The Lost Sheep...The One Percent

Have you ever read a passage in Scripture and had something jump out at you that you never noticed before? In 2008 I was preparing a lesson and was studying Luke 15 - the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Luke 15:4 says, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” (NLT)

For some reason I had always pictured the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine other sheep in the safety of a pen. I imagined him rounding up all the sheep. I imagined him making sure they were safe from all harm, making sure all of their needs were met, making sure they were fed and watered. And then, only after the ninety-nine other sheep were secure, he took out in search of the ONE lost sheep. I do not know where this mental picture came from because it is not even close to what we find in this parable.

This shepherd leaves the ninety-nine other sheep in the wilderness, in the open country (NIV) to go search for the one that is lost. It struck me as I was wrestling with this passage the shepherd’s decision defies logic. It does not make rational sense to leave ninety-nine percent of the animals left in your charge to go look for one percent. It seems you would be better off taking care of the ninety-nine sheep you have rather than abandoning them to search for one. This might make more sense rationally, but it is not the heart of a shepherd. The heart of a shepherd cares for every single sheep, even one lost sheep...and maybe even especially the one lost sheep. Does the Church today reflect this parable? What do you think?

tory

God Is Moving!

Our calendar is starting to fill up with short-term ministry teams wanting to partner with 3:18 Ministries.  Part of their time each day will include a service project.  On Tuesday morning I sent an email to a youth pastor who is bringing a team in May.  I said in that email, "I have been in touch with several people about trying to line up the work projects, but don't have anything set yet."  I had talked to a couple of people to see about some possible projects, but things just weren't moving forward.  I love it when God begins moving and opening doors!

Tuesday afternoon I received a phone call from one of the directors of the San Carlos Housing Authority.  He had been talking with the Tribal Chairman about doing some basic home repairs for elderly members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.  The Chairman is willing to contribute some money to help with the repairs.  The Housing director suggested they look into using volunteer mission teams to do the repairs so the money could be used to help more elderly people.  So one thing led to another and I have a meeting this coming Tuesday with the Tribal Chairman and some leaders of the Housing Authority.  We are going to figure out a plan as to how 3:18 Ministries' short-term ministry teams can partner with the Tribe.  I am excited to see what God has in store.

Please pray for our meeting on Tuesday.  Please pray for God to continue to open the doors He wants us to walk through.  Please also pray for God to send the right skilled workers at the right time to accomplish these home repairs.

-tory

Synergy

In 2005 I read in one of our sister ministry’s newsletter of a Navajo lady who lived to be 105 years old. Living to be 105 years old in itself is an amazing feat but when the average life expectancy on the reservation today is about 54 years old, that is incredible. This one lady beat the statistics. She beat the odds.

Most days I get pretty overwhelmed by the hopelessness we encounter. I get frustrated with parents making bad choices that affect their kids. I am so tired of seeing people whose lives are consumed by alcohol and drugs. I will never forget the day I saw a 2 year old baby sitting outside on the sidewalk surrounded by broken alcohol bottles.  My heart breaks as I see Satan having his way day after day tearing down God's precious creations.

I find such comfort in the fact that God has not called us to save every person on every reservation across the United States. He has not called us to be in the spotlight drawing attention to ourselves. He has not even called us to be successful. God has called us to be faithful. He has called us to faithfully walk alongside a wonderful group of kids and their parents, share Jesus with them and look for the one kid who will beat the statistics.

A good friend of mine encouraged me a while back about the philosophy of synergy. So many times we view ministry as addition, but in reality ministry is synergy. In successful ministry, one does not become two and then three and so forth. Synergy is the concept of momentum where one becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight, etc. Some days are tough and ministry is slow, but God has called us to keep on and pour our lives into one child who will beat all statistics and all expectations. I long for the day when the one becomes two, and two becomes four, and the four becomes eight... I long for the day when kids fall in love with God, grow up knowing and loving Him, and in turn raise their families knowing and loving God. I long for the day when Satan no longer has his foothold in San Carlos! We continue on in faith knowing that day is coming!

tory

Ministry In Wal-Mart's Parking Lot

On Friday, December 17th, 3:18 Ministries hosted a Christmas party for the children and staff of the San Carlos Youth Home. We go to the Youth Home on Fridays and provide a Bible story, crafts, snacks and games. Friday the 17th was a special time together. People all across the United States sent money, gift cards, fleece blankets, fleece hats and quilts so we could bless the children and staff with a wonderful Christmas memory.

Instead of being at the Youth Home, two staff members brought the children to our local Wal-Mart. The mother of four of the children, who was visiting them at the Youth Home, also came. Kara had met her at the parenting classes. Ron & Peggy Dew, 3:18 Ministries’ Board members, also joined us for the adventure. We spent an hour at Wal-Mart helping the children pick out a toy or two and then finding a piece of clothing they needed. It was so much fun to see the children receive a special gift and have a small need met. Next we invaded McDonalds for dinner. Happy Meals all around! Melissa Brown, 3:18 Ministries’ teammate, joined us there. The kids ate, laughed and played on the playground for awhile. To wrap up our evening, the children and staff came back to our house for hot chocolate and Christmas goodies. The kids also were able to pick out a hand tied fleece blanket and a fleece hat.

My highlight of the evening occurred as we were leaving Wal-Mart. During our time at Wal-Mart I helped the two older boys from the Youth Home get what they needed. We have known these two boys, ages 6 and 8, for a couple of years and have had a lot of fun spending time with them at the Youth Home. A couple weeks ago we were already at the Youth Home when the boys got home from school. When the 8 year old walked into the living room he said, “Finally I get to see you guys again!” I had a blast the evening of the Christmas party shopping with the boys. The younger boy needed shoes. It was quite an adventure trying on many different pairs to find just the right one. Two of my boys were helping him try to find the right pair. Shoes were flying everywhere. Several people walked by the shoe department and stared. It was quite the scene! We laughed a lot, but eventually found everything we needed.

As we were leaving Wal-Mart, Kara said, “My kids…get a hand.” Josiah, the 6 year old, looked up at me and held out his hand. I asked him if he wanted to hold my hand in the parking lot and he nodded his head yes. He grabbed my left hand and my 6 year old grabbed my right hand and the three of us walked out to the vehicles together.

As we were walking to the vehicles I realized this is what ministry is all about. For that moment, ministry was providing security and safety for a 6 year old in the scary world known as the Wal-Mart parking lot. It was simply walking alongside a young man who needed a hand to hold during this time of his life. Walking alongside, holding his hand and pointing him towards Jesus. I love my job!

I believe there are two truths about ministry from this encounter. Ministry can’t happen at an arm’s length. You have to be close to those to whom you are trying to minister. You have to be close both physically and emotionally. You have to be close and you have to build trust. Trust does not happen overnight…and especially with kids who find themselves at the Youth Home, or children of alcoholics, or children who have been abused. Trust takes some time as you continue to build relationships. Our goal from day one has been to walk alongside our Apache brothers and sisters and build a relationship with them so we have the right to share Jesus. We don’t have all the answers. We don’t have perfect solutions, but we know a man named Jesus who has changed our lives. And we are willing to walk hand-in-hand as we face this life together.

tory

Dognapped!

Several years ago a girl named Jasmyn came over to us while we were parked in the Basha's parking lot. She asked us to put up a sign for her puppy that had been stolen from her house. Her puppy was now lost and they were offering a reward for the small dog. She was very upset about her puppy that was taken right off of his tether in front of their house.

It caused me to think of how Satan is stealing children left and right from the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Sometimes he just snatches them away with force and children are robbed of their childhood by bad choices the adults in their lives make. Many times this causes them to be angry and bitter. Others are lured away like a puppy with a toy or snack. They are offered things like alcohol or drugs with the promise of a good time. It breaks my heart more than Jasmyn losing her puppy to see the souls of children who Satan is holding tight in his grip.

Although this is a grim picture, there is HOPE!! God loves them so much that He gave His one and only son Jesus as a ransom for all these precious souls!! There is an amazing reward waiting for the children as they surrender their lives to a God that loves them more than they can ever imagine!!

Please pray as we continue to share with them about their rescuer, Jesus, that they would see the sacrifice He made and accept the reward!!

His Child,
Kara

Words of Wisdom from the Prophet Joel

I love studying the prophets of the Bible. I am not completely sure why I have been so drawn to them. Maybe it is their close relationship with God...hearing His voice daily. Maybe it is the concept of continuously proclaiming God’s Word in the wilderness and wondering if anyone is listening (that hits a little close to home at times!). Maybe it is the urgency of their message. I am not really sure.

The prophet Joel is probably my favorite. I find myself drawn back to this little three chapter book time and time again. God has taught me so much from the book of Joel! The biggest challenge and encouragement God has given me is from Joel 3:14-16. It reads,

“Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. It is there that the day of the Lord will soon arrive. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the earth and heavens will begin to shake. But to his people of Israel, the Lord will be a welcoming refuge and a strong fortress.” (NLT)

That first phrase motivates me and haunts me all at the same time. There are thousands upon thousands in this world who are lost, dying and going to hell. They are waiting in the valley of decision. The suicide rate in San Carlos is seven times the national average. During our first trip here in 2001, Kara was teaching the first day of the Vacation Bible School on “sin.” She asked the kids to give her an example of a sin. A 5 year old boy in the front row raised his hand and with the first answer to the discussion said, “Suicide.” I am haunted by the tragic deaths of teenagers we know. Death on reservations is not limited to the elderly. I look around and I see so many who are separated from God. Can a relationship with a welcoming refuge and a strong fortress make a difference in peoples’ lives? Most definitely! How many more are in the valley of decision? And then I begin to wonder...Has the church become too complacent? Is the church more concerned about being comfortable or about reaching out to those in the valley of decision? I pray our eyes will be open to the lost around us, both on the reservations in our country and those who live right across the street from us.

tory

Interesting Article

I read an interesting article last night.  It was posted to Facebook by a fellow missionary to Native Americans.  I am still thinking about what I want to say and how I want to say it, but thought I would share the article.  What are your thoughts?  Please comment!

tory

http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/25375/Article.aspx