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Not Just for the Bush

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:36:42 GMT

Why Every Missionary Needs Elite Training

At Anchored International, we often hear the question: “Isn’t your training just for those heading into the bush?” The answer is simple: no.

While every participant experiences a month-long bush segment, our Elite Missionary Training (EMT) is designed for all missionaries—whether they’re going to the jungle, the city, or anywhere in between. The bush segment isn’t about geography. It’s about formation. Let me explain.

1. The Pressure Test — Revealing What’s Inside

We’ve learned that anyone can hold it together for a weekend mission trip or a classroom course. But when you place someone in a stressful, unfamiliar environment for several weeks, their true character surfaces. During our Primitive Phase , we see what rises to the surface—whether it’s resilience, humility, or hidden cracks in maturity.

It’s in this stage that we often identify the heart issues that could one day send someone home from the field: marital tension, pride, poor communication, or an inability to ask for forgiveness. Our goal isn’t to break people—it’s to refine them. We’d rather face those challenges here, in a controlled environment, than have them implode overseas.

2. Building Empathy and Contextual Understanding

Even missionaries who serve in modern, urban settings will encounter people who live differently—often more simply, with fewer resources. The bush segment gives our trainees firsthand understanding of the realities most of the world faces.

That empathy changes the way they teach, disciple, and serve. It builds compassion and shapes a more contextualized gospel , one that connects deeply with the people they’re sent to reach.

3. Cultivating Grit and Confidence

We live in a generation often told that comfort is the goal and hardship should be avoided. The bush segment flips that narrative. It puts participants in a difficult situation—with the right support—and helps them succeed.

The result? Confidence. They leave knowing they can do hard things. And that confidence carries over into the countless challenges they’ll face on the field, whether that’s navigating cultural barriers, enduring loneliness, or persevering when ministry feels fruitless.

Beyond the Jungle: Preparing for Every “Hard Place”

Today, there are no easy mission fields. Cities like London, Paris, or New York may look comfortable on the surface—but they’re spiritual warzones filled with isolation, relativism, and people from every corner of the world.

Because of globalization and the refugee crisis, the nations have come to our cities. That means the urban missionary doesn’t need less training—they need more. More resilience. More cross-cultural understanding. More emotional and spiritual endurance.

Elite Missionary Training provides that. It prepares missionaries not just to survive the field—but to thrive in whatever hard place God sends them.

And yes, for those with physical limitations, we can adapt the bush phase to ensure everyone can participate meaningfully.

Unmet Expectations

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:26:26 GMT

It's never what you thought it would be

I have been thinking a lot about unmet expectations and how those often unacknowledged ideas rule our lives. They can often even be the driving force behind what causes new missionaries to return home. I had the same experience. Let me share it with you in hopes that maybe it will help you see that even in the death of your highest hopes, God will resurrect his true purpose that is more than you could have imagined.

Our first term as missionaries was a case study in unmet expectations and seemingly surprise disasters. We were supposed to go to Peru to lead teams of young men into the ministry of planting churches in the villages and training them up in the skills they needed for that task. Here is a short list of our dashed hopes just for giggles:

One month before the first accident

Six days after arriving I had an accident. I broke my back, both my arms and was paralyzed from the waist down (yeah that was a good indicator of things to come).

Six months of surgeries, rehab, and recovery in the US. I could no longer walk without the assistance of a walker or cane.

Upon returning to the field, I was not allowed to live near our area of ministry but had to live in a big city near a hospital.

Med-evac #2. I finally thought I had made enough progress to drop the cane. But I fell on my vacation, shattered my femur, back to the states, more surgery, rehab & recovery.

Four years dealing with infertility.

1.5 years into our first term, my supervisor and mentor decided to transfer, and I found myself leading a team of 35+ people from 5 different cultures.

Yeah, it was a tough four years. All my hopes and dreams of the type of missionary I wanted to be seemed to be killed, buried in unmarked graves spread all over the country of Peru.

BUT as those dreams died, I found glimmers of hope. I learned things about God that I never knew or understood previously. I learned things about myself that surprised me. Maybe, just maybe, God knew what he was doing.

So, I just kept dying. I got up every day, picked up that cross that was stained crimson with my ambitions. The splinters of unmet expectations dug into my back as I carried this burden daily, not knowing what God was doing, but sensing he had a purpose and trusting him to fulfill HIS purposes in me.

That is precisely what He did. As I look back now (that was 19 years ago), I can’t help but laugh at my arrogant and small-minded plans when compared to my Maker’s intricate design. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for those hardships.

If I had not endured the destruction of my body, God could not have taught me these profound life lessons about the Body of Christ, which have shaped my ministry ever since.

If I had not spent six months fighting my own body, I would not understand the hard work required to prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom & the great Wedding.

If I had not been forced to lead my team from a distance, I would never have learned the intricacies of mentorship & multiplying what God has taught me into others.

If I hadn’t broken my leg, I would never have learned to trust God even when it makes no sense.

If we had been given children when we wanted them, I would never have had those four years to work so closely with my wife in ministry, and we would not be the team we are today.

If my mentor had not left, I would not have found my love of strategy, training new missionaries & taking the Gospel into the impossible places.

It never is what you thought it would be…and that is the good news!

I love my life, and I love the task God has given me. There have been many disappointments and unmet expectations even after that first term. But I learned a valuable lesson those first four years.

There will be pain & death, but that is what brings forth new life and new meaning. Without it, we will never find His purpose for this short life we have been given. Remember, unless something first dies…it can never bear fruit.

So my last bit of advice for this post. If you find yourself in this difficult refining time, memorize this passage.

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will truly find it.” Luke 9:23-24

…live there and let God teach you what it means.

Repurposing the Muslim Call to Prayer

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:21:21 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Every morning starting at around 4:45, our city will come alive. Sleepy imams will turn on loudspeakers. The early morning skies are filled with the droning of the adhan or the call to prayer.

The repetitive Arabic rhythm and phraseology come from every direction in the city. The Muezzin from the minaret tower sings it; some sing high, others low, some are fast, and others are slow, but all have identical words and intent. To encourage piety and devotion to Mohammed and Allah; Come to the mosque to pray! Here is the translation:

God is Great

I bear witness that there is no god except the One God

I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God

Hurry to prayer

Hurry to Success

Prayer is better than sleep (only said for the pre-dawn adhan)

God is Great

There is no god except the One God

This daily reminder usually lasts until about 5:30, and everything returns to normal.

I usually wake up during this time every day. Day after day, the Muezzin pleads with Mohammad’s followers to call out to a God they do not know. They encourage them to devote themselves to the empty teachings of a man who tells them of a distant God who can’t be personally known or doesn’t care for them intimately. Early in the morning, these holy men urge their adherents to cry out to a God who is not love, who knows nothing of forgiveness or grace.

Day after day, as I heard this call to “prayer,” My mind began to focus on those who were listening and responding.

Who else is waking up right now?

How many of them are rolling out their carpets and kneeling to pray to a God who does not hear or answer?

I was reminded of how I was once a captive to religion but knew little of a personal God who loved me deeply. At first, this alarm clock that comes free of charge in many cities around the world was a significant annoyance.

But I decided to adopt their call to prayer and adapt it to my own uses.

When I hear it, I pray for those who are lost. I pray that they will find Truth. I pray they are drawn to Isa (Jesus), whom Muslims also revere. I pray that his life and teachings bring them to a proper understanding and a deep relationship with God. I pray that I will have the opportunity to tell them about a God who loves them so much that he was willing to suffer on their behalf, even unto death. I long to tell them of the empty tomb, the victorious Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides, counsels, and encourages.

My friends, we are surrounded by reminders of God’s grace & love. But we are also prompted daily to remember the lost-ness of man. We see examples of man’s fruitless pursuits, which lead to destruction.

If we are listening, it should compel us to live with purpose. It should send us to our knees to pray for those searching for truth in the wrong place. It will inspire us to reach out & make new friends. To introduce them to a God who loves them.

I pray that my (and your) life will find purpose and Divine focus in even the most mundane things of life.

10 Essentials Books on Missions

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:31:37 GMT

Don't miss these jewels

I had a lot of students borrowing books from my library this summer while they were serving in the refugee camps. Several requested that I come up with a book list of the most helpful books…

Here are 10 of the best books that I own on the topic of missions. (in no particular order) Click on the links to find them in Amazon, most of them a pretty reasonably priced.

A Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison

This book will challenge all western Christians view of Muslims, that is too often skewed by a worldly perspective seeped in hate instead of love. It is a mix of History, research, and compelling stories. It’s packed with crucial information for anyone interested in sharing the truth of the gospel with their Muslim friends.

A Wind in the House of Islam gives a voice to those who have stepped away from Islam to embrace Jesus Christ. You will hear stories of how God is at work in these places. The information is not an end in itself, but it informs us so that we can better participate with God as he works in these places. It is also a very encouraging book for Muslim background believers, it would be a great gift to them.

The Great Omission by Steve Saint

The problem: the great commission is too big for us to accomplish alone. Steve Saint (son of martyr Nate Saint) addresses some of the solutions in this book including collaboration, finding & training the workers in the harvest, and many other out of the box ideas. Not all believers can or should be missionaries but every believer…has a place in missions. The book mixes cutting edge missiology mixed with stories from distant cultures, it is a fun but challenging read.

Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper

I mean, I don’t know what else can be said about this book. It sets a missiological and theological foundation for what missions is and why it is necessary. Probably the most famous modern missiological book. Here is a quote to whet your missional appetite.

" Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal in missions. It’s the goal of missions. Because in missions, we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory ."

Bible Storying for Church Planting by Daniel Sanchez, JO Terry & Lanette Thompson

This book is a primer for the new missionary storyteller. It helps you pull out of your methodological ruts and move into church planting strategies using storying. It has also been helpful to troubleshoot the storying that you are doing. As well as an excellent primary source for training storytellers. A MUST for those working with Oral peoples!

Don’t waste Your Life by John Piper

I wouldn’t say that this book is about missions per se, but in many cases, it has led people into a life devoted to the nations. Contemplating a wasted life tends to inspire people to go to the edge and leverage the few years that they have been given to do something meaningful and impactful for the kingdom. I loved this book, it is Piper doing what he does best, calling the church out for their cultural idolatry and compelling people to give their very lives in service of our Savior.

Servant on the Edge of History by Sam James

This book WILL challenge you! While the Vietnam war was raging, Sam James and his family stayed in Vietnam to minister to the needs and be light in the darkest of places. This book answers the question as to who God is and who a person can be when life is lived consciously in His presence. It is a riveting story, you won’t be able to put it down, and it will make you think about your life and if you are living it to the fullest to advance the kingdom of Christ or if you are holding back.

Peace Child by Don Richardson

When I first read this book, it blew my mind! This book had a HUGE surprise twist that absolutely made the book. It helped me to see that mission work is not as easy as maybe I thought it would be. Missionary life requires a missionary to know the gospel story inside and out and then also know the culture you are living in intimately so that you can best communicate the truth of the gospel in an understandable way. It also taught me about going back to the drawing board when things don’t work. Get back in there and figure it out. You will love it!

Shadow of the Almighty by Elizabeth Elliot

I’ve read this book so many times I’ve had to buy multiple copies, all of them have folded page corners, underlines, and highlights. I love this book because you get a glimpse into the heart of a missionary. You get to see the passion and zeal, but also the doubts and questions. You get to have a look into the study and reading habits of Jim Elliot and even hear of his family life. This book was the one that opened my eyes to what it really means to be a missionary and the level of spiritual and emotional dedication that it requires.

Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson

When I first went to the mission field, I had like many others a case of the Savior Complex. I thought that I was bringing knowledge of the one true God to a remote tribe. But what I found when I got there was that He had been there all along. Leaving a trail and preparing them to hear the “rest of the story” In this book, Don Richardson, explores many different cultures and how God left a key for us to use to open the gospel to them in a way that communicates deeply and appropriately with their worldview. You will finish this book with a greater desire to know and study culture, and you will also grow in your appreciation for God’s sovereignty and the magnitude of his Global Strategy.

Missionary Methods: St. Pauls or Ours? By Roland Allen

Cutting edge! Roland Allen is way before his time. This book is a MUST for any missionary strategist. If you are a big-picture person and you are interested in using methodologies because they are Biblical AND effective, not just using the latest missiological fads, this is the book for you. Using Paul’s missionary journeys and writings, you will begin to see patterns that helped Paul to be successful in his missionary endeavors, and you will learn how you can also adopt those strategies in your own ministry. But before you get too excited, I should warn you that Mr. Allen is probably going to step on your toes a bit and ask some tough questions. But these are questions that need to be discussed and thought through as we are developing strategy today.

If you liked this list let me know and I will post more, I would also love to hear your favorites.

Admittedly, my book does not reach the level of essential like the rest of this list. But if you haven't read it yet, it might be worth a quick read. The Mentor/Apprentice relationship is a game changer for every missionary. Those who get a good start with mentorship tend to have significantly more success than those who do not. So, pick up Letters to an Apprentice on Amazon, it is available in paperback or kindle.

Losing Giants

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:20:04 GMT

Billy Graham and Randy & Kathy Arnett

We all knew it was coming. Eventually, our friend Billy would die. He wasn't perfect, but to some of us, he represented as close as it gets without having nail-scarred hands and a thorn-marked forehead. Still, even though we were expecting it, Billy's death filled us with a mixture of sadness and joy when it happened. We are sad because our role model had left us but joyful because he had been made whole. But I found myself having another emotion, inspiration.

Billy had impacted the world with one simple yet life-changing message, the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had largely avoided politics and anything less worthy than the calling he had received. He focused on being a guide to everyone he met, from beggars to presidents; Muslims and Jews; prisoners and celebrities. He treated them all the same. They all admired him and were willing to listen to what he had to say about Jesus. We have lost the greatest evangelist the world has ever seen…and WHO IS LEFT TO REPLACE HIM?!

Franklin can't fill his daddy's shoes, and he wasn't meant to.

David Platt doesn't have enough gray hairs to pull it off.

Ravi Zacharias has already established himself in apologetics.

John Piper is speaking prophetic words to a church that has strayed.

I've got news for you; God is not sending another Billy Graham.

Because that is my job and yours. The work of an evangelist is for mechanics and teachers, missionaries and real estate agents, and everything in between. God blessed us for a time with a Spiritual Grandfather to show us the way. But long before Billy inspired us, God called us to be His emissaries. Normal people who had been changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ. Throughout history, it was the ordinary people God has used to change the world, not the extraordinary.

This month we lost two more giants of the faith. You probably had never heard of them before this week. They were Randy and Kathy Arnett. Perfect examples of how God uses ordinary people to have a massive impact if they are just obedient. After more than 30 years of serving as missionaries in Africa, they went home. Randy had an insatiable desire to gain knowledge, leading him to a deeper understanding of his Creator. His desire to establish healthy churches and battle false teachings corrupting the body of Christ was also a lifelong pursuit.

I was working with Randy…wait, let me restate that. Randy was helping me (he was doing all the work) to develop some materials for churches to recognize false teachings and how to combat them. I leaned on him heavily. He was our resident expert. I read his notes and asked him questions. But I still have many questions and a lot to learn. Sadly, Randy is gone.

So what do we do when we lose our giants, our fathers in the faith? We double down, work harder, study longer, and share the gospel more often. Our highest tribute to those who went before us is to emulate them and continue the work that they started.

Here is my action plan. I'm going to buy some books and study harder, and I plan to share the gospel three times this week. What is your plan?

Leaders Go First, Leaders Go Last

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:13:33 GMT

WHAT KIND OF LEADER ARE YOU?

Leadership is a hot topic in America, especially in Christian circles. But we also have a long history of getting it wrong. The disciples had a specific idea of leadership that they imposed on Jesus. Jesus tried to prepare them for His kingdom and how things don't work the same there. But until the unthinkable happened, they couldn't grasp that Jesus was leading from a position of humility and suffering.

We, too, struggle with this concept, and if you pick up a Christian leadership book, you will find that if you change some of the keywords, it would be indistinguishable from most secular leadership books. But Christian Leadership is still antithetical compared to the world's leadership style.

Leadership for a Christian is based on character, not on ability. It is based on how you live and the integrity that you demonstrate, not your level of influence. We are supposed to follow and emulate people who act according to Jesus's teachings, not those who look the part or have a celebrity following. Those people tend to lead us astray. So here are a few examples of the character traits of Christian leaders.

Leaders Go First :

The Christian leader should lead from the front by setting an example and being steadfast in the truth even when it is inconvenient.

When I was a kid, I saw how my dad led. "Right is right, and wrong is wrong," he would say. He knew people would have excuses and reasons for what they did or didn't do, but to my dad, that didn't matter. On Monday nights, Dad would go to visitation. He would visit the sick, new believers, visitors, and people who might be interested in hearing more about the Gospel. It was my dad and the preacher most Mondays. When I was old enough, he "encouraged" me to go as well, but I never remember seeing more than four people there. My dad never complained or bad-mouthed those people who were not reaching out to the community. He just led by doing. And that profoundly impacted me and how I do things to this day.

Leaders Go Last :

Christian leadership in America has followed the cultural trends we see in other realms. We have Celebrity Pastors and famous authors who are idolized and emulated. They are given special treatment and put in very uncomfortable situations.

When you speak at a conference or teach in a local church, they will always want to honor you in some way—sitting in a special seat or going first in line. Some of this can not be helped, and it isn't worth the confusion and the fuss to refuse. But you should watch how they act with their people.

An old preaching professor of mine once told me, "You want to know what kind of leader someone is, watch where they get in line at the pot-luck dinner." I have learned that the people I have respected most in their leadership tend to be towards the end of the line. They don't give themselves special treatment but consider others more important than themselves.

Be Accessible :

Finally, in this Christian celebrity culture that we have created, we have isolated our leaders from the masses. It is a mess that we have created. There are practical reasons we do it; we don't want our leaders to be overwhelmed with the "needs" of the masses.

But we must remember that if anyone had the possibility of being overwhelmed, it was Jesus, and his disciples would often try to buffer him from the masses, but Jesus rejected the idea. He ate in the homes of sinners and welcomed little children. He spoke with people who would ruin his image and made himself accessible to all kinds of people, not just a select few in the inner circle or other celebrities.

If you want to follow Jesus' leadership example, you must be accessible like he was and show a love of people that is demonstrated by giving them your full attention and focus.

One of the small things that makes a difference is eye contact and being fully there in the moment. If you can maintain eye contact and be interested in what is being said instead of taking quick glances around and ensuring you aren't missing something (something that might be more important), you are on the right track. Jesus was and is fully accessible to those who seek Him. We should follow his example.

Jesus is Lord...But, Safety First!

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:39:51 GMT

Which slogan will define your life?

How often do you think of your safety and security? Do you hesitate when given the opportunity to do something "out of the ordinary" for the sake of Christ?

A few weeks back, as I was driving down to the capital city from our home in the north, we encountered a dose of African wisdom painted on the back of a bus. It revealed something that I believe is at the core of our American worldview.

We were behind a dusty bus that was almost certainly carrying a number of passengers that far exceeded its safe limit. The bus had been wrecked before because though it was driving forward, the back and front wheels seemed to be going in entirely different directions. But one thing caught my attention and made me think. A slogan was painted on the back of the bus.

On the top of the bus, it said "Jesus is Lord," but on the dusty mud flap, it said, "Safety first."

I think we have gotten confused about these two phrases within the Christian vocabulary. To put it very simply, both can not be true. If safety is first, Jesus is not Lord.

In our American culture, safety is a foundational consideration in every area of life.

We desire financial security, so we put money into retirement to ensure that we will always have what is needed to secure a comfortable life until we die.

We desire physical security, so we insure ourselves against disease and sickness and avoid anything that could be dangerous. We fully enclose our kids into trampoline cages to keep them from falling, and we keep children in car seats until they are old enough for a learner's permit. (Don't freak out! I am exaggerating to make a point)

We desire spiritual security, so we go to large churches where no one will ever challenge us personally or call us out on our sins. We send others into the "dangerous" mission field, but we hesitate to leave the comforts of our warm bed and Netflix on-demand.

There is wisdom at the core of all of these precautions. I have a retirement, medical insurance, and a comfortable home. But I know that to say that Jesus is Lord and mean it will bring me into danger. It will take me out of my comfort zone and into places where I must confront my desires for comfort and a lazy, self-centered life.

Ultimately, you will have to choose one of the phrases as our mantra to live by; you can't have both.

If Jesus is Lord, obedience to him is the most important thing, even if it takes you into danger. And sometimes, it is through trouble and hardship that he reveals himself more clearly.

But if safety is first, your comfort will be your guide. And though you may live longer and suffer less, at the end of your life, you will have wasted your 80 years by fearing life instead of living it.

The Umbrella Principle

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:39:43 GMT

How to have a realistic impact when you are surrounded by needs

Ngole’s eyes rolled back, and his body slapped the ground as he fell from the wooden stool and onto the cold concrete. We rushed to care for him thinking he had some medical issue. When he regained consciousness, we began asking him questions to determine the cause of his fainting spell. Upon further investigation, we learned that Ngole, our language teacher, had not eaten in 3 days. He had passed out due to hunger.

We had never experienced suffering on this level in our previous assignment. In the amazon, food literally falls off of trees. But in Karamoja, food insecurity is a constant concern, especially during the dry season. In most cases (like Ngole), the uninitiated would never recognize the need. They do not look like the starving children you see on TV. But once we identified the signs, we were overwhelmed by the fact that the majority of the 330,000 people living around us slept hungry.

These were real problems. They were real people — my friends.

Every year people died of malnutrition and starvation, but our resources could not match the need around us. That reality filled us with frustration and guilt. We had seen missionaries leave the field because they could not come to terms with the massive needs outside their door. We did not want to become the next ones to pack our bags.

In the midst of these looming questions, I saw a pattern in the life of Christ that gave me hope. I am optimistic that this breakthrough can help you too.

Even though Jesus was able physically to meet all of the needs around him, he did not. He prioritized.

Jesus discerned a difference between his disciples and the masses. They were not the same, and Jesus’ investment in each group was noticeably different.

During his prayer in John 17, Jesus refers to his disciples numerous times as the ones God “gave to him.” He recognized that his responsibilities with the 12 were different than his obligation to the masses.

For example, Jesus taught the masses with parables; but He explained the deeper meaning of the parables to His disciples. He invested in them and gave them the words of life.

This was liberating for me. Once I recognize that the Son of God made boundaries, I felt free to establish margins of my own.

I call it the Umbrella Principle.

An umbrella’s function is to provide a level of protection from the harshness of the world around us, whether it is the hot sun, pouring rain, or pounding hail. But an umbrella is limited in its capacity to provide protection, just like we are. One umbrella can not protect 1,000 people from the rain.

Likewise, missionaries and humanitarian aid workers do not have the resources to personally meet the needs of all of the people they come into contact with. But they often have the capacity to support a select few. My commitment is to help those who God guides under the protection of my umbrella.

Widows, Orphans, Strangers, the Elderly, the Disabled, and the oppressed tend to hold the highest priority in God’s heart, so they have the same place in mine. Once I sense the Lord giving me the responsibility to care for a person or group of people, I make an effort to show Christian charity. This is an opportunity for me to share the mercy and provisions that God lavished upon me in my time of need. When I was desperate, he met me where I was, and now when I meet someone consumed by fear and doubt, I can do the same.

I am NOT responsible for the whole population, but God has entrusted me with a chosen few, and I do my best to help. This mindset is more manageable in the long run and allows you to have reasonable expectations for yourself.

But why?

Why did Jesus, who had infinite power, focus his most profound efforts and care upon such a small grouping of disciples? Because God wants to pass on His character to us and allow us to collaborate with him. He doesn’t want us to bring him those who are in need. He wants us to minister to those in need so that we can properly introduce them to the messiah.

Jesus could have done his redemptive work without the disciples, but who would have continued his work after he returned to heaven?

Jesus could have told his followers about compassion and generosity; He could have modeled it for them and left it at that. But he didn’t; he commanded them to DO what they observed him doing.

This is how the Gospel spreads:

Those who have received grace and mercy have gathered under Jesus’ umbrella;
and those who are gathered there gather others under their umbrellas to share the compassion of Christ;
As the gathered ones experience His love, they too open their umbrellas, and the Good News of Jesus Christ passes from generation to generation through Christian Charity.

Don’t try to save the world; you are not able or worthy. Just open your umbrella and care for those who God has given to you.

Upgrading your umbrella

Organizations like Send Relief can help us to expand the reach of our umbrella for a short time. They are allowing us to save lives and have a positive impact on the community. They have a holistic strategy, and they focus on sustainability and long-term answers. But their funds and strategies are not capable of answering all of the world’s problems. That is why Jesus created his church.

The long-term solution to the humanitarian aid crisis is the church. When the church is functioning as it should, it is a congregation filled with umbrellas — each gathering the needy to the protection and generosity of Jesus Christ and his people.

We must instill sacrificial generosity into the churches we plant and gather with. If a need comes to your attention and you do not have the resources to meet that need, take it to God’s people and allow others to be blessed by giving.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

What happened with Ngole? The rest of the story.

Because of what happened with Ngole that day, we made some sweeping changes in how we operated. We increased the benefits of working on our compound. We provided lunch and tea time daily for every worker. This minor change also gave us time to eat lunch, take tea with our workers, and get to know them and their life situations better. In this way, we ensured that no matter what was happening at home, we knew that our workers got at least one substantial meal that day.

Secondly, during the dry season, hunger was a pressing issue, not just for our workers but also for their families. So we provided supplemental dry foods (beans & maize flour) during each month of the dry season. We were ensuring that the families did not go hungry during the most challenging season of the year.

It is important to note that the assistance provided was not a handout but well thought out and practical job benefits. How you help is just as important as what you give. If your generosity makes you feel good but steals the dignity of the people you are trying to elevate, you have made the situation worse than it was before.

So, take time to think through your plan, discuss options with the people you are serving, look for a solution that provides for their felt needs but also empowers them and makes them proud of what they have done to provide for themselves.

Making a Global Impact

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:02:52 GMT

8 Questions reveals the truth

Everyone wants to have an impact on the world around them, right? We long to leave home and make our mark in the world. But at some point, we have a wakeup call that just wishing for it doesn't make it so.

Maybe you were a local celebrity in your hometown, but upon arriving at the university or when you started your big job, no one cared. It is at that point that most people give up and surrender themselves to obscurity. Maybe they still have a hidden desire to have an impact, but they don't know how to do it. Well, here is something to help you measure your global impact & a few tips to increase your influence.

What languages do you speak?

If you speak English, that is a good start because 20% of the world speaks English. But that is a relatively small percentage. It will be hard to have a global impact today speaking only English, most influential people today are at least bilingual. Consider learning one of these other languages if you want to expand your impact and influence.

Mandarin: 955 million speakers

Spanish: 405 million speakers

Arabic: 295 million speakers

French: 76 million speakers

What conversations do you engage in?

You can not have an impact on the real issues in the world if you are uninformed or unengaged in current events. Learn about the key topics affecting the world today. Inform yourself about issues like sex trafficking, the global economy, the refugee crisis, or renewable energy.

Let me warn you of a trap, do not let the news or Facebook posts dictate which topics you should engage in or what you should believe about the said topic. Be aware that everyone has an agenda, and politics rarely help solve the world's problems.

It is okay to have an opinion on everything but focus your energies on one or two issues where you can have an immediate impact.

What kind of friends do you have?

Do all of your friends look, think, and believe like you? If so, you need to branch out, meet some new people, hear their perspectives. Learn to see the people behind the beliefs, and you will become more measured in your responses due to the relationships you have built. Who knows, you may learn something that has a long-lasting impact on you.

Are you an influential voice on a global topic?

Speak out, be passionate, educate yourself. Start small by sharing with your circle of influence then move into a larger arena by educating others on the facts and finding people who will join you as you try to make a lasting impact. But be careful with your voice, everyone hates a troll, don't try to embarrass or ridicule someone else's perspective. You can disagree without being disagreeable.

Do you read?

Move beyond the newest bestselling fiction books and go deep into some of the profound thoughts of those who went before you. Listen to the words of those who impacted the world before you were born. What can you learn about them? Their lives? Their discipline? Their passions? And don't just read things that you agree with. Challenge yourself read things that oppose your current perspective, and learn to understand multiple perspectives with an open mind.

Do you have a passport?

How can you expect to have a global impact from your living room?! You have to get out there, experience something, volunteer to help wherever you are needed. Fill that passport with stamps, then apply for a replacement. You will know that you are making a difference when you have replaced your passport because you have run out of pages rather than your passport expiring with nothing to show for it.

Reevaluate your motives

The most disappointing trend of the last ten years is not the selfie or duck lips, but the "Helpie." Helpies are photos you take of yourself with the poor and impoverished to show how involved you are in helping people who are struggling. To put it bluntly, it is disingenuous and self-serving, not to mention how degrading it is to the people you are "helping." Be sure your motives are pure, and you are not just in it for fame and glory. Ask yourself, if no one knew I was doing this, how would it affect my attitude? Would I even still be doing it?

Fads or foundations?

Finally, make sure the efforts you are making have a real impact. Don't get sucked into the latest social justice fads. Avoid learning about needs through Facebook and the popular media. Don't let people use you to accomplish their ends, but determine for yourself what is a worthwhile cause. What is so foundational that it will have a ripple effect in other sectors? Which of these causes is a fad that will go away in 5-10 years?

Climate change, in my opinion, is a fad (mostly because they keep changing their narrative), but common sense conservation has been a mainstay of people trying to make a difference for a long time. It isn't as glamorous or trendy, but it can have a more substantial impact in the long run.

Fads come and go, but some topics have been changing history for almost as long as history has existed. Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, caring for vulnerable people, breaking the chains of slavery and addiction, all of these are mainstays of the modern-day revolutionary. Interestingly enough, these issues were also central to the teachings of Jesus Christ and were at the core of who His church was supposed to be.

We Christians should be at the forefront. We should be leading the way, making an impact on the world around us. It is as simple as following the teachings of Christ and dying to your selfish desires. Now, get out there and change the world!

Waging Spiritual War

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:25:39 GMT

What does it take?

“War is very simple, direct and ruthless. It takes a simple, direct and ruthless man to wage it.” — George Patton

General George Patton, “Ol’ Blood & Guts” He was either loved or hated because of the way he conducted his life. Things were Black or White, they were right or wrong. He knew how to wage war and how to win. When his superiors disagreed with him, he found a way to do it his way and he won. But what can we learn from Patton regarding the Spiritual War?

The leading quote defines the person who will be successful in waging war. War is not complicated, we lose when we overcomplicate it. It can be boiled down to these truths:

There is an enemy.

He must be killed.

There will be casualties.

The same truths apply in spiritual battle.

There is an enemy:

Who is the enemy, in most cases you need look no further than the mirror. The enemy is not Muslim, the Atheist or the liberal media, the enemy is the sin in our own lives that keeps us from full devotion to our God, it defames the name of Christ and makes His mission on this earth less effective because of our personal sins. Our enemy is the silence of our own tongues which fail to proclaim the glories of Jesus Christ. Our enemy is our own self-love and tolerance of disunity within the body.

He must be killed:

There is no way around this truth. to win you must kill, kill the selfish drive in your heart so that you can learn to love your neighbor more than yourself, kill the addictions that distract you from the one true God who is sufficient to meet all of your needs,

Kill hatred, bigotry, prejudice.

Kill self-righteousness, pride, and love of money.

Kill fear, disobedience, and deceit.

It’s spiritual Suicide, Dying to yourself, He takes your sin but you have to kill the Old Man. It is the ONLY way to see victory. He provides the tools and the sanctification, but you have to be willing to do the ugly work of war. It’s bloody and brutal but you must kill.

There will be casualties

Some will be heroes and some will be cowards. The heroes are the ones who willingly give their lives (kill their old man) in love and service to their Savior. They submit themselves to the Lords discipline and they allow him to mold them into the soldier they were meant to be. These men change the world. These men plant churches in enemy territory, these men lead others to follow their example, these men are true disciples of Jesus Christ.

The other casualties are the cowards. Patton famously got in trouble for slapping a soldier who he considered a coward and kicking him out of the hospital because he did not deserve to be treated with the other heroes who were there. We should feel the same about the nominal Christians who use the name of Christ for their own gain but do not obey the teachings that define a follower of Jesus. They are imposters and it should infuriate us.

These cowards they want to wear the colors of the cross, they want to be known as believers, Christians, even leaders. But they are not willing to make the sacrifices that make them heroes. They shy away from self-sacrifice, they allow their sin to rule them and they hide it from their peers. They talk about spiritual maturity but they themselves are only babes. We have seen these casualties, they are usually in the public eye as a minister falls into sin, or a leader loses his faith. We have seen once strong men lose their way and bow to cultural “truths” instead of standing on the firm foundation of God’s word. These men will fall and the temptation is to be discouraged by their cowardice, but look to the true Heroes and emulate them. Let the cowards fall into obscurity.

Spiritual War is very simple, direct & ruthless. It takes simple, direct & ruthless men to wage it.

So, men, let us be serious-minded and devote ourselves to the spiritual battle. Let us discipline ourselves and deal with our personal sin, as we lead others into the disciplined spiritual life. Jesus is the perfect example of what we aspire to. He did the hard thing, not seeking glory, but obedience. Let us do the same.

Consume or Cultivate

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:12:16 GMT

Why porn is a lie

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How Porn Addiction Affects the Fulfilling of the Great Commission

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:04:15 GMT

Are we listening or hiding from the truth?

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Finding True Adventure

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 22:48:35 GMT

How the church of safety is ruining childhood

I recently saw an advertisement that caught my eye. This ad was pitching a new videogame and it said, “Looking for a new Adventure? Start one from the comfort of your own home.”

Now first, let me say I do play video games from time to time. It isn’t common for me but I do understand the draw and it can really be fun. BUT there is something fundamentally wrong with this statement and I’m just gonna say it.

If you really want adventure, you have to leave your home!

It is a lie that you can find adventure by exploring a strange world on your PS4. It is an attempt to fulfill a core desire of men, the desire to explore. We all have it, we want to know more, to learn how to do things, to have new experiences and to earn our place in the world.

But we have a whole generation (or two) who has been indoctrinated into one of the national religions of America, the church of Safety. Where we obsess about how we could possible be cut, maimed or injured in any way.

Parents put restrictions on their kids that keep them from experiencing hurt and discomfort and they develop a fear of anything that might be difficult or painful. Kids are in car seats until they are 17. We wash our hands 20x a day, and we close our kids up in the house where it is safe.

But is it really safe in the house? Or are they exposed to something even more dangerous?

You CAN NOT take away this desire for Adventure! It is hard wired into the soul of young men. Boys still look for it in even in their suburban prisons.

They play video games for countless hours and they talk trash and brag and act tough, but they know inside they could never back up their words. So they stay at home and hide. Or worse, they bully helpless children online to build themselves up.

They also look for adventure on the computer by exploring the other unknown, sex. As they explore sexuality online, they develop perverted attitudes about sex and how to treat women by learning about sex from a culture completely obsessed with all things sensual. They never come to understand the true intimacy that God created for us to enjoy.

Young men should be stomping through the woods and exploring God’s wild creation. They should be free to join other young men to overcome impossible odds in sporting endeavors and challenging themselves socially to work on a team, developing their skills and abilities.

Learning character and citizenship happens in the context of community, Learning perversion and self absorbed behaviors happens in seclusion. Our actions become distorted because they are not done in the light and subject to the accountability of the community.

So for you parents out there, stop worshiping at the Church of Safety, give your boy a pocket knife for his birthday, let him go hunting, or play sports or push the boundries.

God gave him this desire for adventure. Give him avenues that are healthy and Godly to fulfill these desires or he will find unhealthy ways to find adventure.

And you Godly fathers, put aside your responsibilities from time to time and lead your son into adventure. You won’t regret it. Remember, Boys with scars become leaders of men.