New Semester Begins - New Students Recruited

This semester began on September 21 and many new students arrived on campus. The most encouraging were two couples we met last year at the National Missionary Convention. They were both interested in working among the Chinese. We told them about  the new Harvesters International program we were then developing at Central and about the full-tuition scholarship program. And, now, they are enrolled and preparing to go the mission field upon graduation. That is fulfilling to us as we continue now in our 6th year of recruiting among the students of Central Christian College and area churches. 

We are busy preparing for the year's activities with a Harvester's Retreat September 5 & 6, Missions Emphasis Week in October, and the National Missionary Convention in November. We are expecting record attendance in all three events this semester. We are also attempting a big mission trip next spring already. One trip, for the entire school, to Taiwan with a goal of at least 100 students and 10 faculty participating. It is a big endeavor, not just for us, but also for the missionaries on the field there. We hope that the is can be God blessed and great things come from a unifying trip for our school and future laborers for His harvest!

Ever Wish You Could Go Back In Time?

Let's say, oh about 8 weeks?? That'd be just fine because it was right here as depicted in this picture with our 3rd son Colan, that I made the decision to by a 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Soft Tail 100th Anniversary Edition gun metal blue 1450cc. motorcycle.  Did I mention it only had 2500 miles on it? Well, about 6 days and 300 miles later I was cruising home for lunch on May 20th to tell Dezi that I was going to sell it because too many people just weren't noticing   someone on a bike and it wasn't really safe to drive in Moberly. Hard to believe after riding over 14 years on a smaller version in Taiwan that it was safer there than here. And to prove it, a young man turned left right in front of me on my way home, causing me to lay it down to avoid hitting him about two blocks from home. Well, the bike had a lot of superficial scrapes and me too, however, I broke my knee and leg, and collar bone as well. The bike fared much better. 

So, 12 days in the University Med Center and now 7 weeks later, I wish I could go back in time. 

I'm recovering slowly. It will be around August 21 before I begin putting weight on my left leg again as the plate inserted heals and I'm restricted to a wheel chair. My collar bone was broken in four places and also has a steel plate holding it together. A lot of down time for me has been very hard. I'm not even half way and I struggle daily with all the stages of trauma... depression, anger, frustration... I also know that many, many people are praying for us and it is quite evident as God seems to daily meet all of our needs.

Dezi has had it very hard as well as she manages so much more than our five children, a household, and her normal ministry life. She always does the impossible and even more so now as she is primarily taking care of my folks and me as well. Just dealing with all the doctor appointments and the insurance  company alone is a huge burden. 

I want to learn what God wants me to learn. As a good friend said, perhaps there is more to this than my own journey, but others are to learn things too. I know my children are. Dezi is. Who knows what good God may turn this trial into. We trust day to day and wait for His deliverance and His promises. James 1:2-4.

The Behavior VS. The Heart

So many times we get down on people because of their behavior. We judge them and try to 'help' them correct it at best or condemn them and avoid them at worst. However, we are missing the real issue. There is something missing in their hearts. And perhaps in ours as well.

Love is not complete. Have you read I Corinthians 13 lately? Have you read it out of the context of a wedding? Have you read it as if the Bible said "they will know we are his disciples by our love?"

Love... reaches the heart. Changes their behavior. Changes our perspective. Love others as you would have them love you.

Free at last... Free at last....

April 1st was just what it is purported to be, for fools to be let loose and those like me to get shocked out of their minds, if only for a moment. 

Court time at 9am and I barely made it in as only 8 hours earlier we had just returned from a 12 day trip to Taiwan. Jet lagged and exhausted I sat down and waited for the judge to go through her docket starting with those with last names beginning with an "A". Somewhere between J & V I fell asleep and woke up in time to hear my name being called an hour and a half later. 

The Prosecutor began with his recommendation for 30 days in jail, 4o hours community service, 1 year suspended probation and about 4 other penalties I didn't hear as my jaw had hit the floor. The judge noticed my perplexity and asked if this was what I was expecting and I replied that I thought it would be dismissed. The Prosecutor flipped through his files again and said, "No, I do not see anything that would warrant a dismissal." at which point I was getting nervous and frustrated. I explained the story again about the investigating officer reviewing the evidence and saying I was innocent. The Prosecutor looked again and found the officer's appended report and told the judge he would dismiss the case at which point she did. I walked out a free man. It seemed like one elaborate April Fool's Joke. 

Thanks for all of you who were praying and sending notes of encouragement. It's nice to know that so many trust my character and integrity. It is also a great joy to have a home church that was so supportive. Forum Boulevard Christian Church and it's Mission Committee were behind me and getting me help from Elton Fay, an attorney I have known in the church there since childhood. His appendicitis didn't prevent him from giving me good advice and counsel. 

Maybe now I can concentrate on more important things and update you on our amazing trip to Taiwan last week with 12 students from Central! (Just let me get over jet lag another day or two!) 

It Goes To Trial

Sitting in the court room for two hours hearing case after case made me appreciate the fact that I'm innocent because some of the penalties are pretty severe. It also made me appreciate the grace we receive from God as even though we all deserve death as our penalty, Christ has dismissed our case. Not so the Prosecutor on my case... at least not yet. After finally being called forward, the judge realized I was going to explain my case instead of saying 'guilty' or 'not guilty', so she read me my Miranda Rights warning me what I say can be used against me. I explained the case, and the judge asked the Prosecutor if she would be willing to dismiss the case. Since the Prosecutor wasn't the actual Prosecutor but his underling, she was unable to dismiss and explained she did not even have my file with her. So, the judge had no choice but to set a trial date of April 1. This is the day after I return from Taiwan with a group of students. There is a possibility the Prosecutor could show the evidence to the judge in between time and the judge may dismiss the case still, however, as of now, I must go to trial. I still am choosing not to obtain a lawyer until after this trial date. So please, keep praying!

Still In Process But Looking Good

The court date is actually the 26th. However, we have made some progress finally. I went to the circuit court's office in Huntsville and asked for a copy of my case and charges and they provided it for a mere $1. Reading through it I noticed the investigating officer had actually been to our home before for our cell group bible study last year and was the neighbor of one of our professors. So, I then went to the Moberly Police station and talked to her and she ended up showing me the video footage. While you can't see what card I'm using or the items I'm buying while at the self check out lane, as I walk out the door, you can see through the bag at what I purchased... namely a bag of Doritoes. This matches what is on my receipt and does not match the EBT card's receipt so she said that it proved my innocence. She called the Prosecuting Attorney's office and reported this and I'm waiting for a call from that office that should have already happened. If it doesn't, the officer said to make my court appearance and hopefully, the case can be dismissed from there. So, while it isn't over, it is looking much more positive at this point and I'm guarding my original receipt w/ my life! 

We are amazed at how many are praying for us and specifically for those students who have been asking that it be taken care of completely so that I will not have to go to court even. We even had one student getting a crowd ready to accompany me to court!! haha! So, thank you and we will keep you updated as it transpires. 

To Jail or Not To Jail

Okay, this is a little different... two weeks ago, a student came up to me saying that he was praying and felt like I would be attacked in a strange way in the near future and it was something I had to face by myself. Another friend a week later thought that I was going to be under attack as well because of all the activities taking place around the creation of Harvesters International, a new alumni service for our student missionaries. And well, I think we have discovered what it is: 

I have to go to court on February 20 and I'm facing a minimum of 30 days and maximum of 1 year in jail for a class A misdemeanor offense. They say I stole an EBT card.. (food stamp card) and used it to buy groceries at Save More on 10/21/07 and they have video footage of me doing it. Some woman going to jail gave her purse to her boyfriend who was supposed to give it to her girlfriend. By the time her girlfriend got the purse, the EBT card and money was not in it. Then they checked w/ Social Services and it shows the EBT card being used at Save More. So they looked at the video and I'm in it buying stuff around the same time. They identified me and now are accusing me of theft of a Government device so they told me it requires that I get a lawyer. Of course, I didn't do it and I have the receipt of my purchase at Save More that day showing my own debit card being used so I should be okay... but I think it is just one of those attacks that come that are making me distracted. It's frustrating that so much time is taken up and money to have to prove my innocence when the investigator should be able to figure out that the receipt of items purchased w/ the debit card doesn't even match the video footage. The prosecutor will not even talk to me or look at my evidence. I HAVE to get a lawyer and show up in court. The lawyer initial fee is $750. It is like your are innocent until accused and no longer until proven guilty. Would you please pray for peace and a quick resolution to this attack? With the beginning of Harvesters International and the outreach week trips coming up, this is very frustrating. Thank you!

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...

Accident

After dropping off the boys to school, I had forgot my cell phone and was returning home to pick it up before going to the office to give out finals. While coming up to an intersection, I noticed a young lady pulling up and stopping at a stop sign adjacent to me and then proceeding on. Since I did not have stop sign, I ascertained an immediate collision was about to take place, swerved, going up onto the curb, blowing out my tire, busting the wheel, hubcap, and bumper, losing control hitting a supporting cable to a telephone pole and up into a yard. However, the collision with her car was avoided. Thankfully, she stopped, called 911 and an officer came to discover she did not have her license nor proof of insurance with her. However, she was extremely honest and and admitted fault and was ticketed. Since then, we have discovered that her economic resources are bleak even though she does have insurance, yet she would like to pay for the damages directly. We are trying to work something out between her and our insurance company, a company that doesn't understand why we wouldn't allow them to pursue reimbursement. Will you help us by praying for this lady? She has just moved to town and asked about a church to go to. It is obvious she is not living a Christian lifestyle yet this appears that it might be a "divine appointment". We'll keep you posted... and hopefully, we'll get the car back in working condition soon!

BAM!

A couple of the exciting things about going to the NMC are the many exhibits of over 500 missionaries and mission organizations and the wide variety of workshops that are available throughout the day for everyone of all ages. Thursday morning I attended one specifically designed for Mission Professors and they discussed the latest trends in the world of mission. Specifically, BAM, or Business As Mission. The main thrust was that the only way we are going to reach the masses in today's world is through the world's marketplace. We need Christians in business, being Christian Missionaries. One of the quotes mentioned was "you can't make a missionary a businessman without a lot of effort, but you can make a businessman a missionary". So... what are some of you doing out there that someone else can't do? Willing to take your skills and expertise to a people who have no opportunity to hear the Gospel??

Workshops, Reunion & Evangelization Association

Wow... what a month! Besides being the sponsor for almost 200 students at the NMC, I also had 3 workshops to present. One was on "Where In The World Does God Want Me?", another was a different kind of workshop for me on "Pornography On The Mission Field" and it dealt with how no one, not even missionaries are exempt from sexual temptation and what one can do to protect oneself from this enslaving epidemic among our workers on and off the field. And the last workshop was a simulation game oriented event to show the basics of going cross-cultural as well as to describe the need of why we desperately have to have more Christians willing to 'go'.

Shown here is an activity that Steve Saint described in his book, "The Great Omission". A 300' red tape is stretched out and it is described as every inch represents 833,000 of those in the world who have not had an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ in today's world. Almost a million per inch! Then, another green tape is unwound to only 5 feet. It represents all those who are being reached by missionaries today. Again, every inch is 833,000 people who are being reached by current missionaries assuming every one of our 100,000 evangelical missionaries are able to reach around 500 people each. Well, you can vividly see the discrepancy... the short green tape and the unending red tape. Are you praying for more laborers into the Harvest field?

I used this illustration three other times this month. First during chapel at CCCB. Then, at my home church, Forum Boulevard Christian Church in Columbia, MO, that had a missionary reunion where they invited as many missionaries they support that could come for a 3-day weekend reunion. We each were given about 10 minutes to share how our ministries were doing and I chose to show why we do what we do by using this example. There was also a Central Missouri Christian Evangelizer's meeting at the Blue Ridge Christian Church, also in Columbia and again, with an emphasis on why we should be planting new churches here as well as abroad, it made a potent example of the need for us all to get out of the church building, and back into the world... making disciples.

While at the CMCE business meeting, we were greatly encouraged to see Mark Butrum, a CCCB alumni, leading out in a new church plant in Hallsville, MO and Russ Cobb, also an alumni and long time friend and supporter of our work taking a leadership role in this endeavor. Like an apple tree's ultimate purpose being to make other apple trees, churches need to be planting other churches... here and all over the world.