on our way to a Happy New Year

We hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas time with your families.  We enjoyed time with both sides of our family at different times.  We tried not to be too distracted, but there is much on our minds as we plan, prepare, pack and ponder all that is in store for us!

Most of our packing supplies have been purchased -- now it's time to pack.  Fortunately, we have downsized quite a bit in our relocation to Keli's parents home; unfortunately, we have settled too well into this home!  We have to begin the tedious process of pulling everything out, deciding whether to pack in what we need to take immediately, ship for later, or store with one set of our parents for whenever we should return.  Though this is really cathartic on one hand (let's face it, we could all do with less in our lives), it is also a difficult to help the kids process.  I'll post a picture of our shipping load later next week...

The airfare is purchased and flights are confirmed; we fly from Huntsville on the afternoon of Friday, January 6.  The flight combination includes 3 legs, and the two layovers are the briefest possible for an international flight--this means that we will have to be on our toes and hope that all goes according to schedule, or we will fall into the long airport layovers that we hope to avoid.  Travel time, from Huntsville takeoff to Cairo landing, is less than 17 hours.  It will be a long day...

We arrive, as previously hoped, on January 7, which is Coptic Christmas in Egypt.  What a perfect day to begin sharing the love of God in Egypt.

Thank you for your ongoing support and continuing prayers on our behalf...

Thank You - Praise God!

Wonderful people of God throughout the US and the UK have provided the needed pledged support to give us the "green light" to go to Egypt!

It has been a long road--trust me; i will have logged 3,000 highway and 4,200+ air miles in the last 40 days alone!  The Lord has been gracious, granting safety and favor through it all!

We now spend the holidays with our family in what will be some of the most important family time we have ever had.  We will also begin sorting through a variety of last-minute details, and pack!

Your prayers are continually needed as we make this transition; particularly for the children as the reality of departing soon is now upon them.  Pray for their peace as they come to grips with loss of friends, family and home due to distance -- Pray for expectancy to bring some excitement to this transition.  And, Pray for them as they prepare to make new friends, begin a new school system, and embrace a new culture and community.

We continue to seek and require financial support as these are uncertain financial times and pledges from the past may hit obstacles in the future.  But, for now, we have finished this part of the preparation process and we are eager to put our hands to the plow in Egypt.

from Sacramento, thinking about Syria

Hello there from Sunny California -- no, it's not necessarily warm here, though warmer than it was just a few hours north in Oregon and Washington.  I'm here continuing to meet with pastors and churches about our coming ministry to believers in the Middle East.  I am blessed to be in the home of the Popp's (said like "pope"), who are lifelong supporters and family friends of Patrick Nachtigall's family.

While traveling, there has been a lot of news regarding Syria and the continuing uprising and events there; Barbara Walters even has a televised interview with the Syrian President this week:

Here in the clip, you can see that life continues in these Middle Eastern city of Damascus despite areas of obvious unrest and even violence; yet, the uncertainty in Syria is even greater than in Egypt, and things have proven to be exceedingly more violent.

I can honestly say i never anticipated or even hoped to go to Syria in my life prior to this calling.  And, if stability can be restored and visitors are allowed to enter the country again, this will be one of the places we will be charged with visiting as we have believers and a church that will need encouragement and support.  As I hear the ongoing news reports, i can't help but wonder how are those believers doing--what are they doing?  Are they in the middle of the strife, or trying to stay away?  Have any of the Church suffered or died through all of this?  Is their faith threatened or are they finding fruitful expression of faith in the midst of the conflict?  And all of these questions create a desire, a hope, to get there, to meet them, and to hear their testimonies from this time--one day.

Meanwhile, it's Sacramento today and tonight; down to Madera tomorrow and Friday, and into Fresno for the weekend.  I will come back and share with a group in Modesto next week before another session here in Sacramento area next Wednesday evening.

Then, i may go home for Christmas!  Thank you all for your continuing prayers and support...

Happy Thanksgiving - Pray for Egypt

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave -- what a blessing to be born in or to live in the land of America.  As Joshua shared with the Israelites in Joshua 24, we reap fields we did not plow and drink the fruit of vineyards we did not plant.  It's appropriately Thanksgiving here in America; and we all should be thankful for so many blessings that we have taken for granted and for which others thought and fought to provide and preserve.

We spend this Thanksgiving in the Western U.S., telling our story and our call to a place not like this.  While we prepare for Turkey and Black Friday sales, Egypt lies in an uncertain mess.

click to read and watch the state of continuing revolution in the midst of economic uncertainty: CNN article and video

As I've shared with people across the United States, I've shared that democracy is always a messy process.  No matter how we may romanticize our revolution and nation's birth under the founding father's, we had decades (if not centuries) of trying to get it right, even bloody, shameful events that we rarely even remember in history books.  However, the genius of the founding fathers of the U.S. was to first frame the Declaration, prior to the Revolution, and then quickly the Constitution; but in Egypt, revolution has come and they are no closer to a unified declaration that leads to uncertainty and only more revolution.

Pray for peace among the people of Egypt--for a vision of what's worth fighting for, not just fighting to find what's right.  Pray for us as we continue to share and seek partners--pray for us to be able to arrive in Egypt to encourage and teach the believers soon.

Pray for Egypt this Week

(image from Al Jazeera)

There's more riotous events in Cairo today as the first of 3 rounds of elections are set to begin Nov. 28; as we understand it, the next two elections will be in Dec and Jan.

Pray for the people of Egypt to seek peace.  Pray for the believers in Egypt to model peace and be at peace in their hearts.  

Unity in Action

Click HERE for more info!

I read one of our Caribbean pastors wrote that our belief in unity has to be displayed in a willingness to practice Come-Unity -- the practice of intentionally drawing near to one another so that we can truly love, know and be known.

3W is preparing to connect the European and International Church -- hope some of you will want to join this one, or plan on a future Care-a-van experience.

Keep Portland Weird--and WONDERFUL!

The unofficial, official slogan of Portland is, "Keep Portland Weird" (as seen on the side of the building behind the very popular VooDoo Doughnuts)!

And though I'm sure there is a quirky uniqueness that is embraced by the general populace of this fair city, i've found the multitude of Church of God congregations and the individuals in each simply warm, wonderful, and very supportive.

We've come to the Northwest because of the unique connection to the Egyptian Church and believers, and we have found many congregations with a strong history in missions support and a desire to be informed and involved in resourcing and partnering with international ministries.  In our week plus here, we have met directly with or at least with representatives/pastors from:
Oak Park ChoG, Salem
Lynchwood ChoG, Portland
Springfield ChoG, Eugene
Holladay Park ChoG, Portland
Mt. Scott ChoG, Portland
Rockwood ChoG, Portland
Hoodview ChoG, Woodburn
Vancouver First ChoG, Vancouver, WA
Sunset Park ChoG, St. Helens
as well as a group of Warner Pacific students attending Dr. John Johnson's "Exploring God's Call" class

We are indebted to Lynchwood's Mission team, including Patty & Larry Deacon who made all the arrangements for our stay and scheduling our time with all of the above groups.  Pastor John Kukendall has a great group of leaders at Lynchwood!  And, much appreciation should be expressed to Walt & Martha Perry who hosted and fed Titus and I over the course of our stay in Portland.

Tonight, Keli and Zeke fly in to help us share with Rainier (OR), Neighborhood Chapel (Auburn, WA), Onalaska (WA), and Centralia (WA).  By then we will have past the half-way point of this PAC/NW excursion -- thanks for all your prayers, support, and encouragement...

Blessed by Boise, Wandered to Walla Walla, Enriched by Richland, and Positive in Portland!

What a whirlwind of destinations in the past week!  Titus and i flew out of Nashville last Saturday morning and arrived in Boise, Idaho -- we've never been to this part of the country so all of this is an adventure.  We were warmly greeted by Pastor Tom of the Cloverdale Church who took us to some good eats at Juds (famous for a hamburger challenge on Man vs. Food) and ice cream at a little shop not far from the Boise State Campus.  Pastor Tom has a few radio programs and is often a chaplain speaker for the BSU team and their opponents; he is also the chaplain for the Idaho State House of Representatives.  The Cloverdale Church is equally as impressive: the children's program warmly greeted and included Titus (and were ecstatic to see him come back on the next Wednesday night).  We stayed with an exceptional couple, Wes and Tricia, who shared their lives as well as their home with us--it was great!  Pastor Tom further blessed us by loaning us their minivan so we would have to rent a car for the next part of our trip!  By the way, Boise is absolutely beautiful--we loved the community with the mountains in the background.

Titus and i drove to Eastern Washington through Eastern Oregon, which took us over and through a lot of mountains and valley/canyon passes -- the distance "as the crow flies" is not that great, but the twists and turns made it about a 4 hour trip with breathtaking scenery -- i highly encourage this drive.

We wandered into Walla Walla last Tuesday where we met with Pastor Jim Snyder of the Blue Mountain Community Church -- also a beautiful area!  Pastor Jim was in seminary about the same time we were at AU.  And, to our surprise, BMCC used to support Franco and Bea's monthly work in Cairo--so there looks to be good partnership already established that could continue to us.  Pastor Jim treated us to lunch and with a Starbucks card (a true friend in the faith!) before encouraging us to cross back into Oregon to Milton-Freewater where we met Pastor Doug; he was a warm and engaging pastor who has been serving the church there for over 20 years.  Pastor Doug's congregation supports a couple who retired from military service only to enter the mission field in Africa (Tanzania?) -- what a testimony!

We then went on Wednesday a full mile from where we were staying to the Columbia Community Church in Richland, WA.  Pastor Mark Barker along with staff Chad, Curt, and Jason met and dialogued with us about calling, and mission, and hope for the Middle East -- it was a truly positive and interesting time of sharing.  C3 has some exciting things happening with a lot of new conversion growth and a new emphasis on creating missional relationships internationally--they were asking all the right questions and excited about the answers for future partnership.

After the drive back to Boise, we had one more evening with the good folks of Cloverdale.  We then flew out of Boise EARLY Thursday morning and were greeted a short time later by our Portland contacts, Larry & Patty Deacon.  The Deacons have been great hosts even before we landed, arranging a full schedule for the next 7 days to interact with most of the churches, pastors and leaders in the area.  They helped us get some laundry done, took us to see a 2-story chocolate fountain (Titus' new happy place) and a trip to Multnomah Falls--breathtaking once again.  Portland is beautiful, too -- but now its cold -- but the people are o-so warm.  We're staying with Walt & Martha Perry (parents of Danette Biesley serving in New Zealand)--they've been great and very encouraging.  We shared with a very engaging and curious class of ministry students in one of Dr. John Johnson's classes at Warner Pacific today--that was great, and weird: great because we love interacting with young leaders, but weird because i realized in my preparation that i was twice their age!

now it's time to run -- lots of great pics will show up soon on a new pic page -- keep us in prayer for safety, favor, and for family as we operate away from each other...   

39 for the first time; last time for 6th

It’s been quite a month for us.  Returning from our first glimpse of our new calling in Egypt, while finishing our former calling in Decatur, trapped somewhere in the strange limbo called “itineration”.

In the last couple weeks, I turned 39—for the first time.  I know that is sometimes a shock for people as I’ve inherited mom’s good gene’s and I don’t look as old as 39. (Yesterday, my mom came into our reception and sat near a young lady from the community who thought she was my sister!)  Though still somewhere before the crest of the infamous “hill” we all dread going over, I’m officially at half of the American male life expectancy (check out this link for unique global statistics about you).

So, if I’m average -- and I’ve always liked to think of myself as above average ;) – then half my life is over, and half is yet to come.  That’s just weird to think about; how did I get here?  So here’s some reflections on 39…

-  I’ve now spent more birthdays with my wife than I did without her—my life is so much richer and fuller than I ever thought possible due to Keli; I am richly blessed by her friendship, partnership, and love.

-  I have 3 amazing kids who are brilliant with all our “smarts” and frustrating with all my flaws; in the next 39 years I look forward to see not only their continuing maturity but also their own pursuit of fulfilling God’s purposes for them.

-  We’ve traveled beyond our hometowns to the homes of brothers and sisters across the world: Canada, Belize, Guatemala, Guyana, Barbados, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and now Egypt. 

-  We are preparing to embark on our greatest adventure as we move our family to Egypt and all the unseen blessings, challenges, growth, and more that will result. 

-  We’ve been honored to work with some of the most amazing and wonderful Christians on the planet; and humbled by the numbers who have been inspired to pursue ministry as the Lord has called them out from under our leadership to greater arenas of service.

-  We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to transition well with lasting friendships and memories from three great churches:  Scott Memorial Church of God (Chattanooga, TN), Riverchase Community Church (Birmingham, AL), and now 6th Avenue Church of God (Decatur, AL).

Which brings me to our last week at 6th Avenue…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 8.5 years since we became pastors at 6th Avenue; Zeke was not even 1 year old when we came, Titus was only 2, and Grace was preparing to enter Kindergarten.  Despite lots of fond memories shared in the past few weeks, it was not all roses—even in the last few years of helping the Congregation to a new foundation and direction of ministry, it has been a challenging road.  The last two Sundays have been special, recognizing the “Mighty Warriors” of the past 8.5 years on the 23rd, and a “Change of Command” service yesterday with their new Lead Pastor Todd.  We accepted a wonderful reception by the Congregation yesterday afternoon; we were honored by guests from the community, neighboring churches, and even a few who made the drive from Birmingham.  As my dad and I sat together near the end of the event, he said, “Son, you had a good ministry here.”  I said, “Yeah, it turned out all right.”  Only the blessing of time and hindsight can see the good that transpired from all the struggle that marked our ministry here.  I’ve attempted to leave right and provide a good foundation for Pastor Todd to take 6th Avenue further in their mission; only time will tell how well a job we did at that.  We’re confident God has big things in store for the wonderful fellowship at 6th Avenue—we look forward to a great reunion day where we can hear all about the great things they are about to do for the Kingdom.  

R.A.S. - again...

Back in January, once our appointment to serve the Church throughout the Middle East was announced and official, the Revolution had broke out in Cairo and there was a lot of concern expressed for us, even fear.  After the recent events this weekend in Cairo, the same feelings of concern and fear are being expressed again, so i want to just post here what we had emailed to friends and family then...

R.A.S. stands for "Reticular Activating System" - and you have one.  no, it's not like a GPS gadget or any other electronic device.  it's not in your car or home, and you can't pick it up at the store.  it's actually a cluster of nerve cells at the base of your brain stem.  Keli and i read about it in a book by Mark Batterson last year...

"We are constantly bombarded by countless stimuli--sights and sounds and smells.  If we had to process or pay attention to all the stimuli, it would drive us crazy.  The RAS determines what gets noticed and what goes unnoticed.  Think of it as your radar system...You've experienced RAS...When you purchase a cell phone or clothing or car, it creates a category in your reticular activating system.  You notice when someone is wearing your outfit at the same event. (Can you say awkward?) And the second you drive your new car out of the lot it seems like everyone is driving the same model.  That is the function of the RAS.  You didn't have a category for your clothing or ring tone or car before you bought them.  you have a new cognitive category." (from In A Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day)

    so why am i giving you this neurological definition?  because several of you have had your RAS in high gear over the last few days as it relates to events in the Middle East, particularly as it relates to 2 of the 3 areas we're scheduled to spend significant time.
     our conversations, in-boxes, and phone calls have all included RAS prompted statements like, "have you seen what's going on in ______"
     events like these last few days have been taking place in these areas and other parts of the world for ages; however, those places jump off the page or out of the news story differently to you now because you know our calling and it places someone you know, dare i say even "care about", in the proximity of these events.  And so, your RAS kicks in and says, "pay attention, this relates!"
     Such mental promptings have led to a lot of concern, which is a partial function of RAS, and i want to address what God is doing here:

1. praise - that these things are happening while we are still here and not yet there
2. pray - RAS moments are used by the Spirit of God to prompt you to pray.  pray for peaceful and purposeful resolution to these events.  pray for the believers  currently caught in the midst of these events that their love and faith  will shine brightly to bring hope and a greater perspective.  pray for our preparation to step into what will be and to help lead God's desired future.
3. providence - this can be used by God for our good in that the created awareness is giving us a platform for connecting our mission with potential supporters who are becoming aware of the needs there
4. and, principle - this is a reality check for all of us; do we really believe what we say?  do we really believe that we're to boldly walk with God into the unknown for the sake of the call and the advance of His Kingdom, trusting our lives to His care?  or is it all just rhetoric without the reality of risk?

For further information on these recent Cairo events, i refer you to this interview from CNN -- the interviewer attempts to make a bigger deal of these events, while the one being interviewed cautions such sensationalism and broad application of the events.  Truly what we are learning is disconcerting; yet, this is NOT a wide-spread religious civil war.  

"Where He leads me, i will follow..."

"Even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil for Thou art with me..." (Psalm 23:4)

"But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship..." (2 Timothy 4:5)

Reflecting and Reading...

While we wait and wait for responses to scheduling church visits, we have much to do around here: helping the kids with school work, soccer and band activities, preparing for birthday parties (Zeke's was in September and Titus' is later this month),  slowly transitioning out of 6th Avenue ministries (our last Sunday is the 30th), and still sorting through all the pics, information, and related communications from our recent trip to Berlin and Cairo.  There's always a lot to do at this stage, even though it sometimes feels like we're not getting anything done!

Reflecting on Steve Jobs (why not? every other blog in the internet has!)  i was totally shocked and speechless when his obit/photo popped up on my Apple homepage when we returned from church.  I spent a good bit of time looking at everyone's condolences to the family, remembrances, his Stanford 2005 commencement speech (youtube), and the beginning musings of his impact on the world and society.  there were some who likened him to the "Edison of our time"; honestly, i think this undervalues the vast genius of Edison and his technical contributions from which nearly everything else has progressed.  However, he definitely could be likened to the impact of Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, or George Washington Carver -- he did not pioneer computing just as these three did not pioneer their contributions; but just like these 3, Jobs took what was and forever altered the way we use, interact, conceive, and have future vision of all things computer related.  Jobs took what was previously fantasized in Star Trek and Dick Tracy in/before his youth and made it not just possible, but also brilliantly marketed so that nearly every corner of the globe has seen, used, and impacted by any number of iProducts.  Throw in Pixar to that influence and the amazing fact that all of this was achieved in the time he dropped out from Reed College around age 19 till his death at 56--just 37 years--and you have to marvel.

These iProducts have not only infiltrated Church ministry, they have influenced and created envy among clergy -- not only do i write this on a Macbook, i have posted pics and videos from my iPod, and shamefully dream of iPad and iPhone 4S.  i have read and contemplated the market strategies and R&D practices of this temporary Apple empire, and i have been challenged and convicted by how little similar drive, creativity, and influence we have for the eternal Kingdom.  the tech world, politicians, entertainers, and athletes--nationally and globally--all within minutes tweeted, posted, messaged, and press-released their thoughts and admiration of the influence of Jobs.  since the death of Mother Theresa, has there been any Christian leader who could unanimously and similarly be praised and missed for their contributions to the world?  within our little tribe of Christendom, the Church of God lost a bright light in missionary/author Cheryl Barton Johnson, and her funeral and memorial services have been a testimony of the impact of this solitary life lived in obedience.  in this time of declining Christian influence and bold following, where will the revolutionary, inspirational, pioneering, Spirit-filled, and ironically powerfully humble voice come?  As the Three-Worlds team begins to read The Next Christendom, i am reminded that individual may not come from the western or even northern hemispheres.


Speaking of iProducts and reading, i love iBooks, if only for the ability to test-read samples of a variety of books before biting the bullet to buy them all ;)  here are a few that i'm gonna have to buy...

The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture that Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy by Steve Stoute
"My role was to be the conduit--the bridge.  And so that was the name, Translation, that I chose for my company and to describe what we do.  As a kind of pop culture anthropologist, what I also do is help clients find relevant ways to reinvigorate their brand--whether, as a few examples, it's McDonald's, Target, Estee Lauder, Hewlett-Packard, Wrigley, Tommy Hilfiger, Verizon, State Farm, Samsung, a show company or two, or a host of public and philanthropic organizations.  In a time of economic upheaval the likes of which we've been living through in recent years, marketer's connecting meaningfully to the new young consumer--the single most powerful purchasing force ever measured, who is currently driving the global marketplace--is a life-and-death brand survival act.  This too has to do with translating.  No, not in sending messages to be crammed down the throats of consumers, but in extending an invitation, communicating it with nuance and cool. ...along with questioning worn-out assumptions about who wants what and why, and more importantly nowadays, who needs what and why.  It requires an authentic, vibrant, hip, and, at times, reinvented means of storytelling--and a rejection of yesterday's rules."

The Two-Second Advantage by Vivek Ranadive and Kevin Maney
"The human brain is a predictive machine.  Intelligence is prediction.  This is a relatively new concept in neuroscience, coalescing into broad acceptance only in the 1990s and 2000s.  While the connection between prediction and general intelligence is generally understood, an even newer--and largely unexplored--idea has emerged in neuroscience: exceptional predictive capability is what drives talent. ...Most successful people are really good at making very accurate predictions--usually about some particular activity--just a little faster and better than everyone else."


EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey"So growing leaders was too refined and calm for me, but growing entrepreneurs was too wild and chaotic for me.  So I decided we needed to grow a combination of the two..and thus the EntreLeader was born.  I want EntreLeaders to be: 

• Passionately serving
• Mavericks who have integrity
• Disciplined risk takers
• Courageous while humble
• Motivated visionaries
• Driven while loyal
• Influential learners"

Are You Egyptian?

Before we landed in Egypt, the flight crew asked me this while handing out the typical international flight immigration forms. The question continued just about everywhere we went. From stores to markets to restaurants to people on the street--everyone would begin to speak to me in Arabic.

And then they would stop--sometimes before the completion of a word, they would stop and begin again in English. Something was still giving me away as American. This proved to be an interesting discussion starter with the CCF.

A few hypothesized that it was my gold wedding ring, as Muslims don't wear gold. I also have a silver anniversary band on my right ring finger, which could really trip people up. But, few locals were getting a look at my hand.

Others said it was my beard as I kept a thin, trim beard when we arrived. Several Muslims, particularly those belonging o the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo will keep a thick beard with no mustache, but they also wear the tunic style robes usually. Few Christians wear a beard, though it is gaining some popularity along with mustaches, goatees, and more western looks. The generations were divided on whether or not my beard was giving me away.

Some also wondered if my clothes were giving me away--Cairo has become so Western in the dress styles, that I don't think I was dressed very differently than many others who were around.

But, i have another idea: I think it may have been my "deer-in-the-headlights" look--that stunned look of surprise I must have had every time someone would begin Arabic and I didn't understand.

However, this didn't stop passport control from questioning me when exiting the country. They looked at my passport and back me before asking, "do you speak Arabic?". When I said no, they asked for my country or origin. When I said, "America," they asked, "always America?"

Yeah, I should have many more interesting passport control conversations once I do learn a little Arabic and have my passport stamps throughout Europe & Middle East!

Cairo Overall...

There's a definite, greater sense of reality now as we have been there and had all of our senses not just engaged, but overwhelmed.  We spent a week in an initial effort to acclimate and get a handle on what we need to do and learn, and through all of that we realized we have A LOT to do and learn!  

Language will obviously still be a hurdle; but there appears to be enough grace and English grasped around us to be of help.  The awareness of great poverty and the inability to really make a dent in what is extremely overwhelming.  

Helping the kids adjust and get their bearings in this community, especially in attempting to get to and from school will take a lot of time.  Which schools still remain a question as each provides their own adjustment challenges.

We will have a wealth of things to see and discover together as a family, and this will provide the escape opportunities when the life of the bustling city with such need becomes overwhelming.  

We are grateful also for our 3W teammates who will not only provide good encouragement, but also great partnership for working together throughout the region.  We truly believe bringing Grace was the right decision and we're so grateful for the means, permission, and opportunity; this gave her a week to help slow down the pace of transition as compared to the quick jump into the deep-end that will take place when we return.  That now becomes a prayer request for us as we try to help the boys to prepare.  

And then there's the family and friends we will leave behind and the uphill challenge of developing additional friends and support networks.  During our time away, we were blessed with the opportunity to 'Skype' with the boys and each of our parents--this technology along with things like magic-jack (which apparently works great in Egypt), VoIP phonelines, email, and Facebook can help ease the sorrow the distance will bring, but it will be but a band-aid to an open wound.

We will keep you up to date on our progress--we're awaiting a miraculous growth in partnerships for our monthly personal/ministry needs budget hopefully before November 1 so we can stay on track for a early January departure.  Thank you all for your ongoing love, support, & prayers.

Maadi

Bits of this post are from an old Maadi map that provided some history, as well assume current periodicals that we received during our visit...

Maadi literally means “ferry landing” – historically, it appears there have always been settlements here along the Nile River.  Coptic (Egyptian Christian) Church history records that this is the community through which the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus) came through to either cross the Nile or to secure passage south on the Nile to Upper Egypt (due to higher elevation) where Jewish settlements were thought to have been.  Along the southern part of Maadi, you will find the Coptic Church of the Virgin Mary, which was purposefully built here as a memorial to the Holy Family’s visit and they hold an annual special liturgy on June 1^st in commemoration. 

This is particularly a significant and affirming bit of history for our own calling.  I found a painting on papyrus of the Holy Family on pilgrimage in Egypt—I hope to have this framed and hung in the entryway of our new home in Maadi.  As many of you have heard about the events leading to our call, you know that Keli was more on board early in our praying than I was.  As I prepared that week for the message to take place on the next Sunday after we were asked to serve, the pre-planned passage of Scripture was on Joseph’s dream to escape to Egypt; particularly, Matthew 2:13, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt…”  This was a confirming Scripture to our sense of call to serve in Egypt, so to make the connection from that passage to this particular history is just really cool.

Since the beginning of the 20^th Century, Maadi has been home for many internationals.  The Delta Land Company bought up large portions of property along the rail lines.  They began with developing a round-about / city square and then several main streets radiating from there, among which was Road 9 running parallel to the rail line.  Road 9 became the center from shops, restaurants and services.  Additional streets were planned and lots were created for homes; the streets were numbered and planned in a grid pattern, while the avenues were lined with a variety of beautiful trees and flowers creating quite a garden district.  The Delta Land Company maintained strict control of the community and enforced higher standards on the residence construction for decades, providing a safe, international friendly haven for decades with the creation of sports clubs, schools, and more. 

Political events of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s led to the Delta Land Company being dissolved and their properties and assets seized locally, along with many other businesses.  Neighboring residential lots were snatched up as many expatriates now finding themselves enemies of the community fled; the result was several villas destroyed to make way for apartment buildings.  The quality and control once exercised by the Delta Land Company also were destroyed resulting in a deterioration of quality throughout the community.

In the past few decades, the quality has returned to Maadi, with many expatriates still residing in the Maadi community.  Area nationals and expatriates alike have formed community organizations that work together for improving the quality and standards of the community.  Restrictions of building have been instituted to prevent the building of high-rise apartment buildings and to preserve the natural beauty of this garden district. 

The future of Maadi being home to internationals, diplomats and the higher classes of Egyptian nationals is uncertain.  With the introduction of foreign investments, such as the Saudi owned City Stars mall, there are several multi-million dollar communities being built new toward the airport along the major highways and away from the pollution, clutter, and chaos of the city.  We have also heard that some companies have begun, or are at least contemplating, building their own residential communities around their headquarters for their employees and their families to reduce the commutes, and to separate their employees from the masses in the city.

Nonetheless, Maadi will be our home and a continuing portal for the Church of God’s ministry engagement into this strategic part of the world.

Road 9 & Shopping

Almost since the beginning, we heard about the neighboring Road 9 and the various shops and restaurants that are there for the community.  There are the local carpenters, various specialty shops, souvenir shops, pricey restaurants, coffee shops, grocery and hardware stores.  The road is much more narrow and the trees come right to the edge of the sidewalks at points.  An unfortunate aspect of the city is all the trash and debris that lines all the streets, including Road 9.

That is not all the shopping there is to find in Maadi.  A couple new malls have sprung up, like City Center.  Once past the medal detectors, you are in any western mall complete with a food court (McD's & KFC), we ate at a Chili's, and walked by a variety of similar stores such as Claires.  I also bought Grace a Starbucks.  As I stared at the menu and contemplated the conversion from Egyptian Pounds (LE) to US $'s, I thought that this is comparable to the US.  And then I paid for the drink in LE and quickly realized the awful irony--the bulk of the population outside the air conditioned comfort and sliding doors could never rightly afford one of these drinks without giving up food or other necessities.

Similarly, there is a new Saudi owned mall--the Egyptian young adults said that they now have new rules for no single guys on the weekends, no spaghetti straps or tank tops, and no public displays of affection (holding hands or kissing).

Then, Jamie and Audrey took me to the Egyptian version of Chester, England (Keli wasn't feeling well, and Grace stayed behind to spend time at the villas).  The market area of downtown was called Khan El Khalili--imagine the market in Aladdin, and you are close to the picturesque and remarkable atmosphere.  The comic absurdity is not found in a blue genie, but in all the shopkeepers who sit outside and plead for you to come in and just take a look, or with greetings in your native language offering 50% off for tourists, and even "just for you, 99% off"!  There are trinkets, souvenirs, beautiful handcrafted items, antiques, to produce and baked goods.  The architecture of the whole are may be the best part though.  What you won't find is a price and everything is bartered--you can get a bargain, but you won't get it easily!

We did see one large modern supermarket, but everything you need is in the smaller, local markets.  In addition to the little stands and sidewalk vendors, there are often those selling from carts or large basket-type trays balanced on their heads.

Driving in Cairo

I hinted previously that traffic was every bit as bad as we had heard.  I think the State Department website warns that driving in Cairo is extremely hazardous and that this may be one of the most difficult cities to navigate by car.  They are not exaggerating!

Imagine your local city interstate/state highway: you've got at least 2-3 lanes plus medians, with restricted access and minimum speeds.  Everything moves smoothly on these roads because of these norms.  

Now, in Cairo, you have the same structural design with none of the norms.  Rather than traveling two or three cars wide, you are traveling 5-6 cars wide with motorcycles and mopeds in between.  Add your donkey carts to the side, people crossing the road (even old men with canes), buses pulling over to stop to pick up/let out pedestrians, and the 2-3 cars wide of merging traffic from entry ramps--oh, and I can't forget the occasional speed bump--and you have the ingredients for the chaos on the main highways!

Now, in the cities, all of that takes place with added trouble of multiple streets of traffic entering/exiting on any given route, along with mobs of school children passing through, not following one way streets, double parking as needed, roundabouts, u-turning 2-3 cars wide, debris & potholes, and a host of other variables you can't fully describe--it is perhaps even more tricky in town than on the highways.

And we'll get to get a car--this will be quite an adventure!

(one air travel note:  I love flying on Airbus jets, regardless of the airline; the economy class is roomier, individual entertainment consoles, and comfortable seats :).  I had never flown Swiss Air before, but they run a great, clean service.  And the Zurich airport has to be one o the nicest in the world!)

CCF Continued

Waiting to board our flight to Zurich, so I have a moment to continue writing about our trip...

The Cairo Christian Fellowship is not just an international and multicultural church meeting for worship each week, but they also represent a global network of Christians whose spiritual journeys have crossed paths through Cairo in the past 60 years.  Their DNA/ethos naturally has characteristics that other fellowships of Christians have to struggle to apply; such as, embracing diversity with celebration, intentional bridge building across denominational and faith lines, and dialogue.  They really are a singing church and they love laughter and fellowship.  They also have quite a benevolent spirit and are eager to meet needs around them intentionally and strategically.  Like many churches, they are losing connections with younger generations and are attempting to make changes to reengage their young adults.  These are parts of the reasons we were affirmed for this pastoral role.  We had great interaction with several of the older leaders, the whole fellowship, as well as with a couple of the young adults during the past week.

The CCF meet at St. Andrew's Church, conveniently located right at one of the downtown Metro stations.  St. Andrew's and CCF have a long and cooperative ministry history that allows for even greater possibilities of partnership in the future.  One exciting possibility is discovering how to contribute to their expansive refugee ministry; Cairo is a major center of refugee traffic from throughout the Middle East as well as Africa.  Many of these refugees seek to become expatriates in the west, but many simply choose to settle in the growing international metropolis of Cairo.  The leaders of St. Andrew's were not only positive of future CCF possibilities, but also being a resource for one aspect of ministry training that we can offer international groups that come through our region.

From a Cupcake Cafe in Cairo

Tonight is our last night in Cairo--it has been a wonderful first trip to the land and people we have felt God calling us to serve since 2009. There's so much to share that it is hard to begin for fear of leaving something out. But I will try to give some details now, and then fill in the gaps later with pictures and maybe some video...

Arrival: we flew in from cool, green Switzerland last Friday. It was hot, but after a couple hours our Alabama skin adjusted quite well and we really didn't feel that bad at all. The airport was very modern; until we walked out from customs/immigration, when we surrounded by he multitude of taxi & bus drivers like any developing nation.

First look at Cairo: vast!  Such a large city with such vast differences--from palm trees to desert, from high rises to shanties to everything in between, some are new and some look like they were started in 1970 and never completed.  There are signs (the most of which) in Arabic, but many in English--Pepsi, Coke, McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, and many more also have plenty of ad placement in Cairo. And the traffic, well, it is just as we had been warned!

Maadi: we came down the Corniche, a major roadway, that runs along the east bank of the Nile to where we turn east into our part of Maadi, we turn at the Nile TGIFridays :), and proceed to our street. This older garden district boasts some Pretty large houses for diplomats, embassies, and many expatriates--but there was a time in Egypt's history in which many fled and several homes were tore down and lots became high rise apartment buildings. As a result, this is not your typical diplomat neighborhood. This area has a unique modern history, but most significantly is the potential history to Christendom--according to Coptic (Egyptian Christian) church history, Maadi was the area from which the Holy family either crossed he Nile or caught a ride on a southern bound craft on their way to Upper Egypt as a part of their flight from Herod. (more on his in future posts).

The Villas: the villas were purchased in he late 1950's by Jamie's grandfather for the ChoG for about $11,000--they are worth considerably more now! And they are truly lovely, like something out of fantasy island.  Well, they will be when properly restored, which is in process now.

Commuting: travel is by foot, until we get our car, but so much is just a nice walk away.  Also, taxis are more than reasonable; and there's the train (Metro) for going into downtown--the train was similar to London's Underground, just above ground, dustier, and older trains. There's a special car reserved for ladies & children, which is optional.

CCF--we are truly excited about working with the faith journey of this most unique fellowship! I want to write more but the Internet is about to be cut off--So maybe more tomorrow as we travel to Berlin, and tren back home on Saturday.

Thank you all for your ongoing thoughts and prayers...

Greetings from Deutschland

Greek for Dinner in Berlin

(updated 4:30 ECT) We have made it safely to Berlin. We unfortunately were not able to sleep on the plane rides from D.C. To Brussels, or from there to here.   While in Belgium, Keli and i had Belgian waffles - in Belgium :)

We were greeted by Patrick & Jamie Nachtigall at the Berlin airport after the easiest transition/arrival into an international airport that we have ever had.  They took us from northwest Berlin to the southwest to their home.  There, Zach and Audrey (who arrived on Monday) were waiting for us--it was a great reunion with them.  The Nachtigall's home is great and is also serving also as our meeting center for the 3W Team meeting.  Grace has been in her room working on homework -- it is helpful that she can't really talk to anyone until late at night due to the 7 hour time difference.

Last night, after our arrival, we attempted some brief rest before a wonderful team dinner at a great Greek restaurant near the homes of the Phillips and Varners.  We were glad to see them again, as well as the Simpsons who came in from Bulgaria not long after we arrived.  We took a train from the Nachtigall's home toward downtown where the Phillips and Varners live--a short bus ride finished the commute, before we all met up and walked a few blocks to the restaurant.  After a wonderful meal, we went back and got a glimpse of the apartments.

The commute back had to be early to be sure that Marco (Patrick & Jamie's son) had to get to bed as he had school this morning.  This was actually good for us, though we would have loved to interact longer with our teammates, but we were fading fast after too many hours without sleep.  We held on long enough for a brief Skype call to the boys, before falling into a deep & much needed sleep last night. For the moment, we appear to be on schedule here on Central European Time, but we'll see how long that lasts ;)

We have finished meetings today, and will soon have a cookout dinner together, continuing our bonding and mutual encouragement as teammates.  I hope to take more pics as the days go on so that we can give you a glimpse of Berlin and the team interactions.  Of course, all of this is just leading up to the bigger, important journey to Egypt Friday morning

thank you for your continuing prayers on our behalf...

no, that's not me on the cover of Rolling Stone...

George Harrison's pic on the cover of the latest issue created a double take for a Starbucks employee in Nashville last Sunday as we were making our way back from Muren Church of God (Indiana).  The employee had just started reading the magazine when i walked in with my long hair and beard.

My hair and beard combo has been a bit of trademark for the last few years since i started growing it to donate for cancer patients.   i'm known as "mexican Jesus" or "crossing guard Jesus" in town (i am a crossing guard at one of our busiest intersections where more than 1000 cars pass me every morning on their way to work or school).  A Walgreens employee earlier today said, "hey, you're famous!"
i said, "famous?!?"
"yeah," she said, "you're the crossing guard at Cedar Ridge!"

Besides Jesus and George, i've received comparisons to various rock stars, Moses (really?), and even Russell Brand (via a Wendy's employee a couple of weeks ago who was clearly delusional).

But now, the hair is gone--yep, cut it this morning for donation (just enough to meet the requirements for wigs4kids) -- this was a necessary part of our preparation for our trip to Berlin and Cairo next week.

There have been many who thought i was growing out my hair in preparation for our service in the Middle East, and many felt that i had (what they perceived as) a very Middle Eastern look.  But, in lots of discussion with international leaders, and one insightful Egyptian American in Houston, the hair would not necessarily be offensive, but would clearly identify me as Western.

Now we have to figure out the facial hair--full beards may also send different messages--so, the goatee may return (i haven't sported that look in about 4 years), or some variation.  the only thing not on the table is a plain mustache :0 -- and i'm not too keen on returning to clean shaven.

so that's the update for today--time to go cross the kids--which is likely to create a few more double takes.  last year, after my last donation, a couple of old ladies stopped in the intersection to settle the argument they were having of whether i was the same guy with the hair or a replacement! ;)

OkGo

one of my favorite bands, if only for their insane creativity is OkGo -- and now they've teamed with some of my favorite childhood entertainers -- these make me happy: first the teaser, then the video...

let me catch you up...

when last i wrote, we were preparing to go to West Virginia and then Indiana; Grace had had her tonsils removed and was healing slowly, so Keli had to stay home with her.  the boys and i had great interaction at the West Virginia Campmeeting and then with the Liberty Street Church of God and Pastor Brian Harrel's family and staff in Parkersburg, WV.

the boys and i went on to Anderson where i was able to catch up with a former mentor, Rolland Daniels who is now on staff with one of our partner churches, Madison Park.  we also took in 3 Colts practices and got the boys got autographs from Coach Caldwell, Adam Vinateri, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Jeraud Powers (from their home town), Robert Mathis and more -- it was a real treat and being able to do this in the comforts of Anderson made it all the better.

(i hope to post some pictures soon)

we came back to Alabama and reluctantly re-enrolled the kids in school, which meant school supplies, shoes, some clothes, and the various other costs it takes to put kids in school these days.  we were reluctant because we had been hopeful for a late fall launch to our new assignment, but it looks like December is the next target time frame*.  meanwhile, we are blessed with good Christian teachers who are not only understanding of the unique transition process our children are facing, but also prayerful for us.

* all we want for Christmas is a second Christmas; the eastern orthodox churches (like the Coptic Christians in Egypt) celebrate Christmas on January 7 -- we would like to be settled in Cairo by this date!

meanwhile, there's all sorts of busy-ness here as we continue to travel, juggle schedules of school and soccer, and finalize our service to 6th Avenue Church of God.  our last official Sunday has been set--we will conclude our service with them on Sunday, October 30.  this is a bittersweet process as we begin to walk away from where our heart has been the past 8+ years, but also walk toward where God has been pulling our hearts.

there's been a lot in the news from the Middle East -- from Libya to Syria to Egypt & Israel -- now David Letterman has been brought into all of it; that's right, if you haven't yet heard, David Letterman is on al Qaeda's hit list after jokes about Bin Laden and other leaders.  you can read / watch the CNN report HERE if you're interested; i'll close this post with how he was able to keep even a death threat lighthearted:


"Top 10 thoughts that went through my mind after hearing about the threat."
10. Someone wants to silence me? Get in line.
  9. Nothing says summer fun like a death threat.
  8. Why is the staff in such a good mood?
  7. Save me, Oprah.
  6. Should I wear my Kevlar hairpiece?
  5. And here I thought nobody watched the show.
  4. How can someone be so angry at a time when Kim Kardashian is so happy?
  3. Some people get Emmy nominations; some people get death threats.
  2. This seems like (Jay) Leno's handiwork.
  1. Oh my God! They canceled the George Lopez Show


this weekend, we're with Pastor Holloway and the Central Park Church of God in Birmingham, AL -- thank you for your continuing prayers on our behalf...

July Newsletter

it's newsletter time...
July Oldham MEMO

Please pray for:
- the boys and i as we head to a weekend with the Church of God in West Virginia
- for Keli and Grace as they stay behind (Grace continuing to heal from tonsillectomy)
- for our friends at the Athens (AL) Church of God whose building was struck by lightening 2 nights ago and burned down; Athens was our first official church visit -- pray for Pastor David Root as he leads the Congregation to rebuilding

thank you!

whoa--yes, and no

taking a moment this morning to scan some headlines before getting ready for worship, i came across this CNN video on their main page, "do you speak Christian?"

yes

• Christians have a sort of "christianese," as i've heard it called (from the essentials like 'believe' to nonessentials like 'pulpit')
• there are many different dialects 
• unfortunately, many are unaware of the meaning behind the terms they take for granted

no

• 'Salvation' is about experiencing the freedom & fullness of this life, BUT it is ALSO in reference to the life to come
• Belief as loyal commitment does not negate belief in the events of the Bible such as seas parting and Jonah in the fish
• 'Communion' is also a new word that has been assigned to a Biblical ideal, yet is more universally understood throughout Christendom; 'rapture', however, is one of those words with meaning that varies by 'dialect' 

attempting to concretely and briefly explain the depth, textures, history, and mystery of the Christian faith  into a short 3 minute video is as difficult as explaining all the nuances of the English (or any other) language in the same amount of time.

it is dangerous to present as fact simplified, one-sided explanations as definitive, black-and-white truth--yet, this is representative of the kind of conversations created in the aftermath of the Norway massacre with the perpetrator claiming to be a "right-wing Christian".  we, as believers, need to be aware of these perspectives, and perspective shifting reports, so that we can respond with wisdom and grace to each challenge, each rant, each misunderstanding, and each question that will confront the Church in days like these.  we cannot run and hide behind rhetoric or tradition in the midst of such events; we have to be willing to receive each challenge, listen to each criticism, and offer the mystery of Christ's transforming work in our own lives as testimony of the supernatural that cannot be explained by essays, videos, and quantifiable data.

to borrow a phrase from Erwin McManus, these create great friction for the Church, but they can be transformed to create great traction (see "An Unstoppable Force")

not of Christ

the horrific stories and images coming out of Norway have a terrible underlying story as well.  quoting a report from CNN ...

Norwegian television and newspaper reports have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik.
Official sources and social media indicate that Breivik might be a right-wing Christian fundamentalist who may have had an issue with Norway's multi-cultural society.  CNN: Norway report 07/23/11


if this report is true and these are indeed the convictions of this assailant, then the sadness is only multiplied for he not only fails to understand and represent Jesus, but he will also be guilty of causing so much unbelief.


"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2 Peter 2:1-2 (NIV)


Pray for the victims' families and this country now in shock; pray for the Church in Norway to rise up and display a true witness of Christ in this terrible time; and let us all be ready to represent Christ truthfully in word and life.

Check this out!

Coolest kids party supplies ever--3D plates & napkins with glasses. I couldn't believe it when I saw the glasses because the images didn't look like typical 3D art.
This poor, grainy, phone pic was taken at our nephew's sons 2nd birthday party earlier tonight.  We're on our way to a Jetson's future.

new tool...

so having begun to use my mac to create videos through the easy imovie program and preparing for frequent travel, i thought it would be great to get an ipad with the camera so i could do all that on the go and upload movies quickly for family, friends and supporters back home.

pause for realistic explanation of my above justification: 1) when i first got my mac, i pulled it out while traveling on my first trip in the UK, recorded video and used the same software to make the movie -- so would having an ipad really enable me to do it any less conspicuously?  possibly, but i had already demonstrated i got do it just fine with what i have.  and, 2) oh how clever the advertising to hook in someone who is trying "to abandon it all for the sake of the call" into even considering dropping that much coin on a thing.

but, i gave in -- sort of; as we researched and thought through this some more, Keli pointed out that i could get the latest version ipod for a fraction of the price, with the camera, with the same amount of memory of the ipad, and use the same apps.  so, we watched ebay and found one slightly used 64gb, 4th gen, mini-marvel that came for a grand total of $255 after discount--check it out, that's a steal!

anywho, the proof of whether or not this would work would be in how well i could click, record, and manipulate the app on the tiny screen.  so i clicked a couple pics, took a quick video of Grace and myself (she was lying around sick, poor girl) -- add a great random pic from the night before at the dinner table, and 30 minutes of finger maneuvering on the tiny screen produced this... (keep in mind, my daughter is actually sick and not really this lazy--i hope she'll forgive me...

yep, i think this was a good buy...

update on the serious stuff: we had a great weekend with the Riverchase and Rock Creek Congregations in the Birmingham area last weekend.   now we're rewarded with 2 weeks at "home" where we'll focus on the needs of the 6th Ave Congregation.  our next scheduled trip is to West Virginia the first weekend in August.  thanks for your continued encouragement, prayers and support.

too good not to post everywhere

this has nothing to do with our calling, our preparation, our departure or our ministry; it's funny and made us laugh out loud--hope you enjoy it too!

we hope you have a good weekend.  we'll travel from north Alabama south to Birmingham to share with our friends and family at Riverchase Community Church on the occasion of the ordination service for their current youth pastor, Josh Deeter.  after worship, we will share with the adult S.S. classes about our calling, and then share in the reception/wedding shower for Josh and his fiancee Emily.  Later Sunday evening, we will share at Emily's home church, Rock Creek Church of God in Bessemer.

we are further pleased to announce our latest Living Link partnership with Muren Church of God in southern Indiana; we hope to visit them in the near future to get to know Pastor Clint, his family, and the congregation there.

My Country Tis of Thee...

As i write this post, i'm sitting inside the wonderful back patio of our friends the Mativi's, who have graciously lent us their home while they vacation.  It's a perfect place to stop after the many miles to Houston and the many miles yet ahead before we can rest again in our own bed.  The kids also got the chance to not only stretch the legs from the car ride, but also swim till they were content late into the night while fireworks blasted in the peaceful sky.

It's the 4th of July and each blast is intended to remind us of the cannon and muskets firing in our country's struggle for independence.  It's a celebration of the great cost of our liberties that we often take for granted.  

On this holiday, we are reminded that our next 4th of July may be on foreign soil--that's an amazing thought!

This past several days, since our commissioning in Anderson at the NAC, we have been on another trip, deep down south to Houston, Texas.  Along the way, we have been blessed in a reunion with the Mativi family, as well as a stay in Houston with our former RCC Pastor Greg & his wife Shirley.  They now attend the Houston First Church of God where we shared on Sunday morning July 3.  This American holiday weekend was a reminder of the great melting pot that is this country has always been: while we went to worship with First Church, we were introduced to the English speaking, the Spanish speaking, and the Arabic speaking fellowships that make First Church their home!  We stayed in the Arabic speaking service and were blessed by the unique sounds of the oud (pictured) and the completely Arabic service; we were also thankful for the translation headsets that allowed us to understand the prayers and preached word!  After worship, we were able to experience the most diverse potluck dinner we have ever seen--what a wonderful picture as all these nationalities broke various breads together :)  We were blessed by the missional spirit of First Church; we are excited by their partnership and looking forward to how we can be further blessed by these talented and diverse believers sharing in the 3W region in the not too distant future.

To round out our 4th of July, we were also treated to a patriotic Houston Symphony performance at the outdoor Woodland's Pavilion--a real treat that included a fly by from the international space station and the 1812 overture complete with authentic canons firing!

Now it's another night's rest before hitting the road again.  By the time we get home, we will have traveled more than 4500 miles, spanning Toronto to Houston in the past 40 days!  Thank you for your ongoing prayers for our family...

our turn

Though I was born in Anderson and grew up in “nowhere, Indiana” for the first 12 years of my life, the next 6 years were full of moves leading me to attend 2 junior high schools, 4 high schools and living in 3 different states before returning to Anderson for college.  During those crazy years, the one constant in my life was Campmeeting in Anderson, now known as North American Convention. 

We used to meet in what, at the time of its construction, was an engineering marvel: a large concrete dome auditorium that used to have the globe painted on the exterior.  Inside were thousands of the worse plastic/fiberglass chairs ever conceived—but the Spirit of God often moved there freely in the singing, the fellowship, the preaching, and the prayers.  This is where, as the old-timers would say, “I saw the Church.”  The greatest services in that old auditorium were always the Wednesday night Commissioning services.  I would marvel as a child as leaders and pastors from all over the globe would bring in the flag of their home nation or the nation they were serving; I would listen to the testimonies of far off places and God’s provision in the midst of trying circumstances to share the Good News.  And near the conclusion of the service, the Church would introduce families and share their stories of calling to serve in far off places; we would pray for them, and then they would be charged with the Scripture.  Then, those families would receive and slowly share the light of a candle, one by one until the whole dome had that wonderful soft, yet bright glow. 

I often wondered how the memory of those nights, surrounded by the Church & those candle lights impacted those families.  Monday night, I will find out first hand as our family takes our place in that line of those who have been called internationally.  I never thought that could be me—I definitely never sought it—but here we are, willing none-the-less.

We have the bonus joy of having our parents share the moment with us; it has been their faithful obedience that has given us the foundation from which we now make these steps.  In that same spirit, we are excited about how this will be a foundation that will lead to greater steps of faith in the lives of Grace, Titus, and Zeke.

Along with our parents, we will be surrounded by friends, co-laborers from 6th Ave, and those we have also inspired to follow the call of God within their own lives.  Among these will be Abby Smith (Colombia), Josh Weiger & his wife Audrey (Park Place), Bryan Kelsen (Pueblo, CO), James & Mary Alexander (6th Ave), Alexis (6th Ave), Jose', and Julie Nalbach (6th Ave & WITC).  Each of these will represent you as they surround us and lay hands on us for the commissioning prayer--thank you all for your love, support, and ongoing prayers.

Overdue Thank You

  In more ways than one, these past few weeks have been an extended trip down memory lane—last Sunday was a prime example.  For the first time in over 20 years, I walked into the church I grew up in on a Sunday morning.  As we parked at the Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis, I didn’t know where to go—the missions’ pastor, Andrew Gale, said to meet in the main lobby—but what was the main lobby when I grew up was now the Children’s lobby!  
  We found our way, and the first order of business was to meet and hug my children’s S.S. teacher, retired Army Colonel Mable Collette—the only adult brave enough to teach the “rowdy 5” (a group of boys all born within a few months of each other).  I don’t know who was more excited to see who—I delighted in introducing her to Keli and my boys, while she eagerly took me around to introduce me to her friends and one of the pastors.  It was too long a wait to say, “Thank You”, but I am glad I had the opportunity.
  While sharing in various groups, i learned that the father of one of the "rowdy 5" was hospitalized down the street from the church.  Jeff & Sharon Long had been good friends of my parents, and like any set of good church friends, that meant they were involved in loving, teaching, correcting, and giving to me as well.  It was Father's Day, and i was so close--it had been more than 20 years since i last saw either of them--but i had to go.  Walking into the hospital room, i didn't quite know what to expect--but the silence broke when Sharon's jaw dropped as she said, "Kenny?", which gave way to a delighted squeal of laughter and quick hugs.  We reminisced together and caught one another up on our families.  I was able to pray with them, and before going to share my appreciation for their love and their special place in our family's life. 
  Though this journey has felt like limbo lately, there has been great joy in reconnecting with those who have been a part of our faith journey.  We have been blessed to have known and been influenced by wonderful people, friends and family--we may not be able to see each one, but for each who has given, and loved, and shared with us along the way: THANK YOU!