In general, we have a good idea of what international missions is. It’s about following God’s call, it’s about a heart for the nations, it’s about a surrender and commitment. It’s an exciting, life-changing journey, hopefully for you and for the people you’ll be ...
We all know that there is a cost to missions for those who go. Spiritually, emotionally, physically… missions, for all the impact, takes something from you. That’s why long-term, international missions is such a helpful indicator of discipleship. It innately reflects a level of ...
There are shades of darkness. There is dusk, as the sun heads off to sleep and darkness just starts to fall on the land. Then there is night in the city, where the darkness is punctuated by isolated lights. And then, there is the darkness hour of the night, in the darkest places, where there is no ...
When it comes to overseas missions, we all like to talk about a “calling.” We often make it seem mystical and mysterious, almost impossible to attain. It keeps us up at night and is constantly on our minds. We worry if we don’t have it, or if it doesn’t compare to someone ...
Three adults. Three kids. And a lot of tears. On the face of it, not much of a celebration. Two years away from family and friends, leaving all the amenities of America behind. Adopting a life of challenges over a life of security. So why do we celebrate? Because we always choose Christ over ...
As I have been praying for my walk with Christ to look more like the Christianity I see in the book of Acts, there is a section in chapter 4 that has been the focus of my prayers. Verse 29 and 30 of chapter 4 are the verses I want to see so badly in my life and the lives of Christians ...
If a church is getting its job done, that church should be a launching pad, not a landing place. This truth is uncomfortable for some of us, grating us a consumer-oriented approach to church. That’s the “come on in, customize your experience, and stay here forever” type of ...
One of our favorite passages to quote and to celebrate at Hope Church is the Apostles' prayer in Acts 4:29-30, which Peter referenced in his blog post last week: "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch ...
“You are what you celebrate,” the saying goes. It’s one of my favorite sayings, and one of the most profound. Many times these days, we will talk about cultures around the world. We might also talk about sub-cultures within our own context. Each person has a culture, each entity ...
It’s 8:30 pm on Saturday night and my heart and body aren’t in the same place. The former is at home in Houston, hanging out with my family watching the Olympics. The latter is at DFW, enduring a grueling flight delay. To sweeten the deal, I grab a fruit parfait (don’t judge me) ...
