We are in the process of going through all of our household items, deciding what to take to South Africa with us, what to ship ahead of time and what to get rid of. We are shipping some of our things this Saturday, so we are very busy this week! We will be moving in with Jenny's parents this weekend, and then most likely putting the house on the market. Please pray for our house to sell!
(If you are in the Denver area and would like to check out what we are selling, please check out this link. We will be adding more items in the next couple of days, so please check back!)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Christians killing kids
Today I read an appalling article on MSNBC about Christians killing children in Africa because they are suspected of being witches. Click Here to read the full article.
(Picture copied from the MSNBC article)
It's so sad that this would be done in the name of Christ. This is a perfect example of tribal people combining their traditional worldview with Christian beliefs. Africans have a very spiritual understanding of the world. When something happens that they don't understand they typically look for a spiritual reason for it. Unfortunately, as this story explains, they often go on a "witch hunt" to find the reason for sickness, or poverty, or misfortune. I've never heard of this happening by Christians in South Africa, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen there. I have heard of traditional healers in South Africa killing children to use their body parts for traditional ceremonies. Only Christ will set them free of this mentality.
A part of this problem is the "prosperity gospel" that has become so prevalent in Africa. Extremely poor people have bought into the notion that following God will make you wealthy and healthy. When this doesn't happen they look for witches that have prevented this promised prosperity. It is a very twisted and distorted understanding of scripture that power hungry men preach in order to gain followers. Yet another reason that I can't stand the "prosperity gospel."
- Lincoln
(Picture copied from the MSNBC article)It's so sad that this would be done in the name of Christ. This is a perfect example of tribal people combining their traditional worldview with Christian beliefs. Africans have a very spiritual understanding of the world. When something happens that they don't understand they typically look for a spiritual reason for it. Unfortunately, as this story explains, they often go on a "witch hunt" to find the reason for sickness, or poverty, or misfortune. I've never heard of this happening by Christians in South Africa, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen there. I have heard of traditional healers in South Africa killing children to use their body parts for traditional ceremonies. Only Christ will set them free of this mentality.
A part of this problem is the "prosperity gospel" that has become so prevalent in Africa. Extremely poor people have bought into the notion that following God will make you wealthy and healthy. When this doesn't happen they look for witches that have prevented this promised prosperity. It is a very twisted and distorted understanding of scripture that power hungry men preach in order to gain followers. Yet another reason that I can't stand the "prosperity gospel."
- Lincoln
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Cori Cook Floral Design
Cori Cook of Cori Cook Floral Design, designed all of the amazing decor for the South Africa Gala. Check out her blog post about it. She does beautiful work if you are looking for floral creations in the Denver area.
Featured Organization
Our family and the Lighthouse Shelter are the featured organization on the McDonnell Family Foundation website.
From their website:
Since its inception in April of 1999, the Foundation has dedicated its time, expertise and resources to helping at-risk children and their families. More to the core of the Foundation's mission is Jack and Pat McDonnell's compassion for those who simply cannot help themselves. Over the last ten years the Foundation has seen dramatic life change for children and their mothers in battered homes, for children fighting bone cancer and potential limb loss, for children and their siblings stuck in the madness of the foster care system, and for families who have lost their providers and loved ones at war.
From their website:
Since its inception in April of 1999, the Foundation has dedicated its time, expertise and resources to helping at-risk children and their families. More to the core of the Foundation's mission is Jack and Pat McDonnell's compassion for those who simply cannot help themselves. Over the last ten years the Foundation has seen dramatic life change for children and their mothers in battered homes, for children fighting bone cancer and potential limb loss, for children and their siblings stuck in the madness of the foster care system, and for families who have lost their providers and loved ones at war.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Pictures from the South Africa Gala
The Bana La Modimo South Africa Gala fundraiser was held at Red Rocks Church on Saturday, October 3rd. It was a lot of fun! We can never adequatly thank all of the people who helped make this evening a great success! THANK YOU!
Special thanks to Chris Sharber of Sharber Photography for the wonderful pictures in this post.
Click pictures to enlarge.
Stage area at the front of the room.
A 20 foot giraffe!
Guests starting to arrive.
Registration table
Silent Auction
Silent Auction
Dinner is served. YUM!
The Presentation
Lincoln spoke about the Lighthouse Children's Shelter and the orphans living in child-run households in a town called Phokeng in South Africa.
Jenny spoke about one of the sweet little girls at the Lighthouse Shelter. She had been rescued from a horribly abusive home and now lives a happy and healthy life at the Shelter.
Pastor Shawn spoke about a squatter camp in South Africa called Freedom Park and his experiences in South Africa.
Pastor Chad was the live auctioneer.
The crowd during the live auction.
Pastor Todd and the band played some great music.
Papa (Lincoln's dad), Madison, Kyler and Gee Gee (Jenny's mom) had a great time dancing!Doubting Thomas
It was about this time last year that I was going for a walk around Stanley Lake on a beautiful crisp Colorado fall day. I was talking to God about my desire to return to South Africa. I remember telling God that I would love to return to South Africa, but it would take a miracle. I told Him that if he wants this to happen that He would have to make it happen. It would have to fall in my lap.
After all the effort that it took for us to raise support and move to SA the first time, I knew that I did not want to go through that process again. I was determined that I wasn’t going to put my family through the stress and anxiety of traveling around the country for a year raising support. I have many missionary friends right now who are struggling immensely to raise support in this economic recession. In my mind it was literally impossible to begin raising support.
It might sound lazy or arrogant, but I was honestly very determined that I wasn’t going to force this to happen. If God wanted us to move back, then He would have to make it happen.
Well, that’s exactly what He did. Last February after a trip to South Africa my pastors at Red Rocks Church told me that they wanted to send my family to South Africa. That was immediately followed by a few people in our church that wanted to put on a fundraiser to help with our relocating expenses. We were asked to come up with a dream budget of what it would take to relocate. Now, after 6 months of very hard work the gala committee has pulled off a phenomenal event, exceeding our wildest expectations.
I can’t help but laugh as I look back over the last year. I’ve come from telling God that He will have to pull off a miracle, to sitting here preparing to move my family to Africa again. The resources have literally fallen in my lap. It is truly unbelievable.
What is so refreshing about this is that I have no doubt that this is truly a miracle. I have no doubt that this is God’s will for us to move back after seeing what He has accomplished with a few obedient people.
When we were making the decision to move back I had a list of reasons why we shouldn’t move back, almost trying to talk myself out of it for fear of making a decision out of emotion. Well, knowing that God’s hand is so clearly in it takes all that pressure and self-doubt out of it as we know that we are following His leading.
Today in church Pastor Shawn was talking about doubting Thomas. It was a great message, and part of it really resounded with me:
John 20:24-28
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
I feel like Thomas telling God that He was going to have to prove to me that this was the right move. Now He has proven it to me in a way that is undeniable. It’s like God is telling me, “Stop doubting and believe.”
And my response is the same as Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”
I know that we have many difficult years ahead of us in South Africa. I know that we will be faced with insurmountable odds, and much heartache. I believe that God has allowed us this time of His grace and favor so that when we face those difficult times we can stand strong knowing with confidence that God has brought us to South Africa for a purpose. As difficult as the future may be, we can know without any doubt that it’s God’s will.
Shawn talked about how historians believe that Thomas went on to be a missionary in India, and eventually lost his life as a martyr. I hope that our life doesn’t follow the same path, but I trust that we will have the same boldness and confidence in our “Lord and God” that we can face whatever the future holds.
Thank you, God, for this gift.
- Lincoln
After all the effort that it took for us to raise support and move to SA the first time, I knew that I did not want to go through that process again. I was determined that I wasn’t going to put my family through the stress and anxiety of traveling around the country for a year raising support. I have many missionary friends right now who are struggling immensely to raise support in this economic recession. In my mind it was literally impossible to begin raising support.
It might sound lazy or arrogant, but I was honestly very determined that I wasn’t going to force this to happen. If God wanted us to move back, then He would have to make it happen.
Well, that’s exactly what He did. Last February after a trip to South Africa my pastors at Red Rocks Church told me that they wanted to send my family to South Africa. That was immediately followed by a few people in our church that wanted to put on a fundraiser to help with our relocating expenses. We were asked to come up with a dream budget of what it would take to relocate. Now, after 6 months of very hard work the gala committee has pulled off a phenomenal event, exceeding our wildest expectations.
I can’t help but laugh as I look back over the last year. I’ve come from telling God that He will have to pull off a miracle, to sitting here preparing to move my family to Africa again. The resources have literally fallen in my lap. It is truly unbelievable.
What is so refreshing about this is that I have no doubt that this is truly a miracle. I have no doubt that this is God’s will for us to move back after seeing what He has accomplished with a few obedient people.
When we were making the decision to move back I had a list of reasons why we shouldn’t move back, almost trying to talk myself out of it for fear of making a decision out of emotion. Well, knowing that God’s hand is so clearly in it takes all that pressure and self-doubt out of it as we know that we are following His leading.
Today in church Pastor Shawn was talking about doubting Thomas. It was a great message, and part of it really resounded with me:
John 20:24-28
24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
I feel like Thomas telling God that He was going to have to prove to me that this was the right move. Now He has proven it to me in a way that is undeniable. It’s like God is telling me, “Stop doubting and believe.”
And my response is the same as Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”
I know that we have many difficult years ahead of us in South Africa. I know that we will be faced with insurmountable odds, and much heartache. I believe that God has allowed us this time of His grace and favor so that when we face those difficult times we can stand strong knowing with confidence that God has brought us to South Africa for a purpose. As difficult as the future may be, we can know without any doubt that it’s God’s will.
Shawn talked about how historians believe that Thomas went on to be a missionary in India, and eventually lost his life as a martyr. I hope that our life doesn’t follow the same path, but I trust that we will have the same boldness and confidence in our “Lord and God” that we can face whatever the future holds.
Thank you, God, for this gift.
- Lincoln
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Ridiculous Grace
I feel a bit like the prodigal son. Not that I've left God and am returning....but that I've received ridiculous amounts of God's undeserved favor. Ridiculous Grace has been poured out on my life.
Last night was our Africa Gala. It was a huge success. A lot of money came in. A lot of people heard our vision for the children of South Africa and really got a heart for it.
It's amazing to me that so many people have come together and worked so incredibly hard to support our family as we reach the orphans of SA. I'm so humbled by the generosity of everyone as they've committed their time, resources, and money. I can't possibly say "Thank You" enough to everyone. I'll post more pictures later as I get some in from the photographer.
These are some of the art items donated for the silent auction. Many of these are made from the African shack metal that we brought back. When I get the pictures from the photographer we'll post closeups of this art. It was amazing. You can also see the artwork on our Orphan Art Project blog.- Lincoln
Thank you to Don Ray for the pictures in this post.
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