Help!  My wife is taking over my website and blog.  Ok, maybe not.  But she is contributing her third installment today from her resent project in Costa Rica and Honduras this past month.  In the post, Deb is actually reporting on a missionary family in Honduras that is engaging in a unique mission strategy.  The Family is actually following the lead of a great pioneer missionary from the 19^th century named William Carey.  It was the strategy of Cary to live off the land in India and work with the people.  In doing so, Cary became fluent in the native languages and thus translated the Bible in to these mother tongues.  So thanks again to everyone who prayed for Deb’s work and enjoy the report! 

I recently interviewed a missionary while traveling in Central America.  Her name is Jennifer Vesterburg and she and her husband have taken a unique approach to mission work in Honduras.  Most missionaries are Bible College graduates.  They are not.  Most missionaries plant churches.  They do not.  However, they are still preaching the Word of God and they are still making disciples.  But they are doing it in a radical new way. 

Aaron and Jennifer came to Honduras in 2003 with their four children.  They started with a missionary organization that was not a good fit.  After a year they decided that God was calling them to serve with another team.  They ended up calling Jim and Teri Riley who have served in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for almost 18 years.  The Riley’s eventually directed them to a village in the country.  Earlier they had stumbled across this village and discovered children who did not even know simple Bible stories.  Once the Vesterburgs visited the village of Las Botijas, they felt that they were exactly where God wanted them to be. Before they had gone to the village, they had done 3 years of itinerate pastor training around Tegucigalpa.  They wanted to continue this kind of work in the village.   But they discovered that the men were very basic in their knowledge and Aaron did not have the villager’s respect because they did not see him “working”.  So the Vesterburg’s made a decision to change their approach.  They decided to buy land, build a house, and farm alongside the people.  While both having farming backgrounds, this seemed a logical step to be “all things to all people”.  Along with their house, they built two dorms.  These dorms will host men who come from the surrounding villages to study the Bible.  The men will walk from 4 to 8 hours and then stay for a week learning about the Bible.  But they will also be learning about something else: farming.  All of the native pastors must be bi-vocational.   Many of them do not have an agricultural education.  So along with the Bible, these men will study crop rotation, fertilizers, pesticide prevention, and best practices to running a successful farm. 

At this time, the Vesterburgs are just in the beginning stages of their vision.  They have already completed their house, dorm, and have begun farming the land.  They have been in contact with a gentleman who has 8 men who would like to study with them.  The vision is coming to fruition.  Jennifer said that none of these steps have been easy.  But once they were committed to this new approach, God has opened doors for them.  The villager’s who did not have any respect for Aaron; now call him “Don”.  This is the highest level of respect in their culture. 

But how do you live in a village with no water or electricity?   How do you build buildings that will withstand the jungle humidity and insects?   How in the world do you run a Bible training center and educational farm in a third world country?    It starts with a lot of patience.  The Vesterburgs have now lived a year without electricity.   Jennifer is very excited about the solar panels that are coming next month.  For water, they run over 2 miles of pipe from a mountain stream.  Unfortunately their supply can be interrupted by heaving rains bringing mud and the occasional villager who just wants a drink and doesn’t put the pipe back together!  They also have a water storage cistern that sits above their home that they may use during the rainy season.  They would also like to design a whole house water filter with sand and gravel.  They built the walls of their home with Styrofoam, rebar, and cement.  Their farm consists of 38 acres.  They grow coffee and vegetables.   They would like to try wheat, but at this time they have no way of thrashing it.  They need to invent or acquire a miniature combine.  They plow with oxen.  Since much of the farming is done by hand, they have seven full-time employees who work 6 hours a day.  Jennifer cooks them a big lunch every day and Aaron leads them in devotions.  None of the men are Christians and now they are starting to ask questions about the Lord. 

Even though this new approach has been very lonely and difficult, Jennifer says they are right where God wants them.  They are making a huge impact in a village that needs Jesus, as well as a region that needs pastors and churches.  They are symbolically and literally planting seeds for the Kingdom of God.   They are doing it in a way that most traditional missionaries are not able to do.  But God is using their hearts and their gifts to reach an unreached area for the gospel.  And the harvest will be plentiful.

Deb and me in Colorado Springs for our 20th wedding anniversary this past June.

I want to take some time here to let everyone know about Deb’s trip to Honduras and Costa Rica next month. She will be speaking at a conference for Pastor’s wives. But you can read up on all that yourself. Below is a quick newsletter that she is sending out. Just think, you readers of Kingdomology get it before everyone else does. Enjoy!

Greetings

It has been two years since we passed off the leadership baton for the Rancho Cordova church plant back in California. Much has happened and many unique doors of service have opened up since then. Our major work has been with a turn around ministry in the NW Houston area which is going very well. The Christian Standard will actually be running an article on August 21st describing what God has done in this ministry. Over the past year kingdomology.com has picked up a number of readers and an expanded ministry. Through the financial backing a good friend in Amarillo, Texas, Steve published the Christ Proposal which has already touched a number of lives. Debi also launched a blog for mothers at amillionkisses.blogspot.com. The most recent open door of ministry involves an invitation that Debi received from a good friend inTegucigalpa,Honduras to speak at a Pastor’s Wives Conference inCentral America.

Pastor’s Wives Conference

Being a pastor’s wife has given Debi many challenging and rewarding experiences. We are praying that God will use those experiences to encourage these wives in their unique roles in various churches acrossCentral America. In order to execute this project, we are asking for your help in two specific ways.

Becoming A Partner

The first way is to become a partner in prayer. To do this, please send an e-mail to ozarkmountaingirl@gmail.comand put “pray for conference” in the subject line. You can also partner financially. Her total expenses are $1500. However, her airline ticket has already been donated. So this brings the total down to $700 which will cover travel documents and expenses while in country. If you choose to partner financially, please send your gift18402 Alemarble Oak St.Cypress,TX77429. If you would like to contribute with a check, please make out the check to Cypress Crossing Christian Church with Costa Rica Mission in the memo line of your check. Your partnership will be making a difference in theKingdomofGodby encouraging women who are serving on the front lines. We look forward to hearing from you.

Other Family News

On the home front, the kids are growing more than you can imagine. We almost have to look up to John and David is not far behind. This fall is finding both boys very busy. John is running cross-country and David is back in football again. Esther is old enough for the church youth group as she enters middle school this fall, and Abi has moved to the double digits with her birthday in August. Thank you for your prayers for our children and ministry.

Love,

The Hintons

I was doing some research and came across this clip.  Indeed two things I love; the World and Rich Mullins.  Enjoy and ask, “what can I do to share the love of Christ and expand the Kingdom of God the world over?”

I just got this clip from Craig Whitney with ImpactPoint.  Fascinating tech and info from Hans Rosling on the changed dynamics of the world over the past 200 years.  Good info going into 2011.  Imagine the possibilities and responsibility for sharing the love of Christ the world over.  There are a number of factors that Rosling did not talk about.  But consider transportation, language, and shared tech around the globe.  It took 19^th century British missionaries months to get to China and India.  We can do that now in hours.  English has become the Koine Greek of the 21^st century and anyone who wants to do business learns to speak it.  I can now communicate with folks on the other side of the globe via phone and email instantly.  I know Rosling wasn’t thinking Kingdom perspectives, but I sure was.  I love this stuff.  How do you think this kind of info should change your world?

 Thanks Craig.

 btw, in case I don’t get to it,  Merry Christmas everyone!

There’s been a lot of debate recently over the building of an Islamic Mosque and community center just two blocks away from ground Zero in New York.  The issue took on more steam this past weekend as President Obama endorsed the group’s constitutional right to construct the building.  But then on Saturday, the President was reported as saying that while he upholds that “Muslims have that right, that doesn’t mean he believes it is the right thing for them to do.”  There sure are a number of ways to look at this.  I understand and have felt the same knee jerk reaction of many who have pointed out that the men who flew those planes into the Twin Towers in New York were led by a strict inner interpretation of the Qur’an (Koran).  So the initial thought of a group of Muslims meeting yards away from where such a tragic event happened can cause one to wince.  But when the dust clears and the heart beat slows down, I believe the group in question ought to be allowed to carry on with their plans.  But my main reason for such a position may not be easy to see at first.  Here’s what I’m thinking.

1. The President has correctly stated that these people in NY have a Constitutional right to construct their center as long as they abide by the laws of the land.  This is the same right of any other American religious group.

2.  Not all Muslims in America have declared Jihad or live by the same interpretation of the Qur’an as the terrorist of 9/11 did.  Not all Muslims hate the West or America.  I don’t hate Muslims.

3. But the real reason is my faith in the power of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.  Paul stated that he was not, “ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes”.  In short, I am not threatened or fearful of Islam.  I have a friend from Iran who came from a Muslim faith.  I believe that when the simple elements of Christ are placed alongside the basic tenants of Islam on an equal playing field, Christ will win.  I say that not because Christ followers are better than Muslims.  Rather I say that because Jesus answered the inner cry of our hearts like no one else ever has- how can we have peace with God? Islam says keep the Five Pillars and maybe you’ll get in.  Judaism says keep the Torah and maybe you’ll get enough points.  But Christ came and said that in and of ourselves we are bankrupt, but that he loves us anyway.  We are unable to appease God, but Jesus came and took our brokenness and sin on the cross.  That is where true transformation comes from.  That’s love and power and true change.  That’s why I’m not too hot and bothered by a Mosque two blocks from ground zero.  I’m actually excited about more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those in New York and around the world who don’t know him.

The real answer for NY is not a court battle over property, but for someone to move there, share the love of Christ, and thus plant a living Christ centered community there.  Any takers?  I might be able to get you connected.

I love the languages.  I love the diversity.  I love the Kingdom of Heaven.  One of the things that really fascinate me about the Kingdom of Heaven is that it is made up of folks from all over the world and of every ethnic, race, economic, and social class.  This was certainly true of the church that Debi and I planted in Northern California back in 04.  I still remember getting together with believers from the former Soviet Union and lifting up prayers in English, Russian, and Kazak.  This was the picture we had today at our weekly prayer meeting at The Crossings.  We have begun some initial conversations with a Hispanic church plant in our area about a potential partnership and some of those folks came today.  We had a great time.  From The Corssings, we had people from America, (Texas), Trinidad, and Honduras.  We had representatives from El Salvador and Guatemala from the Hispanic church plant.  Though from different nationalities, we were all the same at the throne of Christ worshiping together and interceding together.  It all reminds me of what John witnessed 2000 years ago as recorded in the Book of Revelation, 7:9-10

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
   ”Salvation belongs to our God,
   who sits on the throne,
   and to the Lamb.”

 Wow, that’s amazing.  It speaks again that the hope for unity in the world is not the UN, but the love to Christ.  Yup, I really do love the Kingdom.  “Slava Boga!”

Oksana and the Blinchiki

I’ve always said that I could eat Tex-Mex food two or three times a week and I think that’s probably true.  But tonight was a dinner full of memories as we got together with some friends in North Houston for Borscht and Blinchiki.  Our chef, Oksana, is from Uzbekistan which used to be part of the Soviet Union.  So it was a lot of fun trying to remember our Russian and the names of the great dishes we had while living in Moscow back in the mid 90s.  I love trying foods from all over the world.  Probably the worst thing I’ve ever eaten was on a college internship in Chile back in 88 and I’d say that the best food I’ve ever had was in Nagaland, India.  But I think one of the greatest parts of these fun food festivities is not just the palate, but the friendships, culture, and Kingdom experiences that come along with them.  Cultural because we are all different and I love that.  But from the Kingdom standpoint, it is a reminder that the Kingdom of Heaven is not an American thing, but a God thing.  The real Kingdom of God, or Heaven, is something that Jesus said is within us.  It stretches all over the world and across time.  It will continue to expand in the hearts and minds of God’s children until Christ comes back.  So in a very real sense, the Kingdom is all over the world and transcends all cultures.  Having grown up in Texas, you could say that Tex-Mex really is a “national” or cultural reality for me.  But because the Kingdom of God is so big, there is really no one “national food” for Kingdom citizens.  But rather, it’s kind of a multi course banquet.  Now THAT smells good.  Fish Tacos anyone?

I came across an interesting article today highlighting a decision of the European Union to open up a “transparent and regular dialogue with churches, religious associations and secular groups.” The reason this caught my eye is that Europe, and especially France, is one of the most secular regions of the world. I have a heart for world evangelism and England and Europe have always been a part of that. It’s sad to remember how many of those countries in the EU once led the world in sharing the love of Christ. People like Hus, Luther, and Wesley stood and proclaimed the grace of Jesus Christ and lives were changed. But over the years Europe, more so than England, has gone to the extreme of total government led secularism and has pushed Christianity and any form of religious thought into the deepest corners of the closet. If anything, religion was a personal matter not to be discussed in public. Yet according the article, the political experts of the EU are beginning to see how much faith really intersects in the lives of people around the globe and how that even has ramifications in their own back yards. Apparently, September 11, 2001 is a date that stands out for the EU proponents of this measure as it “shattered a widespread belief that faith was a private matter due to wither away in modern societies.” For them, they understand that the spiritual drive behind the attacks in New York also fueled such events as the bombings in Madrid and London. So I generally agree with the assessment of the EU. A strong faith does affect society either for good or evil and I’m glad to see these folks recognizing this reality. But I believe the ultimate key for Europe is not more politically driven dialogue, but individual Christ followers fully living out their faith in their daily walk. There is nothing more transforming than the love of Christ being displayed in one of his children. Well I don’t live in the EU, at least not now anyway. But here are some things that I can do. What would you add?

-Pray for a spiritual awakening in the EU and England.
-Pray for the true Christ followers in the EU and England.
-Pray for the missionaries who are there in the EU and England.
-Help support those missionaries through our resources.
-Begin to dialogue ourselves with other people who don’t know Christ.
-Live out a Christ centered life where we are today.

One of my true heart passions is world evangelism. In tune with this, I’ve pasted below a recent post from one of my favorite blogs to keep up with. The guy’s name is Bob Roberts and he’s got a lot of experience and insight to consider. The link is at Glocal.net and the post is below. Enjoy.

To See a Transformed World – or NOT!

When we go into ministry it is driven by passion, love, vision, and determination to see God work in our lives and see radical transformation through Jesus Christ in our local ministries and throughout the world. Too often it ends in frustration, disappointment, and defeat. The problem is not our heart or desire or even willingness – it’s our paradigm and understanding of our world. If we would see transformation:

1. We need a clear understanding of what the Great Commission is and what it isn’t. In my upcoming book that will be out in a few months I deal with what the Great Commission is – and move it from religious preacher work to disciple society engagement. Our current western understanding of the Great Commission is limiting us in being able to be a part of things where the Gospel is going viral.

2. We need to learn how God is working in the rest of the world and what the church looks like and how we contextualize that to where we are. Right now an Indonesian pastor is mentoring our church. It means that there are some sins in our culture that have infiltrated our church that we have to address in order to be a part of what God is doing.

3. We have to open our circles to others who may not look just like us or think just like us. I’m not talking about compromising the Bible or Jesus. I am talking about living beyond our own personal tribes.

4. We have to understand faith in a globalized context. All religions are all places and how we speak of faith is crucial because whatever we say, we say to everyone because of the internet, etc. That’s the book I’m working on right now!

5. We have to move from an 18th century model of missions of a 21st century model of global engagement (Glocalization). Businessmen and college students get this quicker and closer than most.

6. We have to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily, radically, with abandonment to follow God where he leads and respond in obedience immediately to the doors he opens. That messes up our plans and stifles “our” ministries – but it does get the Great Commission fulfilled. God already has his plan, and we must follow his, not ours.

7. We must not be overwhelmed by the world. I used to think guys didn’t engage the world because they were ignorant. I don’t believe, that they were lazy – I don’t believe that, they were self-centered and thought it was all about their own local ministry (I still believe that!), but I’m convinced, at least with young pastors the reason is two-fold. First, the world is overwhelming. Where do you start? Second, the models are outdated and they know it and they don’t know where to turn so they adopt the attitude that it is better to not get involved in something that is dying and outdated.

I’m amazed at how global life has become and what that all means for the Church and the Kingdom. One of the reasons why we planted a church in Nor. Cal and why we are investigating another plant in areas like North Central Dallas is because of the huge international make up of places like that. There are so many exciting things going on in the church international today that remind me of Revelation 7:9-12 where the apostle John saw a:

“great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Can all this be a reality? Can people from every ethnic, cultural, and economic background come together? You bet they can. In fact, that was God’s design all along. That’s the way it will be in heaven. That is the way it is all over the world at the foot of the cross.

For those of us who live in places like Nor. Cal, LA, or even Dallas, we can experience that today if we drop our personal ideas of “church” and purposefully come together under the banner of Christ alone. We can realize this divine vision when we reach out in sometimes uncomfortable ways to those who are different than us with the love of Christ.

We can also be encouraged to know that we are part of a much larger family that gathers publically and in secret all over the world today in the unity of Jesus. That’s the Kingdom that I’m a part of.

I found this video clip several months ago and I’m pretty sure that Matt was not thinking Kingdom thoughts when he made it, but I sure was. Check it out and then ask yourself what you can do to help build the Kingdom of God international. Have fun.

World