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When God calls us, he calls us out of safety, security and stability. As we step out in faith to do what he has called us to do, we will always find that he is all we need. God has given us so many friends and family who have encouraged us in our journey! We wanted to recount this story for those who are interested as well as to thank those who ministered to our needs in such a powerful way. In route back to Texas, our transmission began to slip. Knowing that this was a potentially serious issue, we decided to change our route and stop in Demming, New Mexico. If you haven't been to Demming, it is beautiful, but remote. The following morning, we discovered that the truck transmission needed major repairs that we could not afford. The only thing we could do was pray...so we did. Before we had time to ponder what employment opportunities in Demming may afford us a new transmission, the Lord had begun to work. The same day we received a quote for the repairs, we decided to attend a Bible study at the RV park where we were staying. The small group of participants were excited to get to know us and hear about our calling to missions and hear stories about missionary life overseas. We were encouraged that night to be surrounded by God's people, but continued to wonder if we would be living in Demming for several months. The next morning, I hitched a ride back into town to check on the truck. But before we left the RV park, I was ushered into the park's office where I was handed an envelope full of money. God had answered our prayers! Several individuals in the park heard about our situation and calling and wanted to help. Through the sweet people at that RV park, along with others, the cost of the transmission repairs were completely covered within 24 hours! On top of that, the park owners would not let us pay for our lodging! This is just one way God has begun to provide for and confirm his leading on our life. THANK YOU LORD! Thank you all who are choosing to join us!   Are we the only ones? Planting International Churches is not common. While most mission agencies focus on specific geographical areas, people groups, needs, etc., the international church plant sees the transient experience as fertile soil for the Gospel to take root and flourish into a transformed community. Where the discouragement of isolation and the realities of sin brought only struggle and chaos to the immigrant, instead, they find hope, peace and community in a church that cared to share with them the transforming power of the Gospel.
Jeff Christopherson has been teaching me about church planting through his book, Kingdom First. Although written for church planting in North America, the idea of God's Kingdom reigning over every place and people remains true. Deep into the book, I was profoundly encouraged to come across this paragraph where Jeff is recognizing the needs of multiple nationalities living in neighborhoods that are no longer homogenous. The world is coming to the cities of North America at an unprecedented rate. Communities that have been historically homogenous are now a mosaic of cultures and nationalities. But coming with this immigration is often a deep and overwhelming sense of disappointment. The dream of a new life is often replaced with the cold reality of repeating a similar life to the one they left, but this time they are living it all alone. Transplanted into a new context, often with out any familial ties or cultural skill, immigrants are forced to navigate a plan of survival alone and unaided. Disappointed and lonely, hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing tremendous loss associated with relocating and would be extremely receptive to a relationship with you and your new church. By ministering to internationals, you fulfill a biblical mandate, you have the joy of meeting a great need, you discover an audience often ready for the gospel, you plant a church that reflects the multicultural reality of heaven, and you position your new church in a way that is attractive to other Kingdom seekers. Jeff Christopherson, Kingdom First, p. 172. Thank you Jeff for articulating it so well! This is the heart-beat of our calling. Although we are called to cities abroad that are facing massive movements of peoples through their city limits, we recognize the desperate need for North American churches to WAKE UP to the realities of their neighborhoods and begin thinking about how to engage the world just outside of their church walls. If we can be a resource of encouragement to the pastor or layman, we want to urge you to carry the Gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation across your street. One day, that neighbor from a different corner of the earth may stand next to you before the throne in eternal worship of our great God. |
HollandsWe are transient people who find our home in Christ. We write about living overseas, doing ministry with family, traveling, missions, schooling, favorite books, and why we are here on this earth. Archives
March 2020
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