Unexpected Encounters

March 5, 2010 in Day2Day, Prayer by Dave | 2 comments

Since we’ve been back from the field I would say that the #1 change for us has been the McDonald’s experience. Moving itself from a kid magnet restaurant barely tolerated by adults, McDonald’s has remade itself with drinkable coffee, a new menu, and a new look. Now, when the kids say, “Let’s go to McDonald’s,” more often than not we say, “OK!” More recently, my reduced ambivalence to this nearly ubiquitous eating establishment set up an opportunity to minister.

It all started when Brad Keller, a fellow minister, scoping out a spot to set up his Mac to catch some free wi-fi, greeted a twenty-something guy named Ricky. After exchanging some greetings and comments about the technology that we were pulling from our bags, Ricky asked us what it was that we did. It was as though he was asking us to tell him about Jesus.

I began by giving him my prayer card and explaining my mission of calling Mexicans into relationship with Jesus. He responded almost immediately with a smokescreen of excuses for not attending church. I sensed from this that Ricky was seeking, but he wanted someone to help him justify his practice of keeping the spiritual at arm’s length. I listened to what he had to say, but I gave him no justifications.

When he spoke of ministers that fail, I responded with statistics that I had heard only earlier that day that it takes some 300 A/G ministers in order to come up with only two moral failures. When he talked about judgmental churches, I encouraged him to talk to two separate ministers that lived in his area that I was sure would welcome him as he was and help him on his spiritual journey. When he brought up others’ experiences, I asked him to look to his own and to understand that he needed a personal relationship with the only on who could settle his questioning; he needed to encounter Jesus.

So I want to thank McDonald’s. Because of their change, they made possible my encounter with a searching heart. I’d also like to ask for prayer for Ricky and his friends. They have my card. They have names of pastors that they can talk to. Let’s pray that they’ll take the next step on their spiritual journey toward Christ.

Photo from LancerE’s flickr photostream

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Sectional Council Tours–Coming to a Southern MO town near you!

February 22, 2010 in Progress by Dave | Permalink

Even in the dead of the winter, the travel schedule is heating up, as we’ve taken to the road for the 2010 Sectional Council tours here in the Southern MO District. These tours, moving through all 13 sections in the district take place roughly in the span of a week and a half and give us one of our best opportunities to reconnect with pastors and church staff all across Southern Missouri.

Things got rolling in Kansas City last Tuesday, but the lion’s share of the travel began today with meetings in Dexter and Portageville.

The schedule will go on through March 2 as follows:

Tuesday, February 23
Park Hills, Park Hills Harvest Christian Center
St. Louis, St. Louis Trinity A/G

Thursday, February 25
Sullivan, Rolla Calvary A/G
Sedalia, Jefferson City First

Friday, February 26
Clinton, Osceola First
Joplin, Mt. Vernon Church on the Loop

Monday, March 1
West Plains, Willow Springs Lighthouse A/G
Van Buren, Winona A/G

Tuesday, March 2
Springfield South, District Office
Springfield North, Springfield Northside A/G

Look for us if you are planning to attend one of the above meetings.

It’s a Dangerous Business Going Out of Your Door

February 9, 2010 in Devotional by Dave | Permalink

It’s a dangerous business going out of your door. You step into the Road, and, if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. –Bilbo Baggins

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you… –Jesus

Rebekah has been reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein to me as we drive along the Missouri roadways visiting churches and speaking about Mexico. It’s a wonderful thing, hearing my daughter read what to me is a classic piece of literature. It is classic because, even decades after it was written, its message can still be heard and applied.

The story is basically about Hobbits, small and self-sufficient creatures, sheltered from the world, suspicious of strangers, with eyes that look no further than their bit of earth beyond their little holes. They had heard rumors of what went on outside their borders, but their small existence kept them from comprehending the ramifications of those strange and foreign goings on in their day to day lives. Until, one day, a not so adventurous Hobbit named Bilbo got swept off of his feet into an adventure. Suddenly, the hope of the world depended on this small, shy, and unassuming lot.

The disciples too had not seemed to seek out the adventure that they found themselves in as followers of Jesus. Most of them were outsiders, blue-collar workers more concerned with the ebb and flow of the Sea of Galilee than of the rise and fall of the religious “powers that were” in Jerusalem to the south. They busied themselves in their own routine of catching fish or collecting taxes, perhaps much like the Hobbits, without even categories to speak about saving the world. That is until Jesus came, and with the words, “Follow me,” they too were swept off of their feet, suddenly at the center of God’s plan to redeem mankind.

They had, no doubt, seen the harvest field before, but not as Jesus had shown it to them. It was a harvest, not of grain, but of souls. A common scene was given new meaning, and a common need, that of workers to bring in the harvest, was given new importance.

So Jesus called them, not to mobilization, but to prayer. However, as they prayed, they found that the answer was to be found within their own small band. The appeal to pray was not an impersonal one. It was not a way to “pass the buck.” It was a way to hear the cry of God saying, ” Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” and to respond as Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me,” or as the disciples with their feet as Jesus said, “Go! I am sending you…”

Let’s bring this, then, out of the realm of fantasy and out of the distant past to where we go about our daily lives. We wake. We work. We eat. We sleep. We certainly hear and see more than the Hobbits or the disciples, but too often those impersonal rumors on talk radio or the digital images on the screen seem incapable of grabbing us, seemingly impotent at their attempts to move us.

Except when we pray, and, all of a sudden, what seemed so far away has reached out and touched our hearts, and we hear the cry, “Who will go?” and we find ourselves, in our own small voice responding as Frodo the Hobbit before the leaders at the Council of Elrond, “I will (go), though I do not know the way.”

It is a dangerous business, therefore, to pray, but what more exciting business could you ever hope to aspire to?

Photo “Archway” by Syriloth on Flickr

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Making a Comeback

January 26, 2010 in Progress by Dave | Permalink

Everyone loves to hear of a great comeback story, be it an individual overcoming adversity to make it back on top, a favorite music group returning to the stage, or a sports team returning to its former glory. We love it because we appreciate how hard it is to repeat success. Athletes age, teams change players, and taste preferences in music seem to change with the fashions. So when the comeback happens, we realize that we a receiving a gift, something truly special.

Allow me to let you in on a comeback in progress…

This last year, I ran a marathon. I finished in the best time in which I’d ever run a marathon: 3 hours 37 minutes and 52 seconds. It was a great moment. However, that run has left me on the sidelines, stuck with a leg injury that has persisted for 3 months and counting. On top of that, during my examination, my doctor found that I also have arthritis in my ailing right leg, perhaps complicating my recovery. Some would say it’s time to hang up the running shoes. I say it’s time for a comeback.

Six months ago, we were on the field in Mexico wrapping up our first term as missionaries in the state of Yucatan. We were elated to have played a small part in the successes in the lives of students and pastors with whom we had ministered. We had built relationships and were looking toward opportunities to leverage these successes in future ministry. However, eight months away from our scheduled return date, we have a mountain of monthly support to raise, currently at the height of some $2,000. Some would despair at such a goal to reach. I say, “It’s comeback time.”

So rally cap in place, I’m starting the process to return, understanding that the recipe for success probably will change. As I built up for the marathon last year. I added on mileage slowly but surely until I reached a 50 mile per week peak during my high intensity marathon training. This time, I’ve got more than a mileage buildup to concern myself with. I’ve got an injury to figure out and a recovery to plan. So, I’m currently going through physical therapy twice a week with the goal to return to running. I’m also looking to alternative methods to promote healing from self-massage to chiropractic care. I’m also dedicating myself to nutrition, making sure that my tank is full of the fuel I need to power this comeback. Do I have a timetable? Sure, I’d like to see myself in a 10k race some time this spring.

Our return to Mexico can be thought of similarly. We’ve come back to the States to raise our budget in an economic recession, meaning many potential donors are feeling the budgetary pinch. We’re also returning to a Southern Missouri District that has 7 other missionary families currently raising support at the same time we are. However, we live in a time where connections are more diverse and easily sustainable and potential audiences are more abundant. We plan to leverage these connections, networking as we are able to reach these future partners, and maintaining that partnership with them through tools we never dreamed of only four years ago.

Of course, in all of this, one thing has not changed. We serve the same God who is able to to exceedingly and abundantly more than we ask, think or imagine. So while we work on this comeback as though it all depended on us, we pray knowing that it all depends upon Him. He is the one who provides the breakthroughs, stirs hearts, and cements friendships through whatever medium those contacts occur.

So I’m making a comeback, physically and ministerially, and I’m committed to putting in the work, while depending on God for the results. Wanna come along? There’s still room on the bandwagon!

How about you? Are you poised for a comeback? How do you see it happening? Have any tips that we all could benefit from?

Photo: Rally Cap by Rich Anderson

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Dreams Come True

January 13, 2010 in Devotional, Missions by Dave | 1 comment

The holiday season found us in Orlando, Florida, site of Disney World, for the Latin America/Caribbean Missionary Retreat aptly titled, “Dreams Come True.” It was a gathering of over 600 missionaries, representing countries from the Rio Grande in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south. It was a time of reconnection, worship, and inspiration.

As part of the theme, video clips were shown during the large group meetings, showing how several of our missionary colleagues had seen God help them realize dreams that He had given them. There were those who had planted now thriving churches and those who had birthed ministries that are now international in scope. There were reports of high-powered children’s ministries teams and thriving national missions departments sending missionaries from the mission field to all corners of the world. Truly, things are happening in our region!

Still, for all of the encouragement that such videos bring, I couldn’t help but ask the question, “…and the Godzwas? What have we done in comparison?” The progress that we have made all of a sudden seemed to pale in comparison to the reports of victory being broadcast before our eyes. On top of this, our son Jonathan had come down with a fever, leaving Kelly and I taking shifts staying in the hotel room with him, instead of participating as we had expected.

I was in a funk by the time Doug Clay took the stage to talk about restoring the joy of our calling to the ministry. As he finished his sermon, he asked for those who would like to experience a fresh touch of that joy to meet him at the altar. I walked forward, knowing that that was something I needed. A group gathered around the altar, and after a time of individual prayer, Doug led us in an exercise. He told us to look around and find a partner ten years removed from our age. As I looked to the left, standing beside me as Dale Coad who, 17 years prior, was a missionary on the field in the Dominican Republic where Kelly and I had taken our first short-term missions trip. As the speaker told us to join hands, I reflected on the time I had spent there on the mission field with Dale and his wife Patti. I remembered wondering, as I watched them go through their day to day ministry, “Do I have what it takes to be a like them? Do I have what it takes to be a missionary?” Now I was standing next to him as a co-worker singing, “He has made me glad!”

We then were told to widen the circle, and there, in our group stood Ron Hittenberger, a missionary that attended AGTS with me when I was in the first year of my masters degree program. At that time in my life, the mission field seemed farther away then when I was 18. I had a growing family and an uphill climb to complete my studies, but here we now stood together in our circle, Dale, Ron and I, along with other missionaries, sharing in the joy of the realization of our dream of serving our master on foreign soil.

It was unmistakable. God “opened my eyes” that night to see past the little pity party that I was giving myself. He has made my dream come true. He has completed what He had promised, and what He had confirmed so many times before has become a reality. I am a missionary!

Of course, this is only the beginning. God has bigger dreams, dreams I am only now becoming aware of after spending the last four years on the field. One such dreams is the dream of a relevant, outward-focused, Mexican church that reaches across cultural boundaries and generational assumptions to practice true Christianity in everyday situations. God has done it before in my life and in the lives of so many whose testimony was on display during our retreat; He can do it again.

How about you? What dreams have you seen God bring to fruition? What dreams does God have you dreaming right now?

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Heat without Light

December 23, 2009 in Devotional by Dave | Permalink

While we are on the road, the kids have the chance to grab a DVD or two to watch. Being the driver, I only get to listen. (It’s important to keep two eyes on the road at all times!) Being the Christmas season, holiday movies were being featured at the Redbox and the kids naturally gravitated to “Santa Buddies,” the continuation of the “Buddies” movies which feature talking dogs as the main characters.

The problem to solve in this episode? The Spirit of Christmas, in the form of and icicle, was melting away. No, it wasn’t because of global warming or climate change, however it is referred to these days. It was because people all over the world had forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, which, from what I could gather from my mobile eavesdropping on the movie, was watching Christmas tree lightings and singing Christmas carols. Now, while this favorite time of the year has traditionally been kicked off in our household with the decorating of the tree accompanied by Nat King Cole’s version of the “Christmas Song,” it would appear that “Santa Buddies” has the trimmings mixed up with what Christmas is really about.

The Star of Bethlehem

This brings us to a presentation that we had the opportunity to hear last Wednesday. Richard Hammar talked, from his extensive knowledge of astronomy, about what he felt the Star of Bethlehem, the star that led the Wise Men to the child Jesus, really was. As he dismissed several theories, he made mention of what one scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Center said. He said that he felt the Star of Bethlehem was a comet, because that would have been the most impressive astronomical event that could have been observed. Now this was said even though a comet would not have fit any of the evidence that the biblical record presents.

OK, you’re wondering, “What does the Star of Bethlehem” have to do with “Santa Buddies.” Give me a minute to explain. I can make the Star of Bethlehem to be whatever I want it to be if I don’t accept the reality of the historical birth of the Christ Child. I can confuse Christmas traditions for the reason for the season if I reduce the Christmas story to just another fable or fairy tale. What it all amounts to is a lot of heat without light. It may warm our spirits through December 25th, but it leaves us with Christmas hangover and little else when the bills come due in January.

Hammar concluded that a miracle occurred to lead the Wise Men to Jesus. He stated that the glory of God was what formed the star that shone on the stable the first Christmas morning and what eventually guided the Magi to the place where they found the one who would be the Savior of all humankind. And while not all who lived at that time could see the light, those that sought the Messiah, the shepherds and later the Wise Men could. I believe this still holds true today.

So as we complete our shopping and scurry to put together the “Perfect Christmas,” lets take some time to look to the reality that made this season special. Let’s turn again the the truth that God came near, that His light shone in the darkness and illuminated the way to restore our relationship with Him.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Early Christmas @ disciplemexico.org

December 16, 2009 in Media by Dave | Permalink

ENewsWin09Remember when you were a kid, wondering what you were going to get for Christmas? You’d found your parent’s hiding spot, and the mounting temptation had brought you, fingers trembling to, ever so carefully, open your packages so you’d be able to take a peek at their long awaited contents. I certainly do. That’s why we’re not making you wait for a print newsletter to arrive here at disciplemexico.org. Click on the image above or here in order to read our winter newsletter now! You won’t even have to keep it a secret from your mom.



To open the PDF file you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. To get Acrobat, go here: https://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Reconnecting on the Road

December 15, 2009 in Day2Day, Progress, Thanks by Dave | Permalink

FriedChickenWhile travel certainly has it’s downside, one of the benefits that we receive is the chance to reconnect with friends and family all across the U.S. One such chance came this last weekend when we spoke at Saint Robert First Assembly, where our friends, Joel and Amy Maxwell, attend.

Joel and Amy are friends from our college days, when, almost 15 years ago our paths crossed in the married housing at Evangel University, then Evangel College. We shared dinners, exchanged information on where to find the best grocery deals, and basically grew up together.

Later, Amy and I worked together at Evangel while I attended AGTS. She was on the cutting edge of “exciting web technology,” even then dabbling in blogging as she maintained the University’s web presence. It was during those days that we watched our kids come on the scene. Play dates in the park or at each other’s house was a frequent occurrence.

Not all of it was good times, Joel and Amy’s lives were dramatically affected by situation in which he nearly lost his ability to walk, having been run over on the job as a security guard at Evangel. We were glad to be of support, if even in a small way as they saw their business collapse in late 2005. Their story of perseverance through adversity, however, has been an inspiration to us. To see them now, Joel having recently completed a marathon on his reconstructed leg, and rising out of the teeth of financial disaster, makes us marvel at their determination and resilience. If that isn’t enough, Joel is now serving as an officer on active duty in the Army, while Amy is a Chaplain Candidate studying at AGTS. These are solid people.

This weekend was a real treat, then, when we were greeted by the smells of Joel’s famous recipe chicken-fried chicken, with mashed potatoes and gravy to boot! I was even allowed to take part in this masterpiece of a meal in the making, as the photo above proves. Later, the kids played downstairs while we caught up around the table accompanied as well by Judi Murphy, a Facebook friend we’ve finally had the chance to meet.

The next day we held services at their church, where Amy introduced us as family, and Pastor Gabe Falen graciously allowed us the opportunity to address both the Sunday school and share during the morning worship service. The largely military congregation responded, committing their prayer support and finances.

The reunion of course couldn’t last forever, we had services in the evening to attend, but we were appreciative of the fact that, sometimes, our travels as missionaries allow us to reconnect once more with friends like the Maxwells.

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A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words…

December 9, 2009 in Thanks by Dave | 1 comment

SeligmanProjectorBut what happens when you can’t show one? Well, missionary presentations have the tendency to stretch on a bit longer. And with opportunities to speak being more and more limited, the luxury to extend is fast disappearing. That’s one situation we’ll not have to worry about this itineration cycle, though, thanks to Curt Rozean and the SO MO District CE department.

Frequently confronted with situations where a projector is simply not available, we we’re looking to find an inexpensive yet reliable alternative for ourselves. Nevertheless, a projector strong enough to cast an image in a lit room is still a bit pricey.

Enter Curt Rozean of the Southern Missouri District CE department. He was advertising used projectors for sale. At, $250 a piece, I thought that they were definitely worth looking at. I emailed him the next day, but, unfortunately, they were spoken for. I ran into him later, however, at Central A/G in Springfield that night where we spoke again about projectors. He began by talking to me about several sites where I might find a deal, but then he stopped.

“Where do you need to use the projector?” he asked.

I responded, “just from time to time here while I are in the States, when the church we visit doesn’t have one.”

He offered, “Why don’t you borrow ours? We rarely use it and I can call you when I need it.”

A projector to use for free? Would I like to borrow one? you betcha. I stopped by the district office where he gave me not only the projector, but also a table, screen, and a 50′ extension cable. Can you say early Christmas?

Now, I know that it all has to go back sometime, but I’m thankful that Curt found it in his heart to bless this missionary with a much needed tool. In fact, it was put to use just last Wednesday night in Seligman, MO, and it will be back on the job this coming Sunday night in Hartville.

So I just wanted to take a moment and post my thanks to Curt Rozean and the SOMO District CE Department. Thanks for the loan. It will be well taken care of and put to good use!

Happy Thanksgiving

November 25, 2009 in Thanks by Dave | Permalink

godzwaThank09

In this season of giving thanks, we want to express our appreciation for your words of encouragement, sustaining prayer, and faithful support as we serve as your missionaries in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. Our prayer is that your Thanksgiving and Christmas season would be filled with the joy of the Lord and the peace that comes from following His will for your life both now and in the coming New Year.

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