West Texas Missioner: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

ChinaAid: " Pastor Tan Wen, Urumqi house church leader, detained again

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Pastor Tan Wen, Urumqi house church leader, detained again

Distributed by ChinaAid, August, 2013 ...

URUMQUI, XINJIANG, CHINA – Yesterday morning (August 4, 2013), Pastor Tan Wen was leading a worship service at Muen Church in Urumqi, Xinjiang, attended by several dozen believers. Around9:30, more than 20 police officers from Shayibake Regional Branch of the Urumqi Municipal Public Security Bureau and from the Xishan Police Station broke into the church. The officers did not show identification papers or follow other applicable procedures. Instead, they forcibly terminated the worship service and seized the Bibles, hymnals, and other books that the believers were using.

• more on this story from China Aid

Word from Uganda: "End of 2013 Newsletter"

Missionary teacher Natalie Rolfe writes, "'When He calls me, I will answer ... I'll be somewhere working for my Lord.' My call was Mbale, Uganda and that is where I have returned to serve for another year. Specifically, I am teaching phonics at Lulwanda Children's Home, an orphanage and school for 90 kids." Natalie also keeps an online journal of her service at the weblog, When He calls me, I will answer ...

End of 2013 Newsletter

The Lord has done great things. My prayer is that He is glorify in my life and the lives of these children. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. But even mores, thank you so much for taking the time to pray for me and the children.

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of Natalie's post, and the newsletter

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: December 31, 2013

PRESBYTERY OF TROPICAL FLORIDA - Geographically positioned on the Caribbean rim, the Presbytery of Tropical Florida has a heart for its island neighbors. In 2010 the presbytery voted to make Haiti its mission focus for three years. Supported by a PDA grant, Rev. Patricia Ashley researched the multiple nonprofits supporting Haiti, particularly those Haitians displaced by the 2010 earthquake. Her research found programs addressing a range of needs, such as Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami (Haitian Women of Miami), which works for the social and political empowerment of Haitian women and their families. Its work is vital in helping Haitians begin their lives in the U.S. Ashley also identified congregations in the presbytery that were quietly working to bring support to Haiti. Her findings were the basis of the following PDA Middle Governing Body matching grants for Haiti..

CLICK HERE to read more.

THE 2014 PRESBYTERIAN MISSION YEARBOOK - Where are the young adults? How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

CLICK HERE for more information, and to purchase a copy

Monday, December 30, 2013

Love Never Fails: "The Chain that Links Africa to China to Thailand is Breaking"

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

Annie Dieselberg, founder and CEO, heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

One of the means Annie uses to share her observations and experiences is her "Love Never Fails" blog, a document of Annie's mission to see women and children freed from the sexual exploitation of prostitution and trafficking, and to see the global church and community working together to free, heal, and restore all who have been broken and wounded through the sex trade.

Chain that Links Africa to China to Thailand is Breaking

We were far away from Africa, but as we followed “Penny” through the alleys and back streets of Guangzhou China, African voices, fabrics, and smells transported us to the African continent. We made our way through the markets selling everything from electrical supplies, wholesale clothes, African foods, African movies in various languages, and African hair weaves. There were several old and very tall, pink-toned buildings clumped together, and it appeared that it was primarily Africans who were living there. We had been told that there are 200,000 Africans in China and I was beginning to understand how it was possible.

• read the rest of Annie's post

In the News ... "Monsignor Michael Sis to take over as bishop of Diocese of San Angelo"

Ragini Venkatasubban, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - As of Jan. 27, Monsignor Michael Sis will succeed Bishop Michael Pfeifer as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo.

Sis will be the sixth bishop of the diocese, which serves more than 77,000 Catholics across 29 counties in West and Central Texas. He is currently serving as Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Austin. His ordination and installation as the new bishop will take place at 2 p.m. Jan. 27 in San Angelo.

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

TRINTY PRESBYTERY, SOUTH CAROLINA - First Presbyterian Church, Aiken, had a small desire that God turned into a huge blessing for newborn babies thousands of miles away. While visiting Mwandi Christian Hospital in Zambia, a group from First Aiken learned of HIV-negative babies being born to HIV-positive mothers. These babies had to be fed formula, which is very expensive. Once back home, the group looked for a way to raise funds to purchase formula for these babies.

They began by selling tote bags, which went well for a while. Then the group heard about a project making ribbon necklaces. The project was an immediate success. Though only 30 members create the necklaces, the entire congregation is involved in this ministry. The necklaces are sold across the United States by congregation members taking them to sell when traveling. Orders are also received through the congregation’s website . To date, this unique ministry has raised $120,000—$5 and $7 at a time.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

"I Am Second" Video Collection: Brian Welch

Inspiring the Revolution of Second.

I Am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second.

You are here for a reason. We all have needs and could use some help. Talk to us. Call, chat, or email. 24 hours a day.

Go a step further, talk with the people in your life. Spread the revolution of Second. Share the videos with friends. Gather a group of friends to discuss the films. Start an I am Second group.

Volunteer at concerts. Serve through I am Second community service events. Organize your own I am Second events. Sign up for an I am Second Expedition to help people in other countries. Check out Live Second for other opportunities. Connect with us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

I am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life. Have you discovered yours?

To find out more about the people and leadership team behind I Am Second you can check out Who We Are.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

MINUTE FOR MISSION: COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - I wonder if the wise men got hungry as they journeyed home along another road, bypassing Herod and his henchmen. Perhaps Mary and Joseph experienced hunger as they fled Bethlehem for Egypt and later traveled into Galilee. Imagine what it was like for them, protecting their infant son as they sought shelter and safety. The risks they took fulfilled the promises of Scripture. What an amazing story!

In these days of holiday excess and indulgence, it may be hard for us to imagine hunger. But as Jesus-followers, we are encouraged to care for the sick and feed the hungry.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Getting Ready: A Penny for Your Thoughts ... and Prayers

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

A Penny for Your Thoughts ... And Prayers

As I said before, all kinds of preparations over the last couple of months for the FPC-Midland Belize Mission Team, getting everything ready for our mission trip ... especially getting OURSELVES ready, in heart in mind, for what we know lies ahead ... and for what we don't know lies ahead.

At one of our first team meetings, Pastor Walter Thompson provided us with a small Belizean coin ... it's a penny, the smallest token of currency in that nation. It's made of aluminum and the front of the coin has a crowned effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. Diameter: 19.51mm (0.7681”) Weight: 0.79g Alloy: Aluminum Edge: Plain Shape: 12 Scallops. At the current exchange rate for currency, it would be worth half-a-penny in the United States.

The coin's real value is it's function as a reminder to devote time each day to contemplation and prayer to our mission, our destination, to those who will be a part of our team, to those supporting our team in so many different ways and to those we have not yet met in the course of our mission and our preparations for that mission.

I've attached my coin to my cell phone holder, so it will also be close-to-hand and close-to-mind. I may head out the door in the morning without my wallet or my keys ... but not my phone! Hard to believe that a few years ago, I scoffed at those who absolutely had to be in touch every minute ... and now, here I am with my own, attached to me like a new appendage, keeping ME in touch every minute!

Besides, a couple years back I made the move to a 'smart phone' ... a LOT smarter than me in some ways, and it's helped me out more than once. Adding the coin to the cell phone's holder now allows it to help me in an additional way.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

PRESBYTERY OF TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA - Two of the primary mission initiatives of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay are Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center and Beth-El Farmworker Ministry. These two ministry and mission partners are located within the geographic bounds of the presbytery, yet they thrive because of cooperative support from other presbyteries, including Peace River.

For over 40 years, Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center has been a place apart for building up the body of Christ in love. Surrounded by the beauty of creation, God’s children of all ages experience Christian community. Cedarkirk strives to create a place where conversation around the dinner table, fellowship in play, and walks in the woods revive and feed one’s spirit. Through a vibrant summer-camp ministry, life-changing programs, and revitalizing retreats, guests at this sacred space encounter our risen Lord and leave empowered to go and share God’s love.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Free Wheelchair Mission Blog ... "Friday Story: Joy is Contagious"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for individuals with physical challenges living in economically disadvantaged areas of developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope. Their mission is “to provide the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries, as motivated by Jesus Christ.”

Friday Story: Joy is Contagious

Greetings and Happy Friday!

In the last three weeks I have shared stories of Elida, Eugene, and Luong. Three individuals who not only are featured on Free Wheelchair Mission’s Christmas cards this year, but also recipients of our wheelchairs who have overcome obstacles and remain happy and excited to have received a wheelchair that you provided for them. This week, as we soar into Christmas, may you be blessed by the story of a young boy living in Uganda.

• read the rest of this post

Want to take one of FWM's wheelchairs for a test drive? During normal business hours, visit the lobby at the Texas Street entrance of First Presbyterian Church-Midland, at the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, on the west side of downtown Midland. You can give the gift of mobility. The cost of $72.00 is a bargain to us ... but it is a life-changing gift to impoverished and disabled recipients.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: December 27, 2013

SAVANNAH PRESBYTERY, GEORGIA - Like many small rural congregations, Swainsboro Presbyterian Church’s membership had dwindled. While its situation was not unique, the congregation’s response was.

There is a large and growing Latino-a population that provides seasonal labor on area farms in the agricultural community of Swainsboro. A meeting with presbytery leaders and a Catholic priest revealed that workers who were Protestant had no place to worship. This was a perfect opportunity to create a mission church, and the Swainsboro session joyfully embraced it. As they set out to birth this ministry, they defined its purpose as bringing the gospel to the workers through worship and by providing a food pantry, language classes, and other social services.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Reports From Lulwanda: Administrator's Report for November 2013

November, 2013

"Receive our heartfelt greetings from the staff and children of Lulwanda Children’s Home. We say praise be the name of the living God. The Almighty has been so gracious to us and therefore we have a reason to bless his name. We bring warm regards to the sponsors and friends of Lulwanda."

The Children:
"They are in good health and thank God for them but we are also sincerely grateful to you people over there who work tirelessly hard to put a permanent smile upon these vulnerable children. Since they completed their exams and subsequently got holidays for all of December and January, they are involved in a number of activities ranging from washing their clothes, helping the mums with cooking, serving of meals, cleaning the dormitories and of course playing their routine games, many can ride sports bicycles and a great number of them are equally learning ...”

MUSAGALA SIMON PETER
Acting Administrator

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the November, 2013 report.

Getting Ready: Required Reading

Required Reading

All kinds of preparations over the last couple of months, getting everything ready for our mission trip ... especially getting OURSELVES ready, in heart in mind, for what we know lies ahead ... and for what we don't know lies ahead.

Our preparation has included some 'required reading' in the form of Richard Stearns' book, "The Hole in Our Gospel." Published in 2009, the book offers a firsthand account of how Stearns became president of World Vision U.S.

"What does God expect of us," the book asks. "Is our faith just about going to church, studying the Bible and avoiding the most serious sins - or does God expect more? Have we embraced the whole gospel or a gospel with a hole in it?"

"Ten years ago," we read, "Rich Stearns came face-to-face with that question as he sat in a mud hut in Rakai, Uganda, listening to the heartbreaking story of an orphaned child. Stearns' journey there took much more than a long flight to Africa. It took answering God's call on his life, a call that tore him out of his corner office at one of America's most prestigious corporations - to walk with the poorest of the poor. in our world."

It's a good book and a compelling read ... but it is also challenging ... you can't help but return again and again to that question,"what does God expect of us?" ... asking yourself, "what does God expect of ME?" ... then giving some serious, thoughtful, prayerful consideration to the answer.

No surprise, really, that the book has SEVERAL endorsements from a wide variety of individuals active in one way or another in changing the world for the better ... International Justice Mission President/CEO Gary Haugen, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford, musician and activist Bono and best-selling author, West Texas' own Max Lucado ... just to name a few.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question

In the News ... "Catholic leaders in Midland reflect on Pope’s influence"

Ragini Venkatasubban, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Pope Francis was recently named TIME Magazine's choice for Person of the Year 2013, a decision that comes to many as only fitting after his news-making nine months of service.

From photographs of the pope washing the feet of female inmates to snapshots of him embracing a man with a deformed face, story after story has painted the picture of the native Argentinian as a visionary pope. The recent designation by Time places him among the likes of Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi and Pope John Paul II, all previous Persons of the Year.

Monsignor James Bridges, pastor of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, said Pope Francis represents a “fresh leadership at the top.” He leads more from his heart than his head, he said.

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories in the 2013 Mission Yearbook were gathered around the question of Jesus to his disciples, “How many loaves have you?” from Mark 6:38. The book is filled with stories of God’s abundance in the face of overwhelming needs and a scarcity of resources.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: December 26, 2013

PRESBYTERY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA - The Presbytery of St. Augustine’s participation in the Acts 16:5 Initiative prompted many in the presbytery to think anew about discipleship. In light of that prompting, Paul Hooker, St. Augustine’s former executive presbyter, offers a few thoughts on the theme passage for this yearbook, Mark 6:38.

“Jesus’ question, ‘How many loaves have you?’ produced five loaves to feed 5,000 people. Even thinly sliced, it’s hard to see those loaves being enough. And, in truth, if loaves of bread are all that’s in view here, enough they will never be.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Advent [Conspiracy] Calendar: Day 25

From the Advent Conspiracy ... 'Tis the season to share. To love. To give ourselves to something bigger than any of us. 'Tis the season to turn our heads, tune our hearts and worship a savior whose birth turned this world upside-down.

Make each day leading up to Christmas a day to worship Jesus fully. Every day in December we will be posting a new thought, picture or video that tells the story of Christmas and how its still changing the world in radical ways.

Day 25: Click on the number "25" below.

Denison: Advent Devotional for Wednesday, December 25

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Advent devotionals is entitled, "Looking Forward to Christmas", which he describes as "a time to celebrate the Nativity, and Christians around the world look forward to the season ... The details surrounding Christ's birth are a treasured story to each of us but, to the first century population, Jesus was an unexpected gift that most didn't know how to receive. It is still difficult for some people to receive what Jesus was born to give. Maybe that is why we have a Christmas season – to help others receive the most valuable gift, a relationship with the baby in the manger ... The Denison Forum offers this Advent book to help you spend a quiet moment each day, looking forward to Christmas and remembering why the baby in the manger was God's promised Messiah.

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's complete 2013 Advent Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

Wedneday, December 25

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this
Isaiah 9:6-7

This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Your day might be quietly filled with memories or it might be currently filled with Christmas chaos. Either way, rejoice and be glad in this day. God made it.

• read the rest of today's devotional

Prior to founding the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, James C. Denison, Ph.D., was pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, a 10,000-member congregation in Dallas, Texas. He also pastored churches in Midland and Mansfield, Texas, and in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University. He is also the the author of seven books.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

MINUTE FOR MISSION: NATIVITY OF JESUS CHRIST / CHRISTMAS DAY - Several years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of leading a group of Presbyterians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of my most profound memories of that trip was our visit to Bethlehem. Inside the Church of the Nativity, down a flight of narrow stairs, through an even narrower passage that leads to a small niche in the wall—called the Grotto of the Nativity—one finds what is believed to be the site of Jesus’ birth. People stand in line for hours just to be able to light a candle, touch the silver star, and say a silent prayer before being ushered away by other vis.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Bear-y Merry Christmas from Baylor: #3

No, I am not a Baylor Bear, or a parent, or an alum ... but I did want to share one of Baylor University's Christmas greetings with you ... with a tip o' the Santa cap, and appreciation to our friends just down the road (well, at least by West Texas standards) in Waco.

A Bear-y Merry Christmas from Baylor:
#3, "Adeste Fideles"

Baylor University is a private Baptist university in Waco, Texas. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor is the oldest continuously-operating university in Texas and was one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River.

Word from Uganda: "Tis' the Season"

It has been a wonderful December with the children home from school for holidays. In the spirit of Christmas, we have done many fun activities. It has been great!

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of Natalie's post, and enjoy more images

The Advent [Conspiracy] Calendar: Day 24

Day 24: Click on the number "24" below.

Denison: Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 24

Tuesday, December 24

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God
John 1:12-13

God could have entered the world as a King but he came as a baby. God could have stepped into the world as the most brilliant of scholars, but he came as a newborn needing to grow and learn. God could have shown himself to the world as a giant, strong enough to pluck trees from the dirt or stop a flood with his hand. Jesus chose to come as a tiny infant needing protection.

• read the rest of today's devotional

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERY, SOUTH CAROLINA - W here we see only scarcity, God provides abundantly. Several congregations in Providence Presbytery discovered this when they sought to offer confirmation for one or two youth. Each congregation was struggling with what it saw as scarcity of youth and resources. Presbytery staff worked with pastors to recognize the abundant resources God had given them and to create a new way of providing confirmation. In 2011, three congregations in Providence Presbytery and one in Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery joined together to form a confirmation cluster. Youth from these congregations participated in a retreat in January; large-group meetings one Sunday afternoon in February, March, and April; and a closing retreat in May..

CLICK HERE to read more.