Bill Strickland’s Video – If I had a million…

I came away more inspired to fulfill my own dream. We, as educators, have dreams of creating a better world (well, our piece of it anyway). We want to inspire our learners to build a better tomorrow for themselves, their families, and their community. What would we
do if we had a million dollars?

It's funny that today is Sunday, because this is kind of an inspirational blog. What is more intriguing is that I am a former pastor. But, you see, ministry (or the call) never leaves you. So that's why I get kind-of preachy. But, today I want to share a dream, a ministry dream.

My dream concerns the community of Bangor (+/- 10 miles south of my home town of Old Town), and Lakoma. Bangor is celebrating its 175 birthday. The link tells a good synopsis of the cities history. It also tells of the "Queen City's" decline during the economic downturn. Many food banks receive donations of prepared foods (mostly pasta), and canned goods. Not very much nutritional value there. My dream involves the gift of hospitality or helps.

Once upon a time, my wife and I were coordinators in the SHARE program. The best part about it was the fresh produce and meat. Food pantries such as MANNA do not have the resources to provide the homeless and hungry with fresh produce and meat. Feeding America has a program called the National Produce Program to meet this need. I am in the process of investigating if this would be a viable venue for the Bangor area food banks. But, that is not the entire dream. It is only part of Lakoma Ministries.

My Pentecostal (higher life) faith has many world-wide ministries, and churches. In the northern kingdom of New England Pentecostal churches are mostly small and attendance is about 40 or less. Pastors of very small churches often must work second jobs to survive, because the churches are faith-based, and cannot pay them a regular salary. They often live in rural communities. They often find it a hardship to get away to a city like Bangor for shopping, or minister's convention. Travel and lodging are difficult, because their church cannot afford the cost of lodging. Pastors of larger churches (50-100+) find it hard to find accommodations for evangelists or itinerating missionaries for the same reason.

I have worked in the hospitality field and once owned a small motel business. I am an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. I believe in miracles. Yes, miracles still happen. Zion Bible College is one present- day example. I would purchase the home pictured for us and the aforementioned reasons.

I am not receiving any donations, yet. I only need those who will believe with me, and pray for faith in this miracle. If it can happen for Bill Strickland, who simply wanted to better his world, it can happen for Lakoma. "God is no respecter of persons," Acts 10:34. John 21:16 is our key verse.

Lakoma-Shalom, Maranatha, and Amen.

Carl