Foundational Truths for Our Understanding of Missions

Our understanding of missions is rooted in the nature and identity of God. The more we understand God and His nature, the more clearly we see our mission in the world. Four eternal truths help us establish a strong theological underpinning for our mission activity. 

 ·         God is a Missionary God. Our Creator is one who sends and is sent. "For God so loved the world that he gave [sent] his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God called Abram to leave his country, his people and his home, so that He could bless all peoples on earth through him (Genesis 12:1-3). Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt declaring, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:4-7). God now sends His church to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).  Jesus, the Son came “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). We have been created in God’s image. Those restored to His image are sent into the world to fulfill His mission.

 ·         God Calls His Servants to Join Him in His Mission. “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe — as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building” (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).  Only God can provide the increase, yet He calls us to plant and water. I am always amazed when I hear that God has called me to be His “fellow worker” in His mission. This understanding motivates me not to ask the Lord to bless what I am doing but rather to ask Him to involve me in what He is blessing.

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One of the most significant questions we ask is “Why are we here? Why do we exist? What is our ultimate purpose in life?”  I don’t propose to have a “lock” on the answer to those eternal questions, but those questions point to the issue of priority. What is our most important purpose in life? In the past, l have answered this question with the statement, “We are to share the good news of Jesus with the world.” Mission or evangelism was the number one priority in my mind. However, several years ago, I allowed the word of God to change my perspective on what is the “first thing” in the life of a Christian. God himself identifies his priority which must become my priority.

Look at Isaiah 48:9-11. Israel has once again been rebellious. God is about to bring His wrath against Israel. He says, “For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you…For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.”  God’s priority was for His name to be glorified throughout his creation.  God’s priority becomes our priority.  Our purpose in life is to glorify God.

Jesus reminds us of our identity.  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Our reason for existence is to glorify our Heavenly Father.

If we are putting first things first, we must remember that we are to glorify the Lord in all that we do.  When we have these priorities out of place missions can actually become an idol. We can actually allow what we define as “missions” to become “the Lord” and allow ourselves to be motivated to let the end justify the means. The reason that we are involved in missions around the globe is so that God might be glorified. Somewhere in a hut or a hamlet, in a heart or a home, God is not being glorified. Let’s be the presence and the witness of God’s good news, so that He will be praised everywhere. May we live in such a way that God is always glorified.  1 Corinthians 10:31.

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For several years, Jackson Browne and I have been “mowing buddies.” I know you have never thought of Jackson Browne as being involved in lawn care and some of you have never thought of Jackson Browne at all. I listened to his music during my college years and now have a habit of listening to him as I am mowing the lawn. One of my favorite songs by Jackson Browne is “The Rebel Jesus;” a Christmas song.  I am not a Scrooge or a Grinch. I enjoy the Christmas season.  I get excited when Starbucks starts serving coffee in their red Christmas cups and I’m always a little sad when Christmas is over. Our family has had a great time this Christmas. We, like others, are becoming more reflective as a year ends and a new one begins. Unfortunately, during the holiday season we often allow consumerism and materialism to control our thoughts and our activities. This is where Jackson Browne comes into the picture. The rebel in me says life should be characterized by simplicity, service and giving to others. As a new year begins, I need to be reminded of the importance of being a “rebel” in a consumer driven society. I need to be reminded that the Jesus I follow is in fact a rebel and goes against the flow of today’s culture.

The Rebel Jesus

Lyrics by Jackson Browne

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgment
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

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The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  James 5:16

 It was just a simple prayer, but it communicated more than words alone could ever express. Our daughter, Meagan is in her final year of medical school and doing her rotations in various specialties at Texas Tech University Health Science Center.  I was in Lubbock to help our son, Ryan move in to a house after returning from Italy. As we were working, Meagan said, “Daddy, I have a favor to ask you. Would you go to the hospital with me to pray with a man in Spanish?” She explained, that a man in MICU and his family had been asking for a Spanish-speaking priest who could pray with them. They had been able to find a priest but he only spoke English.  I couldn’t refuse my daughter’s caring request.

Meagan entered the room first and told the patient that I was a minister who spoke Spanish and would like to pray with him. She asked permission to tell me the details of his medical condition. She explained to me that he was in his 50’s and had a terminal illness. He had never been in the hospital before. We put on gloves and gowns before we entered his room.  Two family members were with him and I asked permission to read and pray with him. He could not talk but shook his head, “yes.”  I read Psalms 23 and prayed for healing, peace, faith and grace.

I learned a couple of lessons in those few short minutes.  First, I was taught by the faith, compassion and persistence of my daughter. As I prayed, she looked into the patient’s eyes and said she could only see fear. We both were touched by his desire to have a connection to his Creator at this time full of uncertainty.  It is true that no matter where we have been in life, when we come face to face with our mortality, we search for our Heavenly Father. The second thing that I was reminded of was the power of a simple prayer in one’s heart language.   He could not talk but his request spoke volumes. I don’t know his standing in his relationship with the Lord. I will let the Lord be the judge.  However, the patient’s request reminded me everyone’s need to hear from and be heard by their Father.

 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16

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The Power of the Story of Jesus - I often fall into the trap of believing that the word of God needs my help. I unfortunately am tempted to put more trust in my illustrations, explanations and abilty to teach the word of God. The simple but powerful method we utilized in Romania was simply reading together from the Bible, the Story of Jesus. Questions, comments and discussions that took place during our reading sessions reminded me once again, I am simply a tool, a vessel, a jar of clay in God's hands (2 Corinthians 4:7). The power is in the good news message that God has given to me (Romans 1:16-17). One of my readers was a young man named Gabriel (I have his permission to use his story). Gabriel is 17 and in his senior year of high school. He is from an Orthodox background. I was impressed with his spiritual insights. He shared with me his perspective of the "big story." In his view various Christian groups may have their own story that may differ some, however he said, "We all share one big story that is most important." I asked him to tell me the "big story." He said, "it is exactly what we are reading about, the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He is the 'big story.'"  I seem to have read that in Paul's writings as well. Paul resolved to know nothing while he was with the Corinthians expect Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

The Importance of Relationships - One of the friends I met and read with for two weeks in Romania was a single woman who worked at night at the local newspaper. She sadly was estranged from her sister and would only see her mother briefly each week. She did not want to read at first thinking that her English was not good enough. I convinced her to give it a try. She understood more than she could speak. During a conversation about the "friends of Jesus." I asked her about her friends. She said, "I do not have any friends. That is one of the reasons why I like coming to read with your group. I enjoy having someone to listen to me and to talk to each day." I had fun with her as she could not stop laughing at her confusion over English numbers. I will continue to pray for her that she will come to know Jesus as her friend and as He brings her into a relationship with a loving family. I thought about hours we may spend in planning, strategizing, preparing and talking about reaching out to the world. Somewhere in all of that talk, I need to return to one on one relationships with people who just need a friend and need to be introduced to the Best of Friends. 

The Joy of Ministering with Family - My wife, Sherry works with Let's Start Talking (LST) as their Project Site Coordinator. I have known of and partnered with LST for years. However, seeing more of the inside of the ministry, I have even gained a greater respect for this simple and powerful method of "sharing Jesus and sharing ourselves." It is one method of helping people find a way to connect with others and share their faith in Jesus.  Our son, Ryan has been serving in Prato, Italy for the last year and a half as a part of the Adventures in Missions (AIM) program. Mike and Anto Mahan are the missionaries who coordiante Ryan's work along with his four teammates. It has been a good and challenging experience for Ryan. Mike and Anto gave Ryan and his teammate, Josie Collins permission to join Sherry and I in the two week LST project.  It was a good experience for us all. Working, praying, cooking, planning and sharing together was an encouraging experience. We all took a step outside of our comfort zone and grew to be a little more like Jesus because of it. I have a wonderful wife who has been side-by-side with me through 28 years of marriage and ministry. God is blessing us at this stage of our life and family to find new ways to  challenge ourselves and grow in ministry together. 

The Strength of Faithful Christians - We worked with and met with the brothers and sisters of the Agape Church in Sfantu, Gheorghe. They may be small in number but they are faithful in spirit and in their walk with the Lord. We were encouraged by Maria as she would come by each day to read with Sherry. However, she only wanted to read if we had the time. She did not want to take the time away from someone else with whom we could be reading the gospe.l Stafan served us in multiple ways by picking us up in Bucharest, waiting for seven hours as one of our teammates flight was delayed and driving through the night so we could join the family of God on Sunday. As we sang in Romanian, Hungarian and English with the church for the two Sundays we enjoyed being with them, I thought of the multitudes of faithful Christians around the globe, seeking to live faithfully as salt and light in a dark world. I was reminded that the only responsibilty of a steward entrusted with the story of Jesus is to be faithful to the task ( 1 Corinthians 4:1-5). We cannot control the results. We are simply to remain faithful to the task that God has given us. Learn the lessons along the way as God transforms us into His image. 

May I continue to allow these lessons to change me, transform me and conform me to the image of Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to learn and grow with you.

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This morning in my reading and in our LST devotional, I was impressed with Psalm 19:1-2 in the Easy to Read Version, "The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made.  Each new day tells more of the story, each night reveals more and more about God's power."  

I  know the context is refering to God's creation, the sun and moon, as they give witness to God and His power. However, as I read it, I not only heard that message but I was encouraged to be open to what God has in store for me this day. I thought ahead to the activities of the day and realized that this day and the experiences ahead will tell me more of the story. The night will remind me of God's power, grace and peace. This day, I want to be a student.I want to be open to God's work in me, through me and around me. I want God to add to His story in my life. 

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Thanks to all for the prayers. We made it safely and well to Sfantu Gheorge (St. George), Romania. Our son, Ryan was flying in from Florence via Rome, his teammate Josie Collins was flying in from spending a couple of days in Germany with friends. When Sherry and I arrived on time in Bucharest, Josie was waiting for us. Ryan was to arrive an hour later. Stefan, a good brother from St. George arrived to pick us up and drive us the 3+ hours to the site. When Ryan did not arrive, I had to connect my iPhone to see if he had tried to contact us. His flight from Florence to Rome was canceled, so Alitalia put him on a bus to travel the four hours to Rome so he could catch a late flight out of Rome. He arrived in Bucharest about 1am. We waited the 5+ hours in a McDonalds (free parking and wifi). Stefan thought it best to go ahead and drive through the night to St. George. We arrived at 4 am and enjoyed 4 hours of sleep before we joined the church this morning for their celebration. God was good to take care of us in the journey and we enjoyed the time to visit, play cards and relax.

This morning was so encouraging with the church. They are accustomed to LST groups coming regularly and they are so welcoming and encouraging. We enjoyed singing in three languages Romanian, Hungarian and English. I was able to share a message during the Lord’s Supper with Stefan translating and I later thought, “we had two very tired, sleepy men trying to speak and translate without much available brain power.” I know some of you will say that it normal for me! J

We had fun finding our way around this beautiful city. We have our information session with the readers tomorrow afternoon and begin reading on Tuesday. The apartment we are staying in is very comfortable and has all we need. A trip to the store has stocked the cupboards, so we are ready to go! Thank you for the prayers. Pray for Sherry, Josie, Ryan and me that we share Jesus and share ourselves with those we read with this week.

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In Malaysia, outside of Kuala Lumpur the PP Church of Christ in Singapore gathered for their 18th Annual Family Camp. I was honored to speak four times on the Communion, Community and Commission of the church. The Pasir Panjang church is a very unique and healthy church. Henry Kong, their minister has been with the church from it's beginning 45+ years ago. The church has five elders, many active servant leaders and a spirit of local and global missions.

One of the exciting elements of their camp is the foreign missionaries they bring in to share in the experience. Brothers and sisters from Myanmar, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India and Bangladesh attended the camp. These missionaries shared in a World Cafe, where they set up tables showing how God is at work in their ministry. Members went from table to table hearing about God's work around Asia. I see the PP church as following the example of NT Churches like Antioch and Ephesus as they impact their region for the kingdom.

I don't know that I have been around such a group who are as hungry and thirsty to be obedient disciples. Of course, they have their weaknesses as we all do. However, I see that God is being glorified through the church that meets on Pasir Panjang Road in Singapore.

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I have been traveling with Alan Phillips in Australia and New Zealand. It has been a full, eventful and fruitful trip. Our first stop was Sydney, Australia. We had an enjoyable time with Cory, Emily and Enoch Mullins in Wollongong, outside of Sydney. They are on a mission team with Jason, Nicole, Ella and Noah Whaley, who are in the States on furlough. I was impressed with their perseverance in seeking people of peace and finding ways to engage the culture and community.

Next we traveled to Gosford, just north of Sydney. We stayed with Craig and Tomya Peters, who are directing the Short Term Australian Missions Program (STAMP). It is an apprentice training program for college age men and women. The Peters were great hosts. I enjoyed preaching and teaching at the Gosford Church of Christ on Sunday. They truly are a wonderful family of God, hungry for the truth and seeking to join God in His mission of kingdom expansion in Australia and in their world. Meeting with the Shepherds and the ministry team was a joy. I loved hearing of their dreams and plans they are submitting to the Lord.  

On Sunday afternoon there was a birthday party reception held for Maxine Klingenberg. Maxine and her husband Don have been long time missionaries in Australia and are loved by so many. I was overwhelmed to see so many who had traveled from so many places and churches around Australia to come and honor the work of God through the Klingenbergs. I connected with a few former AIM students and met HIM apprentice workers and campaigners from Oklahoma Christian. I was touched to see Christians coming together from all over Australia. They obviously have a love for one another and a desire to be united for God’s glory.

One of the other highlights of my time in Gosford was having lunch with Peter and Marina Gray.  They shared with us interesting statistical information about the status of the church in Australia. I was encouraged to see growth and stability in several congregations.  I believe that God is doing something special among his people in Australia.

Our time in Australia was short but a blessing to my life and ministry. I pray that God will use his people Down Under to expand his kingdom in ways beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21).

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One of the greatest blessings in my recent trip to Prato, Italy was the lessons I learned from the Lord as I saw Him at work through His people. I naturally enjoyed seeing how God is at work in Ryan’s life. I see that Ryan is growing in his trust and confidence in the Lord. I see him growing as a servant to influence others for the Lord. I see him growing to be more dependent upon the Lord and more interdependent in his relationships with others. I also enjoyed visiting with the missionaries and the AIM coordinators in Prato, Mike and Anto Mahan. Mike is an ex-AIMer who was in school at Sunset about the time Sherry and I returned from Mexico. Anto is Italian and does a wonderful job of encouraging, mothering and helping the AIM team with language and cultural learning. I enjoyed my talks with Mike and Anto. It reminds me that often those of us in ministry, particularly in mission work need to talk to others who share our ministry experience. Mike has been laboring in Italy for over 15 years and is one of the longest serving missionaries now in the country even though he is from a younger generation. I also enjoyed listening how God has worked in the lives of Roger and Heather Mahan who serve in Pistoia. I was so encouraged to hear of their faithfulness even through difficult and lonely times. I have great respect for missionaries who are faithful and persevering.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons I learned came from the AIM team itself; Shae Baker, Josie Collins, Osiris Hernandez, Ryan Jarboe and Matt Tracy. I spent time with them in a devotional on their day off. They encouraged me with their joyful, heart-felt singing and I was instructed through their insight into Scripture as they read 1 Peter and shared what God was teaching them through the text. I heard them apply the word of God to their lives as they saw those who were aliens and strangers, yet called to live faithful, holy and Christ-like lives in a world that is not their own. I listened with a strong sense of humility realizing I was in the midst of people truly living for the Lord, struggling to be obedient disciples.

I was able to understand some of the Italians using a mix of Spanish, Italian, English and pure guess work. I was encouraged by their passion for word of God and for their service to one another. I smiled as one of the sisters came to me and pointed to Ryan and made sure I knew that he is a “good boy, doing a good work with the church.” A parent needs to hear comments like that every once and while.

I praise God for the lessons learned through my brothers and sisters laboring in Prato, Italy. God is at work in His kingdom.  I want to continue to learn the lessons He wants to teach me.

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It was an unexpected trip. Sherry and I are planning to visit Ryan in Italy later this year in September. However, I had a couple of trips that were planned for March and April that were postponed, so Sherry felt that Ryan and I needed to spend some time together Sherry is busy getting the preparation done for Let's Start Talking Teams to go to the field to share Jesus and themselves with people around the globe. She could not take time away from her ministry, so she made the sacrifice.  She made the decision since I was not traveling for ministry that I needed to travel for family. She quickly got on the internet, used some of our mileage and said, "Here are your tickets leaving on the 5th of April and returning on the 13th, I am about to purchase them." When you wife says you are going to Italy to see your son, one does not argue!

I flew into Rome and Ryan had given me instructions on how to take a train from the airport to the main train terminal in Rome where he would meet me. On the short train ride, I did what I general do on foreign trips, I wrote a prayer in my journal asking the Lord to use me, teach me and accomplish His will on the trip. I had just finished that journal entry and looked out the window and saw the sign that said, Roma Termini. I will never forget the feeling, my heart jumped and all I could say was "I am going to see my son!" It has been almost a year and it will be over a year until Sherry sees Ryan. My wife had given me a special blessing that even I did not know how much I needed, to see my son and see how God is at work in his life. 

It has been awesome to be in Rome, Prato and today going to Florence. However, the greatest blessing has been to be with my son, his mission team, his coordinators and the church in Prato. I have seen growth take place through trials, through being surrounded by good people and through time in the word and prayer. I praise God for a wonderful wife, willing to make a sacrifice and a son growing in the Lord.

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You would think that moving from Lubbock, Texas to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas would not bring any culture shock at all. That is where you are wrong.  What we call culture shock can have little to do with culture itself.  Culture Shock is “generally defined as a psychological disorientation that most people experience when living in a culture markedly different from one’s own.”  I don’t want to diminish the significant of the cultural adjustment that missionaries and other experience by moving to a distinct and different culture from their own. There are very significant challenges in such a move. However, I want to also understand that inherit in this culture shock experience is the sense of loss or even grief that one experiences in a move from one place which has been a place providing security and identity to a new place yet to provide those needs of belonging and purpose.

 Sherry and I have enjoyed a very significant relationship with people in Lubbock, Texas for more than 31 years. We met at the Sunset Church of Christ, grew up spiritually there and were married in the Sunset building. The Sunset church became our sponsoring church for the 6 years we spent in Mexico City. Yes, we did go through some culture shock in our move to Mexico City. However, I went through a greater transition in moving back to Lubbock after 6 years in Mexico. This fun experience is often called “reverse culture shock.” Part of my disorientation in returning was trying to figure out which words to use. The Spanish language was more expressive to me and more meaningful than English which somehow did not seem to express my true emotions at times. I even had a hard time deciding which Bible to teach from. A New International Version did not sound like or feel like the “word of God” to me. So I would often go into the classroom with my Spanish Bible in hand feeling more confident that God was truly speaking through “that Bible.”  I remember feeling that I was listening, speaking words, but just did not seem to connect with people around me. I felt like I was often in a fog not truly connecting and not truly being understood. It was all of part of the disorientation in moving from one environment to another.

 Fast forward to 2010, after year in life, ministry and community in Lubbock, Sherry and I made a move to an exciting ministry with Missions Resource Network.  We knew there would be changes, challenges and adjustments to new friends, new styles of ministry and the dreaded traffic in the metroplex. Yet we were somewhat surprised with the difficulty of this move. I began working with churches and mission teams as Sherry started looking for a job which we were confident that the Lord had in store for her. I taught churches and missionaries about the culture shock they would need to be prepared for as they or their missionaries went to their new mission field. I found myself using my wife, Sherry as an example (with her permission of course). Imagine all the relationships and environment around Sherry in Lubbock that gave her a sense of security, identity, purpose and belonging. Of course, you begin by mentioning Jay, the most important support, the husband. Others include: children; church community; a close small group we were a part of; an accountability group of two close friends;  a job where she found purposed and identity; a house that provide sense of security, her nest; a city where she knew where to shop, a doctor, a dentist she knew and trusted, the list goes on and on. Then comes the move away from those things and the relationship with children and friends are not completely gone but for all practical purposes are to some degree lost. The only relationship left standing that remains physically present is the husband, who all of a sudden is not much help. The good news is those relationships have not been lost and all of that support network will be expanded and replaced in the new location. However, it takes time. Disorientation sets in and loss brings some level of grief.

 Remember I said that those things you have lost will all be replaced with time. More than a year later we see God’s blessings in our life already.  Relationships are forming, community is being build and renewed purpose if found in new ministry with Let’s Start Talking and Missions Resource Network.  Change sometimes brings about challenges, loss and grief.  However we are finding that it also brings about transformation as God continues to shape us and mold us for service in His kingdom.  Culture shock often has little to do with culture, it can be a tool that God uses to form us into the image of His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18: Galatians 4:17). Perhaps part of the journey is discovering that home is wherever Jesus is and we are simply aliens in this life and we find our security, belonging, purpose and identity in God’s house, God’s life (Ephesians 2:19). In a sense, culture shock is a process that helps us to not get too comfortable where we are, but to realize we find true belonging in the presence of our Creator. 

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One of the lessons that I have learned in this year of transition is the special blessing of God’s gift of purpose. I believe that most human beings want to make a difference, want to be worth something to someone else and want to truly be of value in this world. That is why Paul’s word in Ephesians speak volumes to me, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10.

            My first couple of days in my new ministry at Missions Resource Network back in January of 2010, were a little overwhelming. I sat down with the MRN team and begin to discuss the teams they were helping to train, the churches they were ministering to and the international mission fields that were opening doors of opportunity. I was given one opportunity after another to travel and work with teams, churches and mission fields. Half way through the conversation the team realized that they were loading me down rather quickly and began to pull back from asking me to join them in various trips. One opportunity in particular began to haunt me. I felt like I should go even though the team had “let me off of the hook.”  I went to bed that night with the story of Jesus in my mind. It is recorded in Luke 4 that at daybreak Jesus went out to solitary place (presumably to pray, see Luke 5:16). However, the people went looking for him and found him. His response was what stuck in my mind, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God, to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” Luke 4:43.  I woke up the next day asking myself the question, “why was I sent, why I have I come to MRN?” I did not come to shy away, I did not come to avoid risks, and I did not come to protect myself. I came to help God’s people pursue the mission of God.  That led me to go back to the team and say, “I think the best way for me to adjust is to dive in to the work, therefore, I want to join you in that opportunity.” Now, taking time to rest, be with family, renew and retool is important for all of us and is another lesson learned for another discussion. God has called us to be His “fellow workers” in His mission (1 Corinthians 3:9). I have been told that we need to spend at least 65% of our time in the area of our giftedness, passion and calling.

This year has been fast paced and at times overwhelming, however one thing I have learned is that when you are living in what people call your “sweet spot” it is renewing and invigorating. Too many of us are not using the gifts God has given us. We are not spending the majority of our time pursuing the real passion that God has place in our heart. God has blessed me to live long enough to see that my study, preparation, experiences, gifts and passions all converge in equipping churches to be and make disciples in their region and around the world.  Lord, thank you for giving me an eternal reason to live.

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It was one year ago. Sherry and I started our new journey, our year of transition. We left a family and ministry we enjoyed for 30 years. We followed the call of God to use our giftedness, experience and passion to focus on seeing the mission of God accomplished around the globe. It has definitely been an adventure. The Lord has blessed us with many opportunities.

Sherry is serving as the Project SiteCoordinator at Let’s Start Talking. She is able to empower hundreds to share their lives and share Jesus around the world. These mission teams use a powerful tool of helping people improve their English through reading and having conversations around the word of God.

I have had unbelievable opportunities with the team at Missions Resource Network as their Director of Church Equipping. The Lord has used me to help churches send out new missionaries, revision their mission ministry and grow to be better partners with God in His mission. I have been encouraged to personally see God at work through His people in Mexico, Singapore, the Philippines, New Zealand and in multiple sites in the United States.

God has blessed us, led us and taught us some important lessons. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing lessons that the Lord has taught us through this past year of transition.  

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

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The second stop on our New Zealand journey was in Tauranga. I was so impressed with God's work through the Otumoetai church of Christ and the South Pacific Bible College. I learned a great deal from my brothers and sisters in Tauranga. I was impressed with their faithful service in the South Pacific and beyond. I was inspired by how God has used them to expand his kingdom. I was also excited about the great potential I see in the church and in the college.

Alan and I were able to spend significant time with both the faculty and staff at the SPBC and the leadership of the Otumoetai church. We listened as they recounted their history and how God had brought them to this point in their history. We were inspired by their honesty in evaluating their strengths and areas of needed growth. We were excited as they began to envision their future and identify specific steps which they want to take to see God's vision become a reality in New Zealand, the South Pacific and beyond.

I have heard of the Otumoetai church and SPBC in Tauranga for years and I now know that all of the wonderful things I have heard are indeed true and perhaps a little bit of an understatement. We were able to deepen great kingdom relationships, learn from what God is doing and begin to take steps of deeper partnership to join God's work in the  South Pacific. I am resisting the temptation to begin to mention names, however there are so many godly servants and good friend in Tauranga it would talk me longer than I have now to mention everyone. I am sure you will be hearing more about those in Tauranga as God continues to teach me through their life and service. Pray that God will continue to use His people in New Zealand for His glory!

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Auckland New Zealand is known as the "City of Sails." It is a beautiful city with a distinct skyline, a beautiful view and an international feel.

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In October, I was blessed to travel with Alan Philips, Missions Resource Network's Associate Director and our Facilitator for Church Planting in the South Pacific. Our first stop was in Auckland, New Zealand. Several years ago MRN partnered together with Sunset International Bible Institute in training a three family mission team for Auckland, New Zealand. Justin, Jennifer, Rylee and Gavin Cherry; Skylar and Morgan Ely and Elijah, Kristen and Caden Peters have been working to begin a new work in the largest city in New Zealand. They have invited two new families to join their ministry in Auckland. Paul, Melanie, Rylan and Kason Partlow along with John, Tiffany, Hayden and Hudson Sanders will be joining the Auckland Mission Team in February, Lord willing.  Paul and John traveled to New Zealand to join us in a Team Building Seminar with the men on the team. Several days were spent in sharing our stories of how God has brought each one of us to this point, discussing unique giftedness, God-given personality and team roles. Adding two new families to an established team is not always easy and we are making sure we are giving the missionary families every advantage in this transition. Ultimately though, God will guide and lead each team members as they incorporate into a new work and a new team. 

I was impressed with the way that the Auckland Team has integrated themselves into life in New Zealand and particularly into the lives of many in the Massey area. They have truly become servants in their community, showing all they desire to help people grow to know the Lord in word and in walk. I was also impressed with the importance of every mission team keeping  themselves spiritually healthy, relationally strong and focused intently on their calling and their reason for existence. It was good to hear the Auckland team process their areas of strengths and their desire to grow as a team, as missionaries and as a young church.

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I was also able to meet Logan and Jennifer Rosenbalm, who are interns working with the church in Auckland. They are recent graduates from Oklahoma Christian University. They are doing a wonderful job of serving, learning and sharing the love of Jesus.  There also three missionary apprentices from the Adventures in Missions program working with the mission team. I was able to enjoy a Starbuck's coffee with Cody Marceau, Van Pramulwong and Chris Willis who are from the same AIM class as my son, Ryan. I enjoyed listening to their excitement about the opportunity that God has placed in front of them. I was challenged as I listened to the difficulties they have faced, yet encouraged by their perseverance and desire to grow and be used by God. I even was able to witness the Peters and the AIM guys make their presentation to the 2010 AIM Class in Lubbock. 

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God is being glorified through the lives and service of these missionaries, interns and missionary apprentices. Pray for missionaries around the world as they submit to God's work in them, through them and around them for His glory. 

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Paul led the group in discovery through the story of Nehemiah. We were overwhelmed with how Nehemiah's story spoke so clearly into the current story of the Mexican churches. We joined Nehemiah in prayer and confession. We were motivated to take steps of faith through Nehemiah's example. His exploration of the fallen wall around Jerusalem became our honest evaluation of the current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat we see in the churches in Mexico City. I was impressed with the vision and boldness of these servant leaders as they committed to specific steps of faith to join God in His work. Nehemiah even reminded us that there will be opposition and attacks from Satan from within and without. However these brothers and sisters have proven through their faithful lives that all that is required is faith in God and perseverance in the journey. I am excited to see how God will work through these four congregations together with strong partner relationships to expand the kingdom of God in the great city of Mexico.

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I have been behind on my blog posts and sharing about God's work through those of us at Missions Resource Network www.mrnet.org.  The 4th of October, I was blessed to travel with Paul Dowell, the Dean of Missions at Sunset International Bible Institute and Missions Minister at the Sunset Church in Lubbock. We traveled to Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. We were able to spend three days in Cuernavaca with two mission teams working in that city. Doug and Sandy Holcomb, Ben and Karen Jenkins and Zack Williams form a mission team that has been at work for many years and involved in planting two churches in the city. We spent time listening, praying and sharing with these missionaries to encourage and help them move forward in their mission. One of the major items that came to the surface in our time with these servants was the need to equip the members for their work in God's kingdom. It is so easy for all of us in missions to lose sight of our primary role, that of equipping others for their work of service (Ephesians 4:11ff). I look forward to seeing how the Holcomb and Jenkins families along with Zack put a major priority on equipping and empowering their brothers and sister in Cuernavaca to lead the work in that city.  

Paul and I were also able to spend time with a new team in the midst of language and cultural adjustment in Cuernavaca in preparation for their own mission. We spend individual time with the Reyes, Garcia and Sims families. They have only been in Mexico for 4 months. I was impressed with the way they have settled in  and given themselves to language and cultural preparation. They have taken significant steps in building relationships with the Mexican people both in the church and in the community. They will be spending 8 more months in Cuernavaca before they launch off into a new church plant in another city or another part of Cuernavaca. Pray for their growth and wisdom for their future plans. 

I was again encouraged to see God as work through His people to spread His good news. It reminded me of God's promise to Israel and its application to His work today.

"I will send some of those who survive to the nations...an to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations." Isaiah 66:19

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Ryan, my son is working in Prato, Italy as an apprentice missionary in the Adventures in Missions program (www.aimsunset.org). The other day we were exchanging emails. I had sent to all my family my busy travel schedule for October. Ryan has a trip coming up to Scotland. We asked him to send us his travel schedule. The email that contained his travel schedule began with this phrase, "I am my father's son..." In reality he was poking fun at me for sharing my travels with everyone. 

Today, I read a blog post from Ryan and I have to admit he is much more than His father's son. He has insight that I am certain I did not have at 21 years of age. I am  proud of how I see God at work in my children's life. Meagan, who is in her 3rd year of Medical School was visiting this weekend and spoke of surgical procedures and diagnosis that I couldn't even pronounce correctly. Ryan has a depth of insight into truth and Scripture that encourage me. I have am encouraged and instructed by the examples of my children. Check out Ryan's blog at...

http://ryandouglasjarboe.posterous.com/character-flaws

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