This is a video created by one of the girls that I work with at the Sweet Surrender Cafe. This is her expression of the ministry we do at the coffee shop.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Missions in my Blood
I was very lucky growing up. I was raised in the Church of the Nazarene. My parents have always been involved in the church and especially in missions. I was trained very young to support missionaries and missions in the church. When I was 16 my parents took me on my first Work and Witness Trip. Over Christmas break we went with a district team to Brazil. Since then every family vacation became a mission trip. I have been on Work & Witness trips to Brazil, Sicily/Italy, Swaziland, Samoa, and Guatemala. After I became a Youth Pastor I took my teens on a few different mission trips to Mexico.
When I was in Guatemala, God called me to missions. I pursued volunteer mission work through Mission Corps. I ended up in Poznan Poland. I recently returned from spending 6 months in Poznan working to support the Nazarene Missionaries there. They have established a coffee shop ministry. There are 2 Sweet Surrender Cafes on Poland; one in Gdansk, and one in Poznan.
The whole point of Sweet Surrender is to provide a place where the community can gather and be celebrated. As missionaries, our point is to provide a place where people can come, have a good time, and find what real love is. It is our goal to personally touch each person that walks through the doors of our shop. We have had people return time and time again because they are happy when they come into our shop; they tell us that there is something about our shop that makes them feel at peace. Of course, we all know that it is because our shop is filled with the love of God.
When I first arrived in Poland I was interested in helping this ministry. I saw that it was a good idea. But, when I started to become involved in the lives of the people in Poland this ministry became a passion. I fell in love with the people and the country of Poland. I see a need for them to experience a true and personal relationship with God. My heart is in Poland and I have been inspired to continue with the ministry at the Sweet Surrender Café.
Right now I am home in the States. I am speaking at different churches, trying to raise the money to return to Poland. I am hoping to be able to return in May. So, I can continue letting God use me to change lives in Poland.
When I was in Guatemala, God called me to missions. I pursued volunteer mission work through Mission Corps. I ended up in Poznan Poland. I recently returned from spending 6 months in Poznan working to support the Nazarene Missionaries there. They have established a coffee shop ministry. There are 2 Sweet Surrender Cafes on Poland; one in Gdansk, and one in Poznan.
The whole point of Sweet Surrender is to provide a place where the community can gather and be celebrated. As missionaries, our point is to provide a place where people can come, have a good time, and find what real love is. It is our goal to personally touch each person that walks through the doors of our shop. We have had people return time and time again because they are happy when they come into our shop; they tell us that there is something about our shop that makes them feel at peace. Of course, we all know that it is because our shop is filled with the love of God.
When I first arrived in Poland I was interested in helping this ministry. I saw that it was a good idea. But, when I started to become involved in the lives of the people in Poland this ministry became a passion. I fell in love with the people and the country of Poland. I see a need for them to experience a true and personal relationship with God. My heart is in Poland and I have been inspired to continue with the ministry at the Sweet Surrender Café.
Right now I am home in the States. I am speaking at different churches, trying to raise the money to return to Poland. I am hoping to be able to return in May. So, I can continue letting God use me to change lives in Poland.
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