4 - A Big Change

In some ways making the change from the corporate world into full-time missions was easy. One reason is that there are many similarities. Like any organization, we have a vision, a mission, objectives and goals. We plan our work, steward our finances, develop ourselves as leaders, and strive to lead by example. We value integrity, excellence, and teamwork – core values common to successful organizations. In these ways, I felt right at home. It also helps to love the work you’re doing and to feel like you can really make a difference in the world.

The big change also came with its challenges. One such challenge was financial. Moving from a steady paycheck to having to depend on the charitable contributions of others was a big step. It was scary for me. I hadn’t realized how much I valued my independence until God “forced” me to depend on Him and others. But the blessings are greater, the rewards are sweeter, and my faith is so much stronger as a result.

For me personally, another challenge has been the reaction I get from people. Many think that this is a great, noble thing I’m doing – whether they attribute it to me, or to God where the glory really belongs – they think it’s admirable to dedicate my life to helping those in need. But then there are others who view it differently – that I’m throwing away a masters level education, a career that took 20 years to build, a much needed retirement package, my very future. I’ll admit, in my weaker moments I wonder the same thing. Thankfully, that’s when the Lord reassures me that he will take care of my every need. And again, my faith grows so much stronger as a result.

It’s hard to express how wonderful it is to do what you feel called to and created for by the Lord Himself. Awesome, blessing, rewarding, amazing… My words seem so cliché and trite, but they’re true nonetheless.

...to be continued…

5 - Ring a Bell?

What began with a small step of faith was met by a huge revelation from God, and it’s been an amazing journey ever since!

During my first mission trip the Lord revealed His purpose for my life, giving me His heart to help others. From there, the Lord guided my steps as I prepared, provided for my needs, and strengthened me when doubts crept in. I’ve now been with Thrive Africa for more than a year, and it has been a joy serving here in South Africa!

So, do any of my experiences ring a bell? If you are wondering about stepping out, serving on a missions trip, making a big career change, or even becoming a full-time missionary, here are just some of the things I learned along the way…

First, make your relationship with God your top priority. Study the Bible, reflect, pray and listen to God. We need to hear from God in order to do His will. We need to love what He loves, hate what He hates, and exchange our worldly perspective for an eternal one.

Second, begin with small steps as a way to learn and discern God’s direction for your life. I did this through short-term mission trips, volunteering through work and church, and taking classes - but it will look different for everyone. Keeping seeking answers until you get them.

Third, trust God in all things. If God calls you, He will equip you and meet your every need. That doesn’t mean everything will come easily, but it will come together. Each time I trusted God with one of my “…buts” He showed up big-time strengthening my faith and further confirming His will for me.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28, NIV

Laff-a-lympics

Does anyone else remember the old cartoon Laff-a-lympics? The Scoobie Doobies, the Yogi Yahooeys, and the Really Rottens? I Googled it to get the name of the teams and boy, am I getting old!!!

Anyways, we had our very own Laff-a-lympics when we hosted about 30 kids from Leratong Children’s Home. Our interns have been working there for the past several weeks, and they did an amazing job with setting up this day of celebration and fun!!

Divided into teams, the kids competed in games such as soccer drills, paintball shooting, video game racing, and other relays. It was such a blessing to see the kids light up as they tried new things - like video games which are so common in the US that we take them for granted. I was like a kid again as well when I got my hands on a paintball gun!

At the end of the day, everyone left with a great prize, a huge smile, and the assurance of how much they are loved by us and by Jesus Christ. It was a very special day for very special kids!

Churches Respond

Tough issues. Real issues. Coming from real kids we work with week after week. This got the attention of the 102 leaders who joined us for Hand in Hand this month. If you read my previous blog you’ll know that I tossed up a lot of questions, but not really any answers…

The main question being, how should the local church respond when their communities are in crisis? Poverty. HIV/AIDS. Hopelessness. Our communities need us!!! During Hand in Hand, Amy shared a powerful teaching on just that…

One way the church needs to respond is spiritually – to know God’s heart and to cultivate it as our own.

As church leaders, we need to allow God’s heart for Knowledge to become our own – seeking and praying for wisdom, knowing the needs around us, allowing God to guide us and work through us.

We also need to have God’s heart for Discipleship - to follow Christ, to be life-long learners, and to follow Christ’s examples in ministry, namely loving people well.

God’s heart for the Body of Christ needs to ours as well – recognizing that each person has a valuable part to play, knowing that some may need more care than others at a given time, and always being ready to help a person in need.

We also need God’s heart towards Sin to be our heart towards sin. Some would say love the sinner but hate the sin. But it’s so much more than this. So often we fear sin because of what it can do in our midst. Our flesh wants to punish, blame, control, retaliate, condemn, kick-out… But we also know that sin is a defeated foe because of Christ’s work on the cross. The only thing we have to fear about sin is how Satan uses it to keep people from our churches. People who avoid church out of shame, people who leave church because of judgment and punishment, people who need to be loved by the heart of God.

After teaching how the church should respond spiritually, Amy concluded with how we also need to respond practically. Basic problem-solving skills that few of our leaders had ever been trained in. Identifying the problem, analyzing it, developing possible solutions, planning, implementing, evaluating, revising, and celebrating progress.

Anyways, I could go on and on and on…the bottom line is that our church leaders were convicted, challenged, equipped and inspired by what they heard. And the responses were amazing!

96%

My heart broke and my mind raced as June shared statistics from our Leadership Summit youth. And I’m sure I wasn’t alone among the more than 100 church leaders who joined our June 21st Hand in Hand leadership conference. This year we’ve been challenging ourselves to live as Salt and Light in the world.

But how does the church do this when our communities are in crisis?

When 1 in 3 youth have lost a parent, and 1 in 5 have lost both?

When 1 in 4 homes don’t have enough to eat, and 2 in 5 have no one working to support them?

When 1 in 4 youth visit sangomas (traditional spiritual healers), 2 in 3 believe their ancestral spirits help them talk to God, and 1 in 3 do not even believe God exists?

When 2 in 3 youth are terrified of HIV/AIDS, 50% think they can get it from a mosquito, and 33% don’t think you can get it from sex?

When 1 in 5 youth have been raped or molested, 1 in 6 don’t think they have the right to say no to sex, and 45% don’t know God wants them to save sex for marriage?

When 2 in 3 youth don’t think they are smart enough to achieve their dreams, 1 in 4 have thought of suicide, and 1 in 10 do not believe they will ever have a job?

Leadership Summit has had an amazing impact among the thousands of youth they reach out to each week. And on June 21st it was an opportunity for church leaders to unite as well – learning about the issues their communities are struggling with, and how to shine God’s light for the world to see.

These statistics weren’t meant to overwhelm or discourage, rather they were to educate, equip and empower leaders to respond. After all, 95% of our students want to learn more about health and their body. 75% want to learn more about HIV/AIDS and other diseases. And 96% want to learn more about God.

96%!