A New Focus - Life as Mission - Living Incarnationally and Intentionally

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14

Imagine what things would be like if Jesus (the Word) moved in to your neighbourhood. Think of the things that are happening around where you live. In what things do you think He would participate? Where do you think Jesus could be found? Before you read further, take a minute to think about it… football matches, family barbecues, sitting with the homeless to have a chat?

The word ‘dwelt’ or lived, in the original language of Greek, means literally, to set up a tent. So, literally, the Word (Jesus) set up His tent among us. Jesus came into the world as a human being, someone we can relate to, and He moved into the neighbourhood! He did so, because He wanted to show us who God the Father is. He wanted to show us what God was like, and how much He loves us. He went to weddings, went to the synagogue, hung out at the beach, was often a dinner guest, and spent time with many different kinds of people.

Jesus did some radical things that showed God’s love. But, it makes sense, because God’s love for us is radical. He spent time with all kinds of people – church officials, children, Roman government officials, prostitutes, criminals, Samaritans (a people that the Jews despised), women, the poor and needy, and disabled, to name a few. He showed that God’s love could reach everyone, and that everyone was in need of this great love. Through showing this love people were forgiven, relationships were restored, people were healed, and they lived in freedom and hope.

Have you ever thought that you could have such an impact? Maybe with this approach – with ‘setting up your tent’, being with the people - do what they do, spend time with them, and point them to the Father through actions first, then words, we could have a great impact.

Years ago in my missionary career, I began to look at the number of relationships I had with people who were not Christians – followers of Christ. Then I began to consider, how intentional am I being about being involved in their lives and allowing them to be a part of my life. The strategy for simply going up to a stranger, or even someone with whom there was very little level of relationship and talking about Jesus led to their becoming annoyed and immediately closed the door for further conversations. However, as I began to simply talk with people, and slowly share my life with them, allowing them to see that any words I said were given authority by my actions, they were more open. I've found Jesus in places I didn't expect, and have found God already at work in peoples lives.

So, this will be the focus of the blog - life as mission. We pray 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. God uses us to see bring the Kingdom and see His will done on earth; and that, through every day life.

Springtime in Latvia

The snow has melted, and there seems to be more sunshine this Spring than I ever remember there being. While everything remains brown, and no sign of trees budding or flowers blooming is seen, there is such an expectation lingering in the air. A sense of excitement builds in my heart...I know it will come. Although no signs are evident, one can 'feel' it. Soon, new life will abound, people will walk more freely, and more happily. Experiencing life more abundantly will become the norm, and we will live with greater hope. It is only a matter of weeks before what is shown in the photo will become reality. On sunny days, I find myself taking the long way to my destination, being intentional to walk on the sunny side of the street, and simply choosing to be outside. Soon people will have business meetings at street-side cafe's, just to be outdoors, taking in every bit of lovely light and sunshine.

"In Him was life, and this life was the Light of men, and the Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it" - John 1:4 - 5

Living in Latvia, specifically, northern Europe, where winter is long, and days are filled with more darkness than daylight, has given me such an appreciation and sensitivity to daylight and sunshine. It paints for me a living picture of what happens to us when we are in the light...and when we are in the Light...we live...we live life abundantly...to it's fullness. The more we are in the Light, the more life we exude, the more we truly live!!!

"Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day'. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' "

John 11:24 - 26

Simple Expressions of Jesus' Love

Just over two months ago YWAM Riga hosted a DTS outreach team from the Texas. YWAM Resonate and YWAM Riga joined together to carry out the idea the team received in a prayer time.

The vision - to simply give away fresh bread as a symbol of Jesus' love.

They raised finances to start this project, were willing to be a part of putting feet to the vision, joined with us in Riga...and the rest...

Well, have a look at the video's to see the beginnings of the project and see it in action. They will speak for themselves.

The team has since gone back to the States, but the Baltic Bread Project carries on. To date, we've been a part of distributing 3100 loaves of bread. Every other Saturday we give out bread, talk with people, pray with them, listen to their stories, encourage them to give it away if they are not in need; reminding them that we are all in need of God's love, and indeed He does love us.

This is so simple, yet so powerful. Enjoy the videos! Thank you YWAM Resonate for these!

Mission Days Conference

Amidst one of the coldest winter on record in Latvia, approximately 250 people, local and from around the globe, gathered in Riga to attend the Mission Days 2010 event. People from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Canada, USA, UK, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Argentina, and Netherlands, among others, were represented there. People from different denominations gathered to worship, pray, learn, and understand their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Indeed, God was up to something bigger than we could imagine, and over the three days of this event, it would unfold before our eyes.

On the opening night, our keynote speaker, Dr. Lindsay Brown, International Director for the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization, challenged us to be open to take up the call to Missions. The barriers that serve to hinder our ‘going’ were matched with truth. The testimonies that followed served to inspire us to go and caused us to see that we are without excuse if God calls.

Throughout the event, God’s heart for the nations became more evident. We saw the extravagant love of God toward Latvia, as He called a young Brazilian to come for 3 days. His purpose was to encourage people, and remind Latvians of the treasures that exist in them - treasures needed by other nations, that will bless the nations, and serve to build His Kingdom among the peoples.

We experienced the power of God to do the impossible as a young mainland Chinese girl shared in a seminar about her family, 5 generations of Christians, who were ‘missionaries’ within their own nation. God called her to study to be a missionary in other lands, provided finances and visas, and ultimately brought her to Latvia to share His love, tell of His faithfulness, challenge us to walk in the reality that nothing is impossible for Him.

A young Latvian girl, impacted by participating in a missions training course and outreach to Albania, obeyed the call of God to gather a small team of Latvians to go there to minister in that nation on a short term outreach.

On the final evening, opportunities to take all we’d learned and heard, and all our inspiration and put feet to it. Several groups shared of the many opportunities that exist from Latvia. One group of young people lined the front of the church whilst passing loaves of bread, which were piled up on either side of the pulpit. It was 200 loaves all together. A message was being shared about how this bread was representative of Jesus’ love. We’ve freely received His love, we’ve experienced it, and can therefore give away what we’ve received. Then, each participant was encouraged to come up and receive some bread to either keep or give away. The Mission Days event, marked the beginning of what has become the Baltic Bread Project. Many who attended have continued to participate in this and other projects.

Mission Days 2010 was a great success as so many are taking seriously the call of God to go, and saying “here I am, send me”, instead of “here I am, send…him”.