Back again, after taking about a month away from the blog. I trust your Christmas was blessed and that your 2010 will be blessed, as well.
This is the time of year when I have to submit my narrative report, which is a compilation of the reports of every member of the team. It is always exciting to see the things God is doing and where he's working. Our schools are healthy, and that is one of the high priority items on our radar screen. Our newer capital city church plants are all growing well and are healthy. That's exciting. Our short term missionaries have had some key ministry opportunities here and we've had the most we've ever had. We will be adding a family to our team, who is on loan from the West Ridge Church in Atlanta. And we could go on and on.
On another note, we're gearing up for our busy short term teams season. It's always an exciting time, as folks from our churches in the U.S. have the opportunity to be directly involved in advancing the kingdom in very practical ways. They help put on church roofs. They raise money to help us increase the capacities of our schools, etc. One team coming this year is a medical team, who will help "open doors" in an area where the Gospel has been preached very little.
2010 should be a great year. Why not? God is in it and we look to Him to lead the way. May we follow His direction.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Coaching
I had the privilege of being a part of a one-year ministry coaching program, where I had a "coach" who talked with me, by phone, every other week. It was an eye opening experience and one that really benefitted me. I came away from that year feeling like I had a new lease on life. Intentional living is successful living. I believe we are called to live intentionally. Paul's phrase, "...this one thing I do..." seems to indicate that kind of living. Jesus, of course talked and lived an intentional life. That's my aim too.
Now, I would like to adapt the coaching idea to this context. I would like to plan small retreats for the district superindendants of the national church. 5 or 6 of them at a time. We will talk about personal life, family life, vision, communication, etc. I hope to transfer a bit of what I learned to them, but doing it in a way that works for them. It never works to put "someone else's armor on another person". Armor has to fit the person. That's what I hope to do. The president of the national church has given his blessing to this idea, stating that any leadership training that they can get will be helpful. I see that as being a key part of what we are doing here.
If you are reading this and feel so led, pause and pray that God will help me carry this out. My goal is to have the first retreat done by the end of March 2010.
Now, I would like to adapt the coaching idea to this context. I would like to plan small retreats for the district superindendants of the national church. 5 or 6 of them at a time. We will talk about personal life, family life, vision, communication, etc. I hope to transfer a bit of what I learned to them, but doing it in a way that works for them. It never works to put "someone else's armor on another person". Armor has to fit the person. That's what I hope to do. The president of the national church has given his blessing to this idea, stating that any leadership training that they can get will be helpful. I see that as being a key part of what we are doing here.
If you are reading this and feel so led, pause and pray that God will help me carry this out. My goal is to have the first retreat done by the end of March 2010.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SHEPHERD
I recently attended the school board for our vernacular language Bible School. What this means is it is a Bible school that trains pastors who have not had an opportunity to go to school. They know how to read and write, but they are not strong in this area. The majority of our pastors have been trained at this school and are doing an admirable job.
We decided this year to implement a program that will enable them to learn how to care for sheep, and at the end of the year, the graduates will go home with a sheep in hand and a promise to contribute one sheep back to the school to help another student. The goal is to help our pastors learn how to do something that will help improve their living conditions. This was a tangible idea that will help do that. I'm excited about it and look forward to what this does. It is a small thing, but it has potential to help pastors catch a vision for what they can do.
We decided this year to implement a program that will enable them to learn how to care for sheep, and at the end of the year, the graduates will go home with a sheep in hand and a promise to contribute one sheep back to the school to help another student. The goal is to help our pastors learn how to do something that will help improve their living conditions. This was a tangible idea that will help do that. I'm excited about it and look forward to what this does. It is a small thing, but it has potential to help pastors catch a vision for what they can do.
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Last week, 6 busses were held up at gunpoint in broad daylight (10 a.m.). On one of those busses, we had a Bible School student who was headed, with his wife, to register for school. Unfortunately, all of the money he had in this world (nearly $600), was taken by the thieves. This was the "ugly". I'll start there.
There is some good in this story, as well. Not only are people responding to help this young man replace those funds, but on another bus held up that day, 4 professional photographers were on their way back home. They had been commissioned to take pictures of 4 churches that had recently been built and dedicated, so that we could show the donors that the job had been well done. Fortunately, the thieves were not interested in cameras, so they did not lose their means of livelihood. We are grateful for this.
As I heard about these thugs and their bad and ugly actions, I was reminded of Psalm 1, where it says that the "wicked are like the chaff, which the wind blows away". At the end of the chapter, it says, "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish". They may get away with it now, but it isn't the final word. It's wonderful to be reminded of that.
There is some good in this story, as well. Not only are people responding to help this young man replace those funds, but on another bus held up that day, 4 professional photographers were on their way back home. They had been commissioned to take pictures of 4 churches that had recently been built and dedicated, so that we could show the donors that the job had been well done. Fortunately, the thieves were not interested in cameras, so they did not lose their means of livelihood. We are grateful for this.
As I heard about these thugs and their bad and ugly actions, I was reminded of Psalm 1, where it says that the "wicked are like the chaff, which the wind blows away". At the end of the chapter, it says, "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish". They may get away with it now, but it isn't the final word. It's wonderful to be reminded of that.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Mr. G
I met Mr. G yesterday. He used to be in another religion, but today he is a follower of Jesus. His testimony was powerful and his coming to Christ started with a believer that he met in the U.S. laying hands on him and praying a blessing on him. God answered that prayer within hours of the prayer and that started him on the search. The second time he encounted believers, was when he was in a hospital following an accident. Believers came around praying for the sick and asked him if they could pray for him. He agreed and God did a miracle on the spot! This brought him closer.
After becoming a believer, he found out that a young lady in his neighborhood had been praying 15 years for his salvation. She often came with a friend and stood outside his home to pray for him.
Since becoming a follower of Jesus, he has lost everything. He has been offered lots of money to come back to his former faith, but he says he would rather die of starvation that leave Jesus.
It was a day of rejoicing for me to hear this man and his wives testify of their faith. It was also a reminder of the power of prayer. Prayer had its impact on Mr. G's life. Let's renew our prayer for the lost, in specific and personal ways!
After becoming a believer, he found out that a young lady in his neighborhood had been praying 15 years for his salvation. She often came with a friend and stood outside his home to pray for him.
Since becoming a follower of Jesus, he has lost everything. He has been offered lots of money to come back to his former faith, but he says he would rather die of starvation that leave Jesus.
It was a day of rejoicing for me to hear this man and his wives testify of their faith. It was also a reminder of the power of prayer. Prayer had its impact on Mr. G's life. Let's renew our prayer for the lost, in specific and personal ways!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
God Enjoys Doing the Little Things
My father used to say that "God enjoys doing the little things for us". And I believe he was absolutely correct. Some people may attribute some of it to "chance". I don't see it that way.
I was recently helping to set up a temporary garden project at Dorcas House recently. We were pulling a fence around an area to keep the chickens and sheep out of the garden. I had tried my best to determine how much fencing I needed, where to put the posts, etc. Appleton Alliance Church had a small team out here and several of the men helped me to get the posts laid out. When the time came to pull the fence, it began to look like we might need to buy a little more fencing. The girls at Dorcas House came out and offered to help pull the chain link fence. Some thought the fence wouldn't reach, but it did, with 2 inches to spare. That's the kind of thing I think God enjoys doing. I sure enjoyed the moment and for a moment, I imagined my father smiling as he saw God, once again, do a small thing for one of His children.
What has He done for you recently, that you may have missed. Sometimes they're small, but they are grand. Keep your eyes open!
I was recently helping to set up a temporary garden project at Dorcas House recently. We were pulling a fence around an area to keep the chickens and sheep out of the garden. I had tried my best to determine how much fencing I needed, where to put the posts, etc. Appleton Alliance Church had a small team out here and several of the men helped me to get the posts laid out. When the time came to pull the fence, it began to look like we might need to buy a little more fencing. The girls at Dorcas House came out and offered to help pull the chain link fence. Some thought the fence wouldn't reach, but it did, with 2 inches to spare. That's the kind of thing I think God enjoys doing. I sure enjoyed the moment and for a moment, I imagined my father smiling as he saw God, once again, do a small thing for one of His children.
What has He done for you recently, that you may have missed. Sometimes they're small, but they are grand. Keep your eyes open!
Where are things at in flood relief?
You may be wondering how things are going in the flood relief efforts here. We have seen an outpouring of generosity that has been funneled through CAMA Services. The efforts on the ground here have been quite fruitful. Often, the big organizations related to the U.N. and other large organizations, are very good to get aid on the ground in the immediate days following a crisis. But that aid doesn't last and often, after the media stops reporting the situation on the ground, they pull out and the people can be left with an ongoing crisis.
The government has done a pretty decent job of collecting food and material that can be used in the various sites to help care for the people.
There are sites that slip through the cracks and there are people who slip through the cracks. That is where much of our effort has taken place. As a result, there has been great appreciation shown and the government has recognized those efforts.
One official stated that they wished every NGO would work like our organization has done. We have been respectful of the government, while finding ways to meet real needs.
At the end of November, the government is going to be moving people out of the tent camps and trying to get them back into homes. There will be some houses built for some. Our plan, at that time will be to provide every family we can, as they leave, a bag of rice, some oil, and basic condiments as something to accompany them to their place of residence, wherever that may be. We also hope to provide each family with a portion of scripture, as a statement that we are doing this because of His love. We will also be trying to help provide some basic building material for those who have the right to build.
We are grateful for ACCEDES, which is the relief and development branch of the national C&MA church here, as they have provided the channel through which most of this effort has been funneled.
We appreciate all of those who have contributed to this effort, as it is a means of sharing the love of Christ with those who are in need. That is, I believe, what Christ would have us do.
The government has done a pretty decent job of collecting food and material that can be used in the various sites to help care for the people.
There are sites that slip through the cracks and there are people who slip through the cracks. That is where much of our effort has taken place. As a result, there has been great appreciation shown and the government has recognized those efforts.
One official stated that they wished every NGO would work like our organization has done. We have been respectful of the government, while finding ways to meet real needs.
At the end of November, the government is going to be moving people out of the tent camps and trying to get them back into homes. There will be some houses built for some. Our plan, at that time will be to provide every family we can, as they leave, a bag of rice, some oil, and basic condiments as something to accompany them to their place of residence, wherever that may be. We also hope to provide each family with a portion of scripture, as a statement that we are doing this because of His love. We will also be trying to help provide some basic building material for those who have the right to build.
We are grateful for ACCEDES, which is the relief and development branch of the national C&MA church here, as they have provided the channel through which most of this effort has been funneled.
We appreciate all of those who have contributed to this effort, as it is a means of sharing the love of Christ with those who are in need. That is, I believe, what Christ would have us do.
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