Persevering to Spain

In 2021, my husband and I had the privilege of taking a short mission trip as MAPS (Missions Abroad Placement Service) volunteers to Madrid, Spain, to collaborate with International Media Ministries.

It was a journey awaited, longed for, and provided for by God after a four-year wait, attempting to undertake the journey as Missionary Associates. The pandemic came, everything came to a halt, and we couldn’t raise the budget to carry out the two years as initially planned.

Originally, it was discouraging for us not to be able to fulfill the commitment to come for two years, but as with everything God does, it was perfect. It was a very enriching experience to be in Spain working with IMM for three months, and, like the spies in the book of Numbers, chapter 14, we explored the land to recognize it and saw that the land was exceedingly good. And as verse 8 of the same chapter 14 says, “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into this land.”

We spent those three months working on projects in IMM and were filled with faith and hope. We returned to the United States with even greater conviction of commitment and mission to spread the gospel to the nations, fulfilling the mandate that Jesus commanded us: “Go and preach the Gospel to all Nations.”

It was inspiring to see that over forty years of IMM’s service, men and women have dedicated themselves to spreading the word of God through unconventional instruments such as movie and television screens, phones, computers, broadcasting via satellite and the internet to the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Lives of servants dedicated to the ministry, filling their days with perseverance through adversities, setbacks, struggles, and sleepless nights to share the gospel with nations that do not have easy access to the word of God. Thousands of testimonies of conversions that, in silence, humility, and commitment, flourish in the heavenly field to the sound of angelic trumpets.

God allowed us to return after three years of waiting, praying, fasting, and persevering in the word of God and talking to people about our passion to serve. It is a pleasant aroma of love that we breathe as we share these thoughts, overflowing with faith in the future, even in the time we live where pain has grown in the world.

The vision for the future is to continue persevering, waiting on Him, confident in His provision for funding while sharing the message of salvation and the beautiful and exciting stories of the Bible with those who do not know it and pursuing the goal of one day being called into the presence of the One who called us.

Too Independent?

I am used to being an independent person and able to go places by myself and do things on my own.  I remember one time attending a conference by myself, and someone else at it told me that I was brave for doing so.  That’s not that hard; I go sit in a room and listen to a speaker.  I just happened to be eating lunch alone at that moment, but I’m an introvert and it didn’t really bother me.  As a single woman, I am old enough to know that I either have to do things by myself or I just don’t go places.  

Being in a foreign country and living here has made me aware of how it was easier to be independent back in the US.  Being independent can be good.  In some cases it’s what I need to be.  However, it may not always be the best thing for me.  We all need support and help sometimes.  Whether it’s because we’re facing hard circumstances or we’re just tired or lonely.  Sometimes, I wonder if I can be too independent.  

Here, I need help with some things because of not knowing the language or the customs.  I have had people who helped me with different appointments and various other things that had to be done. I was grateful for having help even figuring out everything that needed to be done.  It would’ve been hard to figure it out on my own.  

This past month, I have been sick.  For the entire month.  I am too tired to know all that I can learn from this.  However, this does emphasize how important people are in a different way.  It is important to have relationships with people who you can reach out to.  I have had to rely on my teammates more than normal during this time.  People have been supportive, whether it is encouraging me to go rest or making me tea.  One teammate took me to urgent care and helped translate for me.  

Also, it can be hard to ask for help.  I have seen that in myself and in people around me.  It makes me wonder: why is it so hard to ask for help?  It seems like we are more willing to offer help than accept it or ask for it.   Maybe it’s because asking for help makes us feel weak or incapable or less than in some way.  I’m not sure if it’s cultural or human nature or a combination of both, but we, as Westerners, don't seem to like admitting we’re weak.  At least we don’t in certain situations.  

1 Corinthians 12 talks about how we are the body of Christ.  Being part of a body means we’re interdependent.  We need each other to do what God wants us to do.  To fulfill our calling we need people who will make us grow and help us.  We need people who will encourage us to keep going.  Sometimes, that may mean we need to ask for help no matter how hard that is. 

Maybe, sometimes, I can be too independent.  I do know that I am supposed to be dependent on God.  I think that needing to ask for help from people can help keep me a little bit more humble and help me recognize my need for God.  It is not easy asking for help, and I still don’t like doing it, but maybe God is teaching me that I need Him and people who can point me to Him again.

God is in the Details

The Esther: Queen of Hope miniseries demands very specific sets and props to stay faithful to historical accuracy and lavish expectations. Xerxes, the Persian King has a distinctive throne. On all the historical bas-relief stone carvings, there are two incense stands and burners that reach up to waist height. These signified the line that was not to be crossed when approaching the throne. 

Often, I spend time in the IMM basement trying to figure out how to create these visually specific pieces. I scoured the internet for an adaptable shape and suitable forms and could only find mahogany antiques, which had the perfect height, ribbed texture, and lion’s feet supports. The average price was 200€. Even if we paid that price, I would have to alter them, ruining their condition. 

That night in bed, I was half awake, and I saw two specific stands that would look perfect. Were they bedposts, table legs? I decided to continue my online search outside of the box.

The next day, after more fruitless online searches, I locked up the office and drove halfway down the hill and spied an old Spanish man and a young woman struggling to get an old table out of their gate. 

I kept driving, then shocked. I circled the block, parked at IMM, walked back down the hill, and asked the daughter if this table was for punto limpio (the dump). They said, “Yes.” I asked if I could take it, and they said, “Yes, but it’s heavy.”

I told them I would be pleased to take it off their hands. 

I carried that beautiful piece of furniture up the hill to the IMM garage. It was much heavier than my wife, but I gave no thought to the weight because I was so elated at the find.

I took the decaying table top off and now have two perfect incense stand bases. They each weigh about forty pounds, have three lion’s feet each, ribbed carving and are solid wood with a beautiful aged patina. They are perfect. The Moroccan incense burners, each very ornate and about seven inches tall, will sit perfectly on top. Of course, I will treat the pieces with TLC, a slightly darker varnish, and some gold wax on the details.

These wonderful occurrences let me know that if I am willing to put in the work, God will provide the materials, creativity, and strength to move His project forward.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (1 Corinthians 1:27, KJV) 

Kerry Godwin

Creative Arts Director

Change: An Advent Poem by Rachel Roen

Change

Darkness all around

Pain surrounds

Answers needed

Crying out

Nothing is right

People hurting

Evil winning

Questions asked

Hurting yet praying

Where is God 

Nothing is changing

We are waiting

Expectations unmet

Thought it’d be different

No healing, no miracle

The world rages

Men in charge 

Just want power

Don’t care about others

More rulers come

Assassinations

Expectations

Promises were told

Foretold

Time goes on 

People living, people dying

Waiting,hoping

Promises unfulfilled

Years pass

Hope fades

Stories told

About times past

When God moved

When miracles happened

Nothing now

Waiting, groaning

Under the weight 

Of life never changing

Prayers seem unanswered

Heaven is silent

Crying, yelling

Fighting, barely surviving

Hungering for more

Waiting for rescue

Someone to help 

Someone to save

To fulfill promises

Made long ago

So long waiting

When will God move

Intervene!

Struggling, gasping

Hearts breaking

Life not changing

Then something happens

A star appears

Shepherds tell stories

Of angel rejoicing

A baby coming

Other stories

Of prophecies

In the temple 

Dare we start hoping

But a baby, a poor baby

What does it mean

Men come from the East

Come to look for a king

They worship the baby

Bring Him gifts

But then they leave

Herod is angry 

Babies murdered

Hearts breaking

Evil reigns

Was hope so short-lived

Waiting 

Yet daring

Daring to hope 

To believe

Years pass 

Silence

Nothing changing

Then whispers

Whispers of hope 

Of change

Something stirring

Whispers grow louder

Strengthening

Stories of miracles

A Man Who can heal

God must be intervening

Something is changing

Hope is rising

Change is coming

Amazing things happening

Healings, feedings

Happiness all around

Suddenly it ends

The miracle Man dies

Jesus Crucified!

Evil has won

Death has conquered

Darkness surrounds

Grief reigns

Then the unthinkable 

Dead man walking

Jesus alive, resurrected!

Men out of graves

Walking in streets

Among the living

Death defeated

Everything changes

Yet nothing changes

Rome holds power

People martyred

Evil in control

Yet Jesus reigns

Hope has come

In the midst of waiting

Because the baby came

Jesus came, was crucified

Died and buried

But resurrected

Ascended to heaven

Seated on the throne

And now breathes hope

Into the midst of our waiting

That is the change

The one we needed

Hope in the midst of our pain 

In the midst of our waiting

Let There Be Light!

If you are a fan of International Media Ministries, this will not be a shock to you, but you DO NOT have to be a ‘preacher’ to impact the Kingdom of God. We are media geeks (I mean that in the best possible way, as I am one). We are creatives. And - maybe a new surprise for you- electricians, data entry gurus, and construction chiefs. 

For the last two months, we have had Daymon Asbury here on loan from his construction company. The plan was for a year, but some changes intervened that made that impossible. His wife is empowering us with bids and processes. They are business people. 

I’m pretty sure with some of our local crew helping and then some of our IMM Forever friends, Guillermo and Elena Monzon, showing up, we have completed an entire year’s work in a short period of time. Together, we repaired drainage issues, sidewalks, and other issues. 

There are many references in the Bible to “lifting up holy hands.” We are accustomed to this in worship songs, but I imagine it differently. Each day, when we arrive at a task, any of us lift our hands up from our sides and put them to work. These are God’s gifts, the hands that He gave us. We are his instruments to show his Glory here on earth. 

Lifting up our hands to computers, to climb ladders and redo lights, to write, to edit, to categorize videos online and on servers, to clean, to organize, to give rides to the airport: these ordinary tasks of life grow God’s kingdom. As these things happen, Jesus can be put on more screens, and we can use more of our financial resources to make that happen rather than fix building problems or search for missing data. 

An unexpected and big blessing from this buzzing beehive of activity these last weeks has been adapting our building for LED lights to save money and keep the lights on to tell God’s stories! Let there be beautiful light to make God’s light known everywhere for everyone on every screen! 

With Those Who Work

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ESV

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From the garden, humanity has been called to labor and to work. We work to maintain our earth, work to maintain families or our own personal health and wellbeing. We work to maintain our own spiritual health and the health of others. We toil and strive for different outcomes and goals and all the while we work for the Lord. The work of missions is one that is hard work. It takes you and pulls you out of your comfort zone and a very heavy call on your life. Your spiritual and emotional strength is tested daily, though the work is rewarding. Every part of you is suddenly pulled into the light, and you have to work through your struggles while caring for the ones you are called to. It is not light work. 

Recently, I have been reminded of the Prayer of Compline and the work that Jesus did while he was on earth. Whether it was carpentry as he grew up or his ministry as an adult, he toiled with us here on earth and it was good. It was ordinary. I want to encourage you, in whatever work that you do, that the Lord has his hands on it. He is looking after you and the work that you do is good in His sight. 

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.” From the Book of Common Prayer

The Divine Potter: Understanding God's Purpose for Us

Do you know what the very first words were that God said to Jeremiah? He says in Jeremiah 1, “The word of the Lord came to me and said, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.'"

That verb there, “formed,” is the Hebrew word yatsar, and God says to Jeremiah, “Before I yatsar you, I knew you.” Yatsar is the Hebrew word that actually means to take shape by squeezing. The very first word that God gave Jeremiah to understand his own life is the image God wants his people to have of who God is and what God does. God wanted Jeremiah to see this so much that he told him - “Up on your feet and go to the potter’s house!”

God yatsar Jeremiah while he was in the womb like a potter forms clay and God wants to yatsar His people like a potter forms clay.

What does God want with His pottery?

1. God created us to be useful: Yatsar is the exact same Hebrew word used to describe what He did in Genesis when he formed Adam. It’s another way to express God’s sovereignty over all of us: to express our need to yield to His divine purpose for all of God’s plans. Paul says “God wants to form us into a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work”.

2. God’s hands shape us into Christ’s image: Like a potter, God knows how to apply precise pressure, when to relax His grip, how to score our life with His fingernail, how to squeeze and nudge – all of which increase our fitness as a vessel for His use. Sometimes, He has to place us in the kiln where the fires of life turn us into stronger vessels.

3. God’s hands reshape our broken dreams: Sometimes we think we’re unusable and even unredeemable. Our problems are occasionally our own making, our pain may arise from our own stupidity. But when we bring it to God, confess it earnestly, and surrender it to the power of his blood, God takes our sin/shame and then molds us into that vessel that glorifies Him.

We’ve all heard this so many times and it can become like a clique. I know I’ve been guilty of it. Especially going through the various trials and asking the Potter, Whoa – wait, that’s too much pressure or I’m going to fracture beyond any use or my clay has been thrown over and over and has become too dry – and then Paul writes in Romans 9:19-23 (MSG),"

“Are you going to object, ‘So how can God blame us for anything since he’s in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?’ Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, ‘Why did you shape me like this?’ Isn't it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn't that all right?”

His hands are all over us all the time if we allow Him to continually yatsar us. We are all created unique and special for His purpose – not mine! When you go through tough times or trials try and imagine God is “yatsaring” His lump of clay - smashing it, pounding it, cutting it, squeezing it, smoothing out all of the cracks to create His intended purpose – you!

Light

Recently, I was out on a terrace at night. I was looking at all the lights from homes that were a few miles away. It made me think of the verse Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Some of the lights were miles away and yet they were still visible through the darkness.

I remember hearing a story about WWII where people could not even have a candle light in their homes during an air raid. Even with curtains and dark drapes, the light of a candle would be enough for the planes to see a target for their bombs. This story has stayed with me.  It’s something that I think about occasionally. The fact that even the smallest light can have an impact in the darkness.

In a spiritual sense, there is darkness all around us. Whether in the USA or here in Spain, there are people who are blind to the truth. There are people who don’t know anything about God at all. Then there are people who only go to church because of tradition or culture. Growing up in the USA, I am accustomed to the traditions in the states. They are part of who we are and I’m sure I don’t even realize them all.

Because I didn’t grow up here in Spain, it is interesting to see some of the traditions they have. It is a Catholic country, but mostly only in culture and tradition. It is where Ferdinand and Isabella ruled and led the inquisition. The Catholic roots run deep in this culture. I was able to see a couple of huge Easter processions where they carry giant icons on platforms. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve seen it. They have clubs where they raise money to take care of the icons. It’s not bad; it’s just different. However, it is easy to see how sometimes tradition can take the place of a relationship with Jesus.

People may or may not believe that there is a God. Even if they do, it doesn’t mean that they know Him. In that context, I wonder about my life. Am I being a light? I don’t have to be the brightest light ever. I don’t have to be famous or someone important. There are days where it seems like nothing will ever change, yet remembering that even the smallest of lights can impact the darkness brings a sense of hope. I can’t change the darkness, but Jesus can. If I keep loving and serving Jesus, He can use the light in my life, that sometimes feels so small, for His glory. 

God’s Perfect Timing

During staff prayer, we were praising the Lord for two much needed large donations that had arrived in IMM’s account for operating expenses. They had been pledged over a year ago but arrived at a very opportune time. Someone made the comment, “God is never late, never early, always on time.” Someone else argued that sometimes He is early, and we had a good discussion.

I think what it comes down to is that whatever happens, it is always in God’s perfect timing. If “early” (before we expect it or even pray for it), then it’s at the right time. If it hasn’t happened yet and seems to be late in our human understanding, He is working out the right timing and always moves according to His perfect will.

“With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). What matters is what we do while we wait. Reminding ourselves of what God has done in the past helps us trust Him while waiting patiently for His perfect timing.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 

The Little Things

I arrived in Spain in mid-March, right before the shoot for the Esther social media piece began.  I was interested in it because Esther has always been one of the Bible stories that I enjoy.  The story of a young woman who was chosen to be queen despite being a foreigner living in the Persian Empire.  She was a woman who had doubts and fears, yet chose to stand up for her people.  She is an inspiring example of a strong, powerful woman.  

The people already in Spain had been working on this Esther piece for a few months already when I arrived.  I landed and was able to start helping right away with different aspects of pre-production.  

The day before we started the shoot, we brought props and set pieces over to the building where we were to start filming the next day.  I was curious about the building they chose to film in because I knew God had provided it in some way.  I still don’t know the whole story.  I enjoyed the old, Roman building and liked the history that was there.  When we got unpacked and mostly set up, we went home knowing the next day would be early.

Filming occurred Friday and Saturday.  Both days were long, which I expected, but they were good.  I knew a lot went into making a film, even a short one.  However,  I learned a lot too, during the two days.  Actors arrived and obviously needed costumes and make-up before filming would begin.  Setting up backdrops and props kept several people on this new team I was joining busy.  Each scene required several takes to catch different angles, or because they wanted it to look better.  Sometimes, another take was needed for the audio because a plane flew over, and made it hard to hear the actors.  Plus, planes are not part of the time period!  

I tried to be helpful over the course of the two days of filming, despite being so new.  I didn’t always know what I was doing.  However, it was a fun couple of days, and I really did enjoy it.  The fact that I was able to be there for the shoot, allowed me to watch and observe people.  I believe that IMM has talented people.  But what stands out to me is the kindness that the team had.  From how I was treated to how they treated the actors and the volunteers that came. 

It is true that the little things matter.  Luke 16:10 says that if you are faithful in little things you will be trusted with more.  I believe one of the most important “little” things is how we treat others.  It may not seem like much when there are deadlines to meet and projects to finish.  Yet it is what stands out to people.  It’s what stood out to me.   Matthew 10:42 talks about how even a cup of cold water is something Jesus notices when His disciples do so it’s obviously important to Him, too.  

I remember someone talking about how no one sees the hard work and the day-to-day decisions that went into their work before most people become famous. I don’t remember who it was, but the lesson stays with me.  People don't become famous overnight like everyone believes.  They think that because that’s what it can look like.  However, the reality is it happens because they made daily decisions for years before what is seen.  They practiced and were disciplined and grew.  It’s a good reminder that what we do today can have consequences for our future.   

Coming when I did and being reminded of the story of Esther and how little things matter has been an encouragement for me.  Some days, it doesn’t feel like I do much. I’m sure we all have those days. In order for Esther to be able to stand up to the king and for her people, she had to have developed a faith in God before this.  We don’t know what daily decisions she made, but we see the result of what she did. God sees the little things that we all do every day, and each one matters, especially how we treat each other.

Common Sense

Today, we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

• Why the early bird gets the worm;

• Life isn't always fair;

• And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.  Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or aspirin to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.  Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot.  She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

• by his parents, Truth and Trust,

• by his wife, Discretion,

• by his daughter, Responsibility,

• and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepchildren;

• I Know My Rights

• I Want It Now

• Someone Else Is To Blame

• I'm A Victim

• Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.  If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Who We Are

“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." – Matthew 8:5-9

“The servant does not get any special thanks for doing what his master commanded. It is the same with you. When you have done everything you are told to do, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done the work we should do.’” – Luke 17:9-10

When I was a 12-year-old kid I served in an Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Italy. Okay, I was 21, but looking back, I looked and thought like a 12-year-old. The unit patch I wore with about 800 other paratroopers had the Lion of St. Mark on it, a symbol that represented the Veneto area of Italy where we were stationed, and oddly enough, but not widely publicized, it was a symbol of the Gospel of Mark. On the little book the winged lion’s paw is resting on is an open book that has one word on it, “PAX.” Although I doubt any of us made the historical or religious connection back then. We were pretty busy, and not always in the best way.

In order to be mission effective, there was a chain of command above us. This is what held us together. We knew who we were, what was asked of us, and by what authority our commanders operated. To many outside of that system, that could seem hard and demanding. As a young man, I found it to be freeing. I knew who I was, where I rested, and what to do. 

But we had special words to describe those fellows who tried to earn extra favor with those above them. They were upending the entire system by creating a political system of debts and favors in order to receive special recognition and better treatment. Even as 12-year-olds, we knew a corrupting influence when we saw it.

As believers, Jesus asks us to understand that our standing in the Kingdom does not rely on a system of debts and favors. There is an amazing freedom in this. The world still fights for equity, but we don’t have to wonder if the Father loves or accepts us based on our ability to ply and persuade Him. We are His. Now we wait upon His voice.

At IMM some of our media endeavors are so audacious that we cannot hope to push them forward under our own strength. I’ve had to learn this lesson over and over again. However, once a project is completed we should feel accomplished, but we dare not offer endeavors up to Heaven in order to gain special recognition and favor. That is not ours to do, because we are secure in His Kingdom and we now share the desire to grow it. Our proper motivators are joyful devotion to the King and a love for the task ahead of us. Lift your heads and drive-on. There is much to be done, and some of it might even be fun.