In 1987 my wife Katie and I led our very first group of teenagers onto the mission field of Guatemala, believing their eyes would be opened to the deep need for God’s Word to be shared in other cultures the same way we had witnessed on our own 6-month trip all around the world just a short time before that.

We could never have guessed that this first trip with 60 teenagers would be the starting point for Global Expeditions and that after 25 years we would see over 67,000 missionaries make a difference in more than 69 different countries.

Guatemala is special to me because it’s where this all really started. Global Expeditions has sent other leaders and other missionaries to Guatemala since that first trip, but Katie and I have not had the opportunity to return…until now.

This summer, we are excited to lead another trip to the birthplace of Global Expeditions and we’d like to extend you a personal invitation to come with us. We will do children’s ministry, street drama, and community outreach, all for the sake of taking the life-giving message of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth!

I am excited to see what God has for us this summer in Guatemala and I sincerely hope you are able to join us in this adventure! Find out more about our trip and apply for it at http://www.globalexpeditions.com/mission-trips/summer-trips/latin-america/guatemala/

Consumed by the Call,

Ron Luce

Of course, these words would never leave our mouths, but our actions speak loudly of our agreement with these internal conversations.

Change is possible. I don’t know how many times that I clenched both my teeth and fists and declared through a thick fog of doubt, “Change is possible! I can change. I don’t have to stay this way!” What?! A thick fog of doubt?? Don’t you mean faith?? No, I mean doubt.

Honestly, I had to believe “in theory” on the promises of God and hope it worked. To some who know me, that would be surprising. However, I’ve come to realize pretense, others’ opinion, people’s perception of me is neither worth keeping up or freeing. I had the ability to work myself into a panic when trying to keep everything and everyone lined out and okay. I digress. Back to change….

The Lord, who knows us best, knows the processes we need to go through in order to get us through our season of change. What does this require of us? TRUST. And a whole heck of a lot of it! We have to trust the process of the Lord. We have to continue to trust we can hear His voice. We have to trust He will take care of people and situations we love and care about while we are in the cocoon of spiritual metamorphosis. We have to trust that when He brings us into the fire, He will be with us in it and will help us walk out. He is a “hands-on” God.

I was reminded of a bible story the other day where men would not bow down to the idol a king had set up because they were followers of Christ. I began to wonder what idols I had set up in my life? Failure? Impossibilities? Insecurities? People? Future aspirations?

To “idolize” means: Admire, revere, or love greatly or excessively

Had I revered the power of failure, people, impossibilities, insecurities, future aspirations in my life so much that it surpassed the Lord’s ability to change them, if necessary? In some cases, yes.

Well, here’s the first step to seeing things change in our lives: Make the choice that you can change. That even in the most concrete patterns of our behaviour, the Lord has the ability to penetrate our hearts so the dam breaks and He can come in and heal.

What’s so awesome is that even a crack can weaken the dam.

“Baby steps.” Baby steps of change added together can cover a great distance.

Be encouraged! All is not lost. Joy comes in the morning. Now, when our morning comes is not up to us. But JOY WILL COME! As sure as the sun rises and sets, so will the breaking of the dawn. Joy unspeakable will come!

Grace and Peace,

Melissa King

Global Expeditions: Village Campaign – Click To See the Update!

We want to thank you for what has been given so far! Your heart for leaving a legacy for our future missionaries is overwhelming. Click to see an update of our progress so far from Emmie Harper, Director of Global Expeditions.

Can we go camping?

A fairly simple question, yet how serious and divisive it became at my house growing up.  The mere mention of the word “camping” would evoke an icy look of pure horror from my mother as she contemplated days in the wilderness—days spent entirely without electricity in its various forms (hot water, ovens, hairdryers, etc.) and accompanied by insects of indeterminable size and number (that was undoubtedly the worst part). . . yes, an untold number of hardships and hazards would await us the moment we set out.  Consequently, our camping attempts rarely made it further than the back porch.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of sleeping arrangements—waterbeds, “loft” beds in a college dorm, a queen size bed which I never learned to use more than half of no matter how hard I tried, and a wooden triple bunk bed which I’m fairly certain must have been patented because I’ve never encountered anything like it outside of Teen Mania’s Honor Academy internship.  In all this moving around, however, one thing has remained constant:  everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve had a bed.  I’ve never had any reason to expect otherwise.

One of those “coming of age” things you go through is when you first realize that what you’ve come to view as normal is actually unusual; that there are people in other places whose lives are so dramatically different that you at first don’t know how to respond.  With regard to beds, I think this happened to me when I watched the Invisible Children documentary for the first time.  I can say that was one of those weird moments where you realize that while your brain is comprehending the facts perfectly, your experience is frantically searching (and failing completely) to come up with something from your own life with which you can relate to what you are seeing.

This is the reality for many in Africa.  They move every night because they fear the threat of violence or the ramifications of violence that has occurred already.  They are not sleeping on a bed—they are focused merely on sleeping in a safe enough place that they will still be free and alive the following morning.

To this day, though I can intellectually understand this concept well enough to write about it, the fact that it is reality staggers me.

I think the steps to connecting with someone else’s world are always small ones.  That’s why this week the challenge we are issuing is this:  for one week, sleep on the floor.  Not because this act itself changes things for people in the world, but because it is a first step to changing things.  Because experiencing even a small piece of another person’s life causes you to care more.  Because the difference you can make begins in compassion.

Each night as you lay down to sleep on the floor, pray for those for whom this is a nightly experience.  Pray. . . and see what God does inside of you.

Cheers,

Heidi Buxton

I’ve never quite caught on to the whole Starbucks thing—perhaps because my self-control (or lack thereof) is such that any drink which tastes like liquid candy is gone so rapidly that the price seems higher than I can justify.

But it does make me think.  Have you noticed that holding a Starbucks cup (especially the clear ones with a green straw attached) has become almost an article of clothing?  It’s like we get up in the morning, put on our clothes, add whatever accessories we want, and then pick up the Starbucks cup as the final touch.  And from the point of picking it up, it does not leave our hands for the remainder of the day.

Personally, my beverage of choice is Diet Coke.  Yes, despite knowing full well it is created from fake sugar, carbonated water, and an array of chemicals I can’t pronounce, the promise of a delicious taste for zero calories is more than I can pass up.   Thus despite the obvious wisdom to the contrary, I remain among the most enthusiastic of Diet Coke consumers.

Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and realized you’ve had no actual water all day long?  That somehow you’ve managed to chase away your thirst with a combination of soft drinks, Gatorade, chai tea, and coffee—indeed, that these have so filled your day and filled your mouth that the idea of drinking “plain water” seems ridiculous?  Who needs water when you have such a wide selection of drinks sugared, caffeinated, carbonated, fortified, or blended?

But that’s what makes “here” so different.

 “There”—in Africa—water is not boring.  Far, far from it.  Water is precious.  Water brings life. . . and dirty water brings death.  For millions of people in the world, our body’s desperate need for water is a daily, undeniable, inescapable problem. 

This fact hit me hard.  Realizing that the drink I take for granted—that I so often pass up in favor of something with sugar or artificial coloring—is the very thing that could prevent disease and restore health to so many people whose geographical location has made access to clean water a near impossibility.

What would happen if we actually took time to appreciate what we have?  If we actually treasured our blessings as a first step to sharing them with others?  If you believed that the road to ministry begins in gratitude, what would you be willing to lay aside?

How about the Starbucks?  The diet coke?  The juice, Gatorade, soda, tea?  What if for one week you just drank water, pausing each time you did so to pray for those in other nations, those for whom clean water is a treasure not an expectation?  Would you do it?

THIS IS OUR CHALLENGE:  ONE WEEK. ONLY WATER.

What will happen after that. . . I don’t know.  Perhaps nothing.  Perhaps life will simply go on as it always has.  Or maybe something inside you will change.  Maybe through noticing what you have been blessed with and praying for others, you will want to take another step.  To actually go.  Travel to these people.  Meet them.  Help them.

Could the road that begins in drinking only water for a week possibly end in Africa?  Who knows.

But we think it might.

Cheers,

Heidi Buxton

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”
-David Augsburger, Sticking My Neck Out

When I read this quote, to be honest, I didn’t know who this man was. Afterwards I thought, “I would have loved to have been able to meet him and see what kind of man could inspire others to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.”  I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but reflect on my own life and wonder if what I’m doing inspires people to follow, disciple and ultimately surrender everything for Jesus Christ. Is what I’m doing today making a difference for the moment or for eternity?

James Calvert said, “We died before we came here.” How this follows the scripture, “For am I crucified with Christ, nevertheless, it’s not I who live but Christ who lives in me.” We are no longer our own. We’ve be bought by a very high price.

Where are we leading people today? Are we inspiring them to go to the ends of the earth for Christ? Are we advancing the Kingdom of God by bringing attention and opportunity to reach those who have never heard the gospel? These are questions that matter in the Kingdom and therefore should matter to us.

Take a moment to ask God how you can impact today and tomorrow…for eternity.

Grace and peace,

Melissa King

The Colors of Hope

In many bibles, the words of Jesus are written in red.

What did Jesus say?

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.”

He preached repentance and reconciliation. He preached the Gospel.

In every bible, the actions of Jesus are written in black.

What did Jesus do?

He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He fed the hungry.

If we are His followers, life is never an either/or proposition for us; we must do BOTH.

Speak boldly. Act justly.

We work against injustice.  We seek to change a world in which infants starve to death, children are abducted and forced to kill their own families, AIDS ravages an entire continent, and young girls are forced into prostitution.  We look upon the injustice that hangs over this world—that hangs over Africa—and we take a stand.

But what is the solution?  Greater awareness?  Social justice reforms?

No.  That’s not enough.

It might surprise some. . .even offend some.  But we don’t think the answer is found in the “expected” places.  Not in government programs.  Not in service projects.  Not in education.  Not in awareness.

Are these things good?

Yes.

But there’s something better.

You see, the greatest injustice of all is that entire populations are never given the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel—the only source of true hope.  Other answers offer only temporary solutions, but the hope of Christ pierces the darkness of this world into eternity.

This is what sets us apart from any secular social justice movement…and we must be clear.

Jesus didn’t die just to fix this physical world; He died so that we might be reconciled to Him.

And so we lay out this call to you, in black and. . . red.  Reaching out to physical need: our action.  The hope of the Gospel: our words.

Action is our response to injustice.

We will act by traveling to Africa and ministering to physical needs

And

We will act by speaking the truth and the hope that is to be found in Jesus Christ.

Black. Red.

We will bring the Hope to Africa.

Peace,

Heidi Buxton

This is the portion of scripture that I have been camped on:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Out of the list: Love ‘keep no record of wrongs’ and Love ‘always trusts’ is slamming me in the face.

First, ‘wrongs’ that’s plural. How many times have we been wronged by someone? The same person over and over? Or wronged over and over? Can you count it? If so, you’re keeping record. Such a human tendency but not the road we are called to walk in Christ. We are called to let it go. Don’t keep record. Don’t let playlist stay on repeat. Forgive. It takes the sting out of the wrong. The fact of the matter is, Jesus forgave our biggest wrongs and keeps doing it over and over…and over again. His response to us dictates our response to others.

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Secondly, love ‘always’ trusts. ‘Always’ that means every time all the time. How is that even possible?! Love, as established by God’s principles, functions differently than natural love. It has no strings attached. It says we can’t trust alone. By ourselves, we will not be able to trust. Society has trained us not to.  Are taught to survive and to make sure that we get our share. To look out for number one. God’s principles tell us otherwise. In order for us to be greater, we have to be lowest. We have to trust even when everything in us screams otherwise. We have to rely on Christ.

I read this quote the other day and it helped direct my thinking and helped me in this area

“How you believe God perceives people will determine how you respond to them.” – Jacquelyn Heasley

These thoughts have taken me up and down the road of love and has motivated me to fight for people, people groups, situations, change…

We are commanded to live differently. If we are calling ourselves followers of Christ, that means it’s even in the harder situations and with the tougher people. Great thing is we can do all things through Christ, Who gives us strength!

Grace and Peace,
Melissa King

Nathan Lindgren is 16 years old and went on his first mission trip with Global Expeditions in 2010 and then again this past summer.  This week, Nathan wanted to share one of his memories from his time on the field and here’s what he had to say:

God forever changed my life the first night I showed up for my mission trip with Global Expeditions. During that first service on campus, God spoke directly to me like never before and showed me Himself in all His glory. I finally saw God’s immense power. His power is like none other.

Global Expeditions was God’s instrument in my life. The year after my first trip, I was exploding with God and wanted to go somewhere again with Global Expeditions. I felt God calling me to Romania. I followed His path through that door. Romania was a month long and I had the greatest time ever with people I love, cherish, and still see today. My Project Director and Team Leaders strengthened and encouraged me more than ever. Those mission trips made the best summers of my ENTIRE life. I absolutely love the work God does through Global Expeditions. My life is forever changed!

Nathan’s heart was impacted and his life was changed before he spent his first day on the field, and we know that over the last 25 years the 67,783 missionaries Global Expeditions has trained have their own special memory about the impact of their time on campus. Nathan’s memory represents one of thousands. More than that, his experience inspired him to give the following challenge: “I’ll be giving my $25 and I’ll double it if someone else from Global Expeditions, who has served, will match my donation by giving $50 too.”

To take on “Nathan’s challenge,” share your own memory and find out more about how Global Expeditions is celebrating our 25th birthday, go to www.globalexpeditions.com/donate25

The picture of this little girl was taken by one of our missionaries on the field in Africa and today, as I looked at it, it inspired me. It inspired me to remember why every student that chooses to participate in a Global Expeditions mission trip is important.

The smile that this little girl in Africa is wearing was put there by a missionary who gave up their time, their comfort, their plans and worked hard fundraising and getting paperwork in order, all so that they could meet a child on the other side of the world and make a difference in her life.

This picture represents a moment when two lives collided and God’s love was made known.

I am proud of the missionary who made this happen. Students like them…they are my heroes.

Surrendered,

Emmie Harper