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posted by James on 11/30/11

We did it! Thanks to many generous contributors, Lenspiration accomplished it’s End-of-the-Month Challenge fundraising goal of $1000 by midnight, November 30! Visit Purchase with a Purpose to read the facts and events of the campaign.

3 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports, Tidbits

posted by Donald on 07/13/11

A bemused expression flickered across the faces of the first family to arrive as they pulled into the empty parking lot.

It was July 8, the long-awaited day. For the first time in history, West Virginia would be home to a Family Encouragement Weekend! Six o’clock was starting time; 4:30 was dinner time; and the doors had opened at 3:00. Since 3:00, a thousand last-minute preparations were made. The church was ready. The chalk easel was set up. A feast was prepared in the kitchen.

Eventually four o’clock rolled around and we still  had no one. Major Mike made a run to another church on the same road to check and see if attendees had parked there instead by mistake. He returned alone.

Now, of the many invited, the ones to RSVP seemed to be those of a dependable nature—Surely there had been a major mistake on the directions! Or was there? Whether the answer to that question was yes or no, we were convinced, (partly from our own experience attending family conferences) that this was a time of intense spiritual warfare. We knew that somewhere out there the families were fighting: fighting the clock, fighting the enemy, fighting their own human nature to be able to come. Four fifteen. . . . Four twenty. . . . A miracle was about to happen.

But already we had seen many miracles:

A mere two weeks and two days before, a location had been provided. Without internet, we began making the invitations by phone, once reaching four different very-busy pastors within the space of about  an hour. Jonathan took careful notes to make a site map during the first trip to the church, Michael agreed to help on registration, and James tackled design projects on the schedule, hotel locations, and maps, while Esther, David, and Mom thought through every detail concerning the menu, orchestra and guest arrangements. During Robert and Kendalyn’s visit, Robert solved our internet connection problem—without the service fee! (Later, after his return to Chicago, the dreaded problem did resurface but the Lord intervened and it was taken care of by a couple of diligent non-professionals ) Wise advice from the Wilkes Team poured in and the Neely Team found a way to print the name tags for three cents each. At about the same time a $500 check from another church came as a surprise gift. God was clearly at work!

And truly, at that late notice, every single RSVP was a miracle but the list of families grew; by ten, by two; some from Parkersburg and Morgantown, then Maryland, North Carolina and New Hampshire!

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Yes, many miracles and one solid week of work had  brought us to this day and we didn’t expect the Lord to stop working. Yes, no one who waits on Him is confounded. . . . That evening, in direct answer to prayer, the house was full!

Despite the short notice that there would be a West Virginia  FEW at all, a total of nearly 100 people came to affirm the importance of the family and learn how to build strong family relationships.

6 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by James on 05/14/11

My time in Korea was absolutely fantastic! Thank you all for your support and prayers. From working on calendars and Basic Seminar materials in the office to promoting character and encouraging (and being encouraged by!) homeschool families abroad, the six and a half weeks rushed by much too quickly. It was an incredible experience to be working with the faithful team over there, and I hope to return to South Korea again to be a part of the great work God is doing there!

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by James on 04/28/11

As we sat around the table at the Osan Air Base Chili’s restaurant enjoying some American food, Andy and Renae commented to Adam and I that they wished it had worked out that the two of us could have planned to come to their house for the Easter weekend. Instantly, I knew it would be a fun thing to do, but I didn’t want to be a burden to them in any way, and I thought that surely it was not practical. I thanked them for the offer, but tried to dismiss the idea from my mind; it seemed too good of an idea to really be possible.

But when the afternoon activities were over, and we were once again seated around a small table in the mall asking final questions and making our last comments, Andy and Renae again extended their invitation. This time, since they mentioned it again, I figured I should reconsider.

After some discussion, we could only think of two disadvantages: they lived three more hours south of Osan, and neither Adam nor I brought anything for staying the night. But as I thought about it, neither of these were technically a problem. Trains crisscross the entirety of South Korea, and what’s wrong with sleeping in you’re clothes for a night?

However, the deciding factor in making the decision came after Adam made a comment that completely changed my perspective: “James, instead of focusing on what would be best, fun, or most convenient for us, we should focus on what would be most encouraging for them.” This brought great freedom! I often need to be reminded to think of others more than myself. So, considering that it would truly be an encouragement to Andy and his family, knowing that they have very rarely had any American guests during their time in Korea, and knowing also that it would indeed be an incredibly fun adventure, Adam made a few phone calls to make sure it was ok with the folks back in Gimpo, and then we headed for the car!

The rest of that evening and most of the next day was truly a blessing from the Lord! Fellowshipping more with the Andy and his family, traveling down to southern South Korea, being a part of an American Sunrise Service on Easter morning, touring the little town of Waegwan, and eating together at an authentic Korean-style restaurant, are all memories I will not soon forget! Thank you Andy and Renae (and little Jeffery too!) for your on-the-spot hospitality and excellent example of Christian generosity!

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by James on 04/25/11

“While I’m here in Korea, I’d like to visit Osan Air Base where Dad was stationed in the 70s” I told Adam one evening soon after my arrival.

Though executing smaller excursions can make long-distance travel less daunting, there was one factor that time couldn’t rectify: getting on post. As a civilian, it is impossible to enter a military base without being accompanied by a service man.

So that’s why I was so amazed when I received this e-mail a few short days later from a friend of Robert’s: “Hi James! Robert told me you’re in Korea! I’m stationed here [in the Army] about 3 hours south of Seoul. Let me know if you need anything OR if you travel south! Take care!”

Only God could have worked out something like this. No previous contact, no detailed planning, nothing whatsoever preceded his initial contact!

So by the 23rd, I was on the metro to visit Andy and his family at Osan Air Base. Another one of my dreams had come true, and I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Really, this is only the beginning of the story. God had an even bigger blessing in store at the end of the day. . . .

2 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports