God Works in some Crazy Ways

Some people have asked me how I was put in touch with Jean, the loan officer that I work with in Burkina Faso. It really is a miracle. It all started on a Thursday night in May of 2008. A student from our youth group brought a college student to our youth group. I introduced myself to this college student and realized that his necklace were the colors of Burkina Faso. I asked this student if he was from Burkina Faso, and after he looked at me and shocked that I had even heard of Burkina, I came to realize that he was, indeed from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. We struck up a friendship and introduced my new African friend to Mandy and my children on another occasion. His name was Dieudonne.

Our family fell in love with Dieudonne. His college was only 30 minutes from our home, so frequently we'd pick him up and bring him back to the house. Our boys loved him and he loved the boys. I'd pick him up on the occasional Sunday and he'd come to church with us and then spend the day with us. On one occasion, I had shared with Dieudonne my dream of helping the poor through micro-lending. He listened intently as I shared how I felt God was calling me to do something for the poor in Burkina Faso (Dieudonne's home country).

Dieudonne put me in touch with a friend of his who loved Jesus and had a heart for people. Dieudonne had a strong inclination that his friend, Jean would be interested in dialoguing with me about my dreams. So, I decided to email this man, Jean. However, before I emailed Jean, God started stirring His heart. It was just a few days before I emailed Jean that God allowed Jean to have a dream one night. His dream was about an American contacting him about the whole idea of helping the poor. In Jean's dream, this American would be involved in sending money over for ministry purposes that would target the poor. Jean was so unsure of this dream, that he never shared it with his fiance, Monica. He kept the dream to himself.

And then, I contacted Jean. I told him my vision and my heart to help the poor. Everything started to fall into place. God had already prepared Jean and stirred up his heart. Since that time (in early 2010), God has allowed Jean and I to partner with each other in helping bring dignity and the hope of Christ to women and children in 2 villages in Burkina Faso. Through Jean's faithful ministry, and the generous contributions, we've been able to give loans to over 135 women. Jean and I have a dream to watch God expand this work in other parts of Burkina Faso. Of course, in God's time and in God's way. God is doing this. But it all started with God bringing an unsuspecting African student to our youth group from Hiram College.

God is the Master at orchestrating circumstances. He's the best at taking unsuspecting people and using their little influence to accomplish big things. God has done this. I have no other explanation than the hand of God. I hope you've seen it as clearly as I have.
Jean and Monica's home in Ouagadougou

Some Micro-lending Stories

Borrowers receiving training in a village

It's been just over a week since I returned from my recent trip to Burkina Faso. It was a wonderful trip as I was able to see clearly all of the micro-lending work that I've been pursuing the last eighteen months. God is doing a really cool thing. Through the micro-lending ministry, God is giving us access into the lives of many people so that we're able to share the gospel. Let me share a few stories from my recent trip at the beginning of April:

• It was a Tuesday morning and we got in our vehicle and made our way to the village of Kokolohgo where we have been pursuing the micro-lending. Many have already received loans, and many have repaid their loan amounts. As we entered the village, we were met with singing and dancing by the women and children (many of the women were borrowers). It was a humbling experience. Their was a sense of jubilation. I opened up the car door and as I looked at the many women who were welcoming us, I started to weep. I was weeping because God was showing me something. He was working through a bunch of women in a remote African village to show me once again that "the least of these" matter. All people matter to God regardless of race or social class. Time stopped right then. I realized that I was thousands of miles from home and in an extremely remote village, listening to complete strangers sing and dance and welcome us. It was a humbling experience as I came face to face with a new brand of gratitude. These were women who have very little. These were women who live on less than $1 a day. These were women who were so filled with gratitude and hope that they couldn't contain it. They were thankful. They were overflowing with gratitude. The Lord reminded me that I need to live like this. I want to be a grateful man, regardless of my circumstances.
  


• On the Thursday morning, we made our way into the local village to the market. Every Thursday, people come from all over the village to buy and sell every imaginable crop you can think of. Corn, watermelon, tomatoes, onions, millet, Shea nuts, and cabbage are just some of the countless things that people buy and sell at the market. We took the time to visit some of the borrowers at the market who had received loans. This was a real highlight as I got to see the very loans that were given now be put to use. Products were being sold by the borrowers. These very products were either grown or purchased with the loan that they received through the ministry. Hundreds of people were in this market area. It was an electric atmosphere. Our borrowers were so excited to be there and be selling things which would ultimately give them the money to feed their families and give their children an education. The market reminded me of why I'm doing what I'm doing. The market showed me the power of these simple $40 or even $80 loans. These women were fully empowered to work in their respective businesses so that they can one day escape the nasty grip of poverty. By having access to capital through a micro-loan, they are given a chance which will ultimately give them a sense of hope and dignity. I could see the excitement in their eyes.


• On one of the evenings, we made our way into the very village where we have done some lending. Through the micro-lending ministry, we've been able to give out more than 130 loans to individuals in two separate villages. The goal is not to simply give a loan, rather the loan is a means to an end. The goal is to share the gospel of Jesus. So, on one of the nights, we invited the entire village to watch the JESUS film with us. Through a generator, and the JESUS film in the Moore language, we were able to offer salvation to many people, some of whom have never clearly heard the gospel before. It was incredible. Following the movie, we invited people to respond. Many did. Young and old, most of which were women. They came forward and wanted to be prayed for. A local pastor that we're partnering with was there to follow-up and encourage some steps that these new believers ought to make. It was a real highlight to watch these people in this remote village hear the uncompromising love and message of Jesus, and then respond and receive eternal life. What a gift! This is why we loan monies. This is why we go into remote villages plagued with poverty and malnutrition. We go because they need loans, but more than this...they need Jesus and eternal hope.

Their are so many stories. So many things God is doing through these small loans. Women are being empowered. Children are now being cared for because the family now has an income. God is doing this. The credit goes to Him and Him alone. I'm simply asking Him to keep doing what He's doing.

Stay tuned for more stories. Keep praying as we discern what villages to move into. If God leads you to give, I want to invite you to do so. I'd be grateful to partner with you. You can contact me at lendingtothepoor@gmail.com. Join with me as we care for the poor in Burkina Faso.

I Can't Give...But I Can Pray

I'm a firm believer in some being called to different tasks. Some have been blessed and entrusted with wealth by our Lord, so they are called and expected to give. Others have been blessed with a desire to pray and to offer support through the prayer and intercession. This post is for those who feel called to pray. Prayer is essential.

Let me be candid...I'm intimidated. That's right, I AM INTIMIDATED. I often don't say these words, but yet I find myself in a state of intimidation which is leading me to a greater dependency on our Lord Jesus. When I think about my impending trip to Burkina Faso and the things that I and others will be engaged in...it's easy to get a little intimidated. Sharing Jesus with Muslims and others that follow animism is intimidating. I can handle the travel and the food in other cultures, but when I walk into uncharted waters, I can easily get a little intimidated. So, although I'm brimming with confidence only in part to who I am in Christ and that I bear the "ministry of reconciliation", I am asking you to join with me that my intimidation would be enough to keep me humble and not enough to paralyze me. I hope this makes sense. I'm walking and going to Burkina Faso with tremendous confidence because it's obvious that God is doing something, and I'm simply joining Him.

So, I need you to pray. Giving is great, but I'm really after a collection of people who will intercede for myself and my 2 friends (my brother Jeff and my friend Jeff)that I'll be traveling with. Please pray for the following:

• Pray that we would be courageous as we share the gospel in two different villages, primarily with Muslim friends.
• Pray that many would come to see the JESUS film...and that it would make sense to those that watch it.
• Pray as we seek to lend out more loans to individuals...that these loans would be given in the name and love of Jesus.
• Pray for me and the loan officer (Jean) that I work with...that we would work out the logistics related to the micro-lending. Their is much to be done. I need wisdom in this regard.
• Pray for our business training that we'll be doing in 2 villages with the borrowers. Pray as we share some Christian business principles...that it would guide their individual business efforts.
• Pray for our ministry in and alongside a local Alliance church. I'll be preaching in an Alliance church on the Sunday.
• Pray for my family...that is back in Warren, OH. Pray for Mandy as she maintains our home and cares for the boys.

Thanks for praying...I'm grateful.

A New Work

A new work is always exciting. Everyone loves newness. People love things that are new. I'm experiencing "the new" in micro-lending in Burkina Faso. We started lending in a small village 28 miles outside of the capital city a year ago. It's been so cool to have a front-row seat and watch the power of these small loans in the lives of women who are now empowered with dignity and hope.

I told the Lord that I would stay one step behind Him as He leads. I was determined to go slow, and be willing to wait until I saw success and blessing. Every loan that has been lent has been returned in full. When I travel to Burkina on April 1st, I'll be involved in some training of these ambitious entrepreneurs with the intent of sharing the gospel with them. Through the showing of the JESUS film to these women and their families on this trip (and actually the entire village will be invited) we'll be sharing the hope of Jesus Christ, and not just giving out loans.

The newness comes when we will start lending to another village just a few miles from the village that we currently lend to. Their are people identified and ready to receive loans. So, due to the generous donations of some friends, we're ready to start lending. We'll be doing the screening of these potential borrowers and then training them with the practical things that are necessary to be both ethical and successful in their respective businesses. In this village, our goal is to share the hope of Jesus with EVERY borrower. We want to reach people with Jesus.

You see, it's so much bigger than giving out more loans. It's about the Gospel. It's about offering hope and salvation to many, some of whom have never heard of Jesus. So, pray for this endeavour. Pray that the newness of this new village would not crowd out the urgency to share Jesus with these precious people. Pray that as we loan monies to these new clients...that our actions and our words would be Gospel-oriented, and many would be drawn to the powerful and unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Thanks for praying!!!

When I'm 80, I want to be like the...

When I'm 80, I want to be like the Briscoes. Mandy and I had the privilege of attending a pastors and wives retreat recently. It was so refreshing and it was great to be with each other. The speakers at this retreat was Stuart and Jill Briscoe who are on staff at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stuart is 80 and his wife, Jill is 76. Their approach to God's Word and the challenges which were given were not only eye-opening but served as great reminders. At their ages, the Briscoes have a fierce travel schedule which takes them all around the globe teaching God's Word to a variety of groups. When retirement could easily be a logical step, the Briscoes are moving fast for the Kingdom. How challenging!

As I consider the Briscoes and their resolve to take the message of Christ all around the world, I feel personally challenged. I can't think of a better way to spend my time and my resources than investing it into ministry. I love ministry. Although ministry can be draining and highly frustrating at times, I desire to do nothing else. I love serving others. I so desire to have the same resolve of the Briscoes---selflessly giving myself to others and Jesus Himself. At times there is a cost and their are pressures. However, to follow God into full-time ministry is so fulfilling.

I hope when I'm 80, I'm serving my King (as the Briscoes are). Whether it's here in the United States, Cambodia or Timbuktu (a small city in Mali), I want to be serving my King and His Kingdom.

The MOST Important Thing

What is "the MOST important thing"? Some would say it's family, others would say it's vacationing. Some would say friends, and many would say there church. There's probably a thousand different answers to that question. But how would God answer this question? What would God way is the MOST important thing?

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus addressed some religious people (his critics) by telling them the greatest commandment---to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Jesus then went on to say that the 2nd greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself". If the most important thing is to love God with ones entire self, then the second most important thing is to love others selflessly. I fully embrace the greatest commandment and then fleshing it out in practical ways to a lost and hopeless world. I've found that it's so difficult to love others selflessly when we fail to focus on our love for the One, true God.

But what does it really mean to love God with our heart, soul and mind? What does this mean for you? What does this mean for me? To demonstrate a deep love for God not only includes living a life of obedience, living a lifestyle of worship, and honoring others. It also includes telling others about the goodness of God, the plan of God and the love of God. Sharing this message brings pleasure and glory to God. If we keep this message all to ourselves, we become selfish and we fail to tell the Truth to those closest to us.

So, how can we actually say that we love God if we fail to tell anyone about God? Tough question! Let me phrase it another way: How can we say that we've embraced a transforming, life-altering Truth when we're unwilling and unable to share this Truth with others? Can we really claim to be loving and passionate followers of God, if we fail to be passionate Truth-tellers? I say, "no". I'd say to be a passionate follower of God, one must embrace the Truth so much that they're willing to share this Truth in both word and deed.

So, this is why on March 12th, we're training people to share the The MOST Important Thing (a relationship with Jesus Christ). For 3 short hours, I'll be sharing some very practical and simple methods that can help anyone share the hope of Jesus Christ with others. If you've never shared the Gospel with others and you want to, or if you simply want to get a jump-start and get motivated to share with others, then come out on March 12th @ 9:00am for The MOST Important Thing.

See you on March 12th @ 9am as we learn to share the MOST Important Thing. More questions...email me at lendingtothepoor@gmail.com.

Burkina Bound!!!

So, today I booked the tickets. A friend of mine, my brother and myself will board a plane and travel to Burkina Faso in April. The purpose of this trip is to spend some time developing the micro-lending process and then visit some of the clients who have been recipients of loans. It will be a great experience to meet those that the loans were designed for.

We'll spend a lot of our time in the village that we've targeted with our loans. I want to see how the loans have helped the borrowers and their families. I want to see what they're doing with their loans. We'll also do some business training with those that are currently in the loan pipeline. I'll be spending a considerable amount of time with Jean, the loan officer that I work with. My goal is to put more definition and parameters around the work that we're doing.

I have lots to do to prepare. In addition to preparing for other facets of the trip, there are some things that I'm trusting God to provide. Here are some things that I'm asking God to provide:

• A digital camera. Our loan officer needs a camera to take pictures and videos of all the clients and the products that they in turn produce with their loans.
• A laptop. It doesn't have to be elaborate, and I'm OK with a used laptop. If you know of a laptop that could be used for our loan officer in the micro-credit ministry...please let me know. Currently, the loan officer uses cyber cafes, and it's getting to the point that he needs a competent computer that he's able to rely on.
• A loan could be as small as $20. It's that simple. If you want to join in, let me know. It only takes a little to make a large difference. We have a lot. They have a little. We've got to step up and make a difference. Let me know if you feel led to contribute. I'd be grateful to partner with you.

Although there are other needs, these are 2 primary needs. If you're able to help or even contribute to these 3 practical needs, please let me know. Send me an email at lendingtothepoor@gmail.com.

I'll keep you posted on the developments and some other things we'll be doing on our April trip to Burkina. Stay tuned. Pray with me. God's doing some cool things...it's such a cool thing to stay behind Jesus and His plan for my life.

He is able (don't forget it!)

I Think I Can Fix This!

People love to fix things. Some are better fixers than others. If you're like me, fixing is not a forte. I mean, I can change a light bulb and clean my gutters, but let's leave it right their. Projects around the house that require a little more than a Phillips screwdriver or hunk of duct tape are beyond me. Fixing is not for me.

The same applies to the human heart. I can't change it. You can't change it. Only God can change a heart (and He does it so masterfully). We try to fix ourselves up for God, but He vomits at our self-improvement efforts. We need Him way more than He needs us. Brennan Manning said it like this: "Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat denial of the gospel of grace. Our approach to the Christian life is as absurd as the enthusiastic young man who had just received his plumber's license and was taken to see Niagara Falls. He studied it for a minute and then said, "I think I can fix this".

God is an expert at fixing things. He loves to take things that are broken and fragmented and fix it. He loves to take a person who has exhausted all options of change and do for them what they are unable to do for themselves. I love to hear stories of people who know the true fixer and than trust in Him alone to do the fixing. I love when someone is convinced that God is still faithful and they become personally responsible for a spiritually lost friend, neighbor or relative.

At my church, our junior high students have been working through a series, The Greatest Cause. Students have been challenged to embrace the Greatest Cause in the world---taking the person and message of Jesus to their friends and family. We've been teaching our students some simple ways how they can share Jesus...and then motivating them to be bold and take a risk and to actually share with their friends.

I received a phone call this past Thursday from an adult that works with our junior high students. She took personally the challenge to share Jesus with a friend. She called up her friend and told her that there was something that she needed to talk with her about. She then took the step and made her way over to her friend's house. And then this junior high leader told me that after she explained who Jesus was and what the Cross is all about, her friend wanted to accept Jesus Christ into her life. YES! That's right...as I listened to this story on the phone, I couldn't help but get excited. The idea of a dead person finding true, eternal life gets me excited. You see, the One that did the fixing was God. It wasn't this faithful junior high leader who shared nor was it this friend who recognized her need for God. The One who does the fixing and the renovating---is God.

Make no mistake about it. God is really good at fixing people. Who are you trusting Him to fix? Who are you asking Him to fix? If He has fixed and changed your heart...pass it on. Share the light. Spread the life. Don't keep this change all to yourself. Be bold and start pursuing those who need to be fixed. You'll be surprised what God may do---if you simply step out and follow Him.

Try it today. Go take a risk!