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Guatemala Countdown- Hours Remaining

April 1, 2007 in Missions with 0 Comments

Well folks, it’s been crazy the last day or so, but we finally have all 400+ shoes packed and ready to go. 100+ are already in Guate. Much thanks to all of the team that made this packing “party” happen. Megan Smith is my hero of the day. She is the shoe queen. Much thanks also to the Ziner family. 6 of them will be on the trip and they have tirelessly opened their home to the team. Great job helping out girls. Megan, Aimee, JP, Olivia, Charyl, Erin, and Daniel you are the greatest shoe packers this side of the Mississippi. Well boys and girls 3:30 am will come TOO soon. We will talk with you all again when we land in the largest city in Central America. Pastors Troy and Penny, we will see you Monday! Please keep us in your prayers all this week. We need your help!

JL

48 Hour Countdown to Guatemala

March 30, 2007 in Missions with 2 Comments

Well the moment is now here people. We have been preparing as a team for months and now we are ready to ship out…all 28 of us…Moms, Dads, Kids, Teachers, Preachers, Businessmen, College Students, first time explorers and old pros. What a crew!
On Sunday morning at 0 dark thirty we will be hitting the airport with massive amounts of luggage, 500 pairs of shoes for the kids, and a boat load of smiles to start the mission that God has given us.

Our hosts, mi hermano, Jose Armas, and his team at Hope for Guatemala have been losing sleep in anticipation of our visit and we will all be glad when we are finally together. Much thanks to all of you who have supported the team with your prayers, finances, and encouragement!
Once we are on the ground, we will be helping to feed and minister to over 150 kids a day, we are also holding a three day blowout soccer camp for the local teens, painting Bible verses and cartoon characters on the walls of a local elemetary school (yes a public school…this aint America- we can actually do this without being sued), preaching at local churches, ministering house to house in the “worse part of Guatemala City” and topping it all off with an all day crazy big festival called the “Hope Festival” right smack dab in the middle of town. There will be free food, free medical clinics, the shoes for the kids thanks to our partnership with Samaritan’s Feet, Spanish singers and bands, inflatables, and of course, the Good News of Jesus Christ covering everything! At the end of the night, I will give the message of salvation to the people of Zone 18 as my team ministers in the crowd.
Each day I am going to attempt to blog our journey so that you can come along for the ride and keep us in prayer. Are you ready? Then let’s do this! Let the countdown begin!

JL

Speaking of Africa: Back to Reality

March 17, 2007 in Missions with 0 Comments

This world truly is a crazy place. In one part you have Disney World and all of its pleasure, fun, and entertainment, and in another part you have Sudan with it’s genocide, suffering, and pain.
What extremes!
It is a healthy thing for us as Christians to keep this reality before our eyes and to realize that we are not on this earth only for our pleasure, but to know and act upon the fact that we are “blessed to be a blessing” and with “great power comes great responsibility.”
If you haven’t heard of Darfur, Sudan and the genocide, take some time to visit http://www.savedarfur.org inform yourself, pray, and take action! It’s the least we can do.
JL

Top 50 Most Persecuted

February 16, 2007 in Missions with 0 Comments

Visit Open Doors to see the top 50 Countries where Christians are still persecuted in the world today.

Pray for the Persecuted Church.

  • 1. Pray that centuries old demonic strongholds would crumble by the power of God
  • 2. Pray that believers in these countries would be bold witnesses for Jesus.
  • 3. Pray that God would comfort those families who have lost loved ones to persecution
  • 4. Pray for key leaders in each countries to have dreams and visions of Jesus and be converted.
  • 5. Pray that unjust laws would be overturned and there would be freedom of religion in these nations.
  • 6. Pray that God would be move in the hearts of the young people of these nations and multitudes would turn to Jesus.
  • 7. Pray for ministers of the Gospel working in these countries that God would keep them safe and give them success.

Missional: From Beggar to Ambassador

February 14, 2007 in Missions with 1 Comment

Before we came to be known by Jesus Christ, we were people considered by God “naked, poor, wretched, miserable, and blind.” (See Rev 3:17). Who me? Yes you! And me!

As human beings, it is easy for us to have a high estimation of ourselves apart from God, but who are we comparing ourselves to?

Each other?

What would happen if all of our lives, even the secret parts, were laid bare for the world to see? Would everything be as noble and pure as we made them out to be? We would see that we desperately need a Savior.

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, we become new creations. All of the old things have passed away. We are no longer called beggars, but saints of God. Most Christians know this truth. But even beyond that, we are called to something much higher than many of us realize.

We are called to be ambassadors!

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:17-20)

We went from being the lowest of the low to being called to speak for God! Who is sufficient for such things?…speaking on God’s behalf!

But what does he want us to say? What does He want us to emphasize?

Politics?

Current Events?

Culture?

His message is one of reconciliation, one of people moving from being an enemy of God to peace with Him because Jesus, the Son, paid the price for us to be free. If you are a Christian, someone took the time to plead with you…to pray and then act. Now God is seeking to plead through you to the people around you. He literally begs through us.

‘See what has been done for you! See the price that has been paid for you! You will only find true life when you lose your old life and find life that Christ purchased for you. An abundant life free from the penalties of disobeying God, a life full of peace and satisfaction despite your circumstances, and the freedom to be who your Creator truly created you to be.’

We, the former beggars, have now been called to represent this message.

  • To go to people as ambassadors and implore for them to be reconciled to God on Christ’s behalf.
  • To not be ashamed of this message, but to speak as though we know we have been called to represent greatest of all kingdoms and governments.
  • To live of life of worthy of nobility and honor.
  • To realize that our calling is higher than any of us could fathom.

Nothing in our old way of life can compare to this calling. Nothing we left behind is worth going back to.

Will we take up the challenge and go from being beggars to ambassadors, to live the “missional life?”  Will we live our life “on mission with God?”

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