Well, the last two weeks have been busy ones. I was in Latham, Illinois on Sunday, October 20th. I visited this church soon after I started deputation, so it was a blessing to return and see people that I already knew. Then this past weekend, I spent Saturday and Sunday in North Liberty, Indiana. I spoke for a kids' harvest rally on Saturday evening. The Lord worked and three kids went out to talk to someone about salvation. Then I had a part in both services on Sunday.
My support continues to climb. With the addition of another church and another individual (actually a couple), I am at 94%. The increase is encouraging as it helps confirm to me the Lord's direction and blessing.
Things are falling into place in other areas as well. Friday will be my last day at work. My church has scheduled my commissioning service for 2pm on Saturday, December 6th. I will then leave for South Carolina on the following Monday and Tuesday to spend the remaining weeks with my dad. I have tickets to fly out of Atlanta on the evening of Saturday, January 3rd.
Please continue to pray that I will stay focused and accomplish everything I need to in the weeks ahead.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
On the Way!
A lot has happened in the last week or so. First, I added another church to bring me up to 89%. Then, Dad suggested I speak with the deputation director at my mission board to see what I should be doing when as my support level climbs. When I told him where I was at (that I am expecting another church to begin supporting me this month and at least two other churches are considering support), he said I should go ahead and begin making plans to leave! Yippee!
It is incredibly exciting and incredibly terrifying all at once. When I think of all that needs to be done in the next three months, it is a bit overwhelming. I gave my boss notice that I will be quitting work effective the end of this month. (My job has been incredibly flexible, allowing me to continue working while being gone for days and weeks at a stretch.) That will give me November to pack and get rid of things. My church will have a commissioning service for me in mid December. Then I will go to South Carolina to spend Christmas with my dad. Lord willing, I will fly out of Atlanta on Saturday, January 3rd and arrive in Papua New Guinea on Monday, January 5th.
Please pray that the Lord will superintend in all the details of the next several weeks, and also that He will bring in the remainder of my support. I still can't believe that the goal is actually in sight!
It is incredibly exciting and incredibly terrifying all at once. When I think of all that needs to be done in the next three months, it is a bit overwhelming. I gave my boss notice that I will be quitting work effective the end of this month. (My job has been incredibly flexible, allowing me to continue working while being gone for days and weeks at a stretch.) That will give me November to pack and get rid of things. My church will have a commissioning service for me in mid December. Then I will go to South Carolina to spend Christmas with my dad. Lord willing, I will fly out of Atlanta on Saturday, January 3rd and arrive in Papua New Guinea on Monday, January 5th.
Please pray that the Lord will superintend in all the details of the next several weeks, and also that He will bring in the remainder of my support. I still can't believe that the goal is actually in sight!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A Victory Won
A lot has happened over the last couple of weeks, but I haven't managed to take time to write it all down. I have had several deputation meetings in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin that all seemed to go well. Once again the Lord gave safe journeys and kind people to help out along the way. My support has gone up a bit again. I am now at 87.5%. Just another step closer to the goal! Tomorrow I will head to Pekin, IL for a missions conference at Faith Baptist Church. They are already supporters, so I am looking forward to being with them again.
On a bit more personal note though, the Lord has been doing some amazing things in my life. I had been rather discouraged/frustrated regarding my effectiveness as a soulwinner. I have witnessed faithfully for years, but had never led anyone to the Lord outside of dealing with those that came forward at a church service. I had been told that the results didn't really matter, leave that to the Lord, He just wants you to be faithful. But I couldn't reconcile that advice with clear statements in God's Word such as "the harvest truly is plenteous" and "I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit." Here I was preparing to leave for the mission field, but I wasn't seeing God use me to see souls saved here.
I made plans to attend a soulwinning seminar in Wisconsin in mid-September, sort of as a last ditch effort to get some insight on all this. The week before the seminar, the Lord really dealt with me about some areas in my life that I had been excusing/pushing under the carpet. They were nothing major (hence the excuses), but they were displeasing the Lord and hindering His blessing. I got those things cleared up and allowed the Lord to "clean house" so to speak. That was Saturday night. The next morning I was at my home church and a lady came forward for salvation. I dealt with her using the Romans Road method. In the course of our discussion, I showed her Romans 10:13 "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." I told her that she could plug her name into that verse, and that if she called upon the Lord, she would be saved. I fully believed that the verse meant what it said and expected her to as well. Later that week, I realized that just as I took that verse at face value and depended on it for my eternal security, I could depend on the other statements of the Word as well. That meant that the fields arewhite to harvest, whether they look that way to me or not.
All this enabled me to head to the soulwinning seminar with an air of anticipation, really expecting God to do something special. The seminar was Netcasters, taught by John Van Gelderen and hosted at Falls Baptist Church in Wisconsin. That week I learned a good method for giving the gospel, but more importantly I learned that I could depend on the power of the Holy Spirit (not anything in me) and expect Him to work through me in the hearts of those I spoke to. The Lord used me to lead two girls to the Lord that week and allowed me to have other conversations where He was clearly working. It wasn't a matter of trying to push people into getting saved or just having them pray a prayer, but clearly explaining the gospel and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict them and bring them to a point of decision.
I came home excited about the work God wants to do and will do through anyone who is surrendered to and depending on Him. I have been out witnessing in parks and neighborhoods several times in the weeks since and have continued to see God at work. Today I got to lead a teenage girl to the Lord, the daughter of that lady who came forward in the church service. I am starting to see the people around me in a whole new light -- as souls in need of a Savior.
I know this has been a lengthy post, but I just wanted to share the incredible work that God is doing. I am so thankful for the promise of Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
On a bit more personal note though, the Lord has been doing some amazing things in my life. I had been rather discouraged/frustrated regarding my effectiveness as a soulwinner. I have witnessed faithfully for years, but had never led anyone to the Lord outside of dealing with those that came forward at a church service. I had been told that the results didn't really matter, leave that to the Lord, He just wants you to be faithful. But I couldn't reconcile that advice with clear statements in God's Word such as "the harvest truly is plenteous" and "I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit." Here I was preparing to leave for the mission field, but I wasn't seeing God use me to see souls saved here.
I made plans to attend a soulwinning seminar in Wisconsin in mid-September, sort of as a last ditch effort to get some insight on all this. The week before the seminar, the Lord really dealt with me about some areas in my life that I had been excusing/pushing under the carpet. They were nothing major (hence the excuses), but they were displeasing the Lord and hindering His blessing. I got those things cleared up and allowed the Lord to "clean house" so to speak. That was Saturday night. The next morning I was at my home church and a lady came forward for salvation. I dealt with her using the Romans Road method. In the course of our discussion, I showed her Romans 10:13 "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." I told her that she could plug her name into that verse, and that if she called upon the Lord, she would be saved. I fully believed that the verse meant what it said and expected her to as well. Later that week, I realized that just as I took that verse at face value and depended on it for my eternal security, I could depend on the other statements of the Word as well. That meant that the fields arewhite to harvest, whether they look that way to me or not.
All this enabled me to head to the soulwinning seminar with an air of anticipation, really expecting God to do something special. The seminar was Netcasters, taught by John Van Gelderen and hosted at Falls Baptist Church in Wisconsin. That week I learned a good method for giving the gospel, but more importantly I learned that I could depend on the power of the Holy Spirit (not anything in me) and expect Him to work through me in the hearts of those I spoke to. The Lord used me to lead two girls to the Lord that week and allowed me to have other conversations where He was clearly working. It wasn't a matter of trying to push people into getting saved or just having them pray a prayer, but clearly explaining the gospel and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict them and bring them to a point of decision.
I came home excited about the work God wants to do and will do through anyone who is surrendered to and depending on Him. I have been out witnessing in parks and neighborhoods several times in the weeks since and have continued to see God at work. Today I got to lead a teenage girl to the Lord, the daughter of that lady who came forward in the church service. I am starting to see the people around me in a whole new light -- as souls in need of a Savior.
I know this has been a lengthy post, but I just wanted to share the incredible work that God is doing. I am so thankful for the promise of Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Traveling Again
It's been a while since I posted, but things have been rather quiet on the deputation front. This past Wednesday was the first meeting I have had since I returned from Wisconsin in early August. I enjoyed the short trip up to Geneva, Illinois and the opportunity to once again share about the ministry in Papua New Guinea.
The past weeks have been filled with work at my local hospital, various church activities, and attempting to schedule more meetings for the upcoming months. September is fairly busy with three meetings in IL, WI, and IN, but at present I have only one meeting each in October and November.
I now have a little over 84% of my support, and I'm still praying that the Lord will bring in the rest in time to allow me to leave for the field by late this year or early next year.
I leave Saturday to head to Barron, Wisconsin then I will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin all next week for a soulwinning seminar. It will be good to be traveling once again. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
The past weeks have been filled with work at my local hospital, various church activities, and attempting to schedule more meetings for the upcoming months. September is fairly busy with three meetings in IL, WI, and IN, but at present I have only one meeting each in October and November.
I now have a little over 84% of my support, and I'm still praying that the Lord will bring in the rest in time to allow me to leave for the field by late this year or early next year.
I leave Saturday to head to Barron, Wisconsin then I will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin all next week for a soulwinning seminar. It will be good to be traveling once again. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Back Home
Well, I'm finally home for a few days. I spent the last week serving as camp nurse for a Wisconsin church's family camp. I didn't really know anyone going into the week, but ended up making a lot of friends and having a great time. The camp was held on the grounds of a small Bible camp in north central Wisconsin.
Since my last post, another church has taken me on for support, bringing me to 83.8%. Praise the Lord!
I'm now home for a little while, so I'll be able to get back to my home church and do a bit of work at the hospital. My next official deputation meeting is in early September. I will, of course, have some other deputation work to do with sending out more packets and contacting pastors. I'm still trying to schedule meetings for the remainder of this year and spring of next year, all the while hoping that I won't need them:-) All in the Lord's timing though.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A Happy Camper
It's been a little while since I've been able to post here, but I've been busy at camp with only limited internet access. I am in the midst of my 5th week as the Camp Nurse at Camp Assurance. By God's grace, all the illnesses and injuries have so far been fairly minor. I only have one week left and am praying that it will stay this calm.
I have really enjoyed being a part of the ministry here. Due to a large number of campers for one of the junior weeks, I was able to be a counselor for a cabin of eight girls. During that week, one girl in my cabin was saved and two got assurance of their salvation. It is a tremondous blessing to be used in the Lord's service.
I have been continuing to travel on the weekends. I had a meeting in Corning, Iowa and another in Beloit, Wisconsin. (I will be assisting the church in Beloit as camp nurse for their family camp in a couple of weeks.) This Sunday, I will be visiting a church in Oak Park, Illinois.
The Lord has continued to provide support, bringing me to 79%. Please pray with me that the remainder of my support would come in by the end of the year, if that would be the Lord's plan.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Profitable Time
The last two weeks have been very profitable times for me personally, although not very active on the deputation side of things. I spent June 2-7 at the Wilds for a conference with my mission agency, Gospel Fellowship Association. It was a week of helpful workshops, encouraging messages, and enjoyable fellowship. I especially enjoyed hanging out with some other New Guinea missionaries, one on furlough, two short termers, and one on deputation.
When I left the Wilds, I intended to head to Wisconsin for a meeting in La Crosse. First, I was detoured due to the flooding in Indiana. Then, the flooding and mud slides in Wisconsin led me to cancel the meeting all together. I hope to reschedule it for later this summer.
This week I have been home for a change:-) My home church had special meetings with John Van Gelderen. It is the second week of meetings that he has had here since I began attending, and the Lord really used his messages to open my eyes further to some of the truths of His Word.
Tonight after church, I will be heading over to Camp Assurance, a small Christian camp in Eastern Illinois. I will be serving there as camp nurse and general utility person for several weeks this summer, while still doing some deputation meetings on the weekends. I'm excited to be a part of that ministry for a short time.
When I left the Wilds, I intended to head to Wisconsin for a meeting in La Crosse. First, I was detoured due to the flooding in Indiana. Then, the flooding and mud slides in Wisconsin led me to cancel the meeting all together. I hope to reschedule it for later this summer.
This week I have been home for a change:-) My home church had special meetings with John Van Gelderen. It is the second week of meetings that he has had here since I began attending, and the Lord really used his messages to open my eyes further to some of the truths of His Word.
Tonight after church, I will be heading over to Camp Assurance, a small Christian camp in Eastern Illinois. I will be serving there as camp nurse and general utility person for several weeks this summer, while still doing some deputation meetings on the weekends. I'm excited to be a part of that ministry for a short time.
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