I received a call yesterday from a member of the Advancing Native Missions board of directors expressing the agency's frustrations over what transpired and to thank our guys for the way they handled the ordeal. He informed me that through the many years they have been involved in this ministry all around the world, this was the first encounter they have had of this nature.
He was apoligetic for what we had endured but as our conversation continued, he quickly realized that he really had not known the full extent of what we were put through. He followed with an email requesting details for a scheduled board meeting in which our situation was at the top of the agenda. I directed him to the blog.
So, another potential positive to come from our experience will hopefully be the changes needed to keep this from ever happening again. I also think it will serve as a wake up call of sorts that things are changing in our world. It is quickly becoming a less hospitable place, especially when it relates to Christian activity.
One of the things that may have been lost in this whole turn of events is the work that we were scheduled to do at Elam. I hope you will join me in praying for Pastor Sam and that ministry, that God would provide the man power to complete the projects we were not allowed to. Pray for the continued harvest in Iran and the safety of those Elam students as they put it all on the line for the cause of Christ.
I will post one final entry when I receive additional information or reports on things that may have been a result of our trip. For those of you following our program, we have decided to continue utilizing the blog throughout next season. We feel it can be a great tool in communicating with parents and supports regarding program news, reminders, and announcements.
Also, anytime you check out our blog site, please sign in so we will have a better idea of the extent of its usefulness. Any comments you have, please feel free to post them.
God bless and Go Tigers!!
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Welcome to a week with "The Tigers in London"
Welcome to the "Tigers in London" blog. I will be sharing the daily adventures and impressions of eleven members of the ETBU Tiger Football Team and two members of the coaching staff, as we serve God by serving others through our work at The Elam Institute.
We will depart from DFW on Friday afternoon at 5:35 PM CST, and travel non stop to London, arriving there at 8:40 PM London time. We will return on Sunday 6/7. Hello jet lag!
We represent what is called, a "construction ministry team" through the organization, Advancing Native Missions.This particular project was hand picked by ANM for our team after realizing last summer in Croatia that a college football team doesn't look like your average garden variety mission team. They assigned us to this project before we had gotten home from Croatia.
The purpose of ANM is the assisting of native ministies in areas that resources are not available, allowing them to more freely and efficiently share the gospel to their native people.
Ironically however, though we are in England, we are actually lending assitance to an Iranian ministry. The Elam Institute is a training center for Iranian missionaries. Native Iranian Christians being trained to share the gospel in their Islamic homeland, which, as you may be aware, can literally be a life threatening task.
We hope to make their job easier through improvements to their facility and living quarters, while lending encouragement, prayer and support for the incredible committment they have made. Of course, we will likely be the beneficiaries of the most abundant blessings as we are humbled by their courage and strong faith.
We also expect to engage in ministry opportunities among the people of England as we did last summer in Croatia. It is amazing to watch God bring opportunity to you through the normal course of what you do, especially when you desire and are prepared. I know it is our desire and I believe these guys will be prepared.
I hope you will log on daily and make us a prioity in your prayers. Pray of course for our safety, but also pray that we will complete the tasks set out for us to complete. Pray that we will be faithful to share the love of our Savior upon every opportunity and to allow our experiences here to bring about the changes God desires to make in us.
God bless and Go Tigers!!!
Mark Sartain
2 Corinthians 2:14
We will depart from DFW on Friday afternoon at 5:35 PM CST, and travel non stop to London, arriving there at 8:40 PM London time. We will return on Sunday 6/7. Hello jet lag!
We represent what is called, a "construction ministry team" through the organization, Advancing Native Missions.This particular project was hand picked by ANM for our team after realizing last summer in Croatia that a college football team doesn't look like your average garden variety mission team. They assigned us to this project before we had gotten home from Croatia.
The purpose of ANM is the assisting of native ministies in areas that resources are not available, allowing them to more freely and efficiently share the gospel to their native people.
Ironically however, though we are in England, we are actually lending assitance to an Iranian ministry. The Elam Institute is a training center for Iranian missionaries. Native Iranian Christians being trained to share the gospel in their Islamic homeland, which, as you may be aware, can literally be a life threatening task.
We hope to make their job easier through improvements to their facility and living quarters, while lending encouragement, prayer and support for the incredible committment they have made. Of course, we will likely be the beneficiaries of the most abundant blessings as we are humbled by their courage and strong faith.
We also expect to engage in ministry opportunities among the people of England as we did last summer in Croatia. It is amazing to watch God bring opportunity to you through the normal course of what you do, especially when you desire and are prepared. I know it is our desire and I believe these guys will be prepared.
I hope you will log on daily and make us a prioity in your prayers. Pray of course for our safety, but also pray that we will complete the tasks set out for us to complete. Pray that we will be faithful to share the love of our Savior upon every opportunity and to allow our experiences here to bring about the changes God desires to make in us.
God bless and Go Tigers!!!
Mark Sartain
2 Corinthians 2:14
Mark: Your restraint with the UK rejection and leadership with the team members reveals an exceptional attitude. Every contact you and the team had in the UK can indeed count -- I pray on reflection everyone in his or her own way recognizes your presence as a God-made event and feels the pull in His direction. Best as you continue to sort things out and as you plan to do it all over again! -- Jerry Summers
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