Dahlgren History 101 :: Part 2

Enjoy the continuation of our family history lesson...

The family singing through the years -- Easter, Christmas, Children's musicals, and community events

Through the past 20 years of our marriage, God has continued to teach us skills and carry us through experiences and trials that lead us to today.

• Worship & Music Outreach—Steve has been graciously gifted by God to “set the table” for worshipers to feast on.  As a worship leader, couple & family, we have used our gifts in music and love for God in many outreach and community events.

• Hospitality—In the various churches, Steve & Chris have had many opportunities to develop gifts of hospitality, serving and event-planning.

• Computer Skills—Both Steve & Chris have acquired a great knack for using many computer applications, as well as bookkeeping, graphic design, publication/marketing and social media.

• Administration—Beyond the many years as an Executive Assistant and Software Trainer, Chris also recently completed her bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership.

• Bakery—For a short time, Steve had the privilege of sharing his culinary skills through his bakery in Wakarusa.

• Human Trafficing Ministry—For the past 3+ years, the youth group at Nappanee Missionary Church has focused a great deal on the human trafficking issue around the world.  Our kids have developed an amazing passion to help those caught in this bondage.

The most amazing part of all is how God has been working in and through the Lyon City Team for the past 5+ years and brought our skills together with their needs!

As we skyped for the first time with Mike DiGena, the Lyon City Team Leader, he shared with us some of their vision for the future work in Lyon where they currently have “holes” to fill—

1. Need a worship leader for the English-speaking church plant.
2. Need someone who can help with computer & website projects.
3. Want to start a ministry center, but need someone to help manage/run it.
4. Need someone to help with coordinating visitors and short-term missions teams that come to Lyon—hospitality & coordination.
5. A group of local French churches established a human trafficking non-profit organization to help reach out to girls in Lyon.

We know that God has been working in our lives through so many different ways to prepare us for THIS time in THIS city!

Dahlgren History 101 :: Part 1

Another newsletter article to catch you up about how God has been working through the years... in two parts:

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us,

had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose

He is working out in everything and everyone.

~ Ephesians 1:11

In talking with so many of you, we’ve found that many don’t know the backstory of how God has been weaving this very cool tapestry throughout the years to prepare us for our future ministry in Lyon.  So, let’s back up a few years and do a little Dahlgren History 101.

At around 10 years old, Steve began his musical journey with organ lessons.  A few years later he began learning how to master the piano as well.  By middle school he was accompanying high school graduations, church services and anything in between.  He spent his high school years as an organist/pianist at a few churches and assisted in music ministry.

Steve knew that music was going to play a major role in his life, and that he would use the gifts God gave him to lead others into the presence of God through worship.

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Chris began piano lessons at the young age of 6, and continued for six years.  One day she came home from school and announced that she was now accompanying the middle school choir at the next choir concert.  Soon after this, Chris began accompanying church services as well.  Singing began in early elementary when Chris and her sisters sang, “I Have a Promise” in church concerts.

Missions Conferences were the highlight of the year at Chris’ home church, Living Gospel.  She loved hearing how God was working throughout the world.

In high school, Chris joined the youth group on a week-long missions trip to Haiti.  As a first overseas experience, God used this week to begin planting a seed for missions that would continue to sprout.

Jumping forward a few years, Chris was 20 years old when she was accepted as a full-time missionary with OMS International to work in their headquarters in Greenwood.  During her years with them, she also had the privilege of spending three months teaching conversational English (Hoosier-style) in Taiwan.  Returning from this overseas experience, Chris knew she wanted to serve overseas and needed training.

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We first met in Greenwood while Steve was touring with a singing group from Azusa Pacific University.  Then we met again the following year at APU’s music camp where Chris was a freshman and while Steve was working on his masters. Steve insists Chris followed him to APU; Chris disagrees. :)

One year later we began dating and the following year we married and began ministering at Modesto Covenant Church in Modesto, California.