and hears to hear!

Be Generous

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:31:00 +0000

The Need: 15 schools and 7500 children in Zimbabwe don't have access to clean water which leads to disease, sickness and early death.

The Solution: Help Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) purchase a drilling rig so that they can provide clean water in Jesus name to these children and schools.

The Opportunity: I'm asking my friends to give generously so that we can purchase a drilling rig and fund one year of operation. This will provide for the drilling of 20 wells!

Every gift and every amount is important. Here is how some are helping fund this critical project:

Give what you would receive for your next birthday. One friend is donating the $200 he expects to receive for his next birthday to the project.
One friend is giving the $2000 he expects to receive as part of a small business that he runs.
My dentist was impacted by what we are trying to do and has donate $1000.
Another friend is making a sacrificial gift of $7000 - the average cost of drilling one well if you have to contract with a drilling company.

Whatever you are able to do, please help! Thank you for giving this project serious consideration. There are many things in the world that we have to accept and cannot change. This is not one of those things. Bringing clean water to 7500 children in Zimbabwe is something that we can do. Please be generous!

You can give to this project online or by check. All gifts go directly to MCDF. MCDF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization and is a New Covenant Kingdom Partner. And best of all, 100% of your gift goes to the Drilling Rig Project. There are no administrative or overhead fees!

To Give Online

Go to www.mcdforphans.org and click on the Donate link.
On the Donate page click on the “Donate” button at the center of the page. If you don’t have a Pay Pal account, click the “Continue” link under the credit card logos.
Fill out the credit card information.
When you get to the payment confirmation page you will be asked for “Any Special Instructions?” Enter “Kim Pagel Rig Fund”.

To Give by Check

Checks should be made payable to MCD Orphans
Write “Kim Pagel Rig Fund” in the memo line.
Mail checks to Dennis Matangira, 670 Beaver Hollow CT SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Please Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:36:00 +0000

By now you probably know that I celebrated two significant events this past summer – my 60th birthday and my 20th anniversary at New Covenant! As I thought and prayed about how I wanted to celebrate these two milestones, God gripped my heart with the overwhelming need for clean water.

Which brings me to today - I want to provide a drilling rig in Zimbabwe so that 15 schools that Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) ministers to can have clean drinking water. Schools, villages and entire families can be transformed by this project!

I’m asking you to consider giving a generous gift to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project. My goal is to help MCDF raise $165,000 so that 7500 children can have clean drinking water. This total includes the first year of operating costs for the drilling rig and enough materials to drill 20 wells! A breakdown of the *total project budget is at the bottom of this post.

Why should you give to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project?

7500 children in Zimbabwe will win. Most of these children are orphans. If we don’t help them, no one will! Schools will receive clean drinking water, families will be able to grow self-sustaining gardens, villages will be transformed, women and children will spend less time gathering water, churches will be planted and the gospel will be preached!

MCDF will win. God has given this Christian ministry incredible favor with the village leaders and the government. This drilling rig will help MCDF drill more wells, plant more churches and to share Christ more effectively. Your gift enables MCDF to share the Good News and the good works of the Gospel with their own people.

You will win! Giving to this important project will help you put your faith in action and store up treasure in heaven. James 1:19 says - "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world." And if that’s not enough, I'm handing out a coupon for one free drink from the Main Street Café to each family who contributes to this project. Stop by the Open House Celebration on Sunday, October 30 from 3:00-5:00 to get your free drink.

You can give to this project online or by check. All gifts go directly to MCDF. MCDF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization and is a New Covenant Kingdom Partner. And best of all, 100% of your gift goes to the Drilling Rig Project. There are no administrative or overhead fees!

To Give Online

Go to www.mcdforphans.org and click on the Donate link.
On the Donate page click on the “Donate” button at the center of the page. If you don’t have a Pay Pal account, click the “Continue” link under the credit card logos.
Fill out the credit card information.
When you get to the payment confirmation page you will be asked for “Any Special Instructions?” Enter “Kim Pagel Rig Fund”.

To Give by Check

Checks should be made payable to MCD Orphans
Write “Kim Pagel Rig Fund” in the memo line.
Mail checks to Dennis Matangira, 670 Beaver Hollow CT SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Thank you for giving this project serious consideration. There are many things in the world that we have to accept and cannot change. This is not one of those things. Bringing clean water to 7500 children in Zimbabwe is something that we can do.

This is something that we must do! Together, this is a God-sized vision that we can accomplish for His glory. Please help!

*Drilling Rig Project Budget

Drilling Rig Acquisition	$57,600
Rig Truck (used)	$20,000
Shipping drilling rig from USA	$12,000
Rig Maintenance	$5,000
Well Materials - 20 Wells	$66,000
Operations Management	$4,400
Total Project Cost	$165,000

Together We Can Do This!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:25:00 +0000

These photos were taken by our New Covenant Zimbabwe Team. The Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) works with orphans and students in 20 different schools. 15 of these schools don't have wells or clean drinking water. Each school has an average of 500 students.

Imagine sending your child off to a school that didn't have clean drinking water or adequate sanitation. Many children, girls in particular, aren't even able to attend school as their water carrying duties take up a large part of their day.

To help celebrate my 60th birthday and 20th anniversary at New Covenant, I want to provide a drilling rig in Zimbabwe so that the 15 schools that MCDF ministers to can have clean drinking water. Together we can make a difference as we share the good works and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Water given in the name of Jesus changes everything. Together we can make a difference in the lives of thousands of orphans and school children. Schools will receive fresh drinking water, families will be able to grow self-sustaining gardens, villages will be transformed, women and children will spend less time gathering water, churches will be planted and the gospel will be preached!

I hope you can join me on Sunday, October 30 for an Open House Celebration at New Covenant from 3:00-5:00 PM. This is an event for the entire family. Come and learn about the need for clean water, the African culture, enjoy some food and how you can get involved. Together, we can do this!

The Makazi Children Are Looking To Us

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:49:00 +0000

Just stop and think, whenever you or I want a glass of water, we go to the faucet or refrig and help ourselves. Or perhaps we grab a bottle of water or our favorite water bottle so we can drink on the go. And after we have all we want to drink, we use water to take a bath or shower, wash our hands, do laundry, run our dishwasher and flush our toilet.

You might be surprised to know that the average American uses 75-100 gallons of water a day! The average family of four uses 300-400 gallons – a day!

In Zimbabwe it’s much different. The average family of six uses 20 gallons! This entire amount has to be used for drinking, sanitation, washing clothes and personal hygiene.

So, imagine what life is like for a woman or young child in Zimbabwe. You wake in the morning and your job is to walk 45 – 90 minutes to the nearest watering hole to get water for your family. The walk to the water source isn’t too bad as your jerrycan or bucket is empty. You fill your five gallon container up with 40 pounds of water and begin the long trek home. Your neck is burning with pain by the time you return. And in the afternoon, you do it all over again. Day after day after day!

The tragedy is that, having spent so much time and effort in reaching a source of water, the water itself is dirty, polluted and a health hazard.

15 schools representing 7500 children, many of whom are orphans, are waiting for wells and clean drinking water in Zimbabwe. Let me tell you about one of these schools.

The school located the farthest from the MushayamundaChristian Development Foundation’s (MCDF) Christian Development Center is Makazi. I wrote about MCDF on this post. Pastor Solomon with MCDF travels to Makazi a couple times a month to teach Bible classes to around 500 children.

The short-term team from New Covenant visited the Makazi school a year ago. Although Makazi is just 20 miles away from MCDF’s home base, it takes 2 ½ to 3 hours by bus to get to the school. The school, once a British Settler’s home, sits on plateau in the middle of a huge valley.

Doug Forret, New Covenant short-term missions team leader, writes: “We could tell soon after we arrived that these kids hadn’t seen many white people. The smallest boy to the left in the picture is scared of me and his older brother is holding him so that he doesn’t run away. Once I turned the camera around and showed them their picture they decided I wasn’t so scary!”

The Makazi school doesn’t have a well, nor is there one even close by. The kids have to carry water from miles away and then lug it up the large hill to the school.

This shouldn’t be! I want to provide a drilling rig for MCDF so that they can bring clean water and the message of Jesus Christ to thousands of children and to schools like the one in Makazi. The need is urgent. Together, we can make a difference.

I hope you will join me in giving generously to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project. I will share more about this project and how you can give later this week. And don’t forget about the special Open House Celebration on Sunday, October 30 from 3:00-5:00! I hope to see your there.

Every Boy Needs A Buddy

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:12:00 +0000

For right or wrong, much of how I look at myself is through the roles I play. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ; a husband to one awesome woman; a father to four incredible boys; a father-in-law to three (soon to be four!) wonderful daughter-in-laws; a son to Bud Pagel; an adopted/surrogate grandfather to Annaclare, Annika and Allison; a Pastor to a growing church family; a friend.... You get the point!

Recently I have added one more role or title. Monday evening I went to the Metro Youth Football League fields to watch Deshawn play football. He's on a Wash 6th grade team. Deshawn and I have been Lunch Buddies through Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past two plus years.

It was a beautiful evening for football. It was just cool enough for a jacket, perfect football weather. The smell of fall leaves, the sound of parents cheering on their teams, and the glow of the lights breaking through the darkness to illuminate the fields created a memorable evening.

I arrived a little late and was trying to find the field Deshawn's team was playing on. In my search I came across one of Deshawn's friends, who immediately said, "Hey, you're Deshawn's Lunch Buddy!"

In that moment, something incredible happened that I wasn't prepared for - my heart filled with pride! I was honored to be known as Deshawn's "buddy."

I was the only person at the game Monday evening who was there to cheer on Deshawn. His teammates had parents, friends, aunts and uncles at the game to cheer them on. I got photos. Deshawn even scored a touchdown and made a solo tackle! I got to see it all!

Monday night brought back a lot of memories of watching my own sons play Metro football on those same fields. But I also reflected on my new title. I'm Deshawn's Lunch Buddy! It's a title that fills my heart with pride.

Every son needs a father. Every person needs a friend. Every team needs fans. Every boy needs a buddy!

All I Want Is A Drilling Rig!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:13:00 +0000

I’m excited about the incredible opportunity I have to partner with Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation to order to bring clean drinking water to 7500 children in Zimbabwe! As you may know, I'm sponsoring the Drilling Rig Project in recognition of my 60th birthday and 20th anniversary at New Covenant.

15 schools and 100 villages have asked MCDF to drill wells for them in order to provide clean drinking water. But, because of MCDF’s limited financial resources, they are only able to dill one well every two years! At this rate, it would take 30 years for MCDF to drill wells for each of the 15 schools!

This isn’t acceptable! I want to provide a drilling rig for MCDF so that they can bring clean water and the message of Jesus Christ to thousands of children and hundreds of villages. The need is urgent. We can make a difference.

In order to accomplish this, we need to purchase a drilling rig so that we can get clean water to these schools as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Consider the following:

The cost of drilling borehole wells in Zimbabwe has been volatile. Costs have ranged from $6000 to $12,000 per well, depending on inflation and the depth of the well.
The water table is very deep and drillers normally have to go through granite to reach the water which increases the cost of drilling.
By using their own drilling rig, MCDF can reduce the cost of drilling a well from $8000 to under $4000! This will allow them to drill more wells and provide more schools and villages with clean water.
The contract drillers that MCDF have used in the past charge their fee whether or not they find water.
The Drilling Rig Project is projected to have a one year payback!

Your generosity can bring clean drinking water to children, schools and entire villages. Schools will receive clean, fresh drinking water, families will be able to grow self-sustaining gardens, villages will be transformed, women and children will spend less time gathering water, churches will be planted and the gospel will be preached!

Who wouldn’t want to be part of something like this! Together, we can make a lasting impact on the country of Zimbabwe as we share the good works and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Please pray about what God would have you do to help move this project to completion.

Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Hit the square box icon on the bottom right of the newsletter to read it in full-screen mode.

Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:35:00 +0000

To celebrate my 20th anniversary at New Covenant and my 60th birthday, I’m asking my friends to help finance a water drilling rig in Zimbabwe. I'm partnering with the Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) for this project.

In this update, I want to answer the question, “What is Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation and why am I partnering with them?”

MCDF is a Christian ministry. MCDF is a Christian ministry that was begun by Dennis Matangira and his brothers Donald, Dereck, and Daniel. All four boys were born in Mushayamunda village in Zimbabwe, Africa. Missionaries to Zimbabwe shared the gospel and lead the family to faith in Christ.
MCDF is a trusted ministry of two New Covenant members. Dennis and his brothers later came to the United States. Dennis and his wife Girlie, moved to Cedar Rapids in 2008 and attend New Covenant. In 2001 the four brothers formed the MCDF in honor of their late parents. Over the past 15 years Dennis and his brothers have worked to bring spiritual transformation to the villages of their homeland.
MCDF is an indigenous ministry that seeks to equip the people of Zimbabwe to help themselves. The work of MCDF focuses on sharing the gospel with orphans and school children, providing clean water and self-sustaining gardens, caring for widows, planting churches, and leadership development. This ministry is led by Zimbabweans who minister to the people of Zimbabwe.
New Covenant supports the ministry of MCDF. MCDF is a New Covenant kingdom partner. Two short-term mission teams have traveled to Zimbabwe and partnered with MCDF. MCDF is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization.
God has given MCDF an open door to share the gospel through the school system and the drilling of wells. MCDF works with 10,000 children in 20 different schools. Many of these children are orphans. 15 of the schools do not have clean drinking water. A drilling rig will enable MCDF to provide clean water, community gardens, and to plant churches in or near each of these schools!

But don’t just take my word for it. Check out Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation online or better yet, talk in person to Dennis and Girlie Matangira. They would love to tell you about this unique opportunity and what God is doing in their country.

The need is urgent. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the country of Zimbabwe as we share the good works and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

I hope you will join me in giving generously to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project. I will share more about this project and how you can give at a later time. And don’t forget about the special Open House Celebration on Sunday, October 30 from 3:00-5:00!

Imagine Life Without Clean Drinking Water

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:11:00 +0000

These photos were taken by our New Covenant Zimbabwe Team last summer. The Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation (MCDF) works with orphans and students in 20 different schools. 15 of these schools don't have wells or clean drinking water. Each school has an average of 500 students. The photos above were taken by our team during the Vacation Bible School programs they conducted during their trip.

Imagine sending your child off to a school that didn't have clean drinking water or adequate sanitation. Many children, girls in particular, aren't even able to attend school as their water carrying duties take up a large part of their day.

Water given in the name of Jesus changes everything. Sanitation, improved hygiene, community gardens, less illness, and the Gospel accompany community wells and clean water! I want to provide a drilling rig in Zimbabwe so that the 15 schools that MCDF ministers to can have clean drinking water. Together we can make a difference as we share the good works and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, October 30 I am going to celebrate my 20th Anniversary and 60th Birthday with an Open House Celebration. Join me at New Covenant from 3:00-5:00 PM. This is an event for the entire family. Come and learn about the need for clean water, the African culture, enjoy some food and how you can get involved.

I will be sharing more information in the days to come including how you can give financially to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project.

Clean Water Changes Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:19:00 +0000

As I wrote in an earlier post, in recognition of my 20th anniversary at New Covenant and my 60th birthday, I’m asking my friends to join me on Sunday, October 30 between 3:00-5:00 PM in room 209 at New Covenant for an Open House Celebration!

To celebrate, I want to help finance a water drilling rig in Zimbabwe. I'm partnering with the Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation, a ministry sponsored by Dennis Matangira and his family. Dennis is from Zimbabwe and attends New Covenant.

MCDF works with 20 schools that represents over 10,000 children! Only five of these schools have a well and clean drinking water! This is not acceptable! The first priority will be to drill wells for the 15 schools that don't have accessibility to clean water.

Why clean water?

Diseases from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren't strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses.
90% of the 30,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are of children under five years old.
884 million people lack access to safe water supplies; approximately one in six people.
Women and children usually bear the burden of water collection, walking miles to the nearest source, which is unprotected and likely to make them sick.
In Zimbabwe, the average woman or child walks three hours a day to get water.
In 1998 Zimbabwe had an outbreak of cholera that devastated the country and shut down hospitals. The primary cause was unclean drinking water.
Life expectancy at birth for males in Zimbabwe has dramatically declined since 1990 from 60 to 42 years, among the lowest in the world. The amount of time a Zimbabwean citizen is expected to live healthily from birth is 39 years.
Water, when given in the name of Jesus, changes entire villages, impacts families and transforms lives!

Clean water changes everything! I hope you will join me in giving generously to the Zimbabwe Drilling Rig Project. I will share more about this project and how you can give at a later time.

Together, we can make a lasting impact on the country of Zimbabwe as we share the good works and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Clean Water: The Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:11:00 +0000

You probably came to this blog page because you want to learn more about the importance of clean drinking water. I encourage you to watch the story of Scott Harrison, the founder of charity: water. The video and photos are compelling. It is lengthy but well worth the watch!

This charity: water video below is also informative.

This video by Living Water International is also worth the watch.

Time To Celebrate!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:08:00 +0000

This summer I celebrated two milestone events – my 20^th anniversary at New Covenant and my 60^th birthday! Wow, where has the time gone!

As I thought about what I wanted to do to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness to me and my family over the years, God began to lay the need for clean drinking water on my heart. I wrote about this journey on my previous post, Freely Give.

To help me celebrate, I’m asking my friends to join me on Sunday, October 30 between 3:00-5:00 PM in room 209 at New Covenant for an Open House Celebration.

This is an event for the entire family. Come and learn about the need for clean water, the African culture, enjoy some food and how you can get involved.

Instead of a gift or card, I only request your presence. And of course, if you are so inclined, I would value your participation in the Drilling Rig Project. I will share more about how to do this at a later time.

I hope you will be able to stop by, even if it’s only for a brief time. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the country of Zimbabwe as we share the good works and the good news of the gospel!

The Call: Everyone, Everywhere, Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:34:00 +0000

I'm blogging some of my favorite quotes from The Call by Os Guinness. These come from chapter 4: Everyone, Everywhere, Everything.

Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service.

Here are four essential strands in the biblical notion of calling that we must always hold.

First, calling has a simple and straighforward meaning. Human beings call to each other, to God, and to animals. Animals too can call.

Second, calling has another important meaning in the Old Testament. To call means to name, and to name means to call into being or to make. Calling is not only a matter of being and doing what we are but also of becoming what we are not yet but are called by God to be. Thus name-calling is the fusion of being and becoming.

Third, calling gains a further characteristic meaning in the New Testament. It is almost a synonym for salvation. In this context, calling is overwhelmingly God's calling people to himself as followers of Christ. Just as God called Israel to him as his people, so Jesus called his disciples.

Fourth, calling has a vital, extended meaning in the New Testament that flowers more fully in the later history of the church. Thus in the New Testament, as Jesus calls his followers to himself, he also calls them to other things and tasks: to peace, to fellowship, to eternal life, to suffering, and to service. But deeper even than these particular things, discipleship, which implies "everyone, everywhere, and in everything," is the natural and rightful response to the lordship of Christ.

In short, calling in the Bible is a central and dynamic theme that becomes a metaphor for the life of faith itself. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a "called one" and so to become "a follower of the Way."

The third and fourth strands of the meaning of calling are the basis for the vital distinction elaborated later in history between primary and secondary calling. Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him and for him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God) not to something or to somewhere.

Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for him.

This vital distinction between primary and secondary calling carries with it two challenges - first, to hold the two together and, second, to ensure that they are kept in the right order.

The truth of calling means that for followers of Christ, "everyone, everywhere, and in everything" lives the whole of life as a response to God's call. Yet this holistic character of calling has often been distorted to become a form of dualism that elevates the spiritual at the expense of the secular. This distortion may be called the Catholic distortion, because it rose in the Catholic ear and is the majority position in the Catholic tradition.

Protestant confusion about calling has led to the Protestant distortion that is even worse. This is the form of dualism in a secular direction that not only elevates the secular at the expense of the spiritual but also cuts it off from the spiritual altogether.

If all that a believer does grows out of faith and is done for the glory of God, then all dualistic distinctions are demolished. There is no higher/lower, sacred/secular, perfect/permitted, contemplative/active, or first class/second class. Calling is the premise of Christian existence itself. Calling means that everyone, everywhere, and in everything fulfills his or her (secondary) callings in response to God's (primary) calling.

"There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, 'This is mine! This belongs to me!'" Abraham Kuyper

The Call: The Haunting Question

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:35:00 +0000

I'm blogging some of my favorite quotes from The Call by Os Guinness. These come from chapter 3, The Haunting Question.

Part of our contemporary crisis of identity can be summed up by saying that modern people are haunted by an inescapable question of biography: Who am I?

Many of the categories people offer to explain or heal us today are too general.Who am I? Why am I alive? Being general, the categories never address us as individuals. At best our individuality is lost in the generality. At worst, it is contradicted and denied. All attempts to explain human individuality in general terms can be summed up as varieties of being "constrained to be."

A second and opposite position has equally obvious weaknesses - varies of "the courage of be." We can actually, we are told, "invent ourselves." The absurdity of this position is obvious to all but the rich, the strong, the wealthy, the young, and the fanatical. For one thing, even if we can do what we want, the question remains: What do we want? The near-omnipotence of our means of freedom doubles back to join hands with the near-emptiness of our ends. We do not have a purpose to match our technique. So ironically, we have the greatest capacity when we have the least clue what it is for.

The third perspective views individuality as a matter of being "constituted to be." From our very birth, we are told, we bear the seeds of our eventual character; we carry the script of our life stories.

Humanness is a response to God's calling. Responding to the call means rising to the challenge, but in conversation and in partnership - and in an intimate relationship between the called and the Caller.

Only when we respond to Christ and follow his call do we become our real selves and come to have personalities of our own. So when it comes to identity, modern people have things completely back to front: Professing to be unsure of God, they pretend to be sure of themselves. Followers of Christ put things the other way around: Unsure of ourselves, we are sure of God.

Freely Give

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:26:00 +0000

Twenty years ago today I began serving at New Covenant Bible Church as Pastor of Discipling Ministries. That was a long time ago! I had just turned 40. Ryan was entering 4th grade, Jason 2nd grade and Josh and Jon were three years old! I won't tell you how old Sharon was. She was young!

A lot of things have changed over the past 20 years. New Covenant is relocating to a new facility. All four of my boys have graduated from college. Three are married and Jon and Trista have a wedding date set for October 22.

To celebrate my 20 Anniversary, I want to help finance a drilling rig for Zimbabwe. You can read more about it here. $165,000 would purchase the rig and fund the drilling of 20 wells. We are partnering with the Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation. This is a ministry sponsored by Dennis Matangira and his family. Dennis is from Zimbabwe and attends New Covenant.

MCDF works with 20 schools that represents over 10,000 children! Only five of these schools have a well and clean drinking water! The first priority will be to drill wells for the 15 schools that don't have accessibility to clean water.

In addition, over 100 villages and other schools have contacted MCDF to help them drill wells so that they can have access to fresh water. Each well will be drilled and given in Jesus name. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the good works and the good news of the gospel.

God has been good to me and my family over the past 20 years. I'm thankful for His faithfulness and provision. During the next 20 years, if I'm fortunate enough to live that long, I want to give back to others who have less. I want to leverage all that God has given to me for the kingdom. I want to invest my finances, influence, skills and time into things that will have eternal value.

This fall, I want to provide clean drinking water for villages and schools in Zimbabwe. On Sunday, October 30 I will be hosting a party and gathering at New Covenant from 3:00-5:00 PM for those who would like to join me in making a financial contribution to this Well Drilling Project. Save the date! More information will be coming.

I hope you will join me in giving thanks to God for His many blessings. And I hope too that you will give generously so that others can have clean water in Jesus name. Freely we have received, let's freely give.

What If

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 03:31:00 +0000

Sharon and I met with Doug Forret, Don Purdy and Dennis Matangira this morning to talk about the dream we have of purchasing a drilling rig for Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation.

This is rough draft/sneak peak of what we are thinking and praying about. It's pretty crazy but we're asking God for $165,00 to fund this project so we can drill 20 wells a year and provide clean drinking water for villages and schools that go without.

This month I celebrate 20 years of service at New Covenant. I'm making plans to invite my friends to join me in helping make this dream a reality!

What if we could share what we have to give to those who go without? What if we could help empower villages in Zimbabwe to better care for their own? What if we could provide water for drinking, sanitation, gardening and hygiene? What if we could offer hope and help to entire schools and villages? What if we could do all this in the name of Jesus so that His kingdom and purposes are advanced? What if ....

Big Gulp

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:29:00 +0000

Watch the video above and then watch the one below that tells how it was made. Quite amazing! It's the world's largest stop-motion animation ever shot. All shot with a Nokia N8 phone.

The Call: Seekers Sought

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I'm blogging some of my favorite quotes from The Call by Os Guinness. These come from chapter 2, Seekers Sought.

"Love seeks out the seeker - not because the seeker is worthy of love but simply because love's nature is to love regardless of the worthiness or merit of the one loved.""

"First, the way of agape says, 'By all means desire, but think carefully about what you love and what you desire.' Those who follow eros are not wrong to desire happiness but wrong to think that happiness is to be found where they seek it. Incomplete in ourselves, we desire what we think is beckoning to complete us."

"Second, the way of agape parts company with the way of eros over the means of the search. We cannot find God without God. Our seeking will always fall short unless God's grace initiates the search and unless God's call draws us to him and completes the search."

"If we are to desire the highest good, the highest good must come down and draw us so that it may become a reality we desire. From this perspective, there is no merit in seeking or finding. All is grace. The secret of seeking is not in our human ascent to God, but in God's descent to us."

"We start out searching, but we end up being discovered. We think we are looking for something; we realize we are found by Someone.What brings us home is not our discovery of the way home but the call of the Father who has been waiting there for us all along, whose presence there makes home home."

Rachel's Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Pagel) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Everyone has a dream. A hope or desire that provides motivation and energy. A reason to get up in the morning. Something to live for.

Rachel Beckwith dreamed about providing clean drinking water to those who don't have access to this basic necessity. She set a goal of raising $300 through her own charity:water web page, encouraging people to give to this cause instead of gifts for her 9th birthday.

Then on June 9th Rachel and her family were in a tragic auto accident. Rachel died but her dream has lived on. To date, over $750,000 has been given in Rachel's name through her charity:water web page. You can watch the CBS news story and read about it here.

Several months ago I blogged about Scott Harrison, the founder of charity:water and his dream of providing clean, safe drinking water to the one billion people on the planet who lack access.

Rachel learned about charity:water through her church, Eastlake Community Church. She dreamed about leveraging her birthday for the benefit of others. Her modest $300 goal has been multiplied several thousand times over!

Os Guinness in his book, The Call, talks about living life with purpose and intention.

"Count the cost, consider the risks, and set out each day on a venture to multiply your gifts and opportunities and bring glory to God and add value to our world. Answering the call is the road to purpose and fulfillment in your life."

I'm dreaming about purchasing a drilling rig to help provide clean drinking water in the name of Jesus in the country of Zimbabwe. Lives and entire villages can be changed through the simple gift of a well. The good works and the good news of the gospel demonstrated and declared!

So, what are you dreaming about? Is it big enough? Does it inspire others to action? Does it add value to our world? Will it bring glory to God?