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  • November 30, 1999

Archives For November 30, 1999

Farewell London

Meredith Flynn —  August 3, 2012

OLYMPICS | Serena Butler

We’ve wrapped up our week of ministry at these Olympics, and will head to Paris on Friday for some sightseeing. (We’re also taking Olympic pins and some More Than Gold booklets that explain the Gospel, because you never know who we’ll run into).

Our last few days in London have been really full. We continued to work in the Kings Cross coffee house and Southfields TV Lounge, and we also saw a little of the city (Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and Big Ben). We even caught some Olympic action – half our group watched the U.S. women’s volleyball team (indoor) beat China in straight sets. The rest of us cheered on the U.S. women’s basketball team as they took on Turkey, and won 89-58.

We looked across the court and could see the men’s team there to support the women. So, yes, I was in the same building as Lebron James.  On our way out of the Olympic Park we saw a retired NBA player, and Ian and Mari-Sue had their picture taken with him. (But you’ll have to ask them who it was – I’m not as up on that as I should be).

On Thursday, our last ministry day, I saw something really interesting at the Southfields TV Lounge: One of the gamemakers (people who are working at the Olympic venues) had picked up an Evangicube (a witnessing resource) and was showing it to a young boy who was there with his mother. He went through the Gospel with the little guy. One of our team members had brought the Evangicube from home and now the story was being passed on through the locals who are working the Games.

There are many more stories to tell about our time here. We have made new friends and also now have a home church in London. If I am ever back, I know where to worship. Thanks to you all for praying for us – we’ll see you soon!

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What day is it?

Meredith Flynn —  August 1, 2012

OLYMPICS | Serena Butler

Have you ever felt like you’ve been somewhere forever, but it’s only been a week? That’s how I would describe our first week in London. In just eight days, we traveled here, trained for our Olympic assignments, worshiped in local churches, set up two coffee houses, and met more people from more countries than I can begin to count. Our two-hour ride into town each morning is starting to feel like second nature, and we’re still getting lots of opportunities to talk to people about why we’re here.

Meeting a new friend on the Tube, who was excited to show off his USA shirt.

The crowd at the Kings Cross coffee house is growing. The church decided to pull a ping pong table out onto the Square in front of the church to see if it would draw a crowd…and did it ever. Local shop owners came over on their breaks to play a game. Kids came in from around the neighborhood, and some Olympic tourists stopped by, too.

Over at Southfields Church, we’re seeing more visitors in the TV Lounge. One older gentleman comes every day. He doesn’t really care about spiritual things, but something keeps bringing him back every day. It might be the pull of being with others. He has talked to several of us on the team about his loneliness. We are glad that he feels comfortable coming and hope the TV Lounge is helping to break through some of the ice.

Just like Starbucks.

The weather is helping us out, too. One day, it rained off and on all day, and people came in to warm up with a coffee or tea. Several of the workers from the tennis venue are coming in, and we learned that man in charge of crowd control is telling his volunteer staff to come to the Lounge during their break time. He said that he “wasn’t much of a religious person, but this is a great place for them to come.” Word is also spreading among the Tube workers and they’re beginning to stop in. It is our prayer that Southfields Church will continue to build relationships with those who live and work in their area.

God is working in the city. Pray for the team as the long days are beginning to wear on us. Our host churches have been so gracious, and there is still so much work to be done.

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Passing the torch

Meredith Flynn —  July 30, 2012

HEARTLAND | Serena Butler

If you watched the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics (and stayed up long enough to see the lighting of the Olympic Flame), you saw a brilliant depiction of “passing on the torch.” Seven well-known British athletes passed their torches to seven young athletes they had selected, each of whom has shown promise in their particular sport. Then all seven of the younger athletes, in unison, lit the Olympic Flame.

I can only imagine the excitement that these young people felt as they took the fire and raised it in the air. It was a wonderful picture of one generation passing on responsibility to a younger one.

I’ve seen a similar picture – except without torches – during our time in London. At times, our “missions veterans” are modeling ministry, and other times, they’re sitting back and letting the younger team members take the lead.

We stood at the Tube stop near Southfields Church on Sunday, handing out information about the TV Lounge the church is hosting during the Games. One of the younger team members came over to me and said, “I’m not very good at this. You are good.” I told her that it came with years of practice and learning to step out of my comfort zone. I learned by watching others and deciding to take a chance and try it myself.

I’ve heard a lot of devotions and sermons about “passing the torch,” but it’s clearer to me now after watching this team. (And forgive me for the sports analogy, but we are the Olympics, after all). If you’re in a relay race and you have completed your leg, your job is to cheer on your teammates. You don’t run after them and take the baton back. You don’t dive back into the pool and swim another lap. You’ve done all you can do, and have passed the responsibility on to someone else. You’re job is to encourage from the sidelines.

There’s a lesson for those waiting for their leg of the race, too. Be prepared to do your part. Cheer on your team members, but be poised to jump in when it’s your turn.

No matter our age, we probably go back and forth between these two positions all our lives. Somewhere, someone needs us to be a model of ministry, ready to show them what to do and then encourage as they take the lead. But there’s also someone waiting to pass the torch to us.

Do you have someone you’re preparing to receive the torch? And what are you doing to be ready to receive the torch from someone else? The race isn’t over until Jesus returns. Keep running the race and passing the torch until that day comes.

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Why prayer is an essential part of missions

Meredith Flynn —  July 5, 2012

COMMENTARY | Jay Ingram

As a former Journeyman missionary with the International Mission Board, I’ve had numerous people ask me, “What do week-long mission trips actually accomplish?” Well, if they are preceded and followed up with a long-term strategic prayer partnership, then a lot!

As I traveled to preach the gospel in Asian villages for two years, I can testify that my most fruitful time on the mission field was when my stateside prayer advocates were specifically praying for me that day or week (and they did this for two years).

Oftentimes, we fail to see the essential-ness of prayer in our daily lives. Maybe that’s why we reserve prayer to a formality in the church parking lot before the bus leaves or the Sunday before the trip. But once the trip over, what will we do to further the ministry? The unfortunate reality is that many mission teams and churches do not continue to pray for the ministry or locale to which they sent a mission team.

That’s why I propose that churches, small groups, and even families form strategic prayer partnerships with the ministry or communities with whom they will serve this summer.  People of all ages can be a practical part of this kind of ministry.

At Delta Church in Springfield, we have formed a partnership with the IMB’s Celtic Languages Team based in Wales. Since many people in our congregation won’t be able to participate in a mission trip to Wales, they remain a vital component of the partnership since they will be praying for the Holy Spirit to draw people to salvation.

Here are a few ways people in our church, and any congregation with a strategic prayer partnership, can stay involved:

1. Many missionaries and ministries send email updates each month or have prayer calendars. This is a great way to pray for urgent requests and long-term needs.

2. Current technology allows churches to connect live with missionaries from all over the world using Skype and other software. Use this opportunity to pray as an entire church for the missionary in real time.

3. Make examples.  If your church has partnered with NAMB or IMB missionaries, use their personal stories to promote the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong Offerings. This will remind our churches that “real live” missionaries are using their offerings to preach the gospel all over the world and remind them to pray for these efforts.

Make strategic, focused prayer a vital element of your church’s missions projects and trips. Whether your mission team is traveling around the world or staying local, a prayer partnership will extend your efforts well beyond the summer.

Jay Ingram is a member of Delta Church in Springfield.

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