Dear Friends, Our intention for some time now has been to send you quarterly prayer letters and this no doubt would have made it much easier for us to communicate our experiences in depth. But we have been so incessantly busy this year that writing and publishing a prayer letter has been relegated to the … Continue reading Spring 2007
Farewell to Kunnar Raja
Last Thursday, Lea's mother called to tell us that Lea's father Kunnar has passed away. Kunnar has been suffering the incapacitating effects of multiple strokes for more than four years gradually losing one ability after another. We are sad to see him go but are also relieved that he is finally at peace with our … Continue reading Farewell to Kunnar Raja
A call to risk for Christian men
At the end of our summer, Lea and I were at the Alongside Ministries International Conference in France. While there, I had a great conversation with a fellow from California. We wrestled together through what it means for a man's passions for struggle, sacrifice and risk to be excercised in the context of the Christian … Continue reading A call to risk for Christian men
“Everything We Need for Revival”
Last summer, our congregation in Viimsi celebrated the completion of a seven year construction project. Church leaders from all over the area came to offer their blessings. Among the congratulations offered that day, the director of a local Bible School encouraged us that we now had “everything we need for a revival.”
While I’m sure he meant well, his comment left me puzzled. I sat in my seat wondering what things we had now that we didn’t have before that could possibly account for the presence or absence of revival.
Mission Team Guide to Estonia
Welcome to Estonia! "Make yourself at home, but don't forget that you're a guest." GENERAL CUSTOMS Meeting or greeting Give a firm handshake with a few good shakes and bow your head slightly. Think “dignity”. Visiting a home Do not pay some one a surprise visit. Always make arrangements first. (Door to door salesmen and … Continue reading Mission Team Guide to Estonia
Missionary Professionalism?
The following is a paper I wrote for Pastoral Ethics in the Fall semester of 2005. When I first entered the mission field after graduating from college, I did so as an intern. I was sent to serve alongside a small congregation in Estonia working to support the youth ministry. I had committed two years … Continue reading Missionary Professionalism?