Missions blog

Hello Everyone,

We can hardly believe that tomorrow morning we will be leaving the orphanage. It seems we are just getting comfortable helping wash the babies and making tortillas and getting to know the children by name.

Preach the word, and if necessary, use words – St Francis of Assisi (James 2:18) The team has been especially great in doing this at every opportunity and have worked well together. We are so proud of them!

Sunday, on the spur of the moment invite, we went to a community center and share the gospel and testimonies with the kids there. Monday morning we went to a Kiche village school and washed, cut and styled hair for the teachers and kids. We shared the gospel and some testimonies with them as well. It was well received and they asked us to please pray for their community.

Tuesday morning we painted the outside of the village church and Wednesday morning the inside. This morning we are painting the orphanage workshop.

Last night we had the privilege of presenting an audio Bible to Brother Mateo who preaches to the Kiche people. The Bible has not been translated in the Kiche language. Brother Mateo can understand the Spanish language but cannot read it, so the Spanish audio Bible is a huge blessing to him to hear word of God so he can pass it on to the Kiche people. Previously his children would read the Bible to him so he could preach. We also had the privilege to pray for him and his family to lift them up through some difficult times they are going through.

Every afternoon and evening we have enjoyed loving on the kids. Yesterday after our Bible time, we got out the parachute and beach balls. Since is had just downpoured it was extra great fun as a shower of water would come out of the parachute on every swish up and as the kids would chant each other names and take turns running under the wet parachute. Everyone who was around joined in the fun. Tonight we plan on giving out the clothing gifts we brought for each child on behalf of the church as we share time with them around a bonfire roasting hot dogs. We will also pray a blessing on Sebastian and Oralia, the orphanage directors.

Even though the team has been passing around a flu bug, we are having great fun. Your prayers for our health as we begin traveling home would be appreciated!

by Bob (team leader)

I can’t believe our first team is just a few days from finishing our part of the trip. The time has just flown by, but each day has brought new ways of seeing God work in both our lives and in the lives of the students. We had asked God to give us connections with the students. That is happening — maybe not always in the way we expected — but God is honoring those requests. And he is helping us in our teaching.

The curriculum for the advanced classes is very spiritually based and almost every class leads to the focal point of Jesus. In addition, a lot of cross-cultural learning is taking place.

Two days ago, the 2nd Circle Church broadcast the World Cup Soccer Finals. Spain, which was the crowd favorite, won. There was a large crowd and one of my students also attended with me. We talked and he asked me a number of questions about where I was staying and who paid for the trip. I explained that we either paid for it ourselves or asked our friends to donate money. He was surprised because he thought the people at the Center paid for us. Then he asked why I came to teach. I was able to explain that I came for two reasons — to help him learn English and to be a representative of Jesus. These informal conversations happen all the time and provide great opportunities to share our faith.

It will be hard to leave. The more we are here, the dearer the people become. “May the Book of Life never close ’til the whole world knows…”.

CCC currently has a team in the Middle East teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at a community center that reaches out to Muslims.  For security reasons, some names and locations have been left out of this blog.

by Bob (team leader)
Things are going well here. We’ve started our ESL teaching and have had some good interaction with students both at class and while watching the World Cup Soccer games in the coffee shop.

God is definitely at work here. Each morning our devotional is just what we need to hear — so exactly.   And God is definitely using the Center and all the volunteers. Many friendships are happening, and there are opportunities to share and to show love and concern.

Today we went with Matt to the weekly prayer meeting with the believers from this country, which was at a local pastor’s house. So encouraging to pray together in Arabic and English, to share our lives, and to see their faith. The weekend is coming and already some of us have arrangements to meet outside class with some of our students. That is our desire and prayer — to spend personal time with them.

I love to read books from other people who God has used to do great things in the Kingdom.  I recently read the mid-90′s autobiography by Franklin Graham called “Rebel with a Cause.”  Franklin is the son of Billy Graham and after a number of tumultuous years has been the guy who runs the ministry called Samaritans Purse.

It was an interesting book for many reasons, but there was one small thing in the book that really impacted me.  Its the concept Franklin calls “God room.” 

To give you some background, Franklin did not start or found Samaritans Purse, he was simply asked by the founder Dr. Bob Pierce to come run it.  It was actually Bob who passed on the idea of “God room” to Franklin and it has impacted his ministry ever since.

The idea is very simple .  Dr. Bob taught that you need to let God do His work in His time. “God room” occurs when man does everything he possibly can, but failure or moderate success is the apparent result — then something unexpected happens. A miracle occurs. When God wants to accomplish something that man can not do on his own, no matter how hard he tries or works, God brings the impossible to pass. This is “God room.”

What is the point of “God room” as applied to missions at CCC?   Simply this:  if we want to accomplish some good things for the Kingdom, spread the good news to maybe thousands of people, and generally consider ourselves a mission-focused church, God may actually bless that. 

But if want to see the good news thrive in places like China, Afghanistan, Mali, Tunisia, and many other difficult places, He is going to have to do the impossible. Nothing less than God’s action is needed. 

So what does this mean for you and I in very practical ways?  Quite frankly, I’m still trying to figure that out, but here is one observation.    When God taps on my shoulder to do something, and at first I am excited but then I come up with 20 reasons why I can’t do it or it won’t work, perhaps that’s the best time to forge ahead.  There is nothing better than being at the end of our human rope so that we can then watch God work.  We have to make room for God, and that room is usually when we have reached our own limits.

In future blogs I am going to share what I think are some success and some failures in this arena.  Some times where room was made for God and He worked, and some times when room was not made for God, so the results were more human oriented.  Stay tuned.

One of my favorite things that we do in missions here at CCC is the Missions Catalog.  It’s just such an easy way for any of us to show the love of Jesus in a very tangible way in the life of somebody half-way around the world that we will likely never meet.

• For just $35 you can help provide musical instruments to children in an orphanage in Guatemala.

• For just $50 you can help buy supplies for a bakery in a very difficult country in Central Asia that uses this bakery to reach destitute women.

• For just $200 you can help purchase a bed for a mother and her new baby to sleep in the Hospital for Women and Children in Mali.

• For just $100 you can help provide clothes, shoes, bedding, and other simply provisions for orphans.

The total amount needed for this catalog to fund everything is around $30,000 and we are already over 1/3 of the way there after just the first week.

So if you have not given anything yet, please pickup a catalog on Sunday and see where God might use you.

Last week we finished up another Global Summit at CCC and as I reflect back on all the time and energy that went into the Global Summit, the thought came into my mind,  ”why?”

Why do we have a Global Summit every year?  Why do we invite a bunch of missionaries to come tell their stories and interact with our children?  Is it just to inform us about how they are doing in their jobs?  Do we have the Global Summit just because that’s what has always been done and we need to check it off the list?

I believe the answer comes in a statement I have heard Bob Fetherlin, Vice President of International Ministries for the C&MA, say many times.  “What we see with our eyes and touch with our hands – that’s what will engage our hearts.” 

Its one thing to read in the HUB a story about the hospital in Mali.  It’s quite another to have one of the actual doctors come show us pictures and tell us stories of real life and real death and real people choosing to follow Jesus through the work at the hospital.

Its one thing to know that there are millions of people in Africa with AIDS, but its quite another to hear from a nurse in Mali who works directly with women who contract AIDS from their husbands but then get kicked out of the home because they are infected.

Its one thing to hear on the news that the government in a Central Asian country is cracking down on Christians, but it’s quite another to talk in person with a worker who lives there each day and knows their very life is in danger.

Its one thing to hear that there are community centers in the Middle East that are effectively reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but its quite another to have the missionary who lives there show you pictures and tell you real life stories.

So the Global Summit is about God engaging our hearts.  It’s about more than just knowing what is going on around the world – it’s about caring.  And when we care, we act!  When we care, we give.  When we care, we pray.  When we care, we go.

My prayer is that God has engaged the hearts of many children and adults at CCC over these last few weeks, and that the result will be increased Kingdom impact.

Men of CCC!  Please do not miss this session that has been created just for you during this weekends Global Summit.

And you young guys out there don’t think this is just for men over 40 who have nothing better to do with their time.  This is for men of all ages, especially those under 40.

On Sunday morning, during both the 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM services, men will be gathering in the Chapel for an opportunity to here from some unique people.

To start, Curt Hofer will host an inspiring panel of men who will share their experiences involving the most important decisions of their lives.  What a great chance to come hear from some men who have made some good decisions and some bad decisions, some Godly decisions and some un-Godly decisions.

During the 9:00 hour, the panel will consist of Mike Bliss, Jerry Busselman, Mark Bristol, Greg Gaggini, and Terry Frolio.  During the 10:45 hour, the panel will consist of Doug Pedersen, Clark Osborn, Jason Hackel, Dave Pugh, and Mike Kelleher.

For the last part of this hour, you will get to hear from C&MA Vice President of International Ministries, Mr. Bob Fetherlin.  Bob will be inspiring you as men to get involved with your hands and your feet.  As Bob likes to say, “What you see with your eyes and touch with your hands will capture your hearts.”

Bob is not some old missionary guy who is dry and boring to listen too.  He has a tremendous understanding of the emerging generation of Believers and how important it is tap into their passion and potential.

Men – please take the extra time this Sunday to come hear from all of these men.

One of our very special guests for this years Global Summit at CCC, which is from June 6 – 9, are Brett and Sheri MacLean.  The MacLeans are originally from North Carolina but have been serving in Mali at the hospital since 2008.  Brett is the only Pediatrician at the hospital, and Sheri is a Nurse Practitioner working in Pediatrics.

Where can you see the MacLeans?

On Sunday, June 6th, they will be the main speakers at our Sarpy Campus in Bellevue for both morning services.

On Tuesday, June 8th, Brett will be the main speaker at our Malian dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.  He will be showing pictures and telling amazing stories from the hospital.

On Tuesday, June 8th, at 6:45 PM, Sheri will be partnering with Carey Schlieker and giving a workshop talking about the Role and Future of Nursing in Mali.

On Tuesday, June 8th, Brett will speaking to children ages Kindergarten to 5th grade from 7:30 – 8:00 PM.

We’ve talked a lot here at CCC over the last few years about babies being born, but with the addition of Pediatric care starting in 2009, the hospital is literally exploding with children needing medical care.

To learn more about Pediatrics at the hospital, watch the video below.

http://vimeo.com/10981406

Each year at CCC we have what is called our Global Summit.  This is the new and modern name for what used to be called a World Missions Conference or Mission Festival.  Regardless of the name, our 2010 Global Summit is almost here and will be running from June 6 – 9.

So what are a few of the highlights that I am looking forward to as this time approaches?  Here are a few of my thoughts.

Our Keynote Speaker.  Our main speaker is the Pastor of a large Christian & Missionary Alliance church in Baghdad, Iraq.  I’m not even going to say his name since this blog is on the internet, but this is a guy I can’t wait to hear speak.  I’ve seen a video of him speaking and he has amazing stories about God’s faithfulness and the power of the gospel in Iraq and the Middle East.

Stories of God’s work from around the world.  Dr. Bret MacLean, who is the Pediatrics doctor working at the hospital in Mali, will be speaking at the Sarpy campus on Sunday morning and then will be our guest speaker on Tuesday evening.  I can’t wait to hear his stories and see his pictures of how they are saving the lives of women and children in Mali. 

Also with us will be Ed & Julie Mangham from Jordan, Lisa Reynolds working in a very difficult place in Central Asia, and then Carey Schlieker who has been working in Africa and the Middle East.  They will all be speaking at different times and sharing stories of God’s faithfulness.

Impact on our young people.  I hear stories all the time from teenagers and adults who reflect back and say they were first moved towards or called into missions when they heard a missionary come speak at a mission’s conference.  Our children are going to get lots of face time with our missionaries and I cannot wait to hear years from now how God impacted them towards missions at our 2010 Global Summit.

Greetings from Beijing!

We are so grateful for your prayer support as we trained Chinese leaders on how to work with children in their places of worship. The group of 19 trainees included men and women from Beijing and beyond. They were so appreciative of the methods that were presented by several from the team.

Ms. Choi translated as we demonstrated several storytelling methods and activities that can be used in any size church setting with children. We trust that the work we did today encouraged the leaders and will impact many children.

The other members of the team spent their last day at the orphanage.  Saying good-bye was not easy as the children have found their way into our hearts after only a few days.  The kids loved the extra attention and lessons that we shared each day.  We kept them busy with Bible stories, singing, coloring, watercoloring, parachute games, bean bag activities and more.  I am not sure who is more tired from playing together, the kids or the adults!  We emptied our suitcases of the supplies we brought with us to leave at the orphanage.

On Friday we complete our trip with sightseeing and a visit to another church in the area. It seems fitting to end our time in China the same way we began, meeting with other believers.