If you haven't already heard, Bri and I are leaving Tennessee and moving to Northern Idaho/Western Washington on the 24th of August. We're moving to work with Real Life Ministries on the Palouse. Quite simply, we want to learn how to plant new churches from those who are the most effective at helping people find their way back to God. RLM on the Palouse has offered to train me in a one-year leadership residency. This preparation is only the beginning to what Bri and I hope to be a lifetime of service to planting new churches in a culture that is increasingly post-Christian.
I believe a healthy relationship with God is nurtured and grown within the community that is the church. A wise man named Kierkegaard once said, "If God is our father, then the church is our mother." The church is the place where individual Christians learn, grow and reconnect to the One who brings life. I also believe it is the place where we truly start to reconnect with others in ways that lead to higher levels of love, faith, peace, joy, forgiveness, and selflessness.
We strive to learn how to plant new churches because we believe God is the only one who can change the human heart, and God is the only one who can make someone who feels dead come back to life. We believe that planting churches is the best way to reconnect people back to God through the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. We ask for your partnership over the next year, through your prayers, encouragement and constant communication. I will be blogging throughout the year to keep you posted on what is happening and what I am learning. Also, we are raising 100% of my salary for the year and we are currently only 40% of the way to our goal of meeting our financial needs. I will be working full-time with RLM and it is unlikely that I will have time to work on the side to supplement our income. Please contact me if you are able to help financially at derekrmurphy@gmail.com, and please do keep in touch regardless.
Love, Derek and Bri
I believe a healthy relationship with God is nurtured and grown within the community that is the church. A wise man named Kierkegaard once said, "If God is our father, then the church is our mother." The church is the place where individual Christians learn, grow and reconnect to the One who brings life. I also believe it is the place where we truly start to reconnect with others in ways that lead to higher levels of love, faith, peace, joy, forgiveness, and selflessness.
We strive to learn how to plant new churches because we believe God is the only one who can change the human heart, and God is the only one who can make someone who feels dead come back to life. We believe that planting churches is the best way to reconnect people back to God through the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. We ask for your partnership over the next year, through your prayers, encouragement and constant communication. I will be blogging throughout the year to keep you posted on what is happening and what I am learning. Also, we are raising 100% of my salary for the year and we are currently only 40% of the way to our goal of meeting our financial needs. I will be working full-time with RLM and it is unlikely that I will have time to work on the side to supplement our income. Please contact me if you are able to help financially at derekrmurphy@gmail.com, and please do keep in touch regardless.
Love, Derek and Bri
R3COV3RY Now
I got my family on my mind like all the time
I can't seem to get them off my mind like every rhyme
Its like its ripping holes through space and time
My girl Paige on my mind like every sick line
Gotta find the time to make up my mind, to stay in line
Need to find things to occupy my time so I don't end up in the kitchen
hot, sweety, and itchin
I'm all about recovery now
So Ima make up my mind now
God told me its my time now
To do something with my life now
So I don't end up in jail or shot
Cause I don't want to die now
Don't want to run from the cops no more
So I think its time to change cause I know there's going to be consequences
Repercussion for every time now
So I gotta come down, so I can be there for my family now
-Devin
da best thing I ever had
Close my eyes and see my daughter
Man she really need a father
But, I got locked up, should have played it smarter
Was gettin strung out on da drugs
Wish I could'v see how bad dat it was
But, now it's to late
Done sealed my own fate
Won't see her blow out da candles on da cake
Kno it wouldn't matter to some other dads
But, my daughter's da best thing I ever had
Went threw more in a year
Than some do in a lifetime
and if she died, so would I
because she is my lifeline
-Patrick
Due to your support we were also able to help with some needs in the country. You helped give money to buy a laptop, clothes, school supplies, bricks and you helped meet some personal needs as well. Thank you, you made that possible!
I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, you have met many needs and you have spread the good news of the Kingdom! I want to inform you of some of the ideas that I have for meeting future needs. There are several immediate needs if you wish to send further support. One of the churches I preached at in Harare (Kuwadzana) is working on a building project and a small donation of $10 will buy 100 bricks.
I am also considering a future trip that will be much more extensive. God has given me a dream to take needed supplies into the country. Supplies that we take for granted and throw away could meet great needs in developing countries like Zimbabwe. Specifically I am thinking of used school books and retired computers. School books that we throw away because of some changed details would make a great impact, computers that are no longer used by businesses can help children in schools learn much needed skills for their future. If you have ideas for meeting these needs I would love to hear from you.
Mostly, I want to communicate how amazing you are and the magnitude of what you have accomplished. Thank you, keep spreading the Kingdom!
If you would like to download photo's click this link
We have to go finish getting ready. I will give you a more detailed update when we get home. Ephraim and I arrive in Tennessee on Wednesday 12:30 EST.
We are now back in Harare. We have come full circle and we are leaving tomorrow (Tuesday). It has been an amazing trip, but I will debrief the trip later. After we left Chiredzi we visited the game park and we saw antelope, deer, buffalo, zebra and giraffe (and many other animals). It was amazing, were blessed to see so much game. The Pemberton's go to church with people from the national park service, so they took us out further into the restricted area in their Land Rover. It was an amazing experience.(I have to leave so here is the short version)
We traveled to Mutare for the youth conference after the game park. Thursday through Sunday were packed full of preaching, teaching and counseling. Ephraim, Joel, Kara, Jenn and I all spoke. Ephraim preached, Joel preached 3 sermons and I preached 2. We had many who rededicated their life and others who decided to pursue ministry. Joel and I counted and I think we have both preached about 10 times a piece since we've been in country. I only brought 3 sermons to preach, so it has been amazing to see God fill us with his message.
We love you guys!
(Picture of baptism in Chiredzi)
This morning I spoke in Chapel for one of the primary schools. There were students from grades 5-7 with over 640 students. I spoke about the favorite food of Zimbabwe, Sudza (a corn meal mixture eaten with most meals). All the kids know that they need to eat lots of sudza if they want to grow big and strong. Instead of comparing Jesus to the bread of life I told the kids Jesus was the Sudza of life. Sudza alone will nourish the body which will last temporarily, but Jesus will give life that is eternal. Jesus will make the spirit strong, like Sudza makes the body strong.
In the morning we are getting up very early (4:30am) to visit a game park on the way to Mutare. We hope to see elephant, lion and giraffe (as well as zebra, antelope, buffalo, etc.) in their native wild habitat. They say that now is not the best time to view the animals because the brush is grown up tall. Zimbabwe has finished with their rainy season and everything is green and beautiful, but when it is brown and dry the animals are easier to see.
Tomorrow is Jenn’s birthday. She will be 25, she’s so excited to celebrate her birthday in Africa. We’re looking forward to an exciting birthday celebration in the truck on the way to the youth conference ;-). She said she has really enjoyed the children in Zimbabwe. Today we visited two orphanages in the Chiredzi area, and she really connected with the young children and the girls. They were following her around and showed her their gardens and games they enjoy playing.
The longer I am here, the more I understand that this trip is merely a drop in the bucket of the ministry that is currently being done and the ministry that needs to be done in Zimbabwe. In Chiredzi, we are staying with the Pemberton’s who lead Hippo Valley Christian Mission. They have been here doing mission work for three generations since the 1950’s and they have over 24 schools, 2 orphanages and hospitals that they have been a part of starting. They have also planted numerous churches and currently support the entire salary of nine local pastors. They have made a large splash in the bucket, and continue to impact the Kingdom in major ways. As I write this blog post I am looking at a proposal of ways they can cut their budget over the next year in order to make ends meet. You have all supported me generously, and if you wish to support this mission I plan to send money back when we get back to the states.
In the evening we spent time at a lake visiting with students Ephraim impacted in his ministry at the University. I am now learning how much Ephraim has impacted this country in his ministry. The students he taught are now in influential positions in the Zimbabwean government and private sector.
On Sunday we all went our separate ways to different churches. Jenn stayed on the Zimbabwe Christian College campus and taught children's church at Harare Church of Christ. Joel went to the church I preached at on Friday in Budiriro, Ephraim went to Greencroft Church of Christ, and I preached at Kuwadzana Church of Christ. It was a great Sunday and we all had positive responses, and one new believer came to Christ! I am still unable to upload pictures, so I will have to describe the location I preached. It is a new church plant, and they are working on their first church building. They currently have the foundation finished, but need to buy the materials. The materials to finish the building will cost the people at least 30,000. I was amazed at the sacrificial giving of the people raising over $500 dollars for the building above and beyond the regular offering (this amount is even more amazing after I found out that most families do not make more than $150 a month per income).
I preached under a covering without walls, that was just tall enough for me to fit under, I am the "Murungu Mukuru" The big white man. There were just over 250 packed into this small shelter. I continue to gain encouragement from the vitality of the Zimbabwean worship services. Everyone is dancing and laughing, while they are praising the Lord. I am working on my dance moves, but am not so good! Jenn is the one who is really making progress when it comes to dancing.
Today, we left in the morning (7am), to head for southern Zimbabwe (Chiredzi). We made several stops along the way, but the scenery was amazing. The African country side filled all of us with awe. We stopped by Ephraim's elementary school and were able to provide them with school supplies and soccer balls. The highlight of the trip was visiting Ephraim's village. We were welcomed by the entire village of people dancing and singing and children chasing our truck. We could hardly get out of the truck because so many people wanted to greet us and shake our hands. They had waited for us the entire day, and had almost lost hope of our coming. They said when they saw us their hearts were renewed, and they were encouraged.
I believe we were the ones who were blessed most through the visit. It was a great experience! After the people greeted us, we were introduced and they introduced us to Ephraim's family. We were able to meet his mother, great aunt, uncle and many members of his extended family. Joel gave a great sermon to the people from Luke 15, calling them to be found in the love of their father in heaven. After the greetings and speaking, we shared tea, and gave them supplies we brought. The villagers loved the digital camera. I probably took a picture of each one of them at least 2 times. I would take the picture, then they would want to look at it. Every time they saw themselves in the picture, they would break into laughter.
The people were so filled with joy, even though they have nothing. The best trait of the Zimbabwean people is their smile. Even through the tough times, they are smiling! They never stop, and it was truly a blessing to me.
The night ended with us giving rides to Ephraim's family who had walked miles to see us. I rode in the back of the truck with Joel and Jenn while the sun was setting. It was a breathtaking view, that was un-capturable on the camera. All I could do was stare and dream. I now know why these people have so much joy.
It is currently 1am, and I need to get to bed. Tomorrow we are preaching at the local high schools and then we are helping in the baptisms of 70 students! Keep us in your prayers, and keep the people of Zimbabwe in your prayers.
Last night when I preached, I preached through a translator. Though most people in Zimbabwe speak English, it is hard for many to understand my American accent, and I have been told I speak too fast. A man named Timba translated for me. He is a great friend of Ephraim, and is a wonderful man. I enjoy the conversations we have had in the last few days, he lived in California for 2 years working for a CPA firm. He has been informing me of the severity of the economic situation here. He said there is a 12% employment rate in Zimbabwe (that means 88% are unemployed), I am unsure how people are surviving due to the fact that those employed make very low wages, and the cost of living is not much lower here than it is in America (at least from what I have seen the food costs are not much lower). I witnessed a group of people standing around the Bank downtown yesterday to withdraw money. Since they are using US Dollars, they often run out, meaning people no longer have access to their funds. This leads to long lines at the banks and a general distrust for the banking system (I was told that due to the instaility of the banking system many people are now keeping their money in their homes).
My sermon last night was on Isaiah 60:1-3, "Muka Upenye" (Arise and Shine) was the title. It was an amazing service; we danced, sang and praised the Lord (I enjoyed the drums, maracas, and African horn). It is such an encouraging experience to see the people of God worship our creator from the opposite side of the globle.
I had troubles with my memory card reader, so I don't have any photos for you today. I hope to update you with pictures another day soon. Thank you for your love and support. Please pray for Ephraim, he has a very sore throat, and is going to preach tomorrow.
Bri and I visited the Tshuma's (Ephraim's family) on friday for dinner. We worked on simple vocabury for the trip. The national language in Zimbabwe is Shona. I thought I would share what I'm learning with you.
Words in Shona:
(all "A" sounds are long, all I's sound like long e's)
How are you - mkdini (sounds like mockadini)
I'm fine how are you - tadipo mkdinio
We are fine - tinofara (singular, dinofara)
What is your name - Zita rako ndiyani (silent n)
Water - mvura (sounds like vura)
Good morning - mangwanani
Good afternoon - masikati (sounds like - mos e cot e)
Good evening - manheru (sounds like - mon hairoo)
I am full - ndaguta (n is sillent)
Thank you - datenda
Very much - zvikuru (sounds like shukuru)
Food - chikafu (sounds like cheek-a-foo)
You're welcome - zvakanaka (sounds like shakanaka)
Sit down - garapasi
Jesus is good - jesu wakanaka
Its good to be here - zvakanaka kuvapano
God is good - mwari wakanaka
Holy Spirit - mweya mutsvene (second word sounds like muchanae)
Come here - huya pano
You - iwe (sounds like - e way)
Bye - sarai zvakanaka
Travel well - famba zvakanaka
I am thankful, you all have been an encouragement in many ways. I am blessed more and more by your generosity. One problem has appeared, and it is a good problem. With the money that has arrived or is currently on its way, I have nearly raised $4500. That is $1000 over the amount I was aiming for. Our group is currently praying over the best Kingdom uses of these funds. We are encouraged that with these resources we will be able to meet more and bigger needs. Please keep this in your prayers.
Schedule:
Here is a brief run down on the schedule of our trip. We are leaving the Tri-cities Tennessee on Wednesday, March 24th at 11am. We will arrive in Harare, Zimbabwe on Thursday, the 25th around 9: 00pm! We are planning to spend the day on Friday recuperating and adjusting to the time changes (we will also attend chapel service at the College where we will be staying. Saturday the 27th, we don't have all the details worked out, but we will attend a welcome party. Sunday the 28th the entire team will split up and preach in different churches throughout Harare, I will preach at Kuwadzana Church of Christ, Joel (from Arizona) at Budiriro Church of Christ, Ephraim (who I attend school with and is a native of Zimbabwe) will be at Greencroft, and Jenn (from Arizona) will attend services with one of us (our team now only has 4 members).
On Monday, the 29th we are leaving Harare and headed to the South East of the country to Chiredzi. In Chiredzi we will have the opportunity to preach to Elementary and High School students in schools that are affiliated with our churches and do work in an Orphanage. There are about 80 children who are living in two related children's homes. On our way to Chiredzi we will pass through Ephraim's village to see his family and visit his people. While working in Chiredzi we might get a chance to go to a national park to view some wild
On the Thursday the 1st of April we will then go to Mutare for the Youth Convention/Conference. Our activities in Mutare will be around the Youth Conference. The Mutare people will show us around the city, etc. I am scheduled to preach twice at the conference, and will also take part in testing the students over the book of Romans. We will leave Mutare on Monday morning (the 5th of April). We will spend Monday traveling back to Harare and packing, then we leave on Tuesday the 6th.
We really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Jordan Lowry, playing his rendition of Genesis 29.
- What Did we learn about God?
- What did we learn about the Characters?
- How do we apply this to our lives?
To end we recap the story together and close in prayer. This may sound too simple and far too redundant, but it is effective. It has impacted our church and has given us all a great excuse to learn the Bible, and teach it in a way we all understand, through stories. Check it out.
Plans are coming together nicely for the trip, we had a conference call with the team to get to know each other better, and hammer out the details of the trip. We are all a little nervous about preaching in another country through a translator, but we are looking forward to the opportunity. My friend Ephraim from Zimbabwe has continued to encourage us.
I am going to get my vaccinations the beginning of this next week, I'm not a big fan of needles. I think that goes back to my experience getting tested to see if I was eligible for a bone marrow transplant when I was two. The traumatic part was when they put me in a straight jacket to take my blood. I guess I was a wild child ;-)
I could use your help with something. I am putting together a test for the students in Zimbabwe. This test will be over the book of Romans. If you get a chance, read through the book of Romans and write down a question for each chapter you read. Then post them on the blog.
Thanks for your support, keep seeking the Kingdom!
from my back porch
It is only 20 degrees but I couldn't help but sit outside and read for awhile this morning. I read this passage of scripture. Mark 4:26-29
26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
It reminded me that God is working in my life and your life even when we didn't see it, even when we didn't understand it. A seed has been planted within us, and it will grow, until the day of harvest. It also reminded me to continue watering, and cultivating the soil. Without that water and fertile soil, the miracle of growth is severely stunted. Thats just a reminder for me to continue seeking God, in prayer and in his word and surrounding myself with people of glad and sincere hearts.
Now for my coffee...keep seeking the Kingdom!
Friendship Banquet Valentines day 2010
Last Sunday we got jiggy with it, at the youth put on a great spread for the church. Thanks to all who were able to make it!
the girls how cute (and they said they didn't want a picture taken)
Jasper and Katherine Cross (Jasper is a WWII Vet)
I am going to Zimbabwe to help lead The National Youth Convention and preach in local Zimbabwean churches. The Convention is a meeting that brings together young people from different parts of the country. There will be preaching, teaching, fellowship, sports, etc.In the past people have come from as far as Mozambique to be part of the gathering. This year they are running on the theme “A Purpose Driven Youth”, and they are studying the book of Romans. I am in charge of coming up with the study material and questions for the youth in their small group time. I will also preach, teach, council and lead prayer times.
The convention will be held over Easter weekend, starting on the Thursday preceding Good Friday and ending Monday, right after Easter. I am going with a team of six comprised of people from Arizona and East Tennessee. We will tentatively arrive in Zimbabwe on the 26th of March and leave on the 5th of April. The first Sunday we are there, we will all get the opportunity to preach in different churches in Harare. The people of Zimbabwe need a lot of encouragement considering the many difficulties presented by the current state of their government and economy.
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