Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | November 8, 2013

A Haven of Hope

En route to Poipet, Cambodia

We live in relative safety in our suburban neighborhoods where we have access to reliable police protection, good medical care, convenient grocery stores, beautiful parks, and many other amenities. We are indeed the beneficiaries of our geography. For many in our world, however, geography really is a matter of life and death because they live in dangerous places.

This afternoon our Kingsland team will begin the long journey to Poipet, Cambodia — one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and children. This once sleepy little border town is the new gateway between Thailand and Cambodia. The area between the Cambodia and Thai border crossings has become a gambling mecca that looks like the Las Vegas strip. It is a magnet for drug dealers and human traffickers.

In recent years, more than 100,000 poor people have moved to Poipet in search of work. Almost 40,000 of these cross the border into Thailand every day in search of day labor or any job to support their families. These moms and dads leave their children unattended in the slums thus making these kids vulnerable to abuse and to being kidnapped and sold to work in brothels or at construction sites.

In September of last year, we conducted a Vacation Bible School at the Imparting Smiles Orphanage in Poipet. We included special lessons on how to be on guard against human traffickers. When we asked the kids to tell us their fears, they shared about living with the fear that someone would take them away from their homes and do bad things to them.

The fear of being taken by a stranger is very real for the children who live in Poipet because they have heard stories of what has happened to other kids who disappeared and never returned home. They know that bad people in this area try to lure kids away from their homes. Poipet is unquestionably one of the most dangerous places in the world for kids.

Hope Center Logo
Our missions ministry is engaged in a special project in Poipet with our partner Steve Hyde, Founder of Asia for Jesus. We are working together to construct a campus called The Hope Center, located near the epicenter of human trafficking in Poipet. The first phase of this project is a facility that will house a pregnancy help center, offer medical, optical and dental care, provide crisis counseling, and serve as a safe house for those in danger.

Hope Contruction

The Hope Center under construction. | December 2012

In just a few hours, I will begin the long journey to Poipet along with three of our Kingsland women (Kara Potts, Leslie Joyce, Mary Quin) who have all served the children of Cambodia on previous trips. Our task for the next week will be to fully furnish the facility in preparation for the dedication ceremony and grand opening in December. We are thrilled that this first phase of The Hope Center campus will soon begin to serve the people of Poipet and western Cambodia.

Please follow our adventure and keep our team in your prayers. I will post updates from Poipet to keep you informed about all that we are doing at The Hope Center — a safe haven and a place of healing and hope for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

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Posted in Cambodia, Women's Issues

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | November 5, 2013

No Job Too Small

One of the most enjoyable days of the year for me is our staff development day. That’s the day when we close our office doors and head out the door to serve our community. Today our staff made the 20-minute drive from Katy to Brookshire to serve The Manna House, one of our favorite local partners. Since 1997, the Manna House has provided a Christ-centered recovery and restoration program to more than 600 men with drug and/or alcohol addictions.

Four Painters
Today, we engaged in several projects at The Manna House campus. We painted walls and installed new lighting in their meeting room, installed new flooring in their thrift shop, planted flowers and mulched all of their flower beds and around trees, installed new car stops, provided new chairs for their meeting and classroom area, and repaired some low spots in their walkways. And we did all of this under cloudy skies and the threat of rain.

Drilling Posts
We had an absolutely great day as we worked and laughed together and made some meaningful connections with the Manna House staff and residents. Everybody worked hard and demonstrated a willingness to do whatever needed to be done. No job was too small and every task was made more enjoyable because we worked together. We have some really talented folks on our staff — men and women who can use power tools like pros.

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We concluded our day by grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. I loved seeing all of the clusters of Kingsland staff and Manna House residents sitting at picnic tables or on the grass, enjoying good conversation around a delicious meal. The Manna House team overflowed with gratitude for all that we were able to accomplish. We love this ministry and all that they do to love and care for men seeking a way out of addiction. I am thankful that God brought us together more than eight years ago and that we continue to work together to advance God’s purposes.

Team Pic

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Posted in Local Missions Initiatives | Tags:

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | November 1, 2013

Trail Ahead Closed

There is little white space on my calendar these days. So, when I have an opportunity to embark on one of my affordable adventures on my day off I jump at the chance to do so. This morning, I loaded my gear into my truck and drove to Lake Somerville State Park, located east of Dime Box (the destination of one of my previous backroads adventures). Since I have never visited Lake Somerville, I thought the drive there and a good long hike at the park would do me a world of good.

Lake Somerville Sign
Last night I studied a map of the Lake Somerville Trailway, a 13-mile hiking trail that starts just north of Lake Somerville. My goal for today was to hike this particular trail and then to return at a later date to hike the remaining trails. When I arrived at the park, the ranger briefed me on the trail and jotted down my cell number since I was hiking alone. She also advised me to take plenty of water since there is no potable water along the trail.

Sunflowers
With my Camelbak filled with plenty of water and a map of the park in my back pocket, I grabbed my trekking pole and headed down the trail. I was a little more than excited to be outdoors hearing nothing but the sound of the birds and my own steps. Just a short distance down the trail, I walked through splashes of beautiful yellow flowers lining both sides of the trail. “What a great day to be outdoors,” I thought to myself.

Area Closed
As I approached the three-mile marker, I noticed a sign ahead that said the area was closed. I stopped at the sign and looked longingly ahead. This was not a part of my plans for today. I had come to hike the entire 13-mile Lake Somerville Trailway. Puzzled, I called the park ranger and asked about the sign. She told me that since I had arrived earlier that morning, they had received an advisory of flooding on the trails because of the recent heavy rains.

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The park ranger apologized for the inconvenience. “No problem,” I said, “this will give me an opportunity to retrace my steps and to see the same trail from the other direction.” I also knew that this would give me an opportunity to hike a shorter and more primitive loop on the way back to my truck. As I walked back, I noticed my own footprints — the ones I had made when I was headed in the hopeful direction of the end of the trail. Although I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of heading back to my starting place, I did enjoy a different perspective of the same trail.

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Of course, being a preacher, I thought about Paul on his second missionary journey. Paul and his companions “attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (Acts 16:7). Instead, God redirected Paul and his team to a place called Troas, located on the extreme western shores of Asia Minor. It was there that Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man who was standing and appealing to them for help. The rest is history. Paul and his companions headed to Macedonia and, for the first time, the gospel came to the West.

Trail Map
Today was not the first time, and it certainly will not be the last time, that my steps have been redirected. I’m ok with that because it’s a part of the adventure. As with Paul, it is precisely those closed trails that can redirect us to a better place where we make even greater discoveries about what God wants us to do next. I had the opportunity to see things from a new direction today and to hike a trail I otherwise would have missed — all because the trail ahead was closed. That’s pretty cool.

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Posted in Hiking & Camping, Personal Growth, Texas State Parks | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 31, 2013

Stay Curious, My Friends

CuriousCuriosity and discovery are inextricably linked. Curiosity is simply defined as an eagerness to know or learn — that restless urge to explore and to find answers. This urge to find answers and to make discoveries is the natural enemy of contentment. Every breakthrough, discovery, and advancement can ultimately be traced back to someone who was curious.

Given the exponential growth of technology and easy access to information, much of our curiosity can be quickly satisfied with an armchair Google search. The internet and Smartphone apps have certainly made searching for information easier than fishing in a barrel. The danger in all of this ease is being satisfied with quick bits and pieces of information without ever digging deeper into the heart of a subject.

Digging deeper yields rewards that can’t be found by those who are content to scratch around on the surface. In the study of the Scriptures, for example, developing the skills to use good hermeneutical tools is essential to enriching our understanding of God and His purposes. There is something fulfilling about satisfying our curiosity about a particular topic by slowing down, digging deep, and gaining fresh insight into that topic.

Those who are truly curious are not content to remain passive. Curiosity leads to movement in the direction of discovery — it drives engagement and interaction with the unknown. Curiosity makes us put on our shoes and walk out the door in the hope that what we discover will change us and perhaps change the world around us. Curiosity beckons us to look in new directions and to engage with the world around us in more meaningful ways.

We are the beneficiaries of curious people — men and women who just had to find answers. Whether hunched over a microscope, looking through a telescope, standing at the helm of a ship, or looking up from the foot of a mountain, our lives have been enriched by the discoveries of curious people. Curiosity is still pointing people toward the rewards and satisfaction reserved only for those who will take the time to investigate, explore, question, and learn. I love it that NASA named its Mars rover Curiosity!

The old debonair and most interesting man in the world guy in those Dos Equis beer commercials has at least one thing right — “Stay thirsty my friends.” We should indeed stay thirsty and remain curious about the world around us. And we should responsibly work to satisfy our curiosity about those topics that create an itch in our hearts and minds. So, stay curious, my friends. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Never lose a holy curiosity.”

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Posted in Miscellaneous, Personal Growth | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 28, 2013

Celebrating Good Things

Kingsland is currently in an in-between time. In-between times are those seasons where we find ourselves somewhere between the actualities of the past and the possibilities of the future. We are on a long stretch of highway between here and there, between what was and what may be. These stretches can, at times, be some of the most discouraging but they can also be some of the very best on our journey.

This past Sunday, our media team put together a great video to remind us of some of the good things that God is doing among us during this season between senior pastors. I hope you’ll take a moment to view the video and to celebrate God’s good work during this in-between season. Be encouraged. Stay faithful. The best is yet to come.

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Posted in Miscellaneous

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 26, 2013

Neighborhood Kidz Club

I believe that our lives can be mapped — that there are boundaries that define the farthest we’ve ever been and the most we’ve ever done for God and His purposes. Everything within those boundaries is familiar, comfortable, manageable, predictable, and safe. There are generally no big surprises, no daunting challenges, and no uncharted territory within those borders.

I also believe that if we are to grow and contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom, then we must be willing to go beyond those boundaries and put ourselves in a context where we must depend on God. That can be risky — but unless we are willing to take risks we will never redefine the geography of our lives and we will never make a significant difference in the world.

Larry and Peggy
A few years ago, my friends Peggy and Larry Norwood took a step that redefined their lives. Peggy and Larry love God and they love children. Peggy is one of the most gifted individuals I know — one of those people who can see beyond the actualities of a child’s life to behold the possibilities in that child’s life. And she knows how to help children to begin their journey toward the realization of their highest potential in Christ.

The story of Don Quixote de La Mancha is one of my favorites. At its core, it’s the story of a man who dared to dream impossible dreams and who wanted to make the world a better place. One day, he meets a woman named Aldonza who is despised and devalued by everyone around her. Don Quixote, however, sees something in her that no one else sees.

To remind Aldonza of her potential, Don Quixote changes her name to Dulcinea, a beautiful name that speaks of sweetness. But, she refuses to accept that name because she doesn’t believe in herself. By the end of story, however, Don Quixote’s belief in her changes her life and the woman named Aldonza finally becomes Dulcinea.

Kidz Club Choir
The Neighborhood Kidz Club started as a dream, perhaps something of a Quixotic dream. But when Peggy and Larry stepped across the line in order to fulfill their dream of reaching out to the precious children of the Western Pines Mobile Home Park in Katy, they embarked on an exciting adventure with God — a journey of helping kids to believe in themselves and to embrace God’s best for their lives.

Church at Western Pines
Today, the children who live in the Western Pines Mobile Home Park enjoy participating in Bible clubs, tutoring programs, sports teams, music classes, summer reading programs, and much more. And beyond that, a church has been planted in the community and already averages almost 100 people in attendance. How cool is that!

None of the wonderful things that define the Neighborhood Kidz Club today would be a reality if Peggy and Larry had not obeyed God’s call to go beyond. And the Neighborhood Kidz Club would not be what it is today without those who volunteer their time to help. This ministry is a collaborative initiative that is changing the lives of children in our community.

What is happening at the Neighborhood Kidz Club is nothing short of amazing. It is a beehive of joyful activity — a place of hope, the kind of place where lives are being transformed one by one. We can measure lots of things at the Kidz Club, like 60 children reading 6,000 books in 9 weeks in the first year that the Summer Reading Club was offered. That is amazing. We can also gauge things like the number of kids who are passing classes at school because volunteers invested in tutoring kids.

Kidz Club Note
But there are many things that can’t be measured. How do you measure what an investment of personal interest will mean to a child through the years? How can we know today how a child’s future has been redirected toward hope because a volunteer turned the rudder of their hearts just a few degrees by helping them do their homework or learning how to play a musical instrument or to play with others on a sports team?

The late Steve Jobs said that you can only connect the dots by looking back. He was right. I believe that one day, a young man or woman will look back and connect the dots and rejoice that their lives took a hopeful turn during the years they attended the Kidz Club. They will better appreciate how God used those volunteers who invested in them. And they, in turn, will help to make our world a better place by loving God and serving others.

Kidz Club Program
I am thankful for Peggy and Larry and each and every person who is serving God through the ministry of the Neighborhood Kidz Club. They are making a difference. I also appreciate the opportunity to share some words of encouragement at their first-ever fundraising gala this evening. It was an enjoyable and fun event. I encourage you to learn more about the wonderful work of the Neighborhood Kidz Club by visiting their website. We are fortunate to have this ministry in our community.

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Posted in Kids on Mission, Miscellaneous | Tags:

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 24, 2013

One More Day To Go

A little more than two months ago, I began to sense God prompting me to enter into a period of praying and fasting for our church — more specifically, a season during which to examine my own spiritual health. As I prayed about what I was sensing in my heart, God finally convicted me that I should pray and fast for forty days but that I should not do this alone. Thus the call to corporate prayer and fasting.

Once I was convinced about the length and purpose of the fast, God laid forty daily prayer emphases on my heart. These daily prayer points have helped me to be more intentional in my prayers and in examining my own life. For the past thirty-nine days I have spent lots of time on my knees, seeking to get every area of my life in greater alignment with God’s purposes.

Over the past weeks, several people have asked me about the hunger part of the fasting experience. Dealing with the hunger has actually been the easiest part for me. Having previously fasted for extended periods, I knew that I would be fine after about three days. Those first three days, however, are a bit tough as you adjust to not eating and snacking.

The harder part of this experience for me has been examining my own life. I have spent almost all of my meal times during these days in solitude with God, allowing Him to search the recesses of my heart. I have not always been happy with what He revealed to me and I have had more than a few emotional lows. But I have allowed God to scrub hard and to sweep out anything that doesn’t belong in my heart.

Bible Fasting
Today is day thirty-nine of my fast. One more day to go. In many ways, I am sad to see this season come to an end because I have enjoyed a deeper intimacy with God. And although it has been tough, it has been good for me. I feel like I have been in a spiritual detox of sorts in which God has stripped away lots of harmful gunk from my life. I desperately want to do all that I can to develop even greater intimacy with God as I move forward.

So, one more day to go. I feel like a kid who has enjoyed a meaningful time at camp and must now get on the bus and go home. But like the kid at camp, I feel like I am going home a much better person in many ways. I am so far from perfect that I can’t even see it from where I stand, but God is pointing me in the right direction. And with His help, I am determined to be better and do better as I continue on my journey with Christ.

Thanks to each of you who have participated in this prayer and fasting initiative for our church and for your own spiritual health. And thanks to those of you who have encouraged me along the way.

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Posted in Fasting, Personal Growth | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 22, 2013

Watch for Alligators

We’ve all seen them — signs that warn of potential danger. On a recent hiking adventure at Brazos Bend State Park, I noticed one sign in particular that warned park visitors to keep a safe distance away from alligators. That’s easy math for me. Slow runner plus fast alligator equals danger for me. I had absolutely no problem heeding the warning sign. After all, I want to live to hike another day.

Alligators Sign copy
Years ago, I visited Murchison Falls in Uganda. This is the place where the Nile River thunders through a narrow cleft in the rocks as it descends to the Albertine Rift Valley below. At the bottom, crocodiles enjoy easy meals of fish that plummet down the falls. There is one sign at the top of the falls that warns visitors to keep their distance from the slippery edge. One false move here and the crocodiles below will indeed take care of all that remains.

Murchison Falls
All warning signs have one thing in common — they were put in place by someone who came before us. They are the evidence that others either observed or experienced something that concerned them enough to warn those who would come later. And they are an indication that someone acted intentionally on behalf of future generations. I like to think of warning signs as symbols of the kindness and concern of others. Apart from them, we might all, sooner or later, find ourselves in difficult predicaments and great danger.

Ottine Dam Portage copy
I’m grateful for warning signs along life’s journey. They are not there to spoil my fun but to keep me from the kind of harm that can definitely ruin my day. Each of us have a responsibility to think of others as we journey through life and to warn them of danger. And each of us have a responsibility to heed the warnings signs that we see. One thing is certain if we fail to heed warnings, there are plenty of alligators and crocodiles just waiting for us to slip and fall. So, thanks to all who have taken the time and effort to place those warning signs along the trails. I certainly appreciate you.

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Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Hiking & Camping, Texas State Parks | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 18, 2013

My Feet Take Me Places

I have found a kindred spirit in my friend Bill Crenshaw. We both thirst for adventure and love the outdoors. Early this morning, we tossed our hiking gear into the bed of my truck and headed to the beautiful Brazos Bend State Park, located south of Houston. Our goal was to hike every trail in the park, something we could not complete today because some of the trails were closed due to recent rains.

My Feet
When Bill reached for his backpack, he showed me a message that his daughter Lauren had painted on the bag when she had borrowed it for a trip to Europe. The message: My Feet Take Me Places. We laughed and nodded in agreement. I love Lauren’s simple message because I believe that we should allow our feet to take us to good places — places that challenge, inspire, and refresh us.

Omat Tree
When the pressures of life close in on us, it’s not a bad idea to allow our feet to take us to places where we can recharge. Bill and I agree that you don’t always have to travel far to find adventure, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You just have to be intentional about looking for those places where you can enjoy different and pleasing vistas. Brazos Bend is less than an hour drive from my home and yet a world away.

Bill Map
In spite of some trails being closed at the park, we managed to hike about 10-miles this morning. We followed one trail adjacent to the slow-moving Brazos River and saw some of the most magnificent trees along the way. We also hiked down to the river and enjoyed some peaceful moments there. The park is absolutely beautiful at this time of the year and the overcast skies this morning added a peaceful hue to the landscape.

Tree up Close
I also believe that we should allow our feet to take us in the direction of those in need. Tomorrow morning my feet will take me to another place, to serve people in need with some Kingsland volunteers. Serving others is an adventure that can refresh and recharge us and one that we should engage in often. I encourage you to get on your feet and to allow them to take you on an adventure. Trust me when I say that you’ll be glad you did.

Bill on Trail

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Posted in Hiking & Camping, Road Trips, Texas State Parks | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | October 16, 2013

The Object of Our Hope

Today is Day 30 of Kingsland’s 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting emphasis. The focus of these final 10 days of prayer and fasting is the Future Hope of our church.

Our staff gathers for corporate prayer every morning at 8:10 AM. On Wednesdays, we meet in our worship center for a brief devotional and prayer time. This morning, Jill Bucskowski, our Student Ministry Assistant, led our devotional time. She spoke to our team about the importance of hope and making Christ the object of our hope. I asked Jill for permission to share her encouraging devotional thoughts — a great reminder to hope in Christ.

Jill B
The Object of Our Hope
by Jill Buczkowski

How do you define hope? The dictionary defines hope as wishful thinking, a desire, goal or plan. I had always “hoped for” things, events, plans — until my life changed a few years ago after I had experienced a life-changing event that left me with little hope. We all have or will go through trials or storms in life and until we understand what biblical hope is, we remain in darkness.

Biblical hope is a confident expectation in Christ. It is a firm assurance regarding things that are unknown and unclear. Through the trial I am in I have had to learn that it is better to “hope in” rather than “hope for.” My hope is in Christ and Him alone. He will provide and guide according to His plan, not my own.

As I think about the season that our church is in, I encourage all to reflect on this simple thought: Where are we placing our hope in regard to our interim period without a senior pastor? Are we hoping “for” a senior pastor or hoping “in” the One who will provide?

I like to use acronyms when remembering thoughts and what I came up with for hope is this:

H – Healing
O – Obedience
P – Prayer
E – Expectations

Please join me in prayer for the continued healing and health of our church, obedience of the church body, prayer without ceasing, and great expectations to come. Let’s continue to place our hope in Christ alone.

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Posted in Fasting

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