God Stories – 2020 Style
by IM Canada
“And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
Greetings and blessings to you all! In this time of uncertainty when so many face unique and unforeseen challenges, we are thankful for you and the work we know God is doing in all situations.
Short-Term trips were cancelled, but ministry carried on in new and creative ways!
Here are stories of IM Alumni from around the world, building monuments of God’s Faithfulness.
“I was blessed to have a conversation with a lady at Zoom Camp that has four children and two have special needs. She shared that one of her daughter’s has a difficult time walking. The daughter struggles everyday to stand up and take steps. Watching her daughter never giving up brings strength and hope to the mom. I thank God for the joy of being a small part and sharing His hope with others thousands of miles away. “
-Donna H. Romania E-Camp
“Since I was unable to work in Poland, I have been working in my local church, with the children. There is no greater blessing in my life that to work with these children and showing them the love of Jesus. It’s a seed planting and nurturing calling.
I am antsy with anticipation of the next trip to Poland!”
-Judy S.
“God told us: ‘Live your lives. If you are in God’s will, you are in His covering’.”
“It sobered me up to who is really in charge. This is God’s mercy to prepare us for trials to come”.
-Julie and Mike I. , MMT Students
“2020 was the first year since 2014 I did not participate in a summer mission trip with International Messengers. It was disappointing to think I would not be traveling to Poland for a camp.
However, God had different plans for me.
The first thing God orchestrated in my life, was a weekly meeting with a good friend, over Zoom. I felt we were doing what Proverbs 27:17 says, “iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Next, God helped me identify an area I really struggled in: having a critical heart. One verse God has led me to is Romans 8:26 which states, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” God continues to work in this area of my life.
The final place God met me in this summer was my struggle with PTSD and OCD. I have been struggling with these two areas since childhood. It has taken years to even realize what I had. I have started to break the chains and identifying the triggers for both of these.
Reflecting through what has occurred this year, I have seen God move in my life. In the past, God spoke to me through the International Messengers camps; this year He spoke to me in a different, and powerful way.
In Christ,”
-Josh M.
“Being quarantined meant new opportunities. As a family we got a chance to be leaders for a big online FCA event for teenagers 15-18 years old. We learned together how to share the Gospel, our testimonies, and how to create a bible study groups. We had 5 people in our group and each week we had a few calls: group call, training call and personal call (one on one). The life stories what they shared with us made us cry. Three problems what we saw: no fatherhood in their life, divorcing (all of them have divorced parents), and no spiritual mentoring.
God blessed us and we created new groups: separate coaching groups for men and women, and men and women’s athlete groups! We met new coaches who wanted to participate only because they they were bored in quarantine.
How amazing God is, that quarantine drew people to Him! We are not working to start in-person groups, praying that their hearts remain open to the Lord.”
-Ira and Pasha C. Ukraine Staff
“I had planned some father-son time for the margins of our summer and had hopes that I could build some real bridges with my boys, but the extra two weeks created more space and opportunity.
Caleb and I spent a week together in Colorado bonding over moose and bear sightings, jeeping, and rafting. It was akin to some sort of ancient-male-testosterone-ego-thing, but we did it: Our burgers had 1/2 lb of beef, thick bacon, jalapeno onion rings, macaroni and cheese, and Cheetos on it!! Somewhere between all the foolishness and the food, the Lord created a bit of openness between us that was a precious gift.
I took a week-long trip with Samuel too. We played, and prayed, (and fought a little), and ate a lot. On the way home I was inwardly lamenting that I spent more time playing with him than praying with him when he took out his ear buds and said, “Dad, Thanks for doing this with me. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”
So I’m learning not to second guess the Lord. He knows which opportunities are most needed and even though we couldn’t go to Hungary, He provided some special opportunities in my at-home mission field.”
-Brent H.
God has moved in many ways in the lives of our IM alumni, and career staff.
He has touched the hearts of people who met God in the intimate spaces of their own homes, and bridged the gaps that otherwise might have been too wide for us to cross. .
