Hello,
My name is Tom Denlinger and I am the director of LightShine
Ministries. I grew up in a Bible church in Pennsylvania who
supported missionaries in Alaska. When I was a teen, God gave me a vision for
working with the people there and years later my family and I made our first
trip. Since that time we have taken many people to Alaska to help
ministries there achieve their goals in reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. I believe our ministry is important not only to those we serve in
Alaska but also to those we bring to Alaska. Our past team members
have learned the thrill of serving people. This is what Paul taught in
Galatians 6:2:
Bear one another’s
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NKJV (to read all of chapter 6,
CLICK HERE)
In other words, our sacrifice in serving others is what God
wants us to do. And when we love and serve people, Jesus told us that we
would be blessed.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example
that you should do as I have done for you. I
tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you
know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13: 14-17 NIV (To read all of chapter 13,
CLICK HERE)
Please read on. This is how our ministry works ...
PEOPLE ... specifically, people who are followers of Jesus. The
Bible teaches that those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ and have
been regenerated by Him are part of His Body which is the church (1
Corinthians 12: 12-19;
Romans 12: 4-12). Within the Body
are many members which have different functions. All of these members have
one goal which is to function within the Body which brings glory to the Head
which is Jesus Christ. According to the scripture given above, every
member of the Body of Christ has been been given at least one spiritual gift at
the point of salvation. Here is more from Ephesians 4, verses 7-8 and
11-13.
But
to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is
why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and
gave gifts to men."
It
was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's
people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of
God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ. (To read all of chapter 4,
CLICK HERE)
Here are some serious questions for you.
What is the purpose of your life?
Have you given yourself to following Jesus? If so,
what are you doing for Him?
Are you actively involved in doing works of service
in the Body of Christ?
I guarantee you that God has a specific place and purpose for your life and
I want to encourage you to seek God in finding out what that is.
PRAYER and Bible study... is our connection with God. Please
pray for us that God would give us wisdom as He did to Solomon. Pray
that God would grant us safety in building Bible camps and churches in Alaska.
PROVISION ... Every time we run a trip, our team members must raise
the money needed to pay their expenses. Transportation and food are the
two primary costs. Many times LightShine Ministries also purchases
or rents tools and purchases building materials and supplies to do the job.
Of course there are administrative costs and ministry expenses in planning these
excursions and preparing the team to do the work. The cost of every trip
is determined by us to cover all expenses.
Remember,
we are giving our time to other parts of the Body of Christ in order to build
their ministry to the people in the specific place. These trips are not a
vacation for our team members. They work! Believe me. Ask
someone who has gone with us before. So when people give to send them to
do a specific job, they are giving to God's work in other parts of the world.
We are a ministry that serves local churches in remote areas by helping them
build camps to minister to their people. Our calling is unique. Men and
women who do not feel gifted to preach or start churches have been encouraged
throughout the years by using their hands to serve the Lord by working with us.
We make it our goal not only to minister to the church we are serving but also
to encourage our team members as well.
