Hey Sojourner,

With Kish (Boys Correction/facility), we kept trying to set up times to take the team in to do ministry, but all they wanted to let us do was come take a tour. After we as a staff took a tour and connected to Sus and Soh, we talked to Nilang more about his perspective on the struggles with Kish. He told us all about the main structural issues as well as the state of abuse the boys were living in. After that we set up a training day with Nilang and 5 of the teachers that go into Kish. We, as an FCM staff (Foundation for Counseling Ministry), taught on physical/sexual abuse, it’s effects and ways to work with abuse victims to bring in healing. We also left HEAPS of abuse counselling resources with them to continue learning from. We also spent time talking with them about advocacy and things to fight the government on to bring a safer environment for the boys (ie: shower stalls, particular groups in each room rather than 18 yr olds with 5 yr olds…) It was a highly effective time! Huge awareness brought to the staff. We ran another counselling seminar where we taught the staff children’s counselling tools, activities and topics. They were sooooo hungry to learn. These seminar’s OPENED WIDE the doors for ministry inside Kish. Inside Kish, we were able to run 2 programs with 2 different groups of about 30 boys each. We shared a STRONG evangelistic message and gave lots of testimonies. Between those two groups, 16 boys gave their lives to the Lord and several were asking specifically for a book with more information about Jesus. They were hungry to know this Man! We were able to take in only 10 Bibles the first time and the teachers really wanted them as well so they could have at least one in every classroom. We took Muko in with us as a translator to connect with the boys in a more long term fashion. Nilang is going to allow him to come in regularly to teach the boys and share with them. He was sooooooo excited to go in with us as he’s been trying to find a way to get in there for a while! We participated in one of their cleaning days (and invited our Megacities coordinators along too). It went very well. As a team, we also have submitted an application to International Justice Mission to see if they can help intervene on behalf of the boys as well. We have heard that their main office has sent our application to their Kolkata office to be processed further. We’re amazed at all the Lord has done there so far and know He has more plans for them. Our team was SOOOOOO aware that we were standing on the shoulders of those who’d gone before us. We were sooooooo thankful for all of the hard work and faithfulness shown by every MC team (Megacities) before us. Thank you for planting seeds!!!!!

Luke 8:4-8

“4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out,“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””

The story of the Paint Brush is a tale that challenged the very understanding and even existence of God’s love in our lives, as well as of all humanity.  My wife and I are seasoned Christians.  We may not have the most robust flavor, however our passion, commitment, and experience with God has given us a unique flavor and identity.  Despite our Christian longevity, I personally was faced with a moment of spiritual crisis.  In one short moment in an otherwise normal everyday afternoon experienced by a missionary my faith took an incredible pounding of doubt and disbelieve.  However, I was not left alone or forsaken during this attack.  God was hand in hand with me as I began to question the expression and reality of His very love.  1 John 4:8 makes it clear that God is love.  However, on this particular day, in one crucial moment His love was almost impossible for me to see or experience.  It was as if I was standing in one place and time, and His love had sailed to find a new port as does a ship who braves the unpredictable sea.

The moment in time I speak of was at a boys housing facility.  This facility held boys ranging from 6-18 years old.  On this day I found myself serving arm and arm with the Crossroads Discipleship Training School of 2014.  I can only describe these obedient followers of Christ as an eclectic and passionate group of people who are desperate for the Lord. 
 
On this particular Saturday our entire class united together to serve this boys facility.  Up to this point we lived and worshiped communally, but served separately.  This was a great day in which the nurses of our team rallied their well-trained skills to provide health care for the roughly 100 boys housed in this prison type environment.  While others used their passions for art to love on, encourage, and care for those boys who shared a similar passion - the remaining of us spent the day laying the foundational work needed in order to bring life to an otherwise lifeless hospital ward.  Our goal was to clean, paint, and refurbish this dreary place.  We wanted to provide a place that was warm and friendly rather than cold and lonely, so healing could come to those boys who suffered the health challenges of an overwhelmingly difficult environment.   

On this day I found myself splitting my time between jump roping with the boys and working in the hospital ward.  The time I spent in the hospital ward that day was filled with cleaning, painting, praying, and singing.  As I played with the boys and worked in the ward I began to be overwhelmed with the thoughts of their life as I observed them. 

From my observation there was limited staff due to what I assume to be a limited budget.  Boys were running around like prairie dogs – full of spirit and mischief.  I quickly learned as I spoke with the nurses that there was a great deal of sexual activity amongst the boys.  I partnered this knowledge with my observation that day of a young man roughly the age of 13-15 years old walking out from around the corner of a building with two boys ranging between 6-8 years old.  Given the situation, as well as witnessing the behavior of the older boy after the fact, it was clear that something took place that did not guard the ideals of purity.  As I was processing this information, in addition to thinking of the lack of care and safety provided for the boys generally speaking, I began thinking of my children.  At this point a great deal of heart ache and grief began to overwhelm me similar to that of the waves of the Indian Ocean beginning to engulf the beach during the incoming tide.  My thoughts began to spin out of control as my heart began to fill with sorrow for each of the boys.  The thoughts of my children’s lives being surrendered to this life exponentially increased my distress.  At this moment I began to question the existence of God’s love. 
 
The moment I began to question the existence of God’s love I found myself slathering paint across a crumbling wall.  I was not questioning the existences of God’s love in my life.  I was questioning the very fact that if God is love where was it in this place.  Questions like “Why are you not protecting these boys?”, “You say you are love, but where is your love here?”, and ”How could you allow this to happen?” ran through my mind like a stampede of wild horses.   God, in His grace allowed me to question, but only for a short moment.  God responded back to me as quick as a flash of lightening.  His response answered my questions, and propelled my theology and understanding of humanities purpose in a very real and very practical way.  God’s response to me was simply: “My love is experienced in this place because you are standing here with a paint brush in your hand.”  This moment broke my sorrow, grief, doubt, and distress.  It is a simple truth, however, one that is often forgotten or misunderstood at times. 

 We can question where God’s love is at in any situation or place.  However, if you understand that you are a child of God (John 1:12), a saint and not a sinner (1 Peter 2:9-10), an Ambassador of Christ and Minister of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21), and you are a workmanship of God created to do good works (Eph. 2:10) - you will stop questioning and begin living.  You will begin to live life as the vehicle in which God’s love is revealed to the world.  The people of God are meant to be a blessing to the world, and not a vacuum of selfishness (Gen. 12).  

When those who have been transformed by Christ step out in obedience - God’s love will be revealed to all.  Too often people ask the question “Why is somebody not doing something!”  As a transformed Christ follower, instead of a converted one, the question becomes “Lord, what do you want me to do!”  I needed to be reminded that when we submit to God and act in obedience lives will be transformed.  God’s love rests in us.  If we do not love others His love will be incredibly difficult to see by others.  Maybe it is time that you need to pick up a paint brush, send a letter, make a phone call, sacrifice your income, let go of your “rights,” and/or say good-bye to your friends and family to follow God.                  If you do, it is guaranteed that lives will be transformed, the Kingdom of God will expand, and glory will be given to God.  I was challenged by one simple question.  If you are willing to answer this one question your life and the lives of others will be transformed.  At the end of the day “Is God worth it to you?”  If so, pick up your symbolic paint brush and use it.  Do not act as a painter, but instead be a painter that God uses to bring life and beauty to what lacks beauty and is lifeless.  In your obedience God’s love will transform lives because you were willing. 

If God is worth it, what will you do and where will you go in obedience to God?  How will you be a blessing unto the world and transform lives in the name of Christ? 

May your kingdom ripples flow for a lifetime!

Every man, women, and child has an effect on the others around them.  Please share how you may have created a ripple effect that could have left a legacy of good (even for a small moment).  

Too often we are overwhelmed with the business of any given day.  The effects we have on each other tends to be overlooked for one reason or another.  The effects that we do realize quickly, however, are those that have caused a negative ripple.   Negative ripples are always much easier to recognize than those that are good.  From my perspective that is the case due to our sin nature.  It is always easier to express ill will than a kind heart at times.    

The purpose of this blog has many facets.  One facet being the joy of hearing the story behind any positive ripple.  During my time as a student ministries director for a local church I would always challenge students to "Change the world and not simply chance it."  To change a world, community, work place, school, etc. begins with recognizing what needs to be changed.  Change is difficult, but always needed.  The next step is to take action, and not assume someone else will stand up against whatever injustice that may occur.  We want to encourage and challenge people to a call to action, rather than passivity.  The stories we share and the ripples we cause for good carry with them the potential to create positive change.  


Please understand, change is not easy.  Nor, will we always agree with the changes that are being made.  The question is whether you will face change with respect, character, and integrity, or not.  I don't believe we need to accept everyone, but I do believe we need to respect all people.  To show love doesn't mean accepting, but having the ability to respect others regardless of differences.  To love another regardless of differences is one of the greatest and selfless acts that we as finite beings can exhibit.  To respect in love is to give the shirt off your back regardless of distinct differences.        

We ask that you allow your story to be heard in hopes to encourage and empower others to foster change through a ripple effect of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

A Kingdom Ripple harnesses the power and authority of Christ to serve and love as He served and loved us (Matt. 20:22, Phil. 2).  It is through reconciliation with God that we will become Ambassadors of Christ and Ministers of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5).  It is in God and through our "new self" that we will be a cause agent for a ripple empowered by the Holy Spirit that will bring forth transformation.        

Let your story be heard...