Excuses Why Our Generation Skips Private Prayer....

Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 6:6, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." This is one of the most talked about subjects in Christian circles yet it is one of the most seldom practiced at home. Why have we become so apathetic to talking with our Father in heaven? What makes us skip and create excuses to not enter our prayer closets? Is prayer a form for us or a lifestyle? Can we return as a generation to spending private quality time with the Lord again? Do YOU make excuses to avoid time in prayer?

I believe these are some of the more frequent excuses our generation has made to the area of private prayer....

1. Prayer Is Uninteresting. Give us hours and hours and hours of worship concerts, worship festivals, worship music, worship celebrations, worship awakenings but can I ask where is the same hunger for diligent PRAYER? More than anything, where is the passion for private prayer??

2. I Pray On The Go. We suppress our guilt-ridden conscious by praying on the go. We have enough time to swing by Starbucks and grab coffee and a bagel and along the ride we chew out words of requests to the Lord. We say we have prayed when we stand at a red light and utter ten words of thanks all the while sending five various text-messages to friends. If you want to KNOW the Father you must spend TIME with the Father. Prayer is not a drive-thru menu it's a place of separation, consecration, and dedication.

3. Busy! Busy! Busy! We love being busy! We have school engagements, church meetings, conferences, social parties, work obligations, college tests and on and on. We somehow are still able to fit all those events into our day yet we have dismal effort to find private time with the Father.

4. I Am Fatigued. More and more people are becoming weary not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. Our body screams at us to sleep one more hour and not to wake up. It has manipulating ways to make us go to bed without hearing the Father. The more we say yes to our flesh the more we say no to our spirit.

5. Prayer Starts and Ends in Church. If our passion is Jesus then let's meet with him privately. We love moving our lips during times of prayer in church but many times our hearts may be far from the One we are praying to. Church is a catalyst to keep our prayer life growing it shouldn't be our start and end point.

6. Prayer is Not MY Thing. Oh Really??! Prayer has never been any man's "thing". It has always been the tool to undo the flesh inside of us so that the Second Adam-Jesus Christ can rule and reign in every area of our lives. The Bible is not a buffet of teachings where I will take the blessings and let the praying be done by the leaders. Each of us gives personal account. Let's make prayer OUR thing in our generation!

7. I Get TOO Distracted. This is exactly why Jesus said to find a place and shut the door! Find a place and make the time to shut out the distractions. No iPhones, no texts, no emails, no books, no internet web browsing, shut it out. If you date your wife or husband and do all those other things while you are out, sooner or later it will cause awkward conversations. Dedicate the time solely to the Lord.

8. Pray FOR Me. As I travel the world, I notice more and more believers asking ministers, missionaries, pastors to pray FOR them. What's wrong with that, right? Well, when I follow up and ask, "Did you pray about it yet?", the reply usually is , "No not yet." We have a DIRECT line to the Father! Let's start using it. This is why Jesus suffered on the cross. This is why we have complete union with the Father again. Start talking with the FATHER. He is waiting for you.

9. I Cannot Pray Long. God is not desiring you to pray long prayers. He wants you to KNOW Him. It's not about what we tell God but what is God telling us? Does the Father know you or does He know about you? Stay in the secret place rain or shine. God always has something to tell you.

10. Just Pure Lazy. We can have an endless list of excuses yet one of the most underlining problems is pure laziness. That's right- LAZY! Our generation has a problem with responsibility and honest ethics. No one wants to admit and say, "Hey everyone! I'm lazy and really don't feel like it.". We must bring even our laziness to the Lord. Ask Him to give us the courage, will, and desire to be responsible enough to feed our souls and not blame pastors, church leaders, and ministers that they are not doing enough. It's time we stop being lazy Christians and start spending time with the Father one on one.

"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." -John 12:26

Twitter- @PaulMuzichuk

9 Practical Ways to Give- Christmas List 2013

Its that time of year! Christmas! The time when you give a gift to the one you love. The time of year we make our annual reviews of what we did. The time of year we plan for the next 12 months to come. The time of year we get together with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

As a missionary family I want to share our 2013 Christmas list. It may help you find a practical way to give: 

Prayer at Barnabas Renewal

1.) Pray for Paul & Maria Weekly. We desire for prayer to be the bedrock of all we do. Without prayer all else is in vain. Please commit to praying for Paul and Maria weekly. You can receive weekly prayer requests by sending Paul an email saying you want to pray for them weekly! E-mail: Paul.Muzichuk@gmail.com 

2.) Monthly Support. We are raising our monthly support to be able to do what God has called our family to accomplish. You can give any amount on a monthly basis by CLICKING HERE. Visit our website for more ways to get involved, volunteer, travel with us, and support options at www.servantheartmission.org. 

3.) End of Year Giving. Many business owners, churches, organizations, and individuals take the month of December to give for their annual end of year giving. We would greatly be blessed by any gift amount. As a reminder we are a 501(c)3 faith-based organization with most donations being tax-deductible. CLICK HERE to give a special end of year gift.

4.) Macbook Air Laptop-$999.99. Our laptop of 5 years is not functional anymore. We seek an Apple Macbook Air laptop for use in our ministry and travels. Here is a link to what we we ask and pray for: http://goo.gl/TduYdq

5.) Airfare to Philippines. In 2014, we are planning to visit our brothers and sisters in Bohol, Philippines to follow up on the work we have been doing. We will visit the devastated areas caused by the recent earthquake and typhoon storm. Round-trip airfare will be around $1,650. You can give towards this by CLICKING HERE. 

6.) J.C. Ryle Christmas Book Deal-$99.00. Nine total books for continued study of the Word of God. You can click the link-http://banneroftruth.org/us/store/favourite-author-gift-paks/ryle-deal/, to place an order. Our address can be found here: www.servantheartmission.org/contact-us

7.) Color Laser Printer- $699. Brother® MFC-9970CDW Wireless Color Laser All-In-One Printer. Click here to view description: http://goo.gl/3YTTA7. You can order at any Office Depot store or office supply store. 

8.) Delta Skymiles Gift. If you have additional Delta Skymiles that you want to give away we would be extremely grateful as we fly extensively with Delta. If you desire to give miles please email me at Paul.Muzichuk@gmail.com for all the detailed information. http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/support/faqs/skymiles/gift-miles-faqs.html

9.) Serve as Volunteer. We have many opportunities growing for women and men to help us in 2014. If you would like to join us on a missions trip to the Philippines, help with online community development, administrative support, please email me at Paul.Muzichuk@gmail.com. 

Thank you to all who encourage us, pray for us, and help send us to the mission field! 

 

iAsk: Natasha Kosachevich, Spiritual Counselor, Questions on Women in Ministry

 Every Monday I will be posting new interviews with Christian leaders to find in-depth counsel on issues such as ministry, family, careers, politics, finance, and theology. Today's in-depth interview is with spiritual counselor Natasha Kosachevich from California. Let's begin...

Natasha Kosachevich

Paul: First, can you tell us who you are, what you do, and what is your greatest passion in life? Our readers will be interested in hearing your story.

Natasha: I am just a simple daughter of the King of Kings J. I love Jesus and my passion is to introduce as many people as possible to Him and to encourage those that have already met Him to get to know Him better, fall in love with Him deeper and trust Him completely.  I love to share anything and everything that I learn from Him with those who will listen.  I love sharing with young people, teenagers, youth, young adults, and couples about Gods order of things.  He is the ultimate Designer of Life and He knows best how it should be handled.  Besides the fun subjects of faith, love and relationships I also cover some of the not-so common ones of abuse, sexuality, addictions and emotional healing. 
        

Paul: 1. 2013 is coming to a close and many events have taken place around the world, too many to list. For you personally, what world events in 2013 have impacted you the most and why?

Natasha: I spent most of 2013 in New York City, and thus the Connecticut School shooting was something that was close to me in proximity, and heart.  The lives of the innocent is something that is very precious to me.  Seeing children perish before truly living is devastating.  This event hit very close to another passion of mine which is the truth about abortion in our country and worldwide.  Seeing the nation mourn the lives of kids in one classroom but ignore the fact that close to 4000 pregnancies are terminated DAILY in the US alone is pretty overwhelming.

Another event that wasn’t really worldwide, but reminded me of Gods control was the flooding of the Dinuba River in Europe.  I was IN Eastern Europe at the time, and left the city of Budapest for a month, and during THAT specific month the river flooded.  When I returned and walked alongside the riverbank I was fascinated that just during the weeks I was gone the river flooded and covered the very sidewalks that I was now walking on.  The frailty of our life and Gods complete control over nature was very vivid to me.  I was reminded that no advancement in technology or modernization can stand against the mighty hand of the Creator.
    

Paul: 2. As you know, I co-labor alongside Lee Grady with the Mordecai Project to confront the abuse and oppression of women worldwide. Has the Slavic church as a whole suppressed the leadership gifts of women? Also, do you feel Slavic Christian women should be given greater measures of responsibility and authority in spiritual work like church ministry?

Natasha: Traditionally, I believe the Slavic church has disrespected the gifting that women can bring to serving people better.  I think partially it’s due to lack of resources and biblical education in the past years of the former Soviet Union and part of it is overlooking the way Jesus treated women and taking verses out of context or assuming that His commandments of going and making disciples concern men only.

I think wisdom and discernment must be applied in any church ministry.  But I Do believe that women were created in the image and likeness of God, and omitting their importance in the body of Christ is overlooking a very important aspect of God.

Recently, I was reading the gospel of John and marveled again at the fact that Jesus Himself, after resurrection showed Himself first to a woman and commissioned her to ‘go and tell,’ and she was in turn the first witness of His resurrection to the disciples. (John 20:10-18)  

Natasha sharing Jesus

Paul: 3. What message of encouragement and inspiration would you share with women who have been abused emotionally, physically, or sexually in Christian homes? If women are oppressed at home, what hope can they look for?

Natasha: Get to know the Lord Jesus who took all the pain and the shame to the cross.  He left heaven to pursue the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn and restore all that was lost.  His LOVE covers ALL sins, those that you committed and those that were committed against you.  He is the Only One who can make old things new and restore you to His original design. (Isaiah 61)    

Paul: 4. From your travels around the world, what have you noticed the Lord speaking to the body of Christ?

Natasha: “Get Ready - Jesus is Coming!”

The Bride of Christ, remember your first love. Purify yourself. Get your ‘dress’ in order.  Get your heart focused on the Groom! 

Paul: 5. Christmas time is around the corner, where and with whom do you plan on celebrating the holiday?

Natasha: For the past 3 years I have been either out of the country or out of the states for the holidays, so I am looking forward to spending the time with my family in California this year, and listening to a lot of Christmas music, which I love. 
 

Follow @PaulMuzichuk

12 Topics the Church Is NOT Talking About

This past weekend I was blessed to be at a men's conference called Barnabas Renewal in Atlanta, GA where 25 ministers under the age of 40 came together for prayer, renewal, accountability, and building relationships. Men from all over the country came and even one youth pastor from Vancouver, Canada. God was encouraging each of us to hear His voice and be led by the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

Paul Muzichuk

One topic we discussed was: What is the Church (Body of Christ) either locally or around the world NOT talking about. Here are 12 things we must start addressing in 2014....

1. Sexual Immorality + Sexual Purity. This was the number one rated topic across all 25 men from various churches and ministries that agreed it MUST be taught, discipled, and discussed in the church. 

2. Personal & Family Finances. The growing problem of rising debt in families, in ministries, and lack of accountability with ministry leaders. A call to open transparency and financial committees. 

3. Discipleship. People yearn to be discipled not just preached at. People want real life relationships with mentors, spiritual fathers/mothers and accountability. People want to grow spiritually. Preaching alone will not make that happen.

4. How to Serve/Minister. Yes- as basic as it sounds. There is a need to train volunteers, staff, pastoral staff on HOW to minister. Don't just tell your youth or leader "Go serve". Teach them. Walk alongside and show them. Train up a new generation of HOW to serve. 

5. Practicing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Much talk is said in churches about desiring the spiritual gifts but not much practice is done. Men are hungry to be trained to hear the voice of God, to be open to prophecy, and equipped with all the gifts available. The problem is the church does not practice them. If you want to impact a new generation lets start walking out our talk. 

6. Transparency. Men (and women) are tired of always hearing the perfect side of leaders, preachers, and missionaries. The deep desire is to be open, honest, transparent not only in the pulpit but more in person and in relationships. We need less glamor preachers and more men who are Barnabas'.

7. Parental Blessings. There has been a lack of understanding of how significant and vital parental blessings are in children's lives. Talk about the joy of receiving parental blessings.

8. Women in Leadership. The church for years has suppressed the leadership giftings of women. We need more women leaders trained and ready to serve. 

9. Being Flexible With Technology. At times there has been a struggle introducing technology in the church. Some feel it is "unholy" others feel it expands the kingdom of God. We cannot be blind to the fact that BILLIONS of people can be reached using new methods of technology. 

10. Science + Faith. Much of the church has pushed away from inviting science to play a role in the development of faith within a church. Science has been viewed as an unbelievers religion when in fact if we were to let science be voiced it would prove more of God's Word then without it.

11. Couples Ministry/Counseling. We must invest in not only counseling when things go bad in a marriage but when things are great and to keep it going. Couples ministry is a great need in many churches.

12. Miscellaneous. Topics like not defining a persons spirituality by the amount of ministries he or she is involved in, growing in knowledge and training is a good thing, respecting authority without constantly being skeptical, not being a church or people who are isolationists but investing in the Body of Christ. 

Let us prayerfully consider addressing some of these topics in 2014! 

Follow @PaulMuzichuk

iAsk: Marco Tant, Missionary to Italy with International Gospel Outreach {PART 2}

Every Monday I will be posting new interviews with Christian leaders to find in-depth counsel on issues such as ministry, family, careers, politics, finance, and theology. Today's in-depth interview is PART 2 with career missionary to Italy, Marco Tant. Marco and I met at a men's discipleship event earlier this year and have been building our personal relationship since then . Marco's sending and covering agency is International Gospel Outreach located in Semmes, Alabama. This interview is TWO parts. The detailed responses from the seven questions I asked Marco will give readers and a real in-depth look inside a missionary's life.

Marco Tant -Missionary to Italy

 Paul: 4. Tell us more about your work in Italy. Often when thinking about beautiful European countries like that, one may wonder if it should really be called "missions". I know the Lord is doing something deep within the Italians and sending them off to plant churches. Share with us the most up to date ministry happening in Italy among the brethren and churches? 
Marco: Wow, another big question! Europe is on its way back in my opinion and not that it is happening fast but rather a deep movement. Europe has so few Christians statistically and foreigners with their own religious beliefs are flooding in by the masses from the Middle East. So much so that America will not be the only "melting pot" as Europe is following right behind it and fast. We have Muslims that are taking over areas as their own with medical services, finding themselves in danger for simply entering to help other injured Muslims. The great part about it all is that we are able to reach the people groups that are too hard and dangerous to reach in their own cultures. Europe needs help and hope that those who are reading this who have not answered the call will do so simply because God has no plan “B” to missions. People cry out to God for their nations and God calls you but if you don’t go than their prayers go unanswered.

Our work is almost everything since the need is so great in Italy and help is scarce (90% drop out rate for missionaries). We purposefully lace everything we do to be indigenous as we empower local believers and churches to believe God and not just the American arm of the church. I could go into a very long and detailed explanation of all the incredible needs and how we fill in those gaps but I will rather hit on just a few. We partner with local churches, the few that be, in a sense of treasure hunting to know where they are and how we can work with them. In a partnership relationship, we are invited into the church to teach and preach, hold leadership conferences, model discipleship, empower evangelism corporately, personally, and work with church leadership in reshaping the church structure to create churches that are not a place where a pastor vents from a pulpit but rather a place where members are built up, encouraged, discipled and empowered to reach others. The overall success in our ministry is that teaching is coupled with providing and encouraging an atmosphere where people encounter the tangible presence of God; otherwise teaching just entertains the brain rather than transforming a life.   

The overall environment is changing in Italy since the internet is increasingly being used to watch what God is doing through people all over the world. Like anything else, some of that has been very good and other experiences have been very very bad. The positive is that new ideas, that are scripturally accurate and Godly, have challenged this once closed society and is beginning to create hunger. I am so grateful being on the ground and helping them wade through the good and the not so good. It is a tool that we use and encourage continuously as Italians are seeing God move mightily in revivals and amongst believers in ways that are scriptural but rather unknown in the Italian context.  There are still many incredible challenges that break our hearts continuously but we have seen small changes over the last seven years that have encouraged both us and our Italians. We are home incinerating right now and purposefully building relationships of which will provide leaders a platform to come to Italy to help provide needed teaching and modeling through conference type meetings which is extremely needed in Italy. Furthermore, we have purchased a home for $13,000 near the Birmingham, Alabama area of which we will use to bring Italians back once a year for training. Missions is an investment and we are encouraged to see how much fruit is being produced the longer we are on the field and harder we work towards revival in Italy.

 Paul: 5. Discouragement is a common tool the enemy uses to diffuse kingdom work among laborers in the Lord's field. Can you give some personal stories of how you encountered discouragement and ways you found to battle it away? 

Marco:  It is true in that discouragement can overcome people in ministry! We have a saying in our house that we "take negatives and create positives.” We purposefully look at life this way to know that any setbacks can be redeemed for the Lord as well as understanding that even though there are things we cannot see, God is doing things behind the scenes in peoples heart that takes time. If I live by the negative than I respond by the negative which often destroys the work of God in peoples lives. People who meet me say all the time how positive I am only because I have seen God move time and time again in situations and in peoples lives without moving into the realm of negativity. Life is a reaping process and I do not leave a field or curse a ground simply because fruit has not manifested in a week or a month.

Another way we keep ourselves encouraged is that we look for what God is doing in the world through moves of God and revivals and feed ourselves from their breakthroughs. We watch services, worship,  listen and share testimonies of great things in the Kingdom because it continually gives us direction and motivation. Otherwise we would simply glare at the overwhelming mountain of things that need to be done in Italy and find our selves dwarfed by them. We live from a place where problems are dwarfed rather than us being dwarfed by problems around us. We share this through messages back here in the States from pulpits where people respond overwhelmingly to hope again. A staple in our lives is a quote by Bill Johnson that simply states “Hope is dreaming with our eyes open” and we allow ourselves to dream insane dreams knowing that it is the only way we can keep up with the God of impossibilities. Thinking and living this way is the only way to really know His will both for our lives and the country we are called to reach.

Marco and Shana Tant

  
Paul: 6. Do you invite teams and individuals to join you on a short-term basis in Italy? What would one be involved in if they decided to come alongside you and serve for a week or more? How can they reach you for more information?

Marco:  Yes, we do invite people to Italy and want believers to come and bless our Italian brothers and sisters. If people were to come they could do a host of different things from evangelistic events, which is heavily needed, to conferences on basic truths. We held a conference with pastors from the U.S. and we had a response that I would have never imagined. There was so much encouragement and simple truth that was explained that it has impacted them still to this day. The best part about it is that people come and and confirm what the missionary is doing and teaching as well as creating a platform for the missionary to walk with the believers through the truth that was given to make it a part of their lives on a daily basis.

If people wanted to reach us about what we do or a short-term trip in the future, they can do so by contacting International Gospel Outreach at 251-645-2117 or contact us directly at 250-386-0855. Our email is tantmissions@hotmail.com and our web address is www.italiarevival.com .

Paul: 7. Marco, the Bible says, "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few..". What encouragement and challenge can you give to someone reading your story and who are contemplating about becoming a full-time missionary or joining the ministry? 

Marco: Can I just be boldly honest here? Paul instructed the church that we are part of one body and when one suffers, all suffer. There is not an Italian body, an African body, and an American body but rather we are all together and we must work together with churches from around the world to strengthen and encourage them in whatever way possible. God has always been global even before being global was popular! 

    The rapture is not God’s plan to rescue a church that has not loved the world well and sought to bring salvation to everyone they come in contact with. I have visited churches here recently and we have people begging God for the rapture to happen so that they are saved from a mortgage of a home that was too large and expensive to begin with not knowing that the rapture will be the worst time the earth has seen. There will be millions perishing and going to hell at a pace more rapidly than any other time in history and yet this same rapture ready group does nothing to evangelize their neighbor. The rapture is not to rescue an irresponsible church but rather His bride that loves the same things and the same people He loves.

    God does not have a plan “B” to see people saved and the same plan “A” is more than capable in that God’s people share God’s message through God’s power to see God’s will be done in someone else. We cannot afford not to be involved in ministry full time or whether we are a workplace missionary that lives Jesus at his work and community every possible minute. The U.S. or any other country is not going to turn around because we beg God to do something and call it prayer but rather it will turn around when God’s people live God’s way and love people again like He loves. Sorry for the soapbox here but I was one of those in the world that worked with Christians and even dated Christian girls that never once loved me enough to share Jesus with me. Sorry for being so honest...

Paul: There are so many hurting people, so many who need healing, so many who need the embrace of God in our world. What parting advice would you share for those hesitating to serve in ministry? 

Marco: Love well! And when you get frustrated and tired love well still. Ministry is just simply loving people and meeting their needs in whatever way possible. Ministry is awesome and taxing all at the same time but it is the ultimate plan God created and is the best and only plan we need to transform the world. Get involved in ministry as soon as you can and not just behind a pulpit or hopping on a plane to go hallway around the world but begin to love your coworkers, family members, and people in your community; that is ministry at it finest! 

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to financially support Marco and their missionary family to Italy please contact International Gospel Outreach at (251) 645-2117.

Follow @PaulMuzichuk

Email Paul

 

iAsk: Marco Tant, Missionary to Italy with International Gospel Outreach {PART 1}

Every Monday I will be posting new interviews with Christian leaders to find in-depth counsel on issues such as ministry, family, careers, politics, finance, and theology. Today's in-depth interview is with career missionary to Italy, Marco Tant. Marco and I met at a men's discipleship event earlier this year and have been building our personal relationship since then . Marco's sending and covering agency is International Gospel Outreach located in Semmes, Alabama. This interview is TWO parts. The detailed responses from the seven questions I asked Marco will give readers and a real indepth look inside a missionary's life. Tomorrow Part TWO will be posted. 

Marco Tant-Missionary to Italy

Paul: 1. Marco-I appreciate you sharing your heart with me and our online community. As a full-time missionary, what are some misconceptions that people place on you and your family? Have you had difficulties confronting people or even churches? 
Marco: First I should warn you that I am a very passionate person that sees and understands things that break my heart. So I normally speak very honestly about what fellow missionaries go through and pray daily that I can be apart of the change!

Other than getting Americans to see Europe as a mission field (not just Africa, the Middle East and Asia) here are a few misconceptions out of many that I could name:

1. One of the greatest misconceptions is that the U.S. church, as a whole, supports missions rather than missionaries that do missions. Most missionaries are seldom contacted by local supporting churches for months and even years at a time while the missionary is on the field and is seen as someone taking money from their budget rather than an extension of that church. In all honesty, missionaries are treated very poorly from church leadership and look for every reason to drop missionaries so that their fifty dollars a month can be spent on themselves. Don’t get me wrong, we have some great pastors and churches that support us but the overall environment is such and not just for us as a family but it is a reality that missionaries suffer continuously. In this reality, as I have recently learned, missionaries go underfunded and suffer for bare necessities for their families as they serve on the field. I was shocked to find that most missionaries are operating off of credit cards just to make missions happen. They suffer from medical bills from living in sub-par conditions and are swamped with other expenditures while on the field. It is said that missions is the last to change in the body of Christ but I think something needs to be done now. This is not just working to change a system but rather working to change the way we love and support those missionaries that are giving up so much just to help others. 

2. Another misconception is that we just need to support local believers (nationals) rather than sending in foreign missionaries. I have seen this first hand on the field when we had a gentleman from a well known organization that works with the persecuted church in Iran come and try to raise some support in our small Italian churches. When asked how he was going to use the money, we where shocked to find out that he wanted the money to pay for gender changes for ex-Muslim women so that they could evangelize Muslim men. Needless to say I encouraged my Italians not to invest in evangelistic sex changes. While just supporting nationals works in some context, I have spoken to people from different countries that tell of stories where other nationals have simply learned how to milk the American churches for finances in knowing what to say and how to say it. I know Italian nationals that do this continuously and use the money to lavish their lives and even hinder the work of the gospel. We cannot substitute supporting American missionaries to foreign fields. 

3. I should probably stop here but the last misconception I could mention is that supporting missions is sending a family overseas, getting newsletters that we pin to our bulletin boards and patting ourselves on the back as we tell others that we support missions. Missions is a body ministry and has nothing to do with just loading up a couple and their things, shedding a few tears and sending them away as we wave goodbye. Missionary families on the field are an extension of the (American) Church and the (American) churches that support them. These supporting churches are to work together and through that missionary family to strengthen and encourage the national churches. The partnership would be such that the supporting churches would have a finger on the heart beat of that country and know exactly what is needed to succeed in reaching their people. These churches would send necessary help for providing teaching through conference type meetings that the missionary could teach and disciple through once that individual or team of individuals are gone. The (American) Church would be active in countries rather than just waiting for newsletters that make sending our fifty dollars a month to a missionary couple feel worth it. Missionaries have and do work wonders with what little support they get from home churches but they were never meant to do the entire job alone. Missions is a body ministry!

Marco and his wife and team

Paul: 2. Cross-cultural missions is really about seeing the Body of Christ in action. Having personally traveled to many nations, it amazes me every time how God's people are sown in various areas of the world. So then what drew you into missions? How did you know you were to be a full-time missionary? and what were some fears you had to overcome? 
Marco:  So what drew me into missions?

Well it has a lot to do with my testimony, in that after I got radically saved I was awestruck in finding out how many people in my life that were Christians but never told me about Christ. I became an instant evangelist as I began to read the bible for the first time and saw Jesus purposefully going after those who were the worst in society. I did not have any religious background and so I just believed what I had read. So I befriended gang-bangers, prostitutes, homosexuals and the like as I went into the bars and night clubs as well as their communities to share Jesus. I was immediately inducted into real ministry to real people who had real needs. I read about Paul doing missionary journeys and began to hear about others who are still doing the same today. I had to get involved and began to support missions but never saw myself as one.

How did I know I was to be a full-time missionary?

I was in the Air Force and asked the Lord, in prayer, what I should do with my life. I had control of it up to that point and made an utter mess of it before I knew Jesus and now I just wanted to live for Him. Romans 8:14 became my life verse as it states “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God”.  Well, as you know, God is always faithful and answered me back with this idea that I was suppose to be a missionary to Italy. I was shocked because I thought Italy was like America with a church on every corner and no need of a missionary until I did my research and found that it is in desperate need. From there I had that calling confirmed in many ways to include strangers that would meet me and ask me if I was going to follow God’s call on my life and become a missionary. That was where it all began years ago.

and what were some fears I had to overcome?

The biggest fear, believe it or not, was not the Italian Mafia or other challenges like that as I was accustom to extreme ministry but rather my biggest fear was raising support. It was huge!!! I had to learn to trust believers with supporting my family in a foreign land and not just do that once but rather learn to live like that for the rest of my life. It sounds to others who never lived this way to seem as though I just need to have faith but when you can’t trust believers to pray, read their bible or evangelize how could I trust them for support. It was a big step for me and I have learned to trust God in people like never before in my Christian life and it is paying off in my relationship both on and off the field.

Marco serving in Italy

Paul: 3. Let's talk about giving (chuckling). Yes, I know it's a sensitive subject across all ministries and churches and especially full-time missionaries like yourself. What role does giving play in cross-cultural missions? People give locally to churches and other ministries that they see but what is your personal experience and advice for others about the heart of giving into missions and missionary families that they may not see personally?  
Marco: Major!!! It is like going to Walmart and seeing nothing on the shelves. Walmart, in that condition, would now become useless to anyone who ever wanted to go there and so is missions without support. A missionary is only a missionary if he can sustain himself in that land. The Church in America cannot afford not to support missions as we are one body and when one suffers all suffer. Being involved in missions and supporting missions is as fundamental to a Christian as reading his bible or praying. 

This is a loaded question (chuckling). Out-of-sight and out-of-mind has been the overall missionary support environment and culture. Even though people get newsletters and/or emails there is nothing like seeing that person in real life. I think pastors and missions committees with a missions vision can help create environments in their churches where the out-of-sight and out-of-mind culture no longer exists. Missionaries keep up with hundreds of supporters and need help in the relationship between the church and the missionary. Usually the full responsibility for the relationship is from an overworked missionary family that has to take all the responsibility for relationships with hundreds of supporters which makes them feel overworked all the more. The flip side of that is we have missionaries that are supported fully by their denominations but their denomination churches never see their missionaries and never interact with the missionary families as if missions is an appendage to the church and not focal. We have spoken in denominational churches to raise support and they have told us that we are the first missionaries they have ever heard from the entire existence of the church. I think that there has to be a sound foundation for relationship (on both sides) and the congregation will fall in love with the missionary family that they support and are willing to do what ever is necessary to see them succeed and are well supported. I have seen this in a few churches and it is absolutely beautiful. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to financially support Marco and their missionary family to Italy please contact International Gospel Outreach at (251) 645-2117.

Part Two is tomorrow....

Follow @PaulMuzichuk

Email Paul

 

iAsk: Lead Pastor Jennifer McAfee of Villages Community Church

Every Monday I will be posting new interviews with Christian leaders to find in-depth counsel on issues such as ministry, family, careers, politics, finance, and theology. Today's interview is with Assembly of God Lead Pastor of Villages Community Church in Fort Worth, Texas Jennifer McAcfee.
 

Lead Pastor-Jennifer McAfee

PAUL: First if you can give a small summary of who you are, what you do and what is your greatest passion in life?

JENNIFER: I am a wife to an incredible man of God who works as a Lead Software Quality Assurance Tester. We celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary a few weeks ago, and have an amazing 2 year old daughter. I am the lead pastor of a new church plant in Northeast Fort Worth, Villages Community Church. I also serve on the Northeast Fort Worth Section Committee as the Secretariat. I am passionate about seeing God in every moment, hearing God's direction, correction, and instruction, and courageously obeying Him at all costs. I love building the local church, encouraging ministers, and cultivating leadership.

PAUL: 1. Jennifer, share with me the lessons you have personally learned that may help emerging Christian women leaders from your story of you becoming a Lead Pastor in a local church? As you know, women in high ranking leadership roles both in the secular world and in the religious circles have been given little if any encouragement to pursue callings of leadership. 

JENNIFER: What comes to mind is stop worrying about what other people say and think. There will be a lot of people for you and a lot of people not for you. Those who are opposed will be the loudest in your ears, foremost in your thoughts, and heaviest on your heart. You have to operate on a level of self-control that many do not. Rather than allowing these discouragements to control you, you must control them with peaceful mind of Christ. Rather than fixating on opposition, surround yourself with a stellar support system of both women and men of God. I am learning that I will receive as much encouragement as I am willing to discover. 
  
 As a woman called to ministry, you will be hard pressed to find the same opportunities in mentoring, relationship, and visibility as men in ministry. I have learned that I can't wait for those opportunities to appear, rather I have to seek them out. I have grown a thick skin, enabling me to ask and see. You have to be able to stomach rejection and let it go rather than holding on to it and being bitter. Are you willing to engage a mentoring relationship that is less formal? Read books, ask to sit in on meetings a couple times a year, always have three questions prepared to ask, etc. There was a time I sat around waiting for opportunity and encouragement to come to me. It was lonely. It was depressing. It was a distraction from the mission of Christ to be working through me. When God called me to step out and plant a church, He also gave me key correction in how to engage leaders in my life, and my life has never been the same. God said, "Jennifer, I have called you to love, encourage, and support your leaders. Do that and let me do the rest." It was the absolute most liberating choice of obedience I have ever made. I saw God transform people's hearts, minds, and perspectives not by my persuasion, but by His transformation alone. 
  
Now I feel absolutely encouraged, loved, and supported. Why? Because I have chosen to surround myself with the leaders God has called me to encourage, love, and support. I do not seek formal mentoring from them, rather I choose to allow them to shape my life as I encourage, love, and support them. It is mentoring on my terms, in a manner that isn't about what I get from them, but in a manner led by how I can offer honor, service, and unconditional love.

PAUL: 2. What do you feel is the most significant barrier to female Christian leadership? and as a follow up...how did you personally overcome such obstacles?

JENNIFER: We need visible examples to follow. There is an incredible void of opportunity when it comes to women leaders being visible. The value of this visibility isn't equality, recognition, or prestige. High level visibility of women serving in lead pastoral roles is important so that other women can see that it is and can be done. Prior to God radically calling me to plant churches, being a lead pastor was never on my radar. 

 I grew up with my Dad sitting me on his knee and whispering in my ear, "You can do and be anything God tells you to do and be." Yet somewhere along the way I internalized a belief that there were certain things God only used men to do, and leadership was one of those things. Where did this belief come from? I was not raised to believe that. I received a call to ministry at a young age. I am the oldest of five children. I have always been a leader in every context I have ever been in since I was a child. Yet leading in ministry never crossed my mind. I assumed I would be a pastor's wife. When I graduated SAGU unmarried and absolutely single, I sought out positions in children's ministry and worship, because that is what a woman could do. 

Where did this mindset come from if it wasn't something taught to me outright? I firmly believe it is because I never saw it done before. I knew of women evangelists, worship leaders, missionaries, and kids pastors. My youth pastor was a woman. I never was exposed to a female senior pastor or in executive leadership. That vacuum exists still to this day. Those who are prominent features at conferences, retreats, councils, and serve in leadership by in large are men. We need more women being made visible in these contexts, not for the sake of equality, rather for the sake of showing the way.

The way I have overcome this obstacle is clinging to relationship with the female lead pastors that I do meet. I am now in a life-long covenant relationship with four other female lead pastors. We stay connect consistently, retreat together, and encourage one another in life and ministry. I also have chosen to be an example to other women. I intentionally share my experiences with transparency every opportunity that is feasible for my family and life. I may not have an easily visibly woman to model my ministry development after, but I will certainly live with an approachability and transparent vulnerability that will enable other women to have an example to learn from (successes and failures.)

PAUL: 3. Our culture today has been characterized as a sex-crazed, sexually motivated generation. Even top corporate brands like Axe and GoDaddy use what's called sex-marketing. From your perspective, how can Christian women raise their voices against such practices and avoid being caught in the swift current of always having to look "sexy" to please the culture while in many instances compromising their own walk in the fear of the Lord?

JENNIFER: The most powerful voice a woman has, especially in relation to society's sex drive, is to simply be counter-cultural. Wear clothes that are modest, yet trendy. There is not a need to sacrifice style for the sake of modesty. You can honor God and still look great! When you are among other people, shopping, watching television, etc voice when something is lacking modesty. Voicing your dislike is not a free-pass to be a mean girl. Voice your preference, not your arrogance. Carry yourself and respect yourself and others in such a way that causes others to take notice and WANT to be more honoring of themselves and others as well. I think we do harm when we voice our dislike in a spiritual manner. Modesty absolutely is a spiritual act of honoring God. But to the one who does not know God, it sounds restrictive. Instead, modesty is about self-respect. Modesty has the power to decrease discrimination, sexual abuse, lack of equality, sexualization of women, sexual harassment, pornography, adultery,  teen pregnancy, abortion, rape, molestation...the list can go on and on. If women AND men would choose self-respect by modesty then the attitude of society toward gender would heal in significant ways.
  I think it is important to note that men need to be equally as mindful about modesty as women. Men are sexualized constantly. Women lust too. Women struggle with pornography too...50 Shades of Grey has proven that (although romance novels have been around for ages). Too often the church has taken a stance on this sexual craze in society that says it is the woman's fault for mens struggle. I think it is time brothers and sisters in Christ start taking responsibility for their own choices, as well as taking responsibility for honoring and respecting one another. Another thought on this topic. We are living in a time where society's perspective of sex is in a dramatic shift. Homosexuality is no longer embraced by the majority of Americans as taboo, but acceptable. Modesty must be pursued by both men and women in all places and times, being mindful of both men and women. A woman choosing modesty is living in a way that guards their safety and respect, as well as guards the hearts and minds of other men and women. A man choosing modesty is living in a way that guards his safety and respect, as well as guards the hearts and minds of other men and women.

PAUL: 4. Jennifer, I have personally seen abused women who shared stories of physical beatings, rape, gang rape, emotional abuse from husbands, and even marital rape around the world and the effect healing has when the Holy Spirit unties and heals years of pain and torment. Women seldom talk about the abuse they went through especially if it has been or is being done in Christian homes. What counsel would you share with women struggling to share the pain in years past or even recent memories?

JENNIFER: Find a safe spiritual family who is trustworthy. Be transparent with the Pastoral couple of your church. Healing begins by confessing sins that have been done. This doesn't mean you have sinned, it means you are confessing the sins that have been done toward you. That darkness that has blanketed your heart and soul must be pulled back in the light of Jesus' mercy and grace. Only you can let that light in, and you need a safe supportive family to be by your side as you courageously allow the Holy Spirit in to those hidden hells. Let your Pastors care for you, and seek professional help as well. It takes a brave person to admit when they need help. Pastor's can spiritually lead you. A licensed counselor can psychologically help you heal. A safe spiritual family can support you through the ups and downs that are guaranteed as you confront your past so that God can bless you with a free and blessed future in Him.

PAUL: 5. Who have been key folks in your life that have greatly encouraged you in your ministry and even personally? How did that make you feel?

JENNIFER: First and foremost is my husband, Andy McAfee. He has been absolutely supportive in every way imaginable. He knows my weaknesses and still believes there is nothing that I am not able to do in Christ. He sees God's call on my life, he affirms God's anointing that rests on me, and he supports my obedience to God. I am so thankful that God blessed me with such a secure and strong man of God. My parents, Tom and Emily Alderman, and my in-laws, Richard and Jina McAfee, are constantly encouraging me in ministry and life. My lifelong sisters - Preacher Girls Rachel Ross, Kathy Cannon, Leila Ojela, and Korista Lewis. I am so thankful for such supportive District Leadership here in North Texas. Pastors Rick Dubose, Gaylan Claunch, David Henry, Nova Pittman, and Mike Harper have been such an incredible source of encouragement. The Northeast Fort Worth Section is full of men and women who have been an incredible source of blessing and support, and it is such an honor to serve alongside Presbyter Roger Lewis and fellow committee-persons Randy Sheridan, Jeff Strickland, David Freeman, and Ken Harris. Pastor Rod Loy, Pastor Scott Wilson, Pastor George O. Wood, Pastor Doug Clay, Pastor Ron Hawkins, Dr. Hardin, Dr. Hayes, Dr. Bartel, Dr. Hester, Steve Pike, John Jay Wilson, John Davidson, Jason and Renee Exley, John and Gwen Miller, Mary Beadles...I could write page upon page the names of all the people who have been such a powerful source of encouragement and blessing to me in ministry and life. I am truly blessed beyond measure, and definitely beyond what I deserve.

PAUL: 6. What have you noticed and see great hope for in the millennial generation?

JENNIFER: Courage to demand truth, justice, love, and transparency. By and large the millennial generation cares more about relationship and the family unit than the appearance of success. This generation will not just jump, they want to know exactly what they are jumping into, and when they do finally jump it is with absolute loyalty and commitment. Those are the makings of the greatest disciple-making generation this world has ever encountered!

Jennifer

PAUL: 7. As a mom, pastor, wife, and friend when and how do you find time to relax and collect your thoughts and hear from the Lord? Also, what helps you stay motivated to do what you do?

JENNIFER: First of all, I have to confess that I am TERRIBLE at relaxing. I am in a season of learning how to rest and discover what I enjoy outside of the work of the ministry. I absolutely LOVE the work of the ministry, and so I tend to just keep on keeping on. I am learning that this is not healthy. I need to have a place of relaxation, rest, and reprieve to quiet my heart and rejuvenate my soul. This fall I have made it my mission to make my home a sanctuary, a place of comfort and tranquility. As one who works from home, it has not been this. This week I rearranged the house in such a way that it carries a calm and intimate feeling. This has been a wonderful change for me. I now can sit in my home while my daughter naps, and by lamp light sit in my comfy chair and simply breath and rest in the presence of God. I keep the television off, no music, no computers, the phone on silent, and I just sit and mentally talk to God. I always make it a point to acknowledge God and that this is our time. Sometimes, after this acknowledgement, I just rest in his presence. I have NEVER been able to do this before! For the first time in my entire memory of life I can actually sit and not have a million thoughts flooding my brain. I believe that many people struggle with this. We live in a digital era where communication and productivity are available at a touch of a button. I believe we tend to live in sensory overload. We are so great at multitasking life that we miss out on living life with Christ. I am learning how to do that. This time is so precious to me, but it isn't my only time with God. In fact, I don't get to spend this kind of rest in Him every day. It usually occurs once ever three days or so. Every morning I wake up, and before I do anything else I spend time in the word - reading scripture, journaling what I observe God doing in that Scripture, journaling what I should apply to my life from that Scripture, and journaling my conversation with God in light of that Scripture. This week I am beginning to do this with 4 chapters a morning. I can't go a day without this time. It is my breakfast of champions!

I desperately need this time with God. Ministry is so hard. Often I feel all eyes on me. There are times where I sense that people are watching and wondering if this can really work, a woman leading a church. I feel this pressure to be an example to other women. I feel like at any moment I could drop it all and leave a legacy of failure. Now, I know that some of those feelings are straight up a lie from the enemy. Some of those feelings are true and real, but not for me to spend time and energy fixating on. Some of those feelings don't matter at all. It is easy to start drowning in all the emotions and awareness of it all. There are days where I am doing all I can to just keep my head above water. There are days that I just want to quit, not because things are so bad but because I don't know why God chose me. Sometimes in the midst of it all I imagine what it would be like to live a normal life that blends in. "I can go to a church, be a godly wife, be a godly mom, teach a Sunday School Class." That would be a life changing existence that leaves a powerful legacy and blends in with perfect acceptability. My mom and mother-in-law taught me well by living this powerful world-changing example for me out loud. The problem with me following in their footsteps is that is not the future God built me to live. God shaped me to lead. God shaped me to forge into the dangerous wilderness to make it a smoother journey for those who are coming behind me. God created me for a challenging and adventurous life and ministry. The problem with the "normal" life is that it is not normal for me. God created me for difficulty. If life and ministry wasn't and adverse reality, I would be terribly bored and out of my element. Some boats are made for rowing, some for tugging, some for carrying, some for cruising, some for speeding, and some for weathering the storms. I am a stormy ship. Recently God has been incredibly mindful in encouraging me in my call, through MANY unrelated sources. The message has been the same...my life is a pearl of great price, clarifying a crown for eternity rather than present, and measured by a success that humanity cannot understand but only the Holy Spirit reveals. 

What motivates me to do what I do is knowing that what I do - this life I lead - is what I was built, shaped, created, and purposefully engineered to do and be. If I did anything else I would be lost because it isn't the life I was called, ordained, anointed, and appointed to live. The ease of being something else would be the weight of losing who I am created to be. This statement by Paul in Philippians 1:20-21 best states what motivates me to keep obeying the call of Christ,

" ²⁰ I expect and hope that I will not ·fail Christ in [^Lbe ashamed about] anything but that I will have the ·courage [boldness] now, as always, ·to show the greatness of Christ [or so that Christ will be exalted] in my ·life here on earth [^Lbody], whether I live or die. ²¹ [^LFor] To me ·the only important thing about living [^Lto live] is Christ, and ·dying would be profit for me [^Lto die is gain/profit]."

Follow @PaulMuzichuk

Consequences In Dealing With Sexual Sin Publicly

The Bible is the infallible Word from God and it is written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Every word, every phrase, every command, and every promise is God's pure truth for our lives. One verse that keeps slipping the minds of many men is found in Numbers 32:23, "But if ye will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out." In our age of hyper-grace and distant personal accountability we have discovered the true meaning of this verse with the epidemic tsunami of moral failures one after another from mega-church preachers to local 50 member congregations not only here in America but around the world. As a warning and guard to recheck your personal lives here are 6 consequences of dealing with sexual sin publicly.

1.) Major Depressive Disorder Occurs. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. If God has called you to minister in a public way, either its in front of a Bible study group or in front of a large conference as a speaker, take heed to knowing that any form of joy will be eradicated from your life if sexual sin is exposed publicly by not dealing with it privately. 

2.) Ruptured Relationships Privately & Publicly. When a life lived and portrayed is exposed to be false as in sexual sin then family, friends, peers, co-laborers, and public acquaintances flee from the vile smell of sin's result which is death. No one wants to be in a relationship with a hypocrite. Search your hearts to ask the Lord to remove any roots of hidden sins. 

3.) We Become Arsonists to our Credibility. I know many have heard about fires being started by criminals called arsonists. They set buildings, stores, cars, and houses on fire for the sole purpose of bringing destruction to the owner or those living in it. Not dealing with sexual sin before the Lord will result in your own hands setting spiritual, emotional, physical, and psychological "fire" to everything you had built to that time. Be accountable to mentors in your life. 

4.) Lifetime of Regret. We can be restored, forgiven, and given new chances to rebuilt our reputation and relationships but the lingering thought of the damage done is difficult to erase from a heart. Many times marriages result in divorce, ordination revoked, ministry taken away, and even financial payments needed to be made for restitution. The Lord wants our hearts and he must be the King of our lives. Save yourself future pain and live clean before the Lord. 

5.) We Flame Persecution on Christians. Yes, that's right. Christians have enough persecution to deal with in the world and dealing with sexual sin publicly flames the burden of even more persecution on Christians. How many pastors, youth leaders, counselors, lay leaders, Sunday school teachers have given the body of Christ extra weight to carry? Every time a moral failure occurs every Christian must continue to take time away from building the kingdom to defending the faith because the mockery of "Christian Leaders" has been blasted on every media channel that exists today. Just STOP it! Your private pleasure is not worth millions of faithful believers to take time to stop building the kingdom. 

6.) Children, Teens, Young Adults Subconsciously Model Your Behavior. It's one thing to say I didn't mean to hurt someone or I never wanted this to happen but it's another to realize that a generation of young people will subconsciously think it is okay to do the same. If we are fighting for purity, abstinence, and sex for marriage then you will not only destroy your own life but the lives of thousands of others. Deep down someone thinks that pastor or that leader got caught but I will not get caught. Enough is enough. Zip your pants up for the sake of future generations. Inspire the next generation to live holy because it starts with you.

Here are links to recent examples of the consequences of dealing with sexual sin publicly: 

 Orlando, FL: Pastor Sam Hinn steps down as Senior Pastor from Gathering Place Worship Center

Virginia Beach, VA: Youth Pastor sentenced for sex abuse 

Chicago, IL: Ex-mega church pastor gets 12 years in sex scandal 

Louisville, Kentucky: Pastor Accused Of Covering Up “Biggest Evangelical Sex Scandal Of All Time”

3 Calls To Action:

1.) Stay Accountable. Find mentors to talk about struggles and don't hide from your weaknesses. 

2.) Intentionally Ask for Resources. Too often we have big heads and small hearts. We think we know everything there is to know about all subjects especially about the ones we struggle with. Be intentional in seeking resources and the Lord will order your steps. 

3.) Be Mature in Friendships. Its easy to find friends who adore you and want to hear the next greatest thing from you. Find friends who will be a Barnabas in your life. He will encourage but also reprove when needed. Be balanced in picking friendships. You want to grow not sink. 

Twitter: @PaulMuzichuk