Some Exciting News

Just a few weeks ago, I went before friends and family to seek support for Crossing the Pond.

In letters and in a verbal presentation at First United Methodist Church, I called upon the family of God to send me to a people they have never met so that I could serve them.

And so far, that call has been answered clearly.

To date, people have given nearly $1,250 dollars for the trip--I need to raise a total of $2,000.

This number just blows me out of the water.

God is good--and He has worked through His people to show me (and by extension, Formby Baptist Church) His goodness.

So, allow this to be the first of a great many thank-you's to all of you who have so graciously given of your resources to make this trip possible. I quite literally couldn't do this without you.

Further, thank you for so willingly participating in the mission of God--to go as He went, and to send as He sent. Thank you for living the call with me.

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

--Philippians 1:3-5

Fools for Christ

We're closer than we've ever been,

and now we're even closer.

March 5 gets closer by the day, and I am still very excited, ready to go to return to Formby and be reunited with good friends and my family across the pond.

This week we accomplished a lot in our team meeting, brainstorming skits and numbers for the Gala. It occurs to me now that I have not explained the Gala to those unfamiliar with my trip, so maybe an explanation is due.

The Gala is the biggest event of the entire trip--it requires the most planning and preparation out of anything else we do. The Gala is a one-night even that takes place smack in the middle of the trip. We rent out a local hall and have an evangelistic outreach/talent/variety show in front of the whole church and their friends.

The Gala is one of the biggest evangelistic moments that Formby Baptist has--the skits make everyone laugh, and we make fools of ourselves for Christ (but probably in a much different way than Paul intended when he penned the phrase). At the end, one of the team members shares a testimony and presents the Gospel.

Oh, what we do for the Gospel and for those who do not believe. We over our faces with banana, memorize lines till our brains hurt, make ridiculous intro videos (this year might be a live performance of a hit from The Sound of Music) and spend hours practicing mimes and comedy sketches. This, of course, is nothing when compared to the great missionary feats of church history (after all, there is no threat of martyrdom), but is still a great effort on the team's part to put this together.

So, pray for us as we start practicing (or practising) skits and dramas and mimes. Pray that we would learn our lines, that we would work together well, that people would laugh. But please pray that the Gospel would go forth and make disciples.

"We are fools for Christ's sake..."
--1 Corinthians 4:10

Hitting the Ground Running

The new semester began on Monday with a fury; at 8 a.m. I had my first class of the semester, and from there things have kept on rolling. It's good to be back in Chicago among my friends and "family" here, and I think I have a vague notion of what needs to be accomplished over the next three months.

And then, there's England.

We hit the ground running this week: we had a meeting with veteran team members Monday afternoon, and then a meeting with the entire team on Tuesday night. We planned who will be preaching and teaching when, as well as got a good grasp of the schedule we'll have for the two weeks we will be there in March.

And still there is a lot to do--and I'm not talking about school, either. There are sermons to write, lessons to plan, outreaches to organize, people to encourage. It can seem just a little overwhelming (especially when you do add in classes).

But here is the good news. He is going to show up, and he is going to help.

"For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham."
--Hebrews 2:16

If you were present when I preached on this passage, or if you weren't, it's time you knew just how overwhelmingly compelling I find this verse. God is in the business of helping me--he gets a kick out of doing this. He doesn't show up half-hearted; he is not lackadaisical in his assistance to me.

No, he digs this sort of thing (especially when you think about the fact that the Holy Spirit is called "the Helper"). And he is more than willing to help us do what he has called us to do. This is good news.

In fact, this is great news.

It is, after all, the Gospel.

Two Months From Today

In just two months from today, I will be heading to Formby for part one of my ministry there.

And there is plenty to do.

Over the next two months, Formby 2010 team and I will be meeting weekly to plan events and other ministry activities. I will also be writing sermons and bible studies, and coming alongside the newer members of the team to encourage them and help them prepare for Formby.

Please pray for us as we start meeting regularly--we have not gotten together very often as a team, and so there is quite a lot of team building to happen yet. We need prayer for team unity, for true brotherhood and sisterhood, and for us to love one another as Christ has loved us.

Also, pray for vision, discernment, and ears that are able to hear Jesus' voice. There is a lot of planning to do, and a lot of moving parts to organize. Pray that we can do this with excellence, so that when we arrive on the ground in March, we can focus on people, not plans.

Our desire is to hear "the voice behind us" and accomplish God's will for His glory.

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
"This is the way, walk in it,"
when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
--Isaiah 30:21

Where is This Place Anyway?

Here's a map that shows the general location of Formby.

For those of you interested in some facts about Formby, here are a few, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Population: 24, 996
Size: 7 sq. miles (17 sq. km)

Formby is populated with red squirrels, a rare breed protected by the government, and is also home to the natterjack toad.

Formby is only 1.5 feet above sea level at its lowest point; it is in a coastal region near the Irish Sea. Tall sand dunes separate Formby from the sea.

Following Across the Pond

If you're reading this, it is probably because you received a letter in the mail or heard my presentation at First United Methodist Church in Warren at the end of December. Or, you may just be a friend or the friend of a friend.

That means that you took a few minutes and typed this address into your browser so you could stay up-to-date with what's going on. Before you read, go ahead and add it to your bookmarks, or if you are really teach-saavy, add it to your Google Reader or Email Feeds.

I'm going to be intentional and update this about once a week; but when I am on the ground in Formby, I'll try to update twice a week with photos, quotes, and reflections.

For now, thanks for following me, for your prayers, and for your financial support. I have already received some funds, and I am just so grateful to God for moving his people to action. God is good--all the time, and I'm trusting in His goodness to get me safely to England and back.

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this:
that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
--2 Corinthians 5:14-15