A foreign land in the suburbs of Atlanta.

  And Jesus said to them,  “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

-Luke 10:2

Over the past few months in the new part-time position as a regional missions mobilizer with Pioneers a lot of people have asked me "so what is missions mobilization? is it recruiting?". Recruiting is a part of it but it's so much more! I want to clarify for those of you who still don't have a grasp of it. A mobilizer is one who multiples, mentors, and coordinates for missions. I spend my time coming along side individuals and local churches helping them navigate through their role in fulfilling the great commission. We look at how they can leverage their resources, skills, experiences, and education to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. I also travel to universities, conferences, and churches to teach on global missions and the opportunities that abound right now. I am constantly praying and seeking out those whom God is calling to go and to be the words, hands, and feet of Jesus to those whom have never heard and experienced His amazing gospel. During the past few months I have the opportunity to speak at two Perspectives classes at churches in the Atlanta area, worked a conference on muslim ministry in Dearborn Michigan, traveled to Birmingham Alabama, visited different cities in Indiana, and spent time praying at University of Georgia. The traveling can become draining but when I get to hear how the Lord is working in the lives of His people and play a part in their along the way it refuels every part of my being.At the class pictured below, I met a man in his late 20's who is an accountant and is married to woman who is a medical professional. He spoke with me about their desire to go overseas but they didn't want to stop their professions and were wondering how or if it is even possible for them both to maintain their professions and move cross-culturally for missions. With much enthusiasm I said, "MOST DEFINITELY! IT IS POSSIBLE!". I was able to share with him about the many opportunities for Global Professionals right now across the world and the many missionary teams I know that operate in this capacity. I connected him with our organization so that they could help him explore this further and start taking action steps. These are the conversations that refuel me and spur me on!

     (Perspectives Class, Ferry Baptist Church ) 

Ministry Team Building

As I continue support raising for Dubai I have experienced the faithfulness of our God to provide in a vast array of ways. It has kept me humble, at times I want to do it in my own strength but He is quick to remind me it will be by His grace and strength alone. I am currently at

42% of the $4,200 in monthly

support and

30% of the $18,000 launch fund

for moving expenses. 

PROGRESS!! 

Slowly but surely...

—

 Pictured above is one of the hardest jobs but one I may enjoy most because of the dear friend I get to work with, Chris Matthews. 

  Summer nights

My good friend Kamal, father of 7, is from Syria. He is the first resettled citizen (former refugee) I met when I moved to Clarkston 2 years ago. During the evenings we often enjoy teaching one another language, talking about life, and discussing things of God over tea and hookah. Many have shared Jesus with him but he has not shown any personal desire to know more. However, as of late, Kamal and I have been growing closer together in our friendship and it seems I am earning his trust. He shares about the financial struggle it is for him to take care of his family here in the United States and with Atlanta being a bit more expensive to live in he has started looking into moving to a different city. My hope is that I will be able to connect him with believers that will welcome his family in the city they decide to move to.  PRAY for him and his family that their hearts would be opened to Jesus. PRAY for connections with believers in other cities. PRAY for jobs that will provide financially and spiritually for his family. The training organization that I have partnered with in Clarkston, Global Frontier Missions, has summer interns. I often get to spend some free time with them and a lot of times it involves sports. We recently were playing sand volleyball at a small neighborhood park a stone's throw away from Clarkston called Pine Lake. This has to be one of the more diverse places outside of clarkston because it has a beach on the lake for swimming—it's FREE! When we are here it's not unusual to make new friends with people who want to jump in on our game of volleyball. Recently I was able to meet two men who want to play with us again; Moss, a muslim from Somalia, and Fredy, from Mexico. Please PRAY for us to love these men well and that we would share the truth of Jesus boldly in love.

   Upcoming 

• July 23-27...My home church in Indiana, Westwood, will be bringing middle school and high school students down to Clarkston for a short-term trip that I will be leading. During the trip we will seek to help them learn more about different cultures, religions, refugees, and God's heart for the nations while having fun in the Georgia sun! Please pray for this time that God would bring transformation by the power of His holy spirit.

• July 29- August 2... I will be at the Pioneers headquarters in Orlando to help college students debrief as they return from their overseas summer short term trips and spending time with the mobilization team.

• August 14-31... Take off to Dubai. I will be in Dubai 2 weeks for a student leader retreat with the ministry will be joining. This also provides the opportunity for my first time spending face time with the whole ministry staff and some of the students! I will also be spending time prayer walking around the city, scouting out potential living arrangements, and seeing other friends I know in the city. 

Pray 

• Pray for the conversations I have with other believers as they seek out whether they are called to go overseas.

• Pray for the students from Westwood Church to see the greatness of God's kingdom.

• Pray for Dubai— Lord continue to awaken the people there to Your wondrous glory and grace.

• Pray earnestly for laborers to go into the harvest! To our neighbors, communities, and the world. Try this at 10:02 everyday. (Luke 10:2)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."- Matthew 22:37-40