Living a Life of Sacrifice

Bonjour!  

Our friend, Linda Schubring has cancer.  She and her husband, Brian, have spent a lot of time with our team, helping us assess our team dynamics and our individual strengths (he's "The StengthsFinder guy").  They write a beautiful blog about the story that Linda's cancer has taken them on the past two months (read more about Linda's story). Recently, Brian wrote about Megan's connection to their story:

I knew something was up a few months ago, not the exciting "I can't wait" but the "Uh oh, something is going to happen." At the end of November, Linda and I were with a team of missionary friends in Aix en Provence, France. We were all having lunch in a Greek café and I was sharing my recent life of loss with them. I was in tears talking of all that I have given up to be where I am, with Linda, pursuing a much greater cause than we could have imagined. At this moment one of the team members, Megan, spoke. Megan too is living a life of loss, sacrificing things that she would not need any more to live a greater life.

Megan is a beautiful women with the gift of seeing with great clarity the things observable, and a clarity to speak to what is to come. And she did this very thing to me: she spoke of what is to come. Right at the moment I finished my story, Megan said to me, "What if God asks you to sacrifice more?" My response, "I cannot imagine what that might be." The conversation continued... But I knew, I knew that what Megan said was TRUE. I heard it. I did not just listen to her - I heard what she was saying deep inside, I knew something was coming. At that moment, Megan was obedient to speak something she knew to be true. And at that moment I heard her because she spoke Truth. Still, I could not have imagined... cancer. But I was marked, I was being readied.

What was once unthought-of, cancer now occupies all our thoughts. I was not thinking cancer in Aix, but I was being prepared. I knew I was going to continue to live a life of loss, to make a sacrifice and learn what was not needed any longer.

A Note of Encouragement

~ from a supporter in the US, who has spent time in Aix

We come as supporters with a little different point of view than some. We have a long-standing love for France, at the same time being acquainted with some of the hardships that arise from cultural and language differences. But primarily we have a vested interest in this English-speaking Christian community in Aix-en-Provence! 

It is a place where people can come and converse in their own language. They find here a welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ. They meet together often outside the regular Sunday gathering, they eat together, share with one another, pass on clothing and furnishings, share cars, lend extra bedrooms as often needed - actually very much like the church as described in Acts. People who come for social interests find themselves being treated with the love of Jesus. It takes leadership that is willing to give most of their waking hours to love others and walk with them through all kinds of needs; it takes a lot of dying to self. Teal, Megan, Olivia and Alexandra, you have done well. Praise God, be grateful, and above all let HIS loving kindness and His Word guide you and flow out of you.

Q & A with Teal Rapp

At the beginning of this year I began a new role with CA as the Recruiting Team Leader. I am excited to bring my experience in recruiting to benefit our global movement. Our number of missionary prospects grows weekly, and our Engage assessment events are filling up! CA asked these questions about my new position:

CA:  How long have you been with CA, and what has your role been up to this point?

TR:  I have been with CA for 4.5 years, serving at [iccp] in Aix-en-Provence France, most recently as the Executive Pastor.

CA:  Why make the move into Recruiting?

TR:  While I love pastoring a church and God has used me at [iccp], I also believe God will use my strengths on the operations side and my past experience in recruiting to help Christian Associates move forward.  This is a ministerial position with the focus of pastoring and shepherding people, helping them discern God's calling on their life and sending them out to the nations!  I am looking forward to helping all of us bring more people into CA to continue expanding the Kingdom!

CA:  How can the CA tribe help you in this effort?
TR:  Have them join a CA Conversation Skype call.  It's easy - it's just one little step - and only an hour long.  In Aix, Dominic and I emailed our community and immediately we had seven people express interest.  Ask your communities who would be interested in learning a little more about CA.  Maybe for themselves, maybe for people they know.  Maybe for now, maybe for down the road.  Ask your supporters the same.  For more information, send me an email.