France Saturday, 5-18-13

     I wanted to elaborate on a few tweets and Facebook posts you may have seen from us over the past few weeks.
    Most of you know by now that we can't reach our goal of leaving for France in the fall.  We still need more financial support, but even if God provided it, the required course we were hoping to attend in July is full.  And so, each time we find out that this phase of our journey is not yet finished, we're left with a lot of questions, sometimes mixed with feelings of guilt and failure, wondering if we had just done something "better" or "smarter," would we have reached our goals.  As if more human effort and ingenuity was all we needed!  But God reminds me over and over that this journey, and our lives, is just a tiny thread in the divine tapestry that He's weaving.  This is truly BIGGER than me or my family.
     I always liked the thought that we should pray that God would allow us to be a part of something so big that only He could pull it off. And I believe He's doing that.  This isn't something we can just "make happen" without his powerful, providential hand, and I'm thankful for it.  There will be no doubt who deserves the glory when we step off the plane in France!  God will have made a way. 
     Then the question becomes, "So why is God taking so long, lol!" Yes, timing.  The time is not yet right for Him to receive the maximum amount of glory.  Also, I believe He's still up to something, and again I think it goes beyond just preparing me and my family for church planting.  I think it's that and more. Without being too presumptuous, allow me to share a couple of reasons I think He's holding us here a while longer. 

Not to sound too much like a Garth Brook's song, we long to get to France, but also thankful for many things & people in our lives... (1/2)
— Brandon Burch (@burchworldteam) May 6, 2013

...That we wouldn't have experienced if God allowed us to go to France a year ago.God is doing something bigger than "us" (2/2)
— Brandon Burch (@burchworldteam) May 6, 2013

     For example, we have a great group of friends and family that I call our "faith team" that we've been able to meet with about once a month to pray and organize our efforts.  If we had been allowed to leave for France a year ago, many of this group would not have been a part of this process.  

Karis found out that we're not leaving for France this fall.Her response: "I think God wants us to tell people here that He loves them"
— Brandon Burch (@burchworldteam) May 8, 2013

Reminds me that this interim period is not just for future preparation, but present purpose!2 Pet. 3:9
— Brandon Burch (@burchworldteam) May 8, 2013

    That was truly a precious moment for us!  But take a look at that verse. --  9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. -- I know I'm not dealing with the immediate context, but don't the principles apply here as well?  God isn't slow about anything!  But everything He does is for a purpose, to reconcile the world to Himself.  I believe God wants to use us to involve more people in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.  I believe there are friends, co-worker's, family members, people that we're still to meet "as we're going" that need to hear the Good News.  So yes, please continue to pray that God would provide the funding needed to take the gospel to France.  But in the meantime, pray that we would be His ambassadors here and that His purposes will be accomplished through us.  

 

France Friday, 4/26/13

Hello everyone!  I'm gonna keep it short and sweet this week.  Here are a couple of recent updates in case you missed them and then I'll go straight to the prayer needs for this week.  Thank you so much for walking alongside us in this journey! 

• We found out about two weeks ago that we won't be able to attend the required pre-field training in July because they don't have anymore room.  Even though we still have a long way to go to get to 75% funding, it was disappointing to hear that we don't even have a shot to take that step in July.  What next?  That leaves two options for now:

1. Try to make the September training course at the former institution that World Team used, but this one costs about $5,000 more than ICC.  
2. Wait and try to go to the next ICC course offered in January. 

         Obviously we're anxious to get there as soon as God will allow us to go. 

• We were privileged to be interviewed by our friend Larry Rea at the Commercial Appeal this week.  We're hoping to see the article run around Mother's Day as we discuss what this faith journey means for us as a mom and dad of 3 young'ins.  
• How can you help?  Outside of prayer and financial gifts and pledges, we're looking for more opportunities to share in person with families or small groups.  If there's someone you think we should meet, would you be willing to arrange a time we can all meet for coffee?  These opportunities to share face to face are invaluable!  

Prayer Needs:    

1. I (Brandon) am praying that God would provide a large increase in our funding soon, either through a "large" donor or an army of "smaller" donors.   
2. I will be sharing with the children's ministry and Fayette Baptist Church this Sunday.  Pray that God will use me to give children a passion to reach the ends of the earth!  
3. I have a meeting with a local pastor tomorrow.  Continue to pray that God would lead area churches to join what He's doing in France.  
4. Pray that the article would be accepted in the "Faith Matters" section of the paper that goes out to everyone!  
5. Pray for pastors and friends Brent and Keith that are on a trip to the Sudan to preach the gospel and train men to make disciples.  Pray that God will allow them to finish strong as they are pretty worn out.  

Lastly, big thanks again to the Butler's and K's donuts for placing one of our "pickle jars" in their shop.  Go support their business.  They're located across from the neighborhood Walmart in Bartlett and the donuts (and donut holes!) are great.  **We have 5 or 6 more pickle jars ready to go if you know of another business that would take one.**  Let us know and we'll get one in your hands. 

I'm not kidding about the donut holes!  You have to try them!