As I make all the necessary practical preparations for Mozambique, God has been continually and gently reminding me to place spiritual preparation in first place. Why do I want to go to Africa in the first place? God is omnipresent, and my greatest desire is to fellowship with Him. However, I have many props and distractions in my comfortable life which can easily get in the way of seeking Him first. I want to live the sermon on the mount lifestyle!!! To store up treasures in heaven, to not waste my life energies on that which will not endure. I want to find my happiness, like the Mozambican Christians I hear about, by following Jesus prescription in Matthew 5:3-12...one which stands out to me is "Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for THEY WILL BE FILLED."
Although oftentimes their stomachs are not filled with food, certainly not as much or often as we are accustomed to, their joy is deep and lasting as they feast on the inner righteousness Christ offers! Lord, that I too may learn the secret to be content whatever outward circumstances I encounter in this life!
This is my first prayer request.
My second is that I may be filled with Christ's love so that it overflows on those I encounter and I am empowered with the grace to serve others sacrificially. I love my way. I love being comfortable. I like the easy road. But Christ's love compels me! He says, there is a better way. He says, be filled by pouring out freely that which I have given you. Encounter me as you serve your brother. His love reveals that my way will not leave me satisfied.
Again, is this not something that I could learn here? One of the greatest reasons I am going to Iris Harvest is that the testimony of Roland and Heidi Baker is such that I desire to be discipled by them. I want to learn to pour out freely my life's energies as they have.
When we think about missions, too often we think about converts. Jesus did not ask us to make converts, He asked us to make disciples. And yet how many intentionally disciple other believers unto maturity? The Western church is full of believers with fire insurance, drinking milk and spiritually bored, bickering and wasting time. There are young people meeting Christ who DESIRE to be discipled, to be led down Christ's narrow and radical path, but there are few more mature believers stepping up to the task. As a member of the younger generation, I ask, I beg, "Challenge us!" We don't want to waste our lives playing games. Let us discover a Lord more fascinating than anything put out by our consumer, entertain-me driven culture! Let us discover a Bridegroom with fiery love, jealous for our affections! Let us discover a King who leads in righteousness and justice, who inextricably links relationship with Him to our treatment of the poor, neglected and abused. Let us discover a Savior and a mission, a great co(operative) -mission, worth giving our lives. I want to run in ministry with Christ because He has drawn me in intimacy, and I desire the whole earth to know the peace and grace found in Him. Let us become believers whose highest aim in this life is to grow in love and meekness. Let me.
These are the prayer requests of my inner man.
Other prayer needs:
*That I will trust God for His leadership in my life, especially in the area of financial provision.
*Financial provision.
*That I will discern the leading of the Holy Spirit as I prepare some sermons to have ready.
*For God to empower me with administrative skills so nothing slips between the cracks.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Financial Support
I've been getting asked how people can contribute financially to my mission trip to Mozambique. I really appreciate your support! There are two options, tax-deductible or non tax-deductible. Tuition for a foreign school is not an acceptable non-profit contribution according to our friends at the IRS, but the travel expenses are covered under "Victory Throughout the World" ministry at my local church.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, which I can apply to my airfare and Visa expenses, etc, you can write it to "Victory Church" with "Angie Schachner-Mozambique" in the memo line.
For non tax-deductible contributions (which I can apply to the $2500 tuition at the mission school), simply write them to me, "Angie Schachner".
All financial support can be mailed to:
Victory Church
1 Victory Drive
Pevely, MO 63070
An Iris Harvest School of Missions class from '08
Non-tax deductible expenses:
Iris Harvest School of Missions Tuition=$2500
10 Day Outreach into the bush bush= $ 400
Total=$2900
Round-trip airfare STL to Nairobi=$1500
Round-trip to Pemba, MZ= $500
Visa= $20-60
ER Medical Insurance= $150
Books, Water, Equipment= $200
Total=$2410
Est. Grand Total=$5300
I'd like to bring some Portuguese/English Bibles with me, too, as they are very valuable to missionaries there as well as Mozambicans who are learning English. There are other requests....I'll keep you updated.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, which I can apply to my airfare and Visa expenses, etc, you can write it to "Victory Church" with "Angie Schachner-Mozambique" in the memo line.
For non tax-deductible contributions (which I can apply to the $2500 tuition at the mission school), simply write them to me, "Angie Schachner".
All financial support can be mailed to:
Victory Church
1 Victory Drive
Pevely, MO 63070
An Iris Harvest School of Missions class from '08*******************************************
Financial breakdownNon-tax deductible expenses:
Iris Harvest School of Missions Tuition=$2500
10 Day Outreach into the bush bush= $ 400
Total=$2900
Round-trip airfare STL to Nairobi=$1500
Round-trip to Pemba, MZ= $500
Visa= $20-60
ER Medical Insurance= $150
Books, Water, Equipment= $200
Total=$2410
Est. Grand Total=$5300
I'd like to bring some Portuguese/English Bibles with me, too, as they are very valuable to missionaries there as well as Mozambicans who are learning English. There are other requests....I'll keep you updated.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Welcome to My New Blogspot!
Friends, family--
I'm going to Africa!!! I just received the acceptance letter for the Iris Harvest Mission School in Pemba, Mozambique, this past Thursday for their summer session. This has been a long time coming! There are many details to take care of in the next few months. The school session is June 1- August 10 followed by a 10 day outreach into the bush bush to bring the gospel to unreached villages.
Mozambique is located in southern Africa on the east side across from Madigascar. The Pemba base where the school is located is in the north part of the country (right on the beach!!!)
Most of us are probably unaware that there has been massive revival in Mozambique for the past 8 or 9 years leading to the planting of over 8,000 churches and countless salvations. The spiritual hunger encountered by Roland and Heidi Baker, founders if Iris Ministries, and other missionaries, has paved the way for a great harvest in Mozambique, one of the poorest nations in the world, and up till the 90's a nation ravaged by a 20 year civil war. The need is great for training Mozambican pastors to shepherd their new flocks and continue bringing the gospel to unreached villages. New believers need to be discipled and there is a continuing need for homes for vast numbers of orphaned and abandoned children so they can be raised up in the love and truth of Christ.
My friends, Carla and Jon Reinagel, just joined Iris Ministries with a 2 year commitment. It is so nice to have the inside advice on preparing for the school, Africa, the missions base, getting Visas, packing, spiritual preparation...the list goes on. They are located in Dondo at one of three Iris bases in the country. You can read about their adventures from their blogspot here.
I'm very excited about my new blog--my friends and family have gotten so spread out, this way I can keep you all informed about what God is doing as I follow His call to full-time ministry as well as I stay connected with you and what God is doing in your lives.
Angie :) <><
I'm going to Africa!!! I just received the acceptance letter for the Iris Harvest Mission School in Pemba, Mozambique, this past Thursday for their summer session. This has been a long time coming! There are many details to take care of in the next few months. The school session is June 1- August 10 followed by a 10 day outreach into the bush bush to bring the gospel to unreached villages.
Mozambique is located in southern Africa on the east side across from Madigascar. The Pemba base where the school is located is in the north part of the country (right on the beach!!!)
Most of us are probably unaware that there has been massive revival in Mozambique for the past 8 or 9 years leading to the planting of over 8,000 churches and countless salvations. The spiritual hunger encountered by Roland and Heidi Baker, founders if Iris Ministries, and other missionaries, has paved the way for a great harvest in Mozambique, one of the poorest nations in the world, and up till the 90's a nation ravaged by a 20 year civil war. The need is great for training Mozambican pastors to shepherd their new flocks and continue bringing the gospel to unreached villages. New believers need to be discipled and there is a continuing need for homes for vast numbers of orphaned and abandoned children so they can be raised up in the love and truth of Christ.
I'm very excited about my new blog--my friends and family have gotten so spread out, this way I can keep you all informed about what God is doing as I follow His call to full-time ministry as well as I stay connected with you and what God is doing in your lives.
Angie :) <><
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