Soon to be multiplying disciples and churches in Japan
Hello, <<First Name>>!
Thanks for opening up this letter! We work hard on these in order to keep our prayer and financial partners as up-to-date as possible in the hopes that many will join in praying specific and bold prayers with us. We are blessed by your support, and we hope that you are mutually blessed by the relationship that God is building through communication and prayer.
Bridges News
Throughout April we spoke at all three middle schools and the high school about God's mission and our part in it. Abigail shared her story of how she was baptized as a kid but didn't yet have a deep understanding of what the Gospel or the good news is; baptism simply seemed like the expected thing for her to do. In fact, her young understanding of following Jesus consisted of following The Rules: everything she was and wasn't expected to do. (Don't we all fall into that trap so easily?) It wasn't until later that she realized that following Jesus isn't about doing — or not doing — but being. Being and abiding in relationship with Jesus has a transformational power that following rules just doesn't have. That's why Paul wrote, "When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children." (Galatians 4:4-5, NLT)
Abigail also shared about how God told her that she would be a missionary who helped people in far-off lands as early as the 7th grade. (The same age as many of our students!) This, along with God's irresistible pull on Josh to work in ministry, is what has led us to our desire to make disciples in Japan. Josh connected this personal mission with God's mission as a whole, which culminates in Revelation 21:3-5:
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true."
God's reign on this earth is coming, and he will set to rights all that sin and death have destroyed. For far too long Satan has enjoyed using humans in his mission to steal, kill, and destroy. The good news is that God will ultimately use his people to restore and heal our world as we increasingly grow and invite others in obedience to Jesus, the King of kings. God will accomplish his mission; his enemy will not. This is the good news that we love and believe. It's the good news that we currently share with our Bridges students, and it's what we'll continue to share once we get to Japan.
Support-Raising and Travel News
Our support is still growing steadily. As you can see in our charts below, our one-time startup fund is almost totally raised! Each month our faithful supporters have continued to give, and since our current expenses are low we've been able to save almost all of these funds for our upcoming short trip and big move. Once these one-time expenses are accounted for, we can begin relying more on our monthly support while we dedicate more time and travel to growing our support base.
On Japan's side, not much changed in the past month in terms of travel restrictions. We are still hopeful that Japan will open to tourist and missionary visas by the summer. On another note, we would do well to join together in corporate prayer over Japan and stability in Asia. We recently received alerts that North Korea has been testing more ballistic missiles that have dropped into the ocean near Japan. Meanwhile, tension has inflamed in Okinawa over increases in its fortification and weaponry (against the desire of many citizens) in order to prepare for the possibility of war in Asia. These are complex issues and conflicts that should be discussed and prayed for with care. We want to share these with you not to add to the list of news stories that make you anxious (there's enough of that going around), but to encourage prayer that can ground us in a greater reality. We find that prayer can both increase our passion and concern for the people and events in our world while simultaneously replacing our anxieties and fears with peace and confidence. Jesus said, after all, "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." (Mark 13:7) Let us take care not to let sensationalism and fear send us running in the direction opposite of Jesus' own poise and assurance.
With that in mind, please pray that in the midst of tensions, conflicts, and rumors of wars Jesus' followers in Asia would embody the peace of Christ while bearing up and persevering through suffering just as Jesus did.
(Tangentially, if you find news and current-events to be anxiety inducing, we have really been enjoying the Pour Over. It's a thrice-weekly email/podcast that aims to share the news in a brief, unbiased way, all while keeping a Christ- and eternity-centered focus. We find it to be a breath of fresh air compared to intaking news on social media or TV. If this sounds like something that would interest you, check out the Pour Over here.)
Disciple-Making Tool of the Month
Sharing our stories can be a powerful and effective way to scatter the good news about Jesus among people who need to hear it. The Gospel accounts are full of people who shared their stories of Jesus' impact on their lives with others to great effect. Consider the Samaritan woman in John 5, the former demoniac in Mark 5, and the man healed from blindness in John 9. Each of these people had an encounter with Jesus that changed them; each of them had a story to tell. Their experiences are preserved in scripture both as an illumination of who Jesus is and as an example of how we should respond when he changes us.
Many know what it means to share their story or "testimony" of how Jesus has changed their life, but few know how. Where do we begin? How much detail do we share? What results should we expect? Since every person's story is different and each opportunity to share is unique, these questions can't be easily answered. However, we've learned from others and from scripture that there are a few guidelines that can help us begin sharing our stories.
1. Be honest. To underplay or to exaggerate elements of your story would be disingenuous and may even empty the cross of its power (see 1 Corinthians 1-2). We don't want someone to accept Jesus based on a sensational story or experience, but we do want them to consider who Jesus is and what he could do in their own lives. This can happen in response to an honest account of what he has done for us.
2. Be time-sensitive. The thought of sharing the story of one's own life and faith seems daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Many have found that they can share their stories in just a few minutes. This naturally involves beginning our story at a reasonable place (often before we met Jesus), sparing many details, and distilling the big picture down to the major things Jesus has done or is doing in our lives. In other words, what is different between your life before you met Jesus and after you started following him?
3. Be a listener. Listen to your conversation partner before and after you share your story. Ask them to share their story with you (everyone has one, whether or not we follow Jesus). If your story connects with theirs at any points, then try sharing in a way that's relatable to them. More than anything, listen to the Holy Spirit. Be open to what God might lead you to say, ask, or emphasize. He knows things that we don't!
4. Practice. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get better at it. Spend time thinking how you might tell your story and then practice with a few believers you trust. Ask for constructive feedback. (You may be surprised at what blesses others. Parts of our stories that we may be tempted to deemphasize might be the parts that others need to hear the most.) Finally, make a common practice of sharing your story with others you come into contact with. You will be surprised at how naturally this will come once your confidence grows through practice.
There are some really great benefits to sharing our stories. Firstly, it helps us and others let our guard down and relate to one another on a deeper level. People all over the world are starving for friendship and human connection, and vulnerably sharing what's important to us can help us build those much needed connections. Second, your story is hard to argue with. Many people push back against Jesus or the Bible, but a person's unique, honest story is in a different realm from argument and debate. Sure, there are those who are so strongly precommitted to opposing Christianity that they'll try to revise or interpret your story for you, but most people that we've shared with have been respectful or even blessed in response.
If you'd like more practical tips on how to share your story, click here.
Thank you again for reading, supporting, and praying!
(Below are charts with our current support raising progress.)
Note: We count all of our newsletter subscribers as prayer partners. We hope you will help us pray!
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death..."
Revelation 12:10-11
Pray with us
Pray that Japan would open to tourists and missionaries by the summer!
Please pray for the fruitful ministry happening with kids through Bridges. Pray for those who are starting their journeys as students of Jesus: Marley, Paytan, Alexis, Katrell, Bennett, Lucas, and more to come.
Ask God to send us support and prayer partners and to lead us to individuals who have a heart for the unreached.
Please continually pray that God would soften the hearts of Japanese people to hearing the good news about Jesus.
Pray for the team and local believers already in Ishinomaki. We want to see a disciple multiplying movement begin!
Please continue to pray for Da'Nayzia and her family as they seek God's help through treatments and recovery. Pray that God would refine them and make them strong through suffering just like Jesus.
Pray over the rising tensions in Asia and ask God to strengthen the love, resolve, and testimony of our brothers and sisters there.
Praise with us
We thank God for our financial partners who have given this month!
We are so thankful for the churches, families, and individuals who keep us and our mission in their prayers continually!
Thank God for the work he is doing at Bridges Outreach with our middle schoolers. Pray that it continues.
We thank God for our recent coaching sessions on "leaving well" and entering the field with good goals and expectations. We are thankful to be part of an organization that provides help and resources like this.
From the President of Team Expansion
The Under-Appreciated Value of Faithfulness
Change. It seems that it's the only constant. Not so with our God. Hebrews 13:8 states that, "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." James 1:17 describes "The Father of the heavenly lights" as one "who does not change like shifting shadows." When it comes to "heavenly lights," God is in a universe by Himself. Remember the old hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness?" We are essentially quoting James 1:17 when we sing, "There is no shadow of turning with thee." As an organization, we're so thankful for faithful partners who empower our work. As Great Commission workers, may we acquire the fire of His faithful character in all that we do for Him and for the unreached. In an epoch of change, let's steel our character so that we can remain faithful no matter the cost. Thank you Lord for your example of faithfulness!
Doug Lucas
President, Team Expansion
Financial Update
Beginning Balance
$14,756.42
Total Income: $3,145.36
Churches: $1,300
Individuals: $745.36
Total Expenses: $914.54
Salary: $600.00
WePay Fees: $19.68
Mission Share: $294.86
Ending Balance
$16,987.24
CONTACT US
THE MEADOWS
5780 Coonhunter Road
Logansport, IN, 46947
ameadows@teamexpansion.org
jmeadows@teamexpansion.org
SUPPORT US
Send checks to:
Team Expansion
4112 Old Routt Rd
Louisville, KY, 40299
Attn: Account # 1205
Write checks to Team Expansion. Do not include our name on checks. Write the account number in the memo line.
Doug Lucas
