Urban Missions

My son did this video for Urban Youth Impact.

Sweet Missions Video

This video was produced by veteran videographer Jim Sitton, a friend of mine that works for a South Florida news station. His church home is Calvary Chapel Palm City.

The 2007 Broadband Emmy Awards - News & Documentaries - Documentary/Non-Fiction Programming

Update from the Shelley's...

A weekend in Ica

Last weekend we all had a break from our clases, so we decided to spend the weekend in Ica to get to know the city a little better and see what God has for our family there. We are still waiting for God's conformation. This is a processional that was going on in front of our hotel. There are many of these in Peru. The people are always hoping to be the ones that get to carry the statue through the street. They use volunteers from the street and the priest follow behind giving blessings. This one is rather small, often the street is so crowded that no one can pass by.

We also got to spend some time having fun as a family. Right outside of the city of Ica is a Lagoon or Oasis in the middle of the desert. We took a boat ride with the family and walked around to look at the stuff available there. Earlier in the day we had the opportunity to visit a museum of the history of Ica, which Tracy and I enjoyed a lot, but the kids were really bored. In all we had fun. We also got to spend some time encouraging and getting to know some of the people that go to the Bible Study every week in Ica. This is Tracy and the kids with Zumiki (Sumiki- a japonese name) She is 19 and loves the Lord with all of here heart. It is awesome to have believers like this in the study. She always has really interesting questions and comments. We also spent some time with another couple from Ica, Mario and Elizabeth. They have two girls, one is five years old and one is 8 months old. They are the couple that started the study and invited us to teach there in Ica. The people in Ica have been praying for a Pastor for many years. Pray for these guys by name if you can remember. Right now we can only have study a week on Friday nights and they are begging for more. Many of them have stopped going to their other churches because of the bad doctrine being taught, the only time they get fed is on Fridays and there personal time with the Lord. Pray that we could find a place to meet in Ica and possible open the door to one more Bible study. Right now we meet in the house of Mario's parents (which has been an awesome provision from the Lord). We would like to open the doors to more people but don't feel that it is wise to invite a lot of strangers from the street into a house that is not our own. Pray for the location and the Lord's provision for the rent each month. God has been abundantly faithful to provide each week for the bus fair for Americo and I and the other expenses.

The people in the study each week are: Mario and Elizabeth, Zumiki, Jorge and Lucha, Cesar and Rosio, Carlos, Martin (Marteen), Gerardo and Angelica. From time to time there are others, but this is the core group. Please pray for them!

God bless!!

Robin

Missionary Movie

This is a phenomenal documentary about Jim Elliot's death in the jungles of Ecuador. It demonstrates how following Jesus is an amazing, unpredictable adventure.

I was a little disappointed when I hit play and found out this was a documentary. It put me in the wrong frame of mind. I looked forward to a movie with a building plot and twists and climaxing story. What I got was the story of normal people told by surviving family members as they were interviewed. But I was drawn in by the simple descriptions of the characters lives. They loved God, they loved life, they loved the work of the gospel. They did whatever they could to find people untouched by God's Good News wherever they may be or however they may live.

God doesn't need the strong or the wise. If you are faint of heart you can be used if your willingness to follow Jesus can somehow out weigh your fear. The work they did and the people they made contact with were dangerous. But the missionaries chose to be peaceful. They wouldn't carry guns. "They're not ready for heaven," they said, speaking of the unreached, "but we are." That's my favorite quote from the movie.

They were normal Christian college graduates. Not overly pious. Definitely zealous to change the world.

Here's the thing about missionaries: often the impact they make goes unnoticed by the world unless their blood is spilt. Nothing ever seems to get done that's lasting or makes a difference in the Kingdom of God unless blood is spilt. What makes the difference is whether spilled blood is avenged or if its forgiven. When blood is avenged, nothing changes and the cycle violence and hate is perpetuated. But when offended survivors forgive spilled blood, everything changes. The offenders' universe changes. It takes on new meaning. That's the Gospel in action. And this flick is definitely about the Gospel in action.

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