Project Rescue

Note: This post contains some details that may not be suitable for younger readers.

My first introduction to Project Rescue came in picking up the book Beyond the Soiled Curtain (unfortunately already out of print) at a thrift shop in the Ozarks. Before I had time to begin reading I googled "Project Rescue" and read everything I could find on the mission. Wow.

Here was an organization with a similar passion as Natalie Grant's The Hope Foundation and the International Justice Mission, both of which I have supported through the years specifically because of their work with young girls who are sexually exploited. Why had I never heard of Project Rescue before? They are helping the girls that some would never touch; they are battling an evil some will not even acknowledge as existing. Human slavery has not ended in America, much less other parts of the world such as Asia and Eastern Europe. Did you know that one million new children are drawn into the commercial sex trade every year? Can we even comprehend such a number? Do we even care?

A girl who is purchased by a trafficker for as little as $150 can be sold to customers as many as ten times a night and can bring in $10,000 a month profit. With minimal expenses, police as co-conspirators, and almost unlimited victims to prey upon, trafficking for sexual exploitation is surpassing the sale of illegal drugs as the preferred industry for criminals. In India, there are approximately 10 million prostitutes, and an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 of them are children. In the city of Mumbai, 90% of the 100,000 women in prostitution are indentured slaves. - Project Rescue Issue Overview

I am selfish and stupid if I ignore reality. I've seen it with my own eyes. I know it exists. This organization's purpose to Rescue, Restore, and Prevent is one I whole-heartedly support. The need and magnitude of this issue could easily seem overwhelming and too difficult. I may not be equipped or able to save one million children this year from slavery, but I can do something.

A Missionary Life

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20, KJV).

Petite and quiet, my friend at Pensacola looked at least two years younger than she was. Rachel usually just listened while Danielle and I did most of the talking. We walked to church one night, Danielle and I rattling on about the state of churches in America today, and Rachel adding to the conversation at intervals. Her voice was so gentle and quiet that I could hardly hear her above the noise from all of the students walking to the Campus Church.

However, Danielle and I knew something about our quiet friend that most people would have never suspected. Rachel was preparing to be a medical missionary to South America. She was no stranger to missionary work. Already the quiet, frail girl had journeyed through the jungles of Brazil on medical mission trips. She had already tasted some of the trials and hardships of the life that she was bargaining for. Yet to see Rachel’s eyes light up as she shared pictures from her trips, or talked about the people that she so deeply loved, it was easy to see that the difficulties only strengthened the determination of our friend.

A life with purpose and meaning springs out of conviction and dedication. Whenever I have something in life that is worth dying for, then I have found a life worth living. To Rachel, spreading the Gospel through medicine in South America was worth spending her life on.

My high school Bible teacher used to challenge his class, “Invest your life in the two things that are eternal: the souls of men, and the Word of God.” That is what I am reminded of when I think about this next chapter of my life. The Lord wants me to live the “missionary life”—the life that learns to sacrifice for what it believes in; the life that is dedicated to spreading the Gospel. The question is not about whether I will obey, but about how I will obey. Can I find joy, contentment and peace if my Lord asks me to remain behind while others go? That is my cross—joyful obedience where ever He asks it.

Just as my sweet friend is responding joyfully to her calling to obey, I must respond with joy to mine. A few years ago, I struggled to accept the fact that the Lord has placed me in the States. However, my prayer has been that He would give me the heart to do His will, and He has done just that. He has filled my heart with peace, contentment and joy as I live the “missionary life”—right where He has placed me.

- by Rebecca Gaither
(Photo: Rebecca in back)

Living a Life of Desperation- Part 3: Tell the World

Editor's Note: Not for very young readers. Read Parts One and Two.

This is the last installment in this series. In my opinion it is, quite possibly, the most important part of your Christian walk.

Do you remember before you truly knew Christ? Maybe you were like me and grew up with the knowledge of Christ your whole life, or maybe you grew up not ever hearing Christ’s name. Either way you know what it feels like to be alone, afraid, lost and worthless. No matter how high and mighty you claim to be, you’ve felt the sting of hopelessness and the bitter cold of rejection. You know the doubt that creeps in when life turns upside down. You know the hurt that comes when your loved ones stomp on your heart. We are all born sinful. We all have felt the hot breath of hell on our backs.

Why then, after we have found the truth, the everlasting hope of salvation, the rock, protector, provider, redeemer and true Love do we hide behind our insecurities instead of sharing our faith?

I know you’ve heard it all before. I have too. We’re supposed to get out there, share your faith, and be bold, blah blah blah. But the truth of the matter is we live in a dying world. It is more then physical death; it is spiritual death. This isn’t a game any more. People are dying everyday in our own neighborhoods. Have you even noticed?

In walks desperation.

This world is desperate. There are girls in your schools, neighborhoods, and churches that cut themselves last night simply to see if they are still alive. There are women who are dependant on meth and children who are contemplating suicide. Have you taken the time to see them? Do you have the compassion to reach them?

I know it’s a difficult task. It’s easy to be comfortable on our Christian pedestals and neglect those who are in need around us. Yet sisters, it’s beyond that now. You can’t walk down the street without seeing blatant sin. It’s time to stop being afraid or disgusted by sinners and start laying down our lives for them.

We as Christ’s daughters must stand up and proclaim the gospel with our lives. You don’t have to be bold and outgoing to reach your generation. But you have to be willing for Christ to lead you and be ready to follow His voice no matter the cost.

I can not tell you how many times I have ignored God’s voice out of fear and have missed opportunities to share the gospel. I remember one very specific time that I was talking to a "Christian" friend whose views were anything but Biblical. I knew God was telling me to step forward and proclaim the truth but instead I withered back and said nothing. I have regretted this and many other missed opportunities. Please hear me: don’t let fear keep you from sharing God’s life-saving message. Staying comfortable isn’t worth risking someone’s life.

It isn’t just the foreign missionary's job. It is our job. Did Christ not call all of us to follow the Great Commission? Mark 16:15 says, “Go unto all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Aren’t our neighborhoods, towns, and states a part of "all the world"? Then who are we to ignore a command of God?

So… are we suppose to run around screaming about Jesus to everyone’s face? No. It’s using the opportunities God gives us. It’s standing firm and walking in truth. It’s crying out to the Heavenly Father and saying “Father, I’m desperate to see this world won for You… so use me.”

So I ask: are you desperate? Are you desperate enough to reach a world that’s crawling with sin and injustice? Are you desperate enough to stand tall and cry with all God's children saying “Here I am Lord, send me”?

- by Katie (formerly Barron) Holman

Musings from an airport on people, culture, and platforms

This past semester, for my Missions class, I had to read a rather interesting article on culture. For the most part I didn’t like that class at all, but I found this article quite interesting, as it talked of some things that I’ve observed in all of my airport time over the past couple years, some of it in the States and some of it not.

This article was on culture, ethnocentrism (the idea that your culture is better than others) and cultural relativity (the idea that all cultures are equally alright). One of the observations made in the article (and one that you can see so clearly illustrated in airports) was about the American/Western obsession with platforms.

It sounds rather absurd at first, but when you think about it, it’s so true. Westerners are obsessed with platforms. They sit on them, sleep on them, eat off them, store things on them, etc. And all of this obsession comes from the not-always-correct assumption that floors are dirty.

However, many people from non-Western cultures do not have that assumption…in some Eastern cultures, they even use the floor as a table. I’ve mentioned before, that, in Thailand, you always take off your shoes outside before entering someone’s home (and certain other public buildings). It’s considered rude to leave your shoes on when entering a house, and like the culture article mentioned, walking with shoes on the floor would almost be comparable to, in Western culture, someone walking all over our couches with their shoes on.

Then the article mentioned a point that I’ve seen so clearly illustrated that it was almost funny. When you go to most airports, you can many times pick out the people who have traveled the world a lot since they are the ones situated comfortably on the floor, sometimes sleeping, while the Westerners are draped uncomfortably over the chairs.

I remember coming back from India…a big group of us were in the Salt Lake City airport and that airport was not exactly what you would call a diverse cultural center…not to be stereotypical, but Salt Lake City is a major yuppie city!

We all were exhausted and had been in India for the last two months, where seating is oftentimes just a mat on the floor. Airport floors in India are, for the most part, filthy marble, and we were just glad to see carpet and no bugs, trash or visible dirt littering it. So, after piling all of our bags together, some of us (me included), stretched out on the pieces of floor between the seats (mostly empty at the time) and tried to get some rest because our flight was delayed. Granted, we were already a rather odd-looking group since some of us girls were wearing native Indian dress (very comfortable to travel in) and we had ran to our boarding area since we thought we were late (but then our flight ended up being delayed)…but we still got some interesting looks at we laid and sat on the floor rather than trying to get comfortable in those slippery leather chairs.

And for me it has been like that ever since. In airports, if I can find an out-of-the-way corner, you will usually find me seated on the floor. And sometimes there are others not on the provided chairs, but sometimes you can be one of the very few who realize that floors aren’t as horrible as commonly thought.

This post is not to deride those who prefer sitting on chairs, but just to muse on one small aspect of ethnocentrism…something that many Americans get sucked into, thinking that the American/Western culture is superior to all others. But it’s not.

Revelation 7:9-12 is one of my (many!) favorite passages of Scripture…it says: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to the our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God…”

We see in that passage that, in the end, people from all cultures will be worshiping Jesus in Heaven and I really don’t think that then we will be concerned with whose culture is superior to another. For the Lord made all peoples and their cultures and in Him “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col. 3:11).

- by Jessica Slagg

Here's a nice long piece to take y'all through the weekend...and then on Monday I'll peek in with maybe even a little picture or two of The Day! ;) Love to all...Lanier

Interview with Avant's President...aka Dad

Avant's Shanna DiPaola, a fellow Moody grad interviewed my dad on his book. You can read about it here. I'm even mentioned at the end.

One sample:

avant: The book suggests that a team can create a sense of urgency by limiting the time they're in a certain field. They have five years, and at the end of that time they should have a church that is able to sustain itself. How is this fundamental to Short-Cycle?

Nyquist: There are two elements that legitimately create urgency in missions work. One is the immanency of Christ's return. It is reality, it's biblical, and it creates its own sense of urgency that we tend to ignore. The second is the unraveling political scene. In many of the most unreached countries the political climate is extremely unstable, presenting short windows of opportunity. Those two elements create urgency. We can choose to ignore them. But if we do, we severely limit our effectiveness.

By limiting the teams to five years, we're trying to create the same sense of urgency that is dictated by those realities. It is an artificial deadline but it forces them to think intentionally and strategically about every day, knowing that time will pass quickly and they have a job to get done.

China on fire

Ten thousand Chinese become Christians every single day Asia Times online reported earlier this month. Protestant numbers might vary from this a bit as the study was released by a Catholic reporter. Still.

The world of our grandparents is no more. Islam is taking over Europe. Western culture is no longer primarily "Christian" as was true a century ago. But Asia....!

China may be for the 21st century what Europe was during the 8th-11th centuries, and America has been during the past 200 years: the natural ground for mass evangelization. If this occurs, the world will change beyond our capacity to recognize it. Islam might defeat the western Europeans, simply by replacing their diminishing numbers with immigrants, but it will crumble beneath the challenge from the East. Read the rest.

The Silence Screams Volumes

Solo Femininity made a sobering post today. Please go read it and pray for our sisters in Afghanistan who are suffering. I admit it made me a bit ill. This was the first I'd even heard of the Christians being held captive over there. Why? I've not even heard a trace of it...which is partly the media in fault for ignoring things they don't care about and partly my fault for not keeping my eyes on the right sources of information.

I did not want YLCF to be too introspective to mention such a significant event.

Lord, we do not understand why your servants are enduring this fire. What has been happening is horrible. But we know You see and You will not forget. We know that You will bring justice, whether in this life or in the next. Please strengthen our sisters with Your spirit. May they be reminded of the truths of who You are and what You have promised for those who serve You...even to the losing of their very lives.

Forgive us for our self-centeredness, our concern with petty things over the things You say are eternal.

Four great reads

If you are looking for some out-of-the-ordinary reading this summer, I have a bunch of great titles to share, from Bible study help to a love story.

Want some thought-provoking philosophy from one of the greatest minds alive today? Peter Kreeft's The Best Things in Life is very satisfying. Kreeft asks the question, "What would happen if Socrates spoke to modern-day man?" This is a collection of twelve Socratic dialogues on a plethora of topics. This man got more than his fair share of intelligence--but thankfully the rest of us can sit at his feet and learn.

If you are interested in biographies, missions, and/or foreign cultures, try Anneke Companjen's Singing Through the Night: Courageous Stories of Faith from Women in the Persecuted Church. This brand new book tells the bittersweet true stories of eleven Christian women in many countries around the world. What they have endured for the love of Christ is humbling. Woven through the stories are practical applications for the reader, including study questions at the end of each chapter.

Just the name "D.A. Carson" gets respect in these parts. He is one of, if not the finest New Testament exegete alive today. He is absolutely brilliant and yet his writing is accessible to everyone. Carson's For the Love of God is one of those books that will never be shelved out of my reach. When I first received both volumes of this devotional, they were sitting on my bed and my dad stole one. He hardly ever borrows my books--and he has yet to give this one back. I see him with it nearly every day during his Bible study.

With two entire years of Bible reading (using the M'Cheyne schedule, slightly but practically modified) and daily reflections and teaching on one or more of the passages, I honestly do not see how one could ever outgrow these books. I have started using volume 1 (since Dad still has volume 2 :smile) and....wow.

Last but not least, Brian Sibley's Through the Shadowlands: The Love Story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman is a great alternative to the typical romance book. This is real-life love and commitment amidst the pain and confusion of a fallen world. The author is one of the foremost experts on C.S. Lewis's life and draws on his research for the movie bearing the same name to write a beautiful tribute to the beloved author.

I love my life

The email came just a few minutes before I left to teach piano lessons and take one little girl to her dance class. "Here's my cover. What does your new book look like??" I opened the graphic and admired the dust jacket design for There is No Time. Very nice.

I fired back a reply, complimenting my dad on the nice design of his first book, releasing May 1. He had not yet seen the full final version of Pearl of Beauty's cover so I attached it to my email.

Both books will be releasing from the same publisher (though mine under YLCF's imprint HeartThoughts Publications and dad's under Avant Ministries) on May 1 and I have the feeling we will be having another New Book Party at the Nyquist home. Since I helped edit in the beginning stages, I want the first autographed copy!

Watch for dad's book, the first in a series from Avant, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all those great places soon. But, if you are curious about Short Cycle Church Planting, HeartThoughts will be selling copies for less than the online retailers. :smile:

Hot off the press!

I hold in my hand the latest issue of Avant's magazine which features an extensive piece on church-planting in France. Why France? Why now?

There's all kinds of good stuff...are you interested?

To sign up to receive Avant's magazine, go here. You will also then be one of the first to hear about my dad's book There is No Time, which will be released in the next month or so.

We Shall Reap

It was a bitter winter morning, not long before Christmas. Downtown was packed with pedestrian shoppers, so our little street preaching & tract distribution team decided to brave the cold and take advantage of the crowds as an audience. Sitting on the commuter train into town, I pulled out some oft neglected memory cards, including Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

After several cold hours of tracting on a street corner, I was ready to go home and get some hot tea! In fact, I had told the others goodbye and was shivering down the street back to the train station. But I had a nagging feeling that I should stay a little bit longer, and after a few blocks of internal debate I turned back. "Do not be weary in well doing."

One of the young men, Louis, was trying his hand at street preaching for the first time, so I stood nearby to help "create a crowd" and give some moral support.

Just a few minutes later, a homeless man started cursing in Louis' face. Louis turned off the microphone, and we started talking to John. Being yelled at by John might be more accurate. A bystander called the police about the "ruckus," but the police never showed up. The situation was rather beyond our limited street work experience and completely outside our control.

Another homeless man who had been led to the Lord at that same corner only two weeks previous, appeared beside me and prayed softly, "Lord Jesus, calm that man." Then he slipped back into the winter darkness.

John visibly calmed down, but he was still cursing loudly. A few minutes later a stranger stepped out of the crowd to holler, "Stop abusing these people!" He came close to John and shook his hand seriously, "I was a heroin addict and five years ago God changed me. I been clean for five years. God CAN change you." Then he too slipped away. John was stunned. That man had been his enemy and in fact stabbed him on that very street one time. And now he had just shaken John's hand in peace.

John was ready to listen now, and Louis started reading him Scripture. I was momentarily called aside, and when I turned back to Louis and John, John was quietly gripping Louis' Bible. He turned to me and said, "I was about to go buy a bottle of vodka and drink it. I'd be drinking it right now. But that verse changed me. I'm not going to do that now. I'm going to take this Bible and stay up all night reading it. It changed me." John wasn't saved, but he had experienced a bit of God's power to change, the power that moments before he had been cursing in defiance and disbelief. The verse was "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out."

John gave Louis a bear hug. Then he vanished into the cold night, the Bible tucked under his arm.

We breathed deep and said "Wow." God had just done something, and we had been privileged to see it. I was so glad I hadn't gone home for a cup of hot tea! "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

- by Liz Goebel

India is Like a Melody

I’ve heard it said that India is like a melody; once it enters your heart and mind, the pulsating rhythm of the song cannot be silenced. I didn’t believe it, until it happened to me.

What makes India so appealing? It could be the brightly-colored saris, and the intricately embroidered tapestries. Lovers of aromatic spices won’t be disappointed by India’s cuisine, and the forts and palaces are stunning in all of their royal grandeur. But sadly, for many in the western world, India’s song is the enticement of something different and exotic on a spiritual level. Many who have rejected the truth found in the Bible still long for spiritual reality in their lives. Hinduism, Buddhism, and other “isms” offer spirituality without the necessity of a savior, or an acknowledgement of man’s sinful nature. When in India, my heart breaks for the many westerners I meet who are headed for spiritual retreat centers known as ashrams, in futile attempts to find the truth.

Westerners are not the only ones in India searching for enlightenment. All of life in India is driven by a desire to seek and know God, on some level and in one form or another. Before 5:00 a.m., the Muslim call to prayer rings out over loud speakers, calling all Muslims to bow to Allah. This happens a total of five times every day, and even those of a different religion cannot help but hear the call to prayer and acknowledge, at least internally, the masses of people bowing in submission to their God.

Not to be outdone by the Muslims, brash reminders of Hinduism call out from every dirt road, highway, home and marketplace, with a blaring cacophony that makes it impossible to ignore the reality of India’s Hindu majority. As I walk the dusty, garbage-strewn streets to buy groceries, pay the electric bill, or even surf the Internet, my senses are bombarded by chants, numerous Hindu deities prominently displayed everywhere, and the fragrance of incense as it wafts through the air. Unlike the western world, religion is not compartmentalized in India; it is fused into every breath of every day. In spite of their dominant presence, India’s majority religions fail to satisfy the deepest cries of close to a billion seeking hearts.

So why, as a Christian, am I enthralled by India’s song? It’s because I can’t escape the reality of the 600 Hindus who die not every day, but every hour, without knowing Christ. As I eat with them, walk along the streets with them, and in the quiet stillness of the night look into their deeply questioning eyes, I also hear the song of the One who intimately knows each of us by name. India’s melody never stops, but neither does the redemptive song of the King of Kings who reaches out to each of us through the sweet melody of His love.

- by Rebecca Livermore

30 Days of Nothing

I just stumbled across what has become known as 30 Days of Nothing. For me, the exact dates are irrelevant; I did not begin on the first of September nor will I end on the thirtieth. The idea is one anyone can implement. As Tonia says, "The goal of this month-long fast is to break the grip of materialism in our hearts and minds. We want to live in gratitude, not discontent; and we want to live with awareness of the great responsibility our affluence has laid on our shoulders."

Fasting is a discipline which takes many forms. Some, like me, are physically unable to go without food for a week or a month, though the desire is there. The same earnestness and sacrifice, the same self-control and refinement of focus can be demonstrated in other types of fasts.

Tonia shares great ideas on how to involve children and open their eyes to life beyond Western culture. Washing clothes by hand, eating nothing but rice for a day, and sleeping together on the floor are all opportunities. For me, abstaining from certain activities that are simply pleasures like reading certain books and spending time online have disappeared for a season. I've let myself feel things that are not pleasant: sleepless nights, days without much food...

The past few weeks have been a great Test of my trust in the One who is sovereign over all--including the pain and suffering. Will I trust that He is enough and He is all, even when so little I see is good, or true, or beautiful? How much am I willing to risk for Him? To what lengths will I follow Him? Even to do that which appears foolish in the eyes of those around me? To give up what all sense says I should cling to?

There is no true security in these temporal tokens. There is no real assurance in a bank account or having a bed to sleep in. How far is too far? Where do you draw the line and say, "Here Lord I will go. But no further." Is it the thought of lifelong singleness? Continual poverty? Going hungry or lacking the stuff of life? Where is your line? If...or should I say when He asks you to cross it, will you be ready?

The post that made me weep is A person. For this. Be prepared though--it is not a comfortable read or sight. It is reality. It is a part of the suffering that comes with living in a sin-wracked, unjust world.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

Finding families for orphans

I first heard about Holt International at a concert in January. Back in 1955 after the Korean war, a couple with six children from Oregon petitioned for an act of Congress to allow them to adopt 8 orphans from Korea. Thus began Holt International, which has now placed over 60,000 orphans into loving families all over the world.

Not everyone can adopt a child, but one thing I can do as a single girl is provide the financial support for an orphan to receive food and medical care while waiting to be adopted. They have the opportunity to be in a loving home environment (foster families) until they are adopted. One of my close friends from Korea was placed by Holt years ago...when I learned this it made their work all the more real--it has changed lives of loved ones.

My little boy is Yue Ling from China. He turned 2 on May 3rd and he is so precious! He does not like dogs, is able to walk on his own now, and has the cutest little nose I've ever seen! I may not meet him on this earth, but for now he is mine to pray for and support. I thank God He has given me this opportunity to help "one of the least of these."

View the children waiting for a sponsor.

Picture: This little boy from East Asia is still waiting for a sponsor and then adoption. You can see him in the Holt photolisting by clicking on the link above.

Interview Part Four

On Relationships and Goals

If there is one person who has encouraged you in your spiritual walk more than others, who is it?

Jeannie: I’m blessed to have not just one person who has encouraged my spiritual walk, but several. My parents are the first on my list. Without question, they are the ones who have helped me the most. They have spent hours praying with and for me, counseling, encouraging, instructing, and nurturing this “babe in Christ.” Without their influence I would be in a sorry state, indeed!

I also have to mention two very special friends. Sonja and I grew up about a mile apart, but we didn’t become close friends until we reached college age! Over the past several years, we’ve gotten to know each other “inside out.” She’s married now and lives far away, but we’re still extremely close. (And I get to see her a few times a year when she comes home to visit her family!)

Sarah also lives far away. We’ve never met (or even talked on the phone!) but we have a very close friendship anyway. Both girls have challenged and encouraged me in my spiritual walk. They have taught me to look for what God is doing in my life, to think about what He’s teaching me, and to be honest with myself and others. Between the two of them and my mom, I’m held accountable, rebuked, encouraged, and refreshed.

Lanier: My wonderful husband. Without a doubt he has lived out the kind of Christian life I aspire to. I love his faith, his simple and unconditional confidence in God, his devotion to the Word. His example even before we were ‘together’ and later his loving encouragement have served to motivate me to get rid of immature ideas about God and besetting fears. I am unspeakably grateful. Truly, he ‘washes me with the water of the Word’…

Natalie: There is not one, but many. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, Sheldon Vanauken, John Piper, Elisabeth Elliot, John White, and Michael Phillips have held much influence. My parents certainly have challenged me for the past 22 years and had a more continual affect and encouragement than anyone else.

Lanier has been a wonderful mentor to me the past year; Mrs. Jennie Chancey had a huge influence on me through college years to the present. I have been blessed with brothers who have spurred me upwards and strengthened me in ways I can only thank God for. To pinpoint one person is impossible. I am richly blessed.

Besides being a wife and mother, what other desire/burden/passion do you have (i.e. abandoned children, spreading the gospel, having your own business, etc.)

Jeannie: I guess I would put it a bit differently. My primary calling and purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Living a life that pleases Him is my calling – being a wife and mother comes under the heading of desire/burden/passion. It is my desire, if God so wills, to be a submissive, supportive wife and a crown to my husband.

I also hope to be a mother and raise my children in godliness. I have a real passion for pouring my life into my husband and children – I can’t think of anything better! But I can’t say that’s my calling (for one thing, because I’m not married yet!). God may have other plans for me, and I know what He wants from me – full surrender, regardless of what my life looks like.

Elisabeth: Sharing the riches of Christ one-on-one and by my writing...sharing the rich insight-packed, adventure-filled place that is Israel with others the same way...seeing this world become "the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ," one heart at a time, through the power of prayer and the indwelling, lived-out Word.

Lanier: Writing. I have a deep desire to reach out through my words to ladies I’ll never meet and speak to their hearts of the goodness of God and the almost unbearable beauty and joy of life in Him.

Natalie: I think I shall always be involved in foreign missions and evangelism, in ministry to young women etc. simply because such is commanded in Scripture. It is all a part of living in the Kingdom and belonging to the Father. My especial burden is for needy children (Holt International, Samaritan's Purse, the persecuted church (Voice of the Martyrs), Islamic nations in the 10-40 window (Arab World Ministries, Malaga Media Center of Avant), China's underground church, and human trafficking and abuse (International Justice Mission). Click on all those organizations to go to their websites--they are fabulous and have tons of opportunities to get involved!

Sister Freaks

Sister Freaks by Rebecca St. James recounts "Stories of Women Who Gave Up Everything for God." Twelve weeks of daily devotionals with reflection pages make this a relevant, readable book for any young woman. Like a modern Foxes Book of Martrys tells of women throughout history, this book focuses on contemporary girls just like you and me. Eerily so. Some of the stories are ones I could plug my name into--or wish I could.

The stories range from that of Mary, mother of Jesus to Holly Davis, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute who became a missionary to Austria. Some of these women were murdered for their faith; some gave up love, home and family; some face persecution in Asia while others face persecution in America.

Rebecca writes: I struggle every day with the sense that I'm not strong enough, that I haven't done enough, that I've set my heart on the wrong things. But no matter how much I fail, I know God is right there, ready to strengthen me and help me become someone who is willing to take a stand. That's why I love these stories. Each one is about a young woman who took a great stand for God. Each one has made an effort to change the world, even if it's in a small way. But every one held true to God, and they all inspire me to live a bigger, greater life. (From the Introduction)

Though the title itself grates on one's ears, its message will sear your heart. The stories are too real, too contemporary to ignore. If you were challenged by publications such as Voice of the Martyrs or books like and Jesus Freaks and Hearts of Fire, you'll definitely want to pick up Sister Freaks.

The Gentleman in the Pith Helmet

"Are you a missionary?" my new friend asked me. We were sitting outside a cafe with Israelis hurrying to and fro on the sidewalk a few feet from our table. I thought fast. Where I live these days, "missionary" is a bad word. Usually it means a devious Christian who pays others money to stop being Jewish and join the Gentile (ie Christian) religion instead. "That depends what you mean by 'missionary,'" I said carefully...

What is a missionary? Should the word only conjure up images of a spinsterish lady with a screwed-back bun? Or perhaps a tall bearded gentleman with a white pith helmet? A colorful person who stands on his street-corned soapbox and hands out tracts to reluctant passers-by? An impassioned speaker to thousands?

Maybe. Or perhaps it is nothing so unusual or glamorous as you might think. Why not try looking in the mirror?

Every one of us is in the business of being ambassadors for Jesus to someone who doesn't know Him as well as we do: younger siblings, perhaps, or a struggling friend. I don't know about you, but every time I try to be an ambassador, I learn at least as much as I teach. Take my younger sisters, for instance. They have let me know in no uncertain terms that when they are hurting, they want a listening ear! In fact, the older I get, the more I suspect that a very large part of being an ambassador involves shutting my mouth. It means leaving the comfortable bubble of my own thoughts and opening my heart to the hurts and confusions of others.

Not that identifying with other people is anything new: it's exactly what Jesus did when He was here in this land, and He had no air-conditioned bus like I had when I first toured Israel. No, He walked, even when it was 108 degree weather in the hot, humid Galilee, where it rains dust when the weather blows in from the desert. He had no hotel-packed lunch: no spicy chicken, cookies, water, or fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. Just little barley loaves - probably slightly dusty and crumbled from the long hot walk, and a few dried fish from a little boy's lunch. And the culture shock? Forget transatlantic travel: would you like to adjust to life on earth after experiencing eternity? When Lazarus died, no golden-throne view of His friend's joyful entry into heaven. No, Jesus stood by the tomb, stuck in time - where you may miss a friend for years before you see him in heaven - and cried.

If that's what He does for me in my hurts and fears, it seems the least that I can do for the people I share the bus with...the people I share the sidewalk with...the people I share the classroom with. When I was first here, back when there were more frequent bombings, I froze whenever I heard a sonic boom...and only relaxed when I didn't hear a chorus of sirens rushing the wounded to the hospital near my house. Now, even though things seem much quieter, security is still high, and every time I walk into the mall or the grocery store, I let somebody search my bag.

But my physical safety is really the least of my worries. This is the most spiritual place I have ever lived in: it seems to attract both the kookiest and most heartfelt religious expressions you'll find anywhere. I've met Christians from all over the world who simply glow with the light of God, who exude the fragrance of closeness to Jesus. I've also met people from all over the world who are the most mixed up, the most spiritually and emotionally bruised and wounded. There are even Christians who identify so closely with the Jewish religion that they become willing to deny Jesus...

It's no wonder that I've been thinking a lot about the vital difference between identification and assimilation. Jesus identified with our hurts and needs at the same time that He lived and spoke in way that was radically different from the expectations of every single human being He interacted with.

Obviously, I have to find some way to be as different as He is, in the way that He is different. But how?

to be continued...

- Posted by Elisabeth Adams

Your random fact of the day

Question: How many stoplights are there in the country of Belize?

Answer: Three.

Fun Fact: Two of these stoplights are within one block of each other. My dad was driving through them and hit both on red.

P.S. Are not these children precious? My Dad took this while visiting a school in Belize last week. He should have brought a few home...

Global worship

I realized something this morning. I think everyone has a main personality trait that is a reflection of who God is. My friend J is an emotional well, very deep and sensitive. My friend E is outgoing and personable, making everyone feel loved and cheerful. I am introverted, but I can connect deeply with a person one-on-one. Andrew is mechanical, artistic, and can see the big picture. God is all that at once! We can't be. So God has given each of us an aspect of Him to reflect, and I think part of our role for this life is to do that as well as we can, and to learn more about God so we can reflect him better.

That's why I'm so fascinated with other cultures. When I lived in Chicago, I went to a church where white people were a definite minority. Unfortunately, we still managed to hold all the leadership offices in the church. I don't know how that happened. But anyway, I learned so much about heartfelt love for other Christians from the Filipinos there. White upper middle class Christians in the US miss that, somehow.

Papua New Guineans have no concept of time. They meet on a Sunday, sit on the concrete floor of a church, and stay there for hours. And hours. Singing, dancing, listening to the Word of God being read, listening to preaching, praying aloud all at once. It gives me chills to remember being there, the voices of a hundred PNG Christians throbbing in my ears as we all prayed aloud at the same time.

African Christians celebrate freedom. Latin American Christians celebrate joy. Chinese Christians celebrate God's provision. Filipino Christians celebrate togetherness. American Christians celebrate learning. And every time I am with each of those different cultures, the importance of each of those aspects of the Christian life is impressed upon me anew. I can't hold all that in me at once though! So I keep going back for more.

That's why I can't live in the United States the rest of my life. I experience God through the way other people have learned to celebrate Him. Oh, I can't wait to go again!

- by Valerie Cummins

Should we support End of the Spear?

"If as a film company we could only work with people who were completely sanctified then the film would never have been made."
-director and writer Jim Hanlon in a statement provided to World Net Daily

Should we support "End of the Spear"? Instead of just stating a personal opinion or linking to those of the same denomination/opinion/whatever, I gathered the writings of some of the leaders in the conservative (in ethics, politics, standards of living) Christian world and hope that you will take time to consider their perspectives.

Avant is supporting "End of the Spear" and as such we've had a few people shocked or upset because Chad Allen is gay. What they don't know is the whole story behind Chad Allen being retained as the lead actor once Every Tribe Entertainment discovered he was homosexual (I heard this straight from the Saints so I'm choosing to believe them...you can think what you like). They did not know he was gay when he was cast (see World Net Daily below).

Once Every Tribe found out Chad Allen was gay they went straight to Steve Saint. They told him, look we both know getting out of a contract with an actor is next to impossible, but you say the word and we will do whatever it takes. If you don't want Chad Allen portraying your father, tell us. Steve told them it was all right. He knows the underlying truth: God is going to use this. He will get all the glory, not homosexual actors or promiscuous cameramen or judgmental Christians or any other sinful creature on this earth (that includes all of us). God gets all the glory.

From World Net Daily's article "Controversy Swirls":

ETE President Bill Ewing told WorldNetDaily he was not even aware of Allen's homosexuality, let alone his activism, when the actor was chosen for the part. However, he said, the bottom line is that "Chad gave, by far, the best audition."

Some Christians might be offended by Allen's role, Saint realized, but "I thought, 'What happens if I stand before God someday and He says to me, "Steve, I went out of my way to orchestrate an opportunity for Chad Allen to see what it would be like to live as your father did."' And then I could picture Him looking at me and saying, 'Steve, why did you mess with my plan?'"

Janz insists Every Tribe Entertainment was aware of Allen's activism when he was picked for the part...Ewing denies that, and insists Steve Saint also was not aware. Furthermore, he said, Allen made a gentleman's agreement with Every Tribe Entertainment to not use his association with the film as a platform for promoting homosexual rights.

Click here to read Focus on the Family's review of "End of the Spear"

From Gene Cranach of World Magazine:
(Click here for part 2 and part 3)

Finally, a movie comes out that carries the Gospel as its theme, that presents Christians and even missionaries in a positive light, that shows how Christianity can transform a culture. And yet CHRISTIANS are boycotting it because it has a gay actor.

People, actors make no difference to the story! Actors are people who perform characters and recite lines that someone else has written for them. I agree that this gay actor now opening his mouth should not have been hired, but I doubt that the filmmakers knew his sexual orientation when they cast him or, since this is the first venture of a tiny, Oklahoma-based Christian company founded by a man who himself is so conservative he never even went to movies, were wise to the ways of Hollywood. If this had been made by the secular movie industry, such as those that made the Narnia movie, would there be such an outcry? If one of the actors in the Narnia movie were gay--as I'm sure must be the case--would that lessen the positive impact of the movie?

I noticed NO ONE commented on my story about "The End of the Spear." Lots of you commented on the gay actor post, nearly all of you saying that having him in the movie does taint it for you. But there is nothing pro-gay in the movie, nothing negative, only morality, inspiration, and truth.

Our local newspaper did not deign to review the movie, probably because of its Christian content. We can expect the secularists to ignore it. If Christians refuse to see it because of a single casting decision, oblivious to the story as a whole, then that will be the end of the movie and probably other movies with an explicit Christian message that could follow, if this one were a success. That, of course, plays into the hands of those who oppose Christianity, including the gay militants. Such an outcome would be a shame.

Click here to request a copy of Avant's latest magazine featuring "End of the Spear"

Click here for a viewer's guide to the movie from Avant Ministries