Friday, September 17, 1999 3:43 AM
Thursday
In more than 25 years of doing this kind of thing, I don't think I have left the U.S. more poorly prepared than today. And I left alone. I really was not physically, business-ly or spiritually ready to go. I was so far behind, I am still making plans for the trip as I start.
My daughter Rebecca was planning/hoping to come with me to the wedding of her roommate in Portugal, but that did not work out, both from the storm on the east coast and full airplanes in Dallas. Emotions were up and down for two days.
Then leaving without my always "Goodbye kiss from/for Mom" ............
And I am tired.
Well, there is a situation made for God! My weakness displays His strength. My failure, His success.
Truly, to God be the glory, for this is His trip.
I surrender.
Friday, September 17, 1999 6:20 PM
I have arrived in Portugal and was so encouraged by dozens of you who wrote in response to my "Mission Message" yesterday.
I had a great visit with the president of the Portugal Baptist Convention, Jose de Sousa. We discussed the previous campaign here in Portugal last year and his vision for missions and volunteers for Portugal. There was some wonderful insight to be gained for improvement of work in Portugal (and elsewhere) in the future.
I was also able to meet with a group of potential customers for one of my consulting clients.
I got into Porto at 1:30 this afternoon and am headed for bed now (12:30AM), so this note will be short.
God's blessings on you all. Truly, I feel your partnership with me and the Lord's work in Europe.
Jerry
Saturday, September 18, 1999 5:59 PM
I will also let this be short: it is almost midnight and I am supposed to preach in the morning. Also, most of the day was spent at the wedding of Rebecca's roommate for the time she was in language school in Portugal.
The wedding was pretty well an all afternoon and most of the evening affair. The pastor who preached the ceremony is an old friend and we had a very positive discussion about the opportunities for the future of partnership evangelism in Portugal.
I had to drive 4 hours through a terrible rain and windstorm to Lisbon form Braga. I got here so late that we moved tonight's meeting to in the morning.
I preach tomorrow in Lisbon and have to catch a flight leaving at 1:10 for Spain. Please pray that I can make that work. I am going to the airport in the morning before church services and check in, so that I will have fewer things to do later.
Thank you for your prayers!
Sunday, September 19, 1999 5:21 PM
Those of you who prayed for my trip from Lisbon to Malaga need to give your prayer life a check-up, and those of you who didn't pray, let me know any other day you are going to skip out!
Wow, what a day!
The plan worked perfectly in Lisbon. I checked-in for my flight about 9:30 AM and turned in my rental car. Took a taxi to the church and arrived 5 minutes before 10:00. Great so far.
Had a great visit with my first partner in the gospel in Portugal, Antonio dos Santos. My, he is such an encouragement and a choice blessing. He thinks a two track approach for Portugal is probably best: work with the convention on specific projects (like an exchange between Spain and Portugal) and then work with interested churches on a larger campaign strategy that we would normally have. We will try to meet again after the first of the year to make some plans for both kinds of effort.
I loved being in his church and was so honored to preach there for them. The house was packed (evidently didn't know I was coming) with people sitting on steps and standing around the room. I had to leave at the invitation, but the people seemed very "with me" and I pray many will make a fresh commitment to "fish on the other side of the boat:" change or die!
I had a taxi waiting and made it to the airport with plenty of time to make the flight, only to see the notice: "DELAYED 1 HOUR" beside my flight. This did not look good since I only had 45 minutes between flights in Madrid. But they promised all the flights out of Madrid were late due to weather. Almost right--one got out on time...mine to Malaga.
Not to worry, the next one was at 6, I would get to the airport at 7 then to the church at 7:45, in time to preach there. No, no, Kimosabe. My 6:00 flight left at 7:10 (remember, everything will be late?) and just be sure I would not make it, the airplane landing in front of us didn't get off the runway and we had to go around. Pilot said 5 minutes more. 20 minutes later we finally landed. Left my new Phillip Yancy book on the plane (supposed to get it tomorrow).
We had some great fellowship at pastor Pepe Carmet's house. I got to see many of the young people who have come to McKinney. They are so gracious! And the food was wonderful!
Tomorrow, Pepe and I will talk about the future and where we see God leading us.
Heading to bed. Tired and taught .... patience. Hard lesson for me!
Monday, Sep 22
This morning Pastor Pepe Carmet and I had a great discussion of the future plans for Partnership Missions in Spain! We also had a warm dialogue about the special relationship between his church and mine. We have exchanged workers for our mutual summer camp projects for several years.
Next year, Spain is planning a campaign in three of its regions: Galecia, Valencia, and Andalucia. This effort is planned for 10-12 churches and will be manned mostly by Europeans and South Americans. The campaign is planned for September 22 - October 2.
He believes that Spanish churches can and will send teams to Mexico next year.
In 2001, Spain is planning to host a nation-wide campaign October 17-30. A meeting is scheduled later this week with the evangelism leadership for the Spanish Baptist Convention.
Pray for the upcoming meeting and praise the Lord for the vision of Pepe and the other Spanish leaders.
I flew to London and met with the group from Stopsley Baptist Church who are going to Hungary. Great spirit and expectations in the meeting.
Bryan Doyle invited me to stay in his home and I shared a great meal with his wife and her dad (John Grant, who is leading the team to Hungary). When Bryan returned from his meeting, we talked about his church's having 3 or more teams participating in campaigns every year. Our challenge in England is to spread that vision to other pastors.
Thank you for praying as we saw God working through the meetings of the day.
Wednesday, September 22, 1999 2:02 PM
I really took most of the day off. I have been trying to put a few last minute touches on details.
I also had an opportunity to do some work for breakaway the business luncheon at our church. With the Internet, I could do the work from Holland. What would the apostle Paul have given for jumbo jets and the Internet!
I have heard that the groups have started this direction. Some on the road, some awaiting flight, other airborne. Please pray for their safety in travel.
Tuesday, September 21, 1999 5:23 PM To: Missions (E-mail) Subject:
Praise the Lord, we are in the battle! No warrior for the Lord should be surprised when the enemy attacks.
When I arrived in Holland this afternoon, I was told that one of the churches who was receiving a team backed out on Sunday. This was a real shock to me. However, it did not surprise the Lord!
Two of the other churches said they would take all the folks over to their teams, for they have so much for their teams to do, that even more would be great. What a great, great spirit! And the people coming readily agreed to split up and go to new locations. My, my! How special.....
Some of the folks coming do so at great sacrifice. I am humbled to be a partner with so many of God's best people and churches around the world.
All hotel arrangements have been confirmed. I actually have part of the morning off (sleep!).
God bless you all,
Monday, September 27, 1999 10:15 AM
So many of you continue to pray for Italy. The Lord seems to be answering your prayers in many ways.
There seems to be a growing interest in evangelism in the hearts of the people. I gave a short greeting in Rome's Monte Sacro church on Sunday morning and had two young people tell me they will go to Spain next year! Then today I met with the new pastor of Trestevere Baptist Church (a missionary from Argentina) and he is very familiar with the work of International Crusades from Argentina.
I also had an opportunity to visit with many old friends from Centocelle Baptist Church and with Dudley Graves, IMB missionary in Viterbo, at an impromptu party at Ettore and Patrizia Zerbonati's house on Sunday night. The fellowship was wonderful and we shared many memories from 23 years ago when Janice and I served on a team in Centocelle. We shared warm and wonderful memories of those who have joined the great cloud of witnesses, like Dub Jackson's parents, Stan Crabbe's son, Phillip, and the parents of Patrizia and the mom of Ettore. All made such an impact; all sorely missed; all dearly loved.
Out of the visits came a consistent impression from the Lord: the churches in Italy are not yet ready for a campaign. But they are ready for SOMETHING! We have talked about a Gospel Festival next year. It seems as if there would be 4-5 churches/works who would participate to have 4-5 gospel musical groups to rotate among the churches for 4-nights. It would be different, for it would center on gospel music. However, there would be opportunity for testimonies and some home visits as well. Operation Andrew is going now to some extent.
I do not know if this is of interest to International Crusades, or not. It is a significant departure from its typical program, but something we have used in Europe to prepare the way for other, more traditional, work. The dates that the Italians are discussing is the first half of November.
Pray for us to know the Father's will in this. It seems now to be His leading, but some confirmation would clarify for me and for us. We are standing on new ground, so the way is not clear.
The spirit and the opportunity in Rome reveals the power of much prayer. The enthusiasm and willing to take new directions reflect God's leadership.
Will our response reflect our courage? I do not know. Pray for wisdom.
[addendum, after returning to Texas]
I met with the new pastor from Trestevere Baptist Church, where we have worked together often, and he is a missionary form Argentina and is very familiar with International Crusades and our strategy! How wonderful that he has taken this strategic position. He has pledged his support for our partnership in the evangelization of Italy.
Praise God!