White Fields Foundation

We are to become the community of grace and love that God has purposed as his body of Christ. He has given us rich examples in his word and pointed instruction to be the means of healing, encouragement, sharpening, and forgiveness to our brothers. As we live out these commands in ever-increasing devotion, we will glorify God and the unbelieving world will be drawn to his mighty Spirit who is alive in our relationships and community.

1. Forgive one another…………….Colossians 3:13
2. Spur one another on to love and good deeds…………. Hebrews 10:24
3. Offer hospitality to one another………………………….I Peter 4:9
4. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ……..Ephesians 5:21
5. Agree with one another that there be no divisions among you…I Corinthians 1:10
6. Teach one another…Colossians 3:16, Romans 15:14
7. Admonish one another……Colossians 3:16
8. Bear one another’s burdens…Galatians 6:2
9. Confess your sins to one another…..James 5:16
10. Love one another….(the world will know we are his disciples) John 13:34-35, (with brotherly affection) Romans 12:10, 13:8, (the one who loves is born of God and knows God) I John 4:7
11. Honor one another above yourselves….Romans  12:10
12. Rejoice with one another…Romans 12:15
13. Weep with one another….Romans 12:15
14. Bear with one another in patience…Ephesians 4:2
15. Serve one another humbly in love…..Galatians 5:13
16. Encourage one another daily, build each other up…Hebrews 3:13, I Thessalonians 5:11
17. Live in harmony with one another……Romans 12:16
18. Stop passing judgment on one another….Romans 14:13
19. Accept one another, just as Christ has accepted you…Romans 15:7
20. Sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron…Proverbs 27:17

It is important to remember these commands are expected of us beyond our immediate family to extend to our intentional community-building efforts in small groups and individuals the Lord has called us to reach. The goal is quality and quantity to some respect. Some of these commands may be fearful or difficult for you: confession of sin, submission, weeping with others, admonishing a brother, or forgiveness. Review each command (look them up) prayerfully.

Consider them slowly one each day. Ask yourself, how am I fulfilling this command in my life? Is there a fear of rejection that is a block to my obedience, an unwillingness to forgive, an indifference towards others in me to be overcome? Is my pride keeping me from receiving from others? Is my need to be right more important than my need to love and serve others? Am I compassionate towards others in the way Jesus intends for me?

July 8, 2011 at 9:11 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Study and meditation on the scriptures with our men are continually our faithful guide. It is principally through God’s word that Christ is revealed to us. Jerome said, “Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” We are learning too that the art of disciple-making is an intensely relational process and cannot be done through programs or large groups. It is messy, costly, and powerfully rewarding all at the same time. It is how we are obedient to the Great Commission and God is glorified!  Our White Fields men are committing themselves more than ever to being whole-hearted disciples of Christ and to reproducing by discipling other men. Men have gotten to this place after a bombardment of the Spirit’s work over the past six months. These areas include: the experience of biblical community, service to young men in Homewood, short-term mission trips under the leadership of Kim Costanza to the Dominican, our retreat with B.J. Weber in February, monthly outreach events, and most importantly a deepening devotional life with Christ.

2011 has also brought significant growth to the women’s ministry under Dawn Gaertner’s leadership.

“It was incredible to walk into a room full of women I had never met before and instantly feel welcomed and loved- there was no judgment- only love, respect and sympathy.  It was such a comfort to be able to be open and not be afraid of how they would think of you, because at some point in their lives, someone in that room had gone through exactly what you were struggling with.

The study itself was on listening for God’s voice in your life.  It amazed me, once I fully opened my heart to hearing Him, how clear He was with His direction. If there is another study offered it is something I will definitely participate in again.”  -Megan

If you want to read more click the desired area for a deeper look.

July 8, 2011 at 8:02 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

With God it is always the way of the heart! Our healing, however, is enabled mainly through suffering. This means that our brokenness must be exposed in a community of people if the healing process will be given its full measure. As the power of the gospel works in our hearts, transformation will result and manifest itself in our full surrender and our authentic self. Our hearts long for “deep” but we live in the age of the nanosecond download and the 3-minute dinner. We can run 10 apps at once on our I-Phone while we talk to our good friend. Shallow is our way of life. We have learned how to give only a few megabytes of our heart to those we care about and especially to God.  The result is that we live with a buzzing anxiety, an addiction to the stimulation of media and technology. It has left us incapable of deep, meaningful, and sustained relationships.  Only a community of authentic people who embrace their own brokenness and failure can really get more what the grace of the gospel is fully about. In turn, we become healers as our hearts are being healed.

July 8, 2011 at 7:57 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Here’s a great article on short-term missions by from Dennis J. Horton of HuffPost Religion. Taking teams of people down over the past 3 years with White Fields we are hearing similar feedback. The greatest change that is made on a short-term missions trip is not in what is accomplished for the poor but rather what God does in the teachable heart of the team members themselves. This requires some deep plowing by the Holy Spirit!

The results of Dr. Horton’s study on short-term missions positive affect on college-age students affirms our experience with student trips but also significant impact upon men from White Fields and family members of all ages. We have heard great feedback from Father-Son trips, Father-daughter, family trips, you name it! Three of the most observable results identified by those interviewed were a greater appreciation of other cultures, a personal recognition that materialism and greed must be changed in them, a greater thankfulness for what they have in family relationships and lifestyle, and for some a recognition that missions can be local not just global. It is in this last area that we have witnessed many of our men take on a regular involvement working with young men in the inner-city of Pittsburgh. In the Homewood community our men are actively building relationships through sports programs (baseball & basketball) and mentoring young men.

See Dr. Horton’s whole article on Short-Term Mission Trips by clicking here.

June 16, 2011 at 11:00 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Are you ready for a great night of fellowship, food and bocce?
On Sunday, July 31st, we will be gathering at Fairhaven Park in Kennedy Township for an informal bocce tournament and picnic dinner.  The bocce games will start at 4:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m.

If you don’t play bocce, come anyway!  This promises to be a fun evening in good company. Wives and girlfriends are invited as well!  We will be bringing our grill, and will provide the main dish and dessert – we ask that each person or couple bring a salad or side dish to share.  The cost is $10 per person to cover the pavilion rental and food.  You can mail a check to White Fields Foundation, 8225 Peebles Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, or bring it with you when you come.

Please RSVP by July 20th to Rachel at rachel@whitefieldsfoundation.org, and let us know if you don’t want to play bocce – otherwise, we will include you on a team.

Hope to see you there

June 6, 2011 at 8:50 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Here are some great pictures of our Homewood Little League Opening Day courtesy of our friend John Cullen:

May 16, 2011 at 12:15 pm , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

You are invited to join White Fields Foundation for our first ever sporting clay event at Nemacolin Woodlands Field Club, on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Situated on a 140-acre complex, the Nemacolin Woodlands Field Club is one of the nation’s top sporting clays facilities, featuring 35 sporting clay stations spread across three courses, towers and a five stand pavilion with an integrated Wobble Trap Field.

The course can be tailored to challenge everyone from the most seasoned wing shooter to the novice. We will award prizes to the top three shooters, top novice score, and some Annie Oakley competitions to split raffle proceeds!  Rookie shooters are very welcome. Trust us this is a blast!

We will be starting at 9:00 a.m. and enjoying a morning of fellowship, some harassment and laughs with the boys and skilled competition.  The price per person is $110, which includes 100 targets, gun rental, ammunition and a buffet lunch from the resort’s deli.  If you bring your own ammunition (enough for 100 targets), the cost is $80. Click here to pay online or mail a check payable to White Fields Foundation to 8225 Peebles Road, Pittsburgh, 15237.

May 9, 2011 at 10:26 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Our Good Friday Breakfast on April 22, 2011 was our first event held at the Bistro Soul on the North Side, and it was a great morning of fellowship and hearing from God’s Word.  Over 70 men gathered in the newly remodeled meeting room and enjoyed a hot breakfast buffet.  Matt Haff gave a very honest and candid testimony of how God used the six years he spent in prison because of a car accident to get his attention and change his life.  One of the men that attended said, “White Fields Foundation exists to build men into faith warriors for Jesus Christ.  If you attend meetings expecting to hear wimpy clergymen delivering soft sermons, you will be disappointed.  On the contrary, I am challenged by hearing testimonies from real men who have real businesses, real families, real challenges, and a real faith in Christ.”  Matt shared how he learned that sometimes God uses the worst days in our lives to redirect us and eventually turns that pain into something beautiful.  In every way, Christ was glorified, and His name lifted up – through our time of worship led by Matt Helbling, through Matt Haff’s testimony of the power of the cross, through the worshipful saxophone solos performed by Kim Costanza, and through the fellowship of men that desire to seek God’s face and His will for them.

April 29, 2011 at 1:23 pm , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Sponsored by Concordia Lutheran Ministries. We are opening our 2011 baseball season for boys; T-Ball for ages 7 – 8, Little League for ages 9 – 12, and a Junior Little League team for ages 8 – 10. Practices have already begun and our registration day is set for Saturday, April 30th, from 1 – 3 pm at Stargell Field in Homewood. Please see the calendar below for confirmed events thus far. Check back as we will have additional events added soon, such as our Pirates Outing, and our Day Camp experience. Harold Wagner is our acting commissioner this year. If you would like to contact Harold, his email address is jcrock5003@gmail.com. Leo Wisniewski will be the White Fields contact – leo@whitefieldsfoundation.org.

Sign-Up Registration Fun Fest
Saturday, April 30^th 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Free hot dogs, pop, chips and a water balloon toss for all players!

Baseball Clinic with Sid Bream and Christian Sports International
Tuesday, May 3^rd 5:00 – 7:30 pm
For all players and coaches
www.teamcsi.org

Opening Day for Homewood – Wilkinsburg Little League Season
Saturday, May 7^th

Heritage Day at the Spring House
Saturday, May 28^th 11:30 – 5:00 pm
Sheep shearing, milking cows, and fun activities on the farm, as well as BBQ meal – free for all players.

Fishing Trip
Monday, June 6^th 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
For all players, parents and coaches
Departing and returning to Faison Elementary School
Click here to see some pictures from our Little League.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT OUR 2011 LITTLE LEAGUE PERMISSION FORM

Steve Sabol of NFL Films interview Joe Ehrmann in 2006. This 13 minute video on Joe Ehrmann is powerful, hope you enjoy.

April 27, 2011 at 9:05 am , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »

Bohemian Dinner, Wednesday April 13th 6:30pm to 9pm
Billy Krahe was our host for our first Bohemian Dinner and he knocked it out of the park! We had over 20 men celebrating friendship over an incredible meal some wine and a good cigar. Our discussion opened around how revealing our brokenness is the gateway to authentic friendships and our life with Christ. Billy shared his testimony with the men how as a successful businessman he had an enviable life: position, wealth, prestige, and a picture perfect family. Still he was empty inside. He shared that only through brothers in the Lord from White Fields reaching out in a time of crisis has he been able to experience a deep peace with Christ.
He stated that seeking God in his word, worship and devotional time each day has enabled him to share that peace in a deep way with his family. This has transformed his family relationships. He also shares his faith journey actively in the business community now where it has been a tremendous joy and an adventure seeing the Holy Spirit at work each day. Men commented on what a special night it was in every way. Billy has set the bar very high for our future dinner hosts! Stay tuned on the website for our next Bohemian Dinner.

April 20, 2011 at 2:30 pm , by White Fields Foundation | No Comments »