Gospel Hope for Jamaica

2013-05-27T11:45:00.000-04:00

Remembering the fallen on Memorial Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Canadian Major John McCrae wrote this now famous poem after the loss of a friend to artillery fire in WW I.

My father, Jack McKillop, served faithfully in the Canadian Army during the 2nd World War.

2013-05-23T19:02:00.000-04:00

Thankful for the prayers of God's children

Prayer matters! We are thankful for our praying friends.

2013-05-23T15:42:00.002-04:00

Learning more about Giving Them Grace: Dazzling our kids with the love of Jesus

Now that my teaching semester is over (just final exams) I'm trying to catch up on some of my reading list. Elyse Fitzpatrick and (daughter) Jessica Thompson, along with the Holy Spirit, are convicting me of my sins of forgetting the gospel when it comes to parenting. I wish they had written their book 20 years ago before we started having kids! Oh well, I'm taking comfort in the fact that I'm still going to be parenting (to some degree) as long as I'm alive.

I'm seeing that I have often used the Bible more as a rule book that as the "good news." I haven't taught them enough about justification and Christ's righteousness, but have sometimes focused more on obedience and good behavior. I have succumbed to the false belief that "good parenting in, good children out," a formula contrary to the gospel. My understanding of bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is changing. Amen!

2013-05-22T18:31:00.000-04:00

Pastor Godfrey Watson and Rev. Gordon Woolard.

Our Mission To the World friend, Gordon Woolard, took time from his busy travel schedule last month to be here in Jamaica for a week with us. He met for three evenings with 17 pastors and deacons at Hewitts View Baptist Church near Black River teaching on church leadership.

One of the topics addressed was interpersonal conflict between leaders in the Church with some help from Jim Eliff's "15 Resolves for Maintaining Spiritual Balance in Severe Interpersonal Conflicts."

A very helpful topic for all Christians, but leaders in particular; here is resolve number 1: I will accept whatever means God may use to make me more humble and therefore more dependent on Him, no matter how damaging to my reputation or ambition. (2 Cor. 12:10 "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Pretty counter-cultural? See all 15 here.

2013-05-18T21:20:00.001-04:00

Such beauty we often take for granted.

From our patio we enjoy some of the most spectacular sunsets. Every one is different.

2013-05-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

Pastor Sylvester Green, here with his wife and my Mom who was visiting for 10 days.

Pastor Green stayed in our home when he was a Bible College student many years ago and spoke at the memorial service for my father in Black River last Sunday. He pastors Rock Cliff Baptist Church and Sellington Baptist Church.

2013-05-16T11:17:00.000-04:00

Cresencia graduates from Fairview Bible College.

Saturday afternoon was the graduation for Fairview Baptist Bible College students. Karen Walls, MK from Jamaica was here from Canada with her family to see several students get their diplomas and certificates.

2013-05-10T20:26:00.002-04:00

Grandma meets Caleb's friend in Jamaica.

While Caleb is in FL taking his AP exams (Florida Virtual School), his grandmother is in Jamaica. Today she met Nikki Davis, Caleb's delightful friend who is helping out this week at Fairview Bible College.

2013-05-09T18:22:00.001-04:00

Two of the Lord's finest servants

Doris McKillop and her dear friend, Hazel Clubine are enjoying Jamaica for a week or so. They both served the Lord faithfully as missionaries in Jamaica for many years teaching children, reaching the lost, and loving people.

2013-04-18T15:31:00.001-04:00

Funerals bring families together.

This past Sunday was the funeral for my dad at Missionary Acres in southern Missouri. It was a blessing to our family to be together to worship the Lord and to remember his life. He has left an amazing legacy, and his life was a testimony to the wonderful grace of Jesus. Orphaned at age four, growing up in the poverty of the Great Depression, abused as a child, and other difficulties, he overcame life's challenges without bitterness or complaint. The Apostle Paul's words would be fitting to describe him: "by the grace of God, I am what I am."

2013-04-05T22:28:00.002-04:00

The Poui tree is native to the tropics and sometimes called "trumpet tree" because of the shape of it's flowers. We enjoy three of these beautiful gifts of God in our yard that flower in the spring and then carpet the ground in yellow.

2013-04-04T17:30:00.000-04:00

My father was a great inspiration to me. He has now completed his final 'degree' and graduated to glory.

His example of hard work encouraged my brother, Brian and me to study hard. (We graduated together from seminary.)

2013-04-03T20:11:00.000-04:00

We are thankful to the Lord for the connections that He gives us to be able to meet some of the basic needs of Jamaicans.

Nathan is 8 years old. He lost him mother as a baby and last year lost his father as well. His grandmother struggles to care for him. But as of today, he has been "adopted" by Zorba's Orphan Fund. He will receive tuition assistance now through high school and beyond, thanks to Dr. Maureen McIntosh and her ministry.

2013-04-01T19:36:00.001-04:00

Jack McKillop went to sleep this morning and is resting in the arms of Christ.

We will miss him dearly, but we look forward to being with him in the presence of Christ.

2013-04-01T00:15:00.000-04:00

Very soon one of this world's best men will take his leave to be with Jesus. My dad is facing the end of his life in the next few hours or days. I'm reminded of John Donne's words

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so...

One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

There is comfort in the words of the Lord given through the apostle: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55)

2013-03-29T13:34:00.003-04:00

Bamboo Missionary Church in Bamboo, Hanover.

Pray for the ministry of this rural church. Many faithful members here who love the Lord. I am privileged to preach here quite often and they call me "pastor." Their pastor is actually Garey Gardner, who pastors another church as well. He will be leaving Bamboo next month so they will be without an official pastor for a while.

2013-03-25T13:44:00.001-04:00

Two of my favorite people

Gabrielle and Black Jack

2013-03-24T23:59:00.001-04:00

We made it! Our first 5K together.

The McKillop team made it to the finish line. We're all pretty sore, but thankful for God's gift of good health and strength.

2013-03-23T22:00:00.004-04:00

Earl Clarke, elder at Bamboo Missionary with Philip Ajamian and drummer, Jessus Baker.

Philip Ajamian with Mission To the World is here helping us make plans for a team from VA who will come in June to help Bamboo Missionary Church with outreach to their community. We always look forward to having the Americans join us for ministry with their Jamaican brothers and sisters.

2013-03-21T22:58:00.000-04:00

I caught the sunrise over the hills in Manchester while staying at Rev. Phillip Cardis' home.

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 1.11

2013-03-20T12:34:00.000-04:00

I am thankful for Pastor Trevor and Adrian, faithful students learning to better understand and apply the Bible. Both of these leaders have served the Lord in their churches for several years and want to continue to learn and grow in order to better serve their people.

2013-03-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

Some farmer friends in Manchester.

Teaching the Bible in Manchester means I always come home with potatoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, yam, corn, carrots, etc. These are the Palmers, dear friends and gifted at farming!

A great little book

2013-03-09T12:03:00.000-05:00

Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington are encouraging me with The Bookends of the Christian Life. They argue that the two bookends that hold in place all the Christian life are the righteousness of Christ on the one hand and the power of the Holy Spirit on the other. Their goal is to help you develop a "bookends worldview," a simple yet profound way of responding to your world that will provide a constant awareness of the two most fundamental realities that apply to our lives.

It is reminding me that I'm 100 percent dependent on a source of righteousness and strength that is outside of myself for living the Christian life. It is reminding me to think more of the Cross and more of my dependence on the Holy Spirit for everything.

2013-03-07T12:45:00.000-05:00

In Montego Bay, every day is a good day for a run!

We are all trying to get in shape for a 5K later this month. Go McKillop Team! Yeah!

2013-03-06T09:37:00.000-05:00

I travel through the hills of Trelawny to get to Mandeville, where I teach each week. There aren't many places in the world where you can find roasted yam and saltfish and get your car washed while you eat.

These are the hills where Usain Bolt grew up. He attributes part of his incredible speed to the country living, walking up and down hills, as a boy carrying water every day to his home in the hills.