II Peter 1:10

I know I am in the will of God! I know God has called me to be a Baptist missionary to Italy. How can I be so sure?

I played my first round of golf today.

This week we are at Hunters Creek Bible Baptist Church. Often times during a mission's conference the host pastor will take the missionaries to do activities during the day. Sometimes it is sight seeing and other times, eating out. Today the schedule called for golf. Yeah.

I had never played golf before today. That great truth was apparent to everyone who came to Archie's golf course today! It was certainly apparent to me as I found myself countless times walking through brush looking for my ball. It was also apparent to the swans in the various ponds who had to keep getting out of the way when I took a swing.

There was one time when I hit the ball great. Man it took off. When it landed - it was buried in a sand trap.

Paul charged us to understand what the will of the Lord is for our lives. Peter wanted us to make our calling and election sure. I know that my calling is sure. I am called to be a church-planter to the country of Italy - not a golfer.

Psalm 23:5

Our very first Missions Conference! What a way to start deputation. Madison Avenue Baptist Church has treated us much better than we deserve. This sacrificial church in the inner city of Paterson, NJ has gone out of their way to treat their missionaries like special guests.

As missionaries newly on deputation it has been our goal and expectation to go to churches and try to be a blessing. Through ministry and service we have planned to go and work in any way we can. This week however, we were pleasantly surprised by the reversal of this expectation.

The kick-off of the conference on Wednesday night set the tone for an exciting week learning about missions. We were extremely blessed! Then on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday the pastors and members of the church continued to bless us with fellowship, food (and lots of it!) and fun!

The warm brothers and sisters in Christ at MABC went above and beyond to bless us. MABC put us up in a beautiful hotel and took us out to amazing restaurants. At the end of the final service the pastor announced that they had a special gift for us. He handed us a basket filled with hundreds of dollars in gift cards for such things as gas, food, and much to Erika’s joy - Target.

It has really been an amazing testimony to us of a congregation that God has used to support over 70 missionaries. We have ended up having our cup filled abundantly! What could we have possibly done for them compared to the endless ways they have blessed and given to us. We are so thankful for that church family and feel that our church family has grown in this short time here.

Did we work hard? Yes. Did Michael get to preach/teach eight times? Yes. Did our children get to make new friends? Oh, yes!

We praise God for such a great conference. We are overwhelmed by the love we were shown and are beyond thankful for each person at Madison Avenue who have so graciously welcomed us into their missions family.

I Peter 5:17

Sometimes I worry. I know I am not supposed to, but sometimes I cannot help it.

I think about the daunting task of deputation ahead of us. I listen to my husband make calls trying to book meetings and worry about finding partners in ministry. I think about our girls and wonder how they will adjust to life on the road. I worry about how they will behave in the car and in churches. I wonder if in all the busyness of deputation we will miss the lessons God is trying to teach us.

Last night was our first ladies prayer meeting for our ministry in Italy. My good friend Brie volunteered to host a monthly prayer meeting for our ministry at her house. It was such a nice time of fellowship and bonding.


I brought before the ladies my cares, the things that I have listed above, and together we brought them before the throne of grace! I am so thankful for those praying for us! It is a gentle encourager...for me to hear Godly women praying for our ministry (James 5:16). To think that these ladies took a night out of their week to pray for me! Wow! It is ever so humbling...to hear sisters in Christ lifting my family up to our Father!

Last night I was reminded that the only way we can minister on deputation and get to Italy is for God to answer prayers and do a mighty work in our lives. Prayer helps me to recognize how absolutely incapable I am of doing anything without Him and how amazingly powerful and in control He is.

Today I am casting all my care upon Him, because He cares for us!

Sometimes I fail to look unto Jesus and begin to worry. Today I am not worrying.

- Erika

Philippians 1:27

I do not want meetings anymore!

I decided this after I had lunch with a pastor recently.

I was a little taken back at a lunch meeting recently when the pastor asked, “So, you want a meeting right?” Honestly, I do not remember how I answered the question at the time. As I rehearsed the question in my mind afterward, I realized my answer to his question. Believe it or not, my answer is "No!" I do not want a meeting. That is not my goal. If a meeting is my family showing up at a church, I preach, they possibly take us on for support, and then we just become another picture on their missions wall - I do not want a meeting.

My goal is not meetings. I want partnerships. I want the church to know us personally, and believe in what we are doing. I want more than just a meeting. I want supporting churches that want to strive together with us for the faith of the gospel. I want them to feel they are truly a part of our ministry in Italy, not just another missionary they send support to.

I am convinced that churches should support less missionaries but support the fewer missionaries better. Better contact. Better communication. More interest. More prayer on their behalf. I am not sure how likely this is, but I am going to do my part to have a group of supporting churches that we did not just have a meeting at. I am going to try with everything I have to have a group of supporting churches that truly want to partner with us as we reach the unreached villages of Italy.

Romans 14:17

The Difference Between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

I really like taking pastors out to lunch. I like going to lunch with pastors because it gives us 45 minutes of time to discuss my call and burden for the field of Italy as well as so much more! It also gives me the opportunity to talk about missions with experienced men of God and glean wisdom from the pastors.

Well, during these lunch meetings it also gives pastors an opportunity to ask me questions. They usually ask about our plans for the field and missions philosophy and about my family. Sometimes they ask about doctrine.

Recently I was having lunch with a pastor when he stated, “Michael, I am going to ask you a question that the possibility of you having a meeting at my church hinges on.”

I replied, “Okay” - really hoping I had the right answer to the question up my sleeve!!

He asked, What, if any, is the difference between the terms “kingdom of heaven” and the “kingdom of God”?”

I started laughing out loud when he said it, hoping that an opportunity at his church truly did not hinge on this question because I thought for sure I was not going to answer the question how he wanted me to.

I answered it truthfully. I refuse to be something or someone I am not. I told him I understood the issue and I gave my supporting verses for why I believe that they are.....(well that is another topic)

He replied that he completely agreed. (Whew!) He proceeded to state that he was kidding about the meeting hinging on the question. We laughed.

I really like taking pastors out to lunch! It is fun!

Romans 1:15

When putting together our video for deputation, we desired to emulate the video that the Apostle Paul made as much as possible.

In Paul's doctrinal treatise on Christianity, the Book of Romans, he expressed his great desire to preach to those that were in Italy. We share this same desire. As we are on deputation, we are presenting this video to the churches. We hope that in this video you will see the need for the Gospel to Italy, and also our heart's desire to serve God in that country.

So you will see that much like the missionary video the Apostle Paul put together... well, never mind.

Ephesians 5:16

Ahhhh.....the phone calls!

The moment so many have been waiting for. I started making calls this week trying to connect with like-minded pastors. It seems so easy -

1. I call the number of the church.

2. I ask the Secretary if I could speak with the Pastor and she pleasantly says "Sure, just a second..."

3. The pastor comes on the phone and we talk about my packet and the Great Commission.

4. He tells me that he is excited about what God has called me to and invites my family to his church.

Yeah.

Here are some examples why I am starting to think the above scenario is more of an "ideal" than reality! : ) These examples made me smile and I hope they make you laugh as well!

I call the number -

"DOO DO DOO - The number you have called has been disconnected, please try your number again."

I call the number -

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. (12 rings later) Ring. Ring.

I call the number -

Recording - "Hi you have reached *Such and Such* Baptist Church - our office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 - 3:00"

I call the number and then ask to speak with the pastor -

Secretary: (Trying to hold back the giggles) "Um, he is not available right now, can I take a message?"


- I love this stuff! Please pray.