5 ans après

5 years ago this week, I went on mission.

It was my first overseas cross-cultural experience, in a country where English is, at most, a second or third language.

I joined a team of like-minded Christians from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds,
- such as Armenia, the DR Congo, England, France, Guadeloupe, the Netherlands, Poland and South Korea.

For most of our week together, we spent about 2 hours each day hanging around outside university campus entrances. In those two hours, we approached as many students as had the time to stop and talk to us (not many stopped) and made efforts (sometimes quite feeble, garbled efforts) to engage them in conversations about the person & work of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed throughout the Bible (most were not interested in talking for long; some openly mocked or sneered at us). Occasionally we were able to give away the odd Bible or an evangelistic tract (e.g. "Two Ways to Live", or Chappo's "What is a Christian?" - but not often). We also invited the university students we met to our evangelistic events and Bible studies that we ran during our mission week (interest and/or positive response were rare though)...

What really struck me about the local unbelievers (principally uni.-aged students) in the places where we did mission was how unwilling they were even to discuss religion at all. In Australia we still experience a fair bit of openness to discuss different belief systems, and there seems to be (in general) a tolerance of people who hold different religious views to others (though that's starting to change for the worse). Yet in this country where I was on mission, there seemed to be much more intolerance of anyone who expressed religious beliefs. A keep-it-to-yourself, faith-has-no-place-in-public, what-an-uneducated-idiot-you-are-to-be-so-deluded attitude.

Our team's outreach language was the official language of the country:
French.

The city in which we were operating:
Paris. Yes, the one in FRANCE.
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Most people see this nation as a holiday destination
- but even many believers don't see it as a nation under condemnation because of its refusal to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.

They see French people as Catholic
- but excuse me, since when did the Roman Catholic version of the gospel give anyone total assurance of salvation?

They might even think most of the French are Christians - but the reality is, more than 25% of France's young people (ages 18-25) declare themselves to be atheists; most Catholics are only nominal and non-churchgoing; and the Protestants are few in number and generally poorly taught the Bible in their churches (unlike numerous Christians I know in Sydney churches).

Which is why I'm committed to God's mission in France.
Having been there; having seen what it's like to be young and Christian in France; knowing what a tough gig it is to reach people on the university campuses or to serve long-term in ministry there (whether among uni. students, in churches, or elsewhere); having met and made friends with ministry apprentices and poorly/not-fully-funded staff workers
- I want to keep being a part of this work.
Praying for it, caring for those involved in it (or trying, anyway), giving out of my relative poverty to it - and even going over to help my friends out with it, if God might open the door.

France is one of the major reasons why, 5 years after my first visit there to see and join in with the French GBU ministry to students, I accepted the offer to begin studies in theology at Moore College in 2014.

Because I want to be better trained for ministry - just in case...

L/T.
~

10 vidéos (si vous avez le temps)

The last 6 months have been insane, even though I haven't been working full-time at all.

Did I forget to tell you that I got to start studies at Bible college this year?
Only one subject per semester at present (still awaiting guidance about whether to go full-time/75% in Semester II or not); still sticking with my existing employment until further notice.

Prayer according to PHIL. 4:19 appreciated.

In other news, I've really gotten into a PG-rated series from 2009-2013  -  "Horrible Histories".
Live-action sketch comedy, generally thought of as a kids' show BUT, in fact, even in its 4th season it was winning adult comedy awards.

So just for fun..

..here are ten of my favourite song clips from this series!
(Whilst I work out the best & cheapest way to actually obtain all 5 series on DVD...less easy to access in AU. than in the UK. *sob*)
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1. "The Monarchs' Song (The English Kings and Queens)"
So much hilarity (and royalty). How can you not smile? Or at least bop along?

2.  "(We're the) Georgian Navy"
Think patriotic chant, but minus the usual alcohol-induced haze and plus a lot of historically accurate information presented via clever lyrics... (.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qnWtwYuwwE)

3. "The Few (RAF Pilots)"
The only reason this song doesn't rank higher than #3 is because it's just slightly disturbing - don't you think? .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOXRvu-58qA

4. "Boudicca"
Those of you who have known me long enough to experience my Dark side should understand why this angry Celtic queen's history resounds with me ;P

5. "The Truth About Richard III"
The solo performer in this clip is just a bit younger than me. Can act. Can dance. Can make me laugh. And boy, can he sing - as this live gig shows. Wish I was half as talented.

6. "Alexander the Great"
This actor's strength? Why, he makes a ruthless historical figure from the intertestamental period look almost attractive. (Not a bad singing voice, either.)

7. "Funky Monks" 
If there are other classically-trained musicians out there who appreciate this style variance, please...sing out?

8. "Literally (The Viking Song)"
Ignore the lyrics..
Ignore the lyrics.. ..literally.

9. "Spartan High School Musical"
The energy in this clip is invigorating
- dancing that routine looks like so much fun.
(Would hate to be a teacher in Spartan times, though! .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmK6LUavR0)

10. "The English Civil War Song"
Liked the choreography in this one, too - and it's got some classic one-liners.
If you listen carefully.
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Just bubbling under, an 11th song with quite clever, factual lyrics - considering it's a spoof of Lady Gaga's style (only with more decent clothes). If you dislike the actual artist, don't click on this link.
(You were warned. I like this spoof - but I'd personally never listen to any real music from her if I could help it.)

I do promise some actual serious blog posts this year, as well - just not right now...

L/T.

~

6 sujets de grâces

In a non-easy week, I am thankful for small things...

 #1
The undeserved gift of blood relatives who show gracious support & love in spite of their disagreement with my lifestyle/life choices.

 #2
Prayerful & caring Christian community at both my AM Anglican and PM Chinese-background churches.

 #3
Being moved to pray/feel sad for an unsaved classmate even though I'm pretty sure she dislikes me and for whose salvation (until this week) it has been quite hard to pray.

 #4
Affirming words from my ballet teacher for the 1st time since before my calf muscle injury.
(As opposed to no words at all, so I couldn't be sure whether I was doing the right thing or not.)

 #5
Faithful, encouraging co-workers who serve with me in children's ministry (we work with all ages from 1-11).

 #6
God's Word in the Bible, which is living & active - and esp. this week has been timely in the midst of emotional strain.

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L/T.

5 raisons

En fait, il y a 20 raisons..!

Another new year, and another CMS Summer School!!

I love going to CMS Summer School, the early January annual conference of the Church Missionary Society of NSW.

I thought I’d start 2014 by solidifying at least 5 reasons for why CMS SS is, by far, my FAVOURITE of all holiday/weekend Christian conferences.

However, as I made notes on why I think this conference is SO good, I ended up with at least 20 reasons for going, instead of just 5.

And this is by no means a comprehensive list.

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You may be wondering  -  what happens at CMS Summer School that makes it such a good time away? Well, here are 5 general reasons why it's worth the week...

En générale

1.  Faithful, challenging Bible teaching with direct & personal applications to Christian life AND witness

(incl.emphasis on going to the ends of the earth)

2.  Detailed, current information about the needs of Christians and/or churches living outside of

-  or far away from  -  gospel-rich Western cultures

(e.g. most of South America, Asia and Africa)

3.  Hearing from any missionaries who have been serving in the gospel-poor fields of Europe

-  particularly those in France with the GBU (www.gbu.fr)

4.  Extended times of prayer, often in response to missionaries’ reports about God’s faithfulness, work and/or teaching in the situations where He placed them

5.  Catching up with link missionaries whom my Sydney city AM church* supports and/or with friends who have become missionaries (plus any of their children)

Missionnaires (missio’s)

1.  Chances to chat with with missio’-friends in the local Aldi or Coles, or just on the main street

(e.g. this year included a spontaneous catch-up with Leoni P. on HA from Cambodia)

2.  Chances to meet and/or chat with missio’s at the morning tea or shuttle car pick-up zones, in the Tribes&Nations Fairtrade coffee queues or other locations on the KCC site

{e.g. this year’s chance meetings included former missio’s such as Deborah M. (back from France since ‘12), Judy S. (back from Singapore since ‘13), Owen C. (back from France since ‘08) and Steve B. (back from Tanzania since pre-’07..)}

3.  Multiple video clips with different missio’s currently on location or back for HA  -  during not only the morning but also the evening programs

4.  Daily mid-morning sessions with missio’s sharing personal reflections on aspects of cross-cultural ministry or life such as contentment, perseverance, poverty, transitions, conflict resolution...

5.  Supper sessions after 2130h  -  often featuring missio’s who have served for over 10 years;

though these seminars were of much longer duration than the AM ones, yet always, ALWAYS it was worth the extra hour of downtime or sleep lost by going

Musique (chants de louange)

5 hymns I love singing from the CMS playlist but almost NEVER get a decent airing at my own Milson’s Point PM church** service

(note these are genuine PRE-1970’s hymn versions, thank you so very much!):

And Can It Be

Be Thou My Vision

Crown Him With Many Crowns

Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah

O For A Thousand Tongues

5 other songs I love singing from the CMS playlist but rarely ever get a decent airing at my own Milson’s Point PM church (*sigh*):

Great things (Smith & Begbie)

Nothing but the blood of Jesus (Morrow)

Send me out (Fee)

This life I live (Morrow)

Undivided (Smith)

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Why do I consider CMS Summer School?

In short

  -  if I say that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour (ie. if I call myself a Christian)  -  

then as His disciple, just as He directed the first ones in MATT. 9:35ff, He wants me to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out His workers;  and to be involved in witnessing to Him "to the very ends of the earth" (ACTS 1:8)  -  that God's name be glorified.

But how can I ask if I don't look at His harvest fields and take an interest in what needs there are?

And how can I witness, not only to "all nations" (MATT. 28:18ff) but to the extremities of the earth without knowing anything of what God may be already doing there?

CMS Summer School is such an invaluable resource for the twofold task of asking & witnessing.

It never fails to be encouraging and challenging and always forces me to rethink where I am, what I'm doing with the rest of my life, and what God might intend before that life is over...

L/T.

*Anglican cathedral.

**Chinese-background, English-speaking, most attending are aged 17 to 27 y.o.