Verse by Verse Radio
Verse by Verse Journal
PASTOR STEVE KRELOFF | Mission Accomplished!
Pastor Steve Kreloff returned home to Clearwater Saturday, February 11, after a long International flight, and an exciting and fruitful personal mission trip to Sicily. All last week he ministered to Sicilian pastors and elders, teaching them how to improve their expository, (verse-by-verse) sermon preparation and presentation.
Here's Steve's evaluation of the mission trip:
I recently returned from a week of teaching in Sicily at the Italian Theological Academy. This is a ministry of Aurora Ministries (Bradenton, Florida) and part of a fellowship of international schools associated with John MacArthur and Grace Community Church, known as The Master's Academy.
"I had the privilege of instructing 17 students on the subject of expository preaching. They received instruction on the importance and need for verse by verse Bible teaching, as well as how to study, prepare, and preach in an expository manner. Most of the students are elders and leaders in their local churches, and are already involved in a regular teaching ministry.
"However, most believers in Italy have not had the opportunity to receive either formal theological training or practical ministry mentoring. Therefore, the body of believers in Italy has suffered, because the Church will only be as strong and mature as its spiritual leaders. Only time will reveal the fruit of this ministry. But my prayer and hope is that these 17 men will return to their local churches and begin to teach God's Word verse by verse."
Pray that what happened in lives through the practical ministry of Steve will grow and bring on ongoing change in lives in the days and years to come. Verse by Verse Ministries is far more than just a radio broadcast.
The Circuit Running Preacher | By Ben Kreloff
My father, Steven Kreloff, is a well- conditioned athlete and has run somewhere in the neighborhood of 14-16 marathons. Dad typically trains for one marathon a year, but has often done two in a single year.
He and I have run three marathons together – Disney, Chicago & Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. He has also successfully run the New York Marathon as well as Houston, and the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, D.C. His last event was the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington on in the capital on October 30. He participated with thousands of other athletes who ran the course around the Ellipse, Arlington Cemetery and all the other national monuments. Dad didn't break any personal record but felt it was one of the best races he has ever run. "I enjoyed this race far more than any I've ever run. I was relaxed and was able to appreciate where I was running -- and felt the historical significance of my surroundings."
When he is not training for a marathon, Dad typically does a 10-mile workout each Saturday morning just to stay in shape. When he is in training for a run, it typically involves 16-20 weeks of focused training with three modest workouts during the week and one long run on Saturday mornings. The objective with the long runs is to build endurance. Each week, or every other week, he increases his mileage. Speed is not the objective; durability is. Typically the schedule calls for an increase in distance each week but it can vary such as: 10, 12, 10, 12, 15, 12, 15, 12, 15, 18, 15, 18, 15 and 20 miles.
I believe his best time is in the 3-hour, 55-minute range which means he is averaging under 9-minute miles for 26.2 miles. We are both very competitive and we motivate each other. I currently hold the Kreloff record by a small margin of 75 seconds. He is really focusing on my record as he trains for the upcoming Marine Corp marathon.
Dad’s running partner is Jim Krivacs. It was he who challenged and encouraged Dad to train for his first marathon more than 10 years ago. They continue to run together.
The idea of marathon fits quite well and goes hand in hand with the Christian walk. The Christian life is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. It is not how you start out but how you finish the race. Life, like a marathon, is often very tiring and at times discouraging, but we have to stay focused on the objective – the finish line, i.e. eternity with our blessed God and Savior, Jesus Christ.