Grace and Unity: This could sting a bit

In a June post called "Grace Allows. Grace Compels", I wrote about the gift of going on a mission trip is a heaping portion of God's grace bestowed upon His children.  It is a great gift to have God allow us to "go", and it is a great gift to have had our hearts changed to the point that we are compelled to "go'.  It is a gift.  Grace toward us shows up in opportunities to share the love of Jesus…to share and extend the same grace he has extended to us.

Global missions is not only a means of sharing the love and grace of Christ with people oversees, it is a venue in which those "going" learn to extend Christ-like love and grace to one another.  Learning to work as a team in a spirit of grace and unity is massively important because the entire process of serving can be undercut, if not completely obliterated if grace is not flowing freely within a mission team.

For the sake of unity, before this year's Ethiopia mission team was even formed, the decision was made to have team meetings approximately every 2 weeks for the 3 months prior to departure.

During our last several mission trips to Ethiopia, we had leaders there share that the teams from South Bay Church have been notably unified and good to work with.  This was so very encouraging because we have prayerfully worked hard with some great leaders to build solid teams that know and care for one another months before we set foot on Ethiopian soil.
Honestly, it was very humbling to hear this from people in-country who have hosted so many mission teams in Ethiopia over the years.

The effort to organize and attend these pre-trip gatherings pays off in great dividends in the mission field.  I've had the privilege of experiencing the results first-hand over the past several years.  
One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of meeting regularly before leaving the country is the art of getting to know one another.  
As human beings, we naturally tend to judge others quickly.  We come to conclusions about who they are without getting to know them.  Often, our assumptions about somebody begin to slowly create tension in a relationship even before it gets off the launch pad.  Before you know it, there is rift in the team and unity is hindered.  It may be subtle, but it is there and Satan will take advantage of it.

It is why team building gatherings, meals, prayer, reading and the sharing of life-stories are so important before embarking on a mission trip.  Taking the time to know one another creates empathy and cultivates a grace-infused culture which helps chip away the presuppositions we have of other teammates.  

Additionally, where grace flows, team members can be real…they become known.  When someone is known and accepted, they can operate more effectively and freely in their God-given giftedness.  This also leaves less room for the devil to work his schemes.

Creating a grace infused team culture will lay the foundation for unity.  Unity is the ground upon which influence and Kingdom impact is built. 

Our teams read a book called, "Before You Go".
The author, Jack Hempfling says, "Knowing the love, acceptance, and support of the group(team) frees individuals to move in their personal gifting.  Yet such trust and love takes time to develop.  Building unity during team preparation is also important because the enemy of our souls will often attack team unity on the mission."  

If a team lacks grace within itself, it will lack unity and it's efforts to effectively serve and share the gospel will be greatly hindered.

God's word has much to say about the unity of His people.  Unity happens as a result of His children living in a manner that reflects his grace.
The bible does not pull any punches in the call to extend grace.  Nor does it dance around the importance of unity.  

If we peel back the nature of what it looks like to serve together as fellow Christ-followers, it comes down to one word: Grace.  

We are called to extend to one another the same grace we receive from Jesus.  

We did not…and do not deserve the grace lavished over us from a perfect and loving God.  So, who are we to self-righteously withhold grace from others? 

In case you think that last statement was too strong...before we hit some practical material from the book of Romans, I want you to read Philippians 2:1-8.  Read it…out loud …slowly.  Pay attention.  

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."   

So.  How did that strike you?  What did you see?  What encouraged you?  What challenged…or convicted you?  

A few things that stood out for me:
1.  "If there is ANY encouragement in Christ, ANY comfort, ANY participation in the Spirit, ANY affection and sympathy…"
Paul is pleading for us to get this.  
In his desperate plea, Paul is letting us know that what he is about to say is of the utmost importance.

2.  "…being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and one mind."
Paul's is a call to unity.  Unity.  Unity that comes from cooperating with the Spirit.  
Paul mentions the "mind" twice here.  One is the individual mind that is transformed and renewed by God's word(Romans 12:2).  The other is the corporate mind - A group of believers living and serving in unity because the Spirit is at work in them first individually, then as a whole.  Paul also speaks about "having the same love".  This is the outward manifestation…or overflowing love of Christ that ought to be evident in those who call themselves Christ-followers. 

3.  "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
Paul is saying, "Get off your high horse and walk in humility…serve one another…it's not all about you."

4.  "Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others."
Again…serve one another.  Get over yourself and ask how you can be a blessing to somebody else.
(Do you think Paul is trying to make a point here?)

5.  "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…"
Paul is saying, "Hey, if you are professing Jesus as Lord…and His Spirit is really in you, you ought to have a similar mindset and heart toward others." 

6.  "...though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped…"
It is almost as though Paul is saying, "Uhmmm…Yes, I know it's tough to extend grace to THAT person...but, Jesus is God, and you are not…He is perfect and you are not…He has every reason to NOT extend grace to you, but did(and does).  So…tell me again your reason for being so prideful and not extending grace to THAT person?  Just curious."

7.  "...emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant…"
Paul is reminding us that Jesus is not only Creator-God, but out of love and in humility, he poured His life out for the very creation that betrayed and mocked him.  That's you.  That's me.  

God in his grace offers us the sweetness of not just salvation, but ongoing grace and forgiveness for our prideful, ignorant, rebellious and blind behavior.  Upon recognizing that, how can we not extend grace to others?  

In the context of global missions, how can we even consider serving amongst the poor in a so-called third-world country and share the love of Christ when we are not displaying it to the brother serving next to us?  How can one speak of grace  while they justify not living it out?

Does God not see this charade?  How can he move with impact through an individual who is secretly harboring bitterness and resentment to a team member?  His word tells us he is "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble". -James 4:6
In Galatians 6:7, there are strong words for those who living and serving in community with one another: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked".   In other words - Who do you think you are fooling?  You may have the team fooled, but Jesus knows your heart and, for the sake of His name and your well-being, he will eventually expose you.  

Now, before you get offended, go talk to Jesus about it.  They are His words, not mine.  His words are said with a love for you and I that we cannot fathom.

Though He is patient with us, in His word, Jesus leaves no room for one to knowingly allow their heart to remain in such a state(and you know when you have taken issue with somebody).  His love for you and I is so deep, he died not only for our salvation, but for our wholeness.  So that all our hurts, insecurities and pride could be left at the foot of the cross as we rest in the fact that we are loved by our Creator.  
He cares for you deeply and knows unresolved heart issues cause damage not only in the life of one who harbors it - thus hindering a deep relationship with him - but much like a virus, will leach out and adversely infect those in close proximity(in this case, the mission trip and the overall impact of the team).

He is gracious to listen to our complaining about another person. 
Jesus is so gracious to us, he hears us out even when we try to justify our lack of grace to others.  He listens when we say or think, "Lord, I just don't get him/her."  "They hurt my feelings."  "We are just too different to serve so closely."  "I wish they would be more..."

I am grateful that when I become critical and lack grace for others, Jesus does't go to the Father and say, "I'm not going to extend grace to Mark.  I am not too happy about the nails put into my hands on his behalf.  He really hurt me with that crown of thorns.  We are so different…I'm God…the One who created everything, and Mark…well, he can't even put in the effort to read my Word every day.  I just don't get why he continually blows it…even though I took the beating he deserved."

Jesus had every reason to deny being gracious to you and I.  Yet, in love, he became the greatest Giver of grace the world will ever see.  

Romans 12:9-21 really came to life for me in light of reading the above passage from Philippians.

Instead of going through each verse, I want to touch on just a few.  This is wonderfully practical.  It is also a mirror of sorts that can stir some conviction in our hearts if we are walking in a contrary manner.
Read it in light of Jesus' humility in Philippians 2:1-8.

Romans 12:10 says: "Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor." 
Here, I simply ask, "How are you doing?"  Are you loving your team members with brotherly/sisterly (yes, ladies…you too) affection?  If you asked each team member if they felt loved by you, how do you think they would respond?  
How about out doing one another in showing honor?  
As a team leader, are you honoring team members by hearing them out…by creating a safe place for them to be real?  
As a team member, are you honoring the person or persons leading the trip by cooperating with plans and communications that are shared?
Are you loving and honoring fellow team members with your attitude and your words?
Are you holding grudges or resentment?  
Do you need to confess some to someone that you pre-judged them based on age, race, socio-economic status, or something they said or did which you may have taken wrongly?
Is actual repentance and forgiveness in order? Did you actually judge someone…and need to repent.  Do you need to forgive someone?
Lastly, are you humble enough to give others the benefit of the doubt and assume they are doing the best they can with where they are in life? (I assume you'd want the same from them)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Often times honoring somebody, is a simple as being very real with what you are feeling.  Have a chat.  You'd be surprised by how well it can go when you prayerfully approach someone with love and humility.

Verse 16: "Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be haughty…Never be wise in your own sight."
Living in harmony cannot happen when there is a lack of extending grace.  Lack of grace will always lead to disunity, lack of harmony and diminishing returns on serving together.
Lack of grace is often rooted in "haughtiness"(or pride).  Pride was the first sin that split up the Heavenly host, causing the angel Lucifer to be cast out of heaven and become the Prince of Pride.
The tricky part about pride in that we are blind to our own pridefulness.  "I'm not proud.  Just look how humble I am.  Just ask me." 
We are all prone to haughtiness.  We are blind to our own pride.  I don't know about you, but it is really easy for me to justify my being "right".  I am spring loaded to believe my perspective is the right one.  I just need you to see that yours is not necessarily wrong, but mine simply makes more sense.  The other person is most likely the one that needs to change…not me!  
"Never be wise in your own sight."

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: If you are the team leader, ask a few people on the team how you come across when you share.   Be open to hearing whatever they say.  It may make you feel encouraged…it may be a bit uncomfortable.  It's OK.  Jesus loves you…and the team member probably really cares for you as well!  

Verse 18: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceable with all."
This verse is beautifully simple and practical.  I did not say it would be "easy"!
It is saying that YOU, NOT the other person, is responsible to make the approach to reconcile or get things out on the table. 
"If possible..."- Do you have a phone?  Email?  A place to meet?  As long as the "other person" has not barricaded themselves into a bunker…and they are alive on planet earth, Jesus says YOU are called to make the effort ("…as far as it depends on you…").
We are called to live in peace with brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is especially crucial when serving on mission trips abroad.
YOU are the responsible party.

Can you imagine if all us "YOU's" did what God called us to do?  Humble ourselves as Christ humbled himself.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: If there is any sign of tension  between you and another team member, just know that Jesus loves you both.  He knows you are BOTH broken.  So take a deep breath, rest in that truth and prayerfully approach the person.  
As pastor friend of mine, Justin Buzzard often says, "Run to the tension".  
You might start off by saying, "Hey, I am really excited to be serving with you on this trip.  I want to see God move in mighty ways through our team.  I also want my heart to be in position to hear from him…and to serve you well along the way.  Please let me know if I am imagining this, but I can sense there may be some tension here…" Or, "…I want to ask your forgiveness.  I assumed some things about you…"
Obviously, men and women will have different approaches on this.  The intent is to simply create an environment of grace.

Real relationships are messy.  Shallow ones are never tested.                
Authentic friendships are forged in the fires of adversity and nurtured in waters of grace.  
Like soldiers in the trenches, teams of people with the greatest unity have usually pressed through some challenges.  

So...
Does the person on your team with whom there is some tension deserve grace from you.  Nope.
Do you deserve to receive grace from them?  Nope

This is how grace happens: We respond to others in grace as we recognize how gracious God has been to us…how, through Christ, he let's us off the hook.  Over and over and over again.

Grace toward others flows from a repentant human heart that has recognized the kindness and grace it constantly receives from God.  

Nobody deserves God's grace.  Nobody.

We receive grace because God is gracious and loving.  Period.  

Jesus freely grants it to us.  Pure, 100%, reckless, ridiculous and never-ending grace from the ONLY perfect being in existence.  
Jesus gives it.  

As recipients of grace, we have unity with the Father through Jesus.  In the ultimate act of grace, Jesus gave away every right he had in order to redeem unity between the Father and the very people(you and I) who put him on the cross.  
As a result…as children of God, our response to one another ought to be grace.

In preparing for a mission trip, take the time get to know one another.  Be deliberate about it.  Pray together.  Play together.  Share meals.  Share stories.  Be real.  Develop a culture of grace.  

Grace brings unity.  Unity displays love.  Love creates a platform upon which the gospel can be shared.

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples; if you have love for one another."
John 13:35

As we serve in Global Missions, a grace infused team will exhibit the unity and contagious love required for the Gospel to penetrate even the most hardened heart.

Grace Allows. Grace Compels

Going.  The gift to "go" is an amazing portion of grace indeed.

Since my first mission trip to the Philippines on 2004, I've had the "go bug".  I remember hearing from so many people returning from missions trips that their "lives had been changed".  Yet, at the same time the "life change" often seemed short-lived.  It was more of a shot in the spiritual arm by way of serving in a so called third-world country.  A month or two after returning, life in Silicon Valley simply overruns the best intentions to hold onto the serving experience.
The everyday hustle and bustle of the most expensive, innovative and perhaps most influential region in the United States slowly(or quickly) creeps up and snuffs-out…or at best, tames the passion, burden and "life change" the "goer" had acquired while pouring their heart and life out into people who are often among the poorest of the poor.

As I mentioned above, the opportunity to "go"…to be allowed to go, is a gift of God's grace.  It is he who opens the doors to go.  It is he who allows funds to arrive.  It is he who allows connections to be made.  And it is he who awakens a heart to the needs of other.
So, grace allows.

I remember vividly my prayer before I left on that trip in 2004: "Lord, please allow this trip to truly be a life-changer for me.  Spark something new in my heart.  Don't let the fire fad a month or two after I return home.

Well…God answered that prayer.  He jacked me up.  That trip was one of several experiences that Jesus used to transform my heart, my desires and my motives.  That first trip to the Philippines was a gift from a gracious, benevolent God who loved me enough to answer my prayer to light a new fire in my soul.

The very fact that the passion and vision from that trip did not fizzle out within 30 - 60 days is a gift in it's own right.  Add to that, the fact that God did not only create a permanent change in me, but continues, to this day, to open doors for me to serve overseas (which, by the way, has become a catalyst for my serving locally as well.  See A Counter Intuitive Mantra).

In His grace, Jesus transformed my heart.  He gave me new desires.  Desires to serve the people of God.  Desires to love and reach those who are far from him.  Jesus, in his loving grace, created in me a compassionate heart.  A heart that desires to see others know this same love I've received from the Author of life.  A heart that yearns to not only know Him and experience his grace and love more deeply, but a heart that is compelled by it's receiving of grace to go and introduce others to the Giver of grace.
So, grace compels.

I've shared more than once that I almost feel guilty in going because I experience so much joy not only in "going", but in the planning and team building time leading up to the actual trip.  One of the best parts of leading a team is watching what God does in the hearts and lives of those who "go".   Going is an amazing privilege and brings with it an ongoing anticipation of the next trip.  These days, upon my return from Ethiopia with Compassion International, I find myself planning the next year's trip…often before I step off of the plane back in the states.  I really cannot believe God allows me to do this.
Grace allows me to go.

I am insecure.  I constantly doubt not only my ability to effectively serve in a third world country, but I doubt my ability to lead a team.  I know what a messed up human being I am…how I so often don't walk in a manner that reflects the One I call Lord.  This is not my beating myself up -  It is just a reality.   The closer I grow in relationship with Jesus, the more I see my own sin and failure to live righteously… As I experience His love for me, and further recognize the grace He lavishes over me, I fall deeper in love with Jesus and find I speak of His goodness more often.
Grace compels me to tell.

I stare at my past failures and allow them to haunt me.  Even as miraculous doors open up in front of me, there are more times than I care to admit that I doubt God's goodness and love for me.  I often find I'm afraid to step out because my heart has been broken while serving God's people.  I've become disillusioned.  Cynical.  Yes…cynical.  Life and ministry have left some scars on this guy.  Then, I beat myself up for writing this because I may sound like I am whining.  I become worried about what others think of me.  I desire rest in Christ…to revel in His grace...to have others see Him in me.  But regularly, I fail…big time.  Yet, he still sends me…and I get the privilege of share Him with others.
Grace.

Serving overseas is one thing, but being able to sponsor a child through Compassion International…writing letters back and forth, watching them thrive and grow over the years…being able to visit and hold that child…THIS is a whole other level of experiencing the grace of God while serving!  How many people EVER get to help save the life of a child…let alone, get to meet, hug and pray with that child who lives 8,000 miles away?
To experience having your sponsored child's mother hand you a letter written in the most beautiful broken English…pouring her heart out as to how her little girl's life has been radically changed because of sponsorship.  Grace.  Grace to experience this.  Grace to see Jesus at work.  Read a portion of that letter and the accompanying art from my little girl Ydidiya, here: Insights from the Mother of a Sponsored Child.
This is ridiculous grace!  It is a priceless gift.  The depth of joy that is experienced(by both parties) is indescribable.  It is God's grace.  It is Him orchestrating circumstances that bring an abundance of joy to those he sends and those he joins together.  It is a loving Heavenly Father rejoicing over His children who so often take his blessings for granted.
Grace.

In his amazing book on grace, ONE WAY LOVE, Tullian Tchividjian writes:
"The wonderful truth is that Jesus doesn't need perfect vessels to accomplish his will.  He needs broken ones - men and women who have been slain, humiliated, disillusioned of all their 'I can do it, really I can!'  'This time I'll try harder!'  'Just give me a little more time…' self-deception."

"What qualifies us for service is God's devotion to us - not our devotion to Him.  This is as plainly as I can say it: the value of our lives rests on God's infinite, incomprehensible, unconditional love for us - not our love for Him."  

From a loving Father's heart, and by way of His grace, choses…allows us to go and serve others.
Also, as recipients of His grace, we are compelled not only to go, but to share this same grace with a hurting, cynical, beat up world that so desperately needs the hope of the Gospel.

In Ephesians 3:14-19, scripture tells us of a love so extravagant that we cannot, in our own power, comprehend it.
We are deeply loved by God.  In that love, by His grace he pursues us, captivates our hearts and sends us.   His love is the inexhaustible well from which His lavish grace springs forth.

Grace Allows.  Grace Compels.

A Look Back on a Miraculous Meeting

This is an updated version of my first post from 2012.  It's a beautiful story of God's hand sovereignly bringing two lives together.

HERE is a 2 minute video of Yididiya and I seeing one another for the first time in a year.

A BIG FYI: Those who have supported my going to Nazret, Ethiopia the last 3 years have been instrumental in me becoming a passionate supporter and Advocate for Compassion International.  By the grace of God, this resulted in my having the privilege of not only sponsoring 2 children there, but introducing other people to Compassion International, and facilitating the sponsorship of about 80 children from Nazret between 2012 and 2014(this does not include the additional 30 or so children from others countries).  

Below is the amazing story of how God miraculously brought my sponsored child and I together…thus stirring my heart for the people of Nazret, Ethiopia.  

A LIFE-ALTERING GAME OF PEEK-A-BOO
Reflecting back, I cannot believe that I am getting ready to embark on my fourth consecutive trip to Nazret, Ethiopia.  It has been not only humbling to see and be a part of, but amazing to observe, over time, the impact the ministry of Compassion International has on a child's life.  Not only Yididiya, but countless others I've spent time with over the last several years.

On my first trip to Ethiopia with Compassion International in 2011, I had no idea that Jesus would forever change my life by way of a spontaneous game of peek-a-boo with a 4-5 year old little girl who looked a little different than her peers.

As team photographer, I snuck out the side door of the large church gathering in order to capture a few images of the overflow of worshipers who were congregating on the steps outside the back of the building.  This church was the location of a thriving Compassion International project with over 200 children already sponsored. (UPDATE: There are now over 330 children in the project.  About 120 have been sponsored by folks at South Bay Church in San Jose, CA)

As I stood in amazement at how many people were listening to the sermon from outside, I noticed a little girl- about 20 feet away from me- huddled behind her mother.  She was peeking out at me with an inquisitive smile.  I waved at her in the same manner we Americans wave at children (not quite a wave, but just wriggling the fingers).  She paused, did the same wave back at me, and hid behind her mother who was listening intently to the preacher.
When she playfully peered out from behind mom again, I did the same wave.  She giggled.  We went back and forth with this little game of peek-a-boo for a few minutes...her trying to restrain the laughter...as not to disturb her mother.  After a few more peek-a-boo's, she ran over to me said something in Amharic(local language), giggled, and ran back to hide behind her mom.  A few minutes later...the same thing- she ran up to me, said something, giggled and went back.

She was lighter skinned than the rest of the kids and it was clear her father was not native Ethiopian.

I asked the Ethiopian man next to me what the situation was with this little girl.  He explained that the husband(who was Ukrainian) had left his wife when was 3 months pregnant.  Just after his explanation, the girl ran up to me again, said something while tugging on my arm, giggled and ran back to mom...this time looking back at me as if waiting for a response.
The man leaned over to me and said, "She thinks you are her father."
   SPEECHLESS.  My heart sank.  I felt a strange mix of anger, sadness and flat-out indignation.  I felt my eyes welling up.  Time after time on this trip I had met children who's father was not present.  Sometimes he had died.  Sometimes drug or alcohol abuse.  Sometimes he simply walked out on his wife and children.
I waved again at the little girl...and went to walk off my frustration.  I did not see her again that day.  It was the last day of our trip.

I found my self recalling and re-telling that story multiple times in my remaining time in Ethiopia.  Also, back in the states, I told it over and over again.

I could not shake it off.  What was going on in that little girl's heart? Does this happen each time she sees a white man: "Could that be my daddy?"  I could not imagine.  It broke my heart.

Fast forward 8 weeks.  Back in the states.  Compassion Sunday.  Our church had an opportunity to sponsor over 50 children from the same Compassion project we visited while in Nazret, Ethiopia.

I was really excited to sponsor another child.  I have a little boy named Luckson in Haiti, and it has been a joy to interact with him.  I showed up at church and immediately went to the Compassion table and started looking through profiles of all the beautiful children we had the opportunity to sponsor. Face after face...after precious face.  Sweet kids.

As I was going through the stack, I was stopped in my tracks as I looked at one of the profiles:  Could it be?  No...not possible.  Maybe?  No.  Not possible.

I was stunned.  There she was...the same little girl with whom I played peek-a-boo more 8 weeks ago…8000 miles away!  The same little girl who thought I was her father was staring back in me in a photo!!!  God  delivered little Yididiya to me in a manner I could not imagined!  What a gift she has been.

Her name means, "Loved by God."  And she is.  As am I.  What did I do to deserve this miracle? Nothing.  I am loved by Jesus.  Period.  And so is Yididiya.

Well, one year after sponsoring my little friend, I went back to Ethiopia to meet her officially.
I cannot put in words.  This precious little one captured...no...captivated my heart.  I believe Jesus gave me the same heart for her as he has for me.

She calls me "Abaye" (ah-by-hey), which means "daddy".  Her mother, Genet,  shared that "Yididiya is at peace now because she had so many questions about fatherhood".  Her mother said this to me, "When someone asks who her father is, she answers, your name.  Yididiya is not only my daughter.  She is your daughter...because she loves you equal to me."
CHOKE.  The humility of her mother being able to say that absolutely broke me.  I realized that sponsoring a child has more impact than I can ever fathom...or put in words.  WHAT A PRIVILEGE it is to bless this precious little child in the name of Jesus.  There is not enough space to share my heart on a blog.  You need to experience this yourself!

As a man called to serve and shepherd the body of Christ, my experience in Ethiopia has stirred my heart for those to whom I am called to minister in the states. The impoverished people on the African continent have a freedom in Christ that I desire to see more of here in America.  They are indeed rich because they see Jesus as their ultimate treasure, and their affections are set on him accordingly!

God is Father to the fatherless...and he has given me the privilege of doing the same for Yididiya.

I am grateful.

Shake Your Settled Soul

It has been a matra of mine for a number of years now.  Each time I return from a mission trip, I become more and more convinced of the truth held within the statement.   I've seen the lives of team members get turned upside-down as they serve in developing nations…and come back to the states with a greater passion to not only serve abroad, but locally.  I've seen hearts break not only for the poorest of the poor in places like Ethiopia, but for people back here in the comfortable United States.

Hearts break, hands engage, pocket-books open up, local outreach happens.

I am fully convinced of this:
GLOBAL MISSIONS IS A CATALYST FOR LOCAL MISSIONS.

This is a very counterintuitive statement, and I believe, one that causes some leaders and pastors to break into a cold sweat.  It is counterintuitive because it flies in the face of what appears to be logical.  It often disregards the constraints of budget and perceived volunteers limitations.  When first considered, it messes with set schedules, risks the shaking-up of calendared campaigns, and challenges vision.  

Though they will not say it in such a way, I believe many church leaders are afraid of global missions largely because it costs money and resources that, quite frankly, they are already in short measure of in their church community.  It is understandable.

In our culture, often in long-established churches, we are bent toward the comfortable.  Leaders knowing and/or unknowingly hold tightly onto the status quo.  Slip into maintenance mode.  Keep what and who they have.  People in churches are not lovingly challenged to step out of the comfortable bubble in which they've lived for years.

God-sized vision shrinks into what is "viable" from man's perspective.  Risk gets tamed into talking about what is "reasonable".  Church growth and impact flat-lines.  Yawn...

Don't get me wrong.  I am aware there are many well established church communities that have amazing legacies of global missions…both in sending and supporting missionaries.  There are countless souls that will enter eternity with Jesus because of these many faithful, global-minded churches.  Thank God for his grace and mercy in these faithful communities!

Additionally, I am grateful to be part of a church movement…a new generation of church start-ups, that have in their DNA, hearts for local AND global missions.  We've also partnered with, and are learning from some of these more established churches around the country that have been faithful to the global call for decades.

I've seen first hand how generosity (of time, talent and money) begets generosity.  God designed His people to give.  To sacrifice for others.  To pour ourselves out for others in the same extravagant way Jesus did for us.   Whether we realize it or not, the desire to give of ourselves is in our spiritual DNA.  People who dare to taste a bit of what they were designed for become contagiously alive!

Now, without making excuses for them, I want to be sensitive to the fact that there are usually many factors that lead a church to land in a field of comfort and complacency.  Caring for, and training up a church community is no easy task and comes with a set of it's own unique challenges and heartaches.  But, I am also convinced that a well thought out global "push" can play a vital part (read, "PART")  in breathing life into a church that has caved-in to comfort and survival mode.

Unfortunately, according to statistics, the majority of the American Church has landed in park.  Stalled-out and declining not only in attendance, but in impact and influence, they settle into maintenance mode.   The Church begins to falter in it's call…in her mandate to serve "the least of these", both globally AND locally.  Often, she appears to have forgotten, or is ignoring Jesus' final words before he ascended back to heaven.  The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is left to collect dust.

Sadly, instead of reaching out to the lost and training up new disciples - sending them out to serve locally and globally, many(dare I say, most), of our churches in the US appear to be in the business of maintaining and coddling the few regulars that "show and throw".  They faithfully show up regularly and throw a few bucks in the plate on Sunday morning.
Often times this pool of faithful, steadfast folks are, without even knowing it themselves, waiting…ready for a spark of renewed purpose and vision!    

Leaders say it is easier to give birth than to resurrect the dead.  (Now, I'm not sure if mothers would agree).  The idea is that trying to breathe life into a "lifeless" church is really, REALLY tough, and one might be better off starting a new work…planting a church…or starting a new ministry elsewhere…or simply hitting oneself over the head with a large hammer over and over.

A church in "park" mode surely has a myriad of issues to deal with, and must move forward with much wise counsel and gracious, patient leadership.  But, since church planting is not every pastor's call, what does one do?

I'd like to propose just ONE missing element in a church on life support may be this: 
Disciple making - Jesus style.
NOTE:  I said ONE part.  This one part will most likely be way down the list of other more crucial issues that must be addressed.   I believe, this aspect of discipleship, if initiated prayerfully…with wisdom…at the right time…could be a game changer.

Note: Though I am addressing the church that is in need of some new life-giving vision, the church that is already alive and vibrant will only increase in impact as it engages in Global Missions.

Discipleship Jesus style is not simply teaching someone the ways of Christ, but it is inextricably tied to missions.  Jesus WENT.  Jesus SENT (locally and globally).  Jesus and his disciples sat amongst the "least of these".  The poor.  The sick.  The hungry. Those who were cast aside by the religious and the comfortable.  His disciples left what they considered comfortable in order to serve others and share the gospel.  They not only challenged the religious leaders and well-to-do, but they served and lived amongst the poor and destitute.

Serving the poor and hungry is not a spiritual gift.
Nor is it a calling for only certain Christians.  It is a mandate given by Jesus.  More than that, it is (or ought to be) an outpouring of who we are as Christ-followers.

Jesus had, and still has much to say to His Church about caring for the "least of these", but no scripture is more in-your-face than Matthew 25:31-46.  It is too long to write here, so look it up.
In short Jesus makes it clear that if we are not taking care of the poor, we do not have the heart of God…and do not have a place in eternity with him.  Ouch.  I didn't say it…Jesus did.

This is not "works based" theology.  Jesus is simply saying that a heart truly connected to His, will break for the same things that break His.  Again, it has nothing to do with calling or spiritual giftedness.  The apostles all had different strengths and gifts, but in addition to ministering to peers, the well-to-do, influential and "clean", they ALL served with Jesus amongst the poor, the sick, the oppressed and those society labeled as worthless.

Jesus values those people the world casts aside.  The disciples didn't only watch him tear down the religious status quo of the movers and the shakers in His day, they witnessed him exhibit compassion and broken heartedness for the oppressed and poor…and they followed in the same manner.

Jesus did not simply tell His disciples to "Go".  He didn't simply mention "the least of these" in conversations.  Jesus WENT and got into the mess.  Jesus' heart broke.  Jesus wept.  He did more than preach.  He "did".  His disciples followed…and in their wake, countless others learned to love and pour their lives out in the same way.

This one shift in how our faith is lived out could be a game changer in the life of a church.

GLOBAL MISSION IS A CATALYST FOR LOCAL MISSIONS.

It is true.  Now, I am NOT saying that local missions can't be just as powerful of a way to breathe life back into a sleepy church body.  There is MASSIVE need for effective, long-term local outreach.
What I am saying is in light of the relative comfort of American living, one of the most effective ways to augment, or jumpstart life into local outreach and gospel influence is to get people to see what life is like in a so-called third-world nation.
It serves as a wake up call.

IT SHAKES THE SETTLED SOUL.

Pastor Craig Groeschel, of Life Church says it very well in this 60 second clip: www.vimeo.com/77417947
Often what we need is to have our settled souls shaken up.  Go and see, first-hand what life is like in a developing nation.   Allow your heart to be disturbed by how joyful and satisfied people can be…when they have nothing.

Now don't get me wrong.  I am very happy to have a toilet (and not a hole in the ground I share with 20 other people).  I appreciate having running water (vs. contaminated water carried in 5 gallon jerry cans).  I am grateful for a selection of food (vs. hoping to have one meal in a day).  I am also eternally grateful that God opened my eyes not only to the needs of those in another culture, but through my experiences overseas, moved me to greater action in my own community.  Having one's perspective changed can do wonders for the complacency which stems from comfort.

Go.

Go.  Hold a child living in extreme poverty and filth.  Visit the 10x12 dirt-floor shack that is home to a single mom who's husband abandoned her…leaving her with HIV and five children, ages 1 - 10.  Listen to here story.  Look into her eyes and see they strange mix of hopelessness and of joy.  Hopelessness, that comes from knowing life will probably not get much better than it is right now.  Joy, which comes from a hope she has because her and her children intimately know, and desperately need this Jesus so many back home in America take for granted.

Drink the coffee she makes you…the bread she bakes for you…probably costing her a week's worth of the pittance of a living she might scrape together.  Sit in one of the couple chairs she borrowed as extras so she could serve guests in her home.  Observe how she proudly serves you.  She is truly honored and humbled to have you in her home.  Notice how she keeps her few belonging organized.  Her children treat you with great respect.

If you've sponsored one of her children through Compassion International, your child will bring out a shoe box or folder with every letter…every photo you have sent.  Look on the wall or table and you'll see a picture of you…often with a prayer of thanks written next to it.
You begin to see the unexpected ripple effect sponsoring this child has had on the home and the community in which she lives.

Before you leave, the translator asks if you would like to pray for the mom, the sponsored child and siblings.   You do.  You can barely get the words out through the tears.  As you pray, you hear the mom agreeing…saying, "amen" over and over again.  You are sweating a bit…not necessarily from heat, but it's just kind of intense.  Perhaps your soul is being touched in a new way…perhaps God is graciously breaking your heart.  It breaks not only for this woman and her children…but, as your spirit is challenged by the how these people so desperately love and cling to Jesus, your heart breaks for your fellow Christians and the un-churched and de-churched back home who so often take the gospel for granted.

You say your farewells and hug mom and the kids.  You give your sponsored child a hug and you feel as though they are going to squeeze tears out of you.  Into the van, and you are off.  As you drive away, you are amazed at the joy and peace you experiences in this impoverished home.  You sensed a freedom to love Jesus for who He is…NOT for what He could give.
Read about my first face to face encounter with my sponsored child here: A Look Back at a Miraculous Meeting

Perspective change from a group of people in a church body just may be the spark that ignites a flame.
If your local church community is already lit up, global missions simply fans the flame.  A handful of people influences another handful…and so on.  They find they can no longer park themselves in the Sunday pews, but instead, desire to see others "wake up".   They desire to experience the freedom of loose hands…letting go and trusting God as they step out to love on others.

The local Church is assigned by Jesus to be THE transformational and redemptive agent in a hurting, broken, self-focused world.
She is the Hope of the world.  She ought to be…no...needs to be alive and vibrant.  As it is with the individual Christ-follower, the Church becomes more alive as she dies to herself and serves others.  It is what she was made for.

Make the decision to go.  Go.  GO!  If you are a leader.  GO!!!  Go first...as leaders do.  Bring others with you.
Try it.  Experience it.  Share it.  CELEBRATE what God does.

Jesus did more than preach and teach.  He went.  He did.

God could use the experience of you and your team to spark new life into your faith community.

Go!   

GLOBAL MISSION IS A CATALYST FOR LOCAL MISSIONS ! ! !

CLICK HERE to see a testimony of how "GOING" impacts both those who "go" and those who we visit.

NOTE: One of the best and most simple ways to begin this process of Global outreach is to host a Compassion Sunday via Compassion International (www.compassion.com).
Engaging in life-changing relationships with children living in extreme poverty can be one of the most transformational and life-giving experiences of your life…and the life of your church.
I can personally help you plan an event.  It will be a catalytic experience for your church community.
contact me: marklewis777@gmail.com

Be Careful What You Wish For

Samuel.  The sweetest little dude at the Compassion Project in Nazret, Ethiopia.  Well…maybe not the sweetest…most of the kids are.  Either way, this little 10 year old boy was my fly-paper kid each time our van arrived at the project on a daily basis.  Stuck to me before I am out of the van!
The driver would honk the horn.  Gate gets opened by an attendant (who is usually waving a well meaning child away from opening it themselves).  We drive in.  Kids walking along next to the van while we are still moving... with huge smiles…waving…saying "Selam"…or "Ha-lo" (both= "hello").   If they attach your name to the greeting your heart melts.
One of my favorite arrival experiences was when Samuel walks up to my window:  "Ha-lo, Mahk".  "Selam, Samuel.  Indemin allen?"(Hello, Samuel.  How are you?).  "Fine, Mahk.  How are you?  You have chocolate?" He didn't even skip a beat.  I heard him…but still said, "Huh?"  He comes in close…big smile and asks again…very quietly, "You have chocolate?"   "No.  I don't have any chocolate.  Next time, ok?"   He smiles and follows until we come to a full stop.
Van stops.  Locust swarm of joyful kids ensues.  It's pretty much a love bomb.  Seriously!  It's ironic that we go there with the intent of loving on these kids(which we do), but they out do us every time I've gone there.
As I say hello to kid after smiling kids, Samuel comes up and give me a hug and once again says, "Ha-lo, Mahk".  As he looks up with a sweet smile and huge, gentle eyes, I lean to a team member and say, "I wonder if he is sponsored?".   It kind of happens like that on these trips.  Ya wanna sponsor them all.  But there is the one or two with whom there is a special connection.  He was that for me.

From the midst of the giddy mob of little ones, there was a tiny little girl in a red letterman jacket (I have no idea how she got that) who walked right up and pretty much made it clear I was to pick her up.  He smile said it.  "Pick me up or I'll just stand here and smile until your heart turns into liquid".  It just happened.  There she was, tucked in under my arm.  Interestingly, the day prior, I had seen her from a distance and recognized her from my previous trip there.  I have photo of her from 2012 sitting across the isle from me…staring at me in the greeting room the day we arrived that year.
I popped on my iPhone video and spun her in circles…capturing her giggles and we went in circles.  After about 5 spins, I stopped.  I noticed her head bobbled a bit and her eyes were almost crossed.  I thought, "Uh, oh…never been dizzy before?   Gonna barf?  Cry?"  She smiled again as I put her down.  Then played chase with her.  It was sweet to hear her laugh so hard as were ran around the van.

I played with her (I did not get her name) and Samuel quite a bit on the days more sponsored child, Yididiya, was not there.   I did inquire about Samuel…it turned out he was already sponsored.  I was happy for him…but selfishly…a bit disappointed.  The cool things is that when one returns to the same project annually, great relationships are built with many of the children, so sponsorship is not necessary in order to have a friendship that shows them they are loved.   Since I saw the little girl there the year prior, I assumed she was sponsored as well.  I figure God will open the door at the right time with the child He has chosen for me to sponsor.  But, I still wished I could have sponsored her.  I thought it would be cool for Yididiya to have a "sister".

That was August of 2013.  In November of that year, South Bay Church would have what we called "Impact Sunday".  We would share video and stories about Local and Global Impact we were involved with in 2013…and cast vision for where we thought God was leading us in 2014.

One of the tasks I was charged with was ordering some child packets from Compassion International that represented children from our project in Ethiopia.  There were only about 10 children left from that specific project.  So, Compassion International sent us those 10 child packets, and another 90 or so from within the same community of Nazret.

Another major task was to produce a video that shared the Ethiopia trip testimony of myself and team member Kalani.  Kalani's story is one of stepping out in faith that, to this day, inspires me. - click this link to watch it: www.vimeo.com/79863446
As my buddy Tyler Wiest and I were in the church offices finalizing the video at 12:30am on a Thurs night, I decided to open the box of child packets from Compassion.  I figured I'd recognize some of the 10 children from our partner church.

So…we just finish the video.  It's 12:30am.  Video is processing on the mac.  I open the box from Compassion to see who I'd recognize.  Guess who was in that stack?  Yep.  Little letterman jacket girl.  Seriously?!  2.5 months later?!?!?  She shows up.
But WAIT!  There's MORE!  In the video, aside from Kalani's faith-building story, I shared how I miraculously meet Yididiya, and I read an excerpt of letter from her mother.   I also included some general footage of the team.  We inserted a clip of me spinning that little girl in the letterman jacket.  Remember?…the one I wished I could sponsor?
The video featured Kalani's beautiful story of faith.  Her meeting her child…her child's mother coming to faith DURING her visit.  It not only contained footage of myself and my sponsored child, Yididiya. The video also shows me with my newly sponsored little letterman jacket girl, Edelawit…BEFORE I knew I'd sponsor her.   We finished the video…I opened to box.  There she was.  MIND.  BLOWN.  Edelawit SPONSORED.

  Above is the photo I mentioned from 2012.  The other is from 2013 - before I knew I'd sponsor her!

I love how God is so clearly digging my heart into the community of Nazret Ethiopia and building my faith and trust in Him as my loving Heavenly Father.  And he is doing it through these beautiful little children.

As they say…"Be careful what you wish for."

See ya again soon…on the Ethiopian Road

Sponsor a child through Compassion International  www.compassion.com
For more info on our 2014 Ethiopia Trip  www.southbaychurch.org/missions

On The Road…once again.

So many familiar faces pop out of the mini-mob of smiling children.
As I arrived at the Compassion project for my 3rd consecutive year, I was humbled and overjoyed by how many of these little ones remembered my face and name from the previous year.  Though I recognized many of the faces, the names…hmmm…a bit more of a challenge for a guy used to western names:)
Not only did they remember me, but some of them quickly began to say, "Hello, Mahk(Mark)", while mimicking the goofy knee-knocking boogie we did the year prior.   Some of my assumptions as a visitor would soon be wiped away.

Though the children at the project CLEARLY loved us and enjoyed visiting, I had ASSUMED they responded this way to every church that visited them.  It would make sense, right?  New people to spend time with…to play with…to share with, etc.   One would assume it to be normal for these little ones to be totally excited about any foreign visitor.  And excited, they were!  As was I.

As so many times in the past, my assumption was dead-wrong.

I learned not only did just 2% of sponsored children ever meet their sponsors, but South Bay Church was the only church that had made the commitment to visit this specific Compassion Project on a regular basis.   Our presence there truly was a HUGE deal for these children and our partner church, Nazret Emmanuel United Church.

This took my understanding and appreciation of every smile, every hug, every drawing handed to me by a child to a whole new level.

I realized that those of us who come to visit on an annual basis, become almost like surrogate sponsors to the children that have not, and will most likely, never meet their sponsors.  It is VERY clear that they love and appreciate their own sponsors very, very much…as they are quick to bring out letters and photos that were sent to them from sponsors all around the world.  But, for them to have face time with somebody, even if it is not their own sponsor, is a really big deal.  One can quickly see their hearts open up.  More than once in the past 3 years going to Nazret, have I watch, over the course of several days, the heart of a timid, hesitant child open up and become vulnerable enough to grab my hand…or make me a drawing that says, "I love you, Mark".

"I love you, Mark"?   Really?   After a couple days?

My cynical side says, "Right.   Of course, they 'love' me/us.   They are little kids…it's easy for them to say that".   The reality I've discovered over the past 3 years in going to the same community in Ethiopia is this:  When one has so little "stuff" in their hands, their heart is free to give and receive love quickly.  They value people and relationships more readily that our western culture does because they intrinsically do not take affection and care from another human being for granted.  When living in extreme poverty, relationships are all one has.  Relationship with one another…and relationship with God.  Relationships are the greatest treasures one has.

So this August, 2014, I once again venture out onto The Ethiopian Road.  This being my fourth consecutive year going is extra special.  Click HERE to see a video recap from 2013.
First, I have sponsored and second child in the project.  Her name is Edelawit, and my prayer is that her and my original child, Yididya, will become "sisters" of sorts.  I will share the story of sponsoring Edelawit in a later post.  I can't wait to see them both!
Secondly, though I've co-led trips in the past, this will be my first year actually leading our trip.  The team of 12 is in place.  We've begun meeting on a regular basis to build unity and prepare our hearts for what God has in store.

It seems that the time leading up to the trip goes painfully slow.  But I also know that once we get there, time passes all to fast.  So we learn to live in the moment…to savor every smile…every hug…every tug on the hand.  We learn not to "assume".   We learn to "feel" every "I love you"…and say it back in Amharic:  "Ewedeshalehu" for the girls or "Ewedehalehu", for the boys...Because it is very real.  It is a treasure to cherish.

Please consider supporting this endeavor!  More info here: www.southbaychurch.org/missions