WOW ! Just WOW !

WHEN we take a small step of faith, we often learn that GOD has way more in store for us. His care is infinite in its knowledge, and meticulous in provision. (Matt 10:29-30)
Many of you who have taken the Journey with us through building transition House Odessa, Black Sea camp work, (and some of the other things that we do to help specific people and situations which unfortunately can't publish here) know that I am like a stuck record just before each trip.
Every time the pattern is the same..

• God shows us a need. 
• We feel too small and insignificant to do much about said situation. 
• God provides. 
• The situation grows to help more and more people. 
• God provides even more. 

With many people come many needs, and so God keeps providing. When we committed to help our friends in the North of Ukraine to complete a small home for some precious young people, we thought we had overextended ourselves (because of the other commitments we had)...but GOD, in his typical (and overflowing with love) way, had gone before us. At the beginning of this project in the North we set a financial target that would realistically set up the home for use, and make a huge difference to young lives in Kremenets / encourage the church to go forward in their amazing work as they impact the whole region with compassion, love and redemption. I have to be honest. This target to us seemed way-off in the distance - especially considering all that we had already committed to. I am so pleased to share that  in God's goodness, and though your generosity, this initial target has been met before I have even got to the building for the first time with the team. Thank you so much ! This means that all the materials we need to do our work in a few weeks time can be purchased, and things can go forward as fast as possible to help others as quick as possible... and things are moving fast. The work in the North is growing apace. We are having the best of SKYPE conversations with our precious friends VIKTOR and IVAN who are telling me the same story that I am telling you. God is going before this in amazing ways - The work is expanding (miraculously) and more young people will soon be homed, loved and we pray come to know eternal not temporary security and peace.   Is this the end of the story ? - No it is the end of the beginning of the story. Stick with us on here for the updates on the trip and see how our small steps of faith are walking into bigger plans and purposes. I promise you there are some brilliant "Wow's" to come. With this initial target met we can now concentrate on the wider issues of the work in the North (as it grows - and our much bigger plans for 2020), other areas our teams are visiting over  next few weeks and the crisis regions that we have contact with.  I know some of you were hoping to give financially  for this trip, please still do so if you possibly can,  this money will now be directed to these crisis situations and help us plan the huge development options in the North - Maybe that was God's plan all along !
Yours, feeling exceptionally humbled and grateful,
The equp4good heart is beating pretty fast.
Thank you precious TEAM.
BLOGSKI

Matthew 10:29-30
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Universal Needs

Hi friends, 
I'm enjoying one of those long waits in Girona Airport. On arrival I did wonder where everyone was. Could they be glued to the football scores ? (it was time for "sports report"), Were they tuned into the demise of the England cricket team amidst yet another top order collapse on TMS? ...No maybe these are just the perculiar habbits of a half-tanned brit at Saturday teatime!.
aahh... found you all - shouldve known... BURGER KING !

Why does the world (and their pets in carry cases) gravitate towards such classy establishments we ask ourselves? Well the answer is that they provide for all our universal basic needs don't they?
1) Free Wi-fi
2) Chips and other healthy deep fried food
3)  Charging points
4) Water - if you are prepared to ask 4 times and be stared at as if an alien.

is there anything else everyone needs... actually yes!!!
The bible reminds us that there is one need that is even more universal... 
GOD - the maker of all people, the true ruler of all nations says in Isaiah 43:11

" I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no saviour besides Me."

The truth is that everywhere we travel in the world there is but one maker of all people, every individual. There is one only who gives breath, provides rain, food and sun, who even gives the rare earth resources that make our iphones work and our chargers charge. In every airport you visit there will be people travelling through, encjoying all that God provides but without a thought for him. There will also be those however who know that their life is hungry. Hungry for something more than just another trip to deep fried city, hungry for the relationship which makes sense of all life. Sometimes as a group we visit locations where everyone is hungry for food far more basic than B K and this is such tragic and devastating thing to see, but even  more catastrophic is the knowdedge that many are flying into eternity without any comprehension of how far they are from the living God and how empty their life is without him. The bible reminds us that whilst we have breath today is still the day of "salvation" - Whatever our issues in life our maker is ready for our call. We don't need wifi, we don't even need Euros or knowledge of how to work machines in different languages, you and I can come to him the maker and ruler of all things "gratuit" ! We just need a heart that cries out to God and says "God if you are there, please make yourself known to me!". From experience let me tell you that God is way more gracious, kind and forgiving than you could ever imagine. Why not call on him now if you never have... go on dare you... you might be surprised at the response you will receive and how he reveals himself to be everything you and I are looking for and everything our hearts are hungry for.

This is the universal need of man... to Know GOD! To enjoy God, To be right with God and know him as your friend and not just the one you feel guilty before. He is the one we are made for. All this is possible and inexaustable in Jesus Christ. This universal need is why we exist as people and why we exist as a team. Wherever our next flight takes us or life plants us ... our one goal is to share the great news of Jesus Christ ... the universal saviour.

" Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

If you have never thought about this, then maybe you should... maybe you have a greater need than even free wifi. If you like us have found your universal hope, certainty, reason for living and incomprehensible Joy in coming to know him then maybe you could pray for us as a team. Our desire is to share this universal truth whatever place God takes us to. Pray that people around the world, people passing through, people hungry (physically and spiritually) will come to know the one who fills us with good things as we come to him. 

Well there goes the tannoy - another flight boards, another crowd of people cross the globe. As I go to board another flight .... I can't help but want to cry to God for those who leave Burger King with full tummies but empty souls, charged up on the phone but dreading the day (if subliminally) when they stand before God and realise... they have absoultely nothing!

 

Out of the comfort zone for good reason.

In times of pressure, change and vulnerability, it becomes more apparent than ever that we are creatures who gravitate towards comfort. This is particularly so in the UK; where there is a rise in "gated communities" that shut us off  from "the great unwashed" and unwanted, even our neighbours, and where a bombardment of TV programs teach us to perfectly "restore", build or transform our homes into a self serving paradise in which we find our isolated pride, joy and happiness.  As always however the bible is countercultural. 
God is community. God is love, and he is outward bound to rescue even those who have rejected him. The big story of the bible centres on one who left the comfort, joy and paradise of heaven to go to the lowest, most depraved and deprived. This is only the beginning of the story however as the greatest beam of joy, light and eternal goodness shines brightest when we see that Jesus Christ (the true man), goes to a place far worse than we ever have, in order that he might take on himself our worst, greatest indignity, and misery. In doing so, he restores human existence to a level of value, approval and hope beyond our greatest dreams and understanding. The true crux of the issue however hinges on whether I am ready to see myself as one of "the worst", "an oustider", a person undeserving of God's grace because of my past and repellent instinct towards God. Without going out of my comfort zone to see who I  truly am before the perfection of Jesus Christ, I cannot receive the perfection, forgiveness, solution and hope of Jesus Christ. 
In our greatest moment of discomfort we receive the greatest undeserved gift of God ("new life"). God specialises in taking us out of our comfort zone for good reason and glorious purpose. 

9 team members fly out over the next 2 months to places we have never visited before... to situations, a language, crisis and struggle we have never experienced before first hand. 
Our trips have three parts to them...
1) To help build a home for some young people who have known and experienced first hand the worst side of humanity. Our desire is simply to show them what Christ has shown us - love!
2) To help and encourage a new church network who are going way outside their comfort zone to show the love of Christ in their region. We hope to encourage in a number of ways including "Pastors Conferences" where we will discuss "ministry under pressure" (2 COR 1-6) and how God uses this for his good purposes.
3) To travel on to other areas where Christians are paying the high cost of trying to live like Jesus Christ. This is not a comfort zone - but a place like Judges 21:25, where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. You will not find this place on a holiday brochure, yet it is a place where many are coming to find their great joy, peace, eternal  security and certain future in Christ. 

Are we outside our comfort zone? in many ways YES ... but here we have repeatedly discovered that God has gone before us in his good purposes. We are still relying on him for money... specifically for building materials, for help transporting clothes and gifts etc. but he will have a good way of doing those things.
Maybe you would like to help?  Please get in touch, don't underestimate what God can do when you and I step outside the comfort zone. To misquote a man 50 years ago.. "A small step for you and me can actually sometimes lead to a giant step for humankind (or at least someone else)". Don't hesitate today to speak to your neighbour, leave your TV, give away what God has given you or trust in God's provision rather then trusting your own... he has it sorted! 

We will update regularly during this busy season of travel, so please keep us on your radar and in your prayers.
Love,
Blogski