Nate and Bethany Johnson - Serving in Austria

We're Here!

2012-01-23T15:54:00.000-06:00

I apologize for the lack of blog posts this past week. Nate was up in New Hampshire on his annual ice climbing trip, while I was working at an event in San Diego. We meet up in Denver today at WorldVenture headquarters for two weeks, and we're excited we are finally here!

Our first week at WorldVenture...we will be going through Pre-Departure Training (thanks to the prayers and support of so many who helped us reach 60%!). These 3 days are focused on preparing for departure. Part of the training is about the logistical side, discussing things like visas, shipping containers, departure requirements, and the like. But another very important part is the emotional and spiritual side. During this training, we will meet with staff and counselors to begin talking about saying goodbye and going through the major transition of moving to Austria.

This training comes at the perfect time for us. We are just beginning to do things or see people "for the last time" and the goodbyes are slowly ramping up. We have been focusing for the last year on building our team of financial and prayer supporters, but now we must shift our focus to also include how to emotionally, spiritually and mentally prepare for the stress, sadness and adjustment that a cross-cultural move can create. We are looking forward to what we will learn this week about culture shock, maintaining connections to home, and saying goodbye well.

This weekend... we will attend two days of a Missions Symposium at Denver Seminary. This is a first time event and we look forward to hearing from experienced and charismatic speakers who are well-known in the missions community. We will also get to meet and network with many other missionaries and missions support staff, learning from them and building new relationships.

Next week in Colorado...we will attend WorldVenture's Renewal Conference. This week-long event is a time for WorldVenture missionaries and staff to come together for worship, prayer and updates. We will spend time sharing and hearing from the field and home office, praying for one another, and seeking the Lord's guidance in our lives, ministry and direction as an organization. Nate and I are especially excited to spend time with several Austria team members at this conference, whom we haven't seen since our Vision Trip last April!

Please pray... for 2 weeks of blessing, encouragement, learning and growth. Please pray that the Lord would protect us from feeling overwhelmed, stressed or fearful of the transitions ahead, but that instead, these 2 weeks would excite us about the journey He has laid out for us and the team that surrounds us at WorldVenture.

Thank you for your prayers!

Photo Blog: Our 2011 Holidays

2012-01-10T09:18:00.000-06:00

Every year, the holiday season seems to fly by so quickly! It is amazing to me to think that it is already 2012. We've been raising support for Austria for almost 1 year already, I quit my full-time job nearly 1 year ago, and THIS YEAR will likely be the year we depart for the mission field. Wow! 2012 will be an important and special year.

But before I completely leave 2011 behind, here are some photos highlights from our 2011 Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanksgiving in Connecticut

The kids work on making a turkey...made out of fruit and vegetables! So cute.

Kylie and Meg

Posing in front of the Statue of Liberty during our trip downtown.

"Big Nate" and "Little Nate" riding the ferry

Getting ready to ride the train.

Aunt Bethany, hanging out with the girls on the train


Our gift to Erik & Amy this year was a family photo shoot. Here is one of the best shots!

Christmas in Minnesota

Nate went ice climbing with his two brothers one day.

A group photo of us, visiting "A Day in the Life of an Elf" at the downtown Macy's.

Playing games at Aunt Diane's house.

Dad and Neil are excited about the ornaments they received in the ornament exchange!

Grandma, with all of her grandkids and great-grandkids.

Looking Back: Our Top Blog Posts of 2011

2011-12-30T17:11:00.000-06:00

It's just about time to ring in the new year! And what better way to do so than to look back on our year of blogging.

As you flip through the cable channels in late December, it's easy to spend most of the day watching "Top ___ of 2011" specials. Who wouldn't want to laugh through the top 100 sports bloopers of the year or revel at the funniest commercial of 2011?

Well, we'd like to follow suit. So here are our top blog posts from 2011:

8. Video Blog: 2011 Christmas Update
7. A Ministry Opportunity - Aspern Seestadt
6. Why Do Americans Act Like That?
5. Fund-raising as Ministry
4. Video Blog: Austria Bound
3. Video Blog: Wrapping Up 2 weeks in Austria
2. Thoughtful, Funny and Surprisingly Christian
1. What Color is Your Underwear?

No surprises with the number one... we knew the provocative title would pull people in!

Happy New Year!

An Invitation to Breath

2011-12-28T09:26:00.004-06:00

I just read Marshall Shelley's most recent Leadership Journal newsletter. He was reflecting on the week between Christmas and New Years as a chance to slow down and catch a breath. When I was working I looked forward to this week as a time when no one else would be in the office. I was one of the few hold outs that had used all my vacation days through out the year, and I was using that uninterrupted time to sort files or take care of those things that sank at the bottom of my "To Do" list.

Life can feel like a train we got on years ago, one that has gathered momentum with every small decision. And when we reach for the break leaver, it comes apart in our hands. With the life changing steps we have taken, we have the chance to re-imagine things like this. I get to ask the question, "How do I want to spend this week between Christmas and New Years?" I don't think I expected that preparing to serve Christ is Austria would push life so off the rails that I'd have this much of a chance to rethink how I invest my time. I am thankful for the opportunity.

What do you want for this week of quiet time?

The Bells On Christmas Day

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

For me (Nate) Christmas can be some what of a mixed bag. I really love an opportunity to remind myself of the incarnation. I love to remember this beautiful, impossible, redemptive act of the God who pursues us. I also love wonderful times with family and friends to celebrate and enjoy each others company. It is always a special time of year, one that will be especially hard when we are over seas.

But as my wife will confirm, I am not an intensely sentimental person. I am not usually one to get caught up in that part of any holiday. The consumerism built into the American celebration of Christmas and the ways that plays at my heart also can make this time of year challenging.

This Christmas I have meditated on a carol by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Besides being an amazing piece of poetry, it is a moving exploration of how it often seems as though God is far off.

Here is Johnny Cash singing the song.

to read the full text of the poem hit the read more link (I really encourage it, there are some great extra stanzas in the poem that the song omits).

Here is the full text to poem:

Christmas Bells

I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Our Last Christmas?

2011-12-25T11:50:00.000-06:00

Photo credit: paulabflat from morguefile.com

I recently received a Christmas e-card from our team leaders in Austria. When we arrive in Vienna, they will be our mentors and guides as we adjust, learn the language and begin ministry. In the card, they wrote a short note that struck me: they encouraged us to enjoy our last Christmas in the States.

I hadn't really thought much about it until it was put into words...that this hopefully and probably will be our last Christmas in the U.S. for awhile. With that realization comes a lot of mixed emotions. Hope and excitement that in less than one year, we will begin the journey for which God has been preparing us. Sadness that the next holiday season may the first of many spent away from our families. Anticipation of new cultural experiences, new traditions and new relationships.

But with all of this also comes the realization that we might still be here next Christmas. God's timeline is not always the same as ours and He could keep us here for longer. That would be difficult...but we need to rest in the fact that God's timing is always perfect. If His timeline is longer than what we are hoping for to get to Austria, He will surely use it for good and for His glory, to continue teaching and molding us.

When Christ came into the world, it was at exactly the right time. Romans 5:6, 8 says, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This verse is a good reminder of God's providence and sovereignty. Just as Christ came at the right time, so our future and our journey is in God's hands and will happens when He wants it to.

This may or may not be our last Christmas in the States for awhile. But I know that we will arrive in Austria at just the right time.

Christmas time is here...

2011-12-21T21:50:00.001-06:00

Photo credit: click from morguefile.com

This Christmas, we sent out our first printed newsletter! It was a good learning experience for us, working with WorldVenture to get over 300 newsletters in the mail. But it was a fun project and a new way for us to get the word out about what God is doing in Austria and in our lives!

If you don't receive a newsletter in your mailbox this week, but would like to in the future...let us know! Shoot us an email with your address and we'll update our records.

In the meantime, you can download this year's Christmas newsletter here. Enjoy!

Video Blog: Christmas Update

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-06:00

This month, we've put together a brief video blog. Click the video below to get an update on our progress and learn ways to pray for us and for Austria.

A See-Through Church

2011-12-09T10:00:00.001-06:00

Skye Jethani is a writer, speaker, friend and all around great guy, and he has an excellent blog that we would encourage you to check out. One of his recent posts grabbed my attention.

Two Belgian architects have worked together to create an art installation that makes a bold statement. The photo to the right shows their work of art - a church constructed with stacked steel plates. When viewing the structure from some angles, it appears to be a solid building; however, move to one side and you can see right through the church, as if the walls are disappearing before your eyes.

Belgium, like Austria, is a secular, post-modern culture where God and church are seen by many to be empty, meaningless pursuits devoid of truth and value. Through this artistic portrayal, these Belgian architects are seeking to make a statement about churches in many European countries that are increasingly empty. But perhaps the statement goes beyond that, suggesting that the church is not only an empty building, but also an empty pursuit. If we read between the lines, what else can we see in this art installation?

Last year in Austria, 90,000 people officially revoked their membership from the Catholic church and the number of people walking away increases year over year. There is much darkness and need for the gospel. Please pray for us as we go to a country where, like Belgium, the church needs to be rebuilt, restored and revived in the hearts and minds of the people.

Pastoral Answers About Giving

2011-12-06T10:14:00.001-06:00

Photo credit: penywise from morguefile.com

Giving to the church and God's work around the world has always been a passion of mine. I was raised in a family who values giving and I was taught this from a young age. I also believe it's biblical. But now that we are on the receiving end of financial giving, it is a whole new adventure, one that is constantly challenging, humbling, and clothed in prayer to the One who is the Ultimate Giver!

I recently stumbled upon an excellent article written by Kevin Miller, priest at Church of the Resurrection in Glen Ellyn, IL. The church is in the midst of a giving campaign to raise funds for a new building (their first building, actually), and Kevin has been approached by church members and attenders with many questions about giving. In the blog article, He does an excellent job of addressing common questions about giving money to the church, questions that I think everyone asks or wonders about.

How do I decide how much to give?
I want to be stretched in giving, but I have lots of debt to pay off. What do I do?
What if I want to give more but my spouse wants to give less?

I would strongly encourage you to read the article, especially if you are thinking and praying about How God is leading you to donate your funds. Kevin's responses to these questions is biblical and thoughtful.

Here are some quotes that stood out to me from Kevin's thoughts on giving...

"[Giving is] not sparing but generous: 'Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously' (2 Corinthians 9:6)"

"You should be able to say of your gift: 'I chose this. I wanted this. I wasn’t manipulated or guilt-ed into it.'”

"I do not advise waiting until your debts are fully paid off before giving to God. You need to give for your spiritual health, for your connection to the church, and for your own dignity."

"It’s in this kind of decision where married people learn how to do what Paul said: 'submit to one another' and to 'bear with the failings of the weak.' What I’ve seen is that when couples bring this spirit to 'how much should we give?' they end up closer to each other."

How is God challenging you to be stretched, but also prudent in how you use your funds?

Christ and Culture: Two Simple Questions

2011-12-03T09:00:00.001-06:00

I just read a quote about missions that applies to all of us:

"If [Christians] are to have any influence at all, [we] will touch upon culture every time [we] speak and wherever [we] work. For better or worse...[we] are agents of cultural change in accordance with the commands of Christ (matt. 28:20). It is important, therefore, that [we] have a biblical view not only of Christ but also of culture. [We] must recognize that every culture has elements of divine order and satanic rebellion; each has potential for the revelation of God's truth and for its concealment or mutilation." - David Hessselgrave

For better or worse, we are all ambassadors for Christ. There is a tremendous need for the people of God to understand and engage with the culture that surrounds them. This doesn't mean that we seek to blend in; we are not cleverly disguised.

The question of cultural engagement is a challenging one, and not something I hope to tackle in this post, but the reality is that every action we take is in a cultural context.

The questions become:

Are you aware of what you are communicating?

Are you communicating what you want to be communicating?

These aren't questions to answer easily, and they must be answered prayerfully and in community.

Photo credit: grietgriet from morguefile.com

A Post-Thanksgiving Meditation

2011-11-29T11:49:00.001-06:00

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

Last weekend was Thanksgiving, which in some ways feels like a 2nd class holiday in American culture. All over twitter, I have seen people refer to it as “Black Friday Eve.” And usually we are all to quick to move beyond thankfulness and into consumption, shifting the focus back to us.

This year I wanted my thanksgiving to be a bit different. I intentionally meditated on Psalm 107, especially the first phrase: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good, His steadfast love endures forever.” We know that we need to be thankful. Objectively, even non-Christians would say that thankfulness is important. So it isn't just that we should be thankful, or even that we should be thankful to God just because He is God. The psalmist gives a clear call to worship not just to be thankful, but why we should be thankful.

We should be thankful for God’s goodness. This is His moral excellence. Every choice He makes, every gift He gives, everything He does is completely correct and is set up for our good and His glory. This is a hard thought in today's world. There are so many things that aren't good. Yet in a world of "not goodness", God is the only one that is truly good. We can trust His leading and His word. Furthermore, his “steadfast love” endures forever. There will never be a time in which God’s steadfast love runs dry. This is His covenant-keeping love. His love is unshakable.

So this Thanksgiving I sought to give thanks to God. Not just because He is worthy, but because He is good and His love endures forever.

What part of God's character are you most thankful for?

A Special Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:18:00.001-06:00

We have something very special to be thankful for this year...

Just yesterday, we reached the halfway mark in our monthly support!

We are now at 51% of our monthly financial support!

We have so much to be thankful for, even beyond this special milestone. We're thankful for our wonderful family whom we get to celebrate with, the generosity and support of friends and family as we journey to Austria, and above all else, a God who has graciously saved us and given us an eternal hope.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God,
   the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
   and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship,
   let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
   and we are the people of his pasture,
   the flock under his care."

Psalm 95:1 - 7

Praying for a BOLD GOAL

2011-11-21T09:10:00.000-06:00

This month, we began a concerted prayer effort for a big goal. Would you join us in prayer? Watch this video to learn more...

Lily's Story

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

A while ago, we were up in Detroit Lakes sharing with a church. We had a really great time up there and we were really blessed by the wonderful community. While we were there, we met a woman named Lily*.

When we arrived at the church and got into the sanctuary before the service began, I took a second to look around. In a room full of people chatting and greeting each other, I saw one head bowed and hands folded. An older woman was deep in prayer before the service began. I noticed her against the contrast of chatting but didn't think much of it until after the service.

We had a fellowship meal afterward, and Lily stopped us in line and asked if we would stop by her table to talk with her. When we had a second, we broke away and went to visit her table.

She told us about her many friends and family that were in religious traditions focused on works and not salvation by grace through faith. As we talked with her, you could see her heart breaking for those that knew who God was, but had never had a true relationship with Him. The more she talked, the more we could see how emotional of a subject this was for her. She told us how glad she was for our ministry and promised to pray for us.

We are very passionate about reaching lost people in western Europe, but I was truly challenged by the fervency of this woman. We need to continually ask God to break our hearts and show us the world through His eyes. Our prayer is that we can have a heart like Lily's for the lost people around us.

How is God breaking your heart for the people around you?

Do you need him to break your heart again?

*Lily isn't her real name
Photo credit is here user TACLUDA on rgbstock.com

How do we pray boldly?

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

During this journey of preparing for Austria and building our financial support team, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to pray boldly. I believe that God answers prayer, and I believe that we should pray boldly and specifically if we want to see Him work. Scripture tells us to go before the thrown of God confidently (Hebrews 4:16) and to pray continually (I Thessalonians 5:16). Scripture even says we can move mountains through prayer.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." - Mark 11:23

This all seems plain and simple, right?

While I know all of these things to be true, I also know this: God doesn't always answer prayers, at least not in a way that we can see or understand. I've experienced times where I've prayed boldly for someone to be healed and they weren't. I've prayed for missionaries to get to the field quickly and it took them years. We've all experienced this in one way or another.

So what I have been wrestling with is this... How do we pray boldly, while also humbling submitted to what God wants? How do I pray and hope for something, while knowing in my heart that God may not answer my prayer the way I want to or according to my timeline? How do I do this without getting discouraged or disappointed?

Right now, Nate and I have boldly been praying that we reach an important and lofty goal: 60% funding by January 15th. Reaching this goal will enable us to attend pre-departure training at WorldVenture in January, which will set us up well to leave for Austria this summer. Not meeting this goal will slow our timeline down. I want to pray for this confidently and boldly, but I've been struggling with fear that we won't reach the goal. I want to prepare myself for that possibility, while at the same time still hoping and praying that we make it.

I don't have answers to all of this. I know that the Lord is sovereign over all of it - of the funding, the timeline, the training and everything else in between. So what do I do?

I keep praying.

My prayer is that He brings me peace and shapes my heart, so I can pray boldly and rest in His will for our lives.

How do you reconcile praying boldly and submitting to the Lord's will?

Photo credit: dieraecherin from morguefile.com

The Fruit of Partnership

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, we spent some time up in Detroit Lakes, MN. We had a few great stories from that time, but one of my favorites begins with my time at Moody Bible Institute.

When I was at school, we talked a lot about how to chose a stateside missions organization to partner with. There are so many challenges to get overseas, and you need to work with an agency that is a good fit for you and will best help you navigate those challenges. As I started to look at different organizations, I met a guy named Phil from WorldVenture. We chatted a couple of times each year and I got to know more and more about his organization. He wasn't just a recruiter trying to make numbers...he got to know me and built a relationship with me. He also communicated clearly about the organization's strengths and weaknesses, shared with me about the application process, and advised me about what would be the best timing to begin the process of joining WorldVenture. We stayed in touch for quite a while until it was time for Bethany and I to begin our application.

So how does this connect to a church up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota? The night before we were to present, we stopped by the church to test out all the technical stuff and make sure we were ready to present. We saw the board on the wall with pictures of all the missionaries the church supports. One face jumped right out at us...it was Phil and his wife! The church had been supporting Phil and Mimi for many years as they ministered to Americans who are looking to go overseas as missionaries.

The next morning, it was so great to get the chance to preach the word to this congregation, a group of people who had already partnered with our ministry by supporting my friend Phil. We are a product of their prayers and support! It was such a gift to know that this church understood the need for people like Phil to coach new missionaries along in their journey to the field.

Photo credit: alvimannfrom morguefile.com

Left to Tell

2011-10-28T22:18:00.000-05:00

I love to get absorbed and lost in a book. When a story is well-written and compelling, I can easily spend hours engrossed in its pages, pulled into the plot and characters.

Fictional stories are fun to read, but a true account is especially powerful. And that is why I want to recommend my most recent read entitled Left to Tell. It is the true autobiographical account of Immaculee Ilibagiza, a strong woman who survived the Rwandan genocide. Her story had a huge impact on me. It was not just her own personal strength that pulled her through and helped her to survive the genocide; it was the strength she found in God, who gave her the hope, tenacity, and resilience to survive and the grace to forgive.

The book is a quick read, but a memorable and powerful one. Reading her story helped to put my own struggles into perspective. If the Lord can carry Immaculee through this horrific experience, how much more will He carry me through my difficult days? What are ways that I can emulate her by forgiving those who hurt me and praising God's name when He answers prayer?

Looking for your next read? Definitely consider Left to Tell.

Surviving the Shelling

2011-10-27T10:22:00.001-05:00

I just read an interview on Leadership Journal with Tullian Tchividjian about the very public challenges he faced when he took over Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. He faced something that I hope most pastors won't ever have to face: open and personal opposition to his pastoral ministry. What resulted from this intense period of time is a wonderful closeness with his savior and a renewed passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ! Here is one of my favorite sections.

"There is only one thing that will enable you to survive, and that's the gospel. It's not whether your church grows or not. It's not having the right leadership principle. All of those things might be helpful, but the gospel is the only thing that will save you in ministry." You inevitably face crises, slander, unfair criticism, pressure to perform in your professional and personal life.

While this quote is directed at pastors, we can just as easily say that the only thing that will keep you alive in ministry, in marriage, in your profession or in family is the gospel.

Most of us will never encounter someone sending out slanderous mass emails about us or anonymous blogs decrying our professional abilities. But we will be given things we can't handle. God uses the things we lose sleep over to pry our idols out of our hand and sets our focus on Himself.

Here is the link to the full interview "War and Peace" LeadershipJournal.net

Your Turn: How is God prying idols out of your hand? Pop your answer into the comments below.

Welcome to Detroit Lakes

2011-10-17T12:26:00.001-05:00

Our display in the church lobby

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of visiting First Baptist Detroit Lakes, about 3.5 hours north of Minneapolis. We arrived there Saturday evening and spent the night at Pastor Jim Hinson's house with his family. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed in and had an enjoyable time getting to know the Hinsons. On Sunday morning, we shared our ministry story with several Sunday school classes and then also during the worship service.

Nate preaching on I Samuel 10 - the anointing of Saul as king.

Sharing about Austria in the Sunday morning service.

A highlight for me, though, was seeing Nate preach the Sunday morning sermon. He brought to life the story of Saul being anointed as King of Israel by Samuel. Through the story, he reminded us that there are times when we are in over our heads and when God brings into our lives situations that we cannot handle on our own. Our natural reaction can be fear and uncertainty. But God uses these difficult times to draw us closer in dependence to Him and to bring Him all the glory.

I was very encouraged by Nate's sermon and it is so applicable to where we are at in our process of moving to Austria. This journey has been difficult, especially during the times when it feels like progress is slow and we may never get there. But we have been pushed to depend on God so much more than we ever have before. And in the end, when He provides the funds and the support to make it to Austria, it will truly be miraculous and He will get the glory!

Journey Through the Wilderness

2011-10-15T11:00:00.001-05:00

[Author's note: This is a long one! But it was so helpful for me to type out my thoughts...I hope they are helpful and insightful for you, too.]

We had a great time on our recent canoe and camping trip. We laughed, enjoyed the scenery, rested, and spent quality time together. But it wasn't always easy. There were tough portages when we carried the canoe further than we wanted to, sore muscles, tired legs, and long nights of sleeping on the ground. But we endured and we were proud to make it through to the end

As I've reflected on our journey through the wilderness, I've begun to see how our time in the boundary waters is similar to the journey we're on right now towards the mission field.

A long, challenging journey inevitably has ups and downs.
Throughout each day on the canoe trip, we would go from a relaxing morning, to a grueling paddle across a windy lake, to a long, intense hike, to an enjoyable evening in front of the campfire. Each day was a tumultuous series of highs and lows.

Similar to our days in the wilderness, our journey to Austria has been fraught with mountain top experiences and low valleys. Some days, we are excited, encouraged and focused on God's hand working in our lives and ministry. Other says, we are giving in to feelings of discouragement, rejection, fear and worry.

The difficult times can feel long when you're in the midst of them.
When Nate and I were carrying heavy packs, paddles and a 70-lb. canoe for a mile, there were times when we thought we would never make it to the next lake. In the midst of a difficult portage, the road seemed endless.

And in this journey to Austria, we sometimes feel the same way. We find ourselves asking, "Will we ever make it? How will we stay strong and persevere to the end? Can I take one more step towards our goal? Will it ever get easier?"

A journey through the wilderness requires simplicity.
When you're backpacking or canoeing, you are forced to carry everything you need with you. To make the journey easier, simplicity is key. You pack light and you pack only what you need.

Our nomadic life has also forced simplicity on us, and this has been difficult but also freeing. To be living unencumbered by "stuff" helps you realize how little you really need and makes you more dependent on the Provider of all things.

There is strength in a unified team.
Our camping trip required team work and unity. If we were carrying the canoe together, we moved quickest when our feet were in step and we were communicating clearly. When we paddled across a large lake, we needed to work together to accomplish the job.

Every day, we work together as we pursue God's calling on our lives to move to Austria. And when we are unified, it shows. When we are encouraging each other, communicating well, and bathing the process in prayer, we strengthen each other as a team.

Surviving one "valley" better prepares you for the next one.
A portage is when you carry your canoe from one body of water to another. And our trip included a lot of portages. The first few were rough, as we experimented with strategies to best get us and our equipment from point A to point B. After working through a few of them, though, they began to get easier. We were better prepared as each portage approached, knowing the best means and methods to make it through.

Raising financial support has led me to hit a couple of difficult low points. There have been times when I've hit bottom, broken down and felt uncertain if I could make it any further. But God has carried me through and taught me something new about Himself or myself each time. And now, when I approach a difficult time or sense those feelings returning, I am better prepared to face them, knowing God will continue to be faithful as He has been.

It is the tough stretches that make the fun times that much better.
At the end of a long day of canoeing and portaging, sitting by the fire enjoying mac 'n' cheese felt so fantastic! Working our muscles hard and pushing through made our times of fun and rest so much sweeter.

And that has continued to be true each and every day for us. In life, we experience joy and sorrow, ups and down, difficult times and celebratory ones. But if it weren't for the sorrow and frustration and struggle, we would not revel in the celebration like we do. We thank God for the lessons we learn in difficulty and celebrate the joys that much more!

A Legacy of Faith

2011-10-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

Gathering for a meal and singing the doxology at the Grand Beach Inn

This past weekend, my Dad's side of the family (the Veermans) all met up in New Buffalo, MI for a weekend family reunion. It was a sweet and special time, where my immediate family plus nearly all of my aunts and uncles, cousins, and cousins' children got together for fun, food and fellowship. The group of 40 laughed, played silly games, cooked, ate, caught up, sang and shared together for four days. It was wonderful!

Family is really special to us, and what amazes me every time we get together is that even though we don't see each other often, we can immediately share intimate life details and openly share our hearts. There is a closeness that comes from shared history, shared family roots, and especially our shared faith.

One special time of the weekend for me was on Sunday morning, when my Uncle Ralph gave a devotional on the importance of passing down faith from generation to generation. My dad and his siblings shared about the faith of my grandparents and the values they instilled in their family, which were then passed down to the next generation. I am who I am today in part because of their faith, love of God, commitment to church and missions, and family values. Their legacy shaped my dad, which in turn shaped how I was raised and who I have become.

In scripture, God calls us to teach our children and our children's children the ways of God and to remember what the Lord has done. Deuteronomy 4:9 - 10 says, "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

I am so thankful that my grandparents responded to God's instruction and passed on their faith, and I pray that Nate and I will do the same so our family legacy of faith can continue.

How has your family passed faith down to you?
How do you hope to pass your faith along to the next generation?

What God Told Me in the Wilderness

2011-10-12T12:15:00.001-05:00

A beautiful sunset on our last day of camping

When I am exploring the wilderness and experiencing creation, I meet God. It is inevitable; when I'm given the opportunity to get away from the conveniences and comfort of home, technology, buildings and society and escape to places of natural beauty, I cannot help but see God's character demonstrated in the stars of the sky, the colors of the leaves, and the pristine beauty of His creation.

And in the wilderness, I am no longer distracted by the noise of everyday life. I can more easily listen to God, and in the peace and quiet of the forest, I hear God's still, small whisper.

Last week, we ventured into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for a 4-day, 3-night canoe and camping trip. For 3 days, we explored lakes without seeing another person. Each night, the stars were bright and beautiful. And I was overwhelmed by the bigness of God's creation. The Boundary Waters alone are over 1,000,000 acres of natural forests, rivers and lakes! And God crafted this area just as precisely as he designed the deserts, oceans, lakes, rivers and mountains all over the earth. God is so big - so much bigger than all of this, even the vast creation that we experience when we venture into the wilderness.

This wilderness experience was a good reminder for me. God is so big and great; He is above all of His creation. He is the beginning and the end. So, why is it that I spend so much time worrying? Why is it that I expend emotional effort concerned about the financial support we need to raise and the preparations we need to complete before heading to Austria?

Isn't God so much bigger than all of that?
If He created the world, how much more can he handle our fears, concerns and challenges?

In the wilderness, God reminded me that He is big. He reminded me that He has all of this under control. Not only did He create the heavens and the earth, but He also directs and guides our lives and meets our needs. I have nothing to fear.

BWCA Canoe Trip

2011-10-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday Bethany and I set out on a great adventure. We traveled to one of the great wilderness areas of the US for 4 days of canoeing, camping, and adventuring. The weather was perfect and so were our times together. It was wonderful to see God's creation. Over and over that place confirmed Psalm 19:1-2

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
²Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.

I hope that the photo slideshow does just a bit of justice to the glory of God in creation we experienced.

How have you seen God's glory in creation recently?

Surprised by Community

2011-09-30T11:47:00.000-05:00

Last night, Nate and I drove an hour south to Kenyon, MN, to share about our ministry with a small group of New Life Church-goers. We first got connected to New Life Church through former missionaries to Austria and the church invited us to share during their missions Sunday in late July. It was a wonderful experience; we were immediately welcomed into the community from the moment we stepped in the church that Sunday. While there, we met a couple who had lived in Vienna for 3 years, working at the International Christian School of Vienna. We immediately connected with them, and after a few months of effort, they were able to pull a small group together last night to learn more about our ministry.

When we entered the farm house of our hosts, we were welcomed by smiling faces, sweet treats and the scent of brewing coffee. After enjoying cake and introductory conversation, we sat down and shared about our ministry and the darkness in Austria. Seven adults gathered to hear, and we enjoyed an evening of dialogue, thoughtful questioning, scripture reading, encouragement and prayer.

Coming from a small rural church, it was evident from the moment we arrived that these people knew each other well and cared for one another in a way that was refreshing. Their sense of community with each other was contagious and their laughter inviting. We had only met them once before and several months ago at that, but I felt like I belonged even after a few minutes. And God used them to provide great encouragement for us in our journey to the mission field through their prayers and the words of scripture they shared. Although they didn't know us well, their words were exactly what we needed to hear.

I walked into the evening thinking that Nate and I were there to talk about Austria. But as I reflect, I think the more important reason we were there was to be encouraged and to experience community with other believers. This group set the example for me in how to welcome someone new into fellowship and how to be united with new friends by our common faith. When we are in Austria, our Christian community will be small and close-knit, and I pray that we can welcome others in just like this small group did for us last night. Isn't this what it is to live out John 13:35, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."?

What was a time when you experienced sweet fellowship and community with other believers?

Photo credit: fieryn from morguefile.com

Avoiding Suffering and Loss

2011-09-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

This last Sunday, we attended the Shakopee Campus of Friendship Church, which is the church that I grew up in. Pastor Mike spoke about the story of Joseph (staring in Genesis 37) and all of the challenges that he faced leading up to his ultimate reign over all of Egypt. It is a pretty great story. Towards the end of the sermon, Mike made an observation about the story of Joseph that stuck with me.

He said, "If you take away the suffering in Joseph's life, you have to take away the blessings, as well." If you go through the long list of horrible things that happened to Joseph and all the injustice he experienced and take it all away, if you spare him of all that pain and hurt, then you must also take away God's provision for His people and the family of promise. You can not have one and not the other. Joseph would never have ended up in a position of power at the end if he hadn't first been sold as a slave by his brothers. These realities are two sides of the same coin and inextricably linked.

Our American culture often tells us that suffering is something to be avoided, something to flee from. We work very very hard to avoid difficulty and keep ourselves safe and secure. But if we avoid suffering, we also give up the blessings of that suffering. So many times as I look back at my life, I say to God, "If that had not happened, life would not be so hard" or "God, if you would only shield me, if you would only take these hard things away, my life would be more full."

But if God takes away these hard times, if all we get are the good times, then we also have to give up those moments of release where we hand our life over to God and say, "I can't do this. Please help." We also give up the meaningful relationships that are formed in the fieriest furnaces. We give up the deep communion we get with God as our heart becomes more and more dependent on Him and holds less and less to our emotional anesthetics. And finally, we give up God's miraculous provision that is seldom early and always on time.

Photo credit: clarita from morguefile.com

When Do You Need Prayer?

2011-09-26T12:17:00.000-05:00

I came across this quote made into a video from David Platt who spoke at the Desiring God national conference we attended last weekend (more to come on processing our experiences there).

Do you think we show that we need prayer, that we thirst for prayer?

What Color Is Your Underwear?

2011-09-19T23:31:00.000-05:00

If a stranger walked up to you and suddenly asked, "What color is your underwear?", how would you respond? In most cultures, this question would be considered personal, offensive and inappropriate.

Click below to hear a story from WorldVenture missionaries Mark and Lisa DeNeui about how this offensive question relates to sharing the gospel in Western Europe.

Voices from Across the Globe

2011-09-13T10:04:00.001-05:00

I was pleased to come across a series on Ed Stetzer's blog interviewing an MBB leader. Listening to these global voices will become more and more important as the "church of the south" takes on greater theological and numerical prominence in Christianity. Here are links to number 1 and number 2

It was a comment in the third post that really grabbed my attention. Here is the quote from the post (bold is Ed Stetzer's question and non-bold is the response):

Bob Roberts is a friend of mine and he recently challenged me: "If American Christians loved Muslims like Paul loved the Jews it would change the world." What do you think? It would. So much of it is hospitality toward strangers. America tends to be a very unfriendly environment for the stranger. But a huge Old Testament concept is how we relate to the stranger. If simple hospitality issues were addressed, taking the initiative is important. In my country, you ask somebody how to get somewhere and they're probably going to walk with you there, not just give you some directions. So I think that if the Christian community began taking initiative to practice hospitality toward the Muslim immigrants in their area, that would just go a long way. If we will do it, they will reciprocate. And in that context you will find it very easy then to get into gospel conversations.

What a call towards true Christ-likeness! Imagine if the American church reached out with true christian hospitality to the cultural strangers in our community? What if we invited them in for meals, built relationships with their community leaders, or even just had a cup of tea in the name of Christ?

So what is the hardest part about all this? Compared to many other cultures, we Americans aren't really all that hospitable. We are very protective of our space. I am sure we can all think of examples that contradict this, but our individualism bleeds in to our concept of "personal space" (which isn't even a concept in some cultures). This is an incredibly counter-cultural encouragement!

How have you seen strangers welcomed into your church community?

Photo credit: kevinrosseel from morguefile.com

Adderall vs. Simplicity

2011-09-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Photo credit: taysm from morguefile.com

I was struck by a recent blog post by Her.meneutics, drawing attention to the growing issue of adderall and ritalin abuse on Christian college campuses. There are numerous pressures facing many college students these days to achieve academic success, enhance their resumes before entering a challenging job market, build relationships, and, for Christians, get involved in ministry and service. It's no wonder that many students are handling this pressure by turning to drugs prescribed for ADHD to pull all-nighters and increase their energy levels...all so they can live up to expectations and accomplish more.

What I really loved about this blog post, though, was how Marlena tied the issue at Christian Colleges to a larger issue: a lack of simplicity. And this issue is not relegated to the student demographic. We all experience the pressure to accomplish, fill our schedules, stay busy, and "do more" for God, our families, and others. I know I have this tendency, not only because of the pressures I allow on myself from society and our culture, but also because of my task-oriented personality.

What are we missing? We are forgetting the spiritual discipline of simplicity. We are forgetting that God instructed us to honor the sabbath for a reason. Rest is important, and when we live a simple life, we are better equipped to respond in obedience to the times when God calls us to serve.

I especially loved this quote that Marlena included from Lauren Winner:

"...getting eight hours of sleep may very well be the most holy thing we do as followers of Jesus. It’ll help keep us from making ourselves and everyone around us miserable. Busyness, hurry, and over-commitment are not badges of honor. On the contrary, they are indicative of a sick soul."

I hope you are challenged by this blog post as much as I was to re-consider simplicity today, and how God might be calling you to simplify your life to better honor and serve Him.

Mentors are Golden

2011-09-08T14:49:00.000-05:00

For as long as we had cable in our apartments, I have been a fan of Mike Rowe. His show Dirty Jobs has highlighted jobs all over the country and the silent heroes that make our life possible. I have found him thoughtful, as he testified to congress on the lack of skilled labor in America today and the systemic issues that underlay that problem.

This morning I stumbled upon a story Mike wrote and recorded remembering his mentor Fred King. I encourage you to grab the audio file and sit with a nice beverage or in the car on your next 30 min. car ride and listen to they story. You will be glad you did.

Photo credit: mconnors from morguefile.com

It is Good to Have Goals

2011-09-02T22:50:00.000-05:00

So disclaimer number 1 here is Bethany and I are NOT pregnant!

I stumbled upon an article recently from Backpacker magazine about carrying babies along on backpacking trips. It lead me to a few other articles. Seems this is a whole new niche of backpacking and outdoor adventures. These people strap 30 lbs of gear to their back and then a 20 lb baby to their front. Now, they usually will cut their distance in half and aren't usually hiking over rough terrain... I really like this concept. I aspire to this when we have a family.

I know that having kids is one of the hardest things that you could ever do, but I think there is something intrinsically healthy about doing something like this. I think when some people have kids, they feel as though their life has completely ended. There is a turning inward that happens, much of which is natural and similar to what happens when two people get married. But I also know that in times of massive transition, we need to fight for things that help to keep us sane, even if they can look harder and more daunting than the hill we are already climbing.

I think that is something we are learning right now. Through seasons of difficulty, we need to push beyond the immediate comforts we hold to into greater communion with God and stronger community with others. Often those first things that we cling to are the least healthy.

Photo credit: jeltovski from morguefile.com

The Three Rs...

2011-09-01T16:33:00.000-05:00

When I was little, I learned in school that the three R's stood for "reduce, recycle, reuse". Taking care of the environment certainly stuck in my mind! But this past week, I decided that the three Rs most important in our current phase of life are words like rest, refresh and rejuvenate.

This week, Nate and I drove up to a family cabin on Lake Nebagamon, WI to spend 2 days on a spiritual retreat. The retreat is something required of us by WorldVenture, to help ensure that we are staying mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally healthy during each phase of the process as we prepare for the mission field. We really love that WorldVenture values this and pushes us to rest and get away.

Our time at the lake was exactly what we needed. We spent time in prayer and study, focused on worshiping God and reading about what true worship is. We read the chapter on worship from Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline and each of us studied worship on our own through sermons, books and scripture. We also spent time resting and relaxing. After a few days, we definitely came home rejuvenated!

Here are a few photos from our time at the cabin...

A favorite spot - sitting at the end of the dock gazing out over the water

Sitting in front of the fire

The view of the cabin from the shoreline

Reading time


A great way to start the day - a good book and a cup of coffee!

When was the last time you took a spiritual retreat? It can be hard to get away amidst the busy-ness of life, but you will come back refreshed. I highly recommend it!

A Kind of Seeing - Imagination, Faith and Story

2011-08-24T10:14:00.000-05:00

I just finished an article by Brandon O'Brien titled Can You Imagine? that he wrote for ChristianBibleStudies.com. His main thrust is that a major casualty of the modernist worldview that still hangs in our culture is a loss of imagination. Stories use our imagination to access our hearts in a way that reasoning and logic are not able to. Here is an excerpt where O'Brien sets up his thoughts:

The reasonableness of our faith has been a major preoccupation for many Christians, especially in America, for the last few generations. Apologists and theologians have worked hard to amass scientific and historical evidence that supports Christian claims to truth. We've developed complex and compelling arguments in defense of the faith. This research is geared to provide intellectual support for Christian belief. And it is important work. Unfortunately, this vigilant war for the truth can have—and has had—collateral damage. Christians dedicated to shoring up the intellect often do not think too highly of the imagination. If we let the imagination run wild, they fear, we risk sacrificing the truth.
But imagination is not the opposite of reality or the enemy of truth. In fact, we do ourselves an enormous disservice when we ignore the imagination (whether intentionally or accidentally) and only develop the intellect. For the intellect is only half the equation. Imagination is the partner of the intellect. One is not more important than the other; they do different things.

The relationship between imagination, story, and theology fascinates me. So much of how we relate to one another is by way of story (think of the last summer BBQ you were at - how many stories were told?). We don't talk enough about the role a sanctified imagination has in shaping our view of God and our view of each other.

Here is the link to the article on ChristianBibleStudies. Give the article a read and head back here to discuss:

What is the relationship between faith and imagination? In what way does Christ's stories and explanations of "the Kingdom" use the imagination to access our heart? (such as Matt 13)

Adventures in the blago-sphere

2011-08-21T22:21:00.001-05:00

As Nate and I have increased our own blogging, I have developed a new found interest in reading and following other blogs. Reading blog posts has provided an interesting source of entertaining, thought-provoking and challenging reading material for me. It also offers a fun way to stay connected to friends and family far from us who enjoy the written medium as much as we do.

I use google reader to keep track of the blogs I follow. It pulls all recent posts from the blogs of my choosing into one convenient place for me to read. My google reader feed has lots of variety in it, so I can choose content to suit my mood! Here is a sampling of the blogs I'm currently enjoying...

her.meneutics
Nate recommended I check this one out (since he used to work at Christianity Today), and I'm so glad he did. The post topics are varied and the content is always challenging, biblical and relevant.

the longest shortest time
I stumbled on this while listening to The Story podcast. Reading honest, raw and informative blog posts about early parenthood has helped me relate to my many friends who are becoming first-time parents, as well as hopefully prepare me for our future adventures in parenthood!

healthy food for living
I love cooking, and I love eating healthy. I learned a few years ago that when I eat well, I feel well...so blogs like this one provide great ideas on healthy recipes that taste delicious but are also good for you!

5 hunters
Many of the missionaries we met when we visited Vienna have blogs they maintain about life and ministry in Austria. Stacey Hunter's is my favorite. Brad and Stacey planted a great international church in Vienna, but Stacey's blog chronicles family life as well as ministry. She's an excellent photographer and her blog helps me envision what our future life may look like in Vienna!

my baking addiction
I love to bake, and when I do, I am often inspired by this baking blog. Her writing and photography are just as amazing as her baked creations!

Note: These endorsements are completely my opinion and I am not being compensated, bribed or coersed into giving any of them! Just thought I should mention that.

We Did Not Know!

2011-08-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

During our Vision Trip to Austria in April, we spent time with Dougg and LeAnn Custer. The Custers are WorldVenture missionaries who serve as International Ministry Directors, overseeing all WorldVenture workers in Europe and the Middle East. Before their current role, they were church planters in Austria for many years and in some ways, their heart is still there!

Last May, Dougg Custer attended the Global Missions Consultation in Tokyo, Japan. This meeting was a part of the centennial celebration of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference in 1910. The history of these global conferences is an amazing story of God's working through the modern missions movement.

Here is a powerful story Dougg shared with us from his time in Tokyo.

Special thanks to www.Tokyo2010.org for the images and video from the conference.

Structure, Structure... Where are thou, O Structure?

2011-08-15T09:41:00.002-05:00

Photo credit: roganjosh from morguefile.com

Most people who know me know that I embody the "task oriented" personality. I enjoy and find satisfaction in making lists, accomplishing tasks and organizing people, places and things. This is probably why I spent 6 years in the events industry...

Ironically, my current lifestyle completely lacks structure. Each day is different and although we have many tasks to accomplish, the regularity and predictability of our life has completely changed. Knowing my personality, I knew that this season of life would lead to new challenges...and I was right! Nate and I have been learning how to create structure within our days when there is none. We have been wrestling with finding a balance between working diligently and finding time to rest and relax. We have been learning how best to communicate about daily tasks, work together and compromise.

Through practice and the guidance of some valued mentors, we have devised several "strategies" to discover structure and balance in this phase of life...

We schedule "work hours" into to our day, so we can be sure we're working diligently and faithfully on ministry, but also not neglecting rest and fun
My mind is always mulling over details...but now I write down my ideas and thoughts when I think of them, and share them with Nate when we are "working". This way, I don't bombard Nate with details all the time.
Nate and I share google documents and calendars to keep track of tasks and our schedule.
In ministry, there is always more to be done. And life is like that now for us, too. There are always more people to call, more books to read and more german lessons to complete. We are discovering strategies now to create structure and balance that we will surely use on mission field!
When we are not traveling, I have decided to make certain things a daily priority, such as prayer, bible study, exercise, reading, and german lessons (with Rosetta Stone). I don't always succeed in accomplishing all of these, but focusing on them helps to keep my actions in line with my priorities.

What do you do to create structure? When do you avoid structure to allow for flexibility?

Learning to Thirst

2011-08-10T17:01:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love about intense physical exercise is the sense it gives you of your own body. I'm not talking about a weird mysticism, but the more I work out, the more I have a sense of what my body needs in a moment or how I am feeling. Sometimes it is a soreness that wakes up stiff muscles; other times, it is digging deep into energy reserves for a big push and burning quads. I really enjoy this feeling. I believe we glorify God when we use what He has given us to explore His creation and test our personal limits.

A few weeks ago, we had some of the hottest days of the year. While most people hunkered down in their air conditioning and waited out the heat wave, I went for a bike ride. The heat index in Minnesota was well over 100 degrees F, and the wind was whipping across the open farm fields at about 15 miles per hour. Everything about the day was intense. As I rode along, I asked myself several times, "am I really out here, braving this?!" About ten minutes into the ride, I grabbed my water bottle and took my first gulp of water. At that instant, a feeling rushed through my body. It was as if my body was screaming out, "Wow! That is exactly what I need!" My body was so thirsty that there was physical response of relief and refreshment.

It is easy to forget how spiritually dry our lives can be. Often, it is not until we take a much needed spiritual drink, such as spending time together in prayer, having an engaging spiritual conversation or meditating on a passage of scripture, that we realize how spiritually thirsty we actually are. How easy it is to forget to grab that drink of water! It is not until after we have been refreshed that we realize just how thirsty we were.

On the largest day of the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, Jesus stood up before the crowd and said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37,38). In fact, Jesus uses this a few times. He says something like this to the woman at the well. In both cases, Jesus was alluding to the words of the prophets. They spoke of God as a fountain of living water. This metaphor resonated with the people living on the edge of a desert where water is an important resource. And on hot summer days, we understand a piece of what it means to thirst physically. And as we grow in our communion with God, we will also begin to understand what it means to thirst spiritually.

May the hot summer days we've had this summer remind us that we are ever in need of staying spiritually hydrated!

A Global Reunion

2011-08-08T16:02:00.000-05:00

My senior year of college, I was blessed to live with three wonderful women. We shared so many special memories together, both serious and completely silly. Since that time, God has led us each on a unique journey and we have literally gone global! In 2004, we were all senior students at Wheaton College. Now, we are a missionary to orphans in Uganda, a missionary teacher at a school in Moscow, a PhD student at Dartmouth, and me - a missionary appointee to Austria. God has led us apart, but it is so amazing to see how each of us are following the Lord and using our gifts for the Kingdom!

Last week, we had the rare opportunity to reunite in Chicago for 3 days. Furloughs and travel schedules aligned and we spent the week laughing and sharing and reminiscing. Here are a few photos from our "global reunion".

Cori, Me, Sarah and Rebecca

Hanging out at Rebecca's

One afternoon, the spouses watched the kids while the girls went out. Here are Rebecca and Cori, exploring all that downtown Elmhurst has to offer...

Nate gets to know Rebecca's littlest one, Jonathan.

Taking a funny face photo is an important tradition

Hanging out, sharing stories and playing games...it was a great week!

Fund-raising as Ministry?

2011-07-30T22:45:00.000-05:00

I recently sat down and read an essay by Henri Nouwen entitled "The Spirituality of Fund-raising". I had picked up the essay last November when we were attending training at WorldVenture headquarters, but it had sat in my book pile ever since. And I am so glad I finally picked it up.

I have been praying that God would help me approach "partner development" (or raising support or fund-raising) with a healthy mentality about its purpose and God's provision. But reading Nouwen's essay identified some new lessons about fund-raising that hadn't considered - gaps in my perspective.

Nouwen challenged me to consider that...

to ask others to partner financially in our ministry, I first need to confront my own relationship with money
I should allow fund-raising to teach me how to depend on others...which is against my independent, prideful, sinful nature
I must love people and minister to them first...and trust God to provide the money second
My security is in Christ and should never be tied up in the response of others towards our ministry
Prayer and gratitude allow my attitude towards fund raising to be transformed
Fund-raising allows me to develop closer relationships with those who partner with us, which leads to ministry opportunities and deeper Christian community

So whether you are raising funds for your first short term mission trip or a 5K race, or raising fund to go to the missions field long term, or being approached for financial support by others, I hope these quotes from Nouwen will be an encouragement to you on your journey.

"Gratitude allows us to approach a fund-raising meeting without grasping neediness and to leave it without resentment or dejection. Coming and going, we can remain secure in God's love with our hearts set joyfully on the kingdom."

"Fund-raising is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission."

"The question is not how we get money. Rather, the question is about our relationship with money."

"We fear being dependent on others because of the idea that dependence is a threat to our security."

"We do not need to worry about the money. Rather, we need to worry about whether, through the invitation we offer them and the relationship we develop with them, they will come closer to God."

"Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the Kingdom. To raise funds is to offer people the chance to invest what they have in the work of God."

Best Use of A Prayer Magnet

2011-07-24T17:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at the park we saw a great use for our prayer magnets. Who knew they tasted good?

We've Arrived in Minnesota

2011-07-17T18:49:00.000-05:00

After a lot of preparation, Bethany and I have landed in Minnesota. We are excited to be here and see so many great friends we haven't seen in a while. We'd love to see you while we are here so shoot us an email or give us a call!

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2011-07-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

For the first week of July, we had the wonderful chance to vacation with my immediate family in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia. Thanks to some family time shares, we were all in a beautiful resort called Massanutten, full of great outdoor activities, a water park, and lots of kid-friendly fun. We had a great week with the family and we got to visit with some cousins who live nearby, as well.

Here are a few highlights...

Seeing all 6 nieces and nephews...and how big they are getting!
Going mountain biking for the first time on world-class trails (and not killing ourselves)
Climbing at Seneca Rocks
Touring the Luray Caverns
Spending a day at the water park and hitting the water slides with all the kids
Playing games & eating lots of ice cream
Having the whole family together!

Here are some photos from our week!

Snuggling with Kate and Meg while watching fireworks

Exploring a nearby town

All of the nieces and nephews

Group photo!


After our 3-pitch Seneca Rocks climb

Touring Luray Caverns

No place to call home...

2011-07-12T20:33:00.000-05:00

It's official. Two weeks ago, we moved out of our apartment and into a nomadic life. We packed the essential items into our car, and the rest of the things we kept (and did not sell) are in permanent storage in a friend's basement. We are unemployed, homeless and wandering!

To be honest, I was pretty nervous about this transition as it drew closer. I have never experienced such a life of transition and this will be a very new experience in our marriage, no longer have a place of our own. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to see many friends and family, and I enjoy having a flexible schedule. However, I know that this year of preparation for Austria will be challenging. I know that I will miss having a home and having the privacy we had before. I will probably get tired of sleeping in other people's beds and living out of a suitcase. I will miss having consistency and normalcy. I will miss having my own kitchen and a stocked pantry to cook from. And I will be challenged as I depend on others more than I ever have as an adult, accepting generosity that will surely make me uncomfortable at times (and already has).

I know this year will be hard, but there is no way I can predict how it will be hard. So how do I prepare to face these challenges, when they are so unknown?

I know I need to pray and seek the Lord fervently as I prepare and begin this new lifestyle. He does not change and will be our constant during all this transition. But that is easier said than done.

If you are reading this, please pray for us as we venture into this new life!

How do you prepare for difficult times you know are ahead?

It's time to celebrate!

2011-07-02T11:49:00.001-05:00

We are excited to share that... we've hit a big milestone in our financial support!

Photo credit: nasirkhan from morguefile.com

Yesterday, we received several new financial commitments towards our ministry in Austria and...

we have passed the 25% mark!

We are officially at 28.5% of our support. We are so thankful for all of the friends, families and churches that have partnered with us financially thus far. We are trusting that God will continue to raise up a great team of prayer and financial partners, allowing us to head to Austria in 2012. Praise God for his provision!

We decided early on in this process that we would celebrate each milestone along the way, at 25, 50 and 75%. Partner development (or support raising) can be a long and sometimes discouraging process. It is important for us to celebrate along the way and focus on God's provision, continually being encouraged. We haven't decided how to celebrate yet...but feel free to make recommendations!

Reflection and Celebration

2011-06-25T13:43:00.002-05:00

This weekend we get the chance to celebrate the marriage of our friends, Matt and Rachelle. Summer is the time for weddings and this summer hasn't been any different. It is a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. You see who has influenced your friends to become the people that God has made them to be.

This mixture of serious commitment and joyful celebration is important in life. Formal times like this give us the chance to see our lives in their redemptive context and affirms the small decisions we make everyday to keep loving our spouse or continue following Christ. In these moments, we gain a perspective on life that the daily grind doesn't always afford. God truly does know how to give His children good gifts.

What times cause you to reflect and rejoice?

Thoughtful, Funny and Surprisingly Christian

2011-06-21T21:08:00.003-05:00

I was just watching Conan O'Brien's recent Dartmouth commencement address to graduates and "old people who come to these things." Besides being completely hilarious, Conan opened with the self-deprecating humor he is known for, observing that while a decorated war hero and former president sit on stage, a cable TV host is giving the commencement address. Based on this, he observed, "I pray that I never witness a more damning example of what is wrong with America today."

Something surprising starts to happen about two thirds of the way into the message. Conan goes from self-deprecation and shameless pandering of insider collegiate references (if I was giving a commencement address, I don't think I could shy away from these either), to a completely different speech. He turns on a dime.

Conan shares very candidly about his dream of hosting "The Tonight Show" and watching that dream crumble around him. That moment of failure brought clarity and forced him to innovate and strike out into the comedic "wild wild west". His failure to live up to the ideal ultimately led him to cast the vision for his redemption and his future. It led him to strike out into new territory, living in freedom from his failure.

With these concepts, Conan crossed into grace territory. Parallel to his words, it is not our ability to please God or to live up to His standard that makes us right before Him. When we embrace the free grace of God and accept our failure and inability to achieve God's standard, we are given a chance to live freely and be redeemed. This profound embracing of failure is not defeat, but it sets the tone for sin's ultimate defeat. Death destroyed by death.

I'd encourage you to watch Conan's speech and ponder. What stands out to you from Conan's commencement address?

Lessons Learned from First Year of Belief Blog

2011-06-16T15:41:00.000-05:00

This grabbed my eye recently: One year ago (and about 5 days) CNN started their Belief Blog. I have to say, I haven't visited CNN's "Belief Blog" very frequently, but their observations about the climate of faith in the US today interested me. Here are a few that stood out.

Photo credit: clarita from morguefile.com

#3 People are still intensely curious about the Bible, its meaning and its origins.

So often we hear that the youth are walking away from the church and that church has lost all relevancy. I think rumors of the scripture's (and the church's) demise have been grossly overstated. People are searching now as much as they ever have been. Recently, I heard in a sermon, "it isn't my job to coerce you or trick you into showing up on Sunday or to meet in small groups." The gospel is compelling, even to those that will ultimately reject it> The question of meaning and existence is something we are all wrestling with. It is a part of the human experience. And people know that the scriptures address these issues.

This is counter balanced by...
#4: Most Americans are Religiously Illiterate.

If you are involved in the local church, you see this all the time. Many people are not able to lay out the basics of their faith. The Belief Blog pointed out that oftentimes the ones with the most 'religious literacy' are atheists. And most of that is in the form of tools meant to fight belief.

In the name of sensitivity, I think we have stripped out "unpopular" areas of the church that ultimately make the church stronger and feed Christians that need knowledge. I am excited to see ways that we can feed the quest for meaning and not just stop at "spiritual milk", but build strong and mature believers in the church.

A nomadic year begins...

2011-06-13T14:45:00.000-05:00

The time has come... We are packing up our apartment, selling many of our belongings, and preparing for a year of travel. We will spend the next year staying with friends and family all around the country, sharing the story and building our team of ministry partners.

We are very excited about this year. We know that there will be challenges and that we will miss having a place to call home, but we are excited to connect with people who we don't get to see often and to continue to share about what God is doing in Austria. It will be an exciting, nomadic year!

Here is a map of the places we will be and approximate dates in each location.
(Click the map to see a larger version...)

Please pray for us as we begin this big transition!

Speaking Well

2011-06-13T10:53:00.000-05:00

It is here again, wedding season leaps into action right about... now. And it doesn't feel that long ago that Bethany and I were walking through this same adventure together. With friends getting married very soon and others just popping the question, weddings and new marriage advice floats through many of our conversations with friends.

Photo credit: earl53 from morguefile.com

As I was flipping through my RSS reader recently I stumbled across this post from Michael Hyatt about speaking well of your spouse in public. This post caught my attention because this was something that our marriage counselors had recommended to us and it is something we intentionally include in our conversations. As we continue sharing with friends and family about our missions plans we include a section where we talk about our gifts, strengths and how we compliment each other in life and in ministry. It encourages me to have a chance to speak well of Bethany and to hear her speak well of me.

What are are you intentional about for the health of your marriage?

Holga Vol 3

2011-06-10T16:19:00.001-05:00

I love my holga. I have had it for a few years ago. I love getting film back from processing. I love the adventure of turning ordinary moments extraordinary. Here are my 3 most favorite shots from my last roll.

from Holga vol 3

What gives you a sense of adventure and exploration?

A Ministry Opportunity - Aspern Seestadt

2011-06-07T08:03:00.001-05:00

When Bethany and I traveled to Austria, we met with the leaders of a new and exciting project. On an old airfield east of Vienna, the government will build a brand new development with offices, store fronts, housing, schools and even a man-made lake. In the midst of this community that is yet to be built, Austrian evangelical church leaders will plant a thriving church.

We were excited to hear how God is preparing the way for this new ministry. The leaders are assembling the team, praying and trusting that God will raise up the right members for this wonderful new ministry opportunity. We are pursuing this project and pray that God leads us in how we should be involved.

Please pray that God will lead clearly and raise up the team He has for this 2015 church plant.

Mental Exhaustion

2011-06-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

After our 2-week trip to Austria in April, we were often asked about our trip and what we learned. And I think the best way I’ve come to describe it is to explain the sheer mental exhaustion we felt at the end of some days in Austria. We were learning and absorbing so much every day that by 8 or 9pm, we were eager to turn off our brains and crash into bed! Conversations with missionaries on our team, missionaries from other countries or organizations, church and ministry leaders, and Austrians were consistently teaching us new things and it was a lot to process, but SO VALUABLE…

I believe we came home from our two weeks better equipped to share and answer questions about Austria. Before our trip, all of our knowledge came from the words and stories of others, but now we can share our own stories and speak from personal experience. We learned a lot about…

Cultural expectations, traditions, and standards in Austria
Church dynamics in Austria and the differences between Catholicism there and in the U.S.
The complex ties between church and state and how is has affected many Austrians perception of the “church”
What evangelical church looks like in Austria and how the gospel is manifested in their culture
The role that missionaries play in the evangelical church in Austria and why more are needed
The challenges we should be prepare for when crossing cultures
The adventure of language acquisition and culture study, which will be our focus for our first 2 years in Austria

This only scratches the surface of what we absorbed. Our learning may not be something we can tangibly show someone as a result of our trip, but I believe it was the most valuable part of our time there and the take-away that will most impact how we prepare over the next year.

I'm sure this is only the beginning of our mental exhaustion. Once we begin two years of full-time language school, I'm sure our brains will feel "fried" at the end of the day most times as we try to master the German language. But it is all so worthwhile and even though it will be hard, I'm so excited to begin. Bring on the exhaustion!

Are Multi-Cultural Leaders the Future?

2011-05-26T09:59:00.002-05:00

Over on Out of Ur, Skye Jethani just returned from a trip to Spain where he was training and speaking to missionaries. Besides affirming the "from everywhere, to everywhere" reality of missions - which is another post - Skye made some keen observations about the challenges that the American church leadership community will face as the church becomes increasingly non-white, non-American, and non-western. Here is a quick quote from his post:

Most of what I’ve read/heard about church leadership says we should fight tenaciously to maintain clear purpose, vision, and values within our organization. And recruiting other leaders who conform to these is vital. Allow too many people inside who hold divergent ideas and you’ll derail the organization. But this mindset assumes that efficiency is the ultimate value to which all others must surrender. But in many cultures efficiency is not the highest good. And third culture leaders understand that in many cases clinical efficiency simply is not possible when seeking to lead diverse populations.

Read the rest of his post The Post-American Church (Part Uno).

My question related to all of this is:
Do you think that the current church leadership structure will make this change, or will it take an emergence of new multi-cultural leaders?

Do you disagree with these ideas entirely?

Beginning to Mourn

2011-05-24T09:22:00.001-05:00

There is something very powerful for me about worshiping and singing in a large crowd of believers. Hearing a cacophony of loud voices all praising God together transports me to imagining what heaven will someday be like, when we are all be praising God together, thousands upon thousands!

This past Sunday, I began to mourn the loss of these experiences. Evangelical churches in Austria are small, typically 25 - 50 people. When we live there, it will be rare that we will have the opportunity to worship in a large crowd in our "heart language" of English like we get to do every week now at Parkview. As we were singing a song this Sunday that was especially powerful for me, I was moved to tears thinking about how much I will miss that worship experience.

There are many exciting things about moving to Austria and the work we will be doing. But there will also be many sacrifices. This is one that I will miss very deeply.

'Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”'

- Revelation 5:11 - 13

Why Do Americans Act Like That?

2011-05-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

Do you ever think about American culture and what makes us different from other cultures and countries around the world? I admit that even though I'm preparing to live in a foreign country, I don't always think critically about the assumptions and values that are a part of my life as a result of growing up in the U.S.

I just came across a really interesting article that provides an overview of some distinctives of American culture. I think the author hit the nail on the head... Reading it definitely made me recognize the things that I will not be able to assume when I live in Austria. I can confidently say that I value everything on this list...sometimes to a fault.

Here is the list of things that the author says are valued in America (I would encourage you to read the article for a more full explanation):

Personal control over the environment; Personal responsibility
Change is seen as natural and positive
Time and It's Control
Equality/Fairness
Individualism/Independence
Self Help Initiative
Competition
Future Orientation
Action/Work Orientation
Informality
Directness/Openness/Honesty
Practicality/Efficiency
Materialism/Acquisitiveness

What aspects of American culture have most impacted your values?

Sitting on Someone's Wheel

2011-05-15T16:10:00.004-05:00

A few days ago, I went for a bike ride on the road. The weather was perfect, the sun was out, it wasn't too hot...everything was wonderful. I did a familiar 17-mile loop, and it felt a lot like home. In the winter, I miss the freedom, speed and head-clearing that riding outside provides.

As I rounded a turn towards my favorite section of the ride, the road that goes right along the Cantigny golf course, I rode in behind another cyclist. He was older than me, and clearly in better shape than I was. He went at it hard, but I was able to keep up with him. I am not sure if I followed proper road etiquette, but I fell into his draft as we crossed beautiful prairie and rolling hills (which are hard to come by around here). Over those 3 miles, he tapped out a strong tempo. I had to push hard to stay with him. At the end of the road, he went one way and I went another.

Drafting is a specific skill in cycling that is all about efficiency. One rider has to ride as close as they can to the other rider's back tire. The rear rider can save as much as 30% of their energy by riding in a draft. The front rider is able to set a pace that is faster than either could sustain by themselves.

As I thought about those short 3 miles, I saw this as a great illustration of mentorship. When we do life in community with people that are further along down to road, we are able to glean wisdom and live in their "draft." They speak into our lives and can help us to ride at a spiritual pace that is above how we could live our life on our own.

So here is the question: Who do you have that is helping you grow? Who are you drafting in your life?

If you don't have those sorts of relationships around you, here is your chance.

Grab a chapter of scripture, a person you are close to (or someone you would like to be close to) and a cup of coffee and spend 30 minutes reading, asking questions and challenging each other to be more like Christ.

Spring Getaway in the Alps!

2011-05-10T11:01:00.000-05:00

By far one of the most crucial parts of our Vision Trip was connecting with our WorldVenture team. WorldVenture has 9 missionaries on the ground in Vienna, and we are excited to join them in ministry. At the start of our Vision Trip in April, after spending 1 day getting over jet lag (at least a little), we spent the next 5 days on the “Spring Getaway”, a WorldVenture team retreat in a mountain town in the Alps. We stayed at an affordable hostel that allowed us to use a large room for worship and study time, group meetings and sharing time. In addition to the Vienna missionaries, the WorldVenture teams from Germany and Slovenia joined us for the retreat.

We were really blessed by this time on retreat. Here are some reasons why…

Our Vienna WorldVenture Team

Conversations with our fellow missionaries over meals, hikes and down time allowed us to absorb so much about Austria, ministry and what to expect when we first arrive.
Each missionary or couple was allowed 20 minutes of sharing time in front of the group to talk about their last year in ministry and what they have been learning. It was valuable to get a broad perspective of where and how God is using each missionary.
We were given the chance to share our story with the group – how God led us to Austria and what we envision for ministry.
We got to know all of the missionaries and began building relationships with people who we will be serving alongside for decades. When we move to Austria, we will see familiar faces!
We were blessed by quiet times with the Lord where we could pray and process all that we were learning and absorbing. God really spoke to me (Bethany) there and used that time to give me an overwhelming sense of peace about the next year of our lives and the journey we are on.

Sharing Time at the Hostel

We got to worship the Lord together and we listened to sermons from the Willow Creek leadership conference, which led to some really encouraging and challenging discussions.
We conducted video interviews with missionaries, asking them all about the spiritual needs in Western Europe and where they see God working. We are excited to share these with you over the coming months.
We spent 3 hours in the car to and from the retreat with our team leaders, Celeste and Peter Persson. We talked the whole time both ways, all about their 28 years of service in Austria and what God has been teaching them. We asked questions and learned so much just in those conversations.

We felt the retreat was the perfect way to begin our Vision Trip to Austria. It laid a solid foundation for the rest of our 2 weeks by connecting us with our team and with God, before the fast-paced experience in Vienna that followed. We were so thankful for this time!

Video Blog: Wrapping Up 2 Weeks in Austria

2011-05-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

The day before we left Austria and concluded our Vision Trip, we spent some time looking over Vienna and reflecting on what we learned. Here are some of those thoughts...

Vision Trip Wrap Up from nate johnson on Vimeo.

Vision Trip Recap

2011-05-02T13:34:00.000-05:00

We're home, safe and sound! We arrived back in Chicago Thursday night and since, have been reflecting on how valuable and educational our two week trip to Austria was. We learned and absorbed so much about the Austrian culture, church dynamics, our WorldVenture team, and ministry opportunities. The trip deepened our passion for serving in Austria and gave us many stories to share with friends and family here. We're so thankful for the opportunity we had to visit. Thanks to so many of you for helping to make the trip possible and praying for our time there!

We are still sorting through all of our photos and video from the trip. Over the next few months, we will be blogging and sharing about what we learned during our visit. For now, here are some highlights...

Our first 5 days in Austria were spent on a retreat with the WorldVenture teams from Germany, Austria and Slovenia. It was a great time of developing relationships, discussing ministry, and learning about missionary life.

We met with the leadership of an Austrian evangelical church association called the BEG. We will likely be partnering with the BEG in church planting projects in the future.

We visited the site of a future building and development project east of the city called aspern seeschtadt. By 2028, this area will house 20,000 people. When the first 5,000 move in 4 years from now, the BEG envisions planting a church and sharing the gospel in this new community. We hope to be a part of this project!

Caro, a friend from church, took us climbing in Modling. We enjoyed getting to know her and hearing about her experiences in an evangelical church in Austria.

Celebrating Christ's resurrection Easter Sunday morning.

We learned a lot about the Catholic church in Austria and the challenges it is facing today. Many Austrians are cultural Catholics, but do not know Jesus Christ personally. We are passionate about giving more Austrians access to the gospel!

Walking the grounds of Schonbrunn Palace with a WorldVenture teammate. Thank you, Greta, for taking photos of us!

We helped set-up and participate in a Passover Seder service at the Evangeliumsgemeinde (our team leaders' church). We enjoyed meeting church members and reflecting on Christ as the passover lamb.

Making new friends at church on Easter!

For more photos, visit www.facebook.com/nateandbethany.

He is Risen Indeed! A Cross Cultural Ostern / Easter

2011-04-24T10:14:00.001-05:00

"Now he is talking about how fear and hope meet at the cross... now he is talking about...."

This was how we experienced our Easter service this morning at the Evangeliumsgemeinde here in Vienna. It is day 10 of our vision trip and we were very glad to share an Easter breakfast, baby dedication, and Easter service with this community of believers.

We enjoyed a European breakfast (all different kinds of bread, cold cuts, ham, really nice bologna, all kinds of cheeses, hard boiled eggs, a few kinds of cereal, and some amazing jam and sweet bread!) and all sat around tables and talked. The food was amazing and the conversation was good as well. We tried in limited German to say who we were and where we were from.

Most often we either had someone that could help to cross the language barrier or the people we were talking with spoke some English. It is great to see the fellowship times, that often last as long (and are as important) as the formal service.

We also got to see a baby dedication with many family members of the couple there.

While we miss our families, we know that God is leading us towards Himself. It continues to stir my heart to hear men and women lifting their voices in other tongues to the Lord.

Along with all of this celebration, I am reminded of the need here. Easter is a time that many people go to church, often those that don't have any communion with the God of the universe. Seeing this gathering and realizing that there are so many others that need to hear about the transforming work of God in His gospel, we are further convinced that we are following God's leading to be a witness of the gospel in Austria. Many Austrians know about God, but few have a personal relationship with him.

What impacted you from the Easter celebration that you attended?

It's Not You...It's Me

2011-04-21T14:12:00.000-05:00

Oh, the classic break-up line... "It's not you. It's me". So well intended, but so overused. But this week, those words have taken on an entirely new meaning for me.

While on retreat with our WorldVenture team in Grundlsee, Austria, we watched the video of a sermon by Louie Giglio (here is the beginning of it) about how INDESCRIBABLE God is, as displayed in His magnificent creation. The universe and all that is in it - the moon, stars, planets, galaxies - are SO much bigger than we can comprehend! If our creator made them, He is clearly magnificantly indescribable!

The same day we watched this message, I was later listening to this sermon by Matt Chandler from Habakkuk. At one point in the sermon, he talks about how BIG God is and how SMALL we are. Do you see the pattern here?

Through these two messages, God has been reminding me this week that He is so big and I am so small. This is not leading me to get down on myself for my insigificance, but to rejoice in the fact that no task is too insurmountable for God. He made the heavens and the earth - how much more is He able to use me for His purposes, despite my failings! How much more is He able to provide for the financial needs of our ministry, that at times seem overwhelming. And how much more is He able to shine light in the darkness of Austria, where there are so many lost and hurting people.

In the end, any ministry that is accomplished through us in Austria or any provision that occurs to enable that ministry is not because of my gifts, efforts, talents, abilities, or personality. It is all from God. He is the creator and the source.

So basically, God is saying... "It's not about you. It's about ME!"

Glimpses of God's Big Picture

2011-04-19T07:54:00.001-05:00

Right now, Nate and I are in Grundlsee, Austria on a retreat with the WorldVenture teams from Germany, Austria and Slovenia. It has been a blessing to get to know our fellow missionaries. Through talking with them, we have been absorbing knowledge about living cross-culturally and what it is like to doing ministry in Western Europe.

We are meeting many missionaries for the first time. However, I met one of these missionary couples here back in 2003! The summer after my sophomore year at Wheaton, I had the privilege of touring Europe with the college's Women's Chorale and Glee Club and we visited Prague, Moscow, Vienna and Slovenia. It was my first time in Europe and the only other time I have been to Vienna. In Slovenia, we partnered with Mel and Patty Davis and put on some concerts that served as outreach opportunities for them in the community. It turns out that Mel and Patty Davis are WorldVenture missionaries and are now on retreat with us! 8 years later, it has been fun to reconnect with them and think back to my trip to Slovenia back in 2003.

When I went to Slovenia, I acted like a lemming... I did as I was told, sang many concerts in a variety of venues, and participated in all aspects of the 3-week trip, but I did not really know the impact we were making or the "big picture" reasons we were there. Talking to Mel and Patty this week, I now have a different perspective.

Our choir trip in 2003 opened many doors for the missionaries in Slovenia, allowing them to make new connections in the community and get a foot in the door in the local public school system. They were able to use our concerts as an important outreach and to follow up those connections and share the gospel with many new people. Now, the Wheaton choirs have been back to Slovenia 3 times and those connections have expanded.

It is neat to come full circle and see how God used our time there not just to praise His name through music, but also to strengthen the ministry there. I think the lesson I am learning is when we are faithful to serve and do what we believe God calls us to, He is faithful to use our efforts for his Kingdom (even when we don't know it)!

We've arrived!

2011-04-16T08:52:00.004-05:00

Here are a few photos from day 1 of our Vision Trip to Austria...

Nate going into the "Opera Toilet". It plays music while you do your business!

A statue of Mozart in downtown Vienna, with a floral treble clef.

Hit the 'Read More' link to see the rest of our pictures!

The famous Stephansdome - a church in the city center with a distinctive zip-zag pattern on the roof.

Walking the streets, trying to get over jetlag.

Posing in front of the Lufthansa plane we flew on into Frankfurt. It was huge, with two levels in the front!

Video Blog - Austria Bound

2011-04-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

We are excited to board the plan Thursday night for our two week visit to Austria! (Can you tell?!?!) We also just got some video editing software a few weeks ago that we've been practicing with. The result?

Here are our thoughts on our visit to Austria...

Vision Trip Thoughts from nate johnson on Vimeo.

Fighting the Wind

2011-04-10T21:40:00.001-05:00

The seasons have been changing for a little while now. The weather is now finally to a point where we can get out our bikes and ride.

I love cycling. I love the freedom and the speed and the feeling of finishing a long ride. Today, however, was one of those adventure days. The wind was blowing. It wasn't constant but there were moments when I rounded a corner and got blasted by a gust. And it didn't stop there. Head down and peddling hard, there were times that I would get hit by another shot that made me wonder how much longer I could keep this up.

I think there are many times that we feel as though we are peddling into the wind. It is hard, but I know I am a better rider for taking it on. Challenges in life breed strength. Even when it feels as though you are getting hit by a gust, thank God that he provides the stength to keep peddling and thank God for the things he is teaching you.

Vision Trip: The Real Reason

2011-04-05T14:40:00.007-05:00

Nate and I believe that God has called us to serve in Austria. We have spent the last few years pursuing ministry there, applying to WorldVenture, learning about the country and the spiritual darkness that hangs over it, connecting with missionaries, praying for its people, training, preparing and sharing our story.

But…we haven’t been to Austria together.

Our two week trip to Austria (in 9 days!) will be a good time to connect with our team members, build relationships and cast a vision for our ministry. But I think deep down, what it’s really all about is experiencing a culture in need and beginning to understand what that culture is all about.

It’s about asking questions and becoming learners…

What are their core cultural values, traditions and worldview?

What is the best way to connect the hearts of Austrians to the gospel?

What has led Austria so far from God?

What are some of the biggest challenges in ministering to Austrians?

What have the missionaries learned over the last few decades of ministry? What have they done well and what would they go back and change?

We have so many questions. I could go on and on. The moral of the story? We have so much to learn and so much for God to teach us. Our two-week visit is just the beginning of this amazing journey God is leading us on. God’s heart is for Austria and to see the gospel explode there. But right now, it is a dark place in great need. We need to experience that.

Walking the streets, visiting churches, and spending time with the Austrian people will allow us to immerse ourselves in the culture and begin to learn. It may uncover even more questions…but isn’t that what learning is really all about?

Vision Trip Schedule

2011-04-01T13:08:00.003-05:00

In less than 2 weeks, Nate and I will board a plane for our Vision Trip to Vienna, Austria! We are so excited to finally visit Austria, after years of anticipating our ministry there and learning about our future mission field.

The plans for our trip have been coming together over the last few weeks. To give you a sense of how our time will be spent, here is an overview of our current itinerary:

Thursday, April 14

Depart Chicago at 10pm

Friday, April 15

Land in Vienna
Travel to our team leaders' home (Peter & Celeste Persson), where we will stay throughout our time in Vienna

Saturday, April 16

Spend the day visiting downtown Vienna with Celeste
Meet Wheaton College friends for a traditional Viennese dinner
Get over jet lag!

Sunday, April 17 - Thursday, April 21

Attend church Sunday morning at the Gospel Church of Vienna, where Peter and Celeste serve and where we will likely serve during our first 4 years in Austria
Spend 4 days on the WorldVenture Austria team's annual retreat at this hostel, spending time in prayer, study and fellowship. We look forward to connecting with our future team members and throwing many questions we have about Austria their way!

Friday, April 22

Visit the city and gather photos/video to share with supporters in the U.S.
Attend Good Friday services at Gospel Church of Vienna, including an exciting baptism service!

Saturday, April 23

Travel to the other side of Vienna and attend an evening house church service with Tim and Mary Lou Tiner (fellow WorldVenture team members). This church could also be a potential place of ministry for u

Easter Sunday, April 24

Attend Easter morning services and a fellowship breakfast at Gospel Church of Vienna

Monday, April 25

Travel out of Vienna with a church member to go rock climbing and to learn more about the outdoor culture of Austria

Tuesday, April 26

Meet with some missionaries with TEAM (another missions agency) and the leadership of an Austrian Evangelical Church Fellowship to discuss a 2015 church planting opportunity
Visit the future site of the 2015 church plant
Spend the afternoon visiting with the TEAM missionaries, getting to know them and their family

Wednesday, April 27

Take final photos and video to add to our ministry presentation
Purchase food and items to bring home to share with family and friends

Thursday, April 28

Fly back to Chicago

We would appreciate your prayers as we embark on this adventure. Please pray for...

A renewing and restful spiritual retreat with our WorldVenture team
Great times of connecting with our future team members, including the opportunity for all of our questions to be answered
The Lord to clearly lead us in how to spend our time
Effective and encouraging ministry meetings
Safety in travel

Religion on its way to extinction in Austria?

2011-03-26T09:09:00.004-05:00

We were shocked to read about a recent study (by the American Physical Society) that religion may become extinct in 9 different countries. The nations on their list? Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and...Austria. According to an article from BBC news, the group used a mathematical model that takes into account the social and utilitarian reasons that people affiliate themselves with a religion. In these 9 countries, the trends towards people identifying themselves as "non-religious" were pointing towards eventual extinction. According to the article, "In a large number of modern secular democracies, there's been a trend that folk are identifying themselves as non-affiliated with religion."

Nate and I know that ministry is going to be challenging and slow moving in Austria. This study confirms what we already knew, which is that God, church and spirituality are increasingly considered irrelevant by many Austrians. Our prayer is that our lives and our witness would break through those perceptions, displaying who God is and showing that the gospel is always relevant. Seeing more Austrians come to Christ may not be "statistically probably", but nothing is impossible with God. And we know that any progress we make in Austria will be because of God working and not because of us!

St. Patrick - a Radical Missions Story

2011-03-17T09:54:00.000-05:00

St. Patrick was a great missionary! Here is his story, told by VeggieTales. Video via Out of Ur.

Thoughts on fundraising...

2011-03-14T09:19:00.005-05:00

For most missionaries, fund raising can be pretty intimidating. Even if you're raising money for something you care a lot about, it can be a vulnerable experience to lay your heart on the table and ask someone to partner with you financially. You face fears of rejection and when someone says no, it can be easy to take it personally or fear going out again to ask someone else. No matter how much you trust God to provide, the experience can be difficult and sometimes scary.

At our last training at WorldVenture, they talked about the danger of looking at raising financial support as "subtractional", seeing someone else's giving as the act of subtracting from what they have to fund our ministry. Instead, partnering with us in ministry should not be subtractional, but transformational, allowing both us and our support team to be transformed as we partner in sharing the gospel in Austria.

We are about a month in to the process of building our support team and so far, it has been a great blessing. I know we will have ups and down, but 4 weeks in, I am enjoying it. My favorite parts of raising support have been...

Meeting with friends gives us a chance to educate people we know and love about the need in Austria - something that many people are not aware of and that we are passionate about!
We have an excuse to get together with and catch up with everyone we know!
We are building a team of prayer warriors. Seeing friends reminds me that we will be well supported in prayer
I have been challenged and blessed by the experience of supporting missionaries over the years. I truly believe that it is something God calls us to. It is exciting to see friends make the decision to support a missionary for the first time after meeting with us!
Sharing our story has allowed us to clear up many unanswered questions related to our plans and our timeline. It is helpful to have people we know be up-to-date on our goals and when we hope to depart for Austria, as well as our long term commitment.
The more we share our hearts for Austria, the more my heart grows for the this country in need. The statistics and stories become more real to me every time I share them with someone else.
We have been blessed by the support already pouring in and I am completely humbled by the response we've received already. God is using this to remind of us of the wonderful community he has surrounded us with, a community that loves the Lord and is eager to enable us to serve Him.

I am thankful for the experience we've already had and look forward to the coming months of sharing our story!

Why I'm Thankful for One Smooth Stone...

2011-03-08T16:21:00.003-06:00

Today was my last official day of full-time employment at One Smooth Stone. Wow! When I started here back on May 2, 2005, I never would have imagined how much of an impact this place would have on my life and who I have become as a person. I'm so thankful for every person and each experience I've had over these last 6 years.

Here are the top 10 reasons why I am thankful for One Smooth Stone
(Dave Letterman style…please insert drum rolls and breaking glass sound effects at your own discretion):

I’m thankful for…

10. The delicious (and sometimes expensive) foods I’ve been able to try when out on events or at client dinners. I’ve discovered some of my favorite restaurants and foods because of this job!

9. The chance to travel all over the country and the world. Favorite places have included Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Hawaii.

8. The ways I’ve become even more “type A” in my ability to plan things (didn’t think it was possible, huh?) and I can now manage a detailed project from start to finish.

7. Learning how to mentor and coach a new employee, which reinvigorated my love for counseling and mentorship and taught me about how to best guide and encourage someone on their journey

6. Financial provision for my life up to this point. Especially through the financial crisis, I’m thankful I’ve had a steady and dependable job to allow me to do everything else I do in life!

5. A challenging job that has pushed me out of my comfort zones and forced me to learn new skills.

4. The opportunity to take on leadership roles right out of college, which allowed me to discover news gifts and skills I didn’t know I had.

3. The experience I’ve gained as a communicator and marketer, which I now look forward to putting to use in our ministry.

2. Spending 6 years at a company that is built on a biblical foundation, where everyone treats each other with respect and where prayer and giving back is an integral part of the culture.

1. The lifelong friendships I have made with my co-workers, with whom I’ve endured fun times, late nights and memorable experiences. I'll miss you guys!

Austria in April!

2011-03-04T14:10:00.003-06:00

Big news today...

Our Vision Trip to Vienna, Austria is fully funded!

We were able to raise $3,000 towards our two week Vision Trip, which will take place April 14 -28, 2011. Thank you for your generosity! We are thrilled to have reached our goal already. Our visit to Austria will be our first time there together and will be a crucial time of laying the groundwork for our future ministry...casting a vision, meeting with church leaders, discussing church planting plans, etc.

Praise God for his provision in making this trip possible!

Everything in Its Time

2011-02-27T23:29:00.002-06:00

If I were to not believe in God, it would because of suffering. There is a lot of suffering in the world. It doesn't take long to find out how terrible this place can be. And yet God is a redeeming God.

Yesterday in church, our pastor, Ray K, preached his second sermon out of the book of Ecclesiastes. Here is a selection from the text he covered:

Ecclesiastes 3:10-15 ¹⁰I have seen^(N) the business that^(O) God has given to the children of man to be busy with. ¹¹He has^(P) made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot^(Q) find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ¹²I perceived that there is^(R) nothing better for them than to be joyful and to^(S) do good as long as they live; ¹³also^(T) that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is^(U) God’s gift to man. ¹⁴I perceived that whatever God does endures forever;^(V) nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. ¹⁵That which is,^(W) already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God^(X) seeks what has been driven away.

Solomon asks some pretty big questions in this text. Pastor Ray highlighted the phrase in vs. 11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I guess I hadn't noticed this phrase before. The next two phrases have a massive amount of tension - God has "put eternity into man's hearts, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Often times, we hear the phrase "eternity in our hearts" used to defend our knowledge of God (though that is another post / master's thesis), but the connection to our personal lack of knowledge is interesting.

God gave us a taste of eternity, just enough to ask questions, as Ray puts it "why this, why that, why everything, why anything?!"

I think ultimately Solomon ends up saying that if our lens had a wide enough angle, if we could see the big picture, it would all make sense God will make everything "beautiful in it's time." Justice will be done, and He will get the glory.

I have seen this to be true and have things that I am praying God will make "beautiful in their time."

So my question is this: is it just that we need a wider angle? How have you seen God redeem suffering in your life? How have you not seen it?

Who moved my cheese?

2011-02-23T10:56:00.006-06:00

In December of 2004, I finished my last semester at Wheaton College and came home for my final "Christmas break" before starting full-time work. I remember very clearly how I was feeling at that the time - the mixture of emotions I faced as a major life change was on the horizon. I was sad that my college experience was over, uncertain about entering the working world, disappointed that I was graduating a semester before most of my friends, and exhilarated that "real life" was on the horizon. Change was both scary and exciting.

To help process this change, I purchased and read the book Who Moved My Cheese. This book helped me process how to cope with and process the approaching transition , seeing the positive in it rather than focusing on what I felt like I was losing as I said goodbye to a phase of my life.

I have been revisiting many of these feelings and thoughts in recent weeks as I approach another major life change - leaving my full-time position at One Smooth Stone. I have worked at OSS for almost 6 years and concluding my time there will be the first in a series of changes and goodbyes as we prepare for Austria. My colleagues have become good friends and over my 6 years, I have grown up there, going from bright eyed, naive and fresh out of college to experienced in our industry, married and a least a little more mature (or so I'd like to think...)

Saying goodbye to One Smooth Stone will be hard. I have so many memories and walking away will mean I will not be making more of them. This can easily feel like a loss. But at the same time, I am overcome with excitement about what I will gain. Leaving my job means getting to Austria is that much closer and I am eager to begin our life there. I guess that is how change is - full of emotional contradictions and a rollercoaster of feelings.

What I keep going back to is my constant - God's unchanging nature. The same God who walked me through my departure from college and the last 6 years of my life will be with me through this transition and will go with us to Austria. It says in the book of James, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." God does not change. Ever. If I'm the mouse and God is the cheese, I never have to worry about the cheese moving...no matter what. When I am struggling with change in the coming months, my prayer is that God's constancy will be my on-going comfort and solice - my rock to stand on.

How do you cope with change?

Danger, Adventure and Relationships

2011-02-16T20:51:00.000-06:00

the pillar of ice to the left is called Pegasus

Last week, I returned from a four day ice climbing trip to North Conway, NH with a group of family and friends. This trip was nothing short of amazing. Imagine your top five most emotionally and physically intense experiences; for me, this trip easily makes my top five.

I don’t think this post can be a “why do I climb?” sort of piece. Many climbers have tried to explain why they climb, most of them far better writers than me, and even they haven’t completely gotten to the core of it. Climbing, like many other emotionally and physically intense experiences, offers many insights and illustrations into the Christian life.

The first question I got from my grandma (whom I love dearly) when I started climbing was something along the lines of “Isn’t that dangerous? You could get really hurt doing that!” In fact, you don’t have to go very far (say youtube or google) to see pictures, videos and stories of people getting really hurt climbing. There are many days where even a trip to the local climbing gym results in banged up knees and elbows.

The reality is that the gear works, the systems hold and climbing is actually a very safe activity, even when compared to lots of other things we do. There is a perception that because you have the capacity to fall 400 feet off a ledge as you climb, that is some how more dangerous than going down the freeway at 70mph. I think the reality is that both activities are equally as dangerous. A broken leg in a car wreck is just as bad as a broken leg climbing.

The biggest part for me is that if I were to stop doing something just because, “you could get hurt doing that,” there are SO MANY things I would need to stop doing. Riding my road bike would have to be out, as would crossing the street or traversing an icy parking lot.

Ultimately, this is something I really really love about climbing. It is a chance to look fear in the face and realize that actually I don’t have anything to be afraid of. The opportunity to face my fears and win is compelling.

What is something you do where you have the chance to face a fear? Is there a fear you wish you could face?

Perspectives in Missions

2011-02-11T16:58:00.004-06:00

As part of my preparation for the mission field, I was asked to enroll in the Perspectives in Missions course. This 15-week class is offered all around the country and seeks to educate Christians about God's heart for missions and give them the tools to understand and be engaged in God's ministry around the world.

So far, I have attended 3 perspectives classes and each one has been different but wonderful! The speakers are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and places - missions organizations, college professors, church pastors and missionaries alike. Some focus on teaching and scripture, while others delve more into personal stories from around the globe. But the heart of it all has been that God desires for the nations to know His name and be saved!

If you haven't taken Perspectives and you would like to learn more about missions, I would encourage you to consider signing up for a course in your area. It will challenge your thinking and push you to consider your part in God's work globally.

Here is a sneak peek at what the classes are all about:

The Living God is a Missionary God
The Story of His Glory
Your Kingdom Come
Mandate for the Nations
Unleashing the Gospel
The Expansion of the World Christian Movement
Eras of Mission History
Pioneers of the World Christian Movement
The Task Remaining
How Shall They Hear?
Building Bridges of Love
Christian Community Development
The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches
Pioneer Church Planting
World Christian Partnership

Check it out!

Snow-pocalypse

2011-02-06T22:55:00.003-06:00

You may have heard of the recent blizzard that hit the Midwest... "snow-pocalypse", "snowzilla" or "snow-mageddon" were some of its nick names! We got about 24" of snow and it was absolutely beautiful. Plus, we had our first ever "snow day" from work! The unfortunate part was that Nate and I almost didn't make it to our WorldVenture training this past weekend. After 3 different flights and some stress, we finally were able to get to Littleton a 1/2-day late and all was well.

Here are a few photos of the snow and our shoveling experience!

Broken Cisterns

2011-02-05T11:42:00.002-06:00

Right now, Nate and I are in the midst of a 4-day training at WorldVenture, which will launch us into the fund raising stage of our preparation for Austria.

When we begin meeting with friends and family to discuss financial partnership, the process will include some "tried and true techniques"... It is important to be able to clearly communicate your vision for ministry in a way that connects with people and gives them a glimpse of your passion and an understanding of the need. But fund raising is not just like sales - it's not all about the skills. It is a God thing. This is God's economy and we need to pray and depend on Him through the entire process. No matter how great our presentation is or how well we "follow the right steps", it is in God's hands.

A friend of mine (fellow missionary) challenged me yesterday with a verse from Jeremiah:

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. " - Jeremiah 2:13

Here, God is telling his people that not only have they turned away from him, they have "dug their own cisterns". The Israelites were relying on their own strength and abilities and not relying on God. They were putting their trust and faith in themselves and things of this world. And what is the result? Those cisterns are broken. The water leaks out and they don't fulfill their purpose. Putting their trust in anything other than God does not fulfill them or give them the strength they really need.

This verse convicted me. I am a task-oriented person and I like to accomplish things. But while Nate and I are raising our financial support, we need to depend on God, not rely on our communication skills or our elaborate presentation. Those things are useful, but ultimately, they are broken cisterns that will not hold water. What will hold us up? God's provision and faithfulness.

I was blind but now I see...

2011-01-29T23:59:00.003-06:00

A few days ago, Nate and I were climbing and I got whacked in my right eye by my climbing rope. Not a big deal at first (I recovered after a few minutes), but when I woke up Friday morning, I knew something wasn't right. Friday afternoon, I went to see an Ophthalmologist and learned that I had scratched my cornea. After a few uncomfortable tests and a prescription, I was sent on my way.

Friday night and Saturday were supposed to be a "spiritual retreat" for us. We went up to Evanston, IL to stay in a hotel and spend time in prayer and meditation. But Friday night and most of Saturday were really rough for me...my vision was blurry and I was in pain. It took me about 3 hours to fall asleep and on Saturday, I spent 3 - 4 hours laying down with my eyes closed to give them a rest.

I write all of this not to seek out sympathy, but to share the lessons God taught me over the last 24 hours. I was very frustrated when we arrived in Evanston... I had been looking forward to this retreat and having time to relax and renew. Instead, all I could think about was my eye and how uncomfortable I was. I was discouraged that it seemed like our spiritual retreat would be ruined for me. However, God took a bad situation and used it for good. Here are a few things I learned through this experience...

God speaks when we are quiet and still. Most people who know me know that I don't sit still very well. Even when I have free time, I fill it with something. With my eye, I was forced to lay still for hours... I couldn't even read or study or watch TV. So Nate read scripture to me and I spent time praying, meditating (we read some of Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline) and napping. In the end, it was very restful and spiritually rejuvenating. God used the situation to remind me what it means to actually rest. Hopefully, he won't have to use injury to teach me this lesson again in the future!

Oh, what joy the blind man must have felt... When Jesus heals the blind man (recounted in Mark 22), Jesus told the man not to tell people about his healing experience. It must have been so difficult to keep that inside! When I was without sight for only 24 hours, I was desperate to get my eyes back to normal. 24 hours! That is nothing compared to a lifetime. I can only imagine the joy the blind man felt and how much he wanted to shout it from the mountain tops.

Our bodies are fragile. My eye was injured in such a quick instant. And just as quickly, any of our bodies would be taken from us. How much more should we use every day to glorify God and live out the gospel! I forget this all the time and I assume that each day, I will wake up alive and healthy. Instead, I should be living with a sense of urgency, striving to use my time of earth as well as I can while I am still here.

It's ok to depend on someone else. I've always been pretty self-sufficient and independent...but being incapacitated meant I needed help from Nate. It was really freeing to ask for help and receive it. It's probably no surprise that I act self sufficient in my relationship with God, as well as my relationships with other people. Being forced to depend on Nate reminded me that I should also function with dependence on God. Simple concept, but hard to put into practice. In life, I act like I can see clearly and make my own decision, when in actuality I truly am "blind" with sin and need God to lead me.

In case you're wondering, my eye is now improving and should be healed in a few days. But hopefully I'll ponder these things I've learned even after I can see again!

Walking away from the Catholic Church...

2011-01-19T10:00:00.000-06:00

New stats were recently released on the vast number of people leaving the Catholic Church. Membership in the Catholic church in Austria has steadily been dropping for decades, but this year has set a new record. In 2010, 87,393 people decided to officially revoke their Catholic Church membership. Not only that, but mass attendance has also been drastically down. In the 1980s, attendance on a Sunday morning was at about 1.5 million. By 1998, the Church counted just under a million in the pews and by 2008, attendance dropped to 729.879. (Check out the website - translated into English by Google Translate here. Another great article is posted here.)

What does all this mean to us? Since the Catholic church has a different mission that most evangelical Christians in country, you may think that we are happy about these stats. Perhaps people are leaving the Catholic church and going to evangelical churches after hearing the gospel message? Unfortunately, no. I think what these stats really point to is this:

A declining interest in faith and "organized religion" in Austria

A belief that the Christian church, in any form (Catholic, Evangelical, Lutheran, etc.), is no longer relevant for real life

An increased secularization of Austrian society

An increased need for the gospel! And an increased need for Austrians to understand what it means to have a personal relationship with a living God, not just formal membership to the Catholic church...something that is transforming!

A Random Encounter

2011-01-14T16:56:00.006-06:00

I was flying back from Orlando this week and had a random encounter at the Orlando airport with well-known pastor Mark Driscoll. I was waiting out a flight delay, curled up in a lobby chair with my Perspectives in Missions textbook, completing homework assignments. Two gentlemen sat down next to me and one of them noticed (and recognized) my textbook. We struck up a conversation and then I realized who I was talking to! I actually recognized Mark's voice before his face, since Nate and I listened to his fantastic sermon series together on Song of Solomon last year (check it out here, if you're interested.) We got to chat for about 5 or 10 minutes and I enjoyed telling him how much we appreciated listening to his series. He was very chill, kind and down to earth.

Even though Mark might not be considered a "celebrity" by most, he is well known in the Christian community. After meeting him, I felt a little "star struck", like I had met a movie star or something. I think that feeling stemmed mostly out of the great respect I have for his teaching ability and charisma, which I believe are the reasons why he has become so well-known. But part of my star struck feeling made me feel a little juvenile. In reality, Mark Driscoll is just like you and me... he is a regular guy who has been given a gift and has obediently made that gift available for God's use. Rather than putting him up on a pedestal and praising him for how talented he is, I should instead be praising God for the fruitful ministry He has accomplished through Mark and many other gifted pastors. Mark isn't the star - God is!

Twenty years from now, after much experience and ministry in Austria, my hope would be that my life and ministry always point others to Christ and not to myself. Whether we help lead 1 person or 1,000 people to Christ in Austria, I hope no one ever puts me up on a pedestal. I'm guessing Mark feels the same way and my conversation on Wednesday was a good reminder of that.

Christmas in Atlanta

2011-01-09T12:17:00.004-06:00

We had a great 4 days celebration Christmas in Atlanta. We already shared some of the photos from our climbing adventure with the kids, but here are a few more highlights from our time with my family at my brother's house.

My niece, Meg, really enjoys crafts (as do I). We bought her a friendship bracelet making kit for Christmas that I spend awhile figuring out how to do and then we sat and worked on crafts together (her on her bracelets and me on my knitting).

Our nephew, Nate, got a cool electrical circuit kit that can create over 300 different projects. Uncle Nate and little Nate spent time figuring out a few of the projects...and honestly, I'm not sure who enjoyed it more. Uncle Nate was pretty stoked.

The four Veerman kids in front of the tree (Caleb - 2, Nate - 6, Meg - 8, Kate - 4). This was before my sister and her family arrived.

My parents ("Grammy" and "Grampy") with all 6 nieces and nephews.

A group family photo, which we snapped just before Nate and I left for the airport. Literally...we have our coats on in the picture!

What I'm Learning About Titus

2011-01-06T13:08:00.003-06:00

I’m currently working through an inductive bible study with my mentor on the book of Titus. (Haven’t heard of an inductive study? It’s basis is using scripture to study scripture. Check it out.) We had a great first meeting this morning where we worked through our thoughts on the first lesson together. Here are some highlights of what I’m learning…

In his letter to Titus, Paul talks a lot about the importance of good deeds. Not good deeds that can save us or earn us salvation, but good deeds that are a reflection of the sound doctrine by which we live our lives. A lot of people say that Paul is “all about grace” and James is “all about works”…but I think Titus is a good example of Paul emphasizing the importance of living out our faith through actions. “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:14)

Paul established the several churches in Crete and then left Titus in charge to lead and appoint elders. But the text infers that Titus was young for a leadership position like this. Paul urges Titus to not let people disregard him because of his youth, but to be an example in his leadership and godly nature. This is an important thing for Nate and I to keep in mind - that God can use us to serve and lead, even though we are young.

The best defense against the opposition? Living a life that is above reproach. If we focus on integrity and godly doctrine, the evil one will have no footing to stand on. “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:7 – 8)

Feel free to share comments...any other insights on this book? What are you learning from your bible studies right now?

Resolutions

2010-12-30T16:46:00.003-06:00

When most people approach the New Year's holiday, they look forward - they make resolutions, put the past behind them and focus on starting fresh. Those things can be very good and very healthy; sometimes hitting a milestone like the change of the year can challenge us to make important life changes or set goals that can move us in the right direction. I tend to be a very forward-thinking person (being the planner that I am), so usually I follow along and think ahead at this time of year.

Right now, however, I am finding myself looking back more than looking forward. 2010 was an important year in our lives and God has been teaching me to depend on Him in new ways this past year. Rather than only focusing forward, this new year's I want to resolve to remember. I want to look back on 2010 and hold fast to what I've already learned. I want to build on what's already begun and avoid the tendency to forget. I so easily forget God's faithfulness in my life, the changes He has begun in my heart, and his sacrifice that should transform my life and actions each day.

Looking back on 2010, here are some highlights from life and learning that I especially want to remember in the coming year...

Nate and I celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary. The first year was fun, challenging and full of lots of learning! We love being married, but we also learn new things about marriage and each other every day. If we do not become complacent, this learning will continue for a lifetime.

We took the leap of faith and began the first steps to apply to serve with WorldVenture back in April. We hit some snags early on and the process felt slow. God taught me more about trusting Him and trusting in His timing.

We moved to a new apartment...again. The constant transition of living in 4 apartments over the last 4 years (both before and after marriage) has helped us to hold loosely to our immediate circumstances and hold more tightly to God's constancy in our lives.

We had a few opportunities to travel, rest and relax...Door County in March, Grand Cayman in June, and a few other short trips. We continue to value the importance of getting away and resting. Even when this will be more difficult down the road, we will continue to make this a priority to care for our souls.

We were accepted to WorldVenture and appointed to Austria in November. What we had been anticipating for years finally is becoming a reality. Now the real trusting begins! Since appointment, I have been learning patience as the process slowly gets underway and doesn't always go as quickly as I would like.

I look back on 2010 and am thankful for what we've learned. In 2011, I resolve to remember these things and continue to build on them.

[image courtesy of newyearseve.com]

Christmas Climbing

2010-12-24T13:51:00.004-06:00

We're spending Christmas with my family (Bethany's) in Atlanta at my brother's house. This morning, the whole family piled into 2 cars and went on an adventure to the climbing gym. It was really fun for Nate and I to see the kids try out something new that we really enjoy. All four kids (Meg - 8, Nate - 6, Kate - 4, Caleb - 3) got on the climbing wall and did a great job! Meg was especially impressive, making it to the top on several difficult routes (a 5.7+ and 5.8).

Watching the kids fly up the wall made me think about the fearlessness of children. There are times when I see a resilience and boldness in kids that I think we lose as adults. As we get older and learn more about the world, we learn that there is a lot out there to be scared of and sometimes that holds us back from taking risks. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to being young, naive and fearless.

Stepping out in faith (or climbing a tough route) forces us to confront our fears and really ask the question, "Do I trust God?" As we begin our journey to Austria, a lot of fears and unknowns creep into my mind. How long will it take us to get there? Will I ever be able to learn a new language? What if we are there for years and never really make an impact? My prayer is that as I acknowledge and confront these fears and learn to trust God more through this journey, I exhibit the fearless, trusting faith of a child.

"People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them." - Mark 10: 13 - 16

Photos from the climbing gym...

The four kids, climbing next to each other.

Nate sends a 5.9 route.

Looks like the siblings are racing up the wall!

Caleb, Kate, Nate and Meg

Waiting

2010-12-21T12:05:00.003-06:00

Most people who know me well know that I don't like to wait for things. Unfortunately, this has been a pretty consistent part of my personality since I was young (and I'm sure my parents would agree with that statement).

I remember a time when I was about 8 or 9 years old when I wanted a keyboard for my birthday. I went to the store with Mom and Dad to pick one out and there were two options: one keyboard had the best features (it could record to cassette tape and had all these fancy instrument options on it), but I would need to order it that day and wait a few weeks for it to arrive; the other keyboard wasn't quite as nice, but I could walk out of the store with it that day. I bet you can guess which keyboard I chose. And about a week later, I remember being disappointed that I didn't wait and hold out for the better option.

For me, that memory has always represented my struggle with delayed gratification. Even when I know it's best to wait and be patient, it doesn't come naturally. And working in the corporate world and the events industry hasn't made this part of my personality any better! "Corporate America" has trained me even more to make things happen NOW and to expect responses and action to happen immediately.

All this to day, God has been challenging me to wait on Him and His timing. Since we were appointed with WorldVenture in November, I have been eager to jump in to raising our financial support, getting the word out about our ministry, and making progress towards getting to Vienna. But instead, I have had to spend time preparing, reading, and waiting for those steps to happen at the right time...which is not yet.

I was struck recently when I was thinking about Psalm 40:31 - 32, which says, "they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (ESV) The Bible does not say "they who wait for the Lord will just barely make it through" or "they who wait for the Lord will grumble and survive". Instead, it says that waiting helps us grow and be strengthened. It develops perseverance and endurance.

At a time when we are reflecting on the birth of Christ, I am reminded all the more to trust in God's timing. If the God of the universe can miraculously bring his son into the world to save us, just when the time was right, how much more is He in control of my life and this process that we're going through? How could I not trust a God who has already been victorious and accomplished miracles?

May we all learn to trust God and wait on Him more each day. His timing is perfect!

Vision Trip to Vienna

2010-12-15T16:22:00.002-06:00

We have just begun planning a 2-week visit to Vienna in April and even though it is still a few months away, I'm getting excited about our time there!

We will fly there the day before Palm Sunday and will spend two weeks over the Easter holiday with the WorldVenture team. The focus of our trip will be casting a vision for our long term ministry. First, we'll attend a 4-day retreat with the other missionaries, where we will build relationships with our future teammates and gain a deeper understanding of ministry already taking place. These will end up being longstanding friendships and meeting them for the first time will be exciting!

After the retreat, we’ll spend 10 days in Vienna. We'll get to see and visit a variety of churches that we will serve when we move to Austria and our time there will help us to understand the spiritual needs and challenges in a more in-depth way. We will also spend time taking photos and video to share with supporters back in the states.

Although each of us has visited Vienna before, these 2 weeks will be crucial in helping us to lay a foundation for our longterm ministry. I'm thrilled at the opportunity to experience the city together for the first time and to make new connections that we can continue to cultivate over the next year so that by the time we arrive in Austria, we will have already gained some ground.

To fund the trip, we need to raise $3,000 to cover (2) roundtrip tickets and other expenses. We still have a few months to reach out to family and friends for support and we're praying that God would provide. If you would like to partner with us by making a financial donation, you can click here, and choose “Johnson, Nathan & Bethany” from the drop down menu.

Please pray...

for the logistics of the trip - that they come together and that we are wise in how we lay out our 2 weeks there
that we are able to connect with the right people when we are there
for the financial resources for us to book our tickets in a month and for additional provision to fund the trip

Planning...sort of

2010-12-13T13:04:00.000-06:00

One question that we get asked a lot is "what's your timeline?" or "when are you leaving for Austria?" Usually, this opens the door for us to share with friends and family what the process looks like for a missionary getting to the field. This process is a lot more complex than I think I had originally imagined and as we move along this path, we learn more and more. Being the planner that I am, it has been important for me to have a (rough) time line in place...but I am also being challenged to be patient and hold to the plans loosely, knowing everything is ultimately in God's hands.

So, without further ado, here is our approximate time line from now until we (hopefully) get to Austria:

Now: We are completing required reading for WorldVenture, preparing our communications materials, and informally talking to people about our plans.

February 3 - 6: We go to WorldVenture headquarters to complete Partner Development Training, where we learn about how to go about raising money for our ministry.

February 7: We begin sharing our story more formally and raising our financial support and finding prayer partners.

March 8: Bethany ends full-time employment to focus on raising support and communications with partners (handling administrative stuff)

July 1: We finish up our time in Wheaton, IL and move to Minnesota. (This involves selling our furniture and putting our other belongings in storage.) We spend a few months in Minnesota meeting with friends and family and raising support at Friendship Church, where Nate grew up.

October 1: We wrap up our time in Minnesota and road trip out to Connecticut, stopping in Ohio and a few other spots along the way to see friends and family. We spend a few months at the Covenant Church of Easton, where I grew up, and with friends/family in CT.

Fall: When we reach approx. 60 - 80% of our support, we attend a 6-week cross-cultural living and language acquisition training in North Carolina.

Mid-January 2012: We attend WorldVenture's Renewal Conference, where we connect with WV staff and missionaries and spend a few days worshiping together.

January 15ish, 2012: We wrap up our time in Connecticut and road trip down the east coast, visiting friends/family in Virginia, DC and Nashville. We end up in Atlanta and spend a few months with my brother and his family (raising support down there, as well).

March or April, 2012: We see where we are at with financial support. If we are close, we begin preparing to leave. If not, we start the circuit again and meeting with more potential donors.

Sometime in the Spring of 2012: We are shooting for departure for Austria around this time. We can leave the country as soon as we have our support raised and we complete a week of final pre-field training at WorldVenture.

The transition seems daunting at time, but I am at peace knowing that as we approach each step of the process, God will be gracious to prepare us and provide for us. He knows our needs even more than we do and He knows what He wants to teach us as we venture out in faith.

I hope this time line answers some questions! Disclaimer: All the dates and plans are subject to change, if God decides to change them :)

Look Mom...I'm a radio star!

2010-12-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

When we were in Colorado at WorldVenture, we were interviewed by Hans Finzel, the organization's president, about our decision to serve God in Austria. It was a really fun experience to participate in a radio show recording in a studio - complete with fancy microphones and headsets (the production geek in me definitely came out...) But beyond that, we enjoyed putting into words our experience being led to missions and the need we see in Austria.

Our interview was edited and posted as an episode of WorldVenture's on-going podcast, Missions on the Frontline.
You can listen to the final version here: Mission on the Frontline - 12/1/2010

Comment on this post to let us know how we did! And please - be nice :)

Why Europe?

2010-12-02T10:00:00.002-06:00

GemStone Media of Greater Europe Mission recently created this brief 50-second video about the spiritual need in Europe. Though the video is simple, I think it points to an important fact that is sometimes overlooked - Europe can be considered "post-Christian". There are churches on every corner, but most are tourist attractions. There is very little evidence in Europe of an understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Europe didn't used to be seen as a mission field, but that is slowly changing. I am encouraged that the need is Europe is being spread and that other missions organizations are sending workers.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Luke 10:2

Why Europe? from GemStone Media on Vimeo.

WorldVenture Appointment Service

2010-11-30T13:00:00.003-06:00

As part of our 2 weeks at the WorldVenture headquarters last month in Littleton, CO, Nate and I participated in an "appointment celebration service". All of the newly appointed missionaries were given the opportunity to briefly share their story with the WorldVenture staff, family, mentors and some retired missionaries living in the area. It was a wonderful time to celebrate God's work in the lives of each of the new missionaries and pray for the journey ahead. Our appointment class of 15 people are headed all over the world - Africa, Europe, and southeast Asia - and it is exciting to think about where we will all be in a few years time.

Here is a video from the service, including an introduction from Linda Gawthrop (from the HR/recruiting department of WorldVenture) and our 3-minute presentation:

Appointment Recognition Service - WorldVenture from Bethany Johnson on Vimeo.

Thankfulness and Other Things

2010-11-25T23:24:00.002-06:00

Today is Thanksgiving and we had the traditional meal with the family. We ate turkey (and my fav stuffing), we watched football, we looked at Black Friday specials in the paper, and we watched grand kids dance or walk around in the center of the circle - all the important thing. It was a special time! (I have included some pictures after the jump)

One thing I heard, that is something you really only hear around this time of year - Happy Thanksgiving! It is a great encouragement to enjoy being thankful!

I don't think I spend enough time being thankful, so with that in mind here are 5 things I am thankful for based on today's adventures...

Here are 5 things I am I am thankful for today:

Heat - we went for a short 10 min walk out in the cold, and it made me very thankful that I have a warm house to come home to and a place to live.
Family - it was very special to have family to meet up with and reconnect with. I truly don't know where I would be with out the support and love of my family.
Food - Dinner was delicious and I know that there are many people out there that don't have the means to eat the way that we do every day. It is easy to forget this - fish don't often think about how wet they are, but it is important that we thank God for his provisions and seek to give so that we can help others.
My Wife - This isn't our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, but I am continually thankful to God that He has provided such a wonderful companion for me. I am so blessed to have Bethany in my life to share our adventures.
Christ - My Grandmother lives in up North where she has retired and last week she had knee surgery. She is doing well and some of the family has been up to see her though we were not able to go up there. We called her this morning and got to talk for a little while and pray with her. She is struggling a little bit to manage the post operative pain, and it was a blessing to get to pray for her on the phone. I am very thankful for my faith in Christ, and his ability to comfort us in our struggles.

What were you reminded to be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

__________________________________________________________________________________

As promised here are some shots from our time at the Carpenter's.

Grandma and grand daughter

Julia sitting with us

Carving the turkey

Dad and Bethany's Football Celebration

Thoughts on Austria...

2010-11-23T10:32:00.004-06:00

It's finally official - Austria is the country! For the last few years as we've been preparing for this major life transition into missions, we were moving towards commiting to moving to Austria. However, I was purposely holding back until it was official. I know myself well, and I know that when I get excited about something and it doesn't pan out, its really hard for me to let go and move on. So until Austria was officially the country to which we were being sent, I completely held back on letting myself get "emotionally attached" to this new nation. I didn't research it, I didn't look at it on a map, I didn't teach myself anything new about Austria.

Now that we know we are going to Austria, I've begun educating myself. Here are a few things I've learned...

1. The official language of Austria is german, but I have heard from the missionaries that live there that the german spoken in Austria is slightly different than that which is spoken in Germany. Austrian german is a bit of a dialect.

2. Austria borders Italy. I am horrible with geography and until a few weeks ago, all I knew was that Austria was somewhere in central Europe. Now I know that Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Switzerland and Lichtenstein to the west, and Slovenia and Italy to the south. I absolutely adore Italy (only been there once and can't wait to go back) and I'm excited to be so close to gelato, tuscany, and Cinque Terra.

3. The Austrian flag looks like this. I embarassed myself when we were out in Colorado when I saw this flag on someone's paper and asked "which country is that?" When they told me, "Austria", I quickly backpedaled and explained that I still had a lot to learn about the country I am moving to :)

4. The spiritual need in Austria is huge. I had a sense of this going in, but the more people I talk to who live in Austria, the move amazed I am at the spiritual darkness that exists there. Things like alcoholism, abortion and suicide are prevalent, and Austria is becoming a hub for sex trafficking from eastern European nations. The population is less than 1% evangelical Christian. Most Austrians appear indifferent to religion and spirituality, and others are dabbling in the occult or converting to Islam. Living and doing ministry there will be hard and slow.

That is only the beginning. I have so much to learn and I am excited to see how God will shape my heart with a love for this beautiful, culturally-rich nation.

We have been appointed as missionaries to Austria!

2010-11-16T22:03:00.006-06:00

It's official! On November 2nd, we completed our final interview and were officially appointed as missionaries with WorldVenture, on our way to Vienna, Austria. We are thrilled that our journey is just beginning and are excited at what God has in store for us!

(And to prove it is official...check us out on the WorldVenture website, with an official personal ministry profile!)

After we completed our in-person interview, we spent 2 weeks at WorldVenture's headquarters in Littleton, CO for our first training session. We laughed, prayed, ate a lot of food, digested large amounts of information, cast a vision for the coming months, and bonded with a great group of 13 other appointed missionaries preparing for the field. It was a memorable time! (Photo highlights can be found below.)

We would appreciate your prayers as we begin preparing for the field. Please pray...

that God would draw us closer to Him as we experience significant transition and times of uncertainty
for protection against discouragement and weariness when the road seems long and difficult
that God would raise up a strong and diligent prayer team to partner with us, both now and once we arrive in Austria
for the church in Austria and its great spiritual need
for financial provision, including monthly support and one-time gifts to enable us to relocate to Europe and begin ministry

More info to come...until then, auf wiedersehen!

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More from our time in Colorado after the jump

Our Fall 2010 "Class" of WorldVenture Appointees, headed to countries around the globe!

Nate's parents, Wally and Beth, flew to Colorado to attend some sessions for parents and celebrate with us.

During an "Appointment Celebration Service", we gave a brief 3-minute presentation to the WorldVenture staff about who we are and where we're headed.

On our day off, we went rock climbing in Golden, CO.

On Crazy Love Pt. 1

2010-11-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

Or Why Francis Chan Can't Use Inflammatory Statements

In our small group recently we have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I think over all our group has 'enjoyed' this book. I put this in quotes because our group has enjoyed thinking critically about books before and we are glad for a book that is spurring on some real conversations in our group. Some of us have more issues that others with the book. The major issues seem not to really revolve around what he is actually saying, but in the way that he says it. Here are a few quick examples:

"A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, things, activities, favorites sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it." pg 67.

"To call someone a Christian simply because he does some Christian-y things is giving false comfort to the unsaved." pg. 88.

"It is a remarkable cycle: Our prayers for more love result in love, which naturally causes us to pray more, which results in more love..." pg. 104

I tried to pick out a few - even though I didn't get to all of them. The first two seem to fall into the category of "extreme statements" while the third was critiqued on its basis in the reality of the Christian life. For the sake of this post not going on and on, lets tackle the first idea and get to the next thought later.

So, who gets to make extreme statements? ...
We do. With out going off on an entire political correctness libertarian leaning speech here, it is important to note that our culture values saying things gently. This is great when the customer service rep is explaining to you why your bags still haven't been delivered, but some times you need to shoot strait with people. This is a lot more a cultural issue than a specifically gospel issue.

The gospel message itself is very extreme. The message that you are not the center of the universe go completely against our culture - and most others. The idea that the One who is at the center of the universe would seek communion with us in this life and the life to come is an equally extreme idea.

- Tell me what you think? Is Chan off base? Dead on?