The Adventure In England

Rachel is home!
After 5 months in England helping to start a campus ministry in Birmingham.

She’s had so many stories to share with us. I am so amazed at what God has done in her life and through her life. It’s always so cool when you really let God do what he wants to do through you.

One of the gals she befriended said it this way, “For these past few months, you have made me live. You ignited in me something that had always been there, but was stifled, shy, and unaware. It was not lost, it was unfound; it waited for a keen eye and a patient soul to bring it round. My promise to you, I solemnly swear is to keep that which you have found. So that the next time around, as our paths cross again, you will recognize what you first saw, one British night in the rain.”

Another friend wrote – “Whether you believe you were sent to us by God, or that you’re a sign from the universe, or just the most incredible coincidence, I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that you have touched our lives in the most amazing way.”

These people are people who had no relationship with God and thought Christians were the Ned Flanders they saw on TV. Now they know. The work has just begun there and I’d ask you to keep praying for “Canvas” – the campus ministry work that has begun there. But it is so cool to see God use my little girl in ministry this way. And I had to share it.

What is really amazing is the way God used her music. He always uses what he gave you to use if you let him.
If you'd like to hear their music go to Rachel's Music.She hooked up with two other guys - not Christian guys - just music guys, and they made a band. Which served as the huge open door for the students they came into contact with.

In case you think it might be cool to try to live on the edge for God yourself (which I highly encourage). They asked all the students to write to the next batch of students to prepare them for their time in “Canvas.”

Here is Rachel’s letter to the next group:

dear adventure-seeker,

who are you? where have you come from? i suspect that you, too, are not glamorous, and that you do not have the ability to see your own life as anything other than threadbare ordinary. it’s just as well, for that is what we are.

except that…Jesus said, ‘follow me,’ and you said, ‘alright, then,’ and now the concrete slabs that throw leftover rain up onto your jeans are territory your feet have never walked before. newness is a gift. your context has been neatly chucked out the window and you’re left like an unknown variable hanging in the air, waiting along with the rest of your team to find out how you fit into this equation. who are you?

amidst all the ambiguity, i give you this charge—the one we get from God, the one you already know about: Be a tenacious lover. it does not happen by accident. love is a single text message. love is buying the next pint. love is dancing to the music you can’t stand when you just want to go to sleep on the sticky vodka-ed floor because at some point you’ll find yourself in a taxi having a conversation about God you never expected to be having on a night out.

if you decide to be a lover, you decide to be Jesus. and just by coming in all your simple willingness, in a life you can only see as ordinary, students will see something mysteriously beautiful, and in this fondly-known stinkhole called “selly oak”, we’ll start to see the Kingdom of God come to life under the surface.

sometimes the streets smell like urine. sometimes there is a huge pile of dishes that aren’t yours and the pasta sauce is stuck to the side of the pot. sometimes students leave and you feel sticky just thinking about picking up all the beer cans. be humble and let Jesus put the mud on your eyes. maybe in the last english rain that makes your jeans drag and your hair frizz you’ll realize that, somewhere along the way, you stopped seeing mud and are staring into the face of God Himself.

here’s to seeing the world in colour.
here’s to seeing God’s Kingdom come in Brum.
get ready for the ride of your life.

cheers.

on your team, rachel

Sure I'm proud. But you can do it too. There are people who need you - all around you! You don't have to go across the "pond" to find them.

We have a great service this weekend. Jesus can raise the dead.
BE THERE.

Tim

Comments

[Paula]

WOW! Awesome :)! Congratulations! A Perfect Picture :)
What a beauty...inside and out!
Great job everyone (including you Lauren!)
:)
(can't wait to see and hear what GOD has planned for you!)

[Paula]

WOW! Awesome :)! Congratulations! A Perfect Picture :)
What a beauty...inside and out!
Great job everyone (including you Lauren!)
:)
(can't wait to see and hear what GOD has planned for you!)