Global Missionaries
October 2019
When we were first endorsed by IM l(International Ministries) last year, we went through a Bible study on the book of Philippians with a focus on the relationship between Paul and the church at Philippi. Paul lays out that a missionary's relationship with the church has a subtle but important distinction: it is about "partnership with" rather than "support of." We have very much taken that concept to heart as we have been meeting with churches and individuals these past two years. We want all of you to be with us on this journey: we are the ones physically moving to Thailand, but all of you who are praying, financially giving, and staying connected are partnering in what God is doing in Thailand.
At our home church, Crosswalk Community Church, in Sunnyvale, the mission statement is "Connecting People to Jesus and to Each Other," and that statement seems to perfectly encapsulate a large part of how we see our role in Thailand. In Thailand, through discipleship and spiritual formation, people are connected to Jesus and become more like Him. Through several different forms of communication, people get connected with each other across the globe. During the days of the early church, the Roman system of roads helped Paul and other missionaries communicate more effectively with churches. Today we have the internet and the many forms of communication it allows: websites, e-mails, videos, etc.
One piece of feedback we have received quite often is that people want to hear from Global Servants and stay connected. Looking back at Philippians 4:15, Paul says that partnership is giving and receiving. This is why communication is so important. Moving to Thailand is just a piece of partnership with all of you: sharing what God is doing, so everyone can stay engaged, is essential to the overall health of a ministry.
So I bring it back to you. Right now we use social media, e-mail journals, and the IM website to communicate. Which forms of communication do you value most? Would video-logs from Thailand be something you appreciate? What type of content helps you to feel most connected? Please let us know what partnerships you have experienced that have kept you connected with what God is doing in the world. We are open to hearing different ideas and then seeing which of them fit best within the context of our ministry in Thailand.
Getting Close to Launching
International Ministries has two financial requirements before launching new Global Servants: a one-time “start up” amount and an ongoing “pledged” amount. Finances are structured this way so that while in the country of service, Global Servants can focus on the people and the ministry. We currently stand at 88% of ongoing funding, which means that just 16 people committing to $100 a month will allow us to go ahead with our plans. If God is tugging at your heart for the people in Thailand, and you would like to partner with us through financial giving, please click the link below and be sure to select "monthly" gift for it to be an ongoing pledge.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...
We have been on the road a lot these past few months. Since May, we have spent at least one night in twelve different states. It has been great to experience so many different aspects and parts of America. Last week, we returned home from a trip through Northern California and Oregon, where we connected with several churches, individuals, and even former Global Servants to Thailand. This past Sunday, we spoke at a Iu Mien church. The Iu-Mien is a Hill tribe in Asia, and many of the people at the church have lived in, or have family members in, Thailand. Every time we showed a picture of a Hill tribe person from our trip, we would see many smiles and hear "Akha!" or "Lahu!" After we spoke, we were asked to kneel, and the pastoral team and board members laid hands on us and prayed. Connecting with new churches and people has definitely been one of the best parts of these first two years of global service with IM.
Looking Forward
- On Saturday, October 5th, we will be at the GHC Annual Gathering in Modesto.
- On Saturday, October 19th, we will have our commissioning ceremony! The event will be held at Crosswalk Church in Sunnyvale. For more details and to RSVP, check out the event page: goteamjuanes.eventbrite.com.
For as long as I have known her, whenever we discuss camping, Alise talks about Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, where her family camped every year while she was growing up. So, since we were going to be passing by the park on our way back from Oregon, and also because the day we were driving by was actually her birthday, we decided to stop to explore a bit. Jedidiah Smith is home to the tallest trees in the world: the Coastal Redwoods. It is also the location where the "Endor" scenes were filmed for "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." Of course, that fact was what really excited the kids. As we walked through a trail, the kids would frequently turn a corner and yell out something like, "I found it! This is where Leia found the Ewoks!" or "I think this is where the Ewoks dropped the logs on the Empire!" One of the most fun parts of our travels has been exploring and experiencing God's creation. And "Star Wars" too.
