Wednesday, July 28, 2010
All Over the World in 120 Days!
Wow, what a past four months! March - Had the privilege of leading a wonderful team to Haiti to love precious orphaned children after the earthquake, Later in March - traveled to Russia to plan next five years partnership with the Kursk and Belgorod region bishops, June - Led a team back to Russia to train over 50 pastors and leaders in Small Group ministry and reaching their regions for Christ, July - Capped the summer off with a trip to Alaska shadowing 2 new trip leaders as they lead two teams of 7 & 8 that most were on their first mission trip ever. I'm so thankful for the Lord keeping me safe and healthy on all my journeys for the sake of the gospel and for His glory! On all my journeys, 35,000+ miles; healthy, I lost no bags, no major turbulence, no delays. Amazing! So much was done over the past months to set up relationships with churches and missionaries around the world. The ground work was laid so that many teams will be able to return in the future and make immeasurable eternal advances for the Kingdom. Thanks for all your prayers. Love you all. Joe
Monday, July 12, 2010
Alaska Day 1 - We made it!
Finally here! Great day though! My two team leaders, Robin my bride and Jane are doing a great job. Robin has a team of 8 and Jane has a team of 7. Everything went smooth all day thank you Lord! Great flights to Philly and Anchorage. Everyone received their luggage. Graceworks our missions partner here in Anchorage are on the ball to. They were right at the airport to pick us up. Brought us to our host church named "Calvary". We got unpacked and then had some nice buffalo chili chased by some sweet tea and banana pudding. Everyones tired. Breakfast at 730am then orientation. Ministry time will begin right afterward. It's been so good to see my brother in the Lord and Graceworks director Scott Kirby. You gotta love this guy. He also just told me he and i are headed out to the remote tribe where our mens team will be ministering to next week. Nice early morning little prop plane flight after breakfast should be interesting. Keep us in your prayers. Check out the pics below from the plane today as we were preparing to land.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Reflections of Russia
 |
| From My Blog |
Wow! Already one week since our team returned from Russia. It's so hard sometimes to put into words all that you experience on a mission trip. So many aspects of your life are effected - spirit, soul, and body! I think that's why returning from such an objectively successful missions trip is so difficult. You are completely exhausted spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. But that's the way it should be shouldn't it? Giving your all, being completely poured out for the Lord for His purpose and glory. I better understand more and more why Jesus was so tired at times. It was because he so poured himself out for people and their needs spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
 |
| From My Blog |
Great missions trips challenge me to live more like this everyday in normal life. Poured out for Christ at home as a husband and father, at work with my co-workers and congregation, in my neighborhood, at the gym, everywhere with all people. So at the end of each day I collapse exhausted from being used of the Lord in the lives of all. Pray for me in this, it's so easy to slip back in the rut of selfishness though, well at least for me!
You know, for as long as I can remember, since way back to 1990 when I gave my life completely to Christ, I have had a special love in my heart for Russia. Somewhere along the way God dropped his love for this very special country in my heart. Maybe it because of the 180 million, less than 2% know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
 |
| From My Blog |
Our teams objectives for our trip to Belgorod were:
*To be used of God in all ways he wanted to use us
*To partner with Holy Trinity church
*To help them reach the unchurched neighbors of their congregation through kindness evangelism
*To help them with their church building through various projects
*To train the pastors and leaders of the Belgorod and Kursk region in small group ministry
Each of these objectives were successfully accomplished. Enjoy the pictures below of our time in Belgorod. I invite you to consider praying about a trip to Russia with us another time or to consider financial support of our teams as we go each year.
Me leading small group training with the pastors
 |
| From My Blog |
Our Team
 |
| From My Blog |
Holy Trinity Pastor and Family
(From left to right: Nadia, Pastor Alexander, Alla, Luba, Andrew)
Please pray for them with me on a regular basis. They have such a wonderful congregation and you can tell the congregation loves them so much. They need so much prayer support though, financial monthly support for their family, and finances to finish their church building.
 |
| From My Blog |
Some of the Church Congregation and our team at the train station!
 |
| From My Blog |
Church Building
 |
| From My Blog |
 |
| From My Blog |
 |
| From My Blog |
 |
| From My Blog |
 |
| From My Blog |
These two guys will be missionaries one day!
 |
| From My Blog |
Russian Cuisine
 |
| From My Blog |
A Russian Small Group Dinner
 |
| From My Blog |
Praying over the pastor and family
 |
| From My Blog |
My dear friend and interpreter, Denis
He translated my entire small group training into Russian. See pick below Denis's picture.
 |
| From My Blog |
 |
| From My Blog |
Any comments, questions about Russia, or how to financially support feel free to email me, joewindham@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My Russian Home
The Russian hospitality has been wonderful. My missionary friend, Don Buege and I are staying at the home of our host church pastor. His name is Alexander and his wife is Alla. They have three children: Andrew 20, Luba 15, and Nadia9. Each day they take such good care of.
Yesterday Pastor Alexander took me on a tour of there church which has been under construction for 8 yrs. Finances have caused them to have to build the church slowly. They have an incredible plan though. The church has a great location in the city. It's located on one of the most busy main streets. 1000's of cars pass it everyday. Last night P Alexander showed me the archetectual plans and what they have left to do to finish it. I'm excited for our church to be able to possibly assist in helping building this great church and partnering with them for the years to come.
Our team is continuing to have such great ministry times each day. We also concluded our small groups conference. It went very well and all the pastors were greatful for such good training to help there churches. I had a an opportunity to sit with the two bishops that oversee the two regions we are working with. Bishop Alex and Bishop Piotor. They both over see around 50 churches combined. They had so many questions and are equally excited to partner with us for the years to come.
The day ended with having tea with pastor Alex and his son Andrew. We sat on his patio that over looked their beautiful green garden where they grow cherries, blue berries, pears, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, various spices, and strawberries. After tea we headed off to bed around 10pm. Another great productive day being about the Lords kingdom work.
Yesterday Pastor Alexander took me on a tour of there church which has been under construction for 8 yrs. Finances have caused them to have to build the church slowly. They have an incredible plan though. The church has a great location in the city. It's located on one of the most busy main streets. 1000's of cars pass it everyday. Last night P Alexander showed me the archetectual plans and what they have left to do to finish it. I'm excited for our church to be able to possibly assist in helping building this great church and partnering with them for the years to come.
Our team is continuing to have such great ministry times each day. We also concluded our small groups conference. It went very well and all the pastors were greatful for such good training to help there churches. I had a an opportunity to sit with the two bishops that oversee the two regions we are working with. Bishop Alex and Bishop Piotor. They both over see around 50 churches combined. They had so many questions and are equally excited to partner with us for the years to come.
The day ended with having tea with pastor Alex and his son Andrew. We sat on his patio that over looked their beautiful green garden where they grow cherries, blue berries, pears, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, various spices, and strawberries. After tea we headed off to bed around 10pm. Another great productive day being about the Lords kingdom work.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
From Russia with Love
Wow! Our team of 6 safely made it to Belgorod, Russia Saturday morning around 130am. After 12 hours of flying and 10 hours of driving. Thanks so much for all of your prayers. The drive was like being on a 10 hr runaway roller coaster.
After arriving in Belgorod, our host church, "Trinity Church", pastor and wife met us and helped our team get to homes where we would stay for the week. This was very interesting with it being during the night and our team members going to Russian homes to stay with people they had never met. After sleeping for a short while we all met at the church at 2pm Saturday for lunch, had an orientation meeting, and we meet our interpreters. Afterward we went to a secular children's camp of over 200 youth and children. We were able to share the love of Jesus in various ways with so many children. The children were precious, so hungary for love. People from our host church made shishkebabs and a great meal for dinner there on the camp grounds. We left around 10pm and made our way back to our host homes.
Sunday
The church service went very well. Our team was touched by our host church's extreme love and passion for God. Their choir performed a few songs in English. It was very special for our team. Two from our team shared. They did a wonderful job sharing their testimonies and expressing their sincere love for God.
In the afternoon some of our team visited homes of friends of the church congregation to share their testimonies and some went to a soccer game to share with teenagers that were there.
They had really good conversations about Jesus with some that were there.
A few others stayed back at the church and we started our Small Groups conference. There where 15
pastors/leaders from the Belgorod region and 17 from the Kursk region.
We had really good time. They had many good practical questions.
Today we will continue the training. And the rest of the team will continue doing service projects in the community, sharing the love of Jesus in many practical ways.
Please pray as I teach from 10-4pm today that the pastors attending will continue to receive the small group vision. The churches here in Russia desperately need small groups so the people in each church can be cared for adequately, that they can each grow deeply in their faith, and they can learn to reach their cities for Christ.
Tomorrow I will share a few stories about a few people from here in Russia.
In Christ,
Joe
After arriving in Belgorod, our host church, "Trinity Church", pastor and wife met us and helped our team get to homes where we would stay for the week. This was very interesting with it being during the night and our team members going to Russian homes to stay with people they had never met. After sleeping for a short while we all met at the church at 2pm Saturday for lunch, had an orientation meeting, and we meet our interpreters. Afterward we went to a secular children's camp of over 200 youth and children. We were able to share the love of Jesus in various ways with so many children. The children were precious, so hungary for love. People from our host church made shishkebabs and a great meal for dinner there on the camp grounds. We left around 10pm and made our way back to our host homes.
Sunday
The church service went very well. Our team was touched by our host church's extreme love and passion for God. Their choir performed a few songs in English. It was very special for our team. Two from our team shared. They did a wonderful job sharing their testimonies and expressing their sincere love for God.
In the afternoon some of our team visited homes of friends of the church congregation to share their testimonies and some went to a soccer game to share with teenagers that were there.
They had really good conversations about Jesus with some that were there.
A few others stayed back at the church and we started our Small Groups conference. There where 15
pastors/leaders from the Belgorod region and 17 from the Kursk region.
We had really good time. They had many good practical questions.
Today we will continue the training. And the rest of the team will continue doing service projects in the community, sharing the love of Jesus in many practical ways.
Please pray as I teach from 10-4pm today that the pastors attending will continue to receive the small group vision. The churches here in Russia desperately need small groups so the people in each church can be cared for adequately, that they can each grow deeply in their faith, and they can learn to reach their cities for Christ.
Tomorrow I will share a few stories about a few people from here in Russia.
In Christ,
Joe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)