The following is my attempt to write a little personal update. I don’t know why this has been so hard for me recently. There seems to be so many disjointed thoughts and things in my head, that I don’t know where to start or how to write something that would make any sense. So here’s my best shot…
Well, we just finished a very busy and eventful two month trip to Peru and Oklahoma (and a day or two each in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Chicago, Korea and Hong Kong). It was a crazy two months, but full of ministry opportunities both in Peru and in the States.
In Peru, especially, I was invited to preach a number of times, and I felt like the Lord was helping me tremendously to preach with a passion and in a way that I’ve really never felt before. I have never really been a “preacher”, more of a “talker” or maybe a teacher, but in Peru the Lord helped me to preach and proclaim His Word more authoritatively and boldly than before. At first I had thought that maybe it had something to do with language, like maybe I had less inhibitions preaching in my non-native Spanish to Peruvian people who I don’t really know. But then the Lord did it once again at a church in Memphis just a day after arriving back Stateside. I spoke (“preached”) at that church like I have never really spoken before at a church in America.
So all that to say that I am thinking a lot and praying (unfortunately much more thinking than praying… that should not be!) about what exactly my “hands on” ministry should be here in “Asia’s Highlands”.
(As a side note, I know that I am already well into a transition period that I had been expecting for some time, of moving from a bit less hands on ministry and into more of a mobilizing and overseeing role. The Lord is bringing many people alongside of us in the work here (from South African, American, Mexico family, eastern China… all currently partnering with us in some way), and many more in the works, including two families later this summer, and another girl in August, and still others who have shown various shades of interest in pioneer missions to the unreached people groups of inland west China (many of these have contacted me thanks to a certain John Piper sermon). I am really excited about all these new people, not just because of how many there are, but what kind of people they are! It is awesome, in the midst of so much biblical ignorance in the church today, to see God raise up solid and passionate believers who know what the cost of discipleship is.)
HOWEVER, all of this mobilizing and overseeing talk doesn’t mean that I don’t still want to get out and share the Gospel myself, especially when I am constantly surrounded by unreached people and people groups! So I am just praying about what my actual ministry will look like… I want to proclaim the Gospel… not just whisper it to a taxi driver or homeless man on the street, but preach it to farmers in their fields, Muslims in their mosques, and Tibetans on top of their mountains… so please pray with me that the gift of God would be kindled and that I could not help but share the Gospel (whether by teaching, preaching, or whatever) boldly and faithfully.
A couple of final things. First, the family is doing good. The kids are growing up so fast and I am so excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us as a family to glorify God in this place. My wife and I pray for wisdom and perseverance as we train these kids in the Word of God and point them to Jesus. Our son (left) is almost 4 ½ and is very strong-willed and very intelligent in so many ways. Our oldest daughter is just barely 3 but she is almost as big and strong (and smart) as her brother.
Unfortunately, she sometimes likes to act and talk like her little sister, so this makes for a weird combination. Our baby is 1 ½ and loves to mess up all of her sibling’s toys. She is fearless and can climb anything, which is a dangerous combination (my wife caught her doing pullups on the top bunk bed rail this morning).
In closing, here are couple of praise reports followed by some prayer requests:
Praise God for…
…saving one of the teachers at my school in China while we were gone. She’s coming over for dinner tonight!
…using Desiring God Ministries to bless so many believers and pastors in Peru. They gave me 80-90 free John Piper books to take to Peru to give away!
…providing for our financial needs last month when we were nearly broke. He has provided in more ways than I ever imagined He would!
Please pray for…
…our schedule in the next 2-3 months. There are so many things to do and so little time. Pray that we would know what is most important and do all things passionately for His glory!
…our Mexican co-workers financial needs. They rely on very minimal support from Mexico, along with what we are able to give them, to continue living and ministering here in Asia’s Highlands. They need more people to come alongside them in prayer and faithful support.
…
our personal walk with the Lord. It is not any easier for a missionary to stay faithful in prayer and daily time in God’s Word, than it is for someone in America. Please pray that we would walk closely and humbly with God each and every day!
Thank you for reading this rather lengthy update. I didn’t ask most of you to follow what we do, but I thank God for you!
Hey brother,
Thanks for the update. It was nice to hear about the Lord’s work in your heart and life. That’s great you’re thinking of changing up some of your ministry roles. The Lord really seems to be using you in a powerful way to reach the unreached–I praise Him for that. I’ll be praying for you. Hey there’s a book that just came out recently that will probably benefit you in your ministry and future plans. It’s called Reaching & Teaching by David Sills. I haven’t gotten it yet, but can’t wait to read it.
I actually heard about you through that Piper sermon also! I’m also a Liberty University student. I’m in my final week of classes and then I graduate this month. I’m going to pursue a M. Div., hopefully through Birmingham Theological Seminary (If not there, probably Reformed Baptist Seminary). I’ll finish my degree on the mission field though. I really hope we can do ministry together someday.
Grace and peace,
Drew
Thanks for all the news! Much to lift and be excited about. Great to see the pics of the kids- please pass my love to your wife. Sorry I didn’t know you were in our city! Love, Cathy T. (Knox)
Likewise/Love you soooooo much. I was greatly inspired by reading your last blog. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings, on you, your family, and Ministry. Dad
Drew, I’ve already got that book! Its currently in a truck somewhere in central China. It should arrive at our flat sometime next week.
Cathy, I was only in Knoxville (Lenoir City) for about 9 hours with my son Gabriel way back on March 21st. We arrived at 3am driving from Atlanta, slept a few hours, then spent some time with Josh Swinson, Lee, and also Joe, before leaving at Noon to head back to Atlanta to catch our flight to Peru.
Love the update! God is so good! Will lift what you asked and join you in praising Him for what He is doing in and through you brother! Preparing here for the journey…Love and hugs to you all, Marilyn