Engaging Missions

Sean Steckbeck is a missionary and church planter in Israel. He often uses the “Person of Peace” framework for evangelism and discipleship and is seeing multiplication in house churches and discipleship that is beyond his ability to count. In this week's interview he shares a little about that and also some striking stories of God's faithfulness throughout his ministry.

I’ve known Sean since he was in high school, which was actually a much darker time in my life. Since then God has been very good to me and Sean has stepped out into full-time ministry. In this week’s interview, he shares a number of great insights that have formed how he’s ministering to people now. And he also shares some news that stands in stark contrast to what we often see on the news.

Sean shares a time when God intervened in an amazing way as he and his family were returning to Israel.

Sean shares one key question that God used to really shake him to his core as he and his family were approaching burnout in the ministry. And then he shares how his perspective has changed since that time.

Yeshua deserves the obedience of the nations. He deserves my obedience.

It's not about ministry success; it's about my worship to Him.

Obedience is worship.

I don't see ministry as work. I see it as worship

Sean spent over two years researching the ministry model that they have been using since about 2007. It's simple, biblical, and is growing exponentially. And the results defy what we see on the evening news; Jews and Arabs are ministering to each other.

The Kingdom has a different story

Sean shares how the Person of Peace model that they are using is different from traditional evangelistic methods. In his words, evangelism is transformed into a treasure hunt where the treasure is finding the person who God is already preparing.

And the wonderful thing about this model is that it isn't specific to “global” missions. Instead, it is something that can be, and is being, applied wherever we are, wherever God has called us. Even if we're called to the marketplace.

Sean shares two things that really encourage missionaries while they're on the mission field.

My identity is in Christ and not in the ministry.

Love and bless your enemies.

CLICK TO TWEET

Every letter of encouragement is like water to his soul.

• Pray, pray, pray
• Meditating on what it means that Yeshua (Jesus) is King in his life and what that means to those around him.

• Train and Multiply Resources by George Patterson
• Church Planting Resources by David Watson

T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution

Sean shares what he would do with his family the first 2-3 days if he found himself in a new country. And then what he would do the next few days.

Meditate on Yeshua as King. On what it means. Every day.

Email: [email protected]

• T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution
• Train and Multiply Resources by George Patterson
• Church Planting Resources by David Watson
• Email: [email protected]
• Ratings Pinterest Board
• Ratings on Engaging Missions

Mentioned in this episode:

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I’ve been anticipating this interview with Corben Barber for a few weeks. He’s a recent graduate of a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with the Nashville base for Youth With a Mission (YWAM). After completing his DTS, Corben went on a two month trip to Uganda.

Never lose sight of the Gospel, with Corben Barber

Corben graduated from high school last year and went almost directly into Youth With a Mission (YWAM). After completing the study portion of his Discipleship Training School (DTS), he and the team he was on went to Uganda.

His team just returned to the States a few weeks ago and I’ve been hoping to get him on the show ever since. In past weeks, we’ve heard from people currently on the mission field, some who have transitioned into the marketplace, or who lead missions-related organizations in the US. But Corben is our first guest who just returned from a short-term mission trip.

How far am I willing to go before the Gospel isn't real enough? - Corben Barber

Corben shares with us what crutches and digestive problems have to do with a lady who wanted to receive the Gospel.

I see other people and the Gospel doesn’t seem real to them. So why should it be real to me if it’s not real to them?

Their trip involved a service project with aquaponics but when they completed their project, they realized something that made them wonder why they were really there. Their discovery “destroyed” their plans for the rest of the trip but led to a personal revelation.

Maybe our agenda isn’t God’s agenda.

Corben has completed his time with YWAM and is seeking God for his next assignment. While he's in this time of waiting to see what's next, he wants to be focused on a couple of specific things. But he also realizes that just because he's in a holding pattern doesn't mean God can't use him right now.

Corben mentions how just sharing lunch and having a real conversation as friends can encourage a missionary. That's something that we can do with anyone in our lives.

Corben realized something when he returned that he wishes he would have known because it would have made re-entry easier.

Don’t lose sight of the Gospel - Corben Barber

While random financial gifts are great, adding a pause and one simple word to, “How are you doing?” made all the difference.

Corben has taken one practice that was mandatory while he was in Discipleship Training School and made it part of his life in a slightly different way.

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Corben shares some advice that focuses differently on the first day than the final six.

Never lose sight of the Gospel, even upon coming home. There are people all around you who are hungry for the things you’ve learned but they don’t know what they’re hungry for.

And, don't be afraid to look like a fool

Facebook

Email (listen to the interview for the address)

* The Bible on Audible (free if you try their service)

* The Bible on Amazon

* Facebook

* Email (listen to the interview for the address)

* Ratings Pinterest Board

* Ratings on Engaging Missions

This week I’m really happy to bring you Brent Bazler (alias), who works with the Nashville base for Youth With a Mission (YWAM). In our time together, he shared some amazing stories of God’s faithfulness and offered a two-part framework for encouraging, supporting, and blessing missionaries in unconventional ways as well as the “M.L.P.” framework for making ministry decisions.

Before becoming a missionary, Brent spent time as an educator, living for the summer mission trips until it finally became clear that he and his family needed to step into full-time ministry in order to be obedient to where God was leading them. Since that transition they have faced challenges and also seen amazing examples of God’s faithfulness.

I so enjoy the way Brent delights in The Lord and trusts so fully. I’m sure that you will enjoy this interview.

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Ps 121:8

1. How a 16th floor apartment, and angel, and a roll of film are part of the same story
2. What happened just before a dentist appointment
3. How God confirmed that Brent’s children had the right idea when it came time for a significatn life change (and investment)

How God used a group of ladies from a church in California to challenge Brent and his family. And how that led to a new direction in their ministry.

Are you preferring to be a martyr when you’re supposed to be a multiplier?

The one thing that Brent wishes he would have known when he just started out. And how he’s seen God’s faithfulness.

• How ministry and children fit together for Brent and his wife.
• A fun way that YWAM Nashville is supporting their community (hint: you can find out more and even be involved if you sign up here before May 10, 2014)
• Some other exciting things that involve both Brent and YWAM Nashville

There are a number of different missions organizations. Each tends to have their own focus and I believe that all are valuable. In our discussion, Brent offered up some things that he believes make YWAM unique.

• YWAM is an extremely flexible organization, willing to move on short notice
• YWAM Nashville is good at building and maintaining relationships.
• Find out what an umbrella and a C.U.P. have to do with worship and the ministry direction of YWAM Nashville.
• The “M.L.P.” framework for making ministry decisions.
• Ministry (What should I do?)
• Location (Where should I go?)
• People (Who should I be involved with?)

Brent offers some great “outside the box” ideas for what people can do to encourage and support missionaries. He shares a couple of ways that people have helped him and his family in the past. And he offers a framework for being able to discover those unconventional ways to support and encourage missionaries.

What is a heart need that a #missionary might be too embarrassed to ask for help in?

Read the proverbs every day and do what they say.

How Brent’s parents made a financial sacrifice that has paid dividends for the rest of their lives.

Brent says that a key for him has been reading God’s word and praying some very particular kinds of prayers.

TNTmpd – donor relationship software that not only tracks donors, but also helps build long-term relationships between missionaries and their supporters.

• The Permanent Revolution
• Reframing Your Ministry

What Brent would do first if he found himself unexpectedly in a new place is based on prayer and experience. He knows that the first week is critical. He would focus first on the things that are most critical but would also put a laptop to good use doing…

Take steps to finish the last thing you remember God telling you to do.

Ask God what is the one thing you should do right now.

Email (listen to the interview for the address)

• YWAM Nashville
• The Permanent Revolution
• Reframing Your Ministry
• Run for the Nations 5k
• TNTmpd (dontation software)
• Ratings Pinterest Board
• Ratings on Engaging Missions

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I’m excited to bring you a special guest this week – my wife, Katherine Entzminger. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t be interested in something like this but she’s really felt God moving her to share some of the stories from her time as a missionary.

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.

Right now Katherine is a full-time homemaker but she spent about 4 ½ years as a missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). While in YWAM, she traveled to Mexico and Central America, Africa, India, and Central Europe. She also spent time as part of the support staff on a YWAM base.

After her time with YWAM, she went back to school and re-entered the marketplace. And that was all before she and I ever met.

• One often-misattributed quote that has shaped how Katherine approaches both friendship and ministry
• How Katherine ended up lost on a street, faced with armed military and how God brought her and another missionary back to where they were safe
• One thing that God showed her that has released forgiveness in her life
• What’s exciting Katherine right now and what she’s looking forward to
• One thing you can do to encourage a missionary today
• Some advice Katherine was given that sets her up to receive help
• One thing that someone did to support her while she was a missionary and even while she was transitioning back into the marketplace
• Internet Resource: Facebook
• Book Recommendation: No Compromise
• Amazon
• iBooks
• What Katherine would focus on for the first seven days in a new country and what she would do to ensure she wouldn’t be distracted from it.
• Best contact: email (listen to the episode)

• Facebook
• No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green
• Leave a rating and review
• Ratings on Pinterest
• Ratings on Engaging Missions
• Katherine’s email address (listen to the episode)

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This week we’re spending some time talking with Garland Sam. Garland is the pastor of a church called Discover in the business district of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and is the regional director of Scripture Union that spans from Pietermaritzburg to the region of KwaZulu-Natal

I’m excited to be bringing Autumn Kerr to you this week. She’s the executive director of Visiting Orphans, a Nashville-based ministry that partners with orphanages, schools, and ministries around the world that care for children and communities. They organize short-term trips for churches, schools, and other organizations to places like Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Ukraine. In our time together, Autumn shared several stories of God’s amazing grace in her life and ministry.

[bctt tweet="Be an advocate!"]

• One scripture that many people dislike but has been a key to Autumn’s life
• How a job change turned into an opportunity for God’s provision and a new direction
• How she was able to make it through the process of adopting a boy from Ethiopia as a single woman
• How reading The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?set her up for her first mission trip
• What her team has done over the last year and how they are able to create ministry teams out of people who have never met
• Where you can go to learn more and get involved
• How you can increase your support for a missionary or ministry without increasing your financial commitment
• The advice that has helped Autumn be available to do her best at the things God has called her to do
• The significance of hundreds of painted tree leaves
• The habit that has allowed her to start a personal blog and is the key to raising her adopted son as a single mother
• Resources:
• Visiting Orphans
• My Single Adoption
• Book Recommendation: Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible
• How she would take advantage of the situation if she found herself in a new country.
• Her recommendation for how to let God guide decisions

[bctt tweet=“Consider it all joy..."]

• Visiting Orphans
• My Single Adoption
• A Discipleship Journey: A Guide for Making Disciples That Make Disciple-Makers
• Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible
• The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”