Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 16, 2011

The Island of Discussion

It will come as no surprise that I enjoy watching travel shows on television. Whenever I go to South Texas to visit my Dad, we always set aside time to watch selected travel programs. It’s because of my Dad that I developed an early interest in the nations and the people of the world. I have lots of childhood memories of listening to Dad talk about his travels and about the people he met along the way. To this day I still enjoy learning about the world’s people groups and the interesting places where they live. And I still enjoy listening to my Dad share new insights he has gleaned about people and places by watching and recording our favorite travel shows.

This past Sunday evening I learned something new as Cheryl and I watched an episode of Rick Steves’ Europe, a popular travel show featured on public television. Rick has authored several travel guides and is regarded as an expert on travel to Europe. The episode that we watched was entitled Scotland’s Islands and Highlands. Rick’s shows are crammed with interesting information and offer viewers useful information about must-see sights and more. On this particular episode, Rick met a local man named Arthur. As they strolled along the Highlands, Arthur turned to Rick and said:

Do you see that island out there Rick? That is the island of discussion. In the old days, if there was any arguments or quarrels, the parties were put out there on the island with cheese and whiskey and oat cakes, and they were left there until they could sort their problems out. And as a result of that, in over 1,500 years of history, we have only had one murder in this place.

Wide-eyed and in a pensive tone, Rick replied, “Effective. The Island of Discussion.” To which Arthur added, “It works.” Apparently it does. One murder in fifteen-hundred years of history is a remarkable track record.

We can all learn a thing or two from this obscure little footnote in Scottish history. It’s far too easy for folks to opt for anything but having to sit with another person to sort out disagreements. People often resort to things like giving others the silent treatment or venting their frustrations by gossiping, name-calling, making slanderous slurs, or even engaging in acts of aggression and violence. These options only make things worse. Putting ourselves in the vulnerable position of having to sort things out face to face is a bit more difficult but ultimately offers a better opportunity for resolving differences. So, the next time you have a dispute, take your cue from our Scottish friends and try to settle it on the island of discussion. And remember, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18).

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 15, 2011

Look Beyond Actualities

Last month I posted a blog entitled Dichos Sabios (translated Wise Sayings) in which I listed some of my favorite Spanish sayings, proverbs, and nuggets of practical wisdom passed down from generation to generation. This morning I was reminded of another dicho that is common to every culture: Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos. A dynamic translation of this dicho is: “We can see faces but we cannot know what is in the heart.” This dicho is also akin to “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Judging a book by its cover is generally the default setting for how most of us look at others. We can spot an ounce of dirt in someone else’s life while overlooking a ton of filth in our own (see Matt. 7:3-5). That’s human nature. While looking for a king to replace Saul, Samuel was reminded that the Lord “sees not as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7)

Jesus set the best example of what it means to look beyond outward appearance. When Andrew first brought his brother Simon to Jesus, the Bible tells us that “Jesus looked at him” (John 1:42). The particular Greek word for “looked” is one that speaks of an intense and concentrated gaze — the kind of look that is able to see beyond the actualities of a person’s life. When Jesus looked at Simon, He saw beyond the actualities of his life to behold the possibilities. That’s why Jesus said, “So you are Simon son of John?” — in other words, “I can see who and what you are. I can see the same thing that everybody else sees and knows about you at face value.” But, Jesus looked beyond those actualities to behold what others did not see in Simon. Jesus said to him, “You shall be called Cephas (which means Peter).” Peter is the Aramaic word for “stone” or “rock.” Jesus saw what no one else could see in Simon: the capacity to become a solid and rock-like man. So, Jesus gave Simon a new name, one that would remind him of the possibilities that Jesus had seen in his heart. Jesus did not give Simon the new name Peter because he already was a rock-like man, but rather because he had the potential to become one. This new name was a prophetic statement of what Jesus was going to make out of Simon — it foretold his new character.

When I consider how Jesus looked at others I am convicted about how often I judge a book by its cover. It’s far too easy for me to look at the actualities in the lives of others and make hasty judgments about them. However, it is much harder to look past those actualities to try to behold the possibilities — the things that nobody else can see. I am determined to become more like Jesus and to ask Him to help me see others with His perceptive and discerning eyes. I am thankful for those individuals in my past who looked at me through the eyes of Jesus and saw potential in my life that nobody else saw. Over the years I have learned that we are the most cruel, unkind, and unfair to others when all we can see are the actualities in their lives. But, when we begin to see the possibilities in others and how God can use us to help them realize their highest potential in Christ, then we become better people as we help others to become better people. The old Spanish dicho is right on target: Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos. May we allow God to help us look beyond actualities to behold the possibilities.

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Reflections on Jesus

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 13, 2011

Global Glimpses

David in Tanzania | 2007

Who | David Lynn

Where I Have Traveled with Kingsland | God has given me opportunities, primarily through Kingsland’s missions ministry, to serve Him in places that I otherwise never would have gone to. And, He has used me (in whatever small way) to further Christ’s Kingdom in countries like Tanzania, Bangladesh, and the Darfur region of Sudan. God has also allowed me to travel to Iran, twice.

Why I Am Interested in Last Places First | In my case, God told me to “go.” Prior to His call, I had absolutely zero interest in foreign missions. And, having heard His call, I had no idea just how far Beyond He had in mind for me to go! Now, having been to some incredibly remote (not to mention potentially dangerous – specifically, Darfur and Iran) places, I can gladly testify that God is great and He has removed any fear I may have had about going wherever He calls me to go to. Those people who are in those places Beyond our normal frame of reference, those out past the end of the road, or in hard to reach or politically difficult areas, are just as valuable to Christ as anybody in the free civilized world and I have seen the hunger that people in those places have for the truth of Christ.

The Most Troubling Thing About Darfur | To me, the most troubling thing about the situation in Darfur is that the people are so isolated from the rest of the world. The logistics of simply getting there, much less with any kind of significant relief effort, are incredibly difficult. The fact that hundreds of thousands of people are in refugee camps is only the tip of the iceberg. Their entire way of life has been violently altered. Their homes and villages have been destroyed, their friends and family members have been killed, and their farming capability has largely been wiped out. Those people are virtually 100% dependent on support from the rest of the world for their daily survival. The level of need there is beyond description.

The Most Encouraging Thing About Tanzania | The Tanzania trip was the absolute spiritual mountaintop experience of my life. There are three main things that stick out to me about our visit there. First, that trip was irrefutable proof of the truth that God’s word does not return void. We were so far out in the bush that the safari company that was guiding us had never been there, yet the people were so receptive to the Word that many came to faith in Christ during our visit and twenty house churches were started. Second, the in-country missionary couple that hosted us were such a fantastic demonstration of how lives are impacted when we conduct ourselves as Jesus did. Every village we went into welcomed us with open arms because they had either already had experience with that missionary couple and their ministry or they had heard of their reputation and were thrilled that they had come to visit them. Third, the missionaries had trained a group of men from another tribe to share their faith and those guys went to great lengths (at significant personal cost/effort) to be involved in not only this initial missions effort but to also continue on in spreading and growing the faith among the people we witnessed to. Their heart for sharing Christ continues to amaze and encourage me today!

The Most Challenging Thing About Bangladesh | To me, the most challenging thing about Bangladesh is the spiritual warfare that goes on there.  As the country has a solid Muslim majority, the spiritual oppression and outright opposition to Christianity makes for a challenging environment to work in. However, there is no god like our God and the spiritual darkness that exists in Bangladesh only serves to let the light of God shine that much brighter! One thing that really struck me in Bangladesh was the stark difference in the spiritual lives of Muslims and Christians. As a direct result of the tenets of their faith, Muslims are, by and large and in my estimation, a relatively joyless people. By contrast, the Christians we met there were filled with the joy of Christ and that light truly does shine from their faces!

Why We Should Pray, Give, and Go Beyond | First, because the love of Christ compels us, as Christians, to want to share His love with others. What greater gift could any of us give to someone than the gift of eternity? Second, having been on several mission trips, I can testify to the power of the Word, the power of prayer, and the fact that God is working wonders in the world every day. Going Beyond is one great way to put yourself in the position of being used by God to participate in His miracles and to impact the world for Christ. The absolute best meal I have ever eaten in my life was the spaghetti served to us by a missionary couple in Sudan on our way back from Darfur. That meal, as simple as it was, was not only physical nourishment but was a spiritual ministry to me, too. In closing, I would want to encourage you that God is alive, He is working in people’s lives every day, and that each of us can participate in His works, whether through our time, our resources, or our prayers. Go Beyond!

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Posted in Bangladesh, Global Glimpses, Sudan | Darfur, Tanzania

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 12, 2011

Of Mice and Boys

Kingsland's Diane Patterson Boys Boarding School

As our boarding school in India nears completion, I recently asked Doyle Lowry, Executive Pastor at Kingsland, to travel to Orissa to purchase computers and set up the computer room at our school. Dan Bradshaw, our IT guy, accompanied Doyle to handle all of the technical aspects of the work. They returned home this past weekend with a good report of their experiences in Orissa.

OG | We have experienced delays in the construction project over the past year because of lack of materials and workers and weather-related issues. What is the current status of the building project?

DL | The building is nearly complete. Sudhansu, the Director of our boarding school, hopes to begin construction on the wall surrounding the property prior to the rainy season (June/July).  He is hopeful that the boys will move into the new building in the next two months.

OG | What challenges did you face in purchasing and setting up the computers?

DL | Time difference (10 ½ hours ahead), language and culture were barriers in the purchase of the computers. We purchased eight Dell desktop computers along with cabling, switches and a printer to network the computers. It was a challenge to find a computer dealer in Bhubaneswar that was willing to work with us. Dan Bradshaw, Kingsland’s IT Director came to the church at midnight on more than one occasion to ‘broker the deal.’ Setting up the computers was not all that difficult, with one significant exception – POWER! In the small village where our boys home is located, there are daily power outages to contend with. We did purchase a Honda generator to serve as a backup. It came in handy as we used it every day we were there.

OG | What will adding computer-education mean to the boys in our boarding school?

DL | The addition of computer-education will be a game changer for these boys. It gives them knowledge and greatly increases their opportunities for future employment. There is also an immediate benefit in the joy of discovery and learning.

OG | How did the boys respond when they entered the room and saw the computers for the first time?

DL | It was amazing to watch the boys interact with the new computers. Prior to this week, they thought a mouse was a small rodent and a hard drive was a long journey. We take something like a computer for granted because it is so familiar to us. For these boys, this was a great adventure. What a joy to watch the wonder and amazement in their expressions.

Dan Bradshaw teaching boys to use a computer.

OG | How will our computer room be used at other times?

DL | The computer lab will be used to minister to the village and the surrounding area. Word has already spread and people are inquiring about receiving training. There is even the possibility that the computers could be used to generate a small income stream for the boys’ school.

OG | What is your best memory from this trip?

DL | I was able to see India through fresh eyes. This was Dan’s first international trip. He jumped in to the deep end. Strangely enough, after having traveled to India on four separate occasions, it is easy to lose an edge and become more familiar with the cultural differences and the human suffering that so many in our world face on a daily basis. God gave me a gift of seeing this again as if it were my first time.

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Posted in India, Interviews

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 11, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Muslim schoolboys. | 2005 | Al Fashir, North Darfur | Sudan

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Posted in Sudan | Darfur, Wordless Wednesday

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 9, 2011

Skin In The Game

I received an e-mail today from our national partner in Bangladesh concerning one of the evangelists in his network. Here is what our Bengali brother had to say (in his own words):

I went south of Bangladesh to see my parents, and some other friends. A critical thing has been happened to south part of Bangladesh with one of our evangelist. … He is very close friend of my brother. Bad people caught him, as he was witness to the village. They insulted him a lot. And he was beaten up a lot. They (terrorists) shaved his head, hanged shoes on his neck. Those kinds treating is really bad. He is in the hospital right now, in town, under my bro.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. I have received similar reports about the persecution of Muslim-background believers ever since my first visit to Bangladesh in 1999. Years ago I met Abdul (not his real name) in Bangladesh. Abdul is a Muslim-background follower of Christ. When his family discovered that he had become a Christian, they tied him up and beat him in an effort to get him to abandon his newfound faith. His mother came to him at night, released him, and urged him to leave home lest his father and uncle beat him to death. Abdul left home and eventually connected with other believers who helped him grow in his faith. He became a bold witness for Christ and has suffered physical persecution on more than one occasion. Today, God is using him in a mighty way as a leader of church leaders in Bangladesh. He continues to faithfully preach the gospel in spite of the risks involved.

Like these Christ-followers in Bangladesh, we’ve got to be willing to have some skin in the game in order to advance God’s purposes and pursue His passions among the nations. We must consider and deal with what keeps us from exhibiting boldness in sharing our faith. Think about this: if you could trace your spiritual lineage back to the first century you would likely find at least one individual who had skin in the game, who was willing to risk it all in order to share the gospel with others and whose faithfulness to do so eventually resulted in the gospel reaching you. What individuals who are alive today will be touched because of your concern for their spiritual welfare? And, what individuals yet to be born will eventually hear the gospel because of your willingness to share with someone today? Are we bold enough to live the gospel, share the gospel, and if necessary die for the gospel? Do we have skin in the game?

I invite you to read more of my posts about the persecution of Christians in Bangladesh and other nations and to pray for those who live and share their faith at great personal risk.

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Posted in Bangladesh, Persecution of Christians

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 8, 2011

On Heaven’s Shore

Today is Mother’s Day, a bittersweet day for me since my beautiful Mom passed away on May 30, 2009. On the first anniversary of her death I posted a blog entitled “My New Normal” in which I wrote:

It’s been one year since my beautiful mother died and my life has not yet returned to normal. And, I know that it never will. Things will never be what they were before. I understand that. My severed emotions have found new ways to grow around the hurt and to reconnect on the other side. But, the hurt is still there — quietly throbbing with every beat of my heart. Some days are worse than others but, little by little, I am adjusting to my new normal. God has been very good to me over the past year, nourishing me with perfect measures of grace at my most difficult moments. He understands.

A year after writing those words I can confirm that God’s grace is indeed sufficient. Some days are still worse than others and I still have those moments when the thought of Mom’s absence causes me to sigh. God, however, continues to show me in small, quiet, and unexpected ways that He understands my pain and my grief. Last month while visiting Dad I sat alone in the room where Mom kept her books. We enjoyed lots of conversations about books we were reading. In fact, one of the last questions that Mom asked me the week before she died is “What are you reading?” As I sat among her books I noticed a little volume tucked between larger books. When I thumbed through the book I found a little note that Mom had written and filed away between its pages at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 11, 2000. The note is entitled “Dream.” Mom had jotted down a few quick lines that described something she had dreamed: Ocean waves washing me ashore — as being washed ashore I come to some feet and hold on to them and as I looked up I saw my Lord.

Mom never could have imagined how the words she wrote on a Saturday afternoon would become a much-needed balm to me almost two years after her death. And, I never could have imagined how the God of all comfort would lead me to find her note on a night when my heart was aching. But, that’s the way God works. He understands and He cares. Two years ago, the ocean waves that Mom had dreamed about washed her onto heaven’s shore to the feet of the Lord she loved. One day, those same waves will wash me onto that same shore where I too will see Jesus and once again see my beautiful Mom. In the meantime, I will continue to grieve with hope and to find encouragement in the promises of the God who understands, comforts, and sustains.

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Posted in Home and Family

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 6, 2011

Global Glimpses

Herschel with elderly man at Mother Teresa's.

Who | Herschel Rothchild

My Years on the Mission Field | My family (Christine, Christian, and Danielle) and I served in Nigeria for 2 years. During our time there I worked with street kids. I did not have any special experience that helped me, but God used my knowledge and my desire to serve Him to do many different things. I discipled and encouraged leaders in our ministry plus some of the older boys in the ministry. God also used my real estate background to help acquire more buildings and land for our growing ministry. God stretched me in many ways as we served the blind and the lepers. It was there that I learned we are all people and all anyone wants is to be treated with dignity and respect. The blind and the lepers we worked with want to be loved for who they are on the inside, not on the outside. I was even in charge of new construction for our ministry buildings and housing along with our farming initiatives. I had no previous experience with either, but God gave me some amazing Nigerian friends who worked with me and along side me to ensure things were done the right way.

Where I Have Traveled With Kingsland | I have led three teams back to Nigeria with Kingsland since we moved back home in 2006. I have also done mission work with Kingsland in Houston’s Third and Fourth wards as well as in Katy. I traveled to Israel with Kingsland and last summer I went on the High School mission trip to India.

What Touched Me Most in India | I loved going to the small village school where we cared for children. The school kids loved our students — and the feeling was truly mutual. We were all humbled as we visited each one of the school kids’ homes in groups of four or five to pray for them and their family. The families were happy to see us and excited that we would want to come into their home. I watched God stretch our students as we asked each one of them to take turns praying at different houses. We wanted them to lead and by doing that they learned a lot. On the third day our students wanted to prayer walk through the village. It was blazing hot and we were all sweaty but they just wanted to go pray. As we went we met a man whose arm was lame. He could not raise it up and he asked us to pray for healing. An Indian pastor led us as we all laid hands on him and prayed. The man was healed and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. There were several other healings and more people proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Savior. There were no Christians in the village prior to this day.

What I Appreciated Most About Our Students | I appreciated the willingness of our students to serve and to hear God. In addition to serving at the slum school we served every day at Mother Theresa’s Homes for the destitute and dying. There were some people there that looked way different than us and some that could not even talk … but our students just loved them. They did not let their appearance slow them down at all, they just wanted to serve. It was amazing to see their hearts and to watch them live out their faith. The youth of Kingsland served God well in India and I am so proud of them and the way they ministered to others and that they truly went beyond their comfort zone.

Where I Am Headed Next | I am headed to Uganda in June with the LaTorre family and their team. We will be serving at an orphanage where Dr. Cindy Anthis and others will help check all of the kids and start medical records for them and make sure they are given the vaccines they need. I will do whatever they need me to. The LaTorre’s also have a plan to buy land for the orphanage so they can become more self sufficient as they grow vegetables and raise cows, chickens, and more. I am so excited to go and do anything to help. I pray that God is glorified through our time going and our time in the country.

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Posted in Global Glimpses, India, Nigeria

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 5, 2011

Providential Interruption

On Monday of this week I had the opportunity to share the story of Kingsland’s journey into the global mission field created by abortion at Life International’s annual fund-raising banquet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following is a condensed version of that story. You can see the video version on Vimeo.
__________

When I arrived in Katy, Texas five and a half years ago to serve as Kingsland’s first Missions Pastor, one of the first things I did was to brand our missions ministry with the words “Go Beyond.” I did so because I believe that in each of our lives there is a line that defines the farthest we’ve ever been and the most we’ve ever done for God and His purposes. Everything on our side of that line is familiar, comfortable, manageable, and predictable. However, the kingdom of God advances only when we are willing to step across that line and allow God to lead us to places we’ve never been, engage with people we’ve never met, and fight battles we’ve never fought. When I arrived at Kingsland I was determined to provide opportunities for our people to go beyond that line in order to advance God’s purposes and pursue His passions among the nations.

On the international front I had a very intentional strategy in mind to go to last places first. In other words, to lead our people to take the gospel to the world’s least reached and least engaged people groups. I did not want to duplicate what others were doing or go where others were going. I did not want to give a second and third helping of Jesus to people who already had access to the gospel while millions are still waiting to hear the gospel for the first time. Like Paul in Romans 15:20, I wanted to “make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation.” And then, God providentially interrupted me to add something to our strategy that I never expected would ever blip on our international missions radar.

A few weeks after arriving at Kingsland, Mary Whittington, one of our members, invited me to join her and her husband to breakfast to meet Kurt Dillinger, the President of Life International. Honestly, I did not want to go to breakfast or to entertain anything that might detract from a strategy of reaching the world’s least reached peoples. But, because I was new at Kingsland and did not want to be rude or unkind, I accepted Mary’s invitation and met Kurt the following morning. I listened politely as Kurt shared about the work of Life International on the mission field created by abortion. And then, Kurt said something that was the key to unlocking my interest and redefining my vision. He said that babies in the womb are the world’s largest hidden and most vulnerable people group. I don’t think I heard anything else he said because those words in particular disturbed me. I could not sleep that night as I thought about this hidden and vulnerable people group in need of champions. That night, the Lord convicted me that in addition to all of the other unreached people groups I would lead our missions ministry to adopt, He wanted for me to lead us to adopt the pre-born as one of our people groups.

The following day I talked with my Pastor, Alex Kennedy, to ask how he felt about our missions ministry adopting the pre-born as one of our people groups. Pastor Alex has a huge heart for the welfare of the pre-born and affirmed that we should do so. And thus began our partnership with Life International. Five years ago we worked with Kurt and the staff at Life International to underwrite and to help start The Comforter’s Center in Uganda. Our people embraced the vision and gave generously to make a pregnancy help center in Kampala a reality. And then, a couple of years ago, Kingsland purchased a building for the center, ensuring that it will have a geographic presence to promote the sanctity of human life even beyond our generation. The best thing is that over the past five years hundreds of abortion-minded young women who have visited the center have chosen life for their babies and hundreds of these women have come to faith in Christ.

Grateful young Moms at The Comforter's Center.

Because of the success of The Comforter’s Center, we are now working with Life International to start another center in Cambodia. This past December, through the generosity of a family at Kingsland, we provided the funds to purchase 7.5 acres of land along the Cambodia-Thai border. This location will become the home of another pregnancy resource and women’s health center and facilities to care for children at risk of being kidnapped and trafficked for sex and labor. Last year I invited Steve Hyde, our joint partner in Cambodia, to join me in Kampala to see the work of The Comforter’s Center. While we were meeting with Veronica, the director of the center, there was a knock at the door. Five young girls holding their babies walked in to the room and said, “We heard that someone from Kingsland was here and we wanted to personally say thank you for supporting the work of the center. Because you have given, our babies are alive, the five of us came to faith in Christ, and we meet on Thursdays to pray and to encourage one another to be godly moms.” I smiled and thought back to the morning I had reluctantly met with Kurt and God challenged me to go beyond in a way I never expected. Our hope at Kingsland is to continue working with Kurt and the Life International team to sow the seeds of life on the mission field created by abortion in Uganda, Cambodia, and beyond.

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Posted in Cambodia, Uganda

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | May 4, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Along the Brahmaputra River | 2003 | Bangladesh

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Posted in Bangladesh, Wordless Wednesday

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