Titusville Spring Perspectives Class Wraps Up

It has been my privilege to serve the Titusville Florida Spring 2010 "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" class as Grading Supervisor. We met Sunday evenings, January 10 - May 9 (with two break weeks) @ Indian River City United Methodist Church in Titusville. The photo above includes students and Coordinating Team members at our last evening multicultural dinner celebration with testimonies and graduation. It was a precious time of worship, sharing, and praying for one another.

Perspectives teaches the biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic aspects of fulfilling the Great Commission. “Perspectives is a dynamic, engaging and thorough look at the state of world evangelization today. For any person who wonders where they may fit into God's plan for reaching the unreached, taking this course will give them insight to God's heart for the world and how they can and should get involved.” -Scott Graves, Pioneer Bible Translators

In 15 lessons, we engaged with a range of dynamic speakers from these missions organizations & more: New Tribes Mission, Walk Through the Bible, Unveiling Glory, YWAM Frontier Missions, Latin American Missions, Globe Serv, Intl. Orality Network, Jesus to Muslims, Fountain of Life, Wycliffe Bible Translators, New Mission Systems, Air Mobile Ministries.

Students in this Titusville class included among others: a high school senior taking the class for college credit, preparing to be a 3rd generation missionary and her mother who ministered in Panama during several weeks of the class; two ladies took class for college and graduate credit. Certificate students included a retired medical doctor and wife who are very supportive of missions, several missions committee chairpersons/members, a former English teacher to Japan, and others. Various students and CT members have already served in different parts of the world and some have plans to serve abroad this summer or sooner in Haiti and Nicaragua. Join us in praying for Kathleen Willey Peterson and daughter Anna who are currently on a short-term trip in Panama. Heather Trapp, graduate student, wrote on Facebook: "What a great experience!!! Tons of work but SO worth it. It has forever changed the way that I look at the world, and missions. Thanks be to God!"

It is an honor and privilege to work with such a program that is designed to equip and mobilize Christians to contribute their own abilities in their own strategic places of service to advance the Kingdom, whether locally, nationally or internationally.

I have been asked to also serve as Grading Supervisor of the Satellite Beach FL class this fall and mention has been made of my working with the Spring 2011 Orlando class (contingent on ramifications a full-time missions situation I am exploring).

Perspectives is about learning how to use your skills and passions to glorify God in all the earth – no matter your location or vocation. The course can be taken online. I challenge you to prayerfully consider it…go to http://www.perspectives.org/.

The Journey Deepens Reteat, Atlanta GA

It was my privilege to attend "The Journey Deepens Reteat" in Tyrone GA at the Operation Mobilization Conference Center near Atlanta on March 26-28.  Along with deepening our relationship with Jesus, there was much discussion and exploration of the goer, sender, and mobilizer roles in missions. I had the opportunity to connect with representatives from several missions agencies - Finishers Project, Operation Mobilization, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. 

I have served as a "goer" in the past, to Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa and Cayman Islands. Currently I am in a season of being a "sender" (David and Bonnie Baylor Family + Ernie and Lori Nicholas)  and "mobilizer" (via Perspectives course grading supervisor + library development @ Heart Institute). I pray I can always function as a sender and mobilizer, even if in small ways. The "big picture" is not visible yet... I simply do not feel God has released me from my call to be a "goer" be it short-term or long-term.

My heart, ears, and eyes are open to God's leading. Several kinds of research and exploration are in progress. For example, I have registered to attend Discover Wycliffe on May 1. My heart leaps whenever I hear and read about Wycliffe's Vision 2025 to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by the year 2025.

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My small group - leader: Ele Parrott (lower right),

author of Transforming Together, Authentic Spiritual Mentoring)

Gals in the Big Bunkhouse - rich sharing of learnings and fellowship at end of the days.

 

Funeral & Family Time in KY; Cherished Action Happens Again

The last weekend of February was spent in central Kentucky with my Watts relatives. We gathered in Winchester to remember and honor my Dad's sister, Fannie Watts Palmer. Her minister described her as a humble, quiet country woman of few words. She was a faithful woman - to God, her church, and her family. She touched the hearts and impacted the lives of many...the funeral home was packed. Eighteen of us first cousins were there plus many second cousins, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Aunt Fannie had expressed her love for us and others in so many caring ways.

I appreciate Aunt Fannie's support and encouragement of my Christian Education ministry; I did several programs with puppets and more at her church through the years. I cherish her support of my African missions work. She had a special heart for missions. 

Aunt Fannie was a wonderful role model for service. You'd frequently find her in the church kitchen at Epperson First Church of God during various events and funeral dinners plus cooking at Camp Glenn Eden. I was told that if she could not be at a funeral dinner to help serve, she would quietly slip a covered dish into the church ahead.

 What a special treat it was to see all those cousins, two I had not seen in more than 40 years. It was a blessing to spend time after the funeral with some family members. Above is my cousin Pam Pennington, I hold Pam's granddaughter Caroline Grace, Aunt Ruth Abney, and Aunt Mayme Crowe.

There is something I’ll always remember and cherish. It happened again 42+ years later. It comforted my heart and lifted my spirits back on that cold rainy day in October 1967 as the funeral procession followed my dear beloved father to his burial place a few miles away. Cars coming the opposite direction pulled to the side of the road and waited for the procession to go by - out of respect for the deceased and sympathy for the grieving. No laws demanding you stop and wait as with a school bus stopping to pick up students. It deeply touched this then 14-year old broken heart that these complete strangers gave a hoot about our deep loss.

I thought things had probably changed after more than 42 years…but it happened again. This trip from funeral home to cemetery was longer, but four lanes across a divided highway some people pulled off the road to wait for our procession to go by. Again, my deeply grieving heart was comforted by this silent yet powerful act of kindness. It makes me proud to be a native of Winchester, Kentucky.