I’ve uploaded photos of our first day of training. Click here…
Archives for October 2007
Multiplying MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok
Remember MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok? (Also, click here and here and here.) We had 100 people from 25 or so countries around the world. Three participants were from India.
One of the participants from India was Robin. Robin is attending our GCX training in Bangalore this week. I asked him what he had found most useful from the many things he learned at MinistryNet Bangkok. He told me that he returned to India and organized a mini-MinistryNet that 25 staff from here in India attended. That’s multiplication in action!
Paul and Lifesong from India
I’m sitting in India for the first time in my life. Home to 1 billion people. We are on the outskirts of Bangalore in a small, local hotel. Looking out my window, India looks like Nigeria. Building construction is very similar. Walls around property. People walking everywhere. Cars and buses on the roads. It smells the same – kind of smoky from burning trash and auto fumes. It sounds the same – cars honking as they drive, kind of like saying “I’m here. Don’t
move over into my space.”
The sun comes up very early. I woke up at 5:18 to a bright sky and thought it was 8 am. Of course, it is 8 am in Bangkok where I woke up yesterday morning! India is 2 ½ hours different in time zones. It’s one of those countries that does a half-hour adjustment so the entire country can be on the same time zone.
I’m sitting here in the cool of the morning reading Paul’s loving letter to the Philippians and listening to Casting Crowns sing Lifesong. What a powerful combination!
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [1:19-20]
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. [1:21-23]</font
Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. … For it has been granted to you on behalf o Christ no only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him … [1:27-29]
Lord I give my life
a living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet.
So May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you.
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. [3:10-11]
Let my lifesong sing to you.
Let my lifesong sing to you.
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to you.
Amen! So be it!
The brotherhood of the traveling shirt
I’m participating in an interesting twist on what “global” means. I traveled from the U.S. (Florida) to Bangkok, Thailand. A friend named Erik travels from Singapore to Bangkok. We ride together in a cab to a local tailor named Pinky. We both order shirts. Erik leaves to return to Singapore. Erik’s shirt is delivered to my hotel in Bangkok. I carry Erik’s shirt to Bangalore, India where I meet another friend from Singapore, Ric. I pass Erik’s shirt to Ric who carries it back to Erik in Singapore. Did you follow that transaction? 🙂
Wow, that’s a global shirt purchase! I guess we’re the Brotherhood of the Traveling Shirt.
Actually, the shirt is a silly example.
One of the amazing things about being part of a global mission organization is getting to know co-workers around the world. Kay and I met Tip on this trip. Tip has served over 10 years on the Thai staff of our ministry. She has ministered on campuses in the northeast of Thailand. She has served in the northwest of Thailand. She is now part of the Human Resources team in the national office in Bangkok.
Although Tip is Thai and we are Americans, we share a common “culture” of helping build movements everywhere. We share a common culture of bringing glory to God by introducing people to Jesus Christ. We know what it’s like to minister on campuses. We understand and teach the basics of knowing Jesus and growing as his followers. Although we have little in common from a world perspective, we have much in common from a Kingdom perspective.
Last night in the car, a friend Mark was explaining to Tip that a common Thai friend had accepted Jesus. Tip broke out in spontaneous song:
Praise the name of Jesus.
Praise the name of Jesus.
He’s my Rock. He’s my fortress,
He’s my Deliverer
In Him will I trust.
Praise the name of Jesus.
Global is great. The Kingdom of God is even greater. Laboring with friends like Tip and Erik and Ric and Mark is a tremendous blessing as we help everyone know someone who truly follows Jesus.
Photos from Thailand
I’ve uploaded several photos to our Flickr account. Enjoy Thailand through our eyes. They are not your typical tourist photos, but missionary service photos of the people we are working with. I’ve blurred the faces of some who are in sensitive locations. Enjoy!