The Essentials of Life
It has been a whirlwind of a month for us with difficulties in communications, travel back to the States for a packed 3-week visit that included two conferences and many visitations to dear friends and family, and finally an uneasy step forward from being a support to starting anew. All in all, October proved to be a month that stretched our capacity and challenged our faith in such a way that it has caused us to revisit the essentials of our lives and focus our efforts on establishing the same in others.
Go Conference
At the beginning of the month, we had the privilege to partake in the GO Conference hosted by Harvest Baptist Church of Blue Springs. This conference proved to be a great encouragement, challenge, and affirmation of things that were working in my heart regarding the focus and aim of our efforts in Serbia. The Conference opened with a powerful word, regarding the lepers outside the city that found an abandoned Assyrian Camp full of spoils, I quickly saw the need to refine the vision of what we are about and objectively see the urgency of acting on time not just in time.
Returning with a Refined Focus
For several years we have been in a supporting role, which has been such a blessing to us as it grew us immensely in faith, but time and time again we saw treasures come through our hands and sift out as sand as the world quickly snatched them away. Like the leper that spoke to the others, I had this dawning responsibility, that in a statement simply asked, “what are we doing?”.
“And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace. . .”
2Ki 7:8-9
This was not to say we were not doing enough or should have done more or been doing anything poorly( All or none could be true), but the stewardship of the relationships given by God stood in question. It was more of a wake-up of the reality of the situation at hand. The reality is this, Time is short, and people are so precious that Christ died for them, as them, so they may be found in Him. We are called to pursue these people in Christ’s love, train these people at our expense, and send them to do the same as mature learners of Jesus Christ! These amazing people do not just need a church content with its blessing they desperately need a church revealing the sacrificial love of Christ for them and training them in the Word of Truth! They need one who will GO unto them to tell them of the Victory in Christ, the spoils of His miracle of Grace, and the bread of life! We were commissioned to Go unto the lost in their synagogues, in their homes, and within their life and allow Christ to gather all unto Himself as a glorious Church. Pray for the Church we supported and still love, but much more pray for Churches in Serbia that they may see the signs of the season and take courage in imparting ALL Truth unto others so they may do the same. Our aim now is clear, it is people, it is The Word of God, it is God’s Grace, and it is God giving the increase in the form of an ever-assembling Church. 2 Tim 2:2
Being back in the US.
Being back on home soil was daunting to us. It is such an experience to go through when you have made the choice to forsake all in missions and return to what was. It truly tried our hearts as we considered the cost and the expense the field of Serbia exacted upon us. Families have grown without us, dear friends passed away without us near to mourn their loss, and friendships have spoiled or changed to where they may be no more or are just fond nostalgic memories. There truly was no warning for this experience and it all happened at once! It proved to be a strengthening measure as the blessings far outweighed the pains of it. We found ourselves both wanting to stay and feeling greatly grieved that we were away from those God put in our life in Serbia, even more, there were pains as great misunderstandings overshadowed our purpose and intents. This time was indeed a GAIN but emotionally it was a great contradiction in our souls as we were away from the place God has called us to be for this season. It reminded us of David’s Psalm 27 the call to seek God’s face and wait upon Him and the story of ruined Ziklag where the scripture states that David recovered all. We truly felt a great loss in returning to the US, but in returning to Serbia we truly see the God who desires to recover all. We are trusting God to reconcile strained relationships, Reveal the Glorious gospel to the lost, and Establish Churches in Serbia through Biblical Discipleship. We believe that we too will recover all!
Our Vision and Prayer according to The Great Commission:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore(Reach), and teach(Teach) all nations, baptizing(Immerse Them in Christ’s Truth) them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all(Challenge their capacity) things whatsoever I have commanded you:(Engage their faith in Biblical Responsibility) and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (See Them faithfully kept by God’s Grace). Amen.”
Matt 28:18-20
Please pray as we believe God to:
- Reach: Evangelism to the Lost
- Teach: Biblical Study and Training in the Word of God
- Immerse others in Christ’s Truth: Fitting into the fellowship of the Church, discovering their Identity in Christ, and Observing the Ordinances
- Challenge their capacity: Biblical Discipleship and Biblical Accountability
- Engage their faith in Biblical Responsibility through His Ability: Opportunity and Leadership Development in the Church
- See Them faithfully kept by His Grace: Faithful Feeding and Fruitfulness in their Lives
Transformed To His Way 
3 responses to “New optics of October”
That is a great word Chad “and they recovered all”. And so you shall!! Thank you for writing.
We will be praying
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Thanks Lori! much love to Greenfield, IN
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That is a great word Chad “and they recovered all”. And so you shall!! Thank you for writing.
We will be praying
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