Courage is Revealed In Africa

By Jenny Beard on the way back from Africa:

As I sit on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic I have a heavy heart for the country in Africa and people that I left behind.  The questions I have been asking myself since my first trip are: Why me? Why Africa? Why so far away?  Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with a country closer to home or even my own country?

If anyone had told me 3 years ago that I would be called to go on a Mission Trip to Africa, I would have laughed and told them “God knows how scared I am of going out of the country since 9-11, he knows that I am terrified I would end up on a plane bound for some National Monument so he would never do that to me”...Wrong.  Don’t ever say or think that God won’t call you out of your comfort zone, three years later and 2 trips to Africa, here I sit on a plane crying because it was time to leave.The past 10 days have been nothing short of amazing for me and I still have lots to process. There was good and bad, things that made sense and nonsense but we went with a purpose to love on the people and share the good news of Christ and I believe we did that ten-fold.

We spent time in villages getting our socks blessed off and then we went to feed the homeless in another town. I have always had a heart for the Homeless, I remember my dad telling me that when I was a little girl and we would go to Nashville I would ask so many questions about why they didn’t have a home and I remember him telling me that I would be in tears begging him to give them money or our “take-away” if we had been out to dinner.

I stood in amazement as hundreds of men, women and children, a large part of them blind and crippled filled table after table to get probably their only meal of the day.It’s bad enough to be homeless but to be blind, crippled and homeless in Ethiopia is beyond anything I can comprehend. As they filed in and I began to serve them something that I am ashamed to say I probably wouldn’t eat, my heart became very heavy, I had to step away and take a minute because I starting to melt down.  After I calmed down (with the help of Pastor Duane:) These people had the sweetest faces and biggest smiles and when I was standing among them serving the food and one of the older gentlemen grabbed my hand and said “Thank you!  Jesus is so good.”  I thought, “this is it, this is why I am here” If one person knows that Jesus is good and Jesus loves them, then all the preparation and hard work was totally worth it.  I am honored to have that man grab my hand and Thank me but really I should have been thanking him.

Family and friends told me that they admired me, and told me that I had such courage to go so far away.  I don’t have courage, courage is the men I saw that were so crippled they could only walk on their hands and drag their legs behind them, the blind that had to depend on others to help them out, the women in the countryside that carried huge water jugs on their heads back to their families, the men, women and children pilfering through the trash dump to find food for their families.  That is courage.  I am nothing, I only did what God called me to do and if I live my life from here on with the love and appreciation that the people of Africa showed me, then I will be a much better person because of it.
Below are some of the lyrics to a new Casting Crowns song, it was my “Battle Song” for the week:

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sandMake the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their handsHelp us to remember we are all the least of theseLet the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their kneesNo one knows what we’re for only against when we judge the woundedWhat if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You didOh Jesus, friend of sinnersOpen our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingersLet our hearts be led by mercyHelp us reach with open hearts and open doorsOh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yoursYou love every lost cause; you reach for the outcastFor the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You cameLord I was that lost cause and I was the outcastBut you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Her Children Will Be Mighty In The Land

By:  Pastor Duane Murray

This is a mom of a young African boy. Her name is Berke (pronounced Burrkah).  She lives in a simple mud hut in the slums of East Africa.  Just to get to her home you have to have a guide because every path looks the same.  Even the huts and corrugated metal walls are all similar.  Berke is not just another African mother struggling to subsist.  She is a precious, daughter of the King.  He has set His heart on her and is pouring out blessings to her.  God heard Berke’s cry, “God, save my child from this hopeless place.”  Let’s reflect on how he has answered her today.

 Not long ago Father gave one young African man a vision and the faith to believe what he could not see --- the children of East Africa thriving as mighty oaks of righteousness.  God called this man and other men in a church to plant a ministry for Christ in the middle of despair.  They endured the early years of ridicule and rejection from the community they came to serve.  They persevered for the glory of God. 

Then the Father reallocated his resources.  He detoured a team of preschool leaders from around the world to expose them to what was breaking his heart in East Africa.  To see the hundreds of faces of the children and believe that “nothing is to hard for the LORD.”  Next the Lord transplanted a family from Tennessee, who had already prepared to go.  He called with them a body of believers to His supply the resources for His glory.  All of this and more than I can recall was given so that God might demonstrate the greatness of his love to the most hopeless of women and children.  That he might make these forgotten and forsaken people trophies of His grace.  He is faithful to save even the least of these and to sacrifice many for His glory.  God rescued Berke’s son and placed him in school to learn and grow in the fear of the Lord.  He has regular meals and develops skills to earn a living.  He has a vision for the future and hope to achieve all that God has imagined through him for God’s glory.

We had the opportunitity to bring Berke a picture of her son to show he is doing well. She cradled the digital camera in her hands and wept as she bowed over and over giving thanks to God and us just to see her son’s image.  She kissed his picture on the camera and cherished the moment.  We wept as we witnessed God’s love poured over her. 

Berke is not forgotten or forsaken.  God, the Almighty, heard her cry for help and directed his resources to show off his love for her.  Then he raised a team from Tennessee and sent those three hours south of her home to bring her a picture of her son just so she would know he was doing well.  God worked extravagantly on her behalf.  Melissa, Colleen and I prayed with Berke, sang over her and shared this verse with her:

“Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.  Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.”  Psalm 112:1-3

Prayer Requests from Mexico

By Joe P:

I hope that your new year was full of joy and faith. I am sending this brief report to fill you in on this years beginning. I normally start the New Year with a vision for the church. What the Lord led me to do is show the church how to seek Him for their personal and ministry vision so they may grow spiritually. This of course connects to the church global vision. At the end of January the church will be climbing up the light house and there I will declare the year overall vision for the church. We are looking at this as a prophetic action claiming the vision over the highest point of the city. This week we are also preparing our students of our bible school (Leadership Training International) for their graduation this coming Sunday. We have with us the international coordinators Leon and Teresa Shearer. They will be present to see our first generation of 31 students. This has been an amazing accomplishment given all the changes that the church went through this last year.

I would ask you to pray for us receiving the vision that God wants.Also pray for:
Finances for the church construction and city tourism,that the violence would cease and a lot of people have the flu including myself. Thank You for your prayers and support.  Blessings to all. 

Children and Chicken Coops: TSC Moms Minister In Haiti

By Ashely J :   

Three ladies (including myself) from TSC are headed to Haiti on Friday morning with an organization called Visiting Orphans. I wanted to share some information on our trip with you so you could be praying and be a part of what God is doing to change the world!

Our team will fly out of Nashville on Friday.  Please pray for favor for the baggage. The airline we are flying with only allows one checked bag to Haiti. We each have a checked bag plus a second 50 pound bag full of formula. There are five of us on the trip flying out of Nashville and we all have a second bag full of formula to check. My prayer is not only will they allow it, but that we will not have to pay any extra baggage fees! Total it is 250 pounds of formula!

Buildings Destroyed After the Haiti Earthquake

We spend the first 2 days in Port-Au Prince at the Well Being Orphanage. The children in the orphanage are all earthquake survivors and all lived in tents on the grounds until recently. The building was destroyed. It is my understanding that it has been partly rebuilt.  We will be helping serve this orphanage and children. 

After this we are boarding a Cessna (9 passenger plane) and taking a 45 minute flight to Pignon, Haiti. Our plane will be making its landing in a goat pasture! This tiny bit of information God saw fit to leave out until we all signed up. I think He knew what He was doing. Once there we will be staying at the Haiti Home of Hope. It is run by the Americans who serve in Haiti. Our plan is to do some small projects at the orphanage and even build a structure onto the orphanage that will cover their eating area. Right now there is no cover and when it rains they are forced to eat in their rooms. Keep in mind there are fifteen women and two men on this trip! Good thing I had a handy Dad growing up and a construction husband!

 After the Earthquake in Haiti

On Wednesday we will be holding a community clinic. At this clinic we will be ministering to families with infants. In most cases family members bring an infant from their community (usually aunts or grandmothers) as far as a fifteen minute walk away. These infants in many cases lost their mothers in childbirth. That is why the formula we are taking is so important. Without this formula these babies will not make it through their first year of life. We will also be giving these families seed packets. We ordered seed packets from a company here in the US that specially formulates the seeds to grow in the climate and soil of Haiti. This could be life changing for the families. They will be able able to sustain themselves with vegetables and even provide a means of income, which is truly amazing.

Our other plans include home visits in the communities and loving on people at a local hospital and I have heard we are also building a chicken coop!

All of us from TSC and the rest of the team are going to be whatever God needs us to be for the next week. We would covet your prayers for our safety, and for our families. The three of us mommas are leaving home our broods of 12 total children!  Thank you all... I just felt led to share. We should be home next Friday. 

Nicaragua and East Asia Informational Meetings

Nicaragua:

TSC will be taking a student team to Nicaragua March 24-30 which is only in a few months! The team will be working with man named Guillermo and his team from Chosen Children Ministries. Due to the schedule in Nicaragua, the dates coincide with Maury County Spring Break. Therefore those who are in Williamson County schools will have to miss school.

January 22nd is the first informational meeting in room D204.  Pizza will be provided so plan to eat and bring your parents! The minimum amount of members is 10 people, so invite your friends and parents are welcome to come as chaperones. 

Cost will be approx. $1300-$1400 but students automatically get $250 off! If you are planning on coming on Jan. 22nd or want to go on a trip, Pastor Reagan needs to know ASAP! Email or Facebook  him at rwagoner@thompsonstationchurch.org  Commitment deadlines will be determined at the meeting on Jan. 22nd.

East Asia: 

TSC will also be taking 4 teams to East Asia this year to work with a family serving in this area.  This family is trying to reach an unreached people group called the ZZ People in which 99.98% of the people do not believe in Jesus. Pastor Reagan would enjoy having students join him July 17-26 to be on a scout team.  Those who go on this team may be the first believers to ever set foot in some towns in the history of the world! If you are unable to go on the July team, please consider going June 7-17 to serve on a rec team at a student camp in East Asia or in April on a team that will be leading a day camp and ministering to orphans.

These meetings will also be held on January 22nd at 3pm in room D204! Cost will be approximatley $2,000, but you’ll automatically get $250 off of that for being a student. You will have a full 6 months to raise your funds.  If you are planning on coming on January 22nd please contact Pastor Reagan at

rwagoner@thompsonstationchurch.org. 

TSC Week of Prayer



TSC will be hosting the Week of Prayer entitled "God is Listening"  January 22nd-29th.  We have created a "God is Listening" Facebook group that will be used to let you know about the ways you can pray for missions.  This Facebook page will also let you find out about all of the things going on this year during our Week of Prayer.  By joining you will get updates straight to your Facebook about these events!  Just click the link below and ask to be added:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/265435890179631/

There is also a place to register to let others know who invited you.   If Pastor Reagan invited you, this will show others you will be praying for missions around the world.  You can simply say that Pastor Reagan invited you, or feel free to add what part of the world or mission God laid on your heart to pray for during the Week of Prayer!   

East Africa Update

Jesus called them to him, saying "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God" - Luke 18:16

Update from the East Africa Team:

"Today I got to share the gospel two different times to the younger and older kids. Afterward seven kids came to me asking to receive God's forgiveness and give their heart to him. So much to give thanks for. I'm so grateful to be used for His glory!'

Thank you to all those praying for this team! Please continue to pray for them as they continue to minister to the children and help train the leaders in this area. Pray for these new believers to be encouraged and to grow their new faith. Praise the Lord for using the team to minister to both spiritual and physical needs!

Kosovo Dates Are Set!

If you are interested in the Kosovo Trip the dates have been determined!  The ten day trip will be from September 6-16.  For those wanting to go there will be a short informational meeting January 15th in the upstairs of the EC.  A firm commitment will be needed by February 1st.  For more information about this upcoming trip contact Chad Whittenburg at chadwhittenburg76@gmail.com

Project 61 Prayer Requests

Legessa is a 16 year old boy in East Africa who is very sick and right now the cause of his illness is unknown.  Please pray for him and ask others to be praying for him.  Also please pray for Emily, the medical intern, as she is trying to help Legessa and many others.   Her days in the hospital can be difficult and long. 

Corey and the kids as they start back in school on the 9th.  Pray for them as they start a new semester. 

Last please pray for a P61 team as they go to celebrate the Ethiopian Christmas at the boarding schools and also help with the Bright Hope kids in Korah.  Some of the men on the team will also be doing a Bible study with the Great Hope leaders.  Pray the Lord will use them in a mighty way while they are there!