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.

by Nancy Davies (China Team Leader)

Beijing is a fabulous city! Our hosts, the orphanage leaders and Benjamin, have provided us with all the assistance we need to make our stay enjoyable and our work profitable.

We spent the first day, Sunday, visiting the government approved church and sightseeing. It was a blessing to worship with the believers in this historic church. On Monday, we headed to the orphanage to start our program with the kids. The first few minutes the kids were tentative but by the afternoon we were laughing and playing together.

During the morning session we lead the children in story, songs, games and activities. They love the parachute and other supplies we brought. When the youngest children take their afternoon nap we lead the older children in the worship program. The children are so bright and eager to learn–they pick up anything we teach them very quickly.

We have an unexpected opportunity on Thursday. Half of the team will be leading a workshop on kid’s ministry for leaders in China. Programming for children in the church is rare and few have experience working with kids. Please pray that the material we prepare will be helpful for the leaders and that our communication will be clear.

We appreciate all your prayers on our behalf. Thanks so much for your support.

When I spent some time in Mali back in March, I think three different missionaries told me “Hey, when you get a chance, you need to read the book ‘When Helping Hurts’”. Then a few weeks ago a friend from a local ministry here in Omaha told me the same exact thing. I fugured “Ok God, I’m getting the message, I need to read this book.”

The books subtitle explains exactly what the book is about. It says “How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself.” I’m only three chapters into the book so far, but it has already been the most impactful book I have read in awhile.

Let me share just one impactful thought so far.

Chapter 1 is entitled “Why Jesus Came To Earth”, and I wish every follower of Jesus could read this chapter. At one point in this chapter he says:

“What is the task of the church? We are to embody Jesus Christ by doing what He did and what He continues to do through us: declare – using both words and deeds – that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords who is bringing in a kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace. And the church needs to do this where Jesus did it, among the blind, the lame, the sick and outcast, and the poor.”

Most followers of Jesus may not disagree with those thoughts, but I think the key is the idea of using “both words and deeds”. The author talks about how throughout history the church was the model around the world for meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the poor around the world. Yet in the early 1900′s many mainline denominations focused more on the social gospel, the meeting of physical needs rather than the spiritual. This caused the evangelical church to over-react and equate meeting the physical needs of the poor with incorrect theology. So in much of the 20th century the church did little to address poverty, instead focusing on meeting the spiritual needs of people.

It’s really only been in the last 20 years that this has started to change. Many Evangelical churches have once again been focused on sharing the love and message of Jesus through not just words, but also through deeds, just as Christ did himself.

As John said in 1 John 3:16 – 18:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pit on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”