Support-raising

Support-raising conjures up uneasiness; it is synonymous for asking friends for money.  Whether you’re raising financial support for your participation in a ministry God has called you, or you are on the receiving end of a support-raising solicitation, it’s just plain uncomfortable. 

Since April 2012, we have been support-raising to join Engineering Ministries International in January 2013.  And to be honest, it’s been great!  Contrary to the American value of self-reliance, dependence on God for our provision is a welcome adventure.  Providence has proven abundant through the obedience and generosity of my family, friends, and church.  But of course it hasn’t been without its challenges.  But for reasons other than I had assumed. 

Initially I struggled with the idea of seeking financial contributions to support my lifestyle in Colorado Springs.  It is more palatable to give to a missionary serving on the foreign field than a ministry based in Colorado Springs – the faith-based, non-profit capital of the U.S.  Then I considered an alternative perspective:  U.S. churches and ministries are in a unique position to serve the poor and un-reached overseas through enablement of in-country ministries.  Unashamedly, EMI mobilizes engineers, architects, surveyors, and construction managers who volunteer their services to design for national ministries living among the extreme poor to provide for their physical and spiritual needs.  EMI is an enabling ministry.  As EMI’s headquarters office administrator and disaster response director, Jennifer and I are investing our lives to serve as enablers to the Body of Christ.  This represents a Kingdom investment opportunity to others.  Humiliation absolved.

We refer to our family as TeamPeck to inspire unity of purpose in our marriage and to instill value of family loyalty in our children.  Accordingly we don’t call this endeavor support-raising; we call it team building.  This implies we are seeking to raise up folks to stand with us in ministry, not merely behind us financially.  It means relationship, communication and mutual-prayer.  Our team serves as our share holders; thus it also means stewardship accountability.  Not only are we accountable to them for fiscal management and moral behavior, but also for mission focus, diligence, even performance.  This is a joint venture in which we share unity of purpose with our co-investors (team members).  In this way, TeamPeck will sustain.

Team Building

10th Special Forces Group 60th Anniversary Ball

    Recently, Scott and I attended our last military ball.   It was a  realization that after 21 years our military service is coming to an end.  As one chapter closes another one opens and so our hearts for service, missions, duty and family will continue as we look forward to this next season.  

     We’ve been actively engaged in building our ministry team the past couple months and it’s been a joy to meet with friends and family to share our story of where we’ve been, where we’re headed and what it’s going to take to get there.  It's great to know that God has been a part of our story all along and He is faithful to lead us as we walk by faith and not by sight.   

      Team building report:  Your commitment to our family and our work with Engineering Ministries International – to offer hope to the poorest of the poor – is humbling and encouraging.  Praise!  We have had a positive response from everyone with whom we’ve shared our new venture.  Yet we have to increase the number of folks to share with if we are to launch in January as planned.  Managing our busy lives has proven to be our biggest challenge.  Pray that we would be more proactive in making appointments and following-up.  Your challenge will serve us well; so as often as you pray, hold us accountable.  June 29—July 9, we’ll be in Northern California meeting with friends and churches.  If you would like to arrange a meeting for us with your friends, family or church, please let us know.

Derek's Graduation May 2012

For His Glory,

Scott and Jennifer

TeamPeck

What's your default setting?

Recently, I found an iPod I misplaced.  It’s an older model yet I was hopeful to get it working again.  There were two things I had to do immediately.  First, I had to find the ever elusive USB cable.  We have a half dozen of these around the house but they never seem to be around when you need them.  After finding the cable it had to be connected to a power source.  Once the battery was fully charged I had to reset the iPod to its default settings to get it to run properly.  The default setting is a return to the original manufacturer design.  The iPod is now fully functioning in the capacity it was created for. 

The interesting thing as I reflect on this is how I also long to fully function in the capacity I was created for.  So often I fill like the lost iPod- out of place and out of power.  Yet, the same things which restored my iPod can restore me as well.  I need to connect to my power source on a regular basis.  God created me to be in relationship with Him; “apart from me you can do nothing” –John 15:5.  I also need to be restored to my manufacturer settings.  God wants my default setting to be Him; to rely on Him and respond to every circumstance in life out of the new nature He has given me.  “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” -2 Corinthians 5:15.  Unfortunately, my default setting more often than not is to live for myself.  When the pressures of life come I revert to this tendency for self preservation.  I am so thankful that God seeks me out relentlessly and when He finds me He resets me to His default settings so that I can live for Him. 

De oppresso liber

"Designing a world of hope for a world in need" is not merely a catch phrase; it is EMI’s vision and reason for being. Isaiah prophesied, "If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness… you will be called repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings" (Isaiah 58:10, 12)

Why EMI focuses on the extreme poor of the developing world is unapologetically simply; extreme poverty is the principle condition for people to fall victim to exploitation and become subjects of political, religious, or physical oppression. Extreme poverty is caused or exasperated by criminal activity, economic hardship, government corruption, social disruption, political instability, armed conflict and natural disasters. Just as the international community – governments and private humanitarian organizations – respond to counter the effects of these, so do evil perpetrators. We labor not in vain; eradicating extreme poverty is a very real possibility in our generation. As we go about daily designing a world of hope for a world in need, in partnership with ministries bringing the Gospel to the poorest and least reached peoples on earth, EMI directly contributes to the eradication of extreme poverty and reducing the risk of exploitation of the most venerable – women and children – in developing countries.

Who are YOU?

Jason Gray's song, "Remind Me Who I Am",  has resonated with me recently.  The message and  video are simple yet profound as it shows the struggles we have in embracing our identity in Christ.  The way we view ourselves does not define us.  It certainly shapes and influences us but we are truly defined by the one who made us- God.  We live in a world where our identity is found in what we do- our jobs, activities, successes.  What a freedom and comfort in knowing that our identity in Christ is secure not based on anything we've done but on what He has done for us.

Titus 3:4-5: "But—when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit."

Breaking New Ground

I am married to a trailblazer.  Scott and I went snowshoeing this past weekend at Castlewood Canyon.  It was a gorgeous day and a reminder of why we love living in Colorado.  We had the entire park to ourselves with miles of freshly fallen snow just waiting to be broken in.  There's just something about the uncharted path that beckons us to dive in.  M.Scott Peck wrote about it in his book, The Road Less Traveled,

 "If we know exactly where we're going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we'll see along the way, we won't learn anything." 

There's so much to learn when breaking new ground.  I have a lot to learn about following Scott as he blazes new trails for us.  I cannot always see what lies ahead- how deep is the snow? What about the rocks and streams?  Does he really know where he's going?  But as I follow he leads me into beautiful surroundings I would never have seen.  God is the ultimate trailblazer.  He beckons us to follow Him when we cannot see what lies ahead.  Yet, He promises to always go before us.  "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." -Deuteronomy 31:8

As we enter this season of transition with retirement from the Army ahead of us and the start of a new career I am so thankful that not only am I married to a trailblazer; but I am married to one who follows the God who created us and has good plans for us.  

The Big Decision

Inspired by several short-term missions over the past twenty years, our desire has grown to serve as full-time cross-cultural missionaries, to take the Good News to the unreached.  But God, in His perfect wisdom, commissioned us to serve in the U.S. Army.  We have been shaped by the military culture and are grateful for the opportunities the Army has given our family.  We have travelled the world living and serving among diverse cultures and people.  The Army has been God’s provision for our family’s livelihood, a unique place to learn and practice practical life ministry, and more importantly a challenging environment to grow in godly character; we are motivated more by obedience and mission accomplishment than personal preference. 

In 2008 we were introduced to Engineering Ministries International – a non-profit, Christian relief and development organization who mobilize design professionals to serve the spiritually and physically poor in developing nations, to lift them from poverty to hope.  Since late 2008 Jennifer has served as the Administrator in their world headquarters here in Colorado Springs. 

Scott deployed with EMI’s first Disaster Response Team to the epicenter of Haiti’s devastating earthquake in January 2010.  There he discovered a unique application of his military experience.  While the volunteer engineers provided water, sanitation, and structural assessments, Scott served to provide for the team:  transportation, fuel, food, water, shelter, communications, and physical security.  In so doing, he witnessed the impact of disaster response as a ministry to the poor and those in great need.  The engineers’ practical help gave the team an otherwise un-open door to further minister to the Haitians’ spiritual needs through encouragement, prayer, and even discipleship.

Last summer EMI asked Scott to consider the position of Disaster Response Director, to advance the program’s vision to anticipate, assess, and respond to unmet needs of the poor within days of any disaster worldwide with fully equipped EMI response teams trained in disaster assessment and technical consulting.  After a great deal of prayerful consideration he has applied and anticipates assuming the position after retiring from the Army in January 2013.  Given God’s grace, he hopes to grow and manage the program by integrating Disaster Response with existing EMI operations and future initiatives.  We also look forward to working together at EMI’s headquarters.  This new chapter is a welcome turn in our journey.