Missions Conference - Day 4

Pastor Paul Nash opens up our evening tonight telling the story of William Borden. As heir to the multi-million dollar Borden Dairy company, he shocked the world by leaving fame and fortune behind that he might share Jesus with Muslims in China. During his years of ministry preparation at Yale and Princeton, his zeal for the lost and his fervent prayer ministry transformed both college campuses. Just months after his ordination in 1912 and well-publicized departure to China, 26 year old Borden contracted spinal meningitis and died. At the back of his Bible was written this statement: “No retreats, no reserves, no regrets.”

Just months after his ordination in 1912 and well-publicized departure to China, Borden (who was only 26) contracted spinal meningitis and died! At the back of his Bible was written this statement: “No retreats, no reserves, no regrets.”

Though seen as "a waste" in the world's terms, both his life and his death leave us a challenge. We are challenged to hand over all those temporal toys and amusements that hinder total consecration. His role model shows the beautiful, eternal fruit of dying to self that I might live unto Christ.


Pastor Nash is director of the Home Missions work in the AFLC (the department I am blessed to now be working in) and shares about the new mission work in Naknek, Alaska and the KAKN radio station broadcasting from there. This is a new work for the AFLC (since summer 2008) and such amazing doors of ministry opportunity are opening up there.

Pastor/Missionary Dan Giles gave a final message tonight on surrender. "When we surrender, God unlocks hidden gifts." We can't list our inabilities as excuses for not surrendering. Pastor Dan tells about how he responded to God's call for missions, and afterward found out God had given him a real knack for linguistics. He would have never imagined God using him in linguistics, never in a million years. But those who God calls, he qualifies.

Are my priorities, God's priorities? The question is not "if" I should have a call to reach the lost, but where and how. Everyone is called to be a worker in the harvest field.

"To whom much is given, much is required."

Here are 3 ways to reach the lost. We've probably heard them before; they aren't rocket science. They are, however, just plain inescapable and vital. There is nothing more important.

1) Pray--I mean really pray for missions. For workers, for souls, for seminarians, for church leadership, for peace and effective government so the Gospel can spread freely and without threat. Put up prayer cards. Don't just talk about praying, really pray.

2) Give and Send--Provide for the practical needs of missionaries. Be an active "sender," not just in sending money, but in the ongoing care for your missionaries. Pray for creativity (I like this idea)--that God will show new ways to give. He tells about one seminarian he knew, on a very limited budget, who collected coke cans to recycle so he could send money to missionaries.

3) Go--not just for fun or adventure. Realize that missions is treading on the devil's territory and it will bring spiritual battle.

Instead of ending with a hymn tonight, Pastor Lee dismissed us quietly. Those who felt God speaking are encouraged to stay and pray. Many start filing out, quietly whispering in the reverence of the moment. But many are staying. Many are on their knees. Lord, speak to us!

It's been fun blogging the mission conference this week...alot of extra work, but I'm glad I did it. It gave me lots of extra time to think over the messages and their application. If you just found my blog this week because of the conference, I hope you will stay tuned!

Mixed Ensemble

“No retreats, no reserves, no regrets.”

Missions Conference - Day 3

Is it Tuesday already? Night 3 of the AFLBS Mission conference is underway. The opening speaker comes to us tonight from Wycliffe Bible Translators, brother Arvid Westfall.

Starting out he announces a conference coming up right here in Minneapolis (Feb 20-21), which he us to pass the word about. The Midwest Conference on Missionary Care, training for helping churches and laymen understand how to be the best caretakers of their foreign missionaries.

(This perked my interest immediately, since I'm very, very interested in this aspect of missions. How can we best be an Aaron or a Hur to the missionaries in the field? Just maybe I'll be able to attend it.)

Brother Arvid and his wife were Bible translators in Guatemala, and are now living in the states serving as both church mobilizers and translators.

Here's his opening statement: "I'm excited about this generation! Why? Because it is logically possible, by the empowering of God's Spirit, that you can reach the world in your generation."

He tells a story written by Amy Carmichael, Daisy Chains. If you haven't heard or read it before, skip over to the above link for a moment. How does Jesus find us?

This brother shares statistics about translation; the fact that there are still 2,500-3,000 languages without a page of Scripture. Can you imagine not having the blessed privilege of opening a Bible in your moments of deepest pain, grief, uncertainty, frustration? This statistic makes the Word dearer to me, and compels me to act - someway, somehow.

You know what I gleaned most about his 30 minute message tonight? It wasn't the stories, or quotes. It was just his life. He is 70 years old and still going full speed for advancing the Gospel among the nations of the world. He's still doing a translation project and prays to see the Old Testament completed among his people group in about 6 years.

God, give me a life-long passion for your mission, just like this witness before me! Hebrews 12:1-2

But the night is just beginning. We have a prayer time again and then join in singing, "Christ for the World We Sing."

And what a treat, we have a quartet singing tonight. Everyone is smiling as Pastors Lee, Monseth, Rolf, and Mr. Andrew Hanson sing "Come and Join the Reapers". They receive enthusiastic applause! Where is my camera? I keep forgetting it. I won't forget for Thursday evening.

Oh, and I just discovered that some wonderful, technically gifted people are recording the sessions this week and they are DOWNLOADABLE! Yes, that means you can listen what I'm trying to feebly describe in this blog. Please avail yourself of the opportunity.

Pastor Giles gets up. "Why does God choose to use us? Why does God choose to use prayer? Is He capable of spreading the Word without men and women? Yes! But for some reason, known only to Him, He has chosen to use you and me. "

He shares lessons for a new missionary from the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 10 and Luke 10 tonight. Excellent material. This is the chapter where Jesus commissions the 70 disciples to go out 2 by 2 for a season of ministry training exercises. Here's some things we learn.
- Jesus sent the disciples to a target people group. It is not that other people are to be ignored, but He understood that specific aim, bring specific results. (vs 5)
- Go in total dependence on My provision. (vs 9)
- Bring a blessing with you wherever you go (don't be just takers)(vs.12-13)
- Focus on ministry to people who are hungry to hear (Vs 14)
- Don't get side-tracked (Luke 10:4)
- Any there are many more lessons in these verses!! Study this for yourself if you want to see more of our Lord's advice for new missionaries.

Pastor Dan explains universalism. Most Americans fall into this category, believing that you are destined for heaven when you are born and basically "earn" your way to hell by being thoroughly wicked. This is completely opposite what the Bible teaches.

There are estimated 6 billion people on earth. About 20% live a place with a strong Christian witness. About 60% in a place with at least a very minimal witness. But 20% live WITHOUT any Gospel witness. How can I even wrap my mind around those numbers? Every second a soul goes to hell without Jesus.

He challenges all us young adults, "Don't be afraid of raising your children on the mission field."

Three biggest decisions in life:
What will you do with Jesus?
Who will you marry?
What is God's call for my life?

Are you hearing His call?

We closed by singing, Here am I Lord. The altar was opened for a time of prayer.



There is no meeting tomorrow night, so everyone can attend their local church. I'll be back blogging Thursday night.

Will you pray for all the students at this conference this week? Will you pray that even among the young men and women in the pews tonight, God will raise up laborers for His Harvest?

Missions Conference - Day 2

I slid onto the bench just in time for the introduction of the opening speaker this evening, Pastor Don Richman, founder of Eastern European Mission Network.

Pastor Richman asked a front row Bible School student to open in prayer.

He read Habakkuk 1:5 "Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you."

Pastor Richman went back in history to tell the story of the great oppression of communism and socialism in Eastern Europe. "The damage is still palpable to this day,"...he said. The wound is so deep.

But then he explained how God shone light in that darkness. He told the story of, "The Red Cranberry" from the autobiography of a Lutheran pastor that lived in Tartu, Estonia.It's too long to tell, but the theme was simple delight in the goodness of God even in the midst of darkness.

Pastor Richman carries such an enthusiasm in his presentation. "There are amazing doors through teaching English." He explored opportunities in Europe, though Christian English camps to touch lives. You begin by developing relationships, building trust, being available. But he added, "don't wait to go; be doing this now, just where you are."



Most memorable in my mind is the story he told of a young woman in one of these countries, who loves Jesus, and is trying to live out her faith is the midst of some really hard circumstances with family. She needs the daily strength of Jesus. I'm going to remember her name for a long time.

He led us into a segment of prayer in small groups all over the chapel, just as we did last evening. Isn't this the heart of missions conference?

Next, a ladies trio sings a beautiful rendition of Fairest Lord Jesus. We take a mission offering, (Lord, use these gifts for growing your Kingdom).

Pastor Giles opening the main service by reading Ps. 74:20. "Have respect to the covenant;For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty."

His message tonight took a slightly different theme than some might have expected.
"How's your prayer life? Do things happen when you pray?"

If you buy an iron and it doesn't work, what do you do. You read the instruction manual, you call the company, and if all else fails you take it back. The iron is supposed to work. Comparing this with our prayer life he explained how too many of us pray expected God to NOT answer, expecting things WON'T happen. It's like buying a new iron and then being content to set it on a shelf not working, rather than striving to find out how to make our prayer life a vital reality.

Spiritual warfare is reality. Seeing the "haunts of cruelty" breeds a prayer life, he explained. For the next little while, the chapel echoed with stories of God's provision, down to the minute, of His healing hand, or His grace.

"Why am I telling you these stories?"...he asked. "It's not to make you think I'm something special. I'm not a spiritual giant. I'm telling them to showcase the faithfulness of God. He's the God who keeps every promise He has ever made."

The first step towards answering God's call to missions is believing that He is a God who keeps His promises. If we do not begin in prayer, and remain in prayer, believing He keeps His covenant, God has little use for us in His kingdom work.

Comparing physical and spiritual warfare, the enemy must establish a beachhead in order to move inland. If he can get an inch, he has hope to go in further and further. In so many of these countries that have been overrun by darkness for generations, the battle now rages in the opposite direction. Light must make a beachhead. It starts in a few lives, but it begins to change a generation, and then the children, and later the grandchildren.

This is why we must know how to pray. Breaking from darkness into the light cannot happen on wishy washy prayers.

Matthew 28:18-19
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

The pastor's closing words..."All power has been given...Go therefore..does this mean you?"

Moving Update

I’m getting settled into my new, frosty home sweet home in Minneapolis. These past two weeks since arriving have flown past on gilded wings. This past week I have been doing orientation in my new job, unpacking, trying to set up a new bank account, making new friends, shopping for basics, scraping off the ice on my car, and trying to figure out my way around the city (how happy I am for the GPS given me!).And now this coming week in missions conference in the evenings to look forward to after work.

People ask me a dozen times a day how I am adapting to the cold. Honestly, I am enjoying it. I love looking out over the snow blanketed landscape every morning. Sure it has been freezing, last week being the coldest on record in Minneapolis in 5 years. I’ve prayed that God would help me embrace this new place, cold and all. He has been, and giving me joy in the new discoveries all along the way.

There are some amazing, humble, Spirit-led men and women, pastor’s and their families on the front lines of sharing the Gospel. I am truly humbled to be in this new place, with this new job, serving them in Home Missions.

Missions Conference Begins

Tonight the AFLC annual missions conference at the Bible School began at 6:30 sharp. For years I've wanted to be able to attend this, never guessing that one day I would be living 1 minute away from the chapel. The mission conference is mostly attending by Bible School students, but it open to area churches as well. This is a treat indeed and I thought that some live blogging of the conference events would be fun.

Day 1
Bible school students are filing in, dressed like Eskimos in their overstuffed jackets. It's a chilling 0 degrees outside. The chapel quickly fills.

Pastor Rolf, dean of the Bible school announces the theme verse from Matthew 9:35-38
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

We sing hymn 303, O Zion Haste. It's not a common mission hymn, but it has powerful words. It's well worth learning.

Chuck Lindquist is introduced from the World Mission Prayer League. WMPL is in 17 countries and has about 120 full time missionaries. Pastor Lindquist shares three moving stories, spanning a century, all about God using ordinary students of the Bible to touch the world in extraordinary ways. "Dear God, do it again," was his concluding passionate prayer. I felt that prayer throbbing in my heart too. "Yes, Lord, do it again!"

We split into small groups for about 20 minutes of prayer time for the the week, for missionaries, for our own hearts to be sensitive to the message the Holy Spirit has for us.

Next we have a some students get up and sing a beautiful song with the guitar. I've never heard this song before, In Me, (but googling it afterwards I see it's by Casting Crowns). It's so fitting for this mission week. Here's one of the verses.

If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

Missionary Dan Giles is the main speaker for the week, former missionary in South America for 30 years. (And here is where my blogging gets a little sporadic. Pastor Dan has me listening so deeply to his stories and challenges, that it's hard to write them down. I'll have to finish this part of the blogging afterwards...)

He doesn't paint a glowing picture of missionary life, or of great revivals and ease. Rather he describes the lostness of people who are living in bondage to the enemy. And the only hope is Jesus.

Re-reading over Matthew 9 he puts things in perspective. Jesus is in the midst of a revival, people were being healed, believing, the kingdom of God was at hand and growing in the hearts of people (v 35). But then, in verse 36 we see a contrast, as He looks out over all the people, all the thousands of people milling around him, who were not all part of the immediate, up close happenings, lost, hurting, wondering about like sheep without a shepherd, and it caused Him to cry out in compassion to His disciples..."The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

As Pastor Dan spoke I came to better understand this verse and the the heart of how Jesus must have said it. There were several parts in his message where you could have heard a pin drop, he had the whole room listening so intently. Praise God for faithful messengers of His Word.

Here's the closing challenge: Until I come to a point of seeing people as Jesus does, His purpose in my heart has not yet been fulfilled." Pastor Dan's direct goal is not to make missionaries of us. God is the one Who does that. His heart is to help us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, see people as Jesus does. And from that, a missionary heart is inevitable.

It was a stirring opening night. Look for another post tomorrow.

Lord, may your Kingdom come, You will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Migration

One journey is over and another one started. It's hard to believe I'm here, in Minnesota, unpacking my shoes and blankets and tea cups in a new home. Dad and I had a safe and beautiful drive up from Texas. Everyone in my family woke up early Wednesday morning to say goodbye. God's tender mercies were so sweet to me just then.

Mom recommended I stop at Cracker Barrel to rent an audio book for the drive, which was a brilliant suggestion for my 17 hours in the car. I found one book by Jan Karon, A New Song, that looked interesting. This was the first time I have ever read anything by this author, but I can't tell you how Providential it was that I picked that book. It turned out to be a delightful novel about a pastor and his wife who were moving from one place to another, transplanting church and ministry and relationships, and all the struggles and joys as they walked through it. It is a simple story, but I couldn't believe how timely it was in encouraging my heart and putting joy and reality in my expectations.

Today was my first full day and there is so much I want to tell, of unpacking, the gifts of furniture and dishes and everything that people brought me, or sledding down a hill at midnight and running into a tree, but I'm completely exhausted and can hardly lift a finger to type any more. This blog will have to be a day behind.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift, Jesus Christ my Lord.


Here is the first dusting of snow we met somewhere in Iowa.


And then it started to get a little heavier


And heavier!!! This is dad and I in front of a snow mound.


Medicine Lake, just a few houses away from where I live. It is spotted with little ice huts right now, each one filled with frigid fishermen fishing for flounder (or some other shivering fish).


And this is my very bare new home, full of boxes!


My God's presence be in this place and His peace abide.

Phote Journal

The night before the move

What a day! Actually, it’s 12:30 am as I write this. It seems as careful as I tried to plan, last minute adventures seemed inevitable.

I woke my sisters early this morning for a romp in the chilly morning air, with a thermos of hot chocolate to share when we reached the lookout spot. Back up at the house we did some moving of boxes here and there, finally all to the front porch. About 10:45 we were off for a trip into town for a very last minute installation of new tires. My dad is so faithful to watch out over my car and give me advice; at the last minute he highly advised I put new tires on. So…that took up my morning, not as I planned, but I did get to have lunch with my dear friend Mindy while waiting for the tires to be put on. My sister Karyn accompanied me for the errand too, which I enjoyed very much.

By the time we got back in the afternoon, Nathan was the center of attention, having just walked in the door from the dentist where he had his wisdom teeth out. He actually seemed quite chipper for getting 4 holes dug in his jaw. 

The rest of us did more packing and rearranging of the boxes in the Civic. Finally, at long last, I thought we had things almost fitting. We were motivated to make fast work of it because the air was getting quite a bite. At last, it was packed to the gill…and almost fit. But then we looked at the wheel rims hovering over the tires in the back, and added up the combined weight of all the boxes and realized that no matter how condensed and tight we packed, the weight would never work on the chassis of the Civic. It was quite distressing. I was already pared down and leaving many boxes of things and all my furniture at home. What to do?

So, last minute, I decided to get a rental car in the morning for a one way trip from Dallas to Minneapolis. My dad was already planning on driving up with me in the Civic (and flying back) so this works out just as well. We’ll each take a vehicle, and be able to distribute the weight, plus take up all the boxes of things that I was having to leave behind, things like books and a computer printer that are bulky.

Once again we unpacked, repacked and arranged. My family were such good sports; I couldn’t have done all this without them. Finally, by God’s grace, I believe everything is tucked away and ready for leaving in the morning.

Packing up

Sunday, January 4th
Here I am two days before launch to Minneapolis, God willing, surrounded by boxes, a “to do” list, and steaming cup of Good Earth Original tea. I have good intentions of blogging about my adventures transplanting up North and catching hold of all God has in store for me. I want to chronicle the joys, challenges and lessons along the way. I am counting on His grace being a dominant theme. It has carried me thus far.

So for now my adventure begins by packing up and saying goodbye. I decided after much debate (and looking at the price of moving vehicles) to take up only what fits in my Honda Civic. Those of you with Civics are probably laughing knowingly behind your computer screens. How in the world does one fit an entire move into a little Civic? The answer: packing, repacking, and the loving exhortations of family and friends who are brave enough to say, “Do you really need that?” (Thanks Tricia and Karyn for going through my books with me ) Here are a few items in my boxes, which made it through the grilling, each with a story.
• A power drill
• Wooden spoons
• An electric tire pressure gauge
• A sewing machine and three hat boxes
• One of my favorite books, Leadership Coaching
• Two boxes of chalk

Amazingly, it is actually starting to fit in!!!! I’m so grateful that there is opportunity for a second wave of boxes to come up with acquaintances driving up north later this spring. I probably won’t need my summer clothes for quite awhile! I’m also incredibly grateful for the generosity of friends in Minneapolis gathering an assortment of household items, like a dining table, couch, bed, book shelf, etc… in preparation of my arrival.

We’ve had a delightful holiday vacation with family. Matthew is on break from Dallas Theological Seminary and Karyn came back from Lubbock THREE TIMES so we could all be together. I wish I could bottle up the memory of us all sitting around the dining room table discussing the first chapter of Exodus, or debating the practicality of practical jokes, or laughing over the latest drama on the ranch.

Thank you VERY MUCH to all the friends who put on a surprise going away party New Year’s Eve. It was a hugely encouraging send off, more than you will ever know. I shall keep all your words of advice in mind and try not to slide off onto any frozen lakes, wear warm socks, and keep a blanket in my car! The highlight of the evening was my sibling’s rendition of “So Long, Farewell” from the Sound of Music. What a riot! I will keep that in memory for life.

Today I said goodbye to my church family. These are people that have known me most of my life and I have a hard time imagining going to church and not seeing their faces. Goodbyes have never been my favorite moments, for I usually feel awkward, and unsure of what to say, or how to express it, but my heart is full. There is so much anticipation in God’s unfolding plan, which shores up my faltering in all these goodbyes.

These last few days will fly by and so I must be off. I want to make time for tea with my sisters, getting my car inspected, labeling my boxes, and watching a Texas sunset.