A week ago this past Friday we traveled to Beloit, WI, and participated in the Peoples Church Missions Conference. A weekend-long event, it drew missionaries from far away as Cambodia and California. We felt privileged to be invited and it was apparent we were the "new kids on the block" as we were the only ones still doing deputation. After setting up our display and eating supper everyone met in the auditorium to introduce themselves and share their calling. A special youth service followed with short-term missions trips reports and energetic singing and music. Making their youth a part of this conference spoke volumes to us. Who knows whether a William Carey or Amy Carmichael will arise as a result of this weekend?
Pictured here is Judy Sevall and myself. Former missionaries to Ecuador, Judy and her husband opened their home up to us for the weekend. What a hostess with the mostest! Another couple, Rick and Brenda, with E3Partners stayed there also. Their ministry at this time revolves around the country of Ethiopia. They were a joy to get to know. Rick preached a powerful sermon Sunday morning on God being a missionary God.
Saturday morning the men and women met in separate sessions. Tracy and I were both ministered to as we learned from our fellow missionaries. I was the only woman who spoke with notes--another sign of being a newbie! I shared the DVD of our 2005 short-term trip to Zambia. I'm still unable to watch it without crying. Next I relayed the story of my God-moment in Honduras. It was there that God showed me what I would be doing in Zambia. If you haven't heard that story and would like to read it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you. It's truly an amazing story of God's tender mercy towards a questioning sinner.
That evening they held a round-robin session in which people moved from room to room at different intervals. As did each missionary, Tracy spoke to four different groups sharing our power-point presentation and answering questions. By the fourth talk both he and his voice were pretty weary.
During worship on Sunday we briefly shared our calling to a congregation of about 200 people. Following the service we spent more time getting to know the people over lunch. We truly felt welcome the entire weekend and are grateful for such a missions-minded church. The ladies of the church hosted a table for the missionary wives which was laden down with gifts of dishcloths, tea towels, quilts, cosmetics, perfume, and other tokens of appreciation--free for the taking! What a wonderful gesture of love.
This last picture is one of our display and some of the ladies of the church. In the lower left corner you'll see a green quilt square. It is actually a "prayer quilt" given to us by the ladies of Peoples Church which can be signed by people visiting our booth. On it are embroidered the words, "We are praying for you." What a great idea!
That Sunday evening we traveled to FBC of Sycamore to meet with the missions team there. After sharing our calling with them we met with our friends, Brad and Johannah, for ice cream at Culvers. A great conclusion to a full and rich weekend!
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