Hello From The Future!
Nick Teaching on Spiritual Formation Friday evening at the Malta church.
Hello everyone! We have been in Bosnia for two full days now. For the most part, I think we are all getting pretty well adjusted to the time change (Bosnia is 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time, so hello from the future!). The fist day here was really long, especially for Nick and Matt (Pastor from Tacoma, WA), as the only sleep we got on Thursday night was on the airplane and after we landed in Bosnia, Friday at 12:45pm; that evening, Nick and Matt taught the first seminar on Spiritual Formation (see Nick’s blog below).
So far, the trip has been exciting as we have gotten to meet the Alliance workers here and reconnect with the Dinius family who had come to our Global Impact week at East Hills a year ago. Yesterday, we rode the “tram" to downtown Sarajevo and experienced some Bosnian culture. It is amazing to me how relational the people are, and how many people are out and about walking at almost any time of day and late into the evening. Walking seems to be part of the way of life here and we got to experience some of that as we explored today.
Nick inside the Library/Museum, you can see some of the Turkish architecture.
We visited a Library/Museum that had some Bosnian art exhibited. The building was built in and around a building that used to be a Turkish bath-house. The architecture was really beautiful.
The roof of the old Turkish bath-house.
We’ve been enjoying the food too! So far my favorite is the stuffed donuts, which are fried bread stuffed with cheese and chicken, but I’m expecting that this will not be my favorite for long; there are still so many foods left to try! We also had Bosnian pizza which will probably, eventually, find it’s way into another blog post at my pizza blog: jessedeats.blogspot.com.
Today we are going to church at Ilidza where Nick will be preaching and I am looking forward to possibly helping out on their worship team! Keep checking back here for more updates!
Thank you for praying for us. Please continue to pray that God would bring us into the path of people that need encouragement and that we can be a blessing in all the conversations and interactions we have. Also, pray that God would teach and grow us through this trip, that he would bring us into to the path of people who he will use to do that work in us.
- Jesse
On the Ground
Our first day in Bosnia is in the books!
After a three-legged flight from Seattle to Sarajevo, we arrived Friday afternoon and hit the ground running! Our international partners Mark Eikost and Todd Dinius met us at the airport and transported us over to our places of lodging. Then we had a great lunch of American-style chili at Mark and Kathy Eikost’s apartment, followed by our team orientation.
The team enjoys a breakfast in Munich, Germany during our lay-over before heading to Sarajevo.
We then met up with our friend and local Bosnian pastor Sasha Nikolinovic for coffee. He pastors the Evangelical Church at Malta, where we are also doing a Spiritual Formation seminar this weekend. Round one was Friday night, as both Matt Howell (Tacoma Alliance) and I did some presenting. Considering that we were running on just a few hours of sleep on the plane, we felt that we did pretty well! Working with a translator always takes some getting used to, but the message seemed to be communicated clearly. Please pray that our second round on Saturday would be equally smooth and that we would be a tremendous encouragement to the local church. Pray also for our energy and stamina as we adjust to the new time zone. Local time here is 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Pastor Matt Howell teaches during the Spiritual Formation Class at Malta.
For those who may be reading this update who are new to our partnership with Bosnia, let me give you a couple more ways to pray. The Evangelical Church of Bosnia is a very, very small percentage of the people in this country. On average, about 1,500 people worship weekly in an Evangelical Church in a country of over 4 million. The church at Malta (the name of one section of the capital city Sarajevo) is probably the largest Evangelical church in the city, averaging 60-70 in attendance. As much as half of this crowd on any given weekend is foreign workers here to do ministry. Pray for Pastor Sasha and the Malta Church as we worship with them the next two weekends and do the preaching. On Sunday morning, we will be out at Ilidza, which is a church plant from Malta. This group of 15-20 has a tremendous heart for their community, but limited resources. Pray that their second-hand clothing ministry would be effective at creating bridges for the gospel.
Until tomorrow, keep praying for us. We would love to read your comments and prayers, so please post them below. Also, if you have any questions about our trip, our team, or the people of Bosnia, please post those as well and I’ll do my best to answer them!
Thanks for taking this trip with us! We are your hands and feet on the ground in Bosnia for the next 10 days. Blessings-
Pastor Nick
Back to Bosnia, by Pastor Nick Stumbo
Though Facebook, and the Internet in general, have tried to shrink it, the world is still a very big place. Thousands of people groups dot the globe, and for most of us, our awareness of these other cultures is limited at best. Then Jesus comes along in His gospel and calls us to “Go into the world and make disciples.” How can we be light around the world when we struggle to be light in our neighborhoods?
About five years ago, East Hills was stuck in this kind of place as a church. We cared about the world in general, and knew that God had called us to go, but the overwhelming amount of countries, peoples and cultures kept our missions outreach stagnant. It was at this time that we were introduced to the idea of partnership. Partnership in world missions means adopting or embracing a specific place of the world as your own- the particular place where you will invest and go deep.
As our leadership team prayed through many possibilities, the country God put on our heart was Bosnia Herzegovina. Part of the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia fell into a horrific civil war in the mid-1990’s. Their neighbors, Serbia, controlled most of the military and most of the money. Due to this and long-standing historical divides, the civil war quickly turned into an ethnic-cleansing as Serbs moved through Bosnia and began driving out, or worse eliminating, Bosniak Muslims and Croatian Catholics. A 42-month siege of the capital city Sarajevo was ended by the USA-brokered Dayton Peace accords. This arrangement gave Bosnia its sovereignty as a country, but the deep cultural divides remain to this day.
Bosnia is a country divided by deep, ethnic lines. To be Bosnian is to be Muslim, even if just in name. An uneasy peace or tolerance exists between the three main people groups- Bosnian, Serbian (Orthodox) and Croatian (Catholic). Here enters the church. The Bosnian Evangelical Church is a small, but unified group of believers who want to build bridges between the people groups with the message of Jesus Christ. The Alliance also has a team of workers who live and serve alongside this church to further their efforts of reaching the nation with the gospel.
Over the last five years, EHA has partnered with the Bosnian church and the Alliance. We have had teams go over to run a kid’s club, build a fence at a Bible Camp, and teach classes at the Bible College. It is with great joy and anticipation that Pastor Jesse and I are headed back to Bosnia Nov. 6-18 to further this connection. We will be joined by three others from the Tacoma Alliance Church. On our trip, we will be preaching in four local churches, helping lead worship, and teaching two classes on Spiritual Formation.
Here are some of Jesse’s thoughts about the trip:
“Having never been to Bosnia, I could almost put everything I know about Bosnia in two to three hundred words, which is exactly what I am about to do.
When I think about Bosnia the first thing that comes to mind is the war that happened there in the early 90’s. I was pretty young at that time but can remember hearing about it on the news. It will be interesting to see how this recent history of Bosnia affects the people there today. I know one of our team members recently lost her husband, and will probably have opportunity to share her story of God’s faithfulness to her, with Bosnian women who have also lost husbands. Please pray for that!
As a church we’ve been partnering with Alliance workers in Bosnia and I am very excited to be able to see this first hand. I’m looking forward to getting to know some of the Alliance workers better, and also to meet some of the local pastors and build relationships with them. I’ve heard stories of the friendships that have been built by others from East Hills who have taken trips to Bosnia. And I am looking forward to building similar relationships and hoping that God will put me in contact with someone with whom I can bring His blessing and light into their lives. Please pray for God to bring us all special opportunities to bless others and that we would have His eyes to see these opportunities as He sees them. Thank you for praying for us!”
We want to invite you to “take this trip” with us. You can read a daily trip log by visiting the House online: http://www.easthillsalliance.org/the-house/
As we come alongside the Bosnian church, where only .05% of the population have faith in Christ, our desire is to see Jesus reunite people with their heavenly Father and with one another. Pray that we would be an encouragement everywhere we go- to the Alliance team, to the Bosnian church and pastors, and to Bosnians who don’t yet know Christ.
Thanks for helping us be light in the world!
Getting to Know You
The House interviewed Cameron Gunn, new EHA sound tech leader, as a part of a continuing series on new members at EHA and The Grove.
The House: How long have you been attending EHA?
Cameron: We started attending EHA on a regular basis in January 2013.
The House: Could you describe your family a little bit? (number of years married, wife’s name, number of children, their ages?)
Cameron: My wife Stacia and I have been married for 8 years. We met in high school and continued dating through college and married shortly after I graduated. We have two daughters. Claire is 5 years old and Paige is 3. They’re the ones roaming the halls in Kidville with giant Seahawk bows on Sunday morning.
The House: Where do you work?
Cameron: Reprographics, Inc. It’s a printing & graphic design company.
The House: Share a little about your journey with Jesus: When did you become a Christian? How did that happen? Share one or two things that mean a lot to you as a believer?
Cameron: I grew up in a Christian home and I became a Christian when I was in the second grade. I was at Sunday school when I asked my teacher how to become a Christian and she prayed with me. Although I became a Christian at age 8, I wasn’t baptized until much later. It wasn’t until a
family member passed away that I rethought about my faith and decided that it was time to be baptized. As a believer I feel it is important for me to use the talents I have been given to aid in others’ walk, such as helping with worship by running the sound board.
The House: Do you have a special interest, talent or skill that you think we might be interested in knowing about you? (Do you juggle? Race motorbikes? Run or hike for recreation?)
Cameron: One of my interests is cycling & mountain biking. I was on the Western Washington University cycling team for 2 years.
The House: Any fun facts?
Cameron: As part of earning a geology degree, in college I did a field study that required me to camp for 6 weeks straight.
The Grove Lays Down Roots, by Pastor Jon Donohue
After many months of planning and preparation, The Grove has officially been “planted” at Monticello Middle School in Longview! Our first gathering was Sunday, October 12 at 10:30a, and we had a great turn out, with lots of visitors, young families, and children.
It’s exciting to see our vision of one church ministering through two campuses come to life. Because we’re in two locations, we can now impact more people and more neighborhoods with the love of Jesus. Maybe you are wondering what it takes to launch a worship service at Monticello?
● It takes dedicated, servant-minded people who give up their leisurely Sunday mornings in order to get up early and haul around tables, chairs, audio gear, pipe and drape, and Kidville equipment in order to create inviting, creative spaces that are both functional and welcoming. Thanks to Loren Portwood’s tremendous leadership and organizational skills, systems are now in place that are streamlining the process.
● It takes audio and video tech team members to set up and run computer equipment, run hundreds of feet of cable, plug in advanced sound gear, and then mix it all so that everything sounds crisp and clear…all in time for worship practice at 9:00 AM. Thanks to Wayne Wrzesinski for leading the charge and playing a vital hand in organizing, leading, and structuring this ministry.
● It takes a dedicated team of talented musicians and vocalists to communicate, plan, and practice through- out the week, and then show up early on Sunday morning ready to help set up their gear, rehearse and then lead us into worship. Thanks to Danny Perez for leading this team with vision, passion, structure, and great skill.
● It takes loving, energetic, and dedicated Kidville teachers and helpers to show up at various times between 8 to 9:30 AM to help get ready to give kids a great structured and Christ-centered experience. On top of that, our dedicated nursery folks currently arrive at 8 AM to care for and organize a good time for the kids of our set up, tech, and worship teams. They play a vital role in all we have going on Sunday mornings. Thanks to Jo-El Perez who has led this ministry with skill, focus, dedication, and great love and passion for both the kids and the advancement of this critical ministry.
● It takes gracious and hospitable welcome team members who arrive early in order to put out signage, help organize the welcome table, and be in place to greet the first people who walk through the doors. Our welcome team members are our first impression, and they take their responsibilities seriously. Thanks to Jim and Denise Cram for their devoted, insightful, and caring leadership of this ministry.
● It takes volunteers who bring treats and snacks each weekend, and other volunteers who set up the coffee and drink station each weekend. Thanks to Katie Sande for organizing a great food and fellowship zone, and for leading the charge for sign-ups of the goodies that keep us rolling through the morning.
● It takes you, to pray and give and serve by filling in the gaps where we still need help. While our team is strong, we still need help in Kidville and the set up/take down ministries. If you can dedicate time once or twice a month (even if only for a season) to care for or help teach kids, or move around gear on a Sunday morning, you will play a vital role in the successful launch of a movement of God. Thank you to everyone who has already served and given in so many wonderful and important ways, from financial gifts, to sewing drapes, to giving supplies, to offering professional wisdom, to extending prayers and words of encouragement. Without you, this would not have been possible.
● And most of all, it takes Jesus, who continually encourages us, leads us, and empowers us along the way. It’s His mission that we’re on, and it’s in His strength that we advance as light into darkness. What a joy to serve our Savior and Lord in this worthwhile and impacting endeavor.
We encourage you to come and visit us on a Sunday morning! Even better, bring a friend from Longview along with you!
May the roots that The Grove lays down in Longview be deep and abiding, and may this fresh movement of God impact many lives for hope, healing, and salvation.
Enough By Linda Pharr
I had an agenda when I decided to participate in the October women’s weekend retreat this year in Ocean Park. I needed to meet with God in a quiet place and to work out some issues with Him.
Over the course of two and one-half days, I got so much more!
An early morning coffee walk with good friends; a four-mile bike ride that turned into an eight-mile bike ride; a midnight wake-up when someone inadvertently flicked the lights on in our room—mistaking it for her own (you know who you are!); a quiet bench in a shady spot for a time with the Lord; lots of laughter, tears and snacks (lots of snacks) and good, solid counsel by Ann Hight and Amy Guartuche on “The secret of being content.”
I found out that contentment is a choice and that I need to rest in the sufficiency of Christ alone. The mystery is that Jesus is enough—for everything I need and will go through and face in my life. The question is: Do I believe it? I chose to.
I can do everything, deal with everything, struggle with everything that comes my way in life by choosing to act on the fact He is enough—for strength when the going gets rough, for patience when mine is lost, for comfort when grief or betrayal comes my way.
God met me in a very special way that weekend. And I found friends of all ages to laugh with, cry with and share East Hills Alliance life with.
And I discovered bunco for the first time!
Life Here and There By JJ
Coming back to the good ol' USA after living overseas has its upside. We have a renewed appreciation for many things that we used to take for granted. Tacos are much more incredible than I ever remember them to be. There are smooth sidewalks and multi-level libraries with a gazillion books in English. There is an organized democratic process where people vote, by popular demand, for new laws to be enforced, or old laws to be un-enforced. You can find newscasts on TV where the professionals sit around looking really great and laugh at each other’s jokes. They are just so unbelievably friendly! There are these magical places where parents carry collapsible chairs and sit on very well-manicured grass fields as hundreds of children play soccer, one game after another. It's like a noisy city that appears and disappears within hours over and over again for months on end. Amazing. The prayer warriors who have upheld us and the generous donors who have supported us through the Great Commission Fund have been a blessing to meet and we feel so very fortunate to be part of the Kingdom of God here.
There are things we miss about being overseas, though. There were a lot fewer rules to follow there. Stuff was cheaper. Our lives were less spread out and everything we needed on a weekly basis was for the most part, within walking distance. The grocery store, the kids' school, hubby's work, team mates' houses for meetings – these were just a hop, skip and a jump away, which was good because we didn't have a car. Outward and public morality and modesty was still the rule of thumb, so there was less daily assault and worldly captivation of the visual senses via fashion trends and advertisements.
To be perfectly honest, there are new temptations for us to fight that come along with returning to the mother land after seeing and experiencing so many different things out there. We have to guard against the temptation to judge others who have not had the opportunity to go away and come back -which has a way of introducing new objectivity and an expanded world view. We have to refrain ourselves
from slipping into eye- rolling mode when folks here get their feathers
ruffled over minor changes in "the plan". (Like it or not, flexibility has
become a key ingredient for our mental well-being.) When I hear a kid whine about how they are “starving,” I have to gracefully remember they can't possibly know the definition of “starving” because they have never held a 12-pound, one year old like I have. It's not that everyone in Central Asia is starving; it’s just that my path of ministry happened to cross paths with extreme poverty, and I have a harder time now empathizing with echoes of continual dissatisfaction in the land of plenty.
“Home” is a confusing concept. Is home the place where we met and married before we started bouncing all over the world? Is it the first country we took our kids to, or the second? Is it over there or over here? The two questions we get asked most through the year are: "When did ya'll get back?" And "When are ya'll leaving again?" The third
most popular question needs a lot of discernment to answer. When people say, "Tell me all about what you do!" We have to decide if they really wanted the 1-minute answer, the 3-minute answer, or 10-minute answer. We don't have an agenda to make people listen to every detail of 3 years summed up in a few minutes; we just want to be humble advocates for God's heart for the world. The whole world.
I'm sure the year will go by quickly. We have already been able to have a lot of family bonding time, which has been wonderful. Eventually we will gear up to go back, praying for God's vision and power to launch us into another term of effective service for Him. But for now, grandpa and grandma are having their precious time with the grand kids, and we are eating up the full American experience, one taco at a time.
False Fruit, False Prophets, By Jack Sande
Matthew 7:15-16 says “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit.” The Greek words used to translate in our pew Bibles for “by the way they act” means “by their fruit.” In other words you can tell false prophets by their fruits. I once heard someone preach on these verses as saying the fruits are the fruit of the spirit. I do not think the lack of the fruit of the spirit is a mark of the false prophet. What we need to do is to check out the scriptures to see what the fruits of false prophets are.
The role of the prophet is to either forth tell or foretell. In other words to either preach God’s truth or to prophesy a future event. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 describes a false prophet as giving “a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak [for God]” or “predicts something in the Lord’s name and it does not happen.” These are the fruits of a false prophet. Another passage you might check out is Deuteronomy 13:1-5.
Joseph Smith provides an excellent example of both roles he tried to fulfill as a self-proclaimed prophet. In his Book of Mormon there is the phrase, “You are saved by grace after all you can do.” A person can always do more. Also, if you have to work at it, is it really grace? In another work attributed to Joseph he claimed Christ would come back in 1891. If you had not noticed, he missed the mark. One false prophecy makes a false prophet.
I had almost become entrapped by the Jehovah Witnesses over 40 years ago. After discovering the false teachings and false prophecies I steered clear of them. Since that time 40 years ago I have put together documents from both Mormon publications and from Jehovah Witnesses publications showing the problems of both groups. If interested, come see me or contact me by email: sande@kalama.com.