The "Big Ask"

This all began in January when I had lunch with my good friend, Greg Funk. (Greg is the pastor of the Manheim BIC Church and the father of our Youth Director, Kurt.) As we left my office on our way to enjoy the lunch buffet at New Chinatown Restaurant, Greg said to me, "I've got a big ask for you." We had a great lunch but no "big ask". I thought maybe I had missed it. When we pulled into the parking lot back at the church Greg said to me, "Well, here is the big ask." That was when he invited me to join him and John Brubaker (Director of BIC World Missions) on a two-week trip to Africa.

The decision was an easy one. My wonderful wife gladly supported me (as she always does) and I quickly agreed to go. It's interesting, when I was a teenager I had absolutely no desire to visit Africa. There was a song back then titled, Please Don't Send Me to Africa. It could have been my theme song. But over the last two years God has been stirring something in my heart for the needs of the 3rd World--and in particular--the needs in Africa. I'm increasingly convinced that if I am to be faithful in following the call of Christ on my life, I will need to do more to make a difference in this part of the world. God has a heart for the poor and in our modern world the poor in Africa are my neighbors that I must care for.

I'm really grateful for this opportunity and for the many ways that people are supporting me. The church leadership has been very affirming and I know that many are praying, giving, and some are even planning ways that they will encourage my family while I'm gone. My prayer is that God can somehow use me in Africa--but more than that, I pray that I'll hear what God wants me to hear while I'm in Africa.