When things seem to fall down....
Baltimore is more glorious in the fall perhaps than at any other time. Dirty streets are paved with golden leaves. Red maples throb like pulsing veins along the sidewalks. The crisp air challenges the burning sun, allowing it to simply warm gently. Pumpkins gather at many doorway stoops to silently converse. Even the dry leaves crackle with a certain delight.
So, as I walk my circuit these days, I am reflecting with thanksgiving on the majesty of the One who covers pain in glory. He fills empty longing. I know that winter winds are coming when bitter ice will streak my cheeks and numb my fingers. But I also know that the cherry blossoms will follow when the sun’s course stays longer in the sky. For now, I want to just give thanks.
A mere month ago we felt the empty longing of wanting to finish well our time with Mission to the World, yet we watched our support account sink deeply. It seemed like a hurricane had hit and flood waters were rising. So, we wrote, and you…God’s people… responded. In a month we traveled through another 12 states visiting friends and supporters. We haven’t reached everyone yet but God moved and our account deficit turned to a positive balance giving us hope that we will make our June 2024 retirement goal with enough left in our account to help us in a few future ventures. Those will be the “winter ventures” of our future journeys. Retirement will never mean abandonment of ministry opportunity and service as God provides and enables.
We rejoice then in God’s provision through so many of you--like leaves that cover the cold, broken pavements around our home.
This past Sunday I looked back and this is what I saw...God's glory shining onto our block of Baltimore homes--our house that has often sheltered and nurtured fellow travelers; a rental property that has provided the means for our travel and for the purchase of the International house; and the International House that has served scholars from perhaps 50 nations in either programs or in residence.
Some of the icy winds have started. On a recent journey in November to see friends and rejoice in the 101 years of Karl’s mother’s life, I fell ill. We didn’t know if it was a possible stroke or repeat seizure-like activity that has haunted me on other occasions about once every ten years. An ambulance and hospital stay proved it was not a stroke. Follow up with neurology here at Johns Hopkins has not revealed more than it seems to be a repeat of a similar event about 13 years ago. Meanwhile, I cannot drive until there has been 90 days without incident.
Instead, I has traveled by internet (a usual source for me!). Last night I had 16 international peace makers from different countries and cultures on a zoom call. We listened to a presentation from Beirut about a workshop in peacemaking with leaders from across the Middle East. The workshop was completed just before the war in Israel broke out. A moment of golden hope before the harsh blasts of despair. (Listen to a few minutes of an interview with Dr Melki in the link below).
Then the group conversation turned to the question of how to “confront” someone with a damaging different opinion or outlook. Different words were suggested from “engage” to “dialog” to “relate”. It was clear that while each culture and country have a different approach, in the end it is possible to help transition away from violence and despair and at the same time walk together in a journey of grace. There is a Glorious God who is above all the disagreement and pain who desires that all walk in worship of Him together.
Please pray for these international peace makers. They represent not only the countries facing conflict in the Middle East, but also today, Nigerians are struggling with a violent form of Islam. Cameroon has rising ethnic and regional conflict. India and Cambodia are still trying to recover from long ethnic battles.
My zoom network meetings almost always look alike. This time the internet speed was terrible and most of the global participants had to turn off their cameras. I was breaking up so badly that I had someone else facilitate the discussion, but it was still amazing to hear the many engagements between people who might never even have met before.
Dr Bassem Melki is the most recent graduate of the PhD program. He is the
Dean of Students of Arab Baptist Seminary and director of a new conflict resolution research organization in Beiruit. He has lived in the shadow of the wars of Lebanon all his life. He reflects on the role and opportunity of the church in the midst of the present struggles in the Middle East.
Watch this video interview to understand how he sees the Church's role in the present Middle East conflict.
Thank you for adding to this global mosaic of God’s great work. We are truly humbled to see the Lord respond through you. We pledge to walk as faithfully with you as we can, and to continue to walk with this fledgling group of global peacemakers who are teaching, pastoring, mentoring, interceding, bringing down walls of division and building up people of praise and peace. They represent many denominations, many nations, many cultures, and many languages. Like the trees of God’s earth, they each are adding their rich color and shape of leaf to the ground, covering it with His glory.
Thank you for giving so sacrificially and for walking with us on His pathway of praise and peace.
Karl and Debbie
Karl and Debbie shared MTW opportunities at Geneva College, Messiah College and Grove City College.
Give thanks with us
Praise God for a new and healthy support account.
Praise God for Karl's healthy body…no cardiac or blood sign of any problem from the “event”.
Praise God for new turns in our family life…Hannah and Jesse have both announced marriage engagements that propel them to new and healthier times in their lives.
Praise God for helping us look at our next steps. We are looking at a phase of writing and facilitating this new network of peacemakers.
Praise God for the results of many years of labor. Debbie continues to receive pictures and messages of how lives and marriages have been changed through the Families for Life program with World Relief.
Here is the lead couple from remote Northern Kenya who now lead the family enrichment program that Debbie began several years ago. It continues to be blessed by God to influence thousands of families and couples in many countries.
Debbie shares the dream of international public health ministry through MTW at a Messiah College career fair.