The clock is ticking...around the United States most Spring 2010 Perspectives courses begin the second full week of January through February 1. What in the world is Perspectives?
Perspectives is a dynamic, life changing experience where the participants have an opportunity to discover what God is doing around the world and consider their part in His purposes. Perspectives provides a unique opportunity to understand God's intentions and actions in the world, in a dynamic and internationally acclaimed 15 week study program. Whether you are a high schooler or homeschooler, college student, business person, homemaker, church leader, or seminary-trained pastor.....Perspectives is for you!
Perspectives is way more than a "course", it is an encounter, an experience, an adventure with God through the eyes and experiences of Biblical historians, church planters, seminary professors and leading missiologists from around the world! It will truly live up to its name by significantly impacting your "perspective" on God and His purposes. “
YOU are invited to participate in this life changing encounter, experience, adventure!
Check the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement website for details of the course, various youtube promo videos, locations and course registration. The course may be taken for certificate, college or graduate credit.
It is my privilege to serve as Grading Supervisor for the Titusville Florida Spring 2010 class. If you are in the central FL area, please prayerfully consider joining us starting January 10 on Sundays, 6:00 - 9:00 PM @ Indian River City United Methodist Church, 1355 Cheney Hwy Titusville, FL 32796. (2.3 miles east of I-95 on Cheney Hwy./Orlando Road/SR-50 E) First two sessions may be attended free.
Many believers annually set apart 21 days in January to pray and fast for breakthrough in our personal lives, in the body of Christ, in our nation and in our world. My Orlando church began our 21 day fast on Monday. Some choose to start with only water, then add juice; others are doing various kinds of partial fasts including the “Daniel Fast” – my primary choice. Regardless of method, the goal is “To grow closer to God as you quiet your flesh.”
This time, I have looked forward to my January Daniel Fast. During this "fork in the road" transition time of my life, I especially hunger for a closer walk with God as I seek direction and guidance for the next stretch of my journey in educational missions. Secondarily, I desire the health and stamina results that Daniel and his buddies received from their vegetables and water routine (Daniel 1) ...since I'm somewhat run down from burning the candle at both ends and in the middle.
The "Daniel Fast" is a partial fast patterned after the fast of David and friends in the Old Testament. It basically is a fast from meats, dairy, sweets, processed & fried foods, caffeine, and fat products. The Daniel Fast includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and water.
Daniel Fast Resources
The 2010 New Year Daniel Fast with Susan Gregory, Daniel Fast Blogger. Sign up for the Daniel Fast Mailing List to receive the Daniel Fast Guidelines, tips, recipes and periodic information about the Daniel Fast.
The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body by Susan Gregory. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2009.
Want to grow closer to God and improve your health in just 21 days? Inspired by the Book of Daniel, blogger Gregory has a plan to help you do just that! Her biblical principles will change the way you view food, your body, and your relationship with the Creator. Includes recipes, devotional readings, and FAQs.
Personal note: this book is wonderful - instructions for the fast prep practical, recipes delicious (love the chili and soup ones I sorta combine in our prolonged cold Florida weather!), and the devotions uplifting, especially when journal in response. Just what I needed.
The Daniet Fast - Rev. Michael L. Farho: Blog, Foods to avoid, Foods to eat, Instructions, Q and A, Recipes, Scripture, Tips, Resources
Daniel’s Fast friendly restaurants, stores and products.
It is with heavy, but yet expectant heart I share that Global Missions informed me that my current assignment as a missionary apprentice to Cote d’Ivoire has been withdrawn due to lack of funding.
I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU for the many prayers, the donations and Living Link commitments, the various expressions of support and encouragement during the fund raising process. My life is far richer because of the many new and strengthened relationships along this journey. God is working good through those relationships, and I know that will continue. Mutual support and encouragement in ministry are powerful.
Let me stress that is not the end of the road, only a fork in the road of my journey in missions. I strongly believe that the Global Missions journey thus far is only part of a bigger journey. Romans 8:28. It is my conviction that God has something else for me - other doors in educational missions He will open that could not have been reached if I had not taken this journey thus far. God cannot drive a parked car. I'm being tested on my faithfulness, obedience, and perseverance.
God put on my heart that He has blessed me so I can be a blessing to other missionaries working to raise support by encouraging folks to transfer support. God also told me to take action on that and I have – last week making a personal contribution to Dave and Bonnie Baylor’s and also Ernie and Lori Nicholas’ start-up funds -- all missionary apprentices preparing for assignments in Africa. May I please encourage you to also contribute, or even better- become a Living Link partner as God directs you? It is a joy and privilege to be a “sender!”
I am embracing the role of a mobilizer, of being instrumental in sending others. Two supportive mobilizer opportunities start in January: I have accepted an invitation to a grading supervisor as well as a grader of weekly reviews for the Spring 2010 Titusville FL class of “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”. This is an awesome 15-week course in over 200 locations in the USA plus worldwide. I also plan to go back to helping periodically with the library at H.E.A.R.T. (Hunger Education and Resource Training) Institute in Lake Wales which prepares people to serve in third world countries.
Donors and Living Link partners have been sent two letters regarding the withdrawal of my assignment. I want each person/church to respond as you sense God directing you. My earnest prayer is that donors/Living Links will transfer both donations and pledges to long-term missionary apprentices Dave and Bonnie Baylor (commissioned with me 18 months ago; profile; website) to help enable them to go to Africa early 2010. I desire for my many miles, emails, phone calls and letters to be fruitful for kingdom building via church leadership development in Africa, therein be multiplied.
(DONORS: Be aware that the option to have your funds remain in a Global Missions account for me to go to IBAO / West African Bible Institute for a short term trip in 2010 is proving not to be realistic. I appreciate that option offered, but my potential 3-week blocks of time off do not coincide with the schedule of IBAO modules for me to teach.
12/11: Just became aware of "possibilities" for short-term work in Kenya and Malawi. However, after prayer on my knees asking God for discernment and help to "keep the main thing the main thing" (kingdom building), reminding myself it's not about me....God reminded me He had already given me perspective and instruction that night before Thanksgiving when I came to a point of peace and acceptance of the possibility that my C.I. assignment might not come to fruition. I told my accountability partner, "If my assignment falls through, I definitely will encourage folks to transfer my support to Baylors, who are ready to go, but for sufficient funding. "
I had the repeated thought that my funds being used to help to send other missionaries long-range would have more kingdom impact than me going to Africa for a few weeks in 2010. I asked the Global Missions Africa Regional Coordinator to think big picture and be candid as RC,... in these tough economic times, what would be better use of kingdom dollars - getting Baylors...for long-term service in Kenya OR my service short-term. He replied, "I think there would be greater value for the overall mission effort if you would just give the funds that are not requested by donors to the Baylors. We truly need them at KIST as soon as possible." He also said "You are valued.... God just has other plans for you. Trust Him and see what will happen.
Donors and Living Links - Please contact the Global Missions office by December 22, 2009. Again, my prayer is that donors/Living Link partners transfer both donations and pledges to long-term missionary apprentices Dave and Bonnie Baylor or to whoever God directs you. It is genuinely my privilege and honor to be instrumental in helping get much needed missionaries to the field.
Full steam ahead with my serving as a mobilizer right now... Baylors, Nicholas, (God is giving me ideas of various ways to support both) Perspectives, H.E.A.R.T.
Thank you for being a part of this very exciting continuing journey! I welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions.
