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Festival Ends-Follow Up Begins

May 2, 2009 in Missions with 0 Comments

The Miracles of Love Festival crew is back in Sweden and America now. They did an outstanding job and worked hard the whole time they were in Khon Kaen. The hit the ground running and didn’t let the jet lag, weird food, extreme heat, and long hard days stop them. Each day the teams split up into about five groups and did outreaches at least two times a day all over the city and campus. Each evening they hosted the Festival outreach and spent time with the friends they had met earlier that day. Many Thai people hard the Gospel for the first time and many were healed, saved, and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Johannes Amritzer and his team did a great job communicating the Gospel each night with passion, creativity, and power

A Look Into the Battle for an Isaan Soul

April 29, 2009 in Missions, Thailand with 4 Comments

I recently read this article by a well known worker in the Northeast of Thailand named Paul DeNeui and I wanted to share it with you all. It gives a great insight into the Isaan people of Northeast Thailand and the supernatural struggles they face in coming to faith in Jesus. Take a little time to read it and enter their world with me.

Come Join the Dance by Paul DeNeui

She wasn’t someone you would notice Like so many other northeastern Thai women she wore the short haircut and sarong garments of the elderly. Usually she talked with a mouthful of betel nut which made it difficult to understand her speech. But she loved Jesus. She had a beautiful smile. She longed for worship. And she loved to dance. Continue Reading…

Northeast Thailand: Huge Upcoming Outreach/Please Pray

April 11, 2009 in Missions with 4 Comments

whenandwere_051 We are gearing up for a huge upcoming outreach week here in Khon Kaen where we live and work! We need your prayers now! We have an unprecedented opportunity to reach the large Khon Kaen University as well as other parts of Khon Kaen and surrounding areas.

In just over a week, 120 volunteers are coming in from Sweden, America, and Thailand! These motivated young people will be sent out all over the city of Khon Kaen, the University area, and five surrounding villages. Last report, we have 8 other local churches involved as well.

During the day teams will be doing outreaches all week at various locations Continue Reading…

Seeing From Afar, Knowing Up Close

April 8, 2009 in Missions with 2 Comments

earth_2 I like to play on Google Earth sometimes. It’s fun to be able to see the globe from space, to spin it around like a toy, and turn it from America to Asia in an instant. I like to use it to get a lay of the land from high above then gradually zoom into certain parts of the world. I pick a nation, like Thailand, and then eventually a city, and then I zoom into the center of town and began to notice the patterns of the landscape, the colors, the structures, and the roads. I can even get a pretty good view of streets and houses from above, but it is still always limiting. I can never see people’ faces and I certainly can never know what’s in their heart and mind.

It’s not until I am actually on the streets that I begin to experience the life of the city that the map represents. Continue Reading…

The Time Has Come…

February 27, 2009 in Missions with 2 Comments

Receiving Prayer During my Ordination

The time has come. I have waited for this moment in some form or fashion for the last 13 years. I was thinking back the other day to a time in 1996 when I was just coming to fully surrender my life to God. I had been confronted by the claims of Jesus Christ on my life and the reality of what God’s Word really had to say about the way He expected me to live.

I knew that this “decision” to follow Jesus would be different than any one I had ever made previously. I knew there was a line and I was faced with the decision of whether or not I was going to cross it. I knew that if I did that my life would be radically different.

It wasn’t about whether or not I felt it was the right thing to so, it was more about…now I know this is the right thing to do! I had to decide whether I would stick my head in the sand and pretend like I don’t know it is or will I give up everything-what I think, what I want, what I feel, to embrace his will for my life.

Jesus has paid it all for me and now what would I do for him? It was a question that confronted my selfish self-centered life. I was driving down Hwy 98 in Pensacola when I made that choice. I remember knowing that I had crossed the line in my heart. I knew my life would take a huge turn, but I didn’t know what that would look like at the time. I simply knew that Jesus was worth my life…all that I was, all that I had, and all that I could give. Continue Reading…

Save $: Do It Yourself Passport and Visa Photos

February 6, 2009 in Missions with 7 Comments

I almost flipped my lid when I saw that I was going to have to pay $7.99 a pop just to get four 2×2 visa photos. So, I thought to myself, there has to be another way for me to do this. With a little searching around I found out there was!

I paid .19 cents per 4×6 sheet at Walmart.com’s one hour photo and instead of two photos, I received 5 passport photos for that price! I saved over $31.00 doing it myself.

Want to know how I did it? It’s pretty simple: Continue Reading…

What My Obedience To God Costs Other People

January 20, 2009 in Missions with 0 Comments

As you may imagine my mind has been in many different places lately since we returned from our trip. I am probably still digesting everything we saw and heard as we traveled through Florida, Louisiana, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Jersey, and North Carolina. I have also just recently finished up six college courses and have been steadily working on things pertaining to our upcoming move to Thailand. We only have six weeks until we leave the US and there is still much to be done! I appreciate your prayers and support for our family.

One of the other things that I’ve been thinking about is how our decision to do this type of work for God has affected other people in our lives; from friends, to relatives,and even to people we meet with for the first time and share our story with. Continue Reading…

Missions & The Power of One Person

November 25, 2008 in Buddhism, Missions with 1 Comment

I recently read the story of a young girl who led a man to Jesus in Korea.

She prayed diligently and would not be deterred by this man’s anger and bitterness. She wept over his soul in secret and spoke to him openly about Jesus Christ.

Eventually the one she was praying for was radically saved and has touched the lives of millions all over the world.

The young Buddhist man who was saved that day was Dr. David Yonggi Cho.

He now pastors the single largest Christian congregation in the world. It’s membership stands at nearly 1 million people. He has influenced many more millions for the Gospel over his more than 50 years of ministry

The story of this young girl named speaks to me on so many levels….faithfulness, eternal mindedness, perserverance, brokeness, boldness, true love, and more.

Continue Reading…

Saying Goodbye To Mexico

November 20, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

In just a couple of days, my family and I will be back on a plane headed to Louisiana. We have had a rich time here in Mexico and have learned so much that I know we will carry with us for the rest of our careers as missionaries. I would like to thank our home church, Freedom House, especially Pastors Troy and Penny Maxwell for making this trip happen for us. Thank you to Victory World Church in Atlanta, Pastors Dennis and Colleen Rouse for having the vision for this type of training program and for all they do for world missions. Thank you to Andrew and Tiffany Bucksot for the plodding that they have done over the last 13 years here in Mexico that has laid the foundation for a program like this. Lastly, but most of all, thank you to Mike and Debra Turner who have left a large base project in Nicaragua in order to come and pour their lives and experience into us over these last 10 weeks. Thank you, Thank you, Thank You!

It has been said that people teach what they know, but they reproduce who they are. We are thankful that a little bit of all of you is being reproduced in us.

Praying For Missionaries

November 18, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

My wife started a blog dedicated to people who are dedicated to praying for missionaries, specifically us! But if you are wondering what missionaries may need prayer for, you should check out what she has compiled so far. Very cool stuff and insightful. See the example below:

CLICK HERE>

“THE MISSIONARY FACES MANY FRUSTRATIONS
There is much to discourage and frustrate the missionary, such as: Continue Reading…

Mexico Outreach Pics

November 11, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will try and catch up a little by just posting a few from a recent outreach in the State of Guerro, Mexico.

Preaching at Centro Christiano in Cuautla, Mexico

November 11, 2008 in Missions with 3 Comments

I had a great time preaching two services at Centro Cristiano in the city of Cuautla, Mexico this past Sunday. The church is only a few years old, but has grown to over 600 people. Many of them are young adults and God is moving in their lives and changing their hearts. We spent a couple days before Sunday painting some of their new class rooms which turned out to be a huge blessing for them.

At the end of both services, their were many new decisions for Jesus and even more rededications. Pastor Felipe was very pleased with the outcome of the day and was so grateful that we were able to bring our group to his church. He has served the Lord for many years both in the mountains among the native tribes and in the city working with street children. He has two sons my age who also pastor with him.

He and I spent time between each service talking about all of the great things God had done to make Centro Christiano Cuautla possible. He had some great stories! Since he knew that I would be going to Thailand to plant churches, he decided to give me a gift from his heart. From his shelf, he grabbed two unique rocks from the mountain where he had planted 200 cell groups/ “churches.” He wanted me to remember him and to remember our connection in church planting. I once again remembered that God is advancing His kingdom all over the world through people just like Pastor Felipe, unknown to man, but known to God! What a blessing to be able to preach here. Thanks FHC for letting me be here in this season of life. You have come with us!

13 Year Old Girl Stoned To Death In Somalia

November 2, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Just ran across this article about a 13 year old girl in Somalia who was just recently stoned to death for “adultery.” The reality is that she was raped by three grown men, but I assume that Islamic militants convinced the 1000 people who watched her execution that she brought it upon herself, thereby becoming an adulteress.

Every time I read articles like this, and I have casually gathered many over the last two years, it solidifies my world view that that the “faith” involved here is a complete and utter manifestation of wickedness. When it manifests throughout the world, it is violent to the core.

It seems to me that if a country like Somalia claims Islam (it is 99.95% Muslim), then whatever comes out of that country would represent, at least in some small measure, the faith that it claims. Somalia is known as the most “lawless country of the world.” With horrible events like this happening, then it’s obvious to me that it continues to do itself, and the Islamic “religion”, no favors in the watching eyes of the world.

I leave those reading this with a quote from the book of James, “I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and tremble.”

Read the full article HERE. and HERE. I chose both Fox News and Aljazeera for Fair and Balanced Reporting, so I don’t have to hear from the Muslims who may dimiss this story as mere Western propaganda against Islam.

For All the Christians: Pray for Somalia that it would no longer be known as a pit of hell and the “most lawless country on Earth” as the Gospel of the Prince of Peace takes hold and prospers there. Pray for the Christians that have been driven underground by this type of violence that they would shine as lights in this darkness as they hold out the Word of Life for the people of their country.

Places Where Christians Need To Be: DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo

October 23, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

As many of you faithful readers know, I will post links to certain stories from time to time that keep the needs of the world in the forefront of our minds. The name of this blog is “Mission Minded”, so my goal is to create awareness, discussion, and action.

In my own life, I find it very easy to get comfortable in my perception of life and insulate myself from the things that show the world for what it really is. I believe that once our minds are awakened, we will find a way to act.

The writer of this article I ran across says, ”

“What’s going on in the Congo is so extreme and so out of control,” she says, “that if we don’t intervene on behalf of women there, it will spread and something much more horrible will happen. You cannot let something that inhuman go on.” FUll ARTICLE HERE

Pray for the women of the DRC and for God to raise up humble, broken, and compassionate workers among them to bring healing and life. Pray for the young men of the country to rise against the tide of evil and begin a new generation of Godliness and holiness that will change the course of their nation. With God, nothing is impossible.

Taliban kill 34 yr old Christian Aid Worker in Afghanistan

October 20, 2008 in Missions with 0 Comments

A 34 year old woman who was working with the handicapped of Kabul was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan recently. Here is yet another story of Islamic militants targeting Christian workers who are trying to help others in the name of Christ. Folks, this kind of stuff happens often though it is barely a blip on the media screen of the world.

Full story here.

Back From Nicaragua

October 13, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Our TACA airline flight from Managua landed briefly in San Salvador then we took off again for Mexico City. After a bus ride to Temixco, we landed back at the base around 2am. Nicaragua was a great trip. This past week was a practicum on how to lead an effective short term missions trip. We had people from various parts of the country join us and take part in some really great ministry in a very needy part of the world.

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, second only to Haiti. Continue Reading…

Nicaragua: Ministry in the heart of Sandinista territory

October 6, 2008 in Missions with 0 Comments

Today our team was working in various medical, dental, and construction projects at the base in Sandino Nicaragua just outside of Managua the capital city. This is the city named after Augusto Sandino who lead a rebellion against the US occupation of Nicaragua at the early part of the 20th century and who was later assasinated. He is also the ideological leader of the well known “Sandinista” movement that is now led by the country’s former and now current President Daniel Ortega. You may remember this movement from the days of the “Iran Contra affair” with Oliver North and then President Ronald Reagan. The US was selling arms to Iran at the time and funneling money to support the “contra” movement in Nicaragua against the Sandinistas. The city of Sandino stands for the Sandinista movement.

It is in this city, where they fly the “Sandinista” flag at the entrance to the city where our team is working. Mike T. told us the story of how he came to this location and the trials that they have had to endure to hold on to this property. Truly amazing. Many years ago when they first acquired the land, Mike and his interpretor were standing at the road surveying the land when the interpretor began asking, “Why are you here? Do you know where you are? Sandino? Sandinista? You know Iran-Contra affair! Continue Reading…

Traveling to Managua Nicaragua

October 4, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

Just made it to Managua Nicaragua. Who would have thought it would take this log to get here from Mexico City? We drove 2 hours to Mexico City from Cuernavaca then hopped a flight from Mexico City to Guatemala on to El Salvador then finally made it in to Managua. Jacqueline is with our two boys back at the base and she is also keeping two of the team members children while we are here. She has a Mexican helper named Sarai and the children’s mother will be back in a couple of days.

Got to go for now, but just wanted to update you all and have you praying. We are getting ready to do some medical and dental clinics along with a construction project over the next couple of days. Our Mexico team is helping to facilitate a short term group coming from Atlanta. We will learn the ins and outs of leading a good short term trip. Looks like it’s going to be a good time. Send Jacqueline some hellos and blessings on her blog: http://jacquelinelambert.blogspot.com. Until next time, grace and peace!

Missions: Deploying the Vision

September 30, 2008 in Development, Missions with 1 Comment

Today we began week three of our missions training discussing “deployment.”

This tool/process will help us work through complex tasks and multi-faceted vision by determining what needs to be done, who needs to do it, when it needs to be done, where it will be done, how we will do it, as determined by whom.

There are many Spirit-filled organizations/missionaries who have great visions, but they are at best woefully inadequate in this area of deployment.

Anything we do in ministry begins first as a vision.

Deployment is all about getting the abstract vision into concrete end results while not only surviving the process, but thriving through it. We hear of ministry ideas all the time that don’t pan out. What went wrong? Continue Reading…

Heavy Persecution of Christians Orissa India

September 28, 2008 in Missions with 1 Comment

I just received this update from veteran missionary Rick Zachary:

“The violence is coordinated and vicious. 300 Villages have been attacked, over 4,000 homes destroyed, over 50,000 people displaced, more than12,000 in government refugee camps and over 1,000 more in private camps. Five people are still missing and 45 confirmed dead. If this were a natural disaster such as a tsunami or earthquake, the international press would publish front page reports. The Persecution of India continues to be ignored. Continue Reading…

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