STm Devo 8/21/2026

 The travel portion of our next short-term mission begins in 147 days.

We must be laser-focused on the "why" of what we are doing.

First, missions are a part of God's character.

God has a mission mindset. God loves the whole world, including every ethnicity and culture.

Second, "what" are we bringing when we travel overseas on mission?

We must understand the second reason for going on mission. Part of this question raises a related concern: Why not send money to the people rather than spend it on travel? We are not bringing God to the Dominican Republic. He has always been and will be at work there and everywhere.

When Christ was on earth, He could have put on a heavenly show of power to bring people to knowledge of Him; He could have miraculously cured every disease, fed every family, and thrown off the Roman oppressors with a flick of His wrist.

But He didn't.

Because the power is in the relationship. And you cannot buy relationships.

Sure, we could send money for all the medications, building materials, and hospital equipment. But God has clearly explained how He desires to bring people into a relationship with Him:

    "How then shall they call on Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe         in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how         shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

        'HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

    Romans 10:14-15

But you may say (as I have to myself), "I'm not a preacher or a teacher! I am not eloquent or a Bible scholar!"

The God of the universe, creator of sunrises, hummingbirds, cows, rainclouds, oceans, mountains, and everything else, knows exactly who you are and exactly what He created you to do. 

So, what are we bringing?

We are bringing ourselves. We are reaching out to be Jesus' hands and feet. That may look like mixing concrete alongside Dominicans, cuddling babies, replacing the thatching on the cabaña, writing names on bags, playing with children, painting walls, walking through villages, hugging old ladies, and showing people from one station to another in barrio clinics. Don't know Spanish? No problem. Smiles work in any language. 

What is the next step?

Pray. Ask God if this is His opportunity for you.

If His answer is yes, then:

• Make sure your passport is valid until at least September of 2027
• Fill out an application (available at church or via email/text)
• Consult with your doctor or travel clinic concerning malaria prophylaxis

August 13, 2026 Devotion and Important Information

 Psalm 46 begins:

    1. "God is our refuge and strength

        A very present help in trouble.

    2. Therefore we will not fear, 

        Even though the earth be removed, 

        And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

    3. Though its waters roar ad be troubled,

        Though the mountains shake with its swelling."

Then concludes:

    10. "Be still, and know that I am God;

        I will be exalted among the nations,

        I will be exalted in the earth!"

Today, as I continued my study in Psalms, I was struck by the parallel with Psalm 104: 

    10. "He sends the springs into the valleys;

        They flow among the hills.

    11. They give drink to every beast of the field;

        The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

    12. By them the birds of the heavens have their home

        They sing among the branches. 

    13. He waters the hills from His upper chambers;

        The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.

    14. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,

        And the vegetation for the service of man,

        That he may bring forth food from the earth."

The mission to the Dominican Republic is now 154 days away. At first glance, this seems like a long time, but preparations are already underway. Very soon, we need firm confirmations from those who will be on the travel team, and I will begin looking for airline tickets. Many interlocked pieces must fall into place before the travel team boards the plane in January. 

But these verse remind me that the LORD is in control. He is in control of everything. He created everything: mountains, birds, seas, and each one of us. Our duty is to obey His will. To do that, we must spend time listening to Him through our Bible study, prayer, and gathering together. 

I also read, "The sun is always rising somewhere on the earth" (Sacred Margins by Steve Laube). The LORD is ultimately unknowable, yet He reveals His majesty and power every moment of every day, everywhere on the earth!

So, we ask that each of you consider prayerfully what your calling is for this next mission to the Dominican Republic. The deadline for the application is September 20. 

And, stay flexible!

~Roxanne

Good Evening, 

Some important information and upcoming dates:

• Please check your passport's expiration date and make sure you apply for a new one if it expires between now and July 28, 2027.
• Please reach out to Roxanne, Deb, Lynn, or Brit if you have not recieved an application as they need to be returned by September 20, 2026. 
• We are looking for volunteers to help with the Children's Clothing sale  for setup, the sale, and tear down at Grace Bible Church September 17 -19. Everything is only $0.25 and proceeds go toward purchasing the medicine for our mission. 
• Our Short-term team meetings at Grace Bible Church start around 12:45 pm:
• Sunday, October 18
• Sunday, December 13
• Sunday, January 10: Team commissioning during the 10 am worship service with a meeting afterward
• Friday, January 15: Leave for Chicago
• Saturday, January 16 through Saturday, January 23: Mission to the Dominican Republic
• Sunday, February 14: Team Debrief

Blessings, 

Deb

James 1:2-4 

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Jan 6, 2026 STM Devo and Important Information

 1 Thessalonians 5

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

And that is the only way to be ready for our mission, the only way to be ready for life.

This is still a busy time of year. Though the holidays are past, preparation for our mission is in full swing now: packing and repacking, notifying family of where we'll be, writing in your Mission Journal, making sure you have malaria prophylaxis, keeping your passport in a safe place....

But these verses point to the most important activities: rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks.  If our hearts and minds are not prepared, it will not matter if we are physically prepared. 

My fall has been extremely busy: we took a vacation in October; my brother passed away relatively unexpectedly in November; then we were on mission to Ukraine in December. The of course there were the Christmas get-togethers with family. I had many personal struggles: flying to Florida to hekp my sister-in-law and niece with funeral arrangements, getting a nasty head cold the last several days in Ukraine, etc.  And God reminded me when I was busy in my own pity-party, that I should rejoice. Rejoice? When my head feels like it is going to explode, when my sister-in-law is screaming at me whle I am driving, the airline losing my suitcase, driving in the absolutely horrible 8 lane bumper-to-bumper Tampa traffic??

Yes. The Scripture is clear: Rejoice ALWAYS

That command is followed by the way to be able to do that: PRAY without ceasing

Our team could be made up of many physically healthy bodies, but if our soul, spirit, and mind are not prepared, there is no point in going. 

So:

Rejoice always

Pray without ceasing

In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

Things to remember - 

    *Sunday, Jan 11 Team Commissioning, potluck, and packing party at Grace Bible Church

    *Friday, Jan 16 meet in Chicago last weigh in of suitcases (repacking if needed)

    *Saturday, Jan 17 through Sat, Jan 24 Mission with Solid Rock in San Juan de la Manguana Dominican Republic

~Roxanne    

Beautiful Feet on a Mission

 Beautiful Feet on a Mission 

Oies Hermosos en Misión

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, 

who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation...."

-Isaiah 52:7

""Qué hermosas son sobre los montes los pies del trae buenas nuevas,

del que anuncia la paz, del que trae buenas noticias, del que anuncia la salvación...""

- Isaías 52:7

"And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"

- Romans 10:15

"¿Y cómo predicarán si no son enviados? Como está escrito:

¡Cuán hermosos son los pies de los que anuncian la paz, de los que anuncian los que buenas nuevas!" 

- Romanos 10:15

As you step onto Dominican soil, remember - you've been sent. every smile, every prayer, and every act of service carries the good news of Jesus. These verses remind us that our beauty in God's eyes isn't about perfection or performance - it's about obedience and love, service, and sacrifice. 

This will be my ninth mission trip to the Dominican Republic, and each time I go, I'm struck again by the joy of the Dominican people - how deeply they appreciate our presence, our prayers, and the simple act of showing up to serve. Our team - some familiar faces, some new - each has beautiful feet as we share God's love in tangible ways. 

Our medical mission is a lifeline for so many, meeting physical needs while pointing hearts toward eternal hope. The people we serve look forward to our "feet" arriving each year - not because of who we are, but because of the love we bring in the name of Christ. 

Prayer: 

Father, thank You for sending us. Help us to walk humbly, love deeply, and bring Your good news wherever we go. Make our feet beautiful in You sight. Amen

~Dorothy 

Specific Prayer Requests for our team:

• For bold confidence to share the gospel with one person, this can be while preparing, traveling, or in the DR
• May we be able to keep costs down to be better stewards of God's resources
• May we be consistent in our quiet time, putting God first, and that our actions, words, and attitudes reflect His love and grace

Upcoming Dates:

• November 16 - Mission team meeting/potluck. A deposit of $600 is due. 
• December 14 - Mission Team meeting/potluck. Please bring the suitcase you plan on using for supplies so we can start packing after our meal and meeting. 
• January 11 - Team Commissioning, usually towards the end of the service, which starts at 10 am. We will have our meeting/potluck afterwards and finish packing supplies and weighing them to ensure they are under 50 pounds. 
• January 16, 9 am - for those leaving from Portage we will meet at Grace Bible Church to pray and pack the bus, head to Janesville to gather more of our team on our way to Chicago.
• January 17 - travel day from Chicago to Santo Domingo, we have received some airfare quotes and are prayerfully considering the correct one. 
• January 24 - travel day from Santo Domingo to Chicago.

STM Devotion for October 30, 2025

 "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For also by one Spirit we were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were made to drink of one Spirit. For also the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,' it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,' it is for this reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But God has appointed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?"  1 Corinthians 12:12-19

God's design for our bodies is truly extraordinary- 206 bones, 640 muscles, and over 37.6 billion celss all functioning perfectly in harmony. This underscores the significance of every member of Christ's body, with no one more or less important. Imagine how ineffective a church would be if everyone tried to serve as the pastor- lacking helpers, encouragers, or adminstrators- and if our connection through the Holy Spirit was only local. When one of us isn't functioning in our God-given gifts, others feel the effects. In contrast, when we each serve in the way God has blessed us, we see the Spirit working in ways that might go unnoticed. This is similar for our team, made up of many members from across the United States and the Dominican Republic, with most or all of God's spiritual gifts present. It is a blessing to see how God unites us each year, encouraging growth and preparing us to share the gospel with bold confidence. 

There are 78 days left until our travel day to Santo Domingo, and we are heavy in the prayer and preparation stage. The search for airline tickets will begin to ensure we obtain the best available price. We need to ensure that we have everyone's correct legal name, including middle name, on our travel team. Please let us know by Saturday, November 1, if our spelling of your name is correct as it appears on your passport. Additionally, confirm whether you will be traveling with us from Chicago to Santo Domingo on January 17, 2026, and returning from Santo Domingo to Chicago on January 24, 2026. 

If you are looking to extend your arrival or departure date, we will need to know this and the dates before Saturday, November 1, to ensure accurate and better pricing. Please also let me know if you have an allergies or diet restrictions so we can ensure the guest house is aware and prepared. 

Our next short-term mission team meeting/potluck is on November 16, we will go over how to register on the Solid Rock International website and some other resources at this meeting. 

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and throguh all and in all."  Ephesians 4:4-6