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Archives for January 2007

Small things

January 28, 2007 by Keith Seabourn 2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about small things lately. Little things like responding in a timely manner to those who ask me to do something. Answering emails promptly. Returning phone calls.

Last Thursday, I returned from a very good few days in Veenendaal, Netherlands. We went there to do big things. We went there to help the growing internet ministry to develop more fully.

And we did have very successful times.

As we flew back, I read the following
“Great services reveal our possibilities, but small services reveal our consecration.” (George H. Morrison)

We flew to the Netherlands to help plan and train for internet ministry in Europe.

We had some great opportunities to serve. I was able to volunteer our WebEx internet web meeting solution to allow someone from Canada and someone from Spain to participate in part of the conference.

It met a specific need for this meeting, and it revealed the possibilities of a distributed web meeting.

Now, the directors in Europe have decided to join the consortium of Campus Crusade ministries that share the cost of WebEx and share the benefits.

We had an opportunity to serve big and it revealed the possibilities.

We also had many opportunities to serve “small.”

One staff member asked Rob and me how we personalize our email that we send to our donors. He’s on our lists. Rob explained that we use Lyris, later I was able to set up a list for him to begin adding his donors.

We helped Stéphane from Switzerland a create a Global ConneXion community. He has begun what may be our first French community for his donors.

After the meetings ended Wednesday night, Roger (internet ministry director for Europe) asked Rob for some help with Outlook Express. As Rob helped him, they decided to create a GCX community for the Jesus Internet Ministry Agape Europe (the internet ministry in Europe).

“Great services reveal our possibilities, but small services reveal our consecration.”

This morning, I read that

we ought not be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. (The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence)

I also read

all things are possible to him who believes; they are less difficult to him who hopes; they are more easy to him who loves and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.

Go beyond expectations and help in little ways. It’s an act of consecration. It’s a demonstration of faith, hope, and love.

Small services reveal our consecration. It’s not the greatness of the service, but the love with which it is performed.

“He who is faithful in little things is faithful in great things.”

Filed Under: Thoughts

Colorful results of our training

January 23, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

MCX Training

Karin created a colorful map of our recent training in Kenya. These are the countries with staff who now have been trained and equipped with the Mobile ConneXion toolkit.

Pamoja Africa participants:

  • 36 countries
  • 2441 people
  • 1430 Students
  • 532 Professionals
  • 388 staff
  • 41 volunteers

Rob & Patricia have a complete listing of countries and participants.

I’m looking for great improvements in communication and collaboration to come out of this training.

Filed Under: Ministry

Visiting Utrecht

January 21, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Rob and I made it to Amsterdam this morning, then took a train for the 30 minute ride to Utrecht. We’re trying to stay awake until 7 pm or so. It’s HARD! We’ve walked around Utrecht.

Domkerk churchWe visited a cathedral that has become a protestant church, called Domkerk. We got there just as the service was ending. They have a massive pipe organ and someone was playing enthusiastically. A few people were still sitting in the pews but most were having coffee and fellowship. It was fun to see.

This church as an interesting past. It was designed in the 1200’s and 1500’s in the shape of a cross. In the 1600’s, a massive hurricane destroyed they main section, the long stem of the cross. So that all that is left today is a huge tower which was the church entryway, and was originally at the bottom of the cross. Also remaining today is the upper “cross” section. This is still a massive structure and is still a functioning protestant church. Look at photos of the three sections.

You can see all the photos from this trip also. I especially thought the Eten en Drinken restaurant and the Potten and Pannen store were interesting.

Then we had lunch at Broers restaurant. I had soup and a salad. Wanted to keep it simple until tomorrow.

We’re on our own today. Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet with Roger Vann, staff member who has lived in Europe for 25 years. He’s the organizer of the training. We’ll meet to finalize plans for the training. In the afternoon, we move to the training site, about a half hour’s drive away. Then we train on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, we fly back to Orlando.

Filed Under: Travel

Off to Amsterdam

January 20, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Today I leave for Amsterdam. Kay and I just returned from Africa, but I have an opportunity to help train staff in Europe in internet ministry. This is an exciting opportunity. These staff have some very innovative plans that will greatly increase fruitfulness in internet ministry. It’s fun to be around them and dream with them.

Please pray for our time:

  • Pray that God will bless with tremendous fruitfulness in ministry.
  • Pray that thousands will share eternity with us, experiencing God’s love and grace as a result of the training and ministry plans.

Filed Under: Prayer Requests

January Newsletter: Pamoja Africa Report

January 20, 2007 by Keith Seabourn 11 Comments

It was our first time back to sub-Saharan Africa since we returned to the U.S. in 1992. It was a chance to renew old friendships. It was a chance to meet a new generation of leaders who have come after us. It was a chance to reconnect with the people and cultures of Africa. It was awesome.

In 1977, Kay and I were privileged to be a part of the first-ever continent-wide meeting in Swaziland. In 2007, Kay and I were privileged to be a part of the second continent-wide meeting in Kenya. What a fantastic blessing. What a privilege to observe first-hand the growth and development that has happened over these 30 years.
We were part of a team of 40 people helping serve the largest gathering of Africans ever assembled by Campus Crusade for Christ. In addition, we led a smaller team to help train 300 African campus staff in using our Mobile ConneXion toolkit.

Austin Okomohwo was just beginning as a staff member of Campus Crusade in Nigeria 16 years ago when we left Nigeria. He now gives leadership to the campus ministry strategy for the entire continent. At Pamoja, he was the overall Conference Director. 16 years ago, he asked me, “How long have you been on the staff?” When I told him 14 years (at that time in 1992), he said, “Wow. That’s a long time. What have you done for all those years?”

This time it was my turn. I asked Austin, “How long have you been on the staff?” When he answered 16 years, I asked him with a smile, “Wow. That’s a long time. What have you done for all those years?” Austin and I laugh at how both of our plans have been extended by God as he continues to call each of us into fulltime service. Both are captivated by the vision of everyone knowing someone who truly follows Jesus.

Pamoja Africa was dedicated to building a new generation of leaders equally captivated by God’s call to build a new Africa, an Africa that moves from desperately needy to fully participating in God’s plan to redeem the nations.

MOBILE CONNEXION TOOLKIT

“I’ve been looking for a good way to improve communication around our area. The Mobile ConneXion toolkit looks like just what we need.” Kennedy is the campus ministry coordinator for the 17 countries in French-speaking Africa.

Our team trained 300 staff and distributed 300 toolkits.

Our purpose at Pamoja was not to teach computer skills, but to enable staff to communicate effectively with each other. So many staff are isolated in their assignments and unable to benefit from sharing ideas, vision, and strategies. Our mobile connexion project addresses this need.

The toolkit is engineered to enhance communication across Africa. For those without computers who depend on internet cafés, the toolkit allows them to move from their homes to their offices to the internet café and work on their email, send and receive documents or presentations, keep their bookmarked locations, and connect to our Global ConneXion communities to share ideas with others.

But the part of our mobile office toolset that caused the eyes of the African staff to light up is the Skype software and small set of portable headphones. They are now able to talk with one another from computer to computer for no cost. They are so excited.
The overwhelming experience for us here, on the field, watching faces, hearing excited voices, tells me that our current tools are powerful, useful, and helpful. When we show the list of 300 communities that have already sprung up, African staff are excited that they can join other staff from around the world in communities of interest. Some women were signing up today for the ComputingWomen community for women wanting to learn basic computing. It is truly becoming a Global ConneXion for the staff here in Africa.

Our mobile office toolset and Global ConneXion communities are helping build a new generation of leaders for a new Africa. We are taking steps toward our vision of building local movements every so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.
Note: For more information on the Mobile Office Project, visit our website.

Read our PDF version of this newsletter.

Filed Under: Prayer Letters

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