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“Adapt and overcome!” rings out the cry from the new cadets in the heat of the summer.  Their resupply mission has just taken a turn for the worse, and they must now decide what to do to accomplish the mission.  Failure is not an option…and is not even contemplated!  

Just three weeks into Beast, the new cadets are inculcating a character trait of every American soldier.  When faced with challenges or obstacles, we take all the available facts and options into consideration and rapidly adjust to keep moving.

Interestingly, in life, we all like to have a feeling of control over our circumstances.  We plan and dream and put together action steps to get us to the end of the day, the week, the pinnacle of success as we see it.  Obstacles are approached and quickly pushed through or sidestepped.  Perhaps we stumble occasionally but we keep pushing onward.

But what happens when everything we planned or hoped for falls to pieces?  

Perhaps through an accident or illness or some other external pressure we fall into a position that we cannot see any way of escape.  This can also happen voluntarily though.

In Mark 4, Jesus calls his disciples to travel with him to the other side of the lake.  They have spent all day listening to his teaching in parables.  Jesus lays out so much truth for the crowds in these heavenly stories, but the amazing part is that he pulls the 12 aside and explains everything to them in a depth the crowd could not handle.

The disciples have the very Word of God speaking to them and encouraging them about the power of faith.  He shows them how the Kingdom of God grows from the smallest source as the truth is sown.  So much power in these teachings!

That evening, they set out in a boat for another location where Jesus has told them to go.  They follow faithfully on the mission assigned them.  Even so, when Jesus calls us to a task, we set out on a walk of faith.  Voluntarily we follow, trusting that he will be with us and use us to build the Kingdom.

In the middle of the journey, a great storm arises.  Many of the disciples were hardened, veteran fishermen who knew the lake and knew how to operate these boats with ease.  As the wind and waves batter the small boat, the situation becomes apparently quite grave.  Fear sets in where faith had been moments ago.

The waves are going to cause the boat to sink, and the disciples cannot adapt and overcome.  What can they do now?  How in the world will they make it to the other side?  They can’t even see past the immediate crisis because it is so threatening.  They are stuck in the middle after following Jesus’ call.

Frantically, they scramble to do absolutely everything they can think of to survive.  Nothing seems to work.

But where is Jesus?  Where is the one who had just inspired them so greatly during the day?  Where is the one who commanded them when everything seems to be falling apart?

He was sleeping!

Have you ever considered why Jesus was asleep and what this story means for us?  Is it not strange that the one who created the world seemingly abandons these men during their walk of faith in following where he sent them?

In this case, Jesus rebuked the disciples for a lack of faith after calming the storm with a word.  The storms do not always subside immediately, so we must consider why Jesus slept a bit further.

Jesus knows that storms are coming as we follow him, and he sets an example for us.  We must rest with him.  This is resting in faith.

Surely this doesn’t mean that we should fall asleep while maneuvering the boat, but it does mean that we settle our fragile hearts in the knowledge that Jesus is in the boat.  

Jesus commanded!  We followed.  He is in the boat!

In the walk of faith, tempests are surely coming.  The world around will go crazy to the point that we cannot humanly control our environment.  Resting in faith does not mean that we are in a boat on a calm, crystal clear lake.  It means that even in the darkest hour we are at perfect peace knowing that our God is in complete control.

While the world is turned upside down, the waves are battering our little boat, and unforeseen pressures mount against us, we can settle down beside Jesus and find rest for our troubled hearts.  The storm calls us deeper into an understanding of the faith he taught about all day long!

For my family, this idea of resting in faith has become the theme of 2020.  We intended to move to Ukraine in April to follow the call of our Lord.  The journey across the lake has not been the short trip we thought it may be.  Many storms, often unseen upon quick observation, battle against us even beyond the obvious trials caused by COVID.  

The journey is a refining process and like the disciples we have often found ourselves unable to understand the waves breaking over us.  At times, we have frantically searched for a way to get past the barriers.  At times, we have regained our composure in faith.  At times we have felt overwhelmed.  At times we have basked in his blessings.  

Through it all, I know the master continues to ask, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  He urges us to rest with him when we don’t know what else to do.  It is such a glorious privilege to be refined in this journey!

Clearly we are still growing in our own faith as we face these trials of waiting.  I hope that our continued journey to develop a strong faith that finds rest even when all around us things are out of control will be an encouragement to others.

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear a mission’s presentation start turning to the need for more?

Maybe it goes something like this…..”Oh no, he’s going to ask me to give more money in support.  I just gave to the last missionary, and finances are really tight right now.”

Even if you always love giving to missions with a cheerful heart, the chances are high that at some point or another you have had that moment of hesitation when you know you are about to be “sold” the need for support.

The needs around the world are important, and it does take resources to get there.  God is faithful though, and he always provides exactly what is needed.

I recently heard an amazing presentation by a missionary couple visiting our church which turned my hesitation upside down.  The reality is that they were seeking to raise support, but he never once mentioned finances.  He focused on our hearts!

There is a commonly used verse in missions from Matthew 9:38 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

This young man used this verse to demonstrate to us the need for MORE in a way that challenged my heart. 

The first thing critical to missions that we need more of is not money, or people, or buildings, or planning.  Nope, we need more PRAYER first and foremost.  Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful….people will believe if they hear….more workers are needed….but the first critical need isn’t for more people to go.  It’s for us to pray!

The fields are white with harvest, so PRAY!  Jesus tells us to pray and connect with God about this critical issue.  We must be interceding for the world and connecting with the heart of God for the lost.  We must pray for those who are currently working in the harvest fields.  And we must pray for God to raise up more workers who would go.

More prayer…..now that’s a heart issue!  How often do I just give a few dollars rather than engaging my heart with the earnestness of prayer for the lost, prayer for the hurting, prayer for those serving, and prayer for God to equip others?

Who knows…maybe by praying for more laborers, He will equip you to become one!

The second thing we need more of in missions is SURRENDER. 

Wow!  I thought missions involved more of an active stance on taking the Word to the world, but surrender is where it all starts. 

How can this be?

As Christians, much of the blessing in our lives begins with the vital act of surrender, letting go of control over our own comfort, our finances, our safety, our very LIVES!!!  Missions is not about doing good for other people; it is wholly and completely about laying down your life to make Jesus famous!

Matthew 16:24 urges us to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.  Surrender is the exact opposite of what the world teaches, and it is therefore extremely powerful.  When we lay ourselves at His feet, God will use us in ways beyond what we could ever ask or imagine.

The last item is more GOING. 

This part makes sense based upon the Great Commission’s command to go and teach and make disciples.  However, there is far more to it in light of prayer and surrender.

For example, let’s look at Isaiah’s call in Isaiah 6.  One of my favorite passages in all the Bible is this powerful scene of lowly man before the throne of God.  It is here that Isaiah receives his commission.  In the flash of an instant, Isaiah gains a whole new perspective. 

He sees ever so clearly who he is and who Almighty God is!  The comparison is so shocking that he cries out “Woe is me!”  The holiness of God drowns out everything he had ever known.  Perhaps Isaiah had even considered himself a good person up to this point.  Maybe he was the one trying to help others even when no one else would.  Maybe he was the one everyone thought would be most likely to succeed. 

None of that mattered now!  Isaiah clearly realizes his broken, helpless estate before the Most Holy One!

God does not force Isaiah to go.  He doesn’t even command him to be the one to go.  He very simply asks the question, “Whom shall I send?  Who will go for me?”

Isaiah saw the need and had a new burden for the people based on his encounter with God.  “Here am I.  Send me.”  When we faithfully pray and surrender our hearts and lives to God, he will meet with us and put a burden in our hearts for people that can never be shaken.

This past week I had the privilege of meeting with two missionaries from Tanzania who are working for the Global Church Movements arm of CRU.  CRU is most well-known for its campus ministry known as Campus Crusade for Christ.

Dismas and Anne Shekalaghe oversee coaching and ministry support for 24 countries in East and South Africa as they facilitate rapidly multiplying church growth.  In the last 8 years, they have seen over 590 churches planted in the region at an astonishing rate.  Their goal is to see a local church gathering per 1,000 people.

While we were discussing the ministry they shared many stories of God’s amazing work in Africa.  One of the stories even included a description of how a single church has now planted other churches to the 16^th generation in just a single year.  The simplicity of the approach is fascinating as each level gets trained by the layer above it in a comprehensive discipleship process.

As fascinating as that story is it pales in comparison to the phenomenal story of God’s revelation and orchestration of events that Anne shared.  She began talking about Zanzibar and how it was 90-95% Muslim which makes it extremely difficult to enter for evangelism. 

In an amazing turn of events, she was able to connect with a young woman from one of the universities who quickly became interested in the Jesus Film.  Anne helped her download a few short videos taken from the film so she could watch them on her phone. 

The young woman lived in a dorm room with a few other women—all of whom were Muslim.

One day, Anne’s friend left her phone unlocked and her roommate began watching the videos she had downloaded.  When the young lady returned to her room, the roommate couldn’t contain herself.  She kept asking, “Where did you get this video?  How did you find this?  What does this mean?”

Finally, she said, “This is what I have been searching for! This is exactly what I have been looking for!”

The roommate soon came to Anne and gave her life to Christ.  She quickly brought many of her other friends to meet with Anne, and they have a growing group of committed Christians now.

It is always so encouraging to hear how God uses seemingly unrelated events or things to bring people to himself.  The Muslim roommate was searching for truth and found it through the simple message shared in the video clips.

God doesn’t need us to reach people.  He could have brought the young lady to himself with nothing other than the conviction she was feeling, but he chose to use Anne and her friend.  The simple act of downloading a few videos answered a tremendous need in the roommate’s life. 

We have the tremendous privilege of partnering in what God is doing around the world.  Too often we miss that because we are consumed by the busy-ness of life. 

Hearing stories like this gives me chillbumps as I realize just how amazing our sovereign God is.  He guides us to exactly the right point every time.  The truly amazing thing is that God promises that many will come to know him when we share the Gospel.  It is not our job to change someone’s heart.

We must simply be faithful to share!

Perhaps God wants to use you today. 

Is there someone who has been looking for exactly what you know to be true?    

I’ll never forget the time Dr. Thomas from Hopegivers International visited our church in Columbus, GA soon after we were married. 

We had been talking about the future and what God may be calling us to do when our time with the Army was complete.  From the very beginning it was clear that we both had a heart for young people and discipleship.  There were so many different ways to get involved, but we just didn’t know which one would allow us to maximize our effectiveness.

That’s when God intervened and brought Dr. Thomas to town!  Believe it or not, he had just been released from prison in India recently.  This was one of multiple times he had spent time in jail for preaching the Gospel in the country.

He presented the vision of Hopegivers International as raising up 1 million “Arrows for Christ” who would fearlessly proclaim God’s name throughout the country.

These “arrows” he referred to were orphan children who had been forgotten by society but LOVED by God! 

Hopegivers gathers the children in a series of centers which they called Hope Homes.  The children are taught about Christ, discipled through life’s trials and tribulations, and sent through Bible school.  Once they are ready to graduate, they are launched into other parts of the country with the mission of planting a church as their capstone project. 

Dr. Thomas explained that these youth would be given a Bible and a bicycle and perhaps a one-way ticket if the destination was further away.  They were sent with the intention of planting a church where there was no foundation.

Hopegivers is not only caring for the children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, but they are training them as missionaries within their own country.

Their influence for Christ is multiplied each time a young person is sent out. 

Through his testimony, Dr. Thomas opened our eyes to a model that maximizes all of the passions Christ had laid on our hearts. 

We love the nature of the Hope Homes concept because it places children in a loving, family environment that demonstrates their individual value and breaks the inherent cycle of debilitation that institutional orphan care brings. 

These children get to see God’s love demonstrated in the daily acts of life and also in the teaching and education they receive.  Finally, they are empowered to become highly contributing members of society.

Those who had once been forgotten are now vital to the spiritual life of the nation!

The long term discipleship processes involved in raising children and helping them plant churches is exactly what we see being the key to Ukraine.  We desire to see rapid multiplication of churches but know this can only happen on the firm foundation of the truth of God’s word. Pray that we will be faithful in gathering children, sharing the Gospel, training them in righteousness, and launching them to be a light in the darkness.

Can you imagine the scene? 

You are out in the wilderness, miles from any real town or village.  The heat of the day has taken its toll as you try to orchestrate the movements of the entire crowd. 

The crowd just won’t stop coming.  They are pressing in to hear and possibly even touch Jesus in hopes of some miraculous power, that he is known for, passing on to them.  Maybe these aren’t the well-to-do lot either.  No….no, they are diseased, broken, disfigured, impoverished, dying masses living without hope.

They have followed Jesus relentlessly seeking some kind of relief…although their faith is more in the temporal blessings of his miracles than in the true power he holds.

It’s been a loooooonnnnnngggg day! 

Jesus has been teaching them in the midst of the dust and heat and stench, and you are tired.  Not just the normal kind of tired, but the kind that sits like a weight on your shoulders and threatens to make you sleep right where you stand.

So you go to Jesus in hopes of getting him to send the crowd away.  You try to play it off as if your real concern is for the people.  After all, they haven’t eaten all day.  But the reality is that you just feel an overwhelming need for a break.  Plus, your own food ran out hours ago so there is nothing left for you.

You haven’t quite caught the burden for people yet.  You still think it is nice what Jesus is doing but you really don’t quite understand why each day has to be so busy with all these people. 

I mean it’s cool that he is helping them, and it’s cool to be part of the popular group, especially when every once in a while you may get to do some awesome miracle.  But, really, it’s hard to see past the current situation to understand how desperately they need what Jesus offers.

Jesus knows.  He cares about you.  He also cares about these masses of people.  They are like sheep without a shepherd, and he is the Great Shepherd.

“You give them something to eat,” he says.  

Wait!  What????  Jesus, you can’t be serious.  There’s no way.

You scan the crowd again quickly calculating how many there might be out there.  It’s got to be at least five THOUSAND people!!! 

Jesus, there’s too many.  There’s no possible way we can help them.  We probably can’t even help a couple of them.  We have searched the whole crowd and all we have is this small boy’s lunch.  A couple fish and some bread.   That might just be enough to start a fight!

“You give them something to eat,” he says calmly….expectantly. 

Well, he’s done some pretty crazy things in the past, so you decide to follow his direction.  In faith to your master’s word, you help get the people seated in groups.  All is ready….except the food of course.

So, Jesus takes the little that you brought to him.  He thanks God for it and breaks it.  As he passes it to you, you notice that something has happened.  Breaking the bread and fish hasn’t caused it to decrease.  It is multiplying, and the same thing is happening all around you.

More and more people are getting the same amount of food.  Some even more!  The crowd is voracious!  They aren’t just tasting the food; they are devouring it.  Each one eats until they cannot eat any more. 

They are satisfied! 

In fact, you are satisfied!

Afterwards, you help collect 12 baskets of leftovers.  So, not only had each of these starving people eaten as much as they possibly could, but Jesus had made it so there was enough extra for each of your companions to collect a full basket.

This is a story about Ukraine.  When we start to look at what God has called us to, we so quickly begin to scan the enormous crowd.   Many of the most recent estimates show that despite recent efforts to move away from institutional orphanages, there are over 106 million orphans in the country. 

That number unfortunately continues to rise as the conflict in the east continues.  Government resources which had been increasing for orphan care are now diverted to help meet the pressure created by the conflict.

Beyond the number of true orphans is a whole countless host of social orphans and at-risk youth who have one or both parents, but they are still not cared for as they ought to be.  Many of the parents simply are not equipped to provide for the children, so the kids suffer.  Poverty, illness, alcoholism, disability, and a host of other factors generate a dangerous cycle forcing these children out of the protection of a loving family.

Many live on the streets.  They gather in gangs for company and for some form of protection.  They turn to crime….usually for food but sometimes for entertainment.  They are open to all forms of social ills associated with the poverty cycle such as drugs, prostitution, crime, and rampant disease.

The ones who live in the orphanages don’t have it much better.  In fact, many run back to the streets as soon as they can. 

Due to the sheer number of children, the orphanage system can only sustain them until the age of 16.  At this point, before they are even out of high school, they “graduate” from the system. 

For years, they have barely been fed well enough.  Let alone taught important life skills necessary to survive on one’s own.  They are not provided with a place to stay or a way to support themselves.  They simply “graduate” out of the building and find themselves forced to survive in some way.

The statistics of those who fall into crime or prostitution at that point are staggering.

Lord, there are so many.  How can we possibly feed all of them?  These numbers don’t even include a fragment of the rest of the men, women, and children who need you in Ukraine.

“You give them something to eat,” Jesus gently urges us. 

He doesn’t tell us we have to feed all of them.  He says to give them something to eat.  He says, “Take what you have and give it to them.” 

Our obedience in faith with giving the little that we have opens the doors of his miraculous abundance.  He fed 5,000 (plus women and children) with a little boy’s snack.  Imagine what he wants to do with your talents and gifts.

The youth in Ukraine need Jesus.  Sure, it might be easier to send them away to fend for themselves.  It may let us get some rest and just relax.  We could easily just pretend they aren’t there.  It’s not our problem, right? 

“You give them something to eat.”   That whisper won’t go away…

“You give them something to eat.”   You said you believe in me…..

“You give them something to eat.”    

Ok, Jesus.  I trust you.  I see your heart for these dear children.  I will follow you.

Friend, will you help us carry these small broken pieces that Jesus handed us?  He has broken them after his blessing.  Will you join us in giving them something to eat. 

See how it’s multiplying already??? 

Jesus is here!  We will see his abundance today.

Come and see!  There will be basketfuls beyond what is needed to satisfy!

Yeah, I’ve heard of Odessa.  That’s in Texas right?  Lots of oil there…and cows?

Well, not exactly. 

We are heading to Odessa, Ukraine.  Ukraine was formerly part of the Soviet Union and gained its independence in 1991.  In fact, this is why you will often hear people refer to “The Ukraine” because it was a designated region in the USSR. 

A funny story on this … when we were getting married in Texas, we had to file where Natalka was from for the marriage license.  Even though it was 2011, twenty years after gaining independence, the computer system still reflected the old map.  So, Natalka comes to us from the country of Russia and the region of  The Ukraine.

Known as the “Pearl of the Black Sea,” Odessa is the third largest city in Ukraine with over 1 million people.  This is a great landing spot while Kevin and the kids grapple with learning Russian.    

This port city is home to people of countless ethnic groups from eastern Europe, the Caucuses, Greece, and Turkey.  The thriving “melting pot” nature of the city is a perfect way for us to get integrated in on-going ministry while learning Russian and building key contacts for future ministry opportunities.

Before moving to the States, Natalka was well-integrated in the ministries of Odessa through her work as an interpreter and through church contacts.  We plan to immediately reconnect with many of these friends and partner with them where possible so we can maximize ministry during the learning phase.

For a quick overview of Ukrainian demographics and history, check out this link…  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Ukraine

Do you ever have times where a certain story or verse keeps playing through your mind?  Ever stopped to consider why?

Lately, one of my favorite stories in all the Bible has been playing on a loop in my head.  See, it’s the story of when the Philistines tried to put the Ark of God in the temple with their god, Dagon.  They knew it was considered holy, but they had no idea what to do with it. 

I guess it makes sense to put it in the temple next to our god, they thought.  So, there it went…

The next morning….”THERE WAS DAGON!”

Their hand-sculpted idol of a god was toppled over on its face before the Ark of the presence of the one true God!  Even the worthless piece of wood knew its proper position in the presence of the Almighty.

The Philistines had a chance to see the powerlessness of their idol, but instead they chose to do the “honorable” thing. 

Oh man, how did that happen?  Guess we better stand him back up!  It won’t do to have people seeing our great Dagon on his face. 

They stood the idol back up as if nothing had happened.  The next day, the same priests come to the temple to check on their god.  We better make sure everything is alright….

THERE WAS DAGON! 

Flat on his face before the presence of God again!  Only this time, he was missing his head and hands.  His head and hands were lying on the threshold of the temple. 

The people could not stand the presence of the Ark and wanted to get rid of it because they said, “his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”

Wait a minute…..

Did you catch that?

Despite powerful displays of God’s power, the people chose to send the real God away and cling to their worthless idol.  In fact, they honored Dagon all the more by never stepping on the threshold of a building after this incident.

Doesn’t make much sense, right?  But how often do I struggle with the same thing? 

Sometimes I am so awestruck with my normal routines, identity, or things, that I don’t even realize that they have become idols.  If something happens to any of them, I am quick to dust it off and stand it back up.  I cling to these habits and things not realizing that the struggles are pointing me toward the power of God. 

He deserves our worship, not some worthless thing of our own creation.

This story has been in my mind almost constantly since I left the Army last year.  For years, I had been laser focused on becoming an officer and leading Soldiers.  Even though I knew my role as a missionary with a weapon and that one day we would leave for the mission field, I was determined to be a great officer.  Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a surgery intended to fix my back put an end to those goals. 

The transition out of the Army is always difficult because we so easily become “institutionalized” as Morgan Freeman so elegantly describes it in Shawshank Redemption.  But this…this was just not fair! 

Couldn’t I just serve the normal 20 years and retire then go on the mission field?  Surely that would have been easier than trying to suddenly figure out “what I wanted to be when I grow up” because I needed a job to sustain us as we prepared for ministry….if that was even a true possibility anymore for a broken soldier.

Once in peak physical conditioning, I now found the ultimate test was simply putting my own shoes on in the morning.  Playing through pain was just something you did for the sake of the team, but now everything was PAIN!

My identity had mistakenly and imperceptibly become tangled with the role I played as an officer.  I was an athlete and leader, and now I was nothing but a bunch of raw nerve endings.  It took months before I finally surrendered my heart and embraced the lesson God was teaching me.

My Dagon….my false identity…fell face down before God!

You see, my true identity was never based on athleticism, physical conditioning, the ability to lead, or any of the hundreds of descriptions of a military officer. 

My identity flows from Christ and Christ alone!  I am a child of God!  I am formed in his image!  He can use me whether I am in good health or poor, whether I can walk or bend or run.  He will be honored in all the earth, and he allows me the opportunity to partner with him in his work!

The back injury is just a thorn in the flesh to remind me, like Paul, that God’s strength is sufficient for me.  He gives us grace for the journey even when we do not understand. 

So, what about you, are you dusting off Dagon?  Or will you turn and embrace the God who knows your inmost thoughts?  He loves you and longs to show you his heart!.