Dear Friends,
We hope and pray your summer is going well and blessed by our Lord. Our summer has been most blessed...wonderful family times and worship, grace for transition and change, encouraging notes and phone calls with friends, fellowship with believers and new friends, and some incredible times in nature in the mountains.
I would greatly appreciate your prayers for an interview Debbie and I will have on Monday, July 14 for a possible ministry position.
There are a few possibilities and previous interviews that have taken place this summer. We just want to be where God wants us to be of course...no more, no less.
Next week, after the interview, we go to Arizona to spend two weeks with my parents. It's always a wonderful gift to see and spend time with family, and we look forward to opportunities to go to Arizona since my Dad can't travel much and not at all overseas due to his heart circulatory condition.
Thanks so much for your prayers,
Rodney and Debbie and Luke
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Resignation and Future
Dear Friends,
The IMB Board of Trustees officially received and approved last week our resignation from missionary service effective November 1 of this year. We remain on Stateside assignment until then, with potential for two months of salary and benefits beyond that to the end of the year if we are still not in a new job by then.
We essentially were not going to be allowed to stay with the IMB while publicly opposing candidate policy. The Lord has given us peace, led us to resign, and is leading us through multiple discussions and possibilities about our future role. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, we continue to support and call for all concerned Southern Baptists to make known their dissatisfaction and write their State's IMB Trustees to ask that the candidate "guidelines" on baptism and ppl be revoked.
Some concerned Southern Baptist leaders are seeking meetings with their Trustees to do exactly that this summer. The next IMB BOT meeting is in September of this year and hopefully Johnny Hunt, new President of the SBC and reportedly against the policies, will be in attendance then.
So, while we pray that the policies will be overturned, we also encourage all to continue their CP and Lottie Moon and direct support of the IMB...to do otherwise will only hurt the missionaries and their ministries and we never want to see that happen. I believe the best way to deal with these issues is to make direct contact with IMB Trustees and call for this needed change.
Meanwhile, we Hammer's continue to seek the Lord, pray through several possibilities, and pray for our colleagues and friends at IMB.
Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement. We'd love to hear from you!
Rodney, Debbie and Luke
The IMB Board of Trustees officially received and approved last week our resignation from missionary service effective November 1 of this year. We remain on Stateside assignment until then, with potential for two months of salary and benefits beyond that to the end of the year if we are still not in a new job by then.
We essentially were not going to be allowed to stay with the IMB while publicly opposing candidate policy. The Lord has given us peace, led us to resign, and is leading us through multiple discussions and possibilities about our future role. We will keep you posted. In the meantime, we continue to support and call for all concerned Southern Baptists to make known their dissatisfaction and write their State's IMB Trustees to ask that the candidate "guidelines" on baptism and ppl be revoked.
Some concerned Southern Baptist leaders are seeking meetings with their Trustees to do exactly that this summer. The next IMB BOT meeting is in September of this year and hopefully Johnny Hunt, new President of the SBC and reportedly against the policies, will be in attendance then.
So, while we pray that the policies will be overturned, we also encourage all to continue their CP and Lottie Moon and direct support of the IMB...to do otherwise will only hurt the missionaries and their ministries and we never want to see that happen. I believe the best way to deal with these issues is to make direct contact with IMB Trustees and call for this needed change.
Meanwhile, we Hammer's continue to seek the Lord, pray through several possibilities, and pray for our colleagues and friends at IMB.
Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement. We'd love to hear from you!
Rodney, Debbie and Luke
Friday, June 20, 2008
Latest from the Hammer's
Dear Friends,
Thanks to the many of you who have continued to write, encourage, and pray for us! We are truly grateful for how you all have touched our lives and continue to bless us.
We pray for all of our colleagues in CEE who are in their season of AGM's (annual general meetings for missionaries and their families). We wish we could be there with you all, but know the Lord will refresh and empower you during those times of feeding on the Word, worshipping together and being equipped for further service.
We also pray for the many volunteer missions projects taking place around the region and the world this summer...that God will move mightily to draw many to Himself and change lives for His glory of both recipients and volunteer missionaries!
We Hammer's are enjoying some time away from it all in Colorado on stateside assignment right now. We are seeking to grow in the Lord each day, be renewed and refreshed, and consider the opportunities He is bringing our way to dialogue with others about various job and ministry possibilities for the future. They are diverse in location and type and covet your continued prayers that we will know the Lord's will and do it in His good time.
Please pray for the IMB Board of Trustee's meeting next week (Monday-Wednesday, June 23-25) in Richmond, that all will hear from the Lord, needed policies be reconsidered, and priorities and actions would reflect and glorify Christ.
Grateful for each of you,
Rodney
Thanks to the many of you who have continued to write, encourage, and pray for us! We are truly grateful for how you all have touched our lives and continue to bless us.
We pray for all of our colleagues in CEE who are in their season of AGM's (annual general meetings for missionaries and their families). We wish we could be there with you all, but know the Lord will refresh and empower you during those times of feeding on the Word, worshipping together and being equipped for further service.
We also pray for the many volunteer missions projects taking place around the region and the world this summer...that God will move mightily to draw many to Himself and change lives for His glory of both recipients and volunteer missionaries!
We Hammer's are enjoying some time away from it all in Colorado on stateside assignment right now. We are seeking to grow in the Lord each day, be renewed and refreshed, and consider the opportunities He is bringing our way to dialogue with others about various job and ministry possibilities for the future. They are diverse in location and type and covet your continued prayers that we will know the Lord's will and do it in His good time.
Please pray for the IMB Board of Trustee's meeting next week (Monday-Wednesday, June 23-25) in Richmond, that all will hear from the Lord, needed policies be reconsidered, and priorities and actions would reflect and glorify Christ.
Grateful for each of you,
Rodney
Friday, June 13, 2008
SBC Meeting Indianapolis
Friends,
I have just returned home from the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. I was not a messenger this year, but wanted to be there to speak personally with colleagues, SBC leadership, IMB Trustees, and other messengers as the Lord would direct.
I also wanted to hear first hand the proceedings and encourage my former supervisor and friend Avery Willis. Avery didn't win and is actually relieved! God will continue to use him mightily throughout the world. You can keep up with what he is doing at averywillis.com.
Dr. Johnny Hunt, someone I greatly respect and enjoy personally, was elected President on the first ballot and will do a fine job. I knew of his great evangelistic and missions heart, but he surprised me in his interview with Baptist Press just prior to the convention with his comments expressing concerns about the IMB policies on PPL and baptism. I hope and pray he will be of some help in addressing those policies.
I did not go with a plan to offer a motion as I wasn't a messenger. I did however have many conversations with those who share concerns over the IMB Trustee policies for missionary candidates. It's my understanding there were those who considered motions in this regard from both a pro and con perspective, but none made it to the floor. I hope and pray that means there were some good private discussions with others to come to address these issues. I know that many are expressing their disagreement with these issues...some openly like at imbchange.info and some in conversations. We'll see what develops. The next IMB BOT meeting begins June 23.
I roomed with my good friend Scott Patty and two other guys from Grace Community Church in Nashville, TN and they were most encouraging and incredibly fun to hang out with. There were many excellent presentations and reports...my favorites were David Dockery's presentation on Confessional and Cooperative needs; Frank Page's President's address, Danny Akin's Southeastern Seminary report, and Al Gilbert's Convention Sermon. I think Dr. Page did a wonderful job leading not only this convention meeting but the SBC the last two years. The NAMB and IMB reports and presentations were excellent and inspiring and creative.
There were some awkward moments for me personally, but overall my interaction with IMB'ers, Trustees, Pastors and others were very good and I'm grateful I was blessed by the Lord with good interactions and discussions in Indianapolis.
Thanks to those of you who prayed and wrote before and during the Convention.
I have just returned home from the SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. I was not a messenger this year, but wanted to be there to speak personally with colleagues, SBC leadership, IMB Trustees, and other messengers as the Lord would direct.
I also wanted to hear first hand the proceedings and encourage my former supervisor and friend Avery Willis. Avery didn't win and is actually relieved! God will continue to use him mightily throughout the world. You can keep up with what he is doing at averywillis.com.
Dr. Johnny Hunt, someone I greatly respect and enjoy personally, was elected President on the first ballot and will do a fine job. I knew of his great evangelistic and missions heart, but he surprised me in his interview with Baptist Press just prior to the convention with his comments expressing concerns about the IMB policies on PPL and baptism. I hope and pray he will be of some help in addressing those policies.
I did not go with a plan to offer a motion as I wasn't a messenger. I did however have many conversations with those who share concerns over the IMB Trustee policies for missionary candidates. It's my understanding there were those who considered motions in this regard from both a pro and con perspective, but none made it to the floor. I hope and pray that means there were some good private discussions with others to come to address these issues. I know that many are expressing their disagreement with these issues...some openly like at imbchange.info and some in conversations. We'll see what develops. The next IMB BOT meeting begins June 23.
I roomed with my good friend Scott Patty and two other guys from Grace Community Church in Nashville, TN and they were most encouraging and incredibly fun to hang out with. There were many excellent presentations and reports...my favorites were David Dockery's presentation on Confessional and Cooperative needs; Frank Page's President's address, Danny Akin's Southeastern Seminary report, and Al Gilbert's Convention Sermon. I think Dr. Page did a wonderful job leading not only this convention meeting but the SBC the last two years. The NAMB and IMB reports and presentations were excellent and inspiring and creative.
There were some awkward moments for me personally, but overall my interaction with IMB'ers, Trustees, Pastors and others were very good and I'm grateful I was blessed by the Lord with good interactions and discussions in Indianapolis.
Thanks to those of you who prayed and wrote before and during the Convention.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Time to Change
Fellow IMB M's,
You may have heard about the Time to Change initiative aimed at the candidate policies of the IMB. You can find it at IMBChange.info as well as the press release at sbcoutpost.com.
If you are in agreement and feel led to sign the 'Time to Change' statement, I would like to encourage you to do so.
The authors and moderators of IMBChange.info will confirm for accuracy and credibility but without divulging your name unless you specify. They are trustworthy, and precedent on the site is established for M's.
Additionally, I believe that much attention will be paid if there is heavy M signing. I believe this is your best opportunity to register your voice without censure or reprisal.
May the Lord encourage you today in your call and outreach...stay with it...we will continue to advocate for you.
Grateful for each of you,
Rodney Hammer
You may have heard about the Time to Change initiative aimed at the candidate policies of the IMB. You can find it at IMBChange.info as well as the press release at sbcoutpost.com.
If you are in agreement and feel led to sign the 'Time to Change' statement, I would like to encourage you to do so.
The authors and moderators of IMBChange.info will confirm for accuracy and credibility but without divulging your name unless you specify. They are trustworthy, and precedent on the site is established for M's.
Additionally, I believe that much attention will be paid if there is heavy M signing. I believe this is your best opportunity to register your voice without censure or reprisal.
May the Lord encourage you today in your call and outreach...stay with it...we will continue to advocate for you.
Grateful for each of you,
Rodney Hammer
Thursday, May 29, 2008
What's Up With Us and IMB?
We are seeking God for what He'd have us do next. We continue to pray for missionary colleagues on the field, and also to appeal to Southern Baptists to urge change in our IMB missionary candidate policies that many more conservative, qualified Southern Baptists may join you on the field than are currently able to be approved.
As for our feelings toward IMB, I want you to know that I also recently sent the following to State Baptist Papers and Baptist Press...
Dear Southern Baptist Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is very important to me that you know that while I
believe change in IMB Trustee policy is needed, I still love
and support the IMB. I want to urge all missionaries of IMB
to carry on and give even greater service to Christ in
eradicating lostness in the world, and for Southern Baptists
to give even greater financial and prayer support to IMB
missionaries and ministry.
While I urge Southern Baptists to consider the appeal to
change the new missionary candidate guidelines (policies)
and contact your state's IMB trustees...I also urge you not
to cut funding. This would not address the policies or
trustees, but would only hurt the staff, missionaries (their
outreach and deployment), and the unreached. I have
included similar statements such as this in my previous
letter and other communications but wanted to make it
explicit.
I sent an "Open Letter to Southern Baptists" to State
Baptist papers and Baptist Press so that my fellow Southern
Baptists could see my entire thoughts and not just the
leaked portions and few excerpts previously published by BP.
May God do with it what He desires, may all IMB personnel be
encouraged by the Lord and the concern and support of
Southern Baptists, and may many more truly qualified, called
Southern Baptists be able to serve overseas through the IMB
to the glory of God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rodney Hammer
As for our feelings toward IMB, I want you to know that I also recently sent the following to State Baptist Papers and Baptist Press...
Dear Southern Baptist Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is very important to me that you know that while I
believe change in IMB Trustee policy is needed, I still love
and support the IMB. I want to urge all missionaries of IMB
to carry on and give even greater service to Christ in
eradicating lostness in the world, and for Southern Baptists
to give even greater financial and prayer support to IMB
missionaries and ministry.
While I urge Southern Baptists to consider the appeal to
change the new missionary candidate guidelines (policies)
and contact your state's IMB trustees...I also urge you not
to cut funding. This would not address the policies or
trustees, but would only hurt the staff, missionaries (their
outreach and deployment), and the unreached. I have
included similar statements such as this in my previous
letter and other communications but wanted to make it
explicit.
I sent an "Open Letter to Southern Baptists" to State
Baptist papers and Baptist Press so that my fellow Southern
Baptists could see my entire thoughts and not just the
leaked portions and few excerpts previously published by BP.
May God do with it what He desires, may all IMB personnel be
encouraged by the Lord and the concern and support of
Southern Baptists, and may many more truly qualified, called
Southern Baptists be able to serve overseas through the IMB
to the glory of God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rodney Hammer
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Follow up on Family-Do Angels Drive Dodge Ram Trucks?
Thanks to all who prayed for us as we went to Kansas City for Debbie's grandfather's funeral. It was truly a blessed time.
We drove back to Colorado where we are on STAS on Thursday, a day later than originally planned to spend more time in KC. We didn't realize that the Lord would have to help us dodge multiple tornadoes and get us through a late spring Rocky Mountain snow storm!
We literally drove through the edge of one thunder storm which 30 minutes later produced hail and a tornado that touched down right where we stopped for a brief break...only to learn on the radio there were more spotted tornadoes and storms in surrounding areas. The Lord blessed us by letting us drive on in beautiful sunshine...albeit with high winds...with storms behind us and north of us which continued to move out of our path.
We stopped in Denver to buy cheaper groceries and a break and the weather was nice. But as we drove further west on I-70 up into the mountains, we encountered a snowstorm as we neared the Eisenhower tunnel. We and the traffic had slowed. Unfortunately, despite the slower speed I hit a patch of snow and black ice and hydroplaned big time! The car began to fish-tail out of control and we swerved back and forth, in traffic! Each time we were about to go into a total 360 degree spin, the Lord would enable me to get the car going back the other way. Yes, I applied all the lessons about steering, non-breaking, etc when skidding on ice and snow. But God definitely kept us and everyone else from crashing. Good thing too! On our left and behind us was traffic trying to avoid us...and on our right was a constant series of large light poles. The Lord kept us from hitting anyone or the poles while no one else lost control or crashed either. We swung somewhat wildly between traffic and the poles yet came to a stop between two of the large poles on the shoulder of the highway.
As if that weren't enough, a "God sent good Samaritan" pulled over behind us with his flashers on to protect us from oncoming traffic. The man in a large Dodge Ram pickup truck waited as we collected ourselves, prayed thanking God, and then proceeded. He pulled out behind us as we now very slowly, in 2nd gear, went up and through the tunnel and then down the very steep, slippery, and icy highway on the other side of the pass. He stayed behind us for 30 minutes, flashers on, protecting us all the way to our exit. He then waved, slowly passed us and went on his way down the highway.
God was so gracious! Do angels drive Dodge Ram pickup trucks? I don't know. But I do know that the Lord very mercifully spared us and many others just a couple of days ago. We press on to follow hard after Him, thanking Him for His continued faithfulness.
With love and appreciation for your prayers,
Rodney, Debbie and Luke
We drove back to Colorado where we are on STAS on Thursday, a day later than originally planned to spend more time in KC. We didn't realize that the Lord would have to help us dodge multiple tornadoes and get us through a late spring Rocky Mountain snow storm!
We literally drove through the edge of one thunder storm which 30 minutes later produced hail and a tornado that touched down right where we stopped for a brief break...only to learn on the radio there were more spotted tornadoes and storms in surrounding areas. The Lord blessed us by letting us drive on in beautiful sunshine...albeit with high winds...with storms behind us and north of us which continued to move out of our path.
We stopped in Denver to buy cheaper groceries and a break and the weather was nice. But as we drove further west on I-70 up into the mountains, we encountered a snowstorm as we neared the Eisenhower tunnel. We and the traffic had slowed. Unfortunately, despite the slower speed I hit a patch of snow and black ice and hydroplaned big time! The car began to fish-tail out of control and we swerved back and forth, in traffic! Each time we were about to go into a total 360 degree spin, the Lord would enable me to get the car going back the other way. Yes, I applied all the lessons about steering, non-breaking, etc when skidding on ice and snow. But God definitely kept us and everyone else from crashing. Good thing too! On our left and behind us was traffic trying to avoid us...and on our right was a constant series of large light poles. The Lord kept us from hitting anyone or the poles while no one else lost control or crashed either. We swung somewhat wildly between traffic and the poles yet came to a stop between two of the large poles on the shoulder of the highway.
As if that weren't enough, a "God sent good Samaritan" pulled over behind us with his flashers on to protect us from oncoming traffic. The man in a large Dodge Ram pickup truck waited as we collected ourselves, prayed thanking God, and then proceeded. He pulled out behind us as we now very slowly, in 2nd gear, went up and through the tunnel and then down the very steep, slippery, and icy highway on the other side of the pass. He stayed behind us for 30 minutes, flashers on, protecting us all the way to our exit. He then waved, slowly passed us and went on his way down the highway.
God was so gracious! Do angels drive Dodge Ram pickup trucks? I don't know. But I do know that the Lord very mercifully spared us and many others just a couple of days ago. We press on to follow hard after Him, thanking Him for His continued faithfulness.
With love and appreciation for your prayers,
Rodney, Debbie and Luke
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