Have you ever wondered how YOU, as a Daring Daughter, or as a family, or as a church, could share the Gospel and “do missions” right in your local area? Consider the example of one ministry, simply being willing, creative, and faithful.
For over 20 years, Mid-Columbia Ministries (led by the extended Bell family — joined with many wonderful friends and local churches) has been sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through creative evangelism in their local community in Washington state — especially on holidays.
The following video is from their 21st Easter outreach at a city park — sharing God’s love through offering a community Easter egg hunt, preaching the Gospel, playing Christian music, giving FREE Bibles and Christian literature and sharing the message of the Cross and the Resurrection.
What a beautiful example of believers coming together to shine brightly for Jesus Christ!
February 25th, 2016.
— All over social media, you’ve probably noticed red-X images and photos of hands marked with permanent red Sharpies. Last night, our three teenagers came home from church with red-X’s marked on their hands. Friends on facebook and twitter have images of ENDIT and statistics of modern-day slavery all across their profiles.
So, as Daring Daughters, is this something we should participate in?
Of course, we’re all totally against slavery and human trafficking, but as Christian mothers and leaders, we need to make sure we’re joining with something that’s okay to support. So, as a heads-up, here are some facts to get you in the loop.
The ENDIT movement is led by a Christian pastor, Louie Giglio.
The ENDIT movement was prominently featured at the mission conference, PASSION, with over 60,000 young Christians in the Georgia Dome.
Many prominent Christian leaders have shown their support for the ENDIT movement, including Beth Moore, Mark Dricoll, Chris Tomlin, and Kari Job.
As Daring Daughters, we need to DARE TO CRY for the needs of this world that grieve God’s heart. Human slavery, exploitation, and Human trafficking are issues that need our voice. In the famous Bible chapter about the virtuous women, Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us . . .
“Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
As Daring Daughters, let’s raise our voice and our hands. Let’s also learn from this great example of using creativity and contemporary social media to help expose a horrible need of modern-day slavery and to raise awareness.
Ladies, let’s DARE TO CRY and to pray . . . for this need.
Reach for God-Sized Dreams . . . with Daring Daughters!
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We recently adopted a 3 1/2 year old girl. We would love to know if you have any information/literature recommendations on indiscriminate friendliness known as RAD. We are struggling with knowing how to best get our daughter to understand the concept of family and true attachment. Thank you. Julie
Building Attachment
Our first daughter that we adopted was a week from turning two when she first arrived. Aubrey was adopted through our local county social services. When we first met Aubrey she was like a bumble bee in flight. She would sit on my lap for a few seconds and then she was off again. Her life in foster care provided her with multiple care givers. She would be dropped off at daycare by her foster care parents and then if she had appointments or visits, she would be picked up by various social workers.
She had a beautiful smile, bright blue eyes, white blonde hair and a personality that was very charming. Aubrey would go up to anyone and everyone. Every woman that she would meet would become “mommy” and every man that she would meet would become “daddy.” If I turned my head for a moment in a parking lot, she would literally jump into a stranger’s van.
After several weeks of this, we realized that we needed to make some changes. Aubrey needed consistency in her life, no chaos, and an understanding of who “mommy” and “daddy” were. Since she was very small for her age, I carried her in a baby sling in the sitting position. After a few days of being held close, she never wanted to be put down. This was good because she started bonding.
To handle the indiscriminate friendliness towards others and to help in recognizing who “mommy” and “daddy” were, we kept her sheltered for the first few months. We only allowed a small handful of friends to come to the house to visit. We made sure that when they came that we did introductions immediately…
“This is Mrs. Smith. I am mommy. Can you say hello to Mrs. Smith?”
This continued until she understood who “mommy” really was. I stayed home from church for almost two months. We wanted her to understand who her new family was. It was a very overwhelming time for her. But in the end, all the hard work paid off.
Aubrey is now eleven years old and very attached.
We also noticed that Aubrey became over stimulated very easily.
As we discovered things that over stimulated her, we tried to avoid those stressors in our lives. We slowly re-introduced those stressors in a loving way, assuring her that we were there for her and every thing would be ok. It took time, but again, it paid off. Still to this day, she has issues with anxiety. We still work through this, but she is making progress with each passing day.
Handbook on Thriving as an Adoptive Family (by David and Renee Sanford) has a great list for helping to promote healthy attachment in adopted children.
This list was given for babies, but I feel it can be used with all ages with some alterations. (Suggestions in brackets are my thoughts and additions.) Skin-to-skin time. [For the toddler on up this would be snuggle time and daily hugs.]
Minimize stress or chaos in the home.
*Provide a calm and nurturing environment for the baby. [With the toddler on up this means that you need to slow way down. Don’t be in a rush to introduce your child to everyone in the neighborhood. All of the change is very overwhelming. Give your child a few months to get used to all of the changes in their life. Don’t be in quick to throw them into every extracurricular activity out there. Bonding needs to take place in the home first.]
*Be vigilant to follow through with promises or stated intentions as you build a relationship of trust and hope. [This is so important with the older child adoption. Trust has to be built. With trust comes hope and love.]
*Incorporate soft music, soft lights, and muted sounds in the home. [This helps to provide a calm atmosphere in the home. It helps to calm stressors.]
*Minimize the number of visitors coming to the home; while everyone is excited about your new baby [or child], you need time to bond and too many adults in the child’s life makes that process confusing. [This is so true! I have seen so many adopted parents who are so excited about their new addition that they literally take them out on the town and introduce them to the whole world! You really need to slow way down. Visitors need to be kept at a minimum.]
*Keep the child at home as much as possible, to make the schedule predictable and calm. [I highly recommend home schooling the older child for at least the first two years. Bonding is so vital especially at the older ages. It is so important to build relationships and for the child to truly understand who you are in his/her life.]
*Quantity of time does matter-it is important to spend a lot of time with your new baby or child. He or she needs you to be established as the primary caretaker in his or her life. [This is so vital! The child needs to learn who mommy and daddy are in his or her life. It is very confusing for the child. It is a lot of change in a short period of time. If you are a working mommy, I really think that it is important to figure out a way to be home with your child. They need you.]
*Begin to take on the role of protector and keep your child safe. Compare this to a child who has a disease with a suppressed immune system and you are trying to guard him from infection. You can do this by keeping him safe and protected, similar to protecting the emotional health of your new child. Be diligent in your efforts and you will reap the benefits of the attachment process.
*Pray and trust God to equip you with the wisdom you need to do what is best for your particular child. [Don’t put your child in a box. Each child in your home is a beautiful unique creation of God. What works with one child might not work with the other child. God will guide you and give you the wisdom that you need for your child. Trust in Him.]
*Realize that you are building the template for future relationships that the child will have. [It is so vital that the child learn to trust in you. Your child needs to understand what a healthy family relationship is. Also realize that your child’s emotional age and physical age are more than likely different.]
I encourage you as adoptive parents to listen to the wise words of James:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5 NASB)
You will experience trials with your adopted child, just as a person would with a biological child. It is how you choose to look at those trials and how you choose to respond to those trials that will make all of the difference in the world. Parenting is a long distance endurance marathon. God will walk along side you as you walk into unknown territories. He will give you wisdom, you just simply have to ask.
Keep pursuing your child’s heart just as God continues to pursue your heart. Be consistent and persistent. Always respond in love, not out of hurt. Be the loving parents that God called you to be. His love will radiate off of you and onto your child.
Lord, help me as a parent to always be willing to pursue my children’s hearts. Give me strength to endure during the hard times. Sometimes it is so hard to hear my child say that they don’t know if they love me. Help me not to hold that near to my heart, but to know that Your love never fails. Help me to always respond in love, even during the hard times, and not to respond out of my own fears and emotions. I know that there have been times when I have pushed You away, Lord, but You were persistent and consistent in pursing my heart and not giving up on me. Help me to always see the rose among the briers. I love You, Lord. Amen.
Our two featured “Kids of the Month” from Daring Daughters LOVING ORPHANS (with Harvest Ministry) are Nakline and Ernest, from Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center in Uganda, East Africa. Seeing the joy of Jesus just radiating from their faces, reminds us of the reason why we do what we do.
These aren’t just “numbers” or “needs” we help, but real kids who love Jesus.
As women and girls, each of us have a unique sphere of influence. In this upside-down world, we are called to SHINE BRIGHTLY for Jesus Christ!
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“. . . these who have turned the world upside-down
have come here too . . .” Acts 17:6 NKJV
Even if you are a stay-at-home, homeschooling, homeworking mother, there are people who you come in contact with — perhaps on a daily, monthly, or seasonal basis — who need Jesus Christ. There are many ways that you can expand God’s kingdom and SHINE for JESUS, right from your home, through your life, your family, and especially your fervent prayers and Spirit-led obedience.
SHINING in your home
If you’re married, you have a husband to encourage and uplift (so he can fulfill God’s call on his life). If you’re a mom, you have children to train and prepare (so each one can fulfill God’s unique kingdom purposes). Never under-estimate the influence of a godly wife and mother; your impact can extend for generations. Your attitude often sets the tone for the home. Your spiritual life and daily faithfulness can be a testimony to many. Your words can speak death or LIFE, despair or HOPE, discouragement or ENCOURAGEMENT, and your prayers can make an eternal difference. The life of a godly mother is definitely counter-cultural. Just live as a happy mommy with a big smile on your face, and heads are going to turn. As a family, just SHINE bright and PRAY HARD for hearts to turn to JESUS!
SHINING for your Extended Family
You and your family are God’s ambassadors to your relatives and loved ones. Your life is an example and sometimes the details they notice are different than what you think. They don’t care so much about your clothing styles or modesty . . . as much as your smiles and your kindness. They don’t care so much about your furniture or homemaking expertise . . . as much as your greetings when they arrive at your door.
Years ago, I read a great article by Dean Sherman in a Last Days Ministries newsletter, called Pharisees, Sadducees, and Jesus.
The theme begins with a look at the legalistic Pharisees during the days of Jesus. Oh, they could make a “show” about following all the rules, but these leaders had no real relationship with God.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Sadducees were lawless and permissive. They didn’t believe in the resurrection and were super-lenient about sin. In Jesus’ day, these were the two sides of the aisle. In America today, we have our conservatives and liberals, our Republicans and Democrats; during the time of Christ, the leaders of Israel had their Pharisees and their Sadducees.
Yet, Jesus was totally different than either group. Jesus loved and obeyed every aspect of God’s holy law, yet prostitutes and tax collectors enjoyed His presence. Jesus was full of life and love; yet His convictions were never compromised. He was (and is) amazing.
Today, Jesus lives in you and in your family. As Christians, we should be “different” from the world, yet our lives should convey a relevance that exudes LIFE and a contagious joy! As ambassadors for Christ, you are called to represent Him wherever you go — at family reunions, Christmastime, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties, weddings, and funerals. If you have relatives who doesn’t know Jesus, you are called to be their missionaries. You could be the only true representatives for the Lord that some people will ever come in contact with. Your family has God’s Word and God’s life and God will give you His wisdom. Your presence can (and should) bring God’s presence.
SHINING in your Community
Surrounding your home are people who need Jesus. There are people who work in the grocery stores you frequent. There are attendants who sell you gasoline.
Even if you live in a remote area of the country, you have neighbors . . . local children, teenagers, young married couples, and families. Maybe there are elderly people in your community who need help in their yard . . . or new immigrants or foreign exchange students who are lonely. Perhaps you have interests or hobbies you enjoy . . . and people you connect with in those activities. There are people who deliver your mail . . . and UPS packages . . . and from the looks of those things you order, these delivery people will likely guess (before too long) that you’re a Christian; and they’ll be watching you.
Over the years, our family has had a great time organizing many LOCAL OUTREACHevents to REACH OUT to our community. In addition to being “on-call” at all times to share the Gospel, we’ve enjoyed scheduled times, especially around seasonal holidays, to witness and to show the love of Jesus. Sometimes we’ve done random “acts of kindness” (like sweeping sidewalks, picking up garbage, cleaning parks, or giving away free hot cocoa). Other times, the focus has been specifically evangelistic. For our family, it’s been a great way to get outside of our “Christian-bubble” and to put real-life faces to “the lost” we’re praying for.
Wherever you are, just SHINE for Jesus, and simply obey each little “prompting” in your heart to step out and to share love and God’s Word. Stir your heart with God’s passion for the lost and begin to care more for the eternal destinies of acquaintances and relatives than trying to impress them. Live to please God, not people.
SHINING on the Internet
If you’re reading this on your computer, you also have an ability to influence others through online networking. As women of God, we need to establish safeguards (in both our use of time and in appropriate accountability), but over the past several years I have found online social networking to be incredibly effective . . . not only in our ministry to Christian families and to missionaries throughout the world, but also to our extended family and relatives. I can easily connect with a distant niece or a backsliden young adult . . . and he or she can simply begin to watch our family do life . . . and see the difference.
I can radiate God’s life in a dark world. With a little click I can link to a powerful prolife video or a simple Gospel presentation. I can post status updates about things I’m passionate about, like loving orphans or motivating families for world missions and share quick testimonies about the awesome goodness of God. I can even post links and updates about going to church, and this news (along with the direct church link) can “pop-up” directly on my unbelieving friend’s facebook wall.
The possibilities are really amazing. Sometimes it can seem nearly impossible to invite an unsaved neighbor or relative to church, but if we connect through the internet, the “door” to your church website or to a message of God’s salvation can be only one click away . . . directly from a place they already frequent (their facebook wall). I can live God loudly and influence many, even without leaving my home. I’ve learned how to make YouTube videos, how to use Twitter, and how to write blog articles. Just today, I had a deep discussion with a Mormon woman who was searching for the truth. Through blog comments, we “talked” back-and-forth about faith and self-efforts . . . the blood of Jesus and the Cross . . .and what it really means to have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus.
SHINING in the World (Who is our neighbor?)
As Christians, we’re also called to be a light for Jesus in this world.
Hudson Taylor said,
“The Great Commission is not an option to consider;
it is a command to obey.”
My husband Jon and I often say, “Missions is not just for missionaries;
God’s call is for all.”
Every Christian, and every Christian family is called to be a part of God’s global mission. You might not be called the “front-lines” in remote geographical areas (although you might! — our family sure is!), you are called to help expand God’s kingdom in whatever “sphere of influence” God has placed you. Allow God to expand your heart for others and to expand your spheres, beginning with specific areas of COMPASSION that God has placed on your heart. Do you care for unborn babies? Do you care for lonely families? Do you care for abused young women? Do you care for children? Do you care for a specific nation or people group, or for people who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
In closing, I want to share a short teaching (my son actually made this video for me) about how we as Christians are called to “Turn the World Upside-Down!” Sometimes, I don’t think we don’t take time to pray for the lost, or to share our faith, or even to care . . . because we don’t realize how eternally important this really is. In reality, it’s big, with bigger ramifications than any of us can imagine. It’s about light and darkness, good and evil, heaven and hell.
Let’s SHINE brightly for Jesus . . . in every sphere of our influence . . . and with God’s help, let’s start turning this world upside-down (so it’s right-side up!).
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman
What makes you come alive?
Read the full post . . . at t & c explorations.
Maybe I’ll grow up to be a missionary, or a doctor or a midwife or a nurse. Maybe I’ll be a teacher, or a newspaper reporter or a speaker and an author. Or maybe I’ll be something crazy . . . like a state governor, or an airplane pilot or an artist . . . or an amazing MOM!!!
I’m a girl who loves God and as long as I grow up to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, that’s all that matters!
A Daring Daughter . . .
. . . dreams of fulfilling God’s destiny.
. . . prays for that next-door neighbor.
. . . is not a picky eater!
. . . takes home a photo magnet from the visiting missionary family and puts it on the kitchen refrigerator.
. . . spends a summer night sleeping outside on the trampoline, gazes up at a sky filled with twinkling stars, and realizes God’s plan is infinitely bigger than her own backyard.
. . . is healthy, active, and adventurous.
. . . imagines rollerblading on the Great Wall of China!
. . . recognizes the names of Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot, and Lottie Moon.
. . . knows how to use chopsticks.
. . . has a reputation for thoroughly enjoying the Bible sword drills and memory verse contests at church.
. . . puts extra money in the monthly missions offering and feels extra good inside.
. . . thinks it could be fun to sleep in a mud hut in Africa!
. . . reads all the way through the Bible by the age of ten (or eleven or twelve)–and is excited to start again!
. . . stares at the photos in the new geography textbook or magazine and imagines climbing to the top of that Egyptian pyramid, snorkeling in those tropical-blue waters, and giving a new outfit to that poor boy with the ripped-up shirt.
. . . befriends the new kid at school.
. . . thinks beyond the “box” of what’s merely expected and hopes to do something big, or something little, for God.
. . . wants to obey (even when no one is looking).
. . . loves Jesus!
Moms, if you have a Daring Daughter, remember that “world missions” is not just an extracurricular subject. Training your girl to love God and to love others (all across the globe) should be at the core of her curriculum. Let’s raise the next generation of our girls to have fervent passion for Jesus and God’s Great Commission.
As Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China said, “The Great Commission is not just an option to consider; it is a command to obey.”
And as I wrote in The Mission-Minded Family, “Missions is not just for missionaries; God’s call is for all.”
When we grow up (and even for those of us who are older — as tweens and teens, women, moms, or even grandmas — as we all look ahead to our future days) let’s all dare to dream, dare to cry, and dare to obey. We’re Daring Daughters.
Reach for God-Sized Dreams . . . with Daring Daughters!
Come join the discussion (with a comment below).
What’s ONE CRAZY DREAM you have . . . of something you’d like to do?
Here is an incredibly interesting video about life in the womb. It is a presentation by a scientist (not just a preacher) and while it is a little lengthy, it is so interesting.
Please take 10 minutes out of your day to watch:
Conception to Birth — Visualized — Alexander Tsiaras:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKyljukBE70?rel=0&w=588&h=331]
Learn how YOU can serve as a missions volunteer for Gospel for Asia at conferences and events in your local area. Daring Daughters met this awesome mother-daughter team at the Missional Women Conference and they also spoke at our Denver Daring Daughters conference in Denver.
1. Sponsoring GFA native missionaries and Bridge of Hope children
2. Volunteering to serve GFA at a special event (conference or convention) in your local area
3. Raising $$$ for missions with “My GFA Campaign” — raising money for a project, such as buying chickens or rabbits or a “Jesus well” for people in need
Special thanks to Suzanne Wilson and her daughter, Sarah for sharing their example and their heart for missions with all of us here at Daring Daughters.
Suzanne and Sarah,
What a HUGE blessing you are to the Lord, to Gospel for Asia, and to people both in the US and across the world! And what a beautiful example to us of a mother and daughter joining together to make an impact for world missions!!! WoooHooo!!!
Have you ever wondered how YOU, as a Daring Daughter, or as a family, or as a church, could share the Gospel and “do missions” right in your local area? Consider the example of one ministry, simply being willing, creative, and faithful.
February 25th, 2016.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman
Learn how YOU can serve as a missions volunteer for Gospel for Asia at conferences and events in your local area. Daring Daughters met this awesome mother-daughter team at the Missional Women Conference and they also spoke at our Denver Daring Daughters conference in Denver.
