The Power of Team

There's something very special and powerful about being a part of a team that you enjoy. We had the opportunity to spend the day yesterday with our colleagues, the Schaeffer family, as well as Diana Burg, the daughter of another colleague. Our families have children that are close to the same age. The children enjoyed riding all of the roller coasters and water rides they could fit in in the day. The parents on the other hand..... had fun too, but not on too many of the same rides. We enjoyed "catching up" after this past year of being on two different continents.

Back to the team idea - we have a great team in Burkina Faso. A good number of them will be missing this next year, due to a year of home assignment for them. They will be missed. Those of us still on the field will do what we can do to fill in the gaps.

Some of the thoughts I've had about what makes a team work:

1. A team needs a common vision. It helps to pull in the same direction.


2. A team needs to build trust between one another.


3. A team needs to be a place where members are affirmed and supported by one another.


4. A team needs to take time to play together. (As my mother used to say: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy".


5. A team needs accountability so that it can be as effective as possible.


6. A team needs leadership that cares.

I feel blessed to have a great team to work with in Burkina Faso. My prayer and you can join us, is that we will be the strongest team possible so that we can make the greatest impact on the kingdom possible.

The Power of One - Including the Young and the Old

I have been excited to hear stories of people who decide that they want to do something big. Real big. It's just exciting to dream, I think. What are you dreaming?

The youth pastor here at the church we have been living near recently told me he wants to raise money to feed millions of people in Africa. Most people might laugh at him. I say go for it.

A young man in Atlanta, decided, with some of his friends (when they were still in 8th grade), to do something big. They pooled their money to buy rubber bracelets to sell. With the profits, they decided to help put in wells in Africa. That small beginning with a couple of young people has become an organization called "Dry Tears" (check out their website at drytears.org). That young man just graduated from High School this year. Since the beginning, Dry Tears has raised over $100,000 for wells in Africa!

The youth group here at the Glenview Alliance Church in Pennsylvania, set a goal of $5,000 that they would raise during a "30-hour Famine" that would go to buy food and clothing for poor people in Burkina Faso. In the end, they raised over $12,000 for the cause!

You see, all it takes is an inspired dream, some people to get behind it, and some people to carry it out. What idea might God birth in you today? What big things might he want to do through your "big idea". It reminds me of the passage in Joel where God talks about the "young men shall see visions and the old men shall dream dreams".

As God's people, with all of the power of the Spirit behind us and in front of us, let's dream some dreams.

The State of the Church in the U.S.

It isn't too rare to hear someone bemoaning the state of the church in the U.S. "What we need is a good old-fashioned revival", some will say. I beg to differ, and I do so for a number of reasons.

1. Amy and I have visited well over 40 churches this year. Now that may not be a huge cross-section of churches in the country, but it is enough to know that we have been very encouraged by the state of the churches we visited. They are reaching out to their communities, they are commited to the missionary vision of the C&MA, and most of them are growing. Is there room for improvement? Sure, there always is. But there is also room for celebrating God, at work in these churches.

2. Sometimes the statement that we need revival is, in my opinion, a desire for a quick fix. We want something immediate. There is no replacement for good 'ole obedience. Sometimes that is what we have to focus on more than bemoaning the fact that we don't have "revival" going. We have seen "revival" in some of the plain old obedience we have seen in the churches we visit.

3. Pastors, by and large, have a very difficult task. It isn't easy to lead a church into obedience and growth. We have been blessed by the pastors we have met and their commitment to the "hard stuff" of ministry. I salute those of you who are pastors. Don't give up! Press on! You are a blessing. For those of you reading this, who aren't pastors, tell your pastor how much you appreciate him.

Well, those are just some quick thoughts regarding the state of the church in America. The statistics for the church overall, are not too great. But we have been blessed by the churches we have visited and the future is looking bright, at least in those churches. Let us all press on for the prize.

Packing, Packing, Packing

One of the most challenging activities we face as missionaries is packing an outfit for the field. What needs to go? What doesn't? When your washing machine is nearly 20 years old, do you replace it? You'd better, because the quality of machines available in Burkina Faso leave much to be desired.

In case you couldn't tell that the reason this is on my mind is that we are in the middle of our packing "adventure". We have been rounding up things all year. Things we need to make life work out there. Things that churches and individuals have donated to be used at Dorcas House or to help national pastors and their families. We received a treadle sewing machine for Dorcas House from one family. Someone else gave us some rolls of paper from a print shop that can be used for banners and crafts. First Aid kits were put together by one church for distribution at Dorcas House. So, there you have it. Here's what a sampling of what a list looks like:

Container 1 of 20

10 First Aid kits $20 $40
3 Books $6 $24
1 set of dishes $10 $30
2 hammers $5 $16

Once it is all assembled, we have to pack it in containers. Each item that goes in has to be written down on a list of contents. A customs value must be put by each item, along with a replacement value. Those lists have to be entered on the computer on forms that are sent to the shipper. Once our outfit has been packed and lists have been made, the outfit is shipped to North Carolina where it will be packed into a 20 ft or 40 ft container. This year, it looks like all of the things that missionaries are expecting to send will require a 40 ft container.

I have the joy of coordinating everyone's lists and shipments. For you "detail people" out there, this would be a joy for you. For someone like me, it is more like a chore. So pray for us. It will require patience and understanding to pack up. We'll be happy for the things that we send over, but the process is a bit overwhelming and tedious.

Can a person be filled with the Spirit for packing. We'll need it!

The Cost of Following Christ

There is a price to pay when one follows Christ. Sometimes we don't see it as clearly in North America, as we might in other countries. There are those, in the U.S. who have had to pay a price to follow Christ.
The national church president of the Alliance church of Burkina Faso sent me an email, asking me if I might be able to help a man who has recently put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ from a very orthodox sect of his former religion. He has been on the pilgrimmage, and obviously took his former religious life quite seriously. As a result, he has lost most everything. He is married to two wives and has 10 children. His wives have lived 35 years without going to market, as this is the "way" of this particular religious group.
I am asking God to show me what we should do to best help this man get back on his feet. I hope you will join me in praying for this man and that the Lord will strenghten him and provide for the needs of his family.

Council in Louisville

Last week we had the privilege of attending our national convention, commonly called "Council", where over 2000 delegates, representing many of our churches, gather to "do business" and to "hear our vision articulated". We also have the opportunity to catch up with old friends and reconnect with churches that are very involved in kingdom advance around the world.

The theme of this Council was, "Jesus Only", with an emphasis on His sufficiency for life. Every speaker was excellent, with a combination of an ability to communicate effectively, and a challenge to deeper life.

In spite of the economic woes hitting our country, and some folks assessment that the church is failing, I am encouraged by what I see. I believe that The Alliance still has a clear vision for the King and His kingdom. I see many of our churches making the effort to impact their communities for Christ. It is wonderful to be a part of a movement that sees the world the way The Alliance constituency is seeking to see it.