Category Archives: ministry

Missions. Safe?

Posted on February 11, 2014 | 2 comments

Missions. The calling to tell and demonstrate the love and truth of Christ to those who may not know Him.

I just finished reading a biography about Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor Deep in the Heart of China by Janet and Geoff Benge. He was a missionary to the interior of China who lived from 1832 to 1905. He founded the China Inland Mission.

Taylor is noteworthy for many reasons, not the least being he never asked for a dime of support. He prayed and depended on God to provide every cent needed for the missionary work (and God did provide every penny). This is a radical way to live, even within the missionary world. The typical model is those being sent as missionaries go out to the churches and people and let them know what support they need to raise (I have served as a missionary with this model) and ask the people to come alongside the work the missionaries will be doing wherever they are called.

I’m not sure which is better or if one is right and the other is wrong. I have an inkling both are just fine. But I was very surprised at one readers’ response on Goodreads. The commenter stated she did not see Hudson Taylors’ action as trusting God, rather as testing God. She said Hudson Taylor took too many risks with his life, the life of his wife and children.

Yes, the risks were big, but isn’t that often the case? Especially in missionary work? Not everyone can be called to stay home and witness to others at their nice job. Some, many, are called to go far away from home, loved ones and security. Thanks to technology, we can now reach the far off places more safely and quickly, but still, Christian missionaries bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s truth is not welcome everywhere. Some places the rejection is peaceful, other places, the reaction is angry and violent. God doesn’t hide this truth. Jesus was actually pretty blunt that the Gospel is divisive. But that doesn’t stop Him from calling people to fulfill the Great Commission.

And when He calls, obedience is the best response. It may not be the easiest or the safest, but it is the best.

I spent a short time traveling as a missionary. It was wonderful. It wasn’t always easy, but it was the best place to be. I will tell you it was easier to be traveling as a missionary than it is to be at home trying to be a Christian wife and mother, but this is where I am, so I will embrace it. I will throw my arms around all it’s mess and it’s beauty.

For right now, THIS is my mission field.

2 Comments

Posted in Bible, Faith, ministry

Helping as a Family–Gleaners Food Bank

Posted on February 26, 2012 | 3 comments

I grew up in a rural area. There was no place for people to be begging. I was in my 30s before I saw my first beggar. I was out for a girls’ night when I was several months pregnant with Sue. The group of us had gone to dinner and were walking around the city area. Everybody decided to get some ice cream. I didn’t really want any, but I got a small dish. Baby said there was no room for it. So I started to throw it away. I had taken 1-2 bites. A guy, grabbed it as it fell and said “can I have it?” I stuttered yes and was changed forever.

I have always been a giver when it comes to food drives, toy drives, book drives. You name it. I grew up very poor. We benefited from people’s generosity more than once. But the ice cream experience was different. How do I get truly involved now?

Hubby and I talked about it more than once. I wish for anything I could go back to that night and take the guy to get a real meal rather than eating my leftovers. I’ve known since that day our family would be getting involved. We just had to wait a bit for the girls to get old enough.

I volunteered at Gleaners Food Bank right before Christmas for a few hours through work. I talked to the volunteer coordinator and found ot my girls were now old enough. She has worked with kids as young as 20 months!

This last week we made up fliers for the neighborhood asking for food donations to take with us. The girls were thrilled to find a few bags for us to take.

Yesterday we loaded them up and off we went.

Miss Sarah taught us that food insecurity affects 1 in 5 people. And that the people aren’t all on the street. They can look just like us. Last year Gleaners distributed 40,000 million pounds of food to food banks, schools, senior centers, soup kitchens.

The 943 bags we packed will go to kids throughout the metro area who are food insecure. The box of cereal, cans of veggies, fruit and ravioli will go home with them so they can eat when school isn’t in session.

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity contact Sarah Blight at sblight@gcfb.org at the Gleaners Oakland Distribution Center.

Sue really loved her job!

3 Comments

Posted in Caitlyn, giving, kidlets, memories, ministry, special projects, Sue

From the mouth of Babes

Posted on July 30, 2010 | 2 comments

Last week at daycare, Caitlyn and the other 4 year old had a theology conversation…

Jane said, ‘Jesus lives in Heaven.”
Caitlyn said, “no, Jesus lives in your heart.”
Jane, “My Sunday School teacher says God lives in Heaven.”
Caitlyn, “well mine says Jesus lives in your heart.”
Jane, “Well, it’s both.”
Caitlyn, “How can it be both?”

They moved on to other things. But wow, what a great conversation.

Then today I got to witness Caitlyn trying to explain some things to Sue.

Sue said, “How did the hot dog get in my corn dog?”
Caitlyn said, “That’s how God made it.”
Sue, “well how?”
Caitlyn, “God did it all in a row.”
Sue, “Why?”
Caitlyn, “Because that is how God wanted it to be.”
Sue, “I don’t care.”
Caitlyn, “But God cares about you. He loves you. Don’t you want Him to live in your heart?”

And off Sue went to do something else.

Wow, they do take in what we say. Sometimes it is interesting how they interpret it, but it’s a start, huh?

Thank you Lord Jesus for working in our little ones hearts. And thank you for the Sunday School teachers who sow into them. They listen to what they hear there and at home. And for that I praise You!!!

2 Comments

Posted in kidlets, ministry, questions

Very compassionate Link

Posted on April 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

So, I don’t normally do more than one post and those I do normally, have a little bit more in them…but this one is worth it…

MckMama recently went to Compassion International to Kenya. She is using her blog to raise awareness for children and mothers in need.

Today she is doing an amazing giveaway. If you donate any amount, in $5 increments, you will be entered into a drawing for a new Apple Ipad. You must donate through a link on her blog, so please head over using either of my MckMama links to head over to her blog and help children while helping yourself!!!

Not sure where to go from here…maybe Kenya?

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

So, I think one of the valuable things about blogging is the ability to connect us to each other for the spreading of the Lord’s work. Sometimes that is encouraging and sometimes that is uncomfortable and oft times, it is a bit of both. That is where I find myself as I read about MckMama’s experiences in Kenya.

The above link is just one of several days of blogging she has done from some very desolate areas in Kenya. I see her pictures of children and her pleas to have us join her in helping the children of Kenya by sponsorship through Compassion International. And so far I don’t know what my role is.

I have used my twitter and facebook accounts to retweet her updates on how many Kenyan children Compassion still needs sponsors for, and I am thrilled to see that number decreasing (most recent update was 750 children). But am I supposed to help that number decrease through signing up to support one of them? I don’t know.

I am no stranger to sponsorship. I sponsored a girl in China through World Vision for several years until she moved out of the program area. Before that I sponsored a children through Children International. I have also given many times to Feed the Children. And several other ministries.

But what about right now? What is my duty? What is the Lord asking me to do? I have NO idea. I really don’t. Is what we are giving to our church right now, the amount the Lord wants us to give? Are the occassional gifts we are giving what He is asking of us right now? Are the gifts in kind we give what He has in mind right now? Again, I have no idea.

I am scared to give more right now. I work in the auto industry. So far so good for me, but wow, the gloom there is just starting to lift, well maybe not even lift, maybe just thin. How do I take my eyes off that to see what else the Lord wants me to give? How do I teach my girls to be generous when I am too afraid to increase my own giving? I have no answers, just lots of questions that I ask myself on a daily basis. Am I hiding behind my questions? Maybe. Is asking them my way of claiming some action in my inaction? Maybe.

So for now, I continue to ask my questions, while asking you to visit MckMama’s blog to see even more what what she is sharing. Take a peak at the desolation and the hope. Please consider your role, whether it is in your own neighborhood or somewhere across the globe. And maybe together we will find our time and place to jump from doubt to action.