(Part 1 is here if you didnt read my first post on Radical Decision)
It would be September of 2010, before I actually visited Haiti for the first time. By the time I visited , I had read a book by David Platt, called "Radical". A group of young staff guys had read the book over the summer and at the end of the book it called for a Radical decision to what are you going to do with what you now know. Haiti, was going to be part of my Radical Decision, but even then, I didn't know what that would mean. When you look at a country with so many problems, it is overwhelming. When America and the World pumps billions of dollars into this island country and it seemingly has done nothing to improve the peoples day to day life and the most horrendous political situation Ive ever seen, the question begs to be asked? What in the World am I going to do with my little bit.
The Radical Decision was taking place. The actual radical decision for me personally really had been made. I was going to make Haiti, my calling outside of Oasis Church. It would be just the beginning of what I hope to see going on in our Members countries around the world. With 84 countries in our church , Haiti is not the only one that needs Jesus, that needs His love, shown through His servant. They don't need our monies as much as they do our love and care. As I began to think about what God wanted me personally to do, it became evident it was going to be bigger than anything I had ever thought of or even would want to do. It was going to be for a country I would have rather to continue to ignore as too big to be fixed, to broken for me to help any.
With my 5 year Sabbatical coming up the coming summer, God began to plant seeds in my heart to how I would spend the time. Yes, Sabbaticals are for rest, renewal, refreshing and spiritual growth for a pastor. They also can be a time for futher education, and a time to serve beyond what we might be able to do in the course of a normal year. I knew some of my sabbatical was going to be done serving Haiti and the Haitian people. After 3 trips now, I am sure I will be back to Haiti at least a couple times during my sabbatical this Summer.
For years I had prayed that God would somehow allow Oasis Church to do missions in a different way. A way that would actually partner with our own people and their countries and the ministries already in their homeland. I just had not figured out how. I had prayed it would be in other countries in the Caribbean or South America. But God said, I want it to be Haiti. But I ran into roadblocks and seemingly dead ends in every way I looked. But after months and now years, God opened doors and when he began to open doors, he kicked them down. Now we have more partnership opportunities just from those families in our membership of Oasis in Haiti than we could possibly accomplish in my lifetime. But in the next 15 years I think God will allow myself and Oasis to actually make a difference in the lives of the children and families of Haiti. We will start small. We have to start small. We will continue daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. It wont be just an annual missions trip. It will be year round. My prayer is this model will begin to spark other Oasis members to begin to partner with their churches families and other ministries in their homeland, and leverage the incredible resources we have been given in America to bless and serve other countries.
Months ago, God revealed how He would use me to make a difference and hopefully inspire others in and outside our church to do something Radical for God and His people. Those He loves as much as He loves us so blessed in America. I knew in the Summer what God was doing, but didn't want to say it publicly. It was too scary. Too many questions and details would have to happen. What would my family think, friends, and Oasis? How in the world could I do this. But God continued to impress it on my heart to where I could not think of doing anything else. He sent others into my life that had done something like this and He was beginning to give me a plan. Still with fear and trembling I knew I had to share it with Tonia first, than my boys and finally with some close staff and our church council. I wish I could say it was received with yes, great idea and yes, you can do it. But it wasn't and still isn't by all people. I understand and I know its only out of love and care for me. My wife has put it best when she has been asked what she thinks. Yesterday she told my mom, I have learned to stay out of his way and just deal with it. But she is amazing at supporting me in whatever I think God has called me. Amazing wife. My sons I think , think I'm crazy, but they have at least not try to discourage me and have even been encouraging and supportive. (Corey did ask me to double my Life Insurance though! LOL) Others have tried to get me to do anyting but this, or to cut it back or to modify what I'm doing.
Finally , I have to do it. I know its the right thing to do and it begins tonight. (Saturday February 13, 2011) The journey which I have no idea how it will end, begins when I share with our Saturday night service, and then Sunday at our Sunday services. I have no idea how our people will feel or react. I pray its with support and prayer. I know Oasis Church and if I know them like I think I do , they will respond like they always have. Whatever it takes, we will follow and we will team up and do it if it is Gods will for us. I am confident. Not all will understand. Not all will agree, and not all will even support this but overall Oasis Church will do what it takes. I know it will.
(To Be continued. Written February 13, 2011)
