A Personal Touch...

For those of you who follow Kosovo For Christ here with any regularity, you will obviously notice that with the exception of the posting of our newsletters there aren't many personal entries. And since this will be the primary way we will communicate all that Jesus Christ is doing in Kosovo to you, it's about time the blog got more personal...

STILL ROLLING

As you recall from our last newsletter, we listed quite a few places where the fundraising, friend-raising, whatever you want to call it portion of our journey had taken us, as well as some future destinations. One of the blessings of having travelled to both ends of the great state of North Carolina has been the opportunity to see just how diverse and yet "one" the Body of Christ is. The Body of Christ is more than Raleigh First Assembly, but having pretty much grown up there, that's all we've ever known. But just in the month of September we've been to:

Englewood Assembly of God - Rocky Mount
The Carpenter's Shop Church - Ahoskie
Faith Assembly of God - Winterville
First Assembly of God - Rockingham
First Assembly of God - Newton
Christ Alive Church - Newton
First Assembly of God - Gastonia
Calvary Assembly of God - Angier
First Assembly of God - Hickory
West Yadkin Assembly of God - Hamptonville

October and November are shaping up to look similar to the above schedule as well. We ask you all to continue to pray that as Lindsey calls, and calls, and calls, aaaannnddd...yep, you guessed it, CALLS that the hearts of pastors and receptionists (the gatekeepers pastors' offices) will be open not just to us, but missions as a whole, and the great work we still have before us.


CAN I GET A WITNESS?!

As we travel and speak, speak and travel, the Lord makes use of every opportunity He gives us to remind us over and over that He has indeed called us to this work. Whether we hit a pothole of discouragement or take the wrong "exit" and get distracted, God has a way, and it's new every time, of reminding us where we're going and who's going to get us there. I'd like to share a few examples with you...


Tossing out the fleece

Many, if not all of you are familiar with the following passage,

Judges 6:36-40

We had received our monthly statement that details all our incoming financial contribution info for the previous month, and to honestly describe how we felt? Sick, discouraged, angry, speechless...you get the overarching feeling I think. That following Sunday we were to speak at Cullasaja Assembly of God in Franklin, NC. Prior to our trip, Lindsey "pulled a Gideon" so to speak. She asked God for a reminder/sign that we hadn't somehow missed the mark somewhere, and that we were in fact doing what He wanted. She prayed for a specific dollar amount to be given.

We had a wonderful time visiting with Pastor Cannon and fellowshipping with everyone at Cullasaja Assembly. After stopping at a Taco Bell to change before racing home to a going away party for two very dear friends of ours, I pulled out the offering check we received. The amount was too the penny what Lindsey had prayed...AND there was an original amount written in, crossed out, and the final amount written below. Can I get an, Amen, Oh Yeah, Boom Baby...somethin'?!

You have friends....where??

To finish off the month of August, we had the blessing of being with Pastor Billy Meyers and Archdale Assembly of God in....man you guys are quick! You guessed it, Archdale, NC. Originally, we were only going to attend during part of a multi-day revival service and have lunch with Pastor Billy afterwards. Due to a last minute change of plans the revival had to be postponed. We now had an opportunity to share about our ministry to the Kosovar/Albanian people.

After service we had lunch with Pastor Billy, his family, and another family who was visiting for the first time. You get that? FIRST TIME. Towards the end of our lunch, the husband tells me some great friends of theirs are missionaries to Albania, and have been for over a decade. Fortunately, I wasn't holding anything so I was able to catch my plummeting lower jaw.


Son, will you please sit down?

Glancing at the time, thirty-seven minutes into Tuesday morning, I'm gonna keep this one short because I still have one more section to write.

There's been a number of times, including the very first time we shared at a church, that once I've sat down the pastor thanked me for stopping. Why? Because if I hadn't I was going to preach his sermon from start to finish. That may not seem like a big thing to you, but for me, one who used to be the very definition of shy, one who absolutely despised public speaking/presentations...that was a HUGE lift.


THE MONEY THING

No lie, the phrase, "monthly support" is about as popular to me as, "Five dollar foot long", and you can look at our last newsletter if you need a reminder of how much I like five dollar foot longs. Yes, we know that finances are an integral part in this missionary journey. They're really important in fact. So important that if we don't get the money in....we ain't going. The consequence of not getting there? Simple, people made in the image of the one true God will spend an eternity in hell apart from their Creator. We do remember what hell is right? I think most in the American church have forgotten, and boy does it show. That's a whole nother post in itself though...where was I? Oh, the money. Here's where we stand...

Our cash budget, which covers things like plane tickets, language study, large one time expenses, etc... is completely raised. Our monthly support (there's that phrase again) of $3,170 is close to 45% raised.

This second "pot" of money does not have to literally be in the bank. It simply needs to be pledged by individuals and/or churches that intend on fulfilling a two year commitment for the amount the Holy Spirit directs them to make. Once you make it, we would encourage you to begin fulfilling it as soon as possible. Since all our cash budget is raised, all our one time financial gifts that come in from here on out are added up at the end of each month, divided by twenty-four (the number of months we'll be on the field), and converted into a monthly pledge.

Our schedule is getting pretty packed for the remainder of the time we're believing the Lord has left for us here. Most of our Sunday mornings are filled, Sunday nights, and Wed. nights need some love from you missions minded pastors/churches out there. You know who you are, we know who you are, and more importantly...look up. HE knows who you are. I have no intention of showing up at your front door, but if I need to...look, our heart is the same as yours, to reach a lost and dying world with the ONLY message that can give them life, pure and eternal. So just return a phone call, email, don't hide in the bathroom...all we're asking for you to do is open your ears and your heart and let God remind you fresh and anew that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.


And finally, there isn't a font size large enough for me to type, THANK YOU in to express even half the amount of thanks in our hearts. The prayers and gifts of every single person matters...seriously...every time we see that someone gave, we get excited. Every time someone sends us an encouraging email, card, phone call...our spirits are lifted. We love every single one of you, whether we know you or not, or whether we've met you or not. We're praying for you as well, individuals, pastors, churches. This isn't a one way street where you bless and pray for us and that's it. Share your needs with us as we share ours with you. That's how it's supposed to work.

Holy cow! I gotta get to bed. Thanks for giving us your attention as I know this post is rather long and I'm guessing you probably had to stop for a meal somewhere in here.

God bless you all, and we love you!

Jason & Lindsey