the joys and challenges of working with refugees, part two
Over the past year, as I’ve had a crash course in refugee resettlement, I’ve learned so much. I am grateful every day for the stories I’ve heard and the facts I’ve gleaned about this vulnerable, misunderstood, and often forgotten population. I’ve learned: That only one percent of the 14 million-plus refugees in the world will ever be [...]
my child sponsorship story: samuel saul of haiti
We finally did it! Our family just sponsored a child, and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a long time. The only reason we haven’t done it sooner is because we just wanted to be very prayerful and intentional about who we sponsored. We’re in this for the [...]
the joys and challenges of working with refugees, part one
As an eleven year-old dreamer in Dumas, a small town in the Texas panhandle, I attended mission classes at our local Baptist church and wondered if God would call me to be a missionary to Africa. The thought thrilled and terrified me at the same time. But I simply prayed, “God, use me as you see best. Wherever [...]
the #haiti diaries 2012 [a @helpendpoverty trip]
![the #haiti diaries 2012 [a @helpendpoverty trip]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/haitian-child-school-150x150.jpg)
Since my last mission trip to Haiti, I couldn’t wait to get back. That was August 2010, just eight months after the earthquakes that shattered an already struggling nation. I’ve even made it down to the other side of the island, but my heart ached to be just across the border with the people I’ve [...]
how to ensure your efforts land you in the right place
Trajectory. This word has buzzed around in my head all week. tra·jec·to·ry [truh-jek-tuh-ree] noun, plural -ries. 1. the curve described by a projectile, rocket, or the like in itsflight. 2. the path described by an object moving in air or space under the influence of such forces as thrust, wind resistance, and gravity, esp the curved path of a projectile I blame Pastor Steve McCoy of 360 Church for making my head [...]
fight #poverty with @fivetalents [november 1-7]
![fight #poverty with @fivetalents [november 1-7]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/five-talents-kids-150x150.jpg)
In The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter you hear the story about how I found passion and purpose for my faith as I studied the issue of extreme poverty. Then you follow my journey as I discover the impact of microenterprise through sharing the stories of an organization called Five Talents, even as it takes me on [...]
to the ends of the earth
I’m standing in a remote village in Haiti on the shore of the massive Lake Azeui. I upload a picture of some of the members of our mission team to Facebook and Twitter. They’re singing and dancing with the locals. There’s a communication gap, but music always seems to bring people together. It’s a special [...]
the unlikely missionary [a new book by @bibledude]
![the unlikely missionary [a new book by @bibledude]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/unlikely-missionary_blogimage-150x150.jpg)
I blame it on the ‘WP Word Count’ plugin that I installed. It tells me how many words are written/published by each contributor on the site. And as the guy who started the site, I’m definitely leading all contributors with a whopping 300,000 published words! When I look back at some of the things that [...]
how haiti changed my life
The current challenge before me is to explain that in one post. Don’t think I can even begin to do it, so I’m making this a 3 part series. And I hope I can do it in that! Ha! It’s hard to know where to start in telling the story of my family’s story and [...]
the indigenous church and the missionary
Foreign missionaries do not create churches, but simply help local converts develop their own spiritual gifts and leadership abilities and gradually develop their own churches. Missionaries provide teaching and pastoral care alone. The church is thus indigenous from the start. It has always been self-supporting, self-propagating and self-governing. What is an “Indigenous Church?” William A. [...]
selling a spiderman kite
They were literally everywhere! One thing that certainly stands out as we drove through Santo Domingo (and other cities in the Dominican Republic) was the massive amount of street vendors. And no, I don’t mean sidewalk vendors. I mean street vendors. These are dudes that walk around on the street selling things to people stopped [...]
what’s the deal with [indigenous ministry]?
![what's the deal with [indigenous ministry]?](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/pastor-jose-luciano-100x100.jpg)
His name is Jose Luciano. He’s the pastor of a church in Santo Domingo called Iglesia de Dios Misionera. Like many bi-vocational pastors of small churches, he’s wrapped himself up in his work and used ‘busy-ness’ as an excuse for not being the shepherd that God called him to be. As a result, his flock was struggling [...]
how to pray for your community
This experience in Santo Domingo was totally unexpected. Our team was down there to see how local churches all across the country are transforming their communities, but this one wasn’t on our agenda. It was our last day in the Dominican Republic, and we had already finished all of our meetings. We were making a [...]
dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-19
NEW POST: dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-18: – NEW POST: dominican republic… http://goo.gl/fb/2dPxC# a little more casual day today… a trip to the marketplace and some historic sites in santo domingo… then headed home! # @therockingchef LOL! it’s been interesting to see meat markets here with LIVE goats tied up out front… #dominicanrepublic# Picking up [...]
dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-18
![dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-18](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/palm-tree-rice-field-dominican-republic-100x100.jpg)
NEW POST: dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-17: And so it begins… – swapping… http://goo.gl/fb/eWbjj# breakfast conversation focused on what we thought impacted us the most from yesterday… pastor’s own lives transformed. #loveserves# just met the office staff for #loveserves amazing, beautiful, committed people making a HUGE difference across #dominicanrepublic# we’re driving to the north side [...]
dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-17
![dominican republic [micro]blogging for 2011-03-17](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/pastor-montero-100x100.jpg)
And so it begins… swapping mission trip stories with the team while on our way to the airport for our #dominicanrepublic trip. do you have one? # Checking in for JetBlue direct to Santo Domingo… (@ Orlando International Airport (MCO) ✈ w/ 24 others) http://4sq.com/hWsmvQ# reading list for the flight to #dominicanrepublic @NeueMag @RELEVANTmag and [...]
the other side of the island
Going to Haiti was difficult. Like crazy difficult. Most of us who’ve grown up in the United States just don’t have the capacity of truly understanding day to day life in Haiti… especially a post-earthquake Haiti. The people are beautiful, but broken in ways that many of us will never experience. The land is surrounded [...]
the dominican republic diaries
I was having lunch one day with a friend of mine who works with a ministry called LoveServes International. We ate and swapped stories about what God was doing through our work. As he shared I could see the fire in his eyes when he talked about transformed lives down in the Dominican Republic. Then [...]
how to help [dying kids in africa]
![how to help [dying kids in africa]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/africa-100x100.jpg)
2,000 children die from malaria every day. That’s 83 children every hour. With every minute that passes, another child or two dies. Would you believe me if I said it’s possible to end all malaria deaths by the year 2015? It’s true. By getting involved and mobilizing the people around us, we can save millions [...]
the orphan i am [a theology of adoption]
![the orphan i am [a theology of adoption]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/haiti-hug-100x100.jpg)
It’s always been easy for me to overlook the orphan care epidemic as something that ‘other people’ are working on. And because the Bible talks a lot about taking care of the fatherless and the orphan, I’ve always considered their work admirable… and potentially worthy of support. That is until I spent some time with [...]
book review: aftershock by @kentannan
I remember it like it was yesterday. I looked at the box in the pantry, and something inside me broke. Next thing I know, I’m on my knees crying harder than I ever remember crying in my life. My 17-month old son had been diagnosed just days prior with Juvenile Diabetes. My world was shattered and all [...]
day of small beginnings [guest post from @justapen]
![day of small beginnings [guest post from @justapen]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/sprout_out_of_wooden_guard_rail-100x100.jpg)
My wife is pregnant. I’m told I have a grin on my face people can see a couple hundred miles away. Now she’s not due until summer, and we’re still in the first trimester, but today is the day of small beginnings. I mean you don’t get much smaller than an embryo. Mustard seeds look pretty good in [...]
how to plan a [garage sale for orphans]
![how to plan a [garage sale for orphans]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/yard-sale-for-orphans-100x100.jpg)
Our family is pretty geeked about this year’s Christmas project! The needs of people in Haiti have been a special focus for us this year, and my son Samuel (the cute, red-headed one) really wanted to do something special for the kids down there. When I told him about a way that we could help [...]
they came for the turkey, and we gave them The Lamb
I had to do it. When I heard what my friends at Harvest Tabernacle were doing for Thanksgiving, I just knew that I had to be a part of it. Every year this church gives away turkeys (and other food items) to hundreds of area families that wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise. The [...]
