From Becky’s Perspective
Becky Stephen serves as the Sr Director of Global Engagement for TMS Global, overseeing TMS’s 190 cross-cultural workers in 34 countries. This month she came to Ecuador to see a little bit of what God is doing here, in and through those of us who are serving in this beautiful country. She wanted to share some of her thoughts with you.
“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:15-16
This is my guiding vision: to see people mature in Christ as each one of us does the work God’s created us to do. So I love it when I visit TMS Global workers who are doing just that.
Tim and Daina are serious, hard-working folks who value discipline, preparation and commitment. They have a strong sense of justice that flares at the injustices suffered by so many of the people here. And a deep love that is manifest not only in their affection for the people, but in their patience with the process of making Christ known and willingness to be in this for the long haul in order to see gospel transformation take hold in this community.
Just this morning I met 3 young adults who have been under the spiritual leadership of the Datwyler’s during their teenage years. All 3 are not only following Jesus, but feel called to missions as a result of the Datwyler’s discipling and influence. We shared our mission calling stories and they picked my brain about what I did to prepare when I was their age.
Every child in that room has their own story. And because Tim and Daina responded to God’s call to missions when they were young, they are now part of each 1 of those stories.
What I’ve seen in Tim and Daina and the Eph. 4 work they’re doing makes me proud to be part of the TMS Global community. They are bearing fruit. Not quickly. Not spectacularly. But truly. Just ask any of the kids in this room.
Some ways to pray for Tim & Daina:
1.- Daily they are faced with decisions of how to deal with social ills and evils that impact the people they love and serve. Pray for discernment and wisdom.
2.- As they disciple children, teens, and young adults, ask God to teach them how to pray in order to see spiritual strongholds broken so that these kids can live the new life that Jesus promised.
3.- Workers grow weary over time from the burdens they bear on behalf of others, from the stress of cross-cultural living (even if they love it), from their own personal and family issues, and from the strain of leadership. Pray for a fresh move of the Spirit in their lives and the lives of their whole family.
Kevin in TN
Many of you already know that our son Kevin has moved back to the USA. He looked for work in several areas for months which resulted in realizing he could not provide for his wife and son in Ecuador in its current economic condition. He is working in Chattanooga and seems to be settling in. We have the pleasure, albeit temporary, of still enjoying Esther and James until they can join him by the end of the year. This move has been very hard on all of them but extra traumatic for little James who just turned three and spent most of his time with his dad before he left. He is still adjusting but will not leave Esther’s sight except for short outings with us. Please pray with us that they can be reunited without too much legal difficulty. We miss them already!
Honoring 47 Mothers
The kids were excited and proud as we prepared to love on their moms. Many made a card or a gift, others learned a song and several youth spent a few hours rehearsing a special drama set to some crazy music. Our worship team led us in worship after the kids led us all in song and dance for our Lord’s glory. TOGETHER we played and gathered for a special meal for 139+ happy tummies.
The best part was after the message of how God created moms to love just as He loves each of us. The kids gathered around their mom and prayed over her with passion and tears, we finished the special time with one of our 9 yr olds wrapping it ip with a special heartfelt blessing for each of us moms. Several kids came without their mom so I got BLESSED by them. The moms must have felt blessed because I had never before received so many big bear hugs with a blessing from the moms as they were leaving. We finished the celebration with gifts of candy, chocolates and a fistful of roses.
Thank you for playing a part to impact the families God has surrounded us with.
