These teams who came to Clarkston to help the local refugees found that Clarkston impacted them just as much as they impacted it, if not more. They found that it changed their view of missions, learning the importance of building relationship and earning the right to be heard rather than just sharing the gospel in a confrontational way. Kara Dees, a member of one of the teams from Georgia Southern University’s BCM, who recently visited Clarkston said, “Before Clarkston and RTN, I was able to almost justify not actively seeking people out for one reason or another, but when I was working with RTN, I learned that missions can simply begin with hello.” They saw the importance of local missions, seeing that the world has come to their backyard, right here in the United States.

They discovered that they do not need to cross an ocean or even an international border to reach the world. “I like that you can stay in the country while feeling like you are going out of the country,” said Austin French, another team member from Ebenezer Baptist Church who visited Clarkston in July 2011. Upon their interactions with the internationals of Clarkston, teams discovered that there was so much more to each and every person they met than just what they see and hear on the news. When reflecting on what she had learned about other religions, Morgan Walters, from Gilliam Springs Baptist Church, who visited in the early summer of 2012, said, “The Lord has changed my perspective to show me that they’re not necessarily scary like I thought. The people need love just like I did.” There are many more stories about perspectives being changed and barriers breaking down than just these, but the teams were not the only ones who learned and grew because of their trips to Clarkston.

God has greatly used many teams to grow the ministry of Reach the Nations, but after they leave, there is much more work to be done. The pastors of RTN as well as its members and interns have been responsible to follow up with the contacts made by teams, watering the seeds that were planted. They have been able to reach far more people and grow in relationship with these people who were primarily reached by the short-term teams. RTN would not have been able to reach nearly as many people had we not had the assistance of these teams.

A wonderful example of this is the story of a man named Alejandro*. He was met by a short term team when he had been in America for less than a week, and within one week, he accepted Christ and began attending RTN for Church. A Chinese girl from another short-term team was able to reach out to Alejandro’s roommate from China who spoke English. Abib*, an Iranian man was met by a team at the beginning of the summer of 2012. A strong relationship was built, and because of their efforts, RTN was able to begin to minister to him. RTN as well as other church organizations reached out to Abib* all summer long. In September, Abib* accepted Christ. These men and many others have been reached because of the many teams who have been willing to give up their time and energy to be used by God in ministering with RTN.

By: Mary Palm

Bringing in teams is not only about multiplying hands to tackle what would otherwise weigh heavily on high stacked shoulders, it is also about handing a mirror to hundreds of hands and sending them out reflecting the same image, vision, and message. Their service is practical, intentional, and powerful.

The prints left behind are numerous.

FBC Montgomery really pulled out the stops in bringing their experienced team of CPA’s with lifetimes of experience to walk those without through this “taxing” process. Oddly, the refugees were not only those served as several young, single, and married American’s serving in ministry filed in for this awesome gift. When the refugees, full of preconceived ideas and misconceptions regarding the involvement of government and other related fears did not show up as hoped, the team took to the streets bringing them in! It was such a testimony of servanthood to see this team who came with everything prepared, already sacrificing their time, then willingly go out to bring in the one’s unsure of their gesture of service.

Sadly, many refugees are not aware that with an income of a certain range, they are granted a free tax preparation, and thus have been “taken” by friends of a friend who have charged as much as $150.00 to do so. RTN was very happy, along with the help of FBC Montgomery, to step in and help as possible while connecting the community with the opportunity and awareness of a local body.

Donna Conte of FBC Montgomery offers her own perspective from within the walls of RTN that day…

“I was pretty much stuck in the room with the computer all day, so I didn’t get to go out and find or talk to refugees that much. I was touched by how RTN was so perceptive and obedient to what the Lord was doing and calling them to do. I was really touched by the story of the man who had just been released from prison in (another country) and RTN was being the hands and feet of Jesus to him. It didn’t seem to matter to them, what he had done in the past, just that they could share a tangible expression of Jesus’ love with him. It was so refreshing and inspiring to me to see those involved in RTN so focused and sold out to Jesus.”

RTN would like to say thank you to those who served in making Tax Day possible and filled the room with the warmth of Christ while meeting the practical needs of the Nations and those in ministry.

This past month RTN welcomed teams from Northpark and Harvest Baptist Church who came for “Mission 24,” a short-term missions option hosted by RTN over the span of a weekend. Both teams reinforced the groundwork being laid over this city through prayer walking which has been evidenced by sweet fruit as a result. Also, the teams engaged in a service project with the Jolly Avenue Community Garden, a ministry to refugees encouraging dignity, community, and healing. Teams not only had the opportunity to serve this local ministry through the much needed task of delivering flyers for the upcoming registration, but also enjoyed taking part in some organic spiritual conversations with those they met at the door. This was an answered prayer prayed that morning on the garden grounds before heading out!

The Program Director, Jenna Givens, who is also serving as RTN’s intern this Spring, feels thankful and privileged to have such a powerful partnership in connecting the passionate teams of RTN with the unreached refugees she serves in the garden. ”It is such a witness to have sold out teams ready to serve, expecting God to do great things, even in the ordinary, because He loves to act on that kind of faith!”

The debriefs were especially something to savor as many left with new and wet eyes in just a matter of a day and a half, understanding more fully God’s own heart for the Nations and having the joy of joining Him in obedience. RTN looks forward to more teams such as these and the powerful work they contribute as megaphones of grace and open hands to raise the Name with Reach The Nations.

“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 3:37-40

Working in Clarkston has been an exercise in loving my neighbor. While working there, I encountered many people who looked different, spoke a foreign language, practiced other religions, wore unfamiliar clothing. In the midst of all that, I heard the message over and over again, “Love your neighbor.” For a long time I heard that, but it wasn’t until I really took the time to open myself to the people I met that I understood part of what that means. Some aspects of loving my neighbor are harder than others for me, and I’ve by no means mastered the lesson. However, I am so thankful that God allowed me to spend time in a place that stretched me and taught me about loving people no matter how different from me they may seem.”

So who are these new set of hands receiving the passing of the coffee cup?

Jenna Givens, RTN’s Spring intern and local Clarkston missionary. Jenna has been living in refugee apartment complexes doing children’s ministry since her arrival two years ago as a Missionary Training School Student. After a pause of healing at home from a severe case of Toxic Black Mold Poisening passed through her leaky Clarkston apartment, she was finally able to return in the Spring before the Lord led her to serve in the slums of South Africa with children in crisis for the summer. Jenna is anxious to be back in full-time ministry and has walked a long road of discovering the need for community and a local body covering while serving as a single woman in Clarkston.

Jenna sharing with a Muslim 19 year old neighbor from her complex who is having dreams of Jesus and wants to begin listening with she and her roomate to hear God’s voice the way they are able to.

“I feel like I have found that community I craved and was praying for in RTN, a body of international believers all moving toward the same goal of seeing the people groups here reached, integrated in cross-cultural loving relationship with one another, and mobilized back to their own countries with a vision to share it. Add 3 pastors who call me “worth it” by personally investing in me as a “sent one” preparing to serve in the Hindu and Buddhist lands of Southeast Asia, and my goodness! Week after week I feel like I am a part of something beautiful and strategic, something that, to the naked eye, is only as grand as the dually dropped oven doors warming up the building in the morning.” Jenna feels a strong call to serve the unreached as a churchplanter and is focusing much of her internship on the areas the Lord has shown her, prayer and worship.

Jenna sharing testimony at a slum church in South Africa, July 2012

As part of her time, Jenna will be actively working as a mobilizer for the Clarkston prayer movement calling the body of Christ to join in saturating the soil with cries of revival, growing in warfare worship, writing for the website, helping with a Nepali Bible study within her apartment complex, and connecting short-term teams with the Jolly Avenue Community Garden, a refugee community garden run by Friends of Refugees intended for healing and community, where Jenna is the new Program Director.

“What a beautiful plan of God in allowing me to be a connector between the larger church and the realities of our refugee gardeners. I feel like I get to shine a light on the harvest field and share vision before teams return home. God is puposeful in all His ways. When He told me to walk away from my job in December, break my lease and move complexes, sell my things, and watch Him connect me where He wanted too, I never could have imagined something so beautiful. He has given me a greater depth with my international church family, a ministry covering investing in me, leadership in a part-time job where I can act as a mouthpeice connecting Kingdom workers with the unreached, and full freedom to share! It is mind blowing.”

Jenna Givens is raising support as a missionary and intern with Reach The Nations. If you would like to join her in this shared ministry of reaching the unreached with a one-time gift or monthly donation, you may do so at the following and a gift receipt will be issued to you.

If you would like to join her mailing list of God stories and updates from life in Clarkston e-mail her at JennaGivens@Gmail.com.

To Give by Mail or PayPal:

Mail:
Reach The Nations
Care of: Stone Mountain Baptist Association
1200 Green Street, SE
P.O. Box 911
Conyers, GA 30021

Please include “RTN-Jenna Givens” in the memo.

Online/ PayPal:
Go to: stonemountainbaptistassociation.org
Click: “Donate” on the sidebar to the right
Enter: desired amount and then click the”make a donation” button
Enter: “RTN-Jenna Givens” in the description box and then just complete the transaction through either logging into your PayPal account as prompted or entering your information.

Since Fiji is in hurricane season between September and January, the family was greeted by a wind force between 155 km/ hr and 230 km/ hr. “It was a huge one and all the trees and houses were flattened,” remarks Kumar. He adds, “I know the Lord was causing me to be present for my people in Fiji and that is why I was in the middle of the hurricane at that time.” Pastor Kumar confidently states that this was a key purpose in his 2012-2013 mission to the Island from which he is a native. Thankfully, the family was able to pass out some much needed supplies to local families and schools during this difficult time.

Pastor Kumar asks that all would be in prayer for Evan’s imprint on the land and Fijian people so near to his heart.

Ashleigh and Pastor Kumar giving school supplies to native Fijians with little remaining after the disaster.

Ashliegh giving school supplies to a student whose parents lost everything in the hurricane.

Pastor Kumar giving school supplies to native Fijians who had lost most of their belongings to Hurricane Evan.

We, at RTN, thank you in advance for praying according to God’s own heart for the people of Fiji.

Christmas is almost upon us, but let’s take a minute to remember Thanksgiving. As it turns out, this year at RTN we gave thanks for God’s presence with us. What better way to start off the Christmas Season? There was a time when we were separated from God and His glory was hidden from us, but now we are able to fully enter into the presence of God through the person of Christ. We celebrated our thankfulness for this at our Thanksgiving Service followed by a traditional Thanksgiving Meal. Church members (and the many guests present) enjoyed  turkey, corn, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, and other delicious foods brought by various church members. One of the turkeys even had an Indian twist to it! Turkey tandoori, anyone?

In addition to food and fellowship, we were reminded during the service of God’s faithfulness to His people. The above verse expresses Israel’s thanksgiving and praise for the return of the ark–the symbol of the LORD’s presence among Israel. For months the Philistines had held the ark captive. After it was taken, one of the priests’ sons was named Ichabod (meaning “the glory has departed”), but God sent plagues among the Philistines to cause them to return it. For 20 years afterward, the ark sat in the house of Abinadab during the reign of Saul. But when David began to establish his reign in Israel, he wanted to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. During the first attempt to move the ark, a man named Uzzah died because they did not honor the LORD’s commands regarding how to transport the ark. The second time, they followed the LORD’s instructions, and the Levites were able to carry the ark all the way to Jerusalem. How thrilled David and the people were to have the symbol of God’s presence in their midst once more! They danced, offered sacrifices, and sang the above words to the LORD because His glory had returned among them.

Today, as followers of Jesus Christ, we no longer look to an object to symbolize God’s inhabitance with us. His presence is everywhere, and His Spirit is in us always. At RTN we are thankful for these promises and rejoice in what these truths mean for us. We do not have to travel to a place to procure God’s attention or seek His direction. We do not need priests to mediate for us. We boldly enter before the throne of God to seek forgiveness through Christ and offer up our praise to Him. He has allowed His glory to come within our reach, and it comes through Christ Jesus our Lord. Today’s times are Ichabod no more. God sent His Son into the world that we might live through Him. Instead, we have Immanuel (meaning “God with us”), and we give thanks.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Children ran around, jumped on the moonwalk, and nibbled at cotton candy at Culture Clash last month. It was a fun time for RTN to celebrate the cultures represented by the families at the church. Six cultures were represented during the presentation time: Fiji, India, Nepal, Ethiopia, America, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Each group shared a song, dance, or ceremony from their respective countries. Those who came watched Nepali dances, listened to the thrum of the Tabla (a traditional Indian drum), and sang along to songs from the DRC, Ethiopia, and the United States. A team from Heritage Baptist came to work behind the scenes to help set up and serve food. On the spur of the moment, they also came and sang 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman to help represent the United States. Thank you, Heritage, for being willing to serve and jumping right into the midst of ministry.

After the presentations, everyone shared a time of diverse food and fellowship.  The women had been hard at work that morning and the day before to prepare a tasty meal for all of us. It is exciting to see the vision for the church to embrace (and celebrate!) the differences of each people group become a reality. Each of the church members came together to make this event possible, and we are thrilled with how it went! In the spring, we hope to do this again. So keep your eyes open for next year’s Culture Clash and make plans to join us!