2024 Mission Trips and Outreach Highlights:
- God has answered our prayers to hold off bad weather in order for us to have awesome grocery outreaches January in Tulsa and February in Florida, seeing several people come to Christ!
- In March we traveled to the Yucatan in Mexico where multitudes heard the true gospel message and prayed the prayer of salvation including the Mayor of the city of Tizimin!
- We also had several people pray to accept Christ through street evangelism. We had one lady who literally shut the door of her business so she and her colleague could hear the Gospel and then prayed in tears to receive the gift of salvation!
- Judy and another lady on the mission team even led an elderly man to the Lord during a tour of the Mayan ruins!
- In April I (Scott) traveled to Albania where I got to share in a church in Shkoder on Good Friday, which was heard by many Muslims! I then shared at a young adult camp to about 20 Muslims and one young man made a decision for Christ! The next Sunday night I shared in a church in Elbasan and afterwards 3 young people who had made decisions last summer at a camp where we shared the gospel, were baptized!
- In August we returned to Albania to complete our World Mission journeys for 2024. I preached at Cornerstone Church in Skoeder and then shared at a youth camp made up of six churches with Union Baptist of Albania during the first week. The teachings were out of 2 Timothy, and I concentrated on understanding the times we live in and the absolute necessity of making a firm decision for Christ - knowing the Bible and forming your worldview from it instead of social media! They always give the youth a survey to fill out at the end of the week and more than anything else the number one thing they enjoyed was the teaching, so we now pray, “Holy Spirit do your work”!!
- The second week started with me preaching at The Brethren Church in Elbasan and then we helped conduct the first VBS at Tirana Evangelical Church in Tirana. During the 5 days of the VBS, we averaged 75 children a day and 95 different children for the week!! The gospel was presented every day and the awesome thing about this is that 90% of the kids were Muslims who heard the gospel for the first time!! We hope to hear great follow-up stories as the days pass and thank Jesus for this incredible opportunity!
- During the summer, and now the fall, we continued to do our monthly Grocery Giveaways. It has been an awesome year so far as we have seen more people hear the gospel and make decisions for Christ than any other year!! This last outreach in September literally took only 45 minutes to hand out 50 bags of groceries and pray for every person that stopped to get the food. Every month we’re witnessing how hard it is for people and constantly hearing their appreciation for the food and prayer.
2023 Recap: We ended 2023 with our yearly holiday Grocery Giveaway outreaches and were able to give our turkeys, hats, gloves, and socks as holiday gifts. This year we saw around 25 people make decisions for Christ through these monthly outreaches! Obviously this is the main reason for this monthly outreach, every month it literally only takes no more than an hours to give away 48 bags of food along with lots of clothing as we serve so many people who are living in the park or on the streets which is indicative of the times we live in!
Our mission trips also had significant impart as we saw many come to Christ and did a lot of seed planting as we shared the Gospel. We also had opportunities to teach and share with the body of Christ to encourage them in these days we live.
It was a tremendous year and we are 'looking forward' to what God has in store for 2024!
Our mission trips also had significant impart as we saw many come to Christ and did a lot of seed planting as we shared the Gospel. We also had opportunities to teach and share with the body of Christ to encourage them in these days we live.
It was a tremendous year and we are 'looking forward' to what God has in store for 2024!
Ghana, Africa 2023: We had two (2) very busy weeks in Ghana, Africa with Faithway Christian Church! We shared and taught for ten (10) days through teaching Sunday school, preaching on two (2) Sundays, plus three (3) nights of revival, Judy sharing in a women's meeting, doing a seminar with the school teachers of Faithway Christian School, and another with church leadership. We also spoke to all the children of Faithway Christian School to challenge them for the upcoming school year. It was so good to see our friends Pastor Richard Ntim, Doris and the whole family!!
Summer Camps in Albania:
We did two camps in July being able to speak to 40-50 young people about Jesus. We had several make decisions to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and spoke to many more one on one to share the Gospel. The churches we work with do a great job of gathering and following up with the youth through their ministries, so we know God will use them to bring more into God's Kingdom!
Summer Camps in Albania:
We did two camps in July being able to speak to 40-50 young people about Jesus. We had several make decisions to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and spoke to many more one on one to share the Gospel. The churches we work with do a great job of gathering and following up with the youth through their ministries, so we know God will use them to bring more into God's Kingdom!
Ministry Update January through May 2023:
We began the year continuing our Grocery Giveaway in January....It was dark skies and sprinkling when we arrived BUT God held off the rain until we were done. Because we write down names and prayer requests every month I’m looking at so many prayers prayed over these souls stopping for some food. And we had another accept Jesus as their Savior! Praise God that He still heals, comforts, and saves!! And thank God He uses us to be His voice, hands, and feet!
February...We were in Florida during our normal monthly Grocery Giveaway, so we joined South Bay Church in Riverview for their monthly outreach
We (Judy, me, and Greg Biersack) were privileged to be part of this outreach that saw 27 people make decisions for Christ!!! Our thanks to Pastor William Norris Brown for the invite to serve with the Church.
March... we traveled to Tizimin, Mexico joining a team from South Bay Church in Florida to work with Dream Center Intl (DCI). SOULS!!! 100+ people accepted Christ, Churches heard the preaching of the Word and received Holy Spirit ministry, the Tizimin Police were honored, business people heard how to do Christ centered business, children were loved on, youth encouraged and prayed for, many people received new reading glasses, street evangelism, houses and a church painted, and wonderful anointed worship. Judy and I were so blessed to be part of this amazing mission team from South Bay Church!
Pastor Norris Brown led this team and to God’s glory everyone gave and gave of themselves to make Jesus known in a real tangible way. Bill and Kathy Craver (DCI Missions) made all this possible with the help of their wonderfully talented staff, so a huge THANK YOU to all of them.
March Grocery Givaway: Another totally God day! 48 bags of food given away, but more importantly 3 people prayed to accept Jesus as their Savior!!
Story: a lady drives up. I greet her, exchange names and ask her if she knows Jesus as her Lord, she answers “no, I do not “. So I ask her if she would like to know about Him and she replied, “I believe so.”
So I shared the gospel and explained Easter to her then asked if she’d like to pray and ask Christ into her life and she replied “YES”!
Now we have a new sister in the Lord! But here’s the other awesome part. Before she left she told me how much this chance meeting was needed because her sister had just died last night!
April...3 cities, 2 1/2 weeks of sharing and outreach.
Shkoder: I preached on Easter at Kisha “Guri i Themelit” Shkoder. The congregation had multiple Muslims in attendance, including some first timers to hear the Gospel!! They come because of the love shone from this church. As part of a grocery giveaway we fund there these families are receiving food monthly along with care for the children through a kids ministry. God is working in their hearts and we're praying for decisions!!
During the week we did a reading glasses outreach (free ones we brought from the US), youth ministry, home visitation to these families, and Judy shared in a ladies meeting. Our good friends Gusti and Visa are doing such a wonderful job sharing Christ in Word and deed in this city!
Elbasan: We only got to spend one day here with our friends Renis and Alba. They are getting going a new sports outreach ministry with Ambassador Football and we're most likely going to do a camp with them this summer. A afternoon visit and then I (Scott) preached in their church that evening. Praise God there was one young lady who committed her life to Christ!! She had only been attending church for 2-3 weeks but clearing heard the Gospel message and responded!!
Tirana: With our wonderful friends of 12 years Altin and Diana Zefi...and now many others we love and support. Our main work was doing outreach and nightly events with a group from Greece. It was the 2nd year a group has come hosted by Altin and Diana church, Evangelical Church of Tirana. community with an eyeglass outreach, children ministry, grocery distribution, and youth events. I (Scott) also taught a BTCP (Bible) class and shared briefly in church on our last Sunday.
We had such an awesome time of evangelism and encouraging the churches in Albania. We plan to return this summer (Lord willing) to do some summer camps and whatever else God puts on our plates.
May - an incredible Grocery Giveaway! As the weather gets better we are seeing more people who are currently living in the park/on the streets. We not only handed out grocery bags, but a lot of clothes. Biggest praise, as always, is that we saw two men accept Christ as their Lord!! We continue to thank God for His wonderful hand in all we do...amen!
Please pray for God's provision and that we will see Him move in more credible ways!!!!
We began the year continuing our Grocery Giveaway in January....It was dark skies and sprinkling when we arrived BUT God held off the rain until we were done. Because we write down names and prayer requests every month I’m looking at so many prayers prayed over these souls stopping for some food. And we had another accept Jesus as their Savior! Praise God that He still heals, comforts, and saves!! And thank God He uses us to be His voice, hands, and feet!
February...We were in Florida during our normal monthly Grocery Giveaway, so we joined South Bay Church in Riverview for their monthly outreach
We (Judy, me, and Greg Biersack) were privileged to be part of this outreach that saw 27 people make decisions for Christ!!! Our thanks to Pastor William Norris Brown for the invite to serve with the Church.
March... we traveled to Tizimin, Mexico joining a team from South Bay Church in Florida to work with Dream Center Intl (DCI). SOULS!!! 100+ people accepted Christ, Churches heard the preaching of the Word and received Holy Spirit ministry, the Tizimin Police were honored, business people heard how to do Christ centered business, children were loved on, youth encouraged and prayed for, many people received new reading glasses, street evangelism, houses and a church painted, and wonderful anointed worship. Judy and I were so blessed to be part of this amazing mission team from South Bay Church!
Pastor Norris Brown led this team and to God’s glory everyone gave and gave of themselves to make Jesus known in a real tangible way. Bill and Kathy Craver (DCI Missions) made all this possible with the help of their wonderfully talented staff, so a huge THANK YOU to all of them.
March Grocery Givaway: Another totally God day! 48 bags of food given away, but more importantly 3 people prayed to accept Jesus as their Savior!!
Story: a lady drives up. I greet her, exchange names and ask her if she knows Jesus as her Lord, she answers “no, I do not “. So I ask her if she would like to know about Him and she replied, “I believe so.”
So I shared the gospel and explained Easter to her then asked if she’d like to pray and ask Christ into her life and she replied “YES”!
Now we have a new sister in the Lord! But here’s the other awesome part. Before she left she told me how much this chance meeting was needed because her sister had just died last night!
April...3 cities, 2 1/2 weeks of sharing and outreach.
Shkoder: I preached on Easter at Kisha “Guri i Themelit” Shkoder. The congregation had multiple Muslims in attendance, including some first timers to hear the Gospel!! They come because of the love shone from this church. As part of a grocery giveaway we fund there these families are receiving food monthly along with care for the children through a kids ministry. God is working in their hearts and we're praying for decisions!!
During the week we did a reading glasses outreach (free ones we brought from the US), youth ministry, home visitation to these families, and Judy shared in a ladies meeting. Our good friends Gusti and Visa are doing such a wonderful job sharing Christ in Word and deed in this city!
Elbasan: We only got to spend one day here with our friends Renis and Alba. They are getting going a new sports outreach ministry with Ambassador Football and we're most likely going to do a camp with them this summer. A afternoon visit and then I (Scott) preached in their church that evening. Praise God there was one young lady who committed her life to Christ!! She had only been attending church for 2-3 weeks but clearing heard the Gospel message and responded!!
Tirana: With our wonderful friends of 12 years Altin and Diana Zefi...and now many others we love and support. Our main work was doing outreach and nightly events with a group from Greece. It was the 2nd year a group has come hosted by Altin and Diana church, Evangelical Church of Tirana. community with an eyeglass outreach, children ministry, grocery distribution, and youth events. I (Scott) also taught a BTCP (Bible) class and shared briefly in church on our last Sunday.
We had such an awesome time of evangelism and encouraging the churches in Albania. We plan to return this summer (Lord willing) to do some summer camps and whatever else God puts on our plates.
May - an incredible Grocery Giveaway! As the weather gets better we are seeing more people who are currently living in the park/on the streets. We not only handed out grocery bags, but a lot of clothes. Biggest praise, as always, is that we saw two men accept Christ as their Lord!! We continue to thank God for His wonderful hand in all we do...amen!
Please pray for God's provision and that we will see Him move in more credible ways!!!!
Looking Forward Ministries Christmas Grocery Giveaway…
We had successful outreaches in September, October and November as we saw seven (7) people accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord!! In November we did our yearly 'Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway' adding a turkey in each bag of groceries!
It was a cold morning in December, but Judy, Katie and myself were privileged to give life away today.
We shared Jesus by handing out over 50 bags of food plus donated hats, socks, gloves, clothes, and shoes as gifts for Christmas. The highlight, as always, is thanks we had several ask Christ into their lives today! Only the best Christmas gift anybody could receive!!
This day wraps up another year of realizing the grace and provisions of our great God. Many new brothers and sisters in Christ, and about 600 bags of food given away because of the faithful giving and serving of others. But God gets all the glory!
2022 was a year of seeing God's grace and provision and we look forward to 2023 and everything He has in store!
We had successful outreaches in September, October and November as we saw seven (7) people accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord!! In November we did our yearly 'Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway' adding a turkey in each bag of groceries!
It was a cold morning in December, but Judy, Katie and myself were privileged to give life away today.
We shared Jesus by handing out over 50 bags of food plus donated hats, socks, gloves, clothes, and shoes as gifts for Christmas. The highlight, as always, is thanks we had several ask Christ into their lives today! Only the best Christmas gift anybody could receive!!
This day wraps up another year of realizing the grace and provisions of our great God. Many new brothers and sisters in Christ, and about 600 bags of food given away because of the faithful giving and serving of others. But God gets all the glory!
2022 was a year of seeing God's grace and provision and we look forward to 2023 and everything He has in store!
Review of Albania Trips and First Half of 2022
How do you judge success when it comes to missions? As I read the Bible I can’t find anything in regards to measuring a successful trip, crusade, church service, etc. In fact I only see results measured in how lives were changed by the sharing of life, the truth, the gospel. But in all honesty it is hard for us to measure this except by the ongoing stories we both hear and in some cases get to witness in our continuous journeys back to Albania.
We just finished (maybe) our 11th year of working with some incredible people in Albania. Almost all of what we do is an extension of the constant efforts of our friends (family) whose life work is seeing others come to Christ.
This year from our trips in March/April and again in July we had wonderful times of preaching, teaching, church camps, grocery giveaways, and multiple one on one sharing times with so many young people. All of these times were sponsored by the local churches and ministries run by Pastor's we both support and work hand in hand with.
Successful? Again, how does one measure the planted Word of God, the prayers for so many to come to Christ, the glorious times we get to lead a person to Christ, or just the opportunity to impart teaching and encouragement into the Body of Christ. Just in numbers, we know of 6 young people who made decisions for Jesus. But so many more heard the Gospel and we know they will be followed up with by the churches.
Here in Tulsa we have continued our monthly Grocery Giveaways. It always amazes us the type of responses we get from people receiving a bag of food and a prayer. There are so many stories we have heard. Not just the immediate need for food, but the multitude of things we (our team) get to pray for…families, healing, finances, places to live, getting off the streets, addictions, strained or broken relationships, salvation for family members, and best of all when we get to pray and lead someone to Christ!
With all these things in mind, we are reporting this to you to say THANK YOU!! Thank you for believing in us through your prayers and support. As long as God allows we will continue His work in serving others by ‘giving life away’.
What’s next? For sure our Grocery Giveaways here and the one in Shokder, Albania. And as in the past we will have special outreaches for Thanksgiving and Christmas to supply people with Holiday meals.
We’ve also learned that other countries we stopped going to during the pandemic due to vaccine requirements have opened back up, i.e Ghana. So other possibilities now exist for next year including Greece and Italy. We of course will return to Albania, although we’ve not set a date at the present time.
Thanks again and many blessings!
“We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;”
1 Thessalonians 1:2
How do you judge success when it comes to missions? As I read the Bible I can’t find anything in regards to measuring a successful trip, crusade, church service, etc. In fact I only see results measured in how lives were changed by the sharing of life, the truth, the gospel. But in all honesty it is hard for us to measure this except by the ongoing stories we both hear and in some cases get to witness in our continuous journeys back to Albania.
We just finished (maybe) our 11th year of working with some incredible people in Albania. Almost all of what we do is an extension of the constant efforts of our friends (family) whose life work is seeing others come to Christ.
This year from our trips in March/April and again in July we had wonderful times of preaching, teaching, church camps, grocery giveaways, and multiple one on one sharing times with so many young people. All of these times were sponsored by the local churches and ministries run by Pastor's we both support and work hand in hand with.
Successful? Again, how does one measure the planted Word of God, the prayers for so many to come to Christ, the glorious times we get to lead a person to Christ, or just the opportunity to impart teaching and encouragement into the Body of Christ. Just in numbers, we know of 6 young people who made decisions for Jesus. But so many more heard the Gospel and we know they will be followed up with by the churches.
Here in Tulsa we have continued our monthly Grocery Giveaways. It always amazes us the type of responses we get from people receiving a bag of food and a prayer. There are so many stories we have heard. Not just the immediate need for food, but the multitude of things we (our team) get to pray for…families, healing, finances, places to live, getting off the streets, addictions, strained or broken relationships, salvation for family members, and best of all when we get to pray and lead someone to Christ!
With all these things in mind, we are reporting this to you to say THANK YOU!! Thank you for believing in us through your prayers and support. As long as God allows we will continue His work in serving others by ‘giving life away’.
What’s next? For sure our Grocery Giveaways here and the one in Shokder, Albania. And as in the past we will have special outreaches for Thanksgiving and Christmas to supply people with Holiday meals.
We’ve also learned that other countries we stopped going to during the pandemic due to vaccine requirements have opened back up, i.e Ghana. So other possibilities now exist for next year including Greece and Italy. We of course will return to Albania, although we’ve not set a date at the present time.
Thanks again and many blessings!
“We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;”
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Albania Trip April 2022
I (Scott) just returned from a very successful 3 ½ week trip to Albania! During the time there I did several youth events in three cities, outreaches and evangelism.
We completed our very first international 'Grocery Giveaway' through Cornerstone Church in Shkoder, and preached on Palm Sunday and Easter (we had 8-10 Muslims attend who had received free groceries!). I also taught 3 BTCP Bible classes there.
I spent a few days in Elbasan and had a chance to address about 15 youth (a mixture of believers and non-believers) and challenge them in their walk or to make the decision for Christ!
In Tirana I participated three days of outreach/evangelism with Tirana Evangelical Church along with a nine (9) member mission team from Greece! One night of a seminar on Online Work, I shared how I successfully managed to work from home for 15 years while at FedEx and then I also taught one night of BTCP to the churches class.
As always God moved in great ways and the work continues to grow!
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September/October Albania Trip
It was another fruitful time in Albania sharing the Gospel through word and deed. I (Scott) had time in Shokder, Tirana, and Elbasan doing outreaches, preaching in Churches, doing meetings with students, and building relationships with those we support and work with in Albania. Trip highlights: Eyeglass outreach - Cornerstone Church hosted this outreach where we gave away over 150 frames for glasses and 25 pairs of reading glasses. Most people came from the mostly Muslim neighborhood, but some traveled to the city to get these. We had a few come to Church on Sunday! Ministry fruit - Early last year I brought a good friend, David Nelson, to Albania to share and teach Pastors the BTCP curriculum in order train Pastors in the country. David had come back a few times since then and was there when I arrived teaching a seminar and sharing the information with other Pastors! Student meetings and sharing the Gospel - In Elbasan I had the honor and sharing with the student group formed by CRU Student Ministries, and having several one on one meetings with students to directly share the Gospel with them. One student prayed to accept Christ while many others intently listened and had several questions answered, Seeds were planted, prayers continue to be made for them to make a decision. Preaching in Churches - I got the preach in both Cornerstone Church and NBJ Church. It both instances both believers and non-believers were present to be challenged to receive Christ and grow in their faith. This trip finished up ten (10) years of ministry in Albania!! We've made a multitude of relationships and seen wonderful fruit as God has opened many doors to share the love of Christ. Through trips, and the support of many living there, our prayer is that lives will continue to be changed and the Church will grow to make the name of Jesus known more and more. We look forward to next year to continue His work there. |
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January - February 2021 Albania Trip and Grocery Giveaway
January 16 · What a kickoff for 2021! Grocery Giveaway’s! Thanks to our fellow servants who prayed and gave food away. The Lord touched many today through them. Sharing the love of Jesus these days is so critical and we’re grateful He allows us to do this #giveyourlifeaway I (Scott) spent three weeks in Albania in Shokder, Durres, Elbasan, and Tirana and it was a very fruitful time working with my friends and fellow servants with CRU. The list of things accomplished include giving out food to the needy, teaching a BTCP class, attending a Pastor's conference, preaching in two churches, sharing in a youth meeting, and multiple one on one 'coffee's (meetings with students) to share the Gospel with three (3) students praying to accept Christ!! A short version of a tremendous time seeing and working with these committed people who live to give their lives away. Always an honor to be with them!! |
October - December 2020 Grocery Giveaways
December 12, 2020 ·
Wow what a day at the Christmas Grocery Giveaway with a wonderful team of servants we gave away 48 bags of food, 48 turkeys, hats, gloves, socks, some clothes, and LOTS OF PRAYERS. We were extremely blessed to get a bunch of food donated to us by Project Orphans for our Christmas Grocery Giveaway!
We again thank our team of volunteers...Carma, Kathie, Scott, Aaron, Bethany, and our grandson Cooper for sharing the love of Jesus by giving their lives away!!!
Also, we are always thankful for all who donated to LFM to make this a special giveaway for Christmas!
As we close out another year of Grocery Giveaway’s Judy and I praise our Lord for His provisions and allowing us to be His hands and feet every month!
#giveyourlifeaway
November 21, 2020 ·
THANKSGIVING GROCERY GIVEAWAY
We had a long line of cars this morning with many needs. We are so thankful to God for the opportunity to share His love, life, prayers, and food! And so thankful to our fellow servants who endured the weather today to give their lives away and we’ll do it again in three weeks for our Christmas Giveaway.
Thank you to everyone who donated to get this food bought and given. Y’all are such a blessing!
#giveyourlifeaway
October 17, 2020
Today was the October Grocery Giveaway and a different kind of day. First time we done this in the afternoon and we were so busy I literally had no time for pictures except for these. Here is just one of the stories from today:
When Darrin (not real name) walked up today I knew he was assigned to me. At first take I would say he was on something, but he was very nervous, kinda standoffish. I started conversing and finally he asked me why I chose him to talk to. I said, 'first because you are a human being, you matter, and you are here. But honestly another reason is believe it or not I've been gong to Africa for almost 20 years and I love black people'....caught! He said he must have been brought here for a reason although he was only there with a friend who came up for some food.
I then started sharing Christ with him...he interrupted and started saying the Lords prayer. I slowly reeled him back in asked if he'd ever asked Christ into his heart. 'No', he said, 'I not sure if I am ready.' I've heard that one before, so overcame it and he finally prayed to invite Christ into his heart.
Before the prayer I addressed his mental state with him and said I would also pray for him for Christ to renew his mind...he was open to that.
By the time we were done he was a new person and new brother in Christ. He asked for my card...I had one and confirmed with him that he was indeed 'brought here' for God's purpose today. I asked him if he had a Bible, he did not. We had ONE from the last outreach and he has one now.
Our God is awesome!!! We go fishing for the lost, the last, and the least and He brings them in. All Glory to God.
Special thanks again to our faithful fellow servants Carma Jensen, Scott and AnnMarie Hayden, Kathie Allmon, and Scott Reagle. You guys are such a blessing!!
#giveyourlifeaway
December 12, 2020 ·
Wow what a day at the Christmas Grocery Giveaway with a wonderful team of servants we gave away 48 bags of food, 48 turkeys, hats, gloves, socks, some clothes, and LOTS OF PRAYERS. We were extremely blessed to get a bunch of food donated to us by Project Orphans for our Christmas Grocery Giveaway!
We again thank our team of volunteers...Carma, Kathie, Scott, Aaron, Bethany, and our grandson Cooper for sharing the love of Jesus by giving their lives away!!!
Also, we are always thankful for all who donated to LFM to make this a special giveaway for Christmas!
As we close out another year of Grocery Giveaway’s Judy and I praise our Lord for His provisions and allowing us to be His hands and feet every month!
#giveyourlifeaway
November 21, 2020 ·
THANKSGIVING GROCERY GIVEAWAY
We had a long line of cars this morning with many needs. We are so thankful to God for the opportunity to share His love, life, prayers, and food! And so thankful to our fellow servants who endured the weather today to give their lives away and we’ll do it again in three weeks for our Christmas Giveaway.
Thank you to everyone who donated to get this food bought and given. Y’all are such a blessing!
#giveyourlifeaway
October 17, 2020
Today was the October Grocery Giveaway and a different kind of day. First time we done this in the afternoon and we were so busy I literally had no time for pictures except for these. Here is just one of the stories from today:
When Darrin (not real name) walked up today I knew he was assigned to me. At first take I would say he was on something, but he was very nervous, kinda standoffish. I started conversing and finally he asked me why I chose him to talk to. I said, 'first because you are a human being, you matter, and you are here. But honestly another reason is believe it or not I've been gong to Africa for almost 20 years and I love black people'....caught! He said he must have been brought here for a reason although he was only there with a friend who came up for some food.
I then started sharing Christ with him...he interrupted and started saying the Lords prayer. I slowly reeled him back in asked if he'd ever asked Christ into his heart. 'No', he said, 'I not sure if I am ready.' I've heard that one before, so overcame it and he finally prayed to invite Christ into his heart.
Before the prayer I addressed his mental state with him and said I would also pray for him for Christ to renew his mind...he was open to that.
By the time we were done he was a new person and new brother in Christ. He asked for my card...I had one and confirmed with him that he was indeed 'brought here' for God's purpose today. I asked him if he had a Bible, he did not. We had ONE from the last outreach and he has one now.
Our God is awesome!!! We go fishing for the lost, the last, and the least and He brings them in. All Glory to God.
Special thanks again to our faithful fellow servants Carma Jensen, Scott and AnnMarie Hayden, Kathie Allmon, and Scott Reagle. You guys are such a blessing!!
#giveyourlifeaway
September Grocery Giveaway
What a tremendous LFM Grocery Giveaway in September...God is so good! Our partners gave to buy food, donated a lot of clothes and with a great group of volunteers we served up prayers, food, and clothing to over 50 people in need. MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE!!
The Lord gave us a perfect day for this outreach. One mom came up and received prayer and items for her 7 children. Another man prayed and accepted Christ, which is always the highlight and reason we serve others...Amen!!
As always we thank God for allowing us to the opportunity to serve our community, especially in times like these!
#givelifeaway
What a tremendous LFM Grocery Giveaway in September...God is so good! Our partners gave to buy food, donated a lot of clothes and with a great group of volunteers we served up prayers, food, and clothing to over 50 people in need. MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE!!
The Lord gave us a perfect day for this outreach. One mom came up and received prayer and items for her 7 children. Another man prayed and accepted Christ, which is always the highlight and reason we serve others...Amen!!
As always we thank God for allowing us to the opportunity to serve our community, especially in times like these!
#givelifeaway
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Albania Trip and Grocery Giveaway July 2020
After two (2) cancelled trips this year due to travel bans and flight cancellations, Judy and I decided to step out in some true freedom and travel to Albania to share the gospel! Our travel was the most unsure part of our trip as it included extra airport stops, ‘enduring’ the constant wearing of a mask, but mostly experiencing cancellations of flights, not being allowed to fly due to EU restrictions (which equated to extra days in Albania,) and having to purchase four (4) separate sets of tickets to get home! Our trip this year included a week in Shkoder with a teenage camp for high school kids, a week in Elbasan with a camp for high school and college age kids, and an unplanned three days of being with our friends in Tirana for their church retreat! As always we had the opportunity to enjoy the kids in daily activities, share and plant seeds of the gospel through individual conversations, sharing our testimonies, plus I (Scott) preached in a couple of churches. New relationships were formed with lots of new Facebook friends. Covid fears, and an unusual event in the country right before we arrived, kind of hindered the number of kids our first week, but honestly we don’t go for numbers but for individuals! It was still a wonderful week with a group of boys with whom we had great discussion on worldviews and answering of questions. Seeds of love and hope were planted and something more to build upon in future meetings! However, the second week we had over 40 kids show up every evening for a short video, group discussions, and games! Then at the final evening meeting both Judy and I shared our testimonies and I gave them the gospel and an invitation. On the last day we took everyone to a pool and between the kids, their friends and adults we had over 70 people! But the highlight of the trip for me was when I sat and talked with two guys who both had heard the gospel before and really, in one sense, understood it but had not accepted it. After a long discussion with them I was able to overcome all the ‘reasons’ one young man had and he prayed and asked Jesus into his life!! The other young man said he would ‘listen’ to the prayer, but Judy later said he also 'repeated' the prayer, so God knows. Finally, on our last Sunday we (I, Altin, Diane) planned a birthday party for Judy's birthday with church friends! We then got to spend 3 days in their church (Tirana Evangelical Church) camp and participated in their study on covenants joining in a group for the book study and discussion. As always we are so incredibly privileged to participate in our friends' ongoing ministry in Albania and support their lives they constantly give away! We were told we were the only Americans coming this ‘year’ to Albania! God somehow chose to open a window for us, maybe just for the one! It has got to always be done for the one!! So for us, the one soul (maybe 2), sharing of our lives and Christ’s love, and new relationships were worth everything we had to bear. We are not sure at this point what the rest of the year holds for traveling, for like everyone else we wait and see the constant changes going on in the world. The day after we returned home we did our Grocery Giveaway for July (although it was August 1st). It ended up being a 'drive-through' as due to COVID most people just wanted to stay in their cars. We did however pray for everyone in their cars and one young man did walk up and prayed with us to received Christ as his Lord!!! We thank God for the opportunity to give life away abroad and at home due to His incredible gift of grace in our own lives. |
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January and February 2020 Grocery Giveaways
We began 2020 with two wonderful Grocery Giveaways. We fought the weather elements in January and then enjoyed sunshine in February. But the greatest Sonshine was giving life away to 3 dozen people/families each month in the form of food and prayer. We are always blown away by how God brings so many with needs, that only He can meet, through us and our volunteers as we lay our hands on them and pray! Tears of joy and gratefulness flow and nobody leaves the same...Thank You Jesus!! #giveyourlifeaway |
December 2019 Grocery Outreach and End of Year Report
What a way to end our Grocery Giveaways for the year! It was a wonderful day to serve others at Christmas with a full bag of groceries, a turkey, new socks, and for a few a sleeping mat and blanket!!
We are so thankful to God to have these opportunities to 'give life away' in our community. In 2019 we:
- gave away around 450 bags of groceries
- prayed for everyone getting groceries
- and wonderfully saw about 12 people pray to accept Christ as
their savior!
We want to thank every one of our friends who came and helped us serve in 2019. What a blessing to have like hearts become the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus to give life away!
We were also blessed to have done five (5) mission trips in 2019 to share the gospel...see the trip reviews below.
As we enter into a new year and a new decade we are reminded that in Christ all things are new. Our scripture verse for Looking Forward Ministries is Philippians 3:13, "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead..."
Our prayer is that we not dwell on both past victories or failures (the forgetting part), but as verse 14 says, "press on toward the goal for the prize" (the looking forward part), which is Christ. So in 2020 (and beyond) as we 'give life away' we pray all we do brings glory to God and His hope to many.
What a way to end our Grocery Giveaways for the year! It was a wonderful day to serve others at Christmas with a full bag of groceries, a turkey, new socks, and for a few a sleeping mat and blanket!!
We are so thankful to God to have these opportunities to 'give life away' in our community. In 2019 we:
- gave away around 450 bags of groceries
- prayed for everyone getting groceries
- and wonderfully saw about 12 people pray to accept Christ as
their savior!
We want to thank every one of our friends who came and helped us serve in 2019. What a blessing to have like hearts become the voice, hands, and feet of Jesus to give life away!
We were also blessed to have done five (5) mission trips in 2019 to share the gospel...see the trip reviews below.
As we enter into a new year and a new decade we are reminded that in Christ all things are new. Our scripture verse for Looking Forward Ministries is Philippians 3:13, "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead..."
Our prayer is that we not dwell on both past victories or failures (the forgetting part), but as verse 14 says, "press on toward the goal for the prize" (the looking forward part), which is Christ. So in 2020 (and beyond) as we 'give life away' we pray all we do brings glory to God and His hope to many.
Albania Medical and Student Outreaches October 2019
Three weeks of relationship building, seeing students come to Christ, and just 'giving life away'!
Week one was in Shkoder with Pastor Gusti and Visa Bushgjokaj of Cornerstone Church where I preached on Sunday. During the week they did a dental outreach with a dentist from Brazil and he saw around 50 people in 2 1/2 days! Most were non-believers that were invited as a way to show God's love and give an opportunity to invite them to church. They will also be followed up with and invited to coffee's to start relationships and share the gospel. On Thursday evening I taught a group of teenagers on the value of physical exercise and then did a CrossFit workout with them. The winners received a free English Camp for next summer...there were 2 winners and not hard to choose as only 2 students actually finished the workout with me (smile).
Week two was in Elbasan which began with me preaching in a church (A2B) on Sunday. During the week I served with my friends Renis and Alba Qose, the other CRU staff, and three Americans from Denver. We went out to the local Universities inviting students to attend evening events during the week and for coffee's to start relationships plus share the gospel. There were two events, American Night (sharing about America and skits) and one of short movies with table discussions. Both nights were about starting relationships and getting contact information. We had many coffee's during the week where two students that Renis and I me with accepted Christ and several others heard the gospel (seed planting), but were not quite ready for the next step (YET!). There were also three other students who made decisions during the week, but everyone met with will be followed up on by the CRU team!
Week three was in Tirana with my friends Altin and Diana Zefi. Altin is Pastor of Tirana Evangelical Church which I attended Sunday morning greeting many friends, and then attended City Church (a plant from TEC) that night. During the week I met with some students with Mentor Zefi and got to share the gospel. I also had the opportunity to meet Pastors, or future Pastors of new churches, with Altin as he is over GCM, the Church planting division of CRU Albania. Altin and I also met with the college students from his church one afternoon as he treated them to lunch and had them each share (and us) how they came to know Christ. There was one young lady there who had not made a decision yet, so she got to hear some amazing stories!
Please pray for both these new believers and those that have heard the gospel.
Pray for all the CRU staff that are out every day sharing love and building God's Kingdom one by one.
Finally, pray for Judy and I as we continue going on mission trips and do our local monthly Grocery Giveaway.
#giveyourlifeaway
Three weeks of relationship building, seeing students come to Christ, and just 'giving life away'!
Week one was in Shkoder with Pastor Gusti and Visa Bushgjokaj of Cornerstone Church where I preached on Sunday. During the week they did a dental outreach with a dentist from Brazil and he saw around 50 people in 2 1/2 days! Most were non-believers that were invited as a way to show God's love and give an opportunity to invite them to church. They will also be followed up with and invited to coffee's to start relationships and share the gospel. On Thursday evening I taught a group of teenagers on the value of physical exercise and then did a CrossFit workout with them. The winners received a free English Camp for next summer...there were 2 winners and not hard to choose as only 2 students actually finished the workout with me (smile).
Week two was in Elbasan which began with me preaching in a church (A2B) on Sunday. During the week I served with my friends Renis and Alba Qose, the other CRU staff, and three Americans from Denver. We went out to the local Universities inviting students to attend evening events during the week and for coffee's to start relationships plus share the gospel. There were two events, American Night (sharing about America and skits) and one of short movies with table discussions. Both nights were about starting relationships and getting contact information. We had many coffee's during the week where two students that Renis and I me with accepted Christ and several others heard the gospel (seed planting), but were not quite ready for the next step (YET!). There were also three other students who made decisions during the week, but everyone met with will be followed up on by the CRU team!
Week three was in Tirana with my friends Altin and Diana Zefi. Altin is Pastor of Tirana Evangelical Church which I attended Sunday morning greeting many friends, and then attended City Church (a plant from TEC) that night. During the week I met with some students with Mentor Zefi and got to share the gospel. I also had the opportunity to meet Pastors, or future Pastors of new churches, with Altin as he is over GCM, the Church planting division of CRU Albania. Altin and I also met with the college students from his church one afternoon as he treated them to lunch and had them each share (and us) how they came to know Christ. There was one young lady there who had not made a decision yet, so she got to hear some amazing stories!
Please pray for both these new believers and those that have heard the gospel.
Pray for all the CRU staff that are out every day sharing love and building God's Kingdom one by one.
Finally, pray for Judy and I as we continue going on mission trips and do our local monthly Grocery Giveaway.
#giveyourlifeaway
Albania English Camps 2019
We are now back from Albania and another God filled trip! What love He has poured out on a bunch of young people as we continue to give away what He has given to us.
We completed two (2) English Camps and saw 15-20 teenagers make decisions for Christ!! And many others now have seeds planted to water! To God be all the glory for the great thing He has done..
What a wonderful group of teenagers! Many new relationships were formed and now future opportunities available to speak into their lives.
A special thanks to our Albanian friends (family) and co-workers for Christ for the constant sharing of their faith, hearts, love, and compassion for these kids, and allowing us to be a small part! WE LOVE ALL OF YOU
🥰
And and a special thanks to AnnMarie Hayden for coming with us and her heart of love and hard work helping teach these classes. What a blessing!!! We were honored to have her and she's definitely invited back.
We also had the privilege of attending two Sunday church services as Tiriana Evangelical Church. Pastor Altin Zefi and Brother Scott Kemp gave great messages out of Luke and as always we enjoy worshiping with our Albanian family!
On the last Sunday there we got to meet a group of wonderful young missionaries from Steiger International. They were in Tirana performing on the streets to draw crowds and sharing Christ, awesome! We're tagged up now, so who knows what the future may hold.
Our believe is that by giving our lives away the Lord will use them to lead others to know His great love and forgiveness.
As always Judy and I thank everyone that prays and financially supports the work God has allowed us to do!! Heavenly rewards abound for the giving and goer alike!
#giveyourlifeaway
#JesusisLord
We are now back from Albania and another God filled trip! What love He has poured out on a bunch of young people as we continue to give away what He has given to us.
We completed two (2) English Camps and saw 15-20 teenagers make decisions for Christ!! And many others now have seeds planted to water! To God be all the glory for the great thing He has done..
What a wonderful group of teenagers! Many new relationships were formed and now future opportunities available to speak into their lives.
A special thanks to our Albanian friends (family) and co-workers for Christ for the constant sharing of their faith, hearts, love, and compassion for these kids, and allowing us to be a small part! WE LOVE ALL OF YOU
🥰
And and a special thanks to AnnMarie Hayden for coming with us and her heart of love and hard work helping teach these classes. What a blessing!!! We were honored to have her and she's definitely invited back.
We also had the privilege of attending two Sunday church services as Tiriana Evangelical Church. Pastor Altin Zefi and Brother Scott Kemp gave great messages out of Luke and as always we enjoy worshiping with our Albanian family!
On the last Sunday there we got to meet a group of wonderful young missionaries from Steiger International. They were in Tirana performing on the streets to draw crowds and sharing Christ, awesome! We're tagged up now, so who knows what the future may hold.
Our believe is that by giving our lives away the Lord will use them to lead others to know His great love and forgiveness.
As always Judy and I thank everyone that prays and financially supports the work God has allowed us to do!! Heavenly rewards abound for the giving and goer alike!
#giveyourlifeaway
#JesusisLord
Tizimin, Mexico - May-June 2019
During the 10 days in Tizimin, Mexico there were literally hundreds of people who received reading eyeglasses and then prayer for physical healing, families, jobs, etc. We did this out in front of the Tizimin government offices with their support and favor as well as three new villages. During these outreaches several people were led to the Lord going through the prayer line!
I led one man to the Lord who was just standing watching me pray for people. I approached him asked him if he knew Christ and he said yes. So I asked him if he died tonight if was sure he was going to heaven, no answered no. We prayed and now he knows! (man in row 2 pics)
Speaking of reaching the government, one afternoon DCI hosted about 50 local police for a luncheon and afterwards they were honored with a gift and plaque thanking them for their service. We serve a God who honors, we should too!
I participated in helping a team from Mississippi do construction of a new church out in a village. This building was an answer to prayers prayed two years ago when Pastor Bill of DCI and I met with Pastor Gabriel to hear his heart and share the DCI vision to reach the area youth through the DCI 50 Strong program. After three hot days of construction everyone serving at DCI went to the building to dedicate the new church...an awesome event!
One evening several of us walked into businesses to pray for the business owners and give them Bibles. As a result we led two people to Christ in their shops! (young man in top row pic below)
The following week teams from Florida and Mississippi walked the neighborhoods going door to door to hand out some groceries and pray for people. The results...not exactly sure but I estimate around 20 people came to know Christ! Regardless, people were blessed by receiving prayer, food, and Christ’s love was made known!
We were invited into a local High School where we played basketball, soccer, and ladies did nail and face painting. In a span of a few hours new relationships were formed and the principle gave us (through DCI) an open door to return whenever we want!
What a full 10 days of ministry, sharing, and the best thing, seeing people come to know Jesus as their Lord!
During the 10 days in Tizimin, Mexico there were literally hundreds of people who received reading eyeglasses and then prayer for physical healing, families, jobs, etc. We did this out in front of the Tizimin government offices with their support and favor as well as three new villages. During these outreaches several people were led to the Lord going through the prayer line!
I led one man to the Lord who was just standing watching me pray for people. I approached him asked him if he knew Christ and he said yes. So I asked him if he died tonight if was sure he was going to heaven, no answered no. We prayed and now he knows! (man in row 2 pics)
Speaking of reaching the government, one afternoon DCI hosted about 50 local police for a luncheon and afterwards they were honored with a gift and plaque thanking them for their service. We serve a God who honors, we should too!
I participated in helping a team from Mississippi do construction of a new church out in a village. This building was an answer to prayers prayed two years ago when Pastor Bill of DCI and I met with Pastor Gabriel to hear his heart and share the DCI vision to reach the area youth through the DCI 50 Strong program. After three hot days of construction everyone serving at DCI went to the building to dedicate the new church...an awesome event!
One evening several of us walked into businesses to pray for the business owners and give them Bibles. As a result we led two people to Christ in their shops! (young man in top row pic below)
The following week teams from Florida and Mississippi walked the neighborhoods going door to door to hand out some groceries and pray for people. The results...not exactly sure but I estimate around 20 people came to know Christ! Regardless, people were blessed by receiving prayer, food, and Christ’s love was made known!
We were invited into a local High School where we played basketball, soccer, and ladies did nail and face painting. In a span of a few hours new relationships were formed and the principle gave us (through DCI) an open door to return whenever we want!
What a full 10 days of ministry, sharing, and the best thing, seeing people come to know Jesus as their Lord!
Cuba - April-May 2019
This was the first time in Cuba and it was an eye opening experience! To say you really don't know about a place until you visit is an understatement! But what I really need to get across is to pray for our brothers and sisters there for the need is great.
Pastor Norris Brown, Juan Santos (both from South Bay Church in Riverview, FL) and I traveled to the city of Las Tunas to teach a BTCP(L) (Bible Training Centre for Pastors and Leaders) class on the first half of the Old Testament to a group from Jerusalen Church. The time was precious, students awesome, and our hosts, Pastor Bernado and his family, were most wonderful! We enjoyed meals together, getting to know about them and learn the history of Cuba and current state of affairs.
As seems to always be the case, what we find our beautiful people full of the love of God and happy regardless of circumstances. I always returned challenged in my on life and walk with the Lord to continue to find satisfaction in all the blessings of God and reminded of why we must 'give life away'. My prayer is that I (or we) can return soon to continue the Bible teaching, but even more the relationship with those God has now allowed to be a part of my heart.
This was the first time in Cuba and it was an eye opening experience! To say you really don't know about a place until you visit is an understatement! But what I really need to get across is to pray for our brothers and sisters there for the need is great.
Pastor Norris Brown, Juan Santos (both from South Bay Church in Riverview, FL) and I traveled to the city of Las Tunas to teach a BTCP(L) (Bible Training Centre for Pastors and Leaders) class on the first half of the Old Testament to a group from Jerusalen Church. The time was precious, students awesome, and our hosts, Pastor Bernado and his family, were most wonderful! We enjoyed meals together, getting to know about them and learn the history of Cuba and current state of affairs.
As seems to always be the case, what we find our beautiful people full of the love of God and happy regardless of circumstances. I always returned challenged in my on life and walk with the Lord to continue to find satisfaction in all the blessings of God and reminded of why we must 'give life away'. My prayer is that I (or we) can return soon to continue the Bible teaching, but even more the relationship with those God has now allowed to be a part of my heart.
Albania February-March 2019
I was honored to be with Dr. C. David Nelson, President of Crossing Cultures International, to hold a training seminar for Albanian Pastors teaching them how to use BTCP (Bible Training Center for Pastors) materials to train new Pastors and leaders in Albania! We had about 30 attendees and hope to have several classes begin this fall in different churches.
I also shared at Cornerstone Church in Shkorda and did a teenage outreach in Durres with kids from three different churches (hosted by Cornerstone Church). I spoke on the importance of a strong relationship with Jesus and why it was so important to share Christ with other teenagers. They were then taught the four spiritual laws and how to use them to share Christ.
Please pray for the teenagers of Albania and that God will use them to share His love and the gospel to expand His Kingdom in Albania.
I was honored to be with Dr. C. David Nelson, President of Crossing Cultures International, to hold a training seminar for Albanian Pastors teaching them how to use BTCP (Bible Training Center for Pastors) materials to train new Pastors and leaders in Albania! We had about 30 attendees and hope to have several classes begin this fall in different churches.
I also shared at Cornerstone Church in Shkorda and did a teenage outreach in Durres with kids from three different churches (hosted by Cornerstone Church). I spoke on the importance of a strong relationship with Jesus and why it was so important to share Christ with other teenagers. They were then taught the four spiritual laws and how to use them to share Christ.
Please pray for the teenagers of Albania and that God will use them to share His love and the gospel to expand His Kingdom in Albania.
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December Christmas, January and March Grocery Giveaways
We continue to do grocery giveaways the months we are in town. During Christmas God provided extra funds and we were able to not only give a bag of groceries, but a fresh turkey to everyone! It was indeed a blessing to see the appreciation from those receiving this gift! We also did outreaches in January and March. The good news is that we now have increased the number of bags given away to almost 50!! It is such an honor to show Gods love and care through physical food and prayer as we continue to give life away! |
November Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway
God is so good!...36 individuals or families got Thanksgiving food and prayers at our outreach on November 20th! There are always many stories we hear as we pray for everyone who receives a bag of groceries. One man, named Bill, stopped and got out of his truck in tears, just wanting prayer! God knew, God cares, God gives peace! That's why this is about giving both physical and spiritual life away! Judy, Courtney, and I were blessed to hear each persons story and pray to bring the love of Christ into the center of each one. We thank all our partners who give toward these grocery giveaways that God may be glorified. Next outreach will be Christmas giveaway on December 15th. |
Ghana Trip 2018
This was our 14th year of going to Ghana and working with Pastor Richard and Doris Ntim and Faithway Christian Church. This was Judy’s first time back since 2011.
It’s always hard to write a short report on what God does when being and serving with people for 15 days. Also, at this point of life we know it is only by God’s grace each time He allows us to travel and give our lives away.
This year we had several goals for our trip:
- Preach and share in week revival to end a month of prayer and fasting by the church
- Judy to meet with the women's ministry
- Meet with the youth group to share a word and crossfit workout
- Share the Word with the children in the weekly School Assembly
- Share with, encourage and pray for the school teachers
- Judy working in the school kitchen/cafeteria preparing and serving the children a daily lunch
- House visitations and prayers for the sick.
I was excited to develop the messages as these are the exact verses from which our ministry, Looking Forward Ministries, was derived from! Needless to say the revival went very well and my message on Sunday, September 30th ended the revival and the church month of fasting and prayer.
As Judy worked daily in the kitchen/cafeteria helping to prepare the daily meals, helping serve the food, and then doing clean up. For her is was simply a labor of love as she spent time with the small children giving high fives to the children daily when they came into the Cafeteria and taking care of some of their needs. She also told a Bible story and sang songs with about 50 or more of the younger children. She thoroughly enjoyed it!
While doing this she noticed that most of the 250-300 children did not have places to sit to eat their lunch even though they came in shifts. She had talked to many of the children and they expressed such to her. Therefore, she asked Doris and found out they knew someone who made benches so we decided to bless the kids and had 7 benches made, which were delivered the last Friday before we left. It was a great joy to see the kids sitting to enjoy their lunches and the delight on their faces….thank you Jesus for the opportunity to bless the children!!
Judy also led the monthly ladies meeting. She had prayed fervently about what to share and the message God gave her was one of those ‘exactly what they needed to hear’ messages! Sharing love with words, making bookmarks, and providing nail polish and sharing lots of snacks with the ladies was right up Judy’s alley. She is such a lover of people!
What a pleasure to be with hundreds of school children and share worship and then the Word! I got to do this twice and spoke to them about ‘integrity’ and ‘respect’. Afterwards, a few of the kids came up and prayed for me, and no doubt they were no strangers to sincere prayer! I was blessed…
During the second week I attended the weekly teachers prayer time to share a word of encouragement and pray over them. Mind you like many of our teachers here in America they are underpaid for what they pour out into the lives of these kids. It truly is a labor of love and desire to see these kids get a quality education with Christ as the center.
During the 2nd week, while Judy served at the school, Pastor Richard and I visited church members and prayed for several who were sick. Always an honor to pray over people and see God move! In one case a lady could not put any pressure on her leg, but after prayer stood up and walked normally...praise God! Whether instantaneous or not God is our healer and we know He hears our prayers and has compassion on His people.
All in all, it was a God-filled trip with many opportunities to bless people and be blessed by worship and fellow-shipping with these beautiful people, our Ghana family and friends!
Please take time to read below.
To make a general donation to our ministry so we may continue to make these trips and give life away see our GIVE NOW tab.
A note about Faithway Christian School:
The school had just begun back in 2004 with a kindergarten through 2nd grade when I first came to Ghana, and is still the only evangelical school in the area.
The church I attended at that time raised money to purchase the first poly-tank for water storage for the school. Since then I've hosted 3 teams from Florida who invested lives and money in the school through doing a Vacation Bible School, giving school supplies, and giving towards the building expansion.
In the last 14 years the school has slowly expanded to add grades through primary school (9th grade), but the goal of a ‘through secondary school’ (high school) has yet to be realized. Pastor Richard’s heart has always been to keep the tuition costs at a level that would allow more children to attend. This only covers small teacher salaries and the weekly cost of the food that the ladies prepare every day to feed the kids. (for some it may be their only real meal for the day).
I share this to share this vision, and if anyone would like to help in any way to provide school supplies, furniture, or building expansion please contact us to let us know after making a donation.
GROCERY GIVEAWAY!
In May of this year we began our 'grocery giveaway' here in Tulsa. We spied out the land and found a small park in a diverse area to give away life through bags of groceries (physical food) and prayer for everyone receiving the groceries (spiritual food) and in three months we've had one man accept Christ and given away over 100 bags of groceries!
We have been blessed to have several couples from the Young Married group at our church we help lead come out and participate in these outreaches and share their lives with these precious people.
A couple of stories...a man came up to get a bag of groceries. After I prayed for him he pulled out his front pocket of his pants to show me a few coins and said, "this is all the money I have and this morning I did not know how I was going to feed my family, now I can". With tears I hugged him and thanked God for meeting all ours needs by His wonderful love.
A couple came up to get some groceries and they had slept in their car the night before with their three children as they had been evicted from their apartment. Receiving food was a huge blessing for them as anything they had was still in the apartment. Judy prayed for them and you could just see the peace of God flood them as they experienced His care in a very unexpected way.
And by His love we will continue to do these outreaches and give our lives away.
In May of this year we began our 'grocery giveaway' here in Tulsa. We spied out the land and found a small park in a diverse area to give away life through bags of groceries (physical food) and prayer for everyone receiving the groceries (spiritual food) and in three months we've had one man accept Christ and given away over 100 bags of groceries!
We have been blessed to have several couples from the Young Married group at our church we help lead come out and participate in these outreaches and share their lives with these precious people.
A couple of stories...a man came up to get a bag of groceries. After I prayed for him he pulled out his front pocket of his pants to show me a few coins and said, "this is all the money I have and this morning I did not know how I was going to feed my family, now I can". With tears I hugged him and thanked God for meeting all ours needs by His wonderful love.
A couple came up to get some groceries and they had slept in their car the night before with their three children as they had been evicted from their apartment. Receiving food was a huge blessing for them as anything they had was still in the apartment. Judy prayed for them and you could just see the peace of God flood them as they experienced His care in a very unexpected way.
And by His love we will continue to do these outreaches and give our lives away.
Albania, 2018
What is your time worth? Or how would you use it if you knew 'lives' depended upon it? We all equate our time differently, but for Judy and I our time is about 'giving life away'. I really don't know how else to put it.
So we go...this time to Albania where we have now gone for the past 7 years. Why? To join with some awesome fellow believers (and friends!) who have 'taught us' how to give life away!
This year we participated in 3 different CRU English Camps for High School and College students. At each camp we met and served along side some incredible American mission teams from Georgia, Maryland, and California, who also came to pour life into these students.
For those of you who follow us on Facebook you received many daily posts (and pictures) of our time, but there are simple too many stories to record here. Suffice it to say that God, as always, was so faithful at every turn, with every meeting (coffee), in every class, and in every divine encounter.
We are so honored to be a small part of the lives that we may only encounter one time, and the ongoing ones we've now had for many years. If only one life got changed by the love of Christ the trip was worth our time. And Lord willing we we return again.
LOCAL MINISTRY - We plan to continue (almost) monthly 'Grocery Giveaway" to 'give our lives away'. Next one is on August 25th and we plan to bless 36 families with free groceries in the name of Jesus!
As always we want to thank our faithful partners and friends for your prayers and financial support!! As financial support comes in we will continue to go...and as I (Scott) have now retired from FedEx I hope to travel more, Lord willing.
Our next trip is scheduled for September 21st and we'll be headed to Ghana. We praying to take some special gifts to the church members and for the School (i.e. new American t-shirts, etc) so if anyone would like to give to this please click on the GIVE NOW tab and designate your gift for this project.
Giving or going, we are all one in God's plan to touch the lives of his beautiful people with his wonderful life changing love!!
Grace and peace.
Scott and Judy
#giveyourlifeaway
What is your time worth? Or how would you use it if you knew 'lives' depended upon it? We all equate our time differently, but for Judy and I our time is about 'giving life away'. I really don't know how else to put it.
So we go...this time to Albania where we have now gone for the past 7 years. Why? To join with some awesome fellow believers (and friends!) who have 'taught us' how to give life away!
This year we participated in 3 different CRU English Camps for High School and College students. At each camp we met and served along side some incredible American mission teams from Georgia, Maryland, and California, who also came to pour life into these students.
For those of you who follow us on Facebook you received many daily posts (and pictures) of our time, but there are simple too many stories to record here. Suffice it to say that God, as always, was so faithful at every turn, with every meeting (coffee), in every class, and in every divine encounter.
We are so honored to be a small part of the lives that we may only encounter one time, and the ongoing ones we've now had for many years. If only one life got changed by the love of Christ the trip was worth our time. And Lord willing we we return again.
LOCAL MINISTRY - We plan to continue (almost) monthly 'Grocery Giveaway" to 'give our lives away'. Next one is on August 25th and we plan to bless 36 families with free groceries in the name of Jesus!
As always we want to thank our faithful partners and friends for your prayers and financial support!! As financial support comes in we will continue to go...and as I (Scott) have now retired from FedEx I hope to travel more, Lord willing.
Our next trip is scheduled for September 21st and we'll be headed to Ghana. We praying to take some special gifts to the church members and for the School (i.e. new American t-shirts, etc) so if anyone would like to give to this please click on the GIVE NOW tab and designate your gift for this project.
Giving or going, we are all one in God's plan to touch the lives of his beautiful people with his wonderful life changing love!!
Grace and peace.
Scott and Judy
#giveyourlifeaway
Tizimin, Mexico March 2018
I arrived at the DCI (Bill and Kathy Craver) Mission base in Tizimin on March 18th and was privileged to work with 2 couples (Justin and Oksana, Yung and Sue), 2 singles (Brice and Valarie), a youth team from New Hope Assembly in Rodgers, AR., and of course their Pastor (James) and leaders (Matt and Michele, and Rachel).
During the week I and the couples/singles did eyeglass evangelism in some villages outside of Tizimin and in two days gave away around 200 pairs and reading glasses! It is amazing to know that for all of these precious people these glasses meant they could now read their Bibles! Sharing the gospel by serving and giving touched one village so much afterwards they invited the team down to a local church where they thanked us and prayed for us…..then I prayed for them and the city.
During the evenings Pastor Bill, Moises (local DCI Director), Brice and myself would travel to outlying villages to share the vision of DCI’s youth program 50 Strong with the local Pastors and invite them to a weekend event the end of April. Most of these small village churches have nothing to really offer the youth and were extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to connect with others and build relationships and spiritual growth in the youth.
One day we went to a village, San Pedro, and painted the inside of a church. What started as ‘our’ projected ended up with about a dozen other local members coming in, grabbing rollers and brushes, and helping us. We were able to get about 2/3 of the inside done but left them the paint and equipment to finish the job.
The week for the others ended on Friday night with a youth service on the campus for kids from Tizimin. The team sang songs and several of them shared their testimony then had a time of prayer and ministry to the other youth. It was powerful and awesome to see the power of God move through them and touch others’ lives!
I was honored to get to preach in three churches while there. On Thursday night I shared at a Church of The God of Prophecy. This small congregation that was recently reestablished and the Pastor said the word I spoke was exactly what they needed to hear and afterwards brought a time of rich ministry and healing.
Sunday morning I shared in Iglesia Cristiana Metodista Calvary Familia De Dios with Pastor Jorge and Anita. I’ve spoken here many times before and was honored to share the Palm Sunday message. The message was again followed by a wonderful time of prayer and ministry for freedom, guidance, and prayer for healing.
Finally, on Sunday night we traveled to the village of Tixcancal where I shared at another Church of God of Prophecy. It was another unique night as this was a new Pastor who was very gracious to allow me to his first night with the congregation. This was one of those times when I had a message prepared but by the time worship was done the Lord took it a different direction with a different message. The Holy Spirit led ministry afterwards was precious seeing so many come to the altar and pray.
I am so thankful to Pastor Bill and Kathy for all they do here in Mexico and giving me the opportunity to share in the work for the last decade. Can’t wait to see what he future holds….God is so good!
During the week I and the couples/singles did eyeglass evangelism in some villages outside of Tizimin and in two days gave away around 200 pairs and reading glasses! It is amazing to know that for all of these precious people these glasses meant they could now read their Bibles! Sharing the gospel by serving and giving touched one village so much afterwards they invited the team down to a local church where they thanked us and prayed for us…..then I prayed for them and the city.
During the evenings Pastor Bill, Moises (local DCI Director), Brice and myself would travel to outlying villages to share the vision of DCI’s youth program 50 Strong with the local Pastors and invite them to a weekend event the end of April. Most of these small village churches have nothing to really offer the youth and were extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to connect with others and build relationships and spiritual growth in the youth.
One day we went to a village, San Pedro, and painted the inside of a church. What started as ‘our’ projected ended up with about a dozen other local members coming in, grabbing rollers and brushes, and helping us. We were able to get about 2/3 of the inside done but left them the paint and equipment to finish the job.
The week for the others ended on Friday night with a youth service on the campus for kids from Tizimin. The team sang songs and several of them shared their testimony then had a time of prayer and ministry to the other youth. It was powerful and awesome to see the power of God move through them and touch others’ lives!
I was honored to get to preach in three churches while there. On Thursday night I shared at a Church of The God of Prophecy. This small congregation that was recently reestablished and the Pastor said the word I spoke was exactly what they needed to hear and afterwards brought a time of rich ministry and healing.
Sunday morning I shared in Iglesia Cristiana Metodista Calvary Familia De Dios with Pastor Jorge and Anita. I’ve spoken here many times before and was honored to share the Palm Sunday message. The message was again followed by a wonderful time of prayer and ministry for freedom, guidance, and prayer for healing.
Finally, on Sunday night we traveled to the village of Tixcancal where I shared at another Church of God of Prophecy. It was another unique night as this was a new Pastor who was very gracious to allow me to his first night with the congregation. This was one of those times when I had a message prepared but by the time worship was done the Lord took it a different direction with a different message. The Holy Spirit led ministry afterwards was precious seeing so many come to the altar and pray.
I am so thankful to Pastor Bill and Kathy for all they do here in Mexico and giving me the opportunity to share in the work for the last decade. Can’t wait to see what he future holds….God is so good!
An amazing 2017
The way the year worked out we did all our trips by August, but what God did was amazing! Starting with two trips to Tizimin, Mexico and then one to Albania it was truly a year where we saw God move and change many lives.
English Camp in Albania
We were blessed to spend a week teaching the book of 2 Timothy to a group of new believers. Our class of nine students were such a blessing and at the end of the week gave amazing reports on what they learned over the week. The English camp was put on by our friends Gusti and Visa of CRU and throughout the time we had an opportunity to connect one on one with several of the youth and speak into their lives.
During our second week we got time to meet with the other couples we love and support through CRU and do a night of teaching with our '2nd' church family Tirana Evangelical Chruch. Pastor Altin and his wife Deanna do a great job of working full time for CRU and leading this church. It is growing both spiritually and numerically because of their leadership.
English Camp in Albania
We were blessed to spend a week teaching the book of 2 Timothy to a group of new believers. Our class of nine students were such a blessing and at the end of the week gave amazing reports on what they learned over the week. The English camp was put on by our friends Gusti and Visa of CRU and throughout the time we had an opportunity to connect one on one with several of the youth and speak into their lives.
During our second week we got time to meet with the other couples we love and support through CRU and do a night of teaching with our '2nd' church family Tirana Evangelical Chruch. Pastor Altin and his wife Deanna do a great job of working full time for CRU and leading this church. It is growing both spiritually and numerically because of their leadership.
Tizimin Mexico 2017
2017 started with a trip to Tizimin in January and then another one in June. I continue to work with Bill and Kathy Craver of DCI Missions who have a mission base in downtown Tizimin. This year they are doing eyeglass outreaches in Tizimin and outlying villages. Teams have been coming who go out and do eye exams for reading glasses and then given a ticket for a free pair of reading glasses after attending a local church service. I personally have had the privilege of sharing in several of these in January and so far this year there have been over 300 decisions for Christ!!
A few weeks ago I worked alongside a team from Border Springs Baptist Church in Mississippi. They began construction on a church building for Sister Magdelena, a lady Bill and Kathy have worked with and supported for years who runs a children's outreach (kind of an after school program) in a poorer neighborhood. I also has honored to share a teaching time with this team every morning as it was the first world mission trip for most of them.
I also help do some work on Bill and Kathy's new home (away from home), which is attached to the base with my spiritual son, Greg Biersack...loved doing missions with him again! And of course I got to preach in two churches during my time there, which is a joy to give the Word away which always brings life.
It is always such an honor to work with DCI and see the lives of both those that come to serve, and the people of the city changed forever. To God be the glory! I can't wait the hear the stories of changed lives of those who will now be attending church and getting fed the Bread of Life in this new church building.
Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice!!!!
A few weeks ago I worked alongside a team from Border Springs Baptist Church in Mississippi. They began construction on a church building for Sister Magdelena, a lady Bill and Kathy have worked with and supported for years who runs a children's outreach (kind of an after school program) in a poorer neighborhood. I also has honored to share a teaching time with this team every morning as it was the first world mission trip for most of them.
I also help do some work on Bill and Kathy's new home (away from home), which is attached to the base with my spiritual son, Greg Biersack...loved doing missions with him again! And of course I got to preach in two churches during my time there, which is a joy to give the Word away which always brings life.
It is always such an honor to work with DCI and see the lives of both those that come to serve, and the people of the city changed forever. To God be the glory! I can't wait the hear the stories of changed lives of those who will now be attending church and getting fed the Bread of Life in this new church building.
Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice!!!!
Report on Ghana 2016
I ended 2016 with a trip to Ghana in December. I was asked by Pastor Richard Ntim to share with each individual ministry within the Faithway Christian Church, and in the two Sunday services while there. This gave me the opportunity to touch the lives of the entire church while hearing God for a particular message for each group.
As we’ve now been going there for 12 years we truly feel they are family and that we've built a platform of trust to speak into their lives. The Christmas message the Lord gave me, discovering the greatest Christmas gift ever given, the Gospel, I believe brought out the essence of what Christmas is really about. It challenged us to understand it and apply it to our daily lives.
It was an honor to share God's message, His Word, and love during this special time of the year.
As we’ve now been going there for 12 years we truly feel they are family and that we've built a platform of trust to speak into their lives. The Christmas message the Lord gave me, discovering the greatest Christmas gift ever given, the Gospel, I believe brought out the essence of what Christmas is really about. It challenged us to understand it and apply it to our daily lives.
It was an honor to share God's message, His Word, and love during this special time of the year.
Report on Belize 2016
As usual I return from a mission trip with a great report and full of wonderful memories.
Working with Bill and Kathy Craver of DCI Missions is always a pleasure as they constantly pour out their hearts and lives into not just the people they serve, but also into those that come to serve with them.
This year I had the honor to serve two teams…Calvary Chapel Worship Center from New Port Richey, FL and Bethany Church from Fresno, CA. East coast meets west coast and both teams absolutely rocked!
So many lives are always changed when people give their lives away. And this is exactly what everyone did during this time. To the children of Spanish Lookout and the Hispanic communities surrounding it; a whole school in one of the communities; and the Lopez family in the village where we have been building them homes for the last three years, all received the love of Christ in so many ways.
I’ve been serving with DCI in Spanish Lookout for many years now and sharing at Fountain of Life Church. These are such wonderful people who have changed their community by reaching out beyond their four walls. I’ve also shared in many churches in the area a message of love, forgiveness, living free of condemnation and shame, and becoming who God created them to be.
Working with DCI I get to live out this message! Sharing Christ through meeting both spiritual and physical needs….giving time, talents and prayers. So many names I will probably forget, but faces that I will not. Many smiles, some tears, and words of thanks from people so appreciative of the love and kindness given to them. Why? Because I too am a recipient of the same thing from our Lord.
In my sharing this year I talked about the power of the gospel and all that is ours because of it. I believe there is so much we have been striving for that is already ours, already completed by His finished work on the cross. As I am preaching to myself when sharing, I’ve found a new joy and energy in my life to major on the gospel and look for the divine appointments each day to give it away.
As I finished out the time in Belize our ministry had the joy of giving into the lives of the people here by meeting some needs.
As Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, at the end of his life, ” 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12
With the recent horrific events in our country I believe there is only one hope for peace, and it is Jesus the Prince of Peace. Pray and share the gospel of peace at every opportunity.
Working with Bill and Kathy Craver of DCI Missions is always a pleasure as they constantly pour out their hearts and lives into not just the people they serve, but also into those that come to serve with them.
This year I had the honor to serve two teams…Calvary Chapel Worship Center from New Port Richey, FL and Bethany Church from Fresno, CA. East coast meets west coast and both teams absolutely rocked!
So many lives are always changed when people give their lives away. And this is exactly what everyone did during this time. To the children of Spanish Lookout and the Hispanic communities surrounding it; a whole school in one of the communities; and the Lopez family in the village where we have been building them homes for the last three years, all received the love of Christ in so many ways.
I’ve been serving with DCI in Spanish Lookout for many years now and sharing at Fountain of Life Church. These are such wonderful people who have changed their community by reaching out beyond their four walls. I’ve also shared in many churches in the area a message of love, forgiveness, living free of condemnation and shame, and becoming who God created them to be.
Working with DCI I get to live out this message! Sharing Christ through meeting both spiritual and physical needs….giving time, talents and prayers. So many names I will probably forget, but faces that I will not. Many smiles, some tears, and words of thanks from people so appreciative of the love and kindness given to them. Why? Because I too am a recipient of the same thing from our Lord.
In my sharing this year I talked about the power of the gospel and all that is ours because of it. I believe there is so much we have been striving for that is already ours, already completed by His finished work on the cross. As I am preaching to myself when sharing, I’ve found a new joy and energy in my life to major on the gospel and look for the divine appointments each day to give it away.
As I finished out the time in Belize our ministry had the joy of giving into the lives of the people here by meeting some needs.
- First, we gave to help send a local girl to school for this coming year. Meriela’s family simply didn’t have enough money to pay for school, now she can go to high school and continue her education.
- Nelsie became a staff member at DCI after walking in a rain storm to show up at the base and ask for some work. She cooks, cleans, and does whatever is asked with such a joyful heart. She is going to college but walks several miles each way to attend. We were blessed to help buy her a motorcycle (scooter) so now she doesn’t have to walk there (or to work).
- Finally, the Lopez family. Last year we helped buy a motorcycle with a cart on the back in order to haul water to their homes and help transport items. This year one of the projects was to run a water line back to their homes along with building a third home for them. Because they now have water DCI presented them with the bike to keep and use for transporting the kids to school, etc.
As Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, at the end of his life, ” 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12
With the recent horrific events in our country I believe there is only one hope for peace, and it is Jesus the Prince of Peace. Pray and share the gospel of peace at every opportunity.
Report on Albania 2016
We recently returned from Albania and I know I always say this, but it was one of our best trips ever! If you follow us on Facebook then you saw several reports and pictures while we were there, but here is a short recap and I hope you enjoy reading this.
We hit the ground running on this trip. We arrived in Tirana on Tuesday and were greeted by our friends and hosts Altin and Diana Zefi (and their boys Abi and Paolo) and on Wednesday were off to Kosovo.
This was our first time in Kosovo and the main difference between the two countries is that Kosovo is far more a Muslim country. When we arrived in Prishtina the Campus Crusade (CRU) team had just finished the first outreach meeting so we joined a breakout group of 7 non-believing students and a CRU team leader. We all went through a set of questions to discover more about each other and then the students began asking us questions about American.
As we conversed with them through the set questions along with their personal questions, we were able to share about Christ in our lives and what He means to us. One thing we heard over and over from them was how they wanted to use their college degrees to change their country! There seems to be much discontent in every area of their lives from government to personal opportunities. We left knowing the field is white for harvest and these ‘personal’ relationships formed in these meetings are the best way to reach into the hearts of these students and share God's truth.
The following night we traveled to the small city of Vushtri to share with at The Word Church. Pastor Banush told us there were only 12 believers in the entire city and 10 of them were at the meeting along with several Muslim girls whose parents are the leaders in the city! Everyone really listened intently as I described who God is and Pastor Banush later told us that the message was exactly what the girls needed to hear in their search for truth (God is so awesome!)! It was a night of seed planting and as the church continues to build relationships in the city we now can share the in the vision with them through prayer.
The next morning we were privileged to meet with CRU team in Prishtina where I shared a devotion and then we all prayed together for us, them, and the success of the current major outreach they just began a few nights before. It was a short but powerful time and then we were off for Shkodër to be with our friends Gusti and Visa, leaders of the CRU team there.
One side story….Judy and I had heard of The Lord appearing to Muslims in their dreams leading to decisions for Christ. We were told of a dream given to a man with the face and name of a Pastor in Prishtina. He came to the city, found the Pastor and said their whole village of 70-80 Muslim people wanted to become Christians because of a dream! These type of amazing happenings our occurring around the world! Our God loves everyone and is willing to show Himself in many different ways to reach the hearts of mankind.
Gusti and Visa had also just began their spring outreach to the colleges in Shkodër. While there we had some wonderful meetings with students and CRU staff sharing life and answering questions. It is the way of starting relationships that build up to opportunities to share Christ in depth. We love the openness of the students that although they come from other religious backgrounds they see something different in us as Christians that draw many to Him. The power of love and acceptance…His wonderful plan!
On Sunday I was honored to share a Palm Sunday message at Cornerstone Church, Gusti and Visa’s church made up mainly of college students. I shared an always appropriate message on love, forgiveness, and freedom; all ours because Jesus was willing to go to the Cross!
Monday morning Gusti drove us back to Tirana where for the next 8 days we worked with the CRU High School and College teams and had more opportunities to share in local churches.
How do I share this whole week in a few words?? We spent time out on campuses with both the high school (Mentor and Erinda) and college (Renis and Alba) leaders handing out flyers for a huge event Wednesday night. The event (concert/play/dance) was being done by a group of kids from Valor High School in Denver, so Monday and Tuesday evenings we attended a college outreach at a well-known coffee shop where the kids performed some songs/skits to gain interest for the Wednesday night event. This was a time for Judy and me to have conversations with the students to invite them, and many inquisitive by us being Americans, answer their questions.
During the first night at the coffee shop I met a young Muslim man named Egland. We talked for quite a while (in his broken English and my very broken AlbanianJ), but formed a friendship. The next afternoon Renis had set up a coffee with us and Egland. I shared my life story with him and afterwards was able to overcame his one obstacle about becoming a Christian through scripture…we then prayed together and he accepted Christ as Lord!
Wednesday night was the big event. We have to give kudos to the Valor kids as they did a tremendous job not just doing the performance, but more for the clear message of the gospel that came through! There were over 2,000 young people in attendance and whether we saw them later in the follow-up meeting or not, a seed of truth was definitely planted that night.
Another side note….the event was held at the largest venue hall in Tirana. Once used for the communist leader meetings, now for God’s glory!
Thursday and Friday we spent attending both high school and college follow-up meetings at the CRU building. Each meeting had a speaker share a Christ centered message, games, dance contests, etc. all used to build relationships with these first time visitors. From what we saw they should have many students return with the fun they seemed to have.
On Friday night we had a Good Friday service at Tirana Evangelical Church, then on our last weekend I (Scott) got an opportunity to share in two churches we had not been to before.
Saturday night we were at The Source of Life Church with some old friends Pastor Sokol and Mirela Zefi. We had a wonderful time of worship then I shared an Easter message.
Finally, Sunday night I shared at Agape Evangelical Church with Pastor Toni and Otla Manella along with Jeeyoun and Seoung Yeo who are full time missionaries from Korea. Pastor Toni is part of CRU in Tirana and this is another church plant, which is part of their vision.
What an honor to be able to share the blessing of Easter with fellow believers, and non-believers, for the first time and develop new relationships we can build on for the future.
Since ‘every picture tells a story, don’t it’ (know the song?) enjoy seeing the trip below.
We hit the ground running on this trip. We arrived in Tirana on Tuesday and were greeted by our friends and hosts Altin and Diana Zefi (and their boys Abi and Paolo) and on Wednesday were off to Kosovo.
This was our first time in Kosovo and the main difference between the two countries is that Kosovo is far more a Muslim country. When we arrived in Prishtina the Campus Crusade (CRU) team had just finished the first outreach meeting so we joined a breakout group of 7 non-believing students and a CRU team leader. We all went through a set of questions to discover more about each other and then the students began asking us questions about American.
As we conversed with them through the set questions along with their personal questions, we were able to share about Christ in our lives and what He means to us. One thing we heard over and over from them was how they wanted to use their college degrees to change their country! There seems to be much discontent in every area of their lives from government to personal opportunities. We left knowing the field is white for harvest and these ‘personal’ relationships formed in these meetings are the best way to reach into the hearts of these students and share God's truth.
The following night we traveled to the small city of Vushtri to share with at The Word Church. Pastor Banush told us there were only 12 believers in the entire city and 10 of them were at the meeting along with several Muslim girls whose parents are the leaders in the city! Everyone really listened intently as I described who God is and Pastor Banush later told us that the message was exactly what the girls needed to hear in their search for truth (God is so awesome!)! It was a night of seed planting and as the church continues to build relationships in the city we now can share the in the vision with them through prayer.
The next morning we were privileged to meet with CRU team in Prishtina where I shared a devotion and then we all prayed together for us, them, and the success of the current major outreach they just began a few nights before. It was a short but powerful time and then we were off for Shkodër to be with our friends Gusti and Visa, leaders of the CRU team there.
One side story….Judy and I had heard of The Lord appearing to Muslims in their dreams leading to decisions for Christ. We were told of a dream given to a man with the face and name of a Pastor in Prishtina. He came to the city, found the Pastor and said their whole village of 70-80 Muslim people wanted to become Christians because of a dream! These type of amazing happenings our occurring around the world! Our God loves everyone and is willing to show Himself in many different ways to reach the hearts of mankind.
Gusti and Visa had also just began their spring outreach to the colleges in Shkodër. While there we had some wonderful meetings with students and CRU staff sharing life and answering questions. It is the way of starting relationships that build up to opportunities to share Christ in depth. We love the openness of the students that although they come from other religious backgrounds they see something different in us as Christians that draw many to Him. The power of love and acceptance…His wonderful plan!
On Sunday I was honored to share a Palm Sunday message at Cornerstone Church, Gusti and Visa’s church made up mainly of college students. I shared an always appropriate message on love, forgiveness, and freedom; all ours because Jesus was willing to go to the Cross!
Monday morning Gusti drove us back to Tirana where for the next 8 days we worked with the CRU High School and College teams and had more opportunities to share in local churches.
How do I share this whole week in a few words?? We spent time out on campuses with both the high school (Mentor and Erinda) and college (Renis and Alba) leaders handing out flyers for a huge event Wednesday night. The event (concert/play/dance) was being done by a group of kids from Valor High School in Denver, so Monday and Tuesday evenings we attended a college outreach at a well-known coffee shop where the kids performed some songs/skits to gain interest for the Wednesday night event. This was a time for Judy and me to have conversations with the students to invite them, and many inquisitive by us being Americans, answer their questions.
During the first night at the coffee shop I met a young Muslim man named Egland. We talked for quite a while (in his broken English and my very broken AlbanianJ), but formed a friendship. The next afternoon Renis had set up a coffee with us and Egland. I shared my life story with him and afterwards was able to overcame his one obstacle about becoming a Christian through scripture…we then prayed together and he accepted Christ as Lord!
Wednesday night was the big event. We have to give kudos to the Valor kids as they did a tremendous job not just doing the performance, but more for the clear message of the gospel that came through! There were over 2,000 young people in attendance and whether we saw them later in the follow-up meeting or not, a seed of truth was definitely planted that night.
Another side note….the event was held at the largest venue hall in Tirana. Once used for the communist leader meetings, now for God’s glory!
Thursday and Friday we spent attending both high school and college follow-up meetings at the CRU building. Each meeting had a speaker share a Christ centered message, games, dance contests, etc. all used to build relationships with these first time visitors. From what we saw they should have many students return with the fun they seemed to have.
On Friday night we had a Good Friday service at Tirana Evangelical Church, then on our last weekend I (Scott) got an opportunity to share in two churches we had not been to before.
Saturday night we were at The Source of Life Church with some old friends Pastor Sokol and Mirela Zefi. We had a wonderful time of worship then I shared an Easter message.
Finally, Sunday night I shared at Agape Evangelical Church with Pastor Toni and Otla Manella along with Jeeyoun and Seoung Yeo who are full time missionaries from Korea. Pastor Toni is part of CRU in Tirana and this is another church plant, which is part of their vision.
What an honor to be able to share the blessing of Easter with fellow believers, and non-believers, for the first time and develop new relationships we can build on for the future.
Since ‘every picture tells a story, don’t it’ (know the song?) enjoy seeing the trip below.
Report on Thailand Trip 2015
I know I open up every report stating ‘it was such a good trip’ but this time I start by saying it was a ‘life-changer’! I’ll try to keep the report short, but must tell you the story of these beautiful girls.
They are from the Akha tribe in northern Thailand or out of Myanmar (Burma) and they are NOT considered to be citizens in Thailand. There is a law in Thailand that ‘girls’ cannot be made to prostitute, but because the Akha girls are not covered by this law, being non-citizens, they are the ones sold into the sex trade industry without ramification for doing such. What a horror!
Many girls are actually sold by their parents for money because the family is so poor. Others because a couple marry and each have kids and don’t want to raise all of them. Whatever the reason they end up in the brothels in Bangkok and stuck in a life of degradation and in turn sometimes raise their own children into a life of the same.
The 100+ girls at House of Grace have been saved from such a life. Without posting their names, the Administer, who is a former alumni, and her husband have been taking for these girls for 16 years! The girls are well taken care of with rooms, food, and clothing, attend schools and can stay until they graduate high school or college if they go.
Many still have village families they go to visit once a year, but not all. This place is their real family. There was no shortage of love received or given while I was there. Hugs are a regular thing, and the purity of heart is amazing. My heart was changed just by giving love away AND receiving it from these precious girls.
Our ministry was the ‘ministry of life’. We just did things to be with and enjoy the girls:
VBS (vacation bible school), ping-pong, basketball, ball games, water balloon fight, or just sat and talked (with those who spoke English and helped us) and ate with them. We walked to a park with the high school girls and did a few activities with the college girls (3 in particular whom we also taught how to do a VBS).
Thanks to your support Looking Forward Ministries was able to buy and new ping-pong table and basketball for the girls homeJ Justin, our trip leader, taught us a new way to play which allowed 8-10 to participate at the same time…it was a blast and full of laughs for the girls and boy are they competitive!!
Finally, on our last Friday night there we attended and shared in the monthly praise and worship service. I will put it this way….the presence of God was there and He did some awesome work in a few of the girl’s lives that night! I shared with them a bit of my story and encouraged them through the scriptures to dream big and be all God created them to be. It was a night to remember!!
I know this is short and honestly I struggle with finding words to describe the time. Truly I am still processing it all, but one thing I know…I learned just how much it means to give my life away. Next year, the Lord willing, Judy and I both will be going back!
I always share with people the wonderment of why God would choose to use us in such a way. Not in a degrading way, but honestly blown away by His grace and forgiveness. Many of you know our story and in that I find that God doesn’t just restore us, but more, He takes us to the place His heart created for us as He heals us. And although in our imperfection we still need His grace and forgiveness everyday He allows us to walk in this place with an opportunity to touch lives. Guess you just read our Thanksgiving report for this year!
I will be posting more pictures on our website (see below) and page on Facebook, so please check them out…worth a thousand words.
I need to just mention Justin and Courtney, my mission cohorts for this trip. They were awesome and we just seemed to fit together like a hand in a glove. Can't wait to do another trip with them someday!
They are from the Akha tribe in northern Thailand or out of Myanmar (Burma) and they are NOT considered to be citizens in Thailand. There is a law in Thailand that ‘girls’ cannot be made to prostitute, but because the Akha girls are not covered by this law, being non-citizens, they are the ones sold into the sex trade industry without ramification for doing such. What a horror!
Many girls are actually sold by their parents for money because the family is so poor. Others because a couple marry and each have kids and don’t want to raise all of them. Whatever the reason they end up in the brothels in Bangkok and stuck in a life of degradation and in turn sometimes raise their own children into a life of the same.
The 100+ girls at House of Grace have been saved from such a life. Without posting their names, the Administer, who is a former alumni, and her husband have been taking for these girls for 16 years! The girls are well taken care of with rooms, food, and clothing, attend schools and can stay until they graduate high school or college if they go.
Many still have village families they go to visit once a year, but not all. This place is their real family. There was no shortage of love received or given while I was there. Hugs are a regular thing, and the purity of heart is amazing. My heart was changed just by giving love away AND receiving it from these precious girls.
Our ministry was the ‘ministry of life’. We just did things to be with and enjoy the girls:
VBS (vacation bible school), ping-pong, basketball, ball games, water balloon fight, or just sat and talked (with those who spoke English and helped us) and ate with them. We walked to a park with the high school girls and did a few activities with the college girls (3 in particular whom we also taught how to do a VBS).
Thanks to your support Looking Forward Ministries was able to buy and new ping-pong table and basketball for the girls homeJ Justin, our trip leader, taught us a new way to play which allowed 8-10 to participate at the same time…it was a blast and full of laughs for the girls and boy are they competitive!!
Finally, on our last Friday night there we attended and shared in the monthly praise and worship service. I will put it this way….the presence of God was there and He did some awesome work in a few of the girl’s lives that night! I shared with them a bit of my story and encouraged them through the scriptures to dream big and be all God created them to be. It was a night to remember!!
I know this is short and honestly I struggle with finding words to describe the time. Truly I am still processing it all, but one thing I know…I learned just how much it means to give my life away. Next year, the Lord willing, Judy and I both will be going back!
I always share with people the wonderment of why God would choose to use us in such a way. Not in a degrading way, but honestly blown away by His grace and forgiveness. Many of you know our story and in that I find that God doesn’t just restore us, but more, He takes us to the place His heart created for us as He heals us. And although in our imperfection we still need His grace and forgiveness everyday He allows us to walk in this place with an opportunity to touch lives. Guess you just read our Thanksgiving report for this year!
I will be posting more pictures on our website (see below) and page on Facebook, so please check them out…worth a thousand words.
I need to just mention Justin and Courtney, my mission cohorts for this trip. They were awesome and we just seemed to fit together like a hand in a glove. Can't wait to do another trip with them someday!
Report on Ghana Trip 2015
When I arrived the church, Faithway Assembly, was in the final 10 days of a 30 day fast and prayer. Every night we gathered for 90 minutes of intense prayer. It was actually refreshing to be with a group of prayers warriors and join in attacking the kingdom of darkness with ‘fervent prayers’. This was all part of preparation for the revival week.
During this week I preached 4 times from 1 Samuel 17, the theme being about overcoming the Goliath’s (giants) in our lives. Then on Saturday we anointed and prayed over about 100 people! The people were encouraged, responsive, and set free from a variety of things holding them back from moving on in their lives!
I also had the honor to preach (yes preach) at a wedding, plus on two occasions shared the Word with the whole Faithway school assembly. There are now about 300 children at Faithway Christian Academy from K thru 8th grade, but when I first started going to Ghana in 2004 the school only had about 50 students K thru 3rd grade. It has been a long hard road to continue to ‘build’ and grow the school, all of it done by faith and dependency on God to provide the needed funds for the building, furniture, supplies and teachers (see report below).
Finally, I taught a Chazown (Hebrew for purpose or vision) class to the leaders of the church which hopefully can be done for the congregation on the next visit. In a culture that struggles day to day I believe helping them to see their reason for their creation will be key to set them free to pursue dreams.
This may raise a question of why do we (and they) continue on sometimes seeing what seems to be slow growth and small differences? The story of Peter Cameron Scott is a good illustration.
Born in Glasgow in 1867, Scott became the founder of the Africa Inland Mission. But his beginnings in Africa were anything but auspicious.
His first trip to Africa ended in a severe attack of malaria that sent him home. Yet he resolved to return after he recuperated and the return was especially gratifying to him because this time his brother John joined him. But before long, John was struck down by fever and all alone, Peter buried his brother and in the agony of those days recommitted himself to preach the gospel in Africa. Alas, his health gave way again, and he had to return to England.
How would he ever pull out of the desolation and depression of those days? He had pledged himself to God, but where could he find the strength to go back to Africa? With man it was impossible! He however, found strength in Westminster Abbey where the tomb of David Livingstone still remains. Scott entered quietly, found the tomb, and knelt in front of it to pray reading the inscription:
OTHER SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THEM ALSO I MUST BRING.
He rose from his knees with a new hope and returned to Africa where today the mission he founded is a vibrant, growing force for the gospel in Africa.
It is a great joy is to experience the infilling grace of God overflowing for the good of others. The best news in all the world is that God will do the impossible through you to affect change in another person’s life. What is impossible with man is possible with God, so on we go knowing that what we can’t see with our human eyes is what God is doing in the spirit of those affected by what little we do…it is eternal though we live in the temporal.
PROGRESS REPORT ON FAITHWAY ASSEMBLY AND ACADEMY
Greetings from Faithway! We truly appreciate your continual prayers and financial support.
SCHOOL POPULATION:
The current population of students in the school as at 20th May 2015 is 290. Out of this, 147 are boys and 143 are girls.
We have 10 students who will graduate into the senior high school this year. There are 5 boys and 5 girls. These 10 students will write the external examination conducted by the West African Examination Council. The results of their performance in this external exams will justify our inclusion as one of the top schools and also, open greater doors for growth.
IMPACT OF THE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS:
The construction and completion of the computer laboratory and the three classrooms last year have made a huge impact to give the school a positive phase lift. The school population before the addition of those classrooms was 215 and after the addition, the number is now increased to 290, an increase of 75 students. Halleluya! As we complete more classrooms and the performance of the current final year students become excellent, we shall register massive enrollment in the next academic year.
THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION WORK:
As seen in the pictures enclosed, the ground floor (first floor) is done to the end with concrete. The electrician will pass the PVC pipes, fix the twin and single metal boxes and also, the main switch 6 way box. After this masons will plaster the 4 classrooms, the stairway and the six wash rooms.
NEXT STAGE:
As The Lord continues to provide, we, shall fix the doors and windows, provides items for the washrooms, do the tilling, pass the electrical wires, and buy ceiling fans for all the rooms, do the painting and other works as per estimates earlier provided.
VISION FOR GROWTH:
We are working on handouts to be passed to residents in the community and its environs to promote the school. The school has employed qualified teachers from our premier universities to offer quality tuition. This will enable parents to send their children to the school. We have a vibrant Parents Teachers Association to enable parent disseminate good information about the school. We are working assiduously to make the school one of the best in our country.
IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL ON THE CHURCH:
The school serves as a springboard for evangelism. Parents are always invited to attend Sunday school, Bible studies and Church activities. Our focus is to make the school one of the main sources to bring people to Christ. I have baptized two children from the school this year and some parents have joined the church as a result of the evangelistic drive.
The school now looks much more attractive than before and the children are very happy with these new rooms as well as the entire teaching and non- teaching staff. We have also, enlarged the cafeteria to enable the students get ample space for lunch.
Thank you all.
By Richard Ntim
During this week I preached 4 times from 1 Samuel 17, the theme being about overcoming the Goliath’s (giants) in our lives. Then on Saturday we anointed and prayed over about 100 people! The people were encouraged, responsive, and set free from a variety of things holding them back from moving on in their lives!
I also had the honor to preach (yes preach) at a wedding, plus on two occasions shared the Word with the whole Faithway school assembly. There are now about 300 children at Faithway Christian Academy from K thru 8th grade, but when I first started going to Ghana in 2004 the school only had about 50 students K thru 3rd grade. It has been a long hard road to continue to ‘build’ and grow the school, all of it done by faith and dependency on God to provide the needed funds for the building, furniture, supplies and teachers (see report below).
Finally, I taught a Chazown (Hebrew for purpose or vision) class to the leaders of the church which hopefully can be done for the congregation on the next visit. In a culture that struggles day to day I believe helping them to see their reason for their creation will be key to set them free to pursue dreams.
This may raise a question of why do we (and they) continue on sometimes seeing what seems to be slow growth and small differences? The story of Peter Cameron Scott is a good illustration.
Born in Glasgow in 1867, Scott became the founder of the Africa Inland Mission. But his beginnings in Africa were anything but auspicious.
His first trip to Africa ended in a severe attack of malaria that sent him home. Yet he resolved to return after he recuperated and the return was especially gratifying to him because this time his brother John joined him. But before long, John was struck down by fever and all alone, Peter buried his brother and in the agony of those days recommitted himself to preach the gospel in Africa. Alas, his health gave way again, and he had to return to England.
How would he ever pull out of the desolation and depression of those days? He had pledged himself to God, but where could he find the strength to go back to Africa? With man it was impossible! He however, found strength in Westminster Abbey where the tomb of David Livingstone still remains. Scott entered quietly, found the tomb, and knelt in front of it to pray reading the inscription:
OTHER SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THEM ALSO I MUST BRING.
He rose from his knees with a new hope and returned to Africa where today the mission he founded is a vibrant, growing force for the gospel in Africa.
It is a great joy is to experience the infilling grace of God overflowing for the good of others. The best news in all the world is that God will do the impossible through you to affect change in another person’s life. What is impossible with man is possible with God, so on we go knowing that what we can’t see with our human eyes is what God is doing in the spirit of those affected by what little we do…it is eternal though we live in the temporal.
PROGRESS REPORT ON FAITHWAY ASSEMBLY AND ACADEMY
Greetings from Faithway! We truly appreciate your continual prayers and financial support.
SCHOOL POPULATION:
The current population of students in the school as at 20th May 2015 is 290. Out of this, 147 are boys and 143 are girls.
We have 10 students who will graduate into the senior high school this year. There are 5 boys and 5 girls. These 10 students will write the external examination conducted by the West African Examination Council. The results of their performance in this external exams will justify our inclusion as one of the top schools and also, open greater doors for growth.
IMPACT OF THE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS:
The construction and completion of the computer laboratory and the three classrooms last year have made a huge impact to give the school a positive phase lift. The school population before the addition of those classrooms was 215 and after the addition, the number is now increased to 290, an increase of 75 students. Halleluya! As we complete more classrooms and the performance of the current final year students become excellent, we shall register massive enrollment in the next academic year.
THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION WORK:
As seen in the pictures enclosed, the ground floor (first floor) is done to the end with concrete. The electrician will pass the PVC pipes, fix the twin and single metal boxes and also, the main switch 6 way box. After this masons will plaster the 4 classrooms, the stairway and the six wash rooms.
NEXT STAGE:
As The Lord continues to provide, we, shall fix the doors and windows, provides items for the washrooms, do the tilling, pass the electrical wires, and buy ceiling fans for all the rooms, do the painting and other works as per estimates earlier provided.
VISION FOR GROWTH:
We are working on handouts to be passed to residents in the community and its environs to promote the school. The school has employed qualified teachers from our premier universities to offer quality tuition. This will enable parents to send their children to the school. We have a vibrant Parents Teachers Association to enable parent disseminate good information about the school. We are working assiduously to make the school one of the best in our country.
IMPACT OF THE SCHOOL ON THE CHURCH:
The school serves as a springboard for evangelism. Parents are always invited to attend Sunday school, Bible studies and Church activities. Our focus is to make the school one of the main sources to bring people to Christ. I have baptized two children from the school this year and some parents have joined the church as a result of the evangelistic drive.
The school now looks much more attractive than before and the children are very happy with these new rooms as well as the entire teaching and non- teaching staff. We have also, enlarged the cafeteria to enable the students get ample space for lunch.
Thank you all.
By Richard Ntim
Report on Belize Trip 2015
I returned a week ago from a great time in Spanish Lookout and as usual I was worked with DCI (Dream Center Intl) run by Bill and Kathy Craver from Tampa, FL. I have to give a shout out to them as they are two of the best missionaries to work with and have such huge hearts for the poor, orphans, and lost! I can honestly say they bleed compassion and the projects we do have been researched to have the greatest long-lasting effect on lives in these communities.
I started the week picking up a brand new three wheel bike with a cart on the back (see pictures) that was given to the Lopez family in order to haul water to their homes as they have no running water and walk far to get it. It was a huge blessing to them and again reflective of the ministry of DCI and its partners!
I had the honor to supervise a team from Cherry Hill Methodist in Alexandria, VA., and the main objectives were to paint a school in a Spanish community called Duck Run III and to minister to the children in several local churches at night services as well as the children of Fountain of Life during church on Sunday. The team came prepared and loved on the kids so well through arts/crafts, song, and games.
One unique thing the team did was to ‘walk the walk’ that the kids from the dump do every day in order to attend school! It’s a little over 2 miles each way, but in the heat can seem longer! And their school was the one that the team painted, Hidden Paradise Gov’t School.
In these areas the schools really get neglected! Not only did the school need painted, but was missing several window slates (I got these purchased for the next team to paint and install) and the condition of the desks, bookshelves, etc. where not good. As we moved shelves in order to paint the inside walls one literally fell apart and two big tarantulas’ came out from under it…that was fun!
The entire outside got painted along with the lower half of the inside walls. Plus all the desks, blackboards, tables, shelves, and of course floors got cleaned. It looked like a different place when all was done and the principal and teachers were so thankful and appreciative that we would do this for them.
On the final day we went out to the dump site where the house was built last year for the Lopez family. The community there is made up of all their children/spouses and their kids, so there are three generations living there. This year DCI is constructing an earth-bag home for another member of the family next to the other house. Another team from Reno, Nevada had been working on this site all week and with the school painted we went out and did work on this project.
It was so muddy heading back to the site as it rained almost every day during the week and most nights as it was the beginning of the rainy season. Everyone, as we did last year, had to purchase a pair of boots just to get back to and work on this project.
Finally, I again got to share at Fountain of Life during their Thursday night service. In a nutshell I shared on the providence of God and how without understanding it, one could lose hope in life. The age old question ‘how can a good God allow (or even cause) bad things to happen’ is answered using the book of Ruth and the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. As we go through life we must understand (though not seen at the time) that God is behind the scenes guiding the story of our lives with only our good in mind.
All in all this was a great week to work alongside other servants to ‘help’ those in need and it was so good to be back on the mission field!! I am always wonderfully amazed that God uses ordinary people to do incredible acts of service and kindness. The human soul, created in the image of God, is moved beyond words when loved. The miracle about giving away love to others is how much one gets back! As we cannot out give God, He lavishes His love back upon the heart that gives it out.
A huge thanks to the teams from DC and Reno for making this week so beautiful by living love out loud as fully devoted followers of Christ!!
I started the week picking up a brand new three wheel bike with a cart on the back (see pictures) that was given to the Lopez family in order to haul water to their homes as they have no running water and walk far to get it. It was a huge blessing to them and again reflective of the ministry of DCI and its partners!
I had the honor to supervise a team from Cherry Hill Methodist in Alexandria, VA., and the main objectives were to paint a school in a Spanish community called Duck Run III and to minister to the children in several local churches at night services as well as the children of Fountain of Life during church on Sunday. The team came prepared and loved on the kids so well through arts/crafts, song, and games.
One unique thing the team did was to ‘walk the walk’ that the kids from the dump do every day in order to attend school! It’s a little over 2 miles each way, but in the heat can seem longer! And their school was the one that the team painted, Hidden Paradise Gov’t School.
In these areas the schools really get neglected! Not only did the school need painted, but was missing several window slates (I got these purchased for the next team to paint and install) and the condition of the desks, bookshelves, etc. where not good. As we moved shelves in order to paint the inside walls one literally fell apart and two big tarantulas’ came out from under it…that was fun!
The entire outside got painted along with the lower half of the inside walls. Plus all the desks, blackboards, tables, shelves, and of course floors got cleaned. It looked like a different place when all was done and the principal and teachers were so thankful and appreciative that we would do this for them.
On the final day we went out to the dump site where the house was built last year for the Lopez family. The community there is made up of all their children/spouses and their kids, so there are three generations living there. This year DCI is constructing an earth-bag home for another member of the family next to the other house. Another team from Reno, Nevada had been working on this site all week and with the school painted we went out and did work on this project.
It was so muddy heading back to the site as it rained almost every day during the week and most nights as it was the beginning of the rainy season. Everyone, as we did last year, had to purchase a pair of boots just to get back to and work on this project.
Finally, I again got to share at Fountain of Life during their Thursday night service. In a nutshell I shared on the providence of God and how without understanding it, one could lose hope in life. The age old question ‘how can a good God allow (or even cause) bad things to happen’ is answered using the book of Ruth and the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. As we go through life we must understand (though not seen at the time) that God is behind the scenes guiding the story of our lives with only our good in mind.
All in all this was a great week to work alongside other servants to ‘help’ those in need and it was so good to be back on the mission field!! I am always wonderfully amazed that God uses ordinary people to do incredible acts of service and kindness. The human soul, created in the image of God, is moved beyond words when loved. The miracle about giving away love to others is how much one gets back! As we cannot out give God, He lavishes His love back upon the heart that gives it out.
A huge thanks to the teams from DC and Reno for making this week so beautiful by living love out loud as fully devoted followers of Christ!!
Please read our reports on our 2011 thru 2014 trips below.
As always we thank God for you our friends and family that pray for us and support the work we are blessed to do. We know it is the power of prayer that sustains us as we travel and serve!
We have now completed our mission trips for 2014...Tizimin, Mexico with DCI, Rome, Italy with Campus Crusades, Spanish Lookout, Belize with DCI, and Tirana/Shkoder, Albania with Campus Crusades (and two churches). Reports are below.
As always we thank God for you our friends and family that pray for us and support the work we are blessed to do. We know it is the power of prayer that sustains us as we travel and serve!
We have now completed our mission trips for 2014...Tizimin, Mexico with DCI, Rome, Italy with Campus Crusades, Spanish Lookout, Belize with DCI, and Tirana/Shkoder, Albania with Campus Crusades (and two churches). Reports are below.
Looking Forward Ministries Trip Reports 2014
Albania
As always there is one word to describe our time in Albania…awesome! We again had the pleasure of working with Campus Crusades, this time both in the cities of Tirana and Shkoder.
We arrived and sent the first weekend in Tirana with Altin and Diana Zefi and Tirana Evangelical Church. I preached in church on Sunday and then finished the lesson in a Bible Study Monday night. I shared on the book of Ruth with the main theme being the providence of God…He is always working behind the scenes of our lives!
We left Tuesday for Shkoder where we got to serve and serve with Agustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj, also with CCC. We spent the week starting with a service of high school kids (what energy!) as they have both the high school and college ministries. As the new school year was just beginning we were asked to give encouragement to their leadership team. This was an awesome time as we gave a word from the Word and then asked each one to share their story of how they came to Christ and began their journey of service. As each one shared the Lord gave me a word for each one…which was the best encouragement as it came directly from the Lord. Judy did some one on ones with the ladies and we had some meetings with some of the high school kids. One interesting story…I asked one young man what the high school kids did for fun. His answer, ‘drink coffee and smoke’. They have no in school or out of school activities so the outreach activities provided by CCC really is meeting a void in their lives…draw them in and share Christ (to meet the real void)! We ended the week Sunday night where I had the honor of sharing at Cornerstone Church. We had a room of college kids where I was asked to again share the message out of Ruth. There were three non-believing Muslims in the crowd and I watched as they listening intently to the message and when I gave the way to come to Christ. Afterwards I learned Visa and the other leaders had already set up one on ones with these to share deeper.
We returned to Tirana on Monday and that night attended the kick off meeting for the college outreach which began Tuesday. How cool! We spent 2-3 hours Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in front of college buildings stopping and talking to the students. We were handing out magazines and signing them up for a contest with an invite to meeting each one of those nights. Judy and I were amazed…the moment the kids would hear us speak English to them they would stop in their tracks, smile at us and engage in conversation. Most of them were freshman and a lot were taking English classes and loved talking to us. As a group (the CCC staff, a team from Atlanta and us) we handed out 1,000 magazines, getting 1,000 names in those few hours!
So for three nights we had outreach meetings with college kids. Tuesday and Wednesday nights we had around 60 show up. Each night we did games and showed short movie clips and then within groups had questions we asked to pull out answers from their hearts which led to good discussions. The main goal of these evenings was to create a fun/comfortable atmosphere that the kids would come back to.
On the final night that week (and our final night in Albania) there were about 250 students that came for the big event. A Christian illusionist who travels for Campus Crusades was there and his program was to disprove the fake spiritual stuff that draws young people into false believes and then shared how he became a true believer and invited them to be such. What was interesting was that he actually told everyone he was going to share about his life and belief in God and gave anyone who didn’t want to hear it a chance to leave….as far as we could tell nobody did!
One sidebar…a young lady that was in the English Camp last summer (2013) that accepted Christ made a special trip to the meeting Thursday night just to say hi to Judy and I. She had just moved to Tirana a few weeks before but heard we were going to be there. It was a short but sweet meeting to see her still living and walking for Christ.
We had such a wonderful time as we always do in Albania. We also got to see other good friends and share meals with them…Gjergji and Migena Proko….Scott and Eve Kemp (CCC Missionaries from America)…Julian and Erjola Cela (Julian is doing so good on his new leg and was just hired by a large cell phone company…PRAISE GOD).
As we end another year of mission work as always we thank everyone for your prayers and support, without which none of what we do would be possible. Of course we thank our God for His grace, goodness and kindness to us, that He would allow us this gift of ministry.
We already have a few thing on the burner for next year…a possible spring trip to Ghana and spending a good deal of time in Belize next summer. We also are going to try and put a team together to take to Albania in June (anyone interested).
With some significant changes on the horizon next year, we praying and listening for guidance and opportunities. Of course your financial support is always appreciated…
We pray many blessings over you and your families as you celebrate our ‘official’ day of Thanksgiving although we thank Him every day for who He is, not just what He gives. And since this will be our last newsletter of 2014 we also wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We exhort you all to take time to reflect on all the God moments and see Him in your future for He is behind the scenes in every part of your life.
As always there is one word to describe our time in Albania…awesome! We again had the pleasure of working with Campus Crusades, this time both in the cities of Tirana and Shkoder.
We arrived and sent the first weekend in Tirana with Altin and Diana Zefi and Tirana Evangelical Church. I preached in church on Sunday and then finished the lesson in a Bible Study Monday night. I shared on the book of Ruth with the main theme being the providence of God…He is always working behind the scenes of our lives!
We left Tuesday for Shkoder where we got to serve and serve with Agustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj, also with CCC. We spent the week starting with a service of high school kids (what energy!) as they have both the high school and college ministries. As the new school year was just beginning we were asked to give encouragement to their leadership team. This was an awesome time as we gave a word from the Word and then asked each one to share their story of how they came to Christ and began their journey of service. As each one shared the Lord gave me a word for each one…which was the best encouragement as it came directly from the Lord. Judy did some one on ones with the ladies and we had some meetings with some of the high school kids. One interesting story…I asked one young man what the high school kids did for fun. His answer, ‘drink coffee and smoke’. They have no in school or out of school activities so the outreach activities provided by CCC really is meeting a void in their lives…draw them in and share Christ (to meet the real void)! We ended the week Sunday night where I had the honor of sharing at Cornerstone Church. We had a room of college kids where I was asked to again share the message out of Ruth. There were three non-believing Muslims in the crowd and I watched as they listening intently to the message and when I gave the way to come to Christ. Afterwards I learned Visa and the other leaders had already set up one on ones with these to share deeper.
We returned to Tirana on Monday and that night attended the kick off meeting for the college outreach which began Tuesday. How cool! We spent 2-3 hours Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in front of college buildings stopping and talking to the students. We were handing out magazines and signing them up for a contest with an invite to meeting each one of those nights. Judy and I were amazed…the moment the kids would hear us speak English to them they would stop in their tracks, smile at us and engage in conversation. Most of them were freshman and a lot were taking English classes and loved talking to us. As a group (the CCC staff, a team from Atlanta and us) we handed out 1,000 magazines, getting 1,000 names in those few hours!
So for three nights we had outreach meetings with college kids. Tuesday and Wednesday nights we had around 60 show up. Each night we did games and showed short movie clips and then within groups had questions we asked to pull out answers from their hearts which led to good discussions. The main goal of these evenings was to create a fun/comfortable atmosphere that the kids would come back to.
On the final night that week (and our final night in Albania) there were about 250 students that came for the big event. A Christian illusionist who travels for Campus Crusades was there and his program was to disprove the fake spiritual stuff that draws young people into false believes and then shared how he became a true believer and invited them to be such. What was interesting was that he actually told everyone he was going to share about his life and belief in God and gave anyone who didn’t want to hear it a chance to leave….as far as we could tell nobody did!
One sidebar…a young lady that was in the English Camp last summer (2013) that accepted Christ made a special trip to the meeting Thursday night just to say hi to Judy and I. She had just moved to Tirana a few weeks before but heard we were going to be there. It was a short but sweet meeting to see her still living and walking for Christ.
We had such a wonderful time as we always do in Albania. We also got to see other good friends and share meals with them…Gjergji and Migena Proko….Scott and Eve Kemp (CCC Missionaries from America)…Julian and Erjola Cela (Julian is doing so good on his new leg and was just hired by a large cell phone company…PRAISE GOD).
As we end another year of mission work as always we thank everyone for your prayers and support, without which none of what we do would be possible. Of course we thank our God for His grace, goodness and kindness to us, that He would allow us this gift of ministry.
We already have a few thing on the burner for next year…a possible spring trip to Ghana and spending a good deal of time in Belize next summer. We also are going to try and put a team together to take to Albania in June (anyone interested).
With some significant changes on the horizon next year, we praying and listening for guidance and opportunities. Of course your financial support is always appreciated…
We pray many blessings over you and your families as you celebrate our ‘official’ day of Thanksgiving although we thank Him every day for who He is, not just what He gives. And since this will be our last newsletter of 2014 we also wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We exhort you all to take time to reflect on all the God moments and see Him in your future for He is behind the scenes in every part of your life.
Rome, Italy
We have come to the conclusion that the best phrase to use about it is that ‘it was a God ordained trip’. I have many words I could write but I think I am just going to use the statement that was in the newsletter of Dave and Keda Clady, our hosts and themselves staff members of Agape Italia (Campus Crusades in Italy). They wrote:
“From this day forward was the name of the marriage conference that are amazing friends, Mission partners and missionaries, Scott in Judy Phipps organized for us here in Rome. It was powerful and administered too many couples on our team and our church.
They also counseled couples and missionaries one-on-one (including us), did refugee and student ministry with us, serve the needy and interacted with them, donated financially to the refugee ministry, loved on everyone and they met, etc…etc.
We can't describe in words what a blessing it was to all of us, especially to the two of us, who had the privilege to do life administer with them for two weeks. Scott's amazing gifts of communicating the word clearly and passionately, encouraging and lifting others up and Judy's gifts of asking good questions and helping people process their lives and making healthy/godly decisions were an awesome help for everyone here.
Thank you Scott in Judy for blessing us on so many levels. Thank you for your contribution and investment in Rome. Thank you for allowing God to use your story and who you are now for his glory. You are part of the history in this ancient city in one day in Heaven you will see in details what an impact your time here had.
We love and appreciate you very much!”
As always, we go on trips and come home feeling like we are the blessed ones! What an incredible honor to serve Christ by giving life away. We stood in disbelief as we were inside Rome Baptist Church in the heart of Rome teaching about marriage to a truly international crowd. A door nobody could have opened up but God Himself. Our teaching was well received based on the comments and questions afterwards! Investment in lives is what God has called us to do and our prayer is always that by sharing our own lives, the successes and failures, will help others on their own journey.
We pray this is only the beginning of a long term relationship with our new friends in Rome!
Please note that due to security purposes we have not posted may pictures. We worked with the refugees with our hosts Dave and Keda (picture below) and their faces we've been asked not to show.
“From this day forward was the name of the marriage conference that are amazing friends, Mission partners and missionaries, Scott in Judy Phipps organized for us here in Rome. It was powerful and administered too many couples on our team and our church.
They also counseled couples and missionaries one-on-one (including us), did refugee and student ministry with us, serve the needy and interacted with them, donated financially to the refugee ministry, loved on everyone and they met, etc…etc.
We can't describe in words what a blessing it was to all of us, especially to the two of us, who had the privilege to do life administer with them for two weeks. Scott's amazing gifts of communicating the word clearly and passionately, encouraging and lifting others up and Judy's gifts of asking good questions and helping people process their lives and making healthy/godly decisions were an awesome help for everyone here.
Thank you Scott in Judy for blessing us on so many levels. Thank you for your contribution and investment in Rome. Thank you for allowing God to use your story and who you are now for his glory. You are part of the history in this ancient city in one day in Heaven you will see in details what an impact your time here had.
We love and appreciate you very much!”
As always, we go on trips and come home feeling like we are the blessed ones! What an incredible honor to serve Christ by giving life away. We stood in disbelief as we were inside Rome Baptist Church in the heart of Rome teaching about marriage to a truly international crowd. A door nobody could have opened up but God Himself. Our teaching was well received based on the comments and questions afterwards! Investment in lives is what God has called us to do and our prayer is always that by sharing our own lives, the successes and failures, will help others on their own journey.
We pray this is only the beginning of a long term relationship with our new friends in Rome!
Please note that due to security purposes we have not posted may pictures. We worked with the refugees with our hosts Dave and Keda (picture below) and their faces we've been asked not to show.
Tizimin, Mexico (with DCI)
Our mission activity has already begun for 2014 as I (Scott) went to Tizimin, Mexico to continue our work with Bill and Kathy Craver at Dream Center International. I arrived on a Wednesday night and from Thursday through Sunday preached in four churches, taught in a conference, and participated in the Big Event, which was a citywide worship and prayer meeting with all the churches in the local organization. It was a powerful time in which I got to worship with, speak blessings over, encourage, and pray for the people in these meetings. What helped make these times great was my interpreter, brother, and fellow preacher, Jose Diaz (an anointed and devoted follower of Jesus Christ) as we really flowed together in the Lord.
We have now been going to Tizimin for the last seven years and have built wonderful relationships with several of the local churches. We are welcomed wholeheartedly by them and have the privilege of speaking encouragement and blessing into their lives. The city remains ripe for revival and the unity of the local churches is becoming greater and greater. Therefore, we continue to expect great things of God to happen in this city and hope to return again as soon as possible!
We have now been going to Tizimin for the last seven years and have built wonderful relationships with several of the local churches. We are welcomed wholeheartedly by them and have the privilege of speaking encouragement and blessing into their lives. The city remains ripe for revival and the unity of the local churches is becoming greater and greater. Therefore, we continue to expect great things of God to happen in this city and hope to return again as soon as possible!
Japan - October 2013
JAPAN MINISTRY
Okinawa
Our travels were smooth, especially in light of going somewhere we didn’t speak the language and meeting up with people that we had only seen once (Lisa and Victoria) via SKYPE. We arrived at Narita airport and got thru customs FAST (nice), picked up our luggage and followed the crowd out the door. There we stood knowing we had to make an airline connection to get to Okinawa, but unable to read/decipher the signs to know where to go. God brought a flight attendant along who gave us the needed directions, which was a godsend as we actually had to leave that terminal and take a bus to another. Done!
We arrived in Okinawa after 10pm and were met outside (they waved us down) by Jody, Lisa and their daughter Victoria. From the beginning we knew we were with some very ‘comfortable’ people which always makes the ‘meeting’ transition pleasurable when going to new places.
We were blessed to stay in the guest room at the missionary building on the campus of Okinawa Christian School International…our home base and point of ministry. We were up early Monday morning to go to the school staff meeting and be introduced as we came to be a part of the yearly high school camp which was to take place Wednesday – Saturday on another small island off of Okinawa.
Our objective for the first few days of the week was to get to know the staff and sit in on classes and just hang out to meet/greet the kids. How interesting it was to sit as ‘older folk’s in high school classes to observe. Maybe it was just me expecting something a bit different, but it being just a bit awkward was OK.
We were pleasantly surprised that as we invaded in on conversations and started talking with the youth how they accepted us, and we really didn’t since they were uncomfortable with us.
So for the first few days we just hung out in classes, during their lunch hour, and after school and just talked to whomever would, but concentrated on the seniors as they were the leaders of the youth camp (the honor each year of the senior class). We listened as they practiced worship songs, etc. and learned who were the leaders, etc. by witnessing the interaction.
Tuesday morning we started hearing about a typhoon heading towards Okinawa. By late that day the staff heard that the ferry to the island where the camp was taking place had been shut down until after the typhoon had past. We had come to do the camp and now it was canceled!
But when God closes one door He opens another! At the camp we would have each been assigned 5-6 kids with a chance to share one or two devotion times with them, beyond being camp parents. Well NOW we spent the next three (3) mornings before different classes getting the entire 45 minutes to share about Christ and invite them to know Him!!!
This had been what Judy and I had been praying about for months prior to arriving…opportunity to share and God preparing hearts to hear. He only knows what eternal effect the testimony of our lives, words of affirmation to the kids, and sharing the real live changes gospel of Christ will have on these lives. He stand upon His own word that His Word will not return void!
Yes, we missed not doing the camp, but truly feel this was a door God opened for us to get to share our lives and hearts. Several teachers committed to us afterwards how attentive the kids were as we shared. There were several that didn’t normally pay much attention in class but they seemed to hang on to our every word. This again showed us how God answered our prayers about this time the He prepared.
During these days we made connections with many of the youth just by sitting and talking with them. We were a bit sad as we stationed ourselves in a place Friday afternoon to say goodbye to as many as we could. But that night we had the chance to go to a youth worship service at a local church where several of the kids we got to know (Jimmy, Heidi, Chris, Mercie) led some incredible worship. The youth leader, Daniel and his wife Lisa, was himself a graduate of OCSI and Bethel School in California. They are doing a great job bringing the youth into a ‘relationship’ with Christ and it is apparent for they love His presence!
Daniel asked me to share something with them and then Judy and I prayed individually for each of them. Again, such an honor to speak into and pray over their lives! God is already doing special things with them and we are blessed to pray for them now for lives that continue to seek Him with all their hearts.
On Saturday the typhoon hit the island and as it was only a category 1 we went out to downtown Okinawa with Jody, Lisa and Victoria for a little cultural time. Guess when you’re used to these storms life just goes onJ. One of the things we saw was a huge fish market with all kinds of fish, crab, etc. Never seen so many kinds of fish and colorful crab before, all of for sale and food.
Sunday we packed and went to church at Belmont Church, which is a mixed Japanese/American congregation with services in Japanese. We thoroughly enjoyed the service and it was a great end to what was a total God week! After church Lesley drove us to the airport and we flew out to Yokohama on mainland Japan for week two.
We wish to thank many people for their love and care of us while in Okinawa…they were incredible hosts and the love of God flowed from them:
Jody, Lisa and Victoria, Lesley and David, Chaplain Mark, Judi, Noriko, David (our paddle board instructor), Marissa, Elsie, and many other teachers who welcomed us into their classrooms and gave us free reigns to share our lives and the gospel with their students.
May God be praised and prayerfully we will be returning next year.
Yokohama
Ministry in Yokohama was limited as we were there for the main purpose of locating some of Judy’s family, but more than we expected. The lady who hosted us was named Roberta and she is a lifelong missionary in Japan with American Baptist International Ministries and has one year left before retirement. She was such a blessing to us and invited us to participate in several of her normal outreaches, one to a kindergarten class and another with the mothers of the kids in school. The goal of both was to teach English.
Judy and I have both been through EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and so her techniques, using songs for the kids and games for the ladies, were familiar to us and we enjoyed the ladies and ministry very much.
But may I (Scott) add that the greatest ministry that took place was to my wonderful wife! I will relay the entire story in a second email, but I want to emphasis that I truly believe that the main ministry God has given anyone with a family is your family. My heart rejoices that a dream come true happened for Judy, completely orchestrated by God. From the time He spoke to me over a year to give her a trip there as a birthday present, to His plans overriding what I had planned to all that happened while in Japan, it was a life changer and this is what God is all about.
Okinawa
Our travels were smooth, especially in light of going somewhere we didn’t speak the language and meeting up with people that we had only seen once (Lisa and Victoria) via SKYPE. We arrived at Narita airport and got thru customs FAST (nice), picked up our luggage and followed the crowd out the door. There we stood knowing we had to make an airline connection to get to Okinawa, but unable to read/decipher the signs to know where to go. God brought a flight attendant along who gave us the needed directions, which was a godsend as we actually had to leave that terminal and take a bus to another. Done!
We arrived in Okinawa after 10pm and were met outside (they waved us down) by Jody, Lisa and their daughter Victoria. From the beginning we knew we were with some very ‘comfortable’ people which always makes the ‘meeting’ transition pleasurable when going to new places.
We were blessed to stay in the guest room at the missionary building on the campus of Okinawa Christian School International…our home base and point of ministry. We were up early Monday morning to go to the school staff meeting and be introduced as we came to be a part of the yearly high school camp which was to take place Wednesday – Saturday on another small island off of Okinawa.
Our objective for the first few days of the week was to get to know the staff and sit in on classes and just hang out to meet/greet the kids. How interesting it was to sit as ‘older folk’s in high school classes to observe. Maybe it was just me expecting something a bit different, but it being just a bit awkward was OK.
We were pleasantly surprised that as we invaded in on conversations and started talking with the youth how they accepted us, and we really didn’t since they were uncomfortable with us.
So for the first few days we just hung out in classes, during their lunch hour, and after school and just talked to whomever would, but concentrated on the seniors as they were the leaders of the youth camp (the honor each year of the senior class). We listened as they practiced worship songs, etc. and learned who were the leaders, etc. by witnessing the interaction.
Tuesday morning we started hearing about a typhoon heading towards Okinawa. By late that day the staff heard that the ferry to the island where the camp was taking place had been shut down until after the typhoon had past. We had come to do the camp and now it was canceled!
But when God closes one door He opens another! At the camp we would have each been assigned 5-6 kids with a chance to share one or two devotion times with them, beyond being camp parents. Well NOW we spent the next three (3) mornings before different classes getting the entire 45 minutes to share about Christ and invite them to know Him!!!
This had been what Judy and I had been praying about for months prior to arriving…opportunity to share and God preparing hearts to hear. He only knows what eternal effect the testimony of our lives, words of affirmation to the kids, and sharing the real live changes gospel of Christ will have on these lives. He stand upon His own word that His Word will not return void!
Yes, we missed not doing the camp, but truly feel this was a door God opened for us to get to share our lives and hearts. Several teachers committed to us afterwards how attentive the kids were as we shared. There were several that didn’t normally pay much attention in class but they seemed to hang on to our every word. This again showed us how God answered our prayers about this time the He prepared.
During these days we made connections with many of the youth just by sitting and talking with them. We were a bit sad as we stationed ourselves in a place Friday afternoon to say goodbye to as many as we could. But that night we had the chance to go to a youth worship service at a local church where several of the kids we got to know (Jimmy, Heidi, Chris, Mercie) led some incredible worship. The youth leader, Daniel and his wife Lisa, was himself a graduate of OCSI and Bethel School in California. They are doing a great job bringing the youth into a ‘relationship’ with Christ and it is apparent for they love His presence!
Daniel asked me to share something with them and then Judy and I prayed individually for each of them. Again, such an honor to speak into and pray over their lives! God is already doing special things with them and we are blessed to pray for them now for lives that continue to seek Him with all their hearts.
On Saturday the typhoon hit the island and as it was only a category 1 we went out to downtown Okinawa with Jody, Lisa and Victoria for a little cultural time. Guess when you’re used to these storms life just goes onJ. One of the things we saw was a huge fish market with all kinds of fish, crab, etc. Never seen so many kinds of fish and colorful crab before, all of for sale and food.
Sunday we packed and went to church at Belmont Church, which is a mixed Japanese/American congregation with services in Japanese. We thoroughly enjoyed the service and it was a great end to what was a total God week! After church Lesley drove us to the airport and we flew out to Yokohama on mainland Japan for week two.
We wish to thank many people for their love and care of us while in Okinawa…they were incredible hosts and the love of God flowed from them:
Jody, Lisa and Victoria, Lesley and David, Chaplain Mark, Judi, Noriko, David (our paddle board instructor), Marissa, Elsie, and many other teachers who welcomed us into their classrooms and gave us free reigns to share our lives and the gospel with their students.
May God be praised and prayerfully we will be returning next year.
Yokohama
Ministry in Yokohama was limited as we were there for the main purpose of locating some of Judy’s family, but more than we expected. The lady who hosted us was named Roberta and she is a lifelong missionary in Japan with American Baptist International Ministries and has one year left before retirement. She was such a blessing to us and invited us to participate in several of her normal outreaches, one to a kindergarten class and another with the mothers of the kids in school. The goal of both was to teach English.
Judy and I have both been through EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and so her techniques, using songs for the kids and games for the ladies, were familiar to us and we enjoyed the ladies and ministry very much.
But may I (Scott) add that the greatest ministry that took place was to my wonderful wife! I will relay the entire story in a second email, but I want to emphasis that I truly believe that the main ministry God has given anyone with a family is your family. My heart rejoices that a dream come true happened for Judy, completely orchestrated by God. From the time He spoke to me over a year to give her a trip there as a birthday present, to His plans overriding what I had planned to all that happened while in Japan, it was a life changer and this is what God is all about.
Albania - July 2013
He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Psalm 91:4
In this our third trip to Albanian Judy and I saw and experienced God’s great faithfulness. This trip was all about youth…college, junior high, and high school kids and we had the privilege of working with Campus Crusades for Christ and the rest of the time with Tirana Evangelical Church.
We arrived on Thursday and went directly to the English Camp being held in Shengjin. There were 24 college age students brought by CCC and sponsored by a group from CrossWay Community Church, Kenosha, WI….a wonderful group who led well and Judy and I got to serve alongside of them! The English classes were broke down by beginners, intermediate, and advanced and we worked with the advanced group.
All of the students come to the camp to increase their knowledge of the English language, but also knew they will be hearing the gospel of Christ. And they did…and during the course of the camp two young ladies became new believers. Please pray for Vivian and Sherry as they begin their new lives in Christ having left their former beliefs!
The other cool part about the time was the opportunities we had to share with the students outside of the class setting. I had wonderful times sharing in particular with two young men that were best friends, Mirsad and Mond. We had great conversations with them and they opened up and shared about their lives. Great guys with great hearts and not far from the Kingdom…please pray for them.
We returned to Tirana on Sunday during the English Camp for the church service of Altin’s church (Tirana Evangelical Church) where I shared the message on truth. We when participated in the baptism of three church members that afternoon…what a blessing to baptize new believers fulfilling steps in their walk with Christ!
We could use pages to talk about so many different people and events. The leaders of the camp Augustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj were the couple/leaders of this English Camp, but there were many other CCC staff members there…Altin and Diana, Nikolin, David and Julia, Mentor and Erinda, Besiana and others. Our goal for next year is to put together a team and sponsor an English Camp in July!
After a few days of illness (share about later) we were off to another camp (tents). This time it was with 25 teenagers (12-17) from Altin’s church. These were kids from the area that Judy and I went to last year with the youth leaders Julian and Erjola. Judy and I taught the kids English giving them lessons out of the Word and gave input during their Bible study time. The kids did Bible reading, English classes, and Bible study every day. On the final day Erjola gave her testimony about her accepting Christ at a youth camp when she was young. After this Altin took what the kids had been hearing and gave a salvation message and in response 24 of 25 raised their hands to accept Christ!! Time (fruit) will tell, but what an awesome start to a new youth group…another start to the next generation of believers!
We returned to Tirana on Sunday and spent our final days working with the Campus Crusade citywide high school outreach. On Monday after we traveled with them to a Muslim suburb where we walked around for about an hour handing out flyers to teenagers to come at 6pm for an event. We were surprised to see about 25 young men show up an hour later! The staff had prepared a set of skits to demonstrate the different types of love with the final one being agape love. I had been asked to share about agape love prior to the skit and then afterwards shared the gospel. There was not a direct invitation given, but their goal was to get names, etc. of the kids to follow up and 17 and the 25 turned in cards They will follow up with one on ones and start building a relationship that often leads to a decision for Christ.
On Tuesday Judy and I became ‘judges’. Their outreach meeting at the main CCC building has around 75 kids on a daily basis. They were having a modeling contest creating outfits from newspaper and crate paper and we had to judge the contestants. It was amazing what they came up with using so little! It was just a fun time and then seeing all these kids join together and do their cultural dances was amazing.
Our final event was Wednesday and it was a wedding! Dreni and Gerta a couple from Altin’s church (baptized on Sunday, married on Wednesday) got married and we were honored to attend and experience an Albanian wedding.
We started out sharing about God’s faithfulness. We both picked up some kind of virus after we were there several days. Judy’s was intestinal and mine eventually took me to the hospital one afternoon due to days of pain in my head and spine. A MRI did not show anything, so after an IV of aspirin (J) and another pain killer that actually worked I returned home without a real diagnosis. I had ibuprofen which was all I took after that. There were several days of ongoing pain, but His grace was sufficient and we continued our work.
This was the first time we had any major illness while on a trip. I can honestly say being able to work with the youth and seeing God move in their lives makes it all worth it. But I just read what the Apostle Paul went through (2 Corinthians 11) and quite frankly we are not complaining!! We are blessed beyond measure and thank God by His strength we are able to do His work, which we love.
Please check out our Facebook page (Looking Forward Ministries) for pictures of this trip.
In this our third trip to Albanian Judy and I saw and experienced God’s great faithfulness. This trip was all about youth…college, junior high, and high school kids and we had the privilege of working with Campus Crusades for Christ and the rest of the time with Tirana Evangelical Church.
We arrived on Thursday and went directly to the English Camp being held in Shengjin. There were 24 college age students brought by CCC and sponsored by a group from CrossWay Community Church, Kenosha, WI….a wonderful group who led well and Judy and I got to serve alongside of them! The English classes were broke down by beginners, intermediate, and advanced and we worked with the advanced group.
All of the students come to the camp to increase their knowledge of the English language, but also knew they will be hearing the gospel of Christ. And they did…and during the course of the camp two young ladies became new believers. Please pray for Vivian and Sherry as they begin their new lives in Christ having left their former beliefs!
The other cool part about the time was the opportunities we had to share with the students outside of the class setting. I had wonderful times sharing in particular with two young men that were best friends, Mirsad and Mond. We had great conversations with them and they opened up and shared about their lives. Great guys with great hearts and not far from the Kingdom…please pray for them.
We returned to Tirana on Sunday during the English Camp for the church service of Altin’s church (Tirana Evangelical Church) where I shared the message on truth. We when participated in the baptism of three church members that afternoon…what a blessing to baptize new believers fulfilling steps in their walk with Christ!
We could use pages to talk about so many different people and events. The leaders of the camp Augustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj were the couple/leaders of this English Camp, but there were many other CCC staff members there…Altin and Diana, Nikolin, David and Julia, Mentor and Erinda, Besiana and others. Our goal for next year is to put together a team and sponsor an English Camp in July!
After a few days of illness (share about later) we were off to another camp (tents). This time it was with 25 teenagers (12-17) from Altin’s church. These were kids from the area that Judy and I went to last year with the youth leaders Julian and Erjola. Judy and I taught the kids English giving them lessons out of the Word and gave input during their Bible study time. The kids did Bible reading, English classes, and Bible study every day. On the final day Erjola gave her testimony about her accepting Christ at a youth camp when she was young. After this Altin took what the kids had been hearing and gave a salvation message and in response 24 of 25 raised their hands to accept Christ!! Time (fruit) will tell, but what an awesome start to a new youth group…another start to the next generation of believers!
We returned to Tirana on Sunday and spent our final days working with the Campus Crusade citywide high school outreach. On Monday after we traveled with them to a Muslim suburb where we walked around for about an hour handing out flyers to teenagers to come at 6pm for an event. We were surprised to see about 25 young men show up an hour later! The staff had prepared a set of skits to demonstrate the different types of love with the final one being agape love. I had been asked to share about agape love prior to the skit and then afterwards shared the gospel. There was not a direct invitation given, but their goal was to get names, etc. of the kids to follow up and 17 and the 25 turned in cards They will follow up with one on ones and start building a relationship that often leads to a decision for Christ.
On Tuesday Judy and I became ‘judges’. Their outreach meeting at the main CCC building has around 75 kids on a daily basis. They were having a modeling contest creating outfits from newspaper and crate paper and we had to judge the contestants. It was amazing what they came up with using so little! It was just a fun time and then seeing all these kids join together and do their cultural dances was amazing.
Our final event was Wednesday and it was a wedding! Dreni and Gerta a couple from Altin’s church (baptized on Sunday, married on Wednesday) got married and we were honored to attend and experience an Albanian wedding.
We started out sharing about God’s faithfulness. We both picked up some kind of virus after we were there several days. Judy’s was intestinal and mine eventually took me to the hospital one afternoon due to days of pain in my head and spine. A MRI did not show anything, so after an IV of aspirin (J) and another pain killer that actually worked I returned home without a real diagnosis. I had ibuprofen which was all I took after that. There were several days of ongoing pain, but His grace was sufficient and we continued our work.
This was the first time we had any major illness while on a trip. I can honestly say being able to work with the youth and seeing God move in their lives makes it all worth it. But I just read what the Apostle Paul went through (2 Corinthians 11) and quite frankly we are not complaining!! We are blessed beyond measure and thank God by His strength we are able to do His work, which we love.
Please check out our Facebook page (Looking Forward Ministries) for pictures of this trip.
Tizimin, Mexico - June 2013
We have now been back from Mexico over a week and coming back to a busy work schedule always delays getting a report out immediately, But then again it gives us bit of time to digest all that God accomplishes.
Judy and I agree that this was one of the best teams we have ever had the pleasure to serve with. All but two of the team members were from Heart of the Father Ministry in Lakeland, and one couple was from Victory Church. Everyone came prepared in the Lord to do ministry to the people in the churches and serve and ‘bless’ Pastor Bill (Dream Center) anyway they could! We so blown away at their hearts for worship and ministry….basically love for God and people!!
We arrived in Mexico on Friday afternoon and had a 3 hour drive to the Dream Center base in Tizimin (Yucatan). About 30 minutes from the base a rain storm hit and all the bags on top of the vehicle got soaked, but we got no complaintsJ, they just unloaded and we took the wet things to the lauder mat to get dried. Friday we shopped for food, settled in and had a ministry time praying over Pastor Bill as he had been feeling ill…it was powerful and began a healing in his body.
Due to the heavy week schedule ahead of us we went ahead and did our team fun day Saturday and visited the Mayan ruins and got a history/culture lesson from Pastor Bill…..he is a wealth of knowledge having been in these areas for 20 years.
Saturday night we began our ministry to the churches of Tizimin. In all we visited 7 churches and had one night on the base with 50 Strong, the citywide youth ministry and meets at the base. They are a catalysis for the movement of God going out in the city and have been a real blessing to watch grow up and in the Lord the last six years since I began coming to Tizimin.
Our first night (Saturday) we went to Calvary Family of God Methodist Church, Pastor Jorge and Anita’s church where I have ministered several times before and did the last marriage seminar. WOW! It was completely new, floor, walls (was open walled before), ceiling, stage, etc. They had received a special blessing to redo the church and we were actually the first church meeting this completing it! It was a night of special ministry to the congregation and Pastor’s. Two of our team members, Mac and Brandon, gave a word and then we began praying for everyone. WE then were blessed by a dance team performing a dance they had prepared for us and some prepared food and drink.
At this point I just want to insert a little about Allyson and Jimmy the worship leaders. I MUST say that they are not be exalted above any other team member as everyone had a role (His role) and everyone moved in it for his glory. But I did want to say how blessed we were to have Allyson (worship leader at Heart of the Father) and Jimmy (also on the worship team and of whom I stated was multi-talented) lead worship at each event and take us into the presence of God in preparation for ministry. They had taken the time to learn a few worship songs in Spanish which I know spoke a lot to the people there (both their efforts and the music itself). Everyone who stood before a church a shared did a tremendous job and spoke what God had given them; it was always on target and received well.
On Sunday we ministered in two churches. Sunday morning we visited Christian Family Center with Pastor Antonio. They were such a warm and open church. Their worship was great and hearts ready to both receive and give. We learned about a prophetic word given to the city of Tizimin that it would be ‘a land of milk and honey’….they had a large yellow banner with bumble bees symbolizing this…so ministry was wonderful that morning as blessing were spoken over them and they prayed over us.
Sunday night we went to a new church I’d not been to before. It was small and they met in a thatched roof building, but their worship was wonderful and our ministry time powerful!
Monday we began three days of concrete/plastering work (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) on some bathrooms Pastor Bill was building for Magdalena Saldaña who runs an after school program for children in a poor area of the city. While many of us did the concrete work several others cleaned up/weeded the yard area, and still others did ministry to the little children. Highlights of these days were when we led Edgar, the foreman of the crew Bill had hired, to the Lord, and also a family next door that came to the Lord. Magdalena has given her heart and soul to make a safe haven for these children to come to and get fed, literally and the Word! Her efforts are changing the lives of these kids and we were privileged to play whatever role to help her in this work!
Monday night we hosted 50 Strong, the citywide youth movement at the DCI base. Allyson and Jimmie led worship that night, Pastor Bill gave a powerful word, and then the team again prayed for the youth…it was a great time of ministry!
Tuesday night we visited Encounter with Christ Church with Pastor Eloina Sansor…. . We met outside so the community could hear the worship and sharing. Several of the guys went and played some basketball across the street with some neighborhood kids prior to the service. This night Jared (one of our teenagers) gave a word about a dream he had and did a tremendous job delivering the message! God used everyone on this trip in so many different ways.
Wednesday night we drove about 45 minutes to the city of Valladolid for a service at a church we called ‘The Happy Church’J This was another church that Pastor Jorge and Anita took over to keep it from going under and were releasing it to a new pastor and wife. One cool thing that happen this night was since Pastor Bill was there (he was sick Sunday night when we were at Pastor Jorge’s church) Pastor Jorge and Anita asked him to come forward and spoke some amazing words of honor to him for his love and work he has put into their lives and Tizimin. He also expectantly spoke of what I had meant to them for the years I had come and given out to them and the churches. It was a priceless moment.
Marlene Bishop gave a ‘visual’ message sharing her story and being a teacher her use of props was creative and amazing! As normal the team participated in their normal ministry and I personally had the opportunity to pray for a man named Louis. The Lord gave me word for him that he was a man full of compassion for others which brought tears to his eyes. Later I was asked to come to the back where Louis was standing with another man named Mario. They told me Mario had some questions, which ended up being about salvation, so I answered them and led him in a prayer to accept Christ! Praise God, the word he gave me for Louis was so true, his compassion for his friend Mario led to his salvation. After ministry a couple of young ladies performed interpretive dance for us.
Thursday we worked at Bill’s base completing some projects some earlier teams had started including painting the chairs and finishing walls for a storage room. Josh and Jason had stayed on the base Wednesday and did a lot of the work on the storage room walls and Thursday I put Josh in charge of directing the team…he did a great job and everything got done.
Thursday night we went to Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian congregation Prince of Peace)…there was 3 different Presbyterian churches there. Jason gave a ‘specific’ word that night about a school coming forth from them, but nobody responded to it THEN. Later after ministry and man came to Josh and confessed it didn’t respond but the word was definitely on target! Also, our interpreter Moises Balam told us that a school had been discussed in the past and many felt it was something for the future.
Friday was our last day. It was actually a ‘free day’ and the team did some shopping and indulging in culinary delights in the morning, but we decided to do an outreach that afternoon. Bill has flip flops and sandals donated to him that have ‘Jesus Loves You’ imprinted on the bottom. We took a bunch of these and went down the city square where the junior and senior high kids are dropped off by the busses. Allyson and Jimmie played and sang as the kids gathered around. I then shared why we were there and the gospel and then we handed out the shoes, prayed for anyone who wanted and took pictures with them. It was wonderful hour or so of connecting with a generation needing the love of Christ…and they got it!
That night the final church we visited was just a block down the road from the DCI base. Church of God of Prophecy had just celebrated the night before the denominations birthday (I believe 104). They started the night with a dance team performing for us. After the church did some worship, Allyson and Jimmie led us in some more worship which led into ministry/prayer time. Brandon and Mac then shared words and finally the church prayed for us being it was our last night in Tizimin.
Highlights of the trip were many:
First we have to give kudos to Pastor Bill for being such a great missionary/host to work with! Although he was under the weather most of the time we were there, his presence, stories, grace and trust given to us was felt and enjoyed by everyone.
Next, the team from Heart of the Father Ministry. Unity, love (of God, others, each other), ability to minister, hard workers, and non-complainers…just a few of the words that comes to mind. They were open and willing to do anything asked, but also some of the BEST GIVERS (bought a new refrigerator for the DCI base) we have been around. Thanks to all of them…Tizimin was different when we left because of their great hearts.
The growth and spiritual condition of the churches in Tizimin. From the youth (50 Strong) to the climate in each church we visited the people are hungry for more of God and revival continues. As humility and unity reigns so does Christ and He can do much in that kind of atmosphere.
Philip and Jack….a father and son from Virginia that came on their own to join our team not knowing anything about us. Their church background was different but they worked alongside of us and came to every church meeting. They were a blessing to be around with true servant hearts and we hope they join us sometime in the future as he takes his children to the mission field when they ‘come of age’. Leaving a great heritage!
Finally, we cannot forget Moises and Haswey (sp) who traveled and interpreted for us. Moises has worked for Bill for 20 years and is one of the most humble men I’ve ever been around. His servant’s heart is one of a true bond-slave for the Lord. It actually set up our schedule for the week, worked his teaching job during the day and took us to each church every night. Haswey is in college and while on summer break works for Bill. He is a joy to be around and was there during the days to interpret for us in whatever we did.
Please check out our Facebook page Looking Forward Ministries (Like us please) for pictures of this trip and also check out this You Tube video of our trip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXdKpfaXZA&feature=youtu.be
Judy and I agree that this was one of the best teams we have ever had the pleasure to serve with. All but two of the team members were from Heart of the Father Ministry in Lakeland, and one couple was from Victory Church. Everyone came prepared in the Lord to do ministry to the people in the churches and serve and ‘bless’ Pastor Bill (Dream Center) anyway they could! We so blown away at their hearts for worship and ministry….basically love for God and people!!
We arrived in Mexico on Friday afternoon and had a 3 hour drive to the Dream Center base in Tizimin (Yucatan). About 30 minutes from the base a rain storm hit and all the bags on top of the vehicle got soaked, but we got no complaintsJ, they just unloaded and we took the wet things to the lauder mat to get dried. Friday we shopped for food, settled in and had a ministry time praying over Pastor Bill as he had been feeling ill…it was powerful and began a healing in his body.
Due to the heavy week schedule ahead of us we went ahead and did our team fun day Saturday and visited the Mayan ruins and got a history/culture lesson from Pastor Bill…..he is a wealth of knowledge having been in these areas for 20 years.
Saturday night we began our ministry to the churches of Tizimin. In all we visited 7 churches and had one night on the base with 50 Strong, the citywide youth ministry and meets at the base. They are a catalysis for the movement of God going out in the city and have been a real blessing to watch grow up and in the Lord the last six years since I began coming to Tizimin.
Our first night (Saturday) we went to Calvary Family of God Methodist Church, Pastor Jorge and Anita’s church where I have ministered several times before and did the last marriage seminar. WOW! It was completely new, floor, walls (was open walled before), ceiling, stage, etc. They had received a special blessing to redo the church and we were actually the first church meeting this completing it! It was a night of special ministry to the congregation and Pastor’s. Two of our team members, Mac and Brandon, gave a word and then we began praying for everyone. WE then were blessed by a dance team performing a dance they had prepared for us and some prepared food and drink.
At this point I just want to insert a little about Allyson and Jimmy the worship leaders. I MUST say that they are not be exalted above any other team member as everyone had a role (His role) and everyone moved in it for his glory. But I did want to say how blessed we were to have Allyson (worship leader at Heart of the Father) and Jimmy (also on the worship team and of whom I stated was multi-talented) lead worship at each event and take us into the presence of God in preparation for ministry. They had taken the time to learn a few worship songs in Spanish which I know spoke a lot to the people there (both their efforts and the music itself). Everyone who stood before a church a shared did a tremendous job and spoke what God had given them; it was always on target and received well.
On Sunday we ministered in two churches. Sunday morning we visited Christian Family Center with Pastor Antonio. They were such a warm and open church. Their worship was great and hearts ready to both receive and give. We learned about a prophetic word given to the city of Tizimin that it would be ‘a land of milk and honey’….they had a large yellow banner with bumble bees symbolizing this…so ministry was wonderful that morning as blessing were spoken over them and they prayed over us.
Sunday night we went to a new church I’d not been to before. It was small and they met in a thatched roof building, but their worship was wonderful and our ministry time powerful!
Monday we began three days of concrete/plastering work (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) on some bathrooms Pastor Bill was building for Magdalena Saldaña who runs an after school program for children in a poor area of the city. While many of us did the concrete work several others cleaned up/weeded the yard area, and still others did ministry to the little children. Highlights of these days were when we led Edgar, the foreman of the crew Bill had hired, to the Lord, and also a family next door that came to the Lord. Magdalena has given her heart and soul to make a safe haven for these children to come to and get fed, literally and the Word! Her efforts are changing the lives of these kids and we were privileged to play whatever role to help her in this work!
Monday night we hosted 50 Strong, the citywide youth movement at the DCI base. Allyson and Jimmie led worship that night, Pastor Bill gave a powerful word, and then the team again prayed for the youth…it was a great time of ministry!
Tuesday night we visited Encounter with Christ Church with Pastor Eloina Sansor…. . We met outside so the community could hear the worship and sharing. Several of the guys went and played some basketball across the street with some neighborhood kids prior to the service. This night Jared (one of our teenagers) gave a word about a dream he had and did a tremendous job delivering the message! God used everyone on this trip in so many different ways.
Wednesday night we drove about 45 minutes to the city of Valladolid for a service at a church we called ‘The Happy Church’J This was another church that Pastor Jorge and Anita took over to keep it from going under and were releasing it to a new pastor and wife. One cool thing that happen this night was since Pastor Bill was there (he was sick Sunday night when we were at Pastor Jorge’s church) Pastor Jorge and Anita asked him to come forward and spoke some amazing words of honor to him for his love and work he has put into their lives and Tizimin. He also expectantly spoke of what I had meant to them for the years I had come and given out to them and the churches. It was a priceless moment.
Marlene Bishop gave a ‘visual’ message sharing her story and being a teacher her use of props was creative and amazing! As normal the team participated in their normal ministry and I personally had the opportunity to pray for a man named Louis. The Lord gave me word for him that he was a man full of compassion for others which brought tears to his eyes. Later I was asked to come to the back where Louis was standing with another man named Mario. They told me Mario had some questions, which ended up being about salvation, so I answered them and led him in a prayer to accept Christ! Praise God, the word he gave me for Louis was so true, his compassion for his friend Mario led to his salvation. After ministry a couple of young ladies performed interpretive dance for us.
Thursday we worked at Bill’s base completing some projects some earlier teams had started including painting the chairs and finishing walls for a storage room. Josh and Jason had stayed on the base Wednesday and did a lot of the work on the storage room walls and Thursday I put Josh in charge of directing the team…he did a great job and everything got done.
Thursday night we went to Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian congregation Prince of Peace)…there was 3 different Presbyterian churches there. Jason gave a ‘specific’ word that night about a school coming forth from them, but nobody responded to it THEN. Later after ministry and man came to Josh and confessed it didn’t respond but the word was definitely on target! Also, our interpreter Moises Balam told us that a school had been discussed in the past and many felt it was something for the future.
Friday was our last day. It was actually a ‘free day’ and the team did some shopping and indulging in culinary delights in the morning, but we decided to do an outreach that afternoon. Bill has flip flops and sandals donated to him that have ‘Jesus Loves You’ imprinted on the bottom. We took a bunch of these and went down the city square where the junior and senior high kids are dropped off by the busses. Allyson and Jimmie played and sang as the kids gathered around. I then shared why we were there and the gospel and then we handed out the shoes, prayed for anyone who wanted and took pictures with them. It was wonderful hour or so of connecting with a generation needing the love of Christ…and they got it!
That night the final church we visited was just a block down the road from the DCI base. Church of God of Prophecy had just celebrated the night before the denominations birthday (I believe 104). They started the night with a dance team performing for us. After the church did some worship, Allyson and Jimmie led us in some more worship which led into ministry/prayer time. Brandon and Mac then shared words and finally the church prayed for us being it was our last night in Tizimin.
Highlights of the trip were many:
First we have to give kudos to Pastor Bill for being such a great missionary/host to work with! Although he was under the weather most of the time we were there, his presence, stories, grace and trust given to us was felt and enjoyed by everyone.
Next, the team from Heart of the Father Ministry. Unity, love (of God, others, each other), ability to minister, hard workers, and non-complainers…just a few of the words that comes to mind. They were open and willing to do anything asked, but also some of the BEST GIVERS (bought a new refrigerator for the DCI base) we have been around. Thanks to all of them…Tizimin was different when we left because of their great hearts.
The growth and spiritual condition of the churches in Tizimin. From the youth (50 Strong) to the climate in each church we visited the people are hungry for more of God and revival continues. As humility and unity reigns so does Christ and He can do much in that kind of atmosphere.
Philip and Jack….a father and son from Virginia that came on their own to join our team not knowing anything about us. Their church background was different but they worked alongside of us and came to every church meeting. They were a blessing to be around with true servant hearts and we hope they join us sometime in the future as he takes his children to the mission field when they ‘come of age’. Leaving a great heritage!
Finally, we cannot forget Moises and Haswey (sp) who traveled and interpreted for us. Moises has worked for Bill for 20 years and is one of the most humble men I’ve ever been around. His servant’s heart is one of a true bond-slave for the Lord. It actually set up our schedule for the week, worked his teaching job during the day and took us to each church every night. Haswey is in college and while on summer break works for Bill. He is a joy to be around and was there during the days to interpret for us in whatever we did.
Please check out our Facebook page Looking Forward Ministries (Like us please) for pictures of this trip and also check out this You Tube video of our trip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXdKpfaXZA&feature=youtu.be
Ghana, Africa - April/May 2013
I know I always say this, but this was one of the best trips ever! Not just because I got to share/preach so much but because of the relationship building that took place and getting to share daily Ghanaian life with Pastor Richard and the family (Doris, Twyla, and Vic). What precious times we had together; they are truly my family away from home.
The trip started as a God trip before I left. I was supposed to have left Sunday the 21st however, on Friday I got a message in email that the airline I was flying was going on strike on Monday and I would have been in Frankfurt, Germany that morning and possibly stuck. I called my booking agent and they were not aware of it yet but got me a flight on Saturday which put me thru Frankfurt on Sunday AND my connection times were much better than my original flights. About an hour later I got another email that said the TSA furloughs were starting on Sunday and to expect major delays…well now I would be out of the country by Saturday night, so missed those too. Just a God story…He cares about it all!
I arrived in Ghana on Monday evening…greeted everyone, unpacked, blew up my air mattress for sleeping, talked and hit the bed. Next morning we started our ‘very good conversations’ at the dinner table. These were special times to just sit and talk about God things, Pastoring, life in general. I love hearing and learning other’s perspectives…especially in other countries.
So Tuesday was spent discussing the schedule, sermons, and significant area’s to touch on during the sharing for the next two weeks. That afternoon we did some food shopping some time with the family, food shopping and rest, then began the sharing times Wednesday night as Trinity Assembly.
I have shared here before with Pastor Edward and Alice….great, joyful people with a congregation hungry for God. I had a message prepared for this night, but that afternoon during prayer God changed what I was to share and as usual it was on target. I encouraged them to become closer to God every day by seeking Him first and foremost….the closer we get the better He looks. It takes time and making Him a priority, but our spiritual growth is dependent upon doing this.
Thursday and Friday nights I did the marriage seminar teaching from a series From This Day Forward that our Pastor shared last year. The messages being very practical were understood and received well. We have shared several times on marriages in Ghana as they’ve not received much training/information on handling ‘issues’ we all face and continue to attack cultural beliefs.
On Saturday we were supposed to have traveled to attend a funeral. However, on Friday I had set up for new headlights to be installed in Richards car and then it started having engines problems which had to be taken care of, so we had to cancel the trip. I sent the day studying for my revival messages and Richard and I starting clearing out the land by his home in order for him to plant corn. We had a family dinner of Ghanaian food and spent the evening talking.
Sunday at church was a prayer service in preparation for the week long revival. There was a lot a worship, dancing, prayer and then I led their communion service. I LOVE their worship time and dancing! I’ve been coming here for 9 years now and it never gets old. I now know the ‘tunes’, still learning words however but love to see the joy!
Monday thru Friday was the revival….my first Ghanaian revival. The theme for the week was ‘When I see the blood’ from Exodus 12:13 and I preached along with Rev. James Yamoah a professor at Ghana Christian University. Each night the crowd grew a bit larger and as each night ended in a powerful prayer time…and they were powerful prayer! Prayers of freedom, deliverance and repentance.
The first night I preached it was on ‘When I see the blood I am reminded that the blood speaks’ and the next night it was ‘When I see the blood I see the privilege and authority that is ours in Christ Jesus’. It’s tuff to go into details without a lot of writing, but God showed up and a great challenge went forth to live our lives to the fullest towards the destiny we have in Christ and to live it as the victors we are because of our current position with Him.
After Rev. James gave the last message on Friday night we ended with anointing and praying over each person there. I love having the opportunity to be a vehicle to hear what the Lord has to say to His kids and pray over them. It took a good hour or more of praying which didn’t end until 1am, but worth it and what a way to end revival week!
We got home around 3am and were up again at 6am to travel to a funeral where I shared the funeral message. The man who had passed was a brother of a lady who is a member of Faithway Christian Church and when Richard told her I would be in Ghana she was happy to have me deliver the message at her brother’s funeral.
The funeral involved the opening of the casket, some family time I can only relate to how I’ve seen happen in the Middle East, but later during some worship songs dance and celebration took place. Pastor Richard was the host Pastor, I did the message and he did the graveside message. Afterward we traveled to a celebration sight where there was music, food, and dancing which went on quite a while albeit we left early to go get some sleep.
Sunday was my last day in Ghana and my final time preaching that morning in church. The family of the man I had done the funeral message Saturday were all at church Sunday and gave testimony of how wonderful the funeral was…guess we did wellJ I again had prepared a message that didn’t happen. Saturday after returning home from the funeral I was studying and praying and God told me to share something else. So from the story of Jacob I shared a message on how we often live our lives being far less than what God created us to be. Jacob lived his life as a ‘deceiver’ when in reality he was a prince. He himself was then deceived several times by Laban (his father-in-law) to gain his wife, but thru it got to see a picture of himself. He then wrestled with God to receive the name God gave him, Israel, and live the rest of his life knowing who he was.
After the service I met with Richard’s church leaders to challenge them in an area that Richard and I have had several discussions about, starting services on time. As the culture, unlike America, is not time driven most services never start on time. We have had many times where it was an hour and a half after the scheduled time when it began. Because it is Richards heart to change this I spoke to the leaders that change starts with those in leadership and if this was going to happen they would have to buy into it themselves and show up on time. I received good feedback from them and I believe they can do it!
After church we had lunch, I packed up and left for the airport for my trip home. Ambivalent feelings always happen at the end of a trip, but this time they were amplified because of the intense time we had just had together and the fact that I had lived with Richard’s family for two weeks. But my first love always wins and home to Judy I go. It is hard doing trips without her and next year I know she must be with me.
The trip started as a God trip before I left. I was supposed to have left Sunday the 21st however, on Friday I got a message in email that the airline I was flying was going on strike on Monday and I would have been in Frankfurt, Germany that morning and possibly stuck. I called my booking agent and they were not aware of it yet but got me a flight on Saturday which put me thru Frankfurt on Sunday AND my connection times were much better than my original flights. About an hour later I got another email that said the TSA furloughs were starting on Sunday and to expect major delays…well now I would be out of the country by Saturday night, so missed those too. Just a God story…He cares about it all!
I arrived in Ghana on Monday evening…greeted everyone, unpacked, blew up my air mattress for sleeping, talked and hit the bed. Next morning we started our ‘very good conversations’ at the dinner table. These were special times to just sit and talk about God things, Pastoring, life in general. I love hearing and learning other’s perspectives…especially in other countries.
So Tuesday was spent discussing the schedule, sermons, and significant area’s to touch on during the sharing for the next two weeks. That afternoon we did some food shopping some time with the family, food shopping and rest, then began the sharing times Wednesday night as Trinity Assembly.
I have shared here before with Pastor Edward and Alice….great, joyful people with a congregation hungry for God. I had a message prepared for this night, but that afternoon during prayer God changed what I was to share and as usual it was on target. I encouraged them to become closer to God every day by seeking Him first and foremost….the closer we get the better He looks. It takes time and making Him a priority, but our spiritual growth is dependent upon doing this.
Thursday and Friday nights I did the marriage seminar teaching from a series From This Day Forward that our Pastor shared last year. The messages being very practical were understood and received well. We have shared several times on marriages in Ghana as they’ve not received much training/information on handling ‘issues’ we all face and continue to attack cultural beliefs.
On Saturday we were supposed to have traveled to attend a funeral. However, on Friday I had set up for new headlights to be installed in Richards car and then it started having engines problems which had to be taken care of, so we had to cancel the trip. I sent the day studying for my revival messages and Richard and I starting clearing out the land by his home in order for him to plant corn. We had a family dinner of Ghanaian food and spent the evening talking.
Sunday at church was a prayer service in preparation for the week long revival. There was a lot a worship, dancing, prayer and then I led their communion service. I LOVE their worship time and dancing! I’ve been coming here for 9 years now and it never gets old. I now know the ‘tunes’, still learning words however but love to see the joy!
Monday thru Friday was the revival….my first Ghanaian revival. The theme for the week was ‘When I see the blood’ from Exodus 12:13 and I preached along with Rev. James Yamoah a professor at Ghana Christian University. Each night the crowd grew a bit larger and as each night ended in a powerful prayer time…and they were powerful prayer! Prayers of freedom, deliverance and repentance.
The first night I preached it was on ‘When I see the blood I am reminded that the blood speaks’ and the next night it was ‘When I see the blood I see the privilege and authority that is ours in Christ Jesus’. It’s tuff to go into details without a lot of writing, but God showed up and a great challenge went forth to live our lives to the fullest towards the destiny we have in Christ and to live it as the victors we are because of our current position with Him.
After Rev. James gave the last message on Friday night we ended with anointing and praying over each person there. I love having the opportunity to be a vehicle to hear what the Lord has to say to His kids and pray over them. It took a good hour or more of praying which didn’t end until 1am, but worth it and what a way to end revival week!
We got home around 3am and were up again at 6am to travel to a funeral where I shared the funeral message. The man who had passed was a brother of a lady who is a member of Faithway Christian Church and when Richard told her I would be in Ghana she was happy to have me deliver the message at her brother’s funeral.
The funeral involved the opening of the casket, some family time I can only relate to how I’ve seen happen in the Middle East, but later during some worship songs dance and celebration took place. Pastor Richard was the host Pastor, I did the message and he did the graveside message. Afterward we traveled to a celebration sight where there was music, food, and dancing which went on quite a while albeit we left early to go get some sleep.
Sunday was my last day in Ghana and my final time preaching that morning in church. The family of the man I had done the funeral message Saturday were all at church Sunday and gave testimony of how wonderful the funeral was…guess we did wellJ I again had prepared a message that didn’t happen. Saturday after returning home from the funeral I was studying and praying and God told me to share something else. So from the story of Jacob I shared a message on how we often live our lives being far less than what God created us to be. Jacob lived his life as a ‘deceiver’ when in reality he was a prince. He himself was then deceived several times by Laban (his father-in-law) to gain his wife, but thru it got to see a picture of himself. He then wrestled with God to receive the name God gave him, Israel, and live the rest of his life knowing who he was.
After the service I met with Richard’s church leaders to challenge them in an area that Richard and I have had several discussions about, starting services on time. As the culture, unlike America, is not time driven most services never start on time. We have had many times where it was an hour and a half after the scheduled time when it began. Because it is Richards heart to change this I spoke to the leaders that change starts with those in leadership and if this was going to happen they would have to buy into it themselves and show up on time. I received good feedback from them and I believe they can do it!
After church we had lunch, I packed up and left for the airport for my trip home. Ambivalent feelings always happen at the end of a trip, but this time they were amplified because of the intense time we had just had together and the fact that I had lived with Richard’s family for two weeks. But my first love always wins and home to Judy I go. It is hard doing trips without her and next year I know she must be with me.
Looking Forward Ministries Trip Reports 2012
Tizimin Mexico - January 2012
Pastor Bill and Kathy Craver have been working in the city of Tizimin for 18 years and many years ago a great outpouring happened birthing several churches. For many years things went well then the churches starting to loose unity. In 2007 Pastor Bill and I held a conference in hopes of bringing the churches together, but several didn’t attend due to it being hosted by another church. A few years later Pastor Bill ‘walked into’ a meeting of the city Pastors and they basically repented to him, washed his feet and vowed to start working together…a beginning. Then in 2009 I led a team from our church in Tampa including our worship leader and another young man and we put on an outside concert/revival. This event brought about some great healing amongst the Pastors and was an igniting event for the youth.
So we fast forward to this trip….the youth of the city are on fire for the Lord (to clarify the youth are teenagers and those in their 20’s)! A movement has begun that many of the Pastors have endorsed while others don’t simply because they can’t ‘control’ what is happening. God is in control!
We had three days of conference teaching aimed at encouraging the people to continue pursuing the Lord. I was joined by Pastor Bill's cousin Tim and his Belize DCI base director Mark Hume. There were times of worship led by youth, healing ministry for release from past hurts they’ve experienced as they have gone after change and freedom, much prayer, and even tears of joy experiencing His presence! What God has started no man can stop and those of us that have planted seeds have a responsibility not only to endorse what He is doing, but also being fathers in the Lord to this next generation to teach and help them as they seek the Lord.
So we fast forward to this trip….the youth of the city are on fire for the Lord (to clarify the youth are teenagers and those in their 20’s)! A movement has begun that many of the Pastors have endorsed while others don’t simply because they can’t ‘control’ what is happening. God is in control!
We had three days of conference teaching aimed at encouraging the people to continue pursuing the Lord. I was joined by Pastor Bill's cousin Tim and his Belize DCI base director Mark Hume. There were times of worship led by youth, healing ministry for release from past hurts they’ve experienced as they have gone after change and freedom, much prayer, and even tears of joy experiencing His presence! What God has started no man can stop and those of us that have planted seeds have a responsibility not only to endorse what He is doing, but also being fathers in the Lord to this next generation to teach and help them as they seek the Lord.
The Big Event - Revival!
A highlight was a worship event Saturday night on the main square in downtown Tizimin which was led by the young people! Manuel is a leader in the movement and has a position in the local government. He had favor to hold this event right downtown and they put on a amazing event attended by around 500 people (est)! Beside the praise and worship we had a time of speaking blessings over the city! Pastor Bill felt the Lord wanted this done and then a release of fruitfulness spoken over the churches using 2 Kings 2:19-22 as the basis for the prayer. Each of us had an area where we spoke spiritual blessing over them and then at the end we had all the Pastors and leaders to come forward and we threw salt at their feet as a spiritual symbol releasing the blessings. It ended with much worship/rejoicing and dancing!
Teaching at Centro Cristiano Internacional
On Sunday I had the opportunity to preach in two churches (with conference teaching in between) which is always a privilege. Churches are starting to build and grow as excitement about God builds and this church is getting ready to add on a new sanctuary. Pastor Antonio and his wife (see picture below) love the Lord and have made sacrifices to see their people grow in Christ. They are excited we already have another trip scheduled in June.
Sunday night I preached at Iglesia de la profecia Filadelfia. Pastor Roberto Ventura and his family just took over the church 11 months ago and have transformed it from when I was last there two years ago! I spoke to them about serving as sons and not slaves, out of a heart of love which will make serving a joy and cause their faith to grow!
During the time in Tizimin several individuals made decisions to put Christ first place in their lives or recommit their lives to Him. These are precious times in Tizimin and we are looking forward to returning in June to continue the work and bring fresh hope.
Ghana Outreach and Leadership Trip 2012
You would think these reports would become easier to write, but not so. On the final leg of our return trip from Ghana I sat with tears in my eyes going thru the ambiguity of leaving a place and people I love, but returning to the reason we moved to Tulsa, our family. Thus is the life of missions…
I have been going to Ghana for eight (8) years now, and this was Judy’s third trip. We are lovingly referred to as Uncle Scott and Aunt Judy, but ourselves feel honored to be there to teach, share and encourage the saint’s and the community around Faithway Christian Church.
As mentioned in our previous letter, we were joined on this trip by Robert and Beverly Brown from Tampa and we had a very busy 10 days of ministry (9 for them as they missed their connection from Atlanta to Accra Thursday nightL).
Saturday morning Judy and I kicked off things by attending the early morning church prayer meeting and then did a ‘general’ leadership teaching. We challenged the people to lead from where they lived based upon living out the Golden Rule in their daily lives. We explained being a leader ultimately meant being an ethical person that other people see and want to be like (follow) because of how you treat them and others.
On Sunday morning after praise, worship and dance, I preached in church on the value of a human life using the story of the demoniac out of Mark 4. As Jesus purposely delivered, saved, and restored this man I challenged the people to understand how far God goes for us and that their lives were worth giving away, just as Jesus ultimately sent out this ‘brand new man’ to go and share in his community and land what He had done for him. As a Christian God has given all of us the gift of life to share with others!
Sunday night was youth night! Ok, I am terrible at soccer (football there), but Robert and I went out with the kids and watched them kick the ball around us as if we weren’t there. After games I had the opportunity to share a message with them. I spoke to them about having a purpose in life and living with goals while following God with their whole heart. I expounded that only God was worth following and not to allow any man to take His place. As we prayed over them I could really sense that many of them understood and were making a decision to make this choice with their life.
On Monday Judy and Bev went to the school and helped Doris (Pastor Richards’s wife) and other ladies cook and serve lunch to the kids. This is a great time with the ladies who do this five days a week to serve the kids a good meal, which for many may be the only full meal of the day. Learning the Ghanian way and participating in this procedure is always a joy and experience for the ladies.
Robert and I went out with Pastor Richard and took out the Proclaimers I brought with us. A Proclaimer is a small solar powered light weight unit the size of a thick book that is loaded with the New Testament in a foreign language. I was surprised that they had it in TWE, but they did.
We took them out to two different sites to set up usage. The first was at a community water well where the owner was a member of the church named Kojo Larbi. This Proclaimer will be set up at 3am, which is the busiest time at the well when many come from their community homes to fill up their buckets with water for their daily usage. Many listened while filling their buckets and a few stopped outside the area and listened from the street! Kojo was very excited to be able to share the Word in his native language to many who don’t own Bible’s. Many of them are Muslims and this will be a great opportunity to share the Truth thru the spoken Word!
The next site was at a community shop owned by Ebenezer Armah. Here we encountered several locals gathered together and turned on the Proclaimer in the middle of them. One young man actually took out his cell phone and set it down by the Proclaimer to record the Word! They sat and listed to several chapters of the book of Luke and when Pastor Richard explained that they could come and hear on a regular basis they where excited. This will be another site where the Proclaimer will be utilized as an evangelistic tool for many who have not heard the Word because they cannot read and/or don’t have Bibles.
Monday night was men and women’s meetings. Robert and Bev had prepared teachings for these meetings using materials from Wild at Heart and Captivated. They both did an excellent job speaking and it created some excellent questions and conversations. At least with the men it was another opportunity to continue to help them see beyond their own cultural issues to living and responding to live God’s way, something Judy and I have been sharing with them for years.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the days ministering to the children at Faithway and a new school for us, St Pauls ran by Pastor Offei Lartey. This school is a full school up to senior high with around 500 children and we got to visit the kindergarten and first grade kids- 5 classrooms- where we handed prayed for them and handed out Christian wristbands/cross necklaces and candy. Next year we will set up to visit all the classrooms and get into the church to share too!
Tuesday night Judy and Bev met with a ladies group from God’s Way church. A few ladies had attended one of our earlier meetings and invited them to come and share with their ladies! It was another opportunity to expand our ministry and, needless to say, Judy and Bev loved the evening and opportunity!
Wednesday night we went to Trinity Assembly where I shared the word. Judy and I went there last year and fell in love with Pastors Edward and Alice! They have such sweet spirits and we feel honored to come and encourage them, even as they encourage us. I shared on worshipping in Spirit and Truth based upon the story of Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It was a challenge to live every day walking in constant worship thru the Holy Spirit and letting their lives and what happens on Sunday just be an overflow of that daily experience of His presence.
Thursday we made final preparations for the Leadership Seminar on Saturday as Pastor Richard had to get some work done on his car we then attended the weekly all church prayer time. Man can they pray and I commented to Pastor Richard afterwards that this was a gift of his, to bring in the presence of God thru their intercession.
Friday was our day off and we took Bev out to experience the Ghana shopping market…nothing like it and we never knew we were ‘papa’ and ‘mama’ to so many unknown people (vendors)J Robert and Bev then treated us and Richard and his family to a nice meal. Many thanks for their great big hearts to everyone!! This is always such a great treat for Richard, Doris and Twyla (their daughter).
Saturday was the Leadership Seminar and I need to tell you all a few things about this because it is because of you that things like this happen! We went ahead and paid for a nice conference room at the hotel and bought lunch (buffet) for all the participants as well as having morning coffee/tea, breakfast bars, and afternoon snacks and drinks. For us this would be no big deal, but they don’t have air conditioning, don’t eat out or just get pampered much, so we heard so many ‘thanks’. But not just for this but they really appreciated and learned from the teachings we gave them using the life of David as a model for Leadership. As usual we didn’t get thru everything taking time to answer questions, etc. so guess what will take place in the future! It is our joy doing these teachings and all because of you are faithful partners that we can bless them….so THANKS again from them and us to you!
We wrapped up our trip on Sunday with another church experienceJ Robert, Bev and Judy shared their hearts of love and thankfulness to everyone and then I shared the morning message. To wrap up our week of sharing and teaching I preached on having a God perspective on life based on two parables, the Parable of Money Usage in Luke 19 and the Parable of Talents in Matthew. As I always do I challenged them to use the gift(s) that God has given to each of them to there fullest and receive His rewards awaiting them in heaven. We all then laid hands on and prayed for them; first over those who did not know their gift yet to ask/learn/receive from Him what their gift is, then over those who knew their gift(s) to use them and give their lives away to others thru them.
What a time! We are already planning for our next trip and wish it could be sooner than later, but we thank God for allowing us to go and even more, in using us to love on these beautiful people. SEE PHOTOS BELOW
I have been going to Ghana for eight (8) years now, and this was Judy’s third trip. We are lovingly referred to as Uncle Scott and Aunt Judy, but ourselves feel honored to be there to teach, share and encourage the saint’s and the community around Faithway Christian Church.
As mentioned in our previous letter, we were joined on this trip by Robert and Beverly Brown from Tampa and we had a very busy 10 days of ministry (9 for them as they missed their connection from Atlanta to Accra Thursday nightL).
Saturday morning Judy and I kicked off things by attending the early morning church prayer meeting and then did a ‘general’ leadership teaching. We challenged the people to lead from where they lived based upon living out the Golden Rule in their daily lives. We explained being a leader ultimately meant being an ethical person that other people see and want to be like (follow) because of how you treat them and others.
On Sunday morning after praise, worship and dance, I preached in church on the value of a human life using the story of the demoniac out of Mark 4. As Jesus purposely delivered, saved, and restored this man I challenged the people to understand how far God goes for us and that their lives were worth giving away, just as Jesus ultimately sent out this ‘brand new man’ to go and share in his community and land what He had done for him. As a Christian God has given all of us the gift of life to share with others!
Sunday night was youth night! Ok, I am terrible at soccer (football there), but Robert and I went out with the kids and watched them kick the ball around us as if we weren’t there. After games I had the opportunity to share a message with them. I spoke to them about having a purpose in life and living with goals while following God with their whole heart. I expounded that only God was worth following and not to allow any man to take His place. As we prayed over them I could really sense that many of them understood and were making a decision to make this choice with their life.
On Monday Judy and Bev went to the school and helped Doris (Pastor Richards’s wife) and other ladies cook and serve lunch to the kids. This is a great time with the ladies who do this five days a week to serve the kids a good meal, which for many may be the only full meal of the day. Learning the Ghanian way and participating in this procedure is always a joy and experience for the ladies.
Robert and I went out with Pastor Richard and took out the Proclaimers I brought with us. A Proclaimer is a small solar powered light weight unit the size of a thick book that is loaded with the New Testament in a foreign language. I was surprised that they had it in TWE, but they did.
We took them out to two different sites to set up usage. The first was at a community water well where the owner was a member of the church named Kojo Larbi. This Proclaimer will be set up at 3am, which is the busiest time at the well when many come from their community homes to fill up their buckets with water for their daily usage. Many listened while filling their buckets and a few stopped outside the area and listened from the street! Kojo was very excited to be able to share the Word in his native language to many who don’t own Bible’s. Many of them are Muslims and this will be a great opportunity to share the Truth thru the spoken Word!
The next site was at a community shop owned by Ebenezer Armah. Here we encountered several locals gathered together and turned on the Proclaimer in the middle of them. One young man actually took out his cell phone and set it down by the Proclaimer to record the Word! They sat and listed to several chapters of the book of Luke and when Pastor Richard explained that they could come and hear on a regular basis they where excited. This will be another site where the Proclaimer will be utilized as an evangelistic tool for many who have not heard the Word because they cannot read and/or don’t have Bibles.
Monday night was men and women’s meetings. Robert and Bev had prepared teachings for these meetings using materials from Wild at Heart and Captivated. They both did an excellent job speaking and it created some excellent questions and conversations. At least with the men it was another opportunity to continue to help them see beyond their own cultural issues to living and responding to live God’s way, something Judy and I have been sharing with them for years.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the days ministering to the children at Faithway and a new school for us, St Pauls ran by Pastor Offei Lartey. This school is a full school up to senior high with around 500 children and we got to visit the kindergarten and first grade kids- 5 classrooms- where we handed prayed for them and handed out Christian wristbands/cross necklaces and candy. Next year we will set up to visit all the classrooms and get into the church to share too!
Tuesday night Judy and Bev met with a ladies group from God’s Way church. A few ladies had attended one of our earlier meetings and invited them to come and share with their ladies! It was another opportunity to expand our ministry and, needless to say, Judy and Bev loved the evening and opportunity!
Wednesday night we went to Trinity Assembly where I shared the word. Judy and I went there last year and fell in love with Pastors Edward and Alice! They have such sweet spirits and we feel honored to come and encourage them, even as they encourage us. I shared on worshipping in Spirit and Truth based upon the story of Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It was a challenge to live every day walking in constant worship thru the Holy Spirit and letting their lives and what happens on Sunday just be an overflow of that daily experience of His presence.
Thursday we made final preparations for the Leadership Seminar on Saturday as Pastor Richard had to get some work done on his car we then attended the weekly all church prayer time. Man can they pray and I commented to Pastor Richard afterwards that this was a gift of his, to bring in the presence of God thru their intercession.
Friday was our day off and we took Bev out to experience the Ghana shopping market…nothing like it and we never knew we were ‘papa’ and ‘mama’ to so many unknown people (vendors)J Robert and Bev then treated us and Richard and his family to a nice meal. Many thanks for their great big hearts to everyone!! This is always such a great treat for Richard, Doris and Twyla (their daughter).
Saturday was the Leadership Seminar and I need to tell you all a few things about this because it is because of you that things like this happen! We went ahead and paid for a nice conference room at the hotel and bought lunch (buffet) for all the participants as well as having morning coffee/tea, breakfast bars, and afternoon snacks and drinks. For us this would be no big deal, but they don’t have air conditioning, don’t eat out or just get pampered much, so we heard so many ‘thanks’. But not just for this but they really appreciated and learned from the teachings we gave them using the life of David as a model for Leadership. As usual we didn’t get thru everything taking time to answer questions, etc. so guess what will take place in the future! It is our joy doing these teachings and all because of you are faithful partners that we can bless them….so THANKS again from them and us to you!
We wrapped up our trip on Sunday with another church experienceJ Robert, Bev and Judy shared their hearts of love and thankfulness to everyone and then I shared the morning message. To wrap up our week of sharing and teaching I preached on having a God perspective on life based on two parables, the Parable of Money Usage in Luke 19 and the Parable of Talents in Matthew. As I always do I challenged them to use the gift(s) that God has given to each of them to there fullest and receive His rewards awaiting them in heaven. We all then laid hands on and prayed for them; first over those who did not know their gift yet to ask/learn/receive from Him what their gift is, then over those who knew their gift(s) to use them and give their lives away to others thru them.
What a time! We are already planning for our next trip and wish it could be sooner than later, but we thank God for allowing us to go and even more, in using us to love on these beautiful people. SEE PHOTOS BELOW
Tizimin, Mexico June 27-30, 2012
This was the second trip to Tizimin, Mexico this year and I had opportunity to share in several churches and address a group of about 30 Pastors and their wives.
When I arrived I joined a team from Celebration Church (Orlando) a satellite church from our old church in Tampa (The Crossing Church). They had been there a half a week already doing outreach to the local churches, children ministry, and visiting a different church each night. I had the privilege to share with them in their morning devotionals and get to know them. Each night we went to separate churches except for Friday night when a good part of the team went with me to where I spoke and did their children ministry with the kids of that church.
The churches I spoke in I had been to before. However, the first one had a new Pastor who had just been there about seven months. This was the church I spoke at a few years back when Pastor Bill and I were doing ministry and he just received word that day that his father has passed. I went that night alone and the Lord ministered powerfully to the youth of the church. This time however was different….
It started out with very few people there (not arriving on time is a cultural thing), but as the night went on more and more came. I delivered the work the Lord has given me and I could see it was connecting with them. At the end I called for people to come forward for prayer and a few came. Paul was the highlight though…he came up and said that he wanted to receive Christ as his savior. I prayed with him and then over him and a big smile came upon his face…a new brother; thank you Jesus!
Friday night was a bit different. This was the last church I had shared in when I was in Tizimin in January. This night a couple of the youth leaders (Manual and Samuel) who had put on the event in January were there and Samuel led worship with other youth from the church so it was quite upbeat and wonderful. As I delivered the message that night I felt the Holy Spirits anointing and when I asked for people to come forward for a prayer of release to ‘hear God’ most people came up and we had a great time of ministry.
Saturday the team from Orlando left early in the morning, so I spent the day with Moises, who is Pastor Bill’s right hand man in Tizimin, and Samuel (not the same person) who had been my interpreter the previous two nights. I just love these guys! Both are humble servants that exude the love of Christ with their lives. One of the blessings of going to other countries is hearing the remarkable stories of other people without much to begin with making the sacrifices to serve Christ. We hear stories of people on the news, but getting an opportunity to meet common everyday people who are doing this for the sake of others is priceless. Such are these two men and therefore so easy to say, ‘I love these guys!’ Next time I go to Tizimin I will go to Samuel’s town and do a meeting with the church he was started there, most of whom he has personally led to the Lord!
On Saturday night I spoke at a Pastor’s dinner to around 30 Pastor’s and their spouses. They wanted me to share about strengthening their marriages, so I talked about my recent ‘learning’, building trust by dealing with your core fears, and thru taking time for face to face communication to encourage and build one another up. I left them handout ‘tools’ to help them to do this and there was a very good response to the teaching. We will return and continue at a future date.
So another powerful trip orchestrated by the Lord and I left truly blessed by delivering His message to the saints, having a new brother in the Lord, and continuing to plant seed into the lives of these precious people. God is truly moving in their midst and we can't wait to return to be in the middle of what He is doing!
Pictures below 1) the team from Orlando 2) Samuel and Manual 3) my interpreter Samuel 4) worship at Iglesia de la profecia Filadelfia 5) Magdalena (runs area children's ministry) 6) setting up of Pastor's dinner
When I arrived I joined a team from Celebration Church (Orlando) a satellite church from our old church in Tampa (The Crossing Church). They had been there a half a week already doing outreach to the local churches, children ministry, and visiting a different church each night. I had the privilege to share with them in their morning devotionals and get to know them. Each night we went to separate churches except for Friday night when a good part of the team went with me to where I spoke and did their children ministry with the kids of that church.
The churches I spoke in I had been to before. However, the first one had a new Pastor who had just been there about seven months. This was the church I spoke at a few years back when Pastor Bill and I were doing ministry and he just received word that day that his father has passed. I went that night alone and the Lord ministered powerfully to the youth of the church. This time however was different….
It started out with very few people there (not arriving on time is a cultural thing), but as the night went on more and more came. I delivered the work the Lord has given me and I could see it was connecting with them. At the end I called for people to come forward for prayer and a few came. Paul was the highlight though…he came up and said that he wanted to receive Christ as his savior. I prayed with him and then over him and a big smile came upon his face…a new brother; thank you Jesus!
Friday night was a bit different. This was the last church I had shared in when I was in Tizimin in January. This night a couple of the youth leaders (Manual and Samuel) who had put on the event in January were there and Samuel led worship with other youth from the church so it was quite upbeat and wonderful. As I delivered the message that night I felt the Holy Spirits anointing and when I asked for people to come forward for a prayer of release to ‘hear God’ most people came up and we had a great time of ministry.
Saturday the team from Orlando left early in the morning, so I spent the day with Moises, who is Pastor Bill’s right hand man in Tizimin, and Samuel (not the same person) who had been my interpreter the previous two nights. I just love these guys! Both are humble servants that exude the love of Christ with their lives. One of the blessings of going to other countries is hearing the remarkable stories of other people without much to begin with making the sacrifices to serve Christ. We hear stories of people on the news, but getting an opportunity to meet common everyday people who are doing this for the sake of others is priceless. Such are these two men and therefore so easy to say, ‘I love these guys!’ Next time I go to Tizimin I will go to Samuel’s town and do a meeting with the church he was started there, most of whom he has personally led to the Lord!
On Saturday night I spoke at a Pastor’s dinner to around 30 Pastor’s and their spouses. They wanted me to share about strengthening their marriages, so I talked about my recent ‘learning’, building trust by dealing with your core fears, and thru taking time for face to face communication to encourage and build one another up. I left them handout ‘tools’ to help them to do this and there was a very good response to the teaching. We will return and continue at a future date.
So another powerful trip orchestrated by the Lord and I left truly blessed by delivering His message to the saints, having a new brother in the Lord, and continuing to plant seed into the lives of these precious people. God is truly moving in their midst and we can't wait to return to be in the middle of what He is doing!
Pictures below 1) the team from Orlando 2) Samuel and Manual 3) my interpreter Samuel 4) worship at Iglesia de la profecia Filadelfia 5) Magdalena (runs area children's ministry) 6) setting up of Pastor's dinner
Albania - October 2012
We have just returned from Albania having a remarkable time in the Lord! This was our second time in Tirane working with Pastor Altin and Deana Zefi. Altin pastor’s Tirane Evangelical Church and is the Albania Director of Campus Crusades for Christ, so we were honored to work with both.
TRIP REPORT
Relationship building
A great part of our ministry is helping others build healthy relationships not only in their personal lives, but also in the Lord as it begins here. Therefore, while here we had the honor of being in many homes and events where we were able to encourage and share into their lives.
Please understand that these are first generation Christians having only been out of Communism for 20 years. In fact most all of them are the age of our daughter or younger, so we are like spiritual parents to them. We have had many of them say how they have a special place in their heart for us. Well that just blows us away! But we believe beyond any doubt that God has placed us in the country and with these people for a time like this.
There is no doubt these people love Jesus and have an active desire to share His love with others. We had several opportunities to sit and talk with people about the goodness of Christ and encourage them in their walk and relationships…Kaplan, the local butcher who is a Muslim but open to hear about Christ having just survived a stroke…Elton, a college student and is the only person in his family who knows Christ. He had just returned from his hometown and had been out of fellowship and needed encouraged in his walk as he begins another year of college (he also cam to our marriage conference). Landi is a friend of Altin’s who needed encouraged in his marriage…we got an hour with him to do this and next visit have an invitation to dinner with him and his wife…the family of a young lady in the church whose rest of the family were still Muslims (middle picture above), building the relationship for a future invite to church.
We also had great time with several of the leading couples in the church to encourage and pray for them. They are such precious people pouring their lives out to reach the many Albanian’s who have not heard the gospel.
Work with Campus Crusades
This year we got several opportunities to work with the folks of this great organization. For those who are not familiar with them they target high school and college students to reach with the truth of Christ. At this time of the year the schools are just beginning so the outreach efforts were just kicking off.
I had the opportunity to speak to around 50 high school students in Tirane. They gave me the scripture to share, which was the parable of the sower. Using this parable as a backdrop I challenged them on how they lived their lives…to live according to Christian values, morals and principles instead of a tainted truth or outright lies. I used Lady Gaga as an example of someone who is ‘selling’ an ideal that sounds nice (believe me she is!), but is totally anti-God. Teenagers are teenagers, but I could tell they were listening intently and the leaders said they got the message.
Next we went to Shkoder in northeastern Albania. This city has several colleges and we attended the first meeting of the year with the staff leaders and team preparing to hit the campuses for the first time. We brought boxes of the new magazine they were using this year to hand out to get students (mainly freshmen) interested. I was asked to prepare a word of encouragement to kick off their year, which I did. However, when I sat down in the room with all of them the Lord dropped a different word for them in my heart. As I shared this word I could tell the Lord was ministering to many hearts…we saw tears welling up in some of the girls. Afterwards the leaders, Agustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj (picture above), shared how this word was exactly what was needed and how it touched everyone (oh, Gods word is always right on time!). Thank you Lord…we are so honored!
I then had the privilege to share in the kick off meeting for the leadership team in Tirane. That night I shared with this group out of Hebrews that we as Christians are ‘aliens’ and ‘strangers’ in this world. Not being ‘of this world’ any longer alleviates all fear to ‘be different’ as we go out and share the gospel with others. The pull and allure of the world is far less when we are comfortable being aliens of this world and at home in our spirits working for the Kingdom.
Finally, we had the opportunity to go with a Campus team to several colleges in Tirane and participate in their yearly outreach to reach the students at the beginning of the college year. We shared with many students using a very nice magazine full of articles on issues they could relate to. The team leaders would then get the students contact information to later meet with them and share Christ and invite them to a big event they will hold the end of the month. Last year they had 300-400 show up for the event and eventually had around 30 accept Christ.
The Church
We love working with Tirane Evangelical Church! Since last year the church has double in size and they moved into a larger facility. Being a country that is less than 1% Christian growth only happens through evangelistic work leading people to Christ. The people are so in love with Christ and great role models of people who share Christ with anyone and everyone!
We already feel part of the family, and get treated as such. I got to preach the first Sunday we were there and was asked to share out of Ephesians 5 on the ‘mystery’ of Christ and the church in regards to marriage…right up the old alley!! It would take another letter to write out the message, but I basically shared two points...1) marriage is about living out the gospel within it and serving one another, and 2) it is a myth to believe the romance and the power of (sorry) sex sustains a forever marriage…rather it takes a friendship. Anyway, it was a new concept to them and well received. Those who have been married for awhile thoroughly understoodJ
We participated in other church functions during the week, but the highlight was going out into one of the poor neighborhoods with Juli and Erjola to visit families and sign up their children to attend a 10 week VBS meeting on Sunday evenings. I must add at this point that due t the generosity of our supporters we brought with us all the arts and crafts and candy treats for this 10 week event. PLUS we gave the church enough to cover half the cost of the VBS. We praise God for His incredible gift! This VBS will culminate with a Christmas play which will bring in the parents and a great opportunity to share the gospel with them. These are Muslim, non-practicing Catholic or atheist families and as we sat in some homes they are very open to listen. Please pray for this time and for the grand event at Christmas….thanks.
The Marriage Conference
This was one of the main reasons we came. Our conference was held at a hotel as the church also used the time as yearly retreat like last year. We had around 35 participates with several couples being leaders at Campus Crusades too.
Judy and I taught on love and respect from Ephesians 5:33 Friday night and the first session on Saturday. Our feedback was tremendous as we shared that the massive difference between how men and women think, see, hear, and talk (men through blue, women through pink) is not only a God thing, but ok…the phrase ‘not wrong, just different’ resonated hope to both. We taught that women need love like men need respect and if each one gives the other what they need, regardless of what they are receiving, keeps each responsible for their own hearts an choices.
In the second session we taught From This Day Forward, from a series our Pastor shared earlier in the year. Our church had created t-shirts for the series with emblems to signify the five points…Seek God, Fight Fair, Have Fun, Stay Pure, Never Give Up…and gave us the ones left to take and give to our participants! (Thank you Life Church) Through this teaching we were able to bring home how a successful relationship starts with ones personal relationship with God and ends with it being hinged on a covenant, not how much one loves the other on any given day…and a lot in between.
It never ceases to amaze us at the response we get from those we go to serve. One young lady was almost in tears as she related to Judy and I of the special place she had in heart for us having just known us for such a short time…that we came and shared….man are we blessed!
There is so much more that happens on each trip that time doesn’t allow to write about. We come back believing the connection with Pastor Altin, the Church, and Campus Crusades is a God connection. We have already started discussions to take a team next summer to do an English camp with Campus Crusades.
As another year of trips comes to an end we thank God for His wonderful provisions to us through you, are family and friends. So thank you, thank you, and thank you!!
As we prepare to elect anther President, deal with our economy and now the effects of the super storm that just hit the east coast, we still hope for a steadier future. But our real hope will always and only be our hope in Christ! Sometimes it’s hard to think about eternity in the midst of hard earthly times, but without a doubt we are just passing through here. So our work will continue as long as there are lives in the balance and reaching out to them and teaching and encouraging the saints around the world to do such will remain our passion.
TRIP REPORT
Relationship building
A great part of our ministry is helping others build healthy relationships not only in their personal lives, but also in the Lord as it begins here. Therefore, while here we had the honor of being in many homes and events where we were able to encourage and share into their lives.
Please understand that these are first generation Christians having only been out of Communism for 20 years. In fact most all of them are the age of our daughter or younger, so we are like spiritual parents to them. We have had many of them say how they have a special place in their heart for us. Well that just blows us away! But we believe beyond any doubt that God has placed us in the country and with these people for a time like this.
There is no doubt these people love Jesus and have an active desire to share His love with others. We had several opportunities to sit and talk with people about the goodness of Christ and encourage them in their walk and relationships…Kaplan, the local butcher who is a Muslim but open to hear about Christ having just survived a stroke…Elton, a college student and is the only person in his family who knows Christ. He had just returned from his hometown and had been out of fellowship and needed encouraged in his walk as he begins another year of college (he also cam to our marriage conference). Landi is a friend of Altin’s who needed encouraged in his marriage…we got an hour with him to do this and next visit have an invitation to dinner with him and his wife…the family of a young lady in the church whose rest of the family were still Muslims (middle picture above), building the relationship for a future invite to church.
We also had great time with several of the leading couples in the church to encourage and pray for them. They are such precious people pouring their lives out to reach the many Albanian’s who have not heard the gospel.
Work with Campus Crusades
This year we got several opportunities to work with the folks of this great organization. For those who are not familiar with them they target high school and college students to reach with the truth of Christ. At this time of the year the schools are just beginning so the outreach efforts were just kicking off.
I had the opportunity to speak to around 50 high school students in Tirane. They gave me the scripture to share, which was the parable of the sower. Using this parable as a backdrop I challenged them on how they lived their lives…to live according to Christian values, morals and principles instead of a tainted truth or outright lies. I used Lady Gaga as an example of someone who is ‘selling’ an ideal that sounds nice (believe me she is!), but is totally anti-God. Teenagers are teenagers, but I could tell they were listening intently and the leaders said they got the message.
Next we went to Shkoder in northeastern Albania. This city has several colleges and we attended the first meeting of the year with the staff leaders and team preparing to hit the campuses for the first time. We brought boxes of the new magazine they were using this year to hand out to get students (mainly freshmen) interested. I was asked to prepare a word of encouragement to kick off their year, which I did. However, when I sat down in the room with all of them the Lord dropped a different word for them in my heart. As I shared this word I could tell the Lord was ministering to many hearts…we saw tears welling up in some of the girls. Afterwards the leaders, Agustin and Ervisa Bushgjokaj (picture above), shared how this word was exactly what was needed and how it touched everyone (oh, Gods word is always right on time!). Thank you Lord…we are so honored!
I then had the privilege to share in the kick off meeting for the leadership team in Tirane. That night I shared with this group out of Hebrews that we as Christians are ‘aliens’ and ‘strangers’ in this world. Not being ‘of this world’ any longer alleviates all fear to ‘be different’ as we go out and share the gospel with others. The pull and allure of the world is far less when we are comfortable being aliens of this world and at home in our spirits working for the Kingdom.
Finally, we had the opportunity to go with a Campus team to several colleges in Tirane and participate in their yearly outreach to reach the students at the beginning of the college year. We shared with many students using a very nice magazine full of articles on issues they could relate to. The team leaders would then get the students contact information to later meet with them and share Christ and invite them to a big event they will hold the end of the month. Last year they had 300-400 show up for the event and eventually had around 30 accept Christ.
The Church
We love working with Tirane Evangelical Church! Since last year the church has double in size and they moved into a larger facility. Being a country that is less than 1% Christian growth only happens through evangelistic work leading people to Christ. The people are so in love with Christ and great role models of people who share Christ with anyone and everyone!
We already feel part of the family, and get treated as such. I got to preach the first Sunday we were there and was asked to share out of Ephesians 5 on the ‘mystery’ of Christ and the church in regards to marriage…right up the old alley!! It would take another letter to write out the message, but I basically shared two points...1) marriage is about living out the gospel within it and serving one another, and 2) it is a myth to believe the romance and the power of (sorry) sex sustains a forever marriage…rather it takes a friendship. Anyway, it was a new concept to them and well received. Those who have been married for awhile thoroughly understoodJ
We participated in other church functions during the week, but the highlight was going out into one of the poor neighborhoods with Juli and Erjola to visit families and sign up their children to attend a 10 week VBS meeting on Sunday evenings. I must add at this point that due t the generosity of our supporters we brought with us all the arts and crafts and candy treats for this 10 week event. PLUS we gave the church enough to cover half the cost of the VBS. We praise God for His incredible gift! This VBS will culminate with a Christmas play which will bring in the parents and a great opportunity to share the gospel with them. These are Muslim, non-practicing Catholic or atheist families and as we sat in some homes they are very open to listen. Please pray for this time and for the grand event at Christmas….thanks.
The Marriage Conference
This was one of the main reasons we came. Our conference was held at a hotel as the church also used the time as yearly retreat like last year. We had around 35 participates with several couples being leaders at Campus Crusades too.
Judy and I taught on love and respect from Ephesians 5:33 Friday night and the first session on Saturday. Our feedback was tremendous as we shared that the massive difference between how men and women think, see, hear, and talk (men through blue, women through pink) is not only a God thing, but ok…the phrase ‘not wrong, just different’ resonated hope to both. We taught that women need love like men need respect and if each one gives the other what they need, regardless of what they are receiving, keeps each responsible for their own hearts an choices.
In the second session we taught From This Day Forward, from a series our Pastor shared earlier in the year. Our church had created t-shirts for the series with emblems to signify the five points…Seek God, Fight Fair, Have Fun, Stay Pure, Never Give Up…and gave us the ones left to take and give to our participants! (Thank you Life Church) Through this teaching we were able to bring home how a successful relationship starts with ones personal relationship with God and ends with it being hinged on a covenant, not how much one loves the other on any given day…and a lot in between.
It never ceases to amaze us at the response we get from those we go to serve. One young lady was almost in tears as she related to Judy and I of the special place she had in heart for us having just known us for such a short time…that we came and shared….man are we blessed!
There is so much more that happens on each trip that time doesn’t allow to write about. We come back believing the connection with Pastor Altin, the Church, and Campus Crusades is a God connection. We have already started discussions to take a team next summer to do an English camp with Campus Crusades.
As another year of trips comes to an end we thank God for His wonderful provisions to us through you, are family and friends. So thank you, thank you, and thank you!!
As we prepare to elect anther President, deal with our economy and now the effects of the super storm that just hit the east coast, we still hope for a steadier future. But our real hope will always and only be our hope in Christ! Sometimes it’s hard to think about eternity in the midst of hard earthly times, but without a doubt we are just passing through here. So our work will continue as long as there are lives in the balance and reaching out to them and teaching and encouraging the saints around the world to do such will remain our passion.
Looking Forward Ministries Trip Reports 2011
Ghana Marriage Conference 2011
In late February we spent two weeks in Ghana, Africa and as Pastor Richard Ntim would say, ‘it was a grand time’! This was my tenth and Judy’s second time in Ghana working with Faithway Christian Church. Needless to say we have a firm relationship, favor with them, and are considered part of their church family.
Our first few days in Ghana were spent preparing for the marriage conference. The conference theme was ‘love and respect’ out of Ephesians 5:33 and we took Love and Respect books to hand out to the participants. We had over 100 people attend and really felt they caught the message as our format was repeat, repeat, repeat!
This was our second marriage conference and we challenged not only the hearts of the Ghanian believers, but also their culture. Though we truly feel many changes need to be made here in our own country, there are still certain ways that seem to be acceptable in their culture that need attacked at the core! We taught the truth that male and female were equal in God’s eyes and yet He created us so different. However, to understand the opposite sex we must try to see and hear as the other does….not wrong, just different…a key to a working relationship.
Judy really felt that the ‘respect’ message was imperative for the women to understand. Part of the cultural ills is the way the women are treated by the men and the natural question comes up from the women ‘how to respect if they are being mistreated’. Though the men have the God mandate to love their wives as Christ loves the church, we made it very clear to both the men and women that each has the ultimate personal responsibility to God to do as He instructs in His Word regardless of the response (or lack thereof) of their spouse. As the Word says, ‘the truth shall set you free’, so our hope and prayers are that Father will use this message to change the hearts of these precious people and as a beginning that can spread! Pastor Richard plans on following up with his people to reinforce this message and to read some testimonies from the conference please vistit the next page.
Our first few days in Ghana were spent preparing for the marriage conference. The conference theme was ‘love and respect’ out of Ephesians 5:33 and we took Love and Respect books to hand out to the participants. We had over 100 people attend and really felt they caught the message as our format was repeat, repeat, repeat!
This was our second marriage conference and we challenged not only the hearts of the Ghanian believers, but also their culture. Though we truly feel many changes need to be made here in our own country, there are still certain ways that seem to be acceptable in their culture that need attacked at the core! We taught the truth that male and female were equal in God’s eyes and yet He created us so different. However, to understand the opposite sex we must try to see and hear as the other does….not wrong, just different…a key to a working relationship.
Judy really felt that the ‘respect’ message was imperative for the women to understand. Part of the cultural ills is the way the women are treated by the men and the natural question comes up from the women ‘how to respect if they are being mistreated’. Though the men have the God mandate to love their wives as Christ loves the church, we made it very clear to both the men and women that each has the ultimate personal responsibility to God to do as He instructs in His Word regardless of the response (or lack thereof) of their spouse. As the Word says, ‘the truth shall set you free’, so our hope and prayers are that Father will use this message to change the hearts of these precious people and as a beginning that can spread! Pastor Richard plans on following up with his people to reinforce this message and to read some testimonies from the conference please vistit the next page.
I had the opportunity to preach two Sundays at Faithway, once on faith and then being devoted to God, the church, and one another. I’ve spent years now helping these beautiful people understand that they are special to the Lord and it is not determined by what they have or don’t have, but only because of their relationship to Him! We have seen changes in their attitude towards life and themselves. I had the opportunity to sit in the homes of a few of the members and listen as they spoke of the difference God’s presence/relationship was making in their lives….some of them being in dire circumstances. I thank God for his love!
A new sharing opportunity in Ghana
We’ve been praying for the opportunity to expand our work in Ghana and God answered our prayers as we were invited to share at a church named Trinity Assemblies International! The Pastors and several members of the church attended the marriage seminar last year and this year and they embraced us with open hearts. We believe God will continue to open up new doors as go and share our lives. Judy shared in the weekly ladies meeting giving her testimony and teaching them a Jewish dance named Holy. They had a lovely time with this and in return taught Judy an upper region Ghanian dance which she too enjoyed learning. Part of the Ghanian culture is going to visit them in their homes. They are honored when you make an effort to come into their home and pray for them, but I always leave feeling like the honored one by the respect they show us. We visited one lady who had 15 children and had just lost one to an illness. This was her third child she had outlived, but she still praised God for life and His goodness. In a country where life expectancy is far less than ours they seem grateful for every day. Another lady we visited and prayed for had breast cancer. She did not want anyone to know about this as she feared people would not visit her shop to buy goods. It seems there is a misunderstanding about cancer and some believe it is something you can catch. Pastor Richard then set up a time for Judy to meet with her alone. As most of you know Judy is a cancer survivor and her natural compassion and understanding of what this lady is going through touched her heart. She has spent all her money for a few treatments, but now being broke she only has the Lord….ONLY, who else do we need, He is more than enough!!! We prayed in faith believing that God is our healer and He will be her daily bread during these times.
Feeding the children
While Pastor Richard and I did home visitations, Judy joined Doris (Richard’s wife) and a couple other ladies to help prepare food and feed the 150+ children at the school. She learned how to cook Ghanian style and was overjoyed to get to feed these children as for many of them this is the only real meal they get for the day. As you watch and learn how they cook and clean five days a week to feed these kids you see a labor of love to fulfill their vision of to give Christian education to the next generation of Ghanians! We later we able to purchase new silver spoons and bowls for the school as they were using and reusing plastic spoons and the bowls well, needed replaced.
We thank God for this wonderful opportunity to touch the lives and of these beautiful Ghanian people. As with most third world churches, Faithway has many needs. If you would like to help please visit the NEEDS tab for a list and how you can help. May God bless you as you give!
We thank God for this wonderful opportunity to touch the lives and of these beautiful Ghanian people. As with most third world churches, Faithway has many needs. If you would like to help please visit the NEEDS tab for a list and how you can help. May God bless you as you give!
Albania Relationship Conference 2011
Backpacks!
We started off our week with Tirana Evangelical Church by giving away about 65 backpacks loaded with school supplies we brought with us, thanks to the gracious donations of our supporters . These kids were from a poor area of the city and the church had partnered with the local Mayors office to bring in this group of families to receive the much needed supplies. The gospel was shared with them, we handed out the backpacks, and then a snack given to everyone. it is always a goal of ours to reach out to the local community in some way connecting Christ's love to the last, least and lost.
Later in the week we had the opportunity to visit several of their homes, take them much needed food, share the gospel one on one and pray for them. One family had a grandfather that was a Catholic priest when the communists took control. He had been arrested along with 28 others and was the last to be killed. However, to spare his life he agreed to go back to this village and annouce to everyone how good the communists where. He went back and did just the opposite, telling everyone to get out while they could. He then escaped to another country where is continued to serve as a priest and wrote a book. The interesting thing is that this man only compared himself to his grandfather and because he, in his own eyes, did not meausre up he really did not practice Christianity, only called himself a Catholic. As we shared about a Father he could know, that he did not have to be good enough to come to Him thru Christ, we could see the interest arise. Scoli invited them to church and they will follow up with them to try and get them plugged in to love on them and teach them the truth.
The next family were from a Muslim background. However, the children were all learning about Christ in school and the daughter told us she had even accepted Christ! As we prayed for the whole family we thanked God for what He was already doing and prayed His love being shown thru this (His) church would draw the others to Himself. The one observation we made was that every home we went into was very clean. Culturally Albanians are taught that no matter how much or little they have to take care of it...and they do.
We thank God for every opportunity to speak to and pray for every family...His kids and He loves them all!
Later in the week we had the opportunity to visit several of their homes, take them much needed food, share the gospel one on one and pray for them. One family had a grandfather that was a Catholic priest when the communists took control. He had been arrested along with 28 others and was the last to be killed. However, to spare his life he agreed to go back to this village and annouce to everyone how good the communists where. He went back and did just the opposite, telling everyone to get out while they could. He then escaped to another country where is continued to serve as a priest and wrote a book. The interesting thing is that this man only compared himself to his grandfather and because he, in his own eyes, did not meausre up he really did not practice Christianity, only called himself a Catholic. As we shared about a Father he could know, that he did not have to be good enough to come to Him thru Christ, we could see the interest arise. Scoli invited them to church and they will follow up with them to try and get them plugged in to love on them and teach them the truth.
The next family were from a Muslim background. However, the children were all learning about Christ in school and the daughter told us she had even accepted Christ! As we prayed for the whole family we thanked God for what He was already doing and prayed His love being shown thru this (His) church would draw the others to Himself. The one observation we made was that every home we went into was very clean. Culturally Albanians are taught that no matter how much or little they have to take care of it...and they do.
We thank God for every opportunity to speak to and pray for every family...His kids and He loves them all!
Building Relationships...
In picture from left to right - Sokol and Mirela, Scott and Eve (not in picure), Gjergji and Migena, Pastor Altin and Diana.
Part of every trip is building relationships in the church and community. The outreach to the poor was in cooperation with the local mayor and community services. How awesome that they see The Church as a means to help people and change lives...kinda sounds like our mandate from the Lord! We had the opportunity to be in the homes of several of the leaders of Tirana Evangelical Chuch and break bread with them. Though the church is new and small we found quality men and women from which to build. Each of them have a heart for the lost and were very open to us and what we brought to share.
We also had an opportunity to spend a day with a young couple in the church, Julian and Erjola.(picture below) This couple both had college degrees but had been unable to find work in Tirana. Therefore, they had gone to Italy to find work in a hotel and waiting tables. After being there for the summer they really felt the Lord told them to return and be an active part of the church. Trusting God they returned and are a great addition to the church. They continue to actively search for jobs, he has a law degree and she in English. As we prayed for them we beiive God will honor their faith and provide for them.
One afternoon Sokol took me to meet this boss, Mihal, and have a makioto (their national coffee drink...like very strong expresso) and share with him. This man owed a printing business and was using a printing machine that was at least 50-60 years old, and working perfectly. As i shared about the love of the Father and His desire to have a personal intimate relationship with him he said it had never head it put so simple and seemed excited. He was of Catholic background and Scoi had invited him to church many times, perhaps new interest will take him there.
Another afternoon Altin took me to meet an young man, Elton, who was in college and Altin had been sharing Christ with him. We of course met over coffee and as we talked it became apparent that the young man had asked Christ into his heart and been reading the Bible! We felt led to invite him to the conference and though it was last minute he said yes. We picked him up on the way and provided acommodations and he stayed the whole weekend.
In pictures below - Scott and Eve Kemp (CRU); Koli and Mirela (leaders); Gjergji and Migena (leaders); Julian and Erjola; Mihal and me
Part of every trip is building relationships in the church and community. The outreach to the poor was in cooperation with the local mayor and community services. How awesome that they see The Church as a means to help people and change lives...kinda sounds like our mandate from the Lord! We had the opportunity to be in the homes of several of the leaders of Tirana Evangelical Chuch and break bread with them. Though the church is new and small we found quality men and women from which to build. Each of them have a heart for the lost and were very open to us and what we brought to share.
We also had an opportunity to spend a day with a young couple in the church, Julian and Erjola.(picture below) This couple both had college degrees but had been unable to find work in Tirana. Therefore, they had gone to Italy to find work in a hotel and waiting tables. After being there for the summer they really felt the Lord told them to return and be an active part of the church. Trusting God they returned and are a great addition to the church. They continue to actively search for jobs, he has a law degree and she in English. As we prayed for them we beiive God will honor their faith and provide for them.
One afternoon Sokol took me to meet this boss, Mihal, and have a makioto (their national coffee drink...like very strong expresso) and share with him. This man owed a printing business and was using a printing machine that was at least 50-60 years old, and working perfectly. As i shared about the love of the Father and His desire to have a personal intimate relationship with him he said it had never head it put so simple and seemed excited. He was of Catholic background and Scoi had invited him to church many times, perhaps new interest will take him there.
Another afternoon Altin took me to meet an young man, Elton, who was in college and Altin had been sharing Christ with him. We of course met over coffee and as we talked it became apparent that the young man had asked Christ into his heart and been reading the Bible! We felt led to invite him to the conference and though it was last minute he said yes. We picked him up on the way and provided acommodations and he stayed the whole weekend.
In pictures below - Scott and Eve Kemp (CRU); Koli and Mirela (leaders); Gjergji and Migena (leaders); Julian and Erjola; Mihal and me
Tirana Evangelical Church
Was our host church with Pastor Altin and Diana Zefi (in picture). What a lovely couple with a heart to see a vibrant, active church in the community living out Christ's command to love and serve the lost! The church is just now 3 year old with about 40 members, but with a great leadership team (referred to above), and a great defined vision:
Worship thru helping others/poor
Worship thru evangelism
Worship thru growing themselves in Christ
they are growing thru new souls. As we met the people of the church they too all lived out the Great Commission actively sharing Christ with family, friends and stranger.
Pastor Altin is also the head of Campus Crusades for Christ (now CRU) in Albania. Therefore, we got to meet his staff and join them for their weekly team prayer/share meeting while we were there. We felt honored to be with a group of people dedicated to reaching the lost.We also had several couples from CRU attend our relationship conference and pray the things learned will filter down thru the rest of the staff as they apply principles to their own lives.
The pictures below - worship time; prayer time; me sharing in Sunday church
Worship thru helping others/poor
Worship thru evangelism
Worship thru growing themselves in Christ
they are growing thru new souls. As we met the people of the church they too all lived out the Great Commission actively sharing Christ with family, friends and stranger.
Pastor Altin is also the head of Campus Crusades for Christ (now CRU) in Albania. Therefore, we got to meet his staff and join them for their weekly team prayer/share meeting while we were there. We felt honored to be with a group of people dedicated to reaching the lost.We also had several couples from CRU attend our relationship conference and pray the things learned will filter down thru the rest of the staff as they apply principles to their own lives.
The pictures below - worship time; prayer time; me sharing in Sunday church
Baptisms...
During the relationship conference two young ladies shared their amazing teatimonties. In Albania only about 1% of the population are professing Christians! These two had incredible stories of how much Christ meant in their lives. Esmeralda (in the picture) became and Christian but before she had he opportuntiy to share the gospel with her father he passed away. This has sparked a fire within her to share Christ with everyone she knows and nows holds weekly Bible studies in her home leading several to Christ.
The other young lady spoke of the despair as a young person she felt inside until she accepted Christ. I realized listening to her that these people were living times like the book of Acts. These were first generation Christians as Communism has only been gone for 20 years! There is nobody in the church out of their 30's, so we really felt blessed to plant seeds of hope in their lives.
The other young lady spoke of the despair as a young person she felt inside until she accepted Christ. I realized listening to her that these people were living times like the book of Acts. These were first generation Christians as Communism has only been gone for 20 years! There is nobody in the church out of their 30's, so we really felt blessed to plant seeds of hope in their lives.
The Relationship Conference
This was one of our best conferences! It was held in a hotel and was attended by Tirana Evangelical Church, a Menonite church from Lezhe, and some couples from the Albania CRU office. Each session buit upon another and from the multitude of positive, thankful comments we believe lives, relationships, and marriages were changed. The Pastors said the people had never had teaching iike ours before, so we of course thank God so much for using us to share about who He is, how much He desires intimacy with us, and what He really thinks about us.
Our message doesn't change no matter where we go. It is a message we have been taught, have applied, and constantly grow in thru practice and learning. For these first generation believers it was foundational and one we can continue to build upon in the future.
One afternoon we got to split them up; Judy with the ladies and me with the men. I'm sure Judy's time was a bit more 'lively', but we both delivered what we believe the Lord had for them. These times always seem to drive home the fact the each of them have responsibilities in God's plan for relationships to work as He created them to be.
We started each morning with early prayer, got to worship with them, hear great testimonies, break bread, have a night of games, and had some great conversations. God always does amazing things thru these conferences, He did so again. We plan on returning next year, Lord willing, to continue His story with them and us.
Pictures below - worship time; the attendees, Pastor from Lezhe; solving a conflict; receiving prayer; Judy with some of the ladies.
Our message doesn't change no matter where we go. It is a message we have been taught, have applied, and constantly grow in thru practice and learning. For these first generation believers it was foundational and one we can continue to build upon in the future.
One afternoon we got to split them up; Judy with the ladies and me with the men. I'm sure Judy's time was a bit more 'lively', but we both delivered what we believe the Lord had for them. These times always seem to drive home the fact the each of them have responsibilities in God's plan for relationships to work as He created them to be.
We started each morning with early prayer, got to worship with them, hear great testimonies, break bread, have a night of games, and had some great conversations. God always does amazing things thru these conferences, He did so again. We plan on returning next year, Lord willing, to continue His story with them and us.
Pictures below - worship time; the attendees, Pastor from Lezhe; solving a conflict; receiving prayer; Judy with some of the ladies.
