SPASENIE BAND IN JACKSONVILLE

September 30 Proclaim hosted Spasenie (Salvation), a Christian band from Belarus that shares with us a conviction of the call to proclaim the gospel with creativity, humility and boldness.

For over 20 years these men have been pursuing music full-time in Belarus and across Europe. Their musical style has adapted to stay contemporary and relevant but the message remains constant.  In many places where Spasenie ministers there are restrictions on how and where the gospel can be preached. But their name recognition draws people to their concerts where personal testimonies and song lyrics point listeners to the Lord.  Audience members are then invited to visit churches and Bible studies. Through their ministry in their hometown of Brest, Belarus, a city of about 300,000 near the Polish border, hundreds have come to faith. A church planted in 1996 now has 700 members.  And in many other places believers have been encouraged and churches have been planted through their ministry. 

On this visit they shared the amazing opportunities they are having as they are increasingly being invited into schools. In fact, they began receiving too many invitations to personally fulfill, so they are sending other bands from their church to be involved. 

For some time Proclaim has been anticipating responding to the invitation of Spasenie to join them in an evangelism effort in Belarus. This is now scheduled to become a reality in February 2011. During their two days in Jacksonville we had a profitable time sharing together our common goals  for working together and coordinating plans. At the concert people caught the vision of how strategic this ministry is that we will be involved in.  On the tour our horn section will play with Spasenie, so on parts of this concert Jim joined them playing sax or percussion.

Please pray for Proclaim and Spasenie as we continue to plan for this ministry together in Belarus and Ukraine.  

HEADED FOR ALBANIA

Our family doesn't have anyone in school, but we still find our schedule ramping up as the school year gets underway. At the end of August we were both involved in Proclaim's International Council in Jacksonville. Then Jim has 2 men's groups that have started up again this week and he has been regularly scheduled for worship team in Sunday services.


Now a big focus for us is preparing for the Albania tour with Mercy Street band October 11-27. Most of the Proclaim-Jacksonville team will be part of that outreach as musicians or on service or tech teams. Jim is in the band, on tenor sax and clarinet. Kathie will help with administrative support and on the video team.

This will be Proclaim’s 4^th tour in Albania in recent years.  Mercy Street band toured in October 2006 and again in July, 2007.  Then Jim led the classical ensemble Virtuoso in the fall of 2007 concentrating in the city of Fier.  Proclaim has developed a strong and positive reputation among the churches and believers in the country.  They know that we want to serve them well and help them reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our tour in the capital city of Tirana includes 2 concerts with local churches.  Then 8 events are planned in partnership with New Life Institute (Campus Crusade) with a strategy of generating a national, long-term evangelism movement in the universities of Albania as the new academic year is gearing up. In past student concerts we have experienced significant numbers of students coming to faith in Christ.  Also, hundreds of response cards have been filled out by students, serving as the core group for follow up by NLI workers in the weeks and even months following a Mercy Street concert. In preparation Campus Crusade is publishing a magazine to distribute to all the students at their five campuses.  The concerts are the centerpiece of the magazine featuring five articles that were written by members of Mercy Street specifically for this publication.

A few days ago we put out an urgent prayer need for a sound tech for this tour -- now God has answered and that strategic position is filled!  

Please pray for all the details of preparation.  We also have a need of $3600 in special donations for airfare and tour funds for both of us. Because our regular support has not yet reached a level that covers ministry expenses, we are trusting God for additional provision for this tour. If you would like to have a part in helping with the funds for this ministry opportunity, you can respond through the donation link on this blog, or directly to Proclaim:

PO Box 56888

Jacksonville FL 32241

   

PROCLAIM TEAM IN UKRAINE -- END-OF-TOUR CHALLENGES

July 17: Our team with THE OUTLANDERS band was delayed most of Friday night at the border from Poland to Ukraine with issues regarding the equipment paperwork.  Bob McIntyre gave us a complete account of the border episode. Please pray for challenging weekend ahead:

It involved more than translating the carnet. The result was a whole new extensive document approved at higher levels and signed by us. The process required the full attention of 2 officials working their whole shift.


Besides the paperwork, they directed us to unload/unpack all vans and photograph each piece.  After opening the door of the larger van packed to the full - we only unloaded 5 pieces in the parking lot and the officials pronounced it "Enough!"


Through all this some of our team took turns waiting in the hallway of the office crowded with truckers while the others waited in hot vans wedged between large semis.  At 2:00 am the guy we most connected with showed mercy.  He said one passenger van could go on to L'Viv and the other two would stay in the process.  It was tempting!


We considered releasing one van, but in the end decided we all stay together.  It proved the right decision.  At the end of the 7-hour process  our final Ukrainian carnet was presented for the signature of Peter (B-house) who had signed the original carnet in Germany.  B-house had only decided at the last minute to join this tour, and he would have been in the van that was released 2 hours earlier had we decided to separate.


We had three very heroic but tired van drivers through the last lonely leg of the trip as most passengers crashed into silence and sleep from the stress and long wait.


A little after 4 am, as we approached L'viv, a large black SUV overtook us and waved us to the side of the road.  It was not the mafia, but rather Pastor Valerie who had been alerted of our arrival. His assistant had insisted that we text-message him upon our release from the border. The pastor personally led us to the hotel.


Back to reality - we begin set-up in the center of L'Viv at 2:30 this afternoon for a 7:30 concert tonight followed by two services on Sunday and an evening concert at church planting site 70 kilometers away.  Please continue to pray - this is not over yet!  Now the work and ministry begins for two intensive days.
AND - we must recross the border to Poland on Monday in order to make our flight connections in Krakow on Tuesday. A matter for continued PRAYER!


Russ Speiser's follow up
Recrossing of the border at the end of tour
Coming back through the Ukraine border God smiled upon us and we found that the same young official who had spent his whole shift doing the paperwork for us was again on duty.  Of course he remembered us, and we gave him a CD and some publicity for the concert, and he in turn not only waved us through after immediately signing our carnet, but radioed ahead to the other border guards which resulted in us getting VIP treatment right into Poland and on the road home.

SPARE ROD SPOILS CAR

On each of our last two big road trips in our well used old vehicle we have been detained for a major car repair before ever making it to our first destination. In an effort to avoid that headache and wear and tear on our own fragile car, we decided to rent a car for our trip to Indiana. We set out yesterday and it was smooth sailing through Florida and Georgia.

Then north of Atlanta Jim came up behind a pick up truck pulling a trailer in the passing lane. Noticing that the open trailer loaded with tools and equipment was swaying a bit from side to side he mentioned that it was going dangerously fast and moved to the next lane. Just at that moment an object flew off the trailer directly into our path. We braced ourselves as it loudly hit the front underside of our car. The car kept going and we didn't sense any damage, but headed for the next exit just to check and be sure everything was ok. When we were able to inspect the car we discovered a 2 foot long solid lead spike sticking straight out of our bumper. 

Fortunately there was no damage to the engine, so Jim pulled it out and we called our insurance agent to report it and get advice on how to procede. The claim is subject to our deductible and any additional charges by the rental company that aren't covered by our normal policy. We were able to get the license number from the truck but found out later that doesn't actually do any good unless the police are involved.


Our initial response as we were going through this process was a temptation to be impatient with yet another inconvenience and delay and expense, in spite of our attempt to take wise precautions. But as we continued back on our journey it occured to us how much worse this could have been. For example, a higher hit going through the windshield -- thank you God for your protection and reminding us that everything is in your hands. It also renews our thankfulness for the prayers for protection that are being made on our behalf. Thank you prayer warriors!


We continued on to Chattanooga and had a wonderful meal and evening with long time friends Wayne and Jewel Smith and Carole Adams who happens to live right around the corner. Now on to Indiana . . .

TRANSITIONS

Moving around is nothing new in Proclaim -- our ministry is based on coming and going as most of us travel regularly to other countries. But this seems to be a time of several changes in longer term location as well. Our US office in Jacksonville is feeling the effects of these changes.                                                  

Todd and Terri Smalley who have been back in Jacksonville for over a year are able to return to Germany the end of June to give leadership to our team in Kandern. We will miss them and Todd's computer expertise which has benefited all of us immensely.                                                                  

And Marty and Debbie Shilling, who have carried a lot of the responsibility in the office the last couple years, are following God's leading to return to Black Forest Academy in Germany to serve there as dorm parents.  So, these positive moves present a challenge.                                                  

Now we are in the process of redistributing office responsibilities to cover the needs. Jim is one of those who will be taking on some of the areas as he balances coming in to the office 2 or 3 times a week with continuing support raising activities, music, tour preparation and local discipleship/teaching.  Please pray for all of us as we adjust to new roles and processes. It's always exciting to see how God supplies the resources to meet the needs.                                                                                                

One of the positive changes that is giving momentum to many of our transitions is the movement of the US dollar to a stronger position. The recent and relatively sudden increase in the value of the dollar results in a substantial net decrease in the monthly support need of our Europe based missionaries, allowing them to raise their support more quickly or keep their ongoing support strong.  Those of us based in the US are positively affected too as our dollars go farther on the evangelism tours in which we participate and the administrative aspect of the overseas ministries that the US office helps fund.
   

We continue to have new monthly and special donors and are progressing toward our support goals. In spite of still being well short of our monthly support need, our deficit as of the end of last month is only $4750 -- less than half what it was at the highest point just a few months ago. Thank you to those who have joined our support team and to you who have given faithfully for many years.
             

We are looking forward to a quick trip to Indiana June 30-July 8 for a family event. One of the benefits of our US base is that it is possible to be with family for some of those significant times and at the same time see friends there and along the way.
                                                              

Jami will not be able to come this time as she has just recently been promoted to a full time position in seafood at her store -- an answer to prayer during the 2 years that she has been faithfully working the part time positions that were available. She and we are very thankful for God's provision. 

Thank you for your prayers during this busy summer of transitions. 

PROCLAIM! MISSIONARY GATHERING

After our evangelism training and Gala, the celebration continued with a third event -- the Gathering of our Proclaim missionaries in St. Augustine. This annual event is usually held in Europe, but we planned it in the states this time as part of our tenth anniversary.

Adonai band led worship in our morning and evening sessions joined by other Proclaim musicians. It was such an uplifting time as mornings were focused on worship, challenge from the word and discussion together.
In the afternoons we faced the dilemma of deciding which of the many sights and activities to enjoy in historic and picturesque St. Augustine. Even though we live in the area, we never tire of exploring and relaxing there -- especially fun with friends who are experiencing it for the first time.                   

During our evenings together, after more music, we were led in reflecting on highlights of the past 10 years as God has blessed and grown the ministry and given us opportunities beyond our wildest expectations.                                                          

We were energized to get on with what lies ahead as together we relived war stories and victories and were reminded of God's faithfulness.                                            
One item of business that is part of our Gathering is to appoint International Council members when there is a need.  Members are affirmed by the community to serve a 3-year term, and a couple of our members had recently completed their terms.  At this Gathering Jim was affirmed as a new member so we will now both be serving on the Council which meets twice a year to set policy and look at issues that affect the mission globally. Our next meetings will be the first few days of September.                                                                

Before the hills in order stood

Or earth received her frame

From everlasting thou art God
To endless years the same

 O, God, our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Be thou our guide while life shall last

And our eternal home

Proclaim!'s Annual Gala - Celebrating 10 years

Welcome Adonai

We didn't know until the last minute if our Croatian band Adonai would make it to play for the Gala. They were scheduled to fly on April 22 from Budapest, while early in the week airports all over Europe were closing because of the volcanic ash cloud. But the same God who parted the Red Sea cleared the skies just in time! 



Some of these band members were little kids (or not even born yet) when we started going to Croatia in the early 90s. It was a long-time dream to have this  band doing ministry with us over here after many ministry tours together in Croatia and other countries of Europe. They played for the Gala and then led worship the following week at the Gathering of Proclaim missionaries.

God was faithful to exceed our expectations for the Gala fund raising dinner.  Three weeks before the event we were concerned with the low number of responses for the evening. But after a couple weeks of making phone calls, getting the word out online, and having a sign up table at our church (with musicians performing on site), we had reservations to fill all the seats for which we had contracted.

Normally we have many people who don't make it, and a few unexpected guests fill some of those places.  This year, for the first time, we actually had more people than we had planned for!  What a fantastic problem -- we managed to find places for everyone. We were really pleased with how the evening went, with a delicious meal, great music and a sample of our Proclaim Peru mime outreach ministry.

The focal point of the evening was a riveting and timely message by Stuart McAllister of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, challenging churches and believers to "make the main thing the main thing" in communicating the gospel, truly listening and responding to individuals at their point of need. Stuart's participation was especially meaningful since he was the speaker at our first Proclaim Gathering in 2002.

  
Many of our Proclaim staff invested a huge effort in the Gala and surrounding events. We were heavily involved in planning and onsite logistics -- Jim in helping coordinate stage, sound and lighting  and oversee ground transportation for all the events / Kathie working with flights, hotel facilities, Gala registration, etc. What a beautiful team effort as so many Proclaim members and volunteers sacrificed to bring everything together. Through all the preparations and throughout the event we were acutely aware of our total dependence on God.  He did indeed show himself strong in our weakness, overcoming our mistakes and things that didn't go according to plan.
  
All the efforts were rewarded as guests not only expressed appreciation for what they had seen and learned, but responded generously to the opportunity to support the ministry financially and be involved in other ways.  We really had a sense that God was glorified, which is the point of everything. Thanks for praying.