What God is Doing in Asia

 

 

Last month, from March 15 - 27, I was privileged to be on mission in Asia.  The trip was more of a personal mission trip for me than a work-related mission trip.  But I gained many insights and inspirations that will help me be a better Missions Engagement Coordinator for you.  The primary purpose of the trip was for Pastors and ministry leaders to see first-hand what God is doing in Asia.  Our group of 24 travelled together from the States to our first stop in our destination country where we received an intensive orientation of the ministry, its history, its strategies, the religions and customs of the country we were in, what was to become our projected itinerary, and of course what foods were off limits.

 

The group then split into 2 teams of 12 that travelled to different areas for the remainder of our time in country.  We were reunited at our departure location where we spent a day sharing where each team went, our experiences and our personal impressions.

 

Let me briefly share with you how I experienced what God is doing in Asia.  My first experience was with a group of seminary students who inspired me with their hunger to learn God's Word and their unabashed worship during Chapel services.  I even got to speak to the students in one service and shared with them the time that Jesus healed the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-19).  I had no idea that when I had prepared that message back in the States what God had in store for me just a few days later.

 

Next, my team travelled by plane, then an overnight train ride in sleeper cars, then by bus and car to arrive at a medical clinic that provides health care to an entire community at little to no cost in order to ultimately point patients to Christ.  Many of the patients were lepers and after our tour of the clinic we travelled to a feeding center where we served lunch to around 75 lepers, many with missing hands and feet.  I'm not ashamed to tell you that I cried.  I felt unworthy and asked God why He had made all these arrangements for me to now be serving those that society still sees as outcasts.  He clearly told me to allow Him to bless me by serving the "least of these".  I will never forget that encounter.

 

That afternoon we made our way to where many of the same lepers we had met earlier during lunch were having their bandages changed.  Let's just say it was an intense experience.  I saw Christ in the faces of those who were cleaning wounds, applying medications and putting on new dressings.  Three times a week, every week, a group of believers use their medical skills to minister to people who otherwise have little to no human contact.  I was asked to say a few words of encouragement to the lepers and again I was overwhelmed and humbled.  Next, came the most intense experience of the entire trip when our team went among the lepers holding their hands, limbs, elbows, faces, whatever we could touch and prayed with them.  Seeing smiles on the faces of outcasts we were not afraid to touch is a memory that won't soon fade.

 

Not everything on the trip was that intense.  My favorite day was Sunday when after a 4AM wakeup it took us close to 5 hours one-way to go to church!  We rode a bus for several hours to a coastal town, walked a while through a fish market to the docks, boarded a boat for about an hour ride upriver to an island, docked the boat and walked some more, and finally rode on rickshaws for about 30 minutes to get to a church plant on an island.  Around 115 people gathered for worship on this small island.  One of our team members delivered the sermon and then we were asked to sing to this body of believers who were truly modeling an Acts church.  We sang "How Great Thou Art" and received a standing ovation, which I'm pretty sure was because our singing was over!

 

I could keep telling you about my experiences, observations and funny stories but I'll wrap up for now by saying I truly saw and experienced what God is doing in Asia which is building His church and expanding His Kingdom on a massive scale.  The take away for me on this trip is how I will use my experiences to encourage all of us within our Association to intentionally serve the "least of these" in order to point them to Christ.

 

Drop me a line at jlitton@jaxbaptist.org if you want to hear more. 

 

 

Jeff Litton

Missions Engagement Coordinator/

Financial Bookkeeper

Jacksonville Baptist Association

 

 

Opportunity - Local teens are in need of locations to complete court-ordered community service. If you are interested in allowing youth to complete community service at your church and maybe creating a mentor relationship, please contact Keith Money of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice at 904-391-3806.

 

Executive Assistant position - Child Development Education Alliance is looking for an employee with long term goals. If you are interested in applying please contact Ellen McKinley 904-573-8831 or 8833 or email kids@cdealliance.org.

Click Here for details.

 

2015 Spring Revival - Fort Caroline Baptist, May 4th thru May 6th, 10am. Dr. John Sullivan will be the speaker.

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Needed used and or new Sound System - (etc... Microphones, Projectors, projector screen)- If you have any of this equipment and would like to pass this on to a new church plant, please contact Darriel Hagans at 904-528-0753 or email Joseph Lee at josephlee311@yahoo.com. Or you can contact office number at 904-361-3820.

 

Free piano to church - Wurlitzer upright console model 2725, medium oak in very good condition.  Stool included.  Contact Bev Mayo at 904-314-4238.

 

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Bus for sale - 1993 Ford E-350 26-passenger bus for sale. Only 36,222 miles on the original engine! The bus has A/C and brand new tires. Asking $6000 or best offer. Call Scott at (904) 786-1411 for more pics or information.

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Festival of Hope

The Billy Graham Association is in Jacksonville! Franklin Graham will be here May 29-31, 2015 at the Veterans Memorial Arena.

 

Part-Time position for Teacher/Leader - in the Young Adult Dept. Hours: SUN 9am-12 & 6-7pm; WED 7-9pm, $100 per week. Please contact Pastor Steve Whitcomb at 904-910-3699 or send resume to steve@promiselandbaptist.org.

 

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Position Part Time - Dinsmore Baptist Church is looking for a part-time Worship Leader.

Please send your resume to Dr.butler@dbcjax.com and alternate reply address info@dbcjax.com.