2013 Update

Well we all made it thru the holidays and another end of the world drama!  Now, by God’s grace, we have another new year ahead of us.  One thing is certain: we are another year closer to heaven! And with that reality, I’m personally challenged to keep my hands to the plow and be diligently about my Father’s business.

Recently at church (Pam and I are attending Calvary Santee) a line to a song I had never heard about the coming of the Lord said, “…being ready at the dawn of that day.”  That day could be tomorrow and we need to be aware and ready to see the Lord.  My biggest battle this past year was fighting complacency – perhaps you know what I mean by that.

Our lives can get so wrapped up in “the everyday” stuff of life that we miss the urgency of our mission.

God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light to be a testimony of His love and forgiveness to a world spinning so out of control!  May 2013 find all of us who love the Lord living courageously for Him and with boldness and deep love, be sharing the Gospel with all who cross our paths. 

Towards that end, I am praying for many fresh opportunities to encourage and challenge churches and individuals to radically serve the Lord.  Please pray with me for continued physical strength, mental discipline, and spiritual passion!

2013 is already starting out with lots to do.  I represented the ministry of Shepherd’s Staff at the annual Calvary Chapel Missions Conference Jan, 7 thru the 10^th and met with many missionaries and pastor’s of mission’s minded churches.  This weekend I’ll be meeting with a care team for one of our missionaries serving in Thailand and bringing a  word of encouragement at a mission’s dinner sponsored by Calvary Chapel Valle Vista in Hemet.

I have about 20 Calvary Chapels I need to contact this month who are the home churches of missionaries served by Shepherd’s Staff.  The work of building strong sending churches never stops J!

There is also a possibility of short logistics trip to Ireland in mid spring with Pastor Gary from Calvary Santee and a couple other leaders.  It will be nearly 2 years since my last ministry trip overseas…and you may remember how sick I got while in the Philippines in Apr of 2011.  God knows what I can and cannot handle and I trust that if it’s His will I go, He will strengthen and prepare me to go – and be a productive part of the team.

So Pam and I are excited about how the Lord will use us this coming year! We hope and pray that each of you flourish in the center of God’s will too!  Please let us know how we can be praying for you – and God willing, we will have some good face to face fellowship with you all as the year unfolds.

Thank you again for your love, prayer, encouragement and support this past year! Over all, 2012 was a great year – but we want 2013 to be even greater! Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Summer Update - July 2012

Time for another ministry and life update!

God is faithful...I must say it again and again...God is Faithful, True, and He never lets go of us.

Often, our minds drift from our Anchor...worry and anxiety usually follow. How grateful I am that He remains Faithful - even when my faith is weak or fails.

The first week of July was difficult. My family and I had to work thru the still lingering grief over the passing of Joyce 5 years ago on July 5, 2007. Two days later was our wedding anniversary - July 7th.
This year would have been 39 years. Again, I am so thankful for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of the Word (Proverbs 9:10) to see us thru, and keeping us on course.

My new wife, Pamela, has been so kind and understanding thru this season. We've been married two years now and what a blessing and joy she is in my life! In a couple of weeks, she will be retiring from the US Navy after 20 years of service. We are looking forward to yet another transition as we move back to San Diego from Bremerton, WA - and Pam starts a new life chapter as a civilian.

I continue to work from our hotel room on the Navy base for Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators and Poimen Ministries.

Though most of my contact with other pastors, new and existing missionaries and their home churches is by email, phone and Skype - I deeply love and enjoy what I do. Hopefully, when we are back in SoCal, the face to face meetings will increase.

We would appreciate prayer in the following areas:

1. A safe road trip back home.
2. A new post Navy job for Pam
3. Our 160 missionaries in the field and the 20 or so in various stages of preparation.
4. My health. I am still dealing with pain and discomfort from my past surgeries and bowel obstructions are a constant threat due to the mess of scar tissue from those surgeries.
5. Continued opening of opportunities for ministry
6. The quick sale of my house in Escondido

Thanks to all of you who continually love, pray and support us - you indeed are vessels of our Lord's Great Faithfulness!

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:9

In His Arm's,  Pat and Pam

Request

Hi My Friends, I have a request for you to prayerfully consider. I am needing to raise more support for my ongoing ministries with Shepherds Staff and Poimen. I lost half of my support this month due to financial constraints at Shepherds Staff. The ministry is going well and presently serving over 160 missionaries, but good stewardship led our board to decide their regional missions pastors would need to raise 100% of their support. That is not uncommon in the missions world these days. If you would like to include me in your charitable giving, please email me at escorev@gmail.com or go to my link on the Shep Staff website:
http://www.shepsstaff.org/kenney.aspx

Also, Our family is rejoicing for the arrival of my daughter Noelle's first child! A beautiful little girl - Natalie Joyce Berry!



Thanks so much! Pat

Pacific NW adventure begins

Hi Folks,

Today I head out to Seattle to meet up with Pam as her ship dry docks this afternoon. Pam emailed me to say it was snowing. I'd like to say I'm ready for this - but that wouldn't be quite the truth. I was reading in The Daily Bread yesterday about Divine Interuptions. It concluded with this comment:

"The psalmist reminds us that the Lord can make “the plans of the peoples of no effect” (Ps. 33:10). Yet all too often we respond to the interruptions of our well-ordered lives with attitudes like frustration, irritation, fear, and doubt. God’s surprises in our day are full of opportunities. Let’s welcome them as a new “to-do list” from Him."

As I thought about that, my first reaction was, "Oh great - that stuff is right up my alley!". Then the Lord began to speak to my heart. He was reminding me of His faithfulness to not only see me thru changes/interruptions, but also to use me as I face my fears and doubts. He reminded me of His Faithfulness to work out all things in my life for His glory.

I wish I could learn this lesson, pass these tests, graduate to a place where I no longer struggle with my flesh and my fears. Yet I'm learning, very slowly, that these Interuptions are just part of life, and I can choose to be overwhelmed or choose to be excited about what God is going to do next. I'll take the latter. He who began a good work in me, is faithful to complete it. So it's up, up, and away again!

Hope your day is blessed as you learn along with me to trust in the Lord with allllll your heart and lean NOT on your own plans and understanding!

In His Arms, Pat

Happy New Year! As this new year begins, I must thank and praise God again and again for His goodness and faithfulness.

I also hope to blog more often as I seek the Lord's direction for 2012. It seems changes and challenges are just the norm these days.

Here are a few things we are anticipating this year: My wife is closing in on the end of her career with the US Navy. Her ship, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, left San Diego on Jan. 6th for Bremerton Washington - across the Puget Sound from Seattle. I join her in a few days and that will begin the first of many trips to the PAC Northwest til she retires in July. We are looking forward to meeting many new folks and enjoying winter in Washington. It won't be Coronado but we are going to make the best of it.

I'm also anticipating establishing new relationships with as many churches as possible as we seek to expand the ministry of Shepherds Staff.

Any day now my daughter will be giving birth to her first child, a little girl. She will be my 5th granddaughter! We are so excited for Noelle and her husband.

Thanks to all who have been praying for and supporting our ministries to missionaries, sending churches, and giving encouragement and counsel to many other pastor's.

What a joy to continue being used by the Lord for His purposes!

In His Arms, Pat

Summer Update

Hi Folks!

It's time for another one of my frequent updates, lol. I recently flew back to San Diego from Dallas, TX where I accompanied my stepdaughter, Haley back to TCU (Texas Christian University) to help her move into her sorority house for the start of her sophomore year. A week ago, she and I were in Hong Kong, where we met up with my beautiful wife. The USS Reagan finally had another port stop after 79 days at sea. thankfully, her deployment is almost over and she should be home in just a few weeks.

The summer has really zipped by and I've been blessed with many opportunities to teach and minister the love of Jesus and His heart for the world, to churches, missions conferences, pastors conferences, small groups and a lot of missionaries. Presently I just finished representing the ministry of Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators at the annual Hawaii Pastors and Leaders conference in Honolulu. Today I flew over to Hilo on the big Island to spend time with Ron Brav, the pastor of CC Hilo and teach at their Sunday service. Then it's back to Honolulu to hook up with a few other pastors's I know and then finally watch the Reagan sail in to Pearl Harbor and see Pam again before the final voyage of this 7 month deployment back to San Diego.

Another very special highlight of the summer was sharing at all 3 morning services at Calvary Escondido, my home church, as we all celebrated the 30th Anniversary of CC Escondido. Can't really express my joy and gratitude for all God has done, is doing, and will continue to do thru CCE.

On Sunday Sept. 18th I'LL be filling in at Valley Baptist in Valley Center for my friend Gunar Hansen.

As always, I deeply appreciate your continued prayer and support!

May the Lord richly bless and keep you in His love and pour thru you His abundant Joy!

In His Arm's,

Pat

April/ May update

It's been a pretty crazy season (what else is new) :-) My new bride has been snatched away by the US Navy now for 117 days with 100 more to go. Please continue to pray for her and I as we deal with this long separation. I was blessed to be able to visit with her a few days earlier this month as her ship was ported in Phuket, Thailand - we had a wonderful time together. It was not a planned stop and I found out about 3 days after I returned from 2 weeks in the Philippines that she would be there May 1st - our one year anniversary thru May4! So I got home from the PI April 12th, taught at Horizon Park Chapel on the 17th, then all the Easter activities the following week, flew to Albuquerque for a couple of days of meetings with the Shepherd's Staff board Apr. 25-26, and 3 days later began a bunch of flights back across the Pacific to Thailand. I got home the evening of May 5 and am finally recovered from not only travel but medical stuff too. While I was in the Philippines a nasty amoeba parasite decided to hitch a ride on my innards and about killed me. I never felt that sick. I was in a Filippino hospital for 4 days, but God used it to bring me close to several Shepherd's Staff missionaries serving ail over the Philippines.

The bug was dead but my system still hadn't quite recovered before I was across the ocean again. On my way home from Thailand I got hit with a bad chest cold and that, coupled with jet lag put me out for several days. Thankfully the body still heals :-)

I know many were praying for me and I honestly believe I couldn't have made it without those prayers. I know there was an element of spiritual warfare going on and you guys, alongs with many others, helped sustain me thru it. That Philippines trip - tho I was ill for half of it - had to be the best visit I ever had to the PI - and I've been there many times over that last 20 years. The depth of fellowship I had with folks I knew and many more I had never meet was so sweet. I think there is a deeper bond of intimacy that develops during times of suffering and helplessness.

While I was hospitalized I had a team of "bantays" (meaning, watchers) with me 24/7. Among them were all the missionaries I really hoped to spend time with during the Pastor's Conference (which I was supposed to teach at and missed the entire thing). I wanted to go to them and bring them encouragement - but God had it work the other way around - and in the end - koinonia - sweet communion - constant prayer!


The summer ahead also looks like it's going to pretty full. We are continuing to grow at Shepherd's Staff, serving close to 160 missionary families - of which 80 are my responsibility, being sent out from West Coast churches. I hope to be visiting many of those churches and meet face to face with the pastor and the team that is supporting their missionary. Missionary care is our developing focus and we can't do that effectively without the sending church being on board. You'd be surprised how many churches really don't have a clue about the needs of their missionary, much less a plan to meet those needs. And that's where we can help - so pray for open doors this summer.

Finally, one last word of thanks to each of you for praying and caring about the new things God is doing in my changing life and ministries.
I love you all and pray for God's best for you too. Press in closer to Him! And press on faithfully in all He has called you to do - for His Glory.

In His arm's,

Pat

Western Regional Mission's Pastor
Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitator's

http://www.shepsstaff.org/kenney.aspx
http://www.poimenministries.com
http://escorev.blogspot.com.

March 2011

What an interesting month March has been so far.

Of immediate note is of course the ongoing crisis in Japan. Our hearts ache for the countless families now dealing with loss and change far beyond anything they ever imagined. We humbly ask the Lord to strengthen the believers there and use them to bring consolation, comfort, and the Gospel to so many gripped with dismay, hopelessness, and fear. Yet as I think about what's happening in Japan, I realize I'm dealing with some real fear myself. I've watched the media coverage of many a calamity over the years but always from a sort of detached safe distance. Not so today. I may safe in San Diego but I'm certainly not detached.

Shortly after the earthquake and Tsunami devastated Northern Japan, the Navy ship my beautiful wife serves on was diverted to Japan to assist with rescue and recovery. Yesterday the media reported that several airmen attached to a helicopter wing returned to the ship with low level radiation exposure. The ship (the Ronald Reagan nuclear powered aircraft carrier) was quickly repositioned away from the danger area. I talked to Pam this afternoon and she said she was fine but sounded quite busy.




Am I concerned for her safety and health - of course! Am I trusting God that she and her fellow sailors will be OK? Yes - but once again, a crisis reveals my fears. I realize that Pam isn't kicking' back on a pleasure cruise but working hard on the most powerful warship ever. I knew that in my head but seeing and hearing reports about the deteriorating condition of the Fukushima nuclear plants causes my heart to tremble and my mind to worry. I find myself giving in to fear. Fear for her well being, fear that something worse may happen...and yes, even fear that I will loose her too. Yet fear can only be answered with faith. If I've learned anything thru my own personal losses, disappointments, and transitions over the past few years, I have learned that God is faithful and I must trust in Him alone.

Psalm 73:25-26 says, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon the earth that I desire besides You. My heart and flesh may fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

How blessed we are to have God's Word to comfort our hearts and refocus our thinking! What power and peace there is to trust in the Lord and not depend upon my - or anyone elses understanding. Only as I submit all my ways to Him and acknowledge His power over all - only then can I walk in His peace that passes all understanding. So I must rest in Him. 40 days into Pam's deployment with 177 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes till she returns home; yes I think God is stretching my faith once again!

I'd like to share one other thing God has been showing me these past few weeks. As I shared in my update last month, I was asked to be a part of the teaching team at the Philippines Calvary Chapel Pastor's Conference the first week in April. This past year Shepherd's Staff began serving several missionaries already in the Philippines so I saw this as a great opportunity to visit and encourage many of them one on one. There was also the possibility that I might be able to meet Pam somewhere near the Philippines a week after the conference. So I accepted and began booking my flight arrangements.

Then the fears began. I began to think, "What the heck are you doing, Pat??" "You're planning an 20 day trip that is sure to tax you physically and with all your medical issues you could really get messed up!" So I had several appointments with my doctors who checked me over, gave me meds and inoculations and vaccines - and medically I was good to go. But the fears remained and even grew stronger. I began to agree with the 'voices' and felt that there was no way I'd be able to handle the heat and humidity and dirt and bugs and food and sleeping conditions and and and....

.....and then it came to me! A revelation! A lightning bolt thru my clouded thinking! What about God??? Is He able to sustain, bless and use you even in the Philippines? I felt a big "Duh!" I realized I had not even ASKED Him to help me. My fears and worries were dominating me and I was walking in the strength of my flesh and not by the strength of His Spirit. So I began to call upon Him! I began to ask Him to strengthen my heart and straighten out my thinking.

And almost overnight I began to relax and get excited for what God might want to do. Instead of worrying about ME I began praying for those I would be visiting. You'd think I'd know this after all these years - but as I've often said, "The flesh has short term memory!" You mortify the flesh today and tomorrow it rises up again - oblivious to the beating it took the day before.
Perhaps that's why Paul the Apostle said, "I die daily" (1 Cor. 15:31)

So please pray for this conference: for the pastor's, pastor's wives, and other church leaders who will be attending. Pray for their safe travel to Dumaguete. Pray for my study in Eph. 5:22-33. Pray for Pastor Bong and Calvary Chapel Cebu where I will be teaching the Sunday after the conference. And please pray, if it's God's will, that He might keep Pam safe from harm and that I might see her for a few days before returning back to the states in mid April.

In His Arm's,

Pat

February 2011

Here is a link to a Sunday morning study I taught in 2 Cor. 1 at Horizon Park Chapel in San Diego on 2-13-11

http://horizonparkchapel.org/virtual_service.asp?P=95

My wife is presently deployed in the US Navy on board the USS Ronald Reagan Aircraft Carrier. She has just begun about a 7 and a half month 'cruise' and has been gone about 3 weeks now. Fortunately we get to email frequently and have phone calls every other day.



I'm keeping busy with Shepherd's Staff. Just this past week I interviewed 4 new missionary families. One already in the field in Entebbe, Uganda; another heading to work with the Shoreline Calvary Chapel church plant in Camden Towne, London; another going to assist in a Calvary Chapel Bible Institute in Rotorua, New Zealand; and the last a young family preparing to work with the CC Bible College in Lima Peru.

Do keep these folks and their families in prayer.

I'm heading up the freeway tomorrow for the Southern California Regional Pastor's Conference at Steve May's church - CC South Bay. I'll be representing Shepherd's Staff there and sure to make a bunch of new friends - God willing :-)

Blessings! Pat

Happy 2011

It's New Year's Eve 2010 and I just wanted to give God glory for all He has done in My personal life and the ministries I serve.

This past year saw me healing more from the surgeries and complications of 2007-2009. It also saw me falling in love and marrying Pamela; becoming a step dad to Haley - a freshman at TCU; becoming a Navy dependent and learning the challenges of being married to active duty military. This year also saw me moving twice - first, from Escondido (where I lived and pastored for nearly 30 years) to Yucca Valley after our wedding, and then on to Coronado (North Island) where Pam is stationed thru the end of 2011.

This year also the ministry of Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators grow a lot - it has more than doubled in the couple of years I have been serving - we are currently providing quality administrative support for over 150 missionaries and their families!

The year ahead will also be interesting in that Pam will be deployed for most of the first 8 months of 2011. Prayer would sure be appreciated for both of us to remain strong and fruitful and growing in our love for the Lord and each other during this time of separation. I may have opportunity to visit her a couple of times and concurrently visit some of our missionaries in Asia, The Mid-East, and Africa. Pray for wisdom and favor with airlines and travel agents :D

Pam and I are so blessed - and we thank you all for your kind expressions of love, encouragement and support this past year. We look forward to serving our great God and King this coming year - it could be THE year! Maranatha!

In His Arm's,

Pat

update October

It's been a busy month with much activity with Shepherd's Staff. Lot's of road miles as I've been meeting with potential missionary applicants, sending church pastors and mission's pastors, missionaries and their support teams locally in San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties. Earlier in the month I was blessed to represent Shepherd's Staff at the Midwest Calvary Chapel Pastor's Conference in Hartford City, IN. Got to meet up with missionaries served by SS from the East Coast and Midwest who are serving in Africa, Peru, and the Ukraine. I also was able to visit my family in the Chicago area which is always a lot of fun!



Joe and Sara Nelson's care team with Pastor Cliff Watson at Calvary Valle Vista in Hemet, CA. They are new Shepherd's Staff missionaries who just arrived in the Philippines today, 10/28, in preparation for ministry in Thailand.

A special highlight of the month was participating in the commissioning service for a couple young ladies, both RNs, who are heading out to the very challenging mission field of Israel. One of them, Kristina, I've known since she was 4! She and her family attending CC Escondido in it's early years before her mom and dad were sent out to plant a church in Tennessee. As she and her friend, Maria, were sharing their stories I was so proud and blessed. While Kristina was sharing, a friend of mine from Horizon Christian Fellowship and himself a missionary in the Philippines leaned over to me and said, "In ministry, it doesn't get any better than this - to see the fruit of your work..." So true!



Of course, the big challenge this month has been being alone. The midwest trip was planned partly because my wife was going out to sea with the Navy for several weeks. As it turned out, her leaving was delayed and she was home a while after I flew out. When I returned 9 days later, we had one day together and then she was underway - and won't be home for a few more weeks. I miss her terribly but we do get to talk on the phone often and flood each other with daily emails.



View from the fantail of Pam's ship - pretty cool

I have been ramping up my ministry activities and fellowship opportunities and doing my best to keep busy and stay out of trouble while she's away :-)

On Monday, 10-25, I turned 61 - now that's sticker shock!




Our dogs, Roxy and Sweety celebrating with me!

When I was a young adult and before I became a follower of Jesus, I didn't think I'd live to be 30. And apart from Jesus saving me I likely would have destroyed myself. But thanks be to God, by His amazing grace He forgave me and redeemed me and made me His child and a man after His heart. And what a good life it's been! Sure there have been seasons of deep loss and pain and fear and even doubt - but thru it all, He has remained faithful and never stopped holding and loving me and I count it a priceless privilege to still be loving and serving my Lord and Savior!

That's it for now! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!

Pat

Schedule update

Teaching at Calvary Chapel Living Hope in Oceanside, CA this Sunday 9-26. Service starts at 9:30am.

Representing Shepherd's Staff at the Calvary Chapel Midwest Pastor's Conference in Hartford, Indiana Oct. 11-13.

Another new chapter

Hi Folks!

Today marks the beginning of what should be an interesting and challenging season. As most of you know, my beautiful new wife, Pam, is also a family medicine doc for the US Navy and has just begun her final tour of duty before retirement - on CVN 76 The Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. As the ship is ported in San Diego, she'll be able to go back and forth to work each day as a normal job. But carriers aren't designed to sit for long and there will be times, some short and some long, when she'll be out to sea. Please pray for her and I as we adjust to interruptions in our family life. Also, Pam's daughter, Haley, left for college this past Saturday. She's an incoming freshman at TCU (Texas Christian University). That's also a big change for Pam and Haley as well!

Ministry wise, I'll be heading out to Albuquerque, NM later this week for a Regional Mission Pastor's meeting at the Shepherd's Staff offices. We'll be discussing our schedules for the next few months and evaluating the work we're doing. Pray for wisdom concerning decisions that need to be made - specifically, if I'm to attend the Hong Kong Calvary Chapel conference next month.

This Saturday morning, I'll be speaking at the Calvary Chapel Escondido Men's Ministry breakfast - hope you men in the area will be able to make it - they always put on a great spread and the fellowships pretty decent too :-)

Love to all of you - and thanks again for your encouragement and prayer!

In His Arm's,

Pat

beat up!

It would likely be more brave and noble to say I got beat up while sharing the Gospel. But no, instead I had a mishap on my bike on Tuesday. I was about 5 miles into a ride from home when, while pedaling hard up an incline, 2/3 of my right pedal broke off. My foot hit the pavement and the jagged remnant of the pedal cut up my shin. The worse damage tho was to my right arm. Somehow, when the pedal broke, my weight shifted so fast that it caused a tendon attached to my elbow pull away from the bone and cause a small fracture. All my triceps muscles and tendons were badly strained.

I was able to nurse the bike back home using one arm and trying to keep contact with the stub of my right pedal. About 45 minutes after the accident I was home safe...and then had my first experience in the Naval Hospital ER. I was impressed with the speed and thoroughness of the care. so they took a bunch of x-rays and sent me home with meeds and a sling and I see orthopedics on Monday.

crazy how quickly it all happened. I am very thankful I didn't crash the bike and eat pavement. I'm also thankful for the strength to get back home on my own steam. Thinking back to where I was physically less than a year ago, God has been so good in helping me regain my strength and stamina. I am also thankful for my sweet wife, Pam. she met me at the hospital and how good it was not to have to deal with this sort of thing alone.

So a bit banged up but still so blessed.

Pat

Settling in

Gonna try and get this blog thing up and running again. As most of you know, Pam and I were married on May 1, moved from Yucca Valley to Coronado on July 1 and the place we're living is starting to feel like a home. Most of the unpacking is done, pictures are going up on the walls, files are mostly out of boxes and back into the desk and file cabs, computer is set up, the dogs are happy......so we're good to go!

We both appreciate so much all the prayer and love we've received during still another major life transition. God is good and even when we are faithless, He remains faithful!

Ministry wise, I'm still working with Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators as their Western US Regional Mission's Pastor and Poimen Ministries. Both ministries are growing and I'm blessed more than I deserve to still be being used for His Glory!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Countdown!

Well it's 9 days till my wedding to Pamela and, needless to say, we are both very excited to begin our new life together. Next week I'll be moving up to Yucca Valley for a couple of months before we set up our home in Coronado in July. Pam will be assigned to the Reagan aircraft carrier ported at North Island for the last two years of her career in the US Navy.

On June 19th we'll be having an Escondido reception at Calvary Chapel and I hope many of you can come and meet this wonderful lady the Lord has brought into my life. More details will follow.

God has been so faithful. He has taught me much about His steadfast love and mercy these past 3 years of being single.

I have often felt like Jacob - wrestling with God for control - and always having to yield to His plan - regardless of my opinion of what He has allowed in my life. I'm learning again and again that the Lord really does love me and still wants to use me in spite of my many failings! He is so good and kind!

Again I want to thank all of you for standing with me thru a rough couple of years. My health is improving, I'm working out again, and the pain from my surgeries is more an annoyance than a hindrance.

Shepherd's Staff continues to grow and I am honored to be assisting this good and much needed ministry. My work with missionaries and their sending churches serving around the world has been such a blessing.

This past month I've had the opportunity to work with missionaries serving or preparing to serve in South Africa, the UK, Kenya, Spain and Germany. The month of May will largely be filled with honeymoon travel :-) In June I'll be representing Shepherd's Staff at the annual Senior Pastor's Conference in Murrieta - they are expecting over 850 churches to be represented - please pray for a fresh infilling and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives, families, and ministries of these men. Pray also for new open doors for the ministry of Shepherd's Staff!

Presently we are handling the administrative needs of over 120 missionaries and their families. Click here to learn more about the many missionaries we serve and ask the Lord to direct you how to pray for them!

Each of you are such an encouragement to me! You have helped me more than you'll ever know to do things I never thought I could!

Let's continue to work together that His Name would be known by every nation, people, tribe and tongue!

In His Arm's, Pat

Tucson

Hi folks!

Just a brief update: I was blessed to teach at CC Poway's Sunday morning service today and now am in Tucson getting ready for the SW Pastor's and Leaders conference being held at Calvary Chapel of Tucson. Ron Clipp will be joining me tomorrow and we will represent the ministry of Shepherd's Staff there over the next 3 days. The theme of the conference will be "Leadership Lessons from David".

Some of the speakers will be: Skip Heitzig - Senior Pastor of Calvary Albubuerque; Robert Furrow - Senior Pastor of Calvary Tucson; Gayle Erwin - President of Servant Quarters; Levi Lusko - Senior Pastor of Fresh Life Church; Pedro Garcia - Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Kendall; Damian Kyle - Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Modesto; Jack Hibbs - Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills; Alistair Begg - Senior Pastor of Parkside Church; James MacDonald - Senior Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel; and Don McClure - President of Calvary Way Ministries.

Should be a good one! Please pray for all these teachers as well as the folks attending.

In His Arm's,

Pat

New things

Just wanted to post a short note, thanking all of you for your prayers and thoughtful words of encouragement in this new season of my life. It's amazing how in just a few short months a whole new chapter has begun. And tho the previous chapters have been incredible, this new one is already beyond what I could ever have imagined.

As most of you know, the Lord has graciously brought a wonderful, loving, and very gifted woman into my life and Pamela and I are planning a May 1st wedding! The reality of having a partner and helpmate once again has me weeping and doing cartwheels at the same time. Such deep gratitude and joy is overflowing my heart!

Psalm 66:12 says, "...we went thru fire and thru water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment." A friend of mine teaching on this verse recently noted that God doesn't waste the troubles we go thru!  Amen to that!

I've been continuing my work with new missionaries coming on board with Shepherd's Staff. In the last couple of months, I've been blessed to interview and pray with folks preparing to go or already serving in the Philippines, England, Romania, Bulgaria, Kenya, Namibia, Australia, and India. What an honor it's been to meet and begin to grow new friendships!

So life is at warp speed, God is awesome, and I'm blessed to continue to serve and be used for His glory that His Name and great love would be known in all the earth!

In His Arm's,

Pat

Update - January

Well, as many of you already know, a lot has happened in the life of Pastor Pat the last couple of months. Of great note is my engagement to a most wonderful woman, Pamela, whom God graciously brought into my life a few months ago. To love and be loved is nothing short of a miracle at any age! Since my first wife, Joyce, was taken to heaven in July of '07 I've often wondered, pondered and prayed about what it would be like to love again. Shortly after meeting Pam it was clear a beautiful bond was forming between us and that bond will be sealed by our vows to one another May 1st! 106 days, 23 hours, and 3 minutes from right now! :-)



Pam is presently stationed in 29 Palms and is a Dr. serving in the US Navy. I'll be moving up to Yucca Valley after the wedding for a couple of months until her transfer to San Diego where she will finish out the final 2 years of a 20 year career. Needless to say, there are many changes and challenges ahead for both of us - but how good it will be to face them together with the Lord wrapped around us forming the 3-fold cord - Eccl. 4:12! Blessed be His Name!

Ministry wise, Shepherd's Staff continues to grow with the number of missionaries we are serving increasing by the week. Currently we have 108 missionaries either in the field or preparing to go. I Appreciate your prayer, not only for me and my work, but for all the amazing men and women I serve all around the world. Do check out the Shepherd's Staff web site and browse thru our missionary directory.

In His Arm's,

Pat Kenney

Starting again

Here we go again! It seems life has a way of getting in the way of sharing information sometimes. So it's been for me the past couple of months. Healthwise, I'm still on the mend but so much better than I was six months ago. Ministry has shifted from being on the road to being on the phone and on my computer. Still meeting with folks locally and missionaries as they might be in the San Diego or So. California area. The work of Shepherd's Staff continues to grow and I'm currently processing about 10 new missionaries from churches all over the Western US.

As always, prayer for strength, wisdom, and opportunity to share Jesus is needed every day!

Hope you all have a very blessed Christmas and I look forward to hearing from as many as are able!

In His Arm's,

Pat