I can't believe July is half over! Seems like summer just began, and now it's almost done. Crazy!
Well, I thought it would be hard to write about the first week. Turns out, week one had nothin' on week two. It was a real emotional roller coaster, and I'm pretty sure I was close to tears a few times. For those of you who know me, that should be a bit shocking. I don't cry in public. Ever. Not even in sad movies. I can't do it. But this week was enough to have them rolling down my face in spades.
The reason for this? Three days spent on "Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills". To do that, we had to learn more about ourselves. I thought I knew everything about me before this week. I had no clue. But it was good to get some things out in the open and learn how to relate better to people.
Only problem is, next week we're doing more of the introspection.
Yikes!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Training that is...
Cross-Cultural
Relational
Organizational
Strategic
Spiritual
This has been an absolutely phenomenal week for me. I wish I could tell you everything that has been going on, but I don't think my brain has even caught up. There is so much information floating around in there that I'm not sure where to start. Fortunately, I've got some time this weekend to let it soak in and marinate.
The whole goal of this week, in the words of our Member Development caretakers, is to have us "become effective missionaries for the glory of God." For the past two years, I've been working toward the goal of being here and joining the OMS team, and I guess it's just beginning to sink in that this is who I am now! There are so many questions I've been forced to ask myself that probably should have been answered a while ago, but just honestly never occurred to me. I've been so focused on getting here, but this training is designed to get us into the right mindset for ministry.
There are some really great people going through training with me - some who will be staying here in Greenwood like me, and some who are planning short-term trips to other countries, and some who will be involved in longer ministries. It's a great mix of personalities and nationalities, and I'm really blessed to be able to spend this time with them.
One thing I've experienced this week that has really captured my attention and forced some real soul-searching has been the concept and practice of Intercession. It's really a very involved process of prayer and interaction with the Word, and it's just so foreign from how I normally think about prayer. It's going to take a few sessions to be really confident in the practice, but I'm looking forward to really working at it.
Yesterday morning, we had a really good praise and worship session, and I have to share something we did that just threw me for a loop. Our worship leader had us take a piece of paper and write down some of the challenges we thought we'd have to face or some of the fears and worries we'd been experiencing. Then we rolled them up and stuck them in a balloon and headed outside. You probably know what the next step was, but it wasn't so much the action of letting go as how it happened. I expected to have the moment of contemplation and surrender, to give up control over these issues to God, but before I could really think about it, my balloon was almost wrested away from me and next thing I know, it's up up and away. I was just so surprised, but it got me thinking. These are things that have bothered me for years, and I've always said that God had control over them, but I was very hesitant about really relinquishing what little control I had. But God was tired of that - He made it clear that if I wasn't going to give these things up to Him, He was just going to take them. I just felt that burden being lifted from my Spirit, and it gave me a chance to stop focussing on these things and really listen to what God wanted to reveal to me this week.
We spent today hearing from Every Community for Christ (ECC), which is the church-planting ministry at OMS, and something I will be working very closely with in the future. It was fascinating to hear about God's provision in other countries, but really to see how everyone fits into the church planting movement. We got to talk to some missionaries currently in another country who are actively working to plant churches, and it was just an awesome experience. I marvel more everyday about all that God is doing and has done and will do!
I want to leave you with a final thought. Some of you are involved in churches that are very active in ministry, whether it's financial support or community outreach. Some of you go to churches that aren't really mission-minded at all. But one of the ECC people reminded us today that God calls us all to minister in some way, and that He will always find a way for His will to be done. So keep this in mind - if you're not going to be an Acts 1:8 church, you just might find yourself being an Acts 8:1 church.
Look it up.
And ponder.
Relational
Organizational
Strategic
Spiritual
This has been an absolutely phenomenal week for me. I wish I could tell you everything that has been going on, but I don't think my brain has even caught up. There is so much information floating around in there that I'm not sure where to start. Fortunately, I've got some time this weekend to let it soak in and marinate.
The whole goal of this week, in the words of our Member Development caretakers, is to have us "become effective missionaries for the glory of God." For the past two years, I've been working toward the goal of being here and joining the OMS team, and I guess it's just beginning to sink in that this is who I am now! There are so many questions I've been forced to ask myself that probably should have been answered a while ago, but just honestly never occurred to me. I've been so focused on getting here, but this training is designed to get us into the right mindset for ministry.
There are some really great people going through training with me - some who will be staying here in Greenwood like me, and some who are planning short-term trips to other countries, and some who will be involved in longer ministries. It's a great mix of personalities and nationalities, and I'm really blessed to be able to spend this time with them.
One thing I've experienced this week that has really captured my attention and forced some real soul-searching has been the concept and practice of Intercession. It's really a very involved process of prayer and interaction with the Word, and it's just so foreign from how I normally think about prayer. It's going to take a few sessions to be really confident in the practice, but I'm looking forward to really working at it.
Yesterday morning, we had a really good praise and worship session, and I have to share something we did that just threw me for a loop. Our worship leader had us take a piece of paper and write down some of the challenges we thought we'd have to face or some of the fears and worries we'd been experiencing. Then we rolled them up and stuck them in a balloon and headed outside. You probably know what the next step was, but it wasn't so much the action of letting go as how it happened. I expected to have the moment of contemplation and surrender, to give up control over these issues to God, but before I could really think about it, my balloon was almost wrested away from me and next thing I know, it's up up and away. I was just so surprised, but it got me thinking. These are things that have bothered me for years, and I've always said that God had control over them, but I was very hesitant about really relinquishing what little control I had. But God was tired of that - He made it clear that if I wasn't going to give these things up to Him, He was just going to take them. I just felt that burden being lifted from my Spirit, and it gave me a chance to stop focussing on these things and really listen to what God wanted to reveal to me this week.
We spent today hearing from Every Community for Christ (ECC), which is the church-planting ministry at OMS, and something I will be working very closely with in the future. It was fascinating to hear about God's provision in other countries, but really to see how everyone fits into the church planting movement. We got to talk to some missionaries currently in another country who are actively working to plant churches, and it was just an awesome experience. I marvel more everyday about all that God is doing and has done and will do!
I want to leave you with a final thought. Some of you are involved in churches that are very active in ministry, whether it's financial support or community outreach. Some of you go to churches that aren't really mission-minded at all. But one of the ECC people reminded us today that God calls us all to minister in some way, and that He will always find a way for His will to be done. So keep this in mind - if you're not going to be an Acts 1:8 church, you just might find yourself being an Acts 8:1 church.
Look it up.
And ponder.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day One
I feel like there is so much I want to say, but it's going to take a lifetime to get it all out! This first day of training has just been a great experience. There are some really great people going through it with me, and our instructors really know their stuff. It's also teaching me that I need to be more prepared to dive right in. I'm so used to just putting a toe in to test the waters, and imagine my surprise when they just toss you right in the deep end! But you learn so much about yourself and about others, and everyone is so helpful. We got a lot of the preliminaries out of the way, and then got right into the heart of some doctrinal issues that missionaries have to face, and our motivations in the face of what is happening around the world.
Plus, we got to play with play-dough.
Right now, I've got some homework to take care of, but check back frequently, as I'll try to keep you apprised of my doings.
Ciao!
Plus, we got to play with play-dough.
Right now, I've got some homework to take care of, but check back frequently, as I'll try to keep you apprised of my doings.
Ciao!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Well, I'm here in Greenwood! I can't really say I'm completely moved in, yet, but I've got quite a bit unpacked and most everything is in it's proper place. I've met some wonderful people already, and I'm anticipating training, starting next week. I'll be posting more as time goes on, but check out my Flickr site to see some pictures of the move.
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