1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,960 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,520 We hope today's message is encouraging to you. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,480 We're celebrating Global Sunday because we have a global God. 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,840 If you take a journey through the Scriptures in the very first 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,000 book of the Bible, you're going to hear that God wants to make a 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,080 nation, but not for the nation to be known as being a nation in 7 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:27,960 and of itself. He says to Abraham, I'm going to 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,880 make you a father. I'm going to create a nation. 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,120 And you know what? Their job is to be a blessing so 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,880 that the rest of the world would get to meet God. 11 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:40,320 So a nation that would be a blessing to all nations. 12 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:45,440 God has always been a generational nationwide, all 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,160 tribes, all peoples, all tongues, kind of God. 14 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,520 God has said of himself, I'm not willing that anybody would 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,240 perish. It's my heart that we would 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,200 bring the gospel to the very ends of the earth. 17 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,960 If you start in Genesis, you see the heart of the Father is for 18 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,280 all nations. And if you end in Revelation, 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,520 you'll see this beautiful picture that God describes, a 20 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,040 tree planted by a stream in the new heavens and the new earth. 21 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,040 And you know what the leaves are for on that tree? 22 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,560 The healing of the nations. God has always been and will 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,760 always be the God of the nations. 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,600 So here's where we get in trouble. 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,800 We begin to think that the world that we're living in, right? 26 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,080 This world that we're focused on, maybe even living in 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,920 America, which is a great place to live, that our job is to have 28 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,000 a great country. Our job is not alone to have a 29 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,920 great country. Our job is to build the Kingdom 30 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,360 of heaven, the Kingdom of God that supersedes anyone nation. 31 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,800 And so today we're lifting our eyes out of our region to look 32 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,440 at the globe, to see what mission partners we have parted 33 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,200 with at Illuminate Church and to begin to allow the Lord to give 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,800 you his heart for the nation's. So if you leave today with a 35 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:07,000 desire that beats like the heart of God, or a specific country, a 36 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,480 specific ministry or a specific calling, then we have done what 37 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,320 God has set us out to do. Are you guys ready to go on this 38 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:15,680 journey? Yes. 39 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,760 Did you know that we are called as disciples of Jesus to care 40 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,920 for the poor, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to 41 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:26,520 set the captive free, to rescue the oppressed, to educate, 42 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,240 elevate regions by equipping people within their own country, 43 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,920 to lead, to educate, to be pastors, to build churches, to 44 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:40,040 build safe havens and safe houses and rescue spots for 45 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,440 those that are voiceless, oppressed and overlooked. 46 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,840 We are called to spread the gospel, the good news of Jesus, 47 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,440 and with that comes the call to make disciples. 48 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,840 When Jesus said I want you to go, he said I want you to go and 49 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,160 baptize all nations. But then he followed it with 50 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,400 this in Matthew 28, verse 20. Teach these new disciples to 51 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,600 obey all the commands I have given you. 52 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,840 Our job is not only to bring the gospel, it's to raise disciples. 53 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,240 We are disciples who make disciples in this house and 54 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,320 across the globe at Illuminate Church. 55 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:24,080 Every dollar that you give, 10% of it is immediately ushered 56 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,920 into a giving portal. And out of that giving, we have 57 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:30,040 mission partners. We have missionaries that we 58 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,000 support. We support local, regional, and 59 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,400 global mission partners. And today, we're going to bring 60 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,240 to the platform some of those mission partners as well as 61 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,200 someone that's just like you. If you would welcome with me 62 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:51,800 right now to the platform Kim Lenaway, Joyce Keepai from 63 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:59,400 Kenya, Africa, Tammy Shannon and Scott Batson who's serving in 64 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,520 Nicaragua as they're getting settled. 65 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,680 Let me just remind you the words of Jesus. 66 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,080 After Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, he spent 67 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,200 40 days with his disciples and a crowd that were willing to 68 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,680 believe that he was actually who he said he was. 69 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:19,880 And in his precious time, he said to them, I want you. 70 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,520 He gave that Great Commission, go and make disciples of all 71 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,800 nations. And then in Acts 1/8, he said, 72 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,480 you're going to be my witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit. 73 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,800 And he named some specific places. 74 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,360 Now, as you hear these places, I need you to know that he was 75 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,120 standing in Jerusalem. Everyone say Jerusalem. 76 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:43,360 So he said, I want you to take this mission and this message to 77 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,720 Jerusalem, right where you are. Everybody knows you have people 78 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,040 around you right where you are that need the gospel. 79 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,280 Yes. And then he said, I want you to 80 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:54,680 take it to Judea. Judea would be like Osceola 81 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,840 County spreading around a little bit, right? 82 00:04:56,840 --> 00:04:58,240 We're going to cover the whole area. 83 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,280 And Jesus said, I want you to do it right where you are and right 84 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:02,960 where you live. Expand your thinking. 85 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,760 And then he said something really crazy to the people that 86 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,240 were listening. He said, I want you to go to 87 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,800 Samaria where you're going to cross political boundaries, 88 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,120 language, culture. You're going to have to share 89 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,160 the gospel with people you don't agree with that you think are 90 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,640 sinners that shouldn't be touched by God. 91 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,160 Let that stretch your theology a little bit. 92 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,280 You're called to meet people right where you are with the 93 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:30,160 gospel, expand your region and cross racial, cultural, 94 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,720 political, economical boundaries with the gospel. 95 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,320 And then he said, in case that's not enough, take it to the ends 96 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,840 of the earth. And so when Jesus said, OK, 97 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:43,560 guys, what do you think about this mission? 98 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:47,960 You know what they said? Are you going to fix the 99 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:53,360 problems here in Israel? Jesus said, I'm going to give 100 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,360 you power by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to the ends of 101 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,160 the earth. And they, just like we would do, 102 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,680 said, but Jesus, what about our stuff? 103 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,280 Are you going to make it right here in Israel? 104 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,960 And Jesus, of course, cares about what happens right where 105 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,240 we are. But he said, lift your eyes. 106 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,960 The mission is bigger, broader than you can even understand. 107 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,640 But if you will follow me, you will see and experience things 108 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:23,000 that are miraculous, that are taking the gospel to the ends of 109 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,800 the earth. So this morning we're going to 110 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,880 think bigger. And if you're with me and you're 111 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,720 ready to receive that, would you open your hands as a posture 112 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,000 before the Lord and say, Jesus, I want you to stretch my 113 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,080 thinking, stretch my understanding of where you're 114 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:40,360 calling me to serve. And in specific, Holy Spirit, 115 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,280 stir us to show us where to join in prayer, in giving, and in 116 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:47,720 going. In the name of Jesus, we pray. 117 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,480 Amen. Amen. 118 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,280 So this morning we are focusing on those 3 categories. 119 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:56,680 We're talking about the mission Jesus has given us and the call 120 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,960 that each one of us has to pray, give and go. 121 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,840 Everybody say pray, say give and go. 122 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,000 And so this morning we are welcomed by the continent of 123 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,440 Africa, in the country of Kenya, representing a mission in 124 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,920 Nicaragua and a mission trip to Ukraine, as well as all over the 125 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,480 world. So as you can see, we're already 126 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,120 getting a picture that this is bigger than we can imagine, 127 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,360 right? Yes. 128 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:28,240 So Joyce, you grew up in Kenya and the Lord came to you and met 129 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,640 you. Would you tell us how you 130 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,680 learned about Jesus's love? Thank you very much. 131 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:42,480 In my village God sent the church to come to my village to 132 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,240 preach the gospel and I gave my life to Jesus. 133 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:52,040 After some time my sister and my mother and they taught me the 134 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,600 word of God. After some time I because of the 135 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:01,600 influence of the Holy Spirit and the power of salvation, I said 136 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:08,680 no to female genital mutilation with my younger sister and then 137 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:13,800 we had to run away because the community is hostile because 138 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:18,360 that is their culture to circumcise girls to cut them. 139 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:23,680 But I said no and we stayed together with my sister just the 140 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,000 same way we said yes to Jesus to salvation. 141 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:33,559 I ran away with my sister like 5 hours to get to yeah, to the 142 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,600 home, the Masai home where I we grew up. 143 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:42,559 I went to school, primary and secondary school and the 144 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,920 university. But when I went to the home, I 145 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,400 met other girls. We had a good time. 146 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,720 It was a lot of struggles. There was no food. 147 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,600 The church was not able to provide for us, but we were 148 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,120 happy. We are safe in the hands of God 149 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,520 and we are protected in the church. 150 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:08,440 We started by sleeping in the chairs in the church and then 151 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:12,720 the charge. Later we got a shelter from the 152 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,040 the Times Square Church pastor David Wilkerson. 153 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:22,120 Yes, he built for us a shelter, but before that we used to sleep 154 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,680 just on the floor. But we were at least grateful 155 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,520 that God has protected us. And we all ran away with the 156 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,240 same clothes and we shared the clothes. 157 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,080 When you are at the home, we shared the clothes, but the good 158 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,880 thing that we are happy that Jesus is in our hearts and we 159 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,480 are able to run away. Let me help everyone understand 160 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,160 just a little bit more. So Joyce is sharing that she 161 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,600 lived in a community where the gospel came to them, but within 162 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,440 that culture, girls, women in particular, and young girls were 163 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,200 oppressed, abused in the form a form of sex trafficking 164 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,440 basically. And so she received Jesus. 165 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,360 You help me if I'm saying it incorrectly. 166 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,760 She received Jesus and then had the courage. 167 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,440 How old were you when you ran away? 168 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:11,160 I. Was 9. 169 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,200 She was nine years old and ran. How far did you run? 170 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,720 How long? 65 kilometers. 65 kilometers and 171 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:23,680 9 year old ran away from and through all kinds of danger and 172 00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:25,280 peril. In the forest. 173 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,200 In the forest, My pasta. Yeah. 174 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,320 So we couldn't use the road that people are using. 175 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,560 We had to pass through the forest so that nobody can trace 176 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:37,280 us where we are because. They were looking. 177 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,920 For us, yes, and also our mother back in the village, she was 178 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:47,280 also running away because the community think she's the reason 179 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:51,520 why we are running away, right. So she had also to be rescued in 180 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,240 the process to live in the church in the village. 181 00:10:54,680 --> 00:11:00,040 And so it was a long journey. My sister was crying because 182 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,040 she's younger than me. We had we had to remove the 183 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,400 shoes we had because the journey was long and we had blisters. 184 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,840 But we were waiting to reach where we are going, which we 185 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,680 didn't know where we were going. The good thing we've never been. 186 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,880 We've never gone out of that village, so we don't even know 187 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:24,040 where we are going right until we reach somewhere where another 188 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,040 pastor was waiting for us and picked us from there with the 189 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,280 car. For the first time we entered in 190 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:36,600 the car, we vomited till that place where must say girls, the 191 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,120 rest of the girls are living. It was really difficult. 192 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,720 We had no clothes, the food, we could not have food. 193 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,560 We had to pray for God to provide food. 194 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:52,600 And sometimes you see somebody coming and bringing food even 195 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:57,280 without knowing where we are. And I thank God along the way, 196 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,760 God brought Tammy two and the smaller seed. 197 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,360 And we thank God because when she came, she provided for us 198 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:09,080 food and clothes. It was really maybe you may 199 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,600 think that maybe food is something little, but for us at 200 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,040 that moment, food or something that we didn't have. 201 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,120 So so I thank God for everything. 202 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,800 He's been faithful. We've been able to go through 203 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,960 school, which is something that is not. 204 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,720 It's not it's out of in my village. 205 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,240 I'm the first in the whole of that village. 206 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:38,160 I'm the first one to go to school and also to go to 207 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,640 college. So it is something big for. 208 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,760 Me. It's a miracle now being raised 209 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:48,600 by a widow who doesn't have a husband and doesn't have a son. 210 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,200 Like if you don't have a husband in my community, it's very 211 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,040 difficult for women. But we thank God for salvation. 212 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:57,080 Amen. Thank you. 213 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:58,680 Yes. Thank you, Joyce, for being 214 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:00,480 here. Yeah, Yeah. 215 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:06,440 So what is God's heart for these girls that are running away? 216 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:11,400 If we trace the story between how Tammy met Joyce, we'll see 217 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:15,040 how God takes a yes and puts it together with a need. 218 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,960 So Tammy, will you tell us how you got connected to these girls 219 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,160 and the girls home and what was born out of that? 220 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:25,280 So my former pastor, I'm, I'm a member here at Illuminate 221 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,080 Church, by the way, and I, I just need thank God, thank God 222 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,720 for this church. And I just want to, I should 223 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,080 take a second. Thank you, thank Tim for 224 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:39,360 accepting this ministry and this work in your heart. 225 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,840 This is our work, church. This is our work. 226 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,320 This is our work. I thank the Lord. 227 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:50,760 So my former pastor asked me to he he heard of the girls when he 228 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:55,920 was preaching to the pastors and he built left money for a home. 229 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,680 They built a home. He said, Tammy, will you go over 230 00:13:58,680 --> 00:14:01,080 and help? I'm an art agent for those that 231 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,160 don't know me, I make books, I make movies I make I'm an 232 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,040 artist. What on earth but I couldn't 233 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,480 save to my bastard. What on earth? 234 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:15,000 So I said yes, I'll pray, you know, but it's a big glowing no 235 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,920 way. But I went home and Oh my 236 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,320 goodness, the Lord gave me a burden. 237 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,680 Like I have hands to put on a young girl who's crying. 238 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:30,360 I have a little bit of money in my pocket to to buy some food. 239 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,600 That one step I can do, that one step I can do. 240 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,640 And so I said yes, which surprised me. 241 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,280 I'm a homebody. I'm an introvert. 242 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,480 It's kind of a nightmare being here in front of all you, but 243 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,240 praise God. You're doing great. 244 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:46,680 You're doing so great. Danny Yeah. 245 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,320 So I said yes, and then I brought two friends who were 246 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,040 counselors. These girls were traumatized. 247 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:53,640 They were abused in every kind of way. 248 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,120 They were hurting, hungry, no clothes. 249 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,960 Oh my goodness, folks. I came home and the Lord really 250 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:05,120 birthed the next step. I had friends who give me $5.10 251 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,440 dollars, $15, friends who are on public assistance, who are in 252 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,600 wheelchairs, who are sick. I get these checks and it's a 253 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,760 holy, holy check. It's a holy covenant. 254 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:22,200 I will take care of this $5 and, and little at a time. 255 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,440 I can do another month, I can do another year. 256 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,360 And then the girls grow up, get educated. 257 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:29,720 We put them through school and college. 258 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:30,920 They grow up. Guess what? 259 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,240 They're all running the home now. 260 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,360 I'm like a grandma. They all run the home. 261 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,160 They, they don't need Tammy to help them with something they 262 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:43,360 want. They're full of the Holy Spirit. 263 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:47,200 And then I'm like Joyce, can we do widows programs? 264 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,520 Can we do widows programs So along with the older girls who 265 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,360 go back to the villages with the gospel, marrying other 266 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,080 Christians, sharing with the word of the Lord, What else can 267 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,160 we do? We can do we can feed the widow. 268 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,960 This is a society that has multiple wives. 269 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,000 Older wives get get discarded. Let's do that. 270 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,920 Let's let's feed the widow. We can do that for one year. 271 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:10,560 I can we can get the money for one year. 272 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,000 So we feed the widows, and the Lord gives you another year. 273 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,200 Hey, Joyce, can we help plant churches? 274 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,320 Let's try to reach the fathers. Let's try it like the Lord 275 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:22,960 showed me recently, like Pharaoh's heart was hardened. 276 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:27,560 Let's go after the fathers. It's demonic guys for fathers to 277 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,160 mutilate their girls to sell them for cows. 278 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:35,480 At five years old, at 7, at 8. Can we do churches? 279 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:39,400 Can we go after the fathers? Well, I can do that, right? 280 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:40,600 Can we do that? Lord? 281 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,280 Give us. He's giving us these ideas. 282 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,080 He's giving us just enough to do it. 283 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,720 He's the Lord. We just want the Lord to be 284 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,560 glorified. Guys, I'm still an art agent. 285 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,680 I don't know what I'm doing. You're doing great, sort of. 286 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,320 Just seeing this thing I can do. Yeah, and I don't. 287 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,600 Still don't like going outside my house. 288 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,040 You can ask a moment. My my best friend's here in the 289 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,160 audience. I don't still don't like go I'm 290 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:09,400 I'm I'm bizarrely shy. I've gotten worse since COVID. 291 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,960 It's horrible, but. God. 292 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,319 Yes. How long have you guys known 293 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:19,520 each other? It's been 25 years. 25 years 294 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,240 enjoy I. Thank God, yes, as I reflect of 295 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:29,760 the goodness of the Lord this this month of November and 296 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:35,560 December are the months of Christmas celebrating the birth 297 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:41,080 of Jesus, the goodness of God. But As for us, it's the that 298 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,240 girls are being mutilated. We have to receive them this 299 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:51,240 month and next month and that's why we you have to pray for us. 300 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:56,800 You have to be on in the picture because you are going to be 301 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,400 celebrating Christmas as I have come to the United States. 302 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,520 I was amazed that you started Christmas early. 303 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,200 Well, I won't introduce you to those of you that have been 304 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,680 decorated for like a month already, but you were sharing 305 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,560 with us back as we were discussing and talking that this 306 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:19,320 is a very critical time of year to begin praying. 307 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:24,240 So how can you partner with the smallest seed and with Joyce and 308 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,640 Tammy and this mission in Kenya? You can pray specifically right 309 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,920 now for the girls that are seeking refuge, that are going 310 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,360 to be running and escaping this form of sex trafficking. 311 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:40,160 You can partner by giving and tithing, and this is a ministry 312 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,840 partner, and you can go on a mission trip to Africa. 313 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,360 We just had a group go and come back, but there'll be another 314 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:48,560 one coming up. So thank you both for sharing. 315 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,600 We're so blessed to be a part of your mission and we believe 316 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,280 wholeheartedly God is using you both in incredible ways. 317 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,440 Would you give them a round of applause? 318 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,000 Yeah. We want to thank God also that a 319 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:05,120 few like a month ago our home was burnt by fire. 320 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:09,000 But the Lord has been faithful. We are happy, we are trusting 321 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,440 God for the next step. God is. 322 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,640 It's God all the time. Yes. 323 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,440 And as a testimony of what happens when the gospel goes 324 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,400 forward, some of the group that has been texting us this week 325 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,240 said, I can't believe that these girls, when they receive Jesus, 326 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,200 they began to pray for their fathers and grandfathers to 327 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,040 receive Jesus. The very people that are doing 328 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,400 these things to them that they're fleeing from, that is 329 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,400 what the gospel does. That is the hope of the world. 330 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,200 And so. The the only depth we have is of 331 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,800 love. So as you sit there, just know 332 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,440 the gift, the only depth you have is that of love and 333 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,600 sacrifice. And I am here. 334 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,400 You can see me today. It's because of sacrifice and 335 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:54,720 love. Amen. 336 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,160 Thank you so much. Yeah. 337 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,680 Thank you. I'd love for you to get to know 338 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,960 Scott and his wife, Christy. She is here. 339 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:05,200 We're going to give us a little wave. 340 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:10,040 The Batsons have given their yes to the Lord to a ministry and a 341 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,080 mission in the country of Nicaragua. 342 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,520 Would you tell us a little bit about how you got connected, 343 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,240 what the Lord did in your heart, and how you ended up where you 344 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,400 are? Yeah, I'll give you the really 345 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,320 fast version of that. So I went to Nicaragua on a 346 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,400 mission trip with my church in 2009. 347 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,320 And on that trip I said, I am never coming back to this place 348 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,160 again. I really thought when I got back 349 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:39,040 that I was like, these people would be better off if I just 350 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,400 gave them my money because culturally I'd never seen the 351 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,560 gap in the way that I lived in the way that other people lived 352 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,000 in that way before. And I and my immediate thought 353 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,000 was, I'll just give money to it. And the Lord really worked on my 354 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,000 heart over that time. It's like they don't need your 355 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,680 money, they need the gospel and and so I went back again. 356 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,520 That was in September of O 9. I went back again in April the 357 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,080 following year. And so I've been back obviously 358 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,560 quite a few times since then, but just that the way that God 359 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,720 changed my heart in doing that kind of in parallel to that, I 360 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:19,680 started coaching CrossFit in my home gym in, in Hendersonville, 361 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:26,840 TN and realized that I had the opportunity to invest in people 362 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:30,600 that may never come to church. And so I had been discipling men 363 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:35,880 in my church for the last 22 years, but in the last 15 have 364 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,560 been doing that in the CrossFit gym. 365 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,160 And so these same people that were trusting me with their 366 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,280 physical health, there was an opportunity to invest in them 367 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:44,880 spiritually. So if I told them to run a 368 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,600 little bit farther, they would because they trusted me and they 369 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,080 knew that I had their best interests at heart, but they 370 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,680 were also sharing their life with me. 371 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,600 There were reasons why I can't be at the gym this week or, you 372 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:57,720 know, the women have shared with me, you know, like I can't, like 373 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,960 I've had a miscarriage. I can't, you know, I can't do 374 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:02,160 this or that. And so just these deeply 375 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,760 personal things that allowed me to ask, what can I pray for you, 376 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,920 you know, or have someone else come and and pray with them. 377 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,560 And so it's just this great opportunity to do that. 378 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,640 And so in 2014, felt like the Lord was saying, I want you to 379 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,280 take that thing that you're doing at home, and I want you to 380 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:19,000 do it in this other place that you love. 381 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,040 Can I lean into that for just a second? 382 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,520 So sometimes when we start talking about a global mission 383 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,000 and you'd begin to think like, what in the world could I do? 384 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:33,320 Like, what do I have to offer? Whatever you're calling me to 385 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,240 Lord? What I love about your story, 386 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,120 Scott, is that the Lord didn't say, OK, now I'm going to change 387 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:41,600 you into something else. He took what you are already 388 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,200 doing. This is the message. 389 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,080 There's something you already know how to do or some part of 390 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:49,880 you that's already being developed that is for this 391 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,840 mission. And he took the model of 392 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:56,400 discipleship, disciple making, and he put it in a new area. 393 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:01,600 And your yes, was to go and be brave that God would show up on 394 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:02,920 the other side. Yeah. 395 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,920 Can you tell me like a couple examples of how you've seen God 396 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,960 show up miraculously, either through people's prayers or 397 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,400 through gifts that have allowed the mission to go forward? 398 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,520 Yeah, I think there there's one in particular. 399 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:19,520 When we first started, when Christy and I first started, I 400 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,960 was going by myself. I was living in another man's 401 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,880 house. I'm taking people with me every 402 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,720 month that I could to try to invest in that just to start 403 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,880 creating relationships so that we could disciple. 404 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,400 And we were getting to this place where kind of tripping 405 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,640 over each other at the house is like, he's got a team. 406 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,400 I have a team. So was really praying about how 407 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,360 to how to grow the ministry in that. 408 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,960 And so we went looked at a house and there was a gentleman on a 409 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,120 on a trip with us. We got back, he asked me for 410 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:52,440 breakfast, and he said, you know, the reason I was on this 411 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,600 trip was because I believe you're supposed to be in that in 412 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,000 this house. And he slid me the check for the 413 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,000 first year's rent. And he paid the rent. 414 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,000 Every year for the last 11 years our rent has been paid. 415 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:07,960 I've never paid a nickel in rent. 416 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:08,880 Amen. Amen. 417 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:15,480 Yeah, so every mission partnership has people that 418 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,680 pray, people that give, and people that go. 419 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:19,480 And sometimes they're the same people, right? 420 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,640 Sometimes you're called to go because you're going to then 421 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,840 become the prayer warrior for the rest of your life, or it'll 422 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,320 open your eyes to the need, or maybe you connect to someone who 423 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:29,800 would have a heart and join that. 424 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,680 But every mission, every spreading of the gospel needs 425 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,920 people to pray, to give, and to go. 426 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:38,360 And so thank you for giving your yes to that. 427 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:41,520 I would love for you. I heard a story or a testimony 428 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,640 that there was a rehabilitation center that one of your our 429 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,560 teams went to. And when they were there, they 430 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,840 said something really incredible about your, your bringing the 431 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,360 Lord's presence to that region. Can you share that with us? 432 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:58,320 Yeah, I want to be very clear that this is all about the Lord 433 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:05,480 and not Scott, but the, the place we lived and had our gym 434 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,640 in was a had a horrible reputation. 435 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,840 The the crime's really bad. It was the the gym where we, 436 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,080 they, they take a lot of cabs, a lot of taxis in in the place 437 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,960 where we are. But the taxis would not run to 438 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,000 our gym after dark. And so a lot of people wouldn't 439 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,200 go to the gym because they knew they couldn't get a ride home. 440 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,000 They certainly weren't going to walk through. 441 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,960 And so we started working with a local pastor who ended up 442 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,120 opening an alcohol rehabilitation center. 443 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,720 And I was, I wasn't even aware of this until the Illuminate 444 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,840 team came. But he was explaining to them 445 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,800 that because of the gym and the influence of the gym and the 446 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,160 impact that the mission teams had on that community, that the 447 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,320 the city was a different place now. 448 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,800 It had changed the reputation of that place. 449 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,320 It was just through. Yeah. 450 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,200 Glory to God. Yeah, Yeah. 451 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,200 Just investing and loving people, you know, loving people 452 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,960 that come to the gym, serving in the community and just loving 453 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,280 the people that are close to you. 454 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,800 And so it was a huge blessing to get to be part of. 455 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,760 That Amen. And what I love when we have 456 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,120 mission partners that have ongoing work, like not you're 457 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:17,600 just showing up to do something. And I'll be real honest, I've 458 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,960 been on trips where I feel like there might have been fifty 459 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,720 groups that painted the same house, right? 460 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,640 Like you're just going there and painting the same house, but the 461 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:28,280 mission partners that we pray and partner with are doing day 462 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,400 in, day out mission work, embedding, making a difference 463 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,280 in the community, spreading the gospel. 464 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,320 And so we're so grateful. One of the things I love also 465 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,280 about Get Strong is their discipleship group based. 466 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,760 If you've been here and you've heard that we have discipleship 467 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:47,600 groups, it comes from the church in Hendersonville or in that 468 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,640 area that Scott was a part of. Discipleship making is in the 469 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,320 fabric of this ministry, and that's why you've changed the 470 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,920 region because of who God is. So thank you for your guests. 471 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,640 That's amazing. Everyone think one more time 472 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,280 now. Kim Lenaway is a familiar face. 473 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,480 If you've ever seen her up here, she leads prayer ministry. 474 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:14,120 She's a prayer warrior. I would say of her, she walked 475 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:17,760 so many laps and prayed on this empty land and prayed for you. 476 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,680 If you've come since this building has opened, she prayed 477 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,680 for you. She's a prayer warrior. 478 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,840 So, Kim, I would love for you to share, if you would, first about 479 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:30,720 the prayer that you prayed in 1989 and the gentleman you met 480 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,880 in 2024. And how does prayer bring the 481 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,600 gospel to the nations? Sure. 482 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:43,360 I personally I believe that I was created for prayer and I am 483 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:45,960 grateful that that I get to pray all the time. 484 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:50,680 So I was on a tour. It wasn't a mission trip 485 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,440 necessarily. It was a study tour to Russia in 486 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:59,280 1989 and I lost my luggage. Long story, but I couldn't go on 487 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:02,080 one of the excursions. I had to stay close to the hotel 488 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,600 until they find my luggage and so they found it right away. 489 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,040 And 15 minutes after everyone left, I had nothing to do for 490 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,520 three hours. So I said, can I just walk the 491 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,800 neighborhood? And they said yes, just be 492 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,400 careful. So OK, here I am walking Moscow 493 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,400 with a minimal Russian skills and praying. 494 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,120 I figured I can pray. I'll pray for the people, I'll 495 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:26,600 pray for this country. I'll pray that that Jesus can be 496 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:31,280 unleashed in this region, having no idea what that might lead to. 497 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:39,720 And so in it was 2014, I had the opportunity to go to Israel and 498 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:44,400 our tour guide, Mark was from Russia. 499 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:49,240 And, and on one of our long drives, he shared with us that 500 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:55,200 in when he was in Russia, he, he and his family would attend an 501 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,280 underground church. They had been invited and he got 502 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:04,240 saved in 1989. And I said, wow, that's amazing. 503 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,920 I was in Russia in 1989. And he looked at me and he said, 504 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:13,760 well, you prayed for me, and you very seldom get that circle of 505 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:16,400 closure. But. 506 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,360 Yes, it was. It was really remarkable and 507 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,880 just such a blessing. You don't always see the answer 508 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,560 to your prayers like that, but that one for sure. 509 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,640 Yeah. Tell us about, since we're on 510 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,520 the subject of prayer, your trip to El Salvador. 511 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:33,320 I think there was a food shortage and there was something 512 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:39,520 that happened miraculously. Yes, in in I was it was through 513 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,040 Assemblies of God. We went part of convoy of hope 514 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:47,320 to El Salvador and it was to see the schools in the area. 515 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,920 But we had one evening where we went to a church that fed the 516 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:56,960 homeless and we walked in and our our job that evening was 517 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,960 just kind to to stand around and and watch. 518 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:01,680 We weren't supposed to be doing anything. 519 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,640 They brought out this bowl of food like a lentil Stew. 520 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:10,160 And I'm looking around the room, everyone comes in with their own 521 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:14,000 bowl and spoon and they just wait and they make a line then 522 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,440 and they are served and I'm looking bowl thinking, this 523 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,200 isn't going to feed all these people. 524 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,760 Oh, they probably have another bowl where they'll just bring 525 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,120 out more later. Then the leader of our group 526 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,200 came to me and said, Kim, you're going to serve the food. 527 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:32,000 And I said, OK, so when I run out, where's the rest? 528 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:37,240 And he said, Nope, that's it. And so I thought to myself, I 529 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:43,120 don't want to serve too little and that's doesn't honor people. 530 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,040 I don't want to serve too much. Serve 10 people and then 531 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,600 everyone else goes hungry. So what can I do? 532 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,680 I can pray. So I said, God, you're going to 533 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,880 have to multiply this food like you multiplied the loaves and 534 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,400 fishes so that we can serve everybody. 535 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,160 And so we began and they would come and I would scoop and I was 536 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,520 praying and I was trying not to look down in the bowl because I 537 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:06,160 didn't want to know how little was left. 538 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:08,960 And I just kept scooping and praying and the people kept 539 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,000 coming. And finally I realized there was 540 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,600 one more person and I just scooped and there was food and 541 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:21,000 she walked away and I looked in the bowl and there was 1 portion 542 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,840 left in the bowl and I was like, OK, that was kind of close, but 543 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,080 whatever. It was just such a such an 544 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,200 amazing thing to be able to serve. 545 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,080 And honestly, when you think of the size of this goal compared 546 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:37,840 to the amount of people, it was absolutely miraculous that we 547 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:39,280 were able to serve all those people. 548 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,840 And then one more person came up and said, do you have any food 549 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:44,440 left? And I said, yes, I do. 550 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:49,080 I took the last scoop, gave him the the last, the last serving. 551 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:54,400 And yeah, so you never know. Right. 552 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,240 Yeah, you never know when you're going to be part of a miracle. 553 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:59,280 You put yourself out there. It was. 554 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,760 It was absolutely the most amazing experience. 555 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:03,240 That's amazing. Yeah. 556 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:08,160 Scott, I think you have some story about a gentleman and a 557 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,920 boat. Is there a story about giving 558 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:18,160 and about Kingdom mindedness? Yeah, I think one of the hardest 559 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:22,120 parts of quitting your, your real job, if you will, when 560 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:27,280 you're in your 40s, besides your wife thinking you're crazy is, 561 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,160 is how are we going to do this financially? 562 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,440 And just seeing the Lord's provision and that. 563 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,400 And so I was, I had to just start raising support and it was 564 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:38,680 tough. It was a hard, hard 565 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,920 conversation. It was a hard thing to get used 566 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:42,200 to. There's a lot of pride that had 567 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,760 to be set aside to go and do that. 568 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:46,800 But there was there was a gentleman that was in my 569 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:51,240 discipleship group at the time and, and I really was on the 570 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:54,400 fence about talking to him. And it was after Memorial Day 571 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,520 weekend. So that Tuesday I go to his 572 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,600 house and they're telling me about this great camping trip 573 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,040 they went on. They had rented a boat. 574 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,680 Is this fantastic weekend. They came back, they were going 575 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:09,000 to buy a boat and his wife's like, I just think we need to 576 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:13,120 wait on the on buying the boat. And he's like, well, we, we 577 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:15,160 decided like we had this great time, let's do it. 578 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:19,760 And, and so when I, I got to their house and explained what I 579 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,040 was going to do, keep in mind, I'm not even doing this yet. 580 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:23,800 This is an idea. It's like, hey, this is what I 581 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:30,320 think the Lord is calling me to. And, and she said, well, we were 582 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,520 going to buy a boat. Here's the check for the boat. 583 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,040 So I got to my car, opened up the envelope and it was a 584 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:40,640 $15,000 check for now. The husband still doesn't speak 585 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:41,600 to. Me but. 586 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,720 But that's between him and the. Lord, that's right. 587 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:47,920 No, that's amazing. So. 588 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:51,440 Sometimes the gifts are big. Yeah, and, and sometimes they're 589 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:55,080 not, you know, but the, but The thing is, it's just the, it's 590 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:59,640 the, the confirmation of God's faithfulness that I've got this 591 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:03,520 worked out ahead of you and the, and the motivation that it gives 592 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,240 you and the confirmation of your calling. 593 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,000 It's like if you will just go do what I'm asking you to do. 594 00:34:09,199 --> 00:34:11,880 I've already taken care of it. Yeah, so there's there's a. 595 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,120 Huge piece in that. Yeah. 596 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,679 And I think that confirmation is the confirmation he gives, no 597 00:34:19,679 --> 00:34:22,960 matter if you're talking about praying, giving or going or all 598 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:26,120 three, if you give your yes, he's going to come behind and go 599 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:29,280 ahead and wrap it all up with everything that's needed for you 600 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:31,800 to do it. But we have one more story I'd 601 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:33,440 love to end. Just can you tell us very 602 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:37,000 briefly about what happens if you don't have $15,000 to give? 603 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,199 What kind of difference can you make if it's $10? 604 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,679 Oh, absolutely. When we were preparing for the 605 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:47,360 Ukraine trip, they asked us to come up with a craft, a song and 606 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:51,320 a game to do with the children that we were going to be meeting 607 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,760 with. And immediately as I was 608 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:59,120 praying, God came up with the idea of the lost sheep and Jesus 609 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:03,720 going after the lost sheep. And we could make a sheep and we 610 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:10,320 could tell the story. And then the Holy Spirit said, 611 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:12,360 let's ask people to partner with you. 612 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:17,240 So I thought, well, we can ask for donations to help with the 613 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:20,040 sheep craft, and I can ask for people to pray. 614 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:23,440 So that's what I did. I was going to ask for $5 a 615 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,080 person. The Holy Spirit said, no, ask 616 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,040 for 10. And I figured I'd get maybe 617 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:33,880 $250. We got over $900 and we were 618 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:35,520 able to make this cute little sheep. 619 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:41,760 What Holy Spirit told me, use something solid. 620 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:44,160 So he's wooden. He's he's a wooden cut out. 621 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:49,080 And a pastor friend of mine who spent time in Ukraine said, oh, 622 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:50,840 get a little bell and it tinkles. 623 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:56,680 So the the children love that because sheep are often pets in 624 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,080 Ukraine. So when we started to make this 625 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,080 craft, the children, their eyes just lit up. 626 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,880 We saw smiles from some of the children for the very first 627 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:06,960 time. And they realized they were 628 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:10,000 going to be able to make the sheep and take the sheep. 629 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:13,520 And then they had this constant reminder that Jesus was always 630 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:17,200 coming after them. And then with the extra money, 631 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,680 because that wasn't, that was way more than what the craft 632 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:25,280 cost, we were able to purchase some Crocs for the kids, some 633 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:29,320 warm socks and vitamins. Children's vitamins are very 634 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,760 hard to come by. And I want to tell this one 635 00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:35,880 extra little story because the pictures out in the lobby, I 636 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:37,840 asked if there was something special we could get for the 637 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,960 kitchen. And I'm thinking like a Mickey 638 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:42,920 Mouse canister to remind them that someone from Florida is 639 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:49,160 praying for them. And Amy, who is she's wife, 640 00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:54,160 who's the part, the person we partner with for Mission 823 641 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:57,520 going to Ukraine, Amy said oven mitts. 642 00:36:57,680 --> 00:36:59,560 And I'm thinking that's not very glamorous. 643 00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:05,320 But she explained that Kevlar and heat resistant materials and 644 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,880 such are going toward the war effort, which, by the way, 645 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:12,840 Ukraine's been at war since 2011, not 2022. 646 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,680 It's been a long, long, difficult journey. 647 00:37:16,720 --> 00:37:19,680 So I said, OK, oven mitts. I can get oven mitts. 648 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:24,520 And so when it came time to present them to the kitchen, I 649 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:28,520 received the biggest hug I've ever received from in my life 650 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,360 from Katarina. She was just so happy. 651 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,480 She put the the mitts on right away and she's dancing around 652 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,040 the kitchen, tears in her eyes. And then she takes them off and 653 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:39,120 she shows me the scars on your arms. 654 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:43,320 If you bake, you know that sometimes you, you, you bump 655 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:47,600 into the hot racks. And, and she said she was just 656 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,200 so excited that that wasn't going to be happening anymore. 657 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:53,240 So a small thing, $10 gifts from people. 658 00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:58,920 And some people gave more than 10, but that that was just just 659 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:02,080 allowed us to bless people in ways that I wouldn't have been 660 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,800 able to do on my own. So thank you if you partnered 661 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,360 with me with those $10 gifts or more. 662 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:13,440 And your craft was amazing. And there's a lady in a kitchen 663 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:18,280 in Ukraine who is beyond blessed by your gift. 664 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:26,320 Yeah, Amen. Thank you each for coming. 665 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:28,560 Thank you for bringing your stories more. 666 00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:32,240 So thank you for living lives that have said yes to the Lord, 667 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,600 that make room for his power to be known and the gospel to 668 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,800 spread. Will you give one more thank you 669 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:42,880 to our friends and partners? Yeah, yeah. 670 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:49,680 So now what it comes down to is how well we each receive the 671 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:53,480 call, the Great Commission to take the gospel to the ends of 672 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:58,640 the earth, starting here, close to us, into crossroads, into the 673 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:03,000 regions nearby, into the nations and to the ends of the earth. 674 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,240 And our invitation to you today is to say we want to make it as 675 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:10,080 easy as possible for you to say yes, that there's not a person 676 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:12,840 here, that God is not calling to be a part of this mission. 677 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:16,960 And the way that you can do that is to pray, to give, and to go. 678 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:20,680 You may have noticed there's a new graphic installation in the 679 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,120 lobby. There's QR codes on the screen. 680 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,320 They're on those panels out there. 681 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:28,240 You can come to them anytime. But we encourage you to pick at 682 00:39:28,240 --> 00:39:32,160 least one today. Take AQR code picture so you can 683 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:34,960 look at it more at home and answer the call that the Lord 684 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:36,720 has for you. How will you pray? 685 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,000 How will you give? How will you go? 686 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:46,400 Because the heart of the Father is for the nations and the heart 687 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,560 of this house is for each one of us to be a part of whatever God 688 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:52,920 is calling you to do. And maybe you're here today. 689 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,520 I feel like the Lord is saying there's someone here saying you 690 00:39:56,520 --> 00:40:01,480 left a country or a nation that has a need that you are 691 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:05,640 perfectly positioned to understand and maybe you are 692 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:09,160 being called to go back. And to impart and bring the 693 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:11,360 gospel and health and hope and healing. 694 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,040 And we'd love to be a part of that with you. 695 00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:15,280 We're always looking for mission partners. 696 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:18,360 We want to employ you to whatever God is calling you to 697 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:20,080 do. But don't let this message be 698 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:22,680 something we rise and we leave here and forget. 699 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:26,400 Ask the Lord if you would open your hands now and take a 700 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:31,920 posture of prayer. And we say, Holy Spirit, we come 701 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:35,760 every week to meet with you, to be changed by you. 702 00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:40,680 And today is no different. And we say, God, we see your 703 00:40:40,680 --> 00:40:45,360 heart, we see the circumstances. We pray for the girls right now 704 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:50,560 that are making decisions to run for adults around them to give 705 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:54,760 them the courage to go and for pastors and churches and 706 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:57,920 ministry leaders in the smallest seed to receive them and rescue 707 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:02,680 to build a new life. And for every other situation 708 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:04,920 that's represented, the ones we've talked about up here and 709 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,720 the ones that are on the hearts of people in the room. 710 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:10,800 Holy Spirit, have your way. Birth the dreams. 711 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:15,080 Give us the call. Show us each of us how to give 712 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:20,760 our crazy yes to our faithful God to say I will pray, I will 713 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:24,320 give and I will go. And it's in the name of Jesus we 714 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:27,760 pray, Amen. Would you stand or receive a 715 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,040 blessing? Yes, our prayer ministers are 716 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:33,480 going to be here to receive anyone to pray with you about 717 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:35,920 anything, to help you wrestle with anything you're hearing 718 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,920 today or otherwise. We bless you with the heart of 719 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:42,640 the Father for the nations beginning right where you are 720 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:45,040 now. Go and make disciples, baptizing 721 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:48,480 them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 722 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:50,880 Teach them to obey all that he has commanded. 723 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:52,760 God bless you. Have a wonderful week. 724 00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:56,440 Thanks for joining us today. We hope God is speaking to your 725 00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:59,080 heart through this message. If you'd like to connect with 726 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:06,280 us, you can text connect to 407-588-0115 or visit Illuminate 727 00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:08,880 dot church. Have a great week.