Missions Update: Johnson's in Southeast Asia

Missions Update: Johnson's in Southeast Asia

Due to the sensitive nature of where our missionaries are, this information will be slightly vague but we want to update our church family, nonetheless.

As some of their team members minister in Syria and Turkey, we continue to pray over rescue missions there after the earthquake devastated those territories. As of last week, they estimated the death toll at about 41,000 people. We ask for continued prayers over their teams and the nationals there.

The Johnson's continue to serve the Muslim community, preaching Christ and meeting needs wherever they go. Here's what they say about keeping hope alive in that culture:

1. Express your feelings
In the West, we are told to express our feelings.  But for Muslims this is not a possibility. So we teach them to share these feelings with God, via journaling, and sharing with us. This is not a time for judgement, but rather a time to shift our attentions to what we can give over to God.
Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."

2. Cultivate optimism
We ask, "Can you envision the “glass half full”, instead of “half empty”? "What would it take for you to choose optimism?"
Jn 16:33 “I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.”
 
3. Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude can make you more hopeful. Thinking about all that you are grateful for puts things in a new and happier perspective, which naturally makes you more hopeful.
Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

4. Do a random act of kindness
Kindness gives hope to others. You feel good and so does the person receiving your kind gesture. Any act of kindness will give a rise in hope for the receiver and the giver.
Luke 6:27- “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great.”

5. Harness faith
Having faith is an inner knowing that things will work out without any evidence that it’s true. Faith is knowing in our hearts, if we keep focusing on Christ, then our hope will rise.
Rom 5:3-5 "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Thank you for your continued giving and partnership as Sierra Bible Church partners with missionaries like the Johnson's and many others all over the world!