From the Field

I just finished writing an account on our “personal blog” of our crazy arrival in Turkey to the Regional Conference this year.  But right now I wanted to share one of my favorite moments of the Regional Conference. 

The speaker was one many people had told me about, so that night my anticipation was already growing.

He began talking about Jeremiah who was in prison and more or less did something utterly stupid – buy a piece of land that didn’t make any sense, but that he knew God was calling him to do it and that God would use it.  He transitioned from there to other stories of people in history who had done things because they knew God was calling them to do it, but to many people it didn’t make sense.  And when we look back in Christian history, it is filled with stories like these, people who have done “against the odds” sort of things, people who have done things when many have said they couldn’t or that wouldn’t work or “that’s not how things have been done before”.   But it all made sense to God.  

The quote he centered his speech around went something like this, “Live your lives in such a way that doesn’t make any sense apart from the existence of God.” 

For we are called to live our lives filled with Jesus’ Spirit as extensions of God, and apart from God’s existence, our lives don’t make sense.  We are called to follow God and to do what God has called us to do.  I know personally, for us, many thought our actions didn’t make sense when we first moved to France, and then when we moved to Croatia.  And now we’re here as Church Planters, as pioneers, and we’re confident God has called us to do just that.  But like the song (this week) reminded me, that God makes things beautiful out of dust, out of us, out of seemingly nothing.  And I don’t mean to say there is nothing here but dust, that is not true. 

God has been working here for a long time, and we are now to be a part of it, in a new way.  Often, as denominational missionaries, we don’t make sense to others, because we feel clearly called to partner first and walk along side others, before we try to “plant” or “grow” something of and on our own.  We feel God has told us that bridges are needed here, not another “box” type of denomination that seeks to take or exclude people.  We feel God has told us that waiting for Croatian leadership who can create a church that makes sense in this context is way more important than quickly creating a “Western Dave and Betsy” church.   We feel God does have a plan to grow a Nazarene church here, and that it will be intentional about compassionate ministries; one that transforms, redeems, and gives life to areas of these communities where there is none.  And we also know we cannot do this on our own, nor do we think we should.  God knows how a church will begin, God knows what that church will look like and who it will reach LONG before we do.  To many it won’t make sense, but to God it makes perfect sense. 

It has been on our hearts for the past 6 months or so, to be praying about ways to build bridges between the different denominations and ministries here.  There are some great churches and wonderful ministries in Croatia, but it seems more and more apparent that they are often times doing things alone.  They are isolated, and there does not seem to be the unity needed to really change this country.  There are a some good things happening.  There are some pastors who get together and pray for one another.  I see some people helping with ministries that are not “theres.”  Please pray that God will continue to build bridges between these groups and that unity would come to the people here.  Followers of Christ are bound to one another through the love of Jesus.  Sometimes we don’t act like it.  We let small differences come between us; whether they are personal or theological.  We need to be better bridges with eachother, so we can be better bridges to God.  In all we do, we need to be pointing to the Kingdom of God.  We need to be that bridge for people.  So pray for Croatia, that we would continue to pursue the unifying love that God calls us too.  As you pray, consider praying for ways you can be that unifying love in your own communities.

This summer has been one adventure after another.  Our family hasn’t been alone for almost 3 months.  Although we are looking forward to some quite time and finding our routine, it has been SO great to have everyone around.  Our world came to life this summer with some many people coming and going.  I can’t list them all, but each group brought their own challenges and their own blessings.  We have been able to show support to our good Croatian friends who have given their lives to serve the Roma communities.  Some of the people who came were able to give time to these friends letting them know that people are here who believe in them and what they do.  Along with these groups coming, we had a great time with the Sunburg family on the coast.  Then just last week I finished my Big Bike Ride 2012.  We biked from Zagreb to Venice.  It took 4 days of hard biking, but we made it.  I will write about it on another post.  All this to say, it’s been a carzy and fun summer.