The Testi-bite
How do you explain your life's calling in ninety-five words?
Last August, after many months in the application process, Harvey and I were offered a church planting job with the International Mission Board in northern Mozambique. Then three weeks ago, in a "Sending Celebration" in Richmond, Virginia, we were appointed as missionaries.
When we walked on stage, we had ninety-five words to describe how God brought us to this point. We were told we could mention mission trips we'd been on or a moment when we felt a special calling to missions. This would be our mini-testimony--or "testi-bite," as one IMB worker called it--to share with the hundreds of guests in the room and thousands watching the live stream online.
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"--Psalm 96:3
"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."--Mark 16:15
Scripture clearly tells Christians to go and tell of the hope we have. For us, the only questions have been whether our going would be overseas, and if so, when. And our approach has been to pursue going to the nations, trusting that God would close the door if he would have us stay. As another missionary couple put it in their testi-bite, we would "plan to go, but be willing to stay" if God closed the door.
So for the past year and a half, that's what we've done. There were moments when we thought God might be closing the door, but we didn't give up, and he brought us through. What this means is that in March 2018, as we did thirteen years ago, we will get on a plane to Mozambique, this time with five kids in tow.
In the weeks to come, I'll be sharing more about this journey and how you can pray for and partner with us, but currently the timeline looks something like this:
December 22: Leave DC for Oklahoma
December 24-January 20: Spend time with family in Oklahoma
January 22-March 3: Attend Field Personnel Orientation outside of Richmond, Virginia
March 3-March 15: Go back to Oklahoma to say goodbyes
March 15: Leave for Mozambique
The certainty of our calling to go doesn't make leaving easy. So for now, please pray for us as we leave our life in DC: our schools, neighbors, friends, and church.
It turns out we can explain our calling in ninety-five words--by simply borrowing them from the psalmist, and Jesus himself.
Last August, after many months in the application process, Harvey and I were offered a church planting job with the International Mission Board in northern Mozambique. Then three weeks ago, in a "Sending Celebration" in Richmond, Virginia, we were appointed as missionaries.
When we walked on stage, we had ninety-five words to describe how God brought us to this point. We were told we could mention mission trips we'd been on or a moment when we felt a special calling to missions. This would be our mini-testimony--or "testi-bite," as one IMB worker called it--to share with the hundreds of guests in the room and thousands watching the live stream online.
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| Sharing our "testi-bite" during the Sending Celebration |
As we began to craft our testi-bite, we thought of a few key events we could share. But our calling to missions is simple. In fact, we didn't even have to come up with our own ninety-five words to describe it.
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"--Psalm 96:3
"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."--Mark 16:15
Scripture clearly tells Christians to go and tell of the hope we have. For us, the only questions have been whether our going would be overseas, and if so, when. And our approach has been to pursue going to the nations, trusting that God would close the door if he would have us stay. As another missionary couple put it in their testi-bite, we would "plan to go, but be willing to stay" if God closed the door.
So for the past year and a half, that's what we've done. There were moments when we thought God might be closing the door, but we didn't give up, and he brought us through. What this means is that in March 2018, as we did thirteen years ago, we will get on a plane to Mozambique, this time with five kids in tow.
 |
| That was then (Richmond, Summer 2004). |
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| This is now (Richmond, Fall 2017)! |
In the weeks to come, I'll be sharing more about this journey and how you can pray for and partner with us, but currently the timeline looks something like this:
December 24-January 20: Spend time with family in Oklahoma
January 22-March 3: Attend Field Personnel Orientation outside of Richmond, Virginia
March 3-March 15: Go back to Oklahoma to say goodbyes
March 15: Leave for Mozambique
The certainty of our calling to go doesn't make leaving easy. So for now, please pray for us as we leave our life in DC: our schools, neighbors, friends, and church.
It turns out we can explain our calling in ninety-five words--by simply borrowing them from the psalmist, and Jesus himself.
Our prayers are with you all! How exciting!
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