What about missions? (Full Version)

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Luvinme -> What about missions? (3/31/2008 11:12:05 AM)

I have been a Christian for about 13 years. My desire to move up on the Christian ladder has been a deep passion in me. I have had huge struggles in the past, before Christianity, with deep, dark depression. I have never felt that anyone has really cared for me. Even now I find myself fighting my old self as I am so tired of fighting these feelings and myself anymore. It is all very complicated as I tend to be a complicated person. My insecurities leave me stranded as I question my ability to survive this world and the damage and hurts it brings. I never truly give up hope though since I love God and he carries me through these rougher times, but again I feel so alone.

I am now separated from a husband who treated me very badly. I now question myself at what I could have done or said or not said that it would have worked or that he would not have treated me so badly. I feel that the church has let me down too since they have not offered any help to me to deal with my situation with my husband. It has been over a week now that I have divulged sensitive information to them and I am still waiting to hear from them. I feel a lot of the times that people don’t care.

For some time now I have wanted to help orphans in Romania and Bulgaria that suffer living in appalling conditions. A documentary was aired recently called “Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children” that was heart wrenching to watch. I urge you to view the full documentary online at www.video.google.com

I feel the urge to get very involved to help these children, but I don’t know how. I also feel that this will help me to get out of the slump I am in with my own personal situation. Again, I told my church my ideas and how I felt I need some direction from them. Their best advice was to tell me that they have their own agenda for missions and would not be interested in mine and that I should be trying to connect with other missionary groups who are targeting this area apart from my church. So, I am trying to find them.

I am looking for support. I feel so alone as a Christian. My husband never liked my ideas and the church does not seem to be very encouraging either. Please, is it me, do I have an unhealthy perspective on things? What do I do, I feel like everyone is against me.



jbow -> RE: What about missions? (3/31/2008 11:35:21 AM)

God bless you...

Most don't understand that marriage is a comittment. I'm sorry that your husband did not understand that he was to love you and to be your support. That does not make you a bad person.

Most people, Christians inculded, are very self absorbed with their own interests and needs. It can make you feel alone but you are not. I don't have a good answer for you as far as getting people to be there for you. People always seem to let other people down. Maybe it is that our expectations are a little high but people will let you down... Jesus will not. He is with you. His Holy Spirit dwell's in you and enables you to commune with Jesus and with Our Father. There angels watching you all the time as you show forth the glory of God by your walk.

Look into it and find a group who works with children, those in Bulgaria if you can find them. If not, find someone in need where ever you can. There is so much need.

I am so sorry you are hurting. Please know that you are not alone. If your church does not meet your needs find another one. Sometimes we can help and sometimes we need help. I pray you find peace soon.

J



Liveloved -> RE: What about missions? (3/31/2008 11:47:42 AM)

quote:

My desire to move up on the Christian ladder has been a deep passion in me.


Dear one,
The desire of your heart is a good one. Wanting Jesus and more and more of Him is a wonderful passion. But movement on the Christian ladder is the opposite of what you are expecting. Up is down. "Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him."

Believe that God is and will use your depression, your marriage, your church and your mission desires for His good in your life. It may 'look' all wrong. But that is God's way. His desire is FOR you. Trust Him.

Your heart sounds too wounded right now to be involved in such an undertaking as these suffering children. Seek the Lord and let Him do His healing work in you. You have a beautiful heart and I believe the Lord wants to do a mighty work in you, M.Magdalene.

Give yourself to Him. Trust Him. Praise Him. Thank Him. Love Him. And watch what He does. He cares for you.[:)]LL



saraha98 -> RE: What about missions? (3/31/2008 12:01:57 PM)

My Dear Child: I agree with LiveLoved. Seek God; find healing. His desire is to use you, but He needs to mold you first. I remember when I first became a Christian I was armed and ready for any job the Lord had for me, but He didn't use me right away because He needed to make some changes in my life and to heal some old hurts and wounds. As I became a more willing participant He began to use me in the areas that were close to my heart; Working with the elderly, teaching, encouraging. As I look back I know that I would have failed miserably if I had not first allowed the Lord to change my life. As for your church, perhaps you can pray for a specific mentor from your church to step forward. Do they offer Divorce Care or a class such as Healing is a Choice or Boundries. If not perhaps you can search to see if any of these classes are offered at another church. I will continue to pray for you. And remember Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Love in Christ



TMeeks -> RE: What about missions? (4/1/2008 12:19:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: M.Magdalene

I have been a Christian for about 13 years. My desire to move up on the Christian ladder has been a deep passion in me. I have had huge struggles in the past, before Christianity, with deep, dark depression. I have never felt that anyone has really cared for me. Even now I find myself fighting my old self as I am so tired of fighting these feelings and myself anymore. It is all very complicated as I tend to be a complicated person. My insecurities leave me stranded as I question my ability to survive this world and the damage and hurts it brings. I never truly give up hope though since I love God and he carries me through these rougher times, but again I feel so alone.

I am now separated from a husband who treated me very badly. I now question myself at what I could have done or said or not said that it would have worked or that he would not have treated me so badly. I feel that the church has let me down too since they have not offered any help to me to deal with my situation with my husband. It has been over a week now that I have divulged sensitive information to them and I am still waiting to hear from them. I feel a lot of the times that people don’t care.

For some time now I have wanted to help orphans in Romania and Bulgaria that suffer living in appalling conditions. A documentary was aired recently called “Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children” that was heart wrenching to watch. I urge you to view the full documentary online at www.video.google.com

I feel the urge to get very involved to help these children, but I don’t know how. I also feel that this will help me to get out of the slump I am in with my own personal situation. Again, I told my church my ideas and how I felt I need some direction from them. Their best advice was to tell me that they have their own agenda for missions and would not be interested in mine and that I should be trying to connect with other missionary groups who are targeting this area apart from my church. So, I am trying to find them.

I am looking for support. I feel so alone as a Christian. My husband never liked my ideas and the church does not seem to be very encouraging either. Please, is it me, do I have an unhealthy perspective on things? What do I do, I feel like everyone is against me.

You do have an unhealthy view of things right now. But, that is because you have been pounded around a lot! It is the rare person that wouldn't have an unhealthy view of things in that situation. Even so, it's not only affecting your emotions; but, your body as well. Stress chemicals are NOT good things to have keep pumping in us.

But, you don't have to continue in that unhealthy thinking. You can do something about it. I still believe that Dr. Leaf's book or DVD series would be very, very helpful to you. [:)]

In the meantime, let's talk missions. I'm saddened by today's church that doesn't think expansively about missions anymore. So, I share your sadness over your church's response to you. I can't think of many people going through more horrible circumstances that orphans in the former Soviet Union countries. Our family has firsthand knowledge of the condition in these terrible places. I have 3 wonderful nephews, all birth brothers, that came out of Ukrainian orphanages. So, your desire to help hits a very soft spot in my heart.

The closest contact I have is from Croatia. But, their mission organization also serves in Romania. I will contact you to give you their direct email; but, here is their mission organization. I don't see that they have any orphanages. But, I am sure they probably know of some.

M.Magdalene, WE like your ideas. [sm=thumbsup.gif]

For you to think of orphans in the middle of so much pain in your own life is something for which I am very, very proud of you. I think it is a fantastic idea and if others could see the appalling conditions these precious children have to bare, many many more would think it's a fantastic idea.

Remember. The Holy Spirit is INSIDE every believer. He has been in you and heard everything you have heard, endured everything that you have endured and wept every tear that you have wept. He KNOWS what you have gone through and He is still right there IN you. And, he will NEVER leave you.

Lord, we thank you for the tender heart of M.Magdalene and her desire to give when all seems taken from her. We praise you for your faithfulness in her life and we ask that you continue to comfort her and lead her, each day, closer and closer to the very center of You will for her. How excited we are that she has a heart for missions and for children in such desparate conditions. Lord, I'm so proud of her. I'm proud of her love for children. I'm proud of her continuing to try to find ways to help them even when her church seemed so discouraging. And, I just plain proud of her for being so honest about her emotional state. Surround her right now with your love and may she know that many of us out here are praying with her.



timf -> RE: What about missions? (4/2/2008 8:30:02 AM)

Please, is it me, do I have an unhealthy perspective on things? What do I do, I feel like everyone is against me.

You are particularly vulnerable right now. Having been betrayed by a husband who may not have been a Christian or who was so given over to the flesh so that he could not be distinguished from an unbeliever, you seem to be searching for ways to share the love that is still in your heart.

Shows about abused orphans are sometimes slanted to emphasize abuse in order to generate more viewers. These types of shows can show poverty and imply abuse. Even so-called "Christian" organizations that seek to help "orphans" can end up having you sponsor children whose parents are present, loving, and able to care but just want to get more schooling or other financial advantage. Things are necessarily what they appear on TV.

Your church is a human organization with a organizationally derived concensus as to where to allocate organizational funds for missions. As you have discovered, they may not be receptive to new requests that have not gone through endless committee meetings and debate.

There is a verse in Psalms that applies to children who have been abandoned by their parents;

Psalm 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

It may be justifiable to draw a principle from this that if a husband abuses or abandons his wife, that the Lord will also act to "take up" the forsaken wife.

It may help for a period of healing to focus on your relationship with Jesus. In drawing closer to the Lord, you can find the peace and fulfillment it sounds like you are looking for. You may find that the Lord helps you discover opportunities for personal ministry within the circle of people you encounter daily and that "missions" is not a big global abstraction, but a real and practical part of the daily opportunities Christians have to minister to each other.



funny_girl -> RE: What about missions? (4/2/2008 5:55:44 PM)

I've walked through depression and difficult times with my husband and have joy in my life now but I had to do my part. Some people like their problems and are comfortable wallowing in them. Thank you for being open and I hope you are ready to hear the truth.

1st of all, a person can only give what they have. If all you have is depression and problems getting along with other people, moving to a foreign country will not solve your problems. Your problems will be like a huge pimple under the skin that is pressed and forced to pop! I've personally seen others come down here to Mexico and think they'll be all better, turn around and go right back! One wife had severe mental problems and she couldn't handle it. She had outbursts of throwing and breaking dishes. She had to go back and be around her support system.

When I was walking through depression, I was a missionary and the sending agency told me that I couldn't go to the mission field in that condition. I agree with them! They sent me somewhere to receive the best counseling. But even with all that counseling, which provided affirmation for my feelings, didn't heal me. What healed me was my pursuing God and my level of faith increasing. God delivered me from a spirit of fear with His word! I'm an overcomer by the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony! Revelation 12:11

May I encourage you, your desire is admirable, and if you want to achieve that goal than get yourself healed up and strong! Could I recommend you reading all the materials you can from author Joyce Meyer? Her programs are available online and you can sit and listen to encouraging messages that will help you heal up and correct your thinking. It may take a year but it's possible to heal your marriage and have joy in your life. It's a lot of work, but it'll be worth it!



HisCovenant -> RE: What about missions? (4/2/2008 6:18:32 PM)

I agree with these other men and women who are encouraging you to get perspective back and reach out to those children as you can. You may need to focus on your relationship with God and being healed by Him while helping the children in a cursory manner (such as donating money to a respectable organization.) Once you become stronger, you may want to give in a more complete manner, like actually going to the mission field or having a career administrating for a ministry to orphans (depending on your gifting and calling.)

It's OK to go through another group of believers to help the orphans. It may make it harder to find a group that is honest, spreading the true gospel, and deserving of support without your church's help... but you can do it. You may try contacting your denominational administration to find a ministry that has been checked out. Others may have better ways of checking out a ministry. I have little to no knowledge of how to do that.

I'd like to suggest that you read Ephesians through several times observing what God says about His children and how that means they should live... that includes you!! You have a very high position in Him and are His treasure. That should give you weapons to fight with, a new perspective on others, and a boldness to act for Him. Read the book...and let God speak directly to you.



small_creation -> RE: What about missions? (4/3/2008 5:12:58 PM)

Your post reminded me that our church's outreach womens ministry dedicated itself to child/orphan welfare in Romania a few years back. Here's an article about it, FYI.

http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item4189.html

j



Luvinme -> RE: What about missions? (4/3/2008 9:18:13 PM)

Thank you all for your encouragements! This idea of helping the orphans was never a new one for me. Before, I just wanted to help on a different level - with my husband or copartner in life, which I have come to the grim realization that I now don't have. Within this tragedy though I have also come to a very new realization and that is that I don't need to have a husband to feel fulfilled which is different than what I have always thought and felt before. Strangely this separation and relationship to my husband made me realize that I never needed anyone but God, and chasing my dreams can still be done without someone right by my side. Now, amazingly, I have no real fear that will stop me from pursuing my deep desires. I love being busy, and I realize my new idea of missions is a big one, and it may take sometime to know that truly this is God's calling for me and not just fostered up because of the emotional turmoil I am currently experiencing. In the meantime I can spend time prepare for my new idea with research, and making connections with other believers like you, which is giving me oodles of strength and encouragement and HOPE! All I need is His body which we are and I realize that is all I need right now - baby steps the rest of the way.

For now, I hope that people will be feed by my passion as I desire to be feed by theirs. I hope to find those places and hear those words I need to be in the place God wants me to be.

Thank you for your advice and encouragement. I most definitely will follow up with the links and Tom I have ordered Dr. Leafs book I am just waiting for it to be delivered.

Blessings to me.



TMeeks -> RE: What about missions? (4/3/2008 9:38:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: M.Magdalene

Thank you all for your encouragements! This idea of helping the orphans was never a new one for me. Before, I just wanted to help on a different level - with my husband or copartner in life, which I have come to the grim realization that I now don't have. Within this tragedy though I have also come to a very new realization and that is that I don't need to have a husband to feel fulfilled which is different than what I have always thought and felt before. Strangely this separation and relationship to my husband made me realize that I never needed anyone but God, and chasing my dreams can still be done without someone right by my side. Now, amazingly, I have no real fear that will stop me from pursuing my deep desires. I love being busy, and I realize my new idea of missions is a big one, and it may take sometime to know that truly this is God's calling for me and not just fostered up because of the emotional turmoil I am currently experiencing. In the meantime I can spend time prepare for my new idea with research, and making connections with other believers like you, which is giving me oodles of strength and encouragement and HOPE! All I need is His body which we are and I realize that is all I need right now - baby steps the rest of the way.

For now, I hope that people will be feed by my passion as I desire to be feed by theirs. I hope to find those places and hear those words I need to be in the place God wants me to be.

Thank you for your advice and encouragement. I most definitely will follow up with the links and Tom I have ordered Dr. Leafs book I am just waiting for it to be delivered.

Blessings to me.

If the reading seems hard at first, go to the final chapter to see her suggestions and then go back to the beginning.

I'm proud of you for being proactive about your desire to soar for Jesus Christ! Nice Job!!! [sm=thumbsup.gif]



Bee777 -> RE: What about missions? (4/30/2008 4:56:10 AM)

Dear Magdalene
i was also plagued with depression for many years until one day i said " Right God, You are the only one that can help me. Show yourself to me and show me why there is so much pain and where I fit into all of this, if at all ? or I am not going to do this "life " thing "

He did, and I found out he was Jesus ( I was not sure who the right God was at that stage at least you are there ) He took three and a half years to answer all my questions and he opened doors so I had to just follow and brought me into contact with people who could answer my questions. I had to move towns for this, but I knew because how these doors where opened, that Jesus was leading me there. So I went on Faith.

If you have a strong desire to do mission work, then Jesus is " pushing " you there, so I say just go with Faith.

My friends sister is doing missionary work in Croatia ( they are South African ) if you are interested then you can PM me and I will get you an e-mail address. They love it there and are doing very good work.

PS Jesus told me through someone that he will NEVER leave me, and that always gives me hope when I'm feeling down. Know the same JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

Blessings



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