SQJ Taipei

That’s where I’m at right now… the time between Saturday AM (July 12) and Sunday AM (July 13) is the roughly 24 hour period “IN BETWEEN”.

Last week was the Taiwan Missionary Summer Conference. Drs. David Roadcup and Darrell Bock paired up to make the week memorable in so many ways. I have not looked at the list of past speakers through the 56 previous conferences, but I’d guess that these 2 men brought a combination of wisdom, scholarship, straight talk, passion, and grace beyond any other pair of speakers in the history of the conference. They were not only excellent from the stage, but also in casual time and meals together and in Q and A sessions. All attendees were especially blessed this year.

My co-worker, David Atkin, was the conference chairman and did an excellent job. He was able to institute a number of small changes and tweaks to the workings of the conference that were a benefit to all.

Another co-worker, Chad Edwards, was responsible for leading most of the music and did an outstanding job. I’m always blown away by his talent… which is to such a high degree and so naturally obtained that he himself usually doesn’t realize just how talented he is! I’ve played guitar and percussion with Chad on numerous occasions and he makes us all look and sound good. Last week I played bass guitar for the first time on stage or before more than about 15 people (mostly family and co-workers) and it went well for the most part. I’m very new to the bass, but have the sense of rhythm it takes to play it passably. Outside of a couple major mess-ups… I felt pretty good about playing the bass last week.

I spent quite a bit of time during the week with administrative responsibilities related the the TMF organization. I’ve been on the TMF administrative committee for 3 years and enjoyed my term. At this point, I could leave the committee, but I’m not sure I will do so. I’ve been asked by several people to assume the position of administrative committee chairman, but am still in prayer as to if this is God’s calling or not. I would appreciate your prayers in this matter. I have a deep appreciation for TMF and have many ideas that I think would prove helpful to the organization and to all missionaries in Taiwan, but our primary work besides family is to plant churches… I’m not clear yet whether taking the chairmanship will help or hinder our church planting efforts. I may have more to say on this later, but will leave it at a plea for prayer at this point.

The 2008 Sports and English Camp is upon us!

I’ve got my camp t-shirt on… and it is allowing my skin to breathe nicely in the sweltering heat that we find ourselves in at this time of year.

There are 115 youth registered… some won’t come, but most will and it is a great opportunity to influence and instruct some of the Taiwanese youth in sports, English, and life. Several have come from the USA to help as staff… but most touching, to me, is that several Taiwanese brothers and sisters have taken vacation time to serve the young people at camp this week. Maybe there will be more time to share about them later. Foreign workers can do some things… but it takes nationals to build a church planting movement and bring about lasting improvements within a nation. These Taiwanese servants are the key people in their nation’s future and well being. Will you please pray for them and for all of us?

My “in-between” time is basically gone… I have about 10 minutes and need to spend most of it packing up my stuff and walking across campus to join the worship service at the International Community Church of Taichung (as I *think* it is called).