Beautiful Feet for Detroit

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard... As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"

Romans 10:14-15

This summer is all about going to the nation of nations - America - for the sake of the gospel. This summer is all about living life on missions, right here in the United States. This summer is all about engaging the cultures of the world in our own backyard. This summer is all about the Call, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19), even the nation called home. Join with us in this journey, living everyday on mission for the sake of His great name.

Meet the Team

Emily

From: Panama City, FL

Attends: University of Alabama

Major: Psychology; Minor: Educational Studies

Verse: "I will praise You, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples." (Psalm 57:9)

Sandy

From: Covington, GA

Attends: University of Georgia

Major: International Affairs; Minor: Philosophy

Verse: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

Jamie

From: Tyler, TX

Attends: Tyler Junior College

Major: General Studies; Certificate: American Sign Language

Verse: "Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." (Psalm 55:22)

Emily Ann

From: MacClenny, FL

Attends: Graduated Mercer University

Major: Mathematics; Minor: Educational Studies

Verse: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6)

Prayer requests: As you follow us on this journey throughout the summer, we ask that you pray for the family we leave behind. Pray that they will have peace about our decision to go and fulfill the greatest call of the world. Secondly, we ask that you pray for the hearts of the Arab people we will serve. Pray that the Lord would prepare their hearts so that we may come and make His name great among their community.

Oh the Places You'll Go...

  “Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. ”  -Dr. Seuss

As children we listen to the silly stories our parents or teachers told us not knowing the effects that they would have on us later in life. This summer I (Bee) have the opportunity to work and blog about one of the places that I am going with a team of people.

In this scenario, the place we are going in the Mediterranean... I know that seems super rough...relaxing on the beach all summer is probably what you are thinking. Well- not exactly. We are working with with a humanitarian group, making friends, teaching English... doing everything you could possibly imagine! 

We will be using each and every talent and gift that God has blessed us with to help us bless others, and ultimately shine for Him. We are all looking forward to it! Though our personalities are different we are excited about what the God is going to do with our team this summer!

Let's Meet the Team:

I'm Bee. I will be the Media Intern for this Summer (i.e. who will be writing on this blog)! I am a Carson-Newman University upcoming sophomore. I study theatre, music, and communications. I am a very girly individual and I love Miranda Sings. I am really excited to be serving in the Mediterranean this summer.

Our fearless leader is D. Dave enjoys the "beard life", and will be working on fully growing out his beard this summer. He loves music (especially Christian rap). He is an adventure seeker, but he finds that the biggest adventure of all is letting the Lord lead his life. David is a great guy! He attends Mississippi College where he is majoring in Business.

M, who told me I was not allowed to write anything "embarrassing" about him, is from Mississippi. He is an easy-going guy living for the Lord.  Mitch will be a senior at Mississippi College this year where he is majoring in finance. Mitch is a funny and all around chill guy!

S is from Knoxville, Tennessee #GBO. She is a senior at The University of Tennessee (Go Vols!), where she is majoring in Social Work. She is "Totes Excited" to be working with this team this summer!

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” 

xoxo,
Bee 

Practically Family Already

The 2015 Orphan Care team headed to Zimbabwe is made up of six girls. Allie, our team leader, is from Sanger, Texas and is an Interdisciplinary Major at the University of North Texas. Jessica is from Vicksburg, Mississippi and is a Human Growth and Development (Family Studies) Major at Mississippi State University. Emily is from Knoxville, Tennessee and will be an Elementary Education Major at Johnson University in the fall. Ellen is from Burlington, Iowa and is an English Major at Washington University. Alex (yours truly) is from Ringgold, Georgia and is a Christian Studies Major at Shorter University. We are all very excited to see what this summer will hold. Pray with us as we enter in the journey of bringing the depth of the Gospel to the people of Zimbabwe. 

Our family group "posing" for one last picture before we go our separate ways. 

The names of the girls from left to right: 

Second row: Alex, Emily, and Allie

Bottom row: Jessica, Becca, and Ellen

Meet the Adventurers

Selemat Pagi!  We are pleased to meet you! Please lift us up during our time abroad this summer and check in for updates. We are appreciative of your support.

 Team Leader C

• Hometown: Rainsville, AL
• Student attending: North Alabama Community College

I love making friends, experiencing new cultures, hiking, and exploring. I am thankful to Him for this opportunity to work among a UPG and tell His Story!

Team Leader S

• Hometown: Purvis, MS
• Student attending: University of Southern Mississippi

My heart is in this region, so I'm super excited to be going back. He is going to be with us every step of the way and I can't wait to tell the world about Him.

Team Member C1

• Hometown: Petal, MS
• Student attending: William Carey University

I am so excited for this opportunity to learn new culture, eat different food, and meet new people. I am so ready to see what He has in store for our team this summer.

Team Member C2

• Hometown: Petal, MS
• Student attending: University of Southern Mississippi

I am looking forward to meeting people and building relationships while also learning about a new culture! I am expecting Him to do great things among us this summer.

Team Member A

• Sumrall, MS
• Student attending: University of Mississippi

I am so excited to spend the summer in SE Asia. I love meeting new people, traveling to new places, and eating new food. Ok... I'm obsessed with eating new food. I am anticipating great things from Him this summer as we tell His Story.

Jumpa Lagi!

Up, Up and Away to SEA

Who would have thought that I didn't know my teammates a week ago. We have prayed for each other separately, and now we are together and preparing to go to Southeast Asia. By tomorrow, we will be on our way to the airport! Woohoo!!

 

Meet Our Team, and know the scriptures that are helping us prepare for the summer!

Team Leader C
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
Matthew 28:18-20

Team Leader L
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
 Acts 20:24

Team Member K
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
 1 Peter 3:15 

Team Member B
It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
 Romans 15:20

Team Member T
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
 1 John 2:23

Team Member SY  
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” 
Psalm 46:10

Team Member SR
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 3:15

Team Member C
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7

Please lift up our team as we are continually growing together and 

as we are traveling the next couple of days!

Thank you for your support!

Hello and Goodbye ~ (Or Rather See You Later)

Smiles. Encouragement. Genuine Christian Community.

That's all I see around me.

Over the past few days I've had the privilege of spending time with and getting to know the incredible people of the Riverboat and Mountain Trek Teams. I am so proud to be able to say that I have seen nothing but radiant kindness and genuine concern coming from all of them.

It's hard to go somewhere so different with people you don't know, like venturing off on a quest with no map or supplies, but I have every confidence that God has put us together because we can do this and because He can work through us for great things. These people have refreshing hearts of servitude, adventurous spirits, and crazy senses of humor. With God at our backs and leading the way we'll be blazing a trail for His kingdom; and from what I've seen of these people we'll be sure to support one another and pick up our brothers and sisters if they stumble along the way.

This team is strong already and it will only grow stronger. God has brought each and everyone of us into each others lives for a purpose (what's more a divine purpose!) we belong with one another like no one else can.

As we go out for the summer please pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of all those that we encounter.

Community Service

Sunday Night Community Service

Photo courtesy of Christian Townson