Jonathan's Blog

Eyes on Heaven

2012-03-06T15:34:00.000-05:00

The more I travel around the world, the more I have the opportunity to meet truly amazing men and women of God. I am regularly stunned at the high level of commitment to Jesus Christ which I witness first-hand in the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters in other countries. Some have virtually no regard for the quality of life they experience here on earth. Men and women who are well-educated, healthy, and raising a family often turn down great secular vocational opportunities in order to pursue their God-given vision. Somehow, they have adopted an outlook on life that minimizes their earthly existence, and maximizes their future in eternity. In order to reach the unreached of their nation, they endure a lack of food, and sometimes water. They deal with limited access to quality medical care. They live in “homes” that would barely qualify as adequate shelter for animals here in the West. Beyond all of these degraded physical amenities, some deal with literal persecution on top of everything else.

However, I believe I have discovered their secret. It is found in Mark 8:34-38 (NKJV):

34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Those who have given up everything for the sake of the Gospel realize that keeping their eyes on Heaven makes what they live through here on earth, a small sacrifice in comparison. It seems that we, here in the West, have become easily distracted. Our lives our consumed with just living, and not exactly living for Christ. We understand that the kingdom of Heaven is real, but how does that fit into our real, daily lives? We read verses like these in Mark 8, and translate it for our culture. Throwing an extra twenty-dollar bill in the offering, or joining a life group, or helping on the annual church Thanksgiving outreach - these are all ways to lose our life for His sake, right? Well, it depends who you ask.

This is not a reprimand, or an attempt to stereotype Western Christians - for I have also met people on this side of the world who have given up everything to reach the unreached. Rather, let this be a challenge. Pray and ask God what you must do to truly go after Him, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. Global Infusion is dedicated to reaching the unreached. Your support helps us help others keep their eyes on Heaven.

Christianity-Lite

2012-02-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

I write these words from a remote village in Tanzania named Songambele, which literally means “moving forward.” If Songambele is indeed moving forward at all, it is at a very, very slow pace. In every direction, there are hundreds and hundreds of children who may only have one meal today, if they are fortunate. There is a limited water supply, which comes from a well. Those who want water must walk, or ride an old bike for miles to obtain it. After they have let down a small pail on a rope several times into the well, the villagers predominantly use old plastic gas containers to fill and then transport their water.

The children you would see in the village are only a fraction of the youth population. Some are fortunate enough to have parents afford a few dollars so they can go to school. If they cannot afford the mandatory fees that schools charge, they help work in the fields. The rest of the children simply have no other place to go, and nobody watching them.

In this village of over twenty thousand people, there is but one church—”Neno La Uzima” as it is called in Swahili (“Word of Life”). The people are highly dependent on good seeds mixed with hard work and favorable weather to reap a harvest that will sustain them. If there is a breakdown in these areas, the quality of life plummets from its already low level.

Malnutrition and starvation. Dehydration and unclean water. One (terribly inadequate) medical facility. Children wanting to learn, but lacking the funds to attend school. Not enough work for the adults. Fourteen-year-old girls having babies. Prevalent HIV. One singular family trying to operate a church, and meet the needs of thousands, yet, we have people in North America wondering what they should do with their life.

I am afraid that many Christians are praying the wrong prayers. Instead of asking God what our purpose on earth is, we should ask where we should serve. It almost seems that Christianity-lite is running rampant in the West - we say we want to do the will of the Father, and see His Kingdom come, yet we do not truly want the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives and direct our paths. Why? Because our calling and “purpose” in life will be uncomfortable. He will ask us to put aside our personal goals and focus on living by faith to reach the unreached. Pray right now and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for Him to lead you. How can you help see the Father’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven? Your support of Global Infusion allows us to reach people in villages like Songambele, which is just one of our many sites around the world where we strive to bring the Gospel, and meet the physical needs of the people. Pray and ask the Lord how He wants to use you today to be a part of reaching our generation. You can give. You can go. You can help change the world.

Where Are We?

2012-01-09T16:03:00.000-05:00

The final issue of Time magazine in 2011 named their selection for the Person of the Year as “The Protester.” From Egypt, to Libya, to the main streets of the United States, people are rallying together to demonstrate that they are unhappy with their present circumstances, and desire change. Of course, there are many on the fringe who mindlessly jump in simply because they seek attention or feel more self-worth being a part of something larger than themselves. However, there are some people sold-out to their cause that are showing great tenacity. While I may not necessarily agree with the change these groups of people are wanting, or their methods of protesting, I have to admire the passion of those who are legitimately trying to take a stand for something they believe in.

My question is, when did we as Christians lose this kind of fire and determination? We are the recipients of eternal salvation, yet we concern ourselves with the feeble distractions of this world. Hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:34-39 (NKJV):

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

If you are looking for a charming article on how to make and keep New Years’ resolutions, look somewhere else. Our world is in desperate need of a Savior, and the only way they will be reached with the Gospel is if somebody goes and tells them about Jesus Christ. Our world is hopelessly oppressed by a relentless enemy and needs Christians to stand up for what they believe in, open their mouth and proclaim the saving, healing, transforming name of Jesus. What they do not need, is a group of people who have every excuse imaginable for not obeying the Word of God and living a solid biblical life. They do not need people who waver in compromise when the easy way out is more convenient, or when confronted by the mocking words of their friends, family and co-workers.

Global Infusion is set for a record-breaking year. In 2012, we will send out more mission teams than ever before into all the world, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that many people will be confronted with His redeeming love and plan of salvation. Pray for us. Support us. Go with us. We can change this world for Him, forever.

Next GI mission team: TANZANIA (January 24 - February 5, 2012)

Goals: Evangelism, Feeding Children

Support: Donate (select: Tanzania: Outreach)

More Than Enough

2011-12-19T13:45:00.000-05:00

Watch Jonathan's Video Update about this trip (from Nepal)

I have returned from the country of Nepal with our latest Global Infusion mission team. It never ceases to amaze me how the majority of churches operate in second and third-world environments. First of all, it seems they have more of a grasp on the fact that “church” is a body of believers and not a building. I know this, because the places they typically meet would be equivalent to an over-sized tool shed in America. Second, having “church” is focused on spending time together as a family of believers, which is why their services last for two, three or even four hours. Third, I always smile during times of praise and worship when I am overseas.

Apparently, villagers are under the impression that all you need for worship is one drum, or tambourine of sorts, and those in the audience are supposed to sing as loud as they can to God. Of course I am being slightly facetious, and until you experience what I am talking about first-hand, you are completely missing out. Last, the sacrifice involved in being a part of a “church” in places like Southeast Asia, China, or the Middle East is enormous. It includes everything from walking miles upon miles to fellowship with other Christians, to enduring literal persecution for one’s faith. This persecution may include assault, jail time, rejection from family and friends, loss of job, being shunned by their local community, and in some cases, death.

The believers I interact with overseas have concluded that Jesus is all they need. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” What more do we need than to know the path we are taking in life, or being able to discern right from wrong, or living abundantly? He is El Shaddai. The God that is more than enough.

Why then, does Global Infusion continually send teams to reach people in places like Nepal? There are two main reasons: they have the greatest need, and we see the greatest return.

The abject poverty we encounter is unmatched in the West, which is why we facilitated a medical clinic a few weeks ago in Nepal that treated over 400 patients. It is why we fed hundreds more. In the midst of our medical work, we evangelized the area as devout Hindus were coming from miles around for treatment, but stayed to hear the Word of God. We spent time with believers, praying with them, discipling them, and encouraging them.

Think of it as the two hands of the Gospel reaching out to the world. Meeting tangible needs, but not leaving them without the hope of a Savior.

That is why we go.

Thankless, or Thankful?

2011-11-23T05:28:00.001-05:00

Here in the West, the focus in the month of November (October in Canada) often drives towards the Thanksgiving holiday. It is that time of year, when people gather to celebrate all they are thankful for - or do we? Has Thanksgiving merely turned into a springboard to Christmas? Or Black Friday/Cyber Monday? Is it just time off of school and work? Why do we reserve just a few minutes around a table once a year to reflect on what we are thankful for?

Here is a great, and true demonstration of thankfulness (Luke 17:11-19, NKJV):

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Let’s review. First, leprosy is a terrible, contagious, skin disease that can spread from one person to another. Lepers had strict rules to abide by, including living in a banishment camp away from healthy people. The physical pain, and mental duress this disease brings is unfathomable. Second, the men who were sick recognized Jesus, and recognized He had the authority to heal them.

Third, nine unthankful men (Jews, most likely) were healed on their way to the priests; one thankful man (a hated Samaritan, most likely) was healed at the feet of Jesus.

We have a lot to be thankful for as Christians - especially those of us who live in the West. We face some adversity, but it does not compare to what many of our brothers and sisters in other countries face. Let’s review this passage through the eyes of missions and evangelism:

First, sin is a terrible disease that has been known to spread from one person to another through acts of enticement, malicious intent, and retaliation. Second, those who are bound up in sin may only know the saving power of Jesus Christ if they are told about Him - many, like the lepers, live in remote villages of the world. Third, the impact of Jesus’ grace and love on most “foreigners” is humble thankfulness - they, in turn, feel compelled to share what He has done for them.

Be thankful every day, and go into all the world.

The Field

2011-10-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

I have returned from the country of Nicaragua where our latest Global Infusion team of 37 optometrists (doctors), students and GI personnel treated 1,853 patients in less than a week. We were in both villages and small cities – we even had a door of opportunity open for us to treat over 200 local police officers and their families. We converted their main headquarters into a medical facility – we even invited their family members.

At one point, when the line had slowed down in the police station, I saw in the distance, a large cage attached to a building, and there were about 50 men in it. I found out, it was a jail, and the cage was the common area the prisoners would be deposited when their family members came for visitation. I walked over to the jail, and saw many women outside in line – mothers, sisters, wives, and girlfriends of the inmates. There were even some children. I saw their faces were greatly strained as the men in their lives have now been incarcerated and no longer able to provide for their family, or help at home. So I got an idea. When the women walked out of the jail, I stood there, and invited them over to our clinic – a free eye exam for them and their kids. While some of the cops whined about being in line so long, these women and children’s faces lit up, and they gladly followed me over to the clinic.

As I was walking the women over to the make-shift clinic, the only thing in my mind was the Parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14 – where there is a man providing a great feast, and the invitees give every excuse in the book as to why they cannot come. However, when he goes to find the least of these, they gladly come. I’ve done a lot of missions work, but I couldn’t help but smile (and cry) as I led this group of women and children from the jail to the clinic, and I would turn around periodically to see if they were still with me – and not only were they with me, they were beaming with smiles, talking, laughing, and excited.

There is a field ready to be harvested, but it's not always where you think it is.

Relativity

2011-09-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

I’m getting (a little) tired of hearing about how everything is relative and that there are no absolutes in this world anymore. “Your values and morals are defined by your perception of right and wrong,” people say. “Your worldview has no reference point but your own concocted belief system.” How ignorant of humanity to believe that our finite minds can become the moral compass that guides our values. In one regard, the pendulum has swung from persecuting people of faiths, to a universal tolerance of all “religions,” beliefs, and even opinions. “Whatever works for you,” has become the pad-answer of modern society.

How are we different as Christians? What is it that sets us apart? The obvious answer is that if nothing else, we will not be separated from our Maker for eternity in the life to come. Both non-Christians and Christians, however, argue even this belief. Some believe the idea of eternal punishment is a fairy-tale. Without digressing too much on this topic, the Bible is very clear about the existence of Hell. Though it was created solely for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41), those who have not accepted Christ will most certainly join him in what can be considered the “second death” (John 5:29, Rev. 19:20). Romans 3:23 is very clear about death being the resulting wage of sin. No matter how people try to interpret the word “death,” there is no positive meaning for it. Human beings inherently fear death, in any fashion – physical or spiritual. Jesus also says in Luke 12:5, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.”

How do we as Christians set ourselves apart from the world by being “in it, not of it” (John 15:19) without adopting a self-righteous demeanor? Where is the balance between living a life that is obviously different than those who do not know Christ, and a “holier-than-thou” attitude? The world has got to see a difference in this lifetime or they will not feel they have any reason to become a Christian (outside the power and intervention of the Holy Spirit, which is indeed necessary in every conversion). We cannot play head-games with people. They cannot be conned, or argued into Heaven. They have to see the truth, and the Truth will set them free (John 8:32).

Breaking Point

2011-08-05T12:52:00.000-04:00

Luke (1st mission trip) & Daddy

Imagine being in a mountainous region of Central America. You have driven for 3 hours to reach the last, small, city before you enter into hundreds of square miles of villages - also located in the mountains. You have a mission: reach a specific village to deliver the Gospel to those who have not heard, and deliver almost a ton of food to them because they are nearing starvation.

The only road to get to this village has a forty-five degree angle down, the roads are made of dirt, and it is raining. Some of the roads have split and created two to three-foot caverns down the middle, and are as wide as six feet apart. There is a caravan of 4x4 vehicles carrying food, and a team of people holding onto roll-bars in the back of the trucks. Miles of terrain like this lie ahead, and then you approach a part of the road where the caverns are so deep and wide, that there is no way for the trucks to continue. Walking on foot, carrying thousands of pounds of food, clothes, and items for children will be next to impossible given the weather, the terrain, the distance, and the weight of all the goods. Going forward with the trucks could be dangerous, and there may be no getting back out of the area because the roads are so bad. What do you do? If you can imagine all this, then welcome to a day on the mission field with Global Infusion.

Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:22-23).

Paul writes, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Tim. 6:12)

I believe there is a breaking point between relying on yourself and the miraculous - it is called faith. It requires complete, absolute trust in Jesus. I also believe the we, as Christians, rarely put ourselves in this position. The majority of our lives can operate without faith. Sure we need to work, pay some bills, go to school, pay those bills, go shopping and buy gas. But those without Christ do the same thing. What are we doing to build the kingdom of God (not a castle for ourselves) that requires an absolute intervention of Jesus Christ, or it will absolutely not happen?

The end of our missions story in Guatemala is that we pressed on. We filled the gaps in the road with boulders and went for it. An unreached village heard the Gospel, some were saved, many more had the seeds of salvation planted in their hearts. Thousands of pounds of food were given away, children experienced a VBS, and a local Pastor we work with made a strong connection with the villagers, and will return to them.

Be Intentional

2011-07-07T15:30:00.000-04:00

Are you a planner? Everyone is wired differently - some people commit to scheduling their lives down to the minute, while others live for the moment - and then there is everything in between. Is one method better than another? After all, when most people are searching for their own significance or reason for existence in this world, it is a very important question to consider. Nobody wants to live a meaningless life.

Travel with me, back in time, to the pool of Bethesda. This miraculous place on earth was where an angel would periodically stir the waters, and whoever stepped in the water first was healed of their disease. A certain man, crippled for thirty-eight years, positioned himself near the pool, but could never get in quickly enough due to his infirmity. One day, Jesus walks in to this area in Bethesda (planned or spontaneous?). He sees the man, heals him (only), and leaves. Was that on Jesus’ agenda for the day? Or did He just “happen” to pass by? The answer is found in a confrontation with the Jews who immediately question Him for healing on the Sabbath.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. (John 5:19-20, NKJV)

Jesus listened to the voice of the Father, and intentionally obeyed, everyday. Sometimes, He would be going somewhere (planned), stop along the way (spontaneously?), and a life-altering event would transpire. If you don’t believe me, just ask the Samaritan women by the well (John 4:1-26). Jesus was going to Galilee, stopped in Samaria, and an entire city was transformed (just keep reading, John 4:27-42). How then, do we live an intentional, Spirit-led life like Jesus?

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13, NKJV)

We all have busy lives, but we all have choices too. Jesus had the opportunity to do anything He wanted during His time on earth, but He focused on reaching the people He came to save. He did not waste time, or resources. He spent time discipling believers, and building relationships with the unbeliever. He met needs, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He intentionally went to those who needed Him the most. In the midst of all the scheduling of our lives, we should do the same. The eternal destination of literally billions of lives depend on it.

Happy 8th Anniversary, GI!
Jonathan Haward, President
Global Infusion

What do you live for?

2011-06-22T11:30:00.000-04:00

Summer is upon us and we are once again bombarded with opportunities. With schools out, I see the streets, malls, parks, and local swimming pools flooded with kids of all ages. Some kids are working at these places, other kids are just hanging out. Both situations are fine, as long as they are also presented with options to learn, exercise, and grow spiritually. The sad truth is, many are not given these options, especially ones that allow them to encounter God in a greater way.

I also see more adults out. Many are headed out on vacations, looking for things to do on the weekends, staying out later at night as the days are growing longer with more sunlight.

What are we truly living for? There is a very distinct line between having fun, and living out the mandate we have on our lives as Christians. That line is defined in by two things: time, and money. Where we spend our time and money indicates whether or not we have been pulled by the intense vacuum of distractions the world offers. We must make a decision for ourselves and our families to fight purposefully and intentionally to engage God, listen to His Holy Spirit and do something to help build His kingdom by reaching the unreached. This summer will be filled with movie trailers advertising “blockbuster” films. Here’s a storyline that trumps any trailer:

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Revelation 12:7-11 (NKJV)

Global Infusion has seven mission teams in the field, with five more on their way this summer. These teams are filled with people who will engage the enemy in the darkest corners of the planet. They have to believe for more than paying some monthly bills. They have to rely on the power of the blood of Jesus to fight the good fight. They have traded time and money that could have been spent on the superfluous things of this world, for a chance to win the lost.

I ask you again, what do you live for?

Training

2011-05-27T08:06:00.000-04:00

Watch Global Infusion staff and facilitators train 8 of our summer mission teams. 7 teams are in the field right now, one more is leaving in a few days.

Pray for our teams in Nepal, China, Guatemala, India, Ukraine, Ghana and the Philippines.

A Letter

2011-05-20T21:36:00.003-04:00

If you have ever wondered what our contacts think about the work Global Infusion is doing within their country, I would like to share with you a letter we received recently from one of our contacts in Guatemala.

Jonathan Haward, President

Global Infusion

We wanted to tell you that with the motorcycle God gave us, through Global Infusion, we have worked hard. We planned an Evangelical Outreach in the village of Pacayalito. That village has no electricity, but with the motorcycle we were able to go to another village and prepare the dough and roll it out so that we could give food to the people. It was a very big blessing and 30 people accepted Christ into their lives. And Global Infusion was a part of everything we did for the glory of God. God has it noted in the Kingdom of Heaven. The chickens that you brought them are producing and are helping the families.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Global Infusion was birthed in the heart of God because you have helped thousands of needy families. The families in the villages where you have come with groups say that you are angels of God, because they see a lot of love in you. Keep moving forward. I know that you do not give out of what is left, rather you have worked to make this happen. May our God give you much in abundance. We had not been able to send you an e-mail because we were without internet, but thanks to your offerings, today we have internet and soon we will write again.

We join with Global Infusion in your ministry and on April 21, 2011 we will have an all-day fast. We will pray for every hand that helps. May our God bless who is reading you this letter.

Sincerely,

Pastor Eliub (La Union, Guatemala)

Hope for the hopeless

2011-04-14T13:43:00.000-04:00

If you have ever experienced any kind of tragedy in your life, you understand the feeling of hopelessness. Every day, many people in our world are confronted with sudden disaster in their lives, and many more deal with the ongoing repercussions of a previous catastrophe or heartbreak.

This past month, our world witnessed the country of Japan getting thrashed by a massive earthquake, which led to a deadly tsunami. The damage done ranges from immediate loss of life, to city-wide devastation, to a lingering nuclear crisis.

Just last week, a young family in Guatemala lost their 18-month old son in a drowning accident. This family is very close to Global Infusion and the people on our teams who have interacted with them on our trips.

Hopelessness. A terrible, terrible feeling of loss. There are no words or actions we can say or do in times like these that will ever erase the trauma and stress endured by those who have lived through such tragic events. And then there is the looming question that often goes unspoken, but resides in the minds of everyone: where is God in all of this?

As a Christian, if I believe what I say I believe, I have to go to God’s Word for answers. Jesus Himself watched tragedy happen from a distance. In John 11, He is told that his dear friend Lazarus was deathly ill. There is more than one sermon found in John 11, especially in verse six when Jesus intentionally delays His trip to visit Lazarus by two days, during which time Lazarus actually dies. However, a few verses later, Jesus utters some of the most powerful statements ever spoken. To a grieving Mary and Martha, He says, “Your brother will rise again” (v.23). He continues, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (vs. 25, 26).

I think a great response to any tragedy is one of human presence. Simply showing support by a personal visit or offering relief of some kind during the recovery period is paramount. Colossians 1:27 says that Christ in us is the hope of glory. Our presence brings hope.

After Jesus declares that He is the resurrection and the life, He asks Martha a penetrating question: do you believe this? (v.26). This is the question we must all answer. To those who believe, Jesus Christ is our greatest hope. Yet there are many in this world who are hopeless, because they do not know that even in death, they can live.

And that, my friends, is why Global Infusion exists.

On the Verge

2011-03-03T21:45:00.002-05:00

I don’t know about you, but I love reading the Old Testament. The real-life accounts of men and women who, in some way, put their life on the line for God are both unbelievable and inspiring. The amazing part about these heroes of the faith, is that they did not do it for notoriety, power, or money. They lived the way they did because they had ultimate faith in God.

The book of Daniel contains the true story of three God-fearing, death-defying young Hebrew men named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah — better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These men were born of royal or noble birth in the Kingdom of Judah. After Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem, they were deported to central-southern Mesopotamia, a region now know as Iraq. They were forced to enter a training program that taught them the language and literature of the Babylonians, so they could one day serve in the king’s palace.

The king decides to build a 90-foot statue of himself, and requires everyone to bow down and worship it. The three Jews completely ignore the mandate, and are eventually confronted by the king, who tells them they will be killed for any further rebellion. To this threat, they reply,

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:16, 17).

What remarkable faith they had! Or did they? In the very next verse, they say, “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Paraphrased, they said whether or not God saves our literal bodies, our commitment to follow Him and His mandates far supersede yours.

I am challenged by the faith of these young men. They stood on the verge of denying God by bowing to the idol, or defying a man so that God would be glorified.

Jesus has mandated every Christian to be a part of the Great Commission by intentionally doing something to contribute toward building His Kingdom. But doing this requires great faith. It requires prayer, money and time. So we have a decision to make: deny God’s call on each of our lives to purposefully go into all the world with the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ, or defy the lies of the enemy that tell us we have no time to pray for the nations, we have no money to give to support missions, and we are definitely too busy to go ourselves.

God help us use our faith, so others may hear your Name and be changed for eternity.

Pharaohs and Shopping Lists

2011-02-03T15:21:00.001-05:00

You would think that by now that I should not be surprised. Almost every year since Global Infusion began, we have had teams going to countries where some measure of political uprising, war, or natural disaster occurs.

2004: an Asian tsunami devastated the eastern part of India.
2005: Viktor Yushchenko finally took office as the president of Ukraine following an assassination attempt on his life because he was too “pro-West.”
2006: over 200,000 people took to the streets for the “Democracy Movement” in Nepal, as they came against the king after he instituted undemocratic rule and martial law.
2007: the streets of Juárez, Mexico turned into an official war zone with military tanks rolling down the streets.
2008: the deadly Sichuan earthquake in China measured 8.0, killing over 70,000 people.
2009: both flooding and persecution of Christians hit the Indian state of Orissa.
2010: it was the “Red Shirt” civil revolt in the streets of Bangkok, Thailand.
2011: “Chaos in Cairo” has erupted in Egypt.

There is a bigger picture to all of this, of course. First of all, God is in control. Regardless of how often we are bombarded with reports of devastation, He is still God. When we hear about these kinds of events in other countries, we should be very thankful we are not living through it ourselves. If that indeed is the case, then we should be driven to our knees in prayer. We have to believe as Christians that it is our responsibility to reach the generation we live in with salvation of Jesus Christ, and concurrently help those who do not have the means or resources to adequately help themselves. Both of these concepts are mandated to us in the Bible.

So now we hear there is a problem in Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs. The country that held the Israelites captive for 430 years. The country that hosted Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their escape from Herod. The country where we have Christian brothers and sisters watching and waiting to see what will happen around them next. It is time to pray. Not just the average North American shopping list of prayer needs — the kind where we focus about ninety-five percent of our prayers on asking God for things we “need,” or need Him to get done for us so we are not continually inconvenienced. I am certainly not implying that we do not have situations in our lives that truly need the intervention of God in a miraculous way, I am simply encouraging us (myself included) to intentionally pray for the salvation of this world, because souls are all that matter to God. Take time right now to pray for the country of Egypt, and our contact. Pray that the issues there will resolve peacefully, God will have His way, and many will know the salvation of our Lord.

Seed for the Harvest

2011-01-27T12:26:00.002-05:00

The longer I live, the more I see the power and the effects of the seed principle. I watch how people invest their time, money and energy, and then I wait — I wait to see how each of those “seeds” grow. There is no exact formula that dictates exactly what you will get when you plant the seeds of your life, but more often than not, whatever you plant, you will someday reap in a greater form.

I have come to the conclusion that “seeds” are, in effect, decisions we make. How we spend our time, how we spend our money, and how we spend our energy are all actual, personal decisions. Some people decide to use the majority of their time to make more money. There is nothing wrong with earning a living, until it becomes detrimental to your own spiritual growth (no time for Bible reading, praying, attending church regularly); or it hinders the development of your relationships (no time for spouse, children, or Proverbs 27:17 type of friends).

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (NKJV)

Unfortunately over the last two decades, there has been a wave of spiritual leaders who have turned this verse into what they think is a method to bribe God. Some have mislead their followers by twisting the meaning of this verse in order to satisfy their own incredible human greed.

The commodity of Heaven is souls. Jesus knows that we have a life to live, families to raise, jobs to keep, education to complete, and trials to conquer. However, I believe that what Jesus said in Luke 6:38 is directly related to foreign missions (of course). If we give of our time, money and energy in the building of the kingdom of Heaven, we are investing in the one and only thing that God is concerned with — souls. When life as we know it comes to an end, or the second-coming of Christ is in the past, the most important number of all eternity will be the number of actual souls who are “dwell[ing] in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Over the past seven years, by the grace of God, Global Infusion has reached tens of thousands of people with the Gospel. We have simultaneously met thousands of tangible needs including feeding the hungry, providing medicine, treatment and prayer for the sick, and much, much more. Pray with us that this year will be our most effective year yet, as we change our generation by the power of God, and see more souls enter the kingdom of God.

If you want to be a part of changing the world with us, there are many opportunities to get involved.

Contact us: (865) 233-0416 info@globalinfusion.org
Visit us online: http://www.globalinfusion.org/

The Gift of Rice

2010-12-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

A few days ago, I returned from Asia after Global Infusion’s first triple-country mission trip. Part of the team began in Nepal, while the other part was in Thailand. After our work was done in these countries, we converged on the country of India together - where even there we divided up to cover more ground. I could go into tremendous detail about the impact our team made in three different nations, and how many hundreds of souls heard the Gospel, or were discipled, or received tangible donations from GI such as food — but I am compelled to focus on one story.

Take a look at this picture. It is not a picture of starving, orphaned or disabled children of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is not a shot of the bizarre, yet demonically possessed followers of Hinduism in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nor is it a graphic X-rated photo of the hedonistic streets of Bangkok, Thailand. You see, our team ministered in all of those places, and saw all of those things — we have those pictures, but this one is something completely different. It is a gift.

Global Infusion rarely works in the major cities or capitals of the countries we go to. We go where nobody else wants to go. We reach the unreached. There is a reason people are unreached with the Gospel — they are hard to get to, and it costs a lot of time and money to physically get to them. I took this picture in a remote village in India where many unreached people live. There is a small church we worked with, and this is a picture of their weekly offering. Since the parishioners have no money, they give what little they do have. In this case, it is food. This gift is also the “salary” for the Pastor for the week. He has no other job, and no other funds coming in. He has a wife, and two children, and has willingly moved to a desolate part of his own country to reach the unreached. This is the type of person, place, and vision that Global Infusion regularly supports through teams, donations, and prayer.

Romans 5:6-8 says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus is the epitome of giving everything you have so others might live. Many times I feel helpless as I stand in remote villages around the world, and see the needs of the people. If only we had more finances to make their earthly existence bearable. If only we had more teams to go into all the world. I implore you to pray with us and for us, and ask God what you can do with Global Infusion in the coming year, as we continue to reach thousands of people every year with the Gospel, and also help to meet their physical needs.

True Thanksgiving

2010-11-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

Do you know what leprosy is? It is a horrible skin disease that basically eats away at your body until body parts fall off. If you had leprosy in biblical times, there were not any leper hospitals around to help you. If you had leprosy, you were required to stand about fifty yards away from a healthy person so they would not catch what you had. Not only that, but you were not allowed to take care of yourself. Your hair, your body, your clothes. None of it could be kept clean or washed because you were condemned to die outside the city walls. And if you ever did feel like moving among the healthy, you had to scream the word, “unclean!” everywhere you went.

Luke 17:11 tells the account of ten lepers. Jesus was walking through Samaria and Galilee one day, when a group of men stood up and yelled, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” This unruly, unkempt band of death-row inmates needed a miracle. They needed Jesus. As always, Jesus had compassion on them and ordered them to go see the priest. Why the priest? Because the only way a person could be ruled “clean,” was at the command of the priest. Jesus didn’t lay hands on them. He didn’t pray for them out loud. He simple obeyed the Spirit of God and commanded them to go and see the priest. With Jesus’ reputation well-known, these ten lepers did exactly what He said, because they knew that Jesus healed people. The moment they made a move to obey the command of the Lord, they were healed.

Think about what life would have been like to be a leper in the first century. Then imagine yourself getting healed. What would you do? Wouldn’t it seem right to go and find the one who restored your life back to you? Out of the ten lepers who were healed, only one of them showed a heart of thankfulness. He came running up to Jesus, fell down on his face, and thanked Him over and over again. Jesus was happy to see him, but then asked where the other nine were? Gone. They were long gone. They got what they wanted from Jesus and left.

How many of us often fall into the category of “the other nine.” God has saved us, healed us, delivered us, yet, we carry on in life, holding our breath until the next crisis, then go running back to Him for help. Thankfulness and gratitude require action. God gave away the one and only possession that was more important to Him than air is to us: His Son. How do we thank God?

We often show our appreciation to our friends and families by giving them something that brings them joy. What brings God joy? When another soul is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. When the orphan and widow are defended. When the imprisoned are visited. When the naked are clothed. When the hungry are fed. What we do unto the least of these, we do unto Him. Global Infusion focuses on all of the above, for the people around the world who need it the most.

Life as a candle

2010-10-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

I have heard it said that we begin dying from the moment we are born. Nothing can stop the aging process. Our life is very much like a candle. At birth, the candle of our life is lit, and once the flame starts, there is nothing that can be done to extend the life of that candle. Slowly, steadily, over time the flame burns away the wax.

I have also heard it said that time seems to go faster as you get older. Our days fill up with more and more responsibilities. Our schedules get busier. Life may seem to go by quickly because we rarely check how much candle we have left — and the moments that we do check, we realize that a big chunk has burned away since the last time we looked.

The Apostle John begins his Gospel with these verses: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5, NKJV)

As believers, we are called to be a light in the darkness. Matthew 5:14-16 reads, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I challenge you to examine your life right now. Is it consumed with daily busyness and distractions from the mandate you have on your life as a Christian? These verses in Matthew are not suggestions. You ARE the light of the world - without shining your light, the world will remain in darkness. The world must also see your good works so the Father will be glorified. Neither of these things will happen unless we as Christians make a conscious and proactive effort to fulfill our call to reach the world.

Global Infusion regularly goes to some very dark places in the world. America may have its problems, but many of them pale in comparison to the spiritual darkness, abject poverty, human injustice, and domination of false religions and cults in the countries where we work.

Global Infusion continually reaches thousands of people every year with the life-saving power of Jesus Christ, by spreading His Gospel of salvation as well as meeting their physical needs. You can be a light by supporting us in prayer, giving financially, or joining us on an Infusion Adventure missions trip.

It's Your Turn

2010-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

(Taken from Global Infusion's 2010 Prayer Journal)

What do you think they are looking at? What, exactly, are they waiting for? Who, you ask? The witnesses. There’s a cloud of them surrounding you right now. Don’t believe me? Then I guess you didn’t read the verses at the top of this page.

It’s your turn. Many people have paved the way for you to be where you are in the world right now. Some have lived in this century, and have helped you growing up, educating you, and even helping to sponsor your trip. Others, whom you have never met, have been spiritually plowing the tough ground on which you now stand. Others still, have been responsible for carrying God’s Word through very dark periods of history. Some have died for their faith. Many left the safety of their home country, their families, or the promise of a good job or great wealth. Many endured tremendous hardship, poor health, zero amenities, and some denied themselves the privilege and benefits of marriage to dedicate every living day to God and Him alone. Some were Jesus’ very disciples, and they were the catalyst for evangelism and foreign missions as we now know it. But now it’s your turn.

It’s your turn to take what you believe and answer their question. What question is that? It is the question that the witnesses are asking each other every day: “What are they going to do with the product of our sacrifice?” It is up to you to make today count for eternity. When you lay your head on your pillow tonight (if you have one), what will the witnesses be saying. Hopefully, they will see that they did not give up their lives in vain. They will see that every adversity they overcame was completely worth it because someone made sure the saving power of Jesus Christ was made known today. They will grow near to the point of envy as they watch you spend time with an orphan, deliver food to the hungry, provide medicine for a sick family, repair a home, or share your faith with a person who will ultimately make a decision to make Jesus the Lord of their life. They will smile and rejoice because they see there are more Christ-followers spreading the Gospel in the nations of the world than ever before.

And when the days get challenging on the mission field, remember to renew your strength by “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1). Today, it’s your turn.

An Amazing Day

2010-08-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

Just a few days ago, we celebrated the seventh anniversary of Global Infusion. In the past three months, we have had 10 different missions teams on the field. Shortly before our actual anniversary date, we had an amazing day. For the first time ever, there were FIVE different Global Infusion teams on the field simultaneously — and because they were on different continents, our teams were actively reaching the lost around the world twenty-four hours a day! Teams were in the countries of Thailand, Guatemala, Ukraine, Egypt and Ghana. God has truly been faithful to us over the past seven years of our existence - the fruit of our labors are seeing a harvest.

You have probably heard a sermon preached, or read an article or book about mankind's search for significance. Last month, in the country of South Africa, the culmination of billions of dollars being spent on marketing, ticketing, merchandising, advertising, training, and travel occurred when one man from the country of Spain kicked a soccer ball into a net. A significant moment in sports history. Yet I think about how much time, money and energy was required to reach this moment -- and how many millions of people were involved in making it happen. Then I think about this one goal's eternal significance compared to our five mission teams on the field. While the world celebrates a goal, we are celebrating thousands upon thousands of people being reached with the Gospel, and also seeing physical needs being met.

Many of our teams are ministering among unreached people groups. If you are unfamiliar with the term "unreached people," the Joshua Project defines it as: "An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group."

Global Infusion teams try to reach people who do not have a church to attend (sometimes within several hundred miles), no pastor, no access to medical care, education, or even employment. They have limited government assistance, if any at all, and rarely make demands for their rights (because they usually have none). You see, there is a reason that people are unreached -- they are hard to get to, and it costs a lot of money and time to reach them.

More Infusion Adventures (GI mission trips) are coming up in the Fall and Winter, and we are excited about how God is using our teams to help build His Kingdom. It is almost overwhelming to hear the testimonies pouring from people who have answered the call to the foreign mission field. Humble, determined Christians who are actively fulfilling Jesus' mandate to reach the world for Him. Quite incredible. Very (eternally) significant.

Reaching the unreached

2010-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

This is a record-breaking summer for Global Infusion. Over the span of 3 months, we will have 10 mission teams on the field. By the time most of you receive this letter, we will have teams in Thailand, Egypt, Guatemala, Ukraine and Ghana simultaneously! For several weeks, we will have teams ministering the Gospel, evangelizing the lost, bringing food to the starving, providing medical care for the sick, caring for orphans, helping widows, training and discipling other believers, and much more!

I have recently returned from Guatemala myself, after leading one of the summer GI teams, and I must convey that foreign missions work never gets old or tiring. I will admit that this past trip was one of the most physical trips I’ve been on in a while - carrying hundred-pound bags of beans, or sixty-pound bags of assorted food items to hungry villagers in the mountains and forgotten parts of the city. I don’t share details like that for sympathy, rather, I think it is an amazing opportunity. How often does your average Christian get to travel hundreds of miles to reach the unreached? Those who have never heard the Gospel? Those who are hungry for both material food and spiritual food? If you have not come on a Global Infusion mission trip yet, you are missing out on an amazing privilege. Spending your day as Jesus did, while on the earth, is a surreal experience.

When was the last time you led someone to the Lord? Preached the Gospel in front of hundreds of unsaved teenagers? Prayed for a desperately sick person? Held an orphan? Handed children’s clothes to a widow of 8 children? Gave food to someone starving? Many of whom have no church within hundreds of miles, nor a government agency to bail them out? When was the last time you shared a life-changing experience with people you know and love? This, my friend, is what happens every day on an Infusion Adventure with Global Infusion.

Passion and peace

2010-06-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Is it honestly that easy? Will believing in Jesus give us the ability to not let our own heart be troubled?

I love talking to passionate people — I especially like those who are passionate about building the Kingdom of God, and have a heart for reaching those in other countries who are not surrounded by thousands of opportunities to hear the Gospel. I find, however, that people who truly follow through with their passions, and not just talk about them, face incredible adversity — yet they keep going.

I’ve learned that the world is full of big talkers — people who tell me about everything they are going to do for God. Yet when I check back in with them after a few months, or even a few years, nothing has been done. There are plenty of excuses, but no results. But people with passion are driven. They put their trust in God, and even in the middle of natural chaos, they have supernatural peace. Why? Because they are in the safest place in the world: the middle of God’s will.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The world will always give us reasons to be afraid — trust me, every country that Global Infusion goes to has had it’s share of everything from natural disasters, to major civil unrest. Yet we go anyway. Not because we are unwise, but because God has not put any conditions on the Great Commission. He simply said, “go.” So we go.

I encourage you to read and meditate on the entire chapter of John 14. God is calling some of you to participate in world missions. His Kingdom will not grow on it’s own. We must go, and go now.

Do we believe what Jesus says?

2010-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

How many of us have been to a great church service in the last few weeks? You know, good worship, strong preaching, catching up with some of our friends. We love to go to church, don’t we? How about reading our Bible and praying? Well, I’m sure we can each improve in those areas. What about believing everything we read in the Bible, or hear preached about in sermons? Do we actually believe, or live what Jesus says?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:19-20

I know what you’re thinking: I’m sure Jesus wasn’t talking to everybody. Isn’t there some interpretation of this scripture that says we don’t have to intentionally go to other countries? Are there not Christians already in these places that are supposed to reach their own people? I’ve got my own family to take care of! I thought I only needed to be a “missionary” where I live and work?

“How can they hear without a preacher?” Rom. 10:14

“Look after orphans and widows.” James 1:27

“I was hungry...I was thirsty...I was a stranger…
I was naked…I was sick…I was in prison…. You did not do it to the least of these.” Matt. 25:33-40

We can spend the rest of our lives trying to “interpret” Scripture so we can alleviate ourselves from the burden of dealing with the less fortunate and focus on making sure our bills are paid. Or we can find ways to obey the mandate on our lives to reach our world as Christ would. Supporting Global Infusion by joining us on a missions trip, or donating to this ministry, allows us to bring Jesus to a very hurting world. We need you. They need you.

Be a light where it is dark

2010-04-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

Just a few hours ago, the GI team was at the airport, watching one of our Global Interns board a plane bound for Thailand. Summer Barbely will be stationed in Bangkok for the next 6 months with one of our Thai contacts. She has prepared, trained, and prayed for this moment. It was not bittersweet for us in the least. Of course we will miss her, but our happiness superceded any sense of loss. We know that God has called her for such a time as this.

I often wish everyone could understand what it takes to do something like what she is doing, or our past interns and staff have done, by living overseas long-term. I wish everyone could see how hard our teams work to raise funds, pray, and get ready to reach the lost with the Gospel. This life you and I are living is not a game. It is not a cosmic joke, or an experiment. We live in a real world, full of real sin, full of real people who need a Savior or they will die eternally. The simple fact is this: if we do not go, they will not hear. If you cannot go, send someone else.

It is very important to be a light wherever you are, but it is also important for us as Christians to intentionally go places where the light of God is very dim; places that do not have a church on every block, a downtown rescue mission, or hundreds of assistance programs to potentially lean on.

What goes through your mind when you read verses such as Luke 14:26-27? “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” Apparently Jesus is quite serious about following Him and building His Kingdom. I encourage you to partner with Global Infusion, as we continually reach hundreds and thousands of lives with the Gospel. We can change the world, together.

God's economy

2010-03-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I believe that when we get to Heaven, our eyes will be opened. We will have a greater understanding of God’s love for us, and the love He has for the entire world. I believe that besides the great men and women of the Bible, there will be little known heroes of Christianity who will be brought to our attention. We will see and meet Pastors and believers from nations such as China, India, Thailand, and Egypt. We will finally understand the sacrifice they made throughout life, simply to call themselves a Christian.

If we could only stop our busy lives to understand how God’s economy operates, I believe we would live our lives quite differently. The commodity of Heaven is souls. The commodity of Earth is time. The cost for obtaining either is extremely high.

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17). God, the Father, would not waste the life of His only Son on something He did not view to be priceless. In order for us to have “time” to do something, it
often requires great sacrifice.

The staff, interns, and volunteers of Global Infusion have traded getting a “regular” job, for serving God daily in vocational ministry — because of this trade, we are entirely dependent on the financial support of donors. We do not profit from our mission trips, nor sell any product.

We have more mission trips this year than ever before. We will literally reach thousands, if not, tens of thousands of people with the Gospel. We will also feed the starving, provide medicine to the sick, care for the orphaned and widowed, bless the poor, make disciples in many nations, and reach the unreached. A soldier is not sent into battle with the burden of fending for his or herself. Each one is properly trained, prepared, and sent to accomplish a mission with all the necessary resources.

I am compelled to carry out this vision which God has given me for the rest of my life. I understand that God is our source, and that as a ministry, we are dependant entirely on God for our
financial support — but I also know that God uses people. People like you. For those who have been faithful givers to Global Infusion, I gratefully thank you. The world is in a desperate place. They need a Savior. The field is ready for harvest, and we need more people, like yourself, to join us in prayer, mission trips, and giving. Together, we can infuse the world with God’s love, the message of Salvation, and see His kingdom grow.

A Cost Worth Counting

2010-02-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

In Matthew 16, Jesus says, 24 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

There must be a few months of sermon material in those verses alone. I have just returned from China with a Global Infusion missions team. I met people there who have seriously counted the cost of becoming a Christian — and I even had the privilege of interacting with several Chinese who are considering becoming a Christian. You see, becoming a Christian in a country like China is not a flippant decision one makes. It radically changes many aspects of one’s life.

The Cross of Christ is not given to us; we must go after it, and take it up willingly. We must reject what the world has to offer so our soul is saved. Every day, the news reminds us that there are plenty of people who exchange their soul for temporary earthly pleasures.

While I have heard these verses in Matthew 16 quoted many times, verse twenty-seven is often left out. Jesus tells us that He will one day reward us according to our works. This is an entirely separate event from the judgment which determines our entrance in to Heaven. What “works” did you accomplish for Christ in 2009? What are you planning to do for Him in 2010? Don’t let the year pass you by. Life will always be full of challenges, and I believe God meets the needs of the righteous — so make a conscious decision to do something for Him today.

Life is a Garden

2010-01-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

In Genesis 2:8, the Bible says, “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there He put the man he had formed.” Imagine God Himself planting a garden, and He did it for Adam! After Genesis 1 outlines the mind-blowing magnificence of Creation, Genesis 2 shows us how much God cares about us, and how important details are to Him. One phrase I like to tell our mission teams during training is, “Details make the difference.”

Our lives are like a garden. What we put into the ground as seed will determine what will grow up in the future. How we invest our time, money and energy determines the path of our lives. It always seems like things will be taken away from us if we make bad decisions with time and money. If a person unwisely spends more than they make, they could have their house taken away from them by the bank, their electricity cut off, their car repossessed, or late charges assessed (more money being taken from us) when bills are not paid in a timely manner. Look at Jesus’ parable of the talents. The servant who buried his talent had it taken away from him.

On the other hand, if we invest our time and money wisely, there are many blessings to reap. Spending time in prayer instead of watching television. Reading the Bible instead of the newspaper. Attending church regularly, getting more education, and spending less that we make (sticking to a budget), dedicating quality time to spend with family, are all good seeds for your life garden.

In Matthew 13:38, Jesus says, “The field is the world.” In 2009, Global Infusion reached thousands and thousands of people with the Gospel, and met many physical needs. When you invest in Global Infusion, you are planting seeds for the Kingdom. Be careful where you put your time and money in 2010. Pray, and let God help you plant your garden.

It's a Meaningful Life

2009-12-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

After being in both Thailand and India last month, I was reminded, once again, how much of the world lives in extreme poverty. Not only are there people who lack the basic necessities of life (food, water, medicine, clothing), but they live in environments clouded by spiritual darkness. In Bangkok, I saw (again) countless individuals, many of whom have been trafficked, selling themselves for a meager fee.

Next, I am in an Indian village dominated by Hinduism, with a 40-foot Hindu idol standing at the entrance to the village. It is here our team ministers to people who have had little to no exposure to the Gospel. We pray for a young widow whose husband died eighteen days earlier — her ribs are still broken because of his drunken assaults on her, and she is emotionally torn between being free from abuse, yet feeling destitute because she is left without a partner to provide for the home and help raise the children. By contrast, I return to the USA to watch a large percentage of our country stop to give thanks for all they have (many even thank God), eat enormous amounts of food, and then whip into a frenzy during days that have names such as “Black Friday,” and “Cyber Monday.”

As time goes on, I feel I am understanding Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 better: “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.” We take nothing in this life with us into the life to come. Very little of what we sacrifice to buy here even lasts in this lifetime.

Flash back in time with me to first-century Israel. Jesus was essentially born into poverty. Much of His ministry was devoted to reaching the lost, and helping the poor and the sick. In the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” there is a scene where Jimmy Stewart’s guardian angel (Clarence) says to him: “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?” Jesus touched so many lives, even during His three short years of ministry while on the earth. When He left the earth, I’m sure the Disciples felt a void. But that void was soon filled with the Holy Spirit. For those of us who have found Christ, we truly have a wonderful life. But it should never stop there. We should do everything we can to live a meaningful life. There are too many people in our generation right now who need our Savior.

In 2009, Global Infusion sent out mission teams all over the world, reaching literally thousands of people with the Gospel message. Not only have we seen lives turn to Christ, but our teams have been able to meet hundreds of physical needs through food and clothing distribution, medical outreaches, construction projects, and much more.

This Generation

2009-11-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

I strongly believe that this generation is responsible for the souls of this generation. We cannot do anything about the past, and if we die before Jesus returns, we certainly cannot do anything about the future. We can, however, do something about building God’s Kingdom right now.

During Paul’s first missionary journey, he stops in a Roman colony called Pisidian Antioch (which is now West-central Turkey). This was a city of mixed ethnicity, including Jew, Phrygian, Greek, and Roman. He finds his way to a local synagogue, gains the right to speak a word of exhortation, then addresses both Jews and Gentiles. He highlights the redemptive history of Israel, especially the role David played in the unfolding events. Then Paul makes a statement that should resound to us today:

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep” (Acts 13:36).

This one verse could be a sermon series in itself. Essentially, we learn that David had a mission to complete if he stayed in the will of God. He was also to accomplish this mission out of a position of servanthood (though he was a king); and he was to serve those in his own generation (the people within his sphere of influence.)

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, you have a mandate from Heaven to reach the lost souls of this generation. Without us praying, supporting, sending, or going to the foreign mission field, this generation will be lost.

Decide today that one day, you will indeed cast your crowns at the feet of Jesus rather than your excuses for not have the time, finances, or energy to build His Kingdom. Your generation needs you, and they need you now.

Ask of Me the Nations

2009-10-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

This month Global Infusion held our 2009 World Missions Sunday in Tampa, Florida. Our keynote speaker was Pastor Daniel Yaw Akuoko from Takoradi, Ghana (West Africa). We had a tremendous service as God used Pastor Daniel to bring a powerful word from the Lord.

Here are some highlights from his message:
Psalm 2:8, “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations…”. If God is telling us to ask, that means the answers are ready
Today, we are witnessing a large-scale rebellion, a revolution going on that is more dangerous than terrorism. There is a sexual revolution (perversions, Christians are compromising), a crime revolution (some believe it is easier to leave society and exist in a prison), a divorce revolution (people believe it produces freedom), an unreasonable revolution (people do not understand the basic principles of life)
Morality is being challenged at it’s roots by unworthy standards; these revolutions seek to legitimize themselves
As Christians, we cannot close our eyes to what is going on around us. Many people going to church today have their hearts on the fence; many have nothing but excuses
Isaiah 28:14: we are living in a day of scornful men; they kick against moral values
People today are easily irritated—this is a power of hell in action
Daniel 2:44: the Church is coming into a position to stand up, rise with holy anger as evil begins to knock at our own door

There are so many people in our world struggling against the powers of evil. They need a Savior. We must tell them there is hope. What will you do to help reach them?

Bought to be Used

2009-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” I have heard this verse many times, but what I find interesting, is how often the rest of the chapter is ignored. Once all things have become new, what we are to do next is found in the following two verses:

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (verses 18-19).

We have the ministry, and calling of reconciling lost people back to their Creator. In the first part of 2 Corinthians, Paul compares our bodies to just being a tent, or a house, that will eventually be destroyed. We are to be His ambassadors (v.20).

A Peruvian Pastor asks, “Why do you buy a shirt? To use it. Why did Jesus redeem you and buy you with His own blood? To use you for His Kingdom.”

The goal of some Christians is to just make it through life in one piece, because they will get to Heaven regardless; at least they are saved, right? True, but they are missing some major verses in the Bible. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (v.10)

Christians being judged according to their works? No! It can’t be! Well, there is Romans 14:10, too. And 1 Corinthians 3:14. Beyond the promise of rewards (or lack thereof), we should be motivated to reach the lost because Christ’s love compels us. (2 Cor. 5:14.) You were purchased by Jesus. How are you letting Him use you today to reach the world?

A Special Letter

2009-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

A letter from one of our contacts in Guatemala (English translation)

To: The President of Global Infusion

“All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.” (Titus 3:15) “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother Jonathan, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (Philemon 1:7)
Like these verses, my family and I greet you.

I want to tell you a great testimony, for the glory of the Lord. I was very sick, I had no money to buy medicine and I could not go to the doctor., One night I awoke at 2:00 AM to pray, and I remembered Global Infusion, and thought “they can help me, I am going to ask them for help”, because I needed $370, and I kept praying.

God told me, "Do not ask them, ask Me" and so I kept praying. He said "I am your God, and I am going to touch their hearts." I was amazed, and waited for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and of the prophets Elijah and Elisha.

You sent a group from Global Infusion, which to my surprise brought the answer God had spoken about. The group brought me a gift and said "Pastor Eliub, Global Infusion sent this." I told them thank you and we said good-bye. I closed the door and opened the envelope. It was more than what I had asked God for. I fell on my knees with my family crying and we prayed a lot for you and your family that God would keep you in good health so that you can travel to many parts of the world with your great ministry. I have a lot of gratitude and I can not write (describe) it.

Sincerely,
Pastor Eliub Gutierrez and family

The Final Breath

2009-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Over the last few weeks, the world has been buzzing with news of many notable deaths. The truth is, people die every day - it just so happens that several famous celebrities, sports figures, and entertainers have made the headlines.

One pattern I have noticed in the secular media is that for some reason, they feel compelled to spotlight all the “good” these people have done in their life, and sweep any “bad” they have done under the carpet. Understandably, our Western culture believes that it is disrespectful to speak ill of the dead when they are not around to defend themselves. But while I should not be shocked at this revelation, I still find it both disturbing and saddening how opposite the world is, to the way God operates.

Revelation 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

At the end of a person’s mortal life, when they transition from this world to the life after, there is no heavenly memorial service for those who have rejected Jesus. In fact, the only thing on the agenda is judgment. God will review the actions of a person’s life based on everything they have done. If they have lived their entire life without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they will be “thrown into the lake of fire.” (v.15).

Sounds a little harsh, right? It’s not the side of Christianity that will attract sinners or fill churches, right? But it is the truth. So we must live holy lives. We must intentionally seek out those who have unlimited access to the Gospel, and tell them that they need a Savior. We need to go now.

A True Revelation

2009-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Buildings have doors primarily because the person who owns the building wants to control who or what comes in and out. Some doors are securely locked; others just swing open when you push on them.

You have a door. A door that leads to your heart, mind, and spirit. You, and only you, can control what comes in and out. Many people or opportunities may knock at your door, but only you can open it.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me.”

Today, many people are searching for significance, or for purpose. Young people are sometimes just looking for something to do. Here’s a revelation out of the book of Revelation: Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart, will you let Him in? If you’re reading these words, there is a great chance that you have already accepted Him as Lord. So what more does Jesus want? In the verses before this, Jesus was explaining that if a person is lukewarm in the faith, He will vomit them out of His mouth.

So how does one become “hot” and not lukewarm or cold as a Christian? Read the Bible and pray every day? That just keeps you spiritually breathing, unless, it is hours of intercession for the lost. Your body gets hot when you DO something. Jesus wants to draw all people to Himself. They will not find Him on their own. We must go. We must tell people about Jesus and His love. We must go to countries where people do not have virtually unlimited access to the Gospel. You can pray, you can give, and you can go. What will you do today?

The Wonder of it All

2009-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

I am extremely happy to report that over the last week, Global Infusion staff and interns have trained over 50 college students for the mission field. We have just returned from Sterling, Kansas where we facilitated a Ropes Course missions training event to get our teams ready for the foreign mission field. They will be going to India, Ghana, Egypt and Thailand. It was the first time Sterling College had ever had such training for their missions program. Additionally, we held services nightly that continued the encouragement and preparation for their trip. The times of worship were absolutely amazing! While the “band” was made up of exclusively GI staff and interns who had never played or sang together even once, God truly showed up.

With 50+ students going on mission trips for several weeks at a time, there will be literally hundreds of hours of ministry, outreach, evangelism, teaching, and medical work occurring this summer. These students could have opted to work, go on vacation, take summer school, or just do nothing at all. Instead, they answered the call of the Great Commission, and as a result, lives will be touched and changed for eternity. Turn off the news feeds into your house, your mind, and your heart. God’s economy has nothing to do with the state that America is in. In the midst of a “recession,” college students raised thousands of dollars, and made a cognizant decision to do something meaningful and significant with their lives. You can do it too! Age is of no consequence to the calling of God. There is always a way to get plugged into Global Infusion, and reach out to people with Gospel of Jesus Christ. Time is short. The harvest is plentiful. God’s supply will never run out. Pray. Go. Invest. Now is the time.

Fear Not

2009-04-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

This past month, I was in the country of Mexico. A border town. With a missions team. If you have been getting your news from the well-educated anchors and reporters on TV, you would surmise that violence is sweeping that nation. I was in Mexicali, Mexico, and during the week I was there, I literally did not see one police officer, Federal official, or anyone from the Mexican Armed Forces. Customs agents and border patrol officers were at the border crossings, but that was to be expected. I am not naïve enough to think there is no criminal activity in this region, but according to the news media, and U.S. government websites, Mexico is a danger zone.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). One of the most repeated phrases (or variation of the phrase) in the Bible is “fear not.” Many people in this world attempt to appear tough on the exterior, but inside, they are fearful. However, if we allow fear to overcome us, we will never do anything for God. Fear brings paralysis. Faith brings liberty.

Jesus said in Mark 2:17, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” When I hear bad news happening in a country, my first reaction is, “What can I do about this?” It’s not people who have their pick of a hundred churches in town, and access to government assistance programs that need the most help — it’s those who have not heard the Gospel, or those who live in anti-Christian persecution, under governments that seek to destroy them, and in environments that deprive them of the basic necessities of life. God has not given you the spirit of fear. He has given you power. He has given you love. He has given you a sound mind. It’s time to do something with it.

Sacrifice

2009-03-01T07:53:00.000-05:00

What does the word “sacrifice” mean to you? Does it mean doing something you don’t want to do? Does it mean going without something you want? The dictionary defines sacrifice as the “surrender of something for the sake of something else.” Sounds a lot like Jesus’ life, doesn’t it? He left Heaven to experience all things human so He could be our perfect example for living. He was beaten so we may be well. He died so we might live eternally.

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” But as Paul writes in Romans 5:6-8, Jesus went one giant step further: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Would you lay down your life for an ungodly person to demonstrate God’s love so they might have an opportunity to receive Christ? Death could be considered the ultimate sacrifice a person could offer. In our Western worldview, the thought of dying for someone so they might receive the Gospel is not even a consideration. History shows that the act of martyrdom, while great in number, is small in percentage compared to how many Christians have lived since the resurrection. So what is God asking you to sacrifice? It is our mandate as Christians to reach the lost. I’ve heard it said that Americans (Westerners) give out of abundance, while the rest of the world gives out of sacrifice. Are you waiting for retirement to have the time and money to reach the world for Him? If you are, I can almost promise you that it will never happen. Global Infusion needs you. We need people to go with us to other nations. We need financial resources to spread the Gospel. Don’t wait. Do something today to reach the ungodly, even if it means sacrifice.

Just Words

2009-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

There are many people in this world who are blinded by Satan and his lies. They have been offered false gods to worship, they are enticed with sin, and they are surrounded by governments and media that proactively diminish, distort, or refute the very existence of God. With no moral or spiritual compass other than their own finite minds, they are easily captured by the enemy.

God’s Word is not just a book. Its verses are not just words. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” What an amazing concept: the Word of God is alive, and it is powerful! When we travel overseas with mission teams, we are going for the purpose of telling others about Jesus; what He has done for them; His plan of salvation; and how they can be set free from the bondage of sin, death, sickness, and an eternity apart from God. The unreached need to hear the Word of God because they are spiritually dead, and God’s Word is life. They need to hear what some believe are “just words” because they are weak, and His Word is powerful.

I’ve heard people, even Pastors, question the purpose of mission trips, saying that they are a waste of money. When I stand on foreign soil watching our teams interact with indigenous people and share the Gospel, I wish Christians, who think they are somehow exempt from foreign missions, could see the impact and results that I see. If the Bible and our testimonies are just words, let me remind you that God created the universe with “just words.” Lazarus was raised from the dead with “just words.” A stormy sea was made calm with “just words.” Jesus could have come down from the cross using “just words.” Lives are being touched and changed for eternity all over the world because GI’s teams are opening their mouths and allowing the Spirit of God to use them, and their words.

Seeds

2009-01-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

It’s the beginning of a new year! What will 2009 bring you? Well, that all depends on the seeds you planted in 2008, or 2007, or in previous years. Sometimes it takes quite a while for seeds to grow. Many people expect God to do completely new things in their life just because the calendar year changed. It is true that God does do new things. He gives good gifts. He loves us unconditionally! However, the Bible repeatedly speaks of the process of planting seeds, and seeing a harvest of what we have planted.
“For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew” (Zechariah 8:12a). In this passage, the prophet Zechariah was speaking the word of the Lord to the Jews as they struggled to begin new lives after living in exile for many years. I find it interesting both in this passage, and in real life, that seeds attract a lot of attention. In fact, very little attention is ever given to the farmer or the sower themselves; the seed is the focus. Many people do not realize that every day they are planting seeds. Some are planted unconsciously. Some are planted intentionally. Many people plant seeds just to receive something in return. Others continually sow and water seeds that they do not necessarily want to see grow up in their lives.
There are many places in this world where Global Infusion is planting seeds. Our goal is to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and if possible, make their life on this earth a little bit better than it was when we first met them. You have the opportunity to partner with us in prayer, in giving, and in going to the nations to change lives for eternity. Lives that are untouched, unreached, and totally abandoned by this world. So I ask you now, what seeds for the Kingdom will you plant in 2009?

The Best Gift

2008-12-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

John Dyer, an 18th century English poet once wrote, “A man may go to heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, without friends; but he can never go there without Christ.” As I travel the world, it always breaks my heart to see what I call “two-dimensional” organizations in action. These are groups of people who feed the hungry (like we do in Guatemala), sponsor education (like we do in Ghana), facilitate mobile triage units for the sick (like we do in Egypt), construct and repair homes or other necessary community structures (like we do in Mexico), host camps for underprivileged children (like we do in Ukraine), and so on. These are all wonderful gestures and I am sure are truly appreciated. However, they are two-dimensional acts because they stop at helping people physically and mentally. Handing out a few days worth of food has stopped the bleeding temporarily, but on an eternal scale, virtually no impact has been made.

What then, is the mark of an effective outreach? When does it become three-dimensional, or whole-person oriented? Only when the Gospel is communicated, does any interaction with another human being become eternally significant and truly life-changing. This month, billions of dollars will be spent on merchandise that most people do not need. This will be happening while billions of people go without hearing the message of Jesus Christ. While we often have a humanitarian aid component in our trips, our primary purpose for traveling to all parts of the world is to tell others how they can know the Savior, and be discipled to reach their own nation for Him. What greater gift to give someone, than introducing them to the One who died temporarily, so they might live eternally.

Two Kingdoms

2008-11-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

The battle for the Presidency of America has concluded, at least for a few years. Whether or not the candidate you were hoping to see occupy the White House was elected, one thing is for sure: God is in control. If we as Christians think for one second that government is the answer to any of our problems, we are sadly mistaken. Regardless of what party is in power, we must pray for our leaders and seek the Lord for ourselves. There are no country borders in the spiritual realm. There are no political parties or elections. There are, however, two kingdoms that exist. And it doesn’t matter where you stand on the planet, you belong to one of the two. Citizenship is gained into one of them by repentance and a confession of faith. If this profession has not been made, then by default, you are a citizen of the other kingdom.

In the kingdom of darkness, people serve a leader that seeks to kill them, steal from them, and destroy them. His plan for their lives involves separating each person from their Creator for eternity, making them sick, distraught, sad, angry, hateful, and poor. In the Kingdom where Jesus Christ is Lord, the citizens receive good and perfect gifts, and He seeks to bring His people abundant life. This King gave His very life, so everyone might have the opportunity to share in eternity with God Himself.

2 Cor. 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Real change does not occur in government, but in the hearts of men and women. As a Christian, you must realize that the whole world needs changing. Billions are without Christ, and they will not hear about Him unless some of us go. Global Infusion is a Kingdom tool to reach people all over the world who exist in the kingdom of darkness, and need a Savior.

Greater Love

2008-10-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was talking with a Pastor in Guatemala who survived massive flooding in his area. He said that the rain came so quickly, he only had time to fill a suitcase with clothes for his children and escape with his family before the mountain turned into a giant mudslide. But then his story became even more remarkable. After ensuring that his family was safe, he purposely went back into the area of danger to rescue anyone else he could find who needed help.

So here is a summary of the situation: a man and his family avoid possible death; their home and everything they own is potentially destroyed; and there is no immediate help to receive food, shelter, clothing, medicine, or other supplies. In the face of these circumstances, this young Pastor decides his highest priority is to return to the disaster area with no resources of his own, and risk his life to save others.

In John 15:12-13, Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” America is obviously in a stage of economic crisis. Whether we feel the impact today, or months from now, times are indeed tough. However, has God called us to wait until everything in our lives is perfect before we act? What about giving our lives to people who are not necessarily our friends? This young Guatemalan Pastor was not looking for his friends. He was looking for anyone who needed help. The mission field is full of people who are in desperate need of Jesus, and for most of them, having a local church or government agency help them is totally unheard of. What will you do to reach the lost?

His Hands, His Feet, His Love

2008-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

This past week, our church in Knoxville hosted 200 evacuees from New Orleans in anticipation of a potential disaster caused by Hurricane Gustav. It was amazing to see and hear how they were flown from Louisiana in such a humane way, then given a clean and relatively comfortable place to sleep that was not crowded, and three wholesome meals a day. They even had EMT’s, nurses, and doctors present for any medical needs they may have had. Our church also provided services for the adults, and an instant VBS for the kids. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to leave my life and home, go to another state to live with people I do not know, and wonder if I would even have a place to go back to once it is all over. However, given the circumstances, many of them were very appreciative of their accommodations.

I think of the site in Guatemala where we have been working. 15,000 people were displaced from their homes due to a mudslide that collapsed portions of the surrounding mountains. There was no Red Cross, FEMA, or any other agency to help them. Many of them literally ran for their lives. There are 12-15 overly-crowded shelters where they are now stationed. Most have no bed to sleep on, very little food to eat, and virtually no access to medical treatment. Some went back to the mountain regions, only to pull dead bodies from the mud. Our last team there brought thousands of pounds of food, soap, clothing, and even mattresses to sleep on. We held services, and prayed with many people. There are people in this world that cannot help themselves, and they have little hope for the future. Someone needs to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They need His love. This is why Global Infusion exists.

All things

2008-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Last month, we sent four Infusion Adventure mission teams to Mexico alone. Many of the team members had never been outside of the country before, or even on a short-term missions trip.

Our trips are designed for those traveling with us to have the ultimate missions experience. We do not stay in some hotel far from those we are ministering to, travel in high-end vehicles to get to them, or eat in restaurants so we can have “better” food. Rather, we live, work, eat, and worship with the local people from morning to night. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul explains the reason for becoming all things to all people: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Winning the world for Jesus takes more than just talking about the Great Commission. It takes more than putting a few dollars in the offering on missions Sunday. In fact, it takes more than prayer alone. It requires all of these, but it also takes action. If we are to see people in this world reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must go. We must become all things to all people so they might be saved.

That is why we go.

Authority in Jesus' Name

2008-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

What do you think would happen to our servicemen and women if the military sent them out to battle without telling them what weapons would be accessible for their use? I believe they would be somewhat fearful, and even doubtful of victory. A person can muster up all the courage and faith in the world, but they will never reach their full potential without a certain measure of hope. Many Christians do not understand the power of the God they serve. They face every day without knowing or realizing they have more firepower on their side than the armories of every military base in the world combined.

Did you know that the greatest weapon of offense we possess as Christians is the name of Jesus? Philippians 2:10-11 says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.” Whenever I present people with the opportunity of foreign missions, many begin to tell me of their own various struggles and challenges in their lives. It is unfortunate that so many believers do not recognize the fact that Jesus is their authority. How are we to reach our world for Jesus if we cannot get past the issues of our own lives? We must not trick ourselves into believing that we can conquer our problems utilizing our own strength, rather than coming in the name of Jesus. I see this happen all over the world. Satan’s power relies on a person believing a lie. His power is completely ineffectual until someone begins to believe one of his lies. Deception is not deception until a person is deceived. The irony is that the majority of people who are deceived do not know that they are deceived.

Our world is desperate for a Savior. I encourage you to ask God how He can use you to touch nations. It is our mandate as Christians. God will take care of your needs; just remember to pray, in Jesus’ name.

Jesus is still the answer

2008-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Our world has had quite a shake up over the course of just one month. During it’s 31 days, the month of May saw almost 100,000 people dead or missing as a result of a cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) - 40% of the victims were children, 3,000 schools were also destroyed, leaving 500,000 kids without classrooms; additionally, an estimated 80,000 people lost their lives in China, with many more being injured and displaced. In American news, a small plane crashed in North Carolina, killing a Pastor of a large church in Florida, as well as one of his sons. Before the month was over, a well-known Christian music artist lost one of his adopted children in a tragic accident that literally occurred in his driveway.

There are no logical answers for these events. None of these occurrences seem fair in any way. Without trying to sound trite or insensitive, I must say that in all of this, Jesus is still the answer. He is the answer to every aspect of human need: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical.

I cannot help but think, how many of those who died in the natural disasters that occurred overseas actually knew the Lord? Did missionaries and indigenous Christians have enough time to get the Gospel to these specific Chinese and Burmese before they died? Or were we in the West too consumed with our own personal issues, the rising cost of oil, and dropping value of homes?

At the end of May, I wonder whether Heaven or hell welcomed more people? Let us not wait for disaster to strike before we proactively go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just as He commanded us to do.

Leaving the 99

2008-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

In Luke 15:4, Jesus says, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (NKJV). I often think of this Parable of the Lost Sheep when I am on a plane leaving the continental United States. Our nation is quite blessed in many ways; one of which is our freedom of religion. One would be very hard-pressed to find a city in America that does not have at least one church, a few Christian residents, and access to the Gospel through other media, such as television, radio, the Internet, or books.

There are billions in this world without Christ, however, a great percentage of them must be found. Just as Jesus alludes to searching for the one lost sheep, we as Christians are mandated to leave the ninety-nine, and go after the one.

Our latest INFUSION ADVENTURE team has just returned from Guatemala, and we literally had to search for “the one.” Using 4x4 trucks to navigate through the Guatemalan mountains, we reached two different villages that had no food (we brought thousands of pounds of food to distribute), and very little exposure to the Gospel. While we were there, we preached on the roadsides, and many villagers responded to our altar calls. We prayed for the sick, handed out Bibles, and some said the prayer of salvation for the first time. A village with no church, no Gospel media, no electricity, water, vehicles, or even food, now have some Bibles, food, and born-again Christians.

Choosing to Serve

2008-04-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

During the last few weeks in March, we had two INFUSION ADVENTURE teams in the country of Mexico. Once again, I wish the world could have seen what I saw.

Generation Church, from Colorado Springs, CO, was made up of young people in high-school and some were of college-age. Rather than going on some mindless Spring Break excursion with their friends, these students chose to make a difference in the lives of people in another country. Through construction, children’s VBS’s, ministry to indigenous Mexican Indians, an outreach in a neglected barrio, and spending time with girls and boys from a church-run orphanage, they literally impacted the lives of hundreds of people. One family had a new home built for them. Another had their home enlarged. A daycare center was prepared. Many children learned about Jesus and had somebody love on them. Teenagers living a very rough lifestyle heard the Gospel and made new friends. The city of Juárez was prayed over repeatedly.

A team of nine women, three girls, and one man from The Sanctuary, in Tampa, FL, held twelve conference sessions and services reaching out to young girls and women. Many of those they ministered to have come from unimaginable backgrounds, and there was a literal change in the countenance of these girls and women by the end of the week. God truly used this team in a powerful way to infuse the love and power of Jesus Christ into those who were desperate for change, encouragement, and wholeness.

Including GI staff members, forty-two people made a decision to serve God in Mexico, and as a result, lives have been changed for eternity.

Can Jesus count on me?

2008-03-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I believe the greatest tool of the enemy on Western Christians is not mediocrity, poor leadership, or even doubt. I believe it is distraction. Even as you read these words, there is a strong possibility that you are skimming the page, or thinking about what you are going to do the moment this letter leaves your hands.

Distraction is what causes great leaders to fall. They become consumed with something other than what God has called them to, and they make bad decisions. The first of which is to neglect their daily devotional time and prayer life. Distraction also divides families, ruins businesses, and ultimately ruins lives.

Jesus says, in Mark 7:6-7, “'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain.” As Christians, we are mandated by God to reach out to the poor, and go into all the world to bring the message of the Gospel. Jesus is counting on His followers to obey His words, and see their generation touched by His power and His love.

When Jesus was arrested, his disciples literally fled. When we are challenged to reach our world for Jesus, the enemy will do everything in his limited power to distract us from building the Kingdom of God. Issues dealing with money, family, work, or sickness will arise the moment we make a conscious decision to put our lives on hold in order that some might be won for Christ.

I believe we can overcome distraction by staying in the presence of God. Jesus is asking us to be His hands, feet, and voice to those who are lost and needy. Can He count on you?

6,000

2008-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

We have just returned from our latest INFUSION ADVENTURE to Guatemala, and once again, God was faithful. As promised, we ventured into the mountainous regions of the country to deliver what ended up being over 5,000 lbs. of food. This food was given to hand-selected families who were experiencing the worst of the starvation that is occurring in this part of the world.

Initially, we only had enough funds come in to feed 38 families. Through God’s favor, and some strategic decisions made on the field, we were actually able to provide food for 116 families. This represents a minimum of 500 people receiving enough food to last them several weeks.

Obviously our job there is not done. Though we fed 500, there are 6,000 without food. Many of them have literally been existing on bananas and water for several months.

We were also able to conduct several services and times of prayer and evangelism out in the villages. In one area, we literally met with the people on a road because no church exists.

There is a lot of work that Global Infusion can and will do to infuse life into this area of the world. More food needs to be brought in, but this is just a temporary solution; we need to find a permanent one. In this region of 6,000 people, there is only one Pastor, and he cannot reach them all himself. We are scheduling another team to go back to Guatemala in April. This will be a powerful trip, and the outreach you will be involved with will see an immediate impact.

2008-01-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you have never looked into the eyes of a malnutritioned person, there is a part of your heart that has not yet been broken. The images you have seen on television showing starvation around the world simply pale in comparison to standing in front of a live human being who lacks a basic necessity of life.

Our lives in the West are extremely convenient. Many times when I travel, I get frustrated when I do not have quick access to the goods and services I am used to living with at home. One becomes very resourceful at times like these, however, there are many people in this world who face insurmountable circumstances. They will not overcome these challenges without outside intervention.

When I was in the country of Guatemala a few months ago, I met a Pastor who has taken what responsibility he can to help a group of 6,000 people who are experiencing starvation as you read these words. 1,200 of them are under six years of age, or over sixty-five; these are considered high-risk, which means they will be the first to die.

In conjunction with Pastor Oseas, Global Infusion has researched the costs and distribution methods to help families obtain food. We are only limited by financial resources. There are people ready to go to Guatemala right now to literally deliver food to those who are in need. All of these volunteers are believers who are trained to concurrently share the Gospel with each family. Pray, give, or go - you can help make this vision a reality.

1.85 Billion

2007-12-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

I remember speaking to a man in the jungles of Guyana while I was leading a mission trip. I will never forget him because of the look on his face. It was the look he gave me after I explained why our team was in his country. We were there to tell people about Jesus Christ, and how He came to save us. The man just stared at me in silence as I spoke to him through an interpreter. Eventually, I realized this was becoming a very one-way conversation, and I asked my friend, the interpreter, why is this man not responding to anything I am saying? My friend laughed, and immediately explained to me that he is listening intently because he has never heard of Jesus, God, or the Bible.

Apparently my friend already knew this information, and that is why he laughed. Now I was the one staring. He continued on to say that most likely no one in this village of more than 1,000 people have heard the Gospel message.

Have you ever met someone who has never heard the message of Salvation? You can rule out the majority of people in North America, because most have been exposed to the Gospel in some measure. Yet, as of the summer of this year, there are 1,850,402,000 people who are considered unreached. In other words, they have never heard of Jesus Christ, not even one time, or how they can be saved through Him.

You may not think we are saturated with Christianity here in North America; that is until you come with one of our Global Infusion teams to see the effect of Islam on a Middle-Eastern country like Egypt, or the Hindu domination in India.

A number like 1.85 billion people who have never heard the Gospel can be overwhelming. You may ask yourself what can you, as just one person, do to lower that number? What can you do as a Christian to reach those in other countries who may have had brief exposure to the plan of salvation, but have not made that commitment? If you are reading these words, then God wants to speak to you about reaching the world for Him.

From Ujjain

2007-11-01T10:00:00.009-04:00

Ujjain, INDIA - As these words are being written, we are currently in the country of India where for the third year in a row, we are facilitating a conference for indigenous Indian Pastors. In addition to the multi-day conference, we are spending time preaching and ministering in village churches and teaching at the college campus run by our contact’s organization. Graduates of this college will ultimately be sent to the unreached people of India to evangelize and plant churches.

The city of Ujjain, located in north-central India, is known as the city of temples. The Shipra river, which runs through the city, has extreme importance to Hinduism. Once every twelve years, over a million people make a pilgrimage to Ujjain, strip down their clothes, and bath in the river. They believe that this action will wash away their sins. Within 2 kilometers of this river, there are over 3,000 temples. There are many mentally ill, deranged, and demonized people in this city.

One of these temples is built to the god Shiva, the god of death. Thousands of people filter through this immense complex, which also runs several stories underground. They bring various sacrifices to this god on a daily basis. Other temples are built to the god of alcohol and even the god of witchcraft. The Pastors we worked with, can verify that human sacrifice and eating of the dead regularly occur at the temple devoted to witchcraft and evil.

Please pray for our Christians brothers and sisters in this city. These are not fictional stories, or events that occurred many years ago. They are real, and they are happening right now. The spiritual atmosphere in the city of Ujjain is dark, heavy, and demonic. Yet in an area full of Hindu fundamentalists and anti-conversion laws, these incredible men and women of God continue to evangelize and plant churches.

GIMC 2007

2007-10-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

The 2007 Global Infusion World Missions conference is just days away! This event is completely free and you do not want to miss it. Our contacts from EGYPT, MEXICO, INDIA, and GHANA will be speaking and you will hear first-hand what God is doing in their nations. You will also hear about the desperate need that exists for Christians to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their countries.

Many of our contacts face incredible hardships and challenges in life, simply because they choose to serve the Lord. We can pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in other nations, but there are many more opportunities that will help them reach their people for Jesus.

Spread the word and invite everyone you know to this incredible event. If you ever wanted to do something practical for God that will make a lasting impact in somebody’s life for eternity, get involved in foreign missions. There are untold millions of people in this world who can only dream of the opportunities to hear the Gospel like we have in North America. It’s time to put our focus on the harvest field that has barely been touched, and transform our generation.

Real Heroes

2007-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

In my recent trip to Guatemala, I was once again reminded of the sacrifices many men and women of God make around the world. When I travel to different countries, I always try to prepare myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for what I am about to encounter. I often brace myself for the worst of conditions, because many times, these are the areas in which God leads Global Infusion to work. However, the reality of what I see many of God’s servants facing in these nations is always shocking.

In the small city of Chiquimula, Guatemala, Pastor Oseas and his family (3 children) showed me the 15x15 room they lived in for over three years in order to grow the church God called them to. He told me about the near-demonic rifts occurring between churches and between the believers in his area. He and I also met with local leaders who are dealing with utter starvation amongst several Indian tribes and local Guatemalans.

Yet I have also discovered that with ministers of the Gospel like Pastor Oseas, they would never want an ounce of sympathy. They are willingly existing in less-than-ideal conditions when many of them could be in the corporate world living a far more affluent lifestyle. I am continually challenged personally, as I see men and women like him face these kinds of circumstances with utter joy because they are serving the Lord.

No matter how often I travel to other nations, I am always surprised at how quickly Western materialism and comfort overwhelms my thinking when I return. I see what money can buy, and wish for more. My own personal challenges flood my mind. But I stop myself, and think of people like Pastor Oseas, and realize that our call as Christians is much higher and important than anything this world has to offer. With the Lord’s grace, we must press on, concerning ourselves not with the seemingly unending difficulties of life, but with winning our world for Christ.

Believe

2007-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

With all the incredible reports of success you read month after month in our newsletters, emails, or blogs, do not be fooled, none of this comes without a price to be paid. First and foremost, the greatest price that could ever be paid was done so by my Savior, Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross, and His subsequent resurrection. This amazing act of sacrifice sparked a chain of men and women across the pages of history to BELIEVE God and take giant steps of faith in order to bring the Gospel around the world.

Take our contact in India, for example. As a high-ranking official in the Indian army, he converted to Christianity from Hinduism. After this radical transformation, he set out on a God-given mission to plant churches all over India and propagate Jesus wherever he went. One of his sons, a dear friend of mine whom I attended grad-school with, has told me stories of his father being chased by militant Hindu zealots, seeking to kill him and his family. He also recounts stories of he and his siblings passing out from hunger when they were young because there was no food in the house. Their father had chosen to follow God and had received a vision to change his nation, but from an objective point of view, God had abandoned him. In the face of criticism and persecution, he BELIEVED in God. Today, thirty years later, Indian Evangelical Team (IET) is on pace to cross 7,000 churches planted, with over 250,000 people in combined church membership.

Throughout my entire life, my family has faced many challenges in ministry. Even this year, we have experienced a physical transition from one state to another, gone weeks without a paycheck, spent days upon days separated from one another due to mission trips, had one door close and another one open for our office, and run GI operations with very little personnel. Ask God what He wants you to do to further the Gospel around the world through Global Infusion. Some people have told me they cannot afford to give towards missions right now; I say, in the scope of eternity, we cannot afford not to. This is what I know: God’s heart breaks for lost souls. God gave me a vision. God’s ways are not my ways. God is faithful, and I BELIEVE.

Just one little thing

2007-07-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

In my recent trip to Egypt, I was with a few members of our team, late one night, in a perfume shop speaking with the owner. There were places to sit for the patrons to relax and decide what to buy. We took advantage of these seats, but we were there for a different reason. Earlier in the day, one of our team members saw the potential for sharing Jesus with this man, so she promised to return, bring some friends, and spend some time talking together.

This young man seemed like a prosperous businessman, and he made it very apparent that he was a devout Muslim. You could see in his eyes, and hear in his voice, that he truly believed what he was saying. He knew that we were Christians, and he went on endlessly about how he believed Christians and Muslims were virtually the same in their beliefs. He talked about how we both seek peace, joy, health, wisdom, and eternal life. We seek to better the world we live in, and he gave many personal (almost Pastoral) examples from his own life. We give alms (tithes) to God. We pray to the same God. Most of what he was saying was debatable at the least, but at the end of his comparison, he said, “There’s just one little thing that makes us different.” That one little thing he was referring to, was of course, Jesus Christ. That one little thing is certainly not little; in fact, it, or He, is the only thing.

We are not the same, my Egyptian friend. What separates us now is what will separate us for eternity if you do not accept Jesus as Lord. There are many people in this world that are confused, blinded, and lost. Global Infusion has been reaching them, and we will continue to reach them with your support. Please prayerfully consider how God will use you to support our ongoing vision to impact the nations for Him.

The REAL Inconvenient Truth

2007-06-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

One week before we arrived in Egypt, there was a mission team of Egyptians and Sudanese that were ministering in Sudan. Their goal was to get to various villages that have not received much attention in regards to receiving the Gospel. As you may know, Sudan is in a militant state right now, and on top of the war, the poverty, the political corruption, and the genocide, there is persecution towards Christians.

An Egyptian friend of mine, named Bassem, was leading this team. Their trip was very successful, and on the last day, they got into their van to return home, and began heading north towards Egypt.

Prior to reaching the border, the van was stopped, and attacked by Islamic fundamentalists because they knew there were Christians inside. They had fully-automatic weapons, and with these guns, they opened fire. The driver somehow managed to drive away, but not after 4 members of the team were shot dead, and 11 others were wounded. Bassem survived.

The real “inconvenient truth” has nothing to do with global warming. It has everything to do with Jesus Christ, the Cross, and the Word of God. The world cannot deal with this man from Nazareth or His death and resurrection. The Gospel confronts people where they are, and it is the most inconvenient of truths. It does not allow you to live any way you want. In infringes on one’s personal lifestyle. There are parameters, restrictions, and guidelines to follow. In humanity’s quest for personal wealth, fame and power, the Gospel is deemed foolish because it does not focus on such things. In fact, it speaks to pursuing their opposites. And what kind of person believes in a man that lived twenty centuries ago, supposedly resurrected, and continues to monitor our lives through some ethereal method?

Whenever I am in a country such as Egypt, a country dominated by a man-made religion or cult, there is one verse that just seems to make so much sense. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul writes: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Until you talk to a devout Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or any other spiritually misguided person, you may not fully understand the deep reality behind this verse. To the unbeliever, Jesus Christ and His life appears suffocating and terribly inconvenient. But to us who have experienced a true transformation, the Cross of Christ has set us free eternally, and His power is active in our lives every day.

What I See

2007-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

I wish that everyone who reads our monthly letters, and sees our INFUSION ADVENTURE videos, or hears a representative of Global Infusion speak, could see what I see. As the frequency of our trips overseas continues to increase, so does the incredible need I see around the world for a powerful, loving, healing, Savior.

If you could see what I see, you would pray relentlessly for God to open doors for you to reach out to those who are lost, broken and hurting. You would see the cares of this life grow strangely dim. You would see a planet full of people overcome with every kind of darkness imaginable.

What is it exactly that I see? I see the images of abject poverty. I see the results of nations blindly swearing allegiance to demonic powers. I see the hopelessness in the eyes of the physically and mentally ill. I see the desire and abilities locked up in the mind of the uneducated children. I agree that there is much work to be done here at home, but “over there,” in countries that many people rarely give a second thought to, the situations are far, far worse.

I also see a solution. To some, the purchasing of some land and a solitary building seems like an every day, low-end, real estate deal. I, however, see a World Missions Campus that is dedicated to impacting people and nations around the world with the message of Jesus Christ before time runs out. Before time runs out for them. Before time runs out for us. Before time runs out for our world. Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly”

(Rev. 22:7,12). Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of making this Campus a reality. If you could only see what I see…

The time is now

2007-04-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

The time is now. The time is now to reach souls, to pray for the hurting, to hug a child, to build a house, to give away food, to meet a need as Jesus would. As I talk with many people who are considering going overseas with us on a trip, the necessary cares of their lives seem to crowd their decision to step out in faith. For those who ultimately make it to the mission field, I encourage them to walk through life with the same faith it took to come on the trip. Life will always get in the way of doing something for God.

Life is a series of decisions, and those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit will make Godly choices that lead to a life of victory. They will also walk in the will of the Father and impact the lives of many people around the world. The lost need us to make time for them, and that time, is right now.

Bare minimum

2007-03-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I have heard many, many sermons when the Pastor encourages the congregation to slow their lives down and take time for God. This, of course, is very important, but it is also just the bare minimum of what we should be doing as Christians.

Daily Bible reading and prayer, coupled with being active in a local body and being proactive with our faith (ie: witnessing, mission work, social justice endeavors) are still just part of what we are already expected to do as Christians. According to the words of Jesus, we have quite a mandate on our lives as His followers. If you want to do an little exercise that will open your eyes to the basic expectations of Christianity, read Matthew 10. When you read it, imagine for a moment that Jesus is talking directly to you. Put yourself right in front of Jesus as He is instructing His disciples; because if you consider yourself a Christian, you are, after all, one of His disciples.

Once you have read it, you will see that Jesus was not exactly dangling the fleeting carrot of financial prosperity in the face of His followers. In fact, He was explicitly warning them that the Lord’s work would come with great risk. This risk, however, did not lack reward. As a result of the Disciples’ work, thousands upon countless thousands are in eternity with Jesus forever.

Global Infusion was started by faith, and exists by faith. The battle we fight for souls on the mission field is very real. There are entire nations totally blind to the Gospel, and we need to get to the people with the message of Jesus Christ, and get there soon.

GEF

2007-02-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

Imagine growing up in a place where clean water is just a dream; a place where food is scarce. A place where the majority of people who fall ill, die because there is no medicine, and there are no real doctors.

Disease is rampant, especially AIDS, and the oldest person in your village is 57, but she will die soon...she has lived longer than most.

Electricity and fuel are virtually unobtainable, yet some days you see large medicines on wheels traveling rapidly across the rugged terrain in the distance. You wonder where they have come from... where they are going.

You live in fear. Not only of what tomorrow may or may not bring, but the demonic spiritual climate around you is ever-present; the chanting, the rituals, the curses. The witch-doctor is not a figment of your imagination; he lives less than a half-mile from your family's hut.

Welcome to the village life in West Africa. This is not a scene from history, but from the twenty-first century. Hundreds of thousands of Africans live in such conditions; not because they want to, but because they have no choice. Living in the city requires a good job. A good job requires education; something that is in the formal sense the word, is non-existent in the villages.

This past month we sent support funds out of our Ghana Educational Fund (GEF).

We are currently sponsoring the education of 217 West-African village children. Without our support, these children would not receive an education, and they would be confined to living in their village with very little hope of ever going to high school, college, or getting a job.

Extreme Makeover - Missions Edition

2007-01-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

Our latest INFUSION ADVENTURE team has just returned from MEXICO. They were there to winterize a dorm that Global Infusion has helped to sponsor and build. Currently, the dorm is being used as a group home for young girls. These girls have come from the streets of Juárez and are younger than 15 years of age.

The dorm, which was built this past summer, is a concrete structure where the nighttime temperature was dropping below 30°F. Global Infusion received a call from Pastor Joel Cortez, who oversees the group home, asking us to send an emergency construction team that could literally create a warmer environment for the girls to sleep and live in.

Here is what our team accomplished:

-insulated the building

-installed a proper ceiling

-remodeled the bathroom

-carpeted the floors

-built an addition

(new laundry facility)

-did plumbing and electrical work

Night temperature inside the building:

Before GI team - 42°F (heater running all day)

After GI team - 62°F (no heater on)