That All May Know

More to Come

2009-01-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

More information coming soon.

Cleveland Rocks...with Snow!!!

2008-03-09T17:54:00.001-07:00

The Cleveland team is in the city. They are so glad they went today instead of Saturday. As they drove, they saw around 50 cars off the road covered with snow. God protected the team. The city itself got between 15-20 inches Matt said. There will be many needs this week in Cleveland. Pray that the team will be open to God's will. Also, pray that they will be safe and warm.

Day Eight Prayer Requests for the Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday

Today the team will be returning to Bowling Green. Pray for safety as the team travels back home. Pray that the team members will have a renewed zeal to share the gospel.

Day Seven Prayer Requests for the Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

Saturday

Today the team will be wrapping up the week in Honduras. Pray that they will evaluate how God has worked there and in their lives. Pray that the team members’ lives will experience personal revival due to how God worked this week.

Day Six Prayer Requests for the Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:44:00.001-08:00

Friday

Pray today that the team will see people and things from God’s perspective. Pray that the team members will be full of the joy of the Lord in all situations.

Day Five Prayer Requests for the Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:42:00.001-08:00

Thursday

Pray that the missionaries will glorify God each day with their actions and words. Pray that the team members will develop a sense of humility and reject pride while there are serving God in Opimuca.

Day Four Prayer Requests for The Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

Wednesday

Pray for the families of the teams today, that they will be comforted and encouraged while their loved one is serving God in Honduras. Pray for the team that they will have strength to carry on without the presence of their family and friends.

Day Three Prayer Requests for The HondurasTeam

2008-03-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

Tuesday

Pray that the team will sense God’s specific direction in the ministry this week. Pray that God will send people of encouragement there way to affirm their ministry.

Day Two Prayer Requests for The Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

Monday

Pray that the team will speak the Word of God with boldness. For many, today they will experience a little culture shock. Pray for comfort when they are discouraged, brokenhearted or stressed out.

Day One Prayer Requests For The Honduras Team

2008-03-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Sunday

Today is a big travel day. Pray for traveling mercies as the team goes to Opimuca, Honduras. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit so that the team will operate in the Spirit’s Power.

We Never Know the Extent of Our Actions

2007-09-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

In elementary school I learned how seeds are transferred to different locations than the plant…sometimes even after an extended period of time. Animals, birds, and the wind are some of the causes of these seeds being dispersed in locations that can be very far from the mother plant. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Seed was thrown in various places, and the different surfaces and conditions of the soil reaped different harvests.

The other day Bowling Green had a visitor from Japan. She was visiting her husband for the first time since he started his job in Bowling Green. Before she came to America, a friend of hers who has been to America gave her advice. She said that when she was in America 30 years ago, she met a Christian lady that was very kind and helpful. This lady showed her around the city and gave her many tips on living in her city. This friend’s advice to her friend heading to Bowling Green: When you get to America, find a church, and they will help you. Nora Hubbard, our missions assistant, received a call from this visitor. Not only was Nora able to share practical information with this Japanese lady, she was also able to share a little about God with her.

We never know the extent of influence our actions may have. In this case, a Japanese woman was so influenced by that American Christian 30 years ago, that she advised her friend to seek out a Christian when she arrived in America. The end product of that seed is not yet known, but it did lead to another opportunity for another seed for Christ to be planted.

Every day is an opportunity for us to share Christ with someone else. Let us not waste it.

One Great Day

2007-05-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

And what a day it was. “Awesome” was the word I kept using to describe the day because “Great” was not good enough!

New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding is an organization that works with individuals with disabilities using the power of horses to encourage, develop and change people’s lives. We began in 1997 with 3 riders and 3 horses and one registered Instructor and 20 volunteers. Last year we worked with over 100 students with 13 horses and 4 registered Instructors and over 80 volunteers. We see God at work in our growth.
New Beginnings was fortunate to be chosen by a singles group at Living Hope Baptist Church for a work and support day called “One Great Day”. This group called several times to ensure they had the tools needed to complete the jobs we had for them to do. We gathered that morning at 8:00 and had prayer then began our day. The jobs these men, women and children completed were jobs we had been trying to get done all year to prepare for our upcoming classes. It amazed me how we were able to get so much done and without any conflicts. This group shined like stars and Gods Glory was seen in every action. Philippians 2:14, 15: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”
Everyone worked together accomplishing every goal that was set before him or her. They came prepared to do the jobs and were focused on doing them right. Trees were cut down and carried to a burn pile, a creek crossing was made so students can safely pass through, a drainage area was completed for the arena, rock was put down around the newly installed tack room so students can help get equipment needed for classes, a drainage ditch and aversion post were put in to ensure no further washing of the parking area, a gate was installed, tool boxes refurbished and cleaned and many other task were performed. Then we broke for lunch and Thanked God for a successful morning and my husband and I looked at each other and said we need to come up with things for these guys to do in the afternoon, for they had almost completed the entire list we had. We worked several more hours in the evening then had a cookout and rode some horses for fun. This group truly was heaven sent. They understand Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help those in need, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.”
New Beginnings has taught me so much about Gods power and love through groups like the one from Living Hope. Everyone benefits from the sharing of Gods love. Our students will be so happy to be able to help with tack, ride through a creek and not have to ride through wet spots in our arena. The things this group did will help us provide a safer and more fun atmosphere for our students and volunteers. I have talked about this group since they came and shared with others their commitment to make a difference.
Philippians 1:3-6 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God Bless You All and Thank You again for a job well done!

Julie C. Peterson
Executive Director and
Founder

A Smile Goes a Long Way

2007-05-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

I very much have an affinity with the Japanese. I have been involved with a Japanese student exchange program for many years between Bowling Green and our sister city Kawanishi. Each year it seems as if I give a little of my heart away to the girls who come to stay with Richard and me. They are such a sweet people. So when I saw a mission opportunity to Japan and crafts were involved, I was very excited. I consider my love of crafts a god-given ability. As the time approached, I taught the team how to make some beaded stars and developed a plan of salvation to accompany them. I purchased my supplies and prepared for the trip.

Tokyo was a very busy city. It was amazing to see the busyness of the city. Everywhere I looked, people were always on the move. It is interesting how God worked on this trip. The crafts that I prepared to do…we did not do them. Our team focused on two ministries – 5 minute English and prayer walking. The 5 minute English ministry, we would stand on a busy street with the 5 minute English signs. Random Japanese people would walk up and want to practice their English. With each visit, we were able to share a brief testimony of Jesus and at times share more about our Lord and savior. Our team was able to share Christ with around 100 people. Our team prayer walked wherever we went. The missionary told us that this is what they need the most, people to pray with urgency for the people of Japan. Spiritually, the country was very dark. The people are so focused on work and what they have.

It is interesting how God works; my crafts didn’t go to waste. Many of my crafts I was able to give away to others on the trains. God gave me a boldness to just talk to who I was next to. Since, we were on the train for a long time; I was able to share about my family and my crafts with others. It was neat to see how a small gift could impact a person’s life. The missionary said it would be hard to share and not to expect conversion, but he told us to consider the “seed” that we are throwing. I hope my smiles, crafts, and testimony found good soil.

One of my exchange students traveled 8 hours to come see me in Tokyo. What a blessing to see Yoko after all this time. She was able to come to Bible study with us. She was given a Bible and contact with the missionaries. Please join me in prayer for Yoko…pray that through our time and her time with the missionaries that she will receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

Judy Lacefield

At the Altar

2007-05-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

My hopes for my first out of country mission trip were simple: that I could be used in some capacity in the Lord’s work. Anything beyond that would be icing on the cake! To my delight (but not surprise) God’s blessings came abundantly and in a variety of ways.

Many weeks before departure I had asked my small group, fellow co-workers and family to pray for specific items in relation to this trip. I would certainly encourage anyone going on missions to do the same! Hondurans accepted Christ, our group stayed healthy, there were no mechanical failures and within the group there was harmony. It was a pleasure to work aside my fellow church members, several of whom I had not met before.

Knowing that we would be serving in a third world country I knew to expect poverty and primitive conditions. However, until one is actually in field seeing in person that the vast majority of Hondurans live in what we as Americans would consider primitive conditions, one simply can’t grasp the situation. But the humbling and startling statement came from one woman who with her husband and six children lived in a one room hut with a dirt floor stated that she was content! Hmmm, I wonder how many of us can say we are content?

As I reflect on the trip I could quote the stats (and they are impressive) on how many patients were seen, medicine prescribed and teeth pulled. But indulge me for a moment while I try to capture what moved me most.

On our day off we traveled to the (? Can’t remember the whole title) Baptist Bible Institute. While touring the grounds I happened upon the chapel where I observed a man at the altar in prayer. Silently I eased away from the door. Some time later as a group we were in the same chapel where the men attending the institute sang for us and described their life there. During the week classes are attended. On weekends they travel to villages to preach. While in the village they are at the mercy of the locals to be fed and housed.

The gentleman I saw praying earlier had just returned from a village where he had not been fed for three days. And yet his commitment to Christ remained strong. Unwavering. Focused. Can I say the same of my devotion? Would I be willing to give up home, career and creature comforts? My prayer is this, “Create in me a pure heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10

Carolyn Price

Reflections on One Great Day

2007-05-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

A few reflections on our project last weekend. We probably tackled one of the largest projects of the day. When I originally submitted our request, Stu Borders questioned me about our ability to handle the job. In case you don't know the ramp we built was 5 feet wide and 47 feet long. Without Tim Booth (and Tim Booth's tools) we would have never completed this job in a single day. Even at that, Tim had to return to install a few items after the fact. Tim also spent considerable time planning the project, listing the materials and going to Lowe's to pick them out. He was careful to purchase the least amount of material possible. When we loaded Tim's trailer at the end of the day there was only one 1 x 10' piece that wasn't cut. Great job!

There were several times during the 10-hour day where we began to lose momentum. When that happened, David Mullendore would remind us to maintain our focus and 'Get-R-Done' (imagine that!). David left work early so he could be with us on Saturday. Normally, when David's on call he gets called. Saturday, he prayed before leaving that he would not have to return to work. He was with us to the very end. Faithful and dedicated. Thanks, David.

Barry and Amy James know how to work long hard days on a farm and it showed on Saturday. Barry's perseverance, creative ideas and hard work were instrumental throughout the day. Thanks, Barry especially for bringing your 'spud bar' and showing me the proper technique.

Steve Cherry had an auction Saturday morning so he missed the post hole digging. But he did pilot a pretty mean nail gun all afternoon. What's special about the Cherry's is that they were totally involved as a family. Gretchen purchased crafts for all the children and worked with them most of the day. I know Brianna and Ellie will always remember the day they made new jewelry and new friends in their grandmother's front yard.

The ladies, Judy, Judi, Patty and Amy made sure the men were well fed and hydrated all day long. They also shared their time and their concern with the Likens family.
At the end of the day, we gathered with the Likens and thanked God for his love and faithfulness that enabled us to complete the job. I know the family appreciated everyone's effort.You really get to know people when you work with them side by side. I know you all a little better now and love you even more.

Steve Lewis

Isle of the Rising Sun

2007-04-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

The team just returned from Tokyo, Japan. I have to say the society seems like a utopia. Tokyo is a town of 33 million people, wow. One might think it would be like New York City... smog, traffic, garbage, etc., but this town is pristine. There is concrete in every direction and no noticeable trash. It was amazing. The people are very kind and go out of their way to help you. On the outside it looks good, but on the inside it is very damaged. Spiritually the culture is in darkness. Ancestor worship, Shinto, and Buddhism are the main religions and they are not even practiced. Less than .2% of the people of Tokyo are Christians. Watching the people, I would guess position, power, and possessions are the gods of Japan. The missionary said the following about the Japanese: 80% of the husbands in Tokyo commit adultery; 30% of high school girls participate in subsidized dating (sexual acts for money); and within the last 3 years there have been over 35,000 suicides. Many of these suicides are high schoolers. These facts shows the spiritual brokenness.

The team mainly did general seed sowing and looked for opportunities to share Christ with the Japanese. There were over 100 conversations that allowed us to share a brief testimony, and we passed out over 500 pamphlets that gave them a chance to receive a free DVD about Christ. One girl received a Bible from a member of the team and she said she never held a Bible before...that breaks my heart. Many of us have multiple Bibles in our homes and this was the first time she has ever held a Bible. She said she would read it all. Please pray she not only reads it all, but also accepts Christ as her Savior and shares Him and His Word with others.

The missionary team in Tokyo was a great team. They were very organized and have a God-sized vision for Tokyo. It was great to see them in action. They took us all over the town - literally. Ministry was different in Tokyo...there were many things that our team could do and were willing to do, but it didn't fit well within the Japanese culture. It was really good for the missionaries to help us adjust our scope for the team so we could be more effective.

What did this mission trip teach me? 1. Japan is one of the largest unreached people groups. You wouldn't think it, but it is true. 2. The battle in Japan is a spiritual battle, and we as a church need to pray for Japanese leaders to rise up to embrace Christianity. 3. Japan needs more missionaries. Currently, there are 16 families that minister to 33 million people. There are certainly more lessons I learned on the trip, but those are some of the nuggets.

I will continue to pray for the Japanese and the missionaries that are there. Hopefully, one day many believers will rise up from the population and lead the country in revival. The Japanese are very dedicated to their work...can you imagine if all the Japanese were fired up for God?

Jeff Carlisle

The Cities of the Black Hills

2007-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE THESE, THAT WE MAY BE FELLOW WORKERS FOR THE TRUTH.

-3 John 5-8

The often neglected New Testament book of 3 John depicts the Apostle John writing to encourage a man named Gaius, who has apparently been faithfully hosting and sending on traveling missionaries who have come through his city. John commends Gaius for this practice and exhorts him to continue so that he can be a “fellow worker for the truth.” This seems to be a rather lofty title for someone who is simply opening up his home and being hospitable to brothers in need, yet John labels Gaius without hesitation.

So what does this have to do with our College Spring Break Mission Trip to South Dakota? This text is important to me as I reflect on our trip for two reasons:

1) The family that hosted us (Stan & Diana Bricker) was absolutely wonderful. They are empty-nesters who bought a five-bedroom house so that they could host mission teams and other “fellow workers” coming through their area. Our team learned so much from them about what it looks like to live faithful lives doing what God has called you to do. The Brickers’ ministry is very similar to Gaius’. They don’t have fancy titles or hold lofty positions, yet they are using what God has given them to faithfully serve His church and bring Him glory.

2) The other reason I think of Gaius when I think about our trip is because of what we actually did as a team while we were there. We prayed. We met local pastors. We tried to encourage them. And then we prayed some more. It’s hard to make a lot of great “mission trip testimonies” out of that. And that’s my point.

Our work in South Dakota was largely thankless and unnoticeable. The cities of the Black Hills are not all that different now that our team has returned to Bowling Green. Our work was humbling and trying, not because it was difficult, but because it provided so little visible results.

Here is where the example of Gaius is both challenging and inspiring. Did he host missionaries because it brought him fame? Did cleaning dishes and re-ordering his house after their departure feel like ministry? Probably not. And yet he is called a “fellow worker for the truth.”

It’s amazing and humbling to think about how God uses small acts of faithfulness (like praying for hurting pastors, hosting hungry college students, and welcoming traveling missionaries) to bring glory to His Name, even when it doesn’t bring glory to ours. May we always be faithful to the Lord and all the good works He prepares in advance for us to do, whether they are big or small in our eyes.

Matt Haste

Well, is it what you expected?

2007-04-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

That is what I was asked several times while in Honduras during the week of March 10-17, 2007. The trip was my first mission trip since coming to serve at Living Hope and I think many people enjoyed “breaking the new guy in”. The trip was a joy and the people on our team made serving Christ together a real delight.

I served on the evangelism team and spent much of the day waiting for services to come together so that people would hear the Gospel before they moved on to the medical or dental clinics. Honduran time works a little differently that the typical busy, on-the-go, American clock. The people are in no rush and we spent a lot of time waiting for them to arrive so we could move forward with the service. During those times I decided to mingle with the people around the village of Los Trojes and share as much of the Gospel as I could with my less than impressive Spanish. In my wandering, I discovered several things.

First, I talked with many people who were very, very poor, yet they were very joyful. They attributed this joy to either their relationship with God or their family or both. Since returning home I have had many people ask me just how far “behind” the people were or if they were “backward” because of their poverty. To some degree, most of us are probably guilty of presupposition. How many times have you heard family members and neighbors say, “All we need is our God and our family to be happy,”? Now I wonder how many people actually mean that. For many of the people in Los Trojes, their God and their family were all they had, literally, and they were happy. I am left to wonder if I say that all I need is God and my family’s love, yet, secretly I know that all of this stuff and so-called accomplishment around me is what I am using to produce what I believe is happiness. What is the daily source of my joy?

The second thing I relearned was that we are all the same. Whether we live in a city, the country or on the side of a mountain range, our great needs are heart needs. We all long to be accepted and to be loved. This should come as no surprise because God created us this way so that we would find these things in Him. I found it to be much easier to preach in Los Trojes that you might expect because I followed Jesus’ lead and went straight after the human heart. When this happens, it really makes little difference if a person is rich or poor, young or old. We are all in need of the work that only God can do in giving us a new heart and constantly bringing refreshment to this heart.

While we were in Honduras there were people that received the Gospel and there were people that were helped by our medical and dental teams. Yet, what I received most was not a sense of satisfaction in going, but encouragement in remembering that what brings us greatest joy is loving God and loving others.

Brandon Porter