Gary
Sunday, October 30, 2011
A Trip to the North
We took a trip today up north where another base camp is located which took us through some of the worst parts of the areas affected by the Tsunami. The destruction that has come to this part of the world is the worst I have seen. They have cleaned a lot of it up already but there is enough still there that we could tell some of the destruction. I will leave you with some pictures of what I saw.
Gary
Gary
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
In Japan
We got to Tokyo last night after a 13 hour flight up over Canada, Alaska, Russia and Siberia. That was a lot of snow. I don't have my camera out yet, so no pictures to show. I will see what I can do today.
We are 14 hours ahead of Central Standard time in the U.S. We have another 6 hour journey to make today to get to our base camp, so on I go. Breakfast first!
Gary
We are 14 hours ahead of Central Standard time in the U.S. We have another 6 hour journey to make today to get to our base camp, so on I go. Breakfast first!
Gary
Monday, October 3, 2011
Plans Changed...
I received an email last week from some people we met at church. They have a ministry much like mine and they were recruiting for another project. After postponing the England project and filling out my paperwork to join the next team, I will be leaving October 24th for Japan returning November 21. Yes that's right, a month long trip. I will be going with Stepping-Out Missions who are working with Samaritan's Purse on this project.
Background Information
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the east coast of Japan. As a result of the earthquake a deadly tsunami was triggered that caused numerous fatalities, injuries, and extensive damage along a 310 mile stretch of coast line.
“A total of 196,559 buildings were destroyed or damaged. Around 27,000 people were killed. More than 460,000 were made homeless and sought refuge in shelters. This included 150,000 in Miyagi Prefecture, 47,000 in Iwate Prefecture and 130,000 in Fukushima Prefecture. In the first three days after the disaster Japan’s Self Defense Forces (the Japanese military) rescued 66,000 people, many of them stranded on hilltops, rooftops and among debris. Because reaching them by land was so difficult many had to wait to be retrieved by helicopter, which could carry only a few people at a time. Thousands of others evacuated their homes due to the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.”(“Facts and Figures” article on Great Eastern Japan Earthquake.)
In addition over 14, 000 were listed as missing and are presumed dead. The debris created by the tsunami in the northeast region is equivalent to the refuse generated by the entire country in a quarter of a century. This disaster is the greatest challenge the country has had to face in the past 65 years.
Samaritan’s Purse’s Response in Japan
Immediate Response
• 93 tons of emergency supplies were airlifted from North America immediately after the earthquake/tsunami.
• A Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was deployed to Sendai, the closest major city to the disaster zone.
• During the first five weeks emergency supplies were distributed to those in need through a large number of churches, Christian organizations, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and individuals. In addition to the imported supplies a large quantity of materials were purchased in-country for distribution.
• Mudout kits and 11 small trucks were given to local churches and pastors who were engaged in volunteer supported clean up operations.
Continued Response
• On June 20 the Rebuilding/Repair project was launched. This project will see the coordination of the International and National teams working to assist homeowners living in damaged residences. The goal is to complete as many as 300 homes prior to the winter season which begins in December. The focus of the operation is to conduct mudouts, rebuild and repair the main floor of homes inundated by the tsunami, provide beneficiary support as requested and to share the Gospel with all those encountered.
Prayer:
• Pray for the team of men that I will be working with that we will be united in one spirit and ready to work together to accomplish as much as we can.
• Pray for the Japanese people who we will be helping, that they will trust Jesus Christ as their savior.
• Pray for my wife and kids as I leave them for a month. It will be just as hard for me as it will be for them. I hate leaving them but the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is way too important for me not to go. I am honored that God would allow me to be a part of the work He is doing in this world.
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." John 4:34-38
I will keep you all posted as best I can on the progress of the work while I am there but internet access will be limited so I will post about the work when I get back home.
Gary
Background Information
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the east coast of Japan. As a result of the earthquake a deadly tsunami was triggered that caused numerous fatalities, injuries, and extensive damage along a 310 mile stretch of coast line.
“A total of 196,559 buildings were destroyed or damaged. Around 27,000 people were killed. More than 460,000 were made homeless and sought refuge in shelters. This included 150,000 in Miyagi Prefecture, 47,000 in Iwate Prefecture and 130,000 in Fukushima Prefecture. In the first three days after the disaster Japan’s Self Defense Forces (the Japanese military) rescued 66,000 people, many of them stranded on hilltops, rooftops and among debris. Because reaching them by land was so difficult many had to wait to be retrieved by helicopter, which could carry only a few people at a time. Thousands of others evacuated their homes due to the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.”(“Facts and Figures” article on Great Eastern Japan Earthquake.)
In addition over 14, 000 were listed as missing and are presumed dead. The debris created by the tsunami in the northeast region is equivalent to the refuse generated by the entire country in a quarter of a century. This disaster is the greatest challenge the country has had to face in the past 65 years.
Samaritan’s Purse’s Response in Japan
Immediate Response
• 93 tons of emergency supplies were airlifted from North America immediately after the earthquake/tsunami.
• A Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was deployed to Sendai, the closest major city to the disaster zone.
• During the first five weeks emergency supplies were distributed to those in need through a large number of churches, Christian organizations, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and individuals. In addition to the imported supplies a large quantity of materials were purchased in-country for distribution.
• Mudout kits and 11 small trucks were given to local churches and pastors who were engaged in volunteer supported clean up operations.
Continued Response
• On June 20 the Rebuilding/Repair project was launched. This project will see the coordination of the International and National teams working to assist homeowners living in damaged residences. The goal is to complete as many as 300 homes prior to the winter season which begins in December. The focus of the operation is to conduct mudouts, rebuild and repair the main floor of homes inundated by the tsunami, provide beneficiary support as requested and to share the Gospel with all those encountered.
Prayer:
• Pray for the team of men that I will be working with that we will be united in one spirit and ready to work together to accomplish as much as we can.
• Pray for the Japanese people who we will be helping, that they will trust Jesus Christ as their savior.
• Pray for my wife and kids as I leave them for a month. It will be just as hard for me as it will be for them. I hate leaving them but the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is way too important for me not to go. I am honored that God would allow me to be a part of the work He is doing in this world.
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." John 4:34-38
I will keep you all posted as best I can on the progress of the work while I am there but internet access will be limited so I will post about the work when I get back home.
Gary
Friday, September 23, 2011
Next Project
Well, the next project will be taking me back to Leeds, England for a couple of weeks in November. The project is renovating an apartment on campus at WEC International's North facility. It consists of putting in a new bathroom, remodeling a kitchen, moving a doorway, electrical, plumbing and painting.
The purpose for this apartment is to better accommodate those coming in for training or staying long term. It will be a 1 bedroom self-contained apartment for a single person or a couple.
I spent a year at this facility as a Maintenance Supervisor. When I left, there were Managers who were looking after the property and a New Maintenance Supervisor who took over for me. Early this year the Maintenance Supervisor had to leave do to personal reasons and in July the Property Managers left for Regional Directors position in Africa. Two leaders from Ministries located at the premises have added the role of Property Management to their already full schedule. They normally have German volunteers who come for a year to help with the care of the facility, But because they have no Managers or Maintenance Supervisor they have decided to suspend the volunteers for this year which leaves them without anyone who can take care of maintenance and renovations that are badly needed. I heard about this situation in August and started praying about it. The more I prayed, the more my heart became burdened to help. I sent an email to the interim Management team on September 3 asking if they would be interested in my help. They replied recently asking if we could do this project for them.
We are working on other possible places for next year, as well. I just turned down a month long trip to Japan this last weekend with Joel Corley at Stepping Out Missions which would have meant leaving this Monday.
Gary
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A New Ministry...
A new Ministry is born! After many years with this idea in my mind and much prayer, I believe the Lord has brought clarity to the direction of this ministry and what we will be doing next.
So, what is this ministry?
It is a Construction/Repair Ministry.
What is the name of the ministry?
To Be A Blessing
Why this name?
In the same way as God told Abram; I will bless you ....... so that you will be a blessing to the nations (Gen.12:2-4), so also, we want to be a blessing to the Body of Christ, who are aggressively advancing the Kingdom of God. We seek to be a blessing of support to those who are gifted in preaching and teaching by using the talents God has given us in construction/repair so that those who don't have the Gospel may join us in the reward of Heaven.
Who will we help?
Those who are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ which includes: Missionaries, Mission Organizations, Churches, Pastors, Evangelists, Orphanages etc.
Where will we go?
All over the world!
How do you put in your requests?
If you agree with our Statement of Faith, then follow this link or using the "Contact Us" tab above. Enter your information and we will get back with you.
So, How can you get involved?
Well, there are 3 ways you can get involved.
Go
Do you have construction talents: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, painting etc.?
Would you be a good laborer?
How about a helper? Can you hold the other end of a piece of wood?
If you have some abilities and can agree to our Statement of Faith, then Contact Us to let us know that you are interested in helping and we will get back to you to let you know what projects we are working on. You just might be with us on our next project somewhere in the world!
Pray
Join us in praying for the Gospel work. Subscribe to our email alerts and we will send the prayer request via email.
Give
Contact Us and we will provide you with a way to give to the work.
The Next Project?
I have been to Haiti twice this year as a start to this ministry; once in May, posts here and here, and then again in August.
So, Now what project is the next? Well, you will just have to wait until the next post.
Gary
So, what is this ministry?
It is a Construction/Repair Ministry.
What is the name of the ministry?
To Be A Blessing
Why this name?
In the same way as God told Abram; I will bless you ....... so that you will be a blessing to the nations (Gen.12:2-4), so also, we want to be a blessing to the Body of Christ, who are aggressively advancing the Kingdom of God. We seek to be a blessing of support to those who are gifted in preaching and teaching by using the talents God has given us in construction/repair so that those who don't have the Gospel may join us in the reward of Heaven.
Who will we help?
Those who are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ which includes: Missionaries, Mission Organizations, Churches, Pastors, Evangelists, Orphanages etc.
Where will we go?
All over the world!
How do you put in your requests?
If you agree with our Statement of Faith, then follow this link or using the "Contact Us" tab above. Enter your information and we will get back with you.
So, How can you get involved?
Well, there are 3 ways you can get involved.
Go
Do you have construction talents: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, painting etc.?
Would you be a good laborer?
How about a helper? Can you hold the other end of a piece of wood?
If you have some abilities and can agree to our Statement of Faith, then Contact Us to let us know that you are interested in helping and we will get back to you to let you know what projects we are working on. You just might be with us on our next project somewhere in the world!
Pray
Join us in praying for the Gospel work. Subscribe to our email alerts and we will send the prayer request via email.
Give
Contact Us and we will provide you with a way to give to the work.
The Next Project?
I have been to Haiti twice this year as a start to this ministry; once in May, posts here and here, and then again in August.
So, Now what project is the next? Well, you will just have to wait until the next post.
Gary
Friday, September 16, 2011
Street Evangelizing
A couple of weekends ago the boys and I went with a few others into the City to do some street evangelizing/preaching on the corner of a busy street. It is quite interesting to see how the people responded. Some rejected the tracts completely, some took them and then threw them away but only a few wanted to actually talk about the Gospel. To see how many tracts got into the hands of people simply because a child gave it to them over an adult was astonishing. The boys loved it! They were even putting them on cars in parking lots at the stores we went to later.
When someone started preaching on the corner, the people would avoid us completely by crossing the street before they even got to us, some were agitated, looking for the light to change so that could walk across the road, and some would stop to talk. The amount of tracts that were handed out went down during the preaching. Daniel told me that some would ask, is this piece of paper talking about the same thing that guy is talking about? When Daniel would answer "Yes", the people would reject it and walk on.
They have no idea what they are rejecting. They walk on as if everything is just fine, all the while, their eternal security hangs in the balance. The wrath of God is upon them and they stand rejected by Him for their disobedience to His law. They reject the very One who can bring security - Jesus Christ. He can reunite them with their creator, God and give them life -eternal life with Him in Heaven. He is the ONLY One who has the answer to our disobedience to God's law, which is Christ and His redemption.
Gary
When someone started preaching on the corner, the people would avoid us completely by crossing the street before they even got to us, some were agitated, looking for the light to change so that could walk across the road, and some would stop to talk. The amount of tracts that were handed out went down during the preaching. Daniel told me that some would ask, is this piece of paper talking about the same thing that guy is talking about? When Daniel would answer "Yes", the people would reject it and walk on.
They have no idea what they are rejecting. They walk on as if everything is just fine, all the while, their eternal security hangs in the balance. The wrath of God is upon them and they stand rejected by Him for their disobedience to His law. They reject the very One who can bring security - Jesus Christ. He can reunite them with their creator, God and give them life -eternal life with Him in Heaven. He is the ONLY One who has the answer to our disobedience to God's law, which is Christ and His redemption.
Gary
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Another trip to Haiti
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| Port au Prince |
Haiti is a country that has been through a lot. 2 mass exodus' in the 1960's, in which the educated people - teachers, professors, etc., were invited to countries like S. Africa and Canada. It has been ravaged by crime, corruption and the latest, an earthquake, well over a year ago now.
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| Immigration |
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| Trash dump just outside the guest house |
There is a lot of work still needing to be done because of this earthquake. It is truly unbelievable the kind of conditions the Haitians live in.
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| More Trash |
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| Largest Tent City |
You and I would be appalled if we had to live anything remotely close to the way they live. In fact, we would not stand for it, we would be rioting and rushing Washington's front doors.
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| Mayor's home in Port au Prince - completed after earthquake |
Water that cannot be drank because it carries deadly diseases, electric that is only on for a few hours a day, roads that completely destroy a car's suspension in a matter of a few months, trash everywhere, farm animals that run the streets freely, prices that make it virtually impossible to buy anything, government corruption that leaves the people paralyzed and so on and so on. This is not some remote location in the country; this is Port au Prince, the capital city in the country.
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| Cow grazing in dump just outside guest house |
Daniel and I got back Monday August 29th from another trip to Haiti.
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| Daniel and Mr. Brown |
We were able to get 2 cars running again for Dottie Diehl, a missionary.
One for her personally and the other for the school. We were there only a week and it took the whole week to complete the task. Everytime we turned around we had more issues to deal with and more parts that were needed. Mr. Nickson had to do lot of running for parts and tools - some he never did find, so, we improvised to make things work.
We worked on a 1996 Chevy Blazer and a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo. When we started with the Rodeo it was not running at all. We thought the fuel pump was problem but I found that it was working so I replaced the fuel regulator with the new one I took down with me. First car running, Praise the Lord! After bolting the gas tank back in, though, the fuse for the fuel pump blew and the engine would not start, again. I disconnected the fuel pump and found that I had a short there. This means I had to drop the gas tank out of the car to check the pump. When I got the tank out I found that someone had spliced the wires inside the tank and didn't completely cover the wires, so it was shorting against the metal bracket holding the pump. I repaired that connection and several others that I found under the rear of the car. Once I completed that car, by about mid week, I turned to the Blazer. I needed to check the fuel pressure to the engine to make sure we had the proper fuel pressure. We went out looking for a gauge and had one man at an Auto Parts store promise us that he would have us one the next morning - he never did get it for us. I decided to replace the fuel regulator first, instead of the fuel pump because it had a 3/4 tank of gas in it, but this meant I had to remove the upper intake manifold from the engine, though. I was able to get the manifold off the engine and replaced the fuel regulator and then I had to wait for Mr. Nickson to find some gasket maker for me so that I could seal it down on the engine again.
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| The Market |
Once I had the gasket maker I put the engine back together and then tried to start it. Suddenly the engine just stopped and would not crank anymore. I thought maybe the battery was low, again, since we had had battery problems all week, so I connected the charger to it. After a while I realized the charger wasn't working - found a broken wire. So I decided to jump the Blazer with the Isuzu. Still the engine wouldn't crank. By this time it was getting late, so we decided to quit for the night. As I was laying in bed, praying, I realized some gas had spilled out when I pulled the regulator off and I thought it might have gone down into the cylinders - Pistons cannot compress a liquid. The next morning, Saturday, I tried to start the engine again - same thing - it still won't crank. I decided to pull the spark plug out of the rear cylinders to let the gas out but I needed a longer extension for my socket wrench - Mr. Nickson went out looking for an extension. He returned with the extension and I got the plug out. As I turned the plug out the gas just started pouring out of the cylinder. I put the plug back in and tightened it up and tried to crank the engine, same thing happened again. I decided to pull the throttle body off the manifold and found that something was leaking, Ugh. This means I have to pull the manifold back off again, Oh GREAT! Having used a gasket maker to seal it on to the engine it wasn't coming back off again very easy. I worked at it for quite a while and was able to get it off. I found that the regulator had slipped out of place when I re-installed the manifold and gas was pouring out everytime the fuel pump ran. As I pulled the manifold off the second time an O-ring broke on the injector unit. So Mr. Nickson went looking for a new O-ring. He came back a couple hours later with 5 different O-rings. One of them worked, Praise the Lord! I put it all back together, pulled the spark plugs to drain the cylinders again and a spark plug wire broke, Oh No! I can't believe this. Nickson went out, again, late in the afternoon on Saturday. (You have to know that everything closes early in Haiti) He came back with a new set of plug wires but they didn't work -they're for a Mitsubishi. (This is the way they repair things, just find a part that might work. They don't go by Make, Model and Engine.) I got anxious and decided to start the engine anyway. We had to jump start it again because Daniel left a light on inside the car. It took a little bit to prime the fuel system but then it started and is running good. Mr. Nickson never did find a spark plug wire. Dottie asked a guest coming in from the US to bring one in for her.
There had been much prayer the whole week and our GREAT God and provider heard and answered our prayer. Thank you Lord!
On Sunday we did get to go to Hope, Faith and Love Infant rescue, run by Dorothy Pierce, to see the kids and to help out a little. They currently have 25 children - 10 of those are HIV positive. At this time their only washing machine is rusted out and they have no back up batteries for power. With city power only on for a few hours a day this makes it tough to live and care for these children properly. This is one of 4 orphanages that I know of within a 5 minute walk of the Dottie's Guest house where we stayed.
Please pray for a washing machine and batteries for their backup power system.
Gary
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| Repairing the vacuum cleaner |
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| Bread shop on the side of the road. |
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| A manhole cover in the street still missing 3 months later. |
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| Men working on a car in the middle of a street. |
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| US Embassy complete with a pool! |
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| One of many tire repair shops on the corner of a road. |
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| A lot of garbage on the side of the street! |
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| Presidential palace destroyed in the earthquake. |
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| Tent City across street from Presidential palace. |
Friday, September 2, 2011
Leaving Fenton
So how is God working in our lives? After 16 years of making our home at First Baptist Church of Fenton growing, learning, and being prepared for service, we believe God is moving us on to be a part of another local Church.
We weren't unhappy at Fenton or looking for another church so let me explain how this came about. Back in June we went to a Homeschool conference where I met a man who was getting ready to go to the mission field. He told me about his church and how they have at least 8 people preparing to go to the mission field. This is a large amount considering the church only has a membership of 128. A few days later Michelle looked at the church's website and told me that a missionary (who we know and have been praying for) was going to be there to speak at their Men's fellowship. I told her that I wanted to go to hear how his work is going but would be more comfortable if we visited on a Sunday and got to know a couple of people instead of just turning up at the breakfast. When we visited that Sunday we discovered that due to scheduling conflicts the missionary was not going to be at the Men's fellowship but he would be there for the Sunday service the following week. I told Michelle we have to come back next Sunday to see Him - it had been at least 3 years since I had seen him. He had no idea that I was going to be there and I enjoyed surprising him.
So, why does this lead us to move our membership? By our second visit to the church God was stirring our hearts for the work He is doing there (don't take this to mean that He is not working at our church) by showing us how He has been preparing us to be a part of that work. We left that Sunday saying to one another, what is God doing? What does all of this mean? What is He wanting us to do? We spent time praying about it - seeking Him for understanding and wisdom. After some weeks of prayer we knew what He was asking us to do - to move our membership, leave the people we love, to step out of our comfort zone again and follow Him.
This is hard! We have to make new friends, get to know new people. I personally hate this, in most cases I am quiet and I find conversation with new people very difficult because I just don't know how to talk to someone I don't know. I know it shouldn't be this hard but for me it is. In some situations I get extremely tongue tied because I just don't think fast enough as to what to say. I have been noticing it a lot lately. In these cases I end up not saying anything and walking away feeling inadequate and will continue to think about the situation for quite a while afterwards.
So, we are leaving First Baptist Church of Fenton for the next adventure of our lives. We are being obedient to our Father in Heaven "to go". This doesn't mean that we won't see many of you, we will. We are not leaving Saint Louis. We will continue to be in contact with you but we have to follow as we believe the Lord is leading.
In Christ,
Gary
Next post will be pictures of our trip to Haiti last week
We weren't unhappy at Fenton or looking for another church so let me explain how this came about. Back in June we went to a Homeschool conference where I met a man who was getting ready to go to the mission field. He told me about his church and how they have at least 8 people preparing to go to the mission field. This is a large amount considering the church only has a membership of 128. A few days later Michelle looked at the church's website and told me that a missionary (who we know and have been praying for) was going to be there to speak at their Men's fellowship. I told her that I wanted to go to hear how his work is going but would be more comfortable if we visited on a Sunday and got to know a couple of people instead of just turning up at the breakfast. When we visited that Sunday we discovered that due to scheduling conflicts the missionary was not going to be at the Men's fellowship but he would be there for the Sunday service the following week. I told Michelle we have to come back next Sunday to see Him - it had been at least 3 years since I had seen him. He had no idea that I was going to be there and I enjoyed surprising him.
So, why does this lead us to move our membership? By our second visit to the church God was stirring our hearts for the work He is doing there (don't take this to mean that He is not working at our church) by showing us how He has been preparing us to be a part of that work. We left that Sunday saying to one another, what is God doing? What does all of this mean? What is He wanting us to do? We spent time praying about it - seeking Him for understanding and wisdom. After some weeks of prayer we knew what He was asking us to do - to move our membership, leave the people we love, to step out of our comfort zone again and follow Him.
This is hard! We have to make new friends, get to know new people. I personally hate this, in most cases I am quiet and I find conversation with new people very difficult because I just don't know how to talk to someone I don't know. I know it shouldn't be this hard but for me it is. In some situations I get extremely tongue tied because I just don't think fast enough as to what to say. I have been noticing it a lot lately. In these cases I end up not saying anything and walking away feeling inadequate and will continue to think about the situation for quite a while afterwards.
So, we are leaving First Baptist Church of Fenton for the next adventure of our lives. We are being obedient to our Father in Heaven "to go". This doesn't mean that we won't see many of you, we will. We are not leaving Saint Louis. We will continue to be in contact with you but we have to follow as we believe the Lord is leading.
In Christ,
Gary
Next post will be pictures of our trip to Haiti last week
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Sorry!
We said in February I'm back but have only posted about 5 time since then. Sorry! We do want to keep going with the blog but we need something we can write about. We feel life in general is not enough, we want to show how God is at work. Well, God has been at work in our lives. We are waiting upon Him until we actually know what it is He is calling us to do - we are not sure of this completely. We will post something tomorrow to explain one step that God has had us take recently. Stay tuned!
Gary
Gary
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A Missionary Call
Robert E. Speer
What constitutes a missionary call? It is a good sign that men ask this question. First, because it suggests that they think of the missionary enterprise as singularly related to the will of God. Second, because it indicates that they believe their lives are owned by a Person who has a right to direct them and whose call they must await.
But when we have said these two things, I think we have said everything that can be said in favor of the question because, far too often, it is asked for thoroughly un-Christian reasons.
For instance, Christians will pursue a profession here in the United States having demanded far less positive assurance that this is God's will than it is for them to go out into the mission field. But by what right do they make such distinctions? Christianity contends that the whole of life and all services are to be consecrated; no man should dare to do anything but the will of God. And before he adopts a course of action, a man should know nothing less nor more than that it is God's will for him to pursue it.
If men are going to draw lines of division between different kinds of service, what preposterous reasoning leads them to think that it requires less divine sanction for a man to spend his life easily among Christians than it requires for him to go out as a missionary to the heathen? If men are to have special calls for anything, they ought to have special calls to go about their own business, to have a nice time all their lives, to choose the soft places, to make money, and to gratify their own ambitions.
How can any honest Christian say he must have a special call not to do that sort of thing? How can he say that, unless he gets some specific call of God to preach the Gospel to the heathen, he has a perfect right to spend his life lining his pockets with money? Is it not absurd to suggest that a special call is necessary to become a missionary, but no call is required to gratify his own will or personal ambitions?
There is a general obligation resting upon Christians to see that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to the world. You and I need no special call to apply that general call of God to our lives. We do need a special call to exempt us from its application to our lives. In other words, every one of us stands under a presumptive obligation to give his life to the world unless we have some special exemption.
This whole business of asking for special calls to missionary work does violence to the Bible. There is the command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." We say, "That means other people." There is the promise, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." We say, "That means me." We must have a special divine indication that we fall under the command; we do not ask any special divine indication that we fall under the blessing. By what right do we draw this line of distinction between the obligations of Christianity and its privileges? By what right to we accept the privileges as applying to every Christian and relegate its obligations to the conscience of the few?
It does violence to the ordinary canons of common sense and honest judgment. We do not think of ordering other areas of our lives on this basis. I think ex-president Patton of Princeton was representing the situation accurately when he used the following illustration. He said, "Imagine I was employed by the owner of a vineyard to gather grapes in his vineyard. The general instructions were that as many grapes as possible should be gathered. I went down to the gate of the vineyard and found the area around the walls well plucked and the ground covered with pickers. Yet away off in the distance no pickers at all are in sight and the vines are loaded to the ground. Would I need a special visit and order from the owner of the vineyard to instruct me as to my duty?"
If I were standing by the bank of a stream, and some little children were drowning, I would not need any officer of the law to come along and serve on me some legal paper commanding me under such and such a penalty to rescue those children. I should despise myself if I should stand there with the possibility of saving those little lives, waiting until, by some legal proceeding, I was personally designated to rescue them!
Why do we apply, in a matter of infinitely more consequence, principles that we would loathe and abhor if anybody should suggest that we should apply them in the practical affairs of our daily life? Listen for a moment to the wail of the hungry world. Feel for one hour its sufferings. Sympathize for one moment with its woes. And then regard it just as you would regard human want in your neighbor, or the want that you meet as you pass down the street, or anywhere in life.
There is something wonderfully misleading, full of hallucination and delusion in this business of missionary calls. With many of us it is not a missionary call at all that we are looking for; it is a shove. There are a great many of us who would never hear a call if it came. Somebody must come and coerce us before we will go into missionary work.
Every one of us rests under a sort of general obligation to give life and time and possession to the evangelization of the souls everywhere that have never heard of Jesus Christ. And we are bound to go, unless we can offer some sure ground of exemption which we could with a clear conscience present to Jesus Christ and be sure of His approval upon it. "Well," you ask, "do you mean, then, that I should take my life in my own hands?" No! That is precisely what I am protesting against! That is exactly what we have done. We have taken our lives in our own hands and proposed to go our own way unless God compels us to go some other way. What I ask is that, until God reveals to us some special, individual path on either side, we should give our lives over into Jesus' hands to go in that path which He has clearly marked out before His church.
I want to say one last thing.
I think love will hear calls where the loveless heart will not know that they are sounding. If there were a hundred little children crying, a mother would be able to pick out the voices of her own - especially if they were voices of pain and suffering.
There is a mighty keenness in the ears of love, and I wonder, after all, whether that may not explain a great deal that one is perplexed over in this matter of a special missionary call. Is it possible that, in many cases, it is just a matter of a callused heart, a reluctant will, or a sealed mind?
God so loved the world that He gave. It was need in the world plus love in God that constituted a call for Jesus. Do we need more than what sufficed for Him? If they were our own, would we hesitate and hold back?
Let us lay aside all double-dealing, all moral subterfuge, all those shuffling evasions by which the Devil is attempting to persuade us to escape from our duty, and let us get up like men and look at it and do it.
Students are old enough to decide to do their duty. They are old enough to decide to go to college. They are old enough to decide for law and medicine and other professions. They are old enough, too, to decide this question. God forbid that we should try to hide from solemn consideration of our vital duty behind any kind of pretext.
What constitutes a missionary call? It is a good sign that men ask this question. First, because it suggests that they think of the missionary enterprise as singularly related to the will of God. Second, because it indicates that they believe their lives are owned by a Person who has a right to direct them and whose call they must await.
But when we have said these two things, I think we have said everything that can be said in favor of the question because, far too often, it is asked for thoroughly un-Christian reasons.
For instance, Christians will pursue a profession here in the United States having demanded far less positive assurance that this is God's will than it is for them to go out into the mission field. But by what right do they make such distinctions? Christianity contends that the whole of life and all services are to be consecrated; no man should dare to do anything but the will of God. And before he adopts a course of action, a man should know nothing less nor more than that it is God's will for him to pursue it.
If men are going to draw lines of division between different kinds of service, what preposterous reasoning leads them to think that it requires less divine sanction for a man to spend his life easily among Christians than it requires for him to go out as a missionary to the heathen? If men are to have special calls for anything, they ought to have special calls to go about their own business, to have a nice time all their lives, to choose the soft places, to make money, and to gratify their own ambitions.
How can any honest Christian say he must have a special call not to do that sort of thing? How can he say that, unless he gets some specific call of God to preach the Gospel to the heathen, he has a perfect right to spend his life lining his pockets with money? Is it not absurd to suggest that a special call is necessary to become a missionary, but no call is required to gratify his own will or personal ambitions?
There is a general obligation resting upon Christians to see that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to the world. You and I need no special call to apply that general call of God to our lives. We do need a special call to exempt us from its application to our lives. In other words, every one of us stands under a presumptive obligation to give his life to the world unless we have some special exemption.
This whole business of asking for special calls to missionary work does violence to the Bible. There is the command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." We say, "That means other people." There is the promise, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." We say, "That means me." We must have a special divine indication that we fall under the command; we do not ask any special divine indication that we fall under the blessing. By what right do we draw this line of distinction between the obligations of Christianity and its privileges? By what right to we accept the privileges as applying to every Christian and relegate its obligations to the conscience of the few?
It does violence to the ordinary canons of common sense and honest judgment. We do not think of ordering other areas of our lives on this basis. I think ex-president Patton of Princeton was representing the situation accurately when he used the following illustration. He said, "Imagine I was employed by the owner of a vineyard to gather grapes in his vineyard. The general instructions were that as many grapes as possible should be gathered. I went down to the gate of the vineyard and found the area around the walls well plucked and the ground covered with pickers. Yet away off in the distance no pickers at all are in sight and the vines are loaded to the ground. Would I need a special visit and order from the owner of the vineyard to instruct me as to my duty?"
If I were standing by the bank of a stream, and some little children were drowning, I would not need any officer of the law to come along and serve on me some legal paper commanding me under such and such a penalty to rescue those children. I should despise myself if I should stand there with the possibility of saving those little lives, waiting until, by some legal proceeding, I was personally designated to rescue them!
Why do we apply, in a matter of infinitely more consequence, principles that we would loathe and abhor if anybody should suggest that we should apply them in the practical affairs of our daily life? Listen for a moment to the wail of the hungry world. Feel for one hour its sufferings. Sympathize for one moment with its woes. And then regard it just as you would regard human want in your neighbor, or the want that you meet as you pass down the street, or anywhere in life.
There is something wonderfully misleading, full of hallucination and delusion in this business of missionary calls. With many of us it is not a missionary call at all that we are looking for; it is a shove. There are a great many of us who would never hear a call if it came. Somebody must come and coerce us before we will go into missionary work.
Every one of us rests under a sort of general obligation to give life and time and possession to the evangelization of the souls everywhere that have never heard of Jesus Christ. And we are bound to go, unless we can offer some sure ground of exemption which we could with a clear conscience present to Jesus Christ and be sure of His approval upon it. "Well," you ask, "do you mean, then, that I should take my life in my own hands?" No! That is precisely what I am protesting against! That is exactly what we have done. We have taken our lives in our own hands and proposed to go our own way unless God compels us to go some other way. What I ask is that, until God reveals to us some special, individual path on either side, we should give our lives over into Jesus' hands to go in that path which He has clearly marked out before His church.
I want to say one last thing.
I think love will hear calls where the loveless heart will not know that they are sounding. If there were a hundred little children crying, a mother would be able to pick out the voices of her own - especially if they were voices of pain and suffering.
There is a mighty keenness in the ears of love, and I wonder, after all, whether that may not explain a great deal that one is perplexed over in this matter of a special missionary call. Is it possible that, in many cases, it is just a matter of a callused heart, a reluctant will, or a sealed mind?
God so loved the world that He gave. It was need in the world plus love in God that constituted a call for Jesus. Do we need more than what sufficed for Him? If they were our own, would we hesitate and hold back?
Let us lay aside all double-dealing, all moral subterfuge, all those shuffling evasions by which the Devil is attempting to persuade us to escape from our duty, and let us get up like men and look at it and do it.
Students are old enough to decide to do their duty. They are old enough to decide to go to college. They are old enough to decide for law and medicine and other professions. They are old enough, too, to decide this question. God forbid that we should try to hide from solemn consideration of our vital duty behind any kind of pretext.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Working at an Orphanage in Port au Prince
Gary spent his afternoon working at Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue in Port au Prince. He fixed several things around the orphanage, but probably the most important was the dryer. Can you imagine caring for 26 children and not having a working dryer. The director was very excited when Gary managed to get it running again.
Tomorrow he gets to experience a trip to the hardware store to pick up supplies which will enable him to fix more around the orphanage, school and guest house.
Thank you for your prayers for him. The Lord is keeping well and has allowed him to accomplish much in the last two days.
Michelle
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Haiti
Yesterday Gary traveled to Haiti.
His purpose is to use the construction/maintenance talents that God has given him to help the body of Christ who are actively sharing the gospel with others.
During this visit most of his time will be spent working at a guest house for missionaries who need a safe place to stay while in the city. The owner has a list of projects for him which, among other things, includes installing a water heater and trouble shooting an electrical problem.
We would appreciate your prayers for him and the work he is doing. Please pray that the Lord would allow him to accomplish much during this week. Also, that the Lord would guide him as he looks for places/opportunities where he (and others) may be able to serve in the future.
Thanks
Michelle
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Nicholas to the Rescue
I looked out of the kitchen window to see Nicholas hanging from a tree. I went out to see what he was up to and discovered he was being Naomi's hero. She had let her balloon go and Nicholas wanted to retrieve it for her.
As he got closer to the top, my mother's heart was crying out to 'be careful' and 'come back down, it's not worth getting hurt just for a balloon', but ... I was able to keep silent and let my boy act like a young man and do something heroic for his sister.
Thankfully, the mission was successful. The balloon was rescued, Nicholas was safe and he became a hero in his sister's eyes.
As he got closer to the top, my mother's heart was crying out to 'be careful' and 'come back down, it's not worth getting hurt just for a balloon', but ... I was able to keep silent and let my boy act like a young man and do something heroic for his sister.
Thankfully, the mission was successful. The balloon was rescued, Nicholas was safe and he became a hero in his sister's eyes.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Looking Back
I have spent some time over the last few weeks reflecting on the events of 2010 and am amazed at the journey the Lord has taken us on. So many valleys and mountains we have climbed but the Lord has led all the way.
We began last year living in Leeds, England working with WEC International, yet eagerly anticipating our move to Zambia, which was planned for March. Through the challenges of planning another international move we had the excitement of knowing that the Lord wanted us to move to Zambia to work with just a few of the thousands of orphans in that country. We saw Him move mountains to get us there and gently lead us when we arrived, only to realize after a few short weeks that due to lies and possible corruption we were unable to continue with our partner in the ministry. Without this partner we couldn't stay in Zambia. The pain was deep as I grieved over the death of the dream and listened to our children cry as they too dealt with the pain of leaving many desperate children behind.
Upon our return to England I had the joy of surprising my sister as I appeared on her doorstep, while she thought I was still in Zambia. The look of surprise on her face - priceless.
We struggled through the next few weeks as we sought the Lord as to His direction for our lives. We had the opportunity to remain in England, return to the States or try to return to Africa. Wherever we looked we found the door to Africa closed and we knew our decision was between England and America. After much prayer we were led by God to return to the States, the reason being that in this country we can adopt again - and that is truly the desire of our hearts.
But our return would not be easy as I had to apply for my residency permit to be reinstated. We applied and waited.
During our wait I had the joy of seeing my 92 year old grandmother just days before she passed away in May, and visit my 98 year old grandmother (who passed away just a few weeks ago). I also treasure the time I was able to spend with my parents, brother and sister and their families and have many great memories.
Then came the almost unbearable challenge of seeing Gary, Daniel and Nicholas board the plane. God in His goodness didn't let us know ahead of time that our separation would have been as long as it was, otherwise I don't know if I could have said goodbye.
The separation was long and hard, but as I reflect I see the Lord's goodness to us. He sustained, protected us and gave us wonderful opportunities to teach our children what it meant to trust in the Lord, especially when life doesn't seem to make sense.
I have experienced the discipline of the Lord as we tried so much to hurry the process to get us home only to have the Lord delay the process as we weren't waiting on Him.
I have experienced the incredible peace that passes all understanding, when I traveled to London for my final interview KNOWING that the Lord was with me. Then I felt the wrenching bitter sweet emotions as I left my parents and siblings again, yet eagerly anticipating my reunion with my husband and sons.
I have watched the Lord bring my visa earlier than expected and see Him work out the details so that just 40 hours after it arrived we were on a plane headed for Chicago and back in St Louis in time for the girls to sing "Nothing is impossible with God"
I have relaxed in the arms of my husband's embrace after 4 months apart and have learned to appreciate him and our family even more.
I have seen the Lord, provide abundantly for our needs. We returned to this country with nothing but our suitcases and an additional 150 cubic foot of items we shipped, yet I sit in a home that is fully furnished. We have asked nobody for anything, but the Lord has been gracious and through the body of Christ He has provided all we have needed.
The biggest lesson I have learned from this past year, I think, is to just wait on the Lord. I know that sounds so easy, and I still struggle with it because I'm not very patient, BUT I have seen Him at work and know that He will make my paths straight, if I just wait on Him. Not always will the direction make sense to me, but His ways are always right and in His footsteps I will continue to walk.
Michelle
We began last year living in Leeds, England working with WEC International, yet eagerly anticipating our move to Zambia, which was planned for March. Through the challenges of planning another international move we had the excitement of knowing that the Lord wanted us to move to Zambia to work with just a few of the thousands of orphans in that country. We saw Him move mountains to get us there and gently lead us when we arrived, only to realize after a few short weeks that due to lies and possible corruption we were unable to continue with our partner in the ministry. Without this partner we couldn't stay in Zambia. The pain was deep as I grieved over the death of the dream and listened to our children cry as they too dealt with the pain of leaving many desperate children behind.
Upon our return to England I had the joy of surprising my sister as I appeared on her doorstep, while she thought I was still in Zambia. The look of surprise on her face - priceless.
We struggled through the next few weeks as we sought the Lord as to His direction for our lives. We had the opportunity to remain in England, return to the States or try to return to Africa. Wherever we looked we found the door to Africa closed and we knew our decision was between England and America. After much prayer we were led by God to return to the States, the reason being that in this country we can adopt again - and that is truly the desire of our hearts.
But our return would not be easy as I had to apply for my residency permit to be reinstated. We applied and waited.
During our wait I had the joy of seeing my 92 year old grandmother just days before she passed away in May, and visit my 98 year old grandmother (who passed away just a few weeks ago). I also treasure the time I was able to spend with my parents, brother and sister and their families and have many great memories.
Then came the almost unbearable challenge of seeing Gary, Daniel and Nicholas board the plane. God in His goodness didn't let us know ahead of time that our separation would have been as long as it was, otherwise I don't know if I could have said goodbye.
The separation was long and hard, but as I reflect I see the Lord's goodness to us. He sustained, protected us and gave us wonderful opportunities to teach our children what it meant to trust in the Lord, especially when life doesn't seem to make sense.
I have experienced the discipline of the Lord as we tried so much to hurry the process to get us home only to have the Lord delay the process as we weren't waiting on Him.
I have experienced the incredible peace that passes all understanding, when I traveled to London for my final interview KNOWING that the Lord was with me. Then I felt the wrenching bitter sweet emotions as I left my parents and siblings again, yet eagerly anticipating my reunion with my husband and sons.
I have watched the Lord bring my visa earlier than expected and see Him work out the details so that just 40 hours after it arrived we were on a plane headed for Chicago and back in St Louis in time for the girls to sing "Nothing is impossible with God"
I have relaxed in the arms of my husband's embrace after 4 months apart and have learned to appreciate him and our family even more.
I have seen the Lord, provide abundantly for our needs. We returned to this country with nothing but our suitcases and an additional 150 cubic foot of items we shipped, yet I sit in a home that is fully furnished. We have asked nobody for anything, but the Lord has been gracious and through the body of Christ He has provided all we have needed.
The biggest lesson I have learned from this past year, I think, is to just wait on the Lord. I know that sounds so easy, and I still struggle with it because I'm not very patient, BUT I have seen Him at work and know that He will make my paths straight, if I just wait on Him. Not always will the direction make sense to me, but His ways are always right and in His footsteps I will continue to walk.
Michelle
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Christian Beliefs Harmful to Children!!!!
Monday was a very sad day for Christians and foster children in Britain as a High Court judge ruled that a Christian couple could not become foster parents because their religious beliefs on sexual matters may be hostile to children. The High Court took into consideration a recommendation from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which suggested that children should not be infected with Christian moral beliefs
Can you believe it? Can it really be bad for children to be taught what the Bible says on these matters???!!!
You can read about the case here.
The Christian Legal Centre responded with these words
"The Law has been increasingly interpreted by Judges in a way that favours homosexual rights over freedom of conscience. Significant areas of public life are now becoming out of bounds for Christians who do not want to compromise their beliefs. If Christian morals are harmful to children and unacceptable to the State, then how many years do we have before natural children start being taken away from Christians?"
So how should we react to this distressing news? To say 'never mind' or 'someone else can foster and adopt these children'? May that NEVER be!!
Let us go to our knees, repent before our Father in Heaven for the sins of our nations.
'if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' 2 Chronicles 7:14
And while we still have the opportunity in America, let us foster and adopt before the door is closed to us too. Let us show Christ's love to these children while we still have the opportunity to do so!!!
Michelle
Can you believe it? Can it really be bad for children to be taught what the Bible says on these matters???!!!
You can read about the case here.
The Christian Legal Centre responded with these words
"The Law has been increasingly interpreted by Judges in a way that favours homosexual rights over freedom of conscience. Significant areas of public life are now becoming out of bounds for Christians who do not want to compromise their beliefs. If Christian morals are harmful to children and unacceptable to the State, then how many years do we have before natural children start being taken away from Christians?"
So how should we react to this distressing news? To say 'never mind' or 'someone else can foster and adopt these children'? May that NEVER be!!
Let us go to our knees, repent before our Father in Heaven for the sins of our nations.
'if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' 2 Chronicles 7:14
And while we still have the opportunity in America, let us foster and adopt before the door is closed to us too. Let us show Christ's love to these children while we still have the opportunity to do so!!!
Michelle
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