Under the leadership of Orphan Outreach, Bob Beams led a team to Tegucigalpa, Honduras from April 10-18, 2010. Bob shares the story below:

NUMBERS

Fed 300 people

Eye Clinic saw 487 patients at 3 ministry sites

50 will receive glasses, and many were treated for eye problems

The purpose on this trip was to assist Dr. Eric Packwood in treating those with medical and visual problems related to the eyes. The primary focus was the students in the AFE School which is in the community of those living in the garbage dump. Most of those had never had their eyes tested. All of the students who will receive glasses will be assisted tremendously.

As we flew back from Honduras on April 18, I pondered how I could communicate the trip to those back home. As usual, the exhaustion and mental fatigue clouded my thinking and focusing was not easy. I always write a trip description and I want to make it compact yet appealing. I want to share something meaningful with those who are already in info-overload and in the time-squeeze of modern life. I try to choose one moment in time and share that and not describe a boring travel schedule.

But, what would I write about? With so many experiences, how can you choose one? However, God has a way he often speaks to me after a trip.

I assume what has affected me emotionally will do the same for others. Some experience or encounter always hits me right between the eyes and no doubt this was it. As the plane soared over the Gulf of Mexico toward home, a mental picture impacted me. My eyes began to flood with tears as I remembered that moment. I had to wait awhile before I could see clearly to make my notes.

The picture was a nine year old girl standing up reading a book out loud. I will call her Angela because I forgot her name. If I had known at the time she would have been the subject of a story, I would have remembered it. While the children waited their time to see the doctor, we entertained them. We had many books in Spanish with colorful pictures. Many times I would read to them and show the pictures. This time I asked Angela to read the book to the other children. She stood proudly and read the Bible story. She loved the Bible.

Her school teacher had led her to know Jesus as her Savior. Her teacher at the school was also her teacher at the partner church, Amor y Vida. You would have thought she was reading to the President or a huge crowd. She spoke clearly and pronounced each word distinctly. Her sweet voice permeated the room and I know the angels stopped to listen. My world stood still as I realized what was happening.

You see, two years ago she could not read and had no hope of going to school. No one in her family could read. Her days were filled with picking through the garbage dump with her family hoping to find food or things to sell for recycling. Today, she stood in a school provided by Christians like you. She was taught by loving Honduran teachers. Today, she stood and read a book. Her life will never be the same. My life will never be the same.

The plane descended to DFW and my tears were now gone. I pondered the significance of our week in Honduras. In light of all the political crisis, financial disasters, and personal distractions, does it matter that another kid in the world reads another book? Does it really matter? I think I know how Angela would answer that question.

Thank you for your support.

Bob Beams

PS. Next Sunday, 4/25. We are having a meeting at noon during the 3rd. service for those who are interested in knowing more about such trips and who might be interested in the trip set for July 10-18 or a future trip. We will meet at the mission kiosk inside 121 Church and then move to a table in the hallway near the front. Feel free to e-mail me at bob.beams@me.com or call at cell 817-233-7036.

Our new partnership with Six Stones is off and running! Many LifeGroups are already jumping in on Six Stones opportunities to serve in their Euless Revitalization projects and by bringing canned food and clothes to their New Hope Center. For the next two weeks, 121CC is gathering food donations as a church community. Bring canned food items to the 121CC foyer from now until 9am on April 3rd. Then join us in the West End for Saturday Serve where we'll be delivering all the food to the New Hope Center!

Read below for 121er Mike Mobley's recap of his recent experience with 6 Stones.

6 Stones hosted their annual event Euless Revitalization Spring Blitz on Friday and Saturday, March 12th and 13th where they had 622 volunteers work on 15 houses! Each morning started off with Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwiches and coffee provided by Starbucks to help support the event. This was also a great time to start building relationships at 6 Stones with multiple Lifegroups beginning their partnership with them.

Throughout the weekend, there were 15 houses that were chosen through 6 Stones that needed various tasks completed such as painting, roofing, lawn care, taking care of trash, pulling weeds, and more. These families were unable to take care of these on their own and needed help, that is where we came in. I thought it was moving to see swarms of volunteers working together on many different houses serving in multiple ways anywhere from painting to cutting down trees for families that could not do it themselves.

It was also a great opportunity not only to serve in the local community, but also to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

121 is privileged to have Don & Bridget Brewster from Agape International Missions in Cambodia as our special guests on Sunday, February 14th, as we explore partnership opportunities with AIM as a complement to the work with International Justice Mission. Agape is involved in the fight against trafficking, aftercare for rescued girls, as well as evangelism and church planting. Come to the West End from 1:45-3:00pm (shortly after the third service) to meet Don & Bridget and hear more about Agape’s ministry in Cambodia. For more information contact us at cambodia@121cc.com.

The story below was taken from AIM's blog. By God's grace, communities are being transformed, one person at a time. Praise God that we get to be a part of such great things!

Places all over the world have reputations—some good, some bad—some well known, others not so well known. Google “city of love” and you’ll find Paris. Google “windy city” and you’ll find Chicago. Google “child sex trafficking” and you’ll find Svay Pak, Cambodia. It’s an international reputation Svay Pak deserves. This village of abject poverty 11 km outside of Phnom Penh is a place where hundreds of young girls are trafficked each year, many by their own family. But reputations can be changed.

About 18 months ago a church was planted in Svay Pak at Rahab’s House, a former brothel turned community center. The mission of the church was to bring the unconditional love of Jesus to the village through ministries designed to meet educational and healthcare needs as well as spiritual needs. In doing so, it was hoped relationships would be built that would bring heart transformation and an end to child sex trafficking. Slowly relationships were built and today over 300 villagers are attending the church’s weekly services, including 177 adults. The average adult church member earns $1.25 per day.

Last Sunday during church services the pastor shared about the disaster in Haiti, including showing photographs of the devastation. As the church heard his words and saw the photographs, a very counter-cultural thing happened—they openly wept. Then they committed to pray for the people of Haiti, and as they left church one person after another dropped money in a basket to be sent to help the people of Haiti.

The offering for Haiti totaled $52.44. We might be tempted to say, “Isn’t that sweet.” But it’s far more than that, it’s miraculous. It’s miraculous that people who struggle to get by on a $1.25 a day would so willingly sacrifice to help others a world away from them. And from a worldly perspective an offering of $52.44 might be considered insignificant, not so from God’s.

So, should the reputation of Svay Pak be changed? Not yet. There’s a long ways to go, but the embers of change are glowing.

Check out the video below for a look into the reality of the missionary task left before us. God's mission is to save some from every tongue tribe and nation, but there are billions that still have not heard. The evil one opposes the work and has done much to stop the spread of the church, but Christ has promised to build it. Let's join God in this great work and renew our commitment of being passionate prayers, senders and goers!

121er Mark Latham spent Thanksgiving on mission in India. Here's what he had to say about the trip:

After my time in India I have been left with that question floating around in my head and my heart: What then shall I do with Jesus? It is not a question for an angry crowd to answer, but for a follower of Christ. Over the last year I have tried to put into perspective Philippians 2:1-16 and everything that is wrapped up in this passage. One of the issues that started this endeavor last year was the birth of Christ and the fact that Jesus humbled and limited himself as a man. That is a very hard concept to understand, but it takes on a completely different meaning when you walk the dirt streets of the slums of Delhi or in the villages in Uttarakhand, India.

India is much closer to the environment that Jesus lived in than the paved roads and manicured lawns of DFW. You quickly lose the perception of a man walking around in a spotless white robe and realize that his life was dirty and hard. Jesus left the perfection of heaven to enter the filth of humanity to serve and to save. He was face-to-face and hand-in-hand with the lost, the broken, and the diseased. He lived a perfect life of submission to God which led to his sacrificial death. And not just any death, but a publically humiliating, excruciatingly painful, death on a cross. He was laid bare for all to see his humanity and his body’s collapse.

This picture came crashing down on me the Sunday morning we spent in Delhi. I was overcome with grief and sadness and just sat on the couch and wept. I was broken by the perfect humility and love of Christ and I will never be the same. Praise God that Jesus conquered death, he did not stay in the grave, and he provides salvation to all who call upon his name. The value of that sacrifice is so much greater in my heart today and I pray it continues to increase.

Now, with that reality burned into my inner most being, what then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? What is God telling me to do and how do I let go of the things in my life that keep me from being his useful vessel?

Bob Beams

 
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121 Community Church went with Orphan Outreach to Tegucigalpa.  One of the major goals of Orphan Outreach is to assist “children at risk” to achieve an education.  The school, AFE, has about 135 students, all of which are from the community of the garbage dump.  If AFE was not there, most of these students would not be going to any school at all.  Honduras only requires students to finish the 6th grade.  The students must pass strict tests and are given a diploma.  Most of the parents of the students never passed the 6th grade and many never went to school.  These students will continue in AFE through high school and be encouraged to attend the University. 

For Orphan Outreach and 121 Church to be a support for the school, and to see this academic success, is evidence that the process is working, and goals are being met.  Most of the students graduating from the 6th grade are in their teens because they started to school late.  This graduation service held at the school on December 11, 2009 was the third graduation from AFE.  It was held for the 6th grade and the Kindergarten class.  Six girls and one boy graduated from each class.  This graduation has made a huge impact on the whole community as it demonstrated hope for the future.   

SUCCESS:  STEP BY STEP,  IN HIGH HEELS

There she was, 15 years old and about to graduate.  She couldn’t believe it. Her family had worked in the garbage dump for all her life.  She had no hopes of going to school until one day she was invited to go to AFE.   The years had flown and now here she was.  She had been provided with a beautiful dress and high heels to wear.  The high heels were the greatest challenge.   She and the other girls had been practicing for 2 hours a day for 2 weeks.   To her, walking in the heels was becoming a woman, being somebody, a symbol of one day leaving the garbage dump.
The women teachers and friends all met 2 hours early to help her with her hair and makeup.  The room was decorated beautifully.  A violin was being played for background music.  Her name was called on the microphone, her escort took her hand and she walked, or floated, across the room.  She walked across the room with admiring glances from the students who hoped one day to graduate.  But most of all, she looked with moist eyes at her mom and dad as they beamed with pride.   This was the first time she had seen her mom and dad together in a long time and she knew there was hope.

She walked,  she walked into the future, with hope in her soul and God in her heart.  Yes, success, step by step, in high heels.  

Here is an update from Saturday, the team's last full day in Honduras...

We took the teachers at the school (about fifteen "maestros") on a fun day trip to a national park about 4 hours from Tegucigalpa.

Inside the park was the highest waterfall in Central America.  It's one of those natural gems that makes you stop and stand in awe of God and His creation.  We all got to take a zip line over the waterfall--quite a view!

Getting there and getting back was an adventure.  Despite the language barrier, our team and the teachers were able to share a common bond.  On the bus, the teachers sang worship songs in Spanish to us, then we were able to sing one of the songs, "Open the Eyes of My Heart," back to them in English.

We're eating breakfast in the morning at Super Donuts, then heading to the airport to go home.  We're very excited to see our families, but we'll miss the people we've met here.  God is using our partners here to overcome illiteracy, poverty, and injustice, and to get His Good News to kids and their families.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Here is an update on Friday from Matt R.:

Today was our last day with the kids.  We'll definitely miss them.  We got to hang out with them for a while during their Christmas party this morning, then we got to attend the school's graduation this afternoon.

The Christmas party was great.  Another group from the Northwest has been in Honduras for several days.  The purpose of this group's trip was to bring Christmas gifts to all the kids at the school and another local ministry.

We sang (with the help of printed lyrics and strong background music) the kids a Spanish song to start off the party. Two groups of kids had fun performing the skits they learned in drama class earlier in the week.  Finally, a skinny Santa (a retired pastor from Oregon) called each kid up and gave them a gift bag.  The kids patiently waited until everyone had their gift bags, then they opened them up.  Each of the bags included a stuffed animal, a shirt, socks, school supplies, and some other fun stuff.  It was great to see the excitement on the kids'faces.  This will likely be the best Christmas gift they'll get this year.

After lunch, we came back to the school for the Robert Beam graduation cermony.  The board at the school decided to dedicate the ceremony to Bob (minus the "s" at the end of his name).  All the kindergardeners and 6th graders dressed up in nice clothes provided by the school.  They performed some dance routines, then the 6th graders got their official diplomas.  In Honduras, education often ends at 6th grade, but the staff at AFE is really encouraging all its students to work hard so they can go to college.  The school really makes graduation a big deal.  It really is amazing that these smart kids in nice clothes receiving diplomas would be up on a nasty landfill sifting through garbage if not for this school.  Some of the parents even took some time off from the dump to come to the ceremony.  Bob got to sign the diplomas and he got to tell all the kids how proud of them he was.  It was an inspiring ceremony.  The leadership at AFE have a great vision for the kids and families who work in the dump, and it's really exciting that we get to be a small part of it.

Here is reflection from a team member on the last couple of days in Honduras...

Overwhelming. Humbling. Challenging. Inspriring. Encouraging. Satisfying.

These are the words that some of us chose when we tried to sum up our trip  with one word.  God has used our experiences on this trip to teach us and to change us.

After we taught classes on Wednesday, we were all able to help with some painting in one of the new buildings at the school.  It was great to see how fast something can be accomplished when several helpers get together.  Mark, who oversees construction at the school, was very grateful that we stayed for a little while to help.

Thursday was our last day of classes.  We taught Bible, English, and music.  In our Bible class, we talked about always being prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope we have.  A couple of us shared our testimonies, then one of the girls, an eighth or ninth grader, shared her testimony.  This girl shared that her family had been robbed.  Her father was told that he would be killed if he wasn't telling the robbers the truth.  The bad guys got away with some money and cell phones, then the family went to the police.  The police told the family that they were very lucky because they had seen similar robberies recently where females had been raped and men had been killed.  The girl shared with our Bible class that, because God protected her and her family during the robbery, she knows that He has a plan for her.  The kids at AFE have all grown up in rough situations, Just by being in a safe, Christian, educational environment, they have hope that many kids around them do not.  Many of them also have the hope of Christ and the eternal life He gives.

After lunch at the school, we went to an orphanage outside of Tegucigalpa.  Most of the teachers and leaders were in a meeting, so one of the older kids gave us a tour!  This orphanage is almost self-sustaining.  The land around the classrooms and dorms have all kinds of fruits and vegetables, which the kids seemed proud of.  We all enjoyed giving small gifts and spending a little time with these kids who don't have families.  We were all reluctant to get on the bus and leave.  For kids who have nothing, they had so much joy.  They were really fun to be around.  This orphanage is run by some Europeans who saw a need and took action.  It was another example, like AFE and AJS, of a small group of people making significant advances against injustice and poverty.

PRAY that the team will be the hands and feet of Christ.

PRAY for practical medical needs to be met during this time.  The team will be holding medical clinics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Thank you for your prayers!  More updates coming soon....

• PRAY that the team will show the love of Christ to the children at the orphanage.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Here is an update from a member of the 121 team....

Tuesday in Honduras was our longest day so far.  We all taught more classes today than yesterday, After a short lunch, we went to a poor community where the Association for a More Just Society (AJS) has one of it's centers.  We later went back to the school where the staff made dinner for us and honored Bob--they really love him.  We also went to a prayer meeting at Pastor Jeony's church. 

Our time with some of the AJS staff was really eye-opening.  The center we went to is one of four around the city.  They're intentionally opened in poor, high-crime areas where victims of injustice can seek help.  They all have staffs that include a lawyer, a psychologist, an investigator, and other couselors.  They help victims of gang extortion, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other crimes--at little or no cost.

One lady told us today that she was able to turn to AJS for help after her husband kicked her and her kids out of the house.  The investigators and lawyers were able to get the mother and kids back in the house.  They were also able to get the courts to force the father to pay child support.

We learned that injustice like this happens in corrupt, developing countries all the time.  Sadly, most victims have no one to turn to for help.  AJS is making a difference in the communities it serves.

One especially rough neighborhood saw its crime rate drop by 60% after AJS worked to help convict a rapist.  Bad guys there knew they would have to pay for the crimes they commited.  The decrease in crime in this neighborhood has happend while the violent crime rate in the rest of Honduras has doubled.

Like yesterday at the dump, we saw committed Christians helping to make significant advances in the fight against seemingly overwhelming darkness and injustice.

Pastor Jeony and a child at the dump community

Today was our first day to meet the kids of the AFE school.  Most of us taught classes this morning.  All of the classes seemed to go well, and the kids seemed like they were enjoying learning.

After lunch, we visited the dump for the first time.  This short trip left a big impression on all of us.  Pictures can't tell the story of this place.  It really is just a terrible place.  Somewhere that nobody, especially kids, should ever have to work.  The size of the dump, the smell, the animals everywhere, the guys sniffing glue, and the circling vultures let anyone know that this place isn't kid-friendly.  But sadly, there are hundreds of kids, some very young, who are being forced to be out here, trying to help their parents survive.  Most of us were overwhelmed.

We fed as many people as we could--somewhere around 200.  We also passed out coloring books and crayons to the kids.  It was good to see them get a short break.

After we got back from the dump, we heard from a few of the kids who worked there in the past, but now go to school at AFE.  What we heard confirmed that God is working here, and that He is not overwhelmed by the darkness of it all.  One kid said simply, that his life has changed since he started coming to the dump and came to know Jesus.  A seventh grader told us that in the past, he looked forward to having a gun (apparently most of the men at the dump do--we met a man whose foot was shot yesterday).  Now, he just wants to carry the Bible, his double-edged sword (he actually said that).

Thanks for all your prayers!

• PRAY that the team will hear and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
• PRAY for the team to be the hands and feet of Christ.
• PRAY for our group to see past the poverty and relate to the people well.

Here is an update from Matt R:

• We all made it to Honduras in the early afternoon.  We had lunch at a typical Honduran eatery- Pizza Hut.  After that, Rey Diaz took us to see the school, Amor, Fe y Esperanza.  It's cool to see how passionate he is about helping the kids meet Jesus and helping them break out of poverty and away from injustice. 

PRAY that the team will show the love of Jesus to every child so that each one will feel loved and know that all good things come from God.

We would appreciate your prayers for those who are going:

• B. Beams, E. Green, J. Alford, J. O'Hara, D. Deford, M. Robbins, R. Powell, T. Thelan, and E. Fevre

The goal of this trip is to share God's love with the 135 children and the 12 staff of the AFE School that serves those who iive in and around the city garbage dump in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Throughout the next few days, the team will have the opportunity to teach classes at the school , host a Christmas Party for the students, feed the poor, consult with the staff of the Association for a more Just Society for legal assistance to those living at the dump, and take all the school teachers on a fun day to a state park in the mountains. 

• PRAY that God will prepare their hearts and minds to use us as He desires while they are in Honduras. To God be the glory!

• PRAY that God would give wisdom and guidance to those in power and for continued peace around the country.                   
  

Today (Thursday) we had our first and only day of really being a tourist. We visited the Taj Mahal. It was a lot of fun and I took a load of pictures. Well, there is so much to say but in the last few days I have -

Please pray for us tomorrow (Friday)  as we close out our final day as a team.  We will be putting on a seminar on the college campus called 'Revealing your True Identity.'  We pray this leads to more connections with students and opportunities to share Christ.

•  PRAY for the believers they were able to work with and the non-believers they encountered during the time in India.  
• Pray for each team member to be open to God's call in all aspects of their lives and to be confident in sharing the gospel when they return.
• Pray that they would be able to process all the Lord has shown us through this time in India and for safety traveling home.
• PRAY for our incredible missionaries and partners and the work they will carry on long after the team is gone!

Thank you for your prayers!

Ephesians 1:18-19

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.

The greatest part is that we have been sharing on the college campuses.  Got to go through the Bridge with two girls yesterday.  And get this one of the girls said, 'It is very good that you are doing this.  The fact that you would come here to India to share with people at God and Jesus is very powerful.  You should keep doing this.' Out of the mouth of the lost a commission to go and tell.  Powerful indeed.

After concluding their time of ministry in the northern part of India and one more day of outreach with students and slum children on Wednesday, the team is winding down their time in India. When we in DFW go to bed on Wednesday night, the team will be waking up (on Thursday) to have a fun day at the Taj Mahal. Then they will have a day on Friday to wrap up and debrief before heading home. 

•  PRAY for the students the team connected with, and pray that B&L would have more opportunities to build relationships and share about Christ. Pray that seeds of Truth planted in the hearts of Indians would grow and flourish.
• Pray for opportunities to share Christ on the train and at the Taj.
• Pray that God would bring B&L refreshment and joy from the time together.
• Pray for the children in the slums to encounter Jesus Christ and come to realize that the team’s and Indian believers’ joy, love, and compassion comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1 Chronicles 28:20

Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

• PRAY for a sweet time as they share with these amazing followers of Christ who are working in their own villages.
• Pray that God will speak through the team and bring refreshment and encouragement to these church leaders and new believers.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

• PRAY for COI, that the ministry will continue to reach the peoples of North India in a mighty and powerful way so that they will encounter the ONE TRUE GOD.
• PRAY that R&G (operators of COI) will continue to be filled with God’s strength, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to go out and spread the good news of the gospel over North India.

Acts 20:24

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

• Pray for the team’s safe travel returning to Delhi.

Isaiah 40:30-31

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

The ladies from 121 had great opportunities to build relationships with students...

...and the guys had some great conversations with students and a Christian sadhu (holy man, religious teacher).

PRAY for the team as they are now in a state north of Delhi, doing ministry with COI, sharing with leaders there and encouraging new believers.

Finally, enjoy these videos of Amy L. teaching kids who are neighbors of one of our missionaries' partners in ministry:

• PRAY for ongoing relationships to be developed.
• PRAY that the students would be open to the gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would ultimately be the ones to take this message to people all over India.  

Quick update from Mark Latham:

It has been an incredible time of giving thanks the last three days. Since I was on the first India trip it is a pleasure to see the continuing work of God and his faithful servants. We were able to gather together and eat with our partners on Thursday and we'll be with students on Saturday. We shared the origins of Thanksgiving (with props) and our personal gratitude for their friendship. We were also blessed to have two days with a Sadhu, to hear his story, worship together, and see how his position in the Indian culture is used to bring life to Scripture. What a blessing to see so many different parts of the body all working for the Glory of God!

Sunday morning (Saturday night, about 8pm DFW time) the team will have fellowship time with B&L’s house church, hang out time with students and time for rest. In the evening they will travel by train to North India for our time with Cooperative Outreach of India (COI). 

• PRAY for refreshment and continued health for all team members.
• PRAY that God will prepare the team's hearts and the hearts of those they will teach and others they will encounter during the time with COI. Pray for smooth and safe travel to North India.

Romans 10:13-15

For “whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!"

Friday, November 27th

• PRAY that the team will meet new students on campus and for their hearts to be open to God’s love for them.
• Pray that God would continue to create bonds and connections between B&L and the students on the university campus and their community.
• Pray for each team member to stand firmly against any attacks, and for their minds to be alert and prepared to speak God’s word.

1 Peter 4:11

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 12:18

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

• PRAY for a sweet time of encouragement and fellowship as they celebrate Thanksgiving together with our Indian friends.
• Pray that connections will be made with students and that God would draw students to the Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday.
• Pray encouragement for those on the team that will be away from their families on this day and for the continued health of our team.

Psalms 118:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 107:8

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!

• Please PRAY for safe and restful travel and that we will use this time to focus our hearts on Christ.
• PRAY for our work as a team while we are in India. Pray God will give each of us health during our stay.
• Pray that God will prepare our hearts and the hearts of the people we will encounter.
• Pray that we will bring encouragement and refreshment to all those we work with while in India.
• Pray that we will be bold in sharing the gospel.

Look for the next blog post on Wednesday!

John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Psalm 20:7

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Our team of eight (seven will travel we have one state-side member that will remain in Texas, but will be with us in spirit) will be heading to India.  Major goals for the trip are to strengthen student relationships on a university campus that have already been established and make new student contacts that can lead to evangelism. Also our desire is to bring encouragement to B&L** and their local partners during this season of Thanksgiving. 

Please PRAY that God will prepare our hearts and minds to use us as He desires while we are in India. To Him be the glory! 

We would greatly appreciate your prayers for those who are going:

• Charlie C.
• Donna G.
• Amy L.
• Mark L.
• Amy N.
• Corin P.
• Janel W.
• Randa A. (state-side member) 

India is the second most populous country and largest democracy in the world, with over 1.2 billion people. Although their constitution provides for full religious freedom of worship, the state enforced “non-conversion” laws prohibit Christians from evangelism or teaching in some states.  In spite of this, believers are still accomplishing much for the kingdom of God, especially national (Indian) believers.

India has more (and larger) people groups with no Christians, churches, or workers, than any other part of the world. India also suffers from extreme poverty and marginalization, rampant political corruption, and tremendous division due to the caste system.  There is much for which to pray… 

Basic facts about India:

• India is 11.5 hours ahead of CST, so Monday 8am in DFW = Monday 7:30pm in India

• Full country name: Republic of India
• Area: 3.28 million square kilometers
• Population: 1.17 billion
• Capital city: New Delhi
• Language: Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Telugu, Marathi, English
• Religion: Hindu (80%), Muslim (14%), Christian (2.4 %)
• Industries: Textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel machinery, rice, wheat, cotton, tea, sugarcane, fish
• Median Age: 25.3 years
• Literacy Rate: 61%

Delhi, India’s capital city is filled with over 11 million people - of which over 80% are Hindu and less than 2% are Christian. Over 330 million gods have been identified in Hinduism. Most Hindus will worship a number of gods, represented by images and idols that can be found housed in both lavish temples and the modest homes of the Hindu people.

PRAY that the Hindu people will recognize their need for having a relationship with a personal God who intervenes in the lives of His followers rather than participating in a system of empty rituals. Pray that God will open the eyes and hearts of the Hindu people and they will know Christ as the one true Incarnation of a living, personal God.

Alf and Kelly Evans are experiencing God. God has allowed them the unique opportunity to incorporate their passion for Jesus, their love for others, and the adventure of wakeboarding to start Wakeboard church. Alf shares their journey:

God taking me on the journey of Wakeboard Church (wbc) has been so multi faceted. I have seen God use wbc to draw people into first time relationships with Him, and I’ve seen people crack open Bibles for the first time. I’ve seen the hardest of the hard, people you would never think that would come close to God, come close and draw near because He wanted to meet them out on the lake. It’s been such a cool blessing to watch. I think one of the most personal results of God doing wbc is the journey and the growth that I have experienced it as a believer.

In Dec of 07 I was working in a promotional product sales company. It was fun, I was surrounded by amazing people, I was challenged daily, but it was still a jump from me thinking I would be in full time ministry. I was a youth pastor for the first 6 years out of college and the reason Kelly and I moved back from St. Louis where we were youth pastors was to pursue our lives as camp directors. See that’s how we thought God wired us to do ministry…active, personal, outside of the “4 walls” so-to-speak. When we followed God leading to move back here to Dallas it was a “God thing” and we were ready to jump right into camp ministry, whatever that might have looked like. We were stunned when the doors began to close on us doing camp left and right. It seemed that we were in God’s will by moving here because the doors flew open. We even had some “Gideon’s fleece” moments where we asked for some specific confirmation and then it happened. So why oh why would God move us out of really safe positions with decent salaries and a group of great people that loved us? The answer eluded us.

4 years later. I sat in the office of my boss at the sales company telling him that God was telling me to leave. I wasn’t sure why, I just was being told. It was a scary amazing thing for us at that moment because we felt very very strongly that God was speaking to us. He was speaking to us through people, through circumstance, through His word. It just didn’t make real sense. We didn’t have savings, and I didn’t have another job to jump to from there. We had a month until people would want their money. On Dec 12th of 2007 I left that company with blessings and prayer, confident that God would take care of us, but anxious in some ways to say the least. We were fine in the next month, and God sovereignly provided for us through different means. It was amazing.

I worked at a boat dealership in the next few months, learning the trade and some of the people in the DFW area, and it was a huge blessing and opportunity. During that time God had been speaking to me. Beating on my heart is a way that I could describe it. I remember I kept asking people what I should do. “What do you think about this venture that I’m thinking of? I feel like God telling me to do something crazy.” I was looking for the answer from lots of different places. With that came lots of different answers. “No, you shouldn’t do this. You need to be responsible with that family.” “Alf, you should have been doing this for the last three years man!” The most consistent was, “What does Kelly say?”

No matter what anybody said I still heard this calling. That’s the only way I can describe it. I knew that I would hear this call til the day I died unless I answered it. God was calling me to something great…something bigger than my resources…something amazing.

I asked Kelly, “What is God telling you about this Wakeboard Church thing?”

“You know honey, all I’m getting is, to follow you.”

Talk about pressure. I knew what I heard though. God wanted me to jump off a cliff with no safety net for His glory. Even if it meant me falling, I think he still wanted to see if I would obey Him.

What a glorious Father. It’s not his will that we fall though. He wants His kids to bring him glory.

So last year on July 18th 2008 we had a meeting at the West End of 121 Community Church with our closest friends and family to discuss this thing that we felt God was doing in our lives. We went into that meeting asking for prayer, financial support, and people support.

Oh, did I mention that the week before I lost my job at the boat dealership?! God had a plan!

From that night on July 18th, God has faithfully provided for my family by prompting people to give to this ministry.

That’s just one aspect of the personal journey that God brought me on. He has shown me so much about his faithfulness and desire to have the focal point of our lives. We haven’t even talked about the way that God is drawing his children to himself through unconventional means like a ministry called wakeboard church. In the last year God has us running with 5 chapters in Texas and 1 in Georgia, and several others interested in starting chapters in other states as well. God is in charge, and has a plan. And sometimes it seams that I’m just along for the ride. I honestly don’t think I’d have it any other way.

Today is Nov 7th of 2009. God is faithful. He is calling you. He will never leave you or forsake you! I know because I’m living it. He takes care of us everyday.

The rest they say…is history.

Alf Evans
www.wakeboardchurch.com

There are entire groups of people (ethnic, linguistic, cultural) in our world who have never had an opportunity to hear the good news about Jesus Christ. Many of these people groups are located in northern India, which is a major area of focus for 121 for this reason. For more info about unreached people groups, check out these links: 121 UPG Info, Joshua Project, and the U.S. Center for World Mission.

The prayer guide below is updated daily by the Joshua Project. Use it to pray for the nations.

View Unreached People of the Day

There is no way to adequately sum up a trip like this. Here are some of the highlights of who we met and what we experienced:

• We met a tour guide whose family was killed in the Khmer Rouge genocide. She took us through a prison/torcher facility and described the horrors of the late 1970s in Cambodia. If you have not seen the movie The Killing Fields, see it.
• We had great food – there is quite a good array of western eateries, but Khmer food is really delicious too. (Oh, yes, and we ate spiders. Tarantulas actually. Fried. Alf said they taste like chicken.)
• We met a group of heroes, the IJM Cambodia field staff. INCREDIBLE is all I can say. What a passionate, devoted group! They deal with some of the darkest evil and most depressing situations in the world, yet they are committed to God’s work of justice and do their jobs with excellence and, unbelievably, joy. One of our best days was meeting with each of their four departments (legal, police training, investigations, aftercare) and doing a half-day retreat, then dinner with their families. What an amazing group! We got to see great men and women who are also very human and need much prayer and encouragement.
• Alf and I went with an IJM staffer to a kick-boxing match and were escorted to the second row, ring-side. Two words: cultural experience.
• We met quite possibly the manliest man in the world – he would definitely give Chuck Norris a run for his money. He is an IJM investigator who loves these girls like they were his own – and who could tear you apart with his pinky if Jesus gave him permission (fortunately traffickers and rapists are his main targets). He inspired many parallels to Mr. Norris all week in our team’s time in the van, such as “The chief export of [investigator’s name] is pain,” and “[investigator] uses Tabasco sauce instead of Visine.”
• We saw some of the most skilled and worst driving in the world (and sometimes that was the same driver).
• We met missionaries working in one of the worst areas in the world for child prostitution. Through them and the Cambodian leaders God has raised up, change is taking place and Jesus Christ is transforming this area! Pimps and brothel owners are hearing the gospel, and 8 have received Christ. Some parents have stopped prostituting their children. Much remains to be done, but children and adults are coming to know Christ and turn from evil toward His righteousness.
• We got 30-minute foot massages for $4.
• We met a girl who was trafficked and held prisoner in a pedophile’s home, subject to constant rape and much worse things we don’t even want to speak about. She was freed and placed in a Christian aftercare facility, and she confidently testified and her abuser was convicted! Now she is learning, drawing pictures (she is incredibly gifted!), eating three solid meals each day, receiving the top level care from a Christian house mom. We got to sing songs, play volleyball, and just have fun with her and many others like her.
• We got to know each other on a deeper level – we shared some of the most intense experiences of our lives, as well as our latest stomach issues.
• We met a missionary to the Vietnamese, the most oppressed minority in Cambodia and in great need of the Gospel as well as anti-trafficking education (Vietnamese girls in Cambodia are common victims). She is Vietnamese-born but lived in Canada for most of her life, and now she literally walks flooded, muddy village roads to share Jesus Christ with this unreached people group. She didn’t sugar-coat it; she told us how hard it is and how much she struggles. But she is committed to serving Him among this population. WOW!
• We had delicious alien fruit. Alf can explain.
• We met a group of pastors who are faithfully proclaiming the Gospel in a land that is 1.5% Christian (most in Cambodia are Buddhist). Some of these leaders are beginning to courageously engage the trafficking issues in their communities and respond to the biblical call to seek justice. Their passion was great and they are a breath of fresh air! We had a great time of singing praises together and looking into God’s Word together.
• RESCUE!!! We got to hear this report one hour before our flight left, while saying good-bye in the IJM office: CAMBODIA RESCUE

There is soooooo much more, but we thank God that a great foundation was laid for long-term ministry. We met some great organizations, leaders, and pastors, and we have some good opportunities to join God in what He is doing in Cambodia. We have yet to determine long-term partners (other than IJM) or precise next steps, but here are some steps for all of us at 121 in the meantime:

Thank you for praying and for looking beyond to what God is doing around the world. Let’s continue to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, seek justice in His Name, and lead people to live for Jesus Christ.

Rodney

“Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning and is coming back tomorrow.” Martin Luther

We will be meeting with the leader of Chab Dai, a coalition of ministries and agencies combating trafficking in Cambodia. PRAY that we will be able to learn from her experience and wisdom.

Finally we will go by the IJM office to say good-bye to the incredible IJM staff before flying out. We leave from Phnom Penh at 12:30pm and arrive in DFW at 11:35pm (go figure the math on that one!).

PRAY today for the Cambodia IJM staff, pastors, and other Christian workers. We are heading home and our trip is over, but they are there day in and day out – and with constant challenges. PRAY for God’s grace so they can continue and thrive in their work. PRAY again that God would direct us for where and how 121 should be specifically involved over the long term.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.” Mother Teresa

We will be touring the ruins of Angkor Wat in the wee hours of the morning. They are a series of temples built by Cambodian kings during the Angkor period to honor the gods and themselves. Cambodians are very proud of these temples, one of the great wonders of Asia.

We will worship with Cambodian believers in Siem Reap and fly back to Phnom Penh.

PRAY that today would be a good day of processing all the meetings, conversations, ideas, challenges, and opportunities. PRAY that God would begin to impress on us the direction in which 121 should begin to move.

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buecher

We will be meeting with Khmer pastors from churches in Siem Reap. PRAY that we will be able to build good relationships with these pastors, understand the state of ministry and outreach in Siem Reap, and see ways to encourage their efforts.

In the afternoon we will tour the Rapha Aftercare Home for girls who have been trafficked, raped, or are just at risk.

PRAY for the restoration of these girls and healing for their hearts. PRAY that they would know and love Jesus, the One through whom this is possible!

“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.” Saint Teresa of Avila

An IJM investigator will take us for a tour of the Siem Reap Anti Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit Station. The purpose of this meeting is to establish a relationship with the police, tour the facility, and obtain a visual for where children go after rescue and what interviewing looks like. PRAY that we will be able to convey our respect and support for their hard work and success.

Then we will meet a missionary to the Vietnamese. There are many Vietnamese living in Cambodia, and they are often victims of prejudice and denied access to social services because they are not Cambodian.

Next we will meet Tania and Rem, co-directors of Green Gecko. They run a home for children who lived on the streets of Siem Reap and for many years did street ministry to children living and begging on the streets.

Later in the day we will be meeting with a leader from VOICE. They provide care and services to Vietnamese living in Cambodia.

PRAY for wisdom as we meet all of these organizations. Our hope is to find a good partnership fit for 121CC. PRAY that God will direct us to the right people and the right ministries.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail

We have one more day at Svay Pak and we will be doing more outreach at Rahab’s House and the Lord’s Gym. PRAY that we will have good relationships with the Agape staff and those living in this community. PRAY for our team that God will give us His strength for another day of ministry in a place of darkness.

In the evening we will be flying to Siem Reap in northern Cambodia. PRAY that travel will go smoothly and our team will have good health. This is the city where many of the trafficking and underage prostitution problems are at their worst, and IJM is planning to open a satellite office here. The picture above is a lock to a door of a room where young girls were enslaved at a brothel. PRAY that God would set them free through the work of his people.

“There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” Mahatma Gandhi

We will spend the next two days in Svay Pak. This is a place that used to be lined with brothels that had children as young as 5 for sale to pedophiles. A hallway of one brothel is pictured at right. IJM and the Cambodian police have cleared out the brothels and much progress has been made! However trafficking remains to be a problem in this area.

We will tour the area and spend some time at Rahab’s House and the ARC aftercare home. We will have lunch with the girls and hang out with them, then do some evangelistic outreach in the community with Agape.

PRAY that we will be an encouragement to those working with the girls as well as to the girls themselves. PRAY that our hearts will be broken for these girls but that we will be encouraged by the girls’ stories of survival and the heroic work of IJM and Agape International Missions.

“Tears shed for self are a sign of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.” Billy Graham

Please PRAY for what is happening today!

We will start our day by touring the Phnom Penh National Anti-Human Trafficking & Juvenile Protection Police Unit. This is IJM’s primary police partner. The purpose of the tour is for us to understand the massive growth and success that has occurred with this police unit over the past five years. PRAY that God will use us to encourage these police officers to continue their fight against human trafficking and that He will be known through our interaction with them.

Then we will be touring the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Station. Police stations like this one are small, lack funds, and face significant problems. These are the police stations that the poor often have to go to. Next we will go to the Municipal Court House. These court houses often have an overwhelming caseload, operate without technology, record keeping, or enough staff.

In the afternoon we will be meeting with World Hope International. They operate an assessment center for the first placement of trafficked children that is one of the best in the world. The women on the team will be able to tour the assessment facility and learn about the services they offer and how trafficked children are processed once they have been rescued.

Then we will meet with World Relief. They provide education and prevention based activities throughout Cambodia. PRAY that God will help us learn about the kinds of work that they do.

Finally we will meet with Agape International Missions. They operate Rahab’s House and the Lord’s Gym in Svay Pak. Rahab’s House is a former brothel that is now being used to care for victims of trafficking. PRAY that God will help us learn about their work and the partnership/ministry possibilities.

“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” John W. Gardner

We will spend the morning learning about IJM operations. We will be meeting with the legal, investigations, police training, and aftercare teams. Then we will have a half-day retreat with the IJM staff and their families to build relationships, PRAY together, and have fun together.

PRAY that God will help us to learn about IJM and the work that they are doing in Cambodia. PRAY also that God will use us to encourage the staff for the work that they are doing. PRAY for Alf as he co-leads worship and for Vince as he teaches on spiritual gifts.

“Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time.” Condoleezza Rice

Schedule & Prayer Needs:

• PRAY for our time of worship as we attend the New Life Fellowship Church. This is the largest Khmer church in Cambodia with a dynamic outreach and discipleship ministry. This is the church that Christa Hayden attended when she lived in Cambodia.

• In the afternoon we will be meeting with White Lotus, an aftercare home for survivors of prostitution and trafficking. PRAY that we will be able to learn from some of these organizations that have been working with trafficking victims in Cambodia.

• Then will be touring the Toul Sleng Prison Museum. This was a former school that was turned into a place of interrogation and torture by the Khmer Rouge regime. Over 17,000 people were held and tortured at Toul Sleng then transported to the killing fields to die.

• Next we will tour the killing fields. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge killed between 20% and 30% of the population from 1975-1979. You can see more about Cambodia’s tragic (and recent) history and the genocide of Pol Pot’s regime in the film The Killing Fields.

• Last we will go to the Phnom Penh river front and learn about the struggles of street children from experienced in ministry to these kids. PRAY that God will help us to better understand the people of Cambodia and the roots and issues involved in trafficking.

“It takes a special kind of depravity to exploit and hurt the most vulnerable members of society.” Former President George W. Bush

As we arrive in Cambodia, PRAY that all the details will come together. PRAY for luggage to arrive, visas to be purchased, hotel check-in, and that we find time to rest.

Christa Hayden from International Justice Mission is leading this trip, and she arrives in Cambodia today on a different flight schedule. PRAY for God’s grace for her to arrive safely and in good health, and that God would use her to lead our team well. PRAY for good connections with those she knows as well as unexpected “divine appointments” this week!

Later in the day we hope to tour the city of Phnom Penh, and then meet with IJM Cambodia staff. PRAY that God would help us to develop relationships with these staff members and find ways that we can support their work.

Pray that a great foundation will be laid for years of fruitful ministry. We are seeking that the God of justice to be known, loved, and worshiped in Cambodia.

Wow, it is here! 121’s very first trip to Cambodia. In some ways this is the culmination of our global Amos Project efforts, and in other ways this is just the beginning.

Our team of eight (seven 121ers and one IJMer) will be heading to Cambodia to explore long-term opportunities for ministry and seek the Lord’s direction on how He will use us as a church. We will look to establish long-term relationships with our new partners at IJM as well as complementary ministries, churches, and leaders.

Please PRAY for God’s direction to be clear and for us to have the eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to obey, and minds to trust in what God reveals.

We would greatly appreciate your prayers for those who are going:

• Christa Hayden (IJM)
• Alf Evans
• Diane Lee
• Keri Howell
• Matt Coleman
• Mike Johnson
• Rodney Howell
• Vince Rice

In the days ahead, we will post specific prayer requests in relation to our day's schedule. Cambodia is 12 hours ahead of CST, so your evening prayers will coincide with our mornings in Camboida. Below is the first day's request!

__________________________________________________________________

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito.” African Saying

The team will depart at 7:24pm from DFW and arrive at 11:30am on Saturday in Cambodia (ouch). We have a packed schedule to make the most of our time there, and we need to be healthy and rested. PRAY for God’s mercies as we travel and that the team will arrive rested and ready to go on Saturday. Some in our group are battling sickness, so please pray for us in that regard especially.

We have a great opportunity to connect with the local Indian community this weekend. Make plans to attend the upcoming Aradhna concert; it's a great event for a lifegroup walking in community!

International Students Inc (ISI) is sponsoring several concerts on college campuses across the DFW area. Aradhna, meaning "worship", is a group that captures the beauty and dignity of India's bhajan devotional melodies with music that blends east and west. Check out their website for more info on the band. Come to any of the following local concerts to enjoy great music and befriend international students God has brought to the metroplex.

- Friday, September 18 – Irving (North Lake College Courtyard) at 8 p.m.

- Saturday, September 19 – Arlington (UTA University Center Rosebud Theater) at 8 p.m.

- Sunday, September 20 – Richardson (UT Dallas - location tbd) at 7:30 p.m.

Troy Sims, also known as “T-Roy” while on stage at 121 Kids, embarked with a team of eight, including his wife D’Anna and others from 121, to India in May. Here he shares about his trip:

Our team partnered with COI in preparation to put on a VBS for approximately 600 kids, ranging from the ages of 4 to 18. There was a lot of pre-trip preparation put into the trip, including eating Indian food, but that helped make the trip go so super smooth.

May in Delhi is hot. How hot is hot? It was around a 110-120 outside. We were working in a cinderblock building with a metal roof. Add 600 kids jumping around and you’ve got yourself a nice little sauna!

We began each day all gathered in a large group with the kids. We worshiped God together and it was so cool to see and hear the same worship songs we sing in English being sung in Hindi. We also performed the skit we had planned for the day with the help of Hindi translators. Then the kids broke into groups for their Bible study with the Indian volunteers and teachers. Our team split into two’s and went to each classroom and shared a craft, many of which were prepared by 121ers.

We also had a memory verse activity and game prepared for the kids each day. It was amazing to see when my wife D’Anna step up and teach through a translator using her talents to expand on the story of the day or explain the craft or games. It was really neat to be able to debrief with D’Anna every night before going to bed. There was an amazing comfort for us to be together in a foreign place.

The children loved all of us coming to the rooms, acting silly and playing games with them. The kids I played with really enjoyed the spit-wad game (q-tips and straws). I don’t think they’ve ever experienced spit wads before!!! My hope was that the kids had a reprieve from their daily lives and were able to just come and be kids, experiencing the love of Christ through song and dance, bible stories, crafts, games, the skit, and just having fun with the crazy Americans. I think we accomplished that goal.

The main focus of the trip was reaching the kids with the good news of Christ. The kids were engaged with the message and on the last day there was a huge celebration! I think every child was able to be on stage to do either a memory verse, a song, or a skit. It was really neat to see what they learned throughout the week!

We also had a chance to do a few things in the evenings. One night we visited a couple from 121 who serve as missionaries in Delhi. We also prayer walked through a Mosque, a Sikh temple, and a Hindu temple. We prayed for the people, for God to work miracles. We also visited a home church and one of the local pastor’s homes.

The Indian people are so friendly, with a culture based on building relationships. They were willing to give a helping hand and serve you their best. There was one time the taxi we were in died and two complete strangers stopped their car in the middle of traffic in order to push our taxi to jump start it!

This was a great trip for D’Anna and me. Of the many lessons learned, I came back with a new appreciation for service, friendliness, humility, and relationship focused encounters with others.

-Troy Sims

God has appointed our times and our boundaries. He's placed us right where we are, at this specific time, for one unique purpose: to glorify Him while leading others to live for Jesus Christ. Let's live on mission in confidence, knowing that God has sovereignly placed us in situations with people to point them to Christ as the only way to God.

Last month we were encouraged to engage the Muslim community that God has brought to the metroplex. Check out that post here for more on Islam and Ramadan, the holy month for Islam that just began.

Two other resources offered today provide us with more ways to engage Muslims. This is a great time to reach out to Muslims since many are especially focused on spiritual matters. Most Muslims are very open to discussing their religion.

Browse through Beyond the Wall for multiple resources to assist in connecting with Muslims, especially with respect to the gospel and the Trinity.

Check out this audio clip for a great dialogue on Christianity and Islam. God is working to save some from all peoples . . . and He's using us to to do it!

121er Mike Mobley recaps the students' recent trip to La Communidad. Praise God for raising up all parts of the body of 121 to serve on Mission!

Back on July 22nd, 121’s Student Ministry gathered at The Courtyards apartment complex for Summerfest. The purpose of the event was to reach out to the community through games, activities, worship and to share the wonderful gospel message. This same week another group of students were serving on Mission in Guatemala, so it was a cool picture of the entire Student Ministry serving together whether that was overseas, or right here in our neighborhood.

The Summerfest evening at the courtyard started off with hot dogs, music, and games for everyone. This was a great opportunity for our group to get to know some of the families that live in the courtyard apartments. The kids absolutely loved playing the games we had set up and dancing around to the music. Our leaders also got a chance to get to know some of the adults in the area as well. Getting out there was a reminder that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, all of them, not just the ones that make it into our church building.

After the fellowship and activities, Alf Evans led us in worship. Vivian DeHart translated our songs into Spanish for the majority of the crowd to understand. Even if we could not speak the same languages, we could still worship the same God as a family.

Allie Hess then shared her testimony. She shared how she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and spoke about the difference that has made in her life. “While presenting my testimony, it was neat to be used by God and share how He has and continues to affect my life!” We then presented the Gospel in a unique way by using poster boards with different pictures explaining: how we are all sinners, separated from God because of sin; what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross; and how we can begin a relationship with Him. Anna Shurtleff translated Allie’s testimony and the gospel message into Spanish. She did a fantastic job!

We wrapped up the evening by giving everyone a chance to pray and to talk more about what it means to start a relationship with Christ. We also gave out more information about weekly events at the apartments, like La Communidad on Mondays and ESL.

Our students and leaders really stepped up to the challenge of bringing Elevate to the community by setting up all of the activities and games, cooking all of the food, moving an entire sound system, preparing for worship, and presenting the gospel. You can speak with any of the students or leaders who served at this event, and they would be more than happy to tell you about their experience. All in all, it was a great evening to share Christ’s love and His word to our neighbors down the road and truly, love one another. To God be all the Glory!

- Mike Mobley

121’s La Comunidad apartment ministry meets weekly; get the details here. For more information regarding this or other local opportunities, please contact Amy Nobles, our Local Mission Minister. Be sure to join us this Saturday for 121's Saturday Serve event at La Communidad. Get the details here.

Want more pictures of Summerfest? Check out the video below!

One of 121's core mission efforts is in Honduras. We have a long term vision for the ministry there, but current trips have been temporarily put on hold due to Honduras' political and military crisis. While we can't be there physically, we can be there in prayer. Let's be able to say with Paul, "We are praying always for you."

Here's a brief summary of the situation in Honduras written by the current president of the country.

Take a look at Rey and Elise's blog too. They are partners in our work there and remind us that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28

121er Pat Hyland and his daughter Chelsi just returned from 121’s student mission trip to Guatemala. Pat gives us a first hand account of the wonderful ways God worked through the trip. Pat is pictured below in blue behind Chelsi in yellow.

Neither my daughter Chelsi nor I had ever been out of the country on a mission trip so we thought this would be a great opportunity for us to share this experience together. We had no idea what to expect and our group was asked by Jamie and Bob Beams to be flexible since most mission trips have unexpected twists. Ours started out with a doozy of a twist since Honduras experienced a coup and the airport into the country was shut down; therefore, Jamey and Bob went into high gear with Orphan Outreach and arranged another trip to Guatemala.

Once we arrived in Guatemala City we traveled over 5 hours to a town called Santiago which is nestled alongside the beautiful lake Atitlan. The lake is surrounded by volcanoes and in October of 2005 torrential rains from hurricane Stan created a horrible mudslide in the nearby village of Panabaja. Over 1,000 people were killed and there are still over 500 buried under the mud. Many children lost family members and some of them lost of their parents.

Our mission in going to Santiago was to love on and teach children from the area at the Good Sheppard school as well as evangelize door to door in the near by communities. Our group taught 1st thru 4th graders in science, math, crafts as well as provide recreation time and VBS like programs during each afternoon. The children were incredibly receptive to the group’s teachings and it is apparent the children wanted to go to school and learn. Some had to walk upwards of 2 hours to and from school each day.

One of the more emotional days that our group experienced was when we asked the children how we could pray for them. One response from a 6 year old boy was that we could pray that he could find work to help out his family make money while another boy’s prayer was that God would provide rain so the crops would grow so they could eat. It was apparent that most all of their prayers were focused on the basic essentials for survival such as food and shelter for their families. I cannot express enough how receptive, sweet, grateful and loving that the children were to us while we were there. Each day the children greeted the group with cheers and hugs when we showed up to the school. I cannot remember ever getting so many hugs and smiles as we did this week and I am sure each of us will never forget each one of them.

We were not the only ones that were affected by God’s great demonstration of love and compassion, but so was one of our translators named Luis. He worked closely with the members of our group in translating to the children during class time, during recreation and while we witnessed to people in the outlying villages. During this time God prepared Luis’s heart and we are excited to say that he accepted Christ as his personal Savior towards the end of the week! Luis is pictured at right.

Lastly one of the best takeaways from this trip was getting to know the other 121’ers that came on this trip. I was in awe of how our youth stepped up to take the lead in so many important areas including teaching and sharing the gospel with the people in the villages. I also developed some new friendships with other adults as well as deepened other existing friendships. I believe the experiences we had together on this trip will uniquely bond us together forever. I truly love each and every one of them.

There is so much more to tell you but I was asked to keep this short. I know that anyone of the 121’ers that attended the trip would love to talk to you more about their own personal experiences and share them with you. Also, I cannot encourage you enough to participate in a mission trip if you have never done so before. By far Chelsi and I feel that we took way more back with us than we could ever imagine. We thank Christ for allowing us to be used to share His love with the children and the people we met. This mission trip has truly changed Chelsi’s and my life and we are looking forward to future trips.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to talk more about Chelsi’s and my personal experience on the mission trip to Guatemala. My number is 214-850-5701.

In Christ,
Pat Hyland

Does it disturb us to know that billions of people are worshiping false gods . . . robbing God of His honor . . . living in darkness when true life is available to them? Paul was zealous for God's glory, and he wanted to see Him worshipped in Athens too.

This week's blogpost offers resources for us to reach Muslims with the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. Ramadan is an important Muslim observance lasting for 30 days. It begins August 21st this year. Learning more about Islam and Ramadan is a great way for us to naturally connect with the local Muslim community. Become friends with a Muslim in your community and ask them to share what Ramadan means to them.

There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims living the North Texas area representing over 40 countries. The DFW Muslim community currently consists of over 30 mosques, 6 full-time schools, and numerous ethnic restaurants and retail stores.

Below are a few links to learn more about Islam. Remember to keep the following in mind as you engage with Muslims:

- RECEIVE anything in the culture that is compatible with God’s Word.

- REDEEM anything that can be a point of contact.

- REJECT anything that contradicts God’s Word.

Rodney shared key elements of Paul's approach to evangelism in a sermon from May 31st. Find it here, and check out his notes here.

Wikipedia has a concise overview of Ramadan.

This site has more about Islam and Ramadan.

121’s very own Greg and Marcella Dill, along with their 3 children, have committed to full-time mission work in Albania. How does your average suburban family go from living the "American Dream" to pursuing full-time missions in a foreign country? We wanted to know and here’s what Greg said.

Ever since I was a Christian I had always had an interest in missions. I knew in the back of my mind that’s what I should be doing according to the Great Commission. But, I always remained reluctant and came to the conclusion that my family and career were more important. By 2006 I had achieved what many people refer to as, “the American Dream”. I had built a small yet successful business over the years bringing in well over a 6-figure income, a house, two cars, purchased land on a private lake, all the electronic gadgets a man would ever want, and had my sights set on yet another new house and new cars.

When all was said and done, I looked over everything and asked myself, “This is it? This is what the American Dream is all about?” As a family we were happy: spending a lot of time together, going on vacations every year, buying new things, doing this, doing that. But, I had come to the conclusion that the American Dream was WAY overrated, especially in light of the hundreds of people I encountered on short term missions trips in Mexico and Honduras who never have the chance of such basic necessities as food, water, and electricity, and a vacation to Disneyworld was unthinkable.

Over the past several years, thanks in large part to the messages taught by Ross on Sunday mornings, I was moved more towards missions. After each Sunday service I would often ask Marcella in our car on the way home, why aren’t we doing missions? What’s keeping us back? I felt the Holy Spirit tugging more on my heart each day but I still wasn’t sure if it was God or me wanting to do this. I asked Ross for any recommended books to read about discerning God’s will for our lives. He recommended “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. Upon completion of the book, I knew without a doubt that we would begin to seriously pursue missions.

After much prayer and Godly counsel from others, we started the journey into missions in February 2008. Marcella and I agreed that if God shuts the door to missions that we would stop the pursuit. Ever since then, the doors have remained wide open with an occasional nudge from the hand of God behind us. So, here we are, a year and a half later and we are transitioning our lives to full time ministry in the mission field. Click here to see our first family newsletter describing our future ministry work!

121 is seeking God's justice for children at risk in Cambodia through our partnership with The International Justice Mission. Jim Martin from IJM will join us this Sunday to describe the work God's people are doing around the world, and discuss ways 121 lifegroups can engage in the work of seeking God's justice for the oppressed. Make plans to attend Sunday evening at 5PM to hear more! Childcare is available by RSVP.

Here's a look at IJM's work in Cambodia. Explore their website for more stories!

The video below also describes the work done in Cambodia. Praise God for using 121 to drive out this darkness with His light. Let's courageously bring God's present-day salvation to the end's of the earth.

Amanda Thode has served in LifeGroup leadership and many other capacities at 121 for several years, and God has used Keith and Amanda beyond their service at 121 in the development of Young Life Europe. To find out more about this vibrant ministry among students in Europe, check out www.younglife.eu or email Amanda at amanda.thode@gmail.com.

Amanda, pictured with her family below, shares the details of her upcoming mission trip to Europe along with her role with Young Life.

Teenagers all across Europe desperately need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and the staff and volunteer leaders of Young Life are working hard to build relationships with kids and to earn the right to share that good news with them!

God is opening doors across Europe to start Young Life and reach kids for Christ. In April, we took over 200 kids and leaders to Struga, Macedonia for a service project. We built five playgrounds, painted fence after fence, removed graffiti, painted schools, demolished old concrete and built more park benches than we could count! International school students from all over Europe did all of this hard work during the day, and every night they heard more about Jesus during club. At the end of the week 38 kids gave their lives to Christ! During our time in Macedonia, we were also able to develop quite a network of people interested in starting Young Life in Macedonia so the kids there can also have a chance to hear about Jesus. We found the people very welcoming, and we believe that Young Life’s incarnational approach will work well there.

This week, the Thode family (Amanda, Keith, Micah and Ruthie) and Rodney and Keri Howell are serving with Young Life in Ostrava, Czech Republic for an English Language camp for high school students. The Czech Republic is the 2nd most atheistic country in Europe with over 55% of Czech people professing to be atheists. English camps are a great way for our staff and leaders to connect with teens, build relationships, and share about Christ. Many Czech parents are very cautious about letting their children attend anything that seems “too religious”, but they are excited about their children having the opportunity to speak English with native speakers. It is important for European teens to learn English to better their chances at university and employment in the future. In addition to learning English, there are lots of other fun activities for the kids, and every night they have club where the gospel is presented.

These camps are a great short-term mission opportunity for people from the states. Young Life needs teams from the states to “teach” English at the camps. The curriculum is focused on giving the kids the opportunity to practice using the English they already know through conversations, activities and games. So the only requirements are being able to speak English and enjoying hanging out with teens. The camp will last until July 10. Please pray for us, the Young Life staff and leaders in Ostrava, and the kids who will be learning more about Christ.

I am excited that I have the opportunity to serve on staff with this vital ministry raising funds and building the network of support for Young Life Europe here in the states. Keith and I have been on the board for Young Life Europe for seven years. As the ministry has grown especially into countries in Eastern Europe the need for funding has grown as well, and we needed someone in the states to focus on fundraising. I was excited about the opportunity to be able to use the business experience I had gained working at Accenture for 14 years to help this important ministry. God worked out all of the details for me to leave Accenture and move into this new role. It is challenging, but also exciting. I greatly appreciate the support of 121 and look forward to more people having the opportunity to participate in this significant ministry reaching kids for Christ across Europe.

121’er Michael Eastabrook was part of the team serving in Honduras last month. Michael reflects on his trip in the story below. Praise God for continuing to use 121 for His Mission!

Pictured Below is Michael Eastabrook, Al Nichols and Bob Beams in Honduras.

I recently returned from my first ever foreign mission trip. I went with a group of seven other men and women to Tegucigalpa, Honduras in May. Our main focus on this trip was serving at the AFE School where children who live and work within the massive city dump receive educations in an attempt to break the cycle of poverty that envelopes so many within this country. We came from a variety of backgrounds and many of us had never met prior to this trip. Two members of the team were from the Midwest United States and had never heard of 121 Community Church prior to their involvement with this trip. We all did have one thing in common, a willingness to serve Christ in whatever manner He chose.

This trip was a challenge for me in many ways. I had never felt called to foreign missionary service in the past. However, when I heard of this trip, God immediately started working on my heart. The pull was subtle but definitely present. Over the course of five months, God provided everything I would need to serve Him on this trip. He constantly reminded me of His faithfulness. He answered my questions and guided me every step of the way.

One of the things I struggled with prior to leaving was how God could possibly use me on this trip. I did not see where I had any particularly relevant or useful skills that He could use in Honduras. I speak almost no Spanish. I could not comprehend why Christ was telling me to go. God would again show me His faithfulness during the trip and He would answer this question very clearly.

He used me in many ways that I could not have foreseen or understood prior to traveling. We did construction on a class room at the AFE School. We taught children to play volleyball. We entertained children while their mothers learned to make jewelry. We worshipped together. We learned things about Honduras and the role Christian Missionaries play in improving the lives of people that could otherwise be forgotten. We fed the poor. We served moms during a Dia de la Madres (Mothers Day) celebration by setting up tables and delivering food. We encouraged others in the faith.

Perhaps one of the most significant ways we served was just showing children at the AFE school how valuable they are. Most of these children seldom receive positive attention from adults. They live in a world of extreme poverty and frequent violence. They live in a world where the strong thrive and the weak are often discarded or abused. The self-worth of these children is constantly challenged. We showed these children that they were valuable not because of what they could do physically or mentally, but simply because they were made by God in His own image.

Towards the end of the trip, Galatians 3.28 was placed on my heart (There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus). God used this scripture to remind me that the people we were serving are all part of God’s creation. These beautiful children are loved by God just as my own children are loved by their Heavenly Father. Additionally, it reminded me that we are called to “make disciples of all nations”. Sometimes serving our Lord requires discomfort on our behalf. However, when we are faithful to His will for our lives, we can walk forward confidently knowing that He is with us and that he will always be faithful to us.

In Christ,

Michael Eastabrook

Would you like to keep in touch with current events affecting the Church around the world? Christian World News produces a weekly video that offers a convenient way to stay up to date. Check out their website for future broadcasts. The video below is their most recent update.

Throughout 2009 and 2010, 121 is partnering with The Crossroad Church, a new church focused on reaching the Indian community in DFW. There are between 100,000-150,000 Indians in DFW, with a great concentration in the North Irving/Coppell area. 121 is supporting them financially and serving at various outreach events, primarily at apartment complexes where a majority of the residents are from India. For more information on how you can get involved locally or globally in upcoming ministry opportunities to the Indian community, contact Dustin Sanders at india@121cc.com.

Check out the Crossroad Church website at www.crossroaddfw.org.

Take a look at this short video for the vision of The Crossroad.

121 has just finished over two weeks of mission efforts in Honduras and India! We sought God's justice for children in the dump of Honduras and organized VBS for over 800 children in India. The evil one opposes this work and will do his best to spoil it, so continue to pray for those reached by these efforts. New believers that live in hostile environments needs our prayers now more than ever.

Check out this video from one of IMB's missionaries that gives us a glimpse of how God is accomplishing His mission of bringing some from every people group to Himself! Pray for the perseverance of both new and mature believers around the world.

121 is seeking God's justice for children at risk at a garbage dump in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. We work with a local school to provide a safe alternative for children forced to work at the garbage dump. AFE School (Amor, Fe, Esperanza, or Faith, Hope, Love) provides a Christ-centered education and hope for a better future for children whose families have been mired in extreme poverty for generations.

The current team includes Becky Epps, Al Nichols, Kari Koenecke, Amy Evans, Lyn Rives, Jill Malone, Michael Eastabrook, and Bob Beams.

Time will be spent sharing Jesus’ love as they teach classes, assist with the computer lab improvement, encourage the teachers, feed the poor, teach women how to make jewelry for income, encourage the local justice society staff, and pray for and with those with spiritual and physical needs.

On Thursday, they will sponsor a special Mothers Day lunch for over 200 mothers living in and around the dump. Here’s a picture of last year’s Mother’s Day Event. It was the first time they had ever been served in this way!

One way to focus on our Honduras partnership is to set aside a time this week with your family for some "mission minutes." Use this week's dinnertime to discuss the situation in the Tegucigalpa trash dump community. Share these pictures and links as part of your time together. Setting aside this time would be a great way to allow your family to be on mission together through prayer and support!  Please pray for our team there and for the ongoing ministry. Bob Beams specifically asks, "Pray for those in Honduras that are starving for food and for the Word of God and that we can be used fully to serve God by serving them while we are there."

Here is a great ten-minute video that gives us a chance to see and hear what life is like in the garbage dump community and how God is working there. Consider sharing it with your family as you pray this week.

Rey Diaz and his family serve as missionaries with AFE in the dump community. Check out a recent story on his blog to see how lives are being changed through this work.

121's Honduras page has more information.

And for Creationland Families, don't forget about the "Helping Honduras" fundraiser for buying textbooks for the children at the school. This will go through the month of May and is a great opportunity for our kids to take an active role in sharing God's love and justice to those in need. Come by CreationLand soon if you would like to contribute.

Check back next week for specific ways to pray for the team from 121 working with youth in the slums of India.

Imagine moving to a foreign country, leaving the familiar behind for an unknown land. Everything is different - language, commerce, customs, transportation, housing - everyday activities would be bewildering. But for up to 10,000 refugees a year, this is only a small glimpse of their transition to life in the United States. There are many trials to adjusting to a new life.

World Relief and a network of church-based volunteers help these refugees fleeing persecution and war in their homelands. Lisa and Chad Olsen, members at 121, have been serving with World Relief for about two and a half years. Lisa lists just some of the opportunities she and Chad have had in helping the Refugee families, "We have hosted families in our home, picked up families from the airport, participated in family sponsorship, ESL, hosted outreach events, and delivered donations to families in need." Lisa admits, "The language barrier is always the biggest challenge. We use a lot of charades!"

121 was privileged to participate in an Easter outreach event for the refugee families, which was just one of four Saturday Serve opportunities on Easter weekend. Lisa says, "I had a lot of people show interest before the event but I was still overwhelmed at the support 121 volunteers were on the day of the event. People took initiative and found a spot to dive in and serve. It was an awesome day to serve with the body at 121." There were about fifty volunteers from 121 who were doing everything from painting faces to holding babies.

The Easter celebration was held within walking distance of one of the apartment complexes where many of the refugee families live. Over 100 refugees from Bhutan, Vietnam, Burma, Afghanistan, Iraq, Tanzania, and Burundi came to the party to play music and games, do crafts, eat donuts and hear the message of salvation through Christ.

When asked to describe how the gospel message was shared, Lisa explained, "We pulled everyone together and gathered them in groups depending on their language/ethnic group. We had interpreters for Nepali, Vietnamese, Burmese, Arabic, and Kirundi. Chad and Jeff Symons communicated the gospel while the interpreters translated. At the end we offered them CDs with the gospel on it in their language. They were so excited to receive these CDs. In fact I had some of the Nepalis lined up to get more in English because there were not enough in their own language. Thank goodness some of them spoke English too!"

In addition to those who expressed interest in the message, there are two families now attending a weekly meeting to hear more about Jesus Christ. There is also a worker at world relief who shares the Bible through story telling with the Nepali refugees.

Please join us in praying for these families and the refugees that God has brought to DFW. Rejoice that God is using 121 to take part in His Mission - bringing His salvation to every tongue, tribe and nation on earth! Click here for more ways to be on mission through the refugee ministry.