Changes

If you know me at all you probably know that I don’t like change. I don’t like when things are “shaken up” b/c it makes me feel unsettled. But I’m always grateful for change in the end because I learn new things about myself and how God wants me to live for Him. This is probably not new news to the majority of you who read this blog (however I’ve been wondering lately if anyone but Arlen reads it anymore b/c no one ever comments) but it may be news to someone. In the last several months I have made the decision to switch mission agencies from ABWE to Pioneers. Why the switch? Well, it all started with a conversation I had with Shane Latham, my friend and teammate, back in February and God just took it from there. The best way to sum it up is to say that my philosophy and style of ministry fit better with core values of Pioneers than it does with ABWE. ABWE is a terrific organization and I have several good friends who are missionaries with them. But for me this is just a better fit. Since I began attending Westwind, God has been refocusing my priorities and showing me just how the Body of Christ is supposed to function. And let me tell you it has rocked my world! I have never before seen this kind of unity in the Body of Christ and it’s something I don’t want to lose sight of!! What instantly drew me to Pioneers was that they are nondenominational. And the freedom they give their missionaries to partner with anyone and any organization to fulfill the Great Commission…regardless of denomination or location as long as they believe in salvation by grace through faith. This, in my book, is the only crucial issue out there. Basically, why reinvent the wheel if someone is already doing what you want to do? It’s the one thing I took away from my study of “Experiencing God” several years ago. God wants us to find where He is at work in the world and GET INVOLVED. It’s very simple but we tend to make it way more complicated than it’s intended to be. If God is at work why in the world would we ever choose to NOT be involved in what He’s doing? If we want to send Brazilian missionaries and church planters to Portuguese speaking countries around the world and we find someone who is already doing that why would we not partner with them simply b/c of their denomination? It’s been revolutionary for me! When Jesus said “Go into all the world” He didn’t follow that with “and make (insert religious label here).” He said “Go…..make disciples.”

So change is on the horizon. And today I am leaving to spend a week at Pioneers headquarters in Orlando, FL for Candidate Orientation to “officially” kick this all off. But first, a stop at Bob and Sue in Deltona, FL and a barbeque on the beach tomorrow. I love being a missionary……..