Volume 7, Issue 2
February 2017
Take a Risk!
...moving believers from the
sidelines to the front lines
A monthly publication from Risk Takers for Christ
In this issue...
Perseverance for
Success
A devotional
message from
Os Hillman.
- Page 2
Making God-sized
Plans
What BIG plans
are you making for
this year?
- Page 3
New Year’s
Message Receives
Positive Review
Comments on
Dale’s New Year’s
Day message.
- Page 4
Upcoming Event:
February 11 Softball at Sumter
CI, Bushnell FL
A Prison Trip Timeline
by Rev. Dale Glading, President
To help you experience first-hand what one
of our prison trips is like, I put together a
timeline of our most recent trip to Marion
Correctional Institution in Lowell FL on
January 14th. Hopefully, it will provide you
with an “up-close and personal” look at what
is involved when we
take one of our
sports teams behind
bars to minister to
the “least and lost.”
(Matthew 25:36)
4:30 a.m. - Michael keeps me company by
riding “short-gun,” but by the time we reach
the Florida Turnpike he is too tired to talk.
And so, I drive solo for the next two hours,
allowing our players some much-needed rest
for the big day ahead.
6:30 a.m. - We make a quick breakfast stop
at a Dunkin Donuts just south of Ocala. Rob
Moore, one of our
players who is driving
up from Tampa, texts
me to say that he is on
his way.
7:30 a.m. - We arrive
at Marion CI’s main
3:15 a.m. - My
unit and Rob is there
alarm clock goes off
to meet us. I take
and I stumble out of
pride in being punctubed as quietly as
al and so, I’m glad
possible, trying not
that we are right on
Risk Takers team photo at Marion Correctional
to wake Deanna up.
schedule. After a brief
Institution in Lowell FL on January 14th
After a quick shower,
wait for Coach
I check to make sure
Thomas, the Wellness & Education Director,
that my son Chris - one of our best players to arrive, we are processed through security
is also up and around. Then I wash down a
without incident.
few vitamins with orange juice before Chris
and I board our rental van to pick up the rest 8:30 a.m. - The morning fog finally lifts and
of our team.
we start warming up for a game against the
4:00 a.m. - Tom Palladino, a faithful nonplaying volunteer, and Joe Payton, our 6’6”
center, are already waiting for us at the
church where we meet and leave our individual cars. We are soon joined by Michael
Kelley, Ben Baldwin and Tyler Roeller. After
a short prayer, we start the three-hour drive
to Lowell.
champions of the 35 & over league. The varsity championship game hasn’t been played
yet, so I’m sure we will be invited back to
play them, too.
9:00 a.m. - Game One begins and we open
up a double-digit lead, but then the inmate
squad rallies to make the score close at halftime.
continued on page 2
www.risktakersforchrist.org
A Prison Trip Timeline
continued from page 1
9:45 a.m. - Tom Palladino, who has already distributed
200 gospel tracts throughout the vast recreation yard,
introduces our team and then passes the microphone to
Joe Payton. Joe has a remarkable testimony which
includes being incarcerated for almost
13 years. The inmates relate well to his
story and sit entranced while he speaks
to them from his heart.
2:00 p.m. - Tom Palladino shares his testimony and I
preach for a second time. My illustration is a story about
a drawbridge operator who has to decide between saving
his young son or a train full of passengers. The story hits
home with the 50 or so men in attendance, almost all of
whom are fathers. An inmate named Anthony trusts
Christ as his Savior while dozens of others, just like at
the main unit, write down their personal prayer requests.
3:00 p.m. - Led by Michael, Chris and
Joe, we dominate the second half and win
by about 15 points. Once again, we gather both teams at center court and present
the awards. One inmate approaches me
afterwards to say that - at age 50 - he was
the oldest player on the court that day. I
give him a copy of each book and then,
with a smile, tell him that I’m 57.
10:00 a.m. - It is time for me to bring
the gospel message. About 50 men are
gathered around the outdoor court,
some sitting on the ground and others
in the bleachers. I like to begin my
messages with a story and today, God
has directed me to use Super Bowl
4:00 p.m. - After posing for some team
XXXIV as an illustration. In that game, Coach Thomas and Tom Palladino pictures, we start home, stopping for dinKevin Dyson of the Tennessee Titans,
ner at Woody’s BBQ in Wildwood before
fell one-foot shy of the goal line as time expired. I then
saying good-bye to Rob Moore. We make another quick
tell the men that many people miss heaven’s goal line by stop to refuel our 12-passenger diesel van.
18 inches, roughly the distance between your head and
your heart. Three inmates make decisions for Christ and
8:15 p.m. - We arrive back in Vero. Our trip has lasted 16
several others ask for more information about becoming
hours and more than 400 miles. Most importantly, an
Christians. After my message, Tom collects response
estimated 350 inmates received gospel literature and 100
cards while the rest of our team briefly warms up for the of them stayed for our halftime gospel presentations. Our
second half.
players exchange hugs and handshakes, and start looking
forward to next month’s trip to Sumter CI in Bushnell.
10:15 a.m. - The second half begins and the score
remains tight until the final few minutes, when we pull
away to win by about 10 points. After the final whistle,
Perseverance for Success
we gather both teams at center court and present awards
by Os Hillman, TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2
to the best players, the referees and the scorekeepers.
Today, they get to choose between a biography of Jeremy
“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not
Linn, a Christian who plays in the NBA, and a small
only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because
devotional book that intertwines basketball facts and
we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseScripture verses.
verance, character; and character, hope."
(Rom. 5:2-4)
11:00 a.m. - Having passed back through security, we
Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment
pray beside our van and then head out for lunch.
because nothing of lasting value has ever been
Michael, who owns and operates a Chick-fil-A franchise
achieved without it. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of
in Vero Beach, has a pocketful of gift cards for free
the great success stories of American history, but he
chicken sandwiches. And so, we drive about 15 miles to
failed in business five times before he succeeded. A
the nearest Chick-fil-A and enjoy lunch “on the cheap.”
Ford Motor Company employee once asked his boss
the secret of success, and Henry Ford replied, "When
1:00 p.m. - We arrive back at the adjacent Work Camp to
you start a thing, don't quit until you finish it."
face another 35 & over team. This time, the inmates go
up by 10 points early, but we fight back to take a small
continued on page 3
lead at halftime.
www.risktakersforchrist.org
Page 2
Making God-sized Plans
by Steve Olds, Founder, President & CEO,
The Patriot Mission
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's
blood..." - Daniel Burnham
Many people have the sad and insidious experience of
continually setting a lower and lower bar as they grow
older... whether they're turning 25, 55 or 85.
What BIG plans are you making for 2017?
I'm not talking about the obligatory list of resolutions
that drive action for a few short-lived days, but rather the
kind of BIG plans that truly energize you and get you out
of bed every morning.
Has it been a while since you dared to dream BIG?
Making BIG Plans doesn't necessarily mean starting
something from scratch on your own. Often times, it
means coming alongside those whose dreams you want
to support.
As pastor and author Henry Blackaby famously wrote,
"Find what God is doing and join Him."
Blackaby went into far greater detail in his classic book,
"Experiencing God," highlighting the following 7
Realities...
1. God is always at work around you.
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you
that is real and personal.
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His
work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible,
prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal
Himself, His purposes and His ways.
5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always
leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and
action.
6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join
God in what He is doing.
7. You come to know God by experience as you obey
Him and He accomplishes His work through you.
(For more information about The Patriot Mission and their big
plans for 2017 and beyond, please visit www.patriotmission.com.
For more information on Blackaby Ministries International, please
visit www.blackaby.net)
open; it's standing in front of the doors as long as it takes
before God chooses to open them.
Perseverance for Success
continued from page 2
The path ahead of you is strewn with obstacles. People
will oppose you. There will be financial setbacks, time
pressures, illnesses and misfortunes. Some of the biggest
obstacles will be inside of you: self-doubt, insecurity,
procrastination, and worry. You must give yourself permission to succeed.
When we persevere through adversity, we win the
approval of our Lord Jesus Christ, who told the suffering
church at Ephesus, "I know your deeds, your hard work
and your perseverance... You have persevered and have
endured hardships for my name, and have not grown
weary" (Rev. 2:2-3). That, I'm sure, is the same commendation Joseph received from God when he passed the
perseverance test.
Perseverance is a refusal to quit. It's falling down 100
times and getting back up 101 times. We need to remember that perseverance is not a matter of forcing doors to
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The race doesn't go to
the swiftest, but to those who don't give up. We need
endurance in order to deal with the stress of adversity.
We must maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly,
and get plenty of rest. People give up or give out when
they feel depleted - when they physically, emotionally
and spiritually run out of gas.
When going through adversity, watch out for pessimists,
blamers and toxic personalities. Beware of people who
try to talk you out of your dreams and goals. Spend time
with optimists and encouragers. Seek out people of faith.
Persevere to the end.
Reprinted by permission from the author. Os Hillman is an international speaker and author of 15 books on workplace calling. To
learn more, visit http://www.MarketplaceLeaders.org"
www.risktakersforchrist.org
Page 3
Praying for Prisoners
by Judy Morgan, RTC Prayer Partner
The month of February is always considered by
many, the "love month." Valentines are sold and
bought to express a person’s love for another. Candy
and flowers are given to someone special in your life
whom you love. Some people even celebrate their
love for one another in marriage during this month.
There are many ways you can express your love for
another.
Do we consider the best "love gift" of all in the person of Jesus Christ? Or are we only thinking about
the person that we can see, touch and feel? How
important is it to show your love for Him? You can't
give Him a Valentine but you can give Him your
heart, your soul and your mind (thoughts). You can
send Him a prayer(s). Prayers are your love gift from
your heart.
Jesus' love is for everyone (the wealthy, the poor, the
homeless & the prisoners). He says in His Word that
He has loved you with an everlasting love and with
loving kindness He draws you to Himself (Jeremiah
31:3).
Jesus says it's important to show your love for one
another. It's a commandment (John 15:12). If we are
taking Jesus at His Word, let us love our fellow man
with the love Jesus has for us (Hebrews 7:25). Can't
we show our love for one another through prayer?
Let us pray for one another knowing that God hears
and answers our prayers (Jeremiah 33:3).
Our Staff & Board Members
Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
Rev. Larry “Chap” Lilly, Vice President
Christopher Glading, Program Director
Rebekah Bailey, Director of Communications
Trustees: Keith Cutting, Thomas Griffin, Rev. Paul
Mace, Steve Navarro, Chaplain Louie Tropf
Advisory Council: Robert Bartosz, Steve Schoch
New Year’s Message Receives
Positive Reviews
RTC founder and president, Rev. Dale Glading, was
privileged to preach at First Church of God on New
Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at the invitation of
Pastor Greg Sempsrott. Dale’s message was titled, “A
Nautical New Year” and here are a few comments from
those in attendance.
“Loved the message our Lord used you to pass on. You
did an amazing job!” - Nicole
“Excellent preaching, Dale!” - Pam
“Great message!” - Milton
“Had some friends over this afternoon who said you did
an awesome job… and I believe them!” - Louie
“It was a God-inspired message. Thanks for your
obedience.” - Kimberly
“You really inspired me and gave me a kick in the rear
that was needed! Truly, thank you! The timing, the
words, the scriptures, they are all recorded and will
guide me through 2017. Life is too short to stay where
I am. God bless you, Dale! It is not every day that a
teaching like this comes along.” - Kerstin
“Your sermon was very stirring and the notes were
wonderful. I really need to study and meditate on them.”
- Jane
“Thank you, Dale, for a wonderful and thought provoking New Year’s Eve sermon.” - Susan
“Just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed your New
Year's Day sermon. Thanks for having the guts to stand
strong and press on toward the prize.” - Steve
“Thank you for your message, Dale. It touched on a
special nerve for my husband and me.” - Camie
For a free copy of Dale’s sermon notes, please email
him at [email protected]. A live video of
Dale’s message can also be seen at www.fcog.com.
To schedule Dale or another Risk Takers speaker for
your church or community group, please call
772.539.1826. A list of sample message topics are available at http://risktakersforchrist.org/Guest-SpeakersRisk-Takers-For-Christ.html
Take a Risk! is a publication of Risk Takers for Christ, PO Box 651421, Vero Beach FL 32965-1421.
Excerpts may be published or reproduced providing proper attribution is given.
www.risktakersforchrist.org
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