Living the Journey

Manila, Philippines - February 2010

“Let the little children come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven” ~Matthew 19:14

Today Lon and I watched as the young men in the ministry program here in Manila, worked with children that have been rescued from the street. The children here are resilient; nothing scares them. Not foreigners, not having their picture taken, high fives are given in abundance, and hugs and kisses are quite accepted. So much is their trust and literal hunger, it’s almost friendship from the start.

While they are in no way naïve, they are in a lot of ways still innocent. They smile, they laugh, they play, they even hug and love on you as if you were an older sibling or maybe even a parent. There is nothing shy about them but at the same time, they are not forward. In fact there is a quietness or maturity in their life that is quite lacking in your normal tender naïve youth.

I sat in the hot room, sweat dripping down my back, perspiration forming a moist coat over my body, watching, as the young men told a story, talked about Valentines day and led the children in singing, closing the time of ministry with juice and cookies, all the while smiling and sharing out of the abundance of their needs having been met.

I’ve heard it said by missionaries “We don’t preach love, we show love”. This is what these guys do. They show love. It’s a small amount of time a money invested, but it’s a priceless gift to these children.

It’s been an unforgettable experience meeting these children and getting just a tiny glimpse into their lives.

Iloilo, Philippines – February 2010

“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep” ~ John 21:17

In the past four days, I have spoken 6 times and had one radio interview and I saw Jesus again tonight. I spoke to a group of girls and as I shared how God had met me in a very hard and painful emotional situation, I saw tears form in a girl’s eyes and knew that somehow, what I had said touched her heart and that God was using my vulnerability to do a work in her life.

I continued speaking and as I finished I witnessed Christ reaching out and healing three other girl’s hearts. It was awkward being vulnerable, it was uncomfortable and it was humbling, but it was Christ. Oh that I could see Him in this way more often.

Taitung, Taiwan – February 2010

“And whoever gives these little ones only a cup of cold water, in my name, assuredly I say unto you, he shall by no means lose his reward”  ~ Matthew 10:42

I saw Jesus again today; it was beautiful. I saw Him in the way the modern adulterous woman was forgiven and given new life. I saw Him in the care the nannies gave the babies of these women. I saw Him in the life of one woman, or girl really, whose baby was due today. I held these babies and whispered prayers over them. I told them they were loved, I watched them respond to my touch and to my voice. I saw beautiful innocence, and absolute trust. I received smiles, and coo’s in return.

In short, I saw Christ, and it touched me. This made my heart cry and my vision blur. My heart grew and my worldview changed; my view of Christ was enlarged. In ways, it was painful, but in others it was a blessing. The whole of it was a good and a perfect gift from God.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…” I saw Christ and my heart broke. I saw Christ and I was humbled. I saw Christ and experienced complete trust. I lived out a part of “For God so Loved” that I had never known before. I received a good and perfect gift from God.

Brooke E. Martens

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If you are interested in taking part in an overseas ministry trip, visit the Institute in Basic Life Principles’ Global Encounters web site or email globalencounters@iblp.org.

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Hi, my name is Kyle. I am currently teaching English as a second language (ESL) in Chaojhou,Taiwan through IBLP. This past year has been the most exciting year of my entire life!

I grew up in a Christian home, but for me Christianity was just a front that I put up every day so that I would be accepted by my Christian peers. I knew all the “right” words and actions, but inside I wanted nothing to do with God. I was a man filled with bitterness, malice, rage, anger, hatred, and immorality. I was headed for destruction, and was blinded to a lot of things. On March 31, 2009 at a Journey to the Heart, God miraculously changed my life! I repented of my sins, accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, and my faith became real for the first time!  If you would like to hear a short version of my testimony, listen to the podcast titled A Launching Pad for Life.

The Fulfillment of a Promise

After I got home from the Journey, I had many opportunities to share my testimony.  As I made it a point to give God the glory for what He did in my life, He opened the door for me to share my story again. At that time, I was less than three months away from graduating from high school. Honestly, I had no idea of what I was supposed to do with myself. However, the Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Each time I acknowledged God, He fulfilled His promise and began to show me the path He had for me after graduation. In other words, God did exactly what He promised: He directed my steps through circumstances and showed me which way to go. He “made my paths straight” and it was amazing!

The Planting of a Seed

One seed of direction was planted when my family and I attended the Regional ATI Conference last May in Big Sandy, Texas. At the end of the week, having heard my testimony a few times, Mr. Gothard suggested to my parents that I apply for the teaching trip in Taiwan. They shared his proposal with me, and at first, I had no interest at all. I thought to myself, “Me? Teach English?  I hate English!” Obviously then, teaching English hadn’t even entered my mind. In fact, I thought it was ridiculous and therefore responded, “No way!”

However, as we drove home, my parents and I discussed the opportunity and through those conversations, the Lord “watered” the seed. I actually began to ponder the possibility. I prayed about it. Having a new desire to walk in God’s will instead of my own, I decided to apply for the position. I trusted that if God didn’t want me in Taiwan, He would “shut the door.” Interestingly, the more I thought about this incredible opportunity, the more excited I became!

A few weeks after I applied, I was accepted to join the team of people traveling to Taiwan to teach English! I had seen God open so many doors . . . . I had just become a Christian, I had just turned 18, and I had just completed a Journey to the Heart. The timing for me to go was perfect. My parents were at peace about it; in fact, they were encouraging me to faithfully pursue this opportunity. At that point, I had all the required prerequisites completed, except one. The last thing I needed was my TESOL certification . . . and $1,300 to pay for the course! My parents prayed. I prayed.

continue reading…

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In the fall of 2008, I began a Journey to the Heart.  God did a mighty work in my life during that week in the Northwoods, as I was a very proud, fearful, insecure, and obnoxious girl.  As I continue the Journey, God has slowly been taking my sinful heart and changing it into a “heart after God,” fully and completely reliant on Him. I am beginning to see God for who He really is.

After the official beginning of my Journey to the Heart, God led me to teach character to children for 3 semesters. My experience teaching character in schools and reaching out through Bible clubs has been nothing short of amazing.  To be on the front lines of the spiritual battle, watching God work in hearts, praying over souls, sharing God’s light in a dark world . . . I would not trade this opportunity for anything. I don’t want to give you a false impression, though, it is also a lot of work!

This is work that cannot be done alone!  Every lesson, every Bible club, and often each individual class, is bathed in prayer.  The best object lessons for a class I didn’t know what to do with came directly from the Master Teacher.  He is an everlasting source of ideas!  So many folks thought I had it all together, but I didn’t.  Only God and I were in it together, and He knows where all the pieces belong.

Interning with this character program also surrounded me with good friends: some that I knew for a season, and some that I will have for a lifetime.  God gave me the right kind of friends, who encouraged me to trust the Lord when life got rough, who made me do my best, and who even loved me enough to tell me when I was wrong. God bless those friends!

God used this opportunity to draw me to Himself and to allow more of His character to shine through me. The Journey to the Heart retreat was just the beginning of my Journey with God.  Stay in His Word, and keep talking with Him. God’s plan is simply amazing!

~ Barbara
September 2008 Journey

If you are interested in an opportunity to invest in the lives of children, please send a quick note to Chad Christiansen.

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In September of 2007, I boarded a plane headed for Chicago and a Journey to the Heart. It was there that God did a work in my heart that changed my life. He showed me just how fearful of a heart I had. I had a fear of what other people thought of me that would control my words and actions when I was around them. This became the controlling force of my life, rather than what God thought of me. The Lord helped me to see the severe consequences of having a fearful heart, and what a hindrance it was to being an effective soldier of Jesus Christ

One night, our team experienced intense spiritual warfare and we sensed that Satan was attacking us with fear. I got on my knees with the rest of my group and earnestly cried out to God to take away my fear. The amazing happened. I immediately felt a peace, a freedom, and a joy inside! I was thrilled! I felt so free from that bondage!

I did not at all expect the tremendous results that would come. In the days, months, and years that followed, God opened up so many opportunities to make an eternal impact in the lives of others. I was able to reach out to others and talk to them without fear of what they thought of me. It was incredible! I was free to do God’s will. Free to be used for His service. Free to obey the Holy Spirit’s promptings. It grieved me to see how, for so many years, my fear had hindered me from being used of God; from being an available vessel for Him. How many opportunities I must have missed to reach into the lives of others, all because of my fear of man.

Never would I have dreamed that exactly two years and one day after I attended the Journey, I would board a plane for Oklahoma to spend ten weeks making an impact in the lives of many children there. During our heart preparation at Eagle Springs, God again convicted me of my fear of man. I was challenged to live AUG – Approved Unto God. (See Proverbs 29:25, II Timothy 2:15.)

One day before Bible club, I noticed a girl sitting alone while everyone else was playing. Upon going over to talk to her, I asked what the best thing was that had happened to her that day. Without missing a beat, she said, “When the church people came.” (We would go door-to-door picking up the kids for club. This girl evidently viewed us as ‘church people’.) I was caught by surprise as I was certainly not expecting that as an answer! For some of the kids, we were their only hope of something better. We were the bright spot in their day. We were the ones that cared enough to love and reach out to them with the love of Christ. Had I had a fear of man, I would have pushed away the Holy Spirit’s prompting and would have lost an opportunity to share His love with this girl.

As I further talked with her, I discovered that she was rejected by her friends at school and was very hurt by that. I was able to share with her from personal experience how I had found a true Friend in Jesus. The very next week, this little girl was gloriously saved! Through all the training, the work, the loss of sleep, and inconveniences, nothing can be compared to the rewards of investing in these young lives. I can truly say it was worth it all!

My time in Oklahoma teaching truth in the public schools and doing after-school Bible clubs was a growing time and a stretching experience. When I stop relying on God and fail to look to Him alone for approval, I soon fear man rather than the Maker.

God is continuing to do a work in my heart. What I experienced on my Journey was not a one-time thing. It is an on-going process. My Maker is continuing to mold me and develop in me His perfect love that casts away all fear.

~ Sarah
September 2007 Journey

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If you are interested in an opportunity to invest in the lives of children, please send a quick note to Chad Christiansen.

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I was so excited when I returned from the Journey to the Heart! I had learned so much about the lies we believe that trap us and keep us from serving God with all our strength. I had a new sense of freedom. With all this excitement, I knew that I had to share it with others. I gave my testimony at church but that wasn’t enough. I knew many girls who had never heard the truths that will set us free from the lies that we have come to believe. God was telling me to share in detail from what I had learned.

With the help of my parents and sister, I was able to invite girls over weekly to discuss the struggles we go through when we believe Satan’s lies. At the first meeting only five girls came, but as the weeks went by the group grew to 25 people. I was so surprised! By the time our weekly meetings ended, I could see how God had already begun to work in the girls’ hearts.

I remember how inadequate I felt when God had laid it on my heart to share with these girls; yet by the end I understood that all God ever wants is a willing heart.

~ Natalia

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I came to Journey to the Heart as an overweight young man in need of a lot of change in my life both physically and spiritually. I really enjoyed the Journey and learned a tremendous amount about aligning under God and my authority and getting rid of the secret sins that had been eating away my life. I learned that the power of sin is in its secrecy.

After the Journey, I went to ALERT to honor my Mom and Dad, not because I wanted to. Though it was hard, I grew both physically in strength and endurance and spiritually in faith and reliance on God for my every need.

While taking law enforcement and property care to complete Phases 2 & 3 of ALERT, I learned so much more. One of the most important lessons I learned and am still applying it in my life is the concept of what really matters in life; all the frills and accessories are nothing when I compare them with my relationship with God and others. I must be willing to do anything to honor and defend these relationships.

~ Jevenn
April 2008 Journey

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The following video on ALERT and Quest was recently aired on CBN.com:

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