Pray for Mission Ministry Short Term Trips

Acts 1:8-UBC Sends Local and Global-Philemon 6

 Please be in prayer for these 2 teams in preparation for their upcoming trips.

 Kenya Team: Jim Korn, Jerry Rebert, Dennis Unglesbee and Jay Bubel

April 1-12 

• 4 Day Pastor Conference Co-teaching many of the same pastors as last year with the Eleventh Hour Ministry
• Attending Easter Service in Nairobi at our supported pastor evangelist’s church
• 2 day leadership training with Eleventh Hour Ministry

Pray for the pastors attending the conference from all over NE Kenya who are reaching the least reached and unreached. 

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” – Psalm 46:10

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,” Philippians 1:29

Tohono O ‘odham Team: Denise Velte, Sheila Ramsey and Dana Weaver

These three ladies were invited back to serve and encourage Disciple-maker Sherrie Dodson April 27-May 2

• Weekend-sharing life with Sherrie-rekindling relationships built with the women they met last year.  Projects for children.
• 2 days with Sherrie on the job as counselor at the tribe’s Behavioral Health Department
• Wrap up time planning how UBC can serve and encourage Sherrie, the TO Nation and the community of Sells in the future.

 ”The vision is that we will carry the Good News – the Gospel – the “Ske:g Ha’icu A:gidag” (the O’odham phrase for Good News) from village to village (Luke 9:6) to prepare a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17) all in response to the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).”

Are what we consider blessings in America actually from God or the wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing?

Have you noticed that a common reaction to a short-term mission trip is for the participants to express something like, “I now have more of an appreciation for what God has given me.” This is expressed in many different ways, but the essence is the same. We come away being especially aware, appreciative, and thankful for all the “blessings” that God has given us. Normally we are referring to things like cars, washing machines, dryers, easy access to water and electricity, a nice home, bountiful food, and so on. As time goes on and I consider the depths of God, His activity in our lives, and the condition of the world—I find myself questioning this sentiment more and more. Are what we consider blessings in America actually from God or the wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing?

The other day I saw a post on Facebook from someone currently on a short-term mission trip. He was relating a sad story about some boys he encountered and posed this question to those following him back home: “the question is not why God allows suffering but rather the question is why God has blessed Americans with all we have and we spend it on candy corn and ignore those who suffer?” Now that is a good question, but I wonder if the presupposition is all wrong. What if all of us have a faulty presupposition? What if all of our “blessings” aren’t really from God? If you have traveled internationally and spent significant time with followers of Jesus from impoverished countries, think back on your experiences with them. Now who seems like the blessed one? That is always a dilemma that comes up for short-term missionaries. We recognize impoverished believers have a joy and contentment beyond our own, we see a commitment to serving Jesus that we wish we had, and we recognize it is because they don’t have the “stuff” that gets in the way of following Jesus. Yet we go home and try to figure out how to get all of our “stuff” over to them!

So how do we view the world? How do we view our abundance in relation to the poverty-stricken world around us? What are our responsibilities? These are hard questions! I once heard someone say, “taking a vow of poverty is easy…you just say ‘no’. But stewardship is hard.” What do we do with this life God has given us?

 

Recently I was in Haiti, and I saw a girl who was probably eight or ten years old pumping water out of a community well. She had probably five or six buckets she was filling and she was working hard! She was pumping that handle with everything she had. And it took her quite a long time to fill up all those containers. I thought about how easily I turn on my faucet and have an endless supply of good, clean, safe, healthy water—even here in the Tucson desert!

 

As I watched her while we were sitting in terrible traffic, I realized this was really hard work. But, you know, there’s nothing wrong with hard work! In fact, we would probably be better off as a society if we had to work a little harder! Yet, there is nothing wrong with having to walk out and pump water and bring it back to the house. Most of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents did the same thing. But what does this girl in Haiti lose by having to work so hard to survive? The answer is availability. What could we gain by all of our technology and “blessings?” The answer is availability! Our standard of living and ease of survival should make us more available to God and give us more time to spend loving God and serving others. But that isn’t what has happened for most of us is it? We have filled our “extra” time with things with no eternal consequence such as TV and internet addictions, self-absorbed hobbies, and even substituted carting our children around to activities for actually loving and teaching our own children! 

 

Are what we call “blessings” really blessings from God? For the first time in my life I really don’t know. But whether they are or they aren’t a question still remains about our “blessings.” To borrow the words of the famous Dr. Phil, “How’s that workin’ for ya?” The question restated is this, “are all the things you consider blessings helping you follow Jesus or are they obstacles? If your answer is obstacles, then make a change! Start changing the way you view the world! Start changing the way you view your purpose. Start changing the way you view your “blessings.” Instead of being something that blesses you, turn them into something that blesses others!

Tory Ruark- Short-term Missions Director for DELTA Ministries International

UBC Missions Team’s Annual Retreat

UBC Missions Team Annual Retreat

Retreat: a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study.

 The UBC Missions Team is inviting you to retreat from the daily hustle and bustle and come join us on Saturday November 5, 2011 to hear how God is using His people to make His glory known around the world. We will pray for local serving, short term missions and our missionaries. We will meditate on Acts:1:8 and Matt 28. We will study, through hearing about what God is doing here and abroad.

 The day:  Sign in begins at 8 a.m. followed by Worship at 8:30

With your group (and a passport) you will travel to 3 ‘destinations’ : Africa, Appalachia, and Arizona, to hear the trip reports from 2011 short term mission trips. The 4^th stop is a tour of UBC Local Outreaches, did you know there are serving opportunities from Union Bridge to Westminster, to Baltimore and Appalachia? The Missions Team takes a Serve Local, Go Global approach to world missions believing that sharing Christ begins at home, our communities and reaching the nations.

Pastor Steve will serve children of attendees grades 1-5 with a children’s missions program.

After everyone has completed their missions tour everyone will gather back in the multi-purpose room for closing statements, then lunch will be served.

It’s all FREE! Sign up at the kiosk on Sunday!

The title of this year’s Retreat is: Passport to Missions-Where is God Sending You?

To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named

“The apostle Paul had a holy ambition – to preach the gospel to peoples who had never heard. He ached to proclaim Jesus where he had not yet been named. So today, missionaries cross cultures, learn languages, and pour out their lives in word and deed to break through thousands of years of darkness and the reign of Satan over a people who do not know the King of kings and the Savior of the world. Missionaries go to, and minister among, peoples who otherwise have little to no access to the saving news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

 

And since Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations is still in effect – and since there are thousands of peoples today who have never heard of him – every church should pray that God would not only make all of us evangelists among our own people, but also that he would raise up from among us missionaries to take the gospel where it has never gone before.” John Piper

Snippets from the Mission Fields…

From the AZ team:

Denise: 4/5 Left 6:30 am yesterday, arrived in Sells AZ 10 pm AZ time. We were quite weary but very happy. Encountered so many wonderful people in our travels…God definitely paved the way! Today our first day of VBS went great! Love them al! Tomorrow day 2 of VBS. They all are excited to come back! Can’t wait! Thanks to all who are praying! And a special thanks for all the beautiful notes! Blessed me abundantly!

Dana: 4/5 We had the best day today planning and teaching the most beautiful children.  I wish I could bring them all home. They all played parts, learned their Bible verses and loved being loved on.  We were able to give each one of them a Bible and they were so appreciative. The children are so loving and open and willing to learn.  I loved every second we were together.  And……praise God… we get to do it again tomorrow.

Sheila: 4/6 We love, LOVE the Tohono O’odham children! What a blessing to be able to love on them and serve them. God has blessed us beyond measure, we are looking forward to what He has in store for us today!

From Kenya: Special deliveries of White Rain pump bottle hair spray, and plain M&M’s were happily received by other SIM missionary friends and 6 bottles Mt Dew to our favorite Kikuyu…it is the small things. Also brought for the conference 4 Proclaimers for two of the language groups attending the conference. >>Faith Comes by Hearing 

The team arrived safely at the conference. Approx 70 pastors in attendance. Occasional rain…much needed…a blessing that cannot hinder the teaching. The teaching is being well received. You can imagine how thrilled our missionary is to have a team from his ‘home church’ partnering with him on his mission to reach the unreached through national pastor discipleship. How GREAT is our God-

Praise the Lord for Safety and Health

The Kenya and Arizona teams have arrived at their destinations healthy and safe.  Holy Spirit fill these places with your presence…in all things for your glory Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Dana Weaver captured this shot enroute from Phoenix to Tucson around 5 p.m. their time 4/04/2011

At the Airport-Ready to Go!

 

Dana, Sheila and Denise, at the airport by 4:30a.m. Ready to take their gifts and talents of serving women at UBC to the church women in Sells AZ on the Tohono O’ odham Nation

 

 

 

Meet David Njau-famous Kikuyu-(just ask him)

A bit about our Kikuyu friends: “Though they are traditionally agricultural people and have a reputation as hard-working people, a lot of them are now involved in business. Most of the Kikuyu still live on small family plots but many of them have also seen the opportunities in business and have moved to cities and different areas to work. They have a desire for knowledge and it is believed that all children should receive a full education. They have a terrific reputation for money management and it is common for them to have many enterprises at one time. The Kikuyu have also been active politically.”

While David is most famous for his saying, “eat until something happens!”, David operates a wonderful tour and safari company- Elida Tours check them out-they are highly recommended, for all your Kenya travel needs.  

Missions Trips! Ready. Pray. Go.

 We are mindful of the tragedy in Japan. While we continue with mission preparations, we are praying for believers in Japan and those believers leaving their homes from around the world to help the earthquake ravaged areas for their witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be bold.  While physical needs are many-it is the eternal suffering that must be the reason we serve.

Meet the Kenya Five.  Larry Douthwaite, Tim Webster, Jim Korn, Neil Webster, Jay Bubel. UBC sent a team in 2007 to visit the location where our missionary had the vision for a training center to reach the least and unreached parts of Kenya. In the last 4 years while that plan was coming to reality, UBC Pastor Tim Webster set out in obedience to write what God had been pressing upon him: for the training of pastors and their leaders to the uttermost parts be Christ-Centered. “This book is designed to help pastors and their leadership team keep the ministry of the church focused on Christ.” http://www.god-imagers.org/  Both of the visions are coming together. This team will carry the message of the “Christ-Centered Pastor” to meet the vision of the discipleship center to teach and disciple young pastors a five day conference with this goal: to inspire others by holy, satisfied in Him living and passionate and Word/Christ-centered preaching and writing to glorify God and enjoy Him. Pray for the Bond of brotherhood in Christ, the strengthening of the pastors, leaders and local churches in their disciplemaking efforts, that their people know Christ and for this Message to cross nearby geographical borders.

 Team Tohono O’ odham. Sheila Ramsey, Denise Velte, Dana Weaver. Pray for their mission including- 2 day children’s ministry on Tuesday and Wednesday April 5 and 6-50-100 children expected.  Thursday evening is a gathering of women leaders from 5 reservation churches for the ”Cost of Discipleship” training. Then Friday night and Saturday-all day, all women from all churches are invited to retreat into God’s Word with special touches by this team.  Pray for how God will use this time to reach children for Christ, for children to be contagious in their homes, for the leader gathering, for the spiritual strengthening of these women in leadership. For the Retreat, unity in the sisterhood in Christ, making and strengthening relationships between churches for the furthering of the Gospel all for God’s glory. We are grateful to Sherrie Dodson, for seeing this need in the community, for being fervent in prayer through-out this journey and for all she and her team in Sells have done in partnership for God’s mission. We are also very grateful to the Sells community for welcoming and hosting our team.

Carrera Prayer Requests~thank you for praying!

Pray for Missionaries and Missions Trips.

Answers to Objections to Going into Missions

John Piper:  “My prayer is that God would use these responses to call more of you to go.    Because evangelism is not missions.  

  answers-to-objections-to-going-into-missions

 

When I spoke at Missions in the Main Hall Sunday night, I tried to give a biblical response to possible obstacles that are in the way for some people that may keep them from moving forward toward missions. My prayer is that God would use these responses to call more of you to go. Here are eight objections and a biblical response.

1. “I am not smart enough.”

“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)

2. “My body and my personality are not strong enough.”

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

“[Christ] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

3. “I am not a good speaker.”

“Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12)

4. “I am afraid of the horrors I read about in the newspapers.”

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore (katartisei—“mend” or “repair” your horribly disfigured body when the lions in the coliseum are through with you), confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

5. “I am afraid I won’t be fruitful”

Your responsibility is not to be fruitful but to be faithful.

“And [Jesus] said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

6. “There is plenty to do here.”

True, but there is a division of labor and God calls some to MISSIONS, not just evangelism. The difference is seen in Romans 15:19-24:

“So that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I [Paul] have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named. . . Now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions . . . I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain.”

How could Paul say there was no room for work when there were millions in that region to be evangelized? Because evangelism is not missions.

7. “I am not married.”

The best spouse is found on the path of obedience.

“An excellent wife [or husband!] who can find? She [and he!] is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10).

The finding is exceedingly hard. It will happen on the road of obedience.

8. “I fear that when I get there it might turn out I made a mistake and will come home with shame.”

Which is worse, shame for having endeavored to follow Christ in missions, or fear to venture? Shame before others for making a mistake will not hurt you; it will humble you and can make you more useful in a new situation. But fear will make you useless everywhere.

Consider Ecclesiastes 11:4 and what it says about risk:

“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”

Meaning: without taking the risk of sowing when the seed might be blown away and reaping when the rain might ruin the harvest, you will starve.

Oh, how precious is the freeing word of God,

Pastor John