Posted at 03:08 PM in General Short-term Missions, India, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 03:09 PM in General Short-term Missions, India, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Is service an opportunity or an attitude?
Is joining the missio Dei a one-time chance or an ongoing call?
It’s time for the launch of the 2011 short-term trip season at Lake Forest. The informational meetings for all the trips are scheduled for Sunday, Jan 16 and 23 – at 12:15pm at the church. You only need to come to one because they are identical meetings. And no matter which one you choose, you will learn how we do short-term trips at LFC, what each of the trips is about, and how you can be a part of one of the teams that will GO around the world this year.
But what better way to start this season than to put it all in perspective – on this Friday night, January 14 @ 7pm @ LFC. We will have music from Matt and Reeve, a reflection from Michael Flake, and then we will hear from 3 people who GO on the missio Dei – seeing it as an ongoing call and not a one-time chance. As we hear more of God’s story through their stories, we hope that you will be inspired to GO on the missio Dei as a lifestyle – whether that be in your current neighborhood or around the world.
If you are thinking about joining a short-term mission team this year, this night is for you. If you have been on a team in the past and want to continue thinking about what that experience means going forward, this night is for you. If you are simply intrigued by GOing of God’s mission in your own unique way, this night is for you. If you are tired of being trapped at your house, this night is for you.
WHAT: GO Kickoff Night
WHEN: Friday, January 14, 7pm
WHERE: Lake Forest Church, 8519 Gilead Rd
See you there.
Posted at 05:30 PM in Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
There is no off-season with missio Dei. But if there were, late October would be it. The trips of summer and the week-long Salvation Army shelters of the fall have come to a close. The Christmas Village Toy Store of the holiday season and winter’s Room in the Inn have not yet gotten into full swing. And yet, Lake Forest continues to make a difference in our community and around the world.
Sure, we love when our church all works together in concert to share God’s love. But we also love when individual people within Lake Forest decide to GO FOR IT and commit themselves to caring for the least, the lost, the locked out, and the left behind. These individuals insure that the people of LFC are on the missio Dei – even when our congregational opportunities are in an “off-season.” And they inspire all of us to not simply wait for an opportunity to arise but rather to join the missio Dei by how we live.
Here is a non-exhaustive snapshot of some of the places that Lake Forest Ministry Partners serve:
* The Entire Staff of Campus Outreach Davidson, disciplining college students who will make a big impact
* Volunteer Physician at Salvation Army Center of Hope’s clinic, caring for the women and children who call the Center home
* Master Builder for Love INC (In the Name of Christ), guiding teams to build wheelchair ramps around Charlotte
* Development Director of Children’s Impact Network, caring for the fatherless of Bolivia and beyond
*Technical Team Leader of eDOT, using technology to spread God's love throughout Europe
* Executive Director of the Ada Jenkins Center, caring for the poor of North Meck and South Iredell
* Director of Rural Church Building Project, creating safe structures for churches in the Himalayans
* Leader of the Salvation Army Center of Hope’s overflow shelter program, recruiting and scheduling churches to host 12 women for a week
How will you GO FOR IT?
Posted at 11:30 AM in Serving Around The World, Serving In Our Community | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Our first mission team leaves on June 12 for Piedras Negras -- that's about a month from right now! As a church, it's time for each of us to consider how we will be a part of actively sending our five summer mission teams. Here are 3 great ways:
1. Follow the teams on this blog: before the trip, during the trip, and after the trip.
2. Pray for the teams. Pick one team and agree to pray 5 minutes each day of the trip for that team, its members, and the work they will do during the week.
3. Give to the Many Hands, Many Feet fund. Pick up an orange envelope this weekend at church or go get the one off your kitchen table. Both small gifts and big gifts help send our teams to share God's love around the world.
Put the dates on your calendar...
Piedras Negras, Mexico Team 1 (June 12-19)
Piedras Negras, Mexico Team 2 (June 19-26)
Cochabamba, Bolivia Team 1 (July 1-10)
Cochabamba, Bolivia Team 2 (July 8-17)
Athens, Ohio Team (August 1-7)
Posted at 01:30 PM in Cochabamba, Bolivia, General Short-term Missions, Piedras Negras Team #1, 2010, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Here are the names of our 2010 Summer Missionaries. Find the ones you know. And ask them where they're going, why they're going, and how you can support them.
Debbie and Bailey Barger
Chad Blanton
Steve, Richard, and Tina Brumm
Elizabeth and Nick Callis
Austin Capps
Tracy Craig
Tim and Jessie Dennis
Chris Dunaway
Brent and Kerah Farley
Jim, Robin, Lauren, and Landen Ferguson
Velda and Andrew Frowine
Stacey Geisking
Tracy, Morgan, and Molly Grubbs
Mark Hamm
Brenda, Alex, and Kyle Harkins
TJ, Bethany, Daniel, and Jonathan Haycox
Chris Hazlett
Sarah Hudgens
Bo and Jacob Iler
Bob and Hunter Iocco
Chuck, Tonya, and Calli Jagoe
Kristin, Catherine, and Taylor Kelly
Don Klemack
Kendyl Knight
Jordan Kologe
Sandi Larsen
Logan Lewis
William, Caroline, Allison, William Jr, and Patrick Lilly
Amy Long
Andrew Lopane
Lee and Megan McCracken
Huntley and Bennett Paton
Vaughn and Jade Paunovich and Bryanna Sierra
Scott and Melanie Rockefeller
Kristy Rutter
Kris and Alex Scearce
Zach, Allison, and Altyn Simpson
Cherie and Blake Sims
Aaron Smith
Marty and Myatt Snider
Wes Statzer
Mike Takes
Scott, Marcela, Joshua, and Andre Tomlinson
Mark, Denise, Jonathan, and Matthew Tornberg
Amy and Ian Wilson
Caleb White
Diana Zong
Posted at 05:15 PM in General Short-term Missions, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
“Do I have to be a Christian to go on a Lake Forest mission trip?”
If you have wondered about or asked this question, you are not the first. And the answer is “No.” There are many great opportunities for spiritual explorers to join the Missio Dei through Mission Trips.
I will highlight two (apply to join either trip here):
1. In Piedras Negras, Mexico, we build a home for a vulnerable family. When we arrive the first day, there is simply a concrete slab. By the last day, we are handing a family keys to their new home. Building a house requires no certain amount of spirituality. It requires compassion and hard work – the result of which is a physical, tangible, permanent gift to a family.
2. In Athens, Ohio, we will partner with a local agency to care for some of the most vulnerable residents of this Appalachian community. Not only will we play with children, spend time with the rural homeless, and do home repairs for older folks, we will also host a dinner party for the people of this community – an opportunity to care for the people and treat them like beloved friends and family.
These trips allow you to impact the lives of others, and in doing so may also impact your life. We will not pressure you to become a Christian during these trips, although we do hope that you enjoy the opportunity to understand the Christian life experientially and not simply intellectually.
If you have questions, feel free to email me.
MFlake
Posted at 01:48 PM in General Short-term Missions, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Hey, everyone. Michael Flake here. We are all aware of the sad events unfolding in Haiti right now. Having been there less than 3 months ago, I am left with a number of questions and concerns – as to whether many of the adults and children I met are okay or even alive.
Port au Prince is home to around 2.5 million folks. There are many ways to actively show the love of God to people there. Perhaps you have given or plan to give to a reputable charity or orphanage with which you already have connections. Great.
If you are unsure how best to help, I would encourage giving through Compassion International (the group which invited me to Haiti) at www.compassion.com. They do such great work on the ground, and the money will allow Haitian Christians to use both actions and words to share the love of God with people in very desperate situations.
My friend, LFC's worship director Kyle Dillard, also speaks very highly of Samaritan's Purse and has seen first-hand the great work that they do through local churches around the world. This is also a great ministry to give through: www.samaritanspurse.org
Today we pray for Haiti and for the hurting people of the great city of Port au Prince.
MFlake
(downtown Port au Prince)
(We visited the John Wesley Church seen on the left side of this picture in the heart of Port au Prince; hopefully, the water purifier Compassion installed at this church is saving lives in this community)
(kiddos at the John Wesley Church)
Posted at 12:15 PM in Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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 11th 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.
Posted at 02:39 PM in India, Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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).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).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
Posted at 08:38 AM in Serving Around The World | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
