Somewhere between villages. | 1999 | Bangladesh

Rickshaw walla. | 2000 | Bangladesh

]]> http://gobeyondblog.com/2011/11/23/wordless-wednesday-48/feed/ 0 Omar C. Garcia Rickshaw Walla http://gobeyondblog.com/2011/10/12/wordless-wednesday-44/ http://gobeyondblog.com/2011/10/12/wordless-wednesday-44/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:05:39 +0000 Omar C. Garcia http://gobeyondblog.com/?p=8822 ]]>

A poor villager. | 2000 | Bangladesh

Elderly couple aboard ferry boat on the Padma River. | 2004 | Bangladesh

In his email, my friend asked for prayer for five house church leaders who are suffering persecution because of their faith in Christ. This past week, these five men were approached by the Muslim leaders in their village who demanded that they disband their house churches. These house church leaders protested that they have the right to follow and serve Jesus and that they must continue to worship and study the Scriptures together. As a result of their refusal to stop worshiping, the local Muslim leaders have taken the following punitive measures against these men and their families.

• They will not be allowed to purchase anything at local shops.
• They will not be allowed to work for hire as laborers.
• Their children can no longer attend the local school.
• They will not be allowed access to the village water supply.
• Locals will not be permitted to purchase anything from shops owned by Christians.

This is not the first time that something like this has happened to Christ-followers in Bangladesh and it will not be the last. Every time I receive this kind of news I am reminded of how privileged I am to have the freedom to worship as I please in America. And I am also reminded of my responsibility to pray for Christ-followers who live in places that are hostile to the gospel. Because these five house church leaders refused to disband their churches, they will pay a high price. They will have to walk farther to buy food, find work, fetch water, and get their kids in school. But they are willing to pay the high cost of believing in Jesus and telling others about His redemptive work on the cross. We must do no less.

Muslim man reading the morning newspaper in his village. | 2000 | Bangladesh

Bangladesh Surfing Club | 2011 | Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Searching for a man of peace is not something new. Luke’s gospel records the account of Jesus sending out seventy-two of His followers to preach the good news (Luke 10:1-12). He instructed them to travel light and to depend on the hospitality of others to provide for their basic needs, things like food and lodging. Jesus talked about how to identify a “man of peace” or that individual who would welcome them into his home. Searching for a “man of peace” is still an effective strategy for making meaningful connections with people all over the world, especially in places that are hostile to the gospel. Thom Wolfe, the international president and professor of global studies of University Institute in New Delhi, has identified three key characteristics of a man or person of peace. First, the person of peace is someone who is receptive to the gospel. Second, this person has a good reputation in his community. And finally, the man of peace is able to effectively refer those who have come bearing the good news to a larger audience.

With new friends in Bangladesh. | 2000

I have had several memorable experiences searching for a “man of peace” on my travels.  In September 2002, HomeLife magazine published “In Search of a Man of Peace,” my story about searching for a “man of peace” in Bangladesh. My experience in Bangladesh convinced me of the effectiveness of walking slowly among the people and connecting with individuals who are receptive to the gospel. Since then, I have had the privilege of meeting many persons of peace on my travels — people who welcomed me into their homes, offered me their hospitality and protection, and opened doors for me to share the good news about Jesus with a larger audience. To learn more about the “man of peace,” please read “Biblical ‘Man of Peace’ Approach is Key to Effective Outreach” by Erich Bridges, one of my favorite writers.

Barbara (l) with Aiesha the potter. | Morocco

Who | Barbara Gilcrease

Where I’ve Traveled With Kingsland | I have traveled with Kingsland to Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Morocco, India, Mexico, Mongolia, and Kurdistan.

Why I Enjoy Going Beyond | I have always enjoyed a good challenge. When that challenge makes me totally dependent on Him, you can’t beat that feeling. The results last forever.

One Place That Touched My Heart | Shanti Dan — Mother Teresa’s home for destitute and ill women in Kolkata, India. We saw more need for love and care than we could ever fill in a short time. Our effort at being “Jesus with skin on” blessed us as much as it did these precious women. It was as simple as holding a hand, taking a walk, or throwing a ball with them. Each day the good-byes were difficult.

One Person I Will Never Forget | Shoab (or “Shawn”), our translator in Dhaka, Bangladesh was such a blessing. He asked many questions about life in America. Yes, there are many blessings in American life, but Jesus is one that we share because He lives in Dhaka, too. I often wonder how Shawn is doing and what his position is with Jesus today. It feels like unfinished business, which is not a good feeling to have.

My Advice To Older Adults | At sixteen years-old, I made a commitment to serve in whatever way God led me. It doesn’t surprise me that He allowed me to have these missions experiences at my age. I pray that I haven’t been a drag on younger team members. The call of God on my life when I was a teenager has made the seemingly impossible possible. I can’t even imagine not going beyond.

Note from Omar | Barbara is an inspiration to younger generations. She has been a delightful traveler and compassionate servant on every trip she has participated in. Rather than being “a drag on younger team members,” she has inspired us to do our work without complaining and to step up our game. She is the “Where’s Waldo” character and “Energizer Bunny” all rolled up into one person!

David in Tanzania | 2007

Who | David Lynn

Where I Have Traveled with Kingsland | God has given me opportunities, primarily through Kingsland’s missions ministry, to serve Him in places that I otherwise never would have gone to. And, He has used me (in whatever small way) to further Christ’s Kingdom in countries like Tanzania, Bangladesh, and the Darfur region of Sudan. God has also allowed me to travel to Iran, twice.

Why I Am Interested in Last Places First | In my case, God told me to “go.” Prior to His call, I had absolutely zero interest in foreign missions. And, having heard His call, I had no idea just how far Beyond He had in mind for me to go! Now, having been to some incredibly remote (not to mention potentially dangerous – specifically, Darfur and Iran) places, I can gladly testify that God is great and He has removed any fear I may have had about going wherever He calls me to go to. Those people who are in those places Beyond our normal frame of reference, those out past the end of the road, or in hard to reach or politically difficult areas, are just as valuable to Christ as anybody in the free civilized world and I have seen the hunger that people in those places have for the truth of Christ.

The Most Troubling Thing About Darfur | To me, the most troubling thing about the situation in Darfur is that the people are so isolated from the rest of the world. The logistics of simply getting there, much less with any kind of significant relief effort, are incredibly difficult. The fact that hundreds of thousands of people are in refugee camps is only the tip of the iceberg. Their entire way of life has been violently altered. Their homes and villages have been destroyed, their friends and family members have been killed, and their farming capability has largely been wiped out. Those people are virtually 100% dependent on support from the rest of the world for their daily survival. The level of need there is beyond description.

The Most Encouraging Thing About Tanzania | The Tanzania trip was the absolute spiritual mountaintop experience of my life. There are three main things that stick out to me about our visit there. First, that trip was irrefutable proof of the truth that God’s word does not return void. We were so far out in the bush that the safari company that was guiding us had never been there, yet the people were so receptive to the Word that many came to faith in Christ during our visit and twenty house churches were started. Second, the in-country missionary couple that hosted us were such a fantastic demonstration of how lives are impacted when we conduct ourselves as Jesus did. Every village we went into welcomed us with open arms because they had either already had experience with that missionary couple and their ministry or they had heard of their reputation and were thrilled that they had come to visit them. Third, the missionaries had trained a group of men from another tribe to share their faith and those guys went to great lengths (at significant personal cost/effort) to be involved in not only this initial missions effort but to also continue on in spreading and growing the faith among the people we witnessed to. Their heart for sharing Christ continues to amaze and encourage me today!

The Most Challenging Thing About Bangladesh | To me, the most challenging thing about Bangladesh is the spiritual warfare that goes on there.  As the country has a solid Muslim majority, the spiritual oppression and outright opposition to Christianity makes for a challenging environment to work in. However, there is no god like our God and the spiritual darkness that exists in Bangladesh only serves to let the light of God shine that much brighter! One thing that really struck me in Bangladesh was the stark difference in the spiritual lives of Muslims and Christians. As a direct result of the tenets of their faith, Muslims are, by and large and in my estimation, a relatively joyless people. By contrast, the Christians we met there were filled with the joy of Christ and that light truly does shine from their faces!

Why We Should Pray, Give, and Go Beyond | First, because the love of Christ compels us, as Christians, to want to share His love with others. What greater gift could any of us give to someone than the gift of eternity? Second, having been on several mission trips, I can testify to the power of the Word, the power of prayer, and the fact that God is working wonders in the world every day. Going Beyond is one great way to put yourself in the position of being used by God to participate in His miracles and to impact the world for Christ. The absolute best meal I have ever eaten in my life was the spaghetti served to us by a missionary couple in Sudan on our way back from Darfur. That meal, as simple as it was, was not only physical nourishment but was a spiritual ministry to me, too. In closing, I would want to encourage you that God is alive, He is working in people’s lives every day, and that each of us can participate in His works, whether through our time, our resources, or our prayers. Go Beyond!