Grateful Hearts

This is Ingrid's family.  Ingrid, the young lady in the striped shirt, was one of the kids the North Shore VBS sponsored to go to the Christian school at the tracks.  While on a short term trip to Guatemala last summer, we had a very touching meeting with this family.  With tears in her eyes, Ingrid's mother told us that she could never thank the church enough for helping to send her children to school.  Later that week, we were able to meet Ingrid's father as well and he made sure to let us know that he was praying for our family as we were praying for his.  As we left, with tears in our eyes, we knew we were never going to be the same.  God used this family and many others along the tracks to place a love in our heart for the people of Guatemala.  He has called us to minister there for this time.  Our family looks forward to sharing the love of Christ by working with those He loves in Guatemala and helping them in any way He calls us to.  

All In The Family

This is Kimberly. She is part of our family now. Through David Beam's Shack Attack ministry we found out that she needed funds to be able to attend the Christian school there at the tracks. We began supporting her to go to school over two years ago now. Last summer when we went to Guatemala, one of our main goals was to be able to meet Kimberly face to face. As we left the guest house that first day, my family really hoped we'd get a chance to see her. When we got out of the van to visit this poverty stricken community, Kimberly was one of the first ones there to greet us. One of the most touching things I've ever seen was that she was wearing an outfit that my girls had given up to send to her. How cool is that? Lisa, of course, started crying right away and through her tears said, "She's wearing Emma's clothes." It was bittersweet. We were excited that she wore her clothes, but for the next three days she continued to wear those same clothes. I'm not sure, as Americans, that we can understand this level of poverty. 

I pray that you all would think about supporting one of these families. In my next post, I will share with you the story of Ingrid, a girl who is financially supported through North Shore Alliance Church. It was an amazing meeting. 

We do have our names on The Foundation's website so that you can get updates there as well. We are thankful and humbled through your prayer support, the website allows you to support us financially as well. 

A verse that was sent to me this morning that I feel is so appropriate for this time in our lives: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

God Bless!

The First Steps

Well, the first steps have happened. Lisa and I announced what God has for us via our home church this past Sunday. We're extremely excited but sad at the same time. The following is what was shared this past Sunday:

In December of 2009, Lisa and I felt called to sponsor a child, Kimberly, from Guatemala as part of David Beam’s Shack Attack. We made plans to visit Guatemala as a family to see first-hand the living conditions in Guatemala. Well, word got out that our family was going and so we opened this up to the church. In the end we had 10 people go on a short term missions trip to Guatemala. I’m sure I speak for each of those that went, that it was an eye-opening experience to say the least.

Upon returning to Florida, Lisa and I had an uneasiness, a restlessness, in our hearts. Although ignoring it for a month, we couldn’t stand this feeling any longer and asked Jeff Moyer, the Guatemala team leader, if we could have another meeting in case other’s felt the way we did. Well, that meeting came and went and this restlessness in our spirits remained. As Lisa and I prayed, we felt God’s leading to the mission field.

We weren’t sure where that would be so I called Chuck Hughes, our district superintendent. He gave me the number for the C&MA alliance missions contact. We found that the requirements to be an Alliance missionary are pretty rigid as far as schooling and felt that this wouldn’t be an option for us. Even Chuck told me that it wouldn’t be the way to go.

Next, I spoke to Duane Crumb, as he is one of our supported missionaries and he told Lisa and I to continue to pray to where God would lead us. We did. I decided to speak to Steve Beam. This is David Beam’s brother. He created Missionary Ventures and has now branched out to start a new missions organization “The Foundation of Saint Peter”. Upon contacting him in late November, he asked that Lisa and I sit down with David Beam, as he was coming to speak to our church that December.

The first week of December, the weekend before Dave came to the church to share, Lisa and I went to Miami for the Dolphins game. While attending a church service in Miami, we both felt God’s leading to missions in a very powerful way – both at the same time. It was truly a Holy Spirit experience.

As Lisa and I had dinner with David later that week, we all three felt the Lord leading us back to Guatemala. The benefit of working with and being mentored by David Beam is a huge bonus for us. We then spoke with Steve Beam and set up a meeting a month later. Steve told us to be praying for God’s confirmation during that month and he would be praying as well. Lisa and I were overwhelmed with confirmation during that month. Over and over again we felt the peace and leading of God to Guatemala.

In January, we had our meeting with Steve Beam and we all feel like it is God’s leading that we be in Guatemala by September of this year.

Your North Shore Governing Board has graciously agreed to keep me on as your senior pastor until the first week of September. As Lisa and I feel called to Guatemala, we understand that our ministry for the moment is still at North Shore Alliance church. We feel very strongly that although God will be moving us in September, He has not moved us or released us from our calling here at North Shore just yet.

I cannot tell you how much this church has meant to me and my family. Lisa and I – lost people – walked in these doors over ten years ago. We were saved through the ministries of North Shore. We were discipled through the ministries of North Shore so effectively that we became your Senior Pastor. And now, North Shore sends us out onto the missions field. This is an exciting time for this church and I pray that as Lisa and I and the kids take this step of faith – as we drop our nets and follow Him, that you will support us through these next 6 months.

This calling from God for us to leave everything and follow Him is exciting for us, but also one that is very sad for us. We have so many incredible relationships that we have built here over the years that will have to change. They won’t end, but they will change only because of location. I firmly believe that there is still much to be accomplished for Christ’s church here at North Shore and I look forward to what God will do through me and through you in the next 6 months.