With great excitement and trust, we want to extend an invitation to you. We desire your wisdom,
encouragement, vision, and support as we move into a new phase in our lives.
For more than two years, Beth and I have wrestled with what God may be asking of us in this hour. We have prayed and waited...and waited some more. At some point, we believed, we needed to 'get out of the boat', and we are. We are moving into full-time ministry. Beth and I are at the point where the risk of staying in the boat is greater than never getting out. We need to answer the Lord's call, and at least take the first step. The remainder of this invitation will give you a better idea of our vision, passion, apparent mission, and some websites to help you co-labor with us, and the Lord.
The Position
An ambassador's home government provides him with everything he needs to live and perform his official function: office, home, car, staff, funding, etc. In the same way, as we seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness as our first priority, He will supply everything we need for daily living and accomplishing His will. If we set ourselves to handling our King's business, He will handle ours. It is a relationship of faith, trust, and obedience, enabling us to exercise power and authority in His name. Such faith grows from an increasing understanding of our position as ambassadors of Christ. Dr. Myles Monroe, Rediscovering the Kingdom.
The Assignment
Isaiah 61:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.3To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
No matter what we touch, do, create...it will be for the Lord's renown.
The Vision- Marv
The media. It governs minds, emotions and decisions. From villages with no roads, to drug-ridden and poverty-stricken inner cities, to worldly metropolitan areas, the messages running through the air space and landing in homes and offices are defiled and packed with violence, sex, drugs,
materialism, idol-worship. Everyday we are losing ground in the media realm.
I have such a strong conviction that is it time to take back this sphere of influence. I want to capture it with truth and dignity. I want to capture it for the next generation, and the next. It is time to take back the media; from TV, to the internet, from film to video....no matter the length or format, the time, the place...is here and now.
Missionaries carry out assignments such as bringing clean water to villages, building schools and homes, working in orphanages and slums. There are pastors, musicians, teachers, all bringing the Gospel, God's message, to those who want to hear. I am also a missionary venturing into a more novel area of ministry—media. I want to answer God's call to be His voice, eyes and ears through the power of media.
Beth and I are teaming with a local, on-fire ministry, Advance K (Kingdom), to accomplish this vision. Advance K exists to serve much more than media so please do check out their website at www.advancek.com.
Advancing the Kingdom of God through media looks like this:
§ A media school where the next generation of craftsmen is trained and released with creativity and integrity. I would help oversee this Advance K department and teach students and train other leaders.
§ Short films and documentaries. Other aspects of this vision quest include producing a Kingdom reality television show (think a more wholesome, redeemed version of Survivor) where we hit the streets documenting real life encounters between God and His people
§ Releasing training videos on prayer, prophecy, dream life, and identity.
While we have our eyes on the future, we are still occupying today. Right now, ongoing and developing media ministries include:
§ A video sharing Advance K's vision, heart and mission
§ A video capturing testimonies on how God is moving and radically changing lives on the UW-Madison campus.
§ A documentary entitled "Freed to Return." This film tells the story of how one man, sold out for God, imprisoned in Mozambique, returns to the country 32 years later, can truly change the face of a nation for the better. Shooting is currently going on in the US with a trip pending to Mozambique, Africa.
§ Guns for Cameras, while birthed with a vision to be carried out in the Congo (Africa), is a concept we can see playing out in most any city in the world. Guns for Cameras, is a redemptive mission. http://gunsforcameras.blogspot.com/
Beth and I have lived in more than nine states (combined), shot video in more than 20 countries on four continents over the past 18 years. As award winning journalists, and His servants, we are ready.
However, we can not do it without your partnership.
The Vision- Beth
I confess I have wrestled hard with this 'stepping out.' I love, love security and stability. That went out the window with marrying Marv. So it goes!
Truly, what comes to mind for me are two crucial thoughts, actually convictions. I know the fruit of chasing the stable life. I have done it for a long time. And I have tried almost my whole life to 'do it myself.' I can no longer move in this realm. I am finding I am trading security for mediocrity; apparent safety for lukewarm living. Again this is purely personal. I need to take this step, with my husband, my family and the Lord. I can't walk this earth knowing there is 'something greater' and never going for it. I believe and trust that always...always "underneath are His everlasting arms."
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' (Deuteronomy 33:27)
My passion in all this is simple, to behold the presence of God in prayer. I desire to intercede for people, this city, this nation and whatever else is on God's heart. I want to see the power and heart of God move and set people free of emotional, physical and mental illness. And He has. I am training in prayer, healing and deliverance. I also foresee speaking to groups of women; encouraging, equipping and releasing them into their destinies. I have been involved in this to some extent over the past two years. I plan to work with Marv and those whom Advance K trains in media. Through the Lord’s enabling power and grace, we have great experience, wisdom and creativity to impart. And a mountain to take.
Our children will be with us and intimately involved in this process. They are our first ministry as is our marriage and household. Simply put, we can not die with all this in us.
We lay all this before God with reverent submission. I thank you for listening to my heart.
Economics
Right now we are available to pursue this call and assignment on a very limited basis. In addition to running Yellow Dog Productions and being a dad, I am working part-time for Delta Airlines. The ideal situation would be for us to have the freedom to scale back on the 'distracting' but vital sources of income right now. So, financial support is vital to getting this ministry moving.
Beth continues to work with me writing and producing projects. She also takes on writing assignments and some periodic outside work when possible. Raising three boys and launching a ministry takes up the rest of the 'extra' time.
Should you be led to partner with us financially, please send your contributions, which are tax deductible, to:
Turner, PO Box 930-361, Verona WI 53593. Make checks out to Advance K Ministries with Marv and Beth in memo line. If you could indicate via email, whether this is a one time contribution or you intend to bless us monthly, quarterly or yearly. Above all, your prayers are what we value most.
We are looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for considering this invitation. It will be a pleasure to journey with you.
Advancing His Kingdom,
Marv and Beth, Cole, Wes and Haeden
To get a better grasp of what we are doing, here are some links to videos we have done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIokWhv-_NY&feature=channel_page
A look inside The Congo, Africa, and trying to bring His presence there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co5s-7MXx7Q&feature=channel_page
A place where pregnant women can turn instead of having an abortion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07w_mgOdw60&feature=channel_page
Informational video on a Christian school aimed at perspective parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5rcPhhhpSw&feature=channel_page
Any child is vulnerable to the sex trade industry.
