I was asked to write a short article for our Leadership e-mail at Cypress Creek Church. Thought some of you might be interested in what I have to say so I'm making it my post for the day. Enjoy! -Julie
I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Big Daddy Weave fundraiser. I’m glad to be in a church body who not only encourages its members to “think outside the box” (regarding things like serving, missions, fundraisers, etc.) but who also says “yes” to it’s members when they come up with big ideas.
Proceeds from the concert will help build and equip the new church building in Kenya. Proceeds from the Mzungu Market and BBQ will help the team members with their fundraising efforts. God is good and we thank him for every ticket, trinket and BBQ plate sold, but there are still more funds to be raised. If a friend sends you a fundraising letter, please prayerfully consider if you can be a part of our mission.
“What exactly is that mission?” you might ask. In short, our mission is to spread the Gospel as commanded by Jesus (Matt 28:18-20). Our purpose is not just the church building, but rather the building up of a body of believers. By the time the American team arrives, the physical building is complete. Our job is to help fill it with people.
Team members go into the community with translators and visit hut-to-hut with the locals, sharing the Gospel and inviting people to the new church. We also send smaller teams into area schools and prisons to give gospel presentations. There is also crusade meeting every afternoon. These meetings are held outdoors in a public setting and involve music, testimonies and sharing of the Gospel. The week culminates with a grand opening of the new church. It is exciting to see how many people receive Jesus throughout the trip!
African church planting trips offer a unique opportunity, so if you ever get a chance to attend one I hope you take it. Learning to share the gospel in a succinct and effective way is valuable to all believers, but looking into someone’s eyes, sharing the gospel over and over again – having that be your work for the day – well, there’s nothing quite like it! More importantly, you get to enjoy the diversity of God’s family and witness the heavenly birth of new siblings.
I will leave you with the same invitation Pastor Morris gave me before I agreed to take my first trip to Kenya:
“Come, come to Africa and you will see.”
Proceeds from the concert will help build and equip the new church building in Kenya. Proceeds from the Mzungu Market and BBQ will help the team members with their fundraising efforts. God is good and we thank him for every ticket, trinket and BBQ plate sold, but there are still more funds to be raised. If a friend sends you a fundraising letter, please prayerfully consider if you can be a part of our mission.
“What exactly is that mission?” you might ask. In short, our mission is to spread the Gospel as commanded by Jesus (Matt 28:18-20). Our purpose is not just the church building, but rather the building up of a body of believers. By the time the American team arrives, the physical building is complete. Our job is to help fill it with people.
Team members go into the community with translators and visit hut-to-hut with the locals, sharing the Gospel and inviting people to the new church. We also send smaller teams into area schools and prisons to give gospel presentations. There is also crusade meeting every afternoon. These meetings are held outdoors in a public setting and involve music, testimonies and sharing of the Gospel. The week culminates with a grand opening of the new church. It is exciting to see how many people receive Jesus throughout the trip!
African church planting trips offer a unique opportunity, so if you ever get a chance to attend one I hope you take it. Learning to share the gospel in a succinct and effective way is valuable to all believers, but looking into someone’s eyes, sharing the gospel over and over again – having that be your work for the day – well, there’s nothing quite like it! More importantly, you get to enjoy the diversity of God’s family and witness the heavenly birth of new siblings.
I will leave you with the same invitation Pastor Morris gave me before I agreed to take my first trip to Kenya:
“Come, come to Africa and you will see.”
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