Davis Family April 2010 Missions Update-England

Hi guys sorry it’s been a few weeks since hearing from us. The last two weeks have been some of our hardest since we’ve moved to Newcastle. I have actually never been so close to packing it in and moving back to the States. I know that doesn’t sound like the tales of victory that people expect to hear from the mission field, but sometimes that’s how it really is. We have actually been tremendously blessed with the arrival of Evan, and Adam from the States, as mentioned in our last update. Evan has come for 6 months to help run the coffee shop and Adam has come to help with our increased youth work within the city since we’ve opened the Basement coffee house. These guys have been a huge blessing and benefit to the church here as well as to us with just being able to have a bit of missed American banter! These guys have come at the perfect timing, that’s always how God works! We really hit a wall so to speak this past two weeks; physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even relationally within the ministry.

We have been working crazy unhealthy hours running a church, a business, a daily jammed packed youth outreach with mostly troubled needy kids, while trying to raise our own kids with school activities…etc. and maintaining a orderly home and healthy marriage. It’s been a bit challenging to say the least, but God has graciously given us the strength to endure, but it’s time for a change! It simply felt like these past two weeks our physical bodies were shutting down both physically and emotionally and we had nothing left to give. With the help of Adam who not only led a youth ministry in the States but was also a qualified physical trainer were making some progress. We’ve changed our diet, started working out three days a week in the morning and go to bed a lot earlier than our normal 2 a.m. So, sorry if we’re not “online” as much to chat to our sweet American friends and family but I guess it had to be done.

Spiritually it feels like God is rising up laborers to deal with the rising needs here, and there is a sense that God’s blessing in the work is really about to take off. If what were sensing is true then it explains why these past two weeks have seemed so hellish. In the Lord’s Prayer we pray “deliver us from the evil one, for this is the Kingdom and the power and the glory.” The Kingdom is God’s, and when His people seek to advance it, Satan always tries to oppose it. I don’t like to personally chalk up every difficulty in life to some kind of demonic attack, but I do certainly believe that Satan tries to oppose us when were seeking and laboring to see God’s Kingdom advanced. In the natural realm of difficulties I believe Satan so often supernaturally is at work to push us towards the deceptive idea that things will be better if we step out of God’s will for our lives and instead pursue our own! While tempting it might be, I don’t think it’s true. The short term ease or relief for me when I have done so has always followed with a greater sense of regret. The Lord has deeply challenged me with His teaching in the Gospels regarding the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. The hireling (or hired shepherd) runs when he sees the wolf/enemy coming, and the sheep are scattered, but the good shepherd gives his life to protect the sheep.  This week I wanted to pack it in, but I knew in my spirit that the Lord was saying push on, but in a new way. I shared this Sunday on finding Jesus within the midst of the storm, not trying to get out of the storm but about getting Jesus into our boat or situation and then watching Him calm the storm in His power. Three youth from the city gave their lives to following Jesus and people were encouraged and so was I. It amazes me how the Lord will allow us to go through deep challenges but then will comfort us through them and then brings comfort to others with the comfort by which He has comforted us by. I guess we need to ask ourselves whether or not were willing to follow the Lord through those challenging times that He could use us in such a way. I love reading stories about men and women of faith who have endured so much and have displayed the faithfulness of God through their lives, but when it comes to us doing the same is where the real challenge is. I feel like Satan’s grip is loosening on many of these kids we have been ministering to, and isn’t happy about it and is trying to stop it. I’m asking specifically in this season that you would pray for his hold on them to be stopped. This Saturday we will be starting a Saturday night youth service run by some of the young leaders within our church, as many of the youth from town are really opening up and want to know more about Jesus, and now we have the laborers to do so.

Relationally, it has been challenging transitioning all the work we do and responsibilities to others. Though, with Adam and Evan here, and with our church administrator named Sarah who some of you met when she came to the States with us, it finally feels like a solid team is beginning to take shape to run the daily practical needs of the church. We will also be greatly helped no doubt with the arrival of a guy named Josh in May from Oregon.

I know this update perhaps seemed a bit heavy but in all reality it’s very encouraging to us what’s going on here. Tammy and I were both feeling  a bit irritable, and challenged at how often the challenges of the ministry can get in-between our own relationship and our kids, and how things can get so heavy when all you want to do is follow the most incredible person in the universe-Jesus. At times you can feel like God isn’t there even though He is. Even Jesus cried out in his humanity, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” We know from reading the whole story God didn’t forsake Him. But in the midst of the trial it felt that way even to Jesus, and yet while in the midst of His suffering He felt like His most valuable thing in life which was His communion with God was broken, yet He was actually fulfilling the ultimate will of God and making a way for others to come into communion with Him!

Tammy and I and the kids are doing great, I don’t want you to think there’s big issues between us. Actually our marriage and our family is the strongest it has ever been, I think that’s what makes it so challenging, we haven’t always kept our family as the priority, but now that it is we don’t want anything to break that, and while sometimes we feel the strain the ministry has on us here in England away from all our friends and family in the States, we genuinely feel God is telling us to push on here, and we believe God is putting things in place here for us to have a more manageable schedule. In fact we have cut Tammy’s hours in half at the coffee shop with Adam and Evan here and she is now having much more time to be in mom mode which is her first passion. So please pray for us to continue doing so.

I would like to remind you and myself that Jesus has commissioned each and every one of use with a part to play in the reconciling of the nations back to Himself. And as we hear His charge to go into all the world and to make disciples, we also need to remember that He said He would be with us always—even when we don’t feel like He is! Don’t pack it in, instead pray! Get Jesus in the boat, into the midst of your situation and He will calm the storm in His power in His way!

Love,
Drew, Tammy, Caleb, Joy, and Jasmine

Prayer Points:
•For Satan to be bound over the lives of the youth of Newcastle

•For a cohesion, love, and passionate pursuit of Jesus for our staff team (Adam, Evan, Sarah, Tammy, Drew, Josh-coming soon)

•For Tammy as she has cut her hours in half and is at home with the kids much more.

•For Beth, Chelsea, Kiren, Sam, and Samantha who have recently committed their lives to God.

•For our church’s financial situation: Though Tammy and I are still supported from the States the church has actually become self sustaining. This has been a challenge in the past since the church is made up of so many young people without jobs, though between the giving of the people in the church and with the money raised through the coffee shop we have become self sustaining. With Adam and Evan here this has added to the financial obligations of the church. They are partially supported from the States but the church here has to partially support them as well. We pay for part of the rental costs for their home and for some of Evan’s food costs. This has given us a shortfall of $450 a month. $350 for rent $100 for Evan’s food. I know this is a hard financial season for many but if anyone is able to help out with even a small part of their needs it would be thankfully received as they are bringing so much relief on us by being here. Please contact me by email drewdavis@hotmail.co.uk if you’re able to help in this way and to discuss how and for what duration of time as these will hopefully not be long term financial needs and will be somewhat changing in 6 months time. And thank you everyone who has been faithfully supporting Tammy and I through these challenging financial times.

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Reaching The Nations…One Soul At A Time