|
MissionSupport |
|
Overview | Bio | News | Résumé | Slideshows |
|
2004 November |
|
November 20, 2004 Greetings in Christ my friend. Currently, I am doing a great deal of transitioning. First, I have given my resignation to Lima Union Congregational Church as of November 7th, 2004. We had some tears and I most definitely will miss them. Lima Union has some of the greatest people I have ever met in my life there. It has been a good 2 years and I learned some hymns, believe it or not. Lima Union will always hold a special place in my heart, but they are behind me in pursuing my dreams, though maybe a little reluctantly. Sometimes you have to wonder in this life, if leaving things are so hard, why do we always start new things? Well, the past two months since my return of the third trip from Kiev, I have been calling pastors and telling relatives about my plans to move to Ukraine. So far I have had so many positive responses that it almost amazes me. This is a total different response than I had 4 years ago when I wanted to move to Africa on missions. I have learned a great deal about God’s timing, God’s steps, and God’s ways. Many relatives have actually (and non-relatives) volunteered to support me monthly without even asking them. They hear the vision and pledge money and their prayer support. Praise GOD! Also, I always thought calling pastors would be difficult, but pastors are some of THE MOST SUPPORTIVE people of missions and the of Great Commission on earth, I have begun to book churches and hope to have a schedule online sometime for you too see. I have had to cut back building and remodeling homes because of my efforts to set up this mission to Ukraine. Which is good and bad, I suppose. I like to build and I like the money, but I know my purpose in LIFE is to PREACH the GOSPEL to the whole earth (think big right?). I really am looking forward to thinking when I wake up, “who can I tell about the Lord”, instead of “which town am I remodeling a bathroom in today?” Of course, I can do both in construction, but you can’t really “preach” to someone who is paying you to tear out their toilet as quickly and silently as possible. Although there are moments in construction that lead to great talks, it will be exciting to go into the streets (not to mention being “paid”) to talk to people about Jesus and preach in churches. I have learned great lessons from Construction and the daily grind of the average person. Maybe that is why Jesus didn’t start his ministry until he was 30 – which is about the same thing for me (I turned 29, November 6, 2004). I have NEVER been full-time in the ministry…so this is a whole new deal for me. One of those lessons is the respect I have for HARD WORK and that Jesus didn’t call us to the easy life – He called us to Himself – and hard work for the kingdom, etc. Therefore, I am ready to work hard for Jesus in Kiev, Ukraine. I am grateful that he called me and now has equipped me for the building up the church there. I can’t do it alone though. I need YOU! I need Jesus and your prayers to make it. It is not an easy decision to “give up the American dream” in order to have less, a lot less, to build a kingdom that is invisible. However, with the grace of God and a little elbow grease…and your support – lives can be changed. God bless you, Rick |