I'll bet you didn't know...

I'll bet you didn't know; over 90% of all missionaries in the field are in areas that are deemed "already reached" or established.

I'll be you didn't know: the second largest unreached people group is Japan. (biggest obstacle = having plenty)

I'll bet you didn't know: China will be tithing a minimum of 10% of it's underground church to missions because they have no funds to give. The government would seize it and they'd be jailed. Those candidates who are eligible for service have to have served time in prison. They have a waiting list.

I'll bet you didn't know; There are over 50 restricted nations where Christian missionaries are not welcome. A great number of those are hostile.

I'll be you didn't know; The cost for building a church, training a pastor, and properly teaching the body about evangelism in Kenya would be at most $15,000. There are churches who spend more than that on new signs here.

I'll bet you didn't know; For a Muslim to renounce his/her religion and accept Christ as Savior means they have become an infidel and are to be alienated by the rest of their family, excluded from being mentioned in conversations, and destroyed along with all other infidels. (Praise God for the 24 lives in Guinea Bissau who probably new this when they made their decision)

I'll bet you didn't know; That to "serve Christ" is not merely for people like pastors, youth ministers, deacons, Sunday School teachers, missionaries, or other "professional christian service persons". You cannot state that you love Christ and then never DO anything (Lk. 4:8, 1 Pet. 4:10, Heb. 11:6)

I'll bet you didn't know; If you are growing deeper in your love for Christ and desire to serve Him, you will begin to get strange looks and responses from others. You will even get them from those in "church" who don't understand.

I'll bet you didn't know; There are Kenyans praying for you right now. That I can promise you.

I'll bet you didn't know; There is nothing hindering you from making a difference for the Kingdom today, but you.

Father,

Make us feel so uncomfortable when we see a need that we must act. Your Word does not say, though we wish it did; 'Faith without words is dead.' It says, 'Faith without works is dead.' (Heb.11:6) Compel us to act today. Someone might be forever changed because of a decision we make today.

You are worthy, therefore we live to give you all of ourselves.

Amen

How about you?

What did you do today to make a difference for the Kingdom?

This question was asked at the close of the service this past Sunday at our home church. It originated in the wife of our pastor as she was leading a small group of senior high students during a Sunday evening fellowship at their house. It should be a question we all ask.

Therefore, I would like to ask you to answer this. Each of you who take the time to visit our frail blog read the various articles, videos, and other ramblings; but would you take the time and share some of the ways you, your family, your church made a difference... today? Consider this an opportunity to encourage the body of Christ. Consider this one of those moments where you can build the bride of Christ up to look so beautiful in the eyes of those around you.

Here's how I invite you to do this:

Send me an email with the subject line "a difference" and then write your story of giving God glory through action. If you have something brief, then comment on this blog with your experience. Next week I will share those here with you all as a follow-up (for those of you willing to allow me to post your stories). email: onlyservantsministries@gmail.com

If you realize that maybe you've not done anything particularly God-honoring then I invite you: Give God the opportunity to use the deposit He has planted in you to make Himself look glorious to this world RIGHT NOW. Get off the computer. Go. Be Jesus to someone, somewhere, somehow.

A Single Seed

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. - John 12:23-26

Meshcack translating for Rich while teaching youth in Kericho, Kenya.

On January 28, 2010 a brother in Christ, fellow co-worker in the ministry, and close friend passed away while serving in Kenya. Richard Key was a single seed which feel into the ground, and died. However, there is a story between the branch and the ground. It may seem brief in our eyes, but is by no means in vain. There is immense worth in such a voluntary choice as this.

Richard Wayne Key chose to devote his life to something besides a life in America where comfort and plenty would be closer than arms reach. So just a little over a year earlier, Rich said, "Here am I Lord. Send me." And that's just what the Lord did. He sent him to Kenya.

Few people could understand a past like Rich's. That's because few people have a comparison. Rich has told me much about his past and how a pursuant loving Jesus came and found him where he was. He picked him up time and time again. But finally Rich saw in Jesus a love that was worth him giving the rest of his life to serve. And that's just what Rich did.

Rich was not afraid to open his mouth and tell others about his Jesus. Whether we walked through the waste-filled slum pathways or taught teenagers in villages, Rich told the same message: "Jesus is enough." When Meshack and I were teaching on relationships, directions for life, or conflict resolution issues, Rich held onto the only message he thought was worth his time; his Jesus. Rich wanted others to know him. He was after God's heart. Even when he and his fiance were married, they wanted their every action to be after God's heart. So that's just what they named their personal ministry.

Rich is a seed that carried a message which brought life, and died doing so. I've no doubt whatsoever that Richard Wayne Key hated his life in this world.... And he has helped produce many many seeds.

Jesus said, "Whoever serves me, must follow me,"; that's just what Rich did. And I praise God for such.

My request to you reading this is now is this:

1. Thank God for the countless unnamed servants who die daily for Jesus to be known where He is not.

2. Pray for strength for those who will die even today for Jesus to be known where He is not.

3. Pray for Shauna, Rich's wife, who carries on glorifying a God and a Savior who sustain her. Be the body we are told to be: lift her up.

4. If you want to be a further source of encouragement and support for Shauna and the work they passionately labored in, then email us and we can tell you how to do so.

Filling Up What Is Lacking in Christ's Affliction

Our God has used many tools to encourage us. His Word stands above all the others as the ultimate source for authority and guidance. He has also used the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides us into truth, He convicts us, He encourages us, He even tempers us.

There has been a recent tool that has had a tremendous influence and re-shaping of our purposes. It's this tool that I wish to further place before you in hopes that you, too, will be so moved to re-examine your convictions for the peoples of this world who need to know Jesus.

(This talk is 1 hour long, but so very very much worth it.)

"Filling up what is lacking in Christ's affliction" from Thomas Thompson on Vimeo.

Speak Like Never Before

Update: Many of you are probably wondering, "Why is Chris still here? I thought he was going to be returning to Kenya for a few weeks." Let me answer your question. The main reason we returned to the States is so that we can work for our future family. There is a tumultuous amount of paperwork and process that must be completed (such as FBI fingerprints for background checks) before we could even submit our dossier. With my wife working hard for our children, it would be unfair to her to leave all this on her shoulders for even a short time. I would not be communicating the importance of family over all else if I left. Therefore, until we make a bit of headway with this AND get our fingerprinting done, I will remain.

This leads me into the reason I am writing this for you to read. The second reason we are here is to fulfill our obligation to our partners in Kenya. We made a commitment to them that we would be their ambassadors and speak where they cannot. Should credit ever be offered toward the service done unto the Kingdom of God in Kenya, then it should fall on them above any others. My job, responsibility, and labor is to stand where they cannot. I speak where they cannot. I advocate for them where they cannot. This is a position that I take very seriously.

We have some months left here in a still fertile land. Lindy and I have already shared with friends in Roanoke, VA this past weekend. We want to fill up dates that allow us to open our mouths and represent our brothers and sisters who are laboring right now in Kenya! "Missions exists because worship of the true God does not" (John Piper). There is much to be done still around the world. I want to continue to remind others of this fact.

If you are reading this and think, "Our church should hear and get involved", or if you have a group of friends or a Bible study that needs to rise to the occasion of missions, then email me. Email us and work with us as the team member you are invited to be. This is where you too can have a significant impact on making God look glorious around the world.

We need to tell the stories. Through the stories and images, others may rise and say, "I want to be a part of mission work around the world." That is a beautiful thing! Help us find those that are simply waiting to be compelled out of their seats. Talk to your church leaders. Talk to your friends. Help us grow this ministry. Meshack, Indiazi, Vitalis, Beatrice, Noah, Deo, John, Zipporah, Mama Alice, and my very good friend Thomas are all there holding up their end. There are 11 boys who live in the streets depending on us. There are slum children needing food. There are people who do not know Jesus and they are waiting on us to tell them. Now it's my turn to do what I do best: talk!

"For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." - Acts 4:20

When you see God move and reach a people where His name is not even known,... you won't be able to stop speaking either.

There are 11 Sunday mornings open for someone, some church, some group to hear.

email us: chrisandlindyt@gmail.com

Rewind

2009 saw a significant change unto the ministry. Within this short video you can catch a glimpse of some of the changes. We can't wait to see what God has in store for 2010!

Return of the Jedi

Well maybe not a Jedi, but it made me laugh to write it.

Anywho,

In a few short days, I will be traveling back to Kenya. This will be a short stay, but a very important one. God has been refining Only Servants Ministries over the past 6 months and that began in us. As Lindy and I have become more impassioned about glorifying God in our personal lives, this ministry has taken on a deeper, more-focused direction. I return to Kenya out of obedience and a desire to keep this growth going. This coming year is going to be unlike any before it. My heart is confident that God is growing something very special and we get to be a part of it. The next month spent in Kenya will be one preparing for the numerous teams coming this year, setting up projects, growing our partners ministries, and preparing our fields for the harvest God may be sending this year. I wish I knew exactly what He has in store for His Kingdom, but it doesn't change our commitment to making Him look as glorious as possible within the tasks he's assigned us.

I am going for that reason only.

As you read this, please grab your notebook (the one you use to write down prayer requests and notes during your time alone with God). I beg you to write down the following prayer needs and adopt them into your heart. I can think of nothing greater to request from you than your prayers. In fact, I am actually asking you for the most powerful thing you possess. (I'll be selfish in this):

1. God's Glory - Sounds odd at first, but I want to see God's glory in everything I say/do, my family, this ministry, and the church. When He gets HIS glory, we find joy. (Thanks J.P. for that reminder)

2. Lindy - Please honor my family and specifically my wife in your petitions unto the Father.

3. Only Servants Ministries - Pray for our friends serving at this exact moment. Pray for their families. Pray for their courage to grow. Pray for them to be effective.

4. Finances - Pray that other servants will be obedient to the calling God has given them to support missions.

5. Me - My commitment to bringing all glory to God is one of great importance to me. Help me. Pray for my obedience to that end. Pray that I become the man of Psalms 112.

I can not wait to update you on all that God teaches and reveals to us about His marvelous plans. I sit here thinking about the days to come and all I keep feeling is tremendous excitement and awe. And now;

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

~Colossians 4:2-6

PS: Here's a Jedi (in case you were wondering) And to answer your question; "yes", I know I am a dork.