Go-Vember: Foreign Missions
I remember when a missionary couple from Kenya came to visit our house. God was using them to reach families and restore marriages in the capital city (Nairobi). It was riveting to hear their stories and see the photos of the people and places where they ministered. Years later we had a chance to visit them in their home in Kenya. Connecting with families who serve in foreign missions has an amazing way of opening one’s eyes to the need to take the Gospel around the world. It also helps give perspective on one’s own life. It’s so easy to slip into a pattern of taking our many conveniences for granted. Seeing how the rest of the world lives helps to increase gratitude for where God has allowed us to live.
We’re calling November “Go-Vember” and featuring the missions efforts at Valley View. So far we’ve covered local missions and our partnership with the International Mission Board. This week we focus on Valley View’s foreign missions partners: Dave Walker and Dick Clark. Dave has partnered with pastors and helped to plant churches throughout Africa and India. Dick Clark partners with various organizations to distribute eye glasses in Africa, and works with orphanages and other medical centers.
Valley View has a long history of sending missionaries across the country and the world. Julie and I were sent from Valley View, along with others my age, like Derrick Snyder and Michael Meredith. As a college student I loved it when Mickey Sampson came to share about his work in Cambodia. My prayer is that in the coming years God would give us a vision for key mission partners for the coming decades. Who knows which ones of us God might call to the mission field from our church?
Remember, there are no Wednesday night activities this week. When your family gathers for your Thanksgiving meal, consider giving thanks for the work God is doing to reach the world through Valley View. Also pray and ask God to give us wisdom and favor in the coming year so that we might see our mission efforts greatly multiplied! And maybe read aloud from the book of John to prepare for this weeks message concluding the story of the woman at the well in John 4:27-42.
Thank You Lord for what You are doing at Valley View. Thank You for the generosity of so many with the Fellowship Hall project and with Project Appalachia. Thank You for those who came to the men’s breakfast this week, for the women signing up for the women’s brunch, and for the sages of the church that came to the Pacesetters gathering.
It was one year ago this week that I was voted in as the new pastor of Valley View and it’s been an amazing year for our family. I can’t thank you enough, church family, for all your love, prayers, and support!