Global Outreach Summit 2013

Reaching Our Generation for Christ

By Laura-Jean Watson

Missions may have the same goals, but they need to be relevant in method to the current world we live in.  Dr. Alejandro Mandes pointed out during the Global Outreach Summit at Bible Fellowship Church in Yardley, PA on April 27 that we have a new mission field he calls “Samerica” where “the ends of the earth have moved to our Jerusalem”.  We must see what Jesus sees.  He is bringing the world to us.  It is predicted that by 2042, the minorities will become the majority in our country.  Are we reaching them for Christ and discipling them?  We need to see what is happening, truly love others, and resource workers to reach different cultures in the United States.  Dr. Mandes is the director of EFCA Gateway, Immigrant Hope, and Hispanic Ministries.

Is God sovereign?  This question was addressed by Alan Lawrence.  If we accept that God is sovereign, it changes our outlook on life.  He stressed that we need a theology of suffering.  People suffer and die in many situations for taking a stand for Christ.  God never promised us a painless life, but He did promise to be with us.  Our “primary responsibility is to represent Jesus to people who hate Him”.  Do people understand God’s great love for them through our interaction with them?  Mr. Lawrence is the ReachGlobal International Leader of Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

We can make a difference, because of the power residing in us through the Holy Spirit.  This power changes us first and then the world around us.  The Spirit always points to Christ, and the Spirit’s power in Christians will draw people to Christ. “When the church is Spirit-dependent, it expands and flourishes.  When the church is self-dependent, it stalls and compromises,” explained David Rofkahr in the afternoon plenary session.  Mr. Rofkahr is the director of ReachGlobal Recruitment.  Are we ministering through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit?

Electives were pertinent and showed how God is working through different outreaches to change lives for eternity and how we can make a difference through personal involvement.  The first elective I attended, “The Gospel Answer to Density, Diversity, and Depravity”, was led by Stephen Davis from Grace Church of Philly.  Philadelphia is a city of 400 neighborhoods representing cultures from around the world.  The answer to reaching them is seeing communities of believers established throughout the city.  The goal is to strengthen existing churches and transform them into reproducing churches and to plant new, reproducing churches.  We are called to have a faithful presence, to love the city, and to seek the peace of the city.  It takes time.  We need to truly become part of the neighborhood before we can make a difference.  This is an area where more committed Christians are needed.  Are you willing to follow God to a new area and persevere as He works through His Spirit to provide opportunities and change hearts? He explained their ministry, TRIM, which stands for transformational, relational, incarnational, and missional.  They are not there just for social change, but are there to intentionally reach the city with the Gospel.  It is important in such a long-term outreach to remember it is about sharing the Gospel and not primarily focused on programs and progress.  Church plants are important.  Diverse people need diverse outreaches.  I see this in New Orleans with our current church plants each uniquely reaching out to different cultures and diverse backgrounds.  It is not about a one size fits all church.  We serve one Lord, but we are ministering to different people groups in different ways.

The second elective I attended was “Lessons and Opportunities from Hurricane Sandy” led by Mark Lewis, Director of ReachGlobal Crisis Response.  Super Storm Sandy made the church relevant to local communities as Christians reached out to holistically meet needs.   There has been a dramatic increase in natural disasters since the mid 1900’s, and each crisis area becomes a new mission field.  Crisis response is different than crisis relief.  We need to deal with needs of the whole person- physical, emotional, and spiritual.  This goes beyond disasters.  There is a need to be intentional in building relationships.  Pastors Eddie Cole, Pete Nelson, and Paul Krause shared insights with Mark on lessons they learned through Sandy.  These included: it is your job to prepare for crisis, every disaster situation is unique and affects each person in the community differently, seek expert help, have a communication plan, helping in your community is messy work, be flexible, people take priority over buildings, and it can happen to anyone.  ReachGlobal Crisis Response is committed and ready to help churches be prepared to respond to disasters holistically and intentionally.  Do not wait until a crisis strikes before you prepare your church to respond.

The final elective I chose was “Biblical Networking and Real Life Relationships” taught by Joe Darrow from In Faith and Cornerstone Community Church in Kensington, Philadelphia.  He used a comparison between Ninevah and Philadelphia to show the need of cities, God’s love for the people of the city, the opportunities of ministry in the city, and how networking and “partnering  can not only help the inner city church but also build the ministry of the local suburban body”. 

Other electives were “Business as Mission: Internationally, Regionally, Locally”, “Good Samaritan Ministry in the Small Church”, “Hear the Cry, Answer the Call of Oppressed, Devalued, and Enslaved Women and Children”,” Multiplying Disciples that Multiply Churches: The Answer to the Question of how to get to the next level as a church”, “To Give or Not to Give: Healthy Holistic Ministry Principles and Relationships”, “How Do They Do That? Successful Models of Disability Ministry”, “Mission Possible: Sharing Christ With Muslims”, “Restoring Hope to Exploited Women in Asia”, “Samerica: The 28^th Largest Country in the World”, “Calling Jews to Faith in the Messiah”, “Global trends That Influence Church Missions Decisions”, “Mobilizing This Generation and the Next to Global Missions”,  and “The Why and How of Short-term Missions”.

A Haitian Came to My Door

A Haitian Came to My Door

Haiti has been on my mind so much recently.  I have been checking online to learn more about the people, but I wanted some human contact so I could ask questions.  I took some time off the one day to pray for different needs including the Haiti Summit, and that is the day a Haitian came to my door.  He is up for two months for coursework, but he was helping my neighbor out with some yard work.  My neighbor brought him to my door so I could meet him.  He lives two hours from Port-au-Prince, and he is a born again Christian.

I asked him what he saw as the greatest needs in Haiti.  He replied, “The people need to love their own country.”  He went on to explain that too many Haitians are eager to leave when they have the opportunity.  They need to love their country and people and work to help others in their country.  He was planning on using the education he was getting to help improve things back home.  The second pressing need he saw was for education.  People need a chance to receive an education that can help them advance from poverty.

I asked him what Americans should know coming to Haiti.  The first point he made was to never, ever give Haitians money on the street.  He stressed that it is important that people work for a living and not depend on Americans for easy money.  Like a welfare system, it teaches people to depend on others rather than working for themselves.  He said if you want to help a Haitian, help them have the opportunity to receive an education so they can help themselves and others.  His second point he wanted for Americans to understand was that we are all very blessed.  We have so much and do not realize it.  He hears Americans complain about what they want and do not have, but they often seem to be oblivious to the fact that they have so much more than their brothers and sisters around the world. 

All of us at Hershey and others from churches across the U.S. will have a chance this coming week to have a Haitian come to our door.  On Friday, Haitians will be arriving in Hershey, PA.  Sunday morning at Hershey Free Church, Dr. Jean Dorlus, former President of Seminaire Theologique Evangelique du Port-au-Prince will be the guest speaker for all three services (8 A.M., 9:15 A.M., and 11 A.M.).  In place of the Adult Education Fellowship (AEFs) classes there will be a panel discussion on “The Haitian Church Speaking to the American Church” featuring Dr. Wadestrant, Mark Lewis, Steve Spellman and Bruce McMartin in rooms 401-404.  On Sunday at 6 P.M., Dr. Wadestrant, the son of a voodoo priest, will give his testimony and talk about what a partnership with Haiti will look like.  This will be followed by a concert of prayer.  Here is an opportunity for our church as well as neighboring churches to come and make a difference for Haiti.

The Haiti Summit begins on Monday.  Monday through Wednesday is rich with opportunities for worship, learning about Haiti and how we can help, being enriched by Haitian speakers with keen insights, and meeting with church leaders from across our country who want to be involved helping.  There is a fee for the summit, but it is possible to attend one day or evening for a reduced cost.  You may register as late as Monday, but it is helpful for meal planning if you register in advance.

It is not often that a Haitian comes to our door.  I hope everyone realizes what a rich opportunity this is and we are willing to change our schedules to be open to what God will do this week in your life.

Colonel Saufley's Retirement Ceremony

On May 3, 2013, we joined with Colonel John Saufley to celebrate his retirement.  The ceremony reviewed his career of service, and he explained about his perfect point man, Jesus Christ.  During the ceremony, he was awarded The Legion of Merit, the de Fleury Medal, the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal, the National Guard Bureau Certificate of Service, and was appointed Brigadier General by the county of Dauphin.  Colonel Saufley graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers, completed the Officer Basic Course, and graduated from Ranger School in 1984.  He received his masters in Engineering in Applied Physics from Cornell University, and he was an instructor in West Point’s Physics Department for two years.  Some places he has served include Germany and Korea, and he was a Battalion leader in Iraq.

Colonel Saufley’s many awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clovers, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Clover, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with the numeral 2, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon with the numeral 2, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Ranger Tab, and the Army Parachute Badge.

We are thankful to Colonel Saufley for his service to his country, his exemplary life as a follower of Christ, and for his ongoing desire to serve God in all he does in life.

Reaching Our Generation for Christ

Reaching Our Generation for Christ

By Laura-Jean Watson

Missions may have the same goals, but they need to be relevant in method to the current world we live in.  Dr. Alejandro Mandes pointed out during the Global Outreach Summit at Bible Fellowship Church in Yardley, PA on April 27 that we have a new mission field he calls “Samerica” where “the ends of the earth have moved to our Jerusalem”.  We must see what Jesus sees.  He is bringing the world to us.  It is predicted that by 2042, the minorities will become the majority in our country.  Are we reaching them for Christ and discipling them?  We need to see what is happening, truly love others, and resource workers to reach different cultures in the United States.  Dr. Mandes is the director of EFCA Gateway, Immigrant Hope, and Hispanic Ministries.

Is God sovereign?  This question was addressed by Alan Lawrence.  If we accept that God is sovereign, it changes our outlook on life.  He stressed that we need a theology of suffering.  People suffer and die in many situations for taking a stand for Christ.  God never promised us a painless life, but He did promise to be with us.  Our “primary responsibility is to represent Jesus to people who hate Him”.  Do people understand God’s great love for them through our interaction with them?  Mr. Lawrence is the ReachGlobal International Leader of Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

We can make a difference, because of the power residing in us through the Holy Spirit.  This power changes us first and then the world around us.  The Spirit always points to Christ, and the Spirit’s power in Christians will draw people to Christ. “When the church is Spirit-dependent, it expands and flourishes.  When the church is self-dependent, it stalls and compromises,” explained David Rofkahr in the afternoon plenary session.  Mr. Rofkahr is the director of ReachGlobal Recruitment.  Are we ministering through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit?

Electives were pertinent and showed how God is working through different outreaches to change lives for eternity and how we can make a difference through personal involvement.  The first elective I attended, “The Gospel Answer to Density, Diversity, and Depravity”, was led by Stephen Davis from Grace Church of Philly.  Philadelphia is a city of 400 neighborhoods representing cultures from around the world.  The answer to reaching them is seeing communities of believers established throughout the city.  The goal is to strengthen existing churches and transform them into reproducing churches and to plant new, reproducing churches.  We are called to have a faithful presence, to love the city, and to seek the peace of the city.  It takes time.  We need to truly become part of the neighborhood before we can make a difference.  This is an area where more committed Christians are needed.  Are you willing to follow God to a new area and persevere as He works through His Spirit to provide opportunities and change hearts? He explained their ministry, TRIM, which stands for transformational, relational, incarnational, and missional.  They are not there just for social change, but are there to intentionally reach the city with the Gospel.  It is important in such a long-term outreach to remember it is about sharing the Gospel and not primarily focused on programs and progress.  Church plants are important.  Diverse people need diverse outreaches.  I see this in New Orleans with our current church plants each uniquely reaching out to different cultures and diverse backgrounds.  It is not about a one size fits all church.  We serve one Lord, but we are ministering to different people groups in different ways.

The second elective I attended was “Lessons and Opportunities from Hurricane Sandy” led by Mark Lewis, Director of ReachGlobal Crisis Response.  Super Storm Sandy made the church relevant to local communities as Christians reached out to holistically meet needs.   There has been a dramatic increase in natural disasters since the mid 1900’s, and each crisis area becomes a new mission field.  Crisis response is different than crisis relief.  We need to deal with needs of the whole person- physical, emotional, and spiritual.  This goes beyond disasters.  There is a need to be intentional in building relationships.  Pastors Eddie Cole, Pete Nelson, and Paul Krause shared insights with Mark on lessons they learned through Sandy.  These included: it is your job to prepare for crisis, every disaster situation is unique and affects each person in the community differently, seek expert help, have a communication plan, helping in your community is messy work, be flexible, people take priority over buildings, and it can happen to anyone.  ReachGlobal Crisis Response is committed and ready to help churches be prepared to respond to disasters holistically and intentionally.  Do not wait until a crisis strikes before you prepare your church to respond.

The final elective I chose was “Biblical Networking and Real Life Relationships” taught by Joe Darrow from In Faith and Cornerstone Community Church in Kensington, Philadelphia.  He used a comparison between Ninevah and Philadelphia to show the need of cities, God’s love for the people of the city, the opportunities of ministry in the city, and how networking and “partnering  can not only help the inner city church but also build the ministry of the local suburban body”. 

Other electives were “Business as Mission: Internationally, Regionally, Locally”, “Good Samaritan Ministry in the Small Church”, “Hear the Cry, Answer the Call of Oppressed, Devalued, and Enslaved Women and Children”,” Multiplying Disciples that Multiply Churches: The Answer to the Question of how to get to the next level as a church”, “To Give or Not to Give: Healthy Holistic Ministry Principles and Relationships”, “How Do They Do That? Successful Models of Disability Ministry”, “Mission Possible: Sharing Christ With Muslims”, “Restoring Hope to Exploited Women in Asia”, “Samerica: The 28^th Largest Country in the World”, “Calling Jews to Faith in the Messiah”, “Global trends That Influence Church Missions Decisions”, “Mobilizing This Generation and the Next to Global Missions”,  and “The Why and How of Short-term Missions”.

 

God's Amazing Work in New Orleans

We now have four church plants in the New Orleans area! 

¨ Jeff Hummel leads City Church reaching out to the unchurched in Covington through a coffee house church.  They just bought a building and have around 100 regular attenders.

¨ Miguel Lopez is reaching out to the younger generation through Grace Chapel and has 40-60 attending regularly.

¨ Jerry St. Pierre has a church meeting in his home in Slidell with 10-15 regular attenders.

¨ Bobby Tinner is developing relationships in New Orleans for a new church plant and is awaiting completion of his home as a base for outreach.  (We need volunteers to come finish his drywall and paint.)

Katie Hooks is doing a fantastic job recruiting and training interns.  The young women and men who have interned have been making a huge difference in the effectiveness of the ministry as we have been able to touch more lives.

Both Katie and Ariealle Holden have been living in different areas of New Orleans.  They have  developed good relationships with their neighbors.  I went out in Ariealle’s neighborhood in March to invite people for a block party.  It seemed like most of the people knew her and were eager to go to her house.

Continue to pray that lives will be changed eternally in New Orleans.

 

 

Three Saved in Brigantine Area

God is at work in the area around Brigantine, N.J. bringing good out of Superstorm Sandy.  Volunteers led both a home-owner in Brigantine to Christ and another man providing a meal at Beacon. Bill Davis, pastor of Brigantine Bible Church, visited with the dad of one of his church members who was displaced from his home and led the dad to Christ.   Seeds are being planted each week in area hearts. 

Pastor Bill and his wife, Karen, shared their excitement concerning their church renovation.  They know God has a plan for them and are anxious to see what unfolds.  They have been meeting in a different part of the island while the church is restored from all the water damage.  Once their home was repaired, they began holding Bible studies and other small group meetings in their home.

When the storm hit, they knew what to do because of past flooding experience in PA.  Their quick action prevented the mold from spreading.  It is amazing how God uses our past experiences to prepare us for the future.

I will be anxious to see how God uses this church for His glory.

 

Finally Official

Six years ago, I joined with Hershey Free Church on a missions trip to New Orleans with ReachGlobal Crisis Response.  I saw God at work through this ministry changing lives in homeowners, volunteers, and staff.  I kept returning, often for two or three weeks at a time.  In December, I became an official staff member as a Communications Assistant.  My job includes developing video and photographic resources,  interviewing people, writing for online and print media, putting together displays and promotional material, helping with prayer cards for missionaries, and following up with homeowners, team leaders, and team members.  It is so exciting to see what God is doing through the ministry of ReachGlobal Crisis Response and to be able to publicize the opportunities available for churches!

I will not be taking a salary, but I will be raising support for my expenses.  I have been taking numerous trips to New Jersey and New Orleans, and I will soon be adding Staten Island to the list as we start sending teams there in May.

I have already been busy with:

* lots of writing,

* photographing teams, homeowners, and work sites,

* providing photos and videos to churches, staff, and colleges

* Providing handouts

* Setting up promotional displays

My highlights were when a couple expressed interest in serving in Haiti after reading one of my articles, and a thank you note from a church who used one of my videos to promote a missions trip.