Go Beyond

   Kingsland’s purpose statement challenges us to love God, love people, and equip the generations, one home at a time. Our Go Beyond Missions Ministry is committed to leading the people of Kingsland to fulfill our purpose statement from our own community to the ends of the earth. Here is a look at what’s happening this month.

Boys Digging

Student Initiatives | Jon Davis, our Missions Ministry Associate, did an outstanding job of planning and coordinating over thirty service initiatives for our student discipleship weekend. This is no easy task. That’s why I am grateful that Jon is on our team. He not only loves God, he uses organizational skills honed in the marketplace to serve the kingdom. And I am also grateful for our student pastors and over 425 students and sponsors for spending a rainy afternoon sloshing in the mud to complete our projects. That’s what going beyond is about — doing what needs to be done in spite of the obstacles.

Transport Planes

Haiti Medical Team | I am thankful for friends like Kim Reed, President of Builders without Borders of Texas. Kim has a heart for people and the determination to get things done, no matter how hard. When Kim told me he was recruiting a medical team to go to Haiti, I told him that the people of Kingsland would step up and provide the supplies. The people of Kingsland donated 1000+ pounds of medical supplies in a day and a half. Kingsland member Wayne Fairley stepped up to assist Kim with the logistics of transporting the team and supplies. They departed Houston on Sunday morning and arrived in Haiti today. When they landed they were told, “you will be saving limbs within minutes.”

Generation One | Generation One is one of our urban ministry partners in Houston’s Third Ward. Mike Malkemes and his staff are doing a great job of helping grade school kids realize their potential. Generation One observed their third anniversary this past weekend and honored Kingsland’s investment of volunteers and finances with a beautiful plaque.

Distributing Blankets

Bangladesh Blankets | I will never forget the winter of 2003. I led a team to Bangladesh to take the gospel to remote villages along the Brahmaputra River. The temperatures plunged into the low forties and more than 700 people died because of the cold. This month, Kingsland provided funds for the purchase and distribution of blankets to the poor in Bangladesh. My dear friend Mortuza coordinated this initiative and has reported that this single act of kindness has opened many doors for sharing the gospel because the recipients want to know why anyone would do something so kind for people they do not even know.

Mother Teresa | I leave for India in a few hours with my son and a team of seven to serve at Mother Teresa’s homes for the destitute and dying. Mother Teresa was an amazing woman who loved God and heeded His call to look for Jesus in the distressing disguise of the least of these. Because of her obedience and faithfulness, her Missionaries of Charity now operate more than 500 homes that care for the poor around the world. This will be a life-impacting trip for our team members.

Sex Trafficking | Starting this month, Kingsland is providing funds to support the life-saving work of a safe house in Kolkata. This house is a refuge for 150 young girls rescued from forced prostitution in Kolkata. Some of these young girls were kidnapped and trafficked to Kolkata. Others were sold into prostitution by their own family members. Others were duped by their oppressors. Each of them have suffered unimaginable horrors. Our missions ministry is working with Kingsland’s Legacy Milestones Ministry to help our members and their children collect pocket change to help change the world for these young girls. Our new Just Change for a Just Cause partnership will debut at Kingsland’s Parent Summit in February.

Foundation Work

India Boys Home | Construction of our campus for boys started this month. Our boys’ home, named for the late Diane Patterson, is home to one-hundred boys in Orissa, India. Orissa is the state with the worst record of persecution of Christians in India. Some of our boys are orphans and others are from very poor Christian homes. Thirty-five of our boys come from families whose homes were completely destroyed by Hindu extremists over the past year. We are committed to equipping these boys with a good education and a strong biblical worldview. Please pray that God will use these boys to love others — even those who are intent on persecuting and destroying them.