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Saturday, September 29, 2007

Davis Missionary Journey: Team Strategy



MISSIONARY JOURNEY: Team Strategy
a mission log of…
Brian & Sondra Davis
P-Bag S-42
Solwezi, Zambia
260-977-142-503 (Brian's Cell)
011-260-8-240-025 (Home Radio Phone)
brsdavis@coppernet.zm



We just had the pleasure of a visit by Rick Love, who's family will be joining us in January of '08, and one of his elders and missions committee members. As our team forms, so has our team strategy solidified via a consensus process involving our missionaries and supporting churches. I want to take the next few Journeys to introduce the main ideas that compose our team strategy to better communicate what we do and how we do it.
First, we might ask why we need a team strategy. A team strategy is the "game plan" that keeps the different members of a team on the same "page". It details the methods that we use which have been derived from theological principles. Though theological principles remain constant, missiological methods need to remain flexible in order to cope with the changing realities of the world around us. Our team strategy begins with a challenging quote from the missions author, John V. Taylor, who said,



"We must relinquish our missionary presuppositions and begin in the beginning of a new work with the Holy Spirit. This means humbly watching in any situation in which we find ourselves in order to learn what God is trying to do here, and then doing it with Him."
(The Go-Between God: The Holy Spirit and Christian Mission, 1972)



This quote is based on the realization - as Gailyn Van Rheenan puts it in his book Missions: Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies - that "Mission springs forth from God." Gailyn then quotes Exodus 19:4,



"'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."
NIV



Thus our first questions concerning our strategy are "What is God doing among the Kaonde tribe of North Western Province, Zambia, and then, how can we participate?"
Rick was full of exciting ideas concerning these questions this past week. I hope sharing in the coming weeks about our strategy will be a blessing to you in your part of the world as we all seek to participate with God in His mission!




LoveFamilyHillcrest.jpg



Every mission team needs a little Love,
Brian, Sondra, Noah, & Bryson



Pictured: (left to right) Karen, Matthew, Rick, and Lydia



For more information of our mission, visit our website at www.hillcrestonline.com.



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Sunday, September 16, 2007

Davis Missionary Journey: Team Building


I've mentioned before how difficult it is to form a new team while living on the field. I've no doubt that my wife's prayers have been heard in this regard. Even while we were on furlough, a family who had worked temporarily with us last year committed to two more years. And in a few months yet another family plans to join bringing our number to 5 families.


God builds the team!


This realization has some profound ramifications. When asked how we can hope to keep a team of such disparate individuals from "coming apart at the seams", the fact of God's "work to assemble it" answers the question. The fact that our prayers have been answered "His way" lets us know "our place". His providential arrangement supersedes personal sensibilities. The success of our work is in direct proportion to our submission to His organization and leadership.


"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;


Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."


Ephesians 4:2-3 KJV


Can this "mission experience" benefit our church plantings? Is not the church God's "team" as well?


Thankful for His providence,


Brian, Sondra, Noah, & Bryson


Pictured: our children certainly glad of the Bruington's commitment.



teamMeating_Children.jpg

Sunday, September 2, 2007

The Bruingtons Missionary Report: August 2007

God has been so good to us in this place. We are all well. We are happy to be here.
We have almost completed our house, only a few details remain. The other half of the duplex is now ready for the other American family. All that remains is to build kitchen cabinets and closets in the bedrooms. We are anxious for our neighbors to arrive.

Each morning I have been having a bible study here at the house for any who want to come. We average twelve to twenty people. This week we baptized two more people. From this bible study we have baptized fourteen. Four of the men from this study are planning to go to another area about one hour away, that is if I am the driver, to plant a new church. One of the mens family lives there and asked if they would come and teach. I will take the men on Monday to stay all week teaching. I will return on Friday and stay the night teaching all day Friday and Saturday. We will let you know the outcome?

Monday: We will begin bible studies at Mbulungu this week.

Tuesday: At Mutnada we baptized one of the ladies from Staceys class.

Wednesday: At Mushingashi we continue teaching these twelve newly baptized believers about the church. We had an all day seminar to train the men. Eight men from the church attended, we invited men from the church at Kambazhi (six), and the church at Kayonge (four), and from my morning bible study (six), and all total we were twenty-four. We taught all day about the New Testament Church. Some of the men went out house to house to set up individual bible studies. From these studies we baptized two more into the body of Christ at Mushingashi . . . they are now . . . fourteen. Praise God!

Thursday: At Kambazhi the church continues to grow in number, from the twelve, we baptized another ten individuals over the last month . . . Praise God!
Last Sunday at worship there were sixty-two in attendance. We continue teaching and preaching. The people have been very receptive to the Word. Each week we teach the church and we send out men to begin house to house bible studies.

Friday: Is our family day. Lane is building as the people say, a house in the tree.
We go swimming with the kids at the creek, this is where we go to baptize.
Last Sunday at worship, True wanted to partake of the Lords Supper, Stacey said, not until your baptized, a few seconds later True replied, Wanna, (he calls Savannah, Wanna) baptized me, so I can! It seems while swimming True was baptized by Wanna. It is good to know as the children watch the baptisms they are learning. I asked True, how were you baptized, he said, in the father the son and holy spirit. I thank God for this positive beginning for the future decisions of our children . . . one day.

Raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
Pray for us all,
Bart