There have been three miracles I have been hoping and praying for over the past year. I call them miracles, because by definition they are something that requires an act of God, and cannot be done by human effort alone. These three miracles are:
#1 - That God would lead someone to TNL as the Teaching Pastor who would actually overlap on staff with me.
#2 - That we would be able to financially survive after I leave my job at TNL and before we head to the field.
#3 - That we would be able to leave this fall.
So miracle #1 has come to fruition. TNL has hired a new Teaching Core Pastor. I would love to give all the details here, but I will let the elders and other pastors have the fun of introducing him. But Amy and I couldn't be more excited. He and his family are a perfect fit for TNL.
A friend of mine met him at the National Pastors Convention a couple of weeks ago, then wrote to me: He's got the TNL vibe!
I totally agree. So in case you haven't heard, God is up to something amazing at TNL.
22 February 2009
07 February 2009
missionary in-laws
So I have been trying to frame the relationship that we have with WorldVenture and I realize now they are like in-laws.
Let me explain: As I prepare to leave TNL, it is becoming more and more a reality that TNL isn't going to be my home and primary family anymore. My team in Mozambique will serve in that role. So in a way, we are leaving our primary family at TNL and marrying into WorldVenture in Mozambique.
So this begs the question of what sort of in-laws the rest of WorldVenture will be. And we can honestly say, so far so good. We just spent a week with the WorldVenture family for their annual Renewal Conference and we are amazed at these people of God. The first two days of the conference are just spent praying. All day. With coffee breaks and a lunch break. But other than that, just praying.
But beyond the prayer time, we got to hang out with missionaries from around the world (some of whom have been on the field for decades) and just talk. Wow. There really aren't words to use to fully convey the impressive demeanor of these super-humans. Every day they deal with poverty, disease and spiritual darkness, and yet they just keep on going. Meeting some of them feels like meeting some of the early Christians who were reaching those who had never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Amazing stuff.
But in-laws can be a little quirky as well. It will be weird working for an organization led by baby-boomers. It will be hard to lose the leaness and edge that comes with working at TNL. I will have a hard time when ministry isn't set up by Jared, supported by John, and followed up by Brian. But we will survive nevertheless.
If you would like to learn more about our quirky new in-laws, check them out at www.WorldVenture.com
Let me explain: As I prepare to leave TNL, it is becoming more and more a reality that TNL isn't going to be my home and primary family anymore. My team in Mozambique will serve in that role. So in a way, we are leaving our primary family at TNL and marrying into WorldVenture in Mozambique.
So this begs the question of what sort of in-laws the rest of WorldVenture will be. And we can honestly say, so far so good. We just spent a week with the WorldVenture family for their annual Renewal Conference and we are amazed at these people of God. The first two days of the conference are just spent praying. All day. With coffee breaks and a lunch break. But other than that, just praying.
But beyond the prayer time, we got to hang out with missionaries from around the world (some of whom have been on the field for decades) and just talk. Wow. There really aren't words to use to fully convey the impressive demeanor of these super-humans. Every day they deal with poverty, disease and spiritual darkness, and yet they just keep on going. Meeting some of them feels like meeting some of the early Christians who were reaching those who had never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Amazing stuff.
But in-laws can be a little quirky as well. It will be weird working for an organization led by baby-boomers. It will be hard to lose the leaness and edge that comes with working at TNL. I will have a hard time when ministry isn't set up by Jared, supported by John, and followed up by Brian. But we will survive nevertheless.
If you would like to learn more about our quirky new in-laws, check them out at www.WorldVenture.com
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