Journal Entry #7 - The BIG Event

Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus!
The BIG Event

Another leg of the journey is complete! We have seen Jesus in new ways during this past six months. He orders our steps. We have many God stories to share. Let me share one with you.

As adults, if we see life through a child’s eyes, it’s so much more exciting. Imagine the dreams children have on Christmas Eve. Think about the night before you left for overnight summer camp. Remember trying to sleep knowing you were taking your first airplane trip the next day or getting your drivers’ license. Maybe the memories include grandparents coming to visit, your wedding, birth of a child, your pending baptism, purchase of a home. In each of these cases, there was a lot of planning that went into the big event. The fun began long before the big event. There was great anticipation and the big event was yet to commence! Sometimes similar things may have transpired, but they were not quite the same as the big event would be.

We have been praying, seeking counsel of godly men, confiding in a few dear friends, praying, planning, researching, praying, taking appropriate steps, and, yes, even dreaming about the big event! Oh, and did I say that we have been praying about the big event? More than you can imagine! At this point in time, those of you who have been on our journey with us, are thinking……the big event is right around the corner. It’s coming. Quickly. February 4th, to be exact. WRONG!

You see, the big event was yesterday, January 18, 2009. It was the culmination of six months of our thoughts, plans, efforts and prayers. It was the culmination of God’s plan and purpose for us during this season of our lives. Our Pastor, Douglas Turner, and the elders of Bridgeway Church commissioned us to the work of the Lord in Peru. This was patterned after the commandment of the Lord to Moses to take Joshua before the priest and the entire assembly, and in Numbers 27:23 it says “Then he (the priest) laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.” You see, Bridgeway Church, our family, friends and fellowship of believers witnessed and participated in acknowledging their support of us as we “do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Some big events come and go. Once they arrive, within hours they are done and over with. Not this one. It can be considered the end and the beginning at the same time; the end of a time of preparation and the beginning of the work, the next leg of the journey. It could be said, “we’ve come a long way baby” and yet it can also be said “we’ve only just begun”.

The following was prepared and shared with our many prayer and financial supporters.

A New Beginning in the New Year

The New Year is a time for people to have a new beginning and we are no exception. We have some wonderful news and wanted to share it with you.

Yes, we are still going to Peru and continue to be excited to see how God is working out all the details. One of those details He is working out is to allow us to go to the field serving our Heavenly Father as independent missionaries. We will have our home church Bridgeway as our covering/oversight and are going to Peru with their blessing. Our ministry plan and financial support has been approved by Bridgeway. Our Pastor, elders, and mission board are fully supporting us! Praise God for His hand on us during this time of transition and for providing a way for us to follow Him!

Because of our close association with New Covenant Ministries and specifically Bruce Carter, we did have a meeting with Bruce Carter to share our heart and our leading of the Lord. We have a long-term friendship and close working relationship with Bruce and he was understanding, respectful and accepting of our decision. We have also notified the Board of Directors of NCM our resignation.

We continue to feel burdened to work in the sector churches establishing AWANA clubs, assisting them in becoming self-sufficient, researching cottage-industry type opportunities for the women of Pat's Place and the teens of Hope House and assisting in workshops, conferences for teaching lay ministry to the Peruvian Christians in an effort to bring the Christians in the sector churches to a more mature desire to support the individual pastors. Bruce said he would share his agreement with this arrangement with Pastor Gino Benvenutto, the Senior Pastor of the sector churches we work with in Peru.

Your partnership in this ministry is as important now as it has ever been. We would not be able to serve our Lord in Peru without your support. To allow you to continue to make tax deductible contributions to our ministry, Bridgeway Church has set up account to accept donations and you can start using it immediately. Please make checks to: Bridgeway Church. Please mark in the memo section: TEAM Missions In Peru. The mailing address: Bridgeway Church, 4755 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

We covet your prayers as we embark on this endeavor. To read about our “Journey with Jesus here in Duluth and there in Peru”, check out TEAMissionsinperu.blogspot.com. To receive our emailed newsletter, please be sure to keep us updated when you make changes and feel free to help us share the work of the Lord in Peru by adding your friends to our email contact list. We consider you part of our TEAM and we cannot fulfill the purpose we are called to without your help. You – our prayer and financial supporters are the best!

Together Each Achieves More !