Expectation of the Gift

We all are in the midst of the "Holiday Rush" as so many call it. Black Friday, sales in every store and lots of planning for the Christmas season all are consuming more and more of our time. We all fall prey to the advertisements and ads that seem to fill every inch of the page, both printed and electronic!

Yet, those of us who know the TRUTH, know what this season is really about. We all know that we are approaching the date on which we celebrate the incarnation of the God! You and I say to all of those around us that we are focused on the real reason for the season. We talk about the hype and share our opinions about how we all are too focused on the "mas", the more of Christmas than Christ. Yet, we all also are searching for just the right gift this season.

Last night I enjoyed a great time of fellowship with friends around a meal and an anticipated announcement. We eagerly awaited the news and announcement that would cause us to celebrate with shouts and excitement for the future. I am reminded of all through the Gospels and the New Testament we read of the coming again of our Lord. I am eager for the day!

Today I am being worked over by the Holy Spirit concerning my excitement for THE DAY! Each week we gather for worship with the Body and have fellowship with the whole assembly of our local church. We should eagerly anticipate the gathering of the Body each week together with the same anticipation of the gifts we will give and receive on Christmas day. We really should gather and talk about, search for, seek out, everything we can that tells us of the Day we will meet Him face to face!

Today as you look forward to the gift of Christmas, anticipate the celebration with family and friends, eagerly wait with expectation the time of celebrating with those closest to us Christmas, look forward to the day we all will gather with HIM!

Are you looking forward to the day we all will be with Him? Do you anticipate Sunday gatherings with eager expectations? Are you seeking, studying, discussing every detail of the coming events of corporate worship, small group gatherings and holiday celebrations?

Let's all look to the days ahead with such an eternal expectation that every holiday occasion becomes a Pre-Eternity celebration. As you join with family and friends this season, talk about the greatness of our God and how we look forward to the day that He comes to get His church and we all are with Him for Eternity! Let's live in full expectation of the completion of the gift that was bought on Calvary's cross for each of us! Celebrate His Coming Again!

In His Eternal Grip,
JT

When Helping Helps!

For many years the church in the US has been sending short-term mission teams all over the world to do ministry in various contexts. The method of serving has not always been helpful though. In fact sometimes the helping we have sought to do has ended up hurting the long-term ministry on the ground. To this end many have recently become more aware of the motivation and methods of doing global missions in various contexts. Some books and articles have helped bring this concept to our attention.

Last week we as a ministry were able to join the church in Guatemala and see how helping helps. Our team last week was able to do several things during our week in Guatemala that clearly were seen as help to the local church and ministries in Guatemala. I want to share these ideas with you today to challenge the short-term team leaders, participants and supporters to ask the right questions to lead to effective ministry support on the field.

Our partner church in Guatemala is Jerusalen Church where our staff family, Greg, Kathy, Hannah and Haleigh Brown have begun investing their lives. This church is an amazing servant-filled church with a passion to reach their community and the indigenous Mayan communities of Guatemala. Through a patient, intentional development of a complimentary partnership we have been able to hear their heart and see their vision for their country. It has taken a couple of years of asking the right questions and seeking to humble our US pride to hear the real needs and desires of the ministry the church is doing on a regular basis.

We have been blessed to walk a road of church planting from the beginning in a community just outside the city known as Sacajvilla. this past week we were able to join the Jerusalen Church ministry team to provide a Festival Biblical infantile (FBI) event that ministered to the children and teens of the Lantana community within this village. We were also able to literally walk with the local mission church into the community on home visits and share the hope of the Good News with many families as we shared a bag of food to help sustain their lives. It is such a joy to walk with the local church and allow them to lead the work of ministry on the ground. this is a challenge for our task driven US short-term teams who want to feel "productive" and "busy" for the Kingdom. Yet, the reward comes in watching the faces of children like Evan, a severely handicapped boy in a remote region of the village, explode with excitement as pastor Juan, the mission church leader from Jerusalen Church, walks into his home and loves on the family! When these great men and women of the mission church open the door to these humble houses of tin and cardboard the lives they are touching come alive with joy and thanksgiving.

This trip we were also able to carry with us 160 pairs of new shoes from Soles 4 Souls to share with the community. As we journey through the airport and to our field of service, the thoughts of how we will see faces light up for joy because we bring them shoes fills the team's thoughts. Yet, when we arrive, the church has a plan of ministry that does not allow for the giving away of the shoes. this is an internal struggle as we walk with the local church throughout the week. Then mid-week I am struck hard at the core of my motivation as i hear our host pastor share they have been collecting shoes for the community and have a list already of names and sizes of people within the community they are planning to give new shoes to the following week!

What a great God we serve! He had a plan for the team who has the resources to bring to the local church what they need to fulfill the vision for ministry they already had received from the Father. The lord had it in the works already to provide shoes to this community, He simply wanted to demonstrate Psalm 67 to us by using us to provide resources for His ways to be made known and His salvation to be shared through the local church!

This week I sit at my desk with a new understanding of how helping does help. I see in a fresh new way how when there is need within the body there is a provision for that need within the body. Last week the need in the local church in Guatemala was to complete a list of needed sizes of shoes for a community in need. This week the local church has the resources in hand to complete its mission. Thank you to Soles 4 Souls for allowing the body in Guatemala to receive the much needed shoes to finish the task they had been called to by God. I pray that as we continue to serve the church in Guatemala, we will help them by selflessly giving to them the resources for them to reach their community! I realize it is not the typical experience to carry the six bags of shoes through the process only to hand them over to the local church and walk away. yet this week I am learning how Helping helps the local church fulfill its role within its own context as the avenue through which the Gospel message is spread. I realize that I do not need to be seen or heard or thanked by the child who will receive the shoes we carried to Guatemala. I need to support the work of the local church and allow them to give shoes and serve the community for the sake of His great name and for the sake of His Gospel.

Helping helps when we serve the local church and support them as the agent of transformation used by the Holy Spirit to reach their world. Helping helps when we teach His Word to the children and teens of a village who will share what they learn form us to their families and friends and be used by the Father to reach their world. Helping helps when I am willing to ask the right question, "How can we help you do ministry that God has called you to do in your community?" Helping helps when we are willing to become the support crew for the local church to fulfill its mission of reaching its world and teaching His Word in their communities to grow the Kingdom! Helping helps when we are willing to listen to the needs of the local church and promote their ministry through their faith family members! Let us all be willing to help in a way that helps!

Psalm 67 Follow-Up

Yesterday at The Church at Brook Hills, our pastor David Platt shared from his heart the message of Psalm 67 and how that applies to our going to the nations. I agree with David that a clear understanding of this Psalm should motivate us to GO! Not just go to church. Not even just to go on a mission trip. We should be motivated by this Psalm to go to that place of servant sacrifice we all know we should go.

Being a servant is what we saw in the model of Jesus' earthly ministry. he went to the hurting, hopeless and helpless. Jesus spent His time on the earth ministering to those who needed hope the most. At the same time he invested His intimate time with the twelve men closest to Him. If I believe this model to be accurate about Jesus' life then I should seek to follow this model in my own faith journey...right? If this is the model I am to follow then we must ask the question how should I follow?

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus spoke to His disciples and said, "Follow me and i will make you fishers of men." Where did Jesus go? But, more pointedly, where is He going now? Jesus is in the slums of Kampala, Uganda among the street children and forgotten orphans of that city. Jesus is in the dump in Guatemala City among the desperate families surviving on less than $2 a day. Jesus is in the villages of northern India among the thousands of rural people seeking truth in a god who will answer. Jesus is in the hills of New Mexico among the Navajo teenagers who are searching for some reason to continue to live. Jesus is among the indigenous people of each region who are looking for a Savior whose name they have never heard. Jesus is all over this globe among the desperate, forgotten, impoverished people groups.


One Way Ministries 2012 Trip Schedule
January 3-14 New Mexico
March 3-10 Guatemala
March 18-24 Guatemala
March 31-1 New Mexico
May 26-2 Guatemala
June 2-9 Guatemala
June 16-23 New Mexico
June 23-30 New Mexico
July 7-21 Africa
July 14-21 Guatemala
July 21-28 Guatemala
August 24-27 Guatemala
October 6-13 New Mexico
November 3-10 Guatemala
December 26-2 Africa/Uganda

If I am to "follow" then I must go where Jesus is! In the words of an old Gospel song, "Its time we the people stand up for what is right...its time we squared our shoulders back and raise our swords to fight...for the Bible is my weapon ...and the Spirit is my shield...the Church needs more of its members to be workers in the field." We have been promised a blessing that no one can take away. The blessing of grace poured out on us without measure is being poured over our churches in America! It is time we stand up for what is right and become a bride on the move!

For far too many years the church has remained silent...or at least real quiet in our culture. Many of us have never even shared one-on-one with another person the entire Good News of Jesus. It is time you as a follower of Jesus follow Him into the field and serve the world in which we have been planted. This will require sacrifice! Jesus taught us to serve and to sacrifice. He showed us how to live and how to die! But Praise be to God He did not stop there...He showed us how to live again! As Nicodemus heard the eternal impact of the rebirth we hear the resounding echo of the saints of old shouting AMEN to those amazing words, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." We hear the Samaritan village of the woman at the well shout in unison," we no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

It is time we sacrifice our comfort for the cross! It is time we give up our plenty for His power. We must sacrifice our excess for their eternity! Yes, as Psalm 67 teaches us, our abundance is provided by the Father to us so that His ways will be made known and His salvation will be shared with all! The eternal opportunity of the world is literally within our own check books! Where is our excess being used and we can determine where our hearts are being drawn! Are we really living within the necessary level of our provision and sharing the rest of what the Lord provides for the sake of eternity around the world?

Can we really call it sacrifice when so much is gained by our giving? Jesus taught us the value of laying down our lives, everything we have for the sake of those who need what we have to give! How then will we lay down our lives for the sake of those whom He has entrusted into our hands? How will we show the eternal significance of the Savior of the world? How can we serve the world by going to the places where Jesus is and following Him? Or should we ask, how will we go?

Many opportunities are available for you to join a ministry, a missionary, a church planter, a servant, a team, a church. It is not a question of whether or not there is opportunity. The question is will you go right now? in your heart will you commit to allow the Father to guide your heart and carry you to the slums, the dump, the hills, the valley, the village, the city streets, the house across the street? Will you commit today and take action on that commitment? We have been blessed beyond what we need for the purpose of carrying the Gospel to the people all over the globe who need to hear of His judgement and His grace. Come on and join us as we walk into the field and become His hands and His feet! Go!

2012 Summer Internship

Are you a student searching for a way to serve Christ?

Join us for an internship in 2012!

Interns are a vital part of our ministry. Through their servant leadership,

we are able to lead teams on the ground, in mission sites, to fulfill the plan of

Reaching the World....and Teaching the Word!

Interns go through an application process and
are selected by our staff and board members.

If you are interested in being an intern next summer, please go to this link and download an application packet.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

http://www.1wayministries.org/​interns.htm

New 2012 Calendar

We are blessed beyond words for what Christ has done through the ministry this year! He has shown us His perfect timing in so many situations, His provision and His grace. We thank God for those of you who gave of your time, your money and your servant hearts to join us in the field and better serve His kingdom. We could not have done it without you, THANK YOU.

In obedience with His word, we will travel again this year and seek to serve the desperate, forgotten people groups of the world. We ask that you examine your hearts and ask Him how you can serve Him in 2012? Maybe it is to stretch yourself... to go beyond what is comfortable....to go to Guatemala or Africa. Maybe you feel you need to stay within the US this year, we can accomodate trips right here in New Mexico. Maybe it is being a financial sponsor for someone else to attend a trip. However God is calling you to serve....we ask that you pray earnestly, follow your heart and step out. He is waiting for us to meet Him in His plan.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth" Acts 1:8

We are pleased to launch our NEW 2012 calendar...

January 3-14 New Mexico
March 3-10 Guatemala
March 18-24 Guatemala
March 31-April 7 New Mexico
May 26-June 2 Guatemala
June 2-9 Guatemala
June 16-23 New Mexico
June 23-30 New Mexico
July 7-21 Africa
July 14-21 Guatemala
July 21-28 Guatemala
August 24-27 Guatemala
October 6-13 New Mexico
November 3-10 Guatemala
December 26-Jan. 2 Uganda


Please look over it and see where you can be of service.....

Many Blessings!

Karen

Today is the Day...

Well it has been quite a while since I have written a post on the ministry blog site...and today seems like a good day to do so...9.13.67 began a journey that has brought me to this day some 44 years later and greatly blessed! I have seen many things change in my lifetime. I have watched the gallons in my gas tank decrease as the dollars out of my wallet have increased. I have seen the country move further out and the city seem closer in than ever before. I have felt the days weigh heavier on my stature and the burden of performing daily grow lighter and lighter.

The Father has chosen to pour into my life in s many ways and through so many people. As I reflect today on my birthday I realize God has blessed me beyond belief! It is hard to imagine having so many people wishing you a happy birthday would call you friend! WOW...how blessed I am to have had so many people touch my life! I am so overwhelmed with the number of people who have been a part of the journey so far.

Today as i walk this road of faith I realize today is the day...today is the day to say what is on my mind...today is the day to share what is on my heart...today is the day to speak those words that God has planted deep in my soul through the years of investment and impact from all of the wonderful people He has used to shape and mold my life into what it is today!

Jesus is the Way is what is proclaimed in John 14:6. Whether you believe all that the Bible has to say or not, the only way to the throne of grace is through the way of Calvary! All sin will either be pardoned at the cross or punished in Hell for all eternity! Today is the day to settle that issue for yourself. If you are reading this, you now have no excuse...today is the day you have been touched by the truth of His Word made alive in Jesus! The sin debt you and I have been born under is not eternally held against us! The Good News of the Bible is that Jesus paid a debt you and i could not pay and bought us freedom from sin and death! We have the opportunity to have our sin debt pardoned by the cross and not punished in Hell!

Today is the day for you to settle it forever...Today is the day to not think about it, wonder about it or dance around it! Today is the day to recognize you have no choice but to sin and fall short of every measure acceptance Gods has, yet He has provided a way! Jesus came so that we would have hope beyond this sinful life we were born into. Jesus came as the eternal Redeemer of all creation! Today is the day you can see your sin as the thing that separates you from His grace and confess your sin to Him. Today you can confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord of your life and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead as a victory over death, Hell, and the grave for you. Today Jesus can redeem you from eternal punishment to set you free to live eternally for His great glory!

Where are you today? Not where are you sitting right now as you read this, where are you in relation to eternity today? Have you confessed and been redeemed for all eternity? Has Jesus become your way? Are his ways being made know in all the earth through your life? Is His salvation being made known in every occasion of your journey in this world? Today is the day! Today you can be set free! Today you can confess and believe! Today is the day!

Even though I was born this day 44 years ago, May 29th 1979 I was born again and set free. Free to live a life He has planned for me. I am not wealthy in this world's eyes. I have not been a glowing example of success in the standards of this world's economy or success. I am not the expert in any field or skill. I have not accomplished great things for mankind that have changed the way this world lives. I am not known by famous people all over the world. I am not comfortable with a retirement plan and security of daily provision in my bank account.

I am a child of the King who knows, my past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure! This is the day to celebrate the joy of my salvation and remember I have a redeemer who knows everything I have been through, everything I will face and will walk with me through the fire to the end of the age and beyond! this is the day of salvation and the day to celebrate LIFE!!!

God's lessons from the summer

I was going to post this when I got back from Guatemala, but I got busy and forgot so here it is...



God taught me so much this summer, but the one thing that He has been working on my heart is waiting on His perfect timing. God showed me last summer that He wanted me to move to Guatemala to do mission work, but He has me back in the states to finish school until He calls me there. It can be really hard because my heart longs to be there. I think about Guatemala everyday and all the love that the people there have for me, but God says wait because I know what is best for you right now and I know what I have planned for your life.

This summer God allowed me to do mission work in New Mexico for two weeks and mission work in Guatemala for three weeks. I wanted to stay in Guatemala for the whole summer, but that was not God’s plan. He had me going to New Mexico. When I first got to New Mexico, I dreaded being there. God turned that around. He showed me that I was not there for myself, but for Him and His people. Later in the first week of the New Mexico trip, God showed me why He brought me to New Mexico. There was a girl there about my age that was going through the same mess that my birth mom went through. I could tell that this girl was longing for hope. She said that she read the Bible, but they were just words on a page. We gave her another Bible and she said that she was going to read it. I was really encouraged by that, but what gave me the most encouragement was one of the people on the Texas team, Mikki. When we got back to the church that we worked with, she asked me questions about my childhood life. I told her the story of my birth mother and all the things I went through. We both cried our eyes out and then she told me her story. She said that she was very encouraged to hear my heart even though I went through some hard stuff in the past and it showed her that adopting kids going through hard stuff was good. She said that in the past, she would be scared to adopt kids going through stuff I went through. I believe that was another reason God brought me to New Mexico so my past could help her see that kids going through hard things like me needs a loving family and that we are not bad people. He also opened my eyes and showed me that I could help people that are going through the same stuff I went through and experienced.

God did some amazing work in Guatemala. He opened the hearts of the lost and they surrendered their lives to Christ. He allowed me to share my life with some high school kids. There was one school we went to that was close to the church that we worked with. One of the ladies on the team was telling a Bible story and the guys in the back were cutting up and acting like fools, but once I got up there and shared my story they stopped and listened with open ears and an open heart. I could tell that they were taking in every word by the faces they were giving me.

I am so blessed to be able to travel and share the Gospel with the unreached and lost people. I consider my life as an Esther. Like in the Bible, God allowed her to be picked as Queen to help her people even though she hated the idea. As for me, God allowed me to go through those hard times so He could use my life to help His people. What a powerful God we serve and I will be waiting on His perfect timing even when it is hard.


“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” ~Esther 4:14

~Brittney Cleveland