From the begining of this journey God has repeatedly shown Himself strong and true to His word. Who would have thought that two 50 year old grandparents would be considered missionary material? Yet the journey has started and we are that much further along the road.
In His most recent display of love and and support, God made it possible for us to be interviewed by a local TV station. Many of you were involved through the questions you submitted in a response to last month's newsletter. Many of you were involved through your prayers and encouragement. Well, now you have the chance to see how it went. The TV station (WTGL TV 45 Orlando) was gracious enough to provide us with a copy of the interview, and the broadcast schedule.
So, here's the broadcast schedule for those of you in Central Florida:
25 Feb 2009 at 7:30 AM, Noon, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM.
1 March 2009 at 6:30 PM
For those of you elsewhere, the video has been posted to our blog and for any of you on Facebook, it has been uploaded there too (look for us or for the group "going4the1".
Your feedback, thoughts, and/or comments are always welcome.
Weary not in doing well.
Paul and Mary.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Act Naturally
We were recently blessed beyond our wildest expectations when given the opportunity to share the vision of our ministry via a television interview on a local TV station. The video had been posted here for your viewing pleasure...I'll tell you now...Mary stole the show!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Since You've Asked
Hello. First and foremost we want to thank everyone for their responses to last month's request. You provided dozens of great potential interview questions. So, after sifting through them, and after much discussion, we've boiled them down to ten. Then we figured, maybe, just maybe, people might want to know what the questions were. Perhaps those same people would also like to know the answers. Sit back, relax, get that mouse scrolling finger ready....here are the first five;
a) How would describe the process you’ve been going through leading up to your move into the world of missions?
It is much like the relationship process that leads one to getting married. Our first short-term mission trips were "blind dates", a chance to meet with this whole idea of missionary work, but with no commitment. With our interest piqued, and our Spirits stirred, we decided there was more to this than the occasional one or two week missions trip. Our relationship with Next Level International had grown over the years, but it was a distance romance. We decided to get a closer look and moved on to the "it is time to meet the family" phase. Multiple visits to Europe to see NLI at work convinced us they were the ministry we would want to work with...so when God "popped the question"...the answer was yes. So as with any newlyweds, we know we will be breaking ties with friends and family, moving on in our lives...and enjoying every step of the way together.
b) What caused your initial interest in Europe?
Our relationship with NLI. Both of us were part of a short term missions trip to the Czech Republic through NLI. We fell in love with the people we met, and with the staff at NLI. A few years later Mary had a chance to volunteer in NLI's office for a week while I attended a pastors training seminar, being presented by NLI, in Serbia. This additional exposure further solidified our relationship with NLI, and the Serbian people I met could not have been any nicer. I still stay in touch with a pastor I met at that conference. As we delved deeper into the possibility of actually becoming missionaries, we realised we had to be able to function within whatever culture we found ourselves. Working with NLI puts us in an English speaking country, but allows us to work with all 47 nations of Europe.
c) Why have you decided to make this level of sacrifice?
This may sound odd, but we don't see it that way. To us we are amazed that we have this opportunity to serve. Yes we have discussed the fact we are leaving all we know behind; our families, our children, our grandchildren...and more. When we leave we will be strangers in a strange land (or lands). But since this idea went from a "some day dream" to an up and coming reality, we feel blessed in the fact that God would find us worthy of the task. We have had to learn a whole new level of trust, dependency, and faith. In it all we are also humbled by the sacrifices being made by those who have offered to support us in this.
d) What are the steps that you have to take before you can land in Europe?
The two "biggies" would be the sale of our home. Granted the current market is unfavourable, to say the least. But fortunately God doesn't read The Wall Street Journal nor The Financial Times. The other one is building a support base, both prayer and financial. Our yearly budget is approximately $42,000 (US). This is God's idea and He has prepared a way for this to all come together. Our responsibility is to find those whom He has put in our path to be partners. Since we will be volunteers, not employees, we will be solely dependent on the blessings of others.
e) What can you tell us about Next Level International insofar as their mission and goals?
NLI started their ministry about 18 years ago, serving in Eastern and Central Europe. They have focused on 3 main areas: leadership training, church planting, and short term missions. The mission at NLI is simply this, to "Empower a whole new generation of radical leaders to equip, transform and expand the Church in Europe." Starting in 2010 their goal is to have a working ministerial relationship in all 47 nations of Europe.
f) What specific responsibilities will each of you have with NLI?
Mary will have a dual role. She will be using her office management/accounting background to fulfill the role of Financial Comptroller....every ministry needs to be good stewards of their finances. But the other part of her schedule will be investing in the creation of a new facet to NLI's overall mission....children's ministry. (Side note: We heard of NLI's plans for their new kids ministry whilst at their Eurosummit Conference in Poland. Once the speaker finished outlining the plans and goals of this exciting new ministry I turned to Mary and said: "That's you. Nana to the nations)
Paul will be working with the Short Term Missions side of things as STM co-coordinator. The Short Term Mission Coordinator is responsible for the coordinating and organization of teams and individuals going on short-term mission into Europe. He will be responsible for promoting teamwork and strong communication between NLI's various partners. This will include trip logistics, and working with churches/organizations at both ends of the process, those willing to send teams and those willing to accept them. Odds are his camera gear may make a few of those trips too.
g) Why Europe when there are many here at home that are unsaved?
Despite the great Spiritual history of Europe; The Reformation/Guttenberg's Bible/24-7 Prayer, just to name a few. Plus, many of us could trace their Salvation Genealogy back to the missionary outpouring from Europe. But decades of socialism, communism, fascism and the like, have left a barren Godless society in their wake. Here in the US there are many unsaved, but they are far from unreached. With the numerous churches, Christian TV and Radio stations,etc it is hard not to have heard of Jesus in this country. Most of Europe is unreached, having been generations since God was allowed in society. The 20-30 year olds in Europe are one of the most lost generations on the planet. The great cathedrals are museums or concert halls. In the vacuum left by communism in Eastern/Central Europe has come drugs, prostitution, consumerism....freedom, but unbridled and without a moral compass.
h) How is the current domestic/global economic upheaval affecting your plans?
Mostly good: The dollar has gained strength over the British Pound which means our support will go that much further.
i) Any fears or doubts?
More apprehensions that fear or doubt. We know life will be different. We know we will be 100% dependent on God's blessing just to make it from day to day. But we also know that there will be a network of prayer and financial supporters who will being right there with us. We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.
j) What makes you think you’re qualified to fulfill this call?
We're still thinking this one over. There is nothing special about us. This is just another step in a long series of other steps leading to this point in time. If we have any qualification it is obedience to answer the call.
a) How would describe the process you’ve been going through leading up to your move into the world of missions?
It is much like the relationship process that leads one to getting married. Our first short-term mission trips were "blind dates", a chance to meet with this whole idea of missionary work, but with no commitment. With our interest piqued, and our Spirits stirred, we decided there was more to this than the occasional one or two week missions trip. Our relationship with Next Level International had grown over the years, but it was a distance romance. We decided to get a closer look and moved on to the "it is time to meet the family" phase. Multiple visits to Europe to see NLI at work convinced us they were the ministry we would want to work with...so when God "popped the question"...the answer was yes. So as with any newlyweds, we know we will be breaking ties with friends and family, moving on in our lives...and enjoying every step of the way together.
b) What caused your initial interest in Europe?
Our relationship with NLI. Both of us were part of a short term missions trip to the Czech Republic through NLI. We fell in love with the people we met, and with the staff at NLI. A few years later Mary had a chance to volunteer in NLI's office for a week while I attended a pastors training seminar, being presented by NLI, in Serbia. This additional exposure further solidified our relationship with NLI, and the Serbian people I met could not have been any nicer. I still stay in touch with a pastor I met at that conference. As we delved deeper into the possibility of actually becoming missionaries, we realised we had to be able to function within whatever culture we found ourselves. Working with NLI puts us in an English speaking country, but allows us to work with all 47 nations of Europe.
c) Why have you decided to make this level of sacrifice?
This may sound odd, but we don't see it that way. To us we are amazed that we have this opportunity to serve. Yes we have discussed the fact we are leaving all we know behind; our families, our children, our grandchildren...and more. When we leave we will be strangers in a strange land (or lands). But since this idea went from a "some day dream" to an up and coming reality, we feel blessed in the fact that God would find us worthy of the task. We have had to learn a whole new level of trust, dependency, and faith. In it all we are also humbled by the sacrifices being made by those who have offered to support us in this.
d) What are the steps that you have to take before you can land in Europe?
The two "biggies" would be the sale of our home. Granted the current market is unfavourable, to say the least. But fortunately God doesn't read The Wall Street Journal nor The Financial Times. The other one is building a support base, both prayer and financial. Our yearly budget is approximately $42,000 (US). This is God's idea and He has prepared a way for this to all come together. Our responsibility is to find those whom He has put in our path to be partners. Since we will be volunteers, not employees, we will be solely dependent on the blessings of others.
e) What can you tell us about Next Level International insofar as their mission and goals?
NLI started their ministry about 18 years ago, serving in Eastern and Central Europe. They have focused on 3 main areas: leadership training, church planting, and short term missions. The mission at NLI is simply this, to "Empower a whole new generation of radical leaders to equip, transform and expand the Church in Europe." Starting in 2010 their goal is to have a working ministerial relationship in all 47 nations of Europe.
f) What specific responsibilities will each of you have with NLI?
Mary will have a dual role. She will be using her office management/accounting background to fulfill the role of Financial Comptroller....every ministry needs to be good stewards of their finances. But the other part of her schedule will be investing in the creation of a new facet to NLI's overall mission....children's ministry. (Side note: We heard of NLI's plans for their new kids ministry whilst at their Eurosummit Conference in Poland. Once the speaker finished outlining the plans and goals of this exciting new ministry I turned to Mary and said: "That's you. Nana to the nations)
Paul will be working with the Short Term Missions side of things as STM co-coordinator. The Short Term Mission Coordinator is responsible for the coordinating and organization of teams and individuals going on short-term mission into Europe. He will be responsible for promoting teamwork and strong communication between NLI's various partners. This will include trip logistics, and working with churches/organizations at both ends of the process, those willing to send teams and those willing to accept them. Odds are his camera gear may make a few of those trips too.
g) Why Europe when there are many here at home that are unsaved?
Despite the great Spiritual history of Europe; The Reformation/Guttenberg's Bible/24-7 Prayer, just to name a few. Plus, many of us could trace their Salvation Genealogy back to the missionary outpouring from Europe. But decades of socialism, communism, fascism and the like, have left a barren Godless society in their wake. Here in the US there are many unsaved, but they are far from unreached. With the numerous churches, Christian TV and Radio stations,etc it is hard not to have heard of Jesus in this country. Most of Europe is unreached, having been generations since God was allowed in society. The 20-30 year olds in Europe are one of the most lost generations on the planet. The great cathedrals are museums or concert halls. In the vacuum left by communism in Eastern/Central Europe has come drugs, prostitution, consumerism....freedom, but unbridled and without a moral compass.
h) How is the current domestic/global economic upheaval affecting your plans?
Mostly good: The dollar has gained strength over the British Pound which means our support will go that much further.
i) Any fears or doubts?
More apprehensions that fear or doubt. We know life will be different. We know we will be 100% dependent on God's blessing just to make it from day to day. But we also know that there will be a network of prayer and financial supporters who will being right there with us. We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.
j) What makes you think you’re qualified to fulfill this call?
We're still thinking this one over. There is nothing special about us. This is just another step in a long series of other steps leading to this point in time. If we have any qualification it is obedience to answer the call.
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