Kagwada, Sudan

Rev 3:14-18 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

Hot or Cold for God?

I always thought being “cold” was bad in this passage, like you were against God, and if you were hot you were for God, and lukewarm meant that you were “riding the fence.” But after studying the geography of Laodicea and its surrounding areas of Heirapolis and Collosae and their bodies of water, it was clear that being “cold” was a good thing. Heirapolis had hot springs that brought people seeking physical healing to its waters and the snow-capped mountains at Collosae brought refreshing, cold water to drink to its people. Laodicea’s water had too many minerals that it was not even drinkable, and it was neither cold nor hot. It was a wealthy city but not rich in the deeds that would glorify God. Like its water, their works were worthless. The church of Laodicea heeded the message and changed their ways.

The verses in Rev 3:15-16 basically says we need to be healers in our hurting world. Like hot springs that bring healing to the arthritic and skin diseased bodies, we can bring healing to a dying, broken world by bringing the message of Jesus Christ and reconcile people to God, who alone can make them whole. We can also be the refreshing cold water to people by encouraging them, to lift their spirits and give hope.

In less than two weeks, I will be part of a six-member team headed to Juba, Sudan, with the final destination of Kagwada. It is a last-minute kind of trip for me, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring God’s message of hope, be it to someone who has not heard the Gospel, or someone who may see an uncertain future for their country and need encouragement. Now is the time to continue to say Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We have the privilege of encouraging our Sudanese missionaries already in that area. They have been faithful in sharing the message of Christ and many have come to know Him as Savior. We hope they will also now choose Him as their Lord and become followers of Christ. The vote for South Sudan’s independence is January 9, 2011. We hope there is no war, and we pray for peace. We have this small window of time to be hot or cold for God. We want to be both.

Remembering Pastor Paul

It’s has almost been a year since I met Pastor Paul in India, a pastor in his mid thirties who also taught theology in a seminary. He was assigned to be my translator for a week. After we were introduced, he informed me of his credentials, and I remember thinking to myself, “well, what do you need me for?” I later found out he wanted to assure me that I was in good hands. This was my second trip to India, and it was such a privilege to have a pastor for a translator because this doesn’t happen often, but I quickly learned that most of our translators were pastors. They set their own pastoral duties and other ministries aside to work with other pastors from other areas to plant new churches with an American team for the week.

We didn’t lack an audience in sharing the Gospel; I’ve never shared the Good News with so many women before. Pastor Paul and I pretty much shared the Gospel all day all week, so he would nudge me about varying my presentations. He’d say something like, “Why don’t share what God has been teaching you,” or “Why don’t share the story of Nicodemus and his question about being born again?” We worked very well together and because he was not a tall man, we saw eye to eye on a lot of things =). He understood my “English” just fine, and I didn’t need to slow down or explain much to him.

Besides our driver, we had two more pastors and another American with us in the vehicle that took us to our villages. He was a kind team member, volunteering to sit in the back of our vehicle where it was not comfortable. We shared lots of laughs and stories as we traveled around by foot and by car. After the week ended, Pastor Paul told me he would sign up and help translate again if I came back to plant more churches. I was looking forward to working with him again.

I had just inquired about going back to work in India again last month and I was happy to get green lights from the national director and the church planter I would be working with. A few days later, I got a facebook message from another Indian pastor saying Pastor Paul had suddenly passed away leaving behind his wife and two young children. I was shocked, but I know sometimes adventures with the Most High God takes us to the low valleys, including the valley of death. I think about Pastor Paul’s children and hope Paul has left them a legacy of faith.

I am quite acquainted with losing a father at an early age. I lost my biological father at the age 9. My mother was a widow with nine children and we lived in Manila, Philippines. My uncle, Cecil Bell of Sherman, TX, and his wife, my father’s sister, Priscilla, were stationed in an Army base in Quezon City, Philippines. They asked to adopt me and my youngest sister. My family agreed, and off we went living the nomadic military life, living in many states and even Panama.


Last week was Veteran’s Day, and I thought a lot about Cecil and how honored I am to have had him as a dad also. Cecil served in the US Army for 35 years and had many different positions in the military. He was a supply sergeant for many years, but at one point he had to bring unwanted news to the families of fallen soldiers. He retired as the post sergeant major at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. He loved the Army even though he served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange. He had no bullet wounds, but like so many veterans, he suffered a lot of health problems later in life. I was 26 when he passed away; he died a year behind my aunt.

Death and other tragedies have a way of staring us in the face to ask, what do you really believe? Having experienced the loss of two fathers allowed me to trust in God in a deeper way because I had to depend on Him alone. I have seen how bad situations were turned for my good, building the character of Christ in me; I have experienced peace in troubled times; He has not left the throne, He is still in control and He know what He is doing, and most of all He is with us in the valleys. I believe in the resurrection and I choose to believe the words in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...” I believe this for Paul’s family.

Evangelism with a medical team

One of the joys of leading a team is seeing team members blossom and grow right before your eyes. Another is seeing church members of the mother church sharing the gospel right alongside with our team as we plant a church.

This video has one of our younger members sharing the love of Christ with the help of her translator, Marina, to other children. The next generation’s fearless witness is a sight to see! Jesus’ words are true - even the gates of Hades will not prevail against His Church.

City of Praise: Vijaywada, 12/13/09 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Church Planting in Quito, Ecuador, July 2010

To the King of Glory - four churches were planted in July by a medical and church planting team from CA, TN, TX and AL. Praise, glory, and honor to the King of Kings.

Many thanks for your prayers. The Lord of the Harvest, the King of Glory showed up in Quito. It was great to be a part of what God is doing all over the world. We met many teams on short term missions in the airports and know of many more teams mobilized to share the good news and offer Christ’s forgiveness and love.

If some of the trip participants never shared the gospel cross-culturally before, they are definitely equipped now. From the six year old to the 74-yr-old member of our team, God used us to make 1,205 presentations of the gospel, and 658 made professions of faith. The eldest in our team prayed a prayer that pierced my heart as she paused to reflect at the thought of going before the Lord with nothing to offer. Our obedience to the great commission was a beautiful experience, but we were all aware of the matchless gift of Christ.

It was a delight to see our 6-yr-old share the gospel using the Evangecube while a teen member and her translator gave her support. Her older sister dismissed her father away, saying, “I got this” and shared the gospel boldly to Ecuadorian kids. Their dad was shocked and proud and emotional at the same time. The parents of the teens on our team beamed that the giggling of their children at the back of the bus was music to their ears, and seeing them engaged in conversations with people young and old instead of being lost in their iPods was a welcomed change.

The medical team did an awesome job tending to eye patients and giving basic medical attention to others. When our optometrist saw that her supplies were running low on the last day, she told our national missionary that she may have to turn the rest of the people away. Diego, the Ecuadorian missionary, told her to ask God to multiply what she has. She did, and she just had enough of the prescription glasses for those that needed it. They had reading glasses to distribute and the sunglasses became their “ticket” to get out of the building and away from the crowd.

We managed to have a tour day at the equator line. A trivia we learned: north of the equator water drains counter clockwise, south of the equator, the water drains clockwise, and at the equator, water drains straight down.

The goal for our trip was met: four churches were planted in Santa Rosa, San Jose Moran, Las Orquideas and Cotocchoa. Please pray for these pastors and their new congregation: Mercedes, Alberto Ospina, Luis Unda and Gustavo Reyes.

Worship was at heart of this trip from beginning to end. The photo montage on my blog has the following song in the background from Third Day.


KING OF GLORY – Third Day

Who is this King of glory that pursues me with His love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who is this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is this King of glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings
The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
Who is the King of glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

Praising the Lord,

Amy

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Making Melody in My Heart