And they're off...

 This morning, I was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to meet with "the flyers" at the church and join with Pastor Jeremy and several members of the congregation in praying over the away team as they made their final preparations and began the logistical intricacies of deploying to the Dominican Republic. There were smiles, hugs, last minute instructions to delegated ministry helpers, and encouragements and commitments to pray for, with, and over those embarking on this trip. Those who have made this journey before shared testimony from years past of how God had used the timing of the team's arrival to meet the needs and opportunities generated by everything from swarms of bees to cattle stampedes and mishaps with faulty hand tools. Just to be able to be present this morning and bear witness to the weighty excitement of the missionaries during that final hour before they loaded up for the long ride to the airport was a blessing in and of itself.

 As final preparations were being made, we received a message from a member of a missions team out of the Philippines, sending along their prayer support and some scriptural encouragement. For their benefit (as I know they will be able to see this at some point), I will include that message here, scriptures first.

 "Therefore my people shall know My name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: and bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God reigneth!" -Isaiah 52:6-7

 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. he will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." -Psalm 121

•  "As you go and preach the gospel to the people of the Dominican republic, may the Lord bless you and protect you and your families."

  Let us join in prayer for our friends and siblings in Christ as they go about answering the call on their lives to reach into the lives of all people with the sure hope, joy, and healing of the true gospel of Jesus Christ; first that they are protected to take on this work safely, secondly that they are able to sufficiently meet the creature needs presented by their interactions with the local people, and third that the "sowing and watering" of the right administration of the word of God not be returned void- that they are successful in LOVING PEOPLE TO LIFE IN CHRIST. 

God bless you all! Know that our love and prayers go with you!