tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25595312703142328012024-03-12T21:19:15.528-07:00Co:Mission MinistryJourney to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-52779988274040910882013-01-22T07:33:00.001-08:002013-01-22T07:33:09.032-08:00Back from Asia and Celebrating all God did!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What an amazing God we serve! He is at work accomplishing His will for His glory whether we are here in America, in Cambodia, in India or anywhere His people are abandoned to Him. It was a true blessing to see God at work calling many to be His disciples across Asia. God said through the prophet Hosea, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6. Jesus said, “The fields are white unto harvest.” Luke 10:2. The reality of both statements hit Joan and I square in the face as we visited villages across Cambodia and India.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">By simply sharing the story from Creation to Christ we had the privilege of seeing close to 1,000 new believers enter God’s Kingdom. The simple sharing of these truths gave hundreds the knowledge needed to know where to put their faith. Yes, the fields are white for harvest! When the message was told the people responded!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hZ7PKLo5jCJoPUUQ5RA7WM-an8R98nZUsGkW1d2deLXK_Lw9ARMUadJOvz7A_2NofyGCfMTSNBTMEbMuovasIcjwspL0s7P0uHEMZwZRy-watuN-PR5TsY4_-UeBYdSG13Pbzh02gqr/s1600/IMG_6431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_hZ7PKLo5jCJoPUUQ5RA7WM-an8R98nZUsGkW1d2deLXK_Lw9ARMUadJOvz7A_2NofyGCfMTSNBTMEbMuovasIcjwspL0s7P0uHEMZwZRy-watuN-PR5TsY4_-UeBYdSG13Pbzh02gqr/s200/IMG_6431.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwLs2NFUUIBPDkimd2kc8nzQEFobL59oDKnZMOL0YfruzbllOkjqYX77YKs651pzO2AyuBQ9CT1-ru499SYxYyzMIyGS04C9OHjNUtPgPeLE3NhzQgbmw25agMlqzvPbaz52ZWJamJu6j/s1600/IMG_5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwLs2NFUUIBPDkimd2kc8nzQEFobL59oDKnZMOL0YfruzbllOkjqYX77YKs651pzO2AyuBQ9CT1-ru499SYxYyzMIyGS04C9OHjNUtPgPeLE3NhzQgbmw25agMlqzvPbaz52ZWJamJu6j/s200/IMG_5803.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The heavy persecution in some of the areas we worked does not permit us to share the specific details of the places and people we worked with. However, we saw hundreds of Buddhists and Hindus leave their tradition and respond in faith after hearing of God’s love and plan for their lives. Our main purpose was not simply evangelism. Our purpose was to connect these new believers in house churches that would be a witness to reach their villages with the gospel. We saw 45 new house churches started in areas where no gospel presence was known. Each of these churches were left with a leader ready to continue the follow up we had already begun. Each seemed to catch the vision of both reaching their village and establishing under the direction of the Holy Spirit new house churches in other villages as well.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our hearts were especially touched one day by the resolve of a certain man of peace to reach his village. It was the second day that we had been in his village modeling the principles of leading a discipleship group with the many new believers when he brought the translator to us to share this heart, “ I know you have come a long way from the US to share with us and I want you to know that your labor has not been in vain. Although it will take some time we will reach this whole village and beyond!” What words of faith!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That fresh faith and boldness displayed by these transformed new believers ministered to us and strengthened our resolve to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We witnessed miracles of healing, deliverance and provision. We saw baptisms in villages of over 10,000 people that had never recorded a baptism in the history of the village. We saw people of peace raised up, leaders established and the spread of the Gospel continue on... all to the glory of God!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We want to thank you for your participation with us. Many of you gave very sacrificially. Without those gifts we could not have had the opportunity to go. Many others prayed faithfully for our protection and our availability to be used by God. God was faithful on both accounts. We would love to share in more detail the countless victories God had while we were ministering in Asia and would have greater freedom one on one. Please feel free to give us a call. We would enjoy bragging on God!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until the Nations Hear,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mark & Joan</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Romans 15:20-21</span></div>
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Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-45867471864733692842012-12-22T11:51:00.005-08:002012-12-22T11:51:54.403-08:00Because He Came We Must Go (Isaiah 9:6)<br />
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The Haumschilt’s will be embarking upon a ministry tour of Asia December 27 through January 17. This trip launches Co:Missions efforts to help fulfill Christ’s final words of taking the Gospel to every tribe, tongue and people of the world. (Over 90% of the unreached people groups of the world are in Asia) The coalition that has been formed will allow us to have impact in ten key Asian nations.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We know we are not going alone. First, so many of you have given sacrificially of your finances to fulfill what seemed impossible, the funding of this trip. To God be the glory and each home be blessed! Second, Countless numbers of you have agreed to pray for us and the work in Asia. Thank you for entering this Spiritual Battlefield with us on your knees. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While in Cambodia we will meet a team of twenty one from California and a key leader over a three nation alliance in Indochina. One of our first goals is to develop leaders in a part of the world that really does not have any churches. We will take several days to share the story of salvation in Christ alone as the only true God. We will begin gathering the new believers in discipleship groups and are praying that we can leave four new churches in this highly Buddhist part of the world. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Joan and I will then fly into Northern India where we will meet up with some American Chinese believers who have a heart to fulfill the great commission among the unreached Hindus of India. We will also meet key Christian leaders who are over the work that is strategically trying to reach over a half billion people. Again, much time meeting people and sharing the gospel will lay the ground work for what we believe will be a move of God. As we gather the new believers into discipleship groups we are praying for ten new churches to begin. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">From their we will travel South to meet up with the key leaders in the Southern region of India. We will be developing church leaders and helping believers go deeper in their walks with Jesus. We will be filming a church planting movement that has experienced the planting of over two hundred churches in the past twelve months. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Psalms 127 reminds us “Unless the Lord builds the house the laborer works in vain”. Joan and I are so encouraged that this is not us but God. God has had us on a journey that has been bring us to the end of our selves for months. Now, he is opening doors and we are simply getting in on what He is already doing. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We are asking you in honor of Jesus’ request in Luke 10:2 to set an alarm for every morning at 10:2 to pray for this work. When we return we will share all God did through your prayers, and support. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until the Nations Hear,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mark and Joan </span></div>
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Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-66740265655288355402012-12-06T06:39:00.001-08:002012-12-06T06:39:46.083-08:00<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A Up-date from the Haumschilt’s</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God has put a burden on our hearts and a calling upon our lives to reach the unreached people groups of the world. The past few months Joan and I have been strategically building a partnership that will advance this dream into reality.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">An exciting opportunity to advance the Gospel in Asia is before us. Two thousand years ago God’s Spirit sent Paul to this region and every person had opportunity to hear the truth according to Acts 19:10. Today, Asia is home to over ninety percent of the unreached people groups of the world. Over two billion individuals have no access to the gospel. A Indonesian peasant woman may travel for 5 kilometers a day to find water. We consider that a sacrifice but at least she knows where to find it. That same peasant women has no idea how to find forgiveness provided by Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Joan and I are embarking on an exploratory trip in December to the region of Asia as we begin to globally strategize to reach the many unreached people groups of this region. We will be traveling to Cambodia to a region of Buddhist followers that are unengaged with the Gospel. Our purpose will be to plant four churches in the region and equip leaders to reproduce those churches. We will then travel to two areas in India controlled by Muslims. Those who follow Christ in the region are experiencing great persecution. We will be trusting the Spirit again as we train leaders and help them to plant more churches reproduced by indigenous believers. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The greater purpose of this exploratory trip is to understand better how to lead the work of leaders across Asia in both new and established ministry. We ultimately will be responsible for leading a strategy team of mission leaders who will intentionally pray, strategize and serve to see Acts 19:10 become a reality once again in the region. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We ask for your prayers knowing God has huge plans for this partnership. May He display His glory and accomplish all that He desires.</span></div>
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Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-26568537059542518192012-08-16T09:47:00.003-07:002012-09-26T14:02:27.310-07:00Back from Brazil<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our team is back from Brazil rejoicing in what God did in them and through them. I am so grateful that I could participating in a move of God in the hearts of hundreds of people. To witness so many from our U.S. team lead their first person to Christ gave me several holy moments. Watching God orchestrate events for His Glory beyond our abilities was humbling. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">God also did a great work in the Brazilians who were with us. Two of our translators had never lead some one to the Lord prior to the trip. They were able to lead over two hundred to the Lord by the end of the trip. Both are now equipped to keep doing the work of the Kingdom. The lead Pastor in the area, Pastor Leno was greatly encouraged through the efforts of our team. He spoke of how what God did in the week would have taken years for them to accomplish. Pastor Leno asked if Co:Mission could return in January for leadership development. Pray about our response to this request. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Our team members were stretched in sharing their faith. All of us were strengthened in our walk with Jesus having to believe God for His faithfulness moment by moment. relationships and fellowship with all on the team allowed us to bond closer in Christ for years to come.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujrncZgHIwwkH-lebvX2jm5T4osBqokfwlH8hISDREiJaxu7WBXMCFrvbSCTTR3yAV8OHHye2JpVDxuqJkp-Iw9pDHMwKDWrtwKc6a3gnlrUMEZL7RPYzbe5P_WGB4c3_Ny1VqonpjKOq/s1600/621920_450514911646550_341751356_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujrncZgHIwwkH-lebvX2jm5T4osBqokfwlH8hISDREiJaxu7WBXMCFrvbSCTTR3yAV8OHHye2JpVDxuqJkp-Iw9pDHMwKDWrtwKc6a3gnlrUMEZL7RPYzbe5P_WGB4c3_Ny1VqonpjKOq/s320/621920_450514911646550_341751356_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Hearing our team members share on Facebook now that they have returned has been a huge blessing. Their excitement over the whole experience reminds me why Joan and I have dedicated our lives to helping the church in America fulfill the great Commission. Few things compare to fulfilling Christ final command of taking this Gospel to the Nations.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Our American team of thirteen worked with Pastor Leno and seven other leaders in Brazil to establish or strengthen the Kingdom work in six communities. We saw God bring over 350 individuals to faith in Christ. We saw a Bible Study established with 29 people expressing interest and just coming to faith in Christ. This village only had one believer prior to our coming. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One final story. A man I will call Nick tracked our team down wanting to hear how he too might find “peace with God”. He tried interrupting us at two homes where we were sharing. Finally on the streets of Nova Olinda we were able to share. He told us that we spoke to his Nephew and he needs what his Nephew got. After sharing he too placed his faith in Christ. He went on to tell us that he believed God was speaking to him about his life but could not make since of it. He struggled believing there was even a God. Now after our sharing and his attending the church he believes he too is called to missions and sharing this hope in Christ with the World. </span></div>
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Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-51866357478639823342012-08-04T10:15:00.001-07:002012-08-04T10:15:55.656-07:00<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Greetings from the Haumschilt”s</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work”. (2 Corinthians 9:8) These past many weeks have given Joan and I a refreshing realization of this truth. While traveling, writing and meeting with people God has greatly renewed us in His presence. The joy of His calling and the intimacy of His love abound as we experience His glory at a whole new level. Thank you for your prayers for us and the ministry of Co:Mission. The work God is putting on our hearts has come into focus. The vision is clear: participate in creating Church Planting Movements around the world. With God’s calling, we have had to learn more than ever deep dependance on the Spirit of God. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">August 5-13 Co:Mission will partner with World Wide Church Planters and travel to the Amazon Basin of Brazil. This un-reached area is one of the most responsive regions in the world to the gospel. The doors are open and the needs are huge. Our team of thirteen Americans and eleven Brazilians will be working in four to six areas to share the gospel and plant churches.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The team God has put together looks outstanding. The young men God has called to participate have a great passion for the Great Commission and the work of creating Church Planting Movements. We are praying that several of these men gain a vision of taking more teams themselves into this strategic part of the world while the doors remain open. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thank you for your prayers as you partner with us for this strategic Kingdom work.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As always, we will share what God did when we return!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-2315118300450217712012-04-10T17:24:00.002-07:002012-04-10T17:27:53.653-07:00The Kingdom of God Expands in Haiti<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2jNob2YSAat61Xl08xqrQzOA-1n9wqlynWa6H_ROA6uPdwA2Xg28Wt3qGqgLKcNVw8pKDv6GuEZwu90t3WwQnSLyGKstwoRjxRdKPShq9aNquPdYF9uUdAbowq_UODeTW3Qvn4v2kejw/s1600/Haiti+March28-April4+1186d-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2jNob2YSAat61Xl08xqrQzOA-1n9wqlynWa6H_ROA6uPdwA2Xg28Wt3qGqgLKcNVw8pKDv6GuEZwu90t3WwQnSLyGKstwoRjxRdKPShq9aNquPdYF9uUdAbowq_UODeTW3Qvn4v2kejw/s400/Haiti+March28-April4+1186d-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Often the work of the Kingdom of God is difficult. Sometimes there are many obstacles to overcome and frequent moments of confusion to work through but in the end God wins and He gets the glory. James reminds us... “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” You and I grow through perseverance.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our recent Haiti team learned this truth well. As God was refining us He was </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">also using us. We committed to work with Pastor Luma to plant a church in Croix-des-Bouquts. Pastor Luma had worked to establish six leaders to help start the work. Our team of ten had the challenge of sharing the gospel in the mile radius that surrounded the beautful shade tree where the new church would meet. After a few days of sharing our faith and challenging the community to grow in Christ we set our launch service to begin the new church. This new group of believers would soon be handed over to the care of Pastor Luma and his new leadership. One by one and two by two they came. Many carrying their seats and all arriving late. By the end, over 130, mostly new believers, gathered to launch the work for God’s glory. Pastor Luma, who was deeply moved and greatly encouraged said, “I would have to work for years to see this kind of results for God’s Kingdom...thank you so much.” No, thank you pastor for the privilege of partnering for the Great Commission. </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">God also allowed us to work in Cannan to advance the Gospel. We spent a full day with Pastor Genas with three teams canvasing door to door. Cannan is a new village next to Jerusalem along the hillside outside of Port-au-Prince. The extreme poverty was difficult for several of our team members. This area was established as a refuge for those leaving Port-au-Prince after the earthquake. In all we saw twenty give their lives to Christ. As a result, the work in Cannan was built up and the leaders were very encouraged. That work is currently seeing over a hundred gather for worship now. We also spent a day working with the mother church at the request of Pastor Reague. God brought many to the saving knowledge of His Son and we experienced many miracles of God breaking through the hearts of the obstinant and apathetic. Every conversion is awesome but watching lives change before your very eyes is one of life’s greatest blessings.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our last day in Haiti provided an experience our entire team will never forget. Many of you recall Co:Mission planting a church and building a building for the ministry in La Saline earlier this year. This area has been very heavy on my heart for months. I have wanted to help with the overwelming need for food in this very impoverished village. Many of the children are eating mudd cookies and dying of malnutrtion. Through a partnership with our friends in California and Hope for Haiti we were able to bring a small amount of relief to that village by making 1400 meals available to moms of starving children. We were all visibly moved to tears walking away from the distribution. I can’t remember when I was more overwhelmed with human need than on this visit as we shared meals with these precious people. Knowing that the distribution will continue through the gifts of Hope for Haiti and the new church leaders in La Saline was comforting. We Praise the Lord for all of you who have sacrificially given to make this happen.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To God be the Glory! It is a great work that He has done and continues to do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgw4egxgnWK0t_tgvmyGhAOLZxw2aMfDd_xgjOMzAKb62befWJ80gOTMJn66kXYVguaJ__4yGAos1uLloAgevchATd11AIJn7tifvQYTqoGmjC8vIRwsrC8sUaIAeq0NrGcmOmebAmWr/s1600/539405_356198251097826_100001229634558_1094670_1567660811_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgw4egxgnWK0t_tgvmyGhAOLZxw2aMfDd_xgjOMzAKb62befWJ80gOTMJn66kXYVguaJ__4yGAos1uLloAgevchATd11AIJn7tifvQYTqoGmjC8vIRwsrC8sUaIAeq0NrGcmOmebAmWr/s400/539405_356198251097826_100001229634558_1094670_1567660811_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-67161432127119325792012-01-21T08:27:00.000-08:002012-01-21T08:32:03.438-08:00Joining With Others for Greater Impact<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;">God said it Himself, “I desire that none should perish but all come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9. This truth has been driven deeper into my soul having met with the International Mission Board Executive Staff and Christian World Leaders these past few days in Richmond, Virginia. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"> If this is God’s heart for all humanity then what is mine?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;">For much of our time together we discussed the 6,682 unreached people groups around the world, 3,501 of which are not only unreached but unengaged [meaning there is no missionary, church or agency at work to bring the gospel to these people groups]. God’s Word says, “This Gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed throughout the whole world, as a testimony to the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) If I truly understand that I had better be concerned about these 3501 people groups who have no access to the Gospel. We have the resources necessary to make it happen. We have the command of God to make it happen. We have the Spirit of God to make it happen. We have the Word of God to make it happen. Do we have the will of God to see His will be done on earth as it is in heaven?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;">Co:Mission ministry will be joining with the International Mission Board and other leading ministries through the Fellowship of Baptist World Ministries to intensify it’s focus to engage these people groups scattered around the world. This is truly the greatest time to be alive to preach the gospel. God is moving throughout the world to bring thousands to Himself. The most amazing part: people not only want to hear but are ready and willing to follow Christ like no other time in Christian history. According to the current reports from around the world, God is moving in unprecedented ways. In some areas, 30,000 a day are coming to Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;">The great commission is grabbing hold of my heart. What we can do through proclaiming the Word of God, for the glory of God by the Spirit of God through the church of God is breathtaking. “I make it my ambition to preach the Gospel, not where Christ has already been named, least I build on another man’s foundation. But as it is written, those who have not been told will see and those who have not heard will understand”. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark with Dr Tom Eliff, President of the International Mission Board</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-89682260980001944612012-01-13T12:48:00.000-08:002012-01-13T12:48:43.973-08:00Home From Haiti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmdn4IosAVgq5-IKXZorhE0lrThnmAvpvL1TKOJECn8oD0kN4svtRaJkJmMVFVLgin30LtX_h8KiJldEg7x0pBXU1BwLc1ROOqZ4PErXW9sxQ-K6DN1lulL4U4oGooyTduGcl2TQc4HOc/s1600/397891_299163513467967_100001229634558_950711_558243225_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmdn4IosAVgq5-IKXZorhE0lrThnmAvpvL1TKOJECn8oD0kN4svtRaJkJmMVFVLgin30LtX_h8KiJldEg7x0pBXU1BwLc1ROOqZ4PErXW9sxQ-K6DN1lulL4U4oGooyTduGcl2TQc4HOc/s320/397891_299163513467967_100001229634558_950711_558243225_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS996zoDRBUL7Tl2MvZDyXDGD7khgW-0Ugjqtwz_H2iJiTp8hs77Cq1_xvXKgjbn7bLMxnDLbAV_rwCmp8-sdU5yQkPnbOvJNIpoYYVEBp7mtUV0GglX9eTfEgggw-MM9PZb3KvbnJNzA/s1600/haiti+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS996zoDRBUL7Tl2MvZDyXDGD7khgW-0Ugjqtwz_H2iJiTp8hs77Cq1_xvXKgjbn7bLMxnDLbAV_rwCmp8-sdU5yQkPnbOvJNIpoYYVEBp7mtUV0GglX9eTfEgggw-MM9PZb3KvbnJNzA/s320/haiti+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">Greetings friends. Boy is it ever good to be back on U.S. soil! Our recent trip to Haiti, though filled with many trials and difficulties, was a great success. Our God is so faithful! We left with ten individuals who love God and wanted to serve Him in Haiti. We returned stronger and more impressed that through difficulty God is strong and ever so faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><span id="goog_1458123720"></span><span id="goog_1458123721"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">By the grace of God we were able to start and complete a building for Kingdom use in La Saline on this trip. We were also able to preach and worship with over one hundred and fifty new believers at a service in the new building on Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">God also allowed us the opportunity to preach and worship with over twenty five hundred in the main church in Port au Prince that same day. We experienced a great move of God’s Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8jC_DedeZEZp0KfigJWXSP2Bwd-jmYg1G38bqXWF2o6s_rMJRtOJ-qf7b2TGe2T91e1WOkhhYQVD10mtWAKTQj6NSB9IWPyQUvk32cOfaBTuBZ5M8bRT_awzBhB2R6k2F3wVnL_Vj8A9/s1600/haiti+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8jC_DedeZEZp0KfigJWXSP2Bwd-jmYg1G38bqXWF2o6s_rMJRtOJ-qf7b2TGe2T91e1WOkhhYQVD10mtWAKTQj6NSB9IWPyQUvk32cOfaBTuBZ5M8bRT_awzBhB2R6k2F3wVnL_Vj8A9/s320/haiti+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">The words of the scripture in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the Kingdom must be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to the nations…” became our theme of the week. As a team the Lord allowed us the privilege of sharing the Gospel with over a thousand Haitians in both Jerusalem and La Saline. It was such an encouragement to me to see all of these young men involved and passionate about proclaiming the message of the Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHXI1hjX-kkDHb-PlMncuT3y4dbV9fZu1PZgyVhtFtLPO56Ji3DfStqAGv8qoaKdFIUiyF05zCBY3LoXrsuv-My27PE73ElbM2T53zPYlGp5o_gGWrl1g7p_LcMqe1OD5dtdLXd9Ec26_/s1600/haiti+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHXI1hjX-kkDHb-PlMncuT3y4dbV9fZu1PZgyVhtFtLPO56Ji3DfStqAGv8qoaKdFIUiyF05zCBY3LoXrsuv-My27PE73ElbM2T53zPYlGp5o_gGWrl1g7p_LcMqe1OD5dtdLXd9Ec26_/s320/haiti+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">We saw over three hundred and fifty surrender to follow Christ</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">Thank you for your prayers. Thank you to all of our team members who persisted in faithfulness to God and obedience to His call. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:17, “these momentary light afflictions are producing for us an eternal weight of glory”. A mission in Haiti is a unique experience. I now understand better what people mean when they say, “It was horrible but praise God it was awesome.” Truly God’s mercy is new every morning and great is His Faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">All Glory be to God who, by His grace, has allowed Co:Mission Ministry to be a part of planting six new church starts this past year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">Until the Nations Hear,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Rounded MT Bold';">Mark<o:p></o:p></span></div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-61379179004090099822011-12-31T13:30:00.001-08:002011-12-31T13:30:48.872-08:00Happy New Year from the Haumschilt's<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Joan and I want to wish you and your family a blessed New Year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">We are sure God is putting many hopes and dreams in your heart for this upcoming year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you abide in Him and walk in His truth know that He will be honored and by His promise you will find blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalms 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Pray for us as we head to Haiti with a team of ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goals will be to erect a building in La Saline so the pastor can serve in the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will work to advance the young ministries in La Saline and Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much evangelism and training for both locations will be needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will also be establishing a new church in Canaan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leadership development will be key as well as finding men and women of peace through which to build the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Heading to Haiti is always an opportunity to trust the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for our team as six of them have never served on the mission field before and sharing their faith in that environment will be new for most of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh Spirit of God bring a harvest for your glory! (Matthew 9:37-38)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">In the past few months Co:Mission has established partnerships that will allow us to plant churches and make disciples in many areas around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has opened doors in Africa, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Brazil and other South American countries. We look forward with great anticipation at what God will do through all of us in fulfilling His heart for the nations in 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Until the Nations Hear,<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mark and </span><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-80100431763134728562011-12-14T10:19:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:19:41.870-08:00Having the Fathers Heart<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Over one hundred times Jesus makes reference to “the Kingdom”. He tells us “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”. He goes on to say, “follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men”. (Mark 1:15, 17) A genuine heart for the Kingdom means I will follow Jesus and I will fish for men. Jesus teaches us to pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. (Matthew 6:9-10) Getting the kingdom right will cause me to get ministry right. Getting the kingdom right will cause me to get church right and everything else right. Ministry can at times be selfish. Church can at times be man-centered. You and I know that impure motives can be a battle with everything. The Kingdom of God is always King Jesus centered.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We preach a King centered Gospel not a man centered Gospel. If I am going to catch the wind of God’s Spirit I must set the sails of my life to get in on building His Kingdom by following Jesus and fishing for men. God’s heart is to see the nations of this world come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. He instructed us to do this in Matthew 28:19. He has told us that it is the one thing that must happen before His return, “this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come”. (Matthew 24:14) As a child of God, I can not be content doing only what I like or what I might be good at. As a Christian I must do that which pleases the heart of my Father, follow Him and fish for men.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It is exciting to report of the many moves of God going on around the world. Churches are multiplying and thousands are coming to Christ in unreached people groups. People are choosing to follow Jesus and fish for men all over the world. Joan and I had the opportunity to have dinner with two key Church Planting Movement strategists last week. Ying Kia is the gentleman responsible for over two hundred and fifty thousand churches planted in the past six years in China and Steve Smith, a student and facilitator of Church Planting Movements responsible for the South East Asia Region. Both are seeing God’s Spirit move and work like no other recorded time in Christian History. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When asked why this is happening both responded the same, “people are fulfilling the heart of the Father by following Jesus and fishing for men”. I am asking God to help me see the big picture. I want a Kingdom heart. I know that within the big picture I must stay intentionally focused. I know that following the King means walking by faith expressing obedience through my life. I also know that if God took the time to step out of heaven, die on a cross, resurrect from the dead so that He could live in man’s hearts I must have as the highest priority a passion to fish for men. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Join us at Co:Mission Ministry as we set sail to serve the King and His Kingdom by following Jesus and fishing for men. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”. (Matthew 6:33)</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Until the Nations Hear,</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Mark</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lrbyv2YM0hzp85xL8efShFbW7kfvQiq3yWjKl_b8qY4af3hKhiN1Drni1ix5_YiFhYpc9w1fAHVBwRCZN6LiUBuNI_IvgTf7aoMBH62f4YMkT56uCSF24t0UUv1F_JUvwPRYfCiAEtfj/s1600/IMG00083-20111207-1320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lrbyv2YM0hzp85xL8efShFbW7kfvQiq3yWjKl_b8qY4af3hKhiN1Drni1ix5_YiFhYpc9w1fAHVBwRCZN6LiUBuNI_IvgTf7aoMBH62f4YMkT56uCSF24t0UUv1F_JUvwPRYfCiAEtfj/s320/IMG00083-20111207-1320.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Joan with Ying and Grace Kai</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMss2ka1_SqpFAX5_tEN_Ir_efqUq68o6hGD0zkFPkxUsR4j_mZu7sRX5fYpo_lPJpHBiAhXjwDo0rrzNqaae_F6IU_osYtdwUpVTF0goH1PP4VhSRX00Sn0XwzkehA9FRcjbs2X8Xs1NT/s1600/IMG00091-20111208-1503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMss2ka1_SqpFAX5_tEN_Ir_efqUq68o6hGD0zkFPkxUsR4j_mZu7sRX5fYpo_lPJpHBiAhXjwDo0rrzNqaae_F6IU_osYtdwUpVTF0goH1PP4VhSRX00Sn0XwzkehA9FRcjbs2X8Xs1NT/s320/IMG00091-20111208-1503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Joan with Steve Smith</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-9861415262448590772011-11-22T10:17:00.001-08:002011-11-22T10:59:20.392-08:00With Grateful Hearts This Thanksgiving<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We pray you and your family are prepared to have a wonderful Thanksgiving Celebration. Joan and I are overwhelmed with grateful hearts to God for His goodness and grace toward us. This year has been the biggest test of faith of our lives. However, we have never grown more and scene the hand of God more evident. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. We know this to be true in the depths of our souls. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God has done a deep work in our hearts of healing and renewal. He has kept us on our faces praying and crying out to Him every day. Dependence and trust are wonderful gifts when they are centered in Jesus. Thank you for your prayers for us and know we have been praying for you. Let us know what God is doing in your lives. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are also thankful that God after breaking us is using us in greater ways than ever before. We will be partnering with so many in 2012 to begin Church Planting Movements in strategic places around the world. We will be trained in December with the most effective Church Planting Movement strategy in history. In Asia, Europe and Africa there are hundreds of thousands of churches being planted through this movement. Co:Mission will be in partnership with the International Mission Board to assist churches in the U.S. to be part of this global movement. We will be attending this conference in December in the windy city of Chicago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sunday November 27, we will be worshiping with our friends at Dorrisville Baptist Church in Harrisburg Illinois. On December 4</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> we will be at Eldorado First Baptist church. Pray for the time as we challenge these church families to strategic involvement to fulfill Christ’s command to go make disciples locally and globally.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Final details are coming together for our team going to Haiti in January. Pray for the details to come together for building the house in La Saline. We also need wisdom on the communities we will be planting more churches when we return with our team in March. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, pray for provision for this ministry. We need a great deal of funding to do the work God has called us to do. We are stepping out on blind faith and scheduling our trip to the Amazon in February. This will launch our partnership with IMB and World Wide Church Planters to establish a Church Planting Movement in the region. We know God has called us to this effort. Pray about giving to this effort that promises to plant hundreds of churches and reach thousands for Christ. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We love you and pray your hearts are filled with thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Until the Nations hear,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mark and Joan</span></div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-64378343102536551442011-11-15T10:36:00.001-08:002011-11-15T10:36:40.581-08:00Charles Stanley addresses the need for what Co:Mission does!<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The way they do missions today is totally different from the way it was done when I grew up in the Philippines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Forty years ago, it worked like this. An evangelist would go out and share the faith. Some would respond. After they responded, the evangelist would gather these new Christians into churches. (This order is important as we will see in a moment.) The churches would take on an approximate form to a church in America. They would have a choir and a Sunday School and a constitution. (How can you run a church without a constitution?) They would have committees and Wednesday night supper, church counsel, & visitation. In the early days we even built buildings with red bricks, a tall steeple and white columns out front.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Then, we grouped churches together in Associations, State Conventions and National Conventions. We created institutions, seminaries, agencies and so forth. We sent our young ministers to our seminaries and they received degrees that duplicated the kind of degrees they can get here. In short, we not only exported the gospel, we also exported the whole form of the way we do church in America. We exported not only the wine, but the wineskins as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Around 20 years ago, we started experimenting with a different model, one that is now known as Church Planting Movements. It is the dominant model of missions around the world these days. I found this statement on the International Mission Board's web page:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">International Mission Board’s Overseas Leadership Team adopted a vision statement: We will facilitate the lost coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ by beginning and nurturing Church Planting Movements among all peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now, the phrase "Church Planting Movements" is probably not all that clear to you, as it was not to me. I think of "Church" as "Church as I know it." These are more like house churches, as was made clear to me on a recent trip to Richmond and a conversation I had with an IMB executive there. These are not churches as we think of churches. The executive clarified this to me adding, "In fact, we try to keep them small and continually reproducing."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These Churches in the Church Planting Movements are more like Sunday School classes than they are Churches as we think of them. They are small groups led by laymen that meet in homes. They are house churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am curious what comes to your mind when you think of the phrase "House Church." It has always had a bit of a negative connotation to me. It has always spoken to me of people who could not get along with the people in traditional churches and decided to just do church at home. But, these are not rebels. This is an intentional strategy. Those who follow this strategy are following the top leadership of the IMB.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One other caveat. I don't see an essential difference between a Sunday School style group and a home group. To me, a group is a group is a group. Whether the group meets on campus on Sunday morning or off campus during the week does not change the essential character of the group. There are pluses and minuses for both home groups and Sunday School style groups. One is not essentially superior to the other. A group is a group is a group.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have done a little reading on House Churches in America. I was surprised to learn that many who participate in House Churches in America actually attend a traditional church on Sunday morning. This raises an interesting question. What is the difference between this house church and any other home Bible study? One word: attitude. They see this house church as just that, a church. It is just as legitimate as the traditional church, it just takes on a different form.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Church Planting Movements<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This change of strategy is resulting in unprecedented world-wide growth of the church. For example:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Southeast Asia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When a strategy coordinator began his assignment in 1993, there were only three churches and 85 believers among a population of more than 7 million lost souls. Four years later there were more than 550 churches and nearly 55,000 believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">North Africa<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In his weekly Friday sermon, an Arab Muslim cleric complained that more than 10,000 Muslims living in the surrounding mountains had apostatized from Islam and become Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">City in China<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Over a four-year period (1993-1997), more than 20,000 people came to faith in Christ, resulting in more than 500 new churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Latin America<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Two Baptist unions overcame significant government persecution to grow from 235 churches in 1990 to more than 3,200 in 1998.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Central Asia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A strategy coordinator reports: “Around the end of 1996, we called around to the various churches in the area and got their count on how many had come to faith in that one year. When they were all added up, it came to 15,000 in one year. The previous year we estimated only 200 believers altogether.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Western Europe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A missionary in Europe reports: “Last year (1998), my wife and I started 15 new church cell groups. As we left for a six-month stateside assignment last July, we wondered what we’d find when we returned. It’s wild! We can verify at least 30 churches now, but I believe that it could be two or even three times that many.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ethiopia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A missionary strategist commented, “It took us 30 years to plant four churches in this country. We’ve started 65 cell churches in the last nine months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Abdul<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Abdul came to faith in 1987. The team found more than 350 evangelists serving in 29 districts, nearly 2,300 pastors serving among some 4,000 churches, and 89,315 baptized members—all direct spiritual descendants of Abdul. More than 23,000 of the baptisms had occurred during the previous year alone. And that’s only part of the overall church-planting movement now spreading through Abdul’s people, who number in the tens of millions, comprising one of the largest unreached groups in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Consider this chart I found at<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By AD <b>1430</b>, (1%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1790</b>, (2%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1940</b>, (3%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1960</b>, (4%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1970</b>, (5%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1980</b>, (6%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1983</b>, (7%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1986</b>, (8%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1989</b>, (9%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1993</b>, (10%) were Bible believing Christians. By AD <b>1997</b>, (11%) were Bible believing Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Source: <a href="http://www.missionfrontiers.org/newslinks/statewe.htm"><b><span style="color: #0000f6;">http://www.missionfrontiers.org/newslinks/statewe.htm</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It took 1430 years for 1% of the world population to become Christian. Now, we are gaining 1% every 3 or 4 years. The percentage of Christians doubled between 1970 and 1993 from 5% to 10%. WOW!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If this doesn't seem quite right to you, consider this. I heard a statistic from George Barna years ago that said that North America is the only continent on the planet where the church is not growing. It feels like we are not making progress because we are in the United States. But, in many places around the world we are making rapid progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I'd invite you to do some reading up on Church Planting Movements. Do a search on <a href="http://www.google.com/"><b><span style="color: #0000f6;">www.google.com</span></b></a> and start chasing down the links. It is exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Let's experiment together with how to make Church Planting Movements a reality in America.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2559531270314232801"><b><span style="color: #0000f6; font-size: 13.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We recently had the privilege of hosting Josh Hunt for our mid winter Sunday Morning Bible Study leadership conference. The emphasis on investing and building relationships is the key to reaching our society today. Fellowship is premium in a world where we face an epidemic of loneliness. People are looking for more than a "friendly" church. They want a place where they can grow and develop lasting relationships that will assist them in building a biblical foundation for life. If you have not had the opportunity to have Josh Hunt in your church or attend one of his conferences, make plans to involve your leadership. His concepts will make a difference in your thinking about how simple it really is to reach out to people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Charles F. Stanley Senior Pastor First Baptist Church Atlanta<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-11833071227229631442011-11-14T16:14:00.001-08:002011-11-14T16:14:56.290-08:00Missions Exists Because Worship Doesen't<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">John Piper probed our minds with this truth that missions exists because worship does not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand the truth but I think it needs clarifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man does worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the glory often worshiped is not God’s glory. In Romans 1:23 Paul tells us that man “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 25 tells us that man “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every time we break the first command by making other things as more significant than God we live out the foolishness of this text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God longs to be worshiped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows that worship is the highest call His creation can respond to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are at our best when we adore the king of kings and Lord of Lords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David tells us that praise is becoming and that God inhabits the praises of His people.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Missions is telling others about how to get connected to this awesome God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brings liberty to people who are in bondage to false gods both here and abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Testimony is not something that is shared only when we cross the ocean but even when we cross the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David expresses God’s heart in Psalms 86:9, “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord and shall glorify your name”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">In Revelation John sees the results of centuries of the church being on mission when he declares; “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the lamb” Revelation 7:9-10</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-18550541477279524492011-11-03T08:30:00.000-07:002011-11-03T08:30:40.927-07:00Update from Co:Mission<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">It’s fall and the leaves are beautiful in St. Louis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The St. Louis Cardinals are world champs and God continues to open doors for Co:Mission Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are thankful that the opportunities to stand before God’s people and share God’s heart for the world keep coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The global strategy God has given us continues to stir believers as the army of great commission partners keeps growing.</div><div class="MsoNormal">God also continues to open up new opportunities around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing we can’t go everywhere we are selecting those places that have strong leadership, great openness to the Gospel and little or no Gospel presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two exciting new areas He has opened up for us to harvest souls is the Amazon Basin of Brazil and Kenya, Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">When the former International Mission Board President, Dr Jerry Rankin, was asked what the most fertile harvest field in the world was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His answer was the Amazon Basin of Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present there are no missionaries working this area of over fifty thousand tribes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only a few ministries like Co:Mission are laboring in this huge harvest field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is creating a partnership that will join this ministry to key leaders in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we believe we will see thousands come to Christ this year.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We have also been praying for an opportunity to get to Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several opportunities came up but none seemed right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, recently Joan and I were able to meet with a strategic leader and his wife from Kenya named Pastor Titus and Rose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Titus has a network of thirty leaders with whom he would like to plant churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared with us that he needs the strategy, energy and focus of sharing the Gospel that Co:Mission can provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are very excited about building a long term relationship whereby we can reach tens of thousands for Christ and plant hundreds of churches over the next several years.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We continue to be amazed at the faithfulness of our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are convinced God is only opening these doors and building these partnerships through the prayers of His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please continue to pray as we dedicate November and December to raising the financial resources needed to fulfill this God honoring vision.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until the Nations Hear,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mark and Joan</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-68375670016030735942011-09-30T13:41:00.001-07:002011-09-30T13:41:52.722-07:00Co:Mission Expands It's Partnerships;<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Joan and I spent a couple weeks on the road seeking to build partnerships for the great commission with churches here in the U.S.. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vital aspect of Co:Mission Ministry is to work with pastors and churches to fulfill the great commission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to sit down with five different churches and many pastors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so encouraged to see in every man a heart to make a difference for God’s glory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I also see the stress they feel in making it happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having pastored for so many years, I know the burdens these men of God are under.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a privilege it was to listen and pray with each of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May I encourage each of us to lift up the arms of our pastors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for them and be a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very lonely at the top. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another aspect of our trip was the mission’s conference Co:Mission Ministry was asked to lead at Cross Point Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a joy it was to spend time with our dear friends, Dave and Kara Guinn and to see how God is using them in their new ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God ministered in a wonderful way as the Church unveiled its Great Commission Ministry plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be partnering with them in Haiti next April. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We also had the opportunity to train eighteen new leaders in mission’s ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you Pastor’s Randal and Dave for your leadership and heart for the kingdom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The month of September was very special for both Joan and I as we spent quality time with so many dear friends in ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relationships have been rekindled and I believe many hearts greatly encouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goals of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>September were to build partnerships in the U.S. and establish our Harvest Prayer Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come to the end of the month and can say, “ Lord; you have been so faithful once again!”</div><div class="MsoNormal">As you pray for Co:Mission Ministry pray for our partnering churches by name.</div><div class="MsoNormal">August Gate</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cross Point Church</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dorrisville Baptist Church</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eagle Pointe Community</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eldorado First Baptist Church</div><div class="MsoNormal">Harrisburg First Baptist Church</div><div class="MsoNormal">Little Chapel Church</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until the Nations Hear:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mark and Joan</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-12951220746991769942011-08-26T07:29:00.000-07:002011-08-26T08:08:45.926-07:00A God moment in Haiti:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02DEZjETq8DhhOMfJDF_dCzlFsfqFTug7ddFfa8aLRE_SM-YrVYx9XCbBThB2PurY3CZS3DSQOZH3jHijKdDGzotZq1I5OjYF8jAiHNxf2Pqy7BsX0IrhWGg-J5QvmKwD5_J1qVr73vue/s1600/IMG_4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02DEZjETq8DhhOMfJDF_dCzlFsfqFTug7ddFfa8aLRE_SM-YrVYx9XCbBThB2PurY3CZS3DSQOZH3jHijKdDGzotZq1I5OjYF8jAiHNxf2Pqy7BsX0IrhWGg-J5QvmKwD5_J1qVr73vue/s320/IMG_4462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus informed us that we will know them by their fruits. I often wonder when sharing the Gospel, through a translator, in another culture, if they get it. When you see the fruit you know they do!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Matt and I were frustrated to say the least. We were sorting out what appeared to be thousands of parts to a house church we were building in Haiti. It quickly became evident we did not have enough parts and some appeared to be miss- numbered. We finally decided the best way to redeem the time was to share Jesus with the twelve on lookers. These were high-school age boys. Why not? Nothing else seemed to be working at the moment. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The boys quickly got engaged. The translator seemed relieved that he wasn’t having to carry heavy medal anymore. Matt, our lead contractor on the project still looked bewildered. But God began to work. You could sense the hopefulness in the air. These boys were not only open but also eager to hear what we had to share. To the praise and glory of God, ten of the twelve turned from their sin and put their faith in Jesus. </div><div class="MsoNormal">What an awesome moment! However, it doesn’t stop there. The next day while I was sharing the gospel in their community, two of the boys followed along wherever I went. In the background, I noticed someone speaking broken English as I would share the gospel with people. It happened to be two of the young men who had given their lives to Christ the day before. I inquired as to what he and his friend were doing. They told me they were practicing so that one day in the future they could become translators to tell people about Jesus. They followed me for the next two days. Their names were Jackson and Louvin. A few posts ago I told you about giving up my translator so two guys could have the privilege of leading a woman to Christ. Now I was without a translator and standing before ten people. Struggling to communicate Jackson spoke up. “I will try to tell them”, he said. And that he did. As I spoke, Jackson translated the gospel and God did a work not only in him but also in the ten who heard. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The apostle John in his third epistle said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Although these were not my birth children they were spiritual children walking in the truth of their newfound faith. </div><div class="MsoNormal">May God get all the glory! I can’t wait to see what He does with these two new young soldiers of His. In case you were wondering, we did finally figure out the numbering system and found all the parts to the home we were building. As we put first things first , somehow, God took care of the rest.</div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-59919171068322741092011-08-24T08:23:00.000-07:002011-08-24T08:23:04.071-07:00God is Faithful!<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Today I want to give testimony of God’s faithfulness in Haiti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A core value of Co:Mission Ministry is walking with the expectation that God is always at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can do more in a moment than I can do in a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we could ask or even think up, Ephesians 3:20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want all of us who participate in this ministry to experience this as we walk by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">While waiting for our team from Texas to arrive in front <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the Port au Prince airport God spoke to my heart that He was wanting to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were five <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>very rough looking Haitian men standing close to Matt and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Spirit prompted me to share the gospel with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We faced two challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, our translator at the time was not really qualified to translate <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the plan of salvation due to limited vocabulary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two, we have a strong conviction in Co:Mission ministry to see all who receive Christ also have proper follow-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I reluctantly but obediently began sharing with our disinterested Haitian friends, God showed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we watched their countenances change before our eyes as God opened their hearts to want to hear the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, while struggling with the translation two Haitian brothers showed up like angels excited that American missionaries were there sharing Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As God would have it they were the only people around who were bi-lingual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To our knowledge, they were the only believers around as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These guys made sure the gospel was clear to our new friends as we took the lead to share. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There in front of the Port au Prince airport all five men gave their lives to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">However, God was not finished yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just so happened that the two “angels” who appeared took it upon themselves to invite these new believers to their church nearby and committed to follow-up our new brothers in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is so faithful!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all the things you and I need will be taken care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the earth and all His people declare His glory.</div><!--EndFragment--> Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-87072923858004032142011-08-20T10:07:00.001-07:002011-08-20T10:07:57.552-07:00Sharing the Gospel<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">As Co:Mission Ministry finds God’s unique purpose in His awesome kingdom Joan and I are learning a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>continue to be overwhelmed in our hearts with the responsibility of helping to lead the Church to lead with the Gospel.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Years ago I memorized a definition of successful witnessing given by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ; taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems we are taking the initiative to share a lot these days on the mission field, however, little sharing of Christ seems to be happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seem to have bought the lie that people coming to Christ are a by-product of our ministry and not the purpose of our mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">While in Haiti I had the privilege of working with seven young people all eager to learn on the mission field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They arrived in Haiti with a passion to work and make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were not quiet sure how to share their faith but hoping their lives would count and communicate Christ’s love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Wanting them to have the experience of leading others to Christ I gave two young men access to my translator one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came back rejoicing that a woman was interested in giving her life to the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked them if they had led her to follow Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They indicated that could happen later but she was very interested in becoming a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I instructed them to immediately go back to her house and lead her to faith in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only wish everyone reading this could have been there when these young men returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had stepped past their comfort and lead this women to turn from her sin and put her faith in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were literally skipping back almost floating above the dusty road beneath their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why in the name of missions do we find it so hard to take the initiative to lead people to the saving knowledge of Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proverbs 11:30 reminds us that he who wins souls is wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul encourages us with the fact that God has placed this life-changing message in clay pots, that is, He entrusts the gospel message into our lives and expects us to share it.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hear of testimonies today of hundreds coming to Christ through dreams and visions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can and does do miracles to draw others to Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every conversion from sin to salvation is a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want it to be said; it is a privilege to carry out the mandate of winning souls by taking the initiative to intentionally lead others to Christ. </div><div class="MsoNormal">As Mark Driscoll shares “when it comes to the gospel we tend to be gun collectors and not hunters”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though we love the gospel we treat it like a gun<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from our gun collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We admire it but never take aim and shoot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love the Gospel but seldom call others to respond to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">We want to encourage all of you to get out your gospel gun, polish it up and take aim and fire to the glory of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember to leave the results to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rejection may come but probably won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may do it less than perfect but God won’t miss your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.</div><!--EndFragment--> Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-74474221896205162202011-08-17T06:08:00.000-07:002011-08-17T06:29:51.804-07:00Co:Mission Ministry in Haiti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we step out in faith God always shows His faithfulness. I have heard this, preached this and have even tried to live this but the trip to Haiti was a stretch of my faith. So many details had to fall into place that unfortunately or fortunately I had no control over. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I will take the next several days to share the details of how God came through in so many ways but today I want to give you an overview of what God did.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Island of La Gonove:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">After three hours of taxi and boat rides, no one speaking English, and wondering where in the world my contact was we finally arrived to explore opportunities for ministry on La Gonove. La Gonove is an Island of three hundred thousand people and very few churches. While ministering on the Island we worked in four distinct communities bringing encouragement to the believers and sharing the gospel with unbelievers. Pastor Benies was our main contact and he was located on the far side of the Island in a mountainous region called Mapou Village. We worked in Fregade, Palma and Las Titans as well. During our time we were able to train twenty-seven leaders in church planting and saw twenty-four others give their lives to Christ. Again, our main purpose on the Island was to explore future possibilities for church planting and the possibility of creating partnerships with churches in the U.S.. May the Lord give wisdom as we consider our future work on La Gonove. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>On the Mainland:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Our time began by praying earnestly that our ride would be there to take us from the port. Only forty-five minutes late, praise God our ride arrived. While on the Island there was little to eat and nothing but hot bottled water to drink. When we saw a Coke stand God spoke to our hearts about getting a couple cold ones! From there, Pastor Rigaud, the precious man of God we worked with on the mainland, took over and was a wonderful help. We began locating the unassembled homes provided by our good friends at Agriboard. We were greatly encouraged to see the pastor’s home in Cabera completed by our partners from California. [Thanks HOPE and Come Over Ministries for a job well done!] Cabera is the area where we launched a new church plant the last time we were in Haiti. The ministry is being led by Pastor McGraw and has over eighty new disciples growing in the Lord. What a testimony of God’s faithfulness. From there we went on to locate the other unassembled homes provided by Agriboard. With many parts scattered into about ten different areas we set out prayerfully to organize the remainder of the homes. The young man traveling with me, Matthew Sirmans, took it all in stride and graciously took over the building process. What a blessing he was both on the Island and building the homes! We were able to sort things out and begin the process of building and pass off the finishing to a team God provided from Texas. I can’t say enough about the faithfulness of our God. We are beginning a new ministry in Jerusalem where hundreds of thousands have settled since the earthquake hit Port au Prince over a year ago. It will be led by Pastor Midace pictured below. With no churches in that area, this church plant has enormous potential. By the grace of God, Pastor Regaud and I believe we can see over three thousand being discipled in the next couple of years. From there we visited another area we had launched a new work last visit. In La Saline we were informed that the ministry was growing and over two hundred are actively being discipled in Christ. Our team from Texas is scheduled to finish that building this week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">William Carey said, "Expect great things from God… Attempt great things for God!" In the midst of overwhelming opposition God accomplished so much for His glory. In the end, we will see four new churches. Thirty-three leaders were trained in Church planting. Forty-four new believers came to faith in Christ and about four hundred and fifty are being discipled. The labor is never easy but always worth it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Joan and I want to thank you for praying for this ministry and us. Thank you for partnering with us to fulfill the great commission and planting churches around the globe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6FQVkqMgpMcG7XaK_-U65rBLkCvWE8U_96pZpfpwf1mnkwZi_1wj6pXgAekLQw05QBrPedZEcLWDLWmiEPp2Fqhd5ecT8Po0hVVz7A1uBY4HGa7kJT0k_kA4H1nZZIhQwLgrsohfKp0f/s1600/IMG_4533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6FQVkqMgpMcG7XaK_-U65rBLkCvWE8U_96pZpfpwf1mnkwZi_1wj6pXgAekLQw05QBrPedZEcLWDLWmiEPp2Fqhd5ecT8Po0hVVz7A1uBY4HGa7kJT0k_kA4H1nZZIhQwLgrsohfKp0f/s320/IMG_4533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Our Haiti Team<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhFwiR6tSdGICD6tEPLcfaptd8A3RbAW63rnaebOh0LahM63ZqeJMufvVOIhkzyrfMnuoqij95WeqgjaHZcVxEmoW0EyS1Y7fy634eeo5aF8xKX1YYesw0xvDu-XnbGH2YjnjY9kD1rC4/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhFwiR6tSdGICD6tEPLcfaptd8A3RbAW63rnaebOh0LahM63ZqeJMufvVOIhkzyrfMnuoqij95WeqgjaHZcVxEmoW0EyS1Y7fy634eeo5aF8xKX1YYesw0xvDu-XnbGH2YjnjY9kD1rC4/s320/IMG_4412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Pastor McGraw's wife and children from Church plant in Cabaret<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsvleC-8Ciim_ax1Lo9wOn3yNKw637tb2ZvkUFvNkTQ6OcaTqbBg9bDVqdbc8vaIIsJPqkQoOE_FbSTeAMy5oOlGDZcL4EK8Oghx6JaoSKPMs0s83wLhiysi7DGkmBqWH83CRo2LwIBLS/s1600/IMG_4445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsvleC-8Ciim_ax1Lo9wOn3yNKw637tb2ZvkUFvNkTQ6OcaTqbBg9bDVqdbc8vaIIsJPqkQoOE_FbSTeAMy5oOlGDZcL4EK8Oghx6JaoSKPMs0s83wLhiysi7DGkmBqWH83CRo2LwIBLS/s320/IMG_4445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Mamas making mud pies for their children<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoG5kPcvmbbGRPMp-IReqf7iUV7hY9dK4UCCx2VrbIVAdIi3A9WsyibY4gr_5IhkX7U3Kscs7_KWIXjVe1dHymQ3hSIItoFMfweaQ2vuRAj7jmDMXLXsBvS9JOQWFyccJtVxxtDzASIr2/s1600/IMG_4289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoG5kPcvmbbGRPMp-IReqf7iUV7hY9dK4UCCx2VrbIVAdIi3A9WsyibY4gr_5IhkX7U3Kscs7_KWIXjVe1dHymQ3hSIItoFMfweaQ2vuRAj7jmDMXLXsBvS9JOQWFyccJtVxxtDzASIr2/s320/IMG_4289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The faces of some of the many children on the Island<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dhmQxHBCtR6VKNbjjh4mxWtblAdHcF9jk_lFz7Y6aBEomQLJrpQoWEYietU1ND0FNAhan8b_FJB8YGmZBmHtt0Z7lZrrP-3hAjktw4z47qK5xe797QRdRlCgHCJo89AUKDNgd1Y04jro/s1600/IMG_4520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dhmQxHBCtR6VKNbjjh4mxWtblAdHcF9jk_lFz7Y6aBEomQLJrpQoWEYietU1ND0FNAhan8b_FJB8YGmZBmHtt0Z7lZrrP-3hAjktw4z47qK5xe797QRdRlCgHCJo89AUKDNgd1Y04jro/s320/IMG_4520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Pastor Midace and his family from Jerusalem Church Plant<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOp89kMQdLvStazSf9xTXxLABJisRk1UZD4I3NpO8leWwLQRVtVSS3HcuYvC3rvuKUoFLYkIPqtqFzhyeEllWUVUJLYWrzmqSvw2zlELSgwkB5WjvGYl_gLIs-isV8dE5LLYOGgUOS6vw/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOp89kMQdLvStazSf9xTXxLABJisRk1UZD4I3NpO8leWwLQRVtVSS3HcuYvC3rvuKUoFLYkIPqtqFzhyeEllWUVUJLYWrzmqSvw2zlELSgwkB5WjvGYl_gLIs-isV8dE5LLYOGgUOS6vw/s320/IMG_4449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> A few of the precious children in Haiti<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoT17jS_jiCbUIPQiIzrMHtC6FpmSfOBDmA4t6Hv0ggil8_5vExSuanYKw8jF-uhyphenhyphenYuLVnzZMmDCtIjjkxy-PPKykLw5FWng4XAe8CiLn-OPXY8-L7b1GlmrZY2mjjCp7je6RvZFF8s1C/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoT17jS_jiCbUIPQiIzrMHtC6FpmSfOBDmA4t6Hv0ggil8_5vExSuanYKw8jF-uhyphenhyphenYuLVnzZMmDCtIjjkxy-PPKykLw5FWng4XAe8CiLn-OPXY8-L7b1GlmrZY2mjjCp7je6RvZFF8s1C/s320/IMG_4492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Matthew building the house in Jerusalem<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Iyi-ff4Gj4u_mmXbhPXid_gauF91W-SuRRsSWsspbUIxHNKi-XgvrwtoweWm-4ONX40GLClT7s0BzhnEw8N0zH_Wte0hdHX8e1GoWy-BYN0xUoCS0JQRlWigFvI6aT_ks1kmVj8DP0x1/s1600/IMG_4502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Iyi-ff4Gj4u_mmXbhPXid_gauF91W-SuRRsSWsspbUIxHNKi-XgvrwtoweWm-4ONX40GLClT7s0BzhnEw8N0zH_Wte0hdHX8e1GoWy-BYN0xUoCS0JQRlWigFvI6aT_ks1kmVj8DP0x1/s320/IMG_4502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The Texas team building the pastor's home in Jerusalem <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmDVQ6pXWmCdTA_8twQV0zawXXXu1WHsTlwx-BTqyuMITUlYLLqYc44SSC1K8uu8zfTgEDCQRPPErvCS-GwJDE5XzjU0MYWsh5LgmlD6YXLe18BzP6D2BSoWlg4CmCKChMH8bW4BMtusJ/s1600/IMG_4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmDVQ6pXWmCdTA_8twQV0zawXXXu1WHsTlwx-BTqyuMITUlYLLqYc44SSC1K8uu8zfTgEDCQRPPErvCS-GwJDE5XzjU0MYWsh5LgmlD6YXLe18BzP6D2BSoWlg4CmCKChMH8bW4BMtusJ/s320/IMG_4462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Mark sharing the gospel on the Mainland<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps2F_1GjuV-0M3syppUwi8BwKPgOEr9ma9bJoQDNHOTgBhI5PGq64Q4gzGCfhTFVVRujWpXlZa11ARSBiT0VokMYWg-JegV1G_95Eo-Fim3BBtNP_Wfmw6qiNe2GtQ_8QYMOh1STOnVmX/s1600/IMG_4507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps2F_1GjuV-0M3syppUwi8BwKPgOEr9ma9bJoQDNHOTgBhI5PGq64Q4gzGCfhTFVVRujWpXlZa11ARSBiT0VokMYWg-JegV1G_95Eo-Fim3BBtNP_Wfmw6qiNe2GtQ_8QYMOh1STOnVmX/s320/IMG_4507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Mark with Pastor Midace and his translator<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ArbvRk79lMDgUvybXGEIbyEQI2rAPdy9gdCIQRXK1ESxPRoR5ueTwJFN-DiY_plEMsVT42wF7Qwu-0YvEQX6HrzRHUislQ9aCH5IX3pF7tW9jLM5Tnjhdjw1vHUaE7qVBES8L44LhBPV/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ArbvRk79lMDgUvybXGEIbyEQI2rAPdy9gdCIQRXK1ESxPRoR5ueTwJFN-DiY_plEMsVT42wF7Qwu-0YvEQX6HrzRHUislQ9aCH5IX3pF7tW9jLM5Tnjhdjw1vHUaE7qVBES8L44LhBPV/s320/IMG_4425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> A home in Jerusalem<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4M2MO5Z4p-K2G95sUd6iaVk3JqifNhMVpN3L6hG2FOC3lzXjH82YtQMyQSyetK2fymDqIt8EPSMFezGwXhLnbsnIwSK-KVWCEK5toW_DrWZFueEyYnuQ9h1oPU7dKWZBWNAhf_HUXebm/s1600/IMG_4508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4M2MO5Z4p-K2G95sUd6iaVk3JqifNhMVpN3L6hG2FOC3lzXjH82YtQMyQSyetK2fymDqIt8EPSMFezGwXhLnbsnIwSK-KVWCEK5toW_DrWZFueEyYnuQ9h1oPU7dKWZBWNAhf_HUXebm/s320/IMG_4508.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-73391152484962453902011-08-01T14:43:00.000-07:002011-08-01T14:43:43.911-07:00Heading to Haiti<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Island of La Gonave<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">As I head to Haiti I want to share with you prayer requests for the trip and the pressing needs that Co:Mission Ministry has. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan and I are very encouraged with how God is working in this ministry already and specifically how He put this trip together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be leaving St. Louis on August 2<sup>nd</sup> and heading to South Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will meet up with a young man Matthew Sirmans who I am mentoring in missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will head to Haiti on August 3<sup>rd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will begin our work on the Island of La Gonave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our purpose will be to prepare the leadership for future house church plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be meeting with community leaders and perspective pastors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are looking to start ten churches on the Island in the next twelve months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for safety in travel.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for Matthew Sirmans since this is his first over seas mission experience.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for our teaching times as we build into the new pastors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for my health as I am battling a sinus infection.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray that we know the right villages to approach to start the house churches.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray that we can rest in the evenings because sleeping could be very interesting on the Island.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Work in the Mainland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">On the 8<sup>th</sup> of August we will travel back to the mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our purpose will be to establish three house churches and build those houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will meet up with a team we put together from Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven college students will meet us for the purpose of building the houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My purpose will be to train the pastors, assure the building goes well and launch the churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be doing a great deal of evangelism to strengthen the work in each of the areas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Matt and I will return on August 12<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our building team will return on August 23<sup>rd</sup>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for the many logistics involved in building these homes in Haiti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Foundations, Materials, Tools, Enough workers etc…)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for the pastors who will be equipped and left to lead these new house churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Their names: Margera, Midace, Janic)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for the team from Texas as they give sacrificially and work tirelessly to get these homes together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for our evangelism efforts that many come to Christ. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Pray for the launching of these house churches and their impact in the communities they will dwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for hundreds to become true Disciples of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Community names are: La Saline, Canaan, Cabaret and if time allows La Plaines and Arcahaie)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Immediate Needs for Co:Mission Ministry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">As God is opening many doors for Co:Mission Ministry we have some big needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are already working with three churches to help create partnerships globally.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">We need help as we put together our prayer ministry coordination, web-sight development, budgets, databases, brochure etc… </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need help with the many flights we are taking to establish ministries in other countries around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any of you have flight miles you could donate it would be very helpful.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">We need start up funds and partners who will give generously to help launch this ministry into the harvest fields God has called us to.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">We need prayer partners who will stand in the gap and passionately pray for Co:Mission Ministry.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">We praise God for you and your prayers, love and support as we work diligently to launch a ministry that will impact countless lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for your wilingness to be involved with us.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Until the nations hear,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;">Mark and Joan</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 351.0pt;"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-49140359884284489812011-07-31T15:33:00.000-07:002011-07-31T15:33:42.788-07:00<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">God is doing much!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It has been a while since I last wrote on this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the past several weeks much has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord has provided housing in a beautiful condominium in downtown St. Louis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The location could not be better and Joan has truly made this place home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in and settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan and I are renewing some awesome friendships and loving being grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After many drafts we now have a copy of a ministry plan that has been prayed over and well thought through. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is attached to this writing of a Journey to Freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Please take time and read through the details of Co:Mission Ministry and hold this ministry up in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan and I are watching this ministry get much bigger than anticipated and doors are opening in so many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope many of you will partner with us in prayer, going and giving as together we advance God’s Kingdom <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through Co:Mission Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had hoped that through this ministry we could be involved in mentoring young men and women who had hearts for ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If what we are experiencing now is just the beginning we are totally overwhelmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we began this blog we wanted to focus on freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom in Christ to fulfill His purpose for your life is awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involves trust, hope, love, patience and personal discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every one of these characteristics goes into walking boldly with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staying close and clean to Him has taken on a much deeper meaning and has become a moment-by-moment reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” 2 Corinthians 3:17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe God looks at the bondages in our lives and weeps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sees us as sheep without a shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sees the beauty of freedom and longs for us to experience it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to see you and I free to do all He created us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan and I are beginning to know the reality of that freedom deeper than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love you and pray for so many of you by name.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your love and prayers for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy reading the ministry plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until the nations hear;</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mark</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-27890303864191601512011-06-11T06:18:00.000-07:002011-06-11T06:18:53.343-07:00Journey Home<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">The Haumschilt’ s have returned to St. Louis with all our belongings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our trip down to South Florida and back gave us many wonderful memories and much exhaustion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praying with friends in South Florida ministered to our hearts so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying goodbye is always hard but in the Lord goodbye is never permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At every stop along the route we were encouraged and blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every night we stayed up late talking and sharing with wonderful family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We praise God so much for each of you! We hope to keep in touch for prayer and by God’s grace we hope to do ministry on the mission field together through the future work of Great Co: Mission Ministry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that we are home we plan to really focus on the work of Great Co: Mission Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first priority is the development of prayer partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James tells us “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stated on our last blog we value your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we seek to do God’s work God’s way we want to be pure before Him and completely yielded to His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have already had over forty friends who are committed to praying with us for God to do a great work in and through this mission ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you prayer partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will notice updated prayer requests on this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is such a strategic time to stand in the gap and pray as this ministry is formulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Hebrews God invites us to come boldly to His throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explains in 1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh the joy and freedom that comes when we want to do the work and will of God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe God truly knows and hears our hearts as our souls long to do what is pleasing to the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we pray to the Lord of the Harvest He will give direction and resources to fulfill His purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be sure to ask in faith without any doubting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that God will use every one of us every day to bring fourth His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, in the next few weeks the ministry plan will be in place and the ministry of Great Co: Mission ministry will be under way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really want clarity for this ministry so when people read the vision they will run with the message and mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Habakkuk 2:2) Quite simply, we are more than ever commited to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe He has called us to be a conduet to produce partnerships that will have global impact for God’s glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These words are not stated lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we can do something awesome as we strive in God’s grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may be weak but He is unbelievably strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">P.S. Our Grandson will be born this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so good to be on this Journey of Freedom with family by our side.</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-26802970939567396992011-05-27T05:10:00.000-07:002011-05-27T19:19:53.160-07:00Partners in Prayer<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These past three months have been times that have reminded us of the need for extended periods in God’s Word and desperate times in prayer. God has shown us so much and we now find ourselves getting into the real grind of transition. Transitions are always a challenge but God has been very present through this one. Joan and I are enjoying the Lord and each other, as we trust Him for the days ahead. Transitioning can put us face down and in total need of trust. I can only imagine the challenges the nation of Israel faced as God moved them from Egypt to the promise land over forty years. I am writing to you today for your help. We need friends who can commit to partner with us in prayer as we embrace the ministry and life God has for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our days are filled with getting established in St. Louis and setting direction for the missions ministry God has put on our hearts. This is like a dream come true! Having the opportunity to focus fully on making disciples through missions and global church planting, not to mention being close to the kids and grand kids, is a real blessing. With so many decisions to be made we want God’s best. We want to know that every decision is covered in prayer. Your willingness to pray with us and for us would be greatly appreciated! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Isaiah 62:6 explains to us how God appointed intercessors for the work He was doing in Jerusalem. We are asking Him to do the same through all of us as He begins this new work through us. If you would send us a note to affirm your praying with us we would be greatly encouraged. Simply e-mail <a href="mailto:mhaumschilt@gmail.com">mhaumschilt@gmail.com</a>. We know when God wants to do something big he breaks and builds into that individual. Then He calls them to prayer. The breaking has been happening and now we want to invite you to be a partner in praying with us. Let us know how we can also pray for you. We will want to keep in touch so we can share specifics of what to pray for and hopefully encourage you of how our Father is answering prayers every step of the way. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We love you all so much and look forward to partnering to fulfill God’s great commission to make disciples of all nations as Jesus commanded and equipped us to do. (Matthew 28:18-20)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let us know of your prayers and how we can pray for you!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Love You,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mark and Joan</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-22820617261572046752011-05-23T10:12:00.000-07:002011-05-23T10:12:53.553-07:00Brokeness<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">A. W. Tozer has been quoted to say, “When God wants to use a man greatly, He must first hurt him deeply”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brokenness seems to be part of the Journey to Freedom as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2 Corinthians 12:9 God promises us that His grace is always sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, to know that grace and it’s life changing power I must first come to the end of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus told us in John 15 that “apart from me you can do nothing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These past few months have been a wake up call to how empty I am with out Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">In these recent days of transitioning from Pastoring to International Church Planting we have found ourselves in the position of dependence on family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many have been testimonies to us of the grace of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess we best know grace when we feel our weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12 Paul tells me that when I am weak, then I am strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is as if he is telling us to celebrate our weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He advises us to boast about just how weak we really are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been from South Florida to San Diego to St. Louis to Lake of the Ozarks and back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have slept in six different homes in four locations and our dog Tobie has found himself a bit confused at times. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">However, it is in times like these that you come back to those things that are most important in your life; the Lord and your family. Our times with our children have been amazing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan and I were able to spend Easter with all the kids and spouses and yes, did I mention the most important member of the family, Allie, our 18-month-old granddaughter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been many years since we had such an awesome blessing at a holiday time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a precious time of openness and sharing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joan has been able to help Heather get ready for our soon and coming grandson; Chaim Joshua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heather is so ready to have what promises to be a “big” baby boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Celebrating the things that really count and stopping long enough to enjoy the moments has kept us saying, “ thank you God for all you have given to us”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jacob, one of our patriarchs of the faith teaches about the need for brokenness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted the blessing of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To gain the blessing he first experienced the breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After wrestling with God all-night and unwilling to let go, Jacob pleads for the blessing of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God touches his hip and changes him forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would be the one through whom God would call a nation and a Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His children and their faith were to be a testimony to the world of the nature and character of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God broke Jacob we believe not only his name changed but also his character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was no longer a deceiver but a warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name was changed to identify a chosen people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of years later his descendants still bear his name; Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When God wants to use a man greatly He must first hurt him deeply”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest we have known some deep pain these past months!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know however, as Paul proclaims, “these momentary light afflictions are producing for us an eternal weight of glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also encouraged us with the promise that “God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dislocated hip commemorated the breaking of Jacob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He probably never walked the same as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brokenness really does change you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can leave you complaining and wanting or thankful and useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for me and my house we choose <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thankful and useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God get the glory through these open and empty vessels.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mark and Joan.</div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2559531270314232801.post-58574821436902222502011-05-17T12:10:00.000-07:002011-05-17T12:10:31.208-07:00<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Be still and know that He is God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that not in the Bible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have any idea how difficult being still really is? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am reminded no matter how much the Lord wants to do through me He desires greatly to do a lot in me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The past few days I have watched my head wanting to move foreword and trying to carve out the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find myself asking God for answers and trying to push ahead to gain specific direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This too is a stronghold of mine that God wants to set me free of.</div><div class="MsoNormal">God reminds me that He is still refining me, refocusing me and above all becoming the greatest love of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One glorious day with my bride by my side and the perfect environment of Coronado Island surrounding me God spoke!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, God usually speaks through His Word and this time was consistent yet dramatically different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consistent in that God used His Word Psalms 141:2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dramatically different in that I knew this was something for me that would take time to come to fruition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God asked me to believe Him for two things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Luke 10:27 would be real in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of Luke 10:27 would be real in my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving God, others and myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me be honest, this is no small undertaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving God and total abandonment to Him was a new reality to a familiar prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had prayed this often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I am living it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving others, is this even safe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, do you know where I have been?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love my self?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I have learned anything through this journey it is I have major issues with me!</div><div class="MsoNormal">The second thing God asked me to believe Him for was to gain intense passion for the ministry that lied ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to admit it but I have had days where I served God because that is what you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I not saved to serve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere through life I learned to put my nose to the grindstone to seek and serve God and do the honorable and right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has reminded me that He has put His joy in me so that my joy may be made full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 15:11)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second evidence of being filled with the Spirit is Joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now also know that in His presence is fullness of Joy! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalms 16:11) For the ministry that lies ahead I want to stay awake at night thinking of how to see thousands coming to Christ not stressed over the details of the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have known in my life days where my engines revved and passion roared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, I want it back, I said and He promised to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked me to claim Psalms 141:2; “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set this prayer of Luke 10:27 and passion for His work like incense before the Father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have laid this prayer before the Lord that it might linger for days and weeks and months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If necessary that prayer can linger for years but dear God make it true and real in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">So for these days I am learning to slow down be still and let God do His good acceptable and perfect will in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what the future holds but do I ever know who holds my future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am told God is good all the time and now I know all the time God is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is in control of this world and my life and by the way yours too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that when God is preparing a vessel to be used greatly He always breaks that vessel deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breaking has happened and now the restoration for His glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. <span style="font-family: "Arial Black";">Though he fall</span>, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be still and experience Him as my God. </div><!--EndFragment-->Journey to Freedomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11352481565318641060noreply@blogger.com1