Mission...
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15
One of my life verses from Scripture is found in Romans 10:15 ~ “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!” I am constantly challenged by the thought that as a carrier of the Good News I am obligated, according to Paul in Romans 1, to take the message of the Gospel to everyone. Every opportunity. Every moment. Every step. Beautiful feet. Back in the day the only way to get news from the battle front was to send out a runner who carried the message from the front line as to how the battle was going. Victory or defeat? Freedom or captivity? Beautiful feet. What a privilege we have to run with the Good News of the victory that can be had in Jesus! And that we can talk about the freedom that comes from knowing Him and the peace that follows as we surrender our lives to Him! Mission is a mindset. It isn't necessarily 5000 miles from home. It is across the street or down the hall. Do you have beautiful feet? Are you carrying the Good News to those you meet? Are you living life on mission?
One of our core values is short term missions. Over the last month we have been blessed to have five mission teams from four different churches come here to serve alongside our existing team here in Teesside. When short term teams come across they bring energy, enthusiasm and encouragement to each project and to the leaders that serve there year round. It is a flurry of activity that stirs things up...it is exhausting but so worth it! Below is a snap shot of each of the teams!
Champion Forest 1 and 2:
Champion Forest has been coming to the Tees Valley since October in 2005! Nearly 10 years of investment and partnership in the NE of England! Over the last 10 years CFBC has been working in The King's Academy and they have an amazing and unique relationship with the school. Each year CFBC sends a team here and The King's Academy sends either an RE group or a Football team across to Houston and Dallas. Champion Forest 1 had another amazing week in King's highlighted by an after school Texas Party with a mechanical bull. Over 300 young people stayed after school to participate and hear the 'Good News' shared by Vincent Sacco who is from CFBC but lives and serves here now at Coulby Newham Baptist and King's Academy. Amazing! Champion Forest 2 spent the week in the Town Centre of Middlesbrough serving alongside St. Barnabas and our GapYear team led by Sarah Beecham and Liz Wilson. They also had an opportunity to serve with Kath Dean in an amazing but very challenging project in Grove Hill. I will not soon forget the tears and brokenness that I saw as they wept for this town and the children of Grove Hill. Beautiful feet.
Heritage Park is another church that understands our need here for longterm partners in ministry. Kyle Jackson brought his young people once again to Stokesley and Great Ayton to continue relationships built in years before. We had an amazing week of mission hosted by Jared Bredeson and Becci Smith. Jared is on our GapYear team and Becci is a tremendous youth worker in Great Ayton. "Stokesley American Week" was a huge success! Dodgeball Tournament, Cafe Church, Texas Hoedown, Crazy Golf and Talent and Testimony night were all fantastic and were well attended. One of the most powerful encounters that happened during the week were home visits with some of the elderly in the town. Beautiful feet.
Nassau Bay
Nate Jordan led the team from Nassau Bay for the third year in a row. They served alongside the Hartlepool GapYear team of Stephen Merkey, Angela Hall, Daniel Greer, Bethany McNeeley and Jill O'Dell. The Hartlepool TVYFC project was actually birthed on the heels of this team coming over in the spring of 2013. We have seen so much growth relationally with our TVYFC working across Hartlepool. TVYFC and churches are locking arms together to make an impact in the town. Nassau Bay had another great week serving in the schools, kids clubs, youth groups and churches highlighted by a fantastic turnout for 'Talent and Testimony' night on the last night! We are seeing the Gospel flourish as lasting relationships are being built. Beautiful feet.
St. Thomas, an Episcopal church just outside of Houston, came across for the first time this year to work in Nunthorpe with the legend, Ste Corner. Ste is an amazing youth worker who has served in Nunthorpe since 2007. Joshua Orsak brought a team of five and they served in the schools, church, youth groups and kids clubs across the town. They had a tremendous first experience here with St. Mary's and are already talking about coming back and establishing a long term partnership in Nunthorpe! Beautiful feet.
Prayer Points:
From now until August 9 we will have thirteen more short-term teams coming from Texas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Colorado and they will be serving all across the NE of England! Two of these teams arrive this weekend for an Easter Break Camp of Champions!
We also have a team of summer interns arriving on May 20. They will be supporting our existing TVYFC teams and leading Camp of Champions throughout the summer months.
3Peaks Challenge! 3Peaks || 26Miles || 24Hours. The National 3Peaks Challenge is climbing the tallest peaks (mountains!) in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours! We hope to have a team of 10 take the challenge the 3rd week of June. I will be raising money for TVYFC as well as for The Vine Church project in Thornaby. If you want to sponsor me check out this link https://my.give.net/TVYFC3Peaks or you can give a donation to uk-usaministries and we will get it across to TVYFC. Please pray for our safety and God's provision!
Please continue to pray for God's favor, provision and protection as we seek to serve this community and have beautiful feet.
As always thanks so much for your financial support, prayers and words of encouragement! We pray you have an amazing Easter Weekend remembering His death and celebrating His resurrection!
In HIS JOY,
Mike and Kookie
