Partnering to Increase Kingdom Impact

There are a lot of great people - and ministries - doing a lot of great work.  But to me, it is so exciting when they're able to link arms to serve together - in planned and unplanned ways.  When that happens, I believe that our impact not only increases, but God smiles because He sees His people working and serving together.

The terms "partner", "partnering", and "partnership" are thrown around in many different contexts and usually are thought of as being something formal and requiring of agreements, documents, and/or contracts.  But it doesn't have to be that way at all.  Really these are all different ways of saying that people are coming together.  And while many times formality is required, more times than not, it isn't.

I'd like to share one such example, and one which brings a smile to my heart and which so perfectly illustrates some of what motivates me and Into the Field.

My family is involved with a great ministry on Ohio State's campus - International Friendships - which serves the thousands of international students which come to study each year.  Our student this fall, wasn't actually supposed to be ours, but rather that of our friends who had a conflict and asked if we could help.  We have "adopted" Fei into our family.  She joins us each Sunday, asks lots of great questions, comes along with us to local ministry and service opportunities, and is experiencing many new things and family traditions (in the photo she is making mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving).

Understandably many of our conversations have revolved around the work that I do in China.  We have spent many hours looking at pictures from my trips and talking about the impact that can be made when people reach out to serve others.  I recently took her to the airport so that she could fly home to Beijing for part of her winter break.  With her went a big box of sweaters and blankets which had been knitted and made by people with a heart for orphans.  As God would have it, in all of China, she lives only 20 minutes from my dear friend, David, who works and serves with me and others through chinaconnect. 

On Tuesday, David and his daughter (who will be coming to study next year in the US), picked Fei up and together the three of them delivered the box of treasures to two special needs foster home/orphanages with which I serve and partner - Agape and Shepherd's Field Children's Village.  As you can see from the smiles on their faces, it was a meaningful time.  David's daughter has already emailed me several times with updates on their activities and thanked me for bringing Fei into their lives.

In addition to the sweaters and blankets, Fei was able to take some small gifts of US treats which David is helping to deliver to other friends who are living and serving in China.

David's daughter volunteers with an organization (which happens to be just a couple of minutes from Fei's home...are you surprised?  I'm not.).  This organization serves children of migrant workers.  On Wednesday, the two new friends went to volunteer some time there.  I look forward to hearing back their report.   

None of the above was scripted or planned out in advance by us.  But look at what has happened when those who seek to serve come together!  Seeds of love and service that get planted and nurtured grow and more lives than we will ever have the opportunity to know are impacted.

Oh...Fei has also announced to her family that when she returns to Beijing in June, she won't be with them the first week...she'll be with me...serving others...God is good...

Go! Bless! Be Blessed!

Walking down the street I realized that suddenly all around me had gotten eerily quiet – a strange sensation when on a major street with hundreds of people within eyesight... But that’s sometimes what happens when you travel to another country, where you look – and sound - nothing like those whom you have come to serve. That first trip to rural China was filled with many unexpected experiences, curious looks, special smiles from new little friends, and a pull on my heart which hasn’t stopped and will take me back for my 5th trip this June.

Each time I go and return again, I am reminded how incredibly blessed we are; we have freedoms to live where we want to live; pursue the jobs we want to pursue; have brothers, sisters, and families of all sizes and shapes; go to the schools we want to attend; worship where, how, when, and with whom we desire. While each of us has changes we’d like to see in our lives, our jobs, our government – few (if any) places and people on earth are as blessed as we are.

June 9-21, I will lead a team for chinaconnect to a special place – a Christian orphanage which cares for the most special of orphans: those who, because of their special needs have been abandoned by their families and are not able to be cared for by other “regular” orphanages. We will hold, love on, care for, and serve these children and those who care for them.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” It is a long way to go, but will you join me as we go to them and share some of His and our blessings? For more information, or to say, “Count me in!” contact me.

Loving and Serving the Least

January is a time when many people pause, take stock of their lives, and make adjustments to get them heading down the right (or a different) track. February is close on January’s heels. For my family, February mean’s birthdays. My sister’s and I flip years on the 1st, 4th, and 5th (yes, I’ll be joining those in the “Fabulous 40” club this year). Growing up, the first week of February was always a time of family, fun, and celebration. Many look forward to the 14th – to Valentine’s Day and the celebration of love (personally, I’ve always wondered why people have to wait until a designated day to let those they love know it). In China, February brings their New Year - a time when people leave the far corners of the country to return to their families.

In June (9-21), I will be leading a team for chinaconnect to a special place. Shepherd’s Field Village (SFV) in China welcomes those orphans whose special needs (physical and developmental) can’t be handled by other orphanages. They provide the love and care to help these kids live and grow to the best of their abilities; SFV surrounds them with the brothers and sisters that they never had and provides them with a family they never knew. They celebrate when any of their children leave from SFV to find “forever families” in the US and around the world.

I have found that often those whom the world deems to be worth the least have the most to give (and to teach). I was reminded by several young orphans in Ukraine that in the midst of darkness joy can be found in simple things – like an orange balloon.

My church is spending the first 10 weeks of 2011 studying Matthew and the Great Commission. This past Sunday, Pastor Eric (click here to listen) spent time talking about Matthew 25, “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” (v 37-40). He continues in vs. 45 “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’”

We know that Christ had a special place in His heart for children. Will you join me as I go to help care for some of the least? For more info (or to say YES!), please email me.

Heading to "the Other China"

In October I will be headed back to China - this time with chinaconnect.  We will be headed into what we refer to as "the Other China" - the China which is beyond the bright lights of Beijing and the hoopla of Hong Kong.  One of the places we'll visit is an orphanage where I will be taking a team next June.  Below is a rough video that I've put together from pictures and video clips that have been shared with me by friends who were recently there.  If after watching it there is something tugging at your heart, maybe you should consider joining me in June...if you can't, maybe you'd like to join us through the sharing of your financial gifts.  As you'll see, there is a lot to be done to help these kids - and that requires not only many prayers, but some dollars, too!

God in Motion!

There's a song that some of my friends will remember which goes, "It's a world that's changing faster everyday..."  Do you ever feel like that?  That the world is going by faster and faster?

What about the speed that God moves?  Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for Him to do something - ANYTHING - and then all of a sudden BAM He kicks things into such a high gear that I'm afraid that there's no way that I can keep up. 

That's how I'm feeling right now.

The last 36 hours He's been working overtime - and its incredible!  As just a sample...

• Into the Field now has a fund - The Into the Field Servant Fund - with the Columbus Stewardship Foundation which allows us to receive cash as well as non-cash (i.e. stock, etc.) gifts.
• A significant gift that we were expecting for one of our Ministry Charity Projects ("MCP", a ministry we're working with that utilizes the 501c3 status of Into the Field for it's fundraising, support, etc.) not only came, but was DOUBLE the amount that we were expecting.
• Wild Olive Tees - which is an incredible t-shirt ministry started by an amazing friend of mine and two of her friends - has decided to design and sell a shirt whose proceeds will all go towards children in Haiti, and they've decided to donate the funds (and t-shirt donations) through another one of Into the Field's Ministry Charity Projects (Eyes Wide Open).  Not only will this generate important funds for the children of Haiti, but it will also increase the exposure of Into the Field and Eyes Wide Open International to a much larger and broader audience (which means we're now scrambling to get the EWOI website done by TOMORROW.
• I entered the last year of my 30's and am excited about it.
• Was able to connect Wild Olive Tees, Orphan World Relief (another MCP), and a local Christian media outlet...there may be some great and HUGE opportunities in front of us!
• Suddenly we're getting a lot of interest from people in participating in Team Up 4 Orphans - a charity running team (participating in the May 1 Cap City 1/2 Marathon in Columbus) raising money to benefit Doma International and orphans worldwide.
• Was offered an opportunity to promote chinaconnect (another MCP which is sharing the love of Christ to the people of China through service and relationship) to a group of servant-minded people.

And that's not even all of it!  WOW!  He's been busy and I'm exhausted and energized all at the same time!

Keep bringing it on, God!  I've got my XS Energy Drink and my Rhodiola and am ready to run!

Putting Purpose to Your Passion

What is your passion?

Is it children?  Cooking?  Knitting?  China?  Gardening?  Christ?

How does your passion show up in your life?  Is it something that you do or experience by yourself?  Or do you use your passion to bring joy to the lives of others?

I recently spent a long weekend in the state of Washington with a group of people passionate about both Christ and China.  Together we stepped through a time of focused strategic planning and the result is chinaconnect - a ministry with the mission to share Christ's love with the Chinese people through service and relationship.  They willl create and provide opportunities for people of all ages, on both sides of the Pacific, to to serve and share their faith.  To learn more or see how you can get involved, check 'em out here.

I've been meeting with a couple who have a passion for addressing the immediate needs of widows and orphans.  A trip this summer to Romania resulted in the meeting of a missionary who introduced Nicolle to widows living in mud homes which will likely collapse under the winter's first snow.  She has a renewed sense of urgency for putting her call to serve others into action.  Stay tuned...some great stuff is about to happen!  Keep your Eyes Wide Open....

For Christmas this year, my sisters and I have decided not to give "physical" gifts to each other, but rather find some way to serve, to bring joy, or meet the need of someone else.  I'm still fine-tuning what I'm going to do, but I know it'll involve kids who are not experiencing many of the blessings that life has to offer (I have 3 nephews, one sister is a teacher) and likely Christmas cookies (my sisters and nephews all like making, decorating, and eating them). 

I encourage you to take a couple of minutes to check out this video on The Advent Conspiracy.  Maybe it will give you some ideas about how we can bring focus back to the real meaning of and for Christmas.

So, what is your passion?  How can you put some purpose to it to impact the lives of others?  Think about it.  Then do something about it!  You'll be glad you did!