We Can't Do This Without You!

We have been put in a very unique position as we see how God has led us in the past 5 years. The urgency we feel about getting more laborers to the unreached people groups is greater than ever. We have been praying about our continued role as recruiters and trainers. One of our dear friends asked us one of the most direct and spiritual questions we can remember. "Has God released you from this responsiblity yet?".

Has God released us... released us... that was a difficult concept to face. We have been talking about going back to the field of Taiwan or China every since we returned in 2002. The students we teach all believe we aren't happy here. That our hearts are still among the Chinese. And they are right. However, we believe that perhaps happiness isn't the crux to which we must adhere what we do or how we determine the will of the Father.

Is the need still there? Yes, even more so. There is a harvest of unprecedented proportions going on in East Asia.

Are people answering the call? Yes, more than ever in the history of missions and the church. Especially among college students.

Has God opened any other door for us? Yes, and No. Doors to recruit more and doors to provide better training... yes. Doors to return to the field? That is yet to be determined. Cracks. Glimpses. Possibilities. Nothing that's is more than opaque. So for now, we are confident that we haven't been released. In fact, we are finding more joy in what we are doing as we see new fields opening up and new recruits to fill those needs. For example, we now have 12 students working in various locations throughout China, all in language school. We have seen some of our most severe trials producing great fruit. For example, with the passing of Mark Trotter on his way with his family to Cambodia over a year ago to his wife Lyla working with the Friends of Jesus providing the needs for over 150 Cambodian children today and getting even more people involved. We are witnessing more and more students becoming mission majors and committing their lives to the foreign mission fields. Each one taking a piece of our hearts. Each one leaving with a promise we will be there for them, needs, prayers, encouragement, training, so much... so much.

We therefore are content. We believe this is where God wants us. And we need you. We can't do this without you. We believe our support has come from God. We know there are many ways of saying this.

Hudson Taylor used to simply pray for all his needs. He is credited with recruiting over 800+ missionaries to China in his life time. George Mueller used to pray and tell others of his needs but never solicited for support. His orphanage work helped more than 2,000 young people in 5 different homes. Dwight Moody, one of the most famous Christian evangelists, however not only prayed and informed people of his ministry's needs, he also solicited heavily to anyone who would give him opportunity. He is noted for making a unique observation, "It does not take long to tell where a man's treasure is. In fifteen minutes' conversation with most men, you can tell whether their treasures are on the earth or in Heaven." What method does one use? God used all three men, with all three strategies.

We need you to pray for more laborers. We want you to understand what exactly we are doing in commiting our lives to reaching the lost of China. And we want to trust in the Lord that for as long as we are content in believing in this call and in this ministry that he will support it. And we want to be accountable to you in all things.

Thank you for supporting our work... our family and ministry depends on you... as we partner with Central Christian College to fulfill the great commission we are partnering together with you as well.

Removing the Plank to Forgive the Speck

Why is it when we feel like we are drawing closer to God, and relying on his strength to a greater degree than before, and desire to serve him more and more... it is then we get attacked the most? Is the feeling false to begin with? Are we in reality drifting further from Him and we are only deceiving ourselves? I have experienced direct spirtual bombardment before... where Satan is blatantly the instigator and culprit. Those, for some reason, seem infinitely more endurable. Not sure why. But the direct, frontal attacks are more easily recognized and thereby more readily thwarted.

It's the more subtle schemes that hurt the most. The attacks that come from close friends... the betrayals... the lack of loyalty... the perpetuating gossip... the void of understanding... the untruths, the spins and false accusations... are almost unbearable. The attacks that come from our own families... lack of gratitude... the selfishness... being taken for granted... lack of empathy... are draining and yet we are forced to endure. The attacks that come from the body of Christ, the church... becoming just another member without an identity... forgotten in the crowd... little concern through the week but slaps on the back and hugs on Sunday... unabashed condemnation of our weaknesses and our sin with grace only provided as long as we change first... are becoming tiresome and though we are supposed to be a part of this great body of Christ with folks from every tribe and tongue and nation as a part of it, we feel estranged and lonely.

Unconfessed jealousy, selfishness, bitterness, narcissism, and hypocritcalness... these are invading the lives of Christians in an alarming rate. Missionaries being as suspect as anyone else. These are causing us to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus' question of whether or not he will find any faith on the earth when he returns. These are causing our neighbors to not know or understand the Christian because these things are the opposite of love.

Are we able to draw closer to him with still so much in our lives? Yes, we see it in others.... and if you don't, I can tell you about some... but can we see it within our own hearts as well? Is it possible for us to notice the very real weaknesses of others, and say to ourselves "I wonder if that is what they see in me too?" and then realize you just thwarted a very subtle and common trick of the Master Deceiver? To get us so focused on our perceptions of the weaknesses of others that we neglect looking at ourselves. The speck and the plank.

All trials, all attacks, all deceptions that come our way... can be used by God to get us to be more dependent upon him. Our friends, our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ... will fail us. We want to blame God usually. But it's not him. So, I suppose... this answers my own issue. I'm frustrated with friends... with family... with the church... when I should be looking a little... a lot... ok, continually at God. Then the attacks, subtle or not, won't do as much damage... they'll still come. And they'll still be painful. But hey, those who bring them or those that are used to deliver them, haven't learned this lesson yet. God will teach them... will train them... and they will face the same... but for me... well... I'm confident I AM drawing closer to God. Cause if not... I'd find out just how lonely one can get and I don't even want to think about that... it's hard enough to lose a friend... so bring it on... it will only make me stronger.

Oh, it's so easy to think we have forgiven someone else for hurting us. And go about our business. Afterall, that's the high road. That's the Christian thing to do. But forgiveness isn't easy. In fact, it's almost impossible. Impossible until we have purged whatever the hurt done to us from our own lives. Removing the plank to forgive the speck.

Happy... er... um... Adoption Day??!!

Wow... time has gone by fast... it was one year ago today when we received Raena Marie into our home! Can you believe it!!?? She has grown so much and it's like we have always had a little girl in the home. The boys have totally accepted her and she has adapted almost completely into our family. She hasn't spoken fluently in Mandarin since Christmas and is now wanting to 'learn' Chinese again. I wish we adults could learn languages like that... she's not yet 5 and has fluently spoken three languages already in her life and forgotten two of them! As we currently are helping CCCB's Professor Ben & Melissa Williams adopt two girls from the same Home, we are reminded of the lengthy process involved, but we know it has been worth it all.

In Search of Answers

Often we don't always understand the processes the Lord takes us through but we continue to trust in him and become more dependent upon him daily. Ryan & Heidi Aikins have returned to the US to seek out medical answers for their infant daughter Brooklyn in hope they can find the right and best kind of treatment that will enable them to keep serving God with a desire to return to the field. Please keep them in your prayers and we will try and update you as their doctor appointments enlighten us all on her condition.

Would You Pray For Brooklyn?

We'd ask all of you to please pray for Brooklyn as she is merely 6 months old and suffering from pollution induced asthma while her parents, Ryan & Heidi serve on the field in East Asia. They need to discover a treatment that will enable her to breath easier and through the night as she hasn't been able to for over 2 months. This trial is a difficult one and we have experienced it ourselves with our boys in Taiwan as well as Raena having regular breathing treatments here in the States. Pray for peace, healing, answers and the Lord's presence in their daily lives.

A New Week Begins

The beginning of summer has arrived and we are furiously working at the creation of a new project that has been a long time coming. We are constructing the framework of "Harvesters International" to implement here at Central Christian College to help our alumni be prepared for the mission fields in an all encompassing way. Including training, resources, fund raising and increasing member care while on the field for all alumni to a whole new level, Harvesters International will be an innovative way to utilize the strength of our Bible College to enhance virtually every aspect of our almuni missionaries, from recruitment to life on the field. It's exciting!!!

One Week Later

One week ago we buried my mother-in-law. It was a beautiful ceremony out in the countryside in southeast Ohio just a stone's throw away from their home. She was only 64 years old. Three doves were first released at the grave site, one for the Father, the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. The fourth one represented the spirit of Dezi's mother as it most assuredly was just settling in to rest in the hands of God. Instead of flying up and out toward the wooded area like the first three, this one first flew up and hovered over their property for a complete circle as if saying one final good bye or taking one last glimpse at the dream retirement home they had been building together. But knowing there is a better home waiting elsewhere, the dove then glided away to be with the others. It was a memorable moment. And a moment of release and joy for all who saw the analogy. The entire family was present. Some who haven't seen each other for years. Some who haven't talked to each other for years. Funny how a death in the family brings the family together sometimes. I guess it is the one thing we all will share in some day ourselves. However, I wonder how many of our families would be better if we really understood what it means to die to ourselves while we live. Why do we wait for a funeral to bring us together?

Sharon Rose Bennett Goes On To Be With The Lord

It's with great sadness that we ask for your prayers, especially for Dezi and her father and siblings as her mother passed away this morning at 9:20am CST. She had been suffering for quite some time with dementia and Parkinsons disease. We had earlier assumed it was Alzheimers. She had been in the care of hospice for the past week and Dezi left on Tuesday with Raena to be with her during her final days and was with her when she passed away. Sharon no longer was recognizing anyone and was in pain w/ labored breathing.

The funeral will be on Friday with an earlier visitation on Thursday evening near Belpre, Ohio. I will post more details as they become known. I'm with the boys in Moberly and will travel out on Wednesday to be with Dezi and the rest of her family.

Light At The End Of The Thermometer

For the last month, we have had a household of sickness. Raena began the onslaught with influenza and it has gone to Dezi and the boys and me and now it is starting over with Raena again. She has a high fever and 4 out of 7 of us are still coughing the night away. I have even missed classes these past two days and I'm running out of mission films to show in my absence! With all the traveling we have done recently and the Missouri weather that changes every few minutes, it has been hard to find time to rest, heal or recover. It is sad we have to get to the point in our lives where sickness intervenes as something good in that it says "ENOUGH!", and only when we are sick do we not feel guilty about not doing enough or doing more. There are times when God wants us to merely rest. To recoup. To find our strength in him. But to do that, we have to just stop. I am hoping that after we recover from this long lasting flu, we will make the time to just rest and to just 'be'. Not feeling like we have to fill every minute with tasks or deeds. That we can spend time with the Lord and feel better because of it.

Nothing Like It Since The Day of Pentecost!

Do you ever feel like you are a part of something so much grander, so much bigger than you could possibly realize? Do you ever take a moment to contemplate the seemingly small things you do today, could have and do have a much bigger impact than what can be seen from only your own perspective?

All these years advocating for more laborers for East Asia and only through the passing comment of another mission professor, Chris DeWelt from OCC, did I begin to grasp the enormity of the plan that is unfolding before our very eyes.

Did you realize in the past 30 years, less than 3 decades, over 100,000,000 Chinese have become believers? That's almost 9,132 a day. A DAY! This is the greatest evangelistic effort since the Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles some 50 days after Jesus returned to the Father almost 2,000 years ago.

I already knew that so much more was being done in and among the Chinese than what we were aware. In fact, I still consider myself extremely naive when it comes to what all is being done among them. But it is of great comfort to know that we are working alongside other laborers in this vast harvest and together, it is having a great effect. We are all in this together. Those who support. Those who pray. Those who recruit. Those who send. Those who serve. Those whose hearts are open to the Lord's desire as He continues to seek and save the lost. Truly we are all a part of something more glorious than our limited perspective and experience reveals. However, the work is not finished.... over a billion Chinese still need to hear... and what of India? Japan? Indonesia? Korea? etc.... etc...