The King's eHighway

"To Brno, Czech Republic with Love!"
by Dave Rowe, Assistant Pastor, Houlton Wesleyan Church, ME

Given that January 2004 is “Global Challenge” month, it seems appropriate to share about an awesome experience we had overseas! As a part of the Atlantic District Reach-Out 2003 mission opportunities, I was given the chance to put together a team to travel to the country of Albania. Unfortunately there were some issues within the country that did not allow for us to go there.

Not being a person who gives up on the first attempt, I began to pray as well as contacted Peter Moore (our district missions director) and Heath Koth out at HQ to see if there was another country that would be willing to put us to work for a short term trip. It seemed that Munich, Germany was going to be our destination and things were falling into place. Then it happened. The door was closed on that opportunity as well because of the war in Iraq and the uncertainty for US citizens traveling in that part of the world. I did not feel a peace in taking my team into that situation.

I knew that God was orchestrating our destination because of his perfect plan that He had in store for us. I have always had a dream to travel to the Czech Republic with a mission team and had expressed this to Heath Koth back in 1999 while putting together our Mexico Mission Team from our church. He never forgot about this. While at Beulah 2003 I received an e-mail from Heath, and it said that God had opened up the door for us to go to Brno, Czech Republic. I was extremely excited as well as deeply humbled that God had paved the way for us to carry the ‘GOOD NEWS’ to this incredible country.

Having to change gears three different times in a short period of time was very taxing but well worth the experience. The trip was an awesome and life-changing for all who went. Even with the difficult time we seemed to be having in securing the destination, it made us depend more on God to see us through. There were still many tests that we would have to go through before we arrived in Brno. Dealing with the airline tickets - to traveling from Northern Maine to fly from Boston - and then there were the long layovers in Newark, NJ. Through all of this though, God was showing the team and our church just how much can be done when our focus stays on Him and doing His Will.

It’s all about teamwork. With God as the head of our team, nothing could distract us or cause us to give up. He had called us to be a part of a team that He (God) wanted to use in this game – The Global Challenge game. The vision and mission statements of Global Challenge says it best…

Vision Statement: A movement of believers responding in obedience to the Great Commission.
Mission Statement: To challenge and equip individuals to accept and fulfill their strategic role in the Great Commission.

I want you to hear from our Senior Pastor, Rev. Wayne Robertson on his perspective of being apart of ‘the team’…

“On behalf of all of us at Houlton Wesleyan Church we want to affirm how exciting it has been for our church to send short-term mission teams. The sense of ‘we are in this together’ helps to create a team approach to missions. Knowing that many of us may never leave home, this is a valuable way for a hands-on experience for the entire congregation. We highly recommend to any church to consider sponsoring, or being a part of a combined mission team. What a great way to give and receive a blessing that will last for a lifetime.”

I can say that our church will always be active in sending out mission teams because once we have tasted and seen that it is good we can never go back to the way we were! Being involved in your local church mission department really broadens your vision of the Great Commission! Get involved, become active and seeking out God’s Will for you and missions! You won’t regret it!