After a couple weeks of being here, I've been able to see the different things that are happening to plant seeds and tend to the field to use ministry language. In the last week I have had chances to settle in and build trust in the new found relationships with the different people involved. This has also given me a chance to think and pray about what the next step is in my time here.
To update on the events in the last week, I had a chance to go to Montreal last Monday night with a few people from Sherbrooke to a Church Planting Strategy Meeting for the providence of Quebec. The meeting was in all French unfortunately but I was able to pick up here and there some things that they were talking about. The main goal (I think) is to plant 1,000 churches by 2020 in this providence and also to have more French churches in this area.
Tuesday through Friday my team and I spent the day at Bishop's University continuing to try and build relationships with people and then try to draw them to the different activities we have going on. On Tuesday nights we meet at a house called "The Cottage." This is a place where a family opens up their home, cooks a meal for free for college students (who wouldn't pass that up!) and then just hang out for the rest of the evening. This allows us to meet new people and continue to build on the relationships with people who we've already met. Wednesday night we went to the University of Sherbrooke to check out a Bible Study that they have on campus. They kindly started in English for us but naturally went to speaking French to finish out the study but I was gracious for the chance to be able to at least know what the discussion was about! Thursday nights are the big night to disciple the Christians in the town. We have a thing called Down Under, where this semester, we are going through the book Radical by David Platt. We meet on Thursday's to discuss a chapter and then throughout the week we meet in smaller groups to try and get on a deeper level with the book.
On Saturday we got to experience our first ski trip since coming to Canada. For me this was my first ski trip ever so definitely new territory! Just for the record I didn't fall! It was a great time with friends just getting out and experiencing parts of the beautiful creation around us here.
Going back to what I mentioned at first about the next step here, we had a meeting this morning to talk about just that. Some thoughts I've had is about the focus on evangelizing or discipling. I think that there needs to be an emphasis on both but I also believe that more emphasis needs to be placed in the area of discipleship. With only a short time here, it is necessary to plug into other people who will be here after we are gone so that things can continue to go on. Jesus had only 12 men that he continually poured himself into so that when he left they were ready to continue what Jesus had started. He discipled the 12 so the 12 could disciple many more and the ripple affect continued.
Along with this, I am thinking about joining another member of the team in researching on starting some kind of organization that is similar to FCA on the campus of Bishop's. With a lot of emphasis on athletics, this would be a great way to reach out to those believer's as well as the non-believer's who love to play sports.
Please continue to pray as we map out what needs to happen next. There are a lot of opportunities to do great things and also pray that we are lead to the people and area's we need to focus on.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
First Week
It's hard to believe that I have only been here a week. As I was riding in the car yesterday going around town with our supervising family, we were talking about how it has felt like we have been here for a month. To me this week has seemed like it has been a busy week full of things but at the same time slow in the fact that the things we are doing haven't fully picked up yet. The students at Bishop's University (where I am serving) just started a new semester this week and have started to settle back into classes, which means that the ministries here are kicking back up as well.
Monday morning our team met on the campus of Bishop's to talk about the culture and the things we should expect while being here. After that, we spent the afternoon hanging out and just trying to get to know our surroundings on campus.
With a leader who believe's in using spiritual gifts and talents, he wants us to find the things we enjoy, do them and impact that certain thing for Christ. So with this, I decided to go on a prayer walk around campus Tuesday morning. The best way to allow God to open up your mind to the surroundings is by bathing it in prayer. To be honest after spending time praying on campus, I felt nothing. I felt as if that campus was dead and Satan had such a stronghold on it I couldn't feel anything.
On Tuesday afternoon I had the chance to go with one of the local pastors to what is called the QHOP (Quebec House of Prayer). This is where all the local pastors get together once a week and pray for the people of Quebec and the impact that they are having for Christ. I didn't know what to expect when I went to this meeting so I just sat and listened at first. At the beginning of the meeting, they went over an outline and discussed what they are calling "Unity Sunday" which is tomorrow. All the churches in Lennoxville are gathering together for one big worship service on the campus of Bishop's. Once they finished discussing the outline for Sunday, they began to pray. This was an open time where the men just sat and popcorn prayed for about an hour. I felt so humbled during and after this time because each man prayed with such unselfishness to themselves and with an openness to God and for what He wanted for them. They prayed for the town, the people, the campus, the students, the stronghold Satan had and for the expansion of the Gospel. It was such an encouraging time.
The rest of the week has been spent with time on campus and with the people that I have come into contact with. Wednesday night we got to go sledding at the local golf course and Friday we went to the Bishop's basketball games and then spent time with new friends at the apt of the other Hands On members.
With some reflection after a week into it, I feel like we have both made progress and not made progress. I feel like we have made progress in the fact that the friendships we have built with each other as a Hands On team and the people we have met are stronger then just a week old and with that it will lead to more friendships and deeper ones. I feel like we haven't made progress in the fact that this town is so dead spiritually. I feel like I have walked into a whole different world then the United States spiritually speaking. The United States is on it's way to being a full blown postmodern world as compared to Quebec which is already there. I get the sense that people are cool with what others believe until it looks like you are imposing it on them because it brings back memories of the oppression. I know that with this it will be difficult to minister without getting frustrated and at times the discouraging feeling will come that it may not look like anything is happening but this is a marathon and not a sprint. If I get discouraged then I will loose focus of the end goal in mind for the time I'm here.
I ask that you be praying for Unity Sunday with the churches of Lennoxville and for the ministries here as they get back into full swing during this semester. If I feel like so much has happened in just this first week, I can't wait to see what unfolds as each day comes.
Monday morning our team met on the campus of Bishop's to talk about the culture and the things we should expect while being here. After that, we spent the afternoon hanging out and just trying to get to know our surroundings on campus.
With a leader who believe's in using spiritual gifts and talents, he wants us to find the things we enjoy, do them and impact that certain thing for Christ. So with this, I decided to go on a prayer walk around campus Tuesday morning. The best way to allow God to open up your mind to the surroundings is by bathing it in prayer. To be honest after spending time praying on campus, I felt nothing. I felt as if that campus was dead and Satan had such a stronghold on it I couldn't feel anything.
On Tuesday afternoon I had the chance to go with one of the local pastors to what is called the QHOP (Quebec House of Prayer). This is where all the local pastors get together once a week and pray for the people of Quebec and the impact that they are having for Christ. I didn't know what to expect when I went to this meeting so I just sat and listened at first. At the beginning of the meeting, they went over an outline and discussed what they are calling "Unity Sunday" which is tomorrow. All the churches in Lennoxville are gathering together for one big worship service on the campus of Bishop's. Once they finished discussing the outline for Sunday, they began to pray. This was an open time where the men just sat and popcorn prayed for about an hour. I felt so humbled during and after this time because each man prayed with such unselfishness to themselves and with an openness to God and for what He wanted for them. They prayed for the town, the people, the campus, the students, the stronghold Satan had and for the expansion of the Gospel. It was such an encouraging time.
The rest of the week has been spent with time on campus and with the people that I have come into contact with. Wednesday night we got to go sledding at the local golf course and Friday we went to the Bishop's basketball games and then spent time with new friends at the apt of the other Hands On members.
With some reflection after a week into it, I feel like we have both made progress and not made progress. I feel like we have made progress in the fact that the friendships we have built with each other as a Hands On team and the people we have met are stronger then just a week old and with that it will lead to more friendships and deeper ones. I feel like we haven't made progress in the fact that this town is so dead spiritually. I feel like I have walked into a whole different world then the United States spiritually speaking. The United States is on it's way to being a full blown postmodern world as compared to Quebec which is already there. I get the sense that people are cool with what others believe until it looks like you are imposing it on them because it brings back memories of the oppression. I know that with this it will be difficult to minister without getting frustrated and at times the discouraging feeling will come that it may not look like anything is happening but this is a marathon and not a sprint. If I get discouraged then I will loose focus of the end goal in mind for the time I'm here.
I ask that you be praying for Unity Sunday with the churches of Lennoxville and for the ministries here as they get back into full swing during this semester. If I feel like so much has happened in just this first week, I can't wait to see what unfolds as each day comes.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Trust God
Greetings from Canada! The past couple of days has been an adventure to say the least. Friday things started off well from Knoxville and the fun began in Detroit. When Ashlee and I arrived we found out that the airlines had over booked our flight to Montreal and were told that we might not have a seat. The next flight to Montreal was Saturday morning at 10am so we were in a bit of a bind. After about 10 minutes Ashlee received a seat on the flight but I was still waiting. After talking with the people who would pick us up and finding out that they wouldn't be able to come get me the next day, we basically told the airline that I had to get to Montreal on Friday and if they couldn't do it then to please find another airline that could. It's amazing what those words will do because I then immediately received a seat assignment and we flew to Montreal.
After getting to Montreal, through customs and immigration, more fun arose. I went to go pick up my luggage and after watching every piece of luggage pass by me twice I went and told a person at the Delta desk that my luggage may have been missing....turns out it was and it was put on another flight to Montreal and would be arriving 2 hrs later in the night. So I had to go through a ridiculous process that sent me to a customs person and then back to the Delta desk. Luckily my luggage was delievered on Saturday afternoon and everything was still there.
As for the first couple of days, it has felt kind of lonely. I have met some friends but so far haven't really been able to actually spend a significant amount of time with other males like I have at home. I know this will change in the upcoming days because the students are not back from break at the University but so far it has taken some getting use to. My apartment is in the basement of a house so it is underground and it gets dark really easy and very early so that is something that will take getting use to.
As we have learned about the culture here, it has brought it home that I am no longer in the "Bible belt." Citizens here were oppressed by the Catholic church and because of this they have rebelled against it and don't want any part of religion or church. The people of Quebec are in the top 20 most unreached people groups in the world. To put this in perspective, 40,000 of the 7 million people here claim to be a true follower of Christ. That is .5% of the population.
Our leader was telling us about his family and their journey to Quebec and something that he talked about was "barefooting." This basically means that you are dropped off in a place and trust God to provide and work. He wants us to experience this for ourselves and in a way this is what I was asking for. What is it like to live and serve for a significant amount of time away from home and loved ones? Luckily our town is small and everything is within walking distance and those times will be good for thinking and prayer. This morning while walking to Ashlee's apartment I acknowledged the fact it was just God and myself on this journey in a way during some thought and prayer. In these first couple of days I can't see yet what the purpose is until students begin coming back and I begin to get in the routine of what I'll be doing but I do know one thing....I just need to trust God.
After getting to Montreal, through customs and immigration, more fun arose. I went to go pick up my luggage and after watching every piece of luggage pass by me twice I went and told a person at the Delta desk that my luggage may have been missing....turns out it was and it was put on another flight to Montreal and would be arriving 2 hrs later in the night. So I had to go through a ridiculous process that sent me to a customs person and then back to the Delta desk. Luckily my luggage was delievered on Saturday afternoon and everything was still there.
As for the first couple of days, it has felt kind of lonely. I have met some friends but so far haven't really been able to actually spend a significant amount of time with other males like I have at home. I know this will change in the upcoming days because the students are not back from break at the University but so far it has taken some getting use to. My apartment is in the basement of a house so it is underground and it gets dark really easy and very early so that is something that will take getting use to.
As we have learned about the culture here, it has brought it home that I am no longer in the "Bible belt." Citizens here were oppressed by the Catholic church and because of this they have rebelled against it and don't want any part of religion or church. The people of Quebec are in the top 20 most unreached people groups in the world. To put this in perspective, 40,000 of the 7 million people here claim to be a true follower of Christ. That is .5% of the population.
Our leader was telling us about his family and their journey to Quebec and something that he talked about was "barefooting." This basically means that you are dropped off in a place and trust God to provide and work. He wants us to experience this for ourselves and in a way this is what I was asking for. What is it like to live and serve for a significant amount of time away from home and loved ones? Luckily our town is small and everything is within walking distance and those times will be good for thinking and prayer. This morning while walking to Ashlee's apartment I acknowledged the fact it was just God and myself on this journey in a way during some thought and prayer. In these first couple of days I can't see yet what the purpose is until students begin coming back and I begin to get in the routine of what I'll be doing but I do know one thing....I just need to trust God.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
For His Glory, Not Mine
Well it's here. After all the thoughts, the prayers, the struggles, the waiting and preparation, it's here. In just a few short hours I'll be moving to Canada to serve in ways that, at this moment, I have no clue about. These past couple of days have really started to make this all real and it's hard to put it into words other than what is getting ready to happen is The Great Commission at work. One of the things that I will be doing is leading a study on the book Radical by David Platt (which is an incredible book). In chapter 4, Platt talks about the Great Commission being a command and not just something that a few people are called for. One of the questions that has come to my mind a lot of times on trips and even after I get home is why has God blessed me with so much and not someone else? The answer to this question was revealed to me at the end of the chapter when he placed an e-mail from a woman who had served in Guatemala. This was her answer to that question, "That is why God has given me an income and education and resources. God saves me so that the nations will know him. He blesses me so that all the earth will see his glory."
This is why I'm blessed and have so much...so that I can take that and show the world his glory and through that someone else may experience the same thing!
I want to thank everyone for the many prayers and support in the time leading up to this trip and I carry that with me as I travel and serve. I want to ask that you continue to pray for me and the team that goes. Pray for the people in Canada and the lives that we will come into contact with and walk with each day. I also ask that you pray for the things that God has prepared us for and the things that he is preparing for us. Each day he prepares us for those things that have already been prepared and that is an incredible comfort.
Two of the songs that I have leaned on in the last couple weeks have been Lead Me by Sanctus Real and Something Holy by Stellar Kart. Each of these songs have lyrics that I've made my prayer and will be my prayer while I'm gone and these words are simply this, "Father give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be. Oh Father show me the way to lead them...Father lead me cause I can't do it alone." The other one is this, "We were born to be apart of something holy, bigger than you and I."
And lastly as I head out, a prayer that I've taken (that has been my motivation) from a person in my life that she made hers on her last trip is this, "I am ready to fight the battle for their souls. Here am I. Send me."
This is why I'm blessed and have so much...so that I can take that and show the world his glory and through that someone else may experience the same thing!
I want to thank everyone for the many prayers and support in the time leading up to this trip and I carry that with me as I travel and serve. I want to ask that you continue to pray for me and the team that goes. Pray for the people in Canada and the lives that we will come into contact with and walk with each day. I also ask that you pray for the things that God has prepared us for and the things that he is preparing for us. Each day he prepares us for those things that have already been prepared and that is an incredible comfort.
Two of the songs that I have leaned on in the last couple weeks have been Lead Me by Sanctus Real and Something Holy by Stellar Kart. Each of these songs have lyrics that I've made my prayer and will be my prayer while I'm gone and these words are simply this, "Father give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be. Oh Father show me the way to lead them...Father lead me cause I can't do it alone." The other one is this, "We were born to be apart of something holy, bigger than you and I."
And lastly as I head out, a prayer that I've taken (that has been my motivation) from a person in my life that she made hers on her last trip is this, "I am ready to fight the battle for their souls. Here am I. Send me."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Preparation Update
So it has been about a month since I found out I would be going to Canada and now I'm a little less than a month away from leaving. During this time it has been incredible to see how God has worked to provide for this trip since the main concern I had was the funding. Turns out it was just another way God could use to show how great He is so I'm here to express that to you!
Overall this trip was $2900 and it had to be payed for 2 weeks before I leave which only left me about a month to raise the money. The first gift was from my home church which offered to pay for half of the trip. The next line of gifts came from some of the most amazing people in my life which added up to about $700. So in a little less than a week I had already received about $2150. As if each check that rolled in wasn't mind blowing enough, the the next gift that came was nothing but God at work. Here is the backstory on how this took place. Some people at my dad's work send prayer requests through e-mail and they go around the office and one of those was for this trip. A couple of ladies decided to have a bake sale to raise some money in order to help me go. So far this is normal. My dad's boss then decided that he would match whatever was raised for the bake sale, yet again this seemed pretty normal. On the day of the bake sale around lunch time I received a call from my dad informing me that around $400 was raised which absolutely floored me! At the end of the day I got word that the bake sale had made close to $500 and the boss was matching that. Two and two together makes close to $1000! This absolutely had the hand of God at work in it!
So in 2 short weeks, what I thought was a pretty impossible situation became the right situation for God to reveal Himself.
Another thing that I had prayed about was for a male presence on this trip as I am traveling with 2 other girls, not that I don't love the company I will be with! Haha But for me I felt it was necessary to have a male that I could plug into while I was away and this prayer as well has been answered. While I'm there I will be living with a Christian guy who attends the university I will be serving at.
Through all of this and in the last month the biggest thing that I have learned is that God provides for those He calls! I know that as I continue to prepare and even while I'm away with no income, I will be provided for. There is no better place to be then to be in the providing hands of God.
Overall this trip was $2900 and it had to be payed for 2 weeks before I leave which only left me about a month to raise the money. The first gift was from my home church which offered to pay for half of the trip. The next line of gifts came from some of the most amazing people in my life which added up to about $700. So in a little less than a week I had already received about $2150. As if each check that rolled in wasn't mind blowing enough, the the next gift that came was nothing but God at work. Here is the backstory on how this took place. Some people at my dad's work send prayer requests through e-mail and they go around the office and one of those was for this trip. A couple of ladies decided to have a bake sale to raise some money in order to help me go. So far this is normal. My dad's boss then decided that he would match whatever was raised for the bake sale, yet again this seemed pretty normal. On the day of the bake sale around lunch time I received a call from my dad informing me that around $400 was raised which absolutely floored me! At the end of the day I got word that the bake sale had made close to $500 and the boss was matching that. Two and two together makes close to $1000! This absolutely had the hand of God at work in it!
So in 2 short weeks, what I thought was a pretty impossible situation became the right situation for God to reveal Himself.
Another thing that I had prayed about was for a male presence on this trip as I am traveling with 2 other girls, not that I don't love the company I will be with! Haha But for me I felt it was necessary to have a male that I could plug into while I was away and this prayer as well has been answered. While I'm there I will be living with a Christian guy who attends the university I will be serving at.
Through all of this and in the last month the biggest thing that I have learned is that God provides for those He calls! I know that as I continue to prepare and even while I'm away with no income, I will be provided for. There is no better place to be then to be in the providing hands of God.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Journey Begins
"God my human mind cannot comprehend
what is going on I know that nothing
is impossible or bigger than you. If
you want me to apply and be accepted
Then I know you will make it happen.
I know that if I'm suppose to be on
a plane to Canada in January then
you will make it happen. Blow my mind"
This was the prayer that Sunday afternoon walking to my car after lunch. A lot has happened since then and really most of it has occurred in the last 36-40 hrs. Just to recap I wanted to go on an extensive missions trip for several reasons, mostly for the fact that it may be a calling. My plans wanted me to wait till next fall, God's plans wanted me to apply now.
I took a leap of faith and followed through with God's way which has lead to a long month of impatience and a lot of anxious times. Through it I have been able to learn a lot about this fruit of the spirit. One thing that has stuck out in that time period was this simple fact, "Don't miss what God wants to teach you in your time of waiting. It's just preparing you for what you will encounter next."
I had a phone interview yesterday (Monday) in which the guy told me that he would send me an e-mail later that day to inform me if I would be going to Canada or not. I received that e-mail and read the words that I had wished to read for a month, "Congrats, were accepting you to go to Canada."
In a little less than 2 months, I'll take my comfortable life in East Tennessee and move it to a spiritually dark and (literally) cold place with 1 friend from home and no family or any other friends. The remaining time that I have left till I leave is crucial to what will happen in the 4 months that follow. I am grateful that I have people that are plugging into me to build me up as I prepare.
What started as a surreal feeling has become a real feeling. I am answering God's call to go minister in Quebec, Canada. The Audio Adrenaline song explains its best;
"I'm willing yet so afraid
You give me strength
When I say
I want to be your hands
I want to be your feet
I'll go where you send me
And I try, Yea I try
To touch the world
Like you touched my life
And I find my way
To be your hands."
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." Isaiah 6:8-9. The journey has begun.
Monday, October 4, 2010
O Canada?
Risks can be daunting. Pray one time for a chance to serve anywhere at anytime or say one time to God Here am I, send me and see what happens. Last week I mentioned that I was on the verge of something great. I also stated a lot of questions that have been burning inside of me. I said that Lord willing I would go next fall....what about January?
I have been debating on an extended out of the country mission trip for a while now and had a few people in my life that wanted me to apply for this spring just to see what happens. My response? I'm going next fall so that way I can prepare for it.
At this point I would like to stop and let you re-read my response to what people were asking me to do. I would also like to stop and say that at this point in my life you think I would have stopped trying to plan out what I will do with my life. College baseball? Failed. Trying to pursue a profession in Special Education? Failed. Answering a ministry calling the first time? Failed. Moving to Louisville within the first 2 years of Seminary? Failed. You see a trend here with the plans I've made for myself?!?
Continuing on, Going on a Hands On trip next fall? On the verge of failing. The past 2 or 3 days have been interesting to say the least. After watching a video about Hands On my heart began to pound. I was feeling so many emotions and knew that the calling was clear that at some point I would go away. Fast forward to Sunday while out to lunch with my parents I get a text message from a friend who is going to Canada in January. The only reason I said I would go is if Canada was an option because it just stuck out to me on the project list. Just so happens that the text message I received said they need 2 more people to go to Canada. My heart immediately began to pound again and it would not quit unless I did something about it.
My prayer as I was walking to my car after lunch went a little something like this;
I have been debating on an extended out of the country mission trip for a while now and had a few people in my life that wanted me to apply for this spring just to see what happens. My response? I'm going next fall so that way I can prepare for it.
At this point I would like to stop and let you re-read my response to what people were asking me to do. I would also like to stop and say that at this point in my life you think I would have stopped trying to plan out what I will do with my life. College baseball? Failed. Trying to pursue a profession in Special Education? Failed. Answering a ministry calling the first time? Failed. Moving to Louisville within the first 2 years of Seminary? Failed. You see a trend here with the plans I've made for myself?!?
Continuing on, Going on a Hands On trip next fall? On the verge of failing. The past 2 or 3 days have been interesting to say the least. After watching a video about Hands On my heart began to pound. I was feeling so many emotions and knew that the calling was clear that at some point I would go away. Fast forward to Sunday while out to lunch with my parents I get a text message from a friend who is going to Canada in January. The only reason I said I would go is if Canada was an option because it just stuck out to me on the project list. Just so happens that the text message I received said they need 2 more people to go to Canada. My heart immediately began to pound again and it would not quit unless I did something about it.
My prayer as I was walking to my car after lunch went a little something like this;
"God my human mind cannot comprehend
what is going on I know that nothing
is impossible or bigger than you. If
you want me to apply and be accepted
Then I know you will make it happen.
I know that if I'm suppose to be on
a plan to Canada in January then
you will make it happen. Blow my mind."
So the application has been sent in. I have already received an e-mail telling me that this close to the deadline that it may not even be possible to get a spot on any trip for the spring. I'm reminded of one of my favorite movies called "Facing The Giants" It is a football movie with many plots in it but towards the end when this little school wins the State Championship against a 2 or 3 time defending champion, the coach looks at his players in the locker room and says, "You tell me what's impossible with God? God can do whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it and he chooses to work in our lives because he loves us, because he's good."
What's impossible with God you ask? Nothing...absolutely nothing. God takes ordinary people in ordinary situations and does extraordinary things. Why? Because he is God and can do whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it...for our good and his glory. I'm just an ordinary person who could possibly get to be a part of something extraordinary.
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