Team Belgium

Well, here we all are. (back row l-r) Brent, Rich, Lindsey, me, (front row l-r) Kevin, Keith (our X237 director), Daisy (Brent's wife), and April (we are missing Daniel, our team leader, but he wasn't with us the day we took this). We had an amazing week together as we traveled around Belgium to meet with pastors and leaders to get a sense of their vision here. I think I learned more about Belgian culture in a week than I have in sixteen months. Rather maybe, what I understood about the culture was confirmed or modified as I evaluated what I have experienced and what I was hearing. All good stuff. If you would like to read more about our adventure together, I gave a day-by-day summary of our week at www.amycgreene.blogspot.com.

Russian English Camps

Our English camps are June 28-July 12 ($1450 plus airfare) and July 27th-August 10 ($1400 plus airfare). We'd love to have you come and meet the 'Ksenias' and adults of Moscow and show them the love of Christ. Qualifications: Speak English, have fun, make new friends, age 16 and up. (WAY up.) E-mail us to sign up or if you have any questions. (photo of a Winter camp class end of this message)

Sonnet, do you think there is hope for us in Russia? Can we be successful and hold onto our values and not become vulgar? If we swim with those who are vulgar do we not become as they are if we want to be successful? My friend said he would become like the vulgar ones if it means to be successful.

These questions come from a 22 year old bright, beautiful, young woman named Ksenia.

To a Russian, you must have money to be defined as successful. And they also believe that if you have money, it was probably gained by being vulgar, (without morals, ethics, or values). For most Russians, there can be no connection of success and values. Their role models of the 'New Russian,' have made their money by questionable means. For most Americans, even with all the Enron and Anderson scandals, we still believe that it is possible to be financially successful and hold onto your values and not become 'vulgar.'

So, what was my answer to Ksenia? Yes, I have hope for you in Russia. Yes, I believe you can develop values, hold onto them and be successful in Russia.

But to you dear Americans, I really don't know if it is possible for this generation of young Russians. It may take a generation modeling a desire for change, for their children to truly bring about change.

Ksenia is one of the young women invited to attend a student house church plant being started by our intern, David Young. David and 2 interns from a partner ministry built relationships with Russian students at our Winter English Exchange Camp in January and these relationships are the nucleus of this group. They will meet every Sunday afternoon - Moscow time -- so please remember them in your prayers. (*see photo at end)

Jon and I thank you for the opportunity to share Christ in Moscow Russia.

When we reach out
We are His hands
When we speak a kind word
We are His voice
When we cry for them
We shed His tears
When we laugh with them
We show His joy.

Jon and Sonnet Barr
The English Exchange
United World Mission

Passion Conference 2007

The first four days of the New Year for me were spent at Passion 07 in Atlanta, Georgia. There were some 20,000 college age students in attendance that worshiped together and heard great messages about spending their lives for global impact to make Christ’s name renown among the nations. There were also about 100 of us from different mission agencies who were available to help coach people toward mission’s opportunities. In one since that’s my job. Helping people who desire to play a role in the great commission. But in reality it’s my passion, my hobby, and my heartbeat. Along with two other people also with UWM I got to talk to people like Andrew who graduated last year with a degree in finance and is working at a bank. But every time he hears about people in East Asia his heart breaks with the thought that they have absolutely no access to the Gospel that he’s surrounded by every day here in the south. He’s praying about what steps he needs to take next. We also talked with Summer who desires to be the finger prints of Christ to a broken world, anyplace in the world, doing whatever, for however long… She just wants to do something. We had a blast connecting with people who understand deeply what God has done and continues to do for them and want to see that Gospel bear fruit all over the world.

We also talked to people like Tiffany and Laura. Tiffany’s an advertising major and Laura is an art major. Both will graduate in May. I asked them if they were interested in serving cross-culturally. Both said yes, but that they weren’t sure how. I told them to look around the room at all the banners and signs that were advertising missions. Who do you think did these signs? Advertising majors! What about Belgium? Who do you think can best relate to all the artistic students there who don’t go to church? Art majors can!

What passions and skills has God gifted you with? Maybe you’re still figuring that out. We’d love to help you as you process through where and how God could use you and together we can discover where, what and how. Look at the pictures of where we are and keep an open heart. Read the about the different opportunities and imagine yourself as a part of the story. Then, prayerfully check out the steps in the journey and ask God what steps you need to take.