Author: Jason Maupin 2/06/2010 12:17:00 PM
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Last night I didn't blog because we got home around midnight and I was exhausted. You never really think about how many hours you put in when you're doing what you love to do but when I added it up, when this week is all said and done we will have worked 90 hours. Yesterday I spoke in 3 schools a total of about 350 students. All but one I was able to share my personal faith. Even when I can't talk about Jesus it has its way of coming across. This one particular school was called Westland Row located in the center of Dublin. They held the assembly in a 200 year old church called St. Marks. The history behind this thing is unbelievable! John Wesley spoke on the same stage that I spoke on (if you don't know who John Wesley is click on this link to read about him http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley). Ironically enough even though we were meeting in one of the most famous churches in Ireland this was the school that I couldn't speak about Jesus. This particular school wanted me to leave room for questions at the end. I have to be honest Im not used to taking questions at the end of my assembly presentations. At the end of the assembly, this one kid asked "how are you so confident." I said, "My confidence doesn't come from me, it comes from something inside of me." In my presentation I always tell the students that I love them, and the second question this kid asked was "How much do you love me?" I told him I loved him enough to give him a hug, he stood up and I gave him a big hug. I thought about that question after I sat down how that one question seems to be the question that all students are asking, "how much do you love me?" In doing what I do, I hear a lot of painful stories...the world just needs a big hug.
After the assembly the missionary here took us outside and said he wanted to show us something. We came to this huge metal cellar door that went down into the ground. It was a crypt that had been there just as long as the church. This thing was awesome! We went down into the crypt and there were caskets inside these tombs. Some of the caskets were open and there was still the skeletons of whomever resided there. One of the caskets had two adult skeletons and a small child one. The missionary said that some of them had died from typhoid or some other disease. I'll be posting pictures up on Facebook so stay posted.
The last school I spoke at was called Mount Anville, a private ritzy all girls school. I was told that I could talk about my faith. I shared my story and then talked about the Rich Young Ruler. They responded very well. In my message of the rich young ruler I made it relate to them my saying "Basically if the Rich Young Ruler was a girl, Jesus would of asked her to give up all her expensive shoes!" As I said that I heard girls in the audience gasp as if someone had just told them they had cancer! It was pretty funny!
Today I spoke at a leaders meeting, all the Ireland Assembly of God leaders came together and Derrick the missionary, Kevin Norwood and I spoke. I am so encouraged with the leaders of Ireland! The Ireland people are in good hands! Right now as Im typing this blog Im sitting upstairs watching dozens of youth file into this youth center as the dj is playing Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z. Its definetly a cool experience! Pray that God moves once again! Im so humbled to be able to be used by him. Please keep my wife Jessica in your prayers as she is in Florida doing worship for a women's conference. Until next time! Much love!!
Day two/Ireland School Tour
Author: Jason Maupin 2/04/2010 06:39:00 PM
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Hey everyone! Hope all is well! Thank you for all your prayers while Im here in Ireland, I can certainly feel them! Today went absolutely incredible! It started at 6am this morning as myself, Kevin, Derrick, Johnny, and Jude crammed into a Volkswagon Passat and headed to a town called Bailieborough, a little country town in mid Eastern Ireland. I have to say it wasn't the most comfortable ride but definitely worth it. I spoke to about 150 students. God moved incredibly! The Irish people are so hospitable as the chaplain insisted on us staying for lunch and tea. Everyone was extremely attentive as I shared my love for Christ and how He changed me. I saw their faces as I spoke about how Jesus was my friend, they looked as if they wanted the same relationship but couldn't see how Jesus would want that same relationship with him. Most Irish students view God as someone who is far off too busy for them. They haven't had the best examples in some of their spiritual leaders because some of them recently were brought up on child molestation charges. I feel for the Irish youth, their view of Jesus must be so skewed. Thats why we're here to show them that Jesus wants a personal relationship with them. Later that day we visited Trim Castle most famous for Mel Gibson's 1995 movie Braveheart. As I looked at this castle I couldn't help but hear the word FREEDOM that Mel Gibson's character yelled out at the end of that movie. Im believing for freedom for the land of Ireland! Im looking to tomorrow! Im speaking 5 times, 4 schools and a night rally. Continue to pray that more doors open for future ministry in this country, and that the barriers of religion would fall and that the Irish people would find a love and relationship with God. Please feel free to look at some pictures I posted on Facebook. Because of child safety laws put in place we are not allowed to post pictures or videos with the students faces. Until next time! Much love!
Ireland Update!
Author: Jason Maupin 2/03/2010 12:11:00 PM
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First day in Ireland went great! Spoke to an all girls catholic school. God really moved! One girl left with tear filled eyes and simply looked up at me and said "thank you" I'll never know what that thank you really meant, but I praise God for it! Speaking at a youth group tonight. Thank you for your prayers! Much love! Looking forward to tomorrow!
Suicide in two separate communities.
Author: Jason Maupin 1/31/2010 10:16:00 AM
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Received an email yesterday, from two different youth pastors in two different states of students in their community that tragically took their own life... For some reason these kids thought it was better to leave this world than to live in their pain. STUDENTS THAT HAVE THE ANSWER AND HOPE OF JESUS, YOU CAN'T STAND BY AND KEEP THAT AMAZING MESSAGE OF HOPE TO YOURSELVES! Here in the next couple of weeks I'll be going to these communities and doing school assemblies. Please be in prayer that this tragic event will be a chain reaction of something great! And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28.
Politically correct
Author: Jason Maupin 1/05/2010 11:21:00 PM
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I was watching the NYC New Years' bash and having a great time bringing in the new year when the camera zoomed in, on two DUDES making out!! Yeah I have to say that made me cringe. I yelled out, "Oh my gosh!!!" It seems everywhere you look our society is trying to normalize the not normal. A little shot here of two guys holding hands in a commercial, a magazine here of two women kissing, it's like the media is trying to warm us up to it.
Ayn Rand, an atheist, wrote in her novel "The Fountainhead" on how to wreck a society. One of the rules she states is to teach the people to laugh at everything, including the sacred and sinful. Wow! That's probably the most sinister but yet true statement I've ever heard--teaching people to laugh at what is considered sacred.
I didn't laugh when I saw that gay couple kissing on the screen, I don't think homosexuality is funny, I think its disgusting. I don't think the person is disgusting I think the act is disgusting; there's a difference. In Proverbs 14:9 in The Message translation it says: "The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life."
It's not politically correct to say two guys kissing is gross. We're supposed to say, that's so cool they're embracing who they really are! It's not cool, its not all right. In Leviticus 18:22 it says: "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin." I don't know how the bible can be any more clear. Some say, "well that's the old testament we don't live by that law." In the New Testament 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." Yet you have ministers giving their stamp of approval by marriyng same sex couples.
I don't believe in singling one "sin" out saying it's worse than the others, I believe sin is sin, and my sin is just as gross as when I saw those two dudes kissing. I will not however sit on the sidelines cheering "sin" on just because I want to be "politically correct."
I respect those who stick with what they believe, those that stand out amongst the crowd when everyone else is cheering the wrong way, they remain steadfast in what they believe.
Homosexuality is not right, it's not cute, it's not cool. Growing up, my pastor gave an analogy one Sunday morning using two extension cords. He brought one of the youth up on stage and asked them to try to plug the male end of the cord into the male end of the cord. The student looked puzzled, tried and obviously failed. My pastor then asked the student to try to plug the female end of the cord into the female end of the cord. The student again looking puzzled tried and failed. My pastor said, "Why isn't it working?" The student replied, "It doesn't fit!" My pastor then asked him to take the male end of the cord and plug it into the female end of the cord. The student did, and said, "It fits!"
Homosexuality doesn't fit folks! Everyone has heard the analogy if God believed in homosexuality he would of created Adam and Steve not Adam and Eve. I have several friends who are homosexual and one family member. I pray for them just as I would anyone who I feel is misguided by sin. I love them, I don't and will never bash or make fun of them. They know where I stand and that I don't condone it. As time goes by in this New Year, just because our world is getting more sophisticated and technology is growing doesn't mean you have to throw your morals out the window. Stand for what you believe! Teach your kids the difference. Don't be afraid of gay people, extend your hand in love, and hopefully through a friendship you develop with them you will earn the right to speak into their life. When you earn that right, speak the truth in love.
What's keeping you from standing for what you believe? Is it peer pressure? The feeling that you might not be "politically correct?" I challenge you to find out what you believe and why you believe it and take a stand.
Much love!
THE ONE
Author: Jason Maupin 12/30/2009 07:44:00 PM
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I moved from the East coast to the West coast about seven months ago. Life on the East coast is quite different than life on the West coast. People on the East coast have a very fast pace of life. Everyone's always hustling and bustling around, always busy doing something. Sometimes I think they don't even know why their busy. When you live that way for a long time you start to feel guilty for not being busy--you feel you need to at least look like you're busy.
I was a part of a discipleship program called Masters Commission for about nine years. I went through the program for three years then was hired and went on staff for six more years. My time in the program was invaluable. I learned a lot; one of the most important things I learned was a good work ethic. I accomplished things I never dreamt I could do, but because I was given the responsibility to do it I was able to do it. One time I remember working for a youth event called "Kingdom Bound." Kingdom Bound was a kind of Christian "Wood-stock" (minus the drugs). Several stages were set up in a huge field and about 50 different Christian bands would come and play throughout the weekend. Obviously those stages didn't just get set up by themselves; no, they were set up by Masters Commission students. We "slept" at a local camp (we worked from about 5am to about 2am loading bands in and out--not much time for sleeping!) Cool thing is I got to meet the Newsboys, Third Day, Rebecca St. James and a bunch of other Christian singers and musicians. We would wait for one band to finish and then get the next band loaded in and ready to play in 15 minutes. We worked that schedule for two straight days. And then after the last band finally finished playing, the real fun began! Our job now was to tear everything down. Everything included ten stages fully equipped with state of the art lighting, trussing, and speakers. Believe me when I say that nothing--and I mean nothing--associated with staging stuff is light. All of it is bulky, awkward, and heavy! We worked from 5 am in the morning to 5 am the next day--24 hours straight! I have never, ever, been that tired in my life!! One of the girls working with us even started to fall asleep standing up!
When working in the ministry, one thing you need for sure is a strong work ethic. But at times I wonder if our work keeps us from having a close relationship with Christ. In Ministry we are often event oriented. We move from one event to the next, to the next. Events are great, don't get me wrong. A lot of planning on how to reach and save the lost goes into events. We just had one for our Church here in Arizona. We hosted an event called "Movie Night at the Park" where we showed the movie "Polar Express" for Christmas. About 200 people turned out, most of which had either never gone or had quit going to church. It was a great event! Events aren’t bad but sometimes we can get so wrapped up in The Event that we forget about our purpose for the event: REACHING PEOPLE.
I've done it myself; I get tunnel vision, becoming so focused on getting each detail right that I miss opportunities for ministry all around me. Have you ever read the book "The Screwtape Letters," by C.S. Lewis? It’s written from the eyes of a demon called Screwtape. He's writing letters to an apprentice demon teaching him how to deceive people. I was thinking the other day, "man, we (Christians) are so fooled." We are out hustling and hurrying, trying to plan our next event. And in all of our busyness, we’re passing by people and God wants us to stop and minister to them. But we miss the opportunity because they’re not part of the plan; they’re not part of our event, our agenda, our whatever. What they are to us in that moment is an inconvenience.
Have you ever been talking to someone whose attention is elsewhere? When I first started out in ministry I was at a convention and began a conversation with another evangelist. I was asking him questions, picking his brain, wanting to learn from him. Yet the entire time we talked he kept looking over my shoulder. I went away with the feeling that I was just an interruption, just a blip on his radar, while he was searching for someone "more important" to come along. I remember feeling like an appetizer being picked at while he waited for the main course to arrive. Even though I know I’ve been guilty of treating others similarly, I hope I never forget that feeling. God help each of us not to get tunnel vision in pursuit of our goals, our tasks, our events that we miss what Christ has in store; that we not forget that He is to be the main course.
Yet, it’s so easy to do! We work so hard planning these events so that thousands of people can come to know Jesus but we glance over the one with a need who stands “in our way” because they have nothing to do with the event. WOW!! The Devil isn't stupid. I can just see him down there with his pitchfork orchestrating a bunch of busy little Christians so focused on doing their busy, godly work--all the while missing God’s more immediate and more important purpose for them. "We're doing it for the Lord!" Even though your intention is to please God, please make sure you're not missing the "little things" in your zeal to finish your quest. Slow down, take a deep breath.
Often it’s like we're trying to earn our love and acceptance from God. Most people know my story. I was raised in a very strict home with a father who was mentally, verbally and physically abusive. I spent my childhood trying to earn his love and acceptance. One thing my dad appreciated was hard work. I remember one Saturday when I was a kid spending three hours on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. I scrubbed and polished tile by tile, making sure I could see my face in each one. After I was done I asked my father to come and see what I had done. I remember the feeling I had from his approval along with a feeling of accomplishment. I would have scrubbed for 4 hours or even 4 days for that feeling. The cool thing is we don't have to scrub any floors for God’s acceptance or approval. In fact in Isaiah 64:6 it says we are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. That may sound discouraging but it’s quite the opposite. We should be encouraged to know there is nothing we can do to earn God's love; all we can do is accept it.
Make the time to take a deep breath in the midst of your planning. The next time you get annoyed by someone interrupting your hard work, stop and take time for that person. Truth is they probably don't care about your event, but wouldn't you make their day if you were totally interested in them? What if you took time to silence your cell phone, look them in the eye and ask them “So how are you?” Growing up, that’s a question my youth pastor never failed to ask me: "So how is Jason?" It meant the world to me, and after asking the question you could tell he really wanted to know. It’s about PEOPLE, not about the events, not our busy agenda, not the next text message, or the next …next. It’s about the One. THE ONE.
Merry Christmas from Elevate!
Author: Jason Maupin 12/24/2009 06:24:00 PM
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Hello everyone! I hope this letter finds you well this holiday season! Its been awhile since my last update. Things for Elevate and also my personal life have been very busy. This past June my wife, Jessica and I packed up our one bedroom apartment in Fort Myers, Florida and moved 2,289 miles to Glendale, Arizona! We absolutely love it out here! We are apart of a church plant called Destiny Church (www.destinychurchaz.com). Our pastors heart and love for people challenges me! We are very blessed to be apart of this great church!
2009 has been filled with many exciting opportunities for Elevate and Im very blessed to say that this past year I have had the privilege of speaking to 25,000 people in 10 different states. Of those 25,000 people several thousand have been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ! This year I was given the opportunity to speak for Steve Tripp at the Wisconsin Northern Michigan youth convention where 1,600 youth came together and gave their all, worshiping their creator. The first night when I gave the salvation invitation I couldn't see the audience very well because of the lights. Out of the corner of my eye I saw one student coming forward and thought to myself "I guess everyones good to go!" As I held my hand up to block the light, I saw hundreds of students flooding the alter. It was the conventions largest alter call for salvation they had ever had. Praise God!! The highlight for me that weekend was to have my beautiful wife with me, she blessed a lot of people with her music! Its so great to be doing ministry together!!
Alter call for salvation the first night of Wisconsin/Northern Michigan Convention.
Im excited for 2010 and all that God is going to do! My schedule is already getting booked with new and exciting things! This February I will be heading to Dublin, Ireland for the first time to speak in schools! Im excited to see what the future holds and how God is going to use Elevate to help students reach their full potential! I'm listing some dates below of when and where I'll be so you can remember to pray for me.
Words are never enough to describe my thankfulness to all my Elevate Partners out there who give of their time, energy, and finances to help students hear a message of hope! This last week I had the opportunity to speak to a maximum security prison here in Arizona where 20 prisoners gave their lives to Jesus! They could not afford to pay me but because of my monthly contributors I was able to do it anyway! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You have apart in everything I do!!
A couple of reminders: I have a blog I write that you can sign up for on my website. I also have a Facebook fan page that I recently created (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elevate-Industries/114387539064?ref=ts). If you have any pictures from recent events, you can post them on there or just leave me a note! Both the blog and the Facebook fan page you can access at www.elevateindustries.com or just click on one of the links to the left and it will direct you to my site. Also I recently gave in to the Twitter mania and got a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/Jason_Maupin) this is how you can find me and follow my "Tweets."
From my wife Jessica and I we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2010!!
Much love!
Upcoming Dates:
1/10/2010-World Hope Worship Center-Salsbury, NC-704.636.9159
1/29-31/2010- Winter Blast-Susquehanna, PA- 856.308.3453
1/1-9/2010- School Tour- Dublin, Ireland- 918.274.0057
2/26-28/2010- Whiteout Winter Retreat- Minneapolis, MN- 952.997.2222 Ext. 233
3/3/2010- School Assembly- Wisconsin- 715.340.9367
3/7/2010- First Assembly West- Fort Myers, FL- 239.458.0813
7/26-30/2010-Assembly Park Bible Camp- Superior, WI- 715.374.2130