I am now home from my missions trip. I had to have a nearly four hours drive after I landed!
Thank you all for your prayers.
I took twelve flights to travel to two countries at four different locations for ministry.
The people spiritually was a spectrum: it range from super biblical and in some parts the people attending that I am not even sure are Christians. In all things it’s a privilege to minister. There are discussions for future trip for me to minister ranging from teaching a course for Greek students for an underground seminary to teaching the Basic Gospel.
It is never one way the learning. I was moved to hear stories of believers who had their church bombed, or physically beaten and mutilated. These stories always move me.
I am now home from my missions trip. I had to have a nearly four hours drive after I landed!
Thank you all for your prayers.
I took twelve flights to travel to two countries at four different locations for ministry.
The people spiritually was a spectrum: it range from super biblical and in some parts the people attending that I am not even sure are Christians. In all things it’s a privilege to minister. There are discussions for future trip for me to minister ranging from teaching a course for Greek students for an underground seminary to teaching the Basic Gospel.
It is never one way the learning. I was moved to hear stories of believers who had their church bombed, or physically beaten and mutilated. These stories always move me.
The Domain for Truth 
I am very happy that you got to experience this again. Your work will be beneficial to these people. Praise God for his mercy and grace!
Thanks Jesus! Also thanks for holding down the fort while I was away! I hope to see you write more brother!
I’ll start thinking of some things. Thank you for the encouragement and help brother. Cheers! 🍻
Glad it was a fruitful journey Jim, rest up well brother…you’ve earned it.
Thanks Alan
It’s nice to have you back, Pastor Jim. Your guest posters all did a very nice job.
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with us. I’m sure you left valuable ideas in the minds of the people in churches where you went. god bless you!
Thanks and thanks for the reading of posts. comments and reblog while I was away brother!
Praise God! Great report. Keep up the good work.
Thanks brother Michael
[…] Back Home from Fall 2022 Trip! […]
SlimJim,
I’m thankful your trip went well and was apparently without logistical problems (no unexpected travel delays, missed connections, etc.)—I state the latter based upon your silence on this. It’s especially great to hear your previous trips were impactful to the point that booklets were made from them.
You pondered: Sometimes if I’m honest I wonder how much impact I have with my own local church. I cannot know if this is in any way true or not, but I do know we fallible beings can take those things we have for granted. This can include those around us who provide for us, such as pastors. You are likely more appreciated in your local congregation than you think.
I think it true that absence (the space between your overseas visits) makes the [collective] heart (of those you visit overseas) grow fonder. Given this, you are well-received on your trips. It’s a special occasion for both them and you. Conversely, familiarity breeds a sort of ‘same-ness’, as in “we’ll all congregate again next Sunday and the next…” Thus, I think it natural for you to perceive a difference between the two different settings.
In any case, once the jet lag wears off, your perspective may change.
You are right. I am aware of how short term missions can color perception of things back home and also view of churches overseas as well. I do think you are wise to say let jet lag to wear off to think more clearly. I was considering those factors and I do think the nature of limited sound teaching overseas can amplifly what we do with teachings overseas. That’s not to say we dismiss the importance of local church and local church ministries in the US. Hope that clarify a bit where I am coming from!
Welcome back brother! I rejoice with you in your success and impact!
Welcome back home. I think it has been a situation for a good while that some of the “over seas” people “get it” and we here are still lost.
Thanks Beverly
Praise God for your safe return and your good work!
Thanks brother!!!
Welcome back home, Jim! Always really glad to see you safely return! Blessings!
Thanks Bruce!!!
Praise God for the impact in your spreading the good news of our Master Jesus.
Shalom!
Thanks Michael!!!
Praise God for His ministry thru you and your safe travel! Now rest…and allow God to restore! 🙂
Thanks! I’ll slowly get back to reading blogs again including yours!
Welcome back, brother! How precious it is to hear these humbling truths, that we who have the greatest access to biblical teaching don’t prize them as highly as those in more arduous and persecuted circumstances. May we not relax in our seeming comfort but be alert, for the night is almost over and the Day is near!
Thanks for the encouragement!! God bless you!!!
Glad you had a safe and fruitful trip, and are back safely. It is great when believers work together for what they find important instead of taking what they have for granted. Apparently those people did not have the luxury, so they cherish what they have.
Thanks for these encouraging words. I appreciate what you have done to help with the blog. Been quite jet lagged and hope to get back to the swing of things with social media and reaffirm blogs like yours!!
“But the hunger for God’s Word always leave me incredibly humbled.” That is so true brother. Sadly, we here are so used to church entertainment, that’s our measure of a good service.
So glad you traveled to bless the brethren, may the Lord continue to order your steps as you serve His precious body.
This means so much: “ may the Lord continue to order your steps as you serve His precious body.”
Welcome back. Thank you for hearing God and going to serve. He rewards the faithful!
Aww thanks for the encouragement brother
Welcome home brother. Happy that you had a safe and productive trip.
Thanks brother that means a lot!
Welcome back and thanks for this look back at your trip! I’m glad you were able to minister to those believers overseas. Their thirst for the Word is humbling.
Indeed their thirst is super humbling
Welcome back. God is good.
Aww thanks! How are you?
Doing ok. Possible surgery on heart. Will let you know of decision.
I am glad to hear that your trip was fruitful. May the Lord open up more places for you to share His Word.
Thanks sister Beverley!
“But the hunger for God’s Word always leave me incredibly humbled.”
Amen. May it truly bear fruit!
Amen! May it bear fruit: THat is my prayer!
Jim, thanks for sharing experiences from your trip. Praise God for your unselfish service to others in a challenging environment as well as your safe return home.
This generation doesn’t believe in hell…..that is why they are not scared of it. They don’t understand what sin is and why it’s so bad. We’ve relabeled sin and evil as mistakes we make. Someone got to go preach to them.