The Promise: Part 2

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah... For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." - Jeremiah 33:15, 17

A few weeks ago, I wrote about God's promise of a Messiah. I explained how Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. I talked about how the Jews missed their Messiah because He wasn't who they were expecting.

While it is unfortunate for them that they missed Him - and that's the understatement of a lifetime - I honestly can't say that I wouldn't have done the same in their shoes. I've definitely missed it before. There have been times in my life when God said something, and I interpreted it however I felt like interpreting it at the time. Not didn't-recognize-the-Savior-of-the-world significant, but considering that, at one point, it caused me to doubt for nearly a year that I could hear God's voice, I'd say it was pretty big.

Here's the thing. The Jews had every reason to expect their Messiah to be a king. Throughout the Old Testament, God's promise explicitly says that the Messiah will sit on David's throne and will rule as king. Even though Jesus is the King of Kings, He does not yet rule the Kingdom of Israel.

But He will.

Eventually, Jesus is coming back to earth. He will set foot on the Mount of Olives. His throne will be in Jerusalem - where David ruled as king of Israel. He will act as King and High Priest. Everyone will recognize Him, and everyone will worship Him. Isaiah describes His reign well:

"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples - of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious." - Isaiah 11:6-10

When Jesus returns, there will be no question about who He is. For Christians, the promise of His return and reign is reason to hope. It's reason for joy. And it's reason to tell the world about Him now. That way they can receive the fulfillment of God's promise and share in our joy when He returns.

The promise of Christmas was a coming Messiah. The fulfillment of that promise came in the form of a humble baby in a manger. The promise of Christmas is a returning Messiah.  That fulfillment will come in the form of a glorious King riding on a white horse and taking His rightful place on a throne. And because He has already fulfilled His promise, we can be sure that He will do so again.

"'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star...' He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon'." - Revelation 22:16, 20

The Presentation

"And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." - Luke 2:6-7

For many families, it's a sign that Christmas is coming when the tree gets put up. For my family, it's when the nativity scene is set out. We bring out the tree every year, but our decorations just don't feel complete without Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus making their appearances. When I was little, my mom would never let me help set it up. Even if the pieces were still stored in styrofoam, it was a hard sell for me to be allowed to handle them. It's made of glass, and she was worried I would break it. (Considering how few glass bowls are left in our house, this was - and probably still is - a valid concern.)

Often, when we're preparing for Christmas, everything has to be completely perfect. We are worried what people will think of us if we don't have the most beautiful decorations or the tastiest cookies or a flawless photograph for our cards. Even our wrapping paper can't be ripped or wrinkled before it's torn off the gifts.

As I have reflected on Christmas this year, I've had to wonder. How often do Christians do the very same thing to the wonderful gift God has given us? It's not wrong to want to have a beautiful home for welcoming guests and to remind us of the beauty of the Christmas story. But it becomes a problem when we treat the Gospel the same way we treat our Christmas decorations.

God came into the middle of our mess. Literally. Jesus was born in a stable. There were animals everywhere. I'm sure there was straw, animal poop, and stink everywhere. Mary went through labor, the same as any other woman, with all the blood and mess that comes along with that. Jesus slept in a trough meant for feeding animals. While spiritually it's a beautiful representation, the actual scene looked nothing like the pristine figurines we have in our homes.

But we're scared to go into the mess. As Christians, we're scared to associate with the drunk, the addict, the person bound by witchcraft. If we get near them, we might get dirty. We don't even stop to think that by stepping into their mess, we might be bringing exactly what is needed to help them get clean. We don't want to share how we came from shattered homes or had an anger problem. Our image will be broken. We don't even stop to think that by showing our brokenness, we're letting Him display His power to heal and restore.

And sometimes, God's story doesn't go the way we want it to. We don't want to admit that, even though we serve a God who is always good and powerful, there is evil in the world. We can't explain that perfect justice means killing an innocent man for the faults of others. We don't want to admit that maybe it sounds a little strange to outsiders that a virgin would have a baby. We take it on faith that God's way is better than we can even understand, so we won't acknowledge they might be tripping over something so fundamental to our beliefs.

But maybe that's exactly what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to step into the messiness of life, where people can be found. We're supposed to proclaim that God's goodness will be found, even in the middle of their messes and questions.

God wasn't afraid to deliver the most perfect gift of all in the dirtiest of circumstances. And He wasn't afraid to proclaim exactly where He was. We don't have to be afraid either. If a dirty, stinky stable can't ruin His love, then neither can our attempts to present it to the people the gift is for.

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." - Luke 2:11-12

Join the conversation:

• How have you tried to "clean up" the presentation of the Gospel?
• What can you do to share God's gift with others in the way that will help them most?

For more complete context, you can read Luke 2 and Matthew 1-2.

The Praise

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." - Luke 1:45

After finding out she would have a baby, the virgin Mary traveled to see her relative Elizabeth. Upon meeting, and without even hearing Mary's story, Elizabeth expressed her excitement that the mother of her promised Messiah had come to visit her. She blessed Mary.

I have always loved this verse. It's a reminder to trust God even when His promise seems impossible. When you do, you'll be blessed. I have also always loved Mary's song of praise to God. What I didn't realize though, was that this song, commonly known as the Magnificat, immediately follows Elizabeth's statement of blessing to Mary.

Elizabeth recognized blessings in Mary's life. Mary recognized whom they came from. And both women gave God the credit.

It makes me wonder what I would have done in Mary's place. And I don't mean when the angel told her that she would conceive. I can already guarantee you I wouldn't have believed like she did. Nor would I have wanted to accept; I'm not fond of going against what is expected of me or even the appearance of going against it. I mean once she was already pregnant and hearing what Elizabeth had to say.

I don't know that I would have praised God. I might have complained about what people back in Nazareth were saying about me. I might have confided my fears that my fiancé would leave me. I might - and probably would - have become pretty proud. I would have bragged that God chose me to raise the one He'd been promising for years. I would have explained all the things I had done that led to Him choosing me. I would have applauded myself for accepting His blessing without questioning Him.

Once again, I'm challenged by Mary's response. Not just her faith and obedience, but her humility.

How often do we take credit for what God gives us? We talk about how hard we worked for a promotion. We brag about that new car we just bought and paid off. We brag about our ability to play sports, write, or sing well. How often do we let those who don't know God praise us for those things?

Mary was not only blessed with being the mother of the Branch of Jesse. She was also blessed to have someone in her life who helped her acknowledge who that blessing came from. Because of that, we have one of the most well known and most loved songs of praise in the New Testament.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed, for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name." - Luke 1:46b-49

Join the conversation:

• How do you respond to God's blessings in your life?
• When someone points out a blessing, do you give God the glory?
• Which person in your life helps you recognize God's blessings and helps you praise Him for them?

Read Luke 1 for a more complete context of this story.

The Promise

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit... Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist." - Isaiah 11:1, 5

When I first started thinking about doing a Christmas series, I knew I wanted to start with God's promise of a Messiah. I assumed the prophecy I'd use would be the traditional verses about the virgin who would conceive a child or the one who would be called "Wonderful Counselor." But that's not where God led me. Instead, He led me to this passage in Isaiah.

Several centuries before God spoke this to Isaiah, He promised David (the son of Jesse) that one of his descendants would rule forever. Later, He would remind His people through Jeremiah that a branch was coming from David who would reign as king.

By the time of Jesus' birth, the people of Israel were an occupied people. The current king had been set in place by the Roman empire. David's dynasty had been cut down centuries before.

Jesus was full of wisdom; at only the age of 12 He amazed the religious leaders with His understanding of Scripture. He was full of power; He was able to heal the sick and raise the dead. He did only what He saw His Father do. When He saw someone with leprosy, He didn't walk away, He saw someone who needed His healing touch. When He heard the disciples say there wasn't enough food for the crowds, He still fed them. Just as Isaiah had prophesied:

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord - and He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. - Isaiah 11:2-4

The people of Israel were looking for their promised king, but they missed Him. They thought the righteous king would be a political and military leader who would come and right the wrongs of the oppressive Romans. A leader who would follow the laws of God instead of exploiting their Roman appointment for personal gain.

They weren't looking for a humble man. One full of God-given power and wisdom but who wouldn't demand obedience. A man who would be your King if you would willingly submit to Him. A King who would make you righteous if you accepted Him.

"In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which He will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'" - Jeremiah 23:6

Sometimes, we're like the Israelites. We hear God's promises and wait expectantly for them. But we miss them because the fulfillment doesn't look the way we thought it would. He promises to provide but we don't get a job; instead, the money we need shows up in the mail. He promises peace, but everything is going wrong around us; somehow our hearts and minds remain calm.

Christ's birth is one of the most important events in history. It is evidence of God's love for us in two ways (and probably more that aren't coming to mind right now). First, that He came at all. Second, that He loves us enough to keep His promises. Always. That is the promise of Christmas.

Join the conversation:

• What promises has God made you?
• How long are you willing to wait for the fulfillment of His promises?
• If the fulfillment of His promise doesn't look the way you expect it to, how will you respond?

For prophecies about Jesus as the branch of Jesse, you can read Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 23, and Jeremiah 33.

In the Field: Pioneering Parents

He came into the front room. After his prayer time, he had the answer he had been praying for since August, about six months before that - the answer his wife had received earlier that week and not shared. It was clear to her then that he also had the answer.

"One... Two... Three... SEMO!" They said it together.

That moment was the culmination of six months of prayer. It was the end of one journey, and the beginning of another.

James and Kim Boley are the Chi Alpha campus pastors at Southeast Missouri State University. They are currently in the middle of their fifth year on campus. Both have been connected to Chi Alpha Campus Ministries since they were freshmen at Missouri State University. Kim recalls being invited to a Chi Alpha service multiple times by a friend. At the time, she was already involved in a different campus ministry, but her boyfriend convinced her to go so the friend would "shut up." She agreed and ended up attending without her boyfriend, who she says ditched her.

Kim's baptism in Jamaica

That was the night she met James. As a student, she stepped onto the leadership team and went on her first mission trip to Jamaica. She met Tom and Missi Trask. Tom baptized her on that trip to Jamaica, with James standing nearby, and immediately claimed officiating her wedding. Then, during her senior year, Kim felt she was being led to give a year of her life to missions.

Kim had a choice between staying at Missouri State or following the Trasks to the University of Missouri - Columbia (Mizzou). She was unsure of which campus until her father told her she had the opportunity to choose whose authority she wanted to be under. Immediately, she knew she wanted to go to Mizzou Chi Alpha.

Meanwhile, James went to Japan to teach English. His plan was to be there for a year, but he had to leave every three months for his visa to be renewed. During one of these trips, he found out his visa was not going to be renewed and felt directed to Mizzou. He finished his one-year commitment there and began teaching in the small Missouri town of Dixon. Then, in the summer of 2009, Kim and James were married, and James returned to Mizzou Chi Alpha.

In the fall of 2012, things started to change. When Mizzou's welcome week activities ended, Kim and James realized they weren't as exhausted as normal. They started praying about their next move. By October, they knew they wouldn't be staying at Mizzou but believed they would be continuing with Chi Alpha. Over the next few months, they were interviewed by area directors and visited different campuses. Kim even made a spreadsheet detailing what each campus and town had in favor of it - coffee shops, bookstores, housing.

Kim and James visiting the University of Louisiana - Monroe

Eventually, they had narrowed their choice down to two schools - Southeastern Missouri State University (SEMO) and the University of Louisiana - Monroe. "We were excited about both," Kim said. "We knew God was going to move on both."

But there was a recent failed attempt to start a Chi Alpha at SEMO. National office typically requires that four to five years pass before someone else tries to pioneer on a campus so that there are no students left who might have had a negative experience with the ministry. "SEMO was not an option to us, but we kept coming back to it," Kim said. So Tom made a call to the interim national director. It turned out a local pastor had called and asked that missionaries be appointed to the SEMO campus. After more prayer, they knew that's where they were headed.

During their first year at SEMO, what they call "year zero", Kim and James spent time familiarizing themselves with campus culture and leading one Bible study. They registered Chi Alpha as an official student organization so they were allowed on campus. They did very little promotion of the ministry that year, but they did set up a table at an activities fair that August.

Jacqueline - SEMO's first
missionary associate

While Kim talked with some students, James stopped a group of three girls. He told them there would be a Bible study that night and asked if they were interested. All three expressed that they weren't and walked away. As Kim finished her conversation, James pointed out one of the girls to Kim and told Kim to "chase her down." By that time, the girls were headed down a nearby hill. The girl James had pointed out turned around. "Oh no, she saw me looking," Kim thought. That girl turned around, came back, and said she was interested. "We all three vividly remember this," Kim said. Jacqueline is now on staff with SEMO Chi Alpha.

Both the Chi Alphas at MSU and Mizzou had been around for decades when Kim and James were involved. Their first year at SEMO was about creating a new ministry entirely - what is called pioneering. "When you come from something established and go to nothing, you really have to focus on what's important, what's necessary," Kim said.

One of the things they find important is providing a home for students. "Mostly, our students come from middle to low income families, and SEMO was rarely their first choice," James said. "Often, students are looking for somewhere to belong. We hope to give them that place."

Halloween Party 2015 at the Boleys' new house

Because SEMO Chi Alpha does not have space of its own, many of the events are held at the Boleys' home. When Kim and James first moved to Cape Girardeau, that home was a duplex. Kim describes the basement as having creaky stairs, crickets everywhere, and one light bulb hanging from the ceiling. They often heard gunshots and had to call the police while living there. "Our seniors still miss that place," Kim said. "They still miss the creepy basement." When she asks them why, they say it felt like home. It's talked about so much that even the new freshman ask about it.

While SEMO was a new ministry, pastoring was also a new role for the Boleys. "It's a greater responsibility, there are so many more things to juggle," James said.

When training for their new roles and the new ministry, Kim and James went to pioneering training. "When you have these dreams and visions for your future, you have to have the patience to let it grow," Kim said, referencing the analogy they were given of a baby developing during pregnancy.

James, Kim, and Abbi

It's an analogy Kim and James can now relate to personally. Not only have they let their vision for SEMO grow, their family has grown. Two years ago, Abbi was born. "The great thing about pioneering is everything is changing every semester or every year," Kim said. Specifically speaking about the differences in ministry before and after Abbi's birth, she said, "It just takes an adjustment when you're passionate about two things [parenting and ministry], and you can't serve two masters."

Abbi and Natasha, the Boleys' dog, at open house

Kim started having open houses so that she could continue having more time with students while caring for Abbi. One afternoon a week, she would invite female students to her house to watch movies, bake, do homework, or just hang out. Eventually, the boys started getting jealous. Now, James is also present for some of the open houses. "You see a different side of your students, and they see a different side of you, when you live life together," Kim said.

Abbi has also assisted with Tuesday night services. James said his favorite memory of their time at SEMO includes a time when Abbi was a part of a demonstration during one of his sermons. He was teaching about knowing God and how many people have misconceptions of God. Then he sat down and called Abbi, one and a half years old at the time. "She instantly came running up front and jumped in my lap," James said. "All I could say was, 'Is your relationship with God like this?'"

James at a student baptism

In working with students, James enjoys seeing them make choices that lead to that kind of relationship. "My favorite part of college ministry is watching young people make sacrificial decisions to follow Christ in their daily lives," James said. "These aren't one time 'altar-call' decisions but daily-grind, lifestyle-changing decisions."

SEMO students praying in Atlanta

As nationally appointed missionaries, the Boleys are required to have a five-year plan for what they want to see. "You should always have dreams," Kim said. "You should always have visions." They're on track with their plan. They have regular services and small group Bible studies. They have retreats. They have led mission trips to the Atlanta Dream Center. Two of the seniors graduating in 2018 want to give a year of their lives to missions.

"Our team this year is amazing. The seniors have been with us since their freshman year," Kim said. "I really think God is setting us up for something big."

Prayer requests from Kim and James:

• Support raising for themselves
• Support raising for Jacqueline
• That they and their leadership team would be used by God in amazing ways during spring semester

If you are interested in Kim and James' work, you can visit semoxa.com or contact me. If you are interested in being part of their support team, you can join here.

*All photos courtesy of Kim Boley

Into Your Eyes

I look up to see Your stars shining in the sky,
Magnificent, beautiful, and breathtaking.
Then You turn my face to look into Your eyes.
There You show me beauty.
As I see the stars, You look at me
And say I am captivating.

I look in wonder at the stars so high.
Each one shining in its place.
Then You turn my face to look into Your eyes.
There You show me purpose.
You placed me here, like the stars in the sky
To bring glory to Your name.

When I gaze in the mirror to see what the world sees:
Shame, scars, pain, impurity.
Then I hear You say to look into Your eyes.
There You open my eyes
To see Your love so forgiving as it washes over me
To behold the majesty You have bestowed on me.

I look back in time to a man on a tree
Beaten and bruised, pain and suffering.
Now I can look into Your eyes.
Here is where I can finally see.
Love so deep and grace so strong.
He died so He could have all of me.

Rooted

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8

There's this place not far from where I live where I start to feel like I'm out of the city. That's mostly because there are finally more trees than buildings. It's beautiful and quiet (unless I decide to turn my worship music up really loud). And you're actually breathing fresh air. I love to sit by the river or go for drives there, especially in the fall.

Fall is my favorite season. I love to watch the leaves change colors. I like harvest time - well the desserts that can be made from the fall harvest anyway. I enjoy finding my way through corn mazes. That being said, when fall starts turning into winter, I hate it. The plowed up fields are no longer as enjoyable to drive by. And the trees, they look so...dead.

But they're not. The roots are still there.

No plant can grow without healthy roots. It's the roots that gather water and nutrients from the soil. It's the roots that hold strong when winds come, and it's the roots that can create new life when fire destroys the branches.

Just like the trees, we go through different seasons in life. While God certainly wants us to bear fruit, we are likely to go through seasons when growth might not be so obvious. And in those seasons especially, we need to be focusing on our roots.

Throughout Scripture, God refers to roots over and over again. In the Parable of the Sower, He talks about plants dying because the roots weren't deep enough. He says in Romans that we are supported by the root. In Hosea, He says that a withered root produces no fruit. The strength of the roots is important, and the strength of the roots is determined by where they grow.

I've had many times in my life when I felt like I was being uprooted. When I started high school and left my friends at a small private school for a large public school. When I graduated high school and moved away from my church. When some of my closest friends graduated and left at the end of my sophomore year. And again when I left college to move back home. But each of those times was a change in season, not soil.

Through all those changes, one thing has remained the same. God has been there. When things I cared about fell away, He was still there. And because of that, I have clung to Him more tightly. I've learned more about His love. I've learned more about His faithfulness. I've learned more about His peace.

In a drought, the roots of a tree reach deeper into the soil to find moisture. When we feel dry, we should also reach deeper into God's Word and presence to find Living Water. The further we press into Him, the more love we will receive. The more we rely on His love, the stronger we become. Then, even when those around us don't expect fruit, it will be there. It will be there because our roots are in the right place.

My prayer for you, reader, is the same as Paul's prayer was for the Ephesians.

"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (emphasis mine)

Join the conversation: Where are your roots? When trouble comes, are you afraid, or do you know that God is taking care of you? What can you do to let your roots grow deeper in His Love?

The Artist

The Artist who molded the world I see,

Who paints the sky so beautifully.

The Musician who makes birds sing,

Waves to crash upon the shore and wind to whistle through the trees.

The Architect who built the mountains

And created deep, bubbling fountains.

The Producer who put the world in motion -

Creatures on land and in the ocean.

The Director who gives the sea its bounds,

He guides the birds' traveling rounds.

The Author of all history,

And still He writes my life story.

All these things, but He still made me.

The world is His, but He still wants me.

All He made, He made to share.

That's just one way He shows He cares.

Before I was born, He molded me.

He sees in me His unsurpassable beauty.

He gave me a voice to raise.

He longs to hear my loving praise.

A foundation laid, stronger than stone,

He asks that I let Him build my home.

He gives me the air I breathe

And wants my life to shine for the world to see.

He shows me where I need to go

And tells me what I need to know.

So I will let Him write and write

And in my life display His might.

Because with all these things, He still made me

And with all He has, He still loves me.

In the Field: Todos los Ninos

The view from Castillo del Rey's cafeteria

Worship music played. The North American mission team danced as they sang along with the Spanish words. A group of girls had gathered to watch the gringoes in the street performance. When it was time for the altar call, the program leaders called the girls to the front. They all huddled together to receive prayer.

Off to the side stood one little boy, Jeremy. He was about four-years-old. He was shy, and he had the sniffles.

While the mission team prayed over the girls who had gathered, Jeremy caught Brittany's attention. She went to him and asked in Spanish, "Do you want to come with me?" He agreed, so she held his hand and led him to some men there that day.

"Every program I did, I decided I wanted to find one kid who I would specifically dote on and pay attention to and smile at and talk to," Brittany said. "We've heard stories of people who are in the School of Missions that the Castle has, that the reason that they know Jesus is because some American came when they were five, smiled at them, prayed with them and left. That American never knows they had that impact, but the Salvadoran is a Christian because of that."

Jeremy receiving prayer
Photo courtesy of Brittany Copeland, taken by Josh Jasper

That day, a day when Brittany was only supposed to be checking on the mission team and leaving, Jeremy was the child she chose. "What if he needed Jesus?" she asked. "All of the guys on the team, a couple of guy interns, and a couple of national boys were all laying their hands on him, praying over his life, over his sickness, over him to know Jesus. They were just surrounding him, and he was just covered in prayer."

Matt and Brittany Copeland spent this past summer as missionary interns in El Salvador. For two months, they worked with Castillo del Rey (King's Castle) helping in any way they could. They led North American teams as they did street outreach. Matt helped with construction and agriculture programs. Brittany helped with the medical clinic.

Brittany on her first trip to El Salvador in 2013
Photo by Kim Boley

Both Copelands had been to El Salvador on short-term trips in the past. Brittany went with Chi Alpha when she was in college, and both had been with their church twice. The first time Matt went, he ended up staying a week longer than he had planned to help with the agriculture program. He was asked to stay again the following year, but he had to return to the States so he and Brittany could get married. After they had been married for a couple months, they began discussing the possibility of returning to El Salvador. "We talked to one another and said, 'Hey, I really feel like God's telling us to go to El Salvador for all of next summer'," Matt recalls. "Very much confirmation from one another," he said.

"The first time I ever went to El Salvador with Chi Alpha in 2013 - I had been on a couple mission trips, and I went on some after that, but that was the only one I ever cried when I left," Brittany said. "I always remembered that, that I had felt such an attachment to the people there that I missed it, and I was sad to break that connection and not know if I'd see them again."

Castillo del Rey exists "porque los ninos necesitan conocer Jesus" or "because the children need to know Jesus." It was founded by Don and Terri Triplett. They have created programs with the idea in mind that every child in El Salvador will hear about Jesus at least once every year. There are several methods the ministry uses to meet this goal.

Clown costume Brittany made
for the street performances
Photo courtesy of
Brittany Copeland

One way is through what they call "spectacle evangelism." Mission teams go to the streets where they sing songs and dance. They perform skits. There are at least two clowns. It catches the children's attention because there are fun activities happening and because there are gringoes, a term used to describe North Americans and usually meaning white people. Each child is prayed for, and a local pastor follows up with them later.

They have also started Guardians of the Vision. Students are intensely discipled and preaching by age 10. "They have this idea, which is true, a child age 12 will preach with boldness, and then suddenly they start growing up and get afraid," Brittany said. "They let the children do it as much as possible so that they a. learn that they don't need to be afraid and b. get it out while they can. It's powerful." Guardians of the Vision is now in 27 countries.

"Don's goal big scale is to reach every child in the world with the Gospel one time a year," Matt said. "That way they have continued exposure to make a decision for Jesus."

Matt and Brittany were able to spend a week in one of the other countries. The Castillo del Rey in Nicaragua did not have any interns, so they spent a week leading North American mission teams there. "It was a big stretch," Matt said. "It was like, 'Why are you here? Are you here to send time with your spouse, or are you here because I've told you to be here?'"

Matt and Brittany out to see Mujer Maravilla (Wonder Woman)
with fellow missionaries
Photo courtesy of Brittany Copeland

Because Matt and Brittany had both been to El Salvador before, they were prepared for the cultural differences. They had an advantage in knowing some of the language and having worked with the staff before.  But there were some differences. Because they were there long term, they spent more time off Castillo property, attending church, shopping, and watching movies. And they still didn't know the language perfectly.

One day, a fellow intern popped a tire. Brittany and their friend Shannon, another North American who had started a year-long internship just after Matt and Brittany arrived were on their way to church. Few tire shops were open since it was Sunday. The ones that were did not look safe. "That's the thing about being a gringo in El Salvador. You don't go dumb places," Matt said. He explained Shannon's rule for stopping. "If the cars look jank, you don't get out of the your car. You turn around and don't drive there. Just because gang culture is a thing."

Matt and Brittany working around the Castillo
del Rey camp with their friend Shannon
Photo courtesy of Brittany Copeland

So the next day, Shannon, Matt, and Brittany asked a national for directions to a good tire store. They were told to go to Llanta Ria (Tire Vendor) in the nearest large town 45 minutes from their camp. The directions included three fingers held up, which they had to figure out if that meant three kilometers or three blocks. Then they were told, "Llantas, llantas, llantas todos" with hand motions indicating tires everywhere. When they finally found the shop, Matt and Brittany had to work together to figure out what was being said - Brittany because she knew the most Spanish, Matt because he knew the most about cars. "We were so proud of ourselves," Brittany said. Matt added, "Three gringoes that took care of ourselves getting a new tire. It was a real bonding moment."

There is a huge gang culture in El Salvador. The country is the most dangerous in the Western Hemisphere. Although the main effect it had on the Copelands was whether they stopped at some places or not, it regularly affects Castillo del Rey ministries. Sometimes street teams will have to stop in the middle of a program because a gang leader has decided they can't have any more time or someone showed up who shouldn't have.

But castle insignia can also give protection to the missionaries. The gangs respect Castillo del Rey because the missionaries stayed through the country's civil war and because of the work the ministry does. "Generally, the people in the gangs don't want to see their kids in the same system," Matt said. "They want better for their kids, but they can't do it on their own."

In El Salvador, the only way to safely leave a gang is to become a Christian. "They will stalk you to make sure you are legitimately a Christian and not faking it," Brittany said.

Cooking breakfast
in Nicaragua
Photo courtesy of
Brittany Copeland

Their experiences in El Salvador and Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the hemisphere, this summer and on previous mission trips taught them more about the universal need for God. Matt explained. "Everyone needs Jesus, just in a different way, " he said. "In the States here, we have such a mindset of consumerism and materialism. El Salvador is no worse; it's just different. Nicaragua isn't worse; it's just different. Haiti isn't worse; it's just different. That was a really big thing I had my eyes opened to. Especially going on your first mission trip, it's tempting to say, 'Oh, they're so poor. I should be more thankful for the things I have.' Which is a good takeaway, but it doesn't stop there. God doesn't need to meet them more because they're poor. That's not true at all. We all have a reason that we need Jesus, and even our culture has a reason that we need Jesus. It just looks different in each culture."

Matt and Brittany are already discussing their next steps into missions. They are considering a missionary associate term in El Salvador, which will include eight months in Costa Rica learning Spanish. They don't know yet when they will leave again, but are learning more about the logistics for a longer term.

Brittany said of this summer, "It was a reality check of I know I'm called to missions. And I've always been really excited about it, but this is what it's really like," she said. "It was a progressive realization of all the things I'd lose but then a progressive realization of what really matters."

"It's going to be really hard," Matt said. "But this summer was a really good rejuvenation for me of I'm more scared to do it my way than I am to follow God's plan."

Prayer requests for the Copelands and Castillo del Rey:

• Finances for Castillo del Rey to continue carrying out their vision - to be able to send and equip more people as well as maintaining the camp
• Guidance as the Copelands figure out the next step
• That the Copelands would remain content and fully invested in their current place while preparing for what's next

If you want to learn more about Matt and Brittany's time in El Salvador and Nicaragua, you can read their blog from the summer here.

Above the Storm

Watching the lightning storm from the plane

It was 4:30 in the morning. I looked over at the friend sitting next to me, sleeping like most people on the plane. Unlike them, I hadn't been able to get comfortable enough for that. I'd been awake for nearing 20 hours and was getting frustrated with my inability to sleep before I had to drive the rest of the home (five-six hours after I was originally supposed to).

Then I looked out the window. We were flying above a lighting storm. Suddenly, I was glad to be awake. The dancing lights in the clouds caused me to praise God.

I'm normally a big fan of storms. But looking back on that morning, I can't imagine I would have enjoyed the storm had I been on the ground. On the ground, the storm would have been very inconvenient. And all I would have been thinking about was that it was prolonging the journey to my bed.

This year, I feel like I've been going through a huge storm. Medical problems in my family. Big expenses I didn't expect. Plans not working out the way I want them to. Friends (that I am truly happy for) moving further away or announcing that they will be. My dog's old age showing more than ever. And for most of the time, I have focused on the inconvenience of all those things.

I've often heard that you should be honest with God and tell Him what you're feeling. Although that is important, I'm learning it's not the best way to deal with a problem. When you're stuck in the middle of a torrential onslaught, you don't get out by telling God it's making you wet.

You get out by getting above it. And you get above it by praising God.

When you praise God, it puts all your focus on Him. You remember how good He is. You remember how powerful He is. You remember how much He loves you and how He has come through for you in the past. You remember how big God is. Your feelings about the storm might even change while you're praising Him.

I've found that the song "Fields of Grace" by Big Daddy Weave is a great help for me. I can't help but find joy in God's love when I hear it. Like Paul and Silas who were loosed from their shackles and prison cell when they sang praises to God, I'm freed from my fears and doubts when I lift my voice to Him.

Praise changes your perspective. It allows you to enter God's presence so you can see the storm from His perspective. Still a very real storm with very real effects on your life, but beneath Him. Smaller than He is, and something He can help you rise above.

Join the conversation: What storms are you facing them, and how are you facing them? What helps you focus on God instead of your problems?

In the Field: Sent to Sendai

Praise Community Church in Sendai, Japan

Bethany had been in Japan for less than a month, and she was ready to find a church she could be involved in while she lived in Japan to teach English. So she met one of her co-workers to make their way to downtown Sendai. She learned which subway station to get off at, and which of the station exits to use. Then they walked into a bar.

They sang worship songs in English and in Japanese. She sat in the back where a church member whispered the English translation of the sermon. At the end of the sermon, Bethany was caught off guard when she was asked to tell the congregation her name, favorite food, and how she had come to the church. She didn't know yet that these types of introductions were frequent in Japan. 

"I remember just feeling a sense of home," Bethany says. "It just felt comfortable."

English Conversation Cafe, an outreach of PCC

That was Bethany Panian's introduction to Praise Community Church (PCC). At the time, she was only planning to be a member. Now, through partnership with Asian Access, she is on staff at the church. If she brings a guests, she warns them about the introduction, even if she forgets until it's almost time for the introduction.

Bethany became a Christian while attending the University of Missouri - Columbia. She was hired through the university to work with a school district. The school was going through budget cuts, and she knew was not going to have a job there the next year, so she started asking God what to do. She prayed with her campus pastor, Missi Trask, and went to a job fair at the university.

While at the job fair, she saw someone recruiting for teaching positions in Japan. "Japan wasn't on my radar for my life at all," she says. So she decided it would be good to practice interviewing with the recruiter. After the fair, they continued to email back and forth. As she prayed about what to do next, a woman from her church told her, "You can't steer a parked car." Bethany applied for the teaching position. By the time she heard back, she had started telling God, "If you don't give me Japan, I don't know what I'm going to do."

Staff prayer night at Bethany's pastor's house

Eventually, Bethany found out she had the job. She moved to Japan in February 2011 and began teaching English, which she did for four years. She taught second grade and high school. During her fourth year, she started working part time as a teacher trainer and began volunteering at PCC.

In her volunteer role, Bethany would organize roles for church volunteers, put bulletins together, make worship music available online, and helped with a monthly Bible study for women. "In those two roles, I was on the edge of burnout again, and I didn't even know it," she says. That's when she found out her school wanted her to be full time the following year, in the position they had created for her. "I had to make a decision between giving up my position at the school and my work at the church," Bethany says. "I was heartbroken because I didn't want to give up either."

She decided to spend a month praying about her options. "I had no peace about returning to teacher training because I felt I had made a commitment to my church and to God," Bethany says.

She had been looking for roommates for the following year. When the friends she was talking to found out she wanted to stay with the church, they offered to cover part of her share of rent as a way to support her. She also read 1 Kings 17 and thought, "If God can make the ravens feed Elijah, He can take care of me," she says.

Bethany meeting with her pastor, supervisor, and a VP
of Asian Access

So Bethany started speaking with Asian Access. Because Asian Access normally pairs missionaries with partner churches, she was not sure how things would work out. She knew she was supposed to be at PCC, but PCC was not a partner church. That spring, the vice president of Asian Access was traveling through Sendai, and Bethany met with her between travel connections. "We both had that feeling we'd known each other forever," Bethany says. Without making any promises, the vice president told her how she met the need at PCC. "God calling me was a perfect fit with things going on behind the scenes I didn't even know about."

After spending some time in the states for training and support raising, Bethany returned to Japan in September 2016. "I have to remind myself I'm still a first-year missionary. It makes sense for me to be barabara," she says, using the Japanese word for scattered.

Some of the "aunties" in the temporary housing community
where PCC Kai is held

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in 2011, Bethany had just arrived, but she knew she was supposed to stay in the country. Residents affected by the disasters were placed into temporary housing communities, and PCC formed a relationship with people at one of the nearby locations. They have recently started what is called PCC Kai, or monthly church services with the residents. "We still haven't seen anyone come to Christ," Bethany said. "My pastor feels like he knows some people who are open to it and seeking. In a Japanese context, making a decision to do something different from the group is almost impossible. I've prayed that He'll change the whole group, and they'll all be following Him."

Now that she is officially on staff with PCC, Bethany has some specific goals in mind for what she would like to do. Bethany is used to small groups playing a big role in spiritual growth. She would like to start a small group with some of the young women in her church. She wants a Japanese co-leader to work with her.

Bethany also wants to see prayer become a normal part of every church member's life. She wants people to be comfortable praying for each other. "One of the biggest challenges is how people view leadership," she said. "Leadership tends to be a really elevated honor. People expect the pastor to do everything." That includes prayer. To encourage others to pray, she is setting an example. "I'm making that a normal part of how I interact with people and modeling that."

But that's not the only change PCC will be seeing. After 10 years of meeting in a bar, and only having the space for a few hours on Sundays, PCC finally has their own space. That means more room to grow.

Prayer requests from Bethany:

• Prayers as PCC enters the new season with their new building
• That they would use the space for God's glory
• That they would be able to better equip their members
• That they would be able to do more outreach

Bethany with her pastor and his family as well as the church's
new intern after their last service in the bar - just last Sunday

*All photos courtesy of Bethany Panian, taken by her pastor Takahiro Ami

In the Field: Speaking Their Language

Memorial Union, where Chi Alpha and English Club meet on Mizzou's campus
Photo screenshot from a video provided by Marta Payne

Saying goodbye at the bus station
Photo courtesy of Becca Clay

People milled about the station, exchanging letters and words of encouragement. Goofing off and taking pictures. They had just come from a formal end-of-school-year celebration. Now, it was time to say goodbye. Thankfully, the bus was running late, allowing them extra time to spend together before some of them returned to Japan. Outside, the rain was coming down in torrents.

Finally it was time to leave. They gathered together to pray. Those headed to the airport boarded the bus. The rain continued to pour down. As the bus pulled away, those staying behind stretched their hands forward and prayed once again. Tears were shed. They weren't just sending off their friends; they were sending off family.

"How do you do this every year?" one student asked. "Is this really what it's like all the time?"

"Yep, this is what it's all about," Becca said.

That was the end of Becca Clay's eighth year at Mizzou. Becca is a campus missionary with Chi Alpha (XA) at the University of Missouri - Columbia and Columbia College. She is the director of XAi, the ministry's outreach to international students. She joined Mizzou Chi Alpha in 2009, during her freshman year at the university. During a regular service that year, on February 23, 2010, she knew she would be dedicating her life to missions instead of continuing with her plan of becoming a math teacher. Then in her senior year, she was at missions conference, when God further confirmed that she should stay at Mizzou. "I remember getting really excited at one point and turning around to Tom and Missi, and I was like, 'I can stay right?' And they're like, 'Welcome aboard'. So I got to stay," she said.

When she graduated in 2013, she began an internship with them. In her second year, Tom asked her to begin leading XAi. In 2015, she officially joined the ministry staff.

"In that moment, you could feel the weight of how important it is to love these students every moment that you have, to sacrifice your time to allow yourself to have new, authentic, genuine relationships," Becca said of the night at the bus station. She said it was a reminder of why she does what she does.

Becca's vision for XAi is that every international student on any campus in Columbia, Missouri, would leave having heard about Jesus. That is broken down into three components.

1. They meet the needs of international students without separating from the rest of the ministry.
2. They equip international students to return to their home countries with the confidence to lead others to Jesus.
3. They teach American students that "they have XAi in them" and creating a sense of responsibility in reaching international students.

Prayer at English Club
Photo courtesy of Becca Clay

When Becca first started helping with XAi, very few American students in Chi Alpha knew any international students. According to the International Center at Mizzou, 80% of international students never enter an American home. "We've changed that statistic on our campuses over the past year or so," Becca said.

In working to reach every one of the 2,700 international students, XAi has several methods. "We meet them, and we just invite them into our lives, and we do English Club," Becca said. "To me, English Club is a welcome mat into the rest of the ministry."

In English Club, students learn common English phrases, particularly ones that won't make sense with a direct translation. Then they play a game to demonstrate an understanding of the phrase. One week, they taught the phrase "party animal." Becca said students started "flailing and dancing" during their skits that night, and they were able to bond over it further at the Halloween party later that week. Another time they learned phrases that had to do with love and relationships. One of the students demonstrated understanding of their new phrase by saying, "Everybody has eyes for Becca." "They liked to flatter me, because they thought that would get them more points," Becca said.

Becca starting a game at English Club

Video courtesy of Marta Payne

This year, there will be some changes. Taking a clue from team members who worked with a similar ministry in Indonesia, conversations at English Club will be less about games and more about the important topics of life - religion, family, culture. "My hope is that we're going to go deeper, faster, that real connections are going to be made," Becca said.

Becca with students at the XAi Thanksgiving and
Christmas dinner
Photo courtesy of Becca Clay

Students also get connected with conversation partners. They lead an Intro to Christianity class, which this year will utilize the Alpha Courses, a series that introduces people to the basics of Christianity. A banquet is hosted every year before Thanksgiving to introduce foreign students to American holiday traditions and the Christmas story. This year, Becca hopes to have one XAi team member in every small group Bible study, called delegates. Their purpose will be to connect international students to other members of the ministry.

Becca explained some of the differences in ministering to students from other countries. Many need practical help with getting around and making phone calls. Sometimes, a trip to Wal-Mart is the best chance to talk about Jesus. There are other differences though.

"A lot of these students have never heard of Jesus," Becca said. "Some of these students is as simple as sin. What is sin? Who's God? You mean there's something out there that's not me?" Even once they understand who Jesus is it can be difficult for them to make a decision.

"We have a lot of students who are so close to accepting Jesus, to making that commitment," Becca said. "And typically when students, especially students from Asian culture, they're fully committed. It's not half in, half out. It's all in. And they know that, so every decision is weighty. I have students that are weighing the cost. Choosing Jesus could mean disappointing your parents for the first time."

Mizzou's group at the national All Nations conference
Photo courtesy of Becca Clay

But Becca and her team are doing their job well. "We're starting to get recognized because we are doing things with excellence and they're seeing," Becca said. She has been able to form a relationship with the national XAi director and his wife where she can learn from them. The national director has asked for her help planning the yearly national conference as well as teaching other students and leaders how to reach international students. "I think my involvement will grow nationally," Becca said. "I really do think it's an honor, because I think it again speaks to the fruit."

Some of that fruit can be seen in the Japanese students she saw off at the bus station last year. They are returning to Japan ready to start a new Bible study on their campus. Mizzou Chi Alpha is doing what they can to help and possibly connect them with a pastor who will go work with them.

For now, Becca's plan is to stay at Mizzou Chi Alpha. But she is always checking with God if that plan should change. "I've counted, and I have friends in over 30 countries at this point. And my heart is all over the place. Every year I make deeper and deeper connections with students where it's harder and harder to say goodbye or see ya later. I have to constantly ask, 'Okay, am I supposed to go? When do I follow a student home?'," Becca said. "As far as I know, I'm here because God hasn't told me otherwise yet."

Prayer requests from Becca:

• That she would be fully supported so that she can help support other missionaries, particularly her students both foreign and domestic who end up working abroad
• For her team members to be prepared for the increased opportunities to minister this year's changes will bring
• For the students who are still counting the cost, that they would have the peace and confidence to choose Jesus

If you are interested in Becca's work, you can visit mizzouxa.com or contact me. If you are interested in being part of her support team, you can join here. You may also contact me for more information.