To the Mosque and beyond

This last 3 weeks have been a real adventure…

3weeks ago...

I was able to visit my first Mosque in downtown Glasgow. The visit was a tour and the man giving the tour was able to open up and talked passionately about God. He talked about how Abraham was a friend of God and that there are people he knows who consider themselves friends of God. I loved hearing that he too desired to be a friend of God. I wanted to give him a hug and tell him that he too could have this friendship with God. That God loves him! All I could really do without causing offence as a woman was to pray for him. This was the beginning of an eye opening crazy month! 

2weeks ago...

I was learning the importance of working in a team. I have worked in many different types of teams in the past but knowing that as God is gives me vision for the path ahead, it has become clear the importance of the church. I don’t mean the church building... far from it... but that the people are what make up the church. We have all been given gifts and if we really want to pray as our Father in heaven taught "Your kingdom Come your Will be done, on earth as its in Heaven" then I believe heaven can be here on earth through His body, the church. The church body is to bring that kingdom here. I am learning more and more about my giftings and how best I would fit into a team. Getting together with like-minded people with similar passion and vision, to see the Kingdom of God hear on earth. 

God has been showing me that the future vision of my calling is to bring Reconciliation to individuals, people groups, and even nations. The Catholic’s and Protestant church have been at war here in Scotland and Ireland for hundreds of years. To think, if the Church cant get along and love each other how are we to spread the love of Christ to people that don't know they can have a relationship with God. We are to lead by example but it is clear that the age-old hate and blood shed has created a riff between the church. There is a ministry over in Ireland that is working on mending and healing the damage between the two churches. Bring Reconciliation by humbling our selves... repenting.... and blessing one another. 

1week ago...

I went to Spain! When my leadership told us we were going to Spain to join a week with another SOFM (the same school I'm doing) I was so excited. The speakers/ teachers for that week came in from Jordan where they are church panting, and evangelizing to the Muslim community by living and loving them. These were two woman who live with such boldness and faith that it felt as if they were setting a fire under my butt. Their stories were so moving and glorifying to God that I wish I had time to share them with you. For their safety I can’t say too much more on my blog… but I can say that I was truly blessed by their testimonies.

The place we were staying was a couple blocks from the beach. I felt so spoiled getting to be in the warmer weather and having the chance to wear my rainbow flip-flops.  I was only there a week and I was in class most of the time… any free moment I went to the beach and the last day a group of us went into the city. I fell in love with the architecture in the city of Malaga. I wish I could have had more time to spend there before we had to jump on the plane back to the bitter cold of Scotland. Praise God the leadership had fixed the heat in our building, so instead of coming back to an arctic like building it was just a chilly building.

Thank you again for all your love and support over this last month… I do miss home and now that Thanksgiving is right around the corner I wish ever so much I could be home with all of you. I am so very thankful for you in my life. Many blessing… please continue to pray for my finances, health, and safety.

In Him,

Lauren Jean