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!

Loans + Opportunity = Hope

Loans + Opportunity = Hope.

When a loan is given to someone in poverty and they take the opportunity to be responsible, hardworking and diligent, they are in turn given hope. People in poverty have little hope. The purpose of micro-lending is to come alongside some the poorest people and give them a loan when typical banks typically don't give them a chance. The purpose of these loans is to give dignity to the poor, and ultimately lift a person from the nasty grip of poverty. That's what I've been doing the last 6 months...loaning money to people in a village 28 miles outside of the capital city of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Friends and family have joined me in helping empower the poor so that poverty no longer has a hold on their lives.

Recently, more monies were wired to our loan officer who once again loaned these monies out to women who had sustainable business plans. The women are working hard to repay their loans as they've formed solidarity groups which provide mutual support for each other. One of the solidarity groups had a business plan. The plan was to purchase a machine that shells the peanuts that they grow and then sell these peanuts at local markets. So, they purchased the peanut machine. You can see the pic to the top left of this post. As this machine is utilized, women will be able to be more efficient and ultimately produce more and in turn, make more money. This is the power of micro-credit...giving small loans which in turn empower the poor.

I'm not doing this because I have a lot of money. I'm not doing this because I want to make money. I personally don't make a dime. The reason why I lend money to the poor is because God has compelled me. I lend money to the poor, because I believe that Jesus Christ can change lives. I believe that His power and His Word has the ability to transform lives. When we give loans, we share Jesus. We tell our clients that true hope and true peace can only come from a friendship with God...through Jesus Christ. This is why I lend money.

Most of our loans are $25-$100...

Will you join me?

If so, contact me for more info at lendingtothepoor@gmail.com

Soap, Millet and Peanuts...Giving Hope to the Poor!

Time really does fly. It was less than 6 months ago that I did my first micro-lending project. I kind of thought of it like an experiment. I was willing to lose any of the monies that my wife and I and a friend had sent over to help some poor women in a village just outside of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I was holding this experiment loosely, although I was hoping and praying that these ones who had received the loans would pay them back...and that they did. It only took 3 months for 29 different borrowers to repay the loans. Every penny of every dollar was returned ahead of the scheduled re-payment plan. Our borrowers used it for different things from farming peanuts and millet seed, to making soap to buying fabric and then re-selling it at local markets.

When I first started this, I told God that I'd only move as fast as He moved. I was willing to learn while at the same time lose. But I know that I had to try. I had to give it a shot. I mean, poor people are worth it. They have value. They are loved by the same God that loves me. And this God has called me (and all Christ-followers) to care for those who are poor, forgotten and disadvantaged.

When I received all of the applications back, I noticed that each of the women who applied had a dream. They each had a dream to work, to make money and to provide food and life's necessities to there immediate family. This was why I did what I did. I wanted to lend money to the poor in Africa, because I realized that these precious people had every tool to be a success except the simple access to capital. They are bright, intelligent, innovative and have a great work ethic. They simply lack the necessary capital to fund their business ideas and dreams. This is the beauty of micro-credit. It gives people a chance...and eventually a hope.

So, I've been praying, "Lord, where do I go from here?" As I've prayed and waited, I sensed the Lord telling me to "keep lending money". So, that's what I plan on doing. The Lord has provided. God has led people to help to be a part of this. More money will be sent shortly to be lent out to those individuals who have a business plan that's sustainable and have a realistic plan to repay their loan. God is drawing people to be a part of this. People are inquiring, asking the questions and now giving to the crucial work of giving dignity and hope to the poor in Burkina Faso.

I have some practical needs for this ministry. First, I need to raise some monies for a laptop for the loan officer that I work with. If you would like to contribute to helping meet this need, let me know. Email me at (parmitage@northmarchurch.com). Currently, he doesn't have a computer and is trying to be resourceful by using friends' computers. However, this is not ideal. As the ministry grows, more work and contact has to be done via a computer, which will increase our efficiency. If you have an old laptop that you're willing to part with that is in good condition, let me know. I can ensure that it would be put to good use. You'll be making an impact not only in the life of a loan officer, but in those that receive loans in Burkina Faso.

Their is one other need. Some of the women who received loans are requesting monies for there peanut business. They would like to purchase a cart and a machine. The cart hauls the peanuts while the machine more or less shells the peanuts which increases productivity for the ladies and eventually helps their profit. The cost for the cart and the machine which shells the peanuts is just under $250.00. If you have a desire to partner and help contribute so that these women can receive a loan to help purchase their equipment, please let me know.

Their are other needs...transportation, gas, and communication but right now we're trying real hard to keep our overhead down so that we can get as much money into the hands of those people that need loans. Remember, we're taking this one step at a time...waiting and trusting our loving God to provide, to help and to direct the ministry of caring for the poor.

If you're reading this...and you have any questions, please email me at parmitage@northmarchurch.com. If you have a desire to help give the poor dignity and hope through a loan, I invite you to partner with me. If God leads you to reach out and give financially, please send me an email. Thanks for reading...may God empower you and direct you as you care for others and show love to the poor.

The People of War...

This past Thursday and Friday, I traveled with a group of adults from my church to a small town in the southernmost part of West Virginia. We went to a small town called, War. Our mission was to encourage someone from our church who has gone down there as a school teacher, with the purpose of bringing hope to those that need it most. Although she is a teacher at an elementary school, Amanda's real desire is to be the aroma of Christ to anyone she encounters.

Amanda invited a group from our church to come and help her out with an "I Admire You" dinner. Her strategy was simple. Every student in her fourth grade class was to bring the person that they admired most to a special dinner held in their honor. On this special night, we ate together, laughed together, and some even cried. Students shared stories about how they admired the person that they had invited. It was a sweet experience.

I've been to War before. In 2003, I took a group of junior high students on a mission's trip to War for a week. It was there that I saw the poverty, the drugs, the broken families and the extreme hoplessness. The city of War is in McDowell County which is one of the poorest counties in the United States. So, the things I saw this past week, I had seen before. But, my heart was still broken.

My heart broke for the people that walked aimlessly in the streets of War. Most of the students come from broken homes. These homes are filled with drug abuse, alcoholism, abuse, and neglect. Students crave attention. The high school dropout rate is alarming. Unemployment is common. Drugs are rampant. It's a hopeless area.

It reminded me of why our world needs to experience true hope that can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. The people of War, although lonely and desperate are beautiful people. They are a people made with great potential and born in the image of their Creator God. Only God can bring hope to people, and it's this hope often comes through the obedience of His children.

Although War is discouraging, depressing and it's a dark area, the people need real Christ-followers who will step up and be willing to be LIGHT and bring HOPE to the area. The people of War need people like Amanda who are willing to selflessly serve the poor and the hurting. The people of War need people who will risk and care for kids, care for the poor and the needy. This is ministry. This is the heart of God. This is the will of God.

Lord, don't let me forget the people of War...

The Other Side of the Tracks...

Sometimes, I hop in my car and I drive to the other side of the tracks. In the city where I live, we have some railroad tracks that go right through the downtown area. On one side of the tracks is middle class and pockets of extreme wealth. On the other side of the tracks, their is much hopelessness characterized by boarded up homes, drugs, prostitution and crime. I drive there so that I don't forget how a lot of our world lives. I can't foget.

So, the other day, I hopped in my car and I just drove. I turned the radio off, and drove down some streets that most evangelicals would simply avoid. I choose not to go with the flow. Some would question why I would drive into an area of the city that is crime riddled. I don't have much of an answer other than Jesus had me do it. Jesus had me do it, because I have to go to the other side of the tracks. If I don't, I get stagnate and fall into a life that is uncaring. If I don't go to the other side of the tracks, I don't allow God to move my heart for the poor, the hopeless and hurting. If I don't go to the other side of the tracks, I slowly get drawn into the American dream and get addicted to self. So, this is why I drive. I drive because I want to go and drive where Jesus would be.

As I drove up and down the streets, there were countless homes that were boarded up. This grieved me. I watched a people just wandering aimlessly up and down the streets. My mind was brought back to the loving God that died for people on both side of the tracks. My heart was touched once again by a passionate God who pursues ALL mankind with His relentless love. When I drove on the other side of the tracks, I realized that I'm really not that much different. I, too am in need of forgiveness, hope and healing---that only Jesus can offer.

I will return to the other side of the tracks. Going to the other side of the tracks keeps my heart tender, my eyes moist and my mind bent towards the heart of God.

God, lead me to the people that burden your heart. Draw me to people that are hopeless and helpless. These are the ones I desire to pursue.

What about you?

"The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment."
John MacArthur