I’m no graphic designer, but the Young Adult department at Bellevue Baptist Church asked me if I’d design some posters for their new year emphasis a year long journey through the Scriptures.
I designed four options. They chose the first two.
Signage
Feb 4
Snack
Feb 3
For some kids, it’s a punishment. |
School (Sam’s in)
Feb 2
Sophia has been learning her alphabet one letter at a time. Now, Sam is catching the learning/creating/having fun spirit. He just finished his first work of art.
Here at MABTS, folks are all about helping people be in right relationship with God. That job doesn’t only take place outside the apartment complex. Moms are making disciples everyday with their kids.
Neighbors
Feb 1
People . . .
My new assignment has placed me smack-dab in their path. Yeah, I know. People are everywhere. But, what I do now puts me in an uncomfortable position. I engage.
I step onto a porch, knock on a door, look someone right in the eye, and engage. It’s exhausting and exhilirating.
Before, most strangers that crossed my path stayed at a safe and comfortable distance. Now, I seek out complete strangers to talk to (usually in Spanish).
It’s scary. “If knocking on a stranger’s door doesn’t scare you, then you’re not human.” a wise sage once said.
It is good. It’s good because it is a part of the journey that God has called us to live. Also, it’s good because I am learning to stop relying on myself and start walking in His Spirit.
School
Jan 28
Amanda (Holding up a picture of an apple): Ah Ah Ah Apple. Can you say apple?
Sophia: Ah Ah Ah Apple.
Amanda (Holding up a picture of an alligator): Now, what is this? Ah Ah Ah Ah . . . .
Sophia: Ah Ah Ah CROCODILE!
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[ Forward ]
Jan 27
I am a church planter.
I get a bit unnerved just saying that, but it’s true.
It’s not true because I decided that I should be one. It’s not true because an organization gave me that title. It’s not even true because I have planted a church before.
It’s true because that’s the job God has set before me. A church planter is what God has called me.
So, I’m learning to call myself that. It’s getting less and less strange to say because I am slowly becoming more and more confident in Him.
Needless to say, if I were depending upon myself to do this, I’d be in a hot mess.
This summer God used two experiences to begin a revolution in my heart and mind. I began to see myself fitting into God’s activity on earth in a whole new light. I felt compelled to get out in the community, start knocking on doors, walk with people through the truths of Scripture, and fold them into a congregation. I wanted to work with Latinos, but I didn’t know where or when or if I even should. But, this compulsion wouldn’t go away. I didn’t really want it to.
So, I started. I climbed into our 1994 Ford Aerostar and started driving. I had no idea where to go, but I couldn’t sit around any longer. I said “God if you want me to do this, you’ve got to show me where.”
He did.
I went down a street and came upon a small house that had a gaggle of kids playing in the front yard. They were Hispanic. It seemed like there were hundreds. It was like God said, “Start here.” I was 5 minutes from the front door of my apartment.
That was back in early September. Since then I have mapped over 100 Latino homes and visited more than 30. I have started two Bible studies in homes. And, I’ve learned a ton. The most important lesson? That I am completely and utterly dependent upon the power of the Spirit. Jesus is my sufficiency and motivation.
I am a church planter.
It’s been a long time since I have felt like this. God has asked me to do something and I feel completely inadequate and overwhelmed. Yet, I feel completely confident and hopeful. God doesn’t just call, he sustains and guides and empowers.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about this adventure. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about it.
We got an inch. Kind of.
Jan 20
It wasn’t quite a white Christmas, but it was almost a white New Year’s Day.
Not enough for a snowman. Not a clean one anyway.
Mapping
Jan 18
I have to keep track of where people are, who they are, what I know about them. It’s just a part of church planting. That takes a lot of organizational energy. One of the ways I stay on top of the game is by mapping Latino households. It helps me keep track of who is where and what contact has been made. It also helps me get an overview of the flow of people and response.
[ Words ]
Jan 16
Words are powerful. They build and destroy, heal and hurt. Words can transform.
Hear what God says through Isaiah (43) to those that belong to him:
I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name.
You are mine.
I will be with you.
You are precious to me.
You are honored.
I love you.
For those who are in Christ, every last syllable is true.
For those who are in Christ and live believing what God said through Isaiah, transformation is occurring.
Fulani
Dec 21
Brittney Oster spent 6 weeks in Niger working in a rural health clinic with the Fulani. One of the most amazing stories she told was when a baby was born not breathing. The doctor handed her the baby and said “Start CPR.” She removed all the mucus from the baby’s nostrils and throat. After a few rounds of breaths, it began to breath on its own.
Fulani Presentation from Ryan Bush on Vimeo.
