I'm writing to announce that this coming Saturday, the 17th, I will be moving to Jacksonville, FL. I am moving there to begin an internship at Victory Baptist Church. I will mainly be working with the youth group, but there will be many opportunities for involvement in the church and christian school.
I am really looking forward the new experiences and various ministry opportunities. But, as the the title says, these are uncharted waters for both myself and the church. Neither of the parties is totally sure of how things will go, but we are both excited about the possibilities!
I will keep the blog up to date with all that is going on throughout the process. I'm excited to see how the Lord leads throughout this new experience and these "uncharted waters."
Serving the Lord...that's "all that matters."
Jay
Thursday 15 September 2011
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Fuel on the Fire; Miles on the Odometer
WOW!
That's about all I can say after the two great weeks I just had in Guatemala! As I mentioned in the last post, the purpose of the trip was mainly to do some planning for the future. But, the truth is, the things that I wanted to accomplish didn't really take all that long! In fact, I found that some of the best conversations and advice came in car rides while we were traveling or as we sat down to eat around the table. I guess that in my mind I had imagined Jimmy, Shelley, and myself sitting around a table, pencils in hand, sipping on coffee, while sketching out the future (HA!). With their schedule (raising twin, 2-year-old boys)...
...things can be a little busy. Nonetheless, they were awesome hosts! I really had such a great time visiting with them. They are a great blessing to work with and learn from.
I mention "Fuel on the Fire" because I feel like, after this trip, the fire or burden to be in Guatemala that I have has only increased. Not only that, I have such an excitement for the future that is ahead! Since God has started working in my heart for Guatemala, I had always imagined myself just working with Spanish-speaking people. Last summer, I had an introduction to what is going on within the Kekchi ministry in the Peten. This summer was like a full-blown immersion into the Kekchi ministry! You see, as I mentioned before, to me this trip was mainly going to be a planning trip. Jimmy had mentioned that we would be doing some Kekchi village outreaches, but I did not imagine what lay ahead! The second week was so much like fuel to my fire!
Yes, there was adventure: horseback riding into villages...
...crossing a river in canoe...
...or riding for hours in the back of a truck on dirt roads.
But, the most rewarding and wonderful part was to be able to minister in those villages. What a blessing that was!
I also got to meet so many wonderful Kekchi brothers and sisters in Christ!
So, all of that is to say: I believe that involvement in the Kekchi ministry will be just as much a part of my ministry as Spanish church planting; which makes me very excited! God also provided an opportunity for ministry at a Spanish speaking church! I had the opportunity to preach in the Primera Iglesia Bautista Monte Sion in San Benito. What a great privilege!
Well, I don't have much to say about the second part of my title. I think its pretty self-explanatory! For a cheaper flight, I drove to the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area to fly our of that airport. I also had some time to visit with my aunt and uncle who live in the Pembroke Pines area. Upon my return, Uncle Mark gave me the opportunity to share about Guatemala during his Wednesday night service.
As I drove north to North Carolina, I stopped in Jacksonville to visit with the Carswell's (Shelley's parents). But, I also got to catch up with some cousins I haven't seen in a long time! The picture is of Chris and Melissa and their family. Melissa is the oldest Brown cousin and I am the youngest. I was actually the ring-bearer in her wedding!
I greatly enjoyed spending time visiting with them! Chris has been teaching the teen boys in their church and asked me to teach the class for that Sunday morning. What an opportunity! And, it amazed me that God was still providing ministry opportunities even on my way traveling home! (2,000 miles on the odometer later, I arrived at home).
I am so thankful and very excited for what God is doing in my life right now and how He is leading. The future is exciting. And I am going to keep serving Him as I continue to move forward. After all, that's ALL THAT MATTERS.
Monday 11 July 2011
A Week From Today
One week from today, I will be in Petén, Guatemala! As you could guess, I'm pretty excited about that! I'm really looking forward to catching up with Petén family and getting a lot accomplished.
Here we all are: Shelley, Jimmy, Silas, Jonah, Myself, and Becca (who can't make it this time, but is actually ministering in Honduras this week!)
For the two weeks I will be in Petén, I hope to glean from the age-old wisdom and advice of Jimmy and Shelley ;) This short trip will be like a pre-deputation trip for me. In other words, I will try to get some things organized and settled to help in the support-raising process.
Some of the planning to be done:
-Team assessment
-Ministry Goals
-Financial planning
-Forming a budget
-Deputation tips
-House hunting/pricing
-Vehicle pricing
-Whatever information may be helpful!
Of course Jimmy also said, "I have a box of things labeled 'FOR JAY.'" So, I'm sure he will keep me busy with that (whatever it may be)! Overall, I'm greatly looking forward to this trip and the time I get to spend with my good friends and future co-workers. Please pray for God's blessing and guidance during this time. I look forward to keeping the blog up to date and reporting how things are going.
Keep serving God...after all, That's ALL THAT MATTERS, isn't it? God bless you all.
Here we all are: Shelley, Jimmy, Silas, Jonah, Myself, and Becca (who can't make it this time, but is actually ministering in Honduras this week!)
For the two weeks I will be in Petén, I hope to glean from the age-old wisdom and advice of Jimmy and Shelley ;) This short trip will be like a pre-deputation trip for me. In other words, I will try to get some things organized and settled to help in the support-raising process.
Some of the planning to be done:
-Team assessment
-Ministry Goals
-Financial planning
-Forming a budget
-Deputation tips
-House hunting/pricing
-Vehicle pricing
-Whatever information may be helpful!
Of course Jimmy also said, "I have a box of things labeled 'FOR JAY.'" So, I'm sure he will keep me busy with that (whatever it may be)! Overall, I'm greatly looking forward to this trip and the time I get to spend with my good friends and future co-workers. Please pray for God's blessing and guidance during this time. I look forward to keeping the blog up to date and reporting how things are going.
Keep serving God...after all, That's ALL THAT MATTERS, isn't it? God bless you all.
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Urgency and Uncertainty
I regret that it has been so long since I've posted anything in the blog. But, the past few months have been somewhat of a blur. The Spring (and final) semester seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, I was walking across the stage to receive my diploma! The day of graduation, I left for two weeks of ministry and travel with "Jubilate," Appalachian Bible College's English Handbell Choir. It was really a good time of ministry as well as meeting many people all throughout Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia. It sure was a great pre-cursor for deputation travel!
I am currently back at home working as well as serving however I can in my local church. God has provided so many opportunities already! This summer, I began a Wednesday night class called "Ranger Jay's summer nights" as we learn a different lesson each week through nature. Its a great time! I also had the opportunity just last week preach in our monthly service at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission. I'm very grateful for that opportunity. And this week during our Vacation Bible School, I have had the opportunity of driving a mini-bus to bring in kids from our neighborhood. I have greatly enjoyed that opportunity!
But, the reason I am writing this blog does have to do with the title. First of all, a sense of URGENCY to get to the mission field has been increasing in me all throughout my final semester. Now, it is even greater since I have graduated! It seems like, more and more everday, my heart wants to be in Guatemala! But, it has been somewhat of a personal struggle for me. My mind is telling me, "You're done with school and ready to go. What's holding you back??" But many times I've talked to others and they encourage patience, saying something along the lines of, "You've got a lot of life ahead of ya! There's no need to rush." My pride makes me feel like the little boy in the Sunday School class who says, "I want to be a missionary when I grow up!" (I'm in the picture on the far right.)
All the while, with this sense of urgency, there is also UNCERTAINTY. Many things are not clear to me at the moment as far as when I will get to Guatemala and details along with that. But, I don't expect them to be clear. God will make things clear in His time. All I can do is trust Him with the details. I am "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6).
What I am doing now is moving forward as I prayerfully consider decisions and my future. Part of that is a two week planning trip to Guatemala. From July 18-Aug 2, I will be with Jimmy and Shelley Dinsmore as we do some team planning and as they help me with field preparation. I tend to think of this trip as a "pre-depuation" trip. Other matters that are on my plate at the moment are completing a mission agency application and planning for a ministry internship after I get back from Guatemala.
With all this being said, I realize that this is kind of like a simple equation. URGENCY + UNCERTAINTY = TRUST (in God). Not only that, I have a joyous expectation of what God will bring to pass in the future to come! Although at times I may feel like it's going to be ages before I get to Guatemala, I know that time will probably fly by as it has with recent events. I will be there before I know it! And I look forward to that very much!
I am currently back at home working as well as serving however I can in my local church. God has provided so many opportunities already! This summer, I began a Wednesday night class called "Ranger Jay's summer nights" as we learn a different lesson each week through nature. Its a great time! I also had the opportunity just last week preach in our monthly service at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission. I'm very grateful for that opportunity. And this week during our Vacation Bible School, I have had the opportunity of driving a mini-bus to bring in kids from our neighborhood. I have greatly enjoyed that opportunity!
But, the reason I am writing this blog does have to do with the title. First of all, a sense of URGENCY to get to the mission field has been increasing in me all throughout my final semester. Now, it is even greater since I have graduated! It seems like, more and more everday, my heart wants to be in Guatemala! But, it has been somewhat of a personal struggle for me. My mind is telling me, "You're done with school and ready to go. What's holding you back??" But many times I've talked to others and they encourage patience, saying something along the lines of, "You've got a lot of life ahead of ya! There's no need to rush." My pride makes me feel like the little boy in the Sunday School class who says, "I want to be a missionary when I grow up!" (I'm in the picture on the far right.)
All the while, with this sense of urgency, there is also UNCERTAINTY. Many things are not clear to me at the moment as far as when I will get to Guatemala and details along with that. But, I don't expect them to be clear. God will make things clear in His time. All I can do is trust Him with the details. I am "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6).
What I am doing now is moving forward as I prayerfully consider decisions and my future. Part of that is a two week planning trip to Guatemala. From July 18-Aug 2, I will be with Jimmy and Shelley Dinsmore as we do some team planning and as they help me with field preparation. I tend to think of this trip as a "pre-depuation" trip. Other matters that are on my plate at the moment are completing a mission agency application and planning for a ministry internship after I get back from Guatemala.
With all this being said, I realize that this is kind of like a simple equation. URGENCY + UNCERTAINTY = TRUST (in God). Not only that, I have a joyous expectation of what God will bring to pass in the future to come! Although at times I may feel like it's going to be ages before I get to Guatemala, I know that time will probably fly by as it has with recent events. I will be there before I know it! And I look forward to that very much!
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Recent Happenings
Over this Christmas break, I've enjoyed the time I've had to spend with family and friends. I was also able to work some while I've been here at home. One thing that keeps coming up in conversation is a regular question: "So, what do you plan to do after graduation?" (this is my last semester!!) Well that question leads me to say, "I'm planning on going to Guatemala to serve as a church planter." As you could expect, many questions follow such as: "How long are you gonna be there?"--(my response)"For the rest of my life." Other questions are usually, "Are you scared?" "Isn't it dangerous?" "Why missions?" "Why Guatemala?" "ARE YOU SURE??" Well, I usually try to answer these questions as best as possible. But, I am mindful of one thing: many people just don't understand someone going to the mission field. I know these are the desires God has placed in my heart.
I cling to verses like Jeremiah 29:11;
"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
And Philippians 1:6;
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
I don't know where this path will lead, but I do know God has plans for my life and that He will guide and direct me. I'm trusting Him as I go day-by-day.
On New Year's Eve, I attended a night service at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario (Calvary Baptist Church) in Stanleyville, NC. It was a blessed time to fellowship with believers and many Guatemalan friends of mine in that church. We gathered first for food (tortas and ponche and pastel) and then moved to the church for a time of worship. It was neat to bring in the New Year with these believers and spend time in prayer in the first minutes of 2011.
The following day, I invited two friends from the area over to our house for a visit.
These are friends Noe and Juan, from Mazatenango, Guatemala
Noe is a believer and faithfully attends the church, but Juan does not. Please pray for Juan and his spiritual state.
I'm so thankful for the friends God has provided and the opportunities to spend time with them and get to know them better! May God continue to lead people into my path as I follow Him down this path He has for me!
I cling to verses like Jeremiah 29:11;
"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
And Philippians 1:6;
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
I don't know where this path will lead, but I do know God has plans for my life and that He will guide and direct me. I'm trusting Him as I go day-by-day.
On New Year's Eve, I attended a night service at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario (Calvary Baptist Church) in Stanleyville, NC. It was a blessed time to fellowship with believers and many Guatemalan friends of mine in that church. We gathered first for food (tortas and ponche and pastel) and then moved to the church for a time of worship. It was neat to bring in the New Year with these believers and spend time in prayer in the first minutes of 2011.
The following day, I invited two friends from the area over to our house for a visit.
These are friends Noe and Juan, from Mazatenango, Guatemala
Noe is a believer and faithfully attends the church, but Juan does not. Please pray for Juan and his spiritual state.
I'm so thankful for the friends God has provided and the opportunities to spend time with them and get to know them better! May God continue to lead people into my path as I follow Him down this path He has for me!
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