Last Thanksgiving, I missed pumpkin pie twice. That is, I missed it (it was something that I really wanted) and missed it (it was at a party but I couldn’t attend). This year I had it three times. How’s that for making up for lost time (and weight)?
I actually had Thanksgiving a week early this year. I was invited by some friends to go to Zhitomer for a holiday celebration with some American missionaries I didn’t know. Good ole Liz was being visited by her mom. Her mom had brought all the actual stuff from America so that no detail would be overlooked. We did have pumpkin pie and turkey and green bean casserole (with the crunchies on it) as well as the cardboard decorations of pilgrims and such. Everything about a proper Thanksgiving for me, except that my family wasn’t there. It was kind of funny in that way. It felt like I came to America for Thanksgiving, but that I showed up at the wrong house.
But here’s how God used this for me. I’ve gone on and on with people who will listen to me about how the local church is the key to reaching the orphans in Ukraine. Orphans, if they don’t have a “regular family,” need a spiritual home, not nice weekly spiritual visitors (missionaries). Even if they don’t have natural parents, they can find spiritual parents of all kinds in a church. People that will show them how to cook, and study the Bible, and balance a checkbook. Three things I’ve found that kids are really missing when they’re raised without parents: a sense that they’re valuable, ability to discern people’s character, and the ability to make decisions beyond their impulses. These are things the church is, or should be, really skilled in. I’m willing to invest in a church that’s willing to invest in its orphans.
In sharing this vision, I’ve been told by others that Ukrainian churches don’t have a heart for missions. Ukrainian missionaries (I mean born in Ukraine) struggle to find support from their church if they feel called to do ministry outside of the church building. This is a truth for YWAM Kyiv that I’ve seen first hand. So I think people tend to me skeptical about my vision for local churches.
Ah, but the church in Zhitomer has changed everything for me. It turns out the missionaries I visited for Thanksgiving work with a local Baptist church. This church has been increasingly involved in the orphanage there for years. I don’t know all the info, but I can now say “Here’s a model that what I’m talking about can work.” I thought it only existed in my imagination, but they’ve been doing it long before I imagined it. So meeting the folks there is on my list of things to do. I already have an email address and people connections so I can investigate.
I think the “so you see Billy” conclusion is that you can’t let the well intentioned skeptics in your life stifle your vision. Don’t get me wrong, my vision is in its pre-formative, early-early stages. But I think it was Doc Sumrall who warned us to, “Watch out for the dream stealers.” It’s very easy to say, “It’ll never work,” because of a failure and a disappointment and because someone made you a promise but you got burned. But if it’s from God, hold that dream tight.
Whether you enter your Promised Land or not, is wholly dependent on who you choose to listen to.

¶ 11:51 AM //

¶ 11:48 AM //

¶ 11:46 AM //

Remember when the Lion in the Wizard of Oz sang, “If I were King of the Forest”? That song has come into my mind when I’ve faced situations that I was unable to do anything about. Often that comes with cultural issues or decisions I wouldn’t have made. But as of this week, I have a bit more forest to run. Or at least three trees and a clearing.
So here’s the big news. I’ve been asked to take on the role of ministry leader for Key of Hope. As far as I understand, this means that I’ll be in charge of the direction of the ministry and decisions on how we do things. I’ll be leading the week by week vision. I’m also working on ways to disciple the staff, making sure everyone is growing spiritually and exercising their gifts and vision.
I’ve agreed to take on this position for a year and then see what happens. In other jobs, promotion means bigger salary. In my world, promotion simply means more responsibilities. The reward is being able to steer the ship. That’s fine for me. I work for Jesus anyway. Corporate America is so far from where I live. Unless you count McDonald’s down the street which is affectionately known as the other American Embassy.
I hope in reading this, you don’t think, “Wow, in charge of all of Key of Hope ministry. That’s huge!” But there is, as of today, around eight and a half people on our team. (The half person because they’re with us part time, silly) As well, two of the staff are out of the country and two will be leaving for a while in December. So it’s not a very large kingdom, but then I’m only comfortable with a tiny one.
That leads me to another parallel between YWAM and Oz. Somewhere in the movie version, Dorothy said, “My! People come and go so quickly here!” Hmm, Dorothy said that just before leaving Munchkin land herself. Rascally ole Dorothy. There is a natural revolving door to training centers, where students are equipped to be sent out. That comes as no surprise.
I want to see more stability among staff. I’m praying for a long haul mentality for the Key of Hope team where possible. I think if you have a strong support structure and people feel good about what they’re accomplishing, they’re less likely to look for something else. People need… well, I need to feel like I’m making a difference. And we need to feel like we’re growing spiritually.
So the simple time when I was just carving a little ministry schedule for myself is now over. I sometimes walk by myself at night and say, “God, I just want to change the world. Is that too much to ask?” And of course it is, I know that. So pray for me. If I’m going to follow this road, I’ll need courage, love, and brains.

¶ 1:36 AM //