The Congregation of Faith Bible Church Today

This summer, Carole and I traveled to North Lansing, NY to help Faith Bible Church celebrate becoming self-supporting. This means that the church is now able to cover our self-funded health insurance premium as well as the base salary of $1700 per month. Faith Bible Church reached this level in April 2011 and we joined them to celebrate this milestone on August 21, 2011. Village Missions assigned Jason and Kathi Berga to North Lansing in March 2004. You can see pictures and read a further account of this visit by clicking on this link.

Jason reflects on how God has worked in his report written just before April:

Well, next month we are beginning to pay the full salary. I never thought this church would get to the point that it is. It is just amazing what God has done. I still have the picture of my first Sunday. There was nine people total. One lady, Miss Carrie, was brought here to fill a pew since she was deaf. I never saw her again in the church but my kids and I visited her at her old farmhouse until the day she passed away. Another lady was on her way out. She was kind enough to stay through the VM transition since she was the only member with any business savvy. Interestingly enough, three years later not only did she return but her son and his family now attend. Another lady was on her second Sunday. The first Sunday she attended church she heard the VM associate announce that their permanent pastor was coming the following Sunday. Turns out, she was the piano player I had prayed for diligently prior to coming to the field. God sent her a week earlier to be acclimated. Then there were three other older single ladies; two divorced and one never married. There was one couple, the young ones of the bunch, in their late fifties. He was my only man and he assured me when I first arrived that he was a baby Christian…translation: I am not helping.

For close to two years we did not see one new person and frankly I could not blame anyone for coming and not staying. I began to wonder what I was doing here if I was to be honest. However, through this field, God did a tremendous work inside of me, reshaping my ideology about what precisely ministry is and what is truly important. We are beginning our seventh year this next month, and I am just amazed as to what God had done. Prior to coming to the field, I had a sermon series written on what a healthy church looks like. I am glad I arrived on Palm Sunday and had two weeks to scrap that sermon and begin over. What a discouragement that would have been to these folks!

The years of Bible school, Seminary, and many growth strategy seminars hardly prepared me for this field. The core of Village Missions’ philosophy is to teach the Word of God and love the people, and so, that is what we have done. Sometimes things physically grow and sometimes they don’t but that is not what is important. What is important is to serve God faithfully and obediently right where we are with the resources He has given us. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, we just plant and water, God will cause the spiritual growth. So, though there have been difficulties, I think of those that have been saved. I think of those that have been discipled.

But most of all, I think of how God has changed me, not just as a pastor, but also as a child of His. I know He does not need me at a big church and He does not need me at a small church because the truth is He doesn’t “need” me at all. It is a privilege. So, though I recognize things may progress forwards or even backwards here, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that my family and I continue to be faithful, loving, planting, watering, and recognizing what an amazing God we serve.

Group Photo Candidate School Fall 2011

Recently we held our Fall 2011 Candidate School in Dallas, Oregon. We accepted eight outstanding couples. They came from coast to coast and ranged from their twenties to their sixties. Some had some pastoral experience, either in a senior or assistant role, but some did not. Both husband and wife believed firmly that God was calling them into the ministry of Village Missions. The candidate school staff recognized God’s call on their life as well. You can view pictures of our school by clicking on this link.

They will now begin raising their personal support and in several cases, will begin selling or renting their homes. How I look forward to the time when we assign them to their first field!

I have a deep burden to improve our recruiting efforts. Eight couples is a good number but, given the great need, we could easily stand to have twice that number both fall and spring. We would have to have a big increase in funding but, given the way God has supplied and is supplying, I have no doubt that we could find the necessary donors willing to partner with us in transforming churches and communities.

I wanted to learn how these wonderful couples became acquainted with Village Missions because of my interest in developing our recruiting. As I asked them about how they heard about us, I could not find a pattern that drew these couples to Village Missions other than the leading of the Lord. I thought it might be interesting for you to learn how each one heard about our ministry.

Dave and Cindy Fraher had heard of Village Missions over the years, but saw our ministry first hand when Village Missions started serving Interlaken, NY where he had served before as an interim pastor. Wanting to get back into pastoral ministry and learning of the support that we provide our Village Missionaries, he and Cindy felt led to apply. They especially appreciated our desire to reach out into the community.

John and Kathy Mulvihill felt they had more years to give, although they could have retired, but every door to ministry seemed closed. One day John was looking at the Moody Alumni Job Placement website and our advertisement appeared. They found an open door with us.

Isaac Pederson and his wife Bethany are in their low twenties, newly married and newly pregnant. Isaac started to learn about Village Missions when he began cutting Don and Marylee Still’s lawn at age eight. Bethany learned about Village Missions by attending Stonecroft meetings with her mother. Don encouraged Isaac to attend Frontier School of the Bible. Originally planning to be an overseas missionary, Isaac sensed that God was directing him into pastoral ministry. After he worked through some discomfort with our appointment process (he wanted to choose where he would go), they applied.

Brian and Erica Dedera have been a part of Foothills Community Church (a Village Missions’ field near Spokane) for seventeen years while Brian served as their youth pastor. Recently the congregation chose him to be their pastor with the condition that he become a Village Missionary. Brian and Erica will serve at Foothills but are willing to go anywhere and affirmed that God had called them to our ministry.

Carl and Andrea DeyArmin have been living in the Tacoma area, where Carl had served as an associate pastor until about two years ago. His father-in-law was attending a class at Northwest Baptist Seminary (now Corban University School of Ministry). A Village Missionary also was attending that class (Carl doesn’t remember who). The more his father-in-law learned about VM, the more excited he became. He thought Carl and Andrea would fit our ministry perfectly. Carl spent a good deal of time checking us out and talking to Vern Wilkinson before he submitted his application.

Jeff and Nydia Black live in Mesa, AZ. Jeff had served at a large church as well as serving on staff at some overseas ministries but became dissatisfied with the “specialist approach” of such ministries. He decided to do an internet church on “small church” and “rural church” and our name came up first. God especially used the videos on our website to convince Jeff that he should apply.

Mike and Kim Krutsch were serving with OMF in their field office, after having to return from Cambodia because of health problems. Working in the area of mobilization, he became convinced that God was leading him into pastoral ministry. He had attended our former field in Edgewood, WA and at one time had considered serving with us. God wasn’t leading them towards us then but they are convinced He is now.

Many of you reading this will recognize the Easterling name. Tim is the son of retired Village Missionaries Bill and Ruth Easterling. However, there’s even more of a Village Missions connection! Debbie is Bonnie Canady’s sister! Tim and Debbie live in Montrose, CO where Tim works in construction. After their children left home, they became convinced God was leading them in our direction.

We will continue to develop ways to get the word out about Village Missions through advertisements, the internet, and word of mouth. This fall’s candidate school, however, demonstrates that God will ultimately make the connections and call people to serve with us.

Just recently Village Missionary Ken Ainsworth who serves the Canyon Community Church in Coram, Montana uploaded a song he wrote about his calling to ministry and about Badrock Canyon, where he ministers. I’m praying that God will do in a multitude of lives what He has done in Ainsworth’s lives. I encourage you to listen to this song!

Carole has been reading the biography of Adoniram Judson, written by his son. She pointed this quote out to me as I was marveling at the quality of the couples God had led our way. His son wrote, “It is a mistake to suppose that a dull and second-rate man is good enough for the heathen. The worst-off need the very best we have. God gave His best, even His only-begotten Son, in order to redeem a lost world. The most darkened and degraded souls need the best thinking. Christianity will advance over the earth with long, swift strides when the churches are ready to send their best men, and the best men are ready to go.” We received some of those best men and women this fall to join the ranks of the quality couples already serving with Village Missions.

Worship at Balsam Bible Chapel

Carole and I particularly enjoy visiting the missionaries and fields served by Village Missions. We observe how God is using Village Missions and the dedication of those who serve with us. We were able to visit several fields on our recent trip to Balsam, MN to be the speaker for the mini-conference. We visited so many fields that I only have space to highlight each visit briefly. I’ve included links to pictures and a travelogue of each field. Enjoy!

Our first visit was to Hokah, MN to visit Dave and Kathy Possing who have served there for thirteen years. We flew in to Chicago, arriving early Thursday morning, spent the night, and arrived in Hokah in time for dinner. What a treat to have retired missionaries Don and Marylee Still join us! Don and Marylee drive 1½ hours to attend their church. Don and Marylee served near us in Iowa, and then became our District Representatives for a short time before we moved to Colorado. Don also helped me transition into the position of Executive Director. It was great to see them again.

After dinner, the Possings took us on a walk over to their church. Their church is the only evangelical witness in their community of about 800 people. In the Summer 2011 issue of Country Matters, you’ll read the story of a young couple that came to Dave, asking him to marry them. Neither one had ever opened a Bible nor did they have any spiritual background whatsoever but they will now hear what God has to say about marriage and salvation from His Word! Coming from a Roman Catholic background themselves, the Possings are uniquely suited to reach the people of Hokah, who are predominantly Catholic.

Dave and Kathy took us for another walk in the morning to see more of the town. Just before we were to leave, I locked the keys in the trunk of my car. Fortunately, they live next door to a gas station and the guys at the station had us on our way in about an hour.

The next stop was Elk Mound, WI, served by Dale and Suzy Bussinger. After a delicious lunch, Dale and Suzy took us on a tour of Elk Mound and then over to Amy Chapel, which is located a few miles outside of town. Two years ago, the congregation dedicated their beautiful new building. The contrast between the old building and the new one is just amazing. You can hardly see any homes from the church but people are coming from all over to be part of this vibrant congregation.

Leaving Elk Mound (this sounds like a travel magazine), we traveled past Minneapolis to our new field in Glendorado, MN, served by Paul and Denise DeVall. Located on a gravel road, almost literally in a cornfield, the church has never had a full-time pastor. The church rented a wonderful farmhouse for the Devalls and their boys. They are hard at work, seeking to reach the area for Christ. It was a joy to take the family out for pizza in St. Cloud, where we spent the night.

Saturday we traveled north to Sebeka, MN to visit Dave and Valerie Wing. Blowers Chapel is another church almost literally located in a cornfield, or in their case, a cattle pasture. Yet it is obvious from how the Wings described their ministry and the facilities, that God is doing a great work here as well. Sunday mornings the church is filled with young people.

Saturday evening found us in Balsam, MN, location of the mini-conference. Balsam Bible Chapel has also built a new building. The people were so gracious in hosting us and ministering to us during the conference. I had the privilege of speaking Sunday morning as well as being the speaker for the mini-conference. One highlight for me out of many was being taken fishing by Loren, a church member, and catching a decent Northern Pike.

After the conference was over on Thursday, we drove to Land O’Lakes, WI where I would be speaking the next Sunday, passing by the church we serve in Watersmeet, MI, served by Skip and Venita Pullen. Frank and Lynn Puffer, who have been there six years, serve Land O’Lakes. The church is located on several beautiful acres and ministers to what is largely a resort community. Among many other things, Frank ministers to about 16 men who gather early each Saturday morning.

Saturday we were able to take a day trip up to Calumet, MI, served by Merle and Gyngr McGee. We have served this field for three years, when we assigned the McGees to their first field. I was surprised at how large this community is. Yet we learned that the little church we serve is the only evangelical witness in the community. Calumet was once a prosperous city due to the copper mines but now struggles to survive. We arrived during the “Pasty Days” celebration. A “Pasty” is a pastry with a beef and vegetable filling originally used by the miners for their meals in the mines. They are delicious!

Several common themes surfaced as we visited these fields. First were the deep and sometimes disturbing needs of the communities. Merle McGee told us that the local bar offers a free drink to anyone willing to surrender his or her thirty-day sobriety pin! Second was the dedication of our missionaries and their families. The DeValls told me a story of their son Alex leading a classmate to Christ. I was awed by the hard work and passion exhibited by each missionary we visited. Third were the tremendous things God was doing in the most unlikely places. In struggling communities as well as cornfields, in new fields as well as old, I heard story after story of changed lives. I personally witnessed two dynamic and alive congregations at Balsam and Land O’Lakes. We would have found the same thing at the other churches if we had been there on a Sunday morning.

Carole and I came away from this trip excited! God is powerfully at work through Village Missions and we had the privilege of seeing this work first hand!

The Camera I Used for Uploading

I started a long overdue project recently that has caused me to reflect on the passage of time.  I converted all of our family analog 8 mm videos to digital DVD’s.  Like most projects, this one turned out to be more involved than I expected.  First, our old video camera would not start no matter what I tried.  After a fruitless search on E-bay for a replacement camera (they were too expensive), I finally was able to borrow a really old and big camera from a friend.  At least his worked—sort of!  The camera would play the tapes for a while but then would stop.  That meant I would have to check the progress often and crop portions if there was a time of empty recording.  It took much longer than I expected to finish transferring all the tapes.

The tapes went back as far as 1992 when we received the camera as a gift.  Most of the tapes covered our time in Red Feather Lakes.  Each year I seemed to record the same events: several concerts and recitals, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving finding and cutting a Christmas tree in the woods, decorating the tree with me up on the extension ladder (we always cut about a 14 foot tree), birthdays, many school programs and graduations, and, occasionally, our vacations.

As I watched portions of the tapes being recorded, it was as if a portion of our life passed before me.  My kids were young and cute when the videos started (eight and four years old) and I had darker hair and more of it!  People and events I had forgotten came flooding back, often with a feeling of nostalgia for those long ago times.  I wisely remembered that a video only captures the highlights and not the “lowlights” that we tend to forget.

This intensive, video induced trip down memory lane has caused me to reflect on Ephesians 5:15-16.  I realize that although I can edit those videos (perhaps shorten them), I cannot edit my circumstances, my responses, my attitudes, or anything about the way I used my time in the past.  In a sense, I am a product of all that took place but none of it can be undone.  I can only resolve to improve my walk, my movement through life in the future.  This passage speaks of four ways that we can improve our movement through life in 2011.

First, we must move through 2011 with a careful walk. Paul commands us to “walk circumspectly” (vs. 15a).  This speaks of an accurate and exact assessment of our movement through life.  We must have alertness and exercise great care.  Often, I’m so wrapped up in the busyness of life that I live it without much assessment.  I’m about to have my annual physical, which is meant to be an accurate assessment with the idea of discovering any problems and making some corrections.  Suppose we conducted an annual spiritual, marriage, parental, emotional, and financial assessment—in short, a “whole-person” assessment and made some corrections!  Such an assessment would certainly be fulfilling the command of this verse.

Second, we must move through 2011 with a wise walk. Paul tells us we are to walk “not as fools, but as wise” (v. 15b).  For any believer and especially a Village Missionary, wisdom is putting Biblical truth into practice in our life.  The world’s wisdom surrounds us and constantly seeks to get inside like a termite trying to eat its way into our inner structure.  Worldly wisdom regarding our value, our identity, how we measure success, the response when persecuted, the importance of acclaim, the importance of money and security may affect our thinking as Village Missionaries and sabotage our ministry.  Would that Biblical wisdom govern every response to the unforeseen circumstances of 2011!

Third, we must move through 2011 with a profitable walk. Paul tells us we should be “redeeming the time” or in the NASB, “making the most of your time” (v. 16a).  This is literally “buying up or redeeming the opportunity.”  In the words of one commentator, we are to “purchase all that it offers.”  The word used for “time” is not hours and minutes but fixed periods or seasons.  Thus, a profitable walk is a strategic walk in which we use our time on earth to its greatest advantage for God’s Kingdom.  Today I regret missed opportunities in 2010 to share Christ with the lost.  Will I lose similar opportunity in 2011?  I regret I did not redeem more opportunities with my children in those years covered by the tapes.  Will I be strategic in this coming year?

A friend recently told me of a business opportunity he missed a few years ago.  The old story—if he had only invested such and such then it would have quadrupled its value now.  We possess unlimited spiritual capital but so often fail to do anything but keep it buried in the ground (cf. Mat. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).  Perhaps not in 2011!

Finally, we must move through 2011 with a guarded walk. Paul warns us “the days are evil” (v. 16b).  The word “evil” speaks of “vicious, active wickedness.”  True of Paul’s day, it is equally true of our day.  How easy it is for us to fall!  How easy it is for us to begin a self-deluded journey that destines us for the self-destruction of our marriage, family, and ministry!  Perhaps we would not succumb to internet pornography but could easily succumb to the lust of pride.  Financial impropriety might never be a temptation to us but we might quickly subscribe to faithless discouragement.  We must be on guard in 2011, knowing that the enemy of our souls has enough ammunition within and without us to cause our harm if we are not alert.  “Be on the alert!” is a command that often rings out from the pages of Scripture.

We seem to take family videos very infrequently now, although our digital camera would allow us to do so.  The days of concerts, graduations, etc. are over for us until perhaps grandchildren come around.  Yet, whether captured on video or not, our days in 2011 are precious gifts that will pass all too quickly.  Let’s walk carefully, wisely, profitable, and guardedly in the year to come!

 But Carole and I knew that we wanted to follow Jesus.  We found a dedicated Village Missionary couple named Ray and Martha Bell and a church family that was willing to accept us, love us and minister to this strange couple who had traveled across the country not sure of where they were going and what they would find when they got there.

 We recently traveled back to Fernwood, Idaho to help the congregation celebrate 60 years of being served by Village Missions.  Throughout the weekend I marveled at how God led us to such a place, without our knowing, where we would be so nurtured in our Christian walk.  I thanked Him that a church with little “glitz and glamour” had gotten it right in being the body of Christ to a couple who needed their ministry.

Click here to see pictures and reflections of our personal journey.

 Click here to see pictures of Fernwood’s 60^th Anniversary.

In between visits to Indiana and Alberta, Carole and I had the time to take in part of the Southwest District’s Summer Connection.

The United States Board at its spring 2010 meeting voted to start setting aside money for a staff conference in a few years.  In the meantime, these mini-conferences are meeting a great need.  If you would like to help toward a staff conference, you can find a link on this page.

 You can see pictures and read about the conference here.

 If you would like to see pictures of the beautiful Graeagle area, including a picture of a bear we saw while on a walk you can click here.

 In 1982, the congregation learned of Village Missions and its ministry of keeping country churches alive.  Village Missions would assign a Village Missionary and provide salary support so that he and his family could live and minister in the area full time.  The church, located four miles northwest of Crawfordsville, Indiana requested leadership from Village Missions.  In May 1982, Village Missions assigned Pastor Allen and Ramona Sparks.  Ramona died suddenly and unexpectedly a few months later (I remember hearing the news on a Sunday morning on our field in Iowa).  After some time Pastor Allen married Diane and they have ministered at Liberty Chapel ever since.

 The Lord blessed and the church grew in numbers and spiritual health.  Village Missions supplemented Pastor Allen’s salary until 1991.  Groups, especially youth groups, have ministered in several locations throughout the country, especially at fields served by Village Missions.  Jeremy and Mindi Sarver came from Liberty Chapel and are now serving with Village Missions in Volga, Iowa.

Dick Chastain relates how Liberty Chapel heard about Village Missions here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1azFvwCfAs

You can hear Jon, Sarah, and Kate Sparks sing “God Is My Shepherd” at the celebration here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UawM3QrojE

You can see pictures I took of the anniversary here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180189&id=604744023&l=f3af29b80e

You can read an article about the celebration in the Journal & Courier newspaper here: http://www.jconline.com/article/20100605/LIFE07/6050308/-Cornfield-church-celebrating-175-years

Government oversight was no better and perhaps much worse.  Former employees or even individuals who would be future employees of the oil companies oversaw the safety and procedures involved in drilling.  Apparently, they had little time to do so, as “work” involved computer pornography, sexual liaisons, and enjoying the many favors granted them by the oil companies.  Inspections on the oil rigs were mere cursory glances in which the oil company filled out the paperwork in pencil and afterwards the inspector went over the form in pen.  The corruption transcended both Republican and Democratic administrations.  Whistle blowers were routinely fired.  Where else is the government on the job in such a way?

The oil spill is one more witness to the moral collapse of our country.  For those who favor increased government regulation and involvement, the government appears incapable of extricating itself from corruption and extreme inefficiency bordering on paralysis.  For those who favor less government intrusion, companies appear more than willing to cheat, steal, and do whatever it takes to make a profit even if wholesale disaster follows in the wake.

When the moral fabric of a society tears apart, no segment of that society is immune.  Unfortunately, not even the church is immune.  We would have had a fantastic opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in today’s society if the church had been a beacon of integrity.  Instead, pastors such as Ted Haggard and materialistic Christian organizations designed to make their leaders rich are part of the downward slide to moral anarchy.

Although by far most Village Missionaries conduct themselves with integrity, and we have high standards within the administration, even some Village Missionaries fall far short.  Recently I had to dismiss a missionary for behavior that reflected the deepest depths of depravity.  Our three enemies, Satan, the world, and our flesh, gain great power and influence when all morality is in ruin.  None of us is immune or incapable of embracing depravity.

The answer must lie first in resolving to make integrity our priority, nurtured by an intimate walk with Jesus Christ.  At every candidate school, my final challenge to the candidates is a sermon from I Thessalonians 2:1-13.  Reread this passage to see how committed Paul was to integrity in the ministry.  Most of us, because of the nature of the Village Missions’ ministry, will have many opportunities to live out that integrity before people within our community.  We of all people must model integrity.

Second, we must renew our focus on winning people to Christ and discipling them to be committed followers.  Although some believers bear false witness to the Gospel by their corrupt lives, the Gospel is still true.  Jesus Christ does change lives and He does enable us to live lives of integrity.  He is the only answer in our collapsing world.

Finally, we must pray.  The oil spill is only one witness to the devastation a moral collapse causes.  We may indeed be approaching the end times and inevitable moral collapse before Jesus comes, but even so souls need to be won to Christ and Christians need to stand with integrity.  We have seen in Village Missions entire communities transformed by the power of the Gospel.  Pray that Christians in government, business, and in all walks of society might have lives that are testimonies of uprightness.  Pray that they will have the courage to speak and stand against the corruption.  And pray for Village Missions, that all of us might be powerful testimonies to the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to transform our lives and enable us to live lives of integrity.

Yet a battle often results in wounds and scars. I was reminded of that as I read a letter from a fellow Village Missionary couple who had been in the battle for a long time. They faithfully serve and give their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ in rural North America. I would consider them one of our best missionary couples. The letter was very positive, mentioning often the great joy of serving the Lord and doing what God has called them to do.

Yet, after years in the battle, the scars are present. The wife wrote me of sleeplessness, anxiety, and even depression on the part of her husband. The battle for men’s souls has taken its toll.

Now, I hesitate to mention the above for fear that some prospective Village Missionary might read this. It is hard enough to recruit men and women to do what we do and to go where we go without frightening them with the possibility of wounding. Yet only couples with an eternal perspective, only couples who are ready to take up their cross, only couples who are consumed with the love of Christ last anyway, so they might as well be forewarned. Ministry in today’s world, whether at home or abroad, will not be easy.

Yet, has anything really changed? In perhaps the most poignant verse of Scripture, Paul writes the Corinthians, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (2 Cor 12:15).  Something in Paul’s thinking motivated his willingness to give himself completely to the Corinthians even as they increasingly rejected him.

I think anyone experiencing or having experienced wounding or discouragement in the ministry should study 2 Corinthians. After I read this missionaries letter, I reread Paul’s most personal of letters. I don’t have space (or time) to make a lengthy exposition of 2 Corinthians, but I do want to identify four themes found in this letter that might help a wounded missionary.

First, leaders will experience stress and frustration in the ministry. If the Apostle Paul experienced stress and frustration, then none of us is exempt! Paul was quite open about identifying his feelings. Paul reminds them that he wrote them out of “much affliction and anguish of heart” (2 Cor 2:4). They were reserved in their love for Paul (2 Cor 6:12). Paul writes of being “troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears” (2 Cor 7:5). Paul enumerates the perils he has experienced in ministry in 2 Corinthians 11:25-29. These perils include what comes upon him daily: “my deep concern for all the churches.” He asks in 2 Corinthians 11:29, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” Rather than embracing Paul they will “put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face” (2 Cor 11:20). Paul had battle scars, both physical and emotional, from his years in ministry and especially, it seems, from the church at Corinth.

In spite of the wounding at their hands, a second theme surfaces. Paul is unreserved in the love he has for people who are not deserving of his love. I already cited 2 Corinthians 12:15  above. His ministry was totally other centered—everything was for them (2 Cor 1:6). He repeats the same idea in 2 Corinthians 4:15, “For all things are for your sakes . . .” and in 2 Corinthians 5:13. Despite his disappointment at their spiritual failure, their embracing of false teachers, and their personal attacks against him, Paul still loved them. We tell our missionaries, “Preach the Word and love the people.” We must love even if that love is rejected.

A third theme is made necessary by those personal attacks. Paul must remind them of the integrity of his ministry. He writes in 2 Corinthians 1:12,  “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.” In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 he tells them that he gives “no offense in anything” and “in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God.” Read the list of circumstances, attitudes, and ministry approaches that exemplify the ministry approach of a man of God.

Unfortunately, I’ve met just as many wounded parishioners as I have pastors. When pastors do not minister with integrity, the sheep will be hurt. Rural churches in general suffer from pastors who serve a rural church simply to gain experience. Sometimes a pastor in one way or another violates integrity resulting in many becoming disillusioned about following Christ. A pastor, in a time of testing, will show little faith and his people will wonder if what he has preached to them is true. Paul experienced opposition and the church made many poor choices but it was never due to personal failure on Paul’s part.

The fourth theme is the most important of all and in various ways permeates the letter. Paul handles the ministry, keeps on keeping on, loves in spite of being hurt only because of the sufficiency of God in and through him. But we’ll wait until the next blog to discuss this great theme.

1. The decade has involved a series of man-made and natural disasters. Early in the decade, we experienced 911 and now at the end of the decade the earthquake in Haiti has occurred. We experienced two major economic downturns, several earthquakes, a tsunami, several hurricanes and typhoons, several new diseases, and an ongoing conflict against Jihadist Muslims. The decade seems to be remarkably in tune with Mark 13:8.

Yet in spite of these terrible events, it appears, at least to me, that the human race has been remarkably unaffected. One would think that these constant, powerful reminders of our frailty and the finiteness of our resources would remind us of our need of the Infinite God. I have not observed any significant turning to Christ, at least in the United States and Canada. Perhaps Christians have deepened in their walk with Christ, but the signs are subtle at best. It would be interesting to hear from Village Missionaries and others as to what they have observed in their local communities.

2. The decade saw a dramatic change in our relationship with Stonecroft Ministries. In the United States, in the budget year ending in June 2000 we received $1,684,621 from Stonecroft, approximately half of which was the Christmas gift. Giving declined to $410,000 in the budget year ending June 2009 and then was eliminated in the current fiscal year. Although we still pray for one another, clubs are no longer hearing about Village Missions and we no longer have a Stonecroft representative on our board. These changes have been painful and involved great heartache for both organizations. I am thankful for the continued giving to Village Missions Canada on the part of Stonecroft Ministries Canada.

3. The two previous developments have caused me to reflect in wonder and praise to God over His provision in the past decade. In addition to the financial pressure from the above two developments, we have experienced escalating pension and workers compensation costs. I just received word of yet another dramatic increase in our pension cost. The new churches we have served in this last decade have generally required increased financial investment on our part. How is it possible, then, that we ended our last fiscal year with a surplus and are in the black six months into the current fiscal year? Perhaps there is more evidence for a deepening Christian commitment than we generally realize. Beyond that, we have observed firsthand a miracle of God.

4. A fourth significant development has been the challenge of providing adequate health coverage to our missionary family. I discussed our Health Plan in a previous blog. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health care costs have risen 131% over the last decade. The monthly cost of employer-sponsored family health insurance coverage is $1115. The last ten years has required constant adaptation and innovation on the part of our Benefit Board to hold down costs and provide adequate coverage. After some painful increases in the early part of the decade, we have been able to balance the plan and hold the premium of $950 a month for the last three years.

5. In these last ten years, we have fine-tuned our purpose statement and communication. Our purpose statement is, “Village Missions exists to glorify Jesus Christ by developing spiritually vital churches in rural North America.” We distilled that even further with the tagline, “Keeping Country Churches Alive.” We developed a new logo that better expressed the reality of who we are and what we do. With the development of the new logo, we also created new brochures and banners, as well as a redesigned magazine called Country Matters. We also created three new videos plus some offshoots of those videos. Thus, no longer able to depend upon Stonecroft to get the word out about Village Missions, we ramped up our communication in several ways.

6. Over the last ten years, we have seen the apparent continued decline of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Our video, “They Are Not Forgotten” gives a face to the decline in rural communities. This decline has been measured by several statistics and it is seen in the prayer requests sent in by Village Missionaries. Many more requests deal with symptoms of a societal breakdown that once was reserved only for the inner city. In the last ten years, we have prayed for broken marriages, terribly dysfunctional home life, people battling with addictions, and even anguished requests (mine included) for our own children. Ministry to hurting people is challenging and uplifting as we see people find hope and forgiveness in Jesus.

7. We have seen the rise of technology related ministry. Recently, I kept people informed on my Facebook page and on my blog about the Village Missionaries who were in Haiti. We just finished a pilot program called Pastor’s Roundtable in which Village Missionaries connected with each other visually and audibly while a mentor discussed leadership issues. We’ve changed to web based monthly reporting in Canada and hope to do so soon in the United States as well. We’re finding that an increasing number of people are learning about us on the web and are making inquiries about serving with us or are donating through PayPal.

8. The change in the office in Canada is a significant development that is still in process as I write this. It has been delayed by the difficulty we have had in obtaining banking privileges. When fully implemented, Roy and Lennie Adrian will handle depositing and receipting while the Dallas office (ISC) handles all the background accounting. I am rejoicing that we have at least reached the point where someone contacting Village Missions Canada will communicate with someone who knows something about the Mission! Already, we have significantly improved communications and the accuracy of receipting. Along these lines, the Board of Village Missions Canada has clarified my responsibilities with the adoption of a service agreement with Village Missions US.

9. Over the last ten years, we have expanded our ministry cross–culturally. God has done a mighty work through our approach on our Hispanic field in Avenal. We trust that He will do the same thing in the Navajo Nation as we now serve two Navajo churches, one in Arizona and one in New Mexico. The independence of the local church, the ability of a missionary-pastor to devote full-time to ministry, accountability and support, and the approach of “Preaching the Word and loving the people” I believe will translate very well into the Navajo culture as it has in the Hispanic culture. Pray that the Lord will lead the right couples into our ministry.

10. The final development in the last ten years has been increasing challenges in recruiting and retention. Over the last ten years in the United States, we accepted 93 couples/singles into Village Missions, not counting Associates. We lost 143 couples/singles through retirement, resignation, or dismissal. As a result, our total number of fields has declined although just recently the number has risen in both countries. Increasingly, Bible colleges are eliminating their pastoral departments and encouraging their graduates to go to seminary. Although worthwhile, seminary graduates generally have enough debt to make it difficult for them to serve with us. In addition, most schools emphasize the mega church ministry in spite of the fact that the vast majority of churches are small. An extremely exciting development in the past ten years has been the development of schools at our fields, led by Contenders Bible School at our field in Machias, WA. Fields in Camano Island, WA and New Gloucester, ME have also started Bible schools. We are also grateful to Peace Haven ministries for their support of missionaries who need to regroup.

Perhaps some of you have had the experience of climbing a mountain. It can seem strenuous at certain points but you just keep plugging away on the trail. Then, at the top, you look back and are amazed at territory you have traveled. That’s what this look back has done for me. Remembering the challenging times along the trail, I am amazed at what God has done and how graciously He has provided for Village Missions in the past ten years. If the last decade and the start of this decade is any indication, God will allow many challenging trials to occur in our personal lives and the life of Village Missions. Yet Jesus will continue to build His church through this ministry until that unexpected time when He calls His church home. May that time come soon!