Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Céad Míle Fáilte- Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Dia daoibh! Hello!
Morgan and I arrived home from Ireland, Monday around 4 o'clock. We are very grateful for the opportunity to go. We thank you for praying with us, we felt them everyday!
Many people have asked us "Why Ireland? It's a Christian country. Full of religion. There isn't poverty like Africa or South East Asia." So I am here to answer this question.
Yes it is true that Ireland (The Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland, they are part of the UK) is a "religious" country, but what is not true is that it is a Christian country. Statistics say that 84.16% of the Irish people claim to be Roman Catholic, 7.63% claim to have no religion (I will talk about this later) and 1% claim to be Evangelical Christians also known as Protestant. Presbyterian and Methodist are both under 1% and Islam is at 1.2%. In the States we have a separation of Church and State, but not in Ireland. The Catholic church is still over schools, and many other things.
I want to start with The Catholic Church and it's relation to the people. To be Irish is to be Catholic and to be Catholic is to be Irish. It is their heritage and identity. Many who become Christians are disowned from their families. As a baby they are baptized into the church. At age 7 they receive their First Holy Communion. There are many other traditions in Catholic church and I could I write a 20 page research paper on them, but I just wanted you to know that the traditions start when they are babes.
When we were in Sligo, we helped a couple by the name of Kirk and Sandlin Poth. They are rebuilding the Sligo Baptist Church. They had us go out and do surveys in the city center of Sligo. We were asking people about their opinion of the Catholic Church. The three most consistent things people said were church is 'boring', 'not applicable to my life' and 'I don't want the Priest telling me what to do'. But when we asked them what they wanted in a church, most said they wanted 'Community', people who cared about them and people who genuinely wanted to be there and learn. This came from those who did not attend Mass on a regular basis. One girl, who was 18 even said that her parents would rather her be Atheist or Agnostic than Protestant.
Those who claim to have no faith is 7%! Why is it so high? 6% of this number is students age 15-25. Most of the people that Morgan, Lexi and I talked to were in this age range. They all said that they had been doing "church and "mass" since they were born and get nothing out of it, so why go? Some also said that the services were creepy or scary and then there were those who just didn't have time to go.
Because of all these things, I want to go to Ireland and show these students and adults what the church is meant to look like. A relationship with Christ in stead of rules and regulations. A community, people who care about each other. Other than doing surveys in Sligo, we held a golf tourney to raise money for the local Alzheimer center and did a lot (i'm talking two hours a day at least) of praying over Sligo and Sligo Baptist Church.
Please be praying that God would send families to Sligo Baptist Church, and that God would also send Irish leaders to one day take over that church. There are 2 families right now raising support to move to Sligo and help the Poths. Be praying for them as they are SO close to being fully supported.
That is what went on in Sligo. Now for Galway, the place I call home and can never get enough of.
In Galway ran all the children and adult programming for the 5th annual Galway City Church Retreat and hosted the first Galway City Ladies Conference.
At the retreat we taught the children ages 2-13 about just how big God is. We focused on the heavens and galaxy, creation, dinosaurs and how they co-existed with humans, and the global flood. Nate, our honorary Texan (he is actually from Kansas City) did the teaching for our older youth and adults. This was on discipleship.
One of my favorite things is watching this church worship together. They are all from different cultures. Ireland, Romania, Poland, Finland, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya, South Africa, India, England, the States and couple other countries represent and make this church an amazing community. They are one and worship as one.
At the Ladies Conference our theme was Say Yes to God's Will. Four of us taught break out sessions. Kristi- Say Yes to liking your kids, Meaghan- Say Yes to helping those who are grieving, Mandy Post- Say Yes to stepping out of your comfort zone, and I taught on Saying Yes to Gods timing and singleness. We had a grand time spending the day with these wonderful ladies!
While we are in Galway, our goal is more encouragement and leadership building oriented, as well as building relationships with the community of Galway and the area of Knocknacarra where the church is held. The missionaries goal for this church is that it would be a sending church. That one day their church would send people out to plant more churches in Ireland and also that it would be led by Irish people and not American missionaries, even though they LOVE what they do.
Please be praying that this church would be provided leadership, and a building. Galway City Church is using the Knocknacarra National School and they are out growing it.
If you are interested in supporting one of these churches or missionary couples send me an email and I will get the details for that.
beautifulsoul.photos@gmail.com
Morgan and I still have funds to raise that we didn't get raised before the trip. If you would like to support us financially click on the "GIVE ONLINE" tab and you can donate that way.
Thank yall again for all your prayer and support!
Sarah
Our favorite thing from Ireland is " In Ireland Bacon is Ham and Goat Cheese is Goat Cheese"
Morgan and I arrived home from Ireland, Monday around 4 o'clock. We are very grateful for the opportunity to go. We thank you for praying with us, we felt them everyday!
Many people have asked us "Why Ireland? It's a Christian country. Full of religion. There isn't poverty like Africa or South East Asia." So I am here to answer this question.
Yes it is true that Ireland (The Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland, they are part of the UK) is a "religious" country, but what is not true is that it is a Christian country. Statistics say that 84.16% of the Irish people claim to be Roman Catholic, 7.63% claim to have no religion (I will talk about this later) and 1% claim to be Evangelical Christians also known as Protestant. Presbyterian and Methodist are both under 1% and Islam is at 1.2%. In the States we have a separation of Church and State, but not in Ireland. The Catholic church is still over schools, and many other things.
I want to start with The Catholic Church and it's relation to the people. To be Irish is to be Catholic and to be Catholic is to be Irish. It is their heritage and identity. Many who become Christians are disowned from their families. As a baby they are baptized into the church. At age 7 they receive their First Holy Communion. There are many other traditions in Catholic church and I could I write a 20 page research paper on them, but I just wanted you to know that the traditions start when they are babes.
When we were in Sligo, we helped a couple by the name of Kirk and Sandlin Poth. They are rebuilding the Sligo Baptist Church. They had us go out and do surveys in the city center of Sligo. We were asking people about their opinion of the Catholic Church. The three most consistent things people said were church is 'boring', 'not applicable to my life' and 'I don't want the Priest telling me what to do'. But when we asked them what they wanted in a church, most said they wanted 'Community', people who cared about them and people who genuinely wanted to be there and learn. This came from those who did not attend Mass on a regular basis. One girl, who was 18 even said that her parents would rather her be Atheist or Agnostic than Protestant.
Those who claim to have no faith is 7%! Why is it so high? 6% of this number is students age 15-25. Most of the people that Morgan, Lexi and I talked to were in this age range. They all said that they had been doing "church and "mass" since they were born and get nothing out of it, so why go? Some also said that the services were creepy or scary and then there were those who just didn't have time to go.
 |
| Kirk (in the plaid shirt) giving some instructions before we go out and do surveys |
 |
| The Team with Kirk (on the far left in blue) and Sandlin (in the green hat) |
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| Morgan and Lexi checked everyone in for tourney |
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| One of the views from Rosses Point where we stayed |
Because of all these things, I want to go to Ireland and show these students and adults what the church is meant to look like. A relationship with Christ in stead of rules and regulations. A community, people who care about each other. Other than doing surveys in Sligo, we held a golf tourney to raise money for the local Alzheimer center and did a lot (i'm talking two hours a day at least) of praying over Sligo and Sligo Baptist Church.
Please be praying that God would send families to Sligo Baptist Church, and that God would also send Irish leaders to one day take over that church. There are 2 families right now raising support to move to Sligo and help the Poths. Be praying for them as they are SO close to being fully supported.
That is what went on in Sligo. Now for Galway, the place I call home and can never get enough of.
In Galway ran all the children and adult programming for the 5th annual Galway City Church Retreat and hosted the first Galway City Ladies Conference.
At the retreat we taught the children ages 2-13 about just how big God is. We focused on the heavens and galaxy, creation, dinosaurs and how they co-existed with humans, and the global flood. Nate, our honorary Texan (he is actually from Kansas City) did the teaching for our older youth and adults. This was on discipleship.
One of my favorite things is watching this church worship together. They are all from different cultures. Ireland, Romania, Poland, Finland, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya, South Africa, India, England, the States and couple other countries represent and make this church an amazing community. They are one and worship as one.
 |
| These guys are not boys anymore. I have watched them grow in their faith and become leaders for the past 5 years. Noah in grey and Emecka in green. I can't believe they are the same size as me now. |
At the Ladies Conference our theme was Say Yes to God's Will. Four of us taught break out sessions. Kristi- Say Yes to liking your kids, Meaghan- Say Yes to helping those who are grieving, Mandy Post- Say Yes to stepping out of your comfort zone, and I taught on Saying Yes to Gods timing and singleness. We had a grand time spending the day with these wonderful ladies!
Please be praying that this church would be provided leadership, and a building. Galway City Church is using the Knocknacarra National School and they are out growing it.
If you are interested in supporting one of these churches or missionary couples send me an email and I will get the details for that.
beautifulsoul.photos@gmail.com
Morgan and I still have funds to raise that we didn't get raised before the trip. If you would like to support us financially click on the "GIVE ONLINE" tab and you can donate that way.
Thank yall again for all your prayer and support!
Sarah
Our favorite thing from Ireland is " In Ireland Bacon is Ham and Goat Cheese is Goat Cheese"
Monday, August 11, 2014
Philippines and School!
I have sent in all my application requirements and so the waiting game has started.
If everything goes right I should know by the end of August if I have been officially endorsed and the support raising process can begin. I'm a little nervous about this part, but I know God has it all under control, and nothing will happen that is out of His will.
I am starting a Theology Program from a Ministry in Oklahoma called Credo. I'm very excited about this! It is a Seminary Level Theology program.
Sarah
Planning starts tonight!!!
Our first training/planning meeting starts tonight and I am SO STINKIN excited!! That means that the time is getting closer...57DAYS!
Fundraising UPDATE
Sarah-$715
Morgan-$1000
We are praying for funds to come in, but at the same time we aren't worried, because God ALWAYS provides what we need.
Sarah
Fundraising UPDATE
Sarah-$715
Morgan-$1000
We are praying for funds to come in, but at the same time we aren't worried, because God ALWAYS provides what we need.
Sarah
Monday, July 28, 2014
Support update!
Morgan has raised $700
Sarah has raised $450
We still need $2400 each before September! Please be praying with us that all the funds would come in on time!
Thank you everyone who is praying and has supported us financially!
Our team meetings will begin in a couple weeks!
Sarah and Morgan
Sarah has raised $450
We still need $2400 each before September! Please be praying with us that all the funds would come in on time!
Thank you everyone who is praying and has supported us financially!
Our team meetings will begin in a couple weeks!
Sarah and Morgan
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
DO vs DONE-A good conversation
This was written in a newsletter update by Jason Post. I loved how he explained Catholicism versus Christianity.
"As my friend (I'll call him Peter) and I were talking, he made a statement that I've heard 1000 times before. The topic had turned to spiritual things and he began musing about how all religions - especially the Christian ones - were, essentially, the same; 98% the same, to use his language. And, after all, how important could that 2% really be? I happily conceded that, in many instances, the 2% that separates some Christian denominations is not that big, but I also noted that humans and chimps have 98% the same DNA (as was reported several years ago). In that instance, I said, that 2% is everything!
Mandy and I have these kinds of conversations often when speaking to our friends about what it means to have a living faith. All of their questions finally boil down to this one: "what's the difference between what you believe and what we believe [pause] really?" The assumption implied in their tone is, not much.
Had Peter and I not been interrupted I would have gone on to explain what I see as the fundamental difference between what I believe and what the Catholic church in Ireland teaches. Over the years I've learned that I usually get in 1 point, so I need to lead with the best. I used to try to build to the Gospel only to be frustrated when the conversation would be cut short. Now I just lead with it. Using something I heard from Bill Hybels years ago, I explain the difference between "do" vs "done."
Catholicism looks different depending on where you are in the world, as does the distance between the Catholic on the street and the official dogma of the church in Rome. So I understand that a Catholic in Dallas, perhaps, looks different than a Catholic in Dingle. My conversations here are culturally tuned - I think - to the right frequency.
All Catholics would agree that a person is saved by grace (although they may not be comfortable with the language of "saved"). They would even argue that a person is saved through faith. The difference, then, is that a Catholic is (being) saved by grace that is dispensed by the church as they "do" the sacraments. They cannot rightly speak of assurance because they are not necessarily saved at any given moment. They are being saved as they receive grace through doing, in faith.
My view of the New Testament, however, is that we are saved by grace, through faith - alone. That is, Jesus has "done" all that we need in order to be saved so that there is nothing left for us to "do" except respond in saving faith. There is no guesswork involved. Jesus has done it all. We merely hide ourselves in Him.
Do vs done.
Peter and I didn't get to finish that conversation, but we'd had it before. He's heard the Gospel, but, like so many here, he is blinded. So what do we do? We continue to walk with our friends, sharing our own story of how this Gospel has, and is, changing us. Would you please join us in praying for our friends?"
"As my friend (I'll call him Peter) and I were talking, he made a statement that I've heard 1000 times before. The topic had turned to spiritual things and he began musing about how all religions - especially the Christian ones - were, essentially, the same; 98% the same, to use his language. And, after all, how important could that 2% really be? I happily conceded that, in many instances, the 2% that separates some Christian denominations is not that big, but I also noted that humans and chimps have 98% the same DNA (as was reported several years ago). In that instance, I said, that 2% is everything!
Mandy and I have these kinds of conversations often when speaking to our friends about what it means to have a living faith. All of their questions finally boil down to this one: "what's the difference between what you believe and what we believe [pause] really?" The assumption implied in their tone is, not much.
Had Peter and I not been interrupted I would have gone on to explain what I see as the fundamental difference between what I believe and what the Catholic church in Ireland teaches. Over the years I've learned that I usually get in 1 point, so I need to lead with the best. I used to try to build to the Gospel only to be frustrated when the conversation would be cut short. Now I just lead with it. Using something I heard from Bill Hybels years ago, I explain the difference between "do" vs "done."
Catholicism looks different depending on where you are in the world, as does the distance between the Catholic on the street and the official dogma of the church in Rome. So I understand that a Catholic in Dallas, perhaps, looks different than a Catholic in Dingle. My conversations here are culturally tuned - I think - to the right frequency.
All Catholics would agree that a person is saved by grace (although they may not be comfortable with the language of "saved"). They would even argue that a person is saved through faith. The difference, then, is that a Catholic is (being) saved by grace that is dispensed by the church as they "do" the sacraments. They cannot rightly speak of assurance because they are not necessarily saved at any given moment. They are being saved as they receive grace through doing, in faith.
My view of the New Testament, however, is that we are saved by grace, through faith - alone. That is, Jesus has "done" all that we need in order to be saved so that there is nothing left for us to "do" except respond in saving faith. There is no guesswork involved. Jesus has done it all. We merely hide ourselves in Him.
Do vs done.
Peter and I didn't get to finish that conversation, but we'd had it before. He's heard the Gospel, but, like so many here, he is blinded. So what do we do? We continue to walk with our friends, sharing our own story of how this Gospel has, and is, changing us. Would you please join us in praying for our friends?"
Friday, July 4, 2014
UPDATES UPDATES
Journey Corps has "interviewed" me and talked to my pastor. I'm IN-for the next phase at least. I have finished the application and need to put it in the mail. I also need 3 references to finish the application process.
This time next year I will hopefully be preparing to live in the Philippines for a year. I am SO nervous, but excited for this opportunity at the same time.
IRELAND UPDATE!
I have raised $250 and Morgan has raised $375. We have 96 days to raise $2500. So please keep us in your prayers as we raise money for this mission trip to Ireland! Our weekly meetings will be starting soon.
I am SO excited to go back, and to have Morgan come with me.
Sarah
Monday, June 9, 2014
Journey Corps
College isn't really working out like I had hoped, so I am looking into a program called Journey Corps, through World Venture.
Journey Corps is 9months to 2 year long program, for 18-28 yr olds (i believe). They go to Cote D'Ivory, Africa, Philippines and Indonesia. They just sent their first team to the Philippines and haven't sent anyone to Indonesia yet. Indonesia is where I would like to go. Hopefully, I will be able to talk to my pastor about this and get the party started!!
Journey Corps is 9months to 2 year long program, for 18-28 yr olds (i believe). They go to Cote D'Ivory, Africa, Philippines and Indonesia. They just sent their first team to the Philippines and haven't sent anyone to Indonesia yet. Indonesia is where I would like to go. Hopefully, I will be able to talk to my pastor about this and get the party started!!
Listening to the rain...makes me happy
I'm listening to rain as I write today.
In 122 days I go back to Ireland and I am very excited! We have out first meeting tonight!
Update on Nurture.
I have been meeting with my mentor about once a month, and she is fantastic! She gives great insight on the process of going into the Mission field; as she is about to move to Spain, to teach in a seminary there. She has been through the process, that I am now working on.
I'm still working on going to school, thought it is proving to be VERY difficult to pay for. Trying to get into a college is not the hard part it is paying for school that is the hard part!
signing off, gotta get back to work!
Sarah
In 122 days I go back to Ireland and I am very excited! We have out first meeting tonight!
Update on Nurture.
I have been meeting with my mentor about once a month, and she is fantastic! She gives great insight on the process of going into the Mission field; as she is about to move to Spain, to teach in a seminary there. She has been through the process, that I am now working on.
I'm still working on going to school, thought it is proving to be VERY difficult to pay for. Trying to get into a college is not the hard part it is paying for school that is the hard part!
signing off, gotta get back to work!
Sarah
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