A Life Saving Message!!!

So I wanted to pass along a message and a word that I believe the Lord allowed me to hear the other night from a Korean young man, who was adopted by an American Family and lived in Peoria, IL, but who now lives and studies Missions Medical Nursing in Brazil! Of course it helps that this young man's name is Micah too, and so my mind immediately went to my beautiful little red headed boy!
in one of the towns that was hit hardest by the Tsunami, Kessinuma, there is some unbelievable destruction! In fact for most of you that might read this you are familiar with Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of that incredible storm.  This Tsunami really was worse than that, I mean, never in my life have I seen anything like this. The entire coastline is decimated and one of the buildings that was completely destroyed was the building that housed the EMS services for the city of Kessinuma. I saw the building, but until Micah shared the rest of the story the other night it really didn't mean anything to me. Micah shared that the woman that was manning the radio system that day was in the building broadcasting the message that the Tsunami was coming and in fact it was said that she was at the microphone until her death. She was focused on the task of sharing the message of Hope and Life for all those that would listen and hear he message, and it cost her her life.
I'm pretty sure that I don't even need to add commentary to this story but I will at least share that the Lord did remind me very strongly and intimately that that is what He has called me to..........and you as well if you call yourself a Christian (Christ Follower). We as believers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those who have been brought from death to life, who have been granted grace, mercy, and forgiveness are the messengers that the Lord Jesus has chosen to use to spread this message to all who would believe and head the His warning of coming judgement!
The Lord just continues to speak to me directly through His Holy Word, and especially the book of Ephesians.  Paul writes these words in chapter 2;
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with  Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good Works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." and then also in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
So right from the pages of scripture we are told that we are the instruments that the God of the universe has chosen, even before the foundations of the world were formed, to use to spread and to share the message of LIFE & SAFETY that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So naturally the question remains for all of us that claim to be committed Christians. For those of us that claim to be "in love" with Jesus Christ. For those of us that claim to be surrendered to His Lordship and Leadership over our lives. For those of us that claim to be "His disciples", the question is..... are you sharing that "life saving" message now, and will you continue if you know that it will in fact cost you your life? If you knew that what you had to say could save a person for all eternity, but in fact it might cost you your life in order for them to hear it, would you share that message? I am reminded of the challenge that Jesus gave to those that were attempting to follow Him, and I will end with these words to encourage all of us, myself first to really think and contemplate a response......

"Then Jesus told His desciples, " if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Eph 6:10-20

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. 

I have always loved the book of Ephesians, and I have always felt that Paul was basically writing to me each time that I would study and look into the letter.  Each time I would encounter a "rough patch" in my relationship with Jesus Christ I would quickly flip open the passage listed above and remind myself that even though I can't see my enemy I know that he is real and hates my guts. I used to think that I had experienced enough around the world that "I had seen it all" so to speak. 

Well then this trip to Japan came up.  It's actually hard to even think of all the "little things" that have happened from the logistics in preparation to come, to arrival, to accommodations, to interpersonal communications and relations. But here is the thing... this is a very real battle.  We are currently in a country that is only 1% Christian, that is known for being self sufficient and dependent on no one or no thing. March 11, 2011 changed things, and at the request of these people there is now an opportunity for Christians to come into this country, into these small towns and communities, and into these houses where statues of Buddha are common decor, and to serve and share the message of Hope and Love found in Jesus Christ. Satan hates that, he is losing his grip on this land, and here is the best part, he is already permanently defeated through the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

I just want to ask any and all of you that might read this to please join me in fervent prayer for the people of Japan. Especially the people that we have met in the towns of Ishinomaki and Kessenuma. These people just have eyes that are glassed over as they try to gather their lives up out of the rubble that is still surrounding their homes. The only thing that will break through that stronghold is the power of Jesus Christ and so please just pray that the Lord Jesus will be glorified and magnified as we yield to His control and power in our lives.  Pray against the tactics and strategies of our enemy satan, pray that we might be mindful of our shortcomings and the areas where he wants to trip us up while we are here.  And pray for our families and loved ones that are at home.  I think of Megan and the kids and the warfare and battle that Meg is undergoing right now. I know that some of the other teams members families are going through circumstances that the enemy twists and manipulates and uses in our lives to distract us from the task that the Lord has called us to, situations that are very real and very serious, but when truly thought through are very evidently used by our enemy to take our minds and hearts from this place at this time for the work that the Lord has called us to. I mentioned that I love Pauls letter of Ephesians, one of the other parts in that letter that just overwhelms me is earlier in the text when he has just finished reviewing just what the Lord has done for us through the Cross and the Ressurrection, and then he shares about amazing it is that Christ would then call and use him for his work.  But then Paul says this : 

20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

Rebuilding Japan

Well to be honest with you I really have no idea what to write right now? I am sitting atop my bunk bed, in our military style tent in the small town of TOME, Japan.  We arrived on Wednesday and were able to work on a couple different projects that the crew that is based here was having trouble finishing. Just like when we were serving in Liberia, we have chosen to partner with Samaritan's Purse International Relief again here in Japan and their effort to rebuild homes and lives, but most importantly the church of Jesus Christ.
Yesterday we were able to spend some time with Matt Swenson who is the country director for SP here in Japan and he once again shared with us how the country as a whole is less than 1% Christian.  That is hard for us to imagine, and I know that even in all my travels I have not encountered another culture where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not readily available. When Matt sent us his invitation to come just a few weeks ago he included that same stat but at the time it really didn't sink in, but now that we have put names to faces and have seen it, smelled it, touched it, stepped in it, Japan and it's need for Jesus Christ is very real!
We so much appreciate your prayers while we are serving here. SP has a great foothold in this country, but we are all confident that the enemy hates what we are doing and will try to any degree to discourage and defeat us.  However, we KNOW that we have nothing to fear and that we will be here for as long as God allows and that He is the ultimate authority in our lives and in this country.  Nothing has, is happening, or will happen a part from His allowing it to happen.
This trip has been hard for me to be a part from Meg.  Not because of what you might think. It goes without saying that I miss her, she's my wife! I love her more than anything.  But I am aware of my responsibility as a husband and also a Father.  The kids are getting older and with each day they develop their own personalities and characters and I don't want to miss that time.  I know that Meg is getting weary from the fights as she tries her best to teach and instruct and train the kids in the way that they should go and I don't want her to do it alone.  It is really hard to not be distracted by that.  I think that is a good thing though.  I don't want to be comfortable in this life and especially in my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I am in love with Him and I want to follow Him above all else.  I am confident that it is only then that I will be the husband and father that He needs me to be and that they need me to be.  So pray that I am that way, not than God brings us home sooner or anything selfish like that, but just that we seek & love Him with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength.
I am hoping to write more often on this project because......well.......there really isn't anything else to do in our spare time! Seriously though, I believe that this is something that the Lord wants for me to do and I want to share with you what He is doing.

May the name of Jesus Christ be lifted High!Pictures of Steppin Out in Japan

Let us not grow weary...

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” 

Galatians 6:9,10

 We pray that this letter finds you filled with joy and endurance in the work the Lord has given you!  We know that you are in the trenches day after day as you seek to honor him in the monotony (or craziness) of life.  Know that you are on our hearts as you run the race!  It has been increasingly obvious to us that the enemy seeks to devour our inner most being when we are walking in the Spirit. His blows can seem crushing and cause our hearts to grow weary.  How we long for the day of Christ’s return when we won’t have to battle this flesh anymore!  However, we know the One who has conquered it all. No, those battles will never cease while we are on this earth, but our mighty God has us here for a purpose and will see us through in HIS MIGHT!  So we pray for you, we pray for your eyes to see truth, we pray that your view of self and of God are not skewed by the enemy, we pray that you are refreshed daily by His incomprehensible comfort,  and above all we pray that His glory shines so brightly through you. We are honored to serve along side of you our brothers and sisters...do not grow weary!

The boys helping daddy whenever possible

We have again been very blessed in the work God has given us since our last update. This spring we spent 6 weeks at Camp Echoing Hills in Warsaw, Ohio.  The camp is dedicated to “creating opportunities for individuals with special needs to know and experience Jesus Christ while gaining self-esteem, self-awareness and independence...” The project goal was to finish necessary updates to cabins so that ministry could begin this summer. The project list grew as we dug into rotted floors joists and realized this would be a complete renovation. However the Lord grew our faith as we watched Him provide over and over.   We had nearly 50 volunteers give their time for this project, many of whom we had no idea were coming but the Lord just kept bringing exactly who He needed at exactly the right time.  We again can give all glory to Him for His provision to complete the project above and beyond expectation!  We were also blessed to actually be together as a family for the duration of this project also! God again showed His strength as Meg was able to care for the teams and our children fell in love with their surroundings and never grew weary of the new environment.  

Elsie keeping buys while mommy cooks team meals

Joel is currently on a 3 week blitz of two other camp projects preparing them for the summer. He, John Corley, Jared Stutzman and Syl Yoder are now at Camp Burton in Ohio doing cabin updates and will soon be heading to Camp Barakel in Michigan for major HVAC work in their kitchen.   Each of these places lack the funds or skills needed for this work, so we praise God that he has given Steppin-Out the call and ability to meet their needs. This frees these ministries up to concentrate on building God’s kingdom as they have been called! Pray for this work and for all of these great ministries to be mighty tools in the Father’s hands! 

WHAT’S NEXT? Well we have a huge amount of needs being brought before us…

·         We hope to return to Camp Grace in Georgia to build a lodge so that their ministry reach can be increased.  This is a huge task in which we are excited to see God’s provision yet again.  If the Lord allows, we will be heading down sometime near summer’s end to begin this project.

·         OF IMMEDIATE ATTENTION! We continue to be contacted about relief efforts to the devastation in the south.  It seems obvious that the Lord is directing our paths to meet these needs. Here is what SOM is asking of you our partners…

o Perhaps you know of someone or a church in the affected area that needs assistance?

o Do you want to be on a team for disaster response? (We would like to begin scheduling teams for an Alabama project the first week of June and continue through July and most of August.)

o Does your church want to come as a team and have Steppin-Out host your group?

o Can we count on your help financially?  (You can now give online at our website www.somissions.com!)

Faith showing the guys how it's done!

  We will continue to give you updates as we are informed of specific needs and more details are finalized. In the mean time however and as we end this update, we call on you to commit all of this to prayer!  How might you be involved in meeting the needs of those hurting so near to us?  Also pray that Steppin-Out is sensitive to God’s leading in making preparations…we can only be of any eternal worth if we are following Him.  Again, we hope with all that is in us that you do not “grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” We thank you for partnering with us in this ministry as we could not do it without Christ’s body working together!