I deeply apologize for my lack of writing. The last month has been a whirlwind that has left our heads and hearts spinning. The Lord has done SO much and allowed us to be a part of something that is so much larger than Zac and I. We are constantly reminded of that. Therefore, I wanted to share with you what has happened in the last month.
Over the last two months, we have been able to locate about a 1000 international business, apartment complexes, schools, markets, and worship centers. That number sounds like a lot to me even as I type it because it is a big number. However, once all that information was gathered and organized, we were able to identify what parts of the city have deeper needs for the gospel and able to see where the different nationalities were grouping together.
Hundreds of thousands of people who don't know Jesus.
It was, at times, a tedious and draining task to do. We literally woke up every morning and explored a part of the city that we hadn't yet. We talked to SO many international people and found out their story. They shared with us where they were from and sometimes we got the great joy of sharing the hope we have in Christ with them.
For me, the more neighborhoods we saw and the more eyes we looked into, the more I realized that this city needs Jesus. SO many Muslims, Buddhists, and people who have lost faith in the Lord. The need is so large that it requires the Lord to do something huge and it humbles me that He would even include us in a piece of that plan.
A few weeks ago, our team met together and realized that all our research had brought us to a point where we were able to present our findings and vision to the local churches. An invitation was sent out to 20ish churches in the DC/ Northern Virginia area. We invited their churches to just come and sit and listen and dream with us about how we could reach the THOUSANDS of internationals who don't know Jesus.
Therefore, this past Thursday (2 days ago), we had just short of 10 churches send their pastors. We had missions pastors, head pastors, and church leaders arrive. I can't express the nerves and hopes we had going into that meeting. Zac, Keelan, Jandi, and I were all very aware of the fact that if the local church did not jump on board, then it would be a long time before DC would be reached. We felt the stakes being so high.... because they were. To be honest, I fought some cynicism against the local church but God continually assured me that He was in control.
We showed them our data.
We expressed the need... for their support... their man power... their funds.. their prayers... etc.
We allowed them to hear from one of our partners from Iran who wants to plant a church and reach Iranians but just needs the support.
We spent time in prayer with them.
Then we asked them to consider their church adopting a people group of unreached people that would less than 2 hours from their church.
Praise be to our God! They responded. Several in the group voiced that their church would be interested in jumping on board.
PRAISE HIM!!!!
Therefore, now we are about to enter a phase of this job where we will be helping these church pick their groups and helping them engage them. It might require us to do some training and leading of the teams into some neighborhoods that they have never been to and are uncomfortable in, but I think it's the start of a beautiful action of the local churches in the area.
The hope is that these churches can engage a people group, start a bible study... and grow it into a church.
Let it be so, Lord. Until then, we stand in amazement at what you've done and continue to pray and fight on.
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