I’d never been inside the 10/40 Window before. While I could imagine the things that I would face during my 12 weeks overseas, I never thought homesickness would be the one thing that shook me to the core. But, it did.
Why Cafe 1040 Exists
The Overseas Calling
Honor and Love
I sat on a flight that lasted roughly 12 hours, had a few hours to kill in an airport and tried not to fall asleep, and then another short flight later. I arrived in our base country bubbling with excitement. I kept peering out of the taxi window and commenting on how pretty all of the buildings were to my coworker. I was immediately enraptured.
Worship In Multiple Languages
Our Sunday fellowship is made up of people from all over the world. There are many from the US and Australia, of course, but also people from Korea, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries. On a recent Sunday, we sang in the local language and then came back to the chorus in English, which repeated: “Worthy is the lamb who was slain.”
Flip The Script: Darkness To Light
God Is Good And Takes Care Of Us
I Am Nothing Without My Father
As I sit here on the patterned carpet, bare-foot, and leaning up against the patterned couch, my heart overflows with love for these women. I long for the ability to communicate with them on a deeper level, yet I am depending on my smiles and my few Arabic words to convey everything I cannot express with complex words.
Three Ways To Rethink Support Raising
Our God Is A Provider
Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound
Why Ramadan Is Important To Me
The Lord Calls Us To Listen And Follow
No matter your career, the majority of us probably didn’t end up in our jobs because we saw a massive billboard that laid it out for us and then our great Aunt’s dog spell it out with his kibbles. The truth is, the Lord calls us to listen and follow His direction, which is most often filled with many steps of faith.
Why I'll Never View Muslims The Same Way Again
Hospitality
Hospitality – in the states we associate this with words like inviting, welcoming, and understanding. It is such a simple word. I would have never thought one word could hold so much depth – that one word could dictate a culture. Living here in Southeast Asia has redefined my view of what it means to be hospitable.
Welcome To The Family
A Letter From One Mother To Another
A Call To Prayer
The Islamic call to prayer is a call to pray for Christians everywhere.
I woke up in confusion as the pre-dawn stillness was shattered with a song. Then I remembered. This is the Islamic call to prayer.
The words “God is great” echo from two mosques in the village. It is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Strangely, the Islamic call to prayer is also my call to prayer.
I pray that these people, who are so hospitable and welcoming, would be receptive to the story of Jesus. I pray that those who rigorously follow strict rules would come to know grace and freedom. I pray that every place that is dark would be flooded with light, that every person who seeks Truth would find the Way, that everyone who is blinded would be able to see. I pray for workers to be sent to this people group.
I pray because God loves all of his people, and He has called us to be His ambassadors, His messengers, His hands and feet to the Muslim world.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”
– Romans 10:14-15
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:20
If you’re interested in learning more about Islam, as well as ideas for how to reach out to Muslims in the US, check out this Islam 101 podcast from Desiring God.
God Is Faithful
Oral Cultures Respond To Stories Of Jesus
Across the world, storying has been especially successful among people groups who are oral – they remember and pass on information by telling stories. As a practice of communicating the truths of Jesus in any culture, we teach our students how to story, that is to tell the story of Jesus in an engaging, story-telling format.
