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  • 05Jan

    Romania Mission Trip Report

    by Drew in Missions.

    The following report was filed by Jim and Gloria Harrington, who lead our work in Romania.  This coming Sunday, January 11, Chris Lee, one of our young men who accompanied the Harringtons on this trip, will make a presentation to the congregation about their work.

    Workers preparing gift bags

    Workers preparing gift bags

    We have returned from yet another wonderful and productive trip to Romania.  Our newest team member this year is Chris Lee, who is a UAB student and member of the Ashville Road Church of Christ in Leeds, Alabama, where Jim and I are members.  Others returning were Beverly, David, and Melissa Precise (from Scottsboro, Alabama),  and Pam Fondren from Savannah, Tennessee.

    We spent several days preparing 4,400 gift bags for the children, and we were able to visit some child care facilities and several hospitals.  We were also able to visit with many Church members, and they all were so grateful for our continued help and interest in their children.

    Each year, we have been able to deliver prescription medications that have been donated and/or bought with donated funds.  These meds are used by hospitals, orphanages, and also for the Bucharest Church members who cannot afford to buy their presctiption drugs.  Dr. Radu Boari is a member of the Church, and with our help, he is able to keep a “closet” stocked with a variety of drugs for hypertension, cholesterol, prostate problems, etc, plus antibiotics, cough meds, and assorted over-the-counter meds.

    One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is to see the growth of the Bucharest Church.  The attendance continues to increase, and many children we have known these past 9 years are now in high school and college, and some are married and having children of their own.  They and the older adults are all encouraged by our continued support and visits, and they all send their greetings to you all.  We appreciate your help and pray that we will be able to continue this work for many years to come.  Thanks again for your support.

    In Christ,
    Jim and Gloria Harrington

  • 04Jan

    Sustenance

    by Barton in Missions, Seeking Things Above.

    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). Paul shared this secret of church growth to the Corinthians. He and Apollos were mere ministers who worked in the service of the Lord. When a farmer goes to his field he brings along several tools. His shovel, rake, and fertilizer are just instruments that help accomplish his task. In a similar way, the Christian is an instrument of the Lord’s. We all operate on the same level under the Lord’s guidance. Remember, the Lord spoke of Paul and told Ananias, “he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Our success in Peru rests upon this idea. In order to accomplish our mission, we must allow God to use us in his service, and this will be a joint effort between the team, the Peruvians, and the many supporting churches back home. Continue reading »

  • 21Dec

    Report from Romania

    by Drew in Missions.

    The following report was just posted by Gloria Harrington.  She and her husband, Jim, along with Chris Lee are in Romania.  They will return home this week, just in time for Christmas.

    Hello everyone. This is the first time that I have personally been near a computer since we have arrived! We have been VERY busy, and we have done a lot of work. Everyone has worked so hard, and we are happy with our progress. Continue reading »

  • 21Dec

    Development

    by Barton in Missions, Seeking Things Above.

    I’ve watched a few houses go up and have always been surprised by the process.  It’s generally comprised of two stages.  During the first, you become frustrated by the lack of progress.  Building permits, surveying the land, preparing and laying the foundation – it all makes for a slow and anxiety-ridden journey.  But when the foundation is finally poured, you gladly move into a quicker and more rewarding second stage.  The walls go up quickly, the roof is attached, and, before you know it, you’re picking out paint colors and matching carpet.  I envision our work to be somewhat similar.  The first two phases will be preoccupied with laying a foundation, but the next two will have an interest in building upon that foundation.  When moving into the second stage of our work, and the third phase of the overall plan, our team will finally experience development. Continue reading »

  • 14Dec

    Adaptation

    by Barton in Missions, Seeking Things Above.

    Paul was a master at contextualizing the gospel message.  When he was standing before a crowd of Jews, he would launch into a discourse about his Jewish heritage.  In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul entered the synagogue and built a rapport among his fellow Jews by relating the stories of Egypt, King David, and Abraham (Acts 13:13ff).  Later, Paul finds himself speaking to the polytheistic Athenians.  His contextual instincts do not lead him to mention Israel but rather to contrast their pagan gods with the one, true God (Acts 17).  The Apostle Paul was skilled at contextualization, but what exactly does the word mean?  David J. Hesselgrave in his book, Planting Churches Cross-Culturally, teaches that to contextualize the gospel message is to find “ways of making the Christian message understandable to and effective for people in their specific religions, cultural, and linguistic setting” (37).  Of course, this is to be accomplished without compromising the truth. Continue reading »

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