BE BOLD

Journal entries from Chris Snodgrass, who participated in the Brazil Mission Trip in September 2023.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

I’m standing at the front of a group of men that have gathered, about 15 in total. They are sitting in plastic outdoor chairs that have been placed in a semi-circle on dusty, dry earth with chickens and dogs walking amongst our circle as we converge. It’s a sweltering September afternoon; the temperature was supposed to reach 112 degrees today. My best guess - the ages of these men range from early 20s to mid-70s. And each one has their attention focused on me as Pastor Djard tells me it’s my turn.

I take a beat to gather myself, shooting a quick prayer to God, please use this as an opportunity for someone to connect with You; let Your words speak from my lips. And then taking a calming breath, I begin. I share my story. Well, really, it’s His story.

Sunday, February 12, 2023 (7 months earlier)

My wife, Allison, and I find our seats at Faith Cedar Lake. We arrived a few minutes early and I’m reviewing the pre-service slides that appear on the screens in the worship center. There is a “Brazil Mission Trip” information slide, which catches my attention. I’ve never sought out a mission trip before, but I also can’t recall a time one was staring me right in the face. I instinctively think, “I think I’d really like to be part of that team.”

Once announcements are underway - and the Brazil Mission Trip is being talked about - I glance my eyes over to Allison, who is already looking right at me. She whispers, “You want to do this, don’t you?”

No joking in her tone. No “heck no” intonation in her voice. It’s like God gave us married thoughts.

When we get in the car, I bring the topic up for discussion, and she interrupts with, “Chris, don’t even think about it, just do it.” I knew she meant don’t overanalyze it, so I didn’t. I jumped in with both feet!

Some backstory

I was born into a Baptist household. It was my lifestyle up until my freshman year in high school. Our family had a falling out with the church. My understanding is that my father had lost his job and reached out to our church for financial support so my siblings and I could continue to attend private school, and he was turned away.

And it almost seemed that with time, we turned away from God. For me personally, it wasn’t that I ever stopped believing in Him, but rather, I was living a life that served me. And it was in that style of living that I describe that period of my life as chaos. I knew I was making choices in my life that weren’t pleasing to God. I had a pretty rough marriage that ended in divorce. My ex moved our sons to a town several hours away and I saw my kids about once a month.

After a while I knew in order to get my life back on track, I needed to be surrounded by other believers. It was my childhood in the church that my memories kept taking me back to. I began attending Crossroads in Schererville and later joined their Saturday morning men’s group. It was this group of men, my brothers in Christ, who drew me in and helped me turn my life around. They were relatable. They walked alongside me. They didn’t make me feel judged or unworthy.

I rebuilt my relationship with God. I became the type of man who could have a Christian marriage. I became a brother in Christ. I learned that serving others was important to me. I became bold in my faith. And it’s where God laid on my heart that He wanted to use me, His story of my life, to encourage other men in their walk.

And one of those opportunities came when Allison and I were on a journey to seek out a new church and found a home with Faith Cedar Lake. In serving at the church and joining small groups, I could relate and share my story with other men I was creating community with. Another opportunity came in the form of being selected for the Brazil Mission Trip that Faith Church was sending September 23-30, 2023.

Along the Amazon River in Brazil

There are roughly 40 people on the Medical Mission Boat in Brazil: 6 crew team members, 12 local team members from the Presbyterian Church of Manaus (including pastors and translators), and the 20 of us from Faith Church.

We are told that there are essentially four serving teams. Aside from the Medical Team, we will each serve on one team in the morning and potentially a different team in the afternoon.

> Medical Team: Doctors and nurses stayed on the boat during the day, serving the people of the community as they line up with their needs.

> Evangelism: The village leader will arrange for us to meet in various homes within the community; visits are not unannounced. Small groups of 2-3 (a pastor and team member) will meet with household members. The pastor will share God’s Word and the testimony of the team member, if applicable. We will offer a time for questions and prayer requests.

> VBS (AM-Kids; PM-Teens): It will be hosted much like a morning in Faith Kids, with a story, time of worship, crafts and other activities.

> Women’s / Men’s Groups: Similar to a small group gathering at Faith Church. Time will be spent in fellowship, being intentional with the people who attend. These are ideal opportunities for us to share God stories, to give support and encouragement.

Monday, September 25

That cliche about stepping out of your comfort zone and learning something about yourself, it’s entirely true. Today we got off the Boat for the first time since boarding. In the morning I served on a VBS Team for kids; I was the only adult male amongst the group. It was during a time of worship that I had a comfort zone moment. The worship song included synchronized hand motions, like they do in Faith Kids. I was standing off to the side with my arms crossed, taking it in, getting my bearings. I serve on the security team at Faith Cedar Lake so the best way I can describe my demeanor is “assessing the room and keeping watch.”

It was then that God spoke very profoundly that I wasn’t there to observe but to do. I was to be an example of a man comfortable enough to be bold in his worship. So that’s what I did - I found a resemblance of a rhythm and started mimicking the motions. I began singing aloud. My focus shifted to encouraging the young boys around me that it was ok, better yet cool, to worship God.

Something stands out to me, daily

I have been serving daily alongside Pastor Djard, whether we visit with villagers in their homes or hosting small groups. He has also been serving as my translator, which I’ve been so thankful for. We speak with men in the villages we visit, hear the hardships, challenges, troubles they face or things they are struggling with. And I was honestly surprised to learn that much of what I hear is the same things being shared back home. I am taken back. Drinking problems. Marriage troubles. Financial troubles. Concerns of sexual abuse. Promiscuity with teenagers - and even STDs.

In reflection, as our team prepared for this trip, we each took turns sharing our testimonies - and I’m so thankful we had that practice because in many of the conversations Pastor Djard and I have had with the men we met with, I feel like there are parts of me that can relate. Because Pastor Djard knows much of what I’ve shared by now, he quickly understands when I ask to relate by sharing snippets of my own story, in hopes of encouraging them. It makes me think of when I joined the men’s group for the first time - and now God is putting me in a position to relate, offer encouragement, and speak truth, like my brothers had done for me.

Pastor Djard and I want the men we speak with to know why it’s so important for God to remain in their life and the importance of having people walk alongside and encourage them, to build one another up.

And so on that day (September 28)

A pastor-friend once told me, “People might hear you more than they hear me in my position as a pastor. It’s not about what church you attend [or ministry you are a part of], it’s about having a relationship with God and sharing that with others.”

And so on September 28 (i.e. the opening paragraph), I told this group of about 15 my story - how in falling away from God, my life became disarray; how finding solid Christian men to talk with and learn from doesn’t make you weak; how even if you are embarrassed or ashamed about things you’ve done, God’s grace is sufficient; how expressing yourself to God whether through lifted arms in praise or bent knees and tears, you are still a man.

After sharing the words God gave me, two older gentlemen came to stand before me. They pointed at my chest and looked up toward the heavens. And then they covered their hearts with their palms, nodding in silent agreement. It was so moving - to know they saw Christ in me.

Be Bold

Thank you for allowing this opportunity to share a portion of my life with you. The Brazil Mission Trip stretched me. Challenged me. Strengthened my relationship with God. Assured me. Taught me. I stand in greater awe of God, who knows each of us by name.

My closing words are simply to say, be bold for Christ. Be bold in sharing His story of your life. Never underestimate how God will use you to transform the world one relationship at a time.

In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. - Ephesians 3:12