# Early Mission Statement ## Background - 2008.12.08 - We have been reading books by Gary Haugen from IJM. We looked at the website, and they have two job openings for Regional Director, Mid Atlantic – Church Mobilization. - After looking at the job description, it seems to fit very well with my “calling” to “Wake-up-American-Churches”. We have been talking and I think I will apply and see what happens. - Lord, please give me wisdom. Should I accept the job if offered? Give me the right words to use in my application. - Lord, if you want me to have that job, please hold it open until I get my application to them. If you don’t want me to have that job, please close it soon. - I decided to put the first draft of my cover letter in my journal, because it will document some of my journey. ## Draft Letter <u>BACKGROUND</u> I was an A-6 Intruder Bombardier/Navigator (B/N) for the Navy in DESERT STORM and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, three individual Air Medals and three strike/flight air medals. After the war, I served in Washington, DC as a program officer on one of the top DoD acquisition programs. After retirement, I have had my own consulting company. Currently, I am one of the highest paid consultants at a major research and development company, serving as a product development manager for 15 sub-systems on one of DoD’s top programs. So what! I believe God uniquely gifted each of us for significant kingdom work for which He will reward us according to how we use those gifts. (**Matt 25:14-28**). Additionally, I believe He gave each of us the same gift, time on earth to use for His kingdom. Everyday, I have the opportunity to invest it in the kingdom or invest elsewhere. Again, I believe He will reward us according to how we invest. Jesus discussed this in **Luke 19:11-26** in the parable of the Minas. In **verse 17**, not only did Jesus reward the good servant with 10 cities compared to five cities for the second servant in **verse 19**, but more important to me, Jesus commended him, “well done, my good servant”. My journey to become a “10-mina-man” started 53 years ago, but has really accelerated in the last couple of years. In December 2006, I felt God telling me to go to India. In January, 2007, we attended a mission’s conference and there was a breakout session on India that added further fuel to the fire. Then immediately upon return, our church was contacted by two different Indian groups. (This had never happened previously nor since then.) I figured I should go to India with one of the two groups. However, my missions pastor and my wife didn’t feel it was the right organization. So, I heeded their wisdom and continued to pray and wait on God. A few months later, my missions pastor connected me with another organization which led to a church leadership conference in Iowa in November 2007 that was filled with Indian groups. Before I went to the conference, I spent several days in solitude fasting and praying. The results were incredible. I partnered with the leadership development organization and in January 2008, we spent 12 days traveling all over India meeting with the country’s top spiritual leaders. For many years, I have been asking God to guide me to my mission in life. Along the way, I tried numerous “jobs” at church. At one church, I taught Sunday school classes, went on mission trips, was the small group director for several years and served in the role of Elder without the title. We joined our current church when it was just getting started. They were meeting in an elementary school and had about 80 in attendance. In the last six years the attendance has grown to over 800. During that time, I have led mission trips, assisted the Life Group pastor and the missions pastor with strategic planning and even served as the sound guy for a while. I love going on mission trips because I get to experience God in ways that I seem to miss in everyday life. While I was in India, God didn’t disappoint me. I saw Him everywhere! Additionally, I got a clear vision of what God wanted me to do with the rest of my life. > *Wake-up-America and raise up an army to advance God’s kingdom against Satan’s strongholds.* At the time, I had no idea what that meant or how I was supposed to accomplish the task. So, I started praying and God led me to verses that said to wait on Him. As I waited, I saw Him move in truly miraculous ways. Then, in August 2008, our church started a partnership with another organization to go to Morocco. My wife and I went to the meeting primarily to support our friend, the missions pastor. Up to this point, I had dragged my wife, Denise, to Africa on two different mission trips and she had decided that she never wanted to go back there again. So, when she said she was interested in going, I jumped at the chance to experience God some more. Again, He didn't disappoint. Not only did we get to share Jesus with many Muslims, but He gave me more insight into what He wanted me to do. It wasn't “America” I was supposed to wake up, it was the “churches” in America. While all this was going on, Denise had been talking with a friend, who is an InterVarsity leader about human trafficking. Three weeks ago, our friend gave my wife a copy of *Just Courage* by Gary Haugen. Denise immediately told me I had to read the book because Gary was saying the same things that I have been. Was she ever right! It really resonated with both of us. Then we went to your website to learn more. One of the pages we went to was the Job Openings. At the time, there were two openings that seemed to fit perfectly with what God is asking me to do. As of this writing, the only one left is for Regional Director of Church Mobilization, Mid-Atlantic. I want to spend the rest of my 10-mina-man journey doing significant work for the kingdom. I believe God wants me to **wake-up the churches in America so we can raise up an army to advance His kingdom against Satan’s strongholds**. I feel the church mobilization position is a good fit with God’s calling on my life. --- #### Outbound Links - Scripture - [[Matthew_25]] - [[Luke_19]] - Bible Study - [[Rewards_Blessings_&_Obedience_Study|Rewards Blessings and Obedience Bible Study]] - Topics - [[Reward]] - [[Ten_Minas]] ---