By PastorJohn on
8/30/2009 4:44 PM
Last week, I finally had the chance to watch "Babette's Feast". This is a classic and truly beautiful foreign language film from the 80's which features two elderly sisters whose late father was the founder of a strict Christian sect. Their lives (and those of the few remaining members of the church) have been marked by denial of all earthly pleasures, including all culinary pleasures, their diet consisting primarily of codfish and ale bread.
There is so much to the story, but the life-changing moment happens when Babette (a refugee that these sisters has taken in) is allowed to prepare a real French meal for the church members. Little do the sisters know that Babette is a premier chef whose lavish banquet will overwhelm their neglected taste buds. It is a funny and powerful scene when this beaten down congregation begin to enjoy the graciousness of their host.
My favorite moment is when the General speaks. To understand the full context of this, you
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/26/2009 11:50 AM
Just read a terrific post by Kevin DeYoung entitled: On Mission, Changing the World, and Not Being Able to Do It All. It's a great word to those of us overwhelmed by all the needs in the world and those of us feeling guilty because we're not doing enough for God.
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/20/2009 9:40 AM
Here are five more compelling reasons for cancelling your cable from a Shaun Groves' blog entitled: "The Smallest Change that's made the Biggest Difference."
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/17/2009 7:23 PM
After a 33 hour day of travel, our team arrived safe and sound at Logan airport at 11:30 am this morning. It's great to be home and it's been a long time since I've been this tired...so I don't have much else to say right now, except "Good Night...thank you for your prayers and God bless you in His service!" Sometime in the next week, I'll try to put together some reflections from the trip and we'll certainly be thinking about next steps in the coming months.
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/13/2009 7:38 PM
Pastor Mike (the African Pastor Mike!) and Pastor Mandla were finally able to join the team again after having their car break down on the terrible roads of Swaziland. They were all glad to be together again.
After listening to many of the locals, it sure does seem like the struggles -- and joys -- of ministry life are universal! God uses imperfect people to do His work here on earth. So many similarities to life in the States, simply because all ministry deals with us fallen humans!
One additional struggle the church over there faces is that many churches are syncretistic, i.e., they take the beliefs of Christianity and simply add it to their other tribal rituals, including the incorporation of witch doctors! Please pray for the people of Mozambique and these other African nations that they would clearly hear and believe the simple Gospel -- that it is only through the <
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/12/2009 8:57 PM
Another brief talk with Michael earlier today. They had a fabulous meeting with the Samaritan's Purse missionary they met on the plane going over there (Craig Whitcomb) and the IMB missionary located in Maputo (Charlie Lechner). Great connections made for the local pastors there. Exciting to see how God will use all this. The Samaritans Purse missionary is planning on going to see Pastor Jacob in December while visiting Durban with his family. (A very curious thing, by the way, is that the man who introduced Michael to this gentleman didn't even know him -- he was just a businessman who knows the value of networking and thought they should meet!)
The retreat center mentioned yesterday is called VIDA. Apparently, it was built by the UN. It is an incredible facility and just miles from their location in Jabula. They are getting more and more excited about arranging a missions school there.
Didn't have time to say much more but appreciates all your praye
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/11/2009 1:11 PM
Michael sends warm greetings from Jabula! They had another great day. They met with the principal of the local school who had become a Christian two years ago at their first meeting. He is attending church in Maputo, growing in his faith, and very excited to learn as much as he can about the Bible.
They also made a connection with a retreat center not far from there where they might be able to set up some future missions schools. They'll only charge them $200 rent for a whole week! So there is great promise for some real growth . . . we are blessed!
Pastor Alex will be preaching at the service this evening. I didn't get to speak with Michael directly, but he really sounded upbeat and excited on his message -- sounds like he may finally have caught up on some sleep? 
Sol
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/10/2009 9:16 AM
Michael was able to get through on the phone this morning. They arrived safely in Jabula yesterday. Lou gave a slide show to the locals of photographs of THEM from previous years and they were absolutely thrilled! They met with some of the teachers they'd met in previous years (who'd become Christians) and they asked for 3 more of the "Proclaimers" that the team brought last year. ("Proclaimers" are the solar-powered machines that play an audio version of the Bible in the local languages.)
Today was a sight-seeing day (traveling over 2 hours on the worst roads you've ever seen doesn't really qualify as "a day of rest", does it?! ha!). They drove to the Southeast corner of Mozambique, called Punto de Aura (sp? I couldn't quickly find it on a map --sorry!). He said it was the MOST beautiful beach he'd ever seen -- huge and with towering bluffs.
Tonite they return to Jabula and will have an evening service with the locals a
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/8/2009 12:55 AM
Hi folks! This is Christine. Just talked briefly to Michael. They've arrived safely in Swaziland after a long ride. They'll be there for the night and head out to Mozambique in the morning. Things are going smoothly with the "ACTS" driver they hired. He even gave Michael a $250,000,000 bill . . . . unfortunately, it's from Zimbabwe, so it is not even worth the paper it is printed on, though! They all had a good laugh at that.
They'll be dropping off all the clothing (thank you, everyone!) at the orphanage. It doesn't look like they'll be able to worship with Pastor Mandla in the morning because they have to make it to the border by 11:00am and then continue to their next spot early enough to set up camp for the night.
Though tired, every one is healthy
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/7/2009 3:35 PM
Just got back from our last supper with Pastor Jacob's family. We've had such a wonderful time and have been completely spoiled by their hospitality. So our team treated them to some fine steaks at the Butcher's Block Grille (an amazingly tasty and affordable steak house...imagine a perfect 14 oz Filet Mignon for $9...awesome!)
We finished up at the Mission School this morning and then spent the afternoon shopping for supplies for our trip to Swaziland and Mozambique. We'll be leaving around 9:00 am for Swaziland. Pastor Jacob will be joining us and we'll be meeting up with Pastor Mandla at his church and orphanage in Big Bend (That's where we'll be dropping off the clothes). The trip will be about 6 hours by car. This is the part of the trip that I won't have much access to computers or cell coverage, but I'll try to have Christine post some updates as we go along.
In other news, we heard back from Craig (the missionary for Samaritan's Purse that just moved to
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/6/2009 12:52 PM
Well, I got to listen and grade 19 sermons this morning and I must say it was a wonderful experience. Everyone did a super job. They preached with sincerity and passion and many shared their personal stories. It was quite a moving experience, especially since most of the students had experienced deep personal sufferings and losses of many kinds and were willing to share them.
In other news, Lou and Vern arrived safely this afternoon and we'll be spending most of the day tomorrow preparing for Mozambique.
Please keep Pastor Jacob and Rena in your prayers. This has been a very busy week for them and I can see the exhaustion on them. Pray for strength and especially rest.
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/5/2009 3:53 PM
Finished up my lecturing for my preaching class today at the Mission School. Now it's time for the students to show their stuff. Tomorrow I'll be listening and grading 20 sermons! (Yikes, I'm getting a taste of my own medicine:-) Anyway, it should be fun. Dan will be going first. Alex will be giving his final exam on Ephesians as well tomorrow, so the pressure is officially on. You can pray for the students as quite a few of them are a bit nervous about having to give a devotional in front of the class.
All in all, it has been a great week for us. The mission school has been a lot of fun to teach. Everyone is so attentive in taking notes and asking good questions. These are some quality folks and will be a great blessing to the churches down here.
In other news, Lou and Vern will be arriving tomorrow afternoon (please pray for safe landing), and then we'll be preparing for our Swaziland-Mozambique portion of the trip. And Dan & Alex got to dip
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/4/2009 3:11 PM
Just finished my late evening lamb curry with Rena and Jacob (our diet starts on Saturday :-)...and am feeling quite tuckered out. We had a great day at the mission school and then went to a joint service with several of our pastor friends and their churches this evening. (To Ray and Lou, Pastor Chris and Pastor Leslie send their fondest regards) After a full day of lecturing and an evening of preaching, singing (and rapping), we agreed that it felt like Friday after a full week of work...only to realize that it's just Tuesday! So, looks like we'll be needing a second wind for tomorrow.
Dan has been a great blessing to the team and is so comfortable on the mission field. Right now he's telling Pastor Jacob about his experience with the Compass Program at Gordon-Conwell. Pastor Jacob is thinking seriously about starting a ministry to develop the young leaders in the church. Compass could be a good resource toward that end. Please pra
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/3/2009 2:55 PM
Thanks to all who have been praying for us, especially for God's strength. Alex and I thought we were over jetlag, but were sadly mistaken. I think we slept a combined 5 hours last night and were wiped out going into the day. But God was gracious and the classes went very well. We had 18 students at the Mission School with an expected 5 more coming from Swaziland and Mozambique tomorrow. Pastor Jacob is very encouraged by the turn out (this is about twice as large a group as usual). And they are some good folks. We've had some great interaction with them during and after classes. I'm hoping for rest tonight as I'll be doing a double session on the preaching class tomorrow (4 hours)...and then we'll be meeting with a group of local pastors in the evening.
In other news, we had a wonderful opportunity to pray with a Hindu family tonight. George and Raksha are friends and neighbors of Pastor Jacob and are practicing Hindus. However, lately, Raksha has been distressed over an evil pre
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/2/2009 1:35 PM
Recovering a bit from the jetlag and heading to church in Tongaat with Pastor Jacob at the Bethany Mission Church. Alex preached the service for the church that meets in a local school. His text was Ephesians 2:11-20 which focussed on our unity in Christ through the Gospel. I preached the service at the Bethany Mission Church from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and focused on our need to build our life and faith solely upon the historic Gospel account of Christ' death and resurrection and not on philosophies, theories or even morality. This service was followed by communion (which Alex led). Meanwhile Dan rapped at both services with a couple of his originals...these went over very well and we're hoping that Pastor Jacob will join the hip-hop scene before we leave :-)
After church we grabbed lunch and a nap and then did a little shopping at the mall. Tomorrow we begin mission school for the week. Please pray for strength and clarity as we teach and also for Dan who will be meeting
Read More »
|
By PastorJohn on
8/1/2009 10:28 AM
Alex, Daniel and I just arrived safely in Durban, South Africa where we were greeted and soon thereafter fed by our wonderful hosts (Pastor Jacob and his family). It was the smoothest and quickest flight we've ever had. (I guess it pays to start your day at 4:30 in the morning). We are all pretty wiped out but very content and looking forward to a shower and a good night's rest.
Just one interesting story to share from the flight. When we arrived in Johannesburg and were prepared to deboard the plan, the man sitting directly in front of me turned around and started asking me about our mission in Africa. He some how had ascertained that I was a pastor and/or missionary of some sort (I still have no idea since I did not speak to him at all during the flight...nor did I say a whole lot about the matter to anyone). In any case, he is a native of Durban and a member of an evangelical church. He then said, "you need to meet Carl over there (pointing across the aisle). He is going t
Read More »
|