A Worshipful Heart

Building a Team

In 2009 I took a huge leap of faith, resigning from my long held staff position as a worship pastor and beginning this adventure called the Give Worship Project. I began traveling to many different countries to help train pastors and church leaders in the area of worship discipleship and the spiritual life of a leader. And what a ride it's been!

What I didn't anticipate was how glorious it would be on one hand and how utterly lonely it would be on the other hand. I had worked as a part of teams as a worship pastor. I was a member of a staff team and of course I had the worship and creative arts teams. I NEVER worked alone. Now I did so alot of the time. And while I have many faithful friends who pray for me, I  realized I needed to build a strong team of friends who would partner with me in ministry. I needed a team.

So as I begin this next phase of ministry as a staff member with e3 Partners, I know that my first priority is to build this team. Much of my work will be similar to what I've done for the past two years, so I know how important it will be to have this team of supporters.

That's where you come in....

I need you!

1. I need a solid team of prayer warriors that not only receives periodic updates, but takes the initiative to pray for me and WITH me. I need a team of people who will seek God on my behalf and on behalf of the people I work with and serve around the world. I need people who will come pray WITH me, who will send prayers with me on trips, etc. so that I feel encouraged and strong as I travel and minister. I need a wall of protection provided by the prayers of godly women and men! And I need a team that will celebrate and rejoice with me as I return home!

2. I also need a team that will financially partner with me each and every month, supporting the ministry I do and supporting me as I do ministry. Raising this team of financial partners is one of my most important jobs as I begin my life as a missionary with e3 Partners - because without them, I cannot go. I cannot be free to devote my time to mission work and ministry. And I'm so close to raising this team of supporters.

I only need $370 more committed per month - and any amount helps! I have supporters that give amounts anywhere from $25  - $300 month! It all helps! This support gives me a firm foundation as I launch out into this new era of ministry.

It's easy to give and set up a recurring, tax-deductible gift. 

Just go to my staff page -  www.e3partners.org/janowen and click on the donate button!

Thank you for reading! I hope you'll prayerfully consider being a part of my team!

 

I Challenge You to Read! (A Book List for 2012)

I am an avid reader. I am happiest with a stack of books on my nightstand - or now, a bunch of unread books on my Kindle. Books inspire me - whether they be fiction or non-fiction, autobiographies or history. I love to read and I learn so much from reading. 

Every once in a while a book comes along that doesn't JUST inspire, it CHALLENGES me. It makes me think. It gives me new ideas to ponder. It upsets me, even. In the end, God uses these writings to help me grow. 

So here is my recommended reading list for you for 2012....I hope you'll be challenged as well: 

1. The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice by Mark Labberton - This book sent me on a journey. An uncomfortable journey at that. As a worship pastor and a regular church attender this book challenged me to realize that as I worship God, my heart must begin to hurt for what hurts him. I must begin to love what he loves. I must become concerned about more than my own church even. I'd say that reading this book was one of the catalysts for starting the Give Worship Project. 

2. Community 101: Reclaiming the Local Church as a Community of Oneness by Gilbert Bilezikian - My favorite verse about community has always been John 13:35, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." This verse constantly challenges me and gives me hope and - on some days - makes me sad because I think we do such a bad job of truly loving one another. Dr. B, as he is affectionately known, does a masterful job in discussing and challenging us to true Biblical community and oneness as the Body of Christ. And since I have the honor of having spent time personally with the author I can tell you that he lives what he writes!

3. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt - This book will simply turn your world upside down. That's about all I can say. 

4. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn - After you read this book, ignorance will no longer be an excuse. You'll be horrified, terrified and in tears - all in the first chapter. But yet you will see moments of hope - but you'll have your eyes opened wider than you might like! If you enjoy a safe, comfortable existence, it's time to find out how the most oppressed people in the world live - women in the eastern half of the world. 

5. As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda by Catherine Claire Larson - I read this book after my first visit to Rwanda, where stories of neighbors killing neighbors were fresh on my mind. I also read it in the middle of my own journey to forgive. It was a rear-kicking account of TRUE stories of forgiveness and reconciliation in the wake of a genocide that left almost a million people dead in just 100 days. There are brilliant chapters interspersed that teach on Biblical forgiveness and reconciliation - this would be a great read for a small group.

6. Plan B: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? by Pete Wilson - Pete Wilson is one of my favorite pastors. He's funny, kind, challenging and humble. And I'm glad to call him a friend in ministry. Reading this book was very healing for me in the midst of my own "Plan B" experience. I might read it again this year!

There you have it. My recommendations for your reading in 2012. Make it count!

**Disclaimer: Don't read these books if you don't want to be changed!**

What book has really challenged you? What would you recommend that others read?

Happy Birthday to Me! (Thoughts on my 46th Birthday)

Yes, today is my birthday. My 46th birthday. I know that alot of people don't want to admit their age but I'm proud of every year!

And I love to celebrate my birthday. To rejoice in another year of life. To spend a day doing something fun, taking a break from "normal" to go out and wander and give myself a little space to think and look back and to give thanks for another year of LIFE. To be amazed that God loves me and some pretty special people do too. To spend a few moments acknowledging the fact that God made ME and he made ME on purpose and he made ME as I am - with my looks, my personality, my gifts and talents and abilities.

What a wonder it is to actually celebrate that! As I get older, this becomes more and more important to me - that I become at peace with myself and who I am and understand how God can use even me. I am just now becoming accepting of myself. I spent years fighting who I was and lamenting "me"- always wanting to be something I am not - longing to be more beautiful, more talented, quieter, less sensitive, whatever! It's taken me at LEAST 46 years to be able to say with the psalmist David,

"I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14)

My birthday gives me a day every year to remember this, a truth that is sometimes hard to keep sight of in the grind - and disappointments - of daily life. We are so often told what we "should" be like - or shouldn't be like -  that we often fail to see the beauty in how God created each one of us. Our quirkiness and individuality and unique abilities and perspectives show what an astoundingly creative God we have. 

So today is my birthday. And today I will stop to thank God that I am loved. I will stop and remember that I AM special, no matter what others tell me. I will be glad that - somehow - God uses me. 

Me! An opinionated, creative, tender-hearted, sensitive, talkative woman from Alabama who thinks too deeply, feels everything to the core of my being, and dreams big dreams and loves people. 

Happy Birthday to me!

(Since today is my birthday, leave a comment with one (nice!) word you'd use to describe me! That will be a fun gift!) 

One Word 2012: Discipline

    As I begin this new year of life - a new calendar year and a literal new year of life as my birthday comes on January 3rd right at the beginning of the year - I'm doing alot of thinking. I've felt a bit at lose ends since quitting my very daily job as worship pastor in 2009 to do mission work. I've felt like I was floating along, doing periodic mission trips but feeling no true purpose in my day to day life. This led to moments of acute depression and a feeling that my life was literally passing me by and nothing I did mattered. I felt paralyzed.

In the fall of this year I had a cancer scare. It ended up being benign but just thinking of the possibility of having a fatal illness made me really think of what I wanted in life - of what was important. I knew some things had to change.....

So as I approached 2012 , I resolved to take steps forward. I have recognized that I have to take charge of my life instead of waiting for things to "happen". I knew I had to take steps of action based on what I really want in my life and what I feel God has called me to do.

So I applied to go back to college, signed up for a weight loss and exercise program and made my list of goals for 2012 - and to do all this I will need one thing I struggle with. I will need

DISCIPLINE 

Discipline is simply an activity or regimen that improves a skill, the act of training.

So that is my word for 2012 - Discipline. I pray for the discipline to get up with purpose each morning and to make each day count. I pray for the discipline to take steps forward even when I feel that step might not matter to anyone but me. 

Because I feel like God is preparing me for something - and it will require my disciplined obedience in this season of my life. 

I will need all the encouragement I can get so please pray for me! 

JoePa: A Leadership Lesson Learned

Ever since I saw the news on Saturday of the sex abuse scandal at Penn State, I've followed this story closely. And I've followed it with a heavy heart. How could we not? It's a story that should make our hearts heavy, full of grief that such a thing could ever happen. 

As a minister, I've had to deal with my share of difficult issues. And I know I have not always dealt with them well or with as much wisdom as I should have. I tried, Lord knows I tried, but I am sure that along the way I left failures on the way side. I'm sure there were times I avoided issues that I should have dealt with in a more head-on manner.

And that's why Joe Paterno's resignation today scares me to death. 

I am certain that it never occurred to him eleven years ago that something he failed to do would cause the end of his career as a football coaching legend. Perhaps he felt cleared of it because he reported it to his superiors. But we have to wonder.... Did he think about it again? Did it ever bother him? Did he give it more thought? Did he intend to keep it quiet? We'll never know. That's between Joe and God. 

But we do know this. His failure to act in a thorough manner in a difficult and embarassing situation in the past cost him his job today. Whatever his motives or lack of motives may have been, today he pays the price of not fully living up to his responsibilities in his role as a leader. This is where leaders in the Body of Christ can learn from JoePa's mistake. 

As I've read about this controversy again and again, what I've noticed is that most people believe that he had a moral obligation as a human being to notify the policy, child welfare services, etc. and to make sure action was taken and children were protected. They believe he had a moral obligation to follow through.

Most feel that what he did was simply not enough.

So take this as a warning pastors, board members, elders - many times we are faced with difficult or even horrific situations that require our attention and action. And many times we get so concerned about the reputation of our church or ministry, that we fail to do what is thoroughly right. We protect our institutions to the detriment of those we are called to serve.  We spin the story. We punish the messenger. We ABUSE our power and authority by covering up the wrong doing or ignoring it all together and crushing accountability. We don't want to hear about things that are going to shake things up. And we take the easy road.......and instead of going to battle for those who are abused and suffering, we lock arms in defense of "our" ministry, "our" church, or even "our reputation" and "our brand".

May God have mercy on us. This is wrong. We have a greater obligation to PEOPLE, before God, than we do to institutions.

We see before us today a horrible example of where we  - and those we serve - could be in ten years if we are not vigilant and watchful. We see a great coach, a legend some would say, stepping down in disgrace. After serving for over 40 years at this place, his support eroded quickly when it was learned that he did not do what was thorougly right, as he should have in his position. And not only is he leaving under a cloud of disgrace, so many people were hurt as the result of his inaction. For many of them, their lives will never be the same. So many people hurt. And it could have been avoided. 

Today I remember back to days when I had to make some hard decisions, some hard choices. And I'm wondering, "Did I do enough?".

Rebellious

 When I was in fourth grade, we had a particularly cold day. The P.E. teacher told us that since it was so cold the boys would go out to play kickball and the girls would stay inside and jump rope.

This was ridiculous to me.

 I could not imagine spending a more boring hour than to jump rope and do those stick things. More than anything it was illogical to me. Instead, to my mind, the logical thing to do would have been to say "If you don't want to go out in the cold, you may stay inside and play games. If you want to go outside and play kickball, you may."

Since it made so little sense to me and because I really chaff when you tell me I cannot do something because I am a girl, I broke the rules. I went outside with the boys and played kickball. And I got a "B" in P.E. that six weeks for my little defiance and was made by my parents to apologize to my teacher. I - for almost the first time ever - got in trouble in school.

And if you want to know the truth, I'm proud of it. I'd do it again.

The truth is, I'm a little rebellious. According to who you talk to I'm a lot rebellious. Even though friends describe me this way, I actually think I'm acutely aware of the rules. I try to be respectful of them and of those in authority over me, but I have to admit it...

I don't always follow the rules.

Sometimes I hate the rules.

I believe some rules need to be challenged and broken.

By rules, I am not really referring to the law, but more how those around us generally might expect things to be done, such as the example above from my childhood. For some unknown reason, girls were expected to behave one way, boys another. We've all encountered these expectations from others. Sometimes they help guide our behavior in healthy ways. But in other instances they stifle us, keeping us in a false box, bringing a slow death to our souls. Because of this, some rules or expectations need to be challenged.

It's hard to be the one that challenges......

It's hard to be the one that always asks "why?" or sometimes, "why not?". It's hard to be a person that frequently challenges the status quo. It's hard to be the person that sometimes makes those around them acutely uncomfortable with their questions and pushing. It's hard to be the person that is never satisfied with "normal". 

I am just as uncomfortable with this aspect of "me" as anyone else. It's actually a painful - and lonely - part of my life sometimes.  I've sat in many a meeting and wished I could be the person WITHOUT an idea, or a question, or a challenge. For so many years, I longed to be quiet and "submissive", without an opinion.

Alas, that has never happened. (smile)

Despite all my lamentation, I do believe this is how God created me. He created me with a creative spirit, with a mind that loves to learn, with a heart that is open to new ideas and experiences. He created me with a desire to ask questions, to know, to seek out the best solution. To push. To pull. To expect more. And I believe He created me to not be satisfied with "normal". Above all, He called me to be myself for the glory of God and the sake of His Kingdom. 

What is a little piece of "you" that you are uncomfortable with? Are you a little rebellious?

 

 

 

 

 

I'm Telling the Truth

Have you ever had one of those days? Days that depression and anxiety seemed to loom over your head, settling over your heart like a cloud that won't lift? It can be hard to talk about this stuff honestly because a) we don't want to be a downer, b) we don't want to admit we're struggling and c) oftentimes those around us don't really want to hear it or we think they don't.

I was thinking of this today while I struggled. Publicly, I would only admit I needed a big hug.  Privately, to a couple of close friends that texted me, I admitted that it felt like the wheels were coming off the train.....and it scared me.

I have struggled with depression a few times in the past ten  or so years, usually following a difficult season of life or a traumatic event. At first I talked about it pretty openly, but after awhile, when it comes back, you think "Good grief. I'm tired of it. I'm sure everyone else is too. They're going to think I am totally weird.  Or weak . (yes, that has happened to me and it makes it hard to share ever again)  Honestly, I'm TIRED OF BEING REAL AND VULNERABLE."

 And so we pretend.

The problem, as I am coming to see it, is that when we hide it from others we are often times living in denial with ourselves as well. And the truth is that I've been living in a bit of denial for the past two years.

And none of us gets well, moves forward, or heals fully while living in denial. And all of us, whether we will admit it or not, need healing from the hurts and disappointments of life.

One of my favorite verses on the topic of mental and emotional health comes from Psalm 51:6:, "Behold, you delight in truth in the inmost being and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart."  You might understand it a little better if I were to remind you of the words of Jesus, "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:31-32)

Healing and growth all starts with telling the truth. First of all to ourselves, which might just be the most difficult step. 

And so, in hopes that it will encourage you to be truthful "in your inmost being" as well,  I'll admit .......

 - I am broken. There are places in my soul that the pain of life has left splintered, shattered and fearful.  Even though I wish it were not so, I will not hide this anymore. Hiding and pretending only prolongs the pain.

- I cannot fix myself. I am tired of pretending I can. This is a lie from Satan himself!

- I have more questions than I have answers. Yeah, it's an uncomfortable place to be.

 - I only have one answer - Jesus loves me and will never leave me. I'm gonna hold on to that and it might be all I have some days.

 - I will not pretend any longer. I will resist the temptation to creatively rearrange how I choose to present myself and my life in order to to make myself seem more together, more complete, more healed,  more popular, or more wise than I truly am. In other words, I'm not going to lie anymore....

 - I need Jesus and I need you. We were not meant to walk alone. I can't do it by myself. Gloriously, neither can you. We were meant to walk together. Somehow, even the love of our broken selves manage to help heal one another. It's a miracle I am thankful for.

 - I will seek help. I won't quit and give up. I won't let embarassment or pride get in my way. I will take care of myself, even when I feel weak for needing it.

I've rarely felt as bad as I have this week and in particular the last couple of nights and today. I felt hopeless, fearful, and completely undone - as if those deep places of brokenness were threatening to overwhelm me. I hate how this feels. I want to be whole. But I want to be real. 

So tonight I'm telling the truth. What's true about you? How can I pray for you?

 

PS - If you have never struggled you might not understand all of what I've written - be thankful and ask God to help you be compassionate and loving anyway to those around you that have......

 

I Am Most Famous For.....

I have been famous my entire life. At least in certain circles. It's been a common occurance for people to walk up  to - to this day - and say "You're Mrs. Johnson's daughter aren't you?" or "You're Coach Johnson's daughter! I had your dad for P.E.". (and generally people share how Daddy paddled them at some point as well!) 

This has happened ALL of my life and I'll admit that when I was growing up this made me crazy. As you might imagine, as the daughter of two teachers, I could never get away with anything! EVERYONE knew my parents. My mom taught in one little town, my Dad in another and between them both they had 2/3 of Marshall County covered. People ask me why I never got into much trouble. Well, this would be why. This - apparently - was God's protection plan for Jan as I grew up. 

I'm old enough to appreciate this now. And to appreciate my parents. As you may know, we're moving back to Marshall County, to the small town my Mom taught in for almost 20 years. We're moving right down the road from where I went to school and my Dad taught. And now I have enough maturity to appreciate the legacy my parents have. Now when people mention that my mom and dad taught them, I am proud because it's always a positive comment. They made a difference in the lives of those they taught and that's something I am extremely proud of. 

Today is my mother's 66th birthday. I'm excited that we'll spend the day together as family. I love being with my Mama. She is courageous and always learning, she's spunky and full of life (I've never seen her afraid to do anything!) and she genuinely cares about people. As I became an adult my life didn't go exactly as she might have wished but she has loved and supported Phil and I even as we got married at a young age and even made her a grandmother at the age of 39. She's been a wonderful grandmother to my kids and she's always, always supported me in everything I've done.

I've loved that through the years we've camped together, explored together, gone on mission trips together, whitewater rafted together, ziplined together, and - of course - cheered on the Tide together. I love that she's taught my kids to ski, to do geometry, to skate and many, many other things. I'd like to think I inherited certain important things from her - like a life long love of learning, a compassion and care for those around me, a sense of adventure and joy about life, a yearning to always explore, and the passion to always jump into life with both feet, a deeply passionate love for all things Bama, as well as the most important - a strong faith in God.

My beautiful Mama always brings life to the party. Happy Birthday Mama! 

 

An Honest Confession

Tonight I alarmed a few friends (and my mother!) when I posted on facebook that I felt like crying. I try not to do that but I was so frustrated, a little angry and - to be honest - alot scared tonight. And yes, it leaked out. 

As I was talking to a friend afterwards I admitted that it was several things that hit me all at once. I'd had a bit of an emotionally wearing week.  I'm worried about a few issues. Someone was very rude and talked about me and that hurt my feelings and made me angry. I felt a bit depressed. I was home alone feeling lonely and at loose ends. I was PMSing. But there was more. 

The thing that really bothered me tonight was that Steve Jobs died of cancer. At age 56. One of the absolute greatest innovators and creative minds of our time died early. With so much left to offer the world. And that brought a rush of emotion to the surface for me. I didn't realize it until after I posted on facebook, but I realized that alot of what I felt was fear and grief. Because I'm in the middle of my own health scare, Steve Jobs death hit very close to home for me.

Next Thursday I'll have surgery. Female stuff. It might be very routine or it might get more complicated. You see, one of the things they are trying to figure out is if I have uterine cancer. Tests show abnormalities, and we've not had a successful biopsy yet. All that will be determined Thursday.

Most days I try not to think about it. 90% of the time I'd tell you I'm not worried. Not looking forward to surgery but not dwelling on the "C" word and possibility. After all, I know many cancer survivors. My mom and dad are both cancer survivors. I have friends who are cancer survivors. I know in my head that cancer is not a death warrant. 

And just this morning I read from Hebrews 12:1-2, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father." After I read this, I prayed to God, asking for strength and endurance to handle with grace and courage whatever lay ahead of me. I felt confident. Strong. Encouraged. Able to handle even the diagnosis of cancer. 

Until I got home tonight and saw that Steve Jobs was dead of cancer at 56. Only eleven years older than me. And the thought entered my head and heart and would not leave it - 

"What if I only have eleven years left? Or five? Or two?" And I just felt utterly depressed and fearful. I don't want to leave my family, my children, my friends, my husband. I don't want my life to be cut short. 

And at the bottom of it all was this nagging fear that I had wasted opportunities. That my life had not counted for as much as I had wished. That I would not leave a legacy. That my life had not mattered. The idea haunted me.

About a year ago I sat in the hospital with a dear family friend. Her days were numbered and she knew it. She was one of the most godly women I've ever known and she touched so many lives through the years. Yet as she lay there, knowing time was short she clutched at my hand and in tears said "I just hope I did all God wanted me to do." It's a hope we all have - we long for our one life to matter deeply.

That's my hope tonight. That my one life will matter in deep ways. That I will not let fear, pain and procrastination win the day but that I'd take chances today, that I'd step out in faith today, that I'd love deeply today, that I'd forgive today, that I'd cherish people today, that I'd give of myself today. That I'd jump into life with both feet - today.

Steve Jobs shared these now famous words about his impending death: 

Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

So here we go. Let's not wait. Let's live life fully today......

Calendar of Prayer for Rwanda

Thank you so much for loving me enough to pray! Rwanda is 7 house ahead of CST so PRAY AHEAD OF TIME! If you'd like to send an encouraging text, send to 256-348-5174 and include your name!

Here's a day by day prayer calendar to help you know what's going on and how to pray:

Tuesday, Sept. 13 - My last day at home! My goal and hope is to have a quiet, prayerful day on this day. I need all errands to be run, all laundry and housework to be finished. I want this to mainly be a day that I can pray and rest in the Lord, seeking him as I leave to minister. I want to hear His voice on this day. Begin to pray for all who will hear the Gospel in the coming week and may they see Christ as their Redeemer!

Wednesday, Sept. 14 - Begin travel to Rwanda. Mary Wagner and I head out at 1:30 pm from Huntsville to begin making our way towards Rwanda. We fly to D.C. then on to Brussels. Please pray for rest as we travel, for no travel glitches, and for safety and peace of mind. Continue to pray that many will believe and trust Christ as Lord. Pray even for divine appointments on the plane to share the Gospel.

Thursday, Sept. 15 - Travel and Arrival in Rwanda! We fly from Brussels to Kigali on this day, arriving in the capital of Rwanda around 7:00 pm.  Pray for the ability to rest on the flight, for travel arrangements to work smoothly and for divine appointments on the flights. Pray that the Lord would grant that many repent of their sins and LIVE and new life in Christ Jesus!

Friday, Sept. 16 - A WORSHIPFUL LIFE Conference will be this day and the rest of our team will leave for Rwanda. We will again meet with over 200 pastors and church leaders to share about how to live "A Worshipful Life". Please pray for open hearts and spirits and for the Holy Spirit to rain down upon us! Pray for me to teach with clarity and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Pray for Anna Kayasinga, who will guide the conference, lead worship and translate (this means co-teach!) for me. Pray for it to be a restful, encouraging day for the Pastors especially and that all will hear the voice of the Lord. As I will have NOT adapted to Rwanda time yet, pray for mental clarity and STAMINA as I teach all day. Continue to pray for those who will hear the Gospel - that they would be convicted of their sin, confess their sin and repent of it and BELIEVE on Jesus!

Saturday, Sept. 17 - Mary and I have a free day! We have never had this before! We are planning to go shopping and rest on this day. On this day the team will arrive from the USA so pray for their safety as they travel and for their flights to be on time. Pray for a good night's rest for all of us and  a peaceful day for Mary and I. Continue to pray for all hearts that will hear the Gospel. Pray that each new church plant will be provided a person of peace that will open their home to the church and community.

Sunday, Sept. 18 - Worship Together and Travel to Gisenyi. We will worship together in the morning, then travel four hours to the town of Gisenyi, where we will be staying. Pray for refreshment and empowerment as we worship. Pray for safety as we travel and NO CAR TROUBLE! Pray for us to hear the voice of the Lord as we prepare for planting new churches Monday morning! Pray for our leaders in Rwanda - Anna, Asnath, Alex, Mike and Mary - for wisdom and discernment and courage to do all that is needed.

Monday, Sept. 19 - We divide up into teams and go to our villages to plant 9 churches in Rwanda and the Congo. Pray for clarity of mind, and for God to open doors in these villages. Pray for peace to reign so that the Gospel may go forth. Pray against the powers of darkness and pray for new believers in Christ Jesus. Pray for protection against physical illness.

Tuesday, Sept. 20 - We continue with our efforts to evangelize and plant churches in the villages. Pray for an openness to the Gospel of Peace and for Satan to be bound! Pray for many new souls to come to know Jesus.

Wednesday, Sept. 21 - Church planting and evangelism continues, along with discipleship for new believers. Pray for understanding and growth and continue to pray for many souls to be saved! Pray for our team to be encouraged and rested. Continue to pray for healthy bodies and NO ILLNESS!

Thursday, Sept. 22 - Day 4 of working in the villages to plant new churches and bring people to Christ. Please pray that new believers will now be sharing their testimony and sharing the Gospel for themselves. Pray that the Rwandans will begin to take ownership for the church THEY are planting and that they will see fruit as they share the Gospel and disciple new believers.

Friday, Sept. 23 - Last day in our villages - This is an emotional day! Pray for us to take home what God would have us do and just hold closely all the sweet moments of today. Pray that we would not grow weary in doing what is good so that we can FINISH STRONG! Pray that we would encourage the new church leaders and help equip them to carry on this good work. Pray that our worship time together in the afternoon will be uplifting and glorifying and uniting!

Saturday, Sept. 24 - We begin our journey home - We will spend the day traveling, shopping, and sight-seeing prior to our 7:00 pm departure for Brussels. Pray for safe travel and for God to prepare our hearts to return home. Pray for no glitches in airline schedules as well and that we are able to rest on the journey home.

Sunday, Sept. 25 - We travel from Brussels to D.C. and then on to Huntsville. We arrive home around 5:00 pm. Pray for safety and smooth travel and for sleep on the airplanes! Pray for a joyous reunion with our loved ones. Pray for the FIRST SUNDAY services that will be held in the new churches.

Monday, Sept. 26 - First Day at Home - Pray for rest for our bodies and our hearts and minds as well. Transitioning back to life at home is difficult and emotional. Pray that we will know what God would have us do in response to all we have seen and experienced. Continue to pray for the "baby" churches that are at the beginning of a journey as we are at the end of ours. 

You can sign up to pray here: