Sparks Ministry

So our next step in the MTW application process is “Interview and Orientation”, or “I&O” as it’s affectionately called.  We’ll be traveling to Atlanta for a week of I&O September 21-25 and we’d appreciate your prayers for that week.

We asked for prayers about this in the last e-update, but I realized that many of you might be wondering what I&O is and why we would need prayer for this.

I&O is the final step in the process of becoming an approved missionary with MTW.  Before you can attend I&O, you need an invitation from a team and you must have submitted an application with references from your pastor, session, and a few others.  If you are applying for long-term service, there is also a week long assessment that you must complete before I&O.

Now that we have everything that we need to go to I&O, we have a few psychological tests to complete before the end of August.  There is a Bible test, the Meyers-Briggs Inventory, the MMPI, and a marriage inventory.  Whew!

As you can probably guess, I&O has two main components.  There is the final interview portion, which includes reviewing our psychological tests with a psychologist as well as an interview with MTW staff.  The other part is an orientation.  This includes an orientation to MTW policies and procedures as well as training in developing a support team.  Once we are approved at the end of the week, we will begin raising the additional support we need to return to Ukraine.

Although I&O has some enjoyable aspects, it can also be pretty intense with all that evaluation.  Please pray that we would be relaxed and authentic in all of our interviews and assessments.  Please pray as well that we would get good rest during the week.

While this does not fall in the category of news about Dawn and me, I think it might be something that we can all think about, especially in the mission field.

I recently read an analysis of Apple, and how the iPhone is not the cause of Apple’s success but the iPhone is successful because Apple is a success. Why is Apple successful? They provide a product that is an experience and of high quality. They do not always provide a product that has everything for everyone. They more often provide a product that meets the needs of a specific target group and make sure that what they do provide meets a high standard of quality. They do not define quality as making sure the product is so diverse or flexible that it could partially meet the needs of everyone.

There will at times be people who do not think the worship style of the presentation is exactly for them, however if it is of quality, and biblically supported then it is the truth.

I once passed a church on the highway that had a sign displaying “30 Minute Worship Service”.

While I have no idea of the details for that specific church, and personally think a corporate service is more detailed than something that can be done in 30 minutes, should I discount the style or the length if it meets the standards of high quality, biblically sound and is obviously targeted at a specific seeker audience?

So while there is much that can be discussed in this area, the intent of this note it not to resolve the issue, but rather open the door for the discussion.  I would leave you with these ideas for your personal ministry.

How can this approach help you with your personal ministry?

Let’s consider our personal testimony:

• Do you have a personal testimony of how you found Christ?

• When you give that testimony can you speak it in 1 to 3 minutes?

• Can you vary the testimony enough to meet a specific context of the situation where you will be sharing?

• Even though it is 1 to 3 minutes, does it contain the truth of the Gospel and would the testimony be of high quality to the person for who you are sharing or did you try to meet the needs of everyone?

When we do provide quality and truth with our limited resources (Money, Time, etc) , I believe the result will be what Paul speaks to in

2 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 12 to 13.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.