Time line:
We fly out on October 10th and we will return on April 20th for probably a couple of weeks then we'll head back to Belize.
Crew:
Camden Barlow(22), Nick Schmitt(24), Jarod Schmitt(22).
Location:
San Pedro, Belize. It is on a small island called Ambergris Caye, probably about 20 miles off the coast of Belize.
Mission:
The Lord has called us to go and make disciples of the nations (Matt. 28:19). As far as we know, we will be spending a lot of time with people of all ages and walks of life, teaching them the word of God and modeling that for them in our own lives. We will be following the model of the early church in Acts 4 as well as the methods of Jesus Christ. We believe that the most important thing we can do for new believers is mentor them, while giving up our own time and agendas in order to spend it with them. That is why the early church was so effective.
Your support:
We ask everyone of you for your prayer support, for that is the greatest strength we have. We believe strongly that the Lord will provide as long as we are seeking first his kingdom (Matt. 6:33). He may provide through money, or materials, or even by eliminating our need for certain things, but none the less, He will provide.
We do not at this point in time feel compelled to ask anyone for money and here's why...
We would rather have a dollar that the Lord prompts you to give than a thousand that he does not. If we ask for money, that would confuse you to the Lord's will, and you may end up giving something out of guilt that the Lord did not ask you to give. To avoid this, we are trusting that He will put it on the hearts of the people through which He chooses to provide, and it will be done.
If you feel a joy about giving to our cause and you have no doubt that it is God's will that you do so, here is how you can help.
To get the tax deduction, go through Lifeway church. Lifewayfamily.org
to give directly, you can go to Nick's website. disciplingnations.info
If you have any questions or would like to talk, send me an email at commodoreperry8@gmail.com
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Love untamed
Here is an excerpt from "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin McManus about the church today.
"Two thousand years ago God started a revolt against the religion He started. So don't ever put it past God to cause a groundswell movement against churches and Christian institutions that bear His name. If He was willing to turn Judaism upside down, don't think for a moment our institutions are safe from divine revolt. I am convinced that even now there are multitudes of followers of Jesus Christ who are sick and tired of the church playing games and playing down the call of God. My travels only confirm that the murmurings of the revolution are everywhere. I am convinced that there is an uprising in the works and that no one less than God is behind it."
"Two thousand years ago God started a revolt against the religion He started. So don't ever put it past God to cause a groundswell movement against churches and Christian institutions that bear His name. If He was willing to turn Judaism upside down, don't think for a moment our institutions are safe from divine revolt. I am convinced that even now there are multitudes of followers of Jesus Christ who are sick and tired of the church playing games and playing down the call of God. My travels only confirm that the murmurings of the revolution are everywhere. I am convinced that there is an uprising in the works and that no one less than God is behind it."
Monday, August 22, 2011
Community of the early church
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them."
Acts 4:32-34
Community is one of the most important traits we as believers have, yet in today's culture, it has been diminished, if not forgotten. Independence is seen as a positive thing, while having to ask for help is seen as a sign of weakness. How contrary this is to the gospel! yet it is so dominant even in the church today! Giving is seen not as a sign of surrender, but as a sign of power, because the giver is "beyond self-sufficient" to the point of having excess to give away to the "less fortunate." Most of my life, I've been a part of different communities that did not live out the faith the way it is portrayed for us in Acts. Consequentially, in that time, I didn't see much fruit, and had a very difficult time following the Lord with all of my heart. It wasn't until recently that I became a part of a community that truly takes the model given in Acts and lives it out. And this community has become viral. For all that we as individuals try to do on our own, we as a community can do exponentially more, and as we do, more people join us and turn their lives completely around.
For a personal story, last night, as our guy's accountability group met, one of us had a need. My initial reaction would be to keep him anonymous, but that would be under the mindset that asking for help is a sign of weakness, when it's actually the one of the strongest things I've seen anyone do. Toby came to us humbly with a debt that he could not pay. It was due the next day and it was for $900, and if it was not payed the next day, it would be raised to $3000. As he was telling us about it, my heart leapt and I felt a desire to help him out. Sitting next to me was my cousin Nick (Also known as Herby), who wrote down that he was selling his car today for $900 and showed me quietly to see what I thought. At that same moment, Camden jumped out of his chair and said to Herby, "It's your car isn't it!" Then he read us the passage in Acts 4. The spirit was clearly prompting the three of us to pool our resources together and help our brother out. Interestingly, the other three guys at the table were silent and it was apparent that as they wanted to help, they didn't have the means to do so, and didn't feel the spirit compelling them to do so either. The three of us that God spoke to are the three that are moving to Belize on mission in a month and don't have any money to spare. It became apparent to me that God was teaching the three of us to rely on His provision and not to trust in our own understanding before we go. And I can't describe the peace I felt after handing over the money, because, I knew that we would no longer have financial worries, because God will always provide. And besides, What's $900 to an infinite God?!
So today, Toby sends me a message saying that he found favor with the one collecting his debt and it was reduced to only a tenth of the original amount!!! All glory to God!!
As we set Isaac on the altar, the lord spared him! or at least most of him LOL.
I say all of this not to boast in myself or my brothers, but to boast in God and to bring glory to him. I hope that you too will be inspired to follow the model of the early church and dare to put your life as you know it on the line to see God transform it into something beautiful.
Acts 4:32-34
Community is one of the most important traits we as believers have, yet in today's culture, it has been diminished, if not forgotten. Independence is seen as a positive thing, while having to ask for help is seen as a sign of weakness. How contrary this is to the gospel! yet it is so dominant even in the church today! Giving is seen not as a sign of surrender, but as a sign of power, because the giver is "beyond self-sufficient" to the point of having excess to give away to the "less fortunate." Most of my life, I've been a part of different communities that did not live out the faith the way it is portrayed for us in Acts. Consequentially, in that time, I didn't see much fruit, and had a very difficult time following the Lord with all of my heart. It wasn't until recently that I became a part of a community that truly takes the model given in Acts and lives it out. And this community has become viral. For all that we as individuals try to do on our own, we as a community can do exponentially more, and as we do, more people join us and turn their lives completely around.
For a personal story, last night, as our guy's accountability group met, one of us had a need. My initial reaction would be to keep him anonymous, but that would be under the mindset that asking for help is a sign of weakness, when it's actually the one of the strongest things I've seen anyone do. Toby came to us humbly with a debt that he could not pay. It was due the next day and it was for $900, and if it was not payed the next day, it would be raised to $3000. As he was telling us about it, my heart leapt and I felt a desire to help him out. Sitting next to me was my cousin Nick (Also known as Herby), who wrote down that he was selling his car today for $900 and showed me quietly to see what I thought. At that same moment, Camden jumped out of his chair and said to Herby, "It's your car isn't it!" Then he read us the passage in Acts 4. The spirit was clearly prompting the three of us to pool our resources together and help our brother out. Interestingly, the other three guys at the table were silent and it was apparent that as they wanted to help, they didn't have the means to do so, and didn't feel the spirit compelling them to do so either. The three of us that God spoke to are the three that are moving to Belize on mission in a month and don't have any money to spare. It became apparent to me that God was teaching the three of us to rely on His provision and not to trust in our own understanding before we go. And I can't describe the peace I felt after handing over the money, because, I knew that we would no longer have financial worries, because God will always provide. And besides, What's $900 to an infinite God?!
So today, Toby sends me a message saying that he found favor with the one collecting his debt and it was reduced to only a tenth of the original amount!!! All glory to God!!
As we set Isaac on the altar, the lord spared him! or at least most of him LOL.
I say all of this not to boast in myself or my brothers, but to boast in God and to bring glory to him. I hope that you too will be inspired to follow the model of the early church and dare to put your life as you know it on the line to see God transform it into something beautiful.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
How to have powerful and effective prayers
"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 1 Peter 3:7
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 34:12 (psalm 34:12-16)
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-16
"You don't have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
Feel like it's too late? Like you have to be righteous for God to hear your prayers and you're too far gone? Here's what He says..
"'Even now,' declares the Lord,'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." Joel 2:12-13
"Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 34:12 (psalm 34:12-16)
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-16
"You don't have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
Feel like it's too late? Like you have to be righteous for God to hear your prayers and you're too far gone? Here's what He says..
"'Even now,' declares the Lord,'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." Joel 2:12-13
"Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
Physical appearance
"Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame."
Psalm 34:5
"Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person's wisdom brightens their face
and changes it's hard appearance."
Ecclesiastes 8:1
It's all his
For by him all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
1 Colossians 1:16
1 Colossians 1:16
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
What's money to an infinite God?
"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:31-34
As simple and beautiful as this is, it's something that I constantly have to be reminded of. So often, I find myself resting on my own provision, or stressing over my lack thereof. Most recently, while searching for our plane tickets to Belize, Camden and I found that it was significantly cheaper to buy a round-trip ticket than it would be to get a one way. The solution seemed simple, just get the round trip ticket and don't show up for the return flight. The airlines probably count on that to a degree anyway, and besides, wouldn't it be my loss if I didn't use the ticket I payed for? Cam, however, had a very convicting rebuttal. It was something along the lines of, "If we are going because God has called us to go, then we need to be above reproach. If we are planning on flying there and not flying back, we need to be honest about it."
Honestly, I thought his statement was really frustrating, considering how little it would actually affect anyone and how much money we would save. But what he said after that struck me.
"What's $200 to an infinite God?"
Just think about that.
As if my extra money saved would do me any good whatsoever, compared to the unlimited resources of God. This had opened my eyes to what pride had blinded me of, and how freeing it is! I haven't worried about money since!
Little reminders like that sometimes hurt for a minute, but I'm so thankful to have friends that hold me accountable, even when it means stepping on my toes.
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62:5-8
Matthew 6:31-34
As simple and beautiful as this is, it's something that I constantly have to be reminded of. So often, I find myself resting on my own provision, or stressing over my lack thereof. Most recently, while searching for our plane tickets to Belize, Camden and I found that it was significantly cheaper to buy a round-trip ticket than it would be to get a one way. The solution seemed simple, just get the round trip ticket and don't show up for the return flight. The airlines probably count on that to a degree anyway, and besides, wouldn't it be my loss if I didn't use the ticket I payed for? Cam, however, had a very convicting rebuttal. It was something along the lines of, "If we are going because God has called us to go, then we need to be above reproach. If we are planning on flying there and not flying back, we need to be honest about it."
Honestly, I thought his statement was really frustrating, considering how little it would actually affect anyone and how much money we would save. But what he said after that struck me.
"What's $200 to an infinite God?"
Just think about that.
As if my extra money saved would do me any good whatsoever, compared to the unlimited resources of God. This had opened my eyes to what pride had blinded me of, and how freeing it is! I haven't worried about money since!
Little reminders like that sometimes hurt for a minute, but I'm so thankful to have friends that hold me accountable, even when it means stepping on my toes.
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62:5-8
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