I'm no longer in Montana, but here's what happened in the summer of '09.
What's going on in Montana?
my assignment
View of Missoula.
If you don't know the details, I am a Nehemiah intern and NAMB Summer Missionary in Missoula, Montana serving with Convergence Ministries. The church planter was my pastor at home in Northern Michigan for 3 years before moving to Montana, and this is the same group I worked with last summer.
So far this summer has been AMAZING! I am learning tons of new things about church planting and getting to see God do some amazing things in the church. For example, God is bringing us people from all over the country to help - not because they like Montana but because they can tell God is getting ready to do something huge here!
So far this summer has been AMAZING! I am learning tons of new things about church planting and getting to see God do some amazing things in the church. For example, God is bringing us people from all over the country to help - not because they like Montana but because they can tell God is getting ready to do something huge here!
my main task
Zach, Josh, Drew, Me, Eric, Megan, Cassie, Sarah, and Emily. The e3 Summer Missionaries!
This summer, I a serving as a missions coordinator for Convergence Ministries. This means that I get put in charge of anyone who comes to volunteer for e3. Primarily, this is leading, coordinating, and pouring my life into the 8 other Summer Missionaries, but also the short-term mission teams who come out to help us prepare for launch (Sept 2nd).
Serving as a leader is definitely showing me how much I really need to rely on God. All too often I get myself into trouble by playing god in my own life - but it is hard to play god in 20 people's life. Pray that I trust in Him and let God be God!
But there is such a reward in seeing people grow and love the Gospel even more and knowing I had a very small part in that. I am especially seeing growth in the group of summer missionaries overcoming different things and loving God more and more each day.
Serving as a leader is definitely showing me how much I really need to rely on God. All too often I get myself into trouble by playing god in my own life - but it is hard to play god in 20 people's life. Pray that I trust in Him and let God be God!
But there is such a reward in seeing people grow and love the Gospel even more and knowing I had a very small part in that. I am especially seeing growth in the group of summer missionaries overcoming different things and loving God more and more each day.
how can i pray?
For me - discerning mind for leading others; dependence on God instead of myself; overcome personal fears and stay outside my comfort zone
For e3 - people would come and dive in with the church; Successful launch Sept. 2nd; Funds; Workers
For summer missionaries - God would use us in unbelievable ways; we would grow spiritually; we would be more in love w/ God daily; Relationships stay friendly.
For e3 - people would come and dive in with the church; Successful launch Sept. 2nd; Funds; Workers
For summer missionaries - God would use us in unbelievable ways; we would grow spiritually; we would be more in love w/ God daily; Relationships stay friendly.
links
about e3
FYI - I'm using the names e3 and Convergence Ministries as the same thing, mostly because they are.
The term "Convergence" - meaning to bring things together, has 3 e's in it...so does the vision. We exist to see people:
encounter God,
experience Community, and
engage Culture. Check out the website for more info!
The term "Convergence" - meaning to bring things together, has 3 e's in it...so does the vision. We exist to see people:
encounter God,
experience Community, and
engage Culture. Check out the website for more info!
what's happened so far?
washing a police vehicle
So far, we have had 3 mission teams out here. The first one from Easthaven in Kalispell, MT, installed carpet in the office building. The second, from Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN, did a lot of community service and outreach. We washed police cars, served at a homeless and children's shelter, passed out free newspapers, and did a free car wash. Their leader was Bob Carlton, who is a pretty big deal in the church planting world, so I was very excited to work with him. Last week, we had a group from First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Hendersonville, TN, where Ed Stetzer is the interim pastor. They also did a lot of community service, with a few variations such as working on facilities for a day and having some time downtown Missoula to have intentional conversations with people to invite them to get involved with both God and Convergence Ministries.
all work and no play?
Don't get the wrong idea, It's not all work here. Even though the work is fun (I made an office for myself in the parking lot while I was supposed to be cleaning the garage...), we are getting to see the sights of Montana. On Friday we got to go to Glacier National Park. Let me tell you, it was AMAZING! There are some pictures over on the "photos" page on the left. Also, we've been to the National Bison Range where we saw elk, mule deer, white tail deer, hundreds of bison, 6 bears, antelopes, skunks, squirrels, and tons of birds.
We had fun shooting guns in the rural mountains and went to Idaho one day. Also, we have 9 college students and a 1984 Plymouth van - we can make our own fun!
We had fun shooting guns in the rural mountains and went to Idaho one day. Also, we have 9 college students and a 1984 Plymouth van - we can make our own fun!