We recently read “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. This book encourages Christ followers to slow down and “live the quiet life” and gives real life examples of how hurrying can negatively affect our emotional, physical, and spiritual lives.

We talked to a participant of our Virtual Missions Experience and asked him some questions about missions and what he hopes to learn from VME.

What better time as a believer to be the reflection of His faithfulness, love, peace, kindness, and grace to every person He’s put in our lives? While I may not know or understand why I’m stateside instead of overseas, I am choosing by faith to continue to grow my roots deep so that no matter what I face, I will be fully anchored to my Savior and filled with His hope for the future.

A recent class about calling has turned my thinking about missions and discerning God’s will for me upside down. The principle of the class is that "calling is content, not context" meaning that we are all called to do the same thing...just not in the same place.

One of our mobilizers had the opportunity to sit down with The Center for Missionary Mobilization and Retention and give some insight on their podcast into the day to day life of a mobilizer and how what many of us may perceive as mundane is an important piece of the mobilization process.

The world pandemic has reached our overseas workers’ doorsteps as well. We are curious to know: What has their ministry looked like? What has changed? And where is the Lord leading them next? Fortunately, we were able to catch up with L* (name not disclosed for security) in Europe! She helped us understand how daily life has changed, but also shares some encouraging ways God continues to move in this season.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Everyone meet Ellie! She is wise, a learner, and passionate about all of God’s people. She gives a great depiction of what the program means to her, and creates a space for anyone to relate to her story. She inspires and encourages, and we can’t wait for you to read about her experience!

Everyone meet Ellie! She is wise, a learner, and passionate about all of God’s people. She gives a great depiction of what the program means to her, and creates a space for anyone to relate to her story. She inspires and encourages, and we can’t wait for you to read about her experience!

I remember the first time I saw someone pray to something other than God. My team and I were on our way back to where we lived from a look around the city, and along the way we were passing through a busy section of town decorated on all sides by brightly colored storefronts and restaurants.

The biggest thing God has been showing me over and over is that He is at work. Always. Long before we got here, and long after we leave.

Have you ever sat down to pray for your church or the Big C church and then realized you didn’t know how or what to pray for? We reached out to some pastors in our network to hear from them exactly how you can be praying!

There is something about the stripping away of expectations that draws us face to face with reality Himself. Through this process, I have been introduced to parts of myself I dislike most. I am guilty of fixing my eyes on God on the basis of where I am going and what I get to do rather than on partaking in life with Him. Through this conviction, the Lord has extended grace and forgiveness by continuing to walk me through my selfishness.

Have you ever wanted to sit down with a Cafe 1040 grad over coffee and hear about their experiences? Each of them has been impacted in a significant way by our overseas mentorship program and has many stories to tell.

Our nation has witnessed a number of tragedies in recent months that have highlighted the racial inequities that still exist in our society today. As a ministry dedicated to the God-ordained value and beauty of each race, we stand heartbroken as we have witnessed the hurt and pain these inequities have caused our brothers and sisters of color.

Truly, I have seen how much I have taken for granted the liberties and freedoms we have in America. Abiding in God looks so much different here, having to gather discreetly, safe language, praying with the blinds shut, and not being able to worship out loud. But even in the midst of limited freedom, God is present and God is good.

Through my teammates I have seen and experienced the intimacy of the Father in ways that I have never experienced before.

Whether you decide to do all 1 or all 10 of these ideas, be creative and have fun!

We must refocus our thoughts, training, and activities on our mission. We must bring the hope of Jesus to those who are hopeless.

This idea has changed through classes and personal reflection - first and foremost, the Father wants me to draw near to Him, and to continue to learn about who He is and who He wants to be to me.