On the Missio Dei

South Asia Night -- THIS Friday, Dec 11 @ 7pm

Darkness – an Advent Reflection (by Jaye Soss)

Can you remember a time in your life when you knew nothing about Jesus?  I don’t mean just when you were working out whether you believed IN him or not – but was there a time that you had absolutely no knowledge of him at all?  Can you even fathom what that must be like, to have absolutely no awareness of Jesus and what he represents ?

Now add to that imagery a backdrop of high mountain peaks separating small mountain villages, a terrain so rugged that it takes all human energy possible just to etch out an existence each day.  Where life is so difficult that your physical body ages at such an accelerated pace that a young 30 year old appears to be an old man.  Can you feel the despair, the hopelessness, the darkness?

With all the world attention on the region of South Asia, we can easily forget that these mountain regions are the habitat of simple humans, living very difficult lives, with very little resources and without access to every day conveniences we take so much for granted.   Most importantly, they live through these circumstances without the promise and hope of Jesus in their lives – without a Lord they can cry to in their times of frustration, weariness or despair.

Advent is a time of watching and waiting – but it is also a time to capture the darkness, to remember the time “before” Jesus entered our lives.  Sometimes it is difficult to get back to that place – even in this year of financial meltdowns - but it is essential for us as Christians to remember the darkness in order to fully appreciate the LIGHT.

I am so grateful that this Advent season at LFC we have a special opportunity to relate to that darkness as we listen to the stories of the mission teams that work in this region.  Through their experiences we can appreciate the HOPE that Jesus brings to our own circumstances; and we can pray that through the efforts of these ambassadors of Christ the same HOPE can be delivered to the dark regions of South Asia. 

Friday, December 11^th at 7 pm Lake Forest will highlight three mission groups and the members of our own medical mission team as they reflect on this region and how Christ is beginning to shine the light of HOPE through them.  It will be a special Advent celebration as we pray for the relationships that have begun, the relationships yet to be developed, and for the PEACE that is possible only through HIS power.  I hope you will consider joining us as part of your Advent journey this season.

Mike Moses: Bogota Reflections and Prayers

Hey Lake Forest-

Me and Missio-Dei-Gumby are enjoying some Colombian coffee while looking over the city of Bogota, Colombia this morning.  After the spirit-wrenching last three days, we are spending our time in Scripture this morning in John's letters to the seven persecuted churches in Asia (modern southwest Turkey) that make up the beginning of the book of Revelation.  This is my prayer today for pastor Josemar (not his real name), which I will extend as my prayer for all 80 of the pastors I spent this week with.  I'll ask you to pray it with me:

Revelation 2:8-10 "To the church in Smyrna (and the red zones controlled by communist guerrillas and paramilitarys in Colombia) write (pray):  The first and last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich!). Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and  you will have tribulation ten days.  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Me and the other pastors ministering to the 80 persecuted pastors in this part of Bolivia laid hands on Josemar yesterday.  He was called last week and given an appointment to meet the guerrilla commander of his district in a remote field today after noon.  "To discuss matters too sensitive for the phone."  The last time he received this call, eight years ago, he was kidnapped for ten days (the same amount of time members of the church of Smyrna would be imprisoned in the first century), then ransomed for release.  Nevertheless he and his family have continued their ministry of traveling miles on foot trails to teach the Gospel in remote areas and care for believers, some years in secret other years holding open worship services.  His appointment this afternoon may mean death, imprisonment, beating, new restrictions on his movements, or other. 

How could I, pastor of Lake Forest Church in Lake Norman, dare to pray for such a faithful servant of God?  How could I dare to even teach the Word to such heroes and saints?  I couched my three days of ministry among them as this: I am here to represent the Body of Christ in America, and my church specifically.  You are not forgotten - you are admired, held up in prayer, and cheered on by a host of saints in this world and in the heavenlies!  For 2,000 years persecuted saints and martyrs have been at the vanguard of the expansion of the Gospel.  Your calling is difficult and unique, know that you are the heroes of the church (I gave the example of boys trading baseball or soccer cards of their heroes). 

The Voice of the Martyrs ministry, which sponsored the conference, lives out my statement to those pastors in myriad ways, making sure they are not forgotten through prayer, financial sustenance, provision of means of transportation (canoes, motorbikes and donkeys), etc.  Through the ministry of John Hernandez and Children's International Network we handed out six months of fabulous children's curriculum to each attendee.

Here are some quick impressions and thoughts that I have noted to reflect upon over the next couple of weeks:

- trip here in which a storm caused my plane to land first in Medellin for a while

- my extreme anxiousness at preaching to such profound men and women of God

- tearfully washing each of their feet in worship

- more tearfully receiving their washing of my feet and prayer over me

- pastors videotaping me on their phone as evidence the anglo church remembers them and their flock

- learning to say 'dios levendiga hermano/hermana' God bless you brother

- listening to the story of every pastor I could possibly have time to sit and listen to with every moment of the conference

As Josemar got on the bus to leave yesterday, he simply said "I am content."  Thank you Lord, for the chance to imbibe your Spirit in a room full of Peters and Pauls this week, who can say with Paul "I have learned to be content in every circumstance." 

Hey Lake Forest-

Me and Missio-Dei-Gumby are enjoying some Colombian coffee while looking over the city of Bogota, Colombia this morning.  After the spirit-wrenching last three days, we are spending our time in Scripture this morning in John's letters to the seven persecuted churches in Asia (modern southwest Turkey) that make up the beginning of the book of Revelation.  This is my prayer today for pastor Josemar (not his real name), which I will extend as my prayer for all 80 of the pastors I spent this week with.  I'll ask you to pray it with me:

Revelation 2:8-10 "To the church in Smyrna (and the red zones controlled by communist guerrillas and paramilitarys in Colombia) write (pray):  The first and last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich!). Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and  you will have tribulation ten days.  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Me and the other pastors ministering to the 80 persecuted pastors in this part of Bolivia laid hands on Josemar yesterday.  He was called last week and given an appointment to meet the guerrilla commander of his district in a remote field today after noon.  "To discuss matters too sensitive for the phone."  The last time he received this call, eight years ago, he was kidnapped for ten days (the same amount of time members of the church of Smyrna would be imprisoned in the first century), then ransomed for release.  Nevertheless he and his family have continued their ministry of traveling miles on foot trails to teach the Gospel in remote areas and care for believers, some years in secret other years holding open worship services.  His appointment this afternoon may mean death, imprisonment, beating, new restrictions on his movements, or other. 

How could I, pastor of Lake Forest Church in Lake Norman, dare to pray for such a faithful servant of God?  How could I dare to even teach the Word to such heroes and saints?  I couched my three days of ministry among them as this: I am here to represent the Body of Christ in America, and my church specifically.  You are not forgotten - you are admired, held up in prayer, and cheered on by a host of saints in this world and in the heavenlies!  For 2,000 years persecuted saints and martyrs have been at the vanguard of the expansion of the Gospel.  Your calling is difficult and unique, know that you are the heroes of the church (I gave the example of boys trading baseball or soccer cards of their heroes). 

The Voice of the Martyrs ministry, which sponsored the conference, lives out my statement to those pastors in myriad ways, making sure they are not forgotten through prayer, financial sustenance, provision of means of transportation (canoes, motorbikes and donkeys), etc.  Through the ministry of John Hernandez and Children's International Network we handed out six months of fabulous children's curriculum to each attendee.

Here are some quick impressions and thoughts that I have noted to reflect upon over the next couple of weeks:

- trip here in which a storm caused my plane to land first in Medellin for a while

- my extreme anxiousness at preaching to such profound men and women of God

- tearfully washing each of their feet in worship

- more tearfully receiving their washing of my feet and prayer over me

- pastors videotaping me on their phone as evidence the anglo church remembers them and their flock

- learning to say 'dios levendiga hermano/hermana' God bless you brother

- listening to the story of every pastor I could possibly have time to sit and listen to with every moment of the conference

As Josemar got on the bus to leave yesterday, he simply said "I am content."  Thank you Lord, for the chance to imbibe your Spirit in a room full of Peters and Pauls this week, who can say with Paul "I have learned to be content in every circumstance." 

May I not forget them.

-Mike Moses

Pastor Mike on the Missio Dei in Bogota, Columbia

 

Hey Lake Forest!

I am getting off the plane in Bogota, Colombia, traveling to a conference center outside of town. Wednesday and Thursday I will speak real 'hope in a house of blues' to pastors whose lives and families are in danger due to communist rebels. (See persecution.com for details by clicking into Colombia.)

What do I, a cushy-job-havin'-american pastor have to say to heroes, giants, and potential martyrs of the faith?

As usual - nothing from me is of value. Yet God's Word is of inestimable value to such ministers.

So here's what I plan to preach:

Wednesday: Matthew 16:18 (spoken by Jesus) "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

1. Jesus will build his church! (So chill and just be faithful as a pastor to preach the good news of Jesus, care for people and minister according to your unique gift mix)
2. If it's HIS church (he didn't promise to build your church; church of right behavior and ethics; church that makes your life better/prosperous; church where you have authority over peoples' lives, etc.) He will build church centered on the good news that Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Be faithful to this as the good news and trust Him for increase or not.
3. The gates of hell, and the devil's friends in your neighborhood, will not prevail against Jesus' beloved church!  In Roman times Emperor Nero called Christians dogs and martyred Jesus followers, including Paul, for their faith in Jesus. 2,000 years later people name their dogs Nero and their children Paul.  Jesus will maintain his church until his victorious return...etc.

Thursdays message will be from Daniel Chapter 2 - faith under pressure/crisis.

I am humbled to have this opportunity and thank John Hernandez and Children's International Network for the invitation. And I welcome your prayers. See you Sunday for baptisms at LFC.

- Mike Moses

Toy Drive – MFlake’s Reflections

**IF YOU FORGOT YOUR TOYS LAST WEEKEND, BRING THEM TO THE CHURCH OFFICE THIS WEEK OR TO WORSHIP SERVICES ON SUNDAY.

**IF YOU BROUGHT TOYS ON FRIDAY OR SUNDAY, AWESOME! WE CURRENTLY HAVE 13 FULL BOXES OF TOYS.

   

With so many human needs in our world, why are we collecting toys for this Christmas? It’s a worthwhile question, which some of you might have asked. And so I’ll give you some reflections on why the Christmas Village Toy Store and Drive is a wonderful use of our collective energy and generosity:

(1) If every drive we did was a toy drive, or something similar, then we might have a problem. But we also do food and clothing drives – our next drive (in Spring 2010) will be food related. Doing a toy drive does not mean we are oblivious to human need – because we aren’t.

(2) As I’ve been out and about over the last few weeks, I’ve been reawakened to the frightening grip that materialism has on so many of us and our children. To give a toy is to challenge the reign of materialism in our lives. I am deeply grateful for kids in our congregation who have told me (in their own language) how giving toys has helped them take steps towards being generous people… generous in sharing the hope and love of God in tangible ways.

As a humorous and wonderful side story, I went to Studio 252 in October to teach about hope and introduce this Toy Store to the elementary-aged kids and their parents. The takeaway was easy: because we have hope, we give hope. As one girl realized what this meant and was challenged by her mother to give up something she really wanted in order to help someone else, my young friend responded “I really liked 252 until we started talking about this hope stuff.” She totally gets it! To truly follow Jesus will cost us something. To be transformed by the power and love of God means that we will not be the same. She is struggling with exactly the right thing!

(3) Unless we have a major cultural overhaul and it becomes non-normative for people to give gifts (often in excessive amounts) to others at Christmas, followers of Christ have a choice. We can ignore the poor who cannot give. We can buy toys and give them to the children of poor adults (a good but not the best idea). Or we can offer toys at discount to these adults. This last idea is best because it affirms the God-given dignity that Scripture says is woven into each person. It also allows parents to show their love to their children through gift giving. (When gifts are given directly from church to children, the main emphasis is the gifts. When gifts are given from parents to children, the main emphasis is the love those gifts express.)

(4) To say that collecting toys is the main point of the Christmas Village Toy Store is to lose the forest for the trees. Cultivating generosity among devout materialists is absolutely Mission of God stuff. But the central Missio Dei part of the Toy Store revolves around the tickets to the store. Only parents and families with tickets are allowed to attend the Toy Store, and particular ministries and churches in greater Charlotte are the distributors of these tickets. Churches use these tickets purposefully to strengthen relationships with certain vulnerable families. In doing so, they move closer to long-term relationship, the framework within which all spiritual and physical change is most effective.

Thanks for reading and reflecting. I love how God continues to lead us (yes, all of us) at LFC further and further into his Mission in this world.

MFlake

Haiti Reflections

(A little longer than the average post but worth the read)

Haiti is a beautiful country and I have really enjoyed my time here. There are many noticeable differences from American culture, at least the part of Americana I am used to. Animals roam a little freer here, houses look noticeably different, driving is a little less structured and a little more intuitive, and time is more an approximation than deadline. Different does not mean wrong; different does not mean bad. That gets me into some reflections:

Joining God’s mission in different cultures requires us to distinguish between culture and God’s mission. What I mean is that Haiti is a developing country and that fact influences much of its culture. The Mission of God is NOT to make Haiti a developed country. The Missio Dei is NOT to change their housing codes or put lines on all the streets or give them the latest/greatest toys and technology. In short, the Missio Dei is NOT to Americanize Haiti. But this is the primary temptation of many people.

To join the Missio Dei in Haiti (or in any cross-cultural venue) first requires us to see the culture for what it is: in some ways good, in some ways different, and in some ways evil. (The same three categories apply to American culture: in some ways it is good, in some ways it is just different than other cultures, and in some ways it is evil.) Then we must ask what God is doing in that country (or area) and how we can join in that work. This work is 99.9% of the time best done through us joining with national Christians, aiding them in the work they already do.

Compassion International does a lot of things right. I have respected them for a long time and that respect has only increased as the week progressed. Their clarity of purpose (Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name) and their accountability (yearly audits at all five levels of the program) are exemplary. But what has been most meaningful to me is that every member of their Haiti staff, from the country’s director to the individual leaders at every project, is a Haitian. Compassion is making no attempt to Americanize Haiti – but rather it intentionally partners with Haitian churches to find the best ways, within the cultural context of Haiti, to talk about and live out the good news about God’s love shown in Jesus Christ.

In Compassion, I have found something of a kindred spirit. They encourage children to follow Jesus; they install reverse-osmosis water purification systems; they do micro-finance loans and have programs for at-risk mothers and babies; they have a leadership program that allows 30 students per country per year to attend college and to be mentored (so that the leaders of many countries over the next generation will be devout Christians). They have a deep concern for a myriad of spiritual and physical needs. And yet, they emphasize “sponsorship first.” The first priority is getting people to sponsor children in different countries.

If you’ve heard the Missio Dei series, that may sound familiar. When joining God’s Mission, it’s RELATIONSHIP FIRST. Within the framework of relationship, we can and should have a deep concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of others. But it’s relationship first.  

The Haitian Christians I met had a profound concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of others. They did not hesitate to say that people need to follow Jesus – as the only appropriate response to the love of God seen in Christ’s death and resurrection. The sermon at one project focused on praying for God to protect us from the Devil’s attacks. And they also did not hesitate to speak of the importance of clean drinking water, proper medicine for young children, and education.

The context of all this was relationship. Without relationship, we are just handing out Bible tracts (or whatever the equivalent is when we’re dealing with physical needs). Long-term relationships with vulnerable people require work. They might require God to transform us in remarkable ways. It would be far easier to just go to church for an hour a week (and potentially make the big sacrifice of staying through the whole thing!). It would be far easier to put a few Christian books on my shelf and perhaps buy a Christian CD.

But God is doing something big in Charlotte and in our world. And once you’ve had a taste of something like that, Christian life as usual doesn’t seem so compelling. I’m not yet sure what my trip to Haiti will and won’t mean for LFC. But I do know that I am continually praying for our continued transformation as we join the Missio Dei…

MFlake

Flake--Haiti 3

Here are some long-awaited pics from my Haiti trip, with some text to help you make sense of it all. Reflections pending...

Flake, Gumby, and some boys from a Compassion project

Pics of Port au Prince and the Haitian Countryside

 
  
  From the first Compassion International Project, incl. worship service

   
 
 
From the other Compassion projects and a home we visited

Beautiful.

MFlake
 
 

 

Flake – Haiti 2

In case you’re wondering what I’ve been up to, here’s a timeline of the last few days:

Tuesday, Oct 27

5:30am—Wake up

5:31am—Fall back asleep

5:50am—Wake up (round 2)

6:30am—Breakfast, highlight of which was Mango Juice

7:30am—Load up pastors in a van and go to rural area

7:45am—Fill up gas

8:45am—Fill up gas; Compassion’s Haiti staff (all Haitian, by the way) tell us there is a gas shortage and, if we do not put enough gas in the van, we will not have enough gas to get back to Port au Prince tomorrow

8:46am—Erase thoughts of van breaking down in Haiti’s countryside

9:15am—Fill up gas

10am—See beautiful views of Haiti from atop mountain roads

10:30am—Stop at hotel to use bathroom (lots of water + bumpy roads = bathroom break)

11:30am—Arrive at rural Compassion project; we are greeted with signs and a brass band playing selections such as the Haitian national anthem and “America the Beautiful”

12 noon—250+ kids and 66 parents (+ their babies) welcome us with a worship service at the local church (i.e. the church where the Compassion project is based). FYI All Compassion projects are based at a church.

12:15pm—Best moment of the service comes as we sing together “How Great Thou Art” in both English and Creole

1pm—Tour of this Compassion facility (both church and attached school); leave with the promise of returning

2pm—Travel to a second rural Compassion project where we are greeted with signs and a brass band playing selections such as the Haitian national anthem and “America the Beautiful” (note: not a typo)

2:15pm—Students at this project parade us to the house where we will be staying the night

2:30pm—Lunch! Including a Haitian treat: pumpkin soup!

3pm—Need rest but instead return to the first project

3:30pm—Play with the children at the first project; I played soccer but had no idea what team I was on, so I would alternate kicking the ball towards the various goals. I eventually subbed out and spend time attempting to communicate in Creole (a difficult task when the only phrases I know are “what’s up?” “I don’t speak Creole” and “Praise the Lord”).

4:30pm—Visit homes of families with children enrolled in the Compassion projects; I joined a group of 4 other pastors in a home that consisted of two 8’ x 8’ rooms

4:35pm—It begins to rain; the family’s chicken and her chicks come join us in the room where all of us are standing; the family goat also tries to join us and get out of the rain. He is denied access.

4:45pm—We pray with this family and I am struck/convicted about what simplicity can mean

6pm—Dinner at the second project; main course is goat.

6:01pm—Dinner interrupted by a group of children from a THIRD Compassion project in the area coming to visit; they sing us songs and give us all Haitian hats/hugs.

7pm—We all say “Merci” and “Adieu” to the children and their leaders. They leave and we resume dinner.

7:15pm—Several local pastors, all of whom have Compassion projects at their churches, join us for dinner. One man tells us about the successes and difficulties of ministering to people in this part of Haiti. Many people, he says, must choose between being Christians and practicing voodoo.

7:30pm—Some of us American pastors try to explain to the Haitian pastors that we minister to people who must choose between being Christians or materialists.

8:30pm—Haitian pastors leave; Haitian staff sprays down overnight cabin due to large mosquitoes; we all approved, not wanting to put our malaria pills to the test

9:30pm—Attempt to shower is thwarted by (1) trickle of water and (2) power outage and (3) large mosquitoes with mosquito spray immunity

10pm—Finis.

 

Wednesday, Oct 28

6:15am—Wake up as rooster crows outside window

6:30am—Breakfast; main course: goat’s liver (cf. last night’s dinner)

7:30am—Return trip to Port au Prince begins; gas gauge is looking good!

9am—Stop at Salvation Army to use the bathroom; pastor takes us to stalls (i.e. holes in the ground) in the back of the property but ultimately lets us use the toilet in the building when he discovers (in his own words) that our need is “just pee-pee.”

9:03am—Pastor shows little or no knowledge of LFC’s strategic partnership with Salvation Army.

10:15am—Visit Compassion project that has a micro-loan program

11:15am—Arrive in Port au Prince (gas fears relieved); visit a Compassion project that has a reverse osmosis water filtration system—very cool!! This project, in the heart of downtown Port au Prince, is able to purify 500 gallons of water per day and distribute it to the community; the children of the project also give us Haitian flags/hugs

12:15pm—Pile 11 people into Land Rover for trip to park for lunch; I sat with four others in the equivalent of the back seat of an SUV

12:45pm—Arrive at Sugar Cane Park; Unfold from Land Rover; pastors in our group who sponsor children in Haiti are able to meet their sponsored children here; those of us without sponsored children in this country get to eat with other sponsored children

1 pm—Have a conversation, through a translator, with Joanne (age 11); she attends a Compassion project in north Haiti, and her sponsor’s pastor is one of the pastors on the trip; I ask her what her favorite Bible verse is and she recites Psalm 1 (yes, the whole thing); she then sings me a song about Jonah; and finally I learn that she was the first member of her family to attend church (i.e. at the church where her Compassion project is); her mother is also a Christian—the story is that her mother was very sick but got well; when she returned home from the doctor after getting well, Joanne told her that she needed to thank God and accept Christ. So she did.

2:15pm—Say goodbye to a remarkable young lady

2:45pm—Tour Compassion’s national office in Port au Prince; come to realization that they are really organized, run a large-scale and tight operation, and have a clear and compelling vision (releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name)

4:15pm—Check into Port au Prince hotel

6pm—Dinner with Leadership Program students; these are students who were sponsored children and were selected for Compassion’s Leadership Development Program; they attend the University for free and receive training in Christian leadership

7pm—Pray for the young men and women who will change their country and our world—making it look more like God’s new creation

7:30pm—Team meeting with other pastors; discuss the whirlwind that was the last two days

9pm—Begin blogging

 

Pics and reflections coming over the next few days…

MFlake

 

Flake--Haiti 1

The population of Port au Prince, Haiti is now 2.5 million + 1. The team of pastors and I arrived this evening after a full day of travel. So this is going to be a short post because I am very tired. I sat in the Miami airport for several hours due to a flight delay--the plane was leaking the hydraulic fluid that powers the brakes. In the end, I think that is a compelling reason to delay a flight.

We are heading out early in the morning to rural areas of Haiti to meet children involved with Compassion’s programs here. As you might guess, there are no Hot-Spots in the rural areas of Haiti so no updates until Wednesday at the earliest.

Please pray for my new friend Pe’ Banive (pronounced Bu kneev). I sat by him during the flight to Port au Prince. He is a Catholic priest (Pe’ means Father in Creole), serving a parish of 3000 families in the mountains of Haiti. He is returning to his parish after two weeks of rest/vacation in the United States. Ministry in Haiti, he told me, was very exhausting. He does not simply teach people about Jesus and encourage them to follow him—he also spends a lot of time caring for the pressing physical needs of the extreme poor in his parish. His English, though much better than my Creole, was not so good that we could talk in much depth. However, I was struck by this interaction:

His ancestors were clearly from a different continent than mine. We spoke different languages, grew up in different cultures, and live under Christian distinctions (i.e. Protestant and Catholic) that have for 500 years been hostile towards each other.  And yet more unites us than divides us. We are both trying to faithfully follow Jesus—and this fact causes us to struggle in finding the balance between caring for the spiritual and physical concerns of others. Tonight, I will pray for Pe’ Banive, thankful that today God allowed me to be part of a snapshot of the new creation.

MFlake

Christmas Village Toy Store

 

SEE THE WISH LIST 

GET MORE INFO 

 

 

Lake Forest has a great and simple way to serve over the next few weeks. This year, LFC is participating in the Christmas Village Toy Store (a partnership of 7-10 Charlotte area churches). The idea is simple: the various churches collect and reprice new toys (to 30-50% of actual price). The toys are put in the toy store (at Warehouse 242 in Charlotte). Various churches and ministries throughout the city invite vulnerable families to attend the store. These adults are then able to buy Christmas presents for their own children.

 

The whole system is awesome because it creates generosity in the givers, affirms the God-given dignity of the people who shop at the Store, and strengthens the connection between the churches/ministries and the people they give tickets to.

 

All that to say, on Nov 6 (at Studio 252) and Nov 8 (during all 3 services), we are collecting NEW toys to give to the Toy Store. We are not asking people to buy more toys than usual this year. We are encouraging people to be intentional about celebrating a simpler Christmas by choosing to give instead of receive some items. If you, your family, your neighbors, or your Community Group would like to go shopping for toys together and/or serve together by collecting toys at church, that would be great.

 

 

 

Flake and Gumby to Haiti

Lake Forest and Other Missio Blog Enthusiasts:

It's me, Michael Flake. Beginning Monday, I will join a team of 5-7 other pastors and travel to Haiti with an organization named Compassion International, whose goal is "releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name." We are going to participate in a vision trip to this country -- evaluating the work that Compassion does for the children of Haiti and discussing ways that their work might be even more effective in the years ahead.

This opportunity is certainly a wonderful one for me and for LFC -- to have such close contact with one of the most reputable mission groups in the US. Compassion does, better than most American ministries, have a deep concern for both people's spiritual and physical lives.

Gumby and I will leave for Haiti on Monday and will keep you updated (God and internet permitting) throughout the week. That's all for now.

MFlake