Crossroads Bible Church, Team Holland 2006 Official Blog Site
Dates of our trip: July 12--July 30, 2006.
The team has been assembled and preparing since January, 2006.
Departing Flight Information July 12: British Air Flight #2192, Departing DFW 4:20PM. Arriving London Gatwick 7:20AM. Connecting flight from London Heathrow, British Airways flight #434 to Amsterdam Schipol arriving 1:45PM.
Return Flight Information July 30: British Air Flight #8110, Departing Amsterdam Schipol 7:00AM, arriving London Gatwick 7:10AM. Conntecting flight from London Gatwick, British Airways flight #2193 to Dallas/Fort Worth arriving 2:30PM.
You can also use the links on each of these sights to find out even more information!
In order to prepare for the nature of direct outreach in a postmodern culture, our team read the book "How Should We Live Then" by Colson & Pearcy. It's an excellent read for an introduction to worldviews, their effects and their results.
Some of the most influential books on the subject of postmodernism would be by Francis A. Schaeffer, including "The God Who Is There," "Escape From Reason," & "How Should We Then Live" (which obviously influenced Colson). If you're interested in some basic quotes on postmodernism, you can get them here:
2003: Brent McKinney, Rob Edwards, Deb Stevenson, Jess Semmelbeck, Liz Stevenson, Alicia Garcia, Jude Miniat, Christy Thrasher, Abby Lorenc, Cristina MacGilvra, Matt Eaton, Justin Bascue, Faith Oldenburg, Kayti Edwards, Kim Church.
2006: Brent McKinney, Steve Davis, Debbie Schmidt, Michelle Davis, Thomas Egbert, Schuyler Crabtree, Kayla Russell, Alex Ehrich, Keila Lorenc, Bailey Price, Olivia Schmidt, Maria MacGilvra, Alicia Garcia
First and foremost, this trip is 17 days long and for many team members it's the longest they've been away from home. We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to check back often and comment by clicking on the spaces beneath each entry!
Secondly, pray for the team members and those they'll come in contact with. This ministry is entirely relational...and each day we'll simply be waking up and trying to find someone to share the Gospel with. We'd truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Finally, when this team left, we were short of our financial goals. If you're so inclined to donate, simply go to the church website and click on "contact us," send an e-mail saying you'd like to contribute, and you'll be given the necessary instructions.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
MIJN VERLOSSER LEEFT! MY REDEEMER LIVES!--blog by Mrs. Debbie
That’s what we sang this morning at the EKV Evangelistic Church of Friendship. Brent preached out of Jeremiah 32. Even though Jeremiah was in jail, and his country was about to be taken over by an opposing army, he had hope and trusted in God. Tom and Maria shared their testimonies. Totally different ends of the spectrum, but the same in that both had to learn to dependent on God.
At home we have so many other things that we choose to depend on. Our jobs, family, money and we put our faith in those things. But, jobs can be lost, people let us down, money does not fulfill. We too need to learn to be dependent on God.
Here in Alkmaar, there aren’t many jobs, those we’ve met struggle with their families, and they certainly don’t have money. What keeps them from faith in a loving, almighty God who can provide for their needs, is faithful and longsuffering with His people and fills the vacuum inside the very soul…?
The people’s hearts are hardened. They don’t smile. I have found them aggressive and pushy. God’s love works through all of that. I’ve heard Pastor Tim quote, “Preach Christ and when necessary use words.” And frankly I have always thought…That would take forever. But here in Holland, not only is it effective, but quick as well. The Dutch need love, God’s love, shown brightly through us and they respond to it! The young people are hungry for someone to smile and say, “I love you.” God’s love really changes people’s hearts. It is so cool to watch it first hand and to play some small part in it!
Uh oh! Is this where missionaries are born…?
Brent 9:06 PM