“On the road again …” – These are the first words of Willie Nelson’s celebrated hit, and it looks like it will be the theme song for Cynthia and me in the months ahead. I am renewing my recruitment travels with TeachBeyond and we are preparing for going to France and Germany this summer (see Prayer Items). I just returned after spending several days in the Pacific Northwest at the Mission Connexion, held at Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, WA, followed by a day at George Fox University.
The Mission Connexion
- Encouraging Seminar – I gave a seminar of the effectiveness of education as a platform for ministry. Over 40 people attended and we were all crammed in a small Sunday school for 5th graders. A number of the attendees spoke to me afterwards and from a quick scan of the evaluations, they gave high marks. That meant a lot.
- Good Conversations – I had great conversations with about 15 people of all ages who expressed an interest in serving overseas and wanted to know more about the opportunities with TeachBeyond. I also spent one evening with Jamison and Jennifer Loop whom I met last year in Portland, who have recently been appointed by TeachBeyond, and who are scheduled to serve at BFA in the near future. A special thanks to Heather Marsh, former BFA staff member, who came by and assisted in sharing about mission’s life overseas.
- A Small World – When I arrived a young gal came up and gave me a big hug. That’s quite a welcome! It so happens that this young lady, Liz, was a former student at the Black Forest Academy in Germany and was one of Cynthia’s students! She is now serving with another mission organization and helps churches develop short-term teams for all over the world. We reminisced about BFA and the many students we know. What a delightful surprise.
- Great Hosts – While in Portland I stayed with close friends, Roger and Christy, whom Cynthia and I have known for many years. They kindly treated me to a cozy bed, great meals, and wonderful fellowship. They made my time in Portland relaxing and productive.
George Fox University
After Mission Connexion, I traveled to Newberg and participated with another 30 agencies in a missions conference. Jon Marshall, one of the current BFA recruiters who flew in from Germany, joined me at George Fox and set up an additional booth for BFA. We spoke to dozens of students about service opportunities at BFA and at other schools around the world. It was an encouraging and productive day.
Please pray for the follow-up with these many individuals. I wish I could say all will come with TeachBeyond and serve. That would be incredible. However, we trust that God will lead in people’s hearts to follow Him in service. Thanks for your prayers.
Proud of a Poet
