Ends of the Earth

2009-05-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for our summer mission trips, with the first one to Tanzania leaving one week from today. Partnering with e3 Partners allows us to go where God is working through evangeliazing and planting churches in Tanzania and Venezuela.

Our first trip to Tanzania will include working on the islands of Ukerewe and Ukara. Both islands are located in Lake Victoria, about a 3 hour boat ride from Mwanza. The Lord is at work there. The mother churches on the islands are ready to plant 47 churches in Ukerewe and 11 in Ukara. I am looking forward to see what the Lord does.

Please pray for our team and for the people of Ukerewe and Ukara. I have included a prayer guide provided by e3 Partners.

TANZANIA PRAYER GUIDE

“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32

Week Six – Focus: Unbelievers in Tanzania

Sunday Father, we ask You for the total transformation of the unbelievers we will encounter, that their HEARTS will be prepared for the gospel and changed by You. Matthew 13:23 “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Monday H for repentant and receptive Hearts. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Tuesday E for their spiritual Eyes and Ears to be opened to the truth of Christ. II Corinthians 4:3-4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Acts 26:18 “…open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

Wednesday A God, give them Your Attitude toward sin. John 16:8 “And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment…” Proverbs 8:13 ”To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

Thursday R that they will Release their faith when they encounter the truth of the gospel. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Friday T for a Transformed life. Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Saturday S for Spiritual growth leading to these new believers going into the harvest field so that a church-planting movement would result to the glory of God’s name. Colossians 1:1-14 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Mission Trip to Tanzania

2008-06-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2

Growing up in the Baptist church, I have sung that hymn numerous times, but never really experienced the panting for God, until recently. We just returned from a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa. Our church partnered with a mission organization called e3 Partners, formerly Global Missions Fellowship.

Due to circumstances with the airline, we arrived one day late to Africa, which meant instead of four days of evangelizing on the field, we only had three days. Time after time after time, we would start sharing the gospel with one, two, or three people, and before we finished, there would be 20, 30, up to 70 people who would accept the free gift of salvation. It wasn’t the “muzungu” who brought the people out…it was the Holy Spirit of God. And the hunger for God’s Word and the thirst for His salvation was a miracle. They never took their eyes off the evang-e-cube and they listened with such intensity.

The proof of the hunger did not come with the number of professions of faith, but by the number of new believers who came to the discipleship classes each afternoon. We would go door to door sharing the gospel in the mornings, and then invite the new believers to an afternoon discipleship class to be held where the new church would be planted. We have never seen such an increase in the number of discipleship attendees. Not only were they hunger for salvation, but also for righteousness and training.

At the end of our trip, 51 new churches were planted where there had been no church before, with over 14,000 new believers in the villages where the churches were planted.

What if a teammate drives you crazy?

2008-03-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

This post is part of a continuing series of posts to prepare you for going on your first mission trip. There is not always conflict when you are on mission, however, it does happen and if you are prepared you are more likely handle it in a godly way.

The mission project is going great, the team is singing on the job, playing with the neighborhood children on breaks, and seeing people really open to the gospel message.

There is a common story that happens, though the details differ. Put fifteen Americans in another country, sweating over wheelbarrows full of concrete in 100 degree heat, eating rice and beans every day, sleeping on the concrete floor of a church…and someone is sure to get cranky.

Ask the cranky team member privately what is bothering him or her. Amazingly, the response may have nothing to do with the heat or the hardness of the floor. What’s most likely to be driving the cranky team member crazy is a fellow teammate with whom he or she works all day.

Why does this stuff happen? Shouldn’t we all just get along? Or should we just expect these difficulties? It’s important to remember that the enemy of our souls would like nothing more than to have us be defeated within the team. But you need to personally prepare for inevitable friction by looking at some steps for dealing with conflict…anywhere.

1. Take time to identify your feelings. What’s going on inside you? Is it frustration, anger, fatigue? Before taking any action, pray about your feelings. Defeat the enemy by claiming God’s control over the situation. A good night’s sleep may help.
2. Define the cause. Are there external circumstances like the heat or the dirt
causing aggravation? Or are there internal issues like a personality difference or a power struggle?
3. Take some steps. First pray about your side of the conflict. Decide how you are going to respond to the person with whom you have the conflict. Don’t just stew about it.

Remember Jesus’ story about the log and the speck in Matthew 7? Read the first five verses and write out the question to ask yourself in your own words.

From 1 Thessalonians 5: 11-15, make a list of the attitude checks that you want to remind yourself of when facing a conflict with someone.

When you decide to confront someone:
· Find an appropriate time and place when both of you are calm and rested.
· Honor the ground rules of stating only your own issues.
· Honestly confront the issue.
· Ask forgiveness for your part.
· Seek restoration.
· Propose a compromise.
· Consider praying together.
· If you need another’s help, follow the pattern found in Matthew 18.

Being a Team Player

2008-03-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

This a photo of the team in Nepal taken in front of the immigration building in Nepal. Anyone who has ever played on a sports team knows the importance of being a team player. Playing next to someone who knows the game and puts in 100% effort makes all the difference in how much you enjoy the game.

The importance of being a team player will become obvious as you begin your trip. Things like giving your best, following directions, and sharing the work load are important to any successful team effort-whether it’s a sports team or a mission team. And remember that few of us have ever played on a team that we live and work with 24 hours a day.

So, how can you get “in shape” for a team like this? As in any team, developing as a team player requires equal parts of good coaching and right attitudes. Let’s begin with some coaching from the apostle Paul. His analogy for teamwork in Romans 12 is the body of Christ.

Read the vision of Paul, the coach, in Romans 12:4-5. Each person will make a unique contribution to the team. How are our relationships to one another described?

Continue reading in verses 6-8. According to what you know about yourself right now, what are the gifts that you will bring to this team?

In Romans 12:9-21 Paul coaches us with about 25 different commands for spiritual teamwork. Read them and write out at least ten that you want to remember and that challenge you the most.

Most likely your team has a coach or team leader. He or she is responsible for the logistical concerns like tickets, schedules, and job assignments, as well as fostering a good atmosphere among the team members and managing unforeseen conflicts and difficult circumstances. Supporting your team leader’s leadership is crucial to the success of your team. Think about how you can support and help your team leader.

Jot down some ideas for supporting the leader of your team.

Recording the Impact of Your Mission Trip

2008-03-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

This photo is in Nepal. I am sharing the Gospel using the Evangecube. Six children in this small group accepted Jesus as their savior that day. The Evangecube is a great tool for presenting the Gospel in an organized, understandable fashion. Those who normally would shy away from learning about Jesus are curious when they see it and want to know how it works. If you are interested in more information on the cube go to e3resources.org.

Track what happens on your trip.

You will make memories for a lifetime. You can count on this trip marking your life in many ways. How can you track or record these experiences so you won’t forget the impact when you get home? Let’s explore three ways you can record and share your experience: taking pictures, keeping a journal, and telling about your experience after you return home.

1. Taking Pictures, for most Americans, is one way to record and relive the moment. You will cherish the pictures you take on your trip forever. Your pictures will hold memories that will trigger precious times of learning and significant growth in your life.

However, a side note to remember is that it can be very disconcerting to your hosts to face flashing cameras throughout the days of your stay. It may feel like an invasion of privacy. Be sensitive. One tip to consider is assigning one photographer to take pictures on a particular day (with the permission of your host). Then when you get home, get the reprints of the photos you desire.

Besides the memories of new friends and new experiences, God has much more in store for you. He will be working in and through you in new ways. Your influence on your host will remain. You will have learned much about the culture you lived in. It may mark a new beginning for you in the way you think or the direction your life will go in the future. You won’t want to lose any extraordinary moments of learning and insight.

2. Keeping a journal is an effective way to capture the experiences. Record your feelings about your daily encounters: the stories about friendships with nationals, the way God intervenes in your day, what God is doing in your heart, new insights you learn about missions and doing God’s work.

In the Bible we are encouraged to record and retell the things that God has done. The whole Bible is actually a compilation of the stories of God’s people written by many authors who were God’s inspired journal keepers.

The Psalms are filled with encouragement to remember all God has done. Read Psalm 78:1-7, and understand the far-reaching value of keeping a record of God’s work. In Psalm 77:11-15, the writer is remembering all God has done. From verses 11-12, write out the verbs that tell us to focus on what God has done. In versus 13-15, what are we reminded about God?

3. Talk about your experience when you get back home. Telling your stories to friends and family will be very important to you. Relate how God worked in your heart. Those close to you will want the long version. However, it is good to remind yourself that sometimes those who ask about your trip may just want a short review. You also may be called upon to speak at a church function. God may even open doors for you to share your faith with someone who has never heard. In every case take time to prepare your presentation.

God will honor the preparation you have done for your short-term mission trip. It will be exciting to record what you have learned. You will be grateful that you prepared your heart before you packed your bag.

Missions Trip to India and Nepal

2008-03-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

We just returned from completing my first “Hope Bible Conference” ministry trip with Hope and Help International. The trip was February 10-23, 2008. We had the chance to minister in the large southern Indian city of Hyderabad, and we also ventured north of India into a small village in the country of Nepal - two very different places. God put together HIS team to meet the unique needs and opportunities that we would have on this particular trip. Diverse? Completely! But we had a team of mature, spiritually-minded servants who shared the goal of challenging and encouraging fellow-believers to grow in their own relationship with Christ and to reach the lost in their part of the world. The four teachers of the conference were myself, Greg Love, Robin Webb, and Peter Grant. Greg is from FBCE. Robin is from Tabernacle Baptist Church of Arlington, and Peter is from PreVision Partnership in Georgia.

Watching the traffic in Hyderabad, I was reminded of my old traffic enforcement days on the force with Houston Police. After experiencing India’s traffic congestion, I will never complain about DFW traffic again. Imagine bumper-to- bumper traffic, usually about nine cars wide on a four-lane road, tons of people trying to walk across the road, add in a few ox carts among the motorized vehicles, horns beeping constantly, some guy transporting 30- foot bamboo poles on a bicycle and no one every really stopping, just weaving in and out. There you go! The traffic in India helps us make sure that our team members are fully prayed up before the conferences ever begin!

In Hyderabad, we partnered with Victor Nandigam, the Founder and Director of Grace Gospel Ministries. He and the steering committee did a wonderful job of coordinating every aspect of the conference and made sure that the schedule was working with precision.
Peter Grant kicked off the day sessions by teaching on evangelism from Luke 5.
Keith Christie provided very practical training on discipleship.
Robin Webb spoke on the sufficiency of Christ.
Greg Love followed with teaching on the family;
Larry Malone opened the conference by introducing the theme: Jeremiah 29:11.
We had about 120 pastors and their wives who had traveled from northern Andhra Pradesh, plus over 100 pastors and their wives from the local Hyderabad area. In the evenings, we moved to an open venue where the public had been invited for Gospel meetings. What a privilege to gather in an area where you could hear the sounds of a busy city and pray and sing praise to God and then share the Good News. Throughout the ministry in Hyderabad, approximately 90 people trusted Christ.

On the first night, a demon-possessed girl came forward at the invitation. Robin Webb spent over two hours praying with this girl. The second night she was back, and following the service she came forward for prayer again. As Greg Love was praying for her and others who responded to the message, someone stole his backpack, which contained his passport. Greg could not travel without a passport, so as the conference in Hyderabad concluded, Larry Malone and Greg left the rest of the team and went to the American Embassy in Delhi to apply for a replacement. Once the replacement was secured, they would have to go to the Indian Embassy to get a visa, which is a permission from the Indian government that allows foreigners to travel in their country.

The conference in Nepal was scheduled to start the next day, so Lori Overcash and the rest of the team got on a plane and headed for our destination in northern India. We were to fly to Bagdogra, West Bengal and then drive about three hours into Nepal. However, there was a strike in Nepal, which made it unsafe for the team to travel to the location where the conference had originally been planned. As we met Rupak Shankar, our partner in Nepal, we were amazed to learn that Rupak had quickly reorganized the conference in a village just inside the Nepali border. It was safe for us to go into this particular village, but no further. We shared many sweet moments with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nepal.

One of the most memorable occurred during an evening service when the power went off. It was absolutely dark in the conference center with the lights out, but the attendees kept singing as if nothing had happened. We were so aware of God’s presence. Larry and Greg were able to get Greg’s passport and visa replaced very quickly, but not quick enough to join the others in Nepal. They returned to the States a couple of days ahead of the rest of the team. Since Greg was one of the main speakers, he was missed in Nepal. However, God had a plan in place, even when we didn’t know we would need a plan! Emmanuel had prepared messages “just in case” he was needed. He was! And he more than adequately filled the spots with some great teaching on Biblical principles of leadership. Throughout both conferences, we made a great personal connection with the attendees. It made a tremendous impact that the team took tea breaks and ate lunch with them. The effort to get to know the people on a personal level greatly increased the attendees’ receptivity of the messages.

In spite of the challenges and difficulties we faced, it was one of the most blessed experiences. God put together HIS team for this trip and He guided our steps. Praise be to God for allowing us to be involved in HIS ministry in India and Nepal!

Top ten ways to be a good guest

2008-02-10T04:42:00.000-08:00

Today's picture is a community gathering place in one of the barrios in Columbia. This place had a cement floor and a tin roof. It was great to have this gathering place to teach True Love Waits because it allowed us to be out of the sun.

It’s not always easy to be a good guest. When you were little, your mother may have given you a few tips when you went to visit someone. It’s not natural to know what’s expected of you. Here is a list of practical tips on being a guest in a cross-cultural situation. Though you may never fully understand why, it’s a pretty sure bet that these ten social hints (in no particular order) are universally acceptable for acting with sensitivity and humility.

1 Show respect for your host by using the proper greetings and titles, especially to the eldest in the group.

2 Ask your new acquaintances about their families. You can show them pictures of your family, but leave out the ones of your U. S. standard house or car.

3 Be a good observer and listener, and ask polite questions. Try not to talk too much-usually not a problem when you don’t know the language.

4 Dress appropriately to show honor to the culture. Women should dress modestly and have their shoulders covered. Women shouldn’t wear shorts or pants unless given permission by the host organization. Men need to ask about wearing shorts also.

5 Act very discreetly with the opposite sex. Avoid public displays of affection. For singles, avoid being seen alone or talking alone with the opposite sex. You can pursue any new relationships that may interest you when you get home.

6 Always show gratitude for your accommodations and food, whatever they may be.
You are most likely receiving the best they have to offer. Don’t boast about what Americans have.

7 Never show your temper. Many cultures see a display of anger as the greatest of sins.

8 Be sure you get permission to photograph someone. Don’t offend your hosts by taking photos of what may be considered private space or what is considered a negative aspect of the country.

9 Show empathy and appreciation, not pity, for the surroundings. This is your new friends’ home. Show respect for it, and if there are beggars in the area, ask your host how to respond to them since local philosophies and practices vary from place to place.

10 Be flexible with your time. Go with the flow of the culture and the ministry you’re involved with. Go to learn and serve, not to keep track of the time. Remember what they say about Americans: “They have the watches, but we have the time.”

Read Romans 15:1-9. Why should we seek to please others?

In verse 5, what is the worthy goal for being unified with brothers and sisters in Christ from another culture?

In reviewing the ten hints, circle the number of the ones that will be the most challenging for you to follow. Pray about each one. You many want to discuss the difficult points with your teammates.

Which is better, a vacuum cleaner or a broom?

2008-02-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

Today's photo is from Romania. These cows were trained to walk down the road and even open their own gate and go into their barn. They would never survive on our roads here in the US. This picture is a good example of today's study in preparing for a mission trip.

“Heads up!” is an expression of warning commonly used when someone is about to get clunked by a flying object. Well, here is a “heads up” about a common cross-cultural issue that often clunks short-timers and makes them fall.

Most Americans are great workers and up a high priority or value on doing a task with utmost efficiency. Remember the “hard-working” stereotype? There is an old adage that one doesn’t play until the work is done. Most Americans actually enjoy getting a job done…and the faster, the better!

Let’s look at an example from our culture: the floor is dirty. The smartest, easiest, and most efficient method of cleaning the floor has been invented – the vacuum cleaner. Every year there are newer and better vacuum cleaners on the market. The new ones are lighter, have more suction, and now have directional lights…all to clean your carpets easier, faster, and more efficiently. This is important to us. Investing in a product to do the job quicker and better than the old method is a no-brainer.

Now let’s consider the people in the country where your team is going. Possibly the thousands of years, the floors have been cleaned in the same way: with a broom. No one’s complaining. No one seems to be looking for a better method. Would anyone in these countries want the vacuum cleaner that was just described? Probably not.

The broom-users are happy to sweep and may choose to spend time talking with a friend who just dropped by while they are sweeping. Efficiency may never have crossed their minds.

Many cultures value their relationships higher than anything else and put little value in doing a task most efficiently. Now here is the “heads up”. If we are to be servants with the humility and love of Christ, we need to show openness and acceptance to the way of life of our hosts. When it comes to doing a task, you may be tempted to think and act more like an American than a Christian. When you’re tempted to ask the typical American question, “How can this job be done better or faster?”, you need to stop and remind yourself that this culture is operating with different values and that your question might be inappropriate or even disrespectful.

Demonstrating your acceptance of the way things are done in other countries shows honor, respect, and the love of Christ.

So remember:
Be open to learning why your hosts do things the way they do.
It may not be important to introduce them to your favorite higher technology.
You are trying to build relationships that honor the Lord, whom you represent.
You have come to serve in whatever capacity is needed.
You have come to learn from your new friends.
You have come to accept and love brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from you.

Read Philippians 2:3-4. Paraphrase these verses to concur with the points listed about. You may find this passage helpful to memorize.

So what are you so afraid of?

2008-02-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

Today's picture is from Tanzania again. We are doing a Bible study outside and the children are playing on a large piece of fabric that was laid out for them. Many times the team has to make due with what is available. We have little control over the details in remote areas but God takes care of them.

Facing a group of women, I informed them of a new twist in the plans for their first mission trip. We were going to be staying in the homes of nationals from the church we were serving in the barrio…instead of a downtown hotel. I saw a wave of panic wash over their usually enthusiastic faces. New fears had been born in an instant; fears of eating weird foods, of sleeping who knows where, of scary bathroom facilities. Things had taken a sharp turn off the highway and onto an unknown, curvy road.

There are all sorts of fears that sneak up on us when we’re preparing to serve in another country. It is a good idea to acknowledge some of these fears before the trip. Some are more severe than other, but they can be paralyzing.

One person may fear whether the plane will land on time. Another will be worried about whether the plane will land at all. There are bugs and things that go bump I the night and there may be little things that are secret fears, like getting homesick or having a bad hair week. We all have them. Let’s start with identifying some of your fears.

Jot down a few of your own fears, including your secret ones.

Remember that many fears will dissipate as you learn about your geographical setting, ask questions of your hosts, and begin to understand the circumstances that can induce those fears. Remember that your hosts may be having some fears of their own regarding you. After all, you are a stranger to them, too. So the first step may be to ask good questions to get to know each other and allay some of your fears that way. However, you may still be burdened with some fears.

One of the most common saying of Jesus found frequently throughout the Gospels is “Fear not.” You may be asking yourself how it is possible to not feel fear about the things that will confront you on the trip.

In Luke 12:22-31, Jesus reasons with His disciples about the things that concern them. Read this passage, and summarize in your own words the concerns mentioned in verses 22-23.

Write down what Jesus teaches about common worries. From verses 24-26

From verses 27-31

The passage in Luke gives us God’s perspective on some physical worries and fears. There are other kinds of fears as well. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul gives us another means to finding God’s peace over our fears. What are we encouraged to do?

Learn Their Story - Tell Yours

2008-02-05T15:16:00.000-08:00

Today's photo shows some of our interpreters in Tanzania. They are pastors and members of the church there. Today our study for preparing for a mission trip is about telling your story. Some people are great storytellers by nature. Others have to work at it. But one thing is sure, people love to hear a story. Telling stories is a way of life in many cultures. When you show interest in the story of someone you meet from another culture, you may win a new friend. Find an interpreter, if you need one, and listen to people’s stories. Then be ready to tell your own.

When you visit other cultures, people are curious and will want to know why you have come. How will you answer this? “To work on a building” or “to teach a class” may be appropriate answers, but perhaps there is a better answer. Maybe this is an opportunity to articulate more than the obvious. Maybe this is an open door to share the spiritual dimensions of your answer. Sometimes telling your story may include how Christ has motivated you to serve.

Another situation that may occur as you visit a church is that the pastor may ask you to “give a greeting.” Your group might be tempted to stand up, wave and nod, and then sit back down. However, in most places, this request if for far more than that kind of greeting. It means that someone from your group will be expected to go up front and speak. How are you going to respond to this opportunity? The best response would be to count it the perfect time to not only bring a greeting from your country, but have someone share his/her story or testimony.

Read 1 Peter 3:15, and write out the encouragement from Paul.

In 1 Timothy 4:12-16 Paul challenges his young disciple, Timothy. In what ways was he supposed to be an example?

Take some time over the next few weeks to work on your story. It may be about how you first came to Christ or possibly some later event in your journey of faith. It is always good to think of your audience. As you begin to work on your story, think of the things you have in common with those you are going to serve. There are many universal aspects to life like family, school, work, marriage, etc. There are also the universal themes of life like the pursuit of happiness, peace of mind, individual dignity, security, etc. There are negative themes that plague all of us, like the host of sins that we deal with or feelings like fear, anger, or disappointment. These matters touch everyone…regardless of your place on this planet.

So, as you reflect upon your life, you will want to ask the Lord for wisdom and help you as you write your unique yet universal story.

Some questions to answer as you work on your story:
· How did I realize my need for a Savior or how did Jesus meet me in my time of need?
· How can I clearly explain how to accept God’s love and forgiveness through my story?
· What difference have I experienced in my life because of accepting God’s love and forgiveness?
· What are some of my negative attitudes, actions and motivations that have changes?

Practice your story and ask for feedback. Keep it simple, don’t use exclusively Christian or popular jargon that won’t translate, and practice speaking in short phrases since you may be giving your story through an interpreter.

Preparing for a Missions Trip - Day Six

2008-02-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

Today's photo was taken during recreation time at the VBS in Romania. The children were orphans at the VBS and it took a while for the children to trust the team members. Today is day six of our study to prepare for going on a mission trip.

Are you an American first or a Christian first?

How can you really get to know the people you’re going to serve? It can take years to really understand people from a different culture. You know you won’t be there for very long. Let’s press the pause button and consider this approach first. The experts tell us that understanding other cultures can begin with having an understanding of our own culture.

First we have a few words that represent some positive stereotypes or traits of North Americans.
*friendly*outgoing* hardworking*generous*well-educated*reliable*confident

Sounds great! Makes you proud to be an American! In fact some of these qualities may be among your personal motives for wanting to go on a mission project in the first place. These qualities may have their roots in your cultural heritage.

Take a moment today to ask someone to describe an American. What terms did he or she come up with?

There are other not-so-positive stereotypes attached to North Americans:
*materialistic*wasteful*domineering*arrogant*disrespectful of authority*

These more negative traits come from the darker side of our culture. They come from sinful patterns through the years. This may be an important time to look a bit deeper within your self. Is your life influenced by some of these negative traits? Ask your self a probing question, are you an American first or a Christian first?

Much of the success of fitting in and serving those in another culture will be related to how we deal with these negative stereotypes. As we accept and grapple with these harmful traits, as Christians, there is good news…we do have the power not to be controlled by them through Christ.

We know that God is in the business of transforming our lives as we give ourselves to Him. In Romans 12:2, Paul pleads with Christians not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, let’s get some help from a powerful passage in Philippians.

Read Philippians 3:7-21. If we desire to become everything God wants us to be, what encouragement do we find in verses 12-16?

We read in verses 18 & 19 that some have their minds saturated with the attitudes and values of today’s culture. Yet verses 20 & 21 remind us that as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. What does that mean to you personally?

Traveling outside your comfort zone

2008-01-31T02:24:00.000-08:00

Today I have posted another picture of the Romanian church during worship. This time it is during a VBS called "Who's your hero?". The answer, of course, is Jesus! Robert Elkins and David Gentiles are leading the worship. The children loved it!

Today is day five in our study preparing for a mission trip. It’s a good bet you’ll pack your favorite remedies for common ailments on the trip. There’s that pink lotion for bug bites and the other pink medicine for when you’re “intestinally challenged.” But what are you packing for culture shock? Have you heard of that ailment?

What is culture shock anyway? To help understand it, let’s imagine this scenario: When you arrive at your site, the warm weather feels so lovely, the little village seems quaint and friendly, and your hosts are so interested and neighborly. But…after a few weeks or maybe even days, you feel your attitudes shift. The honeymoon is definitely over. Suddenly the heat is stifling, the tiny village is closing in on you, and your hosts won’t give you a moment to yourself. On the last two missons trips I have taken I just couldn't get used to the heat. The local people were not bothered at all by the heat. In fact, sometimes they had jackets on when I was sweating. I ended up buying a box fan in both countries. One was in South America and one was in Europe but they were both different from my home. Is that culture shock? Let’s start with a definition.

Culture shock is the disorientation that results from unfamiliar surroundings and unmet expectations.

Culture shock has begun. Nothing is predictable, and daily living is filled with an uncomfortable feeling. Now you find yourself critical and complaining…and disappointed for even feeling this way. You may even feel like going home.

Just remember that these are all very normal feelings for anyone who travels outside his or her own culture. So even though you may expect to experience some degree of culture shock, let’s look at it carefully and see if it can be a bit less electrifying.

What happens when living outside of one’s own culture? After the initial honeymoon stage, one of the first things to creep in is a judgmental attitude. If things are different from one’s own customs, values, and behaviors, they are, well…just wrong or intolerable, or at least, just plain weird.

Think about this. It’s even true when you get close to another person or family here at home. When they do something differently than you do, it’s common to thing that you do it the right way and they do it the wrong way.

Think of an example from when your own experience of another person or family doing “it” wrong, and write it out.

In every culture we can find unbiblical practices. But experts say that people from every culture around the world think their way is the right way. This is called ethnocentricity. It is very important to learn early that the social behaviors of another culture are not necessarily wrong; they are just different from yours. They can be appreciated and enjoyed. Try to memorize this phrase, and remind yourself of it often. “IT’S NOT WRONG; IT’S JUST DIFFERENT.”

The famous short-term missionary Paul lived in and out of many different cultures. Read in 1 Corinthians 10 about Paul’s dealing with an agitated group who thought eating certain meat was wrong. In verses 23-33, he addresses this issue. Write out two principles that you want to remember from verses 31-33.

“How” is more important than “what”

2008-01-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my photo was of people worshiping in Columbia. Today in the photo above people are worshiping in Tanzania. First Baptist Euless partners with E3 on mission trips to Africa and South America. On the trip to Tanzania last year over 3,000 people came to know Jesus as their Savour.

Today is the fourth day of a study posted on my blog for preparing to go on a mission trip. Many mission projects are about providing some kind of construction work, like building a house. Some projects involve ministry at a church, like a Vacation Bible School. It’s easy to look at the kind of activity you do as an end in it self. Moving a family from a house of cardboard to a new cinderblock home or teaching about Jesus are worthy goals and important accomplishments in the name of God.

But let’s look deeper that the “what” of a project and explore the “how.” We know that God cares deeply about our attitudes. It’s about more than just doing something worthwhile. It’s about serving: serving with a right attitude, one that exemplifies Christ.

Jesus was on a mission when He left His home in heaven and came to earth. He had much to accomplish. He healed the sick, helped men catch fish for their livelihood, and taught the lost that He was their Savior. But let’s also look at “HOW” He did these things.

Read Philippians 2:1-8. Then write out the instructions Paul gives us in verses 3-5.

Looking at verses 6-8, trace the steps Jesus took as He left heaven, came to earth, and eventually died for us. Write out the steps He took. Next to each step, write how He did it.

Having an attitude of humility is easier said than done. We, as North Americans, are not known for our humility. North Americans often have more of an attitude of selfishness and even superiority. To look out for and serve others before ourselves is very difficult. It is the opposite of what we are taught by our peers. Being a humble servant does not come naturally.

Whatever the tasks of your mission project, whether digging a ditch, taking care of the sick, or doing mundane chores, your attitude will mean the most. God wants to build the qualities of a humble servant into your character.

Jesus spoke about an attitude of superiority in Mark 10:42-45. What do you those who act superior do? What is the great paradox of servant-hood?

Considering the environment and the work you will do on your trip, what are some practical ways you can be a humble servant and avoid acting superior?

Read the promises of Philippians 1:6 and 2:13. Write out the phrases that give you confidence that you can have a Christ-like attitude.

What’s in this for you? What’s in this for them?

2008-01-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of the church in Cartegena, Columbia during worship. A friend from our church named Brian Massey is the IMB missionary there. His gift is music and teaching and he does a wonderful job there in Columbia.

Today post will be the second post in a series concerning steps for preparing for a mission trip. It’s amazing how many people benefit from a short-term mission trip. One church group came up with 37 distinct benefits of sending a mission team. These benefits will flow in three different directions: toward those you serve, your group, and yourself.

Some benefits to those you serve:
• You bring fresh energy, willing hands, and encouragement to your hosts, both the missionary and the national.
• You provide the resources or know-how to fulfill a need.
• Your host experiences community with the larger body of Christ as you worship and work together.
• Some may come to Christ

Some benefits to your group:
• What you learn in another culture shapes and brings new perspectives into the group.
• Leadership abilities grow and become stronger.
• Others are encouraged to grow by stepping out of their comfort zones through observing the group in action.
• People live out newly examined values in light of a larger worldview when they return to their home church.
• The group gains a new vision and enthusiasm for serving at home.

Some personal benefits:
• Make new friends with your team and hosts.
• Be challenged to grow spiritually.
• Use your gifts to build the body of Christ.
• Grow a larger heart for the lost and needy.
• Learn to live and love in the diversity of another culture.
• Experience fulfillment as you strive to learn, love, and serve I the name of Jesus.

That’s a pretty impressive list, isn’t it? Yet when you return home from your trip, you will add some benefits of your own. Looking at these lists can also be a little intimidating. Can God do all this through you and in you? You’re likely to experience dependence on Him in a whole new way. You will need to depend on His power, not your own.

Look at the list of benefits and mentally put a check mark by the ones you get most excited about. Pray for these things to become a reality. In the book of Ephesians, we find some real encouragement about depending on God. In Ephesians 3:14-21, we see what God’s power can do. Record three ways that His power can help you.

Now take some time to write out a prayer about your need to depend on God’s power and not your own in light of your responsibilities on your mission trip.

“Whatever it takes!”

2008-01-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

This is a group of Romanian translators that helped us on our first trip to Romania. Each one is from a different part of Romania and belongs to a local church. Most of them are students and this is volunteer work for them.

Today I will begin to post steps for preparing for a mission trip. These lessons may help you walk into diverse surroundings with less fear and more sensitivity.

When a person responds to a request with, “OK, whatever it takes,” it suggests a willing attitude and desire to do the job. Short-term mission projects are all about “whatever it takes.” From door to door evangelism, to painting walls to playing soccer to pulling teeth, short-termers find ways to bring God’s love to people.

Crossing cultural barriers and reaching out to advance the cause for Jesus Christ is no small thing. Missionaries have been motivated by the spirit of “whatever it takes” throughout all history. Through your experience, you will begin to understand this motivation that permeates the world of missionary service.

Bible study preparation will help you define what it will take from you to advance the cause of Christ through your trip. As you understand the goals of your project and step up to the challenge of your role, pray that God will give you an attitude of “whatever it takes" to obey His directions and give honor to Him.

Begin by looking at the foundational truths from the New Testament book of Matthew. Jesus taught His followers some very significant truths about His perspective on our service.

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells his disciples that He will sit on His throne someday with the nations gathered before Him. He explains to us how He looks at the service we do. Read the passage and write out at least five things we can do for those in need.

What are we reminded of in verse 40?

A few chapters later, Jesus is meeting with His followers fro the last time on earth. In Matthew 28-18-20, we read the final instruction Jesus gave to all His followers. As you read Jesus’ words, write out the specific things that we are told to do.

What is the truth in verse 18 that is essential to your ability to do “whatever it takes” to share God’s love?

What does this mean for you?

Think about these two Matthew passages in relationship to your particular mission project. Write out some ways you will follow these directions.

Preparing for a Mission Trip

2008-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

People go on short-term mission trips for many reasons. I have heard all sorts of reasons:
• to have an adventure
• to serve the poor
• to tell lost people about Jesus
• to build a house
• to be an encouragement
• to spend time with a friend

We all have our own personal reasons for going. God also has His reasons for wanting you to go on a mission trip. I have a core conviction that short-term mission trips are life changing for the volunteer and for those he or she goes to serve. However, I believe that positive life-change occurs in direct proportion to how prepared you are. No doubt you have a lot to do before you go, but a prepared heart should be the number one priority on your list.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting steps for preparing for a mission trip. Some lessons will help you walk into diverse surroundings with less fear and more sensitivity. You will be challenged to learn to tell your story, be a strong team member, and be a good guest. Most of all, the Holy Spirit will begin to strengthen you and build into you qualities that reflect Jesus to those you serve. Ask God to use these lessons to prepare your heart before you pack your bag.

Leadership Development Conference in Tanzania

2007-10-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

FBCE Singles Minister, John Harris and I joined a team from North America and traveled to Tanzania in October to conduct five leadership development conferences (LDC) in partnership with e3 Partners. These conferences were conducted in five cities throughout Tanzania. Attendees of the conferences were pastors and lay leaders of local congregations who desire to plant churches in their area. The two-day conferences concentrated on teaching the leaders to use the Evangecube to share the Gospel in their community. At the end of each conference the newly-trained leaders would go out into the community and share the Gospel using the Evangecube. A total of 680 people made professions of faith in the five areas. Not only were the leaders grateful to God for what He did in Tanzania, but also they caught the vision of Matthew 28 "to go and make disciples..." after such a encouraging number of believers were added to the kingdom. Their mission now is to go back to their respective churches to train their teams to coordinate with First Baptist Euless teams in church planting campaigns in the Summer of 2008.

My first conference stop was Shinyanga. I visited Shinyanga in April of 2007 on an e3 church planting campaign so this was a return trip for me. We stayed in the same hotel on this trip. The employees remembered us and came out to welcome us with embraces. During our first trip we had made friends with a local carpenter. In the picture above I am standing in front of his shop. The shirt that I am wearing was custom made for me in one day by a local tailor.

On Sunday morning in Shinyanga, Israel and Rachel were the worship leaders at a service where I preached. Their style of worship was lively and antiphonal. A performance style in which an ensemble is divided into two groups, performing alternately.

Below the leaders are working together in small group, coming up with a strategy for evangelizing their area. They are also practicing with the Evangecube. There were 20-30 leaders at each conference. I lead this group in Bariadi. They are a very open and warm village.

From Bariadi we went to a mountain where divination of every kind was practiced many years ago. One of the pastors, Marco, has started a church in that village. He is building on these former high places for the Lord Jesus now. We had a prayer meeting on the place where the actual church building will go. Marco and his congregation have been praying for a "man of peace" who God can use to open the community to receiving the Gospel. Emmanuel, a man of influence in the village, came forward and accepted Jesus as his Savior. He expressed a desire to help Marco spread the Good News to the village. God is always working and it is always wonderful when we get to see Him work.

Downtown Bariadi doesn't have paved streets or sidewalks. It doesn't have stop signs or street lights. But it does have people that are hungry to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. FBCE will be going to Tanzania twice in 2008. On this trip six people came to lead the churches to witness for Christ and 680 people were saved. Imagine if we had 60 people go to Tanzania. Think of what God could do! Think of what God could do through you!

FBCE Trip to Ecuador

2007-09-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

My dear wife and I went on a mission trip to Ecuador in July. We were part of a team from First Baptist Church Euless. We went to our international missionaries annual conference and did a VBS for the kids. We went down there a day early so we could get acclimated. Quito is about 9500 feet above sea level so the air is thinner! This is the view from our hotel. It was beautiful. This was taken in the morning from the top floor of Hotel Quito.

The Annual General Meeting consisted of 150 missionaries from Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador. Our job was to teach the missionaries' kids while they were meeting, planning and experiencing corporate worship. The worship was lead by Dr. Al Meredith and a team from Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

There were eight members of FBCE on our team. We had children from ages 1 1/2 to 12 years old. The children in my class were five and six year olds. Three accepted Christ as their Savior. The theme of our VBS curriculum was a sports theme which really worked nicely in South America. They are very sports-minded and especially partial to soccer. The picture below was taken in the lobby of our hotel.

On several afternoons we were able to go sightseeing with the missionaries. We chose to go to Mitad del Mundo. This is a monument on the Equator. Lat/Long 0 degrees. The monument is actually a museum that showcases the many different people of Ecuador.

The traffic is wild here. Taxis are reasonable and everywhere it seems. Don't try to find one at rush hour though. The drivers are very nice, in fact, the people are very nice and have wonderful manners.

These are the wonderful kids we got to teach at our VBS. The kids were all really sweet and had a really great bond between them all like a close family. We were nervous the first day of how things would go and by the last day we were disappointed we had to leave them.

If you have a chance to go on a mission trip that you feel like God has called you to go on - DO IT! It is hard to leave your family for even a week but it will be worth it to be part of reaching the world.