Great Commission Partnership versus Ministry Partnership

 

Great Commission Partnership And Ministry Partnership

One and the Same, Just Different Terminology

 

 

 

    Ministry Partnership is a key component to the ministry of International Commission.  International Commission (IC) is a faith-based ministry that's mission is "Equipping and enabling believers world-wide to conduct church-based partnership evangelism projects to reach unbelievers and make disciples."  The way that this is done is that people, just like me have heard God's Call in our lives and have chosen to follow the Lord in working with IC to conduct church-based partnership evangelism projects. 

    The method by which we follow His Call is through faith-based ministry.  Simply put we live totally by faith, prayer and financial support.  We seek out, after much prayer; a partnership team that comes alongside of us to pray for us and also sacrificially supports us through monetary giving.  The method by which we achieve our team was called Ministry Partnership Development or MPD.  The process is made up of a few steps: 

 

1.  We pray and seek God's Guidance in who to contact about becoming a Ministry Partner.

2.  We then contact them and explain IC and what being on our Partnership Team means.

3.  We ask them to pray about joining us as prayer and financial partners.

4.  Then we pray more that God would speak to them.

 

This is fantastic because it brings people to come alongside of us and hold us up when we are tired and walk with us so that we don't feel alone in the Call of our Lord.  It also allows us to follow the Call of the Lord in our lives.

    Now what is Great Commission Partnership, it is basically the same thing but a terminology change.  The major difference or refocusing is that we are reemphasizing the importance "mutual partnership for the task of the Great Commission."  This way it "becomes the task of developing relationships, developing disciples, and developing a two sided ministry—one that reaches out to the world with one hand and with the other reaches back to our 'fellow workers'."  In Matthew 28:16-20, it says:

 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  

This is the Great Commission, the direction to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  International Commission's new President has said it this way:  "We want to find people who are already being persuaded to join the Commission of the Lord and for whom we can be the means to facilitate their calling. The emphasis is upon the synergy of partnership, each serving the other--each serving God in his/her giftedness." How do we serve each other:

 

1.  We develop our relationship together.

2.  We serve each other in developing our disciples and each other's discipleship.

3.  We continue to make this ministry, our ministry.  No longer will this be the ministry that God's Called Jeannine and I to do, but the ministry that God has called us to do.  You and us, together.

 

    Jeannine and I have been really blessed over our ten plus years in working with IC, that our team; our Great Commission Partners who have joined us in  serving each other and serving God.  Many will read this blog and ask why did I write this, it is because over the last couple of months I have asked for prayers as we work on Ministry Partnership.  We have started to make the transition to Great Commission Partners and we don't want to cause any confusion as we continue to seek your prayers.     

    This week we have had to concentrate on Great Commission Partnerships and seeking to ask God to grow our Great Commission Partnership Team.   Over the last year, many of partners have had to reduce their Great Commission Partnership giving due to economic situations and this has created financial uncertainty for us.  The Great News is that God has been gracious and blessed us over and over again through this time and we Praise Him all the time.  The reason that we believe God has been gracious is that although our financial support has drastically decreased, prayers of many has been lifting us and God has been hearing. 

    Again THANK YOU for taking the time to read this and THANK YOU for being part of our Great Commission Team, each of you are such a blessing.  If you feel God calling you to become more involved in our, yours and ours; Great Commission Team, please contact us.  We would love to hear from you and feel so blessed to have you become more involved.



Independence Day 2014

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2014

 

    Independence Day in America is a very special day.  It is the day that we celebrate our freedom from England and the a cry out to the world that, we will worship our God without restriction and without any persecution.  It is a wonderful day and a day that I am very proud to be an "American." 

    Lately we have been reading, hearing and praying for many countries and people that do not have the freedom to worship the One and True, Living God.  When people in a lot of countries become Believers, their lives are basically over.  They lose their families, friends, income, and could possibly lose their lives.  What cost they pay to become Believers!!! 

    This is the world that the Lord has called us to work in.  I have seen many and know of even more who have answered the Call of the Lord in their lives and have walked away from 1500 years of persecution, tradition and lack of relationship to follow God, not Allah; but God the Father and Creator, who wants a relationship with them and us.  A God who sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for each of us as our sacrifice so we would have a relationship with Him for all eternity. 

    So on this day, pray for those that have made the decisions to follow the Lord.  Pray for them as they are being persecuted and are suffering great costs.   Pray that they will remain strong in the faith.  Pray for those that are called to serve in the world and share Jesus with them in this area. 

    On this Independence Day, give thanks for our freedoms here in the United States and please remember the POWER OF PRAYER and PRAY!!!!!!

God's Mission, My Mission!!

 



God's Mission, My Mission

 

    In July of 2001, we started down a very long and fun road that has brought us to this place today.  That one month in 2001 changed our lives forever.  We headed into our final interviews, physicals and paperwork to leave for the Middle East and begin this journey that has led us here today.  Then at the end of August, I left a career at Target as a Store Team Leader and Trainer, then 9/11 happened, we worked from the U.S. until we could move over to region.  And since then we have seen God bless us in great and wonderful ways.

   

   

    Recently I heard from someone that they don't understand how I "can work with these people."  The comment shocked me and broke my heart because for me all I can see is how God is working in the lives of these people,  how many are becoming seekers of the One and True Living God, and holding onto the promise that God is beginning a Great Revival and Awakening in this region.  A Lebanese Pastor friend once told me that he works in this region because he hopes that he will have the privilege of telling the last person about Jesus Christ before Jesus returns.  This Pastor Friend got it and I pray that I get it too.  Although there is a great lostness in this region, there is also a openness to listen and to share. 

 

      

    Over the years, we have lived in Jordan, Lebanon and then back to the U.S.  Over the last almost 10 years I have traveled many miles back to this region where I have had the blessing of leading many teams and working with many wonderful people and believers.  Plus I have seen God working in a great ways throughout this region.

 

 

    What is next?  We will continue to follow the Lord has this door open for me to walk through.  I will continue to share the truth, so that this young boy pictured above will someday have the opportunity to grow up and be able to worship and praise the One True and Living God. 

 

 

 

 

    How do I do this?  First, through the Power of the Lord.  Second, through the Love and Support of my wife, Jeannine; who has sacrificed so much for me to continue to answer His Call.  And finally through each of you that pray for us and support us.  Please hold us up in your prayers.  Although the work in the region will be continuing and I will be working diligently on this, we are also going to be focusing a lot of effort on raising our Ministry Partnership levels.  God has been very faithful in supplying all of our needs during this wonderful journey, we have recently had many partners who have had to reduce their support or stop due to work situations.  So our support is at a very dangerous level right now. 

     Thank you again for praying for us and reading this blog.  It means a lot.  If you would like to comment on this blog, please do and I will share them with everyone.  Each of you are such a blessing to us.

 











Final Report Arabian Peninsula

FINAL REPORT ARABIAN PENINSULA

 

 

    I have waited a week to do this last report from the Arabian Peninsula for several reasons.  I wanted to be able to really look at the work that the Lord had done with the team, before and after the trip.  I wanted to hear from the team about what they thought of this adventure and to see also how God has worked in their lives, since returning.  Based on these two reasons, I can say that no matter what happened;  God gets all the Glory for the things that happened because we obeyed to go. 

    There were many interesting things that transpired on this trip.  A few, I have never experienced as a leader of a team and challenges that were new and could have easily have taken our focus of what the Lord was doing.  However, this was a great team and they refused to let the enemy get, a little toe into the work that was happening.  They were truly a blessing to me.

    We were able to share with many about the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We were able to uplift, worship and participate in several local church services, which were such a blessing to the team and the churches.  I would like to share the story of one young man, who because of the team is now actively seeking.  The team actually met him early into our trip and he was a instrumental in several of the conversations that were to take place.  The team spend many hours with him, sharing and building a relationship with him and several of his friends.  After our departure, he began to question even more about the future and this was because of the team.  This is just one of the teams contacts. 

     Sharing, telling, interacting and building relationships was just a few of the things the team did while they were there.  They experienced camels, camels, and more camels on a daily basis.  We prayed together at least twice a day and shared in the Words of the Bible.  The team praised the Lord from the cliffs over looking the Arabian Peninsula to the mountains surrounding the place we were staying.  The teamed prayed for one of team members, who became ill on this trip.  And the team prayed with the churches for open doors into their community.  The great thing about this trip is that there were souls that made the eternal decision to walk with God. 

    In my final thought, I am ALWAYS amazed that God can bring together people, who have never met except on a few phone calls; and do amazing and eternal work.  In this region of the world, there is a need to share the Gospel and to reach the area for Jesus Christ.  God wants to do an eternal work here, he just needs people who are willing to break ground, toll the ground and plant the seeds.  This team did just that.  They did it without complaining (or at least not much-the heat and humidity was really bad), they went when a door was open (even a crack), they shared in any way they could and they were faithful to the Call of the Lord.  To them, thank you for going.  To you, thank you for praying, supporting and praying more.  May our Lord bless each of you daily.

THE LAST DAY HAS BEGUN

THE LAST DAY HAS BEGUN

SOON WE WILL BE FLYING HOME

    Well it has begun.  In about 8 hours we will head to the airport to start our 30 hour plus journey home.   Yesterday was a lazy day and an exciting day.  Lazy because little did we have scheduled but resting, shopping, our final dinner together (which our hosts and their families joined us), and then a spiritual warfare meeting that happened later (but that will have to wait till home to tell about). 

     In this episode of our adventure, I would like to tell you about us and their contributions to the team and the region. 

Bernie:  Amazing man and friend.  He came as he usually does on these trips with me.  His job is to be a Police Officer in the US, so he is our protection and my eyes when I tend to not see the safety.  He is my right hand on these trips in so many ways.  He loves the region and the people and in every action he demonstrate this love. 

Steve:  He is a Pastor in the US and here he was able to share the Word of the Lord in church.  He became a friend to many.  He would pray when anyone needed prayer.  He was our excitement.  In everything he would find the excitement. 

Skip:  He like Steve is a Pastor in the US.  He spoke God's word with abandon here.  He brought the truth and yet he maintained our team's balance.  He would make laugh, he would make us smile and for me he was my rock which I could hold onto. 

Dona Beth:  This will probably be her last adventure and she is a trooper.  Despite all of the health issues.  When she has been unable to go with us, she was praying for us.  She is an example of strength.

Becca:  For someone young, she is an amazing person.  When she prays, you feel the Spirit.  Becca has a true heart for serving the Lord and although because this is a man dominated area was unable to share as much as she wanted, at every opportunity she shared.  God has big plans for her.  Becca was also our humor more than just a few times.  Her comments of "my filter is down" had us all laughing.  There is a story that I promised her that I would never share, but would let her share, but for me it will ALWAYS be the highlight of this trip. 

Gavin:  Amazing is the understatement here.  God gave him a talent of music and he recognizes it.  When he sings, it truly draws you into the presences of the Lord.  The people here were blown away from the talent of God gave him.  He blessed the team and the people here and his affect because he came and answered the call will have a long history here.  And for me personally, I have know Gavin for most of his life and this adventure I got to know him as the man has become.  Totally in AWE at what God has created in him. 

    God does nothing by accident and this group of WONDERFUL people being here was no example.  I have only told a brief little bit about each of them.  I wish I could tell you more but you would be here all day.  I am blessed and honored to be here with them. 

    This will be my last blog until we return home to the US.  Thank you for your prayers, love and support.  In a spiritual battle, like what is happening here and now; we need people praying, loving and supporting those in the middle. Each of us could feel your prayers and love.  Thank you to the family and friends for allowing them to come to this region and share the light of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

     

Friday Ended and Today the Last Full Day

Yesterday Friday

Today is the LAST FULL DAY

    The last day and a half here have been stressful for the team and I am sure for you at home.  So let me first start by saying THANK YOU for your prayers.  I will give you an update, one of our team members (Dona Beth); had a problem with her blood sugar levels and I spent pretty much all day yesterday with her at the hospital here.  I have not checked on her today because she is asleep, but last night she was much better and almost back to her typical self.  The worry and love that this team has for each other was evident in how they handled this situation (AMAZING), but it did had enormous amounts of stress on the team.  So THANK YOU again for praying.

    Yesterday was a day filled with almost constant travel for the team as they went from one church service to another.  Here Friday is the equal of Sunday in the States, so they were very busy.  The day started at the English Congregation where it was their Pastor's last Sunday, so we celebrated with them his last Sunday.  He has been here for 3 years.  Gavin was able to join in the worship, by singing two songs for the church and the Pastor.  Quick story here is that the Pastor's wife has been asking for months for their worship team to sing "Beautiful," and it has not happened but Gavin, who I believe does not pick out his songs until he walks up there; sang the song.  It was so beautiful, when looking around their were few dry eyes in the house.

    Then from there, it was the Pakistan Fellowship, with about 25-30 men; then from there it was the Pakistan Church of approximately 125 people, where Skip sang.  After this service, like the night before when Steve spoke, they "honored" the team with a feast fit for a king.   The team came back in, just fired up from the day of celebrating with the few believers in this country.

     Today is truly our last full day.  It will be a day of trying to wrap up the last few things that the Lord has brought us here to do.  Please continue to pray for us like you have been.  Being on these adventures is never easy and rarely without a few bumps, curves or stress and this has been no exception.  I have been blessed to have a team that has bonded together for the purpose of sharing.  It has been fantastic. 

      Tonight's blog will be the last until we arrive back in the United States.  So I would like to tell you about this team that was ordained to be here at this time in history for this moment, and how they have been a blessing to the people, each other and the Lord.

      Our devotional passage this morning will be:

Acts 20:24

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

May our Lord, Savior and God bless each of you this day.  Thank you for your prayers.

              

TODAY IS OUR FRIDAY

TODAY IS OUR FRIDAY

(and the attacks have begun)

    Yesterday was an easy day but a late day, a day fill with joy and yet sadness.  Part of the team was able to go and interact in the market, while another part went and met with some more Seekers in the morning.  Then it was back to start getting ready for a marathon couple of days.  Last night, the group went and Worshipped, Celebrated and had a great time with the Pakistani Church.  Steve was the speaker, which I heard he did a great job sharing (I was unable to attend due to circumstances beyond my control).  And Gavin was again a hit with his musical talent and abilities.  After the service, the team interacted with the whole church and all I have heard was that "They really honored us."  The team came back very pumped.

    Today will be a marathon day for the team, again I do not know how much I will be them, but I will report at the end how God worked.  They got back so late last night that I was unable to get their pictures but I will try today to get some for you on FB.  Right now the team will be with at least 5 different groups, worshipping, celebrating, speaking and praying.  Please lift them up as the day goes on.

    Please pray for the team extra hard these next few days until we get home.  The enemy is definitely attacking.  Pray of the health of each person of the team (please give this some extra doses of prayer), for the wisdom of each of the speakers today, pray for the team as they interact that they may be able to share fully, pray that God be God and do great things. 


    Addition:   I forgot to add our verses today.  Please read Ephesians 3:20:  "To him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine."