tanzania08

Mission Accomplished

Have you ever felt like the mission in front of you was daunting or overwhelming, and at the same time,  you were looking forward to it with a great sense of anticipation?  Our whole team felt that way not all that long ago.  Now here we are 13 days later on the last leg of our journey from London to Chicago - Mission Accomplished!  Or is it?  Yes and no.

Yes, we accomplished what we believe God had set before us in going to Tanzania to do a leadership conference, crusade, and marriage seminar.  However, after 9 out of the 11 team members experienced that side of the Tanzania partnership for the first time, they realized there is much more work to be done.

We had just finished our last session of the marriage seminar, and before returning to Hotel Tilapia to pack up to head to the airport, Mpemba took us to see the land where the new church building and radio station would be constructed.  And typical of every time we'd get in the vehicle, we drove by 100's upon 100's of people in need of the hope and salvation that Christ offers.  Not unlike the 100's that are on this flight ... and the 100's that you potentially drive by every day on your way to work.

So, is the mission ever really accomplished?  Not until Jesus wraps this whole thing up!  Until then, we are all 'on mission' all the time.  Who has God placed in your path so that He might reveal Himself to them through you?

Technological Communication

How many of you have found technology to be a great tool to keep you connected?  The fact that we've been able to share some of our experience in Tanzania (almost 8,000 miles away) can only be attributed to the genius of technology.

As exciting and positive as that is, it has its obvious built-in limitations.  Even a picture - that paints a thousand words - can't convey the full weight of one's experience.  As we've all learned in school, at least 90% of communication is nonverbal.  You don't want to get me started on how I really feel about all the deficiencies of technological communication.  Suffice it to say that there are far too many things left out when it comes to sharing one's heart and misunderstandings when it comes to sensitive issues that should only be communicated face to face.  Even the best authors in the world cannot fully overcome this inherent challenge of written communication alone.  Though we've tried to paint a picture for you of our time in Tanzania, I'm well aware of the reality that we've fallen short of giving you an accurate picture of all that God has done.

A number of our team members are really concerned with the challenge of accurately communicating all that they've seen and experienced even once they have the opportunity to sit down with their family and friends.  But you can be assured, they'll give it their best.  And we commit to do the same for you, our church family.  Don't miss the update next weekend at all of our campuses which will be followed by an entire service dedicated to that end for all our Midwest campuses on Wednesday, July 23rd.

Community

Community … koinonia

Another very significant aspect of our trip was authentic community.  The New Testament uses the Greek word koinonia to describe the God kind of community among believers.  As Randy shared his heart during a time of team reflection at our meal together last night, it brought tears to all of our eyes. 

Here are Randy’s words:  “All my life God has been refining a passion for Biblical Community.  Being together on this trip has reminded me of what I had missed while driving over the road for 7 years.  It has also reminded me of the fact that I have never experienced true koinonia to this level in my life.  For the first time I feel like I’m realizing just how lonely I was during those years; just how much I desperately missed authentic community with brothers and sisters in Christ.  Each of you has been used by God to change my life and intensify my passion for a deeper passionate Community than ever before.  True koinonia goes way beyond just being friends with one another.”

I believe that God is not a respecter of persons and that he longs for all of us to experience authentic community. However, this level of community is not an accident, but rather the by-product of choosing to be in an environment where it can happen. What small group or ministry team are you a part of where you might have the opportunity to experience genuine community?  God wants to show you his heart in and through others…are you opening yourself up to opportunities to discover this level of community?

Holy Spirit

In my last entry, I talked about the benefits of team.  When it comes to the work of God, our efforts would be in vain without the Holy Spirit … the true leader of any team that God assembles.  His presence and leadership were undeniable throughout our experience.  After all, only He can draw people to Himself and reveal truth.  There was ample evidence of that as we witnessed hundreds of people surrendering their lives to Christ, dozens being healed and delivered, and hundreds of pastors enlightened through the teaching on leadership.  We all could identify defining moments in every aspect of our trip … whether at the crusade, in the leadership conference or at the marriage seminar or our team time together.

It’s hard to single out one particular incident, but I’m going to try.  As a team, we met and laid out a roadmap for the marriage seminar.  Midway through the first day it was overwhelmingly clear to me that we needed to call an audible and change up the order and one entire session for the next day.  We did, and God showed up in a powerful way healing many of deep wounds in their past.  We were also able to follow His lead and incorporate 6 members of our team and one of Jon’s friends, Zulu from Zambia who just happened to show up.

            A couple questions for all of us today:  Am I yielded to the Holy Spirit’s leadership in my life?  How willing are you to make adjustments based on the Holy Spirit’s prompting? 

Teamwork

Throughout my life I have been a part of a number of different teams … all the way from my 5^th grade basketball team to this trip.  Whether I was playing on a sports team, involved in a business partnership or building a team for some aspect of God’s work, I have always enjoyed the benefits of working with others.  I was reminded of this again last night as I sat with this team reflecting on our experience together and listening to Jon share how often he had been involved in mission trips by himself.

It really is better together!  Nearly everything we did throughout this entire trip was done in team, whether eating, traveling, teaching or ministering.  One experience that stood out for many of us was the last night of the crusade as the team performed the drama portraying the battle that rages within human beings all over the earth.  I strategically chose to place the drama in the middle of my message which made my part of delivering the message of hope and salvation relatively easy. 

As ministry was drawing to a close at the crusade, I had a moment with my daughter Brittany.  At one point, I said to her, “Do you realize that you had a direct part in helping hundreds of people come to Christ this evening?”  As tears streamed down her cheeks (and mine), together we acknowledged what an incredible honor it is to be a part of God’s team!

As the saying goes, “Many hands make the work light.”  I would attribute the response of hundreds coming to Christ that evening to the power of team … not only our team ministering there, but all of you who have teamed with us through prayer.  Thanks again for your part in this great work.

Pride

Pride.  Is it good or bad?  I believe it can be either … It’s all a matter of the heart and how the term is used.

As Scripture clearly communicates, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5; Prov. 3:34).  We also find in Scripture that Paul said to the Thessalonians, “You are my pride and joy” (I Thess. 2:20).  As you can see, Scripture shows us both the good and the bad of pride. You can be sure that the arrogant heart that sees no need for God will be resisted by God.  At the same time, the one who acknowledges his need for God will be a recipient of his grace.

When Paul spoke of people being his pride and joy, this was preceded with the question and statement, “What gives us hope and joy and what is our proud reward and crown?  It is you!  Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus” (I Thess. 19).  I can’t tell you how incredibly proud I am of you as a church family and, in particular, the team that you sent to represent our church.  (We actually made the Tanzanian national news … both television and newspaper!)  To a person, every member of this team served exceptionally well honoring Christ every step along the way.  I’m confident that you will also be proud of them as you hear from them personally, as well as, a brief report the next two weekends.

Here are a few questions for each of us to consider: What kind of pride are we carrying in our hearts today?  What is it that makes you proud?  Who are you the most proud of?  I’ll say it again.  I am proud of you!  It really is an honor to serve as your lead pastor and to have had the opportunity to co-lead this amazing team with my friend and partner Glen Williamson.  Thank you for believing in us and the Mission which God has called us to be a part of together.

Keith

Highlights

As a team, we end each day sharing highlights of God’s activity from that day … and for good reason!  There has not been a day since our ministry began in Mwanza that we have not experienced God’s work both in and through us. Here’s a sampling…

• Today it was the human video with the song Everything that our team performed as a part of our worship experience at Mpemba’s church. 
• Yesterday it was the crusade.  Many on our team had never been in that environment before.  Thousands attended, hundreds were saved and many were healed.
• The team that spent two days teaching leadership in Shinyanga were radically impacted by what God did in them.
• Hearing powerful testimonies from pastors and bishops at the conclusion of the leadership conference on Saturday in response to what the Holy Spirit was doing in them made all the effort very worthwhile.

The list could go on and on. But the bottom line is I find myself feeling both proud and humbled all at the same time … incredibly proud of our team and humbled to be a part of it!  Thanks again for praying for us and supporting this initiative.  Someday we will all know that it was worth everything invested.

So, what has been the highlight of your day?  What is God doing in and through you?  You don’t have to travel half-way around the world to experience God’s activity in your life.  It is my prayer that you are able to recognize and appreciate what God is doing right where you are.

Keith

Independence Day

Back home you are all celebrating the liberation and indepence of our great country. 2,000 miles away in Mwanzwa, Tanzania, we too experienced an independence day. It doesn't show up on their calendar, but God did show up and liberate hundreds of pastors and leaders.

Many of the team shared some very personal stories of leadership tests that they have been through. Their vulnerability gave those in attendance both permission and the courage to respond to God's invitation to experience a new level of freedom in Christ.

We gave them opportunity to do something that many of you have done on more than one occasion, and that is to nail their sins, mistakes, failures and wounds to the cross - where justice and mercy kiss.

It was both humbling and moving for our entire team for nearly an hour to watch over 600 leaders nail their 'stuff' to the cross, and be liberated by God's grace and dance in the freedom that Christ offers. Not only was our team moved by this experience, but Mpemba's pastor made a point to pull me aside and said,"In my forty plus years in ministry, I have never witnessed such a clear, and liberating work of repentance.

Wherever you find yourself today, the prayer of our team for you is that you too would both desire and experience the freedom that Christ offers.

God Bless America! and Tanzania!

Flexibility

Today’s Beatitude – “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”

I’d like to invite you to consider how many times a day that beatitude would bless you if you would embrace it. In Mwanza right now, it is 5:35pm, in London 3:35pm, Chicago 9:35am and Denver 8:35am.

Let me tell you how many times I’ve been blessed by that beatitude today:

After a ten and a half hour flight, we waited a long time for our luggage only to find that the sound system had been broken. We were dogged by pushy bag handlers. As we rode through Dar Es Salaam, we dodged bikes, cars, buses and people. Then when we checked in for our evening flight to Mwanza, we were held up for over an hour to take care of details that were already confirmed with authority at the airport.

You get the idea. Please don’t get the wrong impression. We have experienced the power of God’s presence because fo your faithfulness to keep us, this mission and God’s plans in your prayers.

If we keep a healthy perspective, no time – no experience is wasted in God’s economy.

So, the next time you’re ‘held up’ at a stop light, don’t complain, pray.

We are thanking God for you and also praying for you!

Journey

Journey

One of our family’s all-time favorite movies is Cool Runnings which means “peace be the journey.”  This is one of the lessons that God has been teaching me for years - Life is more about the journey than the event. 

As I sit in the Heathrow Airport having already endured two flights and knowing that I have two more to go, the question that is running through my mind is this, “What’s going on with this transporting work of God when we are engaged in His work?”  After all, we do find in Scripture more than one incident where God transported someone when they were engaged in His work (i.e. Phillip in Acts 8).  In other words, I would have liked to have been transported directly from Denver to Mwanza, Tanzania.  So why hasn’t this happened?

Maybe, it has something to do with the fact that God has a different agenda than we do.

First, for those of you who know me and some of my traveling companions well, you know that patience isn’t one of my/our strongest characteristics, especially as Americans who live in a “McHave-It-Now” culture. (Can you tell we just ate at McDonalds in London for $10 a plate?) Independent of who you are or where you are in the world, Scripture is clear that one of the primary things on God’s agenda is to conform us to His image…or to make us more like Christ.  That is one of things that happens as we “travel” through life.

Second, even as I write this, I am overhearing the chatter of team members’ interactions with one another, which reminds me of something else that is a high priority on God’s agenda….relationships and community.  Again, based on my experience, some of the best relationships are developed in the margin of life.

So as you “travel” through life today, may you embrace God’s agenda with us and enjoy the journey.

I’m headed to the gate number 22 to board our next and longest leg of the journey – an overnight flight from London to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania – I still like the idea of being transported.

Keith

Prayer Strategy

How you can partner with us in prayer.

God’s Provision:

• provision for the many details of the conference/crusades

God’s Protection:

• Health for the team members & their families (physically, emotionally, spiritually, & relationally
• Health for Mpemba & his team
• safe travel for our team & for all the attending pastors

God’s Power:

• may His power be at work in the lives of the pastors & those who will attend the crusade
• pray that God will prepare the way for their lives to be changed by the power of His Spirit

God’s Presence :

• God’s anointing on those who will be speaking & in the lives of those who will be attending the conference/crusade
• God’s presence would be undeniable for those who attend the crusade

God’s People:

• God’s anointing on those who will be leading specific aspects of the trip/conference– Mpemba, Keith, Jon & Glen– that they would be protected from the attack of the enemy & they would have God’s grace in their lives as they work & prepare diligently
• God would bring unity to the team.
• pray He would provide favor, wisdom & insight along the way for the entire team & especially for those who will be sharing.

Tanzania Team Itenerary

Where: Mwanza, Tanzania

Why: Leadership Conference (serving 700 pastors & bishops)

        Crusade each evening (ministering to up to 20,000 people)

Who: Brian Allison, Burt Beilfuss, Brittany Boyer, Julie Boyer, Keith Boyer, Jon Eastlick, Randy Haglund,  Amy Lyrenmann, Dave Stanfield, Sarah Stanfield, Glen Williamson.

Tanzania Team Itinerary

June 29th – July 1st:   

Traveling to Mwanza

July 2 -5:   

Leadership conference, led by Keith Boyer & Augustine Mpemba

July 3-4:

Traveling team goes to Shinyanga for mini conference (Glen, Randy, Tom & Brian)

July 5-9:

Crusade meetings each evening (Jon, Mpemba & Keith)

July 6:

Visiting Mpembas’ church (Keith will be speaking & team doing human video)

July 8-9:

Marriage seminar @ Mpemba’s church during the day

July 9-12:

Traveling home

Tanzania 2008

We are planning a short-term outreach to Tanzania from June 29th to July 9th (dates are approximate, but accurate within a couple days). As we’ve done in the past, we’ll be taking a small leadership team to teach a leadership conference for Tanzanian Pastors and to speak at evening crusades throughout the trip. This year, we are also opening up a limited amount of spots for those who are willing to serve Augustine Mpemba and his church as we minister to the people of this great nation.