Back in the States

Our apologies for not writing.  Much has been happening in our life and in response to some changes in Mozambique, a season of prayer, and an answer to prayer we could not deny, we have returned to the United States.  We had five wonderful years associated with the Mozambique Church Multiplication work but our time in Mozambique has concluded.  It is not what we had expected or planned for, but at the same time, we totally accept this change in direction.

As we noted in our recent email letter, we celebrate the 120 plus churches planted during the five years we were a part of the Village Church Planting (VCP) program in Mozambique.  We rejoice in the 15,000 decisions for Christ coming through that ministry - it was amazing and it was an honor and a privilege to have had a small part in what He is doing in Mozambique.  In March we have 30 village church pastors graduating from the VCP program with others graduating in August.  Our VCP trainers will be moving into new areas under the auspices of the National Church as the cycle of Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave comes to a close for us.

Our national church leaders had a good-bye dinner for us at the seminary before we left, where we were able to share memories with each other.  It was a tearful time for all of us as we have been a part of their lives the last five years; in their homes, praying over their struggles, participating in weddings, funerals, birthday parties, and life in general.  We love them so and it was clear that they loved us.  We have gone knowing full well that they have taught us so much more than we ever brought to them and we rejoice in how God has moved in their lives.  We have learned so much, but the things we have learned were not always the things we expected to learn but rather those things God in His sovereignty knew we needed to learn.  He is good all the time. 

Ann teaching a couple how to monitor their blood pressure

What honored us the most was when the church leaders said that what made us different was that with us they experienced "freedom and liberty".  We felt such joy at that statement - that the trials and tribulations were worth it.  As with our own children - our desire was always to foster independence, not dependence.  We didn't have all the answers but we all had the same Father, who did!  We must seek God alone for the solutions to our difficulties.

Christianity is not a list of rules that you must follow to prove yourself worthy in some fashion.  The Bible teaches us that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, none of us is righteous, no not one….It is only through His Grace that we are saved, not of works, least any of us might boast.  If it is anything except unmerited favor (Grace), then we would have no hope at all and what we believe would be little more than a clever system of rules that allow some to lord it over others, as the scribes and pharisees did in Jesus‘ time and were called out by him for it.

Yes, our precious church leaders walk with God and hear His voice and who are we to presume we have the answers for their lives?  We can pray together and seek His face together but His counsel will always exceed ours, always.  We firmly believe in the OMS stated vision - to train nationals to evanglize their own country; to equip and release leaders; to plant churches.  We know we leave this vision in the capable hands of the national church leaders.  We remain passionate about the Into-Africa project method for planting church throughout Africa - a model that has generated over 11,000 churches in 10 years.

We have been offered positions in a number of places including other missions, the Into-Africa project, and in our churches.  We are praying over all of this, seeking to know what He would have us do next.   We have targeted the end of the month as the date by which we hope to have clarity as to our ‘what next’.  To that end, we head for OMS headquarters in the morning to review some of the opportunities in front of us.

Thank you for standing with us for this time - we will get back to you very soon on the ‘what next’.  He is in control.

May God continue to bless the church and His work in Mozambique and all those who work to further the gospel in this beautiful country.  May He also bless the seminary students and staff in their new term which began today.

We are currently in Knoxville, Tennessee where one of our daughters lives.  Today we were investigating moving into an apartment - next door to the first apartment we lived in as husband and wife in 1975.  It is a strange world and there is nothing new under the sun.

Blessings all.

“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”  Exodus 15:11