Australia GO! Team Takes Off Today

Our Australia GO! Team leaves tonight at 10:26 p.m. for two weeks down under. It's a long flight (12 hrs+ to Sydney, then a jump to Melbourne before arriving in Brisbane), and there will be some jet lag adjustment. We actually land on Wednesday, July 2- crossing the International Date Line always messes with our heads! But we are ready and excited to see what God has waiting for us as we step out in faith.

We will partner with the Ann Street Church of Christ in Brisbane, a small, multi-ethnic congregation in the heart of the city. Ann Street is a fascinating mix of long-time members, Aboriginals, Pacific islanders, students, homeless, young professionals, and others who are making a difference in the center of Brisbane and beyond. At one time it was the flagship of Churches of Christ in Queensland. Now numbers are smaller and the church battles to remain a relevant force in a secular culture.

And Australia is quite secular. Although churches dot the landscape, only about 4% of the country's population of 22 million attends any kind of weekend service. There's a self-sufficiency about the typical Australian that doesn't necessarily look to God. That's not to say that they aren't spiritual people (they are), but they don't look at Christianity as they've known it for answers to life's needs. Our hope is to serve the local church in helping people see the hope, joy and purpose in lives of those who have chosen Jesus- not that we have it all down, but (like our friends at Ann Street) we're working on it!

Please pray for us during our trip- pray specifically:
- that we will be safe and strong in all our travels;
- that God will knit us together in unity as a team;
- for people to come to a saving relationship with Jesus;
- that Jesus will be seen in us as we share our lives;
- that our brothers and sisters in Australia will be blessed and encouraged in their faith because of our time together;
- that God will open our eyes to lessons he wants to teach us;
- for the growth and strength of Ann St. Church of Christ.

If you could pray for one of these requests each day, we would be covered in prayer throughout the time we are away. Thanks, and good on ya!

Why Send Teams? Part 3

We've been looking at reasons to spend time, energy and resources to send groups on short-term missions projects throughout our world. In spite of objections (many reasonable, I might add), there are compelling reasons to deploy teams. In addition to what has already been written, let me add the following motivation.

Sending teams is a hands-on way of understanding what God is doing beyond our front door. Reading or knowing about a situation is not the same as becoming part of it, even for a short time. And since we send teams back to the same places, we build relationships that allow us to share more of our lives and understand even more what is taking place.

The fruit that comes as a result of these experiences is varied and beautiful. Relationships are established as life investments are made, people come to know Jesus, our worldviews conform more closely to a Biblical pattern, and some decide to return long-term to places we have visited.

Are there risks in sending GO! Teams? Sure. Is it costly? You bet, but we believe the benefits justify the expense. And it's far more costly, from a spiritual standpoint, to stay home and fail to follow the Biblical mandate of making sure all people in all places have the opportunity to choose to follow Christ.

That's why we send teams.

Why Send Teams? Part 2

With all the potential issues listed in in the previous post, why do we still believe in sending global outreach (GO!) teams?

First, the focus of Christianity is global. Throughout the Scriptures we are told that the Gospel message is a universal one. Our part includes proclaiming that message (in word and deed), not only within our own borders, but beyond them to those who may not yet know.

Second, we believe God can and will use our efforts, regardless of language and cultural differences. We know that short-term efforts are no substitute for long-term commitment to a people or place, but God can use us in a point in time to make an eternal difference in the lives of others if we will go.

Additionally, our time with Christ's church in another culture can encourage and influence for the good. In many locations the Church is struggling, and when they know that people from another part of the world care for them, they are sustained and challenged. We've also seen our presence provide credibility in the eyes of the local community as they see that a local congregation has connections with people from somewhere else in the world.

Tomorrow's post will finish this line of thought, so please come on back and see where we end up...

Why Send Teams? Part 1

There's a question constantly floating through the missions world: Should we even send teams on short-term missions projects to different parts of the globe? Objections include the idea that short-term teams often create more problems for the local missionary/church than they solve; that, given language and cultural differences, they really can't accomplish much; they consume a great amount of funding that could be used in other (more productive?) ways; that short-term participation gives the mistaken idea that this is all that is necessary for missions; and there is little long-term life change in those who go.

There is (or can be) a kernel of truth in each of these arguments. When teams are not done well, there's always the possibility of ineffectiveness or negative results. And we must seriously consider each objection to make sure we don't make the same kinds of errors.

So, if issues such as these are real, and we could be in danger of doing something we never intended, why do we continue to send teams? Wouldn't we be better off to take the money spent on sending a group (and it can be a lot of money) and use it directly in those areas we would otherwise visit? Some thoughts in response to this are coming next, so don't go away...

Kenya GO! Team is Up and Ready

Another one of our summer teams will be traveling to Kenya July 28-August 12. Their focus is to serve Tumaini International Ministries, which focuses on sponsorship of HIV AIDS orphans. KACC sponsors some 350 of these kids, from the very youngest to those in college.

The team's trip will be spent in two sections: the first week they will be in Nairobi, learning about Kenyan culture in a variety of ways, and visiting projects in Kibera and/or Mathare, the two great slums of the city. Following that, they will travel a couple hours south and east to Machakos and Masii, where they will hold a dental clinic (Ron is the world's best bush dentist!), spend time with Tumaini-sponsored children, check out some ministry possibilities in a poverty area of Machakos, make home visits, and assist Tumaini in any other way possible.

Please pray for this team as they give of themselves in some unique opportunities, and as they represent the hope found only in Jesus to a people who know much about Him, but where so many still need to know Him.

2008 Kenya GO! Team: Amanda Frazier, Pam Young, Mike Carman, Diane Williams, Kathy and Ron Jurgensen. Not pictured: Rose Mutunga

Australia GO! Team Set

Our first GO! Team ready to kick off the summer is heading to Brisbane, Australia for 16 days, June 30-July 16. The group of eleven will partner with the Ann Street Church of Christ in downtown Brisbane. Ann Street is a small multi-ethnic congregation that has a heart for those in Australia's 3rd largest (and most livable!) city, and they are reaching a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life.

Our time with them will include working at the church property, outreaches in the local community, spending time with the youth of Ann Street, learning to throw boomerangs, worshipping together, watching football (rugby), sampling Vegemite (and maybe more ekidna!), and traveling six hours to the aboriginal community of Eidsvold to spend time with a wonderful group of young people (and adults!) there.

Please keep this group in prayer as they travel, serve, share and experience so many new adventures. Pray that God will use them to impact the lives of others, even as He impacts them in ways that will stick with them for the rest of their days. 2008 Australia GO! Team- Leslee Marvin, Liz Crews, Robert Crews, Wayne Crews, Mike Carman, Kyle Marsh, Matt Whelchel, Shaya Hillion, Jessica Rallis, Chelsea Branscombe (not pictured: Marisol Babcock)