DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - The 25 Project

www.25project.org [email protected] 972.521.7325 001

DOMINICANREPUBLIC


TABLE OF CONTENTS

TEAM OVERVIEW & EMERGENCY INFO ..................................2ABOUT THE 25 PROJECT .............................................................3WHAT IS MISSIONS? ......................................................................4WHERE WE WORK .........................................................................6PACKING LIST ..................................................................................9PREPARATION LIST........................................................................9SONG LIST ......................................................................................12TEAM ROLES ..................................................................................14NOTE TO CHILD’S SPONSOR ...................................................15TEAM ROLE REPORT ...................................................................16INTEGRATION QUESTIONS ......................................................18GAMES .............................................................................................20MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES.......................................................22EVANGICUBE: SHARING THE GOSPEL ..................................24PRAYER GUIDE ..............................................................................30COMMON DISCIPLESHIP ISSUES & SCRIPTURES ................34ARTICLE ...........................................................................................44NOTES/JOURNAL .........................................................................49


ABOUT US

OUR MISSIONCompelled by the Gospel, we seek to bring hope and healing to the least of these.

Jesus speaks of the “least of these” in Matthew 25, and says that when we care for this group of people, that we actually care for Jesus Himself. It is from these words in Matthew 25, and the calling of God, that the ministry of the 25 Project wasbornandexists.

OUR STAFF

BLAKE BORING, NATHAN BOGUE, KENT JONES, AARON MANLEY, BARBARA CROSS, ANGIE FARQUHAR, SARAH TEASDALE, TAMMY JONES, SHARA

JOHNSON

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WHAT IS MISSIONS?

LONG-TERM FOCUS / LONG-TERM STRATEGYMissionsisnotatrip,it’snotanexperience,andit’snotsomethingyouhaveonaspiritualchecklist and you mark as completed. Quite simply, missions is a way of life. The key to ensuring this mentality and lifestyle is through relationships.

The Bible gives us two people, among many, who can serve as models for us. Paul and Barnabaswantedtogobacktothoseplacestheyhadbeenontheirfirstjourneytovisitthechurchesandbelieversthere.Intheirfirstvisit,theybecamecloselyconnectedinrelationshipwith the churches and believers. Because of the focus on long-term transformation and growth, Paul and Barnabas desired to again pour more of the Gospel into those brothers and sisters, to encourage more and more spiritual growth, and to always point others to Christ.

The 25 Project intentionally follows this Biblical model. We value long-term life transformation, growth, and intentional discipleship, all while we meet tangible and physical needs. Again, the type of life change we hope for almost always happens through relationships. And as a result, we prioritize building strong, trusted relationships where each child can have confidenceinourlong-termcommitmenttothem.

As a team member, you are a part of this long-term strategy! In fact, you serve a vital role in this process. Your presence, your witness, your story, your talents, and your intentional pouring in and sharing of the Gospel is of great value in this ministry.

God is at work. He has used and is using our in-country leaders. He has used past teams that have gone with the 25 Project. He will use you to continue to make much of Himself in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children!

WHAT MISSIONS IS NOTAsyougotobeapartofateamservingonmission,itisofgreatsignificancethatweunderstand the Biblical reason for why we go instead of why we are involved in missions. Beforewediscusswhatmissionsis,wemustfirstgainaclearunderstandingofwhatmissions is not. Missions is not:

Collecting souvenirs Seeing how good we have it in

America Building a scrapbook Training to be on the Amazing Race

Something we check off our spiritual to-do list

A Trip ASacrifice

WHAT MISSIONS ISThereisn’tenoughspaceheretofullyexplainwhatmissionsis,butaquickexplanationwillprovide some help for us. As believers who love God and His Word, we must look to see what He says about this.

The reason we do missions is simply because God is a missional God and He has called us to His work (Psalm 67:1-3; 46:10; Matthew 28:18-20, 9:37-38; 24:14; 25:31-46). In fact, He has been on mission since the beginning of time. He is at work now and we have the privilege of


joining Him in His work. As John Piper writes in His book, Let the Nations Be Glad, “Missions existsbecauseGodisnotworshippedandglorifiedinallnationsandamongallpeoples.”Wego because we desire to see lives changed by Jesus, for Him to be worshipped, and for His name to be made famous.

When we go and serve on mission, let’s be reminded that we aren’t bringing Jesus with us in our luggage. We don’t step off the plane and then unleash Jesus on the country and its people. It may sound silly, but there can be a tendency to think like this when we go to serve somewhere. In reality, Jesus is already there. Long before we felt called to go and serve, He was at work, and long after we get on a plane to come home, He will still be there working in the lives of people. So, with that said, we go to JOIN HIM in the work HE IS ALREADY DOING around the world. You have the privilege of serving Him and making much of Him in anyway He chooses to use you.

Let’s be reminded that as we go, we are ultimately serving Christ (Matthew 25:40)! However, whatever way He wants to use us, let’s be fully yielded to Him and His purposes. He is the One who moves and stirs hearts, not us. With the understanding that only He can move and transform hearts, all the pressure is off you (and that’s such great news!). Just be willing to be used by Him and watch Him work through you.

The GospelThe Gospel is at the heart of everything we are and everything we do at the 25 Project. II Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in HimwemightbecometherighteousnessofGod.”WeexistbecauseoftheGospel,andthegraceandmercythatflowsfromwhatwasaccomplishedthroughJesus’death,burial,andresurrection. We desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost world. Every single act, every deed, every act of love and care, every meal given and served, all of it…the motivation, thedrivebehindeverythingissimplyandsufficientlytheGospel.

The ChurchThe chosen and called instrument to which God has ordained to take the Gospel to the world is the Church (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 13-14). The 25 Project is not the Church, and we never pretend or attempt to take the place of the Church in any circumstance. Weareheretosupport,uphold,andhelpmobilizetheChurchtofulfillitsGodgivenpurpose. And so at the heart of all we do is a cooperation, dependence, partnership, and support of the local Church.

The Least of TheseGod’s call on us as an organization and ministry is focused on those Jesus refers to in Mathew 25 as the “least of these”. Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” As a ministry,wearespecificallyfocusedonministrytoorphanedandvulnerablechildren.Ouraim is to provide holistic care and ministry addressing the spiritual, physical, economic, and educational needs of those we serve. Bringing Hope to the least of these is the calling we feel has been placed upon us an organization, and it is to this segment of people to whom we are committed to serving.

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SOUTHASIA

MCKINNEY,TEXAS DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC

SIERRALEONE

WHERE WE WORK


DOMINICAN REPUBLICWhen mentioning the Dominican Republic, many people think of expensive resorts and hotels,cruise ships, and pristine white sandy beaches. While the Dominican Republic does have its share of ideal tourist locations, the reality for this small island country is that so many of the general population live in abject poverty and hopelessness.

The most recent estimates indicate that more than 42% of the population live below the international poverty line (income of $1.25/day or less). Many families go days without clean water and food. It is estimated that almost 20% of Dominicans are living in extreme poverty. In rural areas poorpeople constitute half of the population.

The poorest of the poor include Dominicans of Haitian origin living in the border areas. They are particularly vulnerable, and they suffer not only from low incomes and poor living conditions but also from social exclusion. In all groups,womenwho are heads of households and children are extremely vulnerable. Because they arewithoutproperdocumentation such as birth certificatesand identity papers, about 20% of the poorest Dominican families do not benefit from mosttypes of social assistance programs.

The Dominican Republic is also a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and childrentraffickedforthepurposesofcommercialsexual exploitation and forced labor. A largenumberofDominicanwomenaretraffickedintoprostitution and sexual exploitation throughoutthe Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the United States.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

SOUTHASIA

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SIERRA LEONEA snapshot of Sierra Leone and it’s people provides a clear picture of the type of people Jesus was talking about in Matthew 25. Sierra Leone, this is where so many of the least of these call home. Hope desperately needs to come to this country and people.

Statistics coming out of Sierra Leone do not give the complete picture of what is going on there. However, numbers do tell part of the story. As has been the case for years, Sierra Leone has consistently been in every list of the poorest countries in our world.

The most recent estimates indicate that more than 53% of the population live below the international poverty line of $1.25/day. Nearly 3 million live on an annual income of $450 or less! Poverty firmlyresidesinthisnation,andasaresult,naturaleffectsofsuchdesperation are widespread hunger, malnutrition, and disease.

Not only are the physical needs in Sierra Leone overwhelming, the message of the Gospelisvirtuallyunknownamongmost.Somanytherehaveyettoexperiencethehope found in Jesus, much less heard His name or His story. While most are religious (practicing any number and combination of belief systems), the reality remains that the vast majority of people in Sierra Leone do not know Jesus.

While the needs are overwhelming, the 25 Project desires to be a part of addressing the needs of the precious people of this nation. Through a partnership with First BaptistChurch,McKinney,Texas,the25Projectisworkingtohelpaddressthephysicaland spiritual needs of those in Sierra Leone.

SIERRA LEONE

WHERE WE WORK


SOUTH ASIASouth Asia, the world’s second-most populous region, has experienced rapid economicalgrowth over the past two decades. Despite this, it is home to the largest concentration of people, 300 million, living below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day. This has impacted the people of South Asia, particularly children where half of the children underfivesufferfromchronicmalnutrition.

Even sadder is the number of unreached people. The largest religion in South Asia is Hinduism (80.6%) with only 2.2% professing to be Christians. The area where we work with the “least of these” has an even higher percentage of Hindis at 95.2% with just under 2% professing to be Christians. The work in South Asia is plentiful.

Romans 10:14-15 certainly comes to mind when thinking about South Asia. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of who they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

The 25 Project seeks to holistically reach and care for orphaned children, youth and vulnerable children in this dark place. For in John 1:5 it says “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” We seek to be the light in South Asia and bring the hope of Jesus Christ.

SOUTHASIA

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PACKING LIST


PACKING LISTTrip Manual

Passport & Immunization Card

Color copy of Passport & Immunization Card

International Health Insurance Card (provided)

2 Total bags for travel

2 Carry-on bag: 1 carry on backpack for under seat + 1 carry on bag for overhead bin

Any Checked bag can be taken for a cost of $50 or more paid by the team member at

the airport

Cash for airports meals, snacks in DR & small souvenirs ($50-$100 with bills newer than 2009 without marks or tears)

Bible/Journal/Pen

NalgeneRefillableBottle

When Helping Hurts Book

Personal hygiene items

Hand sanitizer (small bottle)

Shorts, skirts, or capris (knee length minimum)

T-shirts (casual & modest no tank tops)

Bathing suit (modest one piece or tankini)

Hat

Camera

Toilet paper (keep some with you at all times)

Ear plugs/eye mask (for sleeping)

Snacks—EnergyBars(nothingthatwillmelt),TrailMix,GatoradeMixPackets,etc.

100 - 4X6 Family Pictures (note the background of your picture when taken)

Personal medications, bug repellent & sun screen

Light rain jacket

Extrabatteries,cablesforchargingphoneandcamera

Flipflops

Prescription Cipro (antibiotic recommended for travelers in case of sickness)

OPTIONAL ITEMSPepto Bismol, Imodium, Motion sickness meds

NOT TO BRINGPurse (use backpack), Jewelry (wedding rings or anything of great value)

Alcohol or tobacco, Bottled water (provided), AC converter (110V USA plug provided)

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PREPARATION LIST


Cultural considerations and recommendations in preparation for serving on your expedition.EXPECTATIONSIce is not usually available and be mindful snacks will melt, bottled water is always available. Basicfirstaiditemsareprovidedandyouwillsweatsobringbandanaorchaffingcream.Powermaybelimitedtocertaintimesofdaysobringextrabatteries.

FIRST VS REPEAT TEAM MEMBERSThedynamicexistsbetweenoldandnewteammemberswhohaveverydifferentneedsandexpectations.Wewillneedtherepeatteammemberstobepatientandunderstandinginthebasic,simpleandrepeatedexplanationorinstructionsgiventofirsttimeteammembers.

OWNERSHIPTheteam leaderexpects teammembers tohaveread theentire teammanualand tripschedule. Have these at every team meeting for discussion & review.

PICTURESAsk before taking pictures, be aware of people in the background of your photo.

LANGUAGE EXPERT Learn a few phrases in the native language, do not correct others during the week, do not grade others, leave their language learning to them to try.

TRANSLATORS Be sensitive to them, get to know them, follow their advice.

DAILY QUIET TIME So important, don’t miss out, and it is part of our schedule.

BE POSITIVE & TRY NEW THINGS Trytofindthepositive,becarefulofbeingnegative,complaining isnothelpful,doyourbest, prepare for worst and trust God for victory. Try new things and food if fully cooked and sanitary. Do not be afraid to try something different while on the team to avoid being offensive to your host.

SARCASM Avoid it during the trip. Be careful to not unintentionally make fun of people, people understand more than you know.

AMERICAN Do not compare the two countries and try to avoid politics.

STARINGDon’t be offended if people stare at you, you are unique, cool, different.

PRIVACY Do not give name, address, phone number, email or Facebook.

MONEY Do not give out money or make promises to give out money and gifts, be mindful when valuables, camera, and money are out. For any need or question always ask the team leader.

VALUABLES Do not wear jewelry, necklace, anything that is valuable that can be taken off, always keep passport & money on you and never in a backpack.

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WANDERING Do not wander off from group, never be by yourself, never be in a home alone.

CHRISTIAN WORDS They will all say yes I am a Christian, so ask spiritual questions about Jesus, walking with Him, trusting, seeking, obeying.

PRESCRIPTIONS Keepinoriginalbottle/airportrules,bringextras,takeallnormalmedsontriporupdateteam leader to changes.

PACKING In carry-on backpack take one set of clothes & toiletries, you may lose a gate checked or large carry on. Make color copies of passport for each bag.

AIRPORT Make caravan or personal drop off arrangements beforehand.

PHONE Youmay want your carriers international data and texting plan, international calling isusuallymoreexpensivesoresearchpricingbeforeyouleave.

CARDS Turn on international travel alerts for your debit and credit cards you are taking.

SICKNESSAlways share with your team leader the smallest sickness or out of the ordinary feeling youareexperiencinganydayofthetrip.Wewillhavebetterunderstandingandabilitytoaid you with being informed.

DIET, EXERCISE & MEDICATIONSNotify the team leader 7 days before the trip if you plan to alter your prescribed medicines or dosage, alter your diet or your diet will not allow consumption of certain foods, willbefastinganymealsorfoods,orhaveapersonalexerciseroutineyoudesiretobeaccommodated during the trip.

LONG TERM VISION AND COMMUNICATIONAsyoubecomemoreawareofspecificstrugglesandneedsofthevillagersyouwillhearabout the long term goals and strategy of 25 Project. We cannot wait to share our timing and strategic funding initiatives so you can be a part of in the future. As God stirs your heart always begin any conversations about giving/supporting with the team leader. Upon returning from the country, please forward all correspondence with anyone in the country including our missionaries to your team leader to be aware of opportunities and needs. We want to see God accomplish His purpose through the 25 Project with you.

SEEDSPlant them now with your friends and family for prospective future team members.

READ FULLY BEFORE TRIPWhen Helping HurtsThe Church Planter on Mission TripsWorking Well Across Cultures article in Team Manual

PREPARATION LIST


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SONG LISTG Lord I lift your name on high E Banana SongE Father AbrahamG Lean on me (with a partner)E You’re My Brother (with a partner)E Your love is deepE My God is so BigG Head Shoulders knees & ToesD Deep and WideD Fruit of the Spirit+ Rain Song: rub, snap, pat, clap, stomp, etcE Open the Eyes of My HeartE Awesome God

G LEAN ON ME (switch partners several times)

Lean on me when you're not strongAnd I'll be your friend,I'll help you carry onFor it won't be long'Til I'm gonna needsomebody to lean on

SONGS


E YOU’RE MY BROTHER (switch partners several times)

You’re my brotheryou’re my friendYou’re my beginningand my endYou’re all around mewhen the worldturns and walks awayYou’re my sunshineon a cloudy dayYou’re my rainthat washes my blues awayAnd I can always count on youCause you’re my brotheryou’re my friend

G LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGHLord, I lift Your name on high;Lord, I love to sing Your praises;I'm so glad You're in my life;I'm so glad You came to save us.

CHORUSYou came from Heaven to earth;To show the way,From the earth to the cross,My debt to pay,From the cross to the grave,From the grave to the sky;Lord, I lift Your name on high!

+ RAIN SONGRub, snap, pat, clap, stomp

E BANANA SONGBa-banana, ba, ba, bananaPeel banana, peel, peel, bananaEat banana, eat, eat bananaGo banana, go, go bananas

E MY GOD IS SO BIGMy God is so bigso strong and so mightythere’s nothing my Godcannot do for youMy God is so bigso strong and so mightythere’s nothing my Godcannot do for you

CHORUSThe mountains are HisThe valleys are Histhe stars are his handiwork too

E FATHER ABRAHAMFather Abraham had many sonsHad many sons had FatherAbrahamI am one of themAnd so are youSo let's just praise the Lord[Then Yell "right arm, left arm, rightleg, left leg, bob your head, turn around - sit down]

E YOUR LOVE IS DEEPYour love is deepYour love is highYour love is longYour love is wide

CHORUSYour love is deeperthan my view of graceHigher than this worldly placeLonger than this road I travelWiderthanthegapyoufill

G HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES & TOESHead, shoulders, knees & toesknees & toesHead, shoulders, knees & toesknees & toes

CHORUSAnd eyes and ears and mouth and nose

D DEEP AND WIDEDeep and wideDeep and wideThere’sariverflowingDeep and wide(Humm) and wide ...etc, etc

OVERVIEW You or you & another team member will be leading your assigned activities. Be fully prepared to lead your activity without the team leader if he/she is assisting

someone else. You will have a translator. Feel free to add short verses from the Bible as appropriate. You will need to give the kids step-by-step directions when you lead.

TEAM ROLE: SONG LEADERLeading motion and familiar songs with the children in Large Group for each kid’s club.

TEAM ROLE: NAME TAG & SMALL GROUP COORDINATOR Each kids club will move to Small Group time where leaders will facilitate conversation between the kids. The coordinator will write names on the tags for the team and each child. Each day you will collect and redistribute the tags.

TEAM ROLE: BIBLE STORY TEACHERTeaching age appropriate Bible stories in Small Group to the children each day.

TEAM ROLE: CRAFT LEADERThe leader will lead age appropriate art times in Small Group with the materials provided.

TEAM ROLE: GAMES LEADERIn Small Group before and after each game take time to reinforce the concepts of the Bible story of the day - working together, dealing with struggle, learning from friends, encouraging

TEAM ROLES

others, relating life to faith in Jesus, who made a good player, what was a poor way to play, what skill was important, etc. GAMES & MINUTE TO WIN ITWe have 30+ game options (see games ch 8) to pick from for each day. Have 1-3 prepared each day.

TEAM ROLE: PHOTOGRAPHERTaking close up faces, pictures of kids, capturing the work of the team with shots that tell the story of the programs, and shooting the new face shots of the sponsored children.

TEAM ROLE: FIRST AID LEADERSFor team members or children there may be a need for basic bandaids, bandage, etc and all supplieswillbeprovided.Youwillkeepthefirstaidkitwithyouwhileinthevillages.Notatethename, medicine or bandage given each day.

TEAM ROLE: AUDIO VISUALKeep up with and operate sound and video equipment as needed for the team.

TEAM ROLE: TEAM DEVOTIONAL LEADERSFacilitate a 5-10 minute short devotional for the mission team from a Scripture verse or devotionalpassageofyourchoosingonthedayassignedbytheexpeditionleader.

TEAM ROLE: NAME CHANGER LETTER COORDINATORThe team will deliver and pickup letters to and from sponsored children. This leader will facilitate the process with our missionary.

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NOTE TO CHILD’S SPONSOR


25 PROJECT TEAM MEMBER Note to Sponsor about a child you connected with.

Please take time to write a quick note about any child you connect with that will be delivered to the sponsor back in the U.S. This is a great joy to 25 Project sponsors.

CHILD’S NAME ____________________________

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TEAM ROLE REPORT

25 PROJECT TEAM MEMBER PERSONAL REPORT QUESTIONS FROM ROLEPlease take your time and answer these questions with as much detail as possible. They are designed primarily to help you process some of the things that God did through you and in you during your journey. A full page handout will be given to you.

1. What were the most positive aspects of your role on the team?

2. What were 1-3 accomplishments you made in your role?

3. What have you learned in serving in your role?

4. What parts of your role could have used more explanation?

5. If any, what was your biggest piece of “unfinished business”?

6. What did you wish you knew before your role began?

7. What really worked or helped that should be repeated for every team?

8. Were you satisfied with the way your role fit as part of the team?

9. What additional resources/tools would have been helpful in your role?

10. What encouragement do you have for your team leader?


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INTEGRATION QUESTIONS


1. Snapshotsa.Anansweredprayeroraspecificstoryyouwillsharewithfriendsbackhome.

b. Funniest thing that happened.

c. The name of someone whom you met and why you will remember them for the rest of your life.

2. Something learneda. About God.

b. About yourself

c. About mission work

3. The returna.WhataresomespecificstepsyoucantaketobeginservingGodbackhome?

b. What are some obstacles that might keep you from accomplishing this?

4. Sharea.Describeyourexperienceinthreewords.

b. How have you changed?

c. List the names of three people you know who could do what you just did.

5. Team Rolea. What were the most positive aspects of your role on the team?

b. What were 1-3 accomplishments you made in your role?

c.Whatpartsofyourrolecouldhaveusedmoreexplanation?

d.Ifany,whatwasyourbiggestpieceof“unfinishedbusiness”?

e. What did you wish you knew before your role began?

f. What really worked or helped that should be repeated for every team?

g. What additional resources/tools would have been helpful in your role?

6. Final Thoughts.a.Whatisonepreparation,activity,orsuggestionthatreallyhelpedyouduringtheexpedition

that should always be a repeated for future teams?

b. What encouragement would you like your team leader to know?

c. Is there any other comment, suggestion, idea, or story that you would like to share (use back as needed)?

25 PROJECT TEAM MEMBER INTEGRATION FORM PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONSPlease take your time and answer these questions with as much detail as possible. They are designed primarily to help you process some of the things that God did through you and in you during your journey. A full page handout will be given to you.

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RELAY RACESDizzy Lizzy – race to a point and spin around a stick and back

Over Under – teams have to pass something down a line alternating the pass over their head and under their legs

Leap Frog – each team member has to jump over the team members in front of them

Shoe Challenge–puteveryone’sshoesinapileandteamsracetofindshoes

Shape Shifters – team gets in the shape of an object or letter called out

GAMESHuman Knot Game – stand in a circle, join arms to someone else & untie the knot without breaking hands. Talk about why the leader was chosen to decide who moves to untie, how they worked together, was teamwork important, how did you struggle

Jenga Game – we’ll have your basic Jenga tower & in groups try to see who can win by being the last to keep the tower standing removing one block at a time.

Gorilla Man Gun – The gorilla beats the man, and the man beats the gun, the gun beats the gorilla, if you tie you die

Duck Duck Goose – go around the circle duck, duck, goose to tag

GAMES


In the Circle – using both feet to hop “in the circle” and “out of circle” as leader calls

Rhythm – clap a beat and they say a phase or do an action

Ultimate Frisbee – set goals and two steps throw

Steal the Bacon – have creative item between two teams in two opposite lines

OTHER NOTES______________________________________________________________

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MAKING PARTNERS GAMESName Game–Havechildrencountthenumberoflettersintheirnameandfindsomeonewiththesamenumberofletterstobetheirpartner.Ifnecessary,findthechildwith closest number of letters.

Opposites – Instruct children to pair up with someone who is opposite from them in someway.Examplesincludegender,height,haircolor,eyecolor,etc.

Puzzles – Cut out pictures from a magazine so there are half as many pictures as there arechildreninthegroup.Cuteachpictureinhalflikeapuzzle.Mixthepiecestogetherand each child takes one half of a picture. The two children with adjoining pictures become partners.

Phone Number–Tellchildrentofindapartnerwiththesamelastnumberintheirphonenumber.Vowels-Havechildrenfindapartnerwiththesamefirstvowelintheirname.

MAKING SMALL GROUPS GAMESDeck of Cards – Bring a deck of cards and have each child draw one. Those with black cards form one group, while those with red cards form another. If more than two groups are needed, split based upon the numbers.

Birthday Line – Have the children arrange themselves in a line according to the chronological order of the months and dates of their birthdays. The leader then separates the children into the necessary number of groups.

Height Line – As in the birthday line, the children arrange themselves in a line from tallest to shortest. The leader then separates into participants into groups.

Arm Cross – Have everyone cross their arms over their chest, then look down to see which arm is on top. Those that cross left over right are one group, and those that cross right over left are another.

Thumb Size–Askchildrentofindthreeorfourotherswhohaveaboutthesamethumb size.

Candy Shop – Bring colored candies, such as M&Ms or Jolly Ranchers. Each child may takeone,butbesuretoinstructthemnottoeatityet.Theythenfindpeerswiththesamecolor candy and form a group. They may also form rainbow groups with each of the colors.

Simon Says – Play “Simon Says” as you normally would. The difference is that children that get “out” instead form a circle and become a group. Stop the game when groups are even.

Four Seasons–Instructchildrentofindothersborninthesameseason.Theseasonsthen become the groups. Make adjustments if necessary.

GAMES


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MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES

COOKIEFace the Cookie! Place a cookie on player’s forehead. Using only your facial muscles, move the cookie to your mouth. This one will bring on lots of laughs!

STRAWDice race – Players suck a die on the end of a straw and run it to a cup. They must get 5 dice in their cup.

The Dice stacker – using straw, stack dice to make a ten high tower on table

This Blows – Using a straw, see who can blow a series of plastic cups off the end of the tablefirst.

TENNIS BALLHanging from your head, swing the ball back and forth to knock down the empty water bottles

Broomski Ball – Roll tennis balls over a taped down broomstick and jump them into three buckets at different heights.

Hut, Hut, Hike – Two contestants must throw a total of 3 balls into a cup 10 feet away by bending over at the waist and throwing them through their legs

Head ball–Strapacuptoyourheadandbounceaballfromthefloortothewallandcatch it on your head with the cup

MARBLESRoll marbles along a table so that they stop on the tape without rolling off the table.

Player must lie on their stomach and roll one marble at a time to knock over one standing pencil

DICEA Bit Dicey–Thecontestantmuststacksixdiceonapopsiclestickheldintheirmouthand balance them for three seconds.

Back Flip – The contestant must toss and catch a set of pencils from the back of their hand,startingwithtwoforlevel2,fourforlevel4andsixforlevel6andaddingtwomoreafter each

Dice Line–Thecontestantmustholdalineof12dicepressingthemwiththeirindexfingers,thentransportitsafelytoanothertable.

PING PONG BALLLast Man Standing – The contestant to balance one egg last is eliminated

Last Man Standing–Thecontestanttogetaping-pongballintoashotglassfivefeetaway last is eliminated

Four ping pong balls (not marbles) are placed inside a hula hoop. Your goal is to knock them all out of the hoop by pinging them with, well, other ping pong balls. Of course you have to clear the ring in one minute or less.


Glass Road Trucker – The contestant must blow a ping pong ball across eight inverted glass bottles so that it lands in a shot glass on top of a glass on the other side. They must line up the bottles, shot glass, and glass themselves.

Junk in the Trunk–Usingkleenexbox,jump/shakepingpongballsoutoftheboxonyour backside

Puddle Jumper – The contestant must place and blow a ping-pong ball from one water-filledcupintoanotheroneatlongerdistancesbetweeneachcup

PENCILSSpeed Eraser – Bounce seven pencils into a cup

Pencil Pillars – The contestant must place 10 pencils along the ‘imaginary’ perimeter of a A4 paper sheet, and then place a paper sheet over the pencils, supporting them.

FEATHERKeep it UP – You must keep one feather in the air, You must get one feather across the room, You must keep two feathers in the air using only their breath for 60 seconds. The contestant fails the challenge if the feathers touch the body or the ground

Go Fish –Thisoneisagreatwaytostartthingsoff.Useplatetofantissuepaperfishacrosstheroomorintoabox.

CUPSMovin’ On Up – The contestant, with a stack of 39 blue cups and one red cup at the base, must use alternating hands to move cups from the top of the stack to the bottom until the red cup returns to the bottom.

Candies Away – The contestant must throw at least one jelly gum inside 5 cups.

Split the Uprights–Thecontestantmustflickattwopapertriangularfootballsintoapunchbowlwhichisbetweentwotowersoffivecups.

Stack Attack – The contestant must stack 21/36 cups in a pyramid form and then deconstruct it by sliding the cups down diagonally, and stacking the resulting piles into one giant stack, as it started in.

Tilt-a-cup – The contestant must bounce a ping pong ball off the ground and catch it in a stack of plastic cups they are holding. The player must then transfer the top cup to the bottom of the stack and then repeat the process until all cups have a ping pong ball in them

Yank Me – The contestant must place four cups upside down on a table, each cup with an indexcardoverit.Theymustthenyankouttheindexcardssothatthecupscollapseintoafour cup stack. If it falls over, it may be re-stacked.

Barman – The game begins with two tables separated two meters between them with twenty plastic cups on top of each one, one group in an upside down position. The aim of this game is to pick one cup of each color alternatively and stack them in two towers on yourhands.Ifanycupfallstothefloor,thegameisover.

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INTRODUCTIONHi, my name is _________ and I am from __________ (small talk; introduce yourself; comment on something you see; etc.)

STORY #1: YOUR TESTIMONYBefore I had a personal relationship with Christ, my life was like this __________; And, I felt like this __________; The day I started a personal relationship with Christ was __________; And this is how it happened __________ and the person who led me to Christ was __________ (where you were, who talked with you, and how God was workinginyourlife);Nowmylifehasbeenlike__________(forexample,Ihaveapeace,meaning, and purpose in life because of Jesus. Or what God is doing in your life now). Now, may I tell you the following story about Jesus?

Allow the Holy Spirit guide you here as to how much of your story you share!

STORY #2: GOD CREATED THE SPIRIT WORLD

GOSPEL POINTSTHE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD (Romans 11:33-36; 4:17-24; Hebrews 6:13; Jude 24-25; Revelation 19:6)

THE WORSHIP OF GOD ALONE(Exodus20:3;Luke4:8;Isaiah42:8;45:5) – do not worship angels (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9)

Before time even began, God was there, and there was nothing else...only God. God is perfect. The Bible says He is light and there is no darkness in Him at all.Before God created the heavens and the earth, He created all the spirits. Since God is holy and good, He created the spirits like himself—holy and without sin. They are too many to be counted. God created them to serve Him, to do His work and to worship Him.

God choose to create one spirit far more beautiful, powerful and wise than the others. This spirit became jealous of God and desired to be like God, even to take for himself the place ofGod.ThepureheartGodhadgivenhimbecamefilledwithjealousyandwickedness.Indisgrace he was driven from heaven to one day receive God’s everlasting punishment. Other spirits joined the rebellion and were also driven from heaven and put under God’s judgment waiting for their day of punishment.God gave the name Satan to this spirit which means “accuser”. Satan seeks to destroy the workofGod.ButSatancandonothingexceptwhatGodpermitshimtodo.Theotherevilspirits are like Satan for they also seek to harm people. But God is more powerful and rules over them. God prepared a place of punishment called Hell for Satan and his demons. Some day when the time of judgment comes, Satan and his demons will be completely defeated and punished.Not all created spirits disobeyed God. Most continue to obey God and serve Him. They are

EVANGECUBE: SHARING THE GOSPEL


called angels. God sends His angels to help people. People are not to worship angels. Angels are powerful and wise but they are beings created by God. He created all the spirits according to His purpose.Psalm 148:2, 5; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 103:20-21; Hebrews 1:7 (Psalm 104:4); Nehemiah 9:6; Job 38:4-7; Ezekiel 28:12b-17a; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 20:10 (12:7-12); Matthew 9:34; 13:39; 25:41; Luke 1:19; 24:4; John 1:1,2; Acts 12:7-10; 1 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1Timothy 1:17, 20; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 12:22; James 2:19; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 5:11

STORY #3: GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH

GOSPEL POINTSTHE CHARACTER OF GOD• He is our creator: we belong to Him (Romans 1:19-20; 9:20-21)

Because God made us, He owns us. We are His.• He is our judge: we are accountable to Him (Romans 1:18; 2:5, 12-16; 14:10-12)

God will make sure that each person who breaks His laws is punished for their disobedience.

• He is our savior: we need Him (Romans 3:23-26; 4:7-8; 6:23; 9:15-16)God made a way that He could forgive us and still be a good judge.

THE SINFULNESS OF MAN• We are ungodly (Romans 1:18-32)

WeturnourbackonGodandliveasifHedidnotexist.• We are unrighteous (Romans 1:18; 2:12-23, 3:10-20)

We are guilty because we have disobeyed God’s Law. • We are truth-suppressors (Romans 1:18, 21-23, 28,32)

We know that God is there and that we are guilty before Him, but we refuse to believe it

In the beginning, God spoke, and when He did, He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them.God then decided to make a special creation – man. So, God created man and woman; me and you. He had a perfect relationship with them. He walked with them, talked with them, and took care of them. He gave them one rule to obey. If they obeyed God, they would remain with Him forever. If they disobeyed, the punishment would be death because God is perfect and cannot have disobedience in His presence. One day, Satan tempted the man and woman to disobey God, and they broke their relationship with God. They were separated from God and death came to mankind (separate Cube). (Genesis 1-3)The man and woman had children. Their children had children, and their children had childrenuntilthewholeearthwasfilledwithpeople.But,justlikethefirstmanandwoman,they continued to be separated from God. But God never forgot His special creation. One day, He spoke to a man named Abraham, and He told him, “I am going to give you many descendants. I am going to make a huge people group out of them. They will be a people just for me. And, I will bless the whole world through you and your descendants.” And, even though Abraham was a very old man and had no children, he believed God. God considered Abraham to have a good relationship with Him because of his belief in God’s promise. (Genesis 4; 12:1-7; 15:1-6; Romans 4:18-25)God kept His promise to Abraham, and Abraham did have a son, and his son had sons. Until, CONTINUED

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God had indeed made a huge people group out of Abraham’s descendants. God gave them HisLawsotheywouldknowhowtoobeyHim,buttheyweredisobedient,justlikethefirstman and woman. So, God would send special messengers to the people to show them how they could have a good relationship with Him. One of these messengers was named Isaiah. Isaiah brought Abraham’s descendants a message of hope about a promised Savior. He said, “We have all gone away from God and His ways. We all disobey God. But God says, ‘I am sending you a Savior who will take all your disobedience on Himself. He will be whipped and beaten. He will die because of your disobedience. But, I will give Him life again. And because of Him, you can be made right with Me.’”Fromthattimeon,theywaitedexpectantlyforthispromisedSavior...andtheywaited...andtheywaited...(Genesis21;Exodus20;Isaiah53)But, I did not come all this way here today to tell you bad news, I came to share with you good news.

STORY #4: JESUSGod did keep his promise to Abraham’s descendants. He sent this promised Savior, Jesus, God’s very own Son. Jesus proved that he was the Savior by performing many miracles; by healing people; and teaching people about how to follow God. Jesus lived a perfect life. He never disobeyed any of God’s Laws like we have. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 20:21-34, 39-40; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

GOSPEL POINTS:THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST• Jesus’ life displayed the righteousness of God (Romans 5:12-21)

Jesus obeyed all of God’s Laws during His life.•Jesus’deathsatisfiedthewrathofGod(Romans5:6-11)

Jesus took the punishment that we deserve for our disobedience.• Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated the power of God (Romans 4:25; 6:1-11)

GodraisedJesusfromthedeadandacceptedHissacrificeinourplace.

Many people followed him. Not everyone recognized who Jesus was. One day he told them, “If you follow Me, I will give you eternal life. You belong to Me. No one can take you away from Me. God and I are one.” (John 10:14-39)



Below is a list of common issues that you may face when talking with people as well as

some scriptural references that may help you in bridging the conversation back to the

gospel. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will provide some direction if

you are not sure where to turn.

CROSSThose who did not believe in Jesus became very angry that He said that He and God were the same. So, they convinced the government to have Him killed. And, just as God said, He was whipped, He was beaten, He was nailed to a cross, and He died. On the cross, God punished Jesus for our disobedience.

Luke 22:39; 23:13-21, 32-56; Matthew 26:36, 45-67; 27:1-2, 11- 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

1 Peter 3:18 Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to

TOMBHe was buried in a tomb to prove He was really dead. His tomb was sealed with a stone and guarded by soldiers to make sure He was securely inside.

Matthew 27:62-66 – vs. 66: They went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

John 19:38-42 – vs. 41-42: NowintheplacewhereHewascrucifiedtherewasagarden,and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

RISEN CHRIST:Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead to prove that God acceptedHissacrificeinourplaceandthatHehadpoweroverdeath.

Matthew 28:2-7; Luke 24:6 Jesus showed Himself to His followers to prove that He had come back from the dead. Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:13-53; John 20:19-21-25

CROSS BRIDGEThe cross is the only way we can be made right with God.

John 3:16 God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus is the only way we can come to God.

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John 14:6 Jesus said...I am the way, and the truth, and the life;; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus also said in John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

But, just knowing about these things is not enough. We must trust in Jesus alone to save us from the punishment we deserve for our disobedience.

Hebrews 4:2 Indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as theyalso;butthewordtheyhearddidnotprofitthem,becauseitwasnot united by faith in those who heard.

GOSPEL POINTS:THE NECESSITY OF FAITH AND REPENTANCE• Repentance involves turning from our sin and ourselves (Romans 6:1-22)

We cannot keep living the same way we used to live and be right with God.• Faith involves trusting in Jesus as lord and savior (Romans 4:1-5:2)

We must trust in Jesus ALONE as the ONLY way that we can be right with God.• Being born again results in continued faith and repentance (Romans 4:16-17; 6:17-18)

We cannot work to earn God’s favor; we obey God because He is now our Father. God gives us a new heart with new desires so that we hate our old life of disobedience and we love and obey Him now. Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5

HEAVEN AND HELLJesusinvitesustoplaceourfaithinHim(extendhandasvisualdemonstration). This means we must turn from our disobedience and trust in what Jesus did for us in His life and death.

The Word of God tells us that those who place their faith in Jesus have eternal life with God and are not judged under God’s wrath (John 3:16, 18, 36).

Romans 6:23 The penalty for sin is death, but eternal life through Jesus (a re- stored relationship with God) is a free gift from God.

The Word of God also tells us in John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand (point again to hands for emphasis).



GOSPEL POINTS:THE URGENCY OF ETERNITY – WILL YOU TURN FROM JESUS?• We live without Christ now...• We will die without Christ forever.

—WILL YOU TURN TO JESUS?• We live with Christ now...• We will live with Christ forever.

HELP THE NEW BELIEVER-DISCIPLESHIPLove God and all people.

Study the Bible

Pray to God constantly

Meet regularly with other Christians

Tell others about the good news of Jesus

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PRAYER GUIDE


IN “THE LORD’S PRAYER” (MATTHEW 6:9-15), JESUS GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD PRAY. OUR HAND REMINDS US OF EACH PART OF JESUS’ MODEL PRAYER.

1. Palm = RelationshipAsthepalmisthefoundationforourfingersandthumb,timealonewithGod is the foundation for our personal relationship with Him. (Matthew 6:6) We acknowledge that relationship – “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9)

2. Thumb = WorshipOur thumb reminds us that we must worship God before we ask for anything – “…hallowed be Your name.” (Matthew 6:9)

3. First Finger = SurrenderNextwesurrenderourlives,plans,family,finances,work,future-everything – “Your kingdom come, Your will be done…” (Matthew 6:10)

4. Middle Finger = AskThen we ask God to meet our needs – “Give us this day our daily

bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

5. Fourth Finger = ForgiveNow we ask God to forgive our sins, and we must forgive others – “Forgive us as we forgive others.” (Matthew 6:12)

6. Little Finger = ProtectThen we seek protection – “let us not yield to temptation, but deliver us

from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

7. Thumb (Again) = WorshipAnd we end just as we began – we worship Almighty God – “ Yours is

the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13)

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PRAYER GUIDEPRAYER WALKING GUIDE OPTION #1 “OPEN”

Thumb—Open HeavensOh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence – Isaiah 64:1

The thumb on the right hand reminds us to pray for open heavens. As believers, we want God to pour out His blessings on the peoples to

whom He has called us. We should ask God to open the heavens and pour out His blessings on the people we see as we walk through a community. Our desire is that these people come to know Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As we prayer-walk, ask God to reveal ways in which He desires to bless the people.

Right Index Finger—Open Hearts‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall ‘Even on my bond-slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of my spirit and they shall prophesy. ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth

below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come. ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ – Acts 2:17-21

Ask God to release His Holy Spirit and touch the hearts of the people. Pray for a harvest among the people. Pray that we (the church) will discern and overcome barriers that separate the people in the community from the hope and healing of the Gospel. Pray the Holy Spirit will soften and prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Gospel.

Middle Finger—Open HomesDay by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. – Acts 2:46-47

While prayer-walking, we’ll pass many homes that have been lulled to sleep by various means—materialism, abuse, false religions, etc...Ask God for a spiritual awakening among the people. Pray that God would reveal a “person of peace” for this community. Pray for supernatural encounters. Ask God to redeem the people’s unique giftings for His kingdom purpose. Pray that whole families would come to Christ and that homes would be redeemed. Pray that homes would become places where the one true and living God is worshiped.

Ring Finger—Open Highways A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain And


CONTINUED

the rugged terrain a broad valley; “Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” – Isaiah 40:3-5

The overall goal is to reach and disciple new believers from this neighborhood. Pray for creative access opportunities to become available. Pray that God will open a highway so the Word of God can enter the community. Pray that God will reveal the most effective and appropriate methods to use in proclaiming the Good News to the people.

Little Finger—Open Hands“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” – Matthew 10:7-8

Ask God to reveal acts of compassion that need to be carried out in the nameofJesus.AskGodtoshowhowwecanexpressunconditionalactsofkindnesstothepeople. Jesus has commanded us to go and preach. He has given us authority to heal and cast out demons. Freely we have received from Christ; freely we should show His love to those around us.

TIPSNever go alone!

At first, don’t take anything with you. Simply go and ask God to reveal Himself to you through all your senses. After your prayer-walk, write down your experience. Report where you began to see God at work.

PRAYER WALKING GUIDE OPTION #2 “BLESS”

Thumb—BodyPray for physical health and nutrition.

God, you are our Creator. You know everything about our physical bodies because you made us. Please help this family to take care of their bodies byeatingrightandexercising.Maytheyremainhealthy.Iftheyaresick,

bring healing to their bodies. If that healing is not to be now, give them comfort during their illness.

Right Index Finger—LaborPray for their work and ministry.

God, you are our Provider. If this family has employment, help them to workhardasuntotheLordandkeeptheirjobs.Helpthemfindfavorwiththeir employer. May the job they have provide for them and their family. If they don’t have a job or means to go to a job, please provide that for them.

Provide them transportation and child care as needed to be able to work and provide for their families. If they are between jobs, please provide for their needs in other ways.

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Middle Finger—EmotionsPray for emotional health and well-being

God, you have told us in your Word that we are to control our minds from sin and all kinds of negative emotions. Help each of these families to look to you when there are down or discouraged. Keep all thoughts

ofdepression,anger,suicide,anxiety,andothernegativeemotionsfarfromthem.Helpthemto replace those thoughts with your Word because you came into the world to bring us life and that life is to be full. Bring others into their lives to encourage them.

Ring Finger—Social CirclesPray for their social relations (friends, church, other social circles), and their families

God, you are a relational God. In addition to our relationship with you, you have blessed us with other people to help us on our life’s journey. We

ask your blessing on those relationships. May each of these families have strong marriages, Godly friends to encourage them, a good Bible teaching church family, and strong family relationships. Where there has been hurt or broken relationships, bring healing, forgiveness, and peace.

Little Finger—Spiritual LifePray for their spiritual condition.

God,youareourSaviorandLord.Youcametosacrificeyourlifetoadopt us into your family through grace. I don’t know where each of these families are in their walk with you. If they don’t know you, please

bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If they know you, help them to grow in knowledge of you and in turn share their faith with others.

TIPSThink of the word BLESS to remember five important ways to pray for your neighbors:

B Body - physical needs: health, energy, mental ability, protection, strengthL Labor - work: income, job satisfaction, team members, securityE Emotions - inner life: joy, peace, contentment, patience, inner quietS Social life - relationships: marriage, family, friends, single strugglesS Spiritual life - repentance, faith, holiness, Christian growth, spiritual fruit

Pray especially for God to free those who are in bondage to the evil one giving them light to see, ears to hear, open minds and responsive hearts. Never go alone!

At first, don’t take anything with you. Simply go and ask God to reveal Himself to you through all your senses. After your prayer-walk, write down your experience. Report where you began to see God at work.

PRAYER GUIDE


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EXPEDITIONS | DO SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIPS HELP Article - An interview with Oscar Muriu Book - When Helping Hurts

ADULTERY (PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL) Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery

Matthew 5:27-28 – You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled,forGodwilljudgesexuallyimmoralpeopleandadulterers.

Job 25:15 – And the eye of the adulterer watches for the twilight, thinking, ‘No eye can see me,’ and covers his face with a mask.

Proverbs 6:32 – A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom; whoever does it destroys his own life.

Hosea 9:1–Donotrejoice,OIsrael,withexultationlikethenations!Foryouhaveplayedthe harlot, forsaking your God.

James 4:4 – Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.

Jeremiah 3:6-10–Becauseshetookherprostitutionsolightly,shedefiledthelandthrough her adulterous worship of gods made of wood and stone.

ALCOHOL ABUSE | BREWING ALCOHOLLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life

Hosea 4:11 – Old and new wine take away the understanding of my people

Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20-21 – Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

1 Corinthians 11:20-21, 27 – Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’sSupper,forinyoureatingeachonetakeshisownsupperfirst;andoneishungryandanother is drunk. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

Titus 1:7 – For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain.

COMMON DISCIPLESHIP ISSUES | SCRIPTURES

Romans 14:20-23 – Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves. But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.

BACKSLIDDEN Psalm 53:1-3 – The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” they are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who is good, not even one.

Luke 15 – The Lost Sheep; The Lost Coin; The Lost Sons

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 6:1 – Brothers and sister, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

James 5:19-20 – My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Hebrews 10:26-27 – For is we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledgeofthetruth,nofurthersacrificeforsinsisleftforus,butonlyacertainfearfulexpectationofjudgmentandafuryoffirethatwillconsumeGod’senemies.

1 Peter 2:25 – For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

BAPTISM Romans 6: 1-7 – we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

Colossians 2:12 – Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.

Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Acts 2:38 – Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Galatians 3:27 – For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

CONTINUED

Mark 1:9 – Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

Acts 8:36-38 – Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?” So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

BLESSING REQUESTS (FIELDS | CROPS | SCHOOLS | FELT NEEDS) Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will besatisfied.

Luke 12:27-28–Considerhowtheflowersgrow;theydonotworkorspin.YetItellyou, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothesthewildgrass,whichisheretodayandtomorrowistossedintothefiretoheattheoven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith!

Proverbs 30:8b-9 – Do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portionofbread,lestIbecomesatisfiedandactdeceptivelyandsay,“WhoistheLord?”Orlest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

Matthew 6:25-34 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry aboutclothing?Thinkabouthowtheflowerofthefieldgrow;theydonotworkorspin.YetI tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is howGodclothesthewildgrass,whichisheretodayandtomorrowistossedintothefireto heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

James 1:16-17 – Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is not variation or the slightest hint of change.

DIVORCE | ONE SPOUSE BORN AGAIN, THE OTHER NOT 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 – To the married I give this command, - not I, but the Lord – a wife should not divorce a husband (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife. If a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she shouldnotdivorcehim.Fortheunbelievinghusbandissanctifiedbecauseofthewife,andthe unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now


they are holy. But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?

Malachi 2:13-16 – You also do this: You cover the alter of the Lord with tears – as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays attention to the offering nor accepts it favorable from you. Yet you ask, “Why?” The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law. No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and the one who is guilty of violence,” says the Lord who rules over all. “Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.”

Matthew 19:3b-9 – They asked, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united withhiswife,andthetwowillbecomeoneflesh’?Sotheyarenolongertwo,butoneflesh.Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” They said to him, “Why then didMosescommandustogiveacertificateofdismissalandtodivorceher?”Jesussaidtothem “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from thebeginningitwasnotthisway.NowIsaytoyouthatwhoeverdivorceshiswife,exceptfor immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”

Romans 7:1-3 – For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.

FALSE PROPHETS | TEACHERS | WITCHDOCTORS 2 Peter 2:1 – But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachersamongyou.Thesefalseteacherswillinfiltrateyourmidstwithdestructiveheresies,even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.

1 John 4:1 – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the word. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the fleshisfromGod,byeveryspiritthatdoesnotconfessJesusisnotfromGod,andthisisthe spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.

2 John 1:7 – For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confessJesusasChristcomingintheflesh.Thispersonisthedeceiverandtheantichrist!

James 3:1 – Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.

Matthew 24:11 – And many false prophets will appear and deceive many.

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2 Timothy 4:3-4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12–Theremustneverbefoundamongyouanyonewhosacrificeshissonordaughterinthefire,anyonewhopracticesdivination,anomenreader,asoothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord.

2 Kings 23:24 – Josiah also got rid of the ritual pits used to conjure up spirits, the magicians, personal idols, disgusting images, and all the detestable idols that had appeared in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way he carried out the terms of the law recorded on the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the LORD’s temple.

Leviticus 19:31 – Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by the. I am the Lord your God.

NOT READY John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Romans 5:6 – For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8-10 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christdiedforus.Since,therefore,wehavenowbeenjustifiedbyhisblood,muchmoreshall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 6:10 (If the work of Christ isn’t enough once for all, then it’s not enough at all)

Hebrews 3:12-15 – Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart,leadingyoutofallawayfromthelivingGod.Butexhortoneanothereveryday,aslong as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For wehavecometoshareinChrist,ifindeedweholdouroriginalconfidencefirmtotheend.As it is written, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

POLYGAMY 1 Timothy 3:2 – The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,


1 Timothy 3:12 – Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.

Titus 1:6 – The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher.

Deuteronomy 17:17a – Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24 – The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man’s side and closed up theplacewithflesh.ThentheLordGodmadeawomanfromtheparthehadtakenoutofthe man, and he brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bonesandfleshofmyflesh;thisonewillbecalled‘woman,’forshewastakenoutofman.”That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family.

Exodus 21:10–Ifhetakesanotherwife,hemustnotdiminishthefirstone’sfood,herclothing, or her marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, then she will go out free, without paying money.

POVERTY VS. WEALTH Psalms 49:16-17 – Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies! For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.

Proverbs 30:8b-9 – Do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portionofbread,lestIbecomesatisfiedandactdeceptivelyandsay,“WhoistheLORD?”Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

Mark 12:41-44–Thenhesatdownoppositetheofferingbox,andwatchedthecrowdputting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. He called his disciples and saidtothem,“Itellyouthetruth,thispoorwidowhasputmoreintotheofferingboxthanall the others. For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”

Proverbs 37:16-17 – The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly.

Proverbs 22:2 – The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the creator of them both.

Romans 8:35 – Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

1 Samuel 2:7–TheLordimpoverishesandmakeswealthy;hehumblesandheexalts.

PRAYER | HOW TO TALK TO GOD Matthew 6:9-15 – So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. “For if you forgive other their

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sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. See also the Talk with God handout to shows how you can remember this prayer outline using your hand.

Daniel 10:12-13–Thenhesaidtome,“Don’tbeafraid,Daniel,forfromtheveryfirstdayyou applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.

OneofthegreatparadoxesoftheChristianfaithisthatGodwantsustotalktoHimabouteverything that is going on in our lives, even though He already knows everything. So why pray? If you’ve ever wrestled with that question, perhaps the thoughts of the 19th-century preacher R. A. Torrey can help. Among the reasons he gave for prayer are these:

Because there is a devil, and prayer is a God-appointed way to resist Him (Eph. 6:12-13, 18).

Because prayer is God’s way for us to obtain what we need from Him (Lk. 11:3-13; Jas. 4:2).

BecauseprayeristhemeansGodhasappointedforustofind“gracetohelpintimeofneed” (Heb. 4:16).

BecauseprayerwiththanksgivingisGod’swayforustoobtainfreedomfromanxietyandtoreceive “the peace of God” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Besides these reasons, it’s enough to read the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” and realize that God wants us to talk with Him. Yes, He is all-knowing, but He also desires our fellowship. When we seek God’s face in prayer, we strengthen our relationship with Him. That’s the most important reason to pray. —JDB

(Our Daily Bread, November 25, 1998)

SALVATION AT A WEDDING Ask probing questions to see what they are truly meaning. Make sure they do not think they are saved because they were married in a church or at a Christian wedding service. Point them back to the gospel – belief in Jesus is the only thing that saves us.

John 14:6 – Jesus replied, “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Fatherexceptthroughme.”

See also Sharing the Gospel handout and the works-based salvation section.

SICKNESS | HIV+/AIDS | HEALING | HEALTH | HOSPITALS Luke 7:21 – At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind.

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 – Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn inthefleshwasgiventome,amessengerofSatantotroubleme–sothatIwouldnotbecome arrogant. I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may


reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutionsanddifficultiesforthesakeofChrist,forwheneverIamweak,thenIamstrong.

Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

3 John 2:2-4 – Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came andtestifiedtoyourtruth,justasyouarelivingaccordingtothetruth.Ihavenogreaterjoythan this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

Psalm 103:3-4 – Praise the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds! He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases

Matthew 14:14 – As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

James 5:14 – Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Isaiah 38:16-17 – O sovereign master, your decrees can give men life; may years of life berestoredtome.Restoremyhealthandpreservemylife.Look,thegriefIexperiencedwasformybenefit.Youdeliveredmefromthepitofoblivion.Foryouremovedallmysinsfrom your sight.

SUFFERING | TOUGH TIMES | HARD CONDITIONS Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Psalm 37:16-22 – Better is the little the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord sustains the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they will have abundance. But the wicked will perish; and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures, they vanish – like smoke they vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, but those cursed by Him will be cut off. (be aware of the imagery here)

2 Timothy 3:1–Butunderstandthis,thatinthelastdaysdifficulttimeswillcome.1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:27 – “I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, inhungerandthirst,oftenwithoutfood,incoldandexposure.(Paul’sresume’)

James 1:2-4 – Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

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Romans 5:1-5–Therefore,havingbeenjustifiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthrough our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction byfaithintoHisgraceinwhichwestand;andweexultinhopeofthegloryofGod.Andnotonlythis,butwealsoexultinourtribulations,knowingthattribulationbringsaboutperseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hears thought the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Genesis 37-50 – The story of Joseph

JobJesus – suffering servant

Evil and suffering isn’t evidence against God. “If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be mad at because he hasn’t stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have (at the same moment) a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for allow it to continue that you can’t know.” If you abandon belief in God, does it somehow make the problem of evil easier to handle? The evolutionary mechanism of natural selection depends on death, destruction, and violence of the strong against the weak. (The Reason for God – Tim Keller)

WATER (DRINKING) | WELLS | BORE HOLES Psalm 148:4-5 – Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he gave the command and they came into existence.

John 4:14 – But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.

Proverbs 11:25 – A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides waterforotherswillhimselfbesatisfied.(provideforthoseinneed;thekindactwillbereciprocated)

Water of Life – Itssource,inGodJeremiah2:13;Psalm36:9Itsflow,fromChristJohn4:14; Revelation 22:1 Its channels, through believers John 7:38-9 Its receivers, the thirsty Isaiah 55:1; Rev. 22:6 (From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, George W. Noble, Chicago)

WORKS-BASED SALVATION | SALVATION BY MERIT Titus 3:5 – He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Galatians 3:2-14 – The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish?


AlthoughyoubeganwiththeSpirit,areyounowtryingtofinishbyhumaneffort?Haveyou suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing. Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, so then, understanding that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doingeverythingwritteninthebookofthelaw.”NowitisclearnooneisjustifiedbeforeGod by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

Philippians 3:3-9 – For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit ofGod,exultinChristJesus,anddonotrelyonhumancredentials–thoughminetooaresignificant.Ifsomeonethingshehasgoodreasonstoputconfidenceinhumancredentials,I have more: I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I loved according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless. But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of the Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.

WORKING ACROSS CULTURESTHE CHURCH PLANTER ON MISSION TRIPS, AND WORKING WELL

ACROSS CULTURES (An interview with Oscar Muriu from Christianity Today, 2007 Spring Issue)

Africans are not looked on as colonialists or imperialists. Usually Africans enter a society at the lowest rank. We are non-threatening. We tend to be looked down upon. Jesus himself entered society at the most vulnerable point, as an infant, threatened, unwanted—a refugee. This tends to be the door that Africans use to enter communities around the world.

Americans don’t do missions that way. Americans always enter from the top. Because they’re well resourced, they represent a majority culture. If you try to enter quietly into the city of Nairobi, we all know that you’re there!ButwhenIgointoLondon,Icanenterquietly—exceptfor the police, people don’t notice me. I think that actually puts us at an advantage in terms of the communities around the world that we can enter.

What must Americans learn, and unlearn, to be effective agents of God’s mission in the world?When you look at the Scriptures, Paul’s model of missions is very different from the model of Western missions in the last 100 years. The West has designed a model of missions that only works for the West.

It depends on a monetary unit that is recognizable internationally, it depends on a strong economy that has a lot of disposable income, so that a lot of missionaries don’t even go to the church for support. They go to the general community, to their networks of friends and family. In Kenya, you cannot support yourself that way as a missionary.

Likewise, Americans enter the economically depressed communities of the world with a lot of resources. They come and stay in hotels. Paul’s model says, “Stay with whomever opens their door to you.”

When I come to America, I depend on the goodwill of Christians in this country to open their doors, because I can’t afford to stay in hotels. But when Americans come to Kenya, they prefer to stay in the hotels.

We are a very hospitable people. But we’ve found that Americans want their space. They want to be picked up from a hotel in the morning and be dropped back in the evening. And they can afford to pay for their space. They can afford to eat what they want. They can, in a sense, travel with a little bubble of America around them.

But the two-thirds world cannot afford this model. In my own country, until recently, when youleftthecountry,youhadtopayanairporttax,collectedinU.S.dollars.I’mnotevenout of my country, and they are refusing my money! And if I pull out my money in this hotel here, they wouldn’t know what to do with it. But you pull out the greenback anywhere around the world, and they’re happy to take it!

So what is the alternative model of missions?Well, Paul presents a model that depends on hospitality. When Africans come into the U.S.,

theygowheretheycanfindhospitality.Thesecondlargest population of Sudanese in the world is in

Minneapolis—St. Paul. When a Sudanese comes intoAmericawithnomoney,that’sthefirst

place he goes. Sure enough, he will know somebody, and he can depend on that network of hospitality.

So we want to be a catalyst in missions, to wake up the African church and say, “We may not be able to use the model

of missions that the West has used, but we have other models.” We can design

new models that do not depend on money. We have our ways of getting into

countries, our ways of surviving in those countries, of enabling one

another.

And what’s your vision for you personally?A legacy of leaders. As a young pastor I was struck by the passage that says, “David was faithful to his own generation.” But Psalm 71, titled a psalm of David,

says, “Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake

me, until I declare your power tothenextgeneration.”David

was not living just for his own generation.Hewaslivingforthenext

generation.

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Soasachurch,wewanttoimpactthenextgeneration,todevelopyoungleaders.That’swhyweplannedforfiveyoungleaderstocometoUrbanawithme—iftheyhadbeengrantedvisas!It’simportantthatwecontinuallyinvestinthenextgeneration.

Your church has a huge vision. How can churches in the West help? We’re used to sending short-term mission teams over to paint walls …

Yes, and after you leave, we repaint many of the walls that you painted! (Laughter.)

Okay, seriously, do short-term mission trips help?They work for the West; they don’t work for us very well. We don’t call them “short-term missions” any more. We call them “short-term learning opportunities.” The problem with calling it a mission is that it implies an agenda. There’s something I need to come and do for you, or to you, to better your life. In reality that doesn’t happen in two weeks. Life is far too complexforthat.

Thegreatestbenefitisthatyoucomeandyoulearn.Unfortunately,notenoughshort-termers are listening to the two-thirds world, who receive them.

Americans tend to be very poorly informed about the world. America generates enough news on its own that its news organizations don’t have space for international news. Yet Americaexportssomanymoviesandsomuchnewsthateverybodyaroundtheworldknows about America, whereas American knows about nobody.

So what happens when there is an interchange?AsaKenyanIwasquitefamiliarwithAmericanlongbeforethefirsttimeIcamehere.Theculture shock for me is minimal. But Americans know almost nothing about Kenya. And so the culture shock when they come is very deep. Some of them see destitute poverty for the firsttimeever.

WhenyouseepovertyinAmerica,onyourtelevision,itissanitized.Butthefirstmarkerof poverty is that it smells. That’s how you know real poverty: the smell. I have watched short-term missioners come in, and I’ve realized, Oh boy, we need to go and debrief quickly. Because they’re weeping, they’re broken, they have an immense sense of guilt. This is more about them than it is about what they came to do.

Are such “learning experiences” the best use of our resources?The problem for Americans is that if a church isn’t doing these things, it isn’t cool, and the youth program isn’t cool. So there’s a lot of pressure for all youth programs to do this. Short-termexperienceshavetheirplace,buttheyneedtobemorecarefullyconstructed.Alltoooftenachurchsays,“We’dliketocomeforashort-termexperience.”

Then they say, in so many words, “We’re going to do A, B, C, D, and we’re in charge.”

We want to say, “Guys, you’re coming as our guests.”

Do you know that when the President of the United States travels, his people take over all the security of the nations he travels to? When he came to East Africa, the airports were completely taken over by Marines. The local policemen were moved out. The attitude was

WORKING ACROSS CULTURES

We don’t trust you. Your people could be terrorists. We’ll do things our way.

Short-term missions tend to be like that: they come and completely take over the agenda, the programs, the life of the church. But that’s not the way you visit a friend.

Besides bringing an agenda, what tends to distinguish the American personality?Americans have two great things going for them culturally. One is that Americans are problem-solvers. Every time I come to the U.S., I like to spend a couple hours in a Wal-Mart. IfindsolutionstoproblemsthatIneverthoughtof!

The rest of the world, even Europe, isn’t so intent on solving inconveniences. We tend to live with our problems. In America you almost never go into a house where the sinks have twotaps,acoldwatertapandahotwatertap,becausethatmeansyouhavetomixthewaterinthesinktogetittotherighttemperature.Youhavethesesinglefaucetsthatmixthe water before it comes out. It makes perfect sense. But that’s a problem the rest of the world wouldn’t even think to solve.

Americans don’t easily live with a problem—they want to solve the problem and move on. The rest of the world is more willing to live with the problems.

The second great thing for Americans is that your educational system teaches people to thinkandtoexpressthemselves.Soachildwhotalksandassertshimselfinconversationisactually awarded higher marks than the one who sits quietly.

How are these traits seen, say, in Africa?Thosetwothingsthataresuchgreatgiftsinthehomecontextbecomeacursewhenyougo into missions. Americans come to Africa, and they want to solve Africa. But you can’t solveAfrica.It’smuchtoocomplexforthat.AndthatreallyfrustratesAmericans.

Andtheassertivenessyouaretaughtinschoolbecomesacurseonthefield.Ioftensayto American missionaries, “When the American speaks, the conversation is over.” The American is usually the most powerful voice at the table. And when the most powerful voice gives its opinion, the conversation is over.

So what should talkative, problem-solving Americans do?I tell Americans: “We’re going into this meeting. Don’t say anything! Sit there and hold your tongue.” When you sit around a table, the people speaking always glance at the person they believeisthemostpowerfulfigureatthetable.Theywilldothatwithyouwhenyou’retheonly American. And at some point, they will ask you: “What do you think?”

Don’tsayanything.Ifyousayanything,reflectbackwithsomethinglike“Ihaveheardsuchwisdomatthistable.Iamveryimpressed.”Andleaveitatthat.Affirmthemforthecontribution they have made. Don’t give your own opinion.

Americansfindthatalmostimpossible.Theydonotknowhowtoholdtheirtongue.Theysittheresquirming,becausethey’reconditionedtoexpresstheiropinions.It’sastrengthathome,butitbecomesacurseonthefield.

In a sense western missions has been marked by that. But isn’t it strange that Jesus not only entered society incarnate at the weakest point, as a defenseless child who needed the care of his host community, but he also told his disciples: “Do not go with money; do not go with

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a second pair of shoes; go in a stance of vulnerability; be dependent on the communities you visit”? Isn’t it interesting that for 30 years he doesn’t speak out; doesn’t reveal himself; he remains quiet, and only after 30 years of listening and learning the culture does he begin to speak.

So how can Americans communicate well with Africans?When we communicate in Africa, we are very guarded in what we say. We don’t want to offend. Westerners say that Africans never tell you what they really think. They tell you what you want to hear. And yes, that’s true! Because from our perspective, every engagement between two people always has the potential of leading to a lifelong relationship, or preventing a lifelong friendship.

Africa is a very relational continent. It’s the relationships that make society work.

In the U.S. things work irrespective of relationships; in fact, if you have a relationship, it can sometimes work against you. In Africa it’s the opposite. So we are always guarded and gracious in our communication. We want to guard the relationship. When the Bible says, “Speak the truth in love,” we err on the side of love. The possibility of a relationship means I cannot tell you the total truth until I am secure in this relationship with you, until I know that the truth will not hurt this relationship.

Youdoitdifferently.Speakingthetruthhasahigherpremiuminyourcontext,soyouareunguarded. You speak the truth, call a spade a spade, at whatever cost. And if the relationship suffers, well, that’s too bad, the important thing is that the truth was spoken.

We never do that. I’ve had to learn to be more assertive in my dealings with Americans just so they would hear me! I have had to learn to speak truth more directly. Americans have to learn to listen to the relational side of things.

Your church has developed some deep partnerships with churches in the United States. What have been the key ingredients of those partnerships?Ineachofthesechurchesit’sbeenimportanttofindabridgingrelationship—someonewhocomes in quietly, speaks slowly, is a good listener, and is trying to learn.

Many churches in America have been inspired to think about the needs of the world, but they may not know of anyone who can play that role. How does a church in North America cultivate those kinds of people?There are several starting points. First, many churches should start with cross-cultural opportunities nearby. The most important is the racial divide. The tensions that govern that divide, things left unsaid, presumptions, stereotyping, are the same as at the international level. But at the international level they’re more easily disguised so that you think they don’t exist.Whereashere,intheracialdivide,youknowtheyexist,they’retheelephantintheroom, and you know they have to be brought up at some point, otherwise the conversation isn’treallygoinganywhere.SoIthinkthat’sactuallythefirstcrossculturaltrainingground.

A second would be internationals who have come to live in America. They are wonderful bridges. They understand Third World perspectives. They can be your “consultants.”

WORKING ACROSS CULTURES

Thethirdapproachistosendindividuals.WehaveanexchangeprogramwithChapelHill Bible Church in North Carolina and with Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin, where we exchangeourbuddingleaderstoserveonthepastoralstaffforoneyear.Afterthatyearinanotherculture,theycomebackandbecomeabridgeperson.Thatexchangegivesthose individuals the gift of seeing that the world doesn’t always work from your cultural perspective. If you send us a young leader, we will do all we can to ensure that he doesn’t incarnate into the missionary community in Nairobi, but that he incarnates into the African community! A year is a short time, but when those leaders go back, they can think biculturally.

Are there enough such churches in Africa to handle this level of partnership? I’m afraid once we publish this article, you’ll be overwhelmed with churches wanting to do this with you.In the whole continent of Africa there are increasingly more. What you need to become bicultural is a mentor, someone you can sit with on a weekly basis who will help you begin to understand our world from our perspective. It doesn’t have to be a church like the Chapel; it could be a church in the slums that partners with a church like ours. In a cosmopolitan place like Nairobi, where so many have traveled overseas, there are countless potential mentors. And in the whole of Africa, there are multitudes of such churches.

The task we at the Chapel have is to say to other churches, wake up, there’s a golden opportunity here to craft a new model of missions. So come, learn with us. There is enormous potential for us all to learn together.

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MY STORY

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