The gentle healer
Joshua is truly a humble man of God with wisdom beyond his years, yet with humility and clarity of thought. His unusual passion for the rural poor and for training minority people, whom the nation’s church often overlooks, is outstanding.
What is home?
Home is a place.
Home is people.
Home is sacred.
Home is people.
Home is sacred.
Sher’s Story
Sher was a woman from a tribal group in Asia. Her mother died when she was born. Since her father was poor, he went to a mission hospital in the region and asked the Christian community to help him raise Sher.
Discipleship in the Fields
Living as a Jesus-follower means that discipleship stays blurred. It involves showing, demonstrating, guiding, or applauding others as they put Jesus’ words into practice. It may also be listening, crying, or hearing broken stories. Much of this takes place in the midst of the everyday.
Incarnational mission
Recognising the other—women who are hidden, unrecognised and marginalised in their communities—is at the heart of women in mission.
Go with God
My initial “call” came in response to human need. I attended a missions conference and the speaker told of the desperate need for the gospel among Muslim nations.
More than the sum of our parts
Pottery became a path to friendships with people in communities whose faith and worldview were utterly unlike mine. In the process, we exported hundreds of containers of pottery, brought substantial income into some of the poorest communities, and shared about the wonderful hope we have in Jesus.
Contextualisation or syncretism?
“It was their church that was at the brink of being birthed, and they must come up with their own contextualised way of conducting baptisms.”
The unlikely missionary
"For the longest time, I was pretty set on not being a missionary. Scud missiles in the Arab Gulf, tanks rolling across Tiananmen Square, and planes crashing through American skyscrapers... I resolved fairly early in life that I was going to stay put."
The God at the end of the line
We try to treat refugees not as numbers in a system but as people, loved by God and travelling a long and difficult road. We create spaces for them to step out of the lines, to drink tea, to learn new skills, to talk. Some share their stories more deeply, with whispered prayers in Jesus’ name.
Grace for the Long Haul
Ten years is considered a long time to serve in cross-cultural work these days but it has some excellent rewards. As I look back I can see how the Grand Weaver has been weaving the threads of my life and experience to bring me to where I am today.
Realising you are the problem
“Culturally, it was incredibly challenging for Sokly to ask me to release her into her role.”
The best place to be
Can you imagine being woken up by the orchestral sounds of birds, indigenous music and singing, and fervent prayers at 5am every morning? I lay on a hard wooden bed in a simple hut in rural Asia and was deeply touched by the presence of God.
Watching grass grow
"Herein lies the battle. We like quick results. I want instant deep relationships. I want the school project to be fully funded, location determined… I want my kids to speak the local language already! But is being here about what I want? We are learning that there is value in the waiting; in the slowing down."
Taking a back seat
Stumbling out of the train in pitch darkness, I’m bundled unceremoniously into a rickshaw. “Don’t show your face. Don’t speak. Keep your head down.” Arriving at our destination, I’m rushed inside. Three days later, I have full-on cabin fever. Frequent requests for a walk are politely declined: “It’s not safe.”
A refugee comes to stay
“What followed changed my life … I had a vivid vision of Jesus carrying the cross.”
God shaped me for this
The plane took off and, full of nervous energy, trepidation and excitement, I felt like I was flying to Neverland. For the first time in my life I was headed somewhere totally foreign. Four weeks before, I hadn’t even heard of this country, tucked deep in Central Asia. But that’s how God works sometimes – He brings surprises, a turn of events, the intercession of His children, to break our focus on the earthly, refocus on the eternal and point the way to something unknown. When the seatbelt light turned off, it signified a break from the safety of my culture and my lifestyle.
A Prayer for Easter
Many Interserve Partners work in places where suffering is widespread, poverty is crushing or crises are escalating with no end in sight. Please pray with us.
As for me and my house
“Why would you be surprised that your children are willing to serve in hard places?”
By Grace Alone
Suzy is a 32-year-old yellow Suzuki Swift who was loaned to us by friends when they realised we needed a temporary second car. She can be reluctant to start some mornings and she is not as beautiful as she once was.
