I'm sitting in the Orlando Airport reflecting over the past few weeks. As I type this, I'm riding an emotional rollercoaster. I realize that I'm physically very tired, which is probably adding to the waves of heavy sadness that keep crashing over me. I'm fighting off the attacks through forcing myself to remember the exciting ministry God has waiting for us in Costa Rica. The pain diminishes as I'm motivated by God's calling, my strength and joy return, but I fear this is only temporary as I can feel waves building on the horizon.
Our trip to the Untied States was a whirlwind of preaching, meetings, visits, and events. God allowed our time to be very fruitful for His Kingdom. During our stay, Cross Creek Church committed to fund the Children's Feeding Center Ministry for another year. God allowed us to find sponsors for almost all of the children currently in the Child Sponsorship Ministry. We officially announced and celebrated the ministry expansion to Guatemala, and as if that wasn't enough...Celebration Church has committed to start a church plant in Alajuelita! What a great God we serve!
While it's extremely exciting to be used by God in this capacity, it can also be very challenging. The pressure and responsibility of leading can be very burdensome. Part of me would like to stay in Jacksonville, and never have to leave again. However, I know that is the desire of my flesh and not my heart.
This is an ongoing battle between my flesh and my heart. My flesh longs and seeks physical comfort. My flesh believes that my personal pursuit for happiness is the most important thing. I can hear the lie, "it's all about me, I deserve it!" My flesh would rather be first, and it desires the praise of men. My flesh believes the lies of the world that claim that joy is found in physical wealth and beauty. However, in direct contrast my heart knows that my life is not my own, and it's all about Him. I need to strive to put God and others first, and greatness is found though serving. In my heart I know that joy is found in following the call of Christ; even if He is calling you to leave your comfortable life, friends, and family. I know He is calling me to get on the plane and return to Costa Rica.
Isn't that the battle everyday? I don't know about your experience, but I suspect it's the same as mine. The Christian walk is a fight, and most of the time we are our own worst enemy. In the New Testament, Paul exhorts Timothy on a couple occasions to "fight the good fight". This is what I need to remember, I need to be challenged to fight the good fight. Paul realized that we are in a battle, and the fight can be incredibly difficult at times. Sadly, sometimes we forget we are in a battle and simply stop fighting. We give up and start living out the desires of the flesh. Often times it's nothing all that sinister, just subtle changes that change our heart and we become ineffective and discouraged.
I don't think I'll ever understand why God called me to lead His ministry, but I'm humbled and honored by the calling. I know that He likes to choose the weak, foolish, and lowly things, so I know I'm more than qualified. However, it's my prayer that though His grace and power in my life that some day I can claim, as Paul did, that I fought the good fight.
Thank you all for the faithful love and support you have shown to my family and God's ministry here. Please pray that He will continue to use us to bear much fruit and that He will give the strength and faith to keep on fighting.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Guatemala or Bust
I would like to take a minute to share a little more of our vision to expand 6:8 Ministries into Guatemala. The first question to answer is why? Why would we expend our limited resources to risk an expansion into Guatemala? We recognize that It would be much easier to continue to operate at the current level. We could just sit back in our satisfaction and maintain the current ministry.
The challenge is that God has richly blessed the mission model and the operational philosophy of 6:8 Ministries so much that it has created an interesting challenge. We have already reserved twenty mission teams for 2009, and unfortunately I've had to turn away several churches. This is tragic, especially since many have explained they can't afford to use other mission organizations. Proof to us that cost is the number one deterrent for individuals participating in short-term missions. So you have a large number of people willing and ready to serve, but aren't given the opportunity. This expansion will allow us to give these willing participants another option for affordable, high quality mission experiences.
The other issue to consider is the impact this expansion will have on the people of Guatemala. In keeping with our current philosophy we will be targeting areas where there is currently little or no missionary presence. We are planning to provide tangible ways to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the local people in powerful ways.
Why Guatemala? It's a simple matter of need and opportunity. God has already provided staff and facilities. These are normally two of the largest obstacles to overcome. The Johnson family was strongly considering a move to Costa Rica, but God intervened. They did not know "why Guatemala", they simply heard God's voice and obeyed. Since their arrival in Guatemala, God has been at work in powerful ways. God has broken their hearts for the poor communities, connected them with a local pastor who has a heart for assisting with mission teams, and a team house. God has already provided churches from the United States that are ready to start sending teams! Why Guatemala? Because God is at work in Guatemala, and we want to be part of it.
Growth and Expansion
Growth is one of the words I would use to describe how God has blessed His ministry over the past year. We originally set a goal to successfully host eight teams in 2008. God obviously had a different plan. He's allowed us to host twenty-eight teams so far this year. God has also grown the ministry's resources through providing a ministry vehicle and additional facilities. However, the most exciting part about this growth is that God is using it to impact and positively change even more lives through His ministry.
Expansion is one of the words I would use to describe what we anticipate God to do in His ministry in 2009. He is expanding His ministry, His staff, and hopefully His impact through 6:8 Ministries.
I'm excited to share two ways we believe God is going to expand His Ministry in 2009. The first is His calling Dave and Leisa DeVaney to serve full-time in Costa Rica. Dave and Leisa have accepted the call and are currently making the necessary preparations.
The second is that God is allowing to expand His ministry to start operations in Guatemala. We are currently planning the expansion project and hope to start hosting short-term mission teams in Guatemala in early 2009!
Excited by Him,
Spencer
Monday, September 29, 2008
Rambling - Divine Dependency
I love serving in the mission field! It's incredibly rewarding to be used by God to accomplish His will. However, it's the way He uses my daily experiences to allow me to better understand His truth that causes me to cherish my calling.
One of my latest revelations is how completely dependent on God I really am. I suppose some of you may be thinking that's an obvious theological truth, and it shouldn't have taken two years in the foreign mission field to discover. Sadly, for me that is exactly what it has taken. Prior to our move to Costa Rica I would have agreed that I was dependent on God, but it surely wasn't something that was lived out everyday.
I think the primary reasons it wasn't lived it out everyday, is that I had structured my life in such a way, that I didn't feel like I needed to live by faith at all. I didn't feel all that dependent on God's daily provision. Almost every area of my life was under control, or at least that was the illusion I had created. I had a secure and steady job, with a secure and steady paycheck, and lived in a secure and steady part of town. I had insurances in place to help mange any problem that may arise.
However, here in Costa Rica, I'm learning to embrace and celebrate my complete and utter dependency on God. Being that I'm a recovering control freak it's been a difficult spiritual truth to accept and embrace, but now more than ever I realize how completely dependent I am on God.
So what happened to help reveal this truth to me? It's been a combination of many things. However, I'm only going to take the time to share three. The most tangible way is our family's monthly financial support. I know it's stupid, but sometimes I worry about our support. I start to get concerned that God isn't going to provide for us. Keep in mind that He has never let us down in the past, and has sometimes worked though miraculous circumstances to show that He will provide. Even still, sometimes the doubts overcome me and I worry. Sometimes, during my times of worry I think to myself that it would be a lot easier to return to the United States and get a steady job, with a steady salary. Then He reminds me, that He called us here, and He is going to provide for us. Then I realize this is the best job security you can have.
Another area is His calling me to lead and direct His ministry. Directing 6:8 Ministries is a lot of work and an awesome responsibility. To make matters worse, I can't think of anyone less qualified than me to do the job. I have no previous experience or formal training in leading or directing a mission organization. Then He reminds me that He wants to use me in spite of all my weaknesses. He is doing great things through His ministry to change lives in powerful ways. He's causing His ministry to grow in ways I would have never imagined. I'm certain that none of the success we have experienced would have happened apart from Him. Almost daily I ask Him to help me lead His ministry in a way that would honor Him.
The final area is my family's physical safety. We live in a dangerous area, and the potential for harm is always present. There are frequent robberies and shootings. I hear about assaults and burglaries on a weekly basis. I sometimes find myself senselessly worrying about our personal safety. We try to be cautious and wise, but we will not live in fear. In the two years of living here we have never been personally victimized, and we are learning to trust God to go before us and protect us.
In closing I'm thankful that my daily life is full of uncertainty. It's causing me to recognize my complete dependence on God, and in turn strengthening my faith. I don't ever want to go back to safe and secure, if it means compromising or losing touch with my new found dependency.
Depending on Him,
Spencer
One of my latest revelations is how completely dependent on God I really am. I suppose some of you may be thinking that's an obvious theological truth, and it shouldn't have taken two years in the foreign mission field to discover. Sadly, for me that is exactly what it has taken. Prior to our move to Costa Rica I would have agreed that I was dependent on God, but it surely wasn't something that was lived out everyday.
I think the primary reasons it wasn't lived it out everyday, is that I had structured my life in such a way, that I didn't feel like I needed to live by faith at all. I didn't feel all that dependent on God's daily provision. Almost every area of my life was under control, or at least that was the illusion I had created. I had a secure and steady job, with a secure and steady paycheck, and lived in a secure and steady part of town. I had insurances in place to help mange any problem that may arise.
However, here in Costa Rica, I'm learning to embrace and celebrate my complete and utter dependency on God. Being that I'm a recovering control freak it's been a difficult spiritual truth to accept and embrace, but now more than ever I realize how completely dependent I am on God.
So what happened to help reveal this truth to me? It's been a combination of many things. However, I'm only going to take the time to share three. The most tangible way is our family's monthly financial support. I know it's stupid, but sometimes I worry about our support. I start to get concerned that God isn't going to provide for us. Keep in mind that He has never let us down in the past, and has sometimes worked though miraculous circumstances to show that He will provide. Even still, sometimes the doubts overcome me and I worry. Sometimes, during my times of worry I think to myself that it would be a lot easier to return to the United States and get a steady job, with a steady salary. Then He reminds me, that He called us here, and He is going to provide for us. Then I realize this is the best job security you can have.
Another area is His calling me to lead and direct His ministry. Directing 6:8 Ministries is a lot of work and an awesome responsibility. To make matters worse, I can't think of anyone less qualified than me to do the job. I have no previous experience or formal training in leading or directing a mission organization. Then He reminds me that He wants to use me in spite of all my weaknesses. He is doing great things through His ministry to change lives in powerful ways. He's causing His ministry to grow in ways I would have never imagined. I'm certain that none of the success we have experienced would have happened apart from Him. Almost daily I ask Him to help me lead His ministry in a way that would honor Him.
The final area is my family's physical safety. We live in a dangerous area, and the potential for harm is always present. There are frequent robberies and shootings. I hear about assaults and burglaries on a weekly basis. I sometimes find myself senselessly worrying about our personal safety. We try to be cautious and wise, but we will not live in fear. In the two years of living here we have never been personally victimized, and we are learning to trust God to go before us and protect us.
In closing I'm thankful that my daily life is full of uncertainty. It's causing me to recognize my complete dependence on God, and in turn strengthening my faith. I don't ever want to go back to safe and secure, if it means compromising or losing touch with my new found dependency.
Depending on Him,
Spencer
Friday, August 22, 2008
Greater Things
The theme song for several of the teams this summer was "God of this City". It a song form the latest Passion album of the same title. If you are not familiar with the song, part of the chorus is "Greater things are yet to come; greater things are still to be done in this city". We believe that is true here in Alajuelita, however we would like to share just a few of the things that God accomplished through the mission teams over the past few weeks.
God used the mission teams to...
...remodel the house of two crack addicts. These guys have been addicted to crack and begging in the streets for over twelve years. They totally didn't deserve the love shown by the mission team from River City Church in Jacksonville, Florida. They came to repair the home and provide a clean, safe and secure place to sleep. The team also prayed and shared the gospel with them. Sadly, they are still addicted to crack, but I can see Jesus slowly breaking through. They have managed to keep their home clean and in good repair; and still ask me to thank the gringos God sent to help them every time they see me.
...purchase and build a home for Pastor Raphael and his family. Pastor Raphael, lives with his wife and two daughters in one of the most dangerous areas of Alajuelita. He is the pastor of a small church with big needs. God uses this church to reach some of the poorest of the poor, because of that the Pastor was living in a small shack of a house behind the church. Faithfully serving and never complaining. He never asked us for a house, but admitted that he had been praying for God to help in some way. That is when God sent a team from Wade Baptist Church in Mississippi, to purchase and build the house. We were told that it normally takes six weeks to construct the house. Well... God allowed this hard working team to do it in five days! God then sent a few teams to come and do some of the finishing touches.
...painted school. God sent s team from Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida to paint one of the local schools. They also taught English and were able to openly talk and teach about Jesus in the classrooms!
We could go on, and on, and on...and still leave something out. The point is that God is amazing and He is using His people to do amazing things, and for that we are eternally grateful.
God used the mission teams to...
...remodel the house of two crack addicts. These guys have been addicted to crack and begging in the streets for over twelve years. They totally didn't deserve the love shown by the mission team from River City Church in Jacksonville, Florida. They came to repair the home and provide a clean, safe and secure place to sleep. The team also prayed and shared the gospel with them. Sadly, they are still addicted to crack, but I can see Jesus slowly breaking through. They have managed to keep their home clean and in good repair; and still ask me to thank the gringos God sent to help them every time they see me.
...purchase and build a home for Pastor Raphael and his family. Pastor Raphael, lives with his wife and two daughters in one of the most dangerous areas of Alajuelita. He is the pastor of a small church with big needs. God uses this church to reach some of the poorest of the poor, because of that the Pastor was living in a small shack of a house behind the church. Faithfully serving and never complaining. He never asked us for a house, but admitted that he had been praying for God to help in some way. That is when God sent a team from Wade Baptist Church in Mississippi, to purchase and build the house. We were told that it normally takes six weeks to construct the house. Well... God allowed this hard working team to do it in five days! God then sent a few teams to come and do some of the finishing touches.
...painted school. God sent s team from Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida to paint one of the local schools. They also taught English and were able to openly talk and teach about Jesus in the classrooms!
We could go on, and on, and on...and still leave something out. The point is that God is amazing and He is using His people to do amazing things, and for that we are eternally grateful.
Sowing Seeds
Wow what a summer! God continues to work in and through His ministry in mighty ways! He allowed us to host fifteen mission teams, over a fifteen week period. If you combine team members with individual participants the total is two hundred and forty-one people, from twenty-two different churches in five different states.
Please allow me to explain why those numbers are so exciting to us. It confirms to us that God is using His ministry to strengthen His church on a global level. He is using 6:8 Ministries to change lives, and in-turn strengthen churches back home.
We realize that we can't control what each individual will take away from their experience here; that is up to God, and God alone. However, we strive to place each team member in a position to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in a tangible way. This summer provided a lot of opportunities for Him to plant a lot of seeds, that in time He will use to bring a lot of fruit; and for that we are incredibly excited and grateful. We are humbled by the fact that He would allow us to be part of His ministry. It's amazing that He can use the likes of us to accomplish anything, let alone things that have eternal value. To God be the glory for the great things He has done, is doing, and is expected to do!
In Christ,
Spencer
Please allow me to explain why those numbers are so exciting to us. It confirms to us that God is using His ministry to strengthen His church on a global level. He is using 6:8 Ministries to change lives, and in-turn strengthen churches back home.
We realize that we can't control what each individual will take away from their experience here; that is up to God, and God alone. However, we strive to place each team member in a position to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in a tangible way. This summer provided a lot of opportunities for Him to plant a lot of seeds, that in time He will use to bring a lot of fruit; and for that we are incredibly excited and grateful. We are humbled by the fact that He would allow us to be part of His ministry. It's amazing that He can use the likes of us to accomplish anything, let alone things that have eternal value. To God be the glory for the great things He has done, is doing, and is expected to do!
In Christ,
Spencer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)