I Will Go

One of the most exciting parts of deputation is getting to visit so many different churches.  Even more, for me, is getting to preach at so many different churches.  It gets really exciting when God uses me to reach someone else.  We were in a missions conference in Michigan and I had the opportunity to preach on Thursday night.  I shared our burden and call and then challenged the people to consider whether or not God might be calling them to "GO."  Later that night, the pastor approached me with a young, college-age girl.  He introduced me to her and went on to say that after my message, she surrendered her life to missions.  She shared her story and I could hear her sincerity and passion.  How refreshing to see this young person so willing and excited to go.  How humbling to know that God chose to use me to call her.

Never Forget

We will never forget Bowie, Texas.  We were invited to a missions conference at a church in Bowie the first week of March 2009.  It was just three weeks before Tyler's 3rd birthday.  We had tried to potty-train Tyler but were getting nowhere and had given up all hope.  We pulled into Bowie on a Wednesday afternoon and checked into the hotel.  As we were unloading the truck, we were shocked to hear Tyler say, "I need to use the potty!"  He wasn't lying.  Still dry, he marched into the bathroom and went potty!!  Skeptical, we insisted that he continue wearing a diaper despite his stern proclamation, "I want to wear big boy underwears."  The next morning, he was dry again and once again used the potty.  Against better judgement, we agreed to let him wear "big boy underwears."  All weekend, he successfully used the potty.  I am not sure what it was about Bowie, Texas but Tyler just decided it was time for him to grow up.  We...at least Sheri and I...will never forget!

dep-u-ta-tion

noun

a group of people appointed to undertake a mission or take part in a formal process on behalf of a larger group.

what it means for us

the process by which an approved BBFI missionary raises the financial support needed to conduct ministry in the country to which God has called them.

what it entails

we travel all over the US visiting churches and presenting our ministry in hopes that they will agree to partner with us financially (usually monthly)

the truth

we experience a lot of different things while on deputation.  Some are exciting, some encouraging and some....not so great.  Through it all, we get a lot of stories to share.

This blog is where we will share those stories with you.  Most people have no idea what a missionary goes through on deputation so we are going to try and help you understand just some of the things we experience.  A lot of the stories we share will be how God has blessed or what great things we've experienced but not all our experiences have been good.  We do not in anyway want you to think we are complaining or looking for sympathy...we just want to share.

We understand the need for this process and we are grateful for the opportunity God has given us to go through deputation together as a family.  We hope you will enjoy hearing our stories; be encouraged by our great experiences and learn how to better pray for missionaries through our difficult ones.  

This is Deputation.