Missions – Page 2 – Jeff & Angie

Orphaned

January 15, 2015January 15, 2015 A. Knight

On January 12, 2010, while many of us were planning what to eat for supper, some driving home listening to music or talking on the phone–just living an oblivious life to anything or anyone else (myself included), a catastrophic earthquake shook all thoughts of anything else from the minds of millions.

Registering 7.0, this quake ripped lives apart and forever marked a small country with its devastating whiplash. Because even years beyond the “after shocks”, it’s still reeling.

Jeff went to Haiti with a group of pastors in 2013-and as his heart has always been for little ones, as they crawled up in his lap- they crawled up into his heart. No suitcase was big enough to bring them home- and what to do about the others…

Superintendent Thomas Moore has been instrumental in helping pastors from our area get a clearer picture and better understanding of what missions is all about–by showing them live and in person the reality of this devastation.

The West Florida District is currently raising funds to send a construction team over to repair a damaged roof on an orphanage (one of the three they visited when Jeff went) and other major repairs. The most major of all that cannot be repaired without God: these little ones. Lives changed in a split second as the earth shook. No mom or dad to love and care for them, but God had a plan already written for someone to come in and take these and make them her own. (You will have to get Supt. Moore to tell that story.)

The roof leak? Oh, I forgot to mention, it’s over the bedrooms. Rain? Drenched sleeping quarters. Can I tell you how miserable that is?

I went on a camping trip about a year ago–and the roof leaked. Just one place. But it kept me awake all night. Even though I moved to the couch and put a boiler on the bed to catch the dripping water, the “ting-ting-ting” of the water dripping kept me awake all night wondering if it would soon leak elsewhere.

These kids–it leaks all over the place and there’s no way they have enough boilers to fill all the places for the rain invading their sleep.

So. I’m asking something of you. First–pray. Don’t just pray for the kids and the teams that go to help–or Convoy of Hope who continually see to the many needs in that country–but pray and ask God “what can I do?” You can do a lot! Any amount you are able to send in for the construction costs and materials will be beneficial! The job cannot get done without you. Every donation helps.

Next, contact the district office and send an offering. Find out how many construction workers are going and help one of them with airfare. Yes they are willing- and are able–but many will need some assistance covering expenses.

The address to send your (tax deductible gift) is:

West Florida District Assemblies of God, 4792 Highway 90, Marianna, Florida 32446. Mark it “Haiti Project”.

Supt. Moore didn’t ask me to do this–doesn’t even know that I am–but God gave me fingers to type, a mind to think and understand the needs that need to be met–and a voice to shout! I have so much to be thankful for!

It’s raining today while I’m typing this–and I asked the Lord this morning to tune me into the needs of our world–this project has stayed on my mind since we sat down last year with a representative from Convoy who shared his heart and the needs there. Even though I had not been, I saw through the description and the pictures that had been taken by other team members (pastors) when they went.

When I can’t “go”, I can still make a difference. So can you. Make that call today. Do something with what you’ve been blessed with.

Thank you in advance for the lives your donation will change!

Bolivia

Holding Emmanuel

November 17, 2014October 28, 2020 A. Knight

100_3976Emmanuel Sounds more like a Christmas post…and maybe it will be- but it’s been on my mind. The feeling from holding him.

Emmanuel.

One of the guys from our ministry team is making Christmas ornaments to sell as a way to raise funds for upcoming projects and when I saw the ornaments, one ornament, emblazoned with His name, reminded me of the baby in Bolivia. And the Baby in Bethlehem.

Every single one of us is drawn to the babies, and this was my one chance to hold him without one of the others trying to get at him. I held my hands out, he leaned in and I took him. Soft baby. Freshly washed baby fragrance, I inhaled deep. Remembering my own babies. And their babies. I asked his name. “Emmanuel”, she said. No translation needed. I felt my heart speed up with my writer’s mind whirling–I was “holding Emmanuel”. The other team members had oooed and aahhed over him, a few had held him–without knowing his name. But I asked–because names are important to me–I like to connect somehow with those that I talk with–even when through a translator.

He leaned his little head on my shoulder and I began to whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for him, a prayer of protection, and for God to create in him a strong desire to serve and follow Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus Christ. Son of God. Tears (which seemed to come often this trip) burned, mixed with the dust that was flying that morning, I was so –so- so grateful to God for this moment. For me to recognize a “God moment”.

To hold Emmanuel–we must recognize our need for Him. Holding Emmanuel is a privilege. We must seek Him. Just as the wise men and shepherds, we will find Him when we do.

And, when we hold Him, it will change us.

The holding. It’s a purposeful act–a deliberate decision to wrap our arms, minds and heart around Him. Measure the feeling when you hold a baby. Is it possible? I don’t think it’s quite measurable. The feeling itself encapsulates our being. We are privileged to have experienced that opportunity. But–God didn’t decide to come to earth as a baby –just for us…..He came for the world. (John 3:16)

So that we all might have the opportunity…and there are millions who don’t know. Millions who have never been afforded the chance to hold Emmanuel. Never had an introduction. What are we doing about them?

Dare we look in their eyes and say, “I’m sorry…. we cannot give you the chance to know Jesus…you live too far away”….

“Your life is too different than mine”.

Those words won’t hold up in court. The Court. We will all stand for our own selves. And what we did when we were given the opportunity to hold Emmanuel–will come to light. Did we hold Him? Did we share Him? Give– so that others might know Him? Go so that others might See Him? Live? –so that others might want Him? Do we pray so that they might find Him?

Holding Emmanuel changed me. I wanted to stay there–and help his mother. I wanted to be her friend.

But I knew –for now, I couldn’t stay. I handed him back with a prayer and a promise that I would indeed do my part to see that others like him, and his mother–and those other little ones running around playing would have the opportunity to hold Emmanuel. And know Him. And serve Him.

Father, I thank You for that trip. For all the things You showed us–and all that we experienced. I pray that we brought glory and honor to You and not shame in all that we did. I ask that the fire we felt in our souls that week–burn even stronger as we make plans to return–and make plans to go beyond the comfort zone of our lives–as we embark on unknown places to reach the unreached. Let our feet and hearts follow Yours. May we bring You glory daily–until we’re Home. In Your most holy name–Amen.

Missions

New Steps of Faith Has Brought Us HERE.

October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 A. Knight

The discussion in our head began long before it commenced outside. For both of us.

With every – single – mission trip, we felt the powerful pull of “more”.

Many months ago though, the discussion ensued in real life. Out loud. And the prayers became more detailed–and more “submitting”.

Every missionary that came through our church doors pulled at my heart. I would sit and listen and then my eyes would reveal the condition of my heart. It yearned to walk with them. Talk one-on-one with them, in their location. On the very soil where their hearts were changed. And it happened again and again–and we admitted we were no longer satisfied with “just” doing the every-day-normal routines. We had to do more.

Jeff and I have prayed and we have a deep desire-to unflinchingly –without wavering go beyond our comfort zone. We hope that you will join with us in prayer–and if God nudges you to give, we want to make that opportunity available to you as well–completely tax-deductible. A button will appear soon on the side and you can safely send a few dollars to help us build–an orphanage (orphanages)…a church(churches)…supply water…meet medical needs…school needs…the list goes on and on. The thing is–we will be doing many things–getting there is just the beginning.

Our goal is to lead teams– your church group, or several from several churches. We want to help you experience something amazing “outside” your comfort zone. It will forever change your life…your perspective–and your love for God and the people who inhabit this world.

We have a team of advisers who will help us walk in this new path–several will be joining “on the journey”–and we are extremely grateful to God for placing our paths together!

So! Thank you in advance for your prayers and encouragement–as we have discovered already–We need it! If you so choose to donate before we get the button up and running, please contact us via email (click on the “Become a Part- or About Us” button).

Philippians 3:13-14 (GWT) Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

Missions

Goose Bumps and Shivers

September 25, 2014October 27, 2014 A. Knight

I remember the day I made this photo.

I never know what God is going to do–or show me in a picture after the click and release of the shutter.

This shot is actually a layered picture–made with picasa. The church was the first one we worked together, side-by-side, laying bricks, building a place for worship.

I had my picture, and then finding a map of South America on the picasa photo website, I layered. The second I added the words, “Called to Build”, it happened.

Shivers—goose bumps–no window open, no air blowing, but a knowing God in the form of The Holy Spirit, just entered and descended.

It was like, “So, you know…what are you going to do?”

I admit–there are days I know–am confident. Then there are days when the rug seems pulled out from under me–and I stumble. But I am confident of my purpose. Love Him. Serve Him. Love others. Serve others.

Am I perfect?…you have no idea how imperfect. But– a girl friend/prayer partner gave me words a couple of years ago–‘He chose you “Angie-Baby”. (There’s a story behind that–but not for now.)

Do you know what you are called to do? Your purpose?

It’s more than just building with us. It’s about changing lives–helping others know, really know, the Christ we love and serve.

This morning, in prayer/conversation with God I set my “wants and desires” aside. I asked for His.

His will.

His desires.

His purposes to be fulfilled in our lives.

I’m a dreamer. I love to imagine what certain things would be like. I like to plan how it might come about…

This dream…this plan… I’m not totally clueless on. But….

We are following Him. So I don’t have to “know” every detail….just trust.