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Susan's Story - Mobilizing Believers
My vision for God’s global mission began when, as a child, I read about Corrie Ten Boom. Now, as a redeemed person with an eternal purpose, I want people from all nations and circumstances to know God’s love, goodness and grace. While building friendships with immigrants and refugees in Lincoln, I mobilize other believers to understand God’s desire that we will allow ourselves to be used by Him to bring Him glory every day through our actions locally or internationally.
In terms of heart preparation, my husband, Rich, and I have been praying for and learning about many unreached people groups since Berean adopted a Southeast Asia group in 2000. Desiring to see the Lord receive honor and glory from all nations, Rich and I have found opportunities to be salt and light to the 15,000 internationals in the city. Additionally, we were involved in bringing the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course to Lincoln. In so doing, we became senders by financially and prayerfully supporting missions in multiple organizations.
Being involved in a global harvest for God’s Kingdom reminds me that I am His citizen first. My priority is not to build my own personal kingdom, but to give Him glory through my life.
John' Story - Creating Strategies
My wife, Dee Ann, and I first engaged in the short-cycle church-planting mission by participating in Lincoln Berean’s 2008 Ultimate Spring Break trip to Paris. On this trip I discovered that the number of people sharing Christ in Paris was seemingly much smaller as compared to those sharing in America. In response to this, I had to ask myself, “If we don’t help plant churches, who will?”
When members of the Paris short-cycle church planting team were asked what type of support they received from their home church, they said they felt very disconnected to their home body and didn’t receive full support. This struck a chord with me and, as a result, I felt led to join a team of Bereans to create the best “sending” church strategies, so that none of those that go would lack any resources for Kingdom building.
I believe that unreached people don’t get the opportunity to hear the gospel unless there are people on the home front praying and funding those in the field. A sender can participate in any of the following ways: shepherding, prayer coordination, communications, local cross-cultural outreach, recruitment, education and training. Most importantly, know that the call to serve as a sender is just as vibrant as the call of those who go - the reward will be equal according to each one’s faithfulness.
Stacey's Story - Filling Their Cups
I originally became involved with missions at Berean when a friend in my LifeGroup invited missionaries on furlough to visit during our meeting. Through this experience, I was able to get acquainted with the missionaries on a personal level - this was key to understanding and supporting missions. I used to believe missionaries only came from a lineage of missionaries with a Christian background, but I've realized that missionaries are simply ordinary folks listening to God's call, living His love for all people, and willing to say "yes" to the next step.
Because I believe that I'm called to be a sender, I want to take care of missionaries' real needs by praying, mailing them care packages, sending notes and emailing. I also encourage them through financial support. I continue to form more intimate relationships with missionaries so that I can encourage them whether they're in the field or at home on furlough. As a sender I have the opportunity to employ my gifts from my nation to make a difference for missionaries serving in nations across the globe.
It's exciting to see God working so obviously in people's hearts. He wants everyone to be involved - that is what is exciting. With such a sizable church body at Berean, we could send care packages on a regular basis. Our task as the home body is to fill and refill their cups with God's love, so that they may pour out His love to the lost.
GET INVOLVED!
Contact Sharon, or 483-6512 to learn more about the sending opportunities.
