A New Direction & A Step of Faith

Over the past six years, Emil and I have been learning what it means to take a step of faith.  From the beginning, when the Lord led us to join GRN, throughout the 5 ½ years of ministry there, to now. Emil and I now feel the Lord leading us to step away from the ministry of GRN and resign from the organization.  Our time there has been fruitful and we love the staff deeply, but this is a decision that the Lord has been preparing us for over this past year and one we feel a complete peace about. 

The Lord has used this ministry team of financial supporters, prayer warriors, and fellow servants to do a tremendous amount of ministry over the past 5 ½ years.  Nearly 100,000 CDs have been distributed for free, 18 festivals/outreaches had over 300 participants sharing the gospel, 150 individuals took part in 17 short term trips, office operations has been revamped, accounting and legal practices refined and the list goes on.  These are only some of the results of this ministry team, this side of heaven.  We look forward to one day rejoicing with you in the results and rewards we can’t yet imagine. 

A step of faith often means you cannot see beyond the first step, and this is the case with us.  We do not have any new opportunity, but will await God’s leading.  Emil will increase his real estate and tax/accounting work to full time now (so keep us in mind if you are need of these services) and we have made ourselves more available to our home church and God’s leading.  Thank you for your love and support; you are all appreciated.  We look forward to sharing what the Lord teaches us during this time.

 

Hebrews 11 reminds us we are to walk by faith…

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God…

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain…

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death…

Without faith it is impossible to please him…

By faith Noah… constructed an ark…

By faith Abraham obeyed…

By faith he went to live in the land of promise…

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive…

By faith Abraham offered up Isaac…

By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau…

By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph…

By faith Joseph…gave directions concerning his bones…

By faith Moses… was hidden for three months…

By faith Moses…chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God and led them out of Egypt

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down…

By faith Rahab welcomed the spies…

By faith others conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Some received back their dead through resurrection, some were tortured, suffered mocking and flogging an even chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”11:39

Rock Climbing - Who is Directing Your Climb?

College Retreat - Rock Climbing at Rock N Water

Rock climbing really is such an interesting metaphor for life’s journey.  You stand at the bottom of the rock, staring up, unaware of what cracks and crevices await you, blind to what lies over the ridge and overwhelmed with the enormity of the challenge.  There is such a mix of feelings dwelling inside your mind… anxiety, fear, anticipation and excitement.  The same emotions you often experience as you contemplate your future.  As believers we know that we are to "be anxious for nothing”, putting our complete trust in the Lord – our Rock.  Scripture tells us to keep our eyes focused on the Lord, not looking to the left or the right, but straight ahead.  So you harness yourself tightly to the Lord and gear up as you begin your journey. 

You move quickly in the beginning, thinking it is easier than you anticipated; you are more capable than you expected and as a result you start to put your trust in yourself.  The first part of the journey is close to the ground and there isn’t a great distance to fall, but it is not long after when you meet your first small challenge.  You stop, ponder your next move and then continue on.  After that first successful maneuver your trust in yourself and your own strength grows as your need for the Lord, or the ropes that are holding you in place, diminishes.  And as you continue on, up the rock, deciding which path to take, you find yourself thinking back to those who have gone before you. You begin to evaluate their climb and follow their lead.  But who is to say they took the right path?  Are you following others who sought Godly direction and kept the straight path or is it someone who strayed to the right or left? 

You continue on your journey and are met with challenges that are too difficult for you to conquer on your own.  So now where do you find your direction?  Is it from your friends (or the world) who have a limited perspective of your journey and are yelling an array of directions and opinions, steering you to the left or to the right?  Or are you focused forward on the Lord, stopping to wait for Him to reveal the next step to take in your journey?  It’s not knowing your next move that causes your fear and anxiety to resurface.  You cling to the rock, paralyzed and unable to move forward.  You tell yourself either you are not capable of making the move, or just do it without thinking – both dangerous forms of pride.  It’s because you are so focused on yourself that you don’t hear the Lord say, “No, stop and wait and rest in me.  I will give you the strength and power to overcome.” 

So you refocus and wait as the Lord directs you to the next ledge.  You look at it and think to yourself, “There is no way; this is impossible.”  But you know it is what you need to do to move forward so you are obedient and take the leap.  But through that process you slip and stumble before finally reaching the next foothold.  Once there, you take a moment to realize and remember you are connected to a rope and without that rope, holding you there, you would have surely met destruction.  Do you slip and fall in life?  Yes, even when you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do.  As a matter of fact, you will often slip and fall because you are doing what the Lord is calling you to do.  He is growing you, refining you and building your trust and faith in Him.  Your hope, if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, is in that moment when you reach the end of the journey, the top of the peak, and the Lord says, “Well done good and faithful servant”.   Don’t you want to know you have climbed well?

So, I ask you…

Who is directing your climb through life?  The world?  You?  Or the Lord?

Are you off to the left or to the right of God’s path for you?

Are you at a point in your journey where you need to wait on the Lord for His next direction?

Is He calling you to do something, yet you are too fearful to be obedient because you may slip and fall?

If we want to have the “perfect climb” we have to be tied tightly to the Lord, looking to Him for every step of the journey.

How BIG is Your God?

 Our time at the Refugee Highway Partnership Roundtable in Canada was both informative and convicting.  I walked away really asking the Lord how we could serve Him, by serving the displaced people around the world.  We heard stories from several refugees who reminded us that the word "refugee" does not define them.  Many of them are highly educated and were successful in business and life in their home country.  But, because of war and persecution were forced to leave everything and flee.  Imagine yourself, imagine your family having to leave in the middle of the night with a backpack and nothing more.  Really, imagine that.  My heart broke thinking of other mothers trying to care for their children with little hope or direction.

But I was encouraged to hear about the local churches in the countries where the refugees have resettled.  These churches are trying to meet the physical needs of the people by providing clothing, food, shelter and education, and also the spiritual needs by sharing the gospel and the hope through salvation in Jesus Christ.  These individuals shared that people are coming to Christ in record numbers!  Praise the Lord! 

So, how can we help?  Can we help the local churches somehow so that they can reach the people more effectively?  Let's pray about the possibilities.  One of the refugees who spoke to us shared that in the refugee camp you see just how BIG your God is.  He then asked us why the North American church doesn't see the same?  How BIG is your GOD? 

 

Interesting....

There are 21.3 million "forcibly displaced" people in the world

 

41 million more people are displaced, but within their own country

 

There are more people displaced now than at any other time in history

 



83% of displaced people leave their home country and relocate in a neighboring country

 

4.8 million refugees are from Syria alone

 

 



Number of Syrian Refugees in Neighboring Countries


85% of Protestant pastors say the church should sacrificially care for these displaced peoples

Only 8% are doing that locally and 19% Internationally

57% of Christians say the arrival of immigrants is a threat to them

Only 42% of Christians feel the arrival of immigrants is an opportunity to share Christ

60% of non-Christian immigrants say they do not even know a Christian

 

The Bible, Refugees and Your Opportunity

 A refugee is defined as, "A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster." 

The Bible is full of stories of refugees, or forcibly displaced people; Jesus being one of them.  Take a moment to read these verses.  The politics involved in a discussion on refugees is extensive, but as believers the Bible tells us clearly what our response to these individuals should be... so what will you do?  How will this look in your life?  Pray that the Lord would bring these people into your life so that you could show Christ's love to them in a very real way.  It should not be viewed as a threat, but an opportunity.  We do not know what the future may hold; we could one day be the ones who are displaced. 

 

      Deuteronomy 10: 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 25:40 Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them.”

3 John 1:5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. You do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that they may become co-workers with the truth.

Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

Hebrews 13: 1 Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Colossians 3:11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

Matthew 25: 35 I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

The Results...this Side of Heaven

The results are in, well, the results...this side of heaven!

This year...

A team of 33 individuals gave out

5,974 CDs of the gospel message

in 133 languages/dialects

Praise the Lord and all Glory to Him!

Team DC 2016
 

Celebrating Day 5



We began Day 5, the 4th of July, early in the morning by breaking up into 4 teams to hand out CDs of the parade route.  While people were saving their spot, waiting for the parade to begin, we asked them what language they spoke and gave them a CD.  Over 1000 CDs went out in an hour!  The Lord held back the rain for some time, but when it did come we zipped up the tent.  Some hunkered down to play some games inside while others went to tour the museums for a bit.  Both Pastor Eddie and Pastor Derek had opportunities to share the plan of salvation from the stage to those passing by on the mall.  There were many witnessing opportunities and sweet conversations with visitors.  The night ended with a fireworks celebration, reminding us of the freedoms we still have here in the United States. 

Part of the 4th of July Parade in front of the White House



4 Teams took a tub of CDs to hand out on the parade route. 

 

Pastor Eddie & Pastor Derek shared the Gospel for ALL to hear!

Becca and Eddie had a chance to play some worship music from stage

Witnessing opportunities

It rained a portion of the day so we hunkered down in the tent

Celebrating our freedoms in this beautiful country!

A Special Surprise

On last year's DC trip a man fell to the ground near our tent with heart failure.  Shannon, a nurse and one of our team members, had been feeling discouraged and was praying asking the Lord what his plan was for her on this mission trip.  As soon as she returned to the booth she saw the man, Warren, collapse.  Immediately, she ran to him and began CPR.  It was her quick response that saved his life.  This morning, exactly one year later, Warren and his wife, Maxine, came to meet our team and thank Shannon.  They shared that the Lord had used the entire trial for so many amazing things!  Praise the Lord.

Shannon, Warren and Maxine