Missions Update

I have been corresponding via e-mail with Pastor Ron Barnes for the past couple of weeks. Ron Barnes is an ABWE missionary involved with church planting and training in the Czech Republic. Several years ago the president of the Baptist Union in the Czech Republic invited ABWE to assist them in the work of church planting, Bible training, and leadership training in the Southern Bohemia region.

The Czech Republic is one of the more stable post-communist countries in Eastern Europe. However, 60% of adults identify themselves as atheists. It is the least evangelized country in Eastern Europe. In Southern Bohemia there is only one Baptist church which is in the city of Ceske Budejovice. There are few other Bible believing churches in the region. Pastor Barnes is currently supporting the work of the Baptist church in Ceske Budejovice, and two other church plants that will be starting up within the year. He is also coordinating work on starting a Bible Seminary in a nearby city.

I sent Pastor Barnes some information about me, our family, and our call to missions, and we corresponded a number of times via e-mail. The work in Southern Bohemia is of great interest to us, so I made arrangements for Pastor Barnes to call me via internet phone on Saturday morning. I was on one phone and Marge and the children were on the speaker phone. We spent about two hours getting to know one another, and working to get a broader sense of the work and culture in the Southern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It turns out that he will be in the states for about one week, and will have the afternoon free on Sunday 18-Feb.

After Marge and I spoke with him on the phone, we really felt like working with the team in the Czech Republic could be an excellent fit for us. Typically the next step is to take a survey trip to meet the team there, spend time with the church members and leaders, and experience the culture. However, since Pastor Barnes is going to be in the states, I decided the best next step would be to fly out to Newark where he will be and spend the afternoon with him. We’ll share a hotel room together and then go our separate ways. Choosing a field of service and joining a missionary team is something like a marriage.

If my meeting with Pastor Barnes goes well, and we all think we should take the next step, then we will schedule a survey trip. This is all very new for me, and asking for help is not something I am accustomed to do. That said, I have already received several offers to help with travel expenses, and that help will be needed. These trips are completely outside our budget, so we are trusting God to provide, and believe He will.


Donations Accepted

Bethel Baptist Church has set up a special account for anyone who would like to donate toward our missionary expenses. This account is only temporary in that when we are officially appointed as ABWE missionaries, then we will have an account set up with them. We will be appointed as ABWE missionaries upon successful completion of Candidate Seminar.

In the meantime we will have several times when we will need to travel. I’m already starting to set up dates to go share my testimony and sing at some churches where I have family or I have been to before. I’m not officially raising support, but this gives me an opportunity to make contact, encourage people, and share with them how God has been working in our lives. We will need help with the expenses of traveling to churches, the trip this weekend, the survey trip, and travel to Candidate Seminar.

As always, please don’t feel any pressure to give money. Your prayers and friendship are most important. However, if you would like to give some money, please send it to:

ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions
Bethel Baptist Church
402 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49007


Keep in touch.

We would love to hear how you are doing. The best way to get in touch with us is via this e-mail link. If you would like to send us an old fashioned paper letter, I promise one of us (or several of us) will write back to you. You can write to us at Parmenter Family 1512 Bank Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

Finally, let me know how we can pray for you. We want to support you with our prayers even as you are so kindly praying for us.

In Christ,

Adam Parmenter
On behalf of Marge and the kids

Czech

I've been corresponding with the missionary who is the country coordinator for the Czech Republic. He is getting a new work going there in the Southern Bohemia (a region of the Czech republic). There is only one Baptist church in Southern Bohemia.

ABWE reports that in a survey 60% of adults identified themselves as atheists. ABWE was invited in to work in Southern Bohemia to train national believers as maturing believers, leaders, and church planters.

I've been reading a little about Bohemia and learning what I can. Marge and I are very interested, and are scheduled to have a phone conversation with Pastor Ron Barnes who is the team leader/country coordinator in the Czech Republic.

Pray that if this is the best place for us to serve the Lord that God will clearly draw our family to the work there.

Adam

Baby It's Cold Outside

It's been wind chill of up to 20 below the last several days here in balmy Kalamazoo, Michigan. Marge and I are finishing up an assignment called "Grey Areas". It's a tape series about dealing with life style issues to which scripture does not make a definitive statement.

Obviously, this will be an issue requiring maturity on our part as we join with a team of missionaries who are from various background in a culture that is foreign to our own.

After that we will be studying up for our doctrinal oral exam. We also are supposed to review a book that is designed for study with new Christian. They would like us to go through it with a new Christian. We are going to go through it as a family first, and then think through who else we could study it with.

The other preparation work is financial. We are looking at our debt, which is small by most standards. If we sold our house today, we would likely pay it all off. We aren't waiting or that, so last night we sat down and planned out our savings and checking cash flow, tax returns, and some reimbursements that we'll be getting and what we'll be able to put toward debt.

We've cut out things like home internet access, and video rentals. We are also checking with each other before we spend any money not on the list. That's no fun. However, the cool thing is that we are planning on building up a small cash reserve. We haven't had that so that unexpected expenses always turn into credit card debt.

We'll shortly be developing a missions wish list, because there are certain items that we'll never be able to afford. We're discovering that there are people that want to help out. Things like a projector and lap top for Presentations at churches. The lap top will also help with studies, etc. It feels funny asking for gifts. I want to earn everything on my own, but I know that part of the way others participate in our missions journey is by giving. So, I'm learning how to receive.

By, the way, I'm setting up a missions newsletter. If you would like to receive it, please click this link, send me an e-mail, and request being added to the e-mail newsletter.

Adam

References and Reactions

It's funny how some of the people reacted to being asked to provide a personal reference to ABWE on Marge, myself or both. I felt honored that a brother-in-law of mine wanted to talk to me first and then give it some prayer. He wanted what he had to say to be "spirit lead". It humbled and honored me that he took it so seriously. Others were really excited to be part of us going to the mission field and couldn't wait to find out where we finally decided to go. For me there are a couple people who were willing to do the reference, but made it clear that they didn't understand why I would want to do such a thing.

Speaking of reactions, it has been curious the variety of reactions that I get. Frankly, I see myself as just an average guy. Really. I think that I'm fairly bright in some respects, but far from brilliant or monumental in any way. I will say that there are times recently when I've said or sung something as an act of humble service to God and it has come out as profound and moving. I credit that entirely to God's work. Even as a singer I am average. I am good at singing and song writing, but I am in no way great. I'm not using some kind of false modesty. Compared to singers or song writers in the business, the great ones stand far above me.

So, you can imagine that the fact that ABWE (or BGC for that matter) encouraged us in our pursuit of missions was a surprise. I kept expecting some one at some point to make us put on the breaks and say, "Why don't you just stay here in the states and support missions." That hasn't happened. Quite the contrary with ABWE, I have been looking at some of their various works and there are a number of opportunities for some one such as myself.

So, for me it is an honor and a privilege to be considered for service as a missionary. It is a natural extension of my relationship with Jesus Christ and how it is growing. Also, it is a response for my desire to have more time to do church stuff. I want to spend time mentoring and teaching people. That's my reaction to this whole journey to missions: surprise and gratitude.

There are some at work that are in "awe", so to speak, that I would even attempt such a thing. There is one that looks at me as sort of some kind of hero of the Christian faith. That always throws me to hear that kind of response. I think any Christian who has even a little desire to serve could turn the skills God has given them toward missionary service.

We have some friends and acquaintances that have told us, when you start raising support, come talk to us. We want to support you financially. That is humbling as well. For any missionary candidate it is important that they build a support team around them, but understanding what that is has taken a great deal of thought on my part.

I have to confess, that for me, my level of "support" to many missionaries has been their prayer picture card is stuck to my refrigerator by a magnet. Is that how those of us at "home" participate in the work of a missionary?

Our parents are cautiously supportive. For both sets of parents it makes them a little nervous to see their children and grand children flinging themselves into the unknown. This process all started in April, and at the very earliest we will be on the mission field in early 2008. I'm hoping that gives enough times for all of our friends and loved ones to get used to the idea, and for us to communicate a sense of why we are going and how they can help.

Adam

ABWE - Pealing Me Open Again

I feel like I'm getting pealed open again, but this time it's different. When Marge and I applied for the BGC Missions Assessment Conference, I felt like we were getting pealed open like a can of beans. It was a little unnerving.

As we are making application with ABWE it feels different. One reason it feels different is that I have done something like it already. I've kept making a point that the BGC event wasn't strictly for the purposes of screening BGC missionary candidates. That said, it was very much that.

Going into it Marge and I understood that they might very likely have an opening for us to consider. At the conference itself, however, of the five couple there, only one couple was specifically planning on pursuing a BGC missionary position.

Looking back on the Missionary Assessment Conference, it was three days well spent, but I still feel disappointment at the outcome. I'm not sure why. Perhaps a certain amount of embarrassment that they offered us a short term position and then the team in the field said that they didn't want us. Frustration that they so far have had nothing more to offer.It's hard when the assessors at the conference confirmed, "You are clearly called to missions", and so enthusiastically told us we would be perfect for a certain position, then that position fell through and the process stopped. I wish they would have said that they weren't sure what to do with us right away.

So, in a way, were approved as candidates for BGC with no position to which to go. They did throw out some other ideas, but nothing fit. In contrast, ABWE has such a broad spectrum of positions and countries that they are working with us to seek out God's will. That has been refreshing. They have a nurturing quality in their interactions. So we are nearly complete in the application process for ABWE.Some of the application information has been similar to what we completed for BGC. The nice thing is that all the forms are web forms that you "submit" online. So, I have a little web site that I log into to complete forms or check my progress. At the initial stage there is a preliminary application. If the prelim app hasn't been accepted by ABWE then the links for all the application stuff on the page don't work. Once the prelim app is accepted, then the long form application unlocks as do some other links.

The long form application asks about family, job, and church history. You also provide health history, and answer questions about major influences in your life. They ask you to provide at least 17 names for references. If you provide them with an e-mail address for a person then that person gets a web link via e-mail and the reference form is completed online.Another part of the application process is reading a text book on missions, a book on the history of ABWE, watching a DVD on ABWE, listening to a tape on conflict resolution and using a discipleship book with a new believer. I haven't done the discipleship book with the new believer yet. I don't really know any new believers.Probably the most unnerving part is the doctrinal exams. The first one is a multiple choice point and click 100+ question exam that you take online. Later we will be an oral examination before the ABWE Missions Moblizer. He is coming to Michigan to meet with us and others who are applying to be sent to missions by ABWE. They require your pastor to be present. I was told that during the oral exam they not only expect me to tell them what I believe, but have an idea of the general area in which a verse supporting my belief is found. Such as my saying Jesus and God are one is taught in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.Needless to say, Marge and I are studying vigorously.Also had to have some extra medical tests for stuff I would never have considered. I've never had a reason to get an aids test, and was a little embarrassed to get one.

We are nearly complete with the application process. The Missions Mobilizer, Don Trott, said that it can take three months to complete the application process or a matter of weeks. Other than a few things Marge and I will have completed it in about six weeks.I believe that we are on track for the Candidate Seminar in February. That is the final step before being "recognized" as a missionary by ABWE. Pray for Marge and I. We want to move in God's timing. If it's His timing, then all the pieces will be in place for us to attend the Candidate seminar.

Pray that God will help us make good financial decisions, and that we will grow in our faith and relationship with Christ.

Adam

ABWE

Well, after a number of weeks and a couple contacts, it looks like things have dried up for us at the Baptist General Conference. Marge and I felt we should work with them from the Missionary Assessment Center through whatever possibilities they might put forward.

They had just about one option that they really put forward to us as a reality.

In retrospect, their size may make it difficult for them to give us personal attention and to work with an out-of-box couple such as ourselves. They have about 150 missionaries and only two people for all of their missionary recruitment. Curt Hanson coordinates their career missionaries and Deb Castig coordinates their short term missionaries.

So, Marge and I returned to pursuing ABWE. Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. ABWE has 1,000+ missionaries and 2 staff just for working with and guiding applicants through the process. Those two staff also have an admin. and an assistant. In addition once a missionary is appointed, there is a training staff who develop a personal training plan for missionary to help build up any areas where growth is needed. This training includes mentoring, classes, and even financial or marital counseling as needed. ABWE also pursues continuing education for all their missionaries.

I'm not attempting to bash BGC. Only to point out that ABWE is more equipped to work with an a-typical couple such as ourselves. We aren't late twenties with a seminary degree. Nor am I a medical professional. I'm a self taught preacher/teacher and largely on-the-job trained project manager. I have very little in the way of credential to commend me to any organization.

ABWE didn't bat an eye at my lack of an official credential. Their expressed concern is to help us discover God's leadership for our lives. If God is directing us toward missions, they want to help us locate the work that best enables us to serve and glorify God.

That's cool. Marge and I have something to offer. Everybody does really. I'm excited that ABWE has the staff to provide personal attention and guidance.

Marge and I are filling in the applications right now. There are also reading assignments as well as a face-to-face doctrinal interview. I'm praying that all of this will be done enough to allow us to enter Candidate Seminar February 3-11, 2006.

I have great hope for our relationship with ABWE. I told Marge, if for some reason it doesn't work out to go with ABWE, then we need to hit the breaks and take a hard look at our lives. Maybe a hard look at my life. I always have this fear that my lack of formal schooling or experience will create a road block. I wonder if maybe my health (fibromyalgia) will give them pause, or maybe they've never sent an adult (or children for that matter) with Asperger syndrome to the field before.

These things are all in God's hands, but it is a worry that niggles at the back of my mind.

Keep me in your prayers.

Adam

Journey to the Field - Bump in the Road

What a weekend.

There was a specific assignment that Marge and I had been gearing up for, for weeks. They had asked us to consider running a mission house in Cebu, Philippines. We really, had given it serious consideration, and had sort fallen in for the idea.

unbeknownst to the Baptist General Conference (BGC) coordinator and us, one of the Philippine missionaries had found "the perfect" retired couple who had already agreed to run the mission house and was already in contact with the mission team in the Philippines.

So, when the BGC short term coordinator, Deb Castig, contact the team in the Philippines about us, they said no, they didn't want a family with two kids to come, they wanted the other couple.

So, we got that news on Wednesday.

It was a test of our commitment to trust God and continue toward missions. It also was a test of maturity. When I first got the news I was crushed. I had really got myself ready to do this thing. My immediate thought was, "forget the BGC! We'll just go somewhere else!" Fortunately I didn't say that to the BGC staff. Several hours later, I mellowed out and realized that God has been teaching me lately to look for the root issue and address it.

The root issue is that Marge and I felt we had formed a relationship with the BGC missions staff. So the next step would be to go to Arlington Heights (Illinois) anyway, and just ask lots of questions about what happens next.

It also occurred to me that Curt Hanson, BGC Career Missions coordinator, had spent three days with Marge and me during the MAC, but Deb Castig had only met me on the phone.

So, we went over there on Friday, and met with both Deb and Curt for several hours. It was pleasant, and my assessment is that Deb is a very competent and organized person. We discussed a number of possibilities of areas where we could use English in ministry and have opportunity to learn the language.

As always, my lack of credentials raises questions. There are possible teaching or preaching positions that I could do, but it would be a question of if the team on the field would balk at my lack of formal training.

So, now it's Monday, and my typical reaction would be to call Deb at BGC headquarters and say, "Any new ideas!". Instead, I've committed that I would simply wait, and pray for this week. If Deb Castig calls me, great! Marge and I both would like to have a target to consider, but we both know the target is the glory of God, and in every situation we can honor Him through simple trust.

I've been feeling bad lately, because I have trust, but I also have mistrust at the same time. Joy at following his design, and fear at leaping into the unknown. It made me feel fairly carnal. You know the drill, "OH, some Christian I am! I would rather stay, live a safe predictable life and earn good money." It didn't make sense that I had the desire and willingness to go anywhere and do anything for God, but had all these doubts and fears as well.

I read a great article that said (I'll paraphrase): Everyone knows how to do two things at once. Drive and eat lunch. Excited about a presentation and fearful about it at the same time. Yet, we feel like in matters of faith we have to be all or nothing. It shouldn't surprise us to have trust in God, and faith in His plan along with fears and doubts at the same time.

That was liberating to read. I am gripped with fear at times. I call them missions panic attacks. I'm leaving everything (or so it seems). We've talked about this as a family, and each of us can list things we will loose, things we will miss very much. Yet, I want to get on with it. I want to hit the road and start the work that God has for us. So, I am confident, and doubtful, eager and fearful all at once.

It is a tribute to how God has changed me over the years, that I'm willing to tolerate such ambiguity with out absolute panic or turning back to old "habits". I'm thankful too that God is "big enough" to know my desire to serve and please Him, and tolerate my failings as a patient heavenly Father.

Adam

Adam

Journey to the Field - It's Getting Serious

This Friday, Marge, the children, and I will travel over to Baptist General Conference (BGC)headquarters in Arlington Heights, IL to meet with Deb Castig. Deb is the BGC director of short term missions.

Short term missions encompasses both the two week type of trip as well as the one, two and three year assignments. We want to get more information on the process of pursuing such an assignment with them (See MAC - Day Three near the bottom of the page). The BGC may have a specific opening for us that fits in with their suggestions. The idea would be to get some experience serving in a foreign culture before committing to a career missionary assignment. For our case, my wife and I heartily agree with the wisdom of that.

What happens after that short term assignment? Only God knows and I'm certain we'll have more clarity as that particular time gets closer. For now, I am consumed with study and preparation for this next step.

Also this weekend: the family that held the position prior to us is currently engaged in ministry in Cincinnati Ohio. So this Saturday we are hoping to be able to visit with them as well.

Tonight (Tue 7-Nov-2006), I will be meeting with the missions committee at my home church, Bethel Baptist. We want to bring them up to speed on developments, and verify that they continue to support our efforts.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Four

Day four was quite brief. Curt Hanson gave a brief devotional to encourage us, we gathered for a group photo, and then each couple had a final interview in which the assessors gave us a printed summary of our their recommendations. It contained a summary of what they believed to be our strengths and areas for growth.

We hit the road and sailed straight home. My brilliant plan was to take I-94 all the way back. The first surprise was that I-94 literally detoured through Milwaukee and then onto Milwaukee's Lake Shore Drive. You could tell that the road crew had pieced together on ramps, off ramps, and laid new asphalt to shunt the highway into Milwaukee. It was something like a rollercoaster ride.

Note to self: Avoid I-94 in the Milwaukee area for about the next year. Major highway reconstruction.

We got stuck in a little bit of rush hour, but once on the highway were up and sailing again.

I'll say it again, it was a pivotal event in our life and we are still digesting what we learned about missions and discovered about ourselves. It has confirmed to us that God has called us to missions. We are taking additional steps to thoroughly consider that assignment that they suggested to us, and as soon as we think we are close to a decision I'll be completely clear about what it is.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Three

Wednesday, Day three of the MAC was the shortest. From 9 to noon we continued to work on our missions strategy. Several of us had hunted for more information on the internet, and found some helpful things.

The Wolof in Senegal are a chiefly Muslim people group that live primarily in remote villages, but also are present in major cities. It was discovered that while they practice the five pillars of Islam, they have mixed in a healthy dose of animism. They have daily habits and rituals intended to ward of evil spirits. It was noted that if a Wolof adult turns to Christianity, they are not only alienated from their family, but may be beaten or killed, and will likely have their children taken from them. Often Wolofs who are newly converted to Christ, escape to the city which tends to be less culturally restrictive. It was also discovered that the literacy rate among the Wolof people is only about 27% and that only about 30% of the Wolofs have access to clean water.

As part of our simulated missionary team we decided that as a simple act of mercy and a cultural bridge to the Wolof people we would work on a water project and literacy as well as teaching the Bible chronologically starting in Genesis.

during all of our planning couples were pulled out for two one hour interviews: A missions interview and a psychological interview. This disrupted the planning process, but as Curt Hansen mentioned there are regular disruptions on the missions field as couples return to the states or other needs arise.

By 2:30 our missions simulation team was ready with several PowerPoint presentations (including a slide show of the Wolof people), and presentations from our team. I thought the point was to see how realistic and reasonable of a plan we could develop. That wasn't really the main point. Curt got up and pointed said, "Yesterday, you didn't even know who the Wolof people were. Do you see how much can be accomplished in just a short time by a team?" It was quite remarkable. It had also given us a sense for the amount of little things that need to be planned. Things if missed will become road blocks or show stoppers for a mission team.

Here are some things that stood out to me:

• Understand the impact of your work on the indigenous culture. A Wolof could be persecuted or killed for turning to Christianity. What should a missionary do to prepare for such an event? Do you just charge in full speed and if people are killed or displaced, Oh well? Or is there another way? One suggestion was to first set up a support system in the city, so that if needed a Wolof could find refuge there. The other suggestion was that by building bridges first through a water project and literacy training, the misisonaries would be able to gain some trust and acceptance. However, all that said, there may always be the risk of dangerous consequences for Wolof people who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They need to know that so that they can make their decision with their eyes open.
• Americans are viewed with suspicion. Individuals from Arab, Asian and even Latin American countries are more easily able to integrate into Muslim dominated countries. Americans feeling called to such countries need to enter in a creative way or partner with others who will have an easier time entering.
• I also saw how a team of focused, committed people will tend to drift into complimentary strength areas. When the focus is placed on the goal on not on whose in charge or who has control.

The Missions Interview was conducted by Curt Hansen along with Steve and Kay Abelman. Steve and Kay spent many years in church planting in the Philippines. They asked probing questions about our call, our health, any concerns about our children and our children's needs. It was quite practical. At the end of it, they made some suggestions for a possible field of service and approach to missions life.

What they suggested was along the following lines:
Because of our age, health concerns and lack of cross cultural experience, we would be well served to first commit to a short term assignment that would allow us to minister in English and have access to support systems that we may need (i.e. medical, educational, etc.).

Steve suggested that we consider serving at the mission's guest house in the Philippines. It's in a major metropolitan area which would have more medical and educational resources. Also we would be able to start out right away in English. We could make a one or two year commitment, get our feet wet and then go from there. We would run the guest house, and would also have opportunity to teach at the Bible school.

That was the third person who suggested something like being a house parent or running a guest house. Another mission agency rep. suggested much the same thing. It was not what I was expecting, but I listened carefully just the same.

The psychological interview was revealing, but not shocking. No skeletons in our closet, but there are areas that the pressures of living in an unfamiliar culture could exacerbate. We both have parts of our selves to strengthen.

After the day came to a close we both felt a little emotional and tired, so after a nap we went to dinner. We discovered a little place called 318 The Mill. It was a little coffee house that just so happened to be featuring a jazz combo. It was a great change of pace.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Looking Back

Whew.

I'm a little worn out. Marge and I came straight back on Thursday. I'm happy that I had already taken the following day off of work, because Friday I just sort of napped and recovered. The day evaporated. Here it is nearly lunch on Saturday, and I've just started rolling.

So, I'll recap days three and four, but first I have to take a look back at the completed event. It ranks as one of the most intensely revealing and rewarding events of my life. Frankly, it was almost as if Marge and I had left the American culture and were at some missions assignment. Perhaps part of that was being with others who held a similar passion and love for the lost people outside of the U.S.

It feels strange to be back. I feel like I don't belong.

We received confirmation to continue toward missions. They issued some cautions due to our age, medical history, etc. They also let us know of some areas in Baptist General Conference (BGC) missions for which we would be will suited.

I thought that so much would be clear to me once I returned from the MAC. So much is quite clear, but not what I expected.

So, I promise tomorrow I'll go back to the MAC day three and follow the story all of the way through as best as I remember it, but I wanted to end this post with something I noticed yesterday: quiet.

I was driving the car to run an errand, and it occurred to me that during the entire 10 hour drive home and throughout the morning on Friday, my mind was absent the normal chatter and scenarios that normally pack my brain.

Instead there was an odd silence. It left me strangely alert and ready [not completely certain what I mean by that]. A verse came into my head, "Be still and know that I am God." It was a moment of pleasure: freed from worry or fretting, wondering or planning. Moments to simply, be. It lead me to spontaneous worship as I drove. I often wonder if other drivers think I'm some kind of crazy man as a speak and gesticulate to no one visible in the vehicle with me.

I just googled on the phrase, "Be still and know that I am God." It is found in the Bible in Psalm 46:10. Psalm 46:10 says some other things as well:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. . ."

The Psalm goes on to paint a picture of people groups who have rejected the one true God attempting to wage war against Him. Here is how God dealt with them: "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted."

I know that it is not policitally correct to call non-Christians "heathen" nor is it correct in America to say any disparaging remark about other faiths, but there is a universal truth here: It is God's perspective, values, and laws that are final. No other faith system is valid from God's perspective, and there really are no other God's. Before God every other system political or religious melts into nothing for it lacks a foundation in God's Word.

The one true God is so expansive and amazing that in the Bible He is given many descriptive titles. He is described as the Lord of Hosts, a commander of a powerful army, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

What does this have to do with "Be still and know that I am God?" First, God's Word, the Bible, is the truth and without it all are lost. Secondly, God does not lack the power to break through any system of thought with this life giving truth of His. It is not I who must some how convince others of the truth, but it is God Himself that does so by the power of His Word.

There is no reason for me to worry about where God is sending us and if we will be successful. It is my role to enjoy the honor of being called to God's service. It is my priviledge to serve and labor, watch God working through and around me, and render back to Him the praise for His abundant mercy.

One other thing, if you have never experienced the calm, stillness it is a wonderful thing. There is so much fear and fretting in our world, but none of it is out of God's control or beyond His ability to intervene.

"The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Two

I don't imagine for a second that I can provide a complete or knowledgable summary of the day. Hopefully I can give you an indication of what we did with our time. Today's session generated much food for continued thought and consideration. This week of study and assessment is clearly a starting point as well as a point of clarification.

Today was the long day. We started at 8:30 am and won’t wrap up until about 8:30 pm. I’m really coming to enjoy the assessors. The presenters possess a wealth of insight born out of years of success and failure in a non-American culture.

One of our first activities of the day was to review an assessment tool that indicates how each of us prefers to work in groups. Marge and I both tested as fairly colaborative. This is neither good nor bad, it just is. Knowing our natural style will help us when we are in a team setting, and will help us understand when we need to adopt a different style (as best we can).

The largest chunk of the morning focused on the impact of culture.

Our job as missionaries is to take the truth of the Bible into the culture and communicate it in a culturally relevant way. The presenter/assessors referred to it as contextualization. Contextualization as a practice has caused some controversy in Evangelical circles, because taken to an extreme it can become syncretism (my opinion. maybe more on that later). That said, Jesus always spoke using methods that were deeply embedded in the Jewish culture (makes sense, as to His humanness he was born a Jew). Other Bible writers wrote within their own cultural context. The truth of the Bible, however is supracultural: Above culture.

The presenter made a striking comment, “God is beyond culture, God’s truth is beyond culture, we are not.”

He also read a story from a book called “Anthropological Insights for Missionaries”. In summary the story recounted a man in a tribe that practiced polygamy. The Christian church in the area condemned polygamy as a sin. The tribal man had two wives and third wife he had taken in when his brother died. The man claimed to be a Christian, and had several thought provoking things to say. One, he said, “My pastor prays that I will give up polygamy so I can become a church member [which would mean divorce for two of his wives], my wives pray that I will never become a church member.” The other comment was this, “The Bible condemns divorce, but not polygamy.” In a society in which polygamy is normative, and of practical benefit what do you say to men and women who turn to the Christian faith? Divorce all but one of your wives? Which wife? From scriptural principles how do you counsel this man?

My guess is that you would quote this Bible verse, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. . .” That indicates that a husband has a sacrificial love for His wife, caring for her and giving himself for her nurturing and growth as a person and (hopefully) Christian believer. How could a man serve his wife if he divorces her, and sends her away?

Weird, huh?

Missions Reality Check, was about counting the cost, before committing to the field. Realistically taking stock of the demands of life in an unfamiliar culture. Scripture says to “count the cost.”

What are some of the difficulties?
Food: In some cases refusing certain foods causes deep offense, and cause the missionary heart burn.
Climate
Personal and Physical Danger
Disease and Sickness
Lack of emergency services (no ambulance, not necessarily the same level of skilled care)
Raising children on the field and how the culture reacts to them
Distance from extended family
Sense of isolation because of a unfamiliar culture
In some cases isolated from other Christians
Frustrations of learning another cultures psychology, sensibility and modes of communication
Political unrest
Observing the locals that have embraced Christianity being persecuted for their new found Christian faith.
A missionary’s actions or intentions being misunderstood

He closed with a discussion of II Corinthians 1:8-10 which spoke of being pressed beyond what we can handle, but God providing the grace for us to over come challenges. There is that balance between practical assessment and an act of faith.

Just before dinner we did a conflict mode analysis tool that is designed to reveal how each of us deals with conflict.

After dinner, we began a missions strategy simulation. We were given the task of going as a missions team to the Wolof tribe in Senegal. In fact, before I go to bed I need to do some research. It was a blessing to have in our group individuals who had already spent time on the missions field and specifically with remote tribes.

The missions strategy simulation will take most of the day tomorrow. We will actually finish it by presenting a PowerPoint of our strategy and plan. During that time as we are all working together as a team, periodically couples are called out for assessment sessions with one of the psychologists, and a BGC mission assessor. This breaks the continuity of the team, but also simulates the fluidity of field work itself.

That’s a quick summary.

I’m sure after this is all done I’ll be writing about this for a while.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Day One

It is a little after 10 pm.

We are sharing the MAC (Missionary Assessment Center) event with four other couples. Each couple was asked to name five adjectives for their spouse. In each case the wives used the word passionate as one of the adjectives for their husbands. I’m certainly guilty of that. The first day started at noon and concluded after dinner together at about 6:30pm.

It was mostly a get acquainted in the sense that each couple took 30 min. to describe their testimony, their call to missions, and to answer questions. It was a powerful and touching time. We also got to know the assessors. They all seem knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to provide us with useful information.

A touching moment was when one of the individuals described having to hide under the bed to pray and secretly read the Bible so that the mom and dad would not know. This person had an unquenchable desire for God, and as a child risked punishment to seek Him.

Tonight we filled out another personality profile that we will review as a groutomorrowow. The other test instruments will be reviewed and discussed with each couples privately with an assessor. One of the psychologists discussed why she believes the psychological testing is of God and an important part of the path to missions. She quoted the scripture about how a man building a tower counts the cost before he lays the foundation in order that he be able to complete the project. She said, a full awareness may help rule out some area of missions, but more importantly point to where the mission candidate will be able to best serve. She also noted that there is ainordinatelyly high number of missionaries that leave the field due to a variety of stressors.

I remember a couple weeks ago when Marge and I had dinner with Don Trott from ABWE, he said that their work (the mission staff) is to help us determine the placement that will allow us to best and most fully achieve God’s glory and purpose. I think that is what is happening here. I look forward to continued assessment and discovery.

The conversations during break and dinner have been just as rewarding as the sessions. Had dinner with some veteran missionaries who know work with churches on their missions programs. Also enjoyed conversation with the other candidates. Three of the couples brought their babies with them. The babies are a pleasant distraction. Some of the candidates had already been in the field. Several were born and raised on the mission field. One candidate was a poor child growing up in a Latin American country and is now working to spread the Gospel and alleviate poverty. Over and over the point was made that poorly trained missionaries who don’t understand the culture can do more harm than good. They stressed the importance of listening and discovering the context and discovering what the local believers or culture wants. Missionaries need to live out the question, "How can I help?" If the indigenous church exists in an area we need to support and equip them in the work of reaching their own people.

After the session Marge and I went back to our room and read a little bit. Marge leaned back against the head board of the bed as she was reading and it fell off of the wall. The hotel manager kindly moved us to a better room. We watched a DVD on my laptop and now we are settling in for a restful night's sleep.

When we first started getting prepared for this event, we thought that through it we were going to make a final go or no-go decision on missions. That is not the case. We have already made the go decision. Now we are hoping that God will give us a little more clarity on a people group and the work that he would have us do.

More tomorow.

Adam

Journey to the Field

Marge and I have been thinking through and process what we believe to be God’s call on our lives for missions since April. You’d think that there wouldn’t be that much work to do in order to make such a decision. I’ve been known to say, “Is you is or is you aint?” Nike says “Just do it”.

So what does it take to make such a decision, and is that decision characterized by a yes or no?
There isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s not like flipping on a light switch or signing on the dotted line, but a series of decisions, an extended time of assessing me, my life, and my relationship with God. So as part of that my wife and I registered to attend an event hosted by the Baptist General conference (BGC). The event is called the Missionary Assessment Center. From the schedule on the BGC website, it looks like there are several of these each year hosted by BGC churches in a variety of areas.

The registration form…… it was more like a registration process (ordeal?) was as rigorous as if we were applying to be BGC missionaries. In order to register for the event there was a three part application. The first part was a 10 page General information form covering everything from job and school history, family history (including what they do), health, giftedness, doctrinal beliefs, etc. The second part was two write a two page testimony of your Christian faith, and the third section was a set of confidential question about everything “Do you have a criminal record” to “where you sexually active before marriage”.

After the registration packet we had to provide about 15 references. Our references where asked thorough questions about our character and faith. Finally we completed three professional personality and marriage tests that will be assessed by a professional counselor.
Marge looked at me this morning and said, “These people already know a lot about us.” I think that there are about eight people attending this (don’t know for sure), and then a BGC staff and contracted professionals who make up a team of “assessors”. That is truly one aspect of this event: To give us an unbiased, undiluted assessment of our readiness and giftedness for the life of a foreign missionary. I’m hoping and expecting that they will ask a lot of hard questions, and be quite forthright about the areas in which Marge and I will struggle. Moving to a culture foreign to my own will create stress, regardless of how much I may love it or love what I do there. Working in ministry in a third world country also creates stress. What am I saying; being in ministry in the U.S. is stressful. Pastors and church leaders get bashed around all of the time, and that’s by their own church members.

So, it seems to me that “Forewarned is forearmed”, and hopefully we will be given some wise counsel on how to best prepare and guard ourselves.

So, Marge spent several weeks arranging for the children’s care in our absence. She arranged for a woman from church to come stay with us and provided her with very detailed information. I charted out our route to get there and made sure that Marge got all the info on the hotel, etc.
We said goodbye to the children after the morning service at Bethel and sent them off to Sunday school. It was actually easier for them to say goodbye at church than at home. The morning service was a rich send off. The music seemed to be moving and subtle and drew me toward a sense of worship even though I was playing drums. I especially enjoyed it since Michael has taken up the percussion (conga, tambourine, shaker) while I holding down the drums. It’s been an opportunity for me to teach and learn as Michael has a growing musical ability that compliments mine. There was a song called Grace Flows Down that sounds like a touching jazz ballad to me. It’s very smooth, and the lyrics are such that it would be easy for the percussion to prove distracting. Michael held down the percussion with the conga, and I abandoned the drums in favor of shaker and light decoration with the tambourine. It add to the soothing qualities of the song in a way a smooth jazz song can help you unwind. The lyrics took that soothing quality and steered it toward the comfort of God’s grace flowing down to us. I feel privileged to be part of music in church that way.

After a challenging message from Moises Gomes (missionary in Portugal), Marge and I said our goodbyes, gave a friend a ride home (it was on our way), and hit the highway. That first turn on to the highway was the hardest part. Driving on to the highway felt like hitting the point of no return. It wasn’t really, but it felt like it.

Other than getting stuck in traffic near Chicago, we sailed along enjoying each others company. We talked our hearts out, and it was really good. I can’t even remember everything we spoke about, but it is just so good to spend time with my wife, and talk through . . . . everything.
We made it all the way to St. Paul in one shot, enjoyed a swim and had a great night’s sleep.
This morning I got up early and worked out, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and time to read, and think in our room.

We’re about to head for lunch and then on to a noon start for the MAC. I’m nervous about it. I’ll let you all know how it turns out.

Adam

The Last Hoorah?

I rolled into the parking lot at the Kent County Fair grounds at about 8:45 am (ugh) right as Steve Reid was pulling into the lot. Steve Reid is something of a local Christian music promoter and the expert on the Southwest Michigan Christian music scene. Steve has been a good friend of Tim Hamm (Sojourn bass player) and of all of us in the band.

My son Michael and I were gathering a few things out of the trunk of my car, and Steve said, "
So, this is the last hoorah?"

I stopped for a second and said, "Huh?". . . . "Oh! yah. I suppose it is. I'm sure the band will do something again in the future. I said that too several people. It could take a year or two for us to get to the field, I reasoned, certainly Sojourn will get back together for something.

The rest of the band didn't talk that way.

I don't know how I feel about that. I don't doubt my decisions, but it feels so strange to think that Sojourn would ever end. I am experiencing this mixture of hope and sadness. Oh yes, and fear. Am I crazy? What guarantee do I have of success? How do I know that my case of fibromyalgia won't flair up and incapacitate me as it did my oldest brother? What if my children don't adapt well to the mission field? What if? What if?

I have no guarantee of success. I must be an idiot. I'm nearly 42 years old. I'm supposed to be settling in, not uprooting and changing course!

I have no guarantee of success. Accept that God has a different definition of success than I do. God see with an eternal perspective. So, during the 1700s, when a group of missionaries followed God's call, but some died of local disease within months of arriving where success or failures. How about the family that returned from the mission field after only two years because their baby had an illness?

God does not judge success or failure on the same outcomes as I do. He looks for a willing heart, an obedient servant, and His perspective is eternal. In view of eternity things must look different.

Back here on earth, I'm struggling to come to terms that my obedience pleases Him. My struggle to know and enjoy Him pleases Him. If sending us off to a foreign field so that we can "fail" and return is a means by which He tests and displays our obedience and willingness to follow, then that is what will please Him most.

I think I got that one right, but it doesn't make sense to me yet.

Here's what I do know for sure. It's something that the Pastor at my church has been teaching me. God is more concerned about the process than the outcome. God is pleased when I struggle to be like Him, to please Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him. That the outcome of my efforts is noticeably flawed or mistakes are made is the definition of being a human who is not in heaven yet. So as my family makes the effort to pray together about missions and take steps of faith it will be the process of seeking God with which the Lord is pleased, not if I goof up the outcome or not.

Sounds crazy maybe.

What do you think?

Adam

How could I ever give up Sojourn? - From Adam

Some of my deepest thoughts and highest aspirations have crept out of my inner mind and into Sojourn lyrics with the help of the guys in the band. For nearly 15 years we have enjoyed music, laughed, traveled, and shared an important ministry. Like really true friends we have
irritated, supported, confronted, and stayed faithful through good and bad.

Sojourn was born before all but one of our children. So, for our families, Sojourn has been the soundtrack of our marriages. It has been a consistent privilege and at times burden through changing times, jobs, health and finances.

So, how could I leave something this good? Is it because I am pursuing something so much better? No. I've fought the call to go for many years. It has been a good fight as God has refined me, matured me, and given me a closer walk with Him. Sojourn is both a ministry and a tool that God used to help me grow up in Christ.

I believe that God is now taking all those words and ideas that I hold to be true and asking me to live them out in a new arena. Am I willing to give up everything, even Sojourn in order to dive into a largely uncertain future? Am I willing to give up an excellent job and risk failure in ministry? Do I trust God to do something new?

You see, in my growing relationship with Christ, I see the next level for me is to learn to rest on faith in God, and follow this calling. I believe God is calling me and my family to the mission field to teach men, women, and children the Word of God, and (more importantly) to teach them how to teach the Word of God others. To do this involves walking away from some very good things, and some wonderfully rich relationships.

Yet, I and my family are compelled to follow this new path.

I am grateful for the opportunity to follow God into the mission field regardless of where it will be (don't know yet), and I am so very grateful that God let me be in Sojourn.

Dean Newell (guitar/vocals) is a life long friend, example, and in many ways, a spiritual mentor. I am grateful for his example and for being the voice of reason in Sojourn and often in my life.

Tim Hamm (bass) has been my friend for 14+ years. Tim is my reality check. He doesn't mince words, but deals it straight. I admire that. I may be the "front man" and a co-founder of the band, but Tim has become the leader, and under his leadership Sojourn's level of quality and artistry has flourished. I also appreciate Tim's leadership in the local Christian music scene. I know that he is a blessing to other local Christian musicians.

John Chapman (drums)is the newest guy in Sojourn, but has become a close friend and inspiration. He has a simple, uncomplicated faith. His positive outlook helps balance my natural cynicism. I've enjoyed it.

Thanks guys.

I love you all. Guys aren't supposed to say that and I doubt I'll say it to your face, but once in 15 years it should at least be in print.

To all of you that have enjoyed Sojourn over the years, thank you. It's because of you that we had a reason to show up and play our music (sometimes for 1, sometimes for 100).

I'll keep blogging, and keep you posted on what comes next.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." numbers 6:24-26

Adam Parmenter
The Journey Continues