TEMI 2023 Ministry Report

 “Go from your country… And I will bless you… so that you will be a blessing”

- Genesis 12: 2

 16 years ago, God called us to leave our full-time local church position and follow Him into an ongoing series of special ministry assignments serving His purposes and His people. Our status remains as an accredited non-profit ministry organization (501c3) based out of our home office in Windsor, CO. Our ministry ordination remains with Jubilee Fellowship Church in Centennial, CO. Below is a summary of our 2023 ministry activity.

 Worship Ministry

Although our ministry has expanded and blended into other areas over the years, worship ministry still remains an important part of how God chooses to use us.

 In late May, Tom assumed an interim worship director/leader role at Cornerstone Community Church in Greeley, CO. He oversees overall worship ministry operations and has assembled a rotation of worship leaders to assist this interim period which will extend at least through Easter of 2024. This is a beautiful “full circle” assignment as Tom’s Dad, Tom Ewing, Sr, pastored the church (then known as First Presbyterian Church) from 1965 thru 1978.

 In early May, we were privileged to lead worship for the C12 International Conference held at the Gaylord Hotel in Denver, CO, where 1300 CEO’s gathered from around the world to be empowered to use their businesses as a platform for ministry. In late October, Tom led worship for the Man in the Mirror Ministries 4-day partner event in Tucson, AZ.

Other worship leading assignments included: serving Windsor Vineyard Church, once every month or two; Good Friday and Easter services at Calvary Bible Church, Boulder, CO; Kingdom Way Ministries and FCCI Loveland, CO; Woodsiestock Music Festival, Holderness, NH; His Mansion Ministries, Hillsborough, NH: First Pres Church, Tampa, FL; and C12 Regional Events in Tampa, Sarasota, and Orlando, FL.

 Retreat Ministry

 We continue to serve Rich and Linda Case and their retreat ministry which has been rebranded as Living Waters ABIDE Ministries. Along with rebranding, a detailed strategy is in the works to expand the ministries reach. We are privileged to be on the core leadership team and feel a greater call to increase our activity in facilitating retreats and discipling future retreat leaders.   

 In February, we attended and led worship for an Abide Ministries Leadership Retreat. In March and October, we helped facilitate three retreats in New Hampshire with Dave and Melissa Dunkel for a groups of business executives. Here in CO, we led an FCA retreat for 40 coach couples in July and a retreat for St James Sporting Properties employees and spouses in November.

 Also, in November, we joined the Case’s and other leaders in Castle Rock, CO to film some new online retreat videos. These online retreats and other resources are available at abideministries.com..

 Marketplace Ministry

 For the past several years we have been serving many Christian business owners and executives through worship and leading retreats. As a result, we have built strong relationships with these Kingdom leaders and have come to understand their unique calling in using business as a platform for ministry.

 Last year, Tom was asked to step into a role as a corporate chaplain for St. James Sporting Properties, a Real Estate Company in Windsor, CO. Tom’s duties include leading a weekly bible study in the office, providing pastoral encouragement to the employees, and helping the company culture grow into a Spirit-led organization. As stated earlier, we facilitated a couples retreat for this company in November which was one of the highlights of our year.

 Other 2023 Ministry Assignments

 - In September, our ministry helped sponsor and facilitate a fundraising event for two amazing ministries in New Hampshire - His Mansion Ministries and Lydia’s House of Hope.

- Mentoring worship leaders and one-on-one discipleship.

- Consulting with various church, non-profit, and business leaders.

 Coming Up in 2024

 - We already have Abide Ministry Retreats scheduled in Colorado and New Hampshir.e

- Tom will continue his chaplaincy role with St. James Sporting Properties and interim worship position at Cornerstone Community Church.

- In February, Tom and Dave Beegle will lead worship for the Mercy Ships partner event in CA.

- We travel to Ohio in August for a Worship Conference weekend.

- And as always, we will be open for whatever other assignments God has for us.

 Prayers and Partnership

Thank you for your prayers as we enter another year of ministry. Our desire is to serve the Father and His people, specifically as He directs - including assistance for individuals, churches, and ministries that have limited resources. We invite you to ask the Lord if He would have you also partner with us this year in a financial way with a one-time donation or joining us as a monthly partner. Thank you for loving us and believing in us!

 Grace To You!

 Tom and Susanne Ewing

www.tomewingministries.com

The Forgiveness Factor

This Christmas season, as many Christmas seasons in the past, I’ve been reading through the scriptural accounts surrounding the birth of Jesus. My heart has been challenged this year with a portion from Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke chapter one. This prophecy, being declared after the birth and dedication of his son, John (the baptist), identifies the purpose and message of Johns’ ministry in setting the stage for the coming of the Christ.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

The portion that I’ve been drawn to is: “to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins” (vs 77)

A few things to notice here: First of all, the word “salvation.” Salvation encompasses all that God has and will provide for us thru Christ. Deliverance, welfare, prosperity, preservation, safety, health. The abundant life! Next, the word “knowledge” means to experience and be educated firsthand. Experiential knowledge that come through relationship verses the accumulation of information by mental or conceptual means. Now, consider the phrase, “in the forgiveness of their sins…” Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Zechariah declares, that “forgiveness of sin” is the corridor through which we may know (experience) the salvation of God (the fullness of all He has for us).

II Peter 1:3 tells us, “everything we need for life and godliness (salvation) is found in the knowledge (experience) of Jesus Christ our Lord…”

How great that God would offer us an eternal relationship with His Son, including everything we need for life and godliness! But according to scripture, without forgiveness, there is no way to access Jesus and the eternal experience of Gods’ salvation.

I think we can all agree that the world around us, both inside and outside the church, is filled with excessive anger and dissention. Accusations abound. Offence is off the charts. Finger pointing and the blame game seem to be favorite pastimes. And I’m fearful that many of us “believers” are getting sucked into the madness - I know I have at times! I encourage us all to re-think the power and significance of forgiveness. Not as a one and done event when we first accept Christ, or only when we fall to sin. But as an ongoing quality that keeps us living close to Christ and authorizes God’s message through us to the world.

II Corinthians 5: 19 says, “…in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

How was God reconciling the world to Himself in Christ? By pronouncing and instituting forgiveness. What should be our message to those around us? The same. According to the bible, we are called to forgive no matter what. On the basis of how we have been forgiven - thru Christ.

“… if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3: 13

• When we forgive, we are forgiving others on the basis of how Christ has forgiven us.

• When we forgive, we point to the Good Shepherd who is inviting us all to follow Him into abundant life!

• When we forgive, we are extending His offer of reconciliation and relationship by means of undeserved forgiveness.

• When we forgive, we operate in the truest sense as His ambassadors in the earth.

Let us also understand God’s heart and motives expressed in Zechariahs’ prophecy :

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

May we be people who live and lead others to and through the corridor of forgiveness into the salvation of God. May our hearts be warmed by the tender mercy of our God. May His light reveal any darkness that may be clouding our lives. And may He guide us in the way of peace.

The Wonder of Worship

The Wonder of Worship

 I remember as a child attending First Presbyterian Church in Greeley, CO. It was a required weekly activity for our family as my Dad was the senior pastor. The sign on the church lawn offered the name of the church, the minister’s name, and the mention that we “worship” on Sunday’s at 9am. Each Sunday we filed reverently in the sanctuary to sing, pray, and listen to the sermon. Once a month communion would be added to the mix. This is where I came to know Jesus and become familiar with His presence. But I remember wondering, is this all there is to worship? An hour per week spent doing spiritual things with a large group of people. Or is there something more? 

Fast forward 50+ years and I find myself as a seasoned worship leader wrestling with the same question! I do believe our church gatherings are an important aspect of our worship, but I’ve discovered that true worship is so much more! What is true worship? And what happens when we worship?

What Is Worship?

Biblical definitions of worship include: to adore on bended knee, to bless and honor, to show respect and submission to a superior, to ascribe worth unto something or someone. When we worship we are adjusting our lives to align with what we value. When we worship, we are offering ourselves to what we have personally determined to be worthy or valuable. How do we track or measure worship in our own lives? Great question. Here are my best thoughts at this point in my journey. 

First, consider what things in your life are important and valuable? Family, work, God, relationships, entertainment, possessions, security, activities, etc. Write out a list. I want you to see that you already are a worshiper, because you already have things you count as valuable. And if you are like me, you are adjusting yourself to align with what you value. This is important for us to recognize this if we desire our value (worship) of God to be a greater priority. 

Next, in relation to the items you’ve identified as valuable, consider how you spend your time, talent, and treasure on them. A quick review of our weekly calendars will tell us how we are investing our time. The offering of our talents is assessed by how we direct the best efforts of our unique giftings and abilities. And of course, our bank statements reveal the treasure or monetary worth we have placed on things. 

Romans 12:1-2 - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  

True spiritual worship involves the intentional offering of all that we are (time, talent, treasure) to God. Worship is the giving of our lives to the One we value the most.

John 4:23-24 - Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and is NOW here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.”

Why is God is seeking worshipers? Does He need a daily dose of affirmation to prop up His self-image? Is He an ego maniac with a constant need to feed His pride? Does He require some “cheering on” to inspire Him to keep doing His amazing God stuff? Of course not! 

His longing for us to be worshipers comes from the same drive that moved Him to send Jesus to the cross. Love! God so loved the world (us) that He gave… His greatest desire is revealed in the prayer of Jesus in John 17, that we would all be one, together in love, and enjoying the fullness of life for all eternity. 

Worship brings us back to proper relationship with God. Worship yokes us to all that He is and all that He has for us. Worship allows us to truly experience the love and care of our Heavenly Father. Worship positions us to rule and reign with Him in this life, and for all eternity!

What Happens When We Worship? 

If I’ve learned one thing its this - God is a really smart God! His commandments and instructions provide a pathway towards our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. God knows that when we truly worship, change happens!

Psalm 115: 1-8 – “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory! For the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, where is their God? Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet but do not walk; they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in (worship) them.

There is a biblical principle here that is quite astounding: Whatever we worship will affect who we are becoming. 

II Corinthians 3: 16-18, “whenever anyone turns to the Lord… we are being transformed into His image.”

As we direct our attention and our affections (our time, talent and treasure) towards Him we are changed into His likeness. Another way to put it is, whatever I expose myself to will develop in my life. Wow! Think about this also in relationship to the other things that we worship in life.  

Not only does worship have bearing on who we are becoming internally, but it also affects the external conditions around our lives. 

James 4:8 - “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

This scripture among many others speak to the reality that when we move towards God, He moves towards us. When we bring the weight of our lives (time, talent, and treasure) to Him, He weighs in on our lives and our world. I call this the revolving door of worship. When we move into His world, He moves in to ours. And miraculous things happen when God enters the scene.

I love the account of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. You probably know the story but it bears repeating. Paul and Silas have been thrown in jail in the city of Philippi. They could have been angry with God and/or sulked under the discouragement of the situation. But instead they turned their focus upon the Lord in prayer and praise. 

Acts 16: 25-26 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”

The story goes on to explain that the jailer realized something supernatural had taken place and, with his family, came to salvation in Christ. They were even baptized that night! In the middle of negative circumstances, Paul and Silas moved toward God, and God moved into their situation with His power and authority.

So, what happens when we turn to God and draw close to Him? What happens when we offer our time, talent, and treasure to Him as spiritual acts of worship? His power and authority brings change to the people we are becoming and has supernatural affect on the conditions and people around our lives. 

The best thing you can do to realize the potential of who God has created you to be is to worship Him!

The best thing you can do to see God’s power and life affect the world around you is to worship Him!

As I confessed earlier, I am a worship leader. You may wonder why I’ve talked very little about music or worship songs. It’s because I’ve come to learn that the act of worship has nothing to do with music. However, God has given us the gift of music to help direct our worship towards Him. Music is a tool that help us offer our time, talent and treasure to Him.

I encourage you, from now on, when you sing a hymn or worship song, do it with a heart that says, “God I offer my life to you. Give me grace to direct more of my time, talent, and treasure towards You. I desire to see Your Kingdom come and will be done in me, around me, and for Your glory!”

TEMI 2022 Ministry Report

We close the year with grateful hearts for the privilege of serving God and those He loves so dearly. 2022 provided many new challenges and changes in our ministry which proved to be opportunities for personal growth and more effective service to the hurting world around us - inside and outside the church. Our status remains as an accredited non-profit ministry organization based out of our home office in Windsor, CO. Our ministry ordination is held with Jubilee Fellowship Church, Centennial, CO. Below is a summary of our 2022 ministry activity.

Worship Ministry

In March, Tom transitioned out of a 15-month Interim Worship Pastor/Director role with Calvary Bible Church in Boulder, CO. His responsibilities included general management of the worship department, leading worship a couple times per month, and assisting in the hiring of a full-time worship pastor. Tom continues to lead worship from time to time at Calvary.

 We’ve also enjoyed serving Windsor Vineyard Church again this year, leading worship once a month-ish and encouraging their worship and leadership teams.

Other worship leading assignments included: Foundations Church, Windsor, CO; Mission Hills Church Staff Retreat, Littleton, CO; Rock Church, Scottsbluff, NE; Cornerstone Community Church, Greeley, CO; Woodsiestock Music Festival, Holderness, NH; His Mansion Ministries, Hillsborough, NH; Timberline Church Staff Gathering, Ft Collins, CO; NOCO House of Prayer, Ft. Collins, CO; Capo Beach Church, Capistrano Beach, CA; Paradigm Church, San Clemente, CA; C12 Events in Tampa and Sarasota, FL; First Pres Church, Tampa, FL.

Mentoring/coaching worship leaders and consulting with various churches was also a regular part of this year’s worship ministry activity.

Retreat Ministry

We continue to serve Rich and Linda Case and Living Waters Retreat Ministries as a part of their leadership team.

In June, we attended and led worship for a Living Waters Leadership Retreat in Dubrovnik, Croatia. In August, we led a retreat in New Hampshire on “Discerning the Will of God” with Dave and Melissa Dunkel for a group of single professionals.

In September, we joined Rich and Linda Case and other leaders to film some new online retreat videos in Castle Rock, CO. These online retreats and other resources from this ministry are available at the All For Jesus - Living Waters Retreat Ministries website.

October took us back to New Hampshire where we joined the Dunkel’s again to lead two retreats. An “Abiding Retreat” for a wonderful group of couples from Florida and Colorado and a retreat entitled “Lessons from the Life of David” for a group of New England couples.

Marketplace Ministry

For the past several years we have been serving many Christian business owners and executives through worship and leading retreats. As a result, we have built strong relationships with these Kingdom leaders and come to understand their unique calling in using business as a platform for ministry.

In October, Tom was asked to step into a role as a corporate chaplain for St. James Sporting Properties, a Real Estate Company in Windsor, CO. Tom’s duties include leading a weekly bible study in the office, providing pastoral encouragement to the employees, and helping the company culture grow into a Spirit led organization.

Over the past few years we have become friends with Blayne (owner) and Jenn St. James and they have attended a couple of our retreats. We are excited and privileged to be walking with them both personally and vocationally.

Other 2022 Ministry Assignments

- In January, we became aware of an extreme need for a former pastor friend who was experiencing a severe mental break down. We were able to personally come alongside he and his family and help raise and channel over $55,000 for his admittance into a treatment center and to provide financial assistance for his family.

- In June, Tom was asked to be a part of a pastoral mediation team to serve Resurrection Christian School and Rez.Church in coming to a new lease relationship agreement. The mediation is still in process but we are hoping to finalize things very soon. It’s been a challenging assignment but a great honor to serve these two influential institutions.

- In September, our ministry helped sponsor and facilitate a fundraising event for two amazing ministries in New Hampshire - His Mansion Ministries and Lydia’s House of Hope. Many distinguished guests attended including the Governor of New Hampshire. Over $60,000 has been raised as a result of the event.

- Tom officiated several funeral services this year for friends and family (including Tom’s Dad and Susanne’s Mom). These losses were deeply felt but we thank God for the unique opportunity to point people to Jesus in times of grief. 

- In December, Tom and Dave Beegle teamed up to present private Christmas Concerts in Tampa, FL and Bradenton, FL and a public Christmas Concert at the Sweetheart Winery in Loveland, CO.

Coming Up in 2022

We’ll be attending AFJ/Living Waters Ministries Leadership Retreats with Rich and Linda Case in February and June. We’ll be leading retreats in Colorado and New Hampshire and continue in our chaplaincy role at St. James Sporting Properties. We’ll be leading worship and serving churches as needs arise. We’ll also be continuing to build our Worship Mentoring/Coaching training materials and be responsive to any other assignments the Lord has for us.

Prayers and Partnership

Thank you for your prayers as we enter another year of ministry. Our desire is to serve the Father and His people, specifically as He directs. We also invite you to ask the Lord if He would have you partner with us this year in a financial way. We are hoping to increase our monthly partnership and overall giving base to support our service and assistance to causes, churches, and ministries that have limited resources. Thank you for loving us and believing in us – your partnership and encouragement fuels our faith to serve Him all the more!

Grace To You!

Tom and Susanne Ewing

www.tomewingministries.com

TEMI 2021 Ministry Report

We close out 2021 with thankfulness for another awesome year of ministry. We continue to be blessed and surprised how the Lord chooses to use us. Our status remains as an accredited non-profit ministry organization based out of our home office in Windsor, CO. Our ministry ordination is held with Jubilee Fellowship Church, Lone Tree, CO. Below is a look at our 2021 ministry activity and a peek into the new year.

 Worship Ministry 

In February, Tom assumed an Interim Worship Pastor/Director role with Calvary Bible Church pastored by Tom Shirk in Boulder, CO. Responsibilities include general management of the worship department and leading worship a couple times per month. Tom will serve in this capacity through the first of the year.

From April through October, Tom took on a second interim assignment by remotely directing a worship ministry in Newport, Rhode Island for Evangelical Friends Church and Pastor Paul Hoffman. Tom assembled and managed a rotation of worship leaders from New England and helped EFC find a long-term solution.  

We’ve also enjoyed serving Pastors Jack and Wendy English and Windsor Vineyard Church this year, leading worship once a month-ish and encouraging their worship and leadership teams. 

Retreat Ministry

We continue to serve Rich and Linda Case and Living Waters Retreat Ministry as a part of their leadership team. We have been privileged to be part of this wonderful ministry now for over 14 years.

In January, we attended and led worship for a Living Waters Leadership Retreat in Reno, NV. February took us to New Hampshire where we teamed with Dave and Melissa Dunkel to lead an Abiding Retreat for a wonderful group of folks from multiple states.

In July, we joined Rich and Linda Case to film some new online retreat videos at their home in Castle Rock, CO. These online retreats and other resources from this ministry are available at afjministry.com. Later that month, we led worship and taught at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches and Spouses Retreat in Breckenridge, CO. We expect some Abiding Retreats to spring from our new relationship with FCA.  

In August, we led a Couples Abiding Retreat in Greeley, CO and led a Singles Abiding Retreat with Dave and Melissa Dunkel in Holderness, NH. In October, we traveled to Green Bay, WI to lead a Couples Abiding Retreat and then back to New Hampshire to serve two Living Waters Retreats with the Dunkels and the Cases. 

Other 2021 Ministry Assignments

- Consulting and Mentoring - First Pres Church, Tampa, FL

- Worship Leading - C12 Gatherings in Rhode Island and Sarasota, FL

- Teaching and Worship Leading - Rock Church, Scottsbluff, NE

- Worship Concert w/ Shepherds View Band - Holderness, NH

- Worship Leading, His Mansion Ministries - Hillsborough, NH

- LIVE Zoom Worship for Churches and Ministry Organizations

- Produced Worship Recordings for Churches

- Many consulting and mentoring appointments with pastors and worship leaders

- Several counseling relationships with people needing encouragement and direction   

Coming Up in 2022

Pretty much more of the same :)  Tom will begin transitioning out of his interim role at Calvary Bible Church over the next couple months. We’ll still lead worship at Windsor Vineyard Church every month or so and serve other churches as needs arise. Retreats are on the calendar in Colorado and New Hampshire. More retreats to be scheduled as we get into the new year. We’ll also be building our Worship Mentoring/Coaching platform and creating more worship training materials. 

Prayers and Partnership

Thank you for your prayers as we enter another year of ministry. Our desire is to serve the Father and His people, specifically as He directs. We invite you to ask the Lord if He would have you partner with us this year in a financial way. We are hoping to increase our monthly partnership giving base to support the added costs of hosting Abiding Retreats and our assistance to causes, churches, and ministries that have limited resources. Thank you for loving us and believing in us – your partnership and encouragement fuels our faith to serve Him all the more!

Grace To You!

Tom and Susanne Ewing

www.tomewingministries.com

The Choice

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him, “Are you for us or our adversaries?” And he said, “No, but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place you are standing now is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5: 13-15

This scripture has been an anchor for me this year. Like all of us, I’ve felt the tension of today’s issues, demanding me to choose sides. Covid/Quarantine - reality or conspiracy, mask or no mask? BLM - for us or against us? The Elections - conservative or liberal, left or right? And the list goes on. 

Through past several months, I’ve been challenged by the Lord to keep my heart open to the world and people around me. To allow my ears to hear, and my heart to feel the cries and concerns of humanity. However, He has also challenged me to put greater effort towards seeking to understand what He is saying and doing in this time in history - to discern what He is doing and saying in the midst of these earthly controversies. 

Joshua asked the Commander of the army of the Lord (whom many theologians believe was Jesus Himself), “Are you for us or our adversaries?” Which side are you on? Are you for us or against us? His answer was “No, I’m with the Lord!” Obviously, Joshua had asked the wrong question! Like many of us, Joshua was caught up in the controversy of the day, looking for understanding and solutions from an earthly perspective. 

I love Joshua’s response. He fell on his face and worshiped. He humbled himself and submitted himself before the Lord. Worship in the Bible involves aligning to that which we ascribe value. Joshua realized his primary choice was to align with God. 

Much to Joshua’s credit, his next action was to ask, “What does my lord say to his servant?” This, I believe, is one of the most important things we can do in life as we endeavor to know God, represent His heart, and participate in His activity in the earth. Have you asked that question of God lately? God, what do You have to say to me regarding _________? 

The commanders reply was, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place you are standing now is holy.” As if to say, “Joshua, this posture of worship you have assumed (alignment and submission to God) is a good thing. Take off your shoes and stay a while!”

And Joshua did so.

I want to encourage you, as the Lord has been encouraging me, to spend more time and energy inquiring of the Lord. Bring your heart before Him in worship. Take off your shoes and stay a while at the Throne of Grace. Time invested there produces Kingdom clarity in all our earthly affairs. Absorb His Word and listen to His voice before attempting to understand and/or engage in the issues of society. 

“When I tried to understand this (injustice in the world) it was a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of the Lord, then I understood…” Psalm 73: 16-17

“Fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity, and in faithfulness… choose this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve (choose) the Lord.” Joshua 24: 14-15

The Wonder of Worship

The Wonder of Worship

 I remember as a child attending First Presbyterian Church in Greeley, CO. It was a required weekly activity for our family as my Dad was the senior pastor. The sign on the church lawn offered the name of the church, the minister’s name, and the mention that we “worship” on Sunday’s at 9am. Each Sunday we filed reverently in the sanctuary to sing, pray, and listen to the sermon. Once a month communion would be added to the mix. This is where I came to know Jesus and become familiar with His presence. But I remember wondering, is this all there is to worship? An hour per week spent doing spiritual things with a large group of people. Or is there something more? 

Fast forward 50+ years and I find myself as a seasoned worship leader wrestling with the same question! I do believe our church gatherings are an important aspect of our worship, but I’ve discovered that true worship is so much more! What is true worship? And what happens when we worship?

What Is Worship?

Biblical definitions of worship include: to adore on bended knee, to bless and honor, to show respect and submission to a superior, to ascribe worth unto something or someone. When we worship we are adjusting our lives to align with what we value. When we worship, we are offering ourselves to what we have personally determined to be worthy or valuable. How do we track or measure worship in our own lives? Great question. Here are my best thoughts at this point in my journey. 

First, consider what things in your life are important and valuable? Family, work, God, relationships, entertainment, possessions, security, activities, etc. Write out a list. I want you to see that you already are a worshiper, because you already have things you count as valuable. And if you are like me, you are adjusting yourself to align with what you value. This is important for us to recognize this if we desire our value (worship) of God to be a greater priority. 

Next, in relation to the items you’ve identified as valuable, consider how you spend your time, talent, and treasure on them. A quick review of our weekly calendars will tell us how we are investing our time. The offering of our talents is assessed by how we direct the best efforts of our unique giftings and abilities. And of course, our bank statements reveal the treasure or monetary worth we have placed on things. 

Romans 12:1-2 - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  

True spiritual worship involves the intentional offering of all that we are (time, talent, treasure) to God. Worship is the giving of our lives to the One we value the most.

John 4:23-24 - Jesus said, “The hour is coming, and is NOW here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.”

Why is God is seeking worshipers? Does He need a daily dose of affirmation to prop up His self-image? Is He an ego maniac with a constant need to feed His pride? Does He require some “cheering on” to inspire Him to keep doing His amazing God stuff? Of course not! 

His longing for us to be worshipers comes from the same drive that moved Him to send Jesus to the cross. Love! God so loved the world (us) that He gave… His greatest desire is revealed in the prayer of Jesus in John 17, that we would all be one, together in love, and enjoying the fullness of life for all eternity. 

Worship brings us back to proper relationship with God. Worship yokes us to all that He is and all that He has for us. Worship allows us to truly experience the love and care of our Heavenly Father. Worship positions us to rule and reign with Him in this life, and for all eternity!

What Happens When We Worship? 

If I’ve learned one thing its this - God is a really smart God! His commandments and instructions provide a pathway towards our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. God knows that when we truly worship, change happens!

Psalm 115: 1-8 – “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory! For the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, where is their God? Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet but do not walk; they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in (worship) them.

There is a biblical principle here that is quite astounding: Whatever we worship will affect who we are becoming. 

II Corinthians 3: 16-18, “whenever anyone turns to the Lord… we are being transformed into His image.”

As we direct our attention and our affections (our time, talent and treasure) towards Him we are changed into His likeness. Another way to put it is, whatever I expose myself to will develop in my life. Wow! Think about this also in relationship to the other things that we worship in life.  

Not only does worship have bearing on who we are becoming internally, but it also affects the external conditions around our lives. 

James 4:8 - “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

This scripture among many others speak to the reality that when we move towards God, He moves towards us. When we bring the weight of our lives (time, talent, and treasure) to Him, He weighs in on our lives and our world. I call this the revolving door of worship. When we move into His world, He moves in to ours. And miraculous things happen when God enters the scene.

I love the account of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. You probably know the story but it bears repeating. Paul and Silas have been thrown in jail in the city of Philippi. They could have been angry with God and/or sulked under the discouragement of the situation. But instead they turned their focus upon the Lord in prayer and praise. 

Acts 16: 25-26 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”

The story goes on to explain that the jailer realized something supernatural had taken place and, with his family, came to salvation in Christ. They were even baptized that night! In the middle of negative circumstances, Paul and Silas moved toward God, and God moved into their situation with His power and authority.

So, what happens when we turn to God and draw close to Him? What happens when we offer our time, talent, and treasure to Him as spiritual acts of worship? His power and authority brings change to the people we are becoming and has supernatural affect on the conditions and people around our lives. 

The best thing you can do to realize the potential of who God has created you to be is to worship Him!

The best thing you can do to see God’s power and life affect the world around you is to worship Him!

As I confessed earlier, I am a worship leader. You may wonder why I’ve talked very little about music or worship songs. It’s because I’ve come to learn that the act of worship has nothing to do with music. However, God has given us the gift of music to help direct our worship towards Him. Music is a tool that help us offer our time, talent and treasure to Him.

I encourage you, from now on, when you sing a hymn or worship song, do it with a heart that says, “God I offer my life to you. Give me grace to direct more of my time, talent, and treasure towards You. I desire to see Your Kingdom come and will be done in me, around me, and for Your glory!”

2019 Ministry Report

We are thankful for another wonderful year of ministry serving a wide spectrum of leaders, churches, denominations, ministries, and causes. We’re humbled and in awe with the unique assignments God entrusts to us. We continue to operate as an accredited non-profit ministry organization based out of our home office in Windsor, CO. Our ministry ordination is held with Jubilee Fellowship Church, Lone Tree, CO. Below is a look at our 2019 ministry activity and a peek into what the Lord has for us in 2020.

Interim Worship Assignments

Serving interim worship needs continues to be an important and specialized calling on our ministry. Interim duties typically include general pastoral and administrative oversight of a church’s worship ministry, leading weekend worship one or two weekends a month, and assisting the pastoral/leadership team as needed. These assignments took a good chunk of time and efforts this year.

In January, Tom accepted an Interim Worship assignment at Calvary Bible Church in Erie, CO. Pastored by Thomas Milburn, CBC has grown to have significant influence in the region. Tom’s role at CBC was completed in August with the hire of their new full-time worship pastor. In March, Tom took on another Interim Worship position with First Presbyterian Church in Tampa, FL. We’ve enjoyed 10+ years of relationship with this church led by an amazing couple, Fitz and Kathy Conner. Tom’s role at First Pres Tampa includes monthly visits to lead worship and interact with church staff and worship team.

Extended Worship/Mentoring Assignments

We continued our involvement this year influencing the worship culture at Foundations Church, Loveland/CO. It’s been a joy for Tom to reinforce the vision of worship pastor, Scott Thornton, by meeting with him personally, leading worship every month or so, and helping train their in-house worship leaders.

Spiritual Renewal Retreats

Leading Spiritual Renewal Retreats (Abiding Retreats) for couples within our personal and ministry network remains an important aspect of our ministry. These retreats are informal and discussion based - typically for groups of five to ten couples. The material can also be adapted for larger groups. This year we facilitated and/or assisted retreats in Colorado, California, New Hampshire, Arizona, and Prague/Czech Republic! Contact us for retreat information and/or to schedule a retreat for your leadership team or small group.

2019 Special Events / Projects / Causes

- Creation/Recording of Encounter Worship Teaching Series with companion workbook

- Multiple House Concerts w Dave Beegle and Land of Color

- Worship Concert w Shepherds View Band at WoodsieStock Festival, Holderness, NH

- Chapel Speaker, Rez Christian School, Loveland, CO

- Worship Leading C12 CEO Group, Boston, MA

- Worship Leading and Teaching, His Mansion Ministries, Hillsborough, NH

- Christmas Outreach Event w Dave Beegle, Encompass Church, Elizabeth, CO

- Many consulting and mentoring appointments with pastors and worship leaders

2019 Local Church Ministry

- Interim Worship Pastor, Calvary Bible Church, Erie, CO

- Interim Worship Pastor, First Pres Church, Tampa, FL

- Multiple Worship Weekends and Worship Leader Training, Foundations Church,

Loveland, CO

- Worship Leading, White Fields Community Church, Longmont CO

- Teaching/Worship at Church Staff Gathering, Mission Hills Church, Littleton, CO

- Worship Leading, Timberline Church, Ft Collins, CO

- Worship Leading and Staff Encouragement, Generation Church, South Kingstown, RI

- Worship Leading, Lighthouse Calvary, Manchester, NH

- Worship Leading and Teaching, Trinity Christian Fellowship, Chandler, AZ

- Worship/Teaching/Training Weekend, LifePoint Church, Valley Center, KS

- Worship Leading and Consulting, Clearwater Church, Ft Collins, CO

- Worship Leading, Jubilee Fellowship Church, Lone Tree, CO

Coming Up in 2020

Tom will maintain his Interim Worship role at First Pres Tampa and we are in discussions with other churches about possible Interim Worship and Mentoring assignments as well. Our Encounter Worship video course with companion workbook will be released in January. In February we’ll be teaching at a marriage retreat in Arizona, The month of April will take us to Israel lead worship for a Living Waters Leaders Retreat.

Prayers and Partnership

Thank you for your prayers as we enter another year of ministry. Our desire is to be about the Father’s business - specifically as He directs! We invite you to ask the Lord if He would have you partner with us this year in a financial way. We are hoping to increase our monthly partnership giving base to support the added costs of hosting Abiding Retreats and our assistance to causes and ministries that have limited resources. Thank you for loving us and believing in us – your partnership and encouragement fuels our faith to serve Him all the more!

Grace To You!

Tom and Susanne Ewing

www.tomewingministries.com

New Recording (in progress) Intimate Worship: Tom Ewing w/ Dave Beegle

Dave Beegle and I (Tom) are putting the finishing touches on a simple, intimate worship recording for people to use in their personal devotional time and/or small group worship setting. 

Our approach in producing this project has been to spend time before each recording session in the Word and in prayer for one another, our families, our friends, and those who will hear these songs. Musically we are going super stripped down – just me singing, and both of us on acoustic guitars. The songs we have chosen are a mix of popular worship songs and some of my original songs, including two new ones. Throughout the recording there are some beautiful moments of spontaneous worship and heart felt prayers.

Would you consider joining our team?  We’d be honored and blessed to have you partner with us to do something special. You can do this first of all by praying for us! We really want this recording to be a tool for people to connect with God. 

You can also partner with us through our Kickstarter Campaign where you can get cool gifts and perks that correspond with various levels of support. However, if you want to receive tax credit for your support, and forgo the Kickstarter prizes and perks, you can give a Recording Project Donation on our ministry website.

We are looking to raise $8,500 minimum through our Kickstarter Campaign. This will cover most of our production costs and Kickstarter fees, awards, and postage. Total budget for the entire project is $10,500. Any excess funds will be used towards a video recording of the material from this project. 

We have a few weeks to do something special and significant together. We believe this is going to be a great resource to help people draw close to God and be refreshed in His presence. Let’s do it! Grace to you!

Intimate Worship Kickstarter Donation Page

Intimate Worship Tom Ewing Ministries Recording Project Donation Page

2017 Abiding Retreats

We would like to offer you a chance to get away as couples and be refreshed and refocused in God. The first half of 2017 we have Abiding Retreats planned for Jan 23-25, Feb 10-12, Feb 14-16, May 5-7, and May 8-10 at The Autumn Creek Chalet - autumncreek.co. Autumn Creek is a luxurious retreat home tucked into the mountainside of Breckenridge, Colorado. The home is situated on 11 acres of riverfront land backing to National Forest.

The Abiding Retreat is built on the truths revealed in John 15 - Jesus is the Vine, The Father is the Vinedresser, and we are the Branches.  Moving through scripture, we will discover God’s intended plan for intimate relationship with Him personally, how to walk in unity as husband and wife, and His desire to produce supernatural fruit in every facet of our lives (marriage, family, business, ministry, etc). Each person will need to bring a cross reference Bible. A workbook and journal will be provided. The material is covered in a super casual, interactive way, and there is intentional down time to relax and enjoy each other as couples. 

Retreat Schedule:

Day 1

            - 5:30pm - Dinner at The Autumn Creek Chalet, Breckenridge, CO

            - 7:00pm - Worship/Session 1

Day 2

            - 8:00am - Breakfast

            - 9:00am - Worship/Session 2

            - 12:00pm – Lunch

            - 1:00pm - Free Time w Spouses

            - 6:00pm – Dinner and Hang Out Together         

Day 3

            - 8:00am - Breakfast

            - 9:00am - Worship/Session 3/Communion

            - Noon - Lunch and Retreats Ends

There is no required fee to attend one of our retreats. However, we do appreciate any donations to help subsidize these retreats and assist our other ministry efforts. As a point of reference, our retreat costs average $400 per couple for lodging, all meals and materials.  Our ministry will cover retreat expenses above any donations received. 

There are only a limited amount of spots available - 5 couples per retreat. Let us know soon if you have interest or further questions. Hope you can join us! 

Click Here To Contact Us!

Tom and Susanne Ewing

Abiding In The Vine

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

Jesus gives us a very simple but profound picture of how our relationship with God should work. Jesus explains that He is the Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser, and we, all believers, are the branches.

The Vine draws nutrition from the soil. The nutrients become sap, giving life to the Vine. The sap represents the Holy Spirit in this analogy. The Vine itself is completely dependent on the Vinedresser. The Vinedresser initially chose where in the ground to plant the Vine. The Vinedresser cares daily for the health and well being of the Vine.

We are the branches. As branches, we are also totally reliant upon the tending of the Vinedresser. The Vinedresser diligently prunes and supports the branches. He chooses foreign branches to be grafted into the Vine. He protects both the Vine and branches from harsh elements and dangerous predators. Fruit is the goal of the Vinedresser - maximum fruit production. It’s important to note that the Vinedresser is the producer of fruit, the Branch, is the bearer.

Just so we are clear on our role - the branch has a three-part job description:

   1) Stay connected to the Vine - Abide

   2) Cooperate with the Vinedresser - Obey

   3) Bear whatever fruit grows as a result – Give it away!

That would be a good life mantra - Abide, obey, and give it away! Jesus emphasizes the necessity of abiding by saying, “apart from Me, you can do nothing.” As a vine is to it’s branches, Jesus is to us. He is our ONLY connection to life itself.

So here’s an important question for us any of us in leadership capacities: Does anything change in this analogy when we become people in charge of people? Pastors, Mothers and Fathers, Community Heads, Club Captains, Teachers, CEO’s, etc…? Does our role ever shift into becoming at least Assistant Vinedressers? Do we take on dual identities and/or responsibilities? The answer is a resounding, NO!

When we assume authority roles and responsibilities in life, and in the Kingdom, we do so as branches. I wish I had learned this earlier in my ministry career. Have you ever felt pressured to produce fruit in the lives of others? In your congregation members, children, friends, or employees? Sometimes we put that expectation on ourselves. Other times, it’s imposed on us. However, the truth is, we are His workmanship, and so are the people we lead and serve (Ephesians 2:10). What a relief! It’s not our responsibility to fix the people we lead!

The Father is “always” the Vinedresser. It’s His job to do whatever is necessary to produce fruit in our lives. It’s our job to stay connected to Jesus and co-operate with the Vinedresser. As leaders, we serve our people the best when we help them connect to Jesus and learn to listen to and cooperate with the Vinedresser. Jesus goes on to say that the act of abiding involves abiding in His words.

“…if you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you wish, and it will be done for you.” John15:7

Giving attention to what God has said, and is saying to us, is an essential element of abiding. To abide requires giving attention to what He is saying. This brings us into the aspect of conversation - ongoing conversation with God, which helps us to remain in Him, and He in us. Dialoging with God and responding according to His directives. And trusting Him, the Vinedresser, to manage the tending, pruning, and fruit production operations – “working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil 2:19).

Our role as Branches is to abide, obey, and give it away! And again, let me emphasize. We serve people best when we help them abide in the Vine, and learn to hear and respond to the voice of the Vinedresser.

LIVE Recording Released - Dec 1, 2014

We are excited to announce the release of our new LIVE Worship Recording. It’s now available on our website for sale in both digital download and physical CD formats.

The recording was taken from a night of worship we presented on July 23rd, 2014 at Resurrection Fellowship in Loveland, CO. We had a full house of passionate worshiping friends and an amazing worship team we called the Friends & Family Band!  

The Friends & Family Band included Dave Beegle, playing electric guitar and also functioning as the primary producer for this project. So it's all been on Dave to make this thing awesome and he did a great job! Other highly skilled and anointed friends include: Taylor Mesple' (Keyboards), Matt Henderson (Drums), Shauna Chanda (vocals), Joe Richmond (front of house audio), Jonathan Wood (Keys/Loops), and Jay Stocker (pre/post production keyboard stuff). Other important "friends" were all those who partnered with us as Ministry Partners and/or on our Kickstarter Team!

The Fam portion includes my wife/best friend Susanne (vocals), daughter Morgan Lucas (vocals), daughter in law Debbie (vocals), son Thomas (electric guitar), and son Tucker (bass guitar). Their fingerprints are all over this project. From the planning, to the songwriting, to the performing and ministry this was truly a family and friends effort!

The four months since the LIVE recording have been spent editing, fixing, overdubbing and adding a few extra musical elements. Some of the extra's included super cool parts on "Dance With Me" by Christian Teele (percussion) and Leonard Jones (fiddle). 

And now we are humbled to offer it to you! May God be LIVE and PRESENT in your hearts as you listen and worship with us!

Tom, Susanne with our Family and Friends!

Click Here To Order

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