“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience…”
1 Peter 3:15-16a
Imagine you had invited a Muslim man to join your group going to a site in the Middle East and he excitedly agreed. So, along the drive you all got to talking and he quickly learned you were Christians and proceeded to say, “So, tell me about Jesus.” What would you do?… What would you say?… Well, this actually happened to my friends and me! The Lord gave us an incredible opportunity to share our faith with him. (More of this story can be found below!)
Hello family and friends,
I have been back in America for about two weeks now and let me tell you, I definitely hit the ground running! Before I share what I am doing in this season and what’s to come in the future, let’s take a journey back through the past couple months the Lord has blessed me with. First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to you for supporting, partnering, loving, praying, and encouraging me through the entirety of the 5-month vision tour I just completed. I left back at the end of October and I cannot believe how fast the time went. God has been so gracious to allow me to see so many different cultures, people groups, divine encounters, and even His hand at work through the hardships faced in these places. I want you to know that all of this is “fruit that abounds to your account” (Philippians 4:17) as we are all partners in the Gospel reaching towards the same goal. It is beautiful to see how the Lord has given each of us different gifts and paths to fulfill His will for this world.
Indonesia
Back in February, I went to Indonesia for a week with a team as we scouted out the land and possibility of starting a new work in this country. We spent time in East Java and Bali with ministries we have connections with. It was surreal to witness the many temples throughout Bali as its majority religion is Hinduism, while the rest of the country is mainly Muslim. This island specifically is saturated with idolatrous worship. There was an evident spiritual heaviness over this place due to the darkness and lost people. It truly broke my heart, BUT GOD!… I’m so thankful to have been there with an amazing team and to have seen the ministry going on in a country desperate for the hope and freedom found in Jesus. My friends and I have been praying for the country of Indonesia and the needs there for over a year now. I never imagined that within a year He would have opened the door for me to go on a vision tour. All glory to Him! Please keep this country in your prayers, as well as what the Lord desires to do there with Calvary Chapel!
The Philippines
After Indonesia, some of us went on to the Philippines to visit the Calvary Bible Institute as Pastor Trent taught on “The Purpose of the Church.” Pastors and leaders from around the country were also able to attend this conference and it was so exciting to see the fire being lit in these people to go out and reach the world for Christ. This country no doubt has spiritual needs, although it is much more Christianized than it’s surrounding countries within the 10/40 Window. The majority of the people there consider themselves to be Catholic, so the need for religiosity to be broken down is prevalent in light of the personal, loving relationship Jesus Christ offers. It is also known as an open country in terms of the allowance of missionary activity and the fact that the Gospel has spread throughout this place is a huge blessing. This means that the Philippines is in a strategic location to go out and reach the most unreached people in Asia! I believe the Lord has big things planned for His Filipino church and people in this regard. Please pray with me that they would continue to catch vision in training up and sending out their laborers into the field!
The Middle East
The last country I visited on my trip is in an undisclosed location within the Middle East. It was definitely a sobering way to end this season of my time overseas. Aside from the spiritual oppression and heart wrenching reality of the millions of people chained to Islam and false worship of Allah, I was so thankful for the chance to visit my friends who just moved to this place. They recently moved in hopes of starting a new work, as the Lord leads, and are currently in the process of learning Arabic. It was really sweet to spend time with them, encourage them, and learn from their experiences.
So, back to the story I started above! I never would have imagined this opportunity to share our faith would arise in a context like this. This man, let’s call him Sam, was so open to discussing the truths of Jesus and things pertaining to Christianity. During our time with him we were able to share the entire story of Jesus’ life, the Gospel, as well as answered prayers and miracles we’ve seen in our lives. He told us that he has never met Christians that actually know what they believe and are excited to talk about it, let alone, young people… wow! We had him read the beginning of Genesis and the beginning of Matthew in Arabic. He was surprised by how clear it was and said he actually understood the things we shared with him. He mentioned that he has a lot to think about and consider now, but praise God that the seeds were planted. One of the coolest parts was that he noticed we would pray for our food before eating and asked us why. We were able to explain the significance and told him that we love praying together. He asked if we could all pray together before we departed. This very well may have been the first time he has prayed an unrehearsed prayer in his life. What a blessing to be a part of and see some walls start to come down in his heart. Please keep Sam in your prayers that the Lord would bring more serious Jesus followers into his life and lead him to salvation.
What’s To Come…
It has been so sweet coming back to California and seeing family and friends. I have felt such a warm welcome and that is a big blessing in my life. I am excited for what’s to come in the future as God has been so faithful to open and close doors, leading and guiding me in His perfect will. There is still so much to share in terms of my immediate future and next steps, but that is for a later update. Please pray that the Lord would continue to put all the pieces together and work out every detail of the vision and desires He has placed in my heart. Praise God for His constant faithfulness over the course of the 5 months I was overseas. Praise Him for what He is doing globally and how He is using His children to reach even the hardest and “least of these.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this update and for joining in on the work that God has called me to! It is such a beautiful gift to realize that the Lord doesn’t need our help in fulfilling His plans, but because of His love, He wants us to take part in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth! I would greatly appreciate your continued partnership with me in prayer as the Lord is leading me to long-term, cross-cultural ministry, as well as through financial support, if you feel led to give. Any amount of a one-time or monthly donation is an absolute blessing as I prepare to be sent out long-term on the field.
It means so much to me. God bless and thank you all!
For His glory,
Macey