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bfc board of missions |
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Issue 18 Let’s Fish. Bible Fellowship Churches sharing resources to evangelize the world. A place for the exchange of ideas on short term missions projects and local outreach. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
All responses can be sent to office@bfcbom.org
Current and past issues can be found on the web at: www.bfcbom.org look in “Mission Events” then Let’s Fish
205 Days till Urbana
Greetings from Allentown!
1. Reflections and Thoughts from Pastor John Elias 3. Watch for this upcoming event! 4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
1. Reflections and Thoughts from Pastor John Elias (lots of good “stuff) Dear Dana,
As I sit
in my cottage in the wilds of Cornwall I find I do appreciate
Let's Fish. It is helpful in keeping abreast of what is going on in the
denomination while we are away. It also makes me stop and think of some of
the things God has done on the trips that I have taken.
You are
so right about the importance of journaling. What makes so much of a profound
impression on you during the trip is quickly lost when back in the hectic life
of America. Many times in straightening up my files I have
thought that I could discard the old notes from trips. But, as I begin to
flip through them and am reminded of precious people I have met and
significant displays of God's faithfulness I realize that I must retain them.
I am also challenged then to remember commitments made and my responses to God
that have become dim as time passes and the trip has become a distant memory.
A suggestion that might be useful would be to have the team members write letters to themselves which the team leader will mail in 6 months time. The letter written near the end of the trip could contain memories, reflections, and challenges to think about what you hope you have learned and the desired impact it will make on your life compared to what your life is like after you have been back in the good old USA for 6 months. Good suggestions regarding photos. I do not promise to send photos, but do try to follow up the trip by sending some pictures back to the church(es) we have worked with. This is often quite meaningful to them. It also helps them as they remember and process the impact of your being with them. Also, we usually have one official, appointed, and recognized team photographer with a good film camera and someone with a digital camera. We discourage team members from bringing other cameras. Your idea of the disposable ones for personal people shots is good. On the return of the team we provide everyone with a set of pictures that the team photographer has taken. This cost is built into the trip. This eliminates the problem of 15 cameras taking the same shot as well as making security for the camera easier. Everyone is watching out for one camera that it doesn't walk away, be forgotten, or become an item of curiosity. One other thing that we have done that helps with the security of items. For each trip I buy several rolls of colored duct tape. The wilder or uncommoner the color, the better. Each piece of luggage, carry on, boxed supply item, camera bag, etc is marked with this tape. A 12 inch piece doubled over a handle is adequate. It is surprisingly difficult to remove. This aids in recognizing items on the luggage carousel. It also helps with security as team members will not always recognize someone else’s backpack that starts to walk away, but they will recognize a stranger carrying something marked with team duct tape. Also, in the event that the airline does something creative with your luggage it makes describing it a little easier. You will of course have a list of each piece of luggage, its description, and general contents, and its number, but if you can also say it has bright blue duct tape wrapped around it, that will prove helpful to the airport staff in recovering your missing baggage.
ps In regards to your Oh Gross point. I encourage team members to practice drinking their soft drinks without ice weeks before the trip takes place. That way it becomes second nature to turn down ice and enjoy the drink warm. Actually you get better flavor from it that way. A totally unscientific observation. Karen and I have eaten and drunk many suspect items in many countries and never gotten sick, we think it is because we drink warm Coke whenever we can on trips.
Dana --
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading "Let's Fish". It is a useful tool for short-term missions teams and a pleasant addition to the BFC missions program. Keep up the good work!
Ron Kohl
“God is soooo amazing and I have learned so much about prayer, trust, God's plan, and also how to reach out for other resources of encouragement and guidance in these areas.” Quote from a letter from Rebecca Zurbrick
“This is really awesome. Daddy added everything up and I have about $300 to go. I said at the missions rally that I was getting a taste of the support raising stuff and the prayer letter stuff and the finding God's will stuff that all those real missionaries go through. I need to add that I'm getting a taste of the "God is really spectacular!" stuff that they also must be going through. Hey, that's a cool way of looking at it although I didn't mean it that way: going through the spectacularness of God. It makes me think of Moses hidden in the cleft of the rock when the glory passed by...” Quote from a letter from Elizabeth Studenroth
Reminder from last week: Veteran Short termers, share with us a great page from your journal. We would love to print a page. Send it to office@bfcbom.org
Write me. I love e-mail! office@bfcbom.org
3. Watch for this upcoming event!
Can you believe there are OVER 40 short term events taking place this summer by BFC churches? Some of these are in the church’s own community while others are nearly half a world away.
The Board of Missions is sponsoring a Short Term Debriefing Round-up this fall. The Round-up will include dinner and an evening of sharing the best and the worst ideas from each short term experience. There will be seminars on a variety of subjects that will enable each church to be even better equipped for their next trip. The evening is designed for the leaders of each and every one of the forty trips, potential leaders of future trips as well as pastors and mission chairpeople.
This will be “can’t miss” event. Watch for the date and details right here in a future Let’s Fish publication.
4. Trips in the works (updated weekly)
The Board of Missions is keeping statistics of all short term missionary trips (both by teams and individuals). Please let us know all the important information about your trip. WHO, WHAT, CHURCH, MISSIONARY, COUNTRY, and DATE. Contact: office@bfcbom.org
To Date the following ministries being done by BFC’ers have been registered with Let’s Fish.
May 23 June 6 Emmaus to The Fold (Hash) room available May 26- Aug. 5 Alicia Billups Team Coordinator for RGBI June 7-13 Paris Prayer Conference 03 www.david.riddell@wanadoo.fr June – August Rachel Bechtel CF summer missionary June 12-15 . Mt. Pocono trip to Blueberry Mountain (Slomas)
Trips highlighted need our prayer support RIGHT NOW!
June 20 - 30 Royersford teach English and to do Evangelism in Palowice, Poland. June 21-28 Coopersburg trip to work with Bob & Donna Sloma at Blueberry Mountain Bible Camp along with Chris & Becki Merrick. June 26-28 Paradise at Lighthouse for VBS June 26-July 3 Emmaus to The Fold (Hash) room available June 28 - July 6, 2003 Oley at Oaxaca Mexico 24 teens and 11 adults. July 2- August 1 Rebecca Zurbrick from Paradise BFC will be going to Panama July 4-18 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) July 5-12, Paradise team to Thompson, CT, to assist with VBS both at the church and at a nearby park. July 5-20 Elizabeth Studenroth and Clay Martin Moscow with the English Exchange July 6-August 10 Kara Lapp from Paradise BFC will be going to Wyoming to disciple youth and lead an outreach with YWAM July 10, 24, and 31 Reading Church Good News in the Park July 11-26 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) July 12-20 Sunbury to Haiti construction and ministry July 13-20 Royersford Youth Missions Trip to Delmarva to do a VBS July 16-20 Hatfield at Toms River with Chris Merrick Work and Ministry July 26- August 3 Q’town & Lehighton missions trip to Asheville, North Carolina. July 26-Aug 3 Harleysville Ixamal, Mexico August 1-6 Terre Hill at Spruce Lake VBS outreach August 2-18 - Emmaus Ukraine Trip doing puppet shows, drama, music and coffee house ministry as well as a morning camp program with Push-the-Rock each morning. August 8-21 Cedar Crest trip to Pollocks Team of 11 teens and 7 adults for day camp among Native Americans and work projects. Aug 14-17 Harleysville Wildwood Boardwalk Chapel Aug. 15-30 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) August 16-23 - Emmaus going to Wissinoming BFC for VBS and evangelistic puppet shows. August 20-24 Pastor Carl Cassel Canada with Rob Patterson August 20-28 Cedar Crest to Morocco Work team and ministry. August 22-24 - Walnutport BFC Weekend Block Party. Emmaus will be doing puppet shows and a Saturday block party. September 18- 29 Royersford Barnabas Team to visit with the Moyer's in France and with Rick Erb in the Ukraine. September 19- 29 Royersford Work Team to put roof on Church building in Palowice, Poland. Sep. 26-Oct. 11 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available) October date to be determined Cedar Crest to Kosovo Work and ministry. Nov. 7-22 Serbia Trip Reading (spaces available)
Good Uzbeks are cheap,.....I'm a good one! Written by missionary Randy Ruth reflecting on the cost of lunch in Philadelphia {$20.00} vs. Central Asia {$2.00}
I just finished processing the new trips and dates that came through the office this past week. There are now well over 40 ministries that will take place this year! From Africa to Asia, from the heartlands of the U.S. to our own back yards; reaching Native Americans, to refugees with the awesome GIFT of God’s Son! I praise God for this movement that is taking place in the BFC. Nearly ninety percent of career missionaries serving the Kingdom today had their start with a short term trip!
Listen to God this summer. What is He teaching you? Come home changed. . . Changed in attitude, perspective, and passion!
Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength To serve the King of kings.
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Most of all, Keep Fishing!
Dana
Reminder
November 14-16 BOM Missions RWR This annual work/study weekend sponsored by the BOM is for high school and post high school young people serious about knowing God’s will for their life and the possibility of career missions. This weekend fills up quickly so register early by e-mail to office@bfcbom.org. Name, age, church, e-mail and snail mail address, and phone # required.
Registrations are already coming in! Don’t miss out!
September (date and place TBA) Short Term Debriefing Round-up
December 27- January 1 Urbana
A cooperative effort of the churches of the BFC to win the world for Christ Your response is always welcome at: office@bfcbom.org 610 398-8776 |
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