Kyle Welstad’s Blog

Free Methodist Youth

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:21:00 -0800

I’m so grateful to be apart of the Oregon Conference of Free Methodist Churches. There is some really relevant work going on around our conference and around our state. I’ve been thinking for a while about two things; first, how can we do more to connect the various churches around our conference, and second how can I get the students and our church to start thinking outside of themselves. I came up with this idea, which addresses both of these concerns, to connect the churches through the different youth ministries around the conference. We are calling it the Free Methodist Youth Gatherings, and I’m really excited about it. Here is the idea: (1) These are going to be held every quarter (2) Each FM Youth Gathering we want to add or invite another FM Church from around Oregon. (3) We want our students to develop relationships with their brothers and sisters from different churches, and (4) we hope this will develop into something where we can work out a large scale FM Youth Gathering once a year.

I’m so thankful for my friend Scott Edinger who is the Youth and Family Life Pastor from one of our Newberg Churches, Northside Community Church. I’ve found someone in Scott who is willing to think big and who is willing to take some risks. We just completed our first FM Youth Gathering this last Tuesday. It was a huge success! Check out the video below (video embedded for you subscribers).

This was an incredible start to what I hope will eventually be a Conference wide ministry to our youth! Thanks Northside for joining us in our first go around! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this night a great success!

List of Thank You’s:
God!
Scott Edinger
Scott Spearen
Christina Welstad
David Gale
John Penewit
Dave Ury
Tiffany Griffiths
Brian Detwyler
Tiffany Gale
Ashley Rowe
Josh Larson
Franky Fred
John Davis
Todd Williams
Jeremy Castile
Jeff Barnes
Willy Burns
Cathy Hanson
thanks to Karla

Wise Sayings

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 15:58:16 -0800

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but never have, until today! Every once in a while I hear a phrase or a saying which I think is incredibly insightful and wise. You know like, “there is no spoon!” I’m going to start a series on my blog called “Wise Sayings” in which I will post only the phrase or saying, and let you take from it what you like. It would be cool if you could comment and share your thoughts, a story, or whatever; really don’t be scared commenting is good! So with that said here is the first saying:

“We ought to live as though God inhabits the space between us.”

Dr. Steve Delamarter--George Fox Evangelical Seminary

Dr. Delamarter, if you read this, I don’t mean to be reductionistic. I know you were making a larger point which helped make clear the central message of a large section of Exodus and Leviticus. But for the purpose of the “Wise Sayings” series, if you don’t mind, I’d like to leave some inherent ambiguity in the intended meaning.

Have fun everyone, and comment!

My Brother and Sisters

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 11:51:04 -0700

I’m sitting here working on homework and thinking about the upcoming holidays. But most of all I am sitting here really missing my brother and sister. I’m lucky that I get to live closer to my parents and my little sister Lesley, Christina and I really enjoy that. However, it has been a long time since I’ve seen my brother Troy and even longer since I’ve seen my sister Sarah. I miss you guys a lot and I can’t wait to see you, the middle of December can’t come soon enough.

A lot has happened in life for all of us and it feels weird not be there to experience it. For example my sister has had a baby, Cambell, whom I have not met and its been almost six months.

I like this picture! She’s cute. The wooden spoon reminds me of baking cookies, chocolate Chip is my favorite!

And my brother Troy has been in Europe and over on the East Coast playing in the band for Pink. I’m really proud of him!

Troy is to the left of the drummer behind the lead guitar player. He plays keys and guitar for Pink. (Video Embedded) During the interview at the front of the video Troy is right behind Pink and Matt Lauer, you rock bro-dog!

It also feels weird to know that neither of them have been able to experience what has happened in our lives here either. For example, For the last few years, I’ve only been able to tell them over the phone about my life as a Pastor, and a lot has happened in the past 4 1/2 years. I mean, my wife and I helped plant a church for goodness sake. Further, I feel like I’m really coming into my own here in at this church in a lot of different ways. Things are going really well here. This experience for me has been an affirmation of God’s call on my life, and all I can do it tell them about it over the phone. Hearing about it verses experiencing it first hand just isn’t the same. I know they feel the same way about us experiencing their lives. That’s why I treasure the times when we can be together.

Sarah and Troy, Jeff and Trisha I love you guys and I miss you. I can’t wait to see you when you’re here. Though I know it will be a quick visit and I’m sure it will feel even faster.

A Speaking Engagement

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:30:39 -0700

I’m very excited about a speaking engagement I have coming up in mid December. I’ve been asked to come and speak to the student body of Salem Academy's Junior and Senior High Schools. It’s my first lager speaking engagement outside of the Free Methodist churches here in Oregon, and I can’t wait. We have several Salem Academy students who attend here at Salem First, I actually think they are more excited about me coming than I am. What I’m going to be sharing is something I’ve been thinking about and writing about for a while now. I’ll give you the quick run down.

The topic comes out of a question and an observation. The question is this; why do our churches, generally speaking, seem to be so passive when it comes to the understanding and experience of God’s love? My observation is there seems to be a growing dislike for ourselves, especially in the youth. Therefore, another question arises, and as I research, its one that’s being asked more and more; it’s this: Is there a connection between our experience of ourselves and our willingness to (1) accept God’s love internally, and (2) cooperate with God in our world. As you can probably infer, I think the answer is...yes. In fact I think at times we hold God at arms length because we don’t conceive of ourselves as lovable or worthy of attention. It’s this hesitation we have to accept the very nature of God which works to increase our non-passionate, knowledge centered relationship with the living, breathing, and loving Christ.

I’m not alone in my opinion, there are many christian authors, mystics, and theologians who think as I do. One of the more familiar would be Brennan Manning. One of my favorite Manning quotes so far regarding this topic is,

“It’s time we renounce the comfort of an unexamined life and know that God comes to where we live, loves us as we are and not as we should be; because none of us are as we should be.”
Brennan Manning, SPU Chapel Speech--1992

We must learn to accept ourselves, sinners we are, let God love us, and be passionate in our response to God. This is, in a nut-shell, is what I’m going to share with Salem Academy.

Thoughts?

Our New Website!

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:26:35 -0700

It’s finally done, well at least for now. I would like to announce the launch of our new website for Salem First Free Methodist Church! Yay!!! (and the crowd goes wild). This has been a priority for me ever since I came here, and I’m really excited about it. I think this is a good first step for us as we slowly move toward updating how the church is relating to our community and culture. We are interested in connecting well with people, while at the same time making it easy on our staff to manage information and follow up with those we meet. This is a good step. We’ve got several goals we want to reach in the next year as we continue to change a few significant things, I’ll write more about those as we get to them; but for now enjoy the website!

You can find it at: www.salemfirst.com

Here is a few screen shots of the website:

I spent some time creating graphics for most of the sections.

We’ve got pop out video’s embedded in the site!

We’ve got online forms to register for certain events!

And a secure log in page for church member information!

Have a look around and let me know what you think!