Partnering with Trinity School for Ministry: Houston Relief Effort Mission

Partnering with Trinity School for Ministry: Houston Relief Effort Mission

by | Oct 11, 2017 | SAMS-USA

Dear Friends in Christ,

Sometimes I get discouraged watching the news. Recent events can make it difficult to want to face what is happening in this broken world, but God calls us to go into the dark places in order to be a light to those in the midst of turmoil.

This upcoming week I will be heading to Houston alongside our short-term ministries coordinator to serve alongside Trinity School for Ministry students. We will be heading to the southeastern part of the city to do relief effort from Hurricane Harvey. Houston is the 4th largest city in America, with a population of over 2 million. In the southeastern part alone there are over 15,000 people. These people have lost everything. Their homes destroyed, and their belongings swept away with the water. SAMS has helped with the training to prepare for this mission. We will be partnering with Christ Church Plano and Missio Dei Anglican Church in Houston to help restore the homes of those in the neighborhood. The training consisted of team building, logistics, team roles, and spiritual development. While at the training, the team had a surprise visit from Archbishop Foley Beach from the Anglican Church in North America. He prayed with us and for all the people we will serve.

One thing that kept coming to me and the rest of the team was the word “presence.” Will you join me in praying for this mission? How might we be encouraged to bring God’s presence no matter where we go? I pray His presence will be overflowing and those who have felt nothing but loss soon feel the comfort and hope of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Your Partner in Christ,

Sarah Norris

Writer and Communications Specialist

Called to Community

Called to Community

by | Oct 3, 2017 | SAMS-USA

Today there are billions of people on earth, so why do some of us still feel lonely? We pack our schedules with bible studies, community group, church, and volunteer projects, but we still can feel a void.

God didn’t intend for us to be alone. We were created to crave community with others. Whether single or married, we are all in need of community, but what does community look like?

The Nicene Creed summarizes the Trinity this way:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father…. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.

The Trinity means that God is in a community; and because God is three in one, this means God is community. So, even before the creation of man, there was a perfect community. If Genesis 1:26 says that God made us in his image, then he must want us to be acommunity as well.

What prevents us from this is that we are a fallen people. We tend to want to meet our own needs first, and when they aren’t met, we move on to the next thing that comes our way. We live in a broken world consisting of broken relationships. Our sinful nature keeps us separated from God—true community. Think about when Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She was tempted to have unbelief about God and his true intentions for us.

There is good news, though, and redemption for community which can bring us into a relationship with God and others. When we repent and acknowledge our sinfulness, we can turn to God who sent his son to die on the cross for our debts. Jesus has redeemed us from our sin and unbelief and has called us for a life everlasting with him. When we acknowledge this, we experience the transforming love of Christ. Community grounded in Him fosters love and encouragement that can then be shared with all nations.

It can be difficult to grow in community, but it is God’s desire for us. When we grow in community, we are growing in him!

SAMS would like to build community with you. Every day, we pray for our missionaries and senders. We want to pray for you too. Send us your prayer requests here.

Support the Hurricane Relief Effort

Support the Hurricane Relief Effort

by | Aug 29, 2017 | USA

Hurricane Harvey has already displaced thousands in south Texas and Louisiana, and the rains and flooding are expected to continue throughout the week to come. Archbishop Beach is calling the Church to pray, give, and prepare.

You can help by donating through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund here.

Meteorologists are warning that while the winds have now died down, the greater danger could come from the continual rain that the region will receive.

Bishop Clark Lowenfield and The Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast are based in Houston, Texas and will be coordinating the relief effort among Anglicans in the region.  Bishop Lowenfield, who was forced to evacuate his home yesterday, said, “Thank you to all those who have been offering their prayers and expressing their concern to us. The impact of Harvey is already evident, and we are being told to expect days more of rain and ‘catastrophic flooding’. In the Houston area in particular, the devastation will take months if not years of recovery. Your gift to the Anglican Relief and Development Fund will mean that individuals in some of the most hard-hit areas will be able to put their lives back together once this is all over. Above all, I implore you to pray with us in this storm. As Psalm 29:10-11 tells us, ‘The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!’”

Archbishop Beach is calling the Church to pray, give, and prepare: “Now is an important time for the Church to step forward. First and foremost, please join me in praying for the people of south Texas and Louisiana. Please pray for all those in distress, those who are being called to extraordinary acts of courage, and those who are obediently engaging in small acts of faithfulness.

Second, please consider giving so that Christians in the area will have the resources they need to show their communities the love of Christ in tangible ways.  We cannot anticipate today all that will need to be done in the days ahead, but we are blessed to have churches in the region who can be the hands and feet of Christ.

Third, whether you are in Texas, Louisiana, or in the states surrounding the region, please be preparing to serve.  As the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast prioritizes the needs, you will be hearing more about how you and your congregation can serve through volunteer work teams.”

You can help by donating through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund here

 

Original story at Anglican Church in North America

Classes for Angelita: Learning Sign Language

Classes for Angelita: Learning Sign Language

by | Aug 15, 2017 | Honduras

Jack Melvin, SAMS Missionary in Honduras serves and cares for the people in his community. Recently he shared about a young girl and her opportunity to receive education.

After six months of searching, we have finally found a sign-language teacher for Angelita, who is 15 years old. Angelita is deaf and lives in the mountains, south of Tegucigalpa.  Recently I asked for prayers about her doctor visit. At that time, we thought that with a hearing-aid she might be able to hear again. Unfortunately, the tests showed that she cannot hear the sound frequencies used in speech.  Both the doctor and a missionary, who works with the deaf, advised us to have her learn sign-language. That way, she can communicate with others, become part of a community, and get an education or learn a trade.

Angelita’s brother joins along with some other neighbor friends. Lessons have become a community event!

Adding to our difficulties, the major two-lane highway to the Pacific Ocean, which is the only way to reach her community, has been under construction for this entire year.  One lane is entirely shut down, leaving only the other lane for north-south traffic. Accordingly, one has to wait an hour each way, before one can pass.   A trip, which one-way normally takes one hour, now can take as long as three hours.   The problem for Angelita is that all the resources, such as schools, the Association of Deaf Persons, teachers, are in Tegucigalpa. We could not allow  a teenage girl to travel that far alone under such conditions.

In spite of that, we finally found Doña Gaudelupe Villatoro, who lives close by. Although she has another job, she was willing to visit Angelita each Saturday and teach her sign language. She also teaches cosmetology, jewelry and sewing, all valuable skills to earn a living.  Angelita would have a bleak life without any help.  While the other kids are in school, she stays home to care for the toddlers and babies.  As such, she would not have much of a future. But with an education and some assistance, everything opens up for her.

Right now, Angelita is studying with her cousin Johana, 12 years old, who lives in the same house. That way, she can practice and talk to someone else outside the classroom.  They are already best of friends.

Please continue to pray for her and the whole family.

Learn more about Jack Melvin and his ministry in Honduras. 

Small Gifts Making a Big Difference

Small Gifts Making a Big Difference

by | Aug 8, 2017 | Madagascar

The World Bank’s estimate is that 70% of Malagasy live on less than $1 a day. SAMS Missionaries have been called to serve the people of Madagascar.

The Malagasy community is all too easily forgotten by most of the world, but your generous monetary contributions have allowed churches to be built, families to be fed, children to go to school, and student evangelists to spread the Gospel.

You might believe that your donations are minuscule but be assured they are not. Recently, a local priest approached the Rev. Patsy McGregor and thanked her genuinely for a clerical collar she had given him years prior. She was astonished he was still able to remember the small gift that she had completely forgotten. He proceeded to tell her how the collar was damaged by an electrical fire that destroyed 300 homes in his village. His eyes were sad and Patsy could tell the importance of the collar to him. He was so grateful, and to him this was a great treasure to possess for his calling and a reminder of hope in his life.

This priest’s story is an example of how even a small and seemingly unimportant gift to us can change the trajectory of another human. Your Missionaries in Madagascar were only able to give to this local priest because of the sacrificial donations from people like you. Someone like you first gave the McGregors extra collars and subsequently they could give collars to those in need.

Today Jacky Lowe a SAMS candidate is preparing to serve in Madagascar alongside the McGregors. After serving as a short-term Bridger, the Lord has called her long-term there. She will be working in the Women’s Center in the Diocese of Toliara teaching skills like sewing and cooking in order to help women start their own businesses. Would you prayerfully consider supporting Jacky and this ministry? May the Lord bless you all and guide you as you continue to be a blessing to others. Thank you for changing people’s lives in Madagascar.

 

 

God calls us to mission. We are chosen. How we answer the call is the important part of the equation.
Jacky Lowe

SAMS Missionary to Madagascar