“Finishing is better than starting.” – King Solomon
http://bible.com/116/
May Mobilization Update on Iraq, Chad, Communications and more from @MikeJentes
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A short-term vision trip team is heading to Chad this month (but not me this time). The team consists of several pastors (who represent churches considering partnering with Chad), Encompass leadership, and individuals that are considering long-term work in Chad.
Press on,Engaging the Unengaged and Finishing The Task
For eight years now, a growing network of mission leaders, agencies and churches have been drawing attention to those least-reached people groups who have no known churches, pastors or mission workers. The missiological title for these people groups are “unengaged”—meaning no one is engaging them for the sake of the Gospel. The Finishing the Task network has purposed to count down to ZERO people groups who have no workers engaging them.
Encompass World Partners has been participating over the years and contributing to taking people groups off the list as we send workers to engaging these “unengaged” people groups! The annual working meeting for Finishing The Task was attended this week by our own Ed Trenner and Mike Jentes at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA.
Last year, Encompass mobilized students at Momentum and Grace College to pray for these people groups through the 533 Challenge. 
It was exciting to see answered prayer this year as we were able to contribute one more people group taken off the list through the Encompass family! Over the course of the working meeting more than 70 people groups were taken off as we count down to zero!
Finishing The Task is coordinated by long time Cru and Jesus Film Project leader Paul Eshleman(pictured). We encourage you and your church to check out their website and resources as you seek to reach the least reached for the sake of the Gospel.
- Would you continue to pray for the lost among the least reached?
- Would you make a gift to help Encompass continue to engage?
- Would you considering going to take the Gospel to those who don’t have a chance to hear it?
Children Refuse To Deny Jesus in Iraq
Below is the testimony of Cannon Andrew White on what continues to take place in Iraq with the displaced Christian communities. Remember these communities in prayer.
Thanks to my friend John Lambert who shared this information.
If you want to get involved in helping the displaced Iraqi’s, check out Grace4Iraq.com
If you would like to connect with an emerging coalition to help, please contact me or Ted Rondeau
Also, you might learn from this video done by Encompass World Partners about Iraq.
September E-newsletter from @MikeJentes
 Mindi and I meeting with ethnic leaders from SoCal! On Saturday, August 30 we had a little gathering of leaders from Cambodia and Latin America for a little breakfast get together with Jesús Muñoz (our Cambodian brother left before the picture and our Japanese friends were on a retreat!). This gathering may emerge into a network of ethnic leaders who can spur one another on to make disciples and plant churches in the nations of our world! |
| WHAT’S HAPPENED WITH ME |
| The Latest Scoop |
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Sorry it has been a while since I’ve communicated to you via this means. The past few months have been full, as I’m sure they have for you!
At the FellowShift Conference this summer, Encompass sought to do something which would engage people in reaching the nations. We set up stations we called “Engagement Stations” with a variety of different ways to participate. We also created an online version of the Engagment Stations so you can participate right now! Check out all 7 online!
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 Cameroon Leadership Training CoalitionJust yesterday, I talked via Skype with Jason Carmean in Cameroon! He and his family have been on the ground for one month and are adjusting well. I’m excited to be part of a coalition that has committed for 5 years to seeing dozens and dozens of pastoral leaders trained for the more than 45 churches and 30+ church plants in Cameroon. Dave Guiles has described this “as the greatest leadership development need the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches has seen in several generations.”
One of the ways you can help is by supporting the first modules of Bible training supporting the first modules of Bible training–please consider a gift! |
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Pray for the Ongoing Ministry of the Château de St. Albain
Yesterday, September 3, 2014, was declared as a Day of Prayer for the Château by Joël Rongier, president of Château Association. Please join in praying and fasting for God to supply the following personnel needs for the Château so that ministries will continue without interruption: 1) A European business manager and coordinator: Pray especially for wisdom and direction for the Château steering committee to find the right people to fit into ministry leadership. 2) An American support couple: To care for the responsibilities of welcoming visitors, preparing and serving meals, maintenance and grounds work. Our Château Coalition is seeking to publish a coffee-table book (in English, French and German) to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ministry and funds are needed to get it rolling. |
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Catalyzing Networks
Over the last few months, I’ve been part of catalyzing two really important networks: One is around Women in Church Planting. All over the world, women are involved in the church planting endeavor– moms, businesswomen, educators, missionaries, single women, etc. Many of these ladies don’t have a place to connect with others. Through the leadership of my friends Louise Klawitter and Jessica Robertson, this network has formed a Facebook group that is nurturing this network. It’s a secret group to hide the identities of some of our bravest women who are in closed countries, but if you send a message to Louise, she can get you synced up.
A second network is forming for those who are passionate about Adoption, Orphan & Foster Care. This budding network, in addition to it’s Facebook Group is holding monthly Skype calls where folks from all over the world can call in and participate. Find out more on my blog about this group.
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THANK YOU! I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank YOU for your prayers and support which are vital to the Lord’s work in our world. I’m humbled and privileged to serve our King and alongside you! |
 Thanks so much for your financial gifts to support the work of reaching the least reached! Some of you have remained very diligent even without a lot of info from me! My work continues to be fruitful, so I want to encourage you to continue your pledge or consider a monthly gift! |
Read the entire September 2014 E-newsletter online
My E-newsletter Archive:
Read my February 2014 e-newsletter
Read my December 2013 E-Newsletter
Read my August 2013 e-newsletter
Read my June 2013 e-newsletter
Read my May 2013 e-newsletter
Read my April 2013 e-newsletter
Sacrifice, Joy and Glory from David Livingstone
On December 4, 1857, David Livingstone, the great pioneer missionary to Africa, made a stirring appeal to the students of
Cambridge University, showing that he had learned through the years of experience what Jesus was trying to teach Peter:
“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice
I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice, which is simply paid back as a small
part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in
healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter?Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say, rather, it is a privilege.
Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this
life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these
are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”
“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.”
May this be your joy in all of life, in whatever you do – that where God has placed you is a privilege and a pleasure, because “the chief end of man is to glorify God by ENJOYING Him forever!”
–From Desiring God by John Piper
Tips on Mobilizing My Church for Missional Living
Adoption Conversation Continues
Yesterday we had a conversation via SKYPE about ways people who are passionate about orphans, adoption & foster care can network together for greater encouragement, resourcing, and effectiveness.
It was our first OPEN meeting…where anyone can jump into the conversation. It was good to have a new voice join the conversation.
Here were a couple of helpful quotes/ideas:
Orphan care is human trafficking prevention. – @John_McCollum of @AsiasHope
— Mike Jentes (@mikejentes) August 21, 2014
You can't talk about human trafficking WITHOUT talking about orphans. @John_McCollum of @AsiasHope
— Mike Jentes (@mikejentes) August 21, 2014
The book Orphanology by Tony Merida & Rick Morton
Could be helpful for churches, individuals starting local ministries & support groups.
Below are my notes from today just to share all the resources and ideas which were bounced around. OrphanAdoptFosterConvo2014_08-21
You can see a little Facebook page we started at http://www.facebook.com/groups/557467357708956 It’s got some cool conversations and stories already rolling on it! This page is being used quite a bit and we will probably promote other events, etc. via that group.
It was suggested for a regular monthly call, using Skype. So let’s plan on the 3rd THURSDAY of the Month at 4pm Eastern, 3pm Central, 1pm Pacific. We will schedule this out for 3 months:
- September 18
- October 16, and
- November 20 as an experiment. Then we will see how it’s going.
I’ll be facilitating the conversation by Skype. My Skype name is “mikejentes” send me a friend request so I can add you to the call!
If I don’t know you, please feel free to email me your name (and Skype name) and introduce yourself so I can get in touch with you! Make the time for one of these calls and invite your friends wo are passionate about caring for orphans!
The Funny Michael Jr…
Adoption, Foster and Orphan Care Network
A burgeoning conversation has been going on over the last few months about adoption, orphan and foster care with some people who I really like, and who are INSPIRATIONAL! These folks aren’t just pontificators…they are difference makers!
Lot’s going down @BuildMomentumyc
Well, I’m bummed I can’t be at the AWESOMEST youth conference in the world — Momentum in the Chicago area. I went last year, and was really jazzed that they are still centered on Jesus, His Word, equipping and inspiring students to live it out!
Continue reading “Lot’s going down @BuildMomentumyc”
So Glad Kayla got to be part of 1 Day of #EncounterATL
Urbanization – Hope or Despair?
On Mission in a Moving World
If you have ever moved, you know the disruption it causes to your life. Now imagine millions on the move sometimes in less than ideal circumstances. Some are simply moving to start a new life, but others are under much more extreme pressures. With a background of war, trafficking, job loss and countless other disruptors, people are finding themselves in many new places. What are you doing to meet them as they move?
Personal Reflection
A great place to start on the issues that surround the global movement of people is to identify with them. Think about a time when you have been new to a place. What feelings were dominant? What opportunities and challenges did you face? Then consider the people of Israel traveling through the desert, Jesus as a young boy in Egypt and Paul sitting under house arrest in Rome. What must they have been going through? As your empathy brings you face to face with real people in these situations, ask God how you should respond in love.
Engaging the Church
Do you know which communities of immigrants are within 20 miles of your church? It is easy to end up on Spiritual journeys of “sameness”. We can neglect those who are very close by but different than we are. Start by looking online to find out which immigrant communities are nearby. Then identify some of the ministries in town who are serving those communities. Also, find out if some of the countries where you are supporting mission work globally have communities of immigrants you can also be reaching out to. Find ways to include these communities within your community of faith. How can you show them God’s love as you invite them into your midst?
Sugar Cubes and the Château
As a 5th grade boy, I remember working on a project with hundreds of sugar cubes. (Some of those got popped into my mouth…I was a boy!) This Sunday School project was to build a replica of the Château that our French missionaries were using to share the Gospel. In my minds eye it was quite a masterpiece as we glued together dozens of sugar cubes to formed this castle.
Now years later, this same Château has caught my fancy. (Although I’m not popping as much sugar these days.) One of my heroes, Tom Julien was the entrepreneur of the acquisition and use of the Château de Saint Albain for building relational bridges with the French to sow the Good News. That ministry began 50 years ago this year! Amazing!
So in the celebration of their 50th anniversary of ministry (of course the building is much older!), there are a variety of ways to be apart. Our Encompass World Partners board of directors are actually meeting on-site for annual meetings this week. This weekend is the first celebration of many for this year.
There are at least 5 ways you can get involved:
1) The easiest way to support the Château and get info about the ministry is on their Facebook page. Like it RIGHT NOW!
2) Another ways you can be apart is helping “kickstart” the printing of a commemorative coffee table book. Much of the design work on the book is already done, but we need funding to actually print the project with our French publishing house Éditions Clé. Your donation will actually be “doubled” bless the work of the Château—so your donation of $100 dollars actually gets the book published and can generate up to $200 toward the ministry! Donate now and help us get this project rolling!
3) Soon there will be the restarting of the Château 100 Club where people can become members of the Château ministry with a $100 donation to support the work! You can start right now (on the Project list select FRANCE- $100 Club)!
4) You can always go on a Short-Term Trip! At least 4 teams going from the USA this year. Talk to our Mobilizers in the Encompass office to find out how and when you can go. Contact a mobilizer
5) Is the Château calling you?!?! One of the evolutions in the Château’s ministry over the last 10 years has been to put the leadership firmly into the hands of the European leaders. Today, our North American workers mainly contribute through an on-site support couple. The current couple, Bob & Lisa Keiffer fulfill their commitment at the end of this year. We are in need of a new support couple to live in at the Château and serve the nations! Would you be praying for this important role to be filled? Maybe you are interested in serving in this role… Want to find out more>>
Maybe the Château has caught your fancy?!?!….I hope so! Get involved!
Learn more about Encompass World Partner’s work in France and at the Château in the following video: