by: Matthew Ellison
Matthew Bradshaw is the Global Outreach Director at Sagebrush Community Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sixteen: Fifteen had the privilege of walking Sagebrush through the missions coaching process several years ago and continues to assist them as they further their vision. We recently helped facilitate a connection between Sagebrush and PHX 10/40 Interface, one of our newest ministry partners. This connection is quickly becoming a fruitful partnership for Sagebrush, PHX 10/40 Interface, and most importantly the refugees that God has brought to Phoenix.
Matthew Ellison: Why has Sagebrush made engaging refugees (or as you like to say "New Americans") in the Phoenix area through PHX 10/40 Interface part of Sagebrush's overarching missions strategy?
We saw an opportunity with PHX 10/40 Interface to give our people a cross-cultural experience in a local area. We saw the value of the 10/40 Interface and could not resist getting involved.
Matthew Ellison: What does that engagement look like? What kinds of things are you doing?
With the 10/40 Interface, you are paired with a new American for one week, approximately 40 hours. In that time, you have certain tasks you must complete together to help teach your new American how to adapt and acclimate to their new environment. Basic chores like going to the grocery store or using public transportation can be very difficult when you are in a foreign country. Our goal is to ease that transition and show these people the love of Jesus is a real and practical way.
ME: Do you find that this compliments or distracts from Sagebrush's global vision? Please explain.
We believe this compliments our global strategy very well. We understand that many people in our church will never experience what life is like in a foreign country. However, this doesn't mean they cannot have an impact on the nations. The nations have come to us; we cannot neglect their presence or ignore their need.
ME: Can you share a brief story of how God has impacted people from your church as well as the lives of refugees through your partnership with Phoenix 10/40 Interface?
We had a volunteer in April connect with a New American on a deep level. She was able to break bread and build a relationship. Our volunteer even invited her New American into a family member's home. Through their time together they forged a relationship and at the end of the trip, our volunteer received a gift from her New American. With big tears in her eyes, she told us that she had just given her a hug and was so moved. She couldn't believe how generous her new friend was, and how much she cared for her. Our volunteer was changed, and her heart was melted all because they spent a week "doing life together". You can't put a price on that!
by: Matthew Ellison
Matthew Ellison: Share how local churches that want to make reaching immigrants part of their global vision can partner with Phoenix 10/40 Interface?
Whether we like or not and whether we agree with or not, God has chosen to permit immigrants to become part of almost every local community in America. Some of those immigrants have come legally and some have not, but the reality is that God has chosen to allow them to live among us. Why might He do that? I believe it's because He desires every local church to be able to actively obey and fulfill the "great commission" of making disciples of all nations, (ethnic groups). Phoenix 10/40 Interface provides an opportunity for leaders and members of any local church to be exposed to ongoing multi-ethnic potential disciple making. The experience gained and the opportunity to discuss and even view a variety of methods of reaching immigrants with the 10/40 Interface leadership team could be a real catalyst for moving any local church forward in this area of ministry.
ME: Can you share a brief story of how God has impacted a church as well the lives of refugees through the ministry opportunities that you facilitate through Phoenix 10/40 Interface?
It's difficult to limit to one, so I'll just use the first team we hosted as an example. This was church from Southern California that has been heavily involved in global missions for years. With the arrival of a much younger senior pastor whose heart is to continue to reach the far corners of the world but to add reaching the world in the church's own backyard, they sent a team of 10 people ranging in ages from 40 to 70 years old! Every team member's life was so radically touched that they stirred up the interest in others, and we recently hosted a second team, with one of the same members from the first team. Three of those team members connected so tightly with their refugee, (we call them New Americans), that they have driven over to Phoenix to spend time with them. And, Three of the New Americans found jobs as a result of the new boldness to try and speak English that they received after having spent time immersed in English with their American friends. That church is now in the process of preparing a ministry to reach out to the immigrants in their own community, and they now have a good sized core of people who have done it and can be the spark that God may use to stir up many other members of the body.
ME: God in His sovereignty has brought the mission field to us, please exhort churches reading this not to miss out on this historic opportunity.
God has given us His "end game" in Revelation 5 and 7. He has given us a clear picture of where history is headed-what He is moving everything towards. There will be a worship service with people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. He commissioned His church, His body, to make disciples of all ethnic groups-which would be people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. But here's the beauty of what He has done by bringing the world into our neighborhoods-He has given us the opportunity to participate in obedience to the commission He gave! Up until recently, the majority of the members of a local church participated in in-direct ways of obeying the great commission: by praying for, supporting financially, and caring for those specifically called to go to the ends of the earth. This obviously MUST continue to happen. But now, every member can participate DIRECTLY by reaching out to the people in their own communities who God has brought from around the world. Now, He has made direct obedience to the commission a realistic opportunity. And I believe that He will ultimately hold each responsible for what they did with this amazing gift of His grace-the gift of world's people brought right into day to day lives here in America.
by: Rebecca Tarantino Intern at Sixteen: Fifteen
As many of you may recall, Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the Great Commission. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has commanded his followers to go and share the gospel with all nations. However, some nations cannot be reached, because the leadership of the nation has banned missionaries from entering into the country to share their faith. The most unreached countries are located within the 10/40 Window. This rectangular area's latitude is between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator. In the 10/40 Window there are approximately sixty-eight countries from Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia that are unreached. These countries contain two-thirds of the world's population. Ninety percent of the people in this area have never heard the Gospel. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam are the three main religions in this region.
Though these countries cannot be reached there, we can reach them from here. Many future leaders of these countries attend colleges here in the United States. We have the opportunity to show them love and share the Gospel with them. In Phoenix, Arizona there is a ministry called 10/40 Interface. Tune in for an interview with Pastor Jeff Jackson, founder of 10/40 Interface.
Shepherd's Staff founder Pastor Jeff Jackson is a seasoned missionary, church planter, and missionary trainer.
It is God that seeks out man. God is the One Who seeks, it's not the other way around. If anything, man runs and God pursues. God is a Missionary God.
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The Lord guided my steps each hour, gave me ideas on how to teach English while we were walking around the city. The idea that we were both thrown into an uncomfortable situation together caused a bond to develop and then with Jesus escorting us, we learned to communicate, and trust Him for the directions and results.
I watched my New American (Devi) grow more trusting of me and more confident in herself as she made her way around the city. We together learned the city lay out and discovered resources that were available. My heart has gained a new friend, I have fallen in love with a people I had no exposure to before this. I am in awe of all the Lord taught me as I was teaching Devi.
It was a wonderful experience for both of us. ( I think I might have learned more than Devi did,) and my faith has increased in experiencing the faithfulness of the Lord for every stage of the week. Through us, I think He revealed His great love for them as well. I would highly recommend this ministry opportunity, as you will find you are a better Christian for having done it.
I look forward to the next time I will be able to return."
God works and when he does we all benefit from the Love of our risen Savior. These NA's are here and the fields are very ripe for the harvest. It's about serving them and not ourselves. Every bus, train ride, and pounding of the pavement was a blessing beyond what I thought could happen. I love my new friends and long to just take a train ride with them both soon.
