contents
On Mission highlights missionaries, chaplains and churches working to reach North America and the world for Christ. On Mission is a publication of the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). NAMB is a SBC entity supported by the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.® The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.® Postmaster: Send address changes to: On Mission, North American Mission Board, PO Box 292, Williamsport, PA 17703-0292. Because of your valued support of the Cooperative Program, we are able to offer you a free copy of On Mission. To subscribe, call toll free 800-431-7571 or visit namb.net/ OnMission. On Mission grants permission for any original article to be photocopied for educational or church use. Include the following credit: “Used by permission of On Mission, North American Mission Board, ©2020.” For special requests, email us at help@namb.net or call 800-634-2462.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell
Art Director Shawn Elledge
Executive Vice President Carlos Ferrer
Designer Steve Beaver
Chief Marketing Officer Adam Hollingsworth
Photo Editor Gentry Parks
Senior Creative Director Adam Bain
Section Editor Tony Hudson
Editor K. Faith Morgan Wroten
On Mission Magazine 4200 North Point Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022
Associate Editors Gabriel Stovall Shardavia Walker
Contributors Matt Carson Hayley Catt Claudine Chaussé Daniel Delgado Mary Elliff Kara Fulks Peg Jones Kirk Kirkland Jason Lagi Meredith Lyons Ben Mandrell Tobin Perry Vance Pitman Jonathan Santiago Colleen Smith Harold Smith III Sandy Wisdom-Martin Meredith Yackel
© 2020 ON MISSION
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spring 2 020
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2 President’s Letter
4 The Pulse
9 Because You Give
10 The Five
12 Q&A
14 Neighborhood Portrait: Toronto
16 GenSend stories 22 A beautiful day for a neighbor 30 Beauty and brokenness 22 40 The mission field is America 48 Freedom from spiritual complacency
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52 Recommended
56 My Turn
57 Now What?
Your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter OfferingÂŽ give missionaries the resources they need to spread the gospel across North America. Give online at AnnieArmstrong.com/Give. volume 23 | number 2
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presi dent’s letter
All about the gospel By Kevin Ezell, NAMB president (@kevezell)
I
t’s amazing what can be accomplished with a singular focus. Acts 17:6 contains one of my favorite lines in all the New Testament: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”
Doesn’t that just say everything about the effect believers should have when they bring the gospel to a community? It should turn everything upside down. That kind of impact can’t happen if the gospel is just one of dozens of issues on which we are focused. We have to make it all about the gospel in our lives and our churches. This is the message and the ministry our missionaries are taking into the under-reached and under-served places in North America. It’s not just a message that “Jesus will make your life better,” or “Jesus can help make things more bearable.” The message is: “Jesus will change everything.” Many of us who have been in the church for most of our lives can forget just how revolutionary Jesus is and how desperately people need Him. When you invited Him into your life, you weren’t just downloading a software upgrade; you were swapping out for a whole new unit. Every day our missionaries are ministering to people who have reached the end of themselves and the end of the things the world offers as a solution. Some have lost everything and are desperate for new life. Others have it all but can no longer bear the hollowness in their hearts. For them, and everyone in between, our missionaries are bringing hope and the life change that only Jesus offers. You may feel like your circumstances or the circumstances of our world seem hopeless. Maybe all you can see
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is darkness. Maybe a close friend or relative just isn’t responding to the gospel. You’ve prayed; you’ve shared the message of Christ’s salvation. Still, you see little change. I have great news for you—Jesus is still in the business of turning the world upside down. He still makes lives right. He’s doing it every day. He can and will use your circumstances for good. He can radically save your friends and family. Don’t forget how powerful and how good God is. Just continue to be faithful in prayer and obedient to what God has commanded you to do through His Word.
Find missionary stories and offering resources at AnnieArmstrong.com.
HAVE YOU ADDED YOUR TO THE MAP? Imagine the impact if every Christian had ONE person they prayed for and shared the gospel with. Who are you committing to pray for? 3
Join thousands of others in praying for your ONE. Visit WhosYourOne.com to add your ONE to the map.
#WhosYour1
the pulse
Measured Single vs. married A 2017 Barna study showed that the average age for marriage in the United States is 27 for women and 29 for men, up from 20 and 22 in the 1960s. A 2019 study listed the most popular cities for both Christian singles and married Christians. Here are the top five cities for each.
Sunday attendance According to a 2019 Barna poll, just over half of Christians
Christian singles
between the ages 18-35 attend church at least once a
1. New York, NY
attend, and 44% feel attending church is not an essential
month. Ten percent of Christians said they no longer
2. Boston-Manchester, MA
part of their faith.
3. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Source: Barna.com, November 13, 2019
4. Las Vegas, NV 5. Washington, D.C.
Married Christians 4
1. Lansing, MI
The decline of giving According to the Charities Aid Foundation, the United States is ranked first in regards to giving and
2. Toledo, OH
Canada is ranked as the sixth. They also noted that
3. Boise, ID
both countries peaked in 2014 and have been on a
4. Baton Rouge, LA 5. Yakima-Pasco-RichlandKennewick, WA Source: Barna.com, 2017 and 2019
steady decline since. Source: Charities Aid Foundation, 2019
Heard We realized we didn’t have to do it alone. Now we are part of a wider community and family, and we know we’re better together.”
Global good news
G
lobally, Christianity is growing faster than the population. Christianity is growing at a
1.27% rate, while the world’s population is growing at a 1.20% rate. In 1900, only 5.5% of non-Christians knew a Christian, while today that has grown to
Kirk Kirkland, AAEO church planting missionary, on affiliating with SBC
18.9%.
Source: AnnieArmstrong.com
Source: LifeWay Facts & Trends, 2019
In the South, we have the Bible Belt. In Seattle, people call Roosevelt, the neighborhood where we’re planting, the Metaphysical Belt. 96% of the people here don’t attend an evangelical church. It’s really well-known for New Age and Eastern religion.” Dave Elliff, AAEO church planting missionary, on planting a church in the Northwest
Millennials & feelings One in four (23%) respondents between the ages of 18-35 to a recent Barna poll admitted that they encounter feelings of loneliness and isolation. Source: Barna.com, October 15, 2019
Source: AnnieArmstrong.com
People might think it’s strange for missionaries like us to leave our country and come to America, but I think we need to shift our thinking. The mission field is here.” Mojic Baldandorj, AAEO church planting missionary, on moving to the United States to plant a church Source: AnnieArmstrong.com
Pastoral role
E
ighty-four percent of pastors agree they are on call 24 hours a day. Eighty percent expect
for conflict to happen at their church, and 54% say their role as pastor is frequently overwhelming. However, only 1% of pastors abandon the pulpit every year. Source: FactsAndTrends.net, July 10, 2019
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the pulse
Top verses of 2019 According to YouVersion, these are the top 10 verses that were either bookmarked, shared or highlighted in 2019. Source: YouVersion, 2019; Facts and Trends, 2019
TOP TEN
1 John 3:16 2 Jeremiah 29:11 3 Psalm 23:4 4 Philippians 4:13 5 Romans 8:28
6 Romans 12:2 7 Psalm 23:6 8 Psalm 23:5 9 Psalm 23:1 10 Psalm 23:3
Evangelical adjectives
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hen asked to identify adjectives that best describe the evangelical community,
Barna Research found that 37% of all U.S. adults
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selected “religiously conservative,” and 27% selected “politically conservative.” Favorable perceptions
Harder than expected
included caring (23%) and hopeful (22%), while not so
A 2017 Barna poll found that about one-third of
favorable terms included narrow-minded (21%) and
leaders say launching a new congregation was
homophobic (17%).
harder than expected. Three quarters of church
Source: Barna.com, November 21, 2019
planters also agreed that launching a new location provided more opportunities for lay leader development. Source: Barna.com, February 2, 2017
Noted The world’s greatest problem According to Barna, young adults who are
Multiracial couples
not religious are most likely to see climate
A 2017 poll from Pew Research Center reported
change as the greatest problem for the
39% of respondents said interacial marriage
world’s future (46%), while respondents
was good for society, up from 24% in 2010. The
with a closer relationship with religion were
poll also reported that only 10% would oppose
less likely to share these environmental
a family member marrying someone from a
views (27% Christians, 26% other faiths).
different race or ethnicity, down from 31% in 2000.
Source: Barna, 2019
Source: PewResearchCenter.org, June 12, 2017
Foster care alumni
A
The Church & orphan care A survey from LifeWay in 2018 found that about
ccording to data from the Juvenile Law Center, there
4 in 19 Protestant churchgoers say their congre-
are 437,500 children in America’s foster care system.
gation is involved in foster care and adoption.
One quarter of foster care alumni will become involved with
Nondenominational churchgoers are the most
the criminal justice system within two years of leaving care,
likely to know someone in their congregation to
and youth placed in group homes are 2.5 times more likely to
adopt a child in the United States (25%) followed
get involved in the justice system.
by Baptists (15%) and Lutherans (12%).
Source: Juvenile Law Center, 2018
Source: LifeWay.com, January 24, 2018
Church kids Evangelical sermons Ninety-three percent of evangelical sermons refer to a New Testament book while 66% refer to a book from the Old Testament. Historically, black Protestant churches are also extremely likely to mention a book of the Bible (94%), but also favor referring to books in the New Testament (85%) compared to the Old Testament (65%). Source: LifeWay Facts & Trends, 2019
Nearly six in 10 highly engaged Christian parents considered children’s ministry as the primary factor in their decision to become members of their current church. Children of married parents are more likely to attend church (64%) than children of single parents (51%). Source: Barna, February 2020
No new leaders One in four U.S. pastors say that “lack of leadership training and development” is a major concern they have for their church. Source: Barna, February 2020
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NEW PODCAST WITH
SHANE PRUITT
LISTEN TODAY REACH, DISCIPLE AND MOBILIZE THE NEXT GENERATION #NextGenOnMission
Subscribe at namb.net/Evangelism or on your favorite podcast app
the pulse
Because you gıve… GenSend
In 2019, your gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® supported 1,065 college students from 32 states as they served on mission over their school breaks through GenSend.
73,000 1,700 85 98% 27%
Participants logged nearly 73,000 hours of service. They reported 1,700 gospel conversations. More than 85 church plants and church planters were served in the summer. 98% of participants rated overall experience “good or very good.” 27% said they would move back to the city where they served post-college to continue ministering.
Thank you for your gifts to help students learn to live on mission! Help students reach more people for Christ by giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com.
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the five
By Kirk Kirkland
5 reasons why I’m Southern Baptist
A planter’s journey from isolation in nondenominational ministry to supported and encouraged SBC pastor.
1 A friend’s advice
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they answered my questions with patience and authenticity. With an informed understanding of what cooperation looked like, and with a new pair of mentors, I had the tools to inform my decision.
3 Strong theology I met Jesus and was discipled in churches that
Three years into our church plant in Cincinnati, I felt
began in response to theological liberalism. Those
rejected, isolated and afraid. I needed to change
pastors exercised their autonomy and decided to
direction, but I didn’t have a clue where to begin.
bail out of the denomination. I learned that some
A friend recommended I meet with his pastor
within the SBC decided to bail water and save
who had been on a similar journey. After listening
a sinking ship. I learned about the Conservative
compassionately for nearly two hours, that pastor
Resurgence, and my ecclesiological isolation
encouraged me to consider joining the Southern
and fears were put to death the first time I
Baptist Convention and partnering with the North
read the Baptist Faith and Message. Finally,
American Mission Board’s church planting arm,
I could hang my hat on a statement of faith
Send Network. He helped empower me to think
that I wholeheartedly agreed with and find
for myself and take the next step.
unity among other churches of like faith with-
2 NAMB field staff I sat at a restaurant with crossed arms and a
out the demand for uniformity.
4 Racism repented
skeptical mind, intently listening to the local Send
As a part of this process, I needed to lead our
City Missionary and Church Planting Catalyst talk
young, urban, multiethnic church plant to an official
through the process of becoming an endorsed
congregational vote to join the SBC. This was a
planter with Send Network. I asked every tough
difficult conversation, and I didn’t want to lose three
question I had. Without becoming defensive,
years of credibility, but I also didn’t want to look for
a shortcut by downplaying a past on the wrong side of slavery and racism. It wasn’t comfortable, but I watched God change the hearts of the people in the room when I read the resolution made in 1995 about the public acknowledgement and repentance of those sins. Once it came time to vote, 100% of the members decided to join the SBC.
5 Mission emphasis Three years later, our church is more engaged on mission than ever. Last year was the largest year for our plant in giving to the Cooperative Program (CP), Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. We are so grateful to have a part in what God is doing around the world. Before we joined the SBC, I was skeptical about CP giving. Now it is our favorite check to issue! But it’s more than writing a check. It’s our desire for a sending culture, and we are excited to someday see some of our own join the ranks of NAMB and the IMB missionaries. It was God’s mission that led me to the SBC, and it’s the advancement of that mission around the world that will keep me! Kirk Kirkland is a 2020 Annie Armstrong missionary.
Learn more about Kirk’s church planting journey at AnnieArmstrong.com.
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I want to encourage my church to give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO), but most in my church won’t know that name. How can I promote giving apart from using the official name? 12
— Senior pastor, western United States
Find resources to get your church engaged in the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com.
Peg Jones
I
n 125 years, our SBC family has given more than $1 billion to reach North
America, tranforming countless lives.
Sandy Wisdom-Martin
T
he gifts from your church are not just a small pebble in an obscure,
quiet pool. Your sacrificial gifts join the
Ben Mandrell
A
s a church planter with NAMB, I saw firsthand what can happen
when churches partner together. The
That’s an amazing testimony to our pas-
ripples of others creating a tsunami of
founding and growth of our church was a
tors and churches and their sacrificial giv-
evangelistic efforts for the sake of the
miracle, and it could not have happened
ing, so thank you for joining that legacy!
gospel in North America. When congre-
without the generous support of South-
gants fail to understand the cooperative
ern Baptists. We wanted to give back and
Pastors structure giving to AAEO many
efforts of Southern Baptists, they increas-
help start other churches.
ways. For many, that is an Easter cam-
ingly focus their endeavors and missions
paign using the promotional resources at
dollars on themselves.
AnnieArmstrong.com. These pastors typi-
We began the Extra Stocking Christmas Offering. We encouraged every family
cally lead congregations that have history
One of the benefits of collecting the
to hang an extra stocking and fill it with
with the offering and its namesake, or
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is
loose change and extra money that came
they educate the congregation on the
taking the opportunity to communicate
in unexpectedly. That stocking repre-
roots of the offering and its purpose.
the big picture to your church. We can
sented missions both locally and globally.
Other pastors promote a “missions” or
do more together than alone. Use the
When families brought their stockings to
“church planting” offering during the
occasion to share the compelling histori-
church, we divided the offering between
year and designate all or a portion of it
cal narrative of mission pioneers whose
AAEO, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offer-
to the AAEO. They may or may not pro-
faith-filled and courageous lives enabled
ing and local nonprofits.
mote the offering’s official name.
Southern Baptists to take the gospel to all 50 states and beyond. Church
Our church could not have launched
Whatever strategy you choose to
members will be inspired by the stories
without the support of NAMB, AAEO
encourage giving, we’re grateful for your
of Annie and others as well as challenged
and the churches that gave collectively
support. We’re also here to help with free
to make sacrificial kingdom investments
to get us started. We felt indebted, and
promotional resources at our website or
in the current settings of our Judea and
honored, to pay it forward.
by contacting help@namb.net.
Samaria. Ben Mandrell is president and CEO of
Peg Jones is the chief development offi-
Sandy Wisdom-Martin is executive
LifeWay Christian Resources and former
cer at the North American Mission Board.
director-treasurer for the national WMU.
church planter.
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Toronto
n e igh bor h ood portrai t
W
e used to have to go to church an hour away,” Danny Zambrano remembers.
When he was a teen, Danny and his family lived in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, and as best as they could tell, there were no Hispanic churches nearby. According to church planter J.D. Fasolino, they were probably correct. New life
People from 12 countries attend Emmanuel Baptist Church East. “Reaching Hispanics here doesn’t just impact this neighborhood,” J.D. says. “People go back to their countries and share the gospel.”
“Scarborough is like Chinatown,” he remembers. “My first thought when I moved there was, ‘I’m probably the only Hispanic living here.’” Several years ago, J.D. and his family left Venezuela and came to this part of Toronto to start a Hispanic church in the nearby community of Ajax. That’s how the Zambranos and Fasolinos accidentally, serendipitously met.
Danny Zambrano also helps lead worship. “I don’t like public speaking. But in a brand-new church, there are so many needs,” he says. “Here, God has grown me beyond what I could’ve ever imagined.”
“Here, there’s a Koreatown, a Chinatown and a Greektown but there’s no Hispanictown,” Fasolino says. “And yet Hispanics are all over the place. You just have to know where to look.” Danny, who was J.D.’s first baptism and now leads the church’s youth ministry, is thankful J.D. found him—so thankful, he’s now thinking about attending seminary. That’s because at his new church, he’s learned what teenagers everywhere really need.
New work
The church was only three years old when they launched another Hispanic church. “I never thought it would happen that fast,” J.D. says. “But we’d prayed about it since day one, and God did it.”
“Everyone needs a church close to them,” he says. “We’ve got to have more churches here. And any way I can be involved, I’m available 100%.”
To see and hear more stories about how God is using your gifts to reach Hispanics in Toronto, go to AnnieArmstrong.com.
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PHOTOS BY CLAUDINE CHAUSSÉ AND DANIEL DELGADO
New responsibility
“My mom was in our apartment’s gym,” Danny remembers. “And she heard someone playing Spanish Christian music.” In Toronto, that’s how God starts churches like Emmanuel Baptist Church East.
Produced by K. Faith Morgan Wroten
W
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hat would it look like for a generation of collegiate Christians to live their lives on mission? What would happen if this generation leveraged their careers, their majors and the places they live for the sake of the gospel and for the needs of their neighbors? GenSend helps students find opportunities to serve over a summer in urban cities and rural environments. GenSend connects them to church planters as well as refugees and others in need in the community. Ultimately, it is all about being the hands and feet of Christ and taking the gospel to those who need to hear the good news of a great Savior.
GenSend summer is really about missionary development. We’ve got to get into our heads that everyone who is a follower of Christ is a missionary. It’s a command—not an option. The where, the how—that’s a specific calling. The command to be one is not an option. So, what better time to develop those life-on-mission skills than in a summer of your college? And where better to do that than an area with a strategic need for the gospel?” – Steve Turner, senior director of Next Gen Mobilization at NAMB
We can’t teach what GenSend does. We can say, ‘Live on mission,’ but GenSend teaches it through experience. GenSenders come back, and they’re more mature. They understand their faith. They understand the mission. They understand church planting and how to contextualize. They understand how to point out idols in a city. It just is an amazing thing. I will always champion GenSend.” – Billy Judge, college pastor
There’s no job that would have taught me the things that I learned during GenSend—how to live out my faith after college, the everyday struggles that people (especially church planters) have in the city. GenSend has changed the trajectory of my life. It has changed the trajectory of how I’ll one day raise my kids. It has even changed the trajectory of what I’m looking for in a spouse. It has changed my understanding of the importance of living your life on mission.” – Bri M.
GenSend challenged me, and it showed me how simple—not easy, but simple—it is to live missionally and how to be the church in regular, everyday life. GenSend sent me back to the University of South Carolina and ignited me to realize my mission field is where my feet are. It’s where my bed is. It’s where my house is. I need to be missional in those places. And so just through prayer, I think the things that I learned in GenSend are what moved me to realize if I want to reach people, I have to live among them, I have to love them, and I have to be one of them.” – Iman B.
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My first Sunday at Clarkston, I remember the sermon was all about, “God with us,” and everybody went around the room and said, “God with us” in their home language. It was just so beautiful to hear God is with us no matter our skin color, no matter what language we speak, no matter our background, no matter what we’ve been through. God is here with us. He unites us, and the gospel unites us all. GenSend also showed me that ministry is not always just going to a place and doing a VBS for a week and then coming home. Ministry is missional living, and we’re all called to that. Yes, Clarkston is a place where you live missionally, but we can say that about any place. Ministry is where our feet are.” – Emma C.
We have been loved by Christ. Therefore, we are seeking to love our neighbor. And loving our neighbor, yes, that means meeting their physical needs. But more than that, we’re there to meet their spiritual needs. We’re there to get to know the people, to grieve with them, to laugh with them, to talk with them and to love them in whatever ways that looks like. And so that’s just my prayer for those that do GenSend in Puerto Rico—for those that even think about Puerto Rico. I pray they think about the people who are there, consider all that they’ve been through, all that they will continue to go through after we leave and to love them.” – Derek R.
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Our generation has the opportunity to be equipped and made into disciples like never before. In the end, it is all about being the hands and feet of Christ and taking the gospel to those who need to hear the good news of a great Savior.” – Trevor F.
The gospel is being proclaimed in Puerto Rico, and we get to play a small part in it. God is so cool.” – Meredith L.
GenSend is the second-best decision I have ever made, the first being when I gave my life to Christ. What I have learned on this trip is what Christian hospitality looks like, what it means to put my worth in Christ rather than people, that when you pray for God to break you, it will happen and a ton more! I have a reestablished fire for sharing the gospel with people, but I have learned more about how to genuinely build relationships with people and show them love! I have learned that living on mission is so simple and can be done anywhere.” – Bradley D.
The Lord worked in so many ways this summer, and I was blessed to be a small part of it. I was challenged. I was taught. I was pushed. And I was so loved. Puerto Rico will forever have a small piece of my heart.” – Sarah S.
I can honestly say that GenSend in New Orleans this summer was one of the best experiences in my life. I’ve grown closer to God and done a lot of self-evaluation. I experienced strong Christian community and witnessed how God is doing great things in New Orleans. These past six weeks have helped shape my future.” – Jon S.
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What a wild ride. GenSend helped me become a better leader, learn to ask for help and see that God is glorified in my weaknesses! I got to participate in an amazing community of believers who were all focused on furthering the kingdom of God and lifting each other up!” – Dillon H.
GenSend Pittsburgh was absolutely incredible. I watched and experienced the true body of Christ at work in the church, in the Send Relief center and on every street in the city. What an honor to do ministry with men and women who just truly love Jesus and people!” – Katie H.
This summer has opened my eyes to meeting people where they are. Christians are supposed to lead the way in love. As a Christian, I am called to be gracious and love all. This summer has not only challenged me in many ways, it has strengthened me to trust the Holy Spirit and lean on God. What I’ve learned this summer in New York will last a lifetime. Love God. Love people.” – Allie M.
I asked a few of my friends what was the most surprising thing that they learned while they were here in New York on mission. Each one gave a different answer. Isn’t it funny and cool how God can put people in the exact same situation and teach all of them a different lesson? Each of those lessons teach of God’s glory.” – Hannah L.
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This isn’t a team; it’s a family.” – Anna P.
Follow along with GenSenders this summer on social media using the hashtag #GenSendStory
We are excited to announce that Bryant Wright, who in December retired as longtime senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, and is founder of Right from the Heart Ministries, will serve as president of Send Relief. Bryant has consistently demonstrated a heart for the lost and led his church to be among the top missions-giving and missionary-sending churches in the SBC, and he’ll bring that same passion to global compassion ministry. Join us in praying for God to further the kingdom through the work of Send Relief in the days ahead.
SendRelief.org
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A beautiful for a day
neighbor
S By Gabriel Stovall
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ometimes, it’s hard to tell where Vintage Church ends and the Send Relief Pittsburgh Ministry Center begins. And that’s exactly what Vintage Church pastor Rob Wilton and Pittsburgh Send Relief Missionary Adam Sewell wanted.
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PHOTOS BY DANIEL DELGADO
Every single homeless person who came into our ministry center was impacted by our church, and every person who came to worship on Sunday left knowing about Send Relief and the ministry center.” Rob Wilton, Vintage Church pastor
W
hen Vintage began holding services
serves as a point place for feeding and clothing
at its Mount Washington location last
ministries.
year, Adam knew that the surround-
ing community had history with the facility—one
Now, with most of the renovations completed, Vin-
that he and Wilton would have to overcome.
tage Church is back in its regular worship digs on the building’s top floor, allowing the ministry center
“Everybody knows what that space was,” Adam
to occupy the full basement. But that’s really the
says. “It was a dirty, old church with a dirty, old
only thing separating the work of the two.
church basement. It was gross.” “Even though we’re in our sanctuary now, the Rob and Adam joined forces to build both a church
vast majority of people know what we’re offering
and a Send Relief ministry center and renovate
downstairs,” Adam says. “Back in October, it was a
the dilapidated property with an unmatched view
great launching point, not just for our church, but
overlooking the city. The renovation work forced
for our city. So now, the ministry center and church
Vintage to spend three months worshipping in
relationship has just become a lot more organic. It’s
the basement that would become the Pittsburgh
a lot more integrated as something we do, espe-
ministry center, but nobody was complaining.
cially in the winter season where community needs are much higher.”
“It was a win for us, because from the center’s The numbers that tell the story of needs being met
meeting for worship in that basement—in that
through Vintage and the Pittsburgh ministry center
Send Relief Center,” Rob says. “It caused the
are staggering.
church and the center to not be separate. Every single homeless person who came into our ministry
From its late-October 2019 launch until the end of
center was impacted by our church, and every per-
the year, Adam says the center distributed more
son who came to worship on Sunday left knowing
than 60,000 pounds of food from its once-a-month
about Send Relief and the ministry center.”
food bank. In addition, over 600 people have been mobilized into some 2,000-plus hours of tangible
Pittsburgh’s Send Relief Ministry Center focuses on
service in and around the Mount Washington area.
poverty and includes showers, a laundry room and
And the reach is as diverse as the needs of the
PHOTOS BY DANIEL DELGADO
24
grand opening in October until January, we were
The Pittsburgh Send Relief Ministry Center shares a building with Vintage Church.
25
Kids learned the art of serving during the Pittsburgh Ministry Center’s October 2019 grand opening.
26
On December 18, which happened to be the coldest day of the season—the day we needed it most—we were able to show up with 297 coats. Every student got a brand-new coat. It was amazing.” Adam Sewell, Send Relief missionary
area’s residents.
hood cred”—something both pastors say is more valuable than money in Mount Washington.
“The people we’re mobilizing aren’t just from Vintage,” Adam says. “They’re not just Southern
“From a ministry standpoint, you’ve got to earn
Baptist churches, either. People come to me and
the right to be heard here,” Rob says. “We didn’t
say, ‘Hey, how do we reach and engage our com-
come into that (coat) event with a whole lot of
munity? Can you help us?’ And now we’ve got a
big flash. We literally gave them the coats and
Presbyterian church that we’re giving training to,
loved on them in a respectful, low-key way, and
and they’re helping us with some of our meals.”
they responded. And because of that, now we can come together and host the principal, who’s
Another number Adam and Rob highlight is 297—
a believer, and present her in front of the church,
as in the number of coats, one for each student,
celebrate with her, pray for her and let her know,
passed out at Pittsburgh’s Grandview Elementary
‘We’ve got you.’”
School. In other words, in Pittsburgh, neighboring is synIt happened, thanks in part to the benevolence of
onymous with ministry.
Sarepta Baptist Association in Athens, Georgia, which partners with the ministry center.
“They want to know that we’re their neighbor here first,” Sewell said. “Neighbors are a big deal in
“We called the school’s principal back in October
Pittsburgh. That’s why we’ve got Mister Rogers’
and said we wanted to give every kid in Grandview
Neighborhood. It’s a big deal for people to see
Elementary a brand-new coat this winter,” Adam
that you’re their neighbor and that you care.”
says. “Of course, there were a lot of tears. And then on December 18, which happened to be the coldest
For Rob, a former church planter in New Orleans—
day of the season—the day we needed it most—we
and still chaplain of the New Orleans Saints—he
were able to show up with 297 coats. Every student
knew he had to do whatever it took to earn the
got a brand-new coat. It was amazing.”
city’s trust.
And it was an opportunity for Adam, Rob, Vintage
“I still wear all my New Orleans Saints stuff wher-
Church and the ministry center to up its “neighbor-
ever I go,” he says. “I’m not a Mount Washington
27
It’s not Adam the pastor. I’m Adam the neighbor. The biggest call to Pittsburgh is to be a good neighbor. To love those intentionally and on purpose, whom God has put around you to love.” Adam Sewell, Send Relief missionary
native, but the people love it. Pittsburgh and New
absolutely nothing to do with building kingdoms
Orleans are similar in that the people have a lot of
for themselves.
pride. Pittsburgh is neighborhood driven, but city proud. They love to see new talent coming in the
“Our neighborhood needs to see a growing
area, but only if you’re showing that you’re going
church,” Adam says. “They need to see a growing,
to love them and their neighborhood.”
thriving and living church. This is the center point of our neighborhood. It’s not about the building.
Adam, a Pennsylvania native, has a natural-born
This isn’t just for Vintage Church, or even just for
affinity to Pittsburgh. And it’s events like the
the Send Relief Ministry Center. This is for the city.”
Grandview Elementary coat giveaway that keeps him thinking front-porch ministry rather than strictly
And Rob believes that what they’re building can
pulpit.
turn Pittsburgh into something even greater for Christ than it’s ever been.
“For us who live here and are from there, it’s dif-
28
ferent,” he says. “The elementary school, my kids
“We hope that by God’s grace, we’re overwhelmed
could be there. So, it’s not Adam the pastor. I’m
with Send Relief-type centers and healthy Multiply-
Adam the neighbor. The biggest call to Pittsburgh
ing Churches across the city,” Rob says. “With the
is to be a good neighbor. To love those intention-
partnership and collaboration with Send Relief, we
ally and on purpose, whom God has put around
think what God can do is going to be crazy. But it’s
you to love.”
God’s church, not ours. And if we remember that, I believe with all my heart we’ll see this city change
Sewell and Wilton have ambitious goals to plant
because of the gospel.”
upwards of 25 churches around the Pittsburgh metro area, equipping them with Send Relief min-
Gabriel Stovall writes for On Mission.
istry-center like training and resources. But it has
Learn more about Rob Wilton at AnnieArmstrong.com. To hear a story of how the Send Relief Ministry Center drew one lady in Mount Washington to Christ, go to SendRelief.org/StoriesOfHope and listen to the episode “What happened on Mount Washington.”
The Pittsburgh Ministry Center distributed over 60,000 pounds of food and more than 1,500 articles of clothing in the last three months of 2019 alone.
29
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Beauty and brokenness PHOTO ESSAY BY DANIEL DELGADO Most people know Puerto Rico as the island of enchantment. It’s beautiful. But underneath that beauty, there are so many people who are broken and lost.
A
People in Puerto Rico struggle every day, and
By Jonathan Santiago
that’s where Send Relief comes in. We want lthough many are very
to bring hope, and we know that hope comes
religious because of
through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
the island’s catholic background that con-
Our volunteers that come from Southern
nects to our Spanish
Baptist churches are selfless. They could
heritage, Puerto Rico is mostly lost.
choose to go somewhere else, but they choose to come back. And they choose to be here in
People in Puerto Rico are just desperate.
Puerto Rico to serve these families who are
They don’t know how to handle what’s hap-
still struggling.
pening to them. Natural disasters did not create the mental health crisis in Puerto Rico.
But the story doesn’t end there. We couldn’t
It just revealed the crisis that was underneath
do this without people sacrificially giving.
the surface.
31
When you give, it allows us to not just rebuild But that hopelessness and lostness are no
a roof. It allows us to have an impact in the
match for the hope we find in Christ.
lives of people. That’s what I’m seeing all over the island, and that’s what I want the whole
That’s why we’re here. We see the hopeless-
world to see.
ness; we see the lostness. And we know the gospel is the only solution.
Jonathan Santiago is a Send Relief missionary.
We’ll continue building roofs because we know that what Send Relief does is not about the roof. It’s about the people under the roof.
32
33
34
We have teams coming from churches all over, and we’ve seen many volunteer teams that have been here two, three and four times because they’ve fallen in love with the people.
35
36
What breaks my heart about what Maria and the earthquake did to Puerto Rico is not the property that was damaged. We can always fix the property. What’s heartbreaking is what it did to our people.� Jonathan Santiago
37
It doesn’t matter what any kind of crisis does to our lives. We can find hope in Christ. And that’s what I’m seeing all over the island—that Jesus Christ is our hope.” Jonathan Santiago
38
We’re seeing people being transformed and people hearing the gospel for the first time.
39
The mission field is America 40
By Shar Walker
to the grocery store, what kind of cereal we like
M
best, talking to the cashier or even knowing where ojic Baldandorj moved his family 6,070
to park. We just do it.
miles away from home.
That’s 6,070 miles away from friends, culture and
So, what is compelling enough for a man to move his family across the world?
the small knowings we take for granted.
Introduced to Christ We take these monotonous parts of our day for granted. We don’t have to think about how to get
Mojic was asking questions to which he didn’t
41
PHOTOS BY DANIEL DELGADO
Mojic teaches God’s Word to Mongolian men and women in his community.
have answers. After seeing men and women travel the sterile hall-
42
What happens after we die?
ways of the Mongolian hospital, he knew he didn’t
Growing up an atheist in a Mongolian context,
have the answers to life’s mysterious questions.
Mojic’s mind didn’t turn to the God of the Bible or
As the souls of patients lingered between life and
religion at all. Mojic saw Christianity as the religion
death, he was thinking about his own exodus from
of Westerners. He had heard of Jesus, but the mys-
this world.
terious historical figure had no bearing on his life.
“After nursing school, I was hired as an ICU nurse
But whether we’re looking for God or not, He finds
at a maternity hospital in Ulaanbaatar. I encoun-
a way to call His people to Himself. He could do
tered many life-threatening situations, and some
this in many ways—extraordinary miracles, dreams
lives were lost due to medical conditions. This got
or angels—but He usually uses His people.
me questioning the meaning of life. I knew my life would end one day like everyone else’s,” Mojic
“One night in December 1991, one of my college
explains.
mates visited my home with the message of the
gospel. He shared the gospel with me, saying that Jesus was my Savior. My first response was not positive,” Mojic remembers. “I told him that only Westerners worship Jesus, and Christianity is the religion of the Americans. Somehow, he convinced me to visit his church on the following day, and it was a day that changed my life.”
Somehow, one of my college mates convinced me to visit his church on the following day, and it was a day that changed my life.”
Mojic was introduced to other Christians, and they started reading the New Testament together. For Mojic, with his cultural roots in Buddhism and atheism, the idea of salvation rooted in the work of Christ—not one’s own good deeds— was a new idea.
A life transformed It was a new idea that changed everything. Mojic heard the good news, became a Christian and not long afterwards, he started planting churches. “I realized the meaning of life was to serve Jesus and share His gospel with other people. I became a Christian in 1991, and a year later, I started planting churches in different parts of Mongolia. Part of God’s calling for me was to be a part of planting new churches and training Mongolian church leaders.” But Mojic knew Mongolians weren’t just at home in Mongolia. Who would reach the others?
Leaving home In the early 2000s, many Mongolians immigrated because they felt the sting of a troubled economy. “The country was struggling, and I think it’s still struggling. That caused many Mongolians to leave and immigrate to different countries, so there was a big immigrant movement to places like America, Canada and South Korea,” Mojic explains. “In the late 1990s and early 2000s, we saw many Mongolians going away from Mongolia. We began praying about this other mission field we needed to reach, so we prayed and asked God if we could be missionaries to Mongolian immigrants.” For 12 years, they prayed the Lord would open a door for them to share the gospel where Mongolian immigrants were relocating. Then they heard about a dying church in Denver.
43
44
Mojic spends quality time with his family playing board games.
45
Mojic speaks to his church about the need to share Christ with Mongolians in their neighborhoods.
46
But we don’t need to move thousands of miles away to preach the gospel and plant churches. The need is right next door. America needs missionaries, too.
“Maranatha Mongolian Christian Church had been
of a call for help we received in 2014,” he said.
around for quite some time, and the congrega-
“We started small. Any time we met a Mongolian,
tion used to be quite large, at least by Mongolian
we would invite them to our home for Bible study.
standards. But in 2007, their pastor had to return
And even though most Mongolians are Bud-
to Mongolia. They searched for seven years for
dhist, almost everyone we met was open. Most
another pastor. And they went from 70 people to
Mongolians don’t even know much about Bud-
three,” says Mojic.
dhism—their version of it is mostly just culture and superstition.”
North America needs missionaries, too
In America, it’s easy for Christianity to be cultural. The comforts of the familiar can deceive us into
We rarely think about a need for missionaries in
believing the need for gospel transformation is
North America. We appropriately champion stories
great overseas but absent in our own neighbor-
of men and women such as Lottie Moon, Jim and
hoods.
Elizabeth Elliot and George Liele, who departed the shores of America and crossed oceans to take
But we don’t need to move thousands of miles
the gospel to international cultures.
away to preach the gospel and plant churches. The need is right next door. America needs mis-
Mojic and his family left their home, too, but their
sionaries, too.
international mission field was the United States. They left Mongolia to bring hope to Mongolian
“Lots of people might think it’s strange for mis-
immigrants in Denver who were asking the same
sionaries like us to leave our country and come to
hard questions Mojic was asking in college.
America,” says Mojic. “But I think we need to shift our thinking. The mission field is here.”
“There are more than 2,000 Mongolians living in Denver. My family and I live here not because of
Shar Walker writes for On Mission.
the familiar, Mongolian landscape—but because
To learn more about Mojic’s story and supporting North American Missions, visit AnnieArmstrong.com.
47
This article is an excerpt from Unburdened by Vance Pitman
Freedom from spiritual complacency Based on recent studies, people in today’s world spend more time sitting down than pretty much any other generation in human history. And it’s killing us. One study demonstrated that the more time we spend sitting each day, the higher the chance we’ll die an early death. According to those same studies, the best way to protect ourselves from the dangers of sitting is to get up and move. By Vance Pitman
48
F
All the while, the call of God is for us to actively join in what He’s doing both locally and globally.
rom a spiritual standpoint, spending our lives in idleness as it relates to the
The burden of complacency
mission of God is a harmful, deathlike
blow to our joy, satisfaction and usefulness as fol-
Whenever we attempt to live the Christian life
lowers of Jesus. Specifically, for Jesus followers in
in our own strength rather than live out of the
America, there’s a dangerous potential of limiting
overflow of our relationship with God, we face a
or even missing God’s invitation to join in His work
dangerous, sinful drift to prioritizing our needs,
around us—and ultimately His impact through
our plans, and our comforts over the needs of
us—because we’re too comfortable, too apa-
those around us. That’s what comes naturally to us
thetic and too unwilling to share in His mission.
in our own strength. But that isn’t who Jesus is.
Far too often, if we’re not intentionally pursuing Jesus, we find ourselves in a posture of spiritual
Notice Jesus’ message to the church at Laodicea
complacency rather than missional urgency.
in Revelation 3:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor
ing Jesus Christ—our Savior and Lord—say, “I
hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because
will spit you out of My mouth.” And what was
you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
the reason for His disappointment with the
spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am
Laodicean Christians? They were lukewarm. They
rich, and have become wealthy, and have need
embraced the gospel and received Jesus’ free
of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are
gift of salvation, but then they lost sight of what
wretched and miserable and poor and blind and
it meant to faithfully follow Him.
naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white
They lost sight of the mission. They became
garments so that you may clothe yourself, and
spiritually complacent.
that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so
What does a lukewarm Christian look like today?
that you may see” (Revelation 3:15–18).
We go through the motions. We know how to say and do all the right things, and we know the
I don’t know if there’s anything worse than hear-
bad things we’re not supposed to do, but there’s
49
no yearning to be with God and leverage our
join in His activity of birthing this new church has
lives for His mission.
been the greatest journey of my life. We’ve seen thousands of people come to faith in Jesus—
For many Jesus followers in America, achieving
yes, in Las Vegas. We currently have thousands
the American Dream has become a good way
of people connected in small groups and thou-
to be comfortable and maintain the status quo.
sands gathering weekly for worship.
However, it’s a bad foundation for our lives. It makes us lukewarm.
But early on, I had a conversation with my friend Rick Warren that caused a major shift in my think-
That ongoing struggle of building our comfort-
ing about the church. He said, “You measure a
able, temporary empire rather than joining in the
church’s strength not by its seating capacity but
expansion of God’s glorious, eternal kingdom
by its sending capacity.” As soon as I heard him
can become a self-inflicted burden.
say it, I wrapped my heart around it. Something about that statement resonated both within me
The mission is the cure
and with whom I understood my God to be.
What’s the cure for the burden of spiritual com-
That conversation is one of the reasons our
placency? Our mission! Spiritual movement.
church has, from its beginning, had a major emphasis on “sending” people out to join in
As we saw in the previous chapter, Jesus follow-
God’s mission. I believe God birthed our church
ers have a mission to do what Jesus said: “Make
to be a sending station for His activity both
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
locally and globally. At Hope Church, we believe
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
this so strongly that we emphasize sending in
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I com-
our membership process. In our dinner for new
manded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus said to
members, I always say, “If you join our church,
“be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all
we’re going to do everything we can to talk you
Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest
into leaving.” People always laugh, but so far
part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
we’ve sent hundreds of our members to relocate and join in God’s mission of reaching Las Vegas,
Faithful Jesus followers have no time to sit
the West and the rest of the world.
around in comfortable houses being lukewarm. We’ve been sent to share in the mission of Jesus
Why is “sending” so important? Because being
and join in the advancement of His kingdom.
“sent” is who Jesus is.
In September of 2001, Hope Church held its first
Vance Pitman planted Hope Church in Las Vegas.
50
public worship service. Those familiar with the world of church planting would call it “Launch
Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Sunday.” From that day until now, God has been
(bakerpublishinggroup.com), copyright 2020, used
so good to us, and His invitation to my family to
by permission.
Purchase a copy of Vance Pitman’s book wherever books are sold.
2020 NATIONAL
REPLANT SUMMIT Worship by Selah
Is your church struggling to embrace a changing culture and community? Is your membership dwindling because of frustration, confusion and exhaustion? Do you feel called to serve churches like these? You are not alone. There is hope.
Learn more at ReplantSummit.com
51
r ec ommended
Ministry The Adopting & Fostering Home Lynette Ezell and Tera Melber (North American Mission Board) As a former foster parent and now adoptive parent, I found “The Adopting & Fostering Home” podcast to be both informative, encouraging and 100% gospel-centered. As a busy working mom, I found the podcast length at under 30 minutes to be the perfect listen on the way to work after dropping my son off at school, while on the treadmill or making dinner. Hosts Lynette Ezell and Tera Melber encourage listeners who are already foster parents, adoptive parents, considering parents or those who are looking for ways to be a support to families. They cover everything from walking through traumatic experiences, loving the biological parents of your foster or adopted child and what you should consider when thinking about fostering or adopting. As I listened to each episode, I felt like they had taken the time to consider all the seasons of life when it comes to hosting children in your home, including self-care (which I can personally relate to as a single foster-adoptive parent). I sometimes get so lost in walking through life with my child that I forget to take care of myself. I would recommend this podcast to friends who are fostering or adopting, considering fostering or adoption as well as my friends who are not called to 52
foster or adopt but are looking to rally around families that are. Beginning from episode one, I think we feel challenged to take a look at our lives and begin to ask God how He is calling us to be involved in foster care, adoption or supporting families, and then we must boldly take the first step. Give “The Adopting & Fostering Home” podcast a listen today! Colleen Smith is an adoptive mom and missionary in Baltimore.
Gospel Who’s Your One Family Devotional (North American Mission Board, 2019) Anyone with children today understands the challenge of raising them with gospel values at the forefront. Everything works against our efforts—from the media, to schools, to the supersonic speed of contemporary life. As you and your spouse work together to nurture the spiritual development of your family, one of the most important yet difficult areas to address is their participation in God’s mission. The North American Mission Board’s Who’s Your One Family Devotional is a great way to begin this conversation in your home. The free, four-week study leads each family member to choose a non-Christian they can pray for and share the gospel with in upcoming weeks. Then the devotional leads families through four stories from the Gospels: Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-30; 39-42), Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) and The Royal Official (John 4:46-54). Each lesson includes biblical insights to help a parent get familiar with the passage, discussion questions, potential action steps and suggestions to guide your prayer time. Typically, you should be able to complete the devotionals in less than 30 minutes (depending on the age of your children). What makes this devotional unique is its focus on mobilizing your family to tell others about Jesus. It’s specifically designed to help your family work together as you share Christ’s love with your one. Every Christian parent who longs to see Christ formed in their children should download this resource and begin using it immediately. It’s an ideal tool to help your family pursue God’s mission together. Tobin Perry is a freelance writer.
53
Leading Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul Lance Witt (Baker Books, 2011) Amid all the attention placed upon the nuts and bolts of leading well in ministry, another conversation needs to be had—a conversation on the intangible aspects of pastoral leadership. Pastor Lance Witt, founder of Replenish Ministries, is often called “a pastor’s pastor.” He starts that conversation for pastors in his book, Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul. The power in Replenish is that Witt isn’t just penning another “Woe is me” treatment of pastoral ministry. He offers solutions that drive hurting pastors away from the pressures of what he calls “The Idolatry of Leadership,” pointing them back to practical and biblical ways of caring for their own souls. Replenish helps pastors deconstruct and redefine what success in ministry should look and feel like, apart from the unrealistic expectations our current church culture places on their shoulders. Instead of glorifying the grind, Witt celebrates pastoral self-care and elevates it to the top of the pastor’s priority list where it belongs. 54
It’s a must-read for pastors in a place of burnout as well as those who want to prevent falling into the snare of trying to lead with a sick soul. NAMB president Kevin Ezell is leading an online discussion, chapter by chapter, of Replenish on his weekly podcast, “Quick Takes with Kevin.” Find it online at namb.net/Podcast. Gabriel Stovall is a bivocational pastor and writes for On Mission.
Mission Leveling the Church: Multiplying Your Ministry by Giving It Away Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield (Moody Publishers, 2020) What if someone told you the way to become a better, more effective pastor was to do less? Micah Fries, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and his discipleship pastor, Jeremy Maxfield, say if that approach to pastoral ministry isn’t your reality, it should be. In many American churches, pastors are expected to be the resident spiritual superhero. Micah says failure was written all over his first stint as a senior pastor because that was his idea of leadership success, too. “The biblical plan for church leadership is to develop a culture of multiplication: to not only see people come to faith, but also help them grow into maturity.” he writes. “A large part of that maturity is learning how to minister to others. This ministry leads them to becoming more like Christ … Unfortunately, many of us have developed a pattern ... that perpetuates this myth of heroic individualism in ministry. Scripture seems to indicate that church leaders are not called primarily to do ministry themselves as much as they are called to prepare and deploy the church to do ministry.” 55
Of course, this isn’t a way to excuse pastors from doing the work of sharing the gospel and making disciples themselves. But Leveling the Church shifts pastoral leadership to a more healthy, cooperative paradigm. The first half of the book provides biblical theory, while the other half, biblical praxis that, if taken to heart, can add years to a pastor’s life and ministry while expanding the discipling impact of the congregation he leads. Gabriel Stovall is a bivocational pastor and writes for On Mission.
my turn
Leaving the Bible belt By Mary Elliff
W
looking mom at a park as our kids played.
e left Arkansas in 2015 with two children
“I was raised in a commune,” she said. “We were
under the age of two. We left family and
close; we took public baths and everyone raised the
friends to start Roots Community Church in a city
kids. My enlightenment came when I saw Mother
of gray, rainy days. We became one of the 4% of
Earth hovering over a giant drop of dew.”
evangelical Christians in Seattle, Washington. We I realized sharing Christ in this city—with such an astonishing variety of people—was going to take thought and intentionality. After some months, I felt more comfortable talking about my faith, but it was frustrating that no one had accepted Christ. It felt like failure when people would say, “That’s fine for you, but it’s not what I believe.” I realized I couldn’t make anyone accept force people to call upon His name. It is my job to obey Him, and it’s my delight to show the world the dazzling beauty of His reality. When I doubt my ability, I remember this calling has nothing to do with our talents and everything to do left with great joy and anticipation. We knew God
with the power of God. He is choosing to use us
was calling us to Seattle. And we were terrified, too.
here as His vessels, because it pleases Him and is accomplishing His purposes.
“I am not qualified,” I told God. He reminded me 56
Moses stuttered; Joseph was a slave; Peter and
As our roots grow deeper into this overcast city, we
Andrew didn’t have a clue what fishing for men
hope Jesus keeps opening doors and pouring His
meant at first. But God used them anyway.
glory into the heart of Seattle’s hardness.
The Emerald City immediately felt like home. Early
Mary Elliff and her husband are planting Roots
in our move, I had a conversation with a typical-
Community Church in Seattle.
Learn more about the Elliffs’ church planting journey at AnnieArmstrong.com.
PHOTO BY DANIEL DELGADO
Jesus. God does that work, and it is not my job to
EACH YEAR
20,000+ young people age out of foster care. MORE OF THEM WILL
go to prison than college.
NOW WHAT? 57
Find out how your church can minister to youth in foster care at SendRelief.org.
EVERY CHURCH ON MISSION
volume 23 | number 2
