Refugee Awareness & Giving

Distance From Home - Translating Global Refugee Movement to Song from brian foo on Vimeo.

As American Collegiate Football season launches tomorrow, I somehow can't get into it. After picking up my son from Los Angeles Airport today, we drove the scenic coastal route back to our San Pedro home. We stopped along the way at Redondo Beach to take in the beauty of the LA coastline. I can't seem to get out of my mind the photos which came out yesterday of the Syrian children washed up on the Turkish shore.

The photos of the drowned Syrian children seems to have awakened the “west” about the need for stepping up in helping the newest wave of Middle Eastern refugees.

On the 8th September I continue writing this post...

Charities have reported a surge in donations since the publication of the photograph of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old boy who drowned on a Turkish beach, with Save the Children raising £1.2m in a matter of days. - The Guardian, 8 September

This is from 2 hours ago, the Guardian reports that UK relief agencies are cash strapped. However, I believe Americans are wary about cash donations, even to our larger aid organizations (after the recent debacle reported on how American Red Cross has not used donations for Haiti well).

 

So who can you trust in regard to giving toward this crisis?

Jim and I serve with CRM and we have met those who lead our work based in Lebanon. Here is what the CRM President wrote to me today:

We have huge needs and we have the means to meet both physical and spiritual needs of thousands of refugees throughout the Middle East. CRM has a fund — 9990 Syria — which is specifically designed for Syrian relief and ministry efforts. All of this goes toward the refugee efforts.

 

We can absorb and put to work as much funding as people can move our way, and the results are really good! For example, we are partnered with Heart for Lebanon which is one of the most respected and effective relief and development agencies in the region. While relief is not our forte, this partnership makes up for it and we bring a evangelistic and spiritual focus to the partnership that makes it a powerful combination.

Through our Middle East Relief Initiative, we have the opportunity to uniquely impact refugees through the following programs:

1. Relief for Syrian refugees: This program provides supporting education for refugee children, direct relief (food, clothes, etc.), and counseling. As a result of CRM’s relief efforts, the number of Syrian refugees participating in Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups continues to grow. We now we have 525 groups among Syrian refugees with several new groups starting each week. Furthermore, the existing churches in Lebanon have observed our work among Syrian refugees and are slowly moving to cooperate and participate, which we will believe will have a positive impact on the growth and health of the Church in that region.
2. Relief for Iraqi refugees: More than 1 million Iraqis have had to flee their homes, many to Erbil. Our team in Northern Iraq is directly engaged in the refugee camps with basic humanitarian relief. In the process, over 50 DBS groups have been started.
3. Trauma counseling and inner healing prayer among abused women: The low view of women, common within Islam and exaggerated among groups like ISIS, has resulted in large numbers of women who have suffered unimaginable abuse. CRM has a growing team of well-trained national women who minister regularly among abused women, providing trauma counseling and inner healing prayer. As a result there are more than 200 DBS groups among abused women in the region with more multiplying weekly. Many are second-generation groups led by the abused women who have become followers of Christ. Another team is currently forming to work with Iraqi women who have fled ISIS.

Here’s more of my notes of the highlights of my reading in the past 3 days:

 

Ann Voskamp has posted 2 articles this week giving ACT NOW suggestions of how to get involved.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/09/why-now-is-the-churchs-moment-it-will-take-all-of-us-not-to-miss-it-wewelcomerefugees/

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/09/5-ways-to-stand-up-be-the-church-in-the-worlds-worst-refugee-crisis-since-world-war-ii/

 

https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/category/christian-refugees/  (and other posts…)

 

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/syria-crisis-appeal/ 

 

*I like the presentation of the stats, graphics, interviews and photos here, though wouldn't send my donations their direction: http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/syria.php

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/28/activists-want-us-to-do-more-to-help-christians-fleeing-isis/

 

You might have this questions: Why are the refugees NOT settling in the wealthy nearby countries (Arabic speaking, Muslim majority)? Quora has an interesting discussion on this. This infographic came from a muslim website (but I can't find it in a search on their site now). Shame on them! Should we start a trend with #stepupGCC (GCC=Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. countries import THOUSANDS of workers from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, etc for manual labor, but they don't want the muslim refugee neighbors).

*from February 2015

there isn't currently on up on the site that shows it like this.

I also read over various websites for refugee resettlement programs in Los Angeles, and it’s quite overwhelming! Will have to sort more of that out later.

August News 2015

Forward

Join us in Praying for our Boys' Beginnings in August: Today Tyler begins his career as an Army Officer. Stationed at Ft. Benning, Geogia. He drove safely from Boulder, Colorado last week, while Jim and I were involved in another family memorial service (My dad's older sister Joyce). August 19th Cameron moves into the dorms at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. This is the ninth time in their lives they are starting from scratch with a new city and new friends. God has made them outgoing & personable men, but it's still tough! Reply to me for their addresses if you want to write or send a little care package!  Lord, we trust you are with them and have even gone before them. You are always with them. Please make your presence known to them while they miss old friends and make new ones. We trust you to guide them to a new circle of honorable and loyal friends whose hearts are committed to you. The Arts & Missions in the 21st Century Working with arts in a cross cultural context has changed dramatically in recent years. Western missionaries now realize that often we have exported our cultural biases and styles as we brought the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Through translating western hymns, wearing western clothing and in other ways, wetransferred culture along with the Truth (as shown in this photo from worship in an official church in Vietnam taken in 2013). Cherished cultural practices of indigenous peoples were thrown out as "pagan" when they could have been redeemed and transferred to become part of their Christian worship. Imposing our cultural styles along with the message of Salvation has caused unessesary conflict for peoples who decide to follow Jesus. They have been taught that they must "put off" more than their sinfullness, and "put on" more than Godly righteousness. Because of this, wherever the Gospel has gone in the past the Christian church and Christianity often seems like a religion of foreigners. Why? Because the way they worship is foreign. My Trip to Thailand Last Month In missions today, there is much more sensitivity and appreciation for indigenous expressions of culture, and a desire to sensitively bring an uncompromised message of truth in a form not so foreign. This has also changed how we use the arts. Where the model for arts in mission historically was to bring it, translate it, teach it; there are now more collaborations done that build bridges between cultures, and a preference to find the existing art forms in the culture and encourage the creative people among them to create new works (giving extra attention to local artists who represent geographically or ethnically rooted traditions). A large part of this new trend for Christians in cross-cultural work has happened because of the Lausanne Arts Network, the Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM), and the International Council of Ethnodoxologists(ICE). July 6-11 in Thailand, I attended a conference for Ethnodoxologists, those using Arts in a cross cultural context. Ethnodoxology is a big word, it simply means "Peoples" + "Worship." Last year the September issue of Mission Frontiers was given to unpacking this subject, and an inspiring handbook of case studies and teaching on the subject has been published. If you have any interest in this beyong this short report, follow these links! Orality and storytelling was the topic of some plenary sessions and one of the teaching tracks because many in the world do not read. Telling our story well in a culturally appropriate way is important! Julisa Rowe from Kenya was there with her instructional book Dramatising Scripture (She is the friend who in past years has invited my particiaption in the Egypt Drama Ministry Camps). Various Ministries and Christians from Thailand had an opportunity to lead in worship and share their forms of drama, dance and visual art.  Exploring During this Sabbatical During the week a course was offered teaching a methodology for learning the arts in a culture and encouraging new works for Kingdom Goals. Becoming a standard for some mission organizations in their training for missionaries, Creating Local Arts Together was offered during the conference. I now have some more good tools in my toolkit for using arts as a platform for ministry! This course and the conference were a part of the puzzle in this Sabbatical as we seek God's direction for our future. As I prayed before the conference about this, I sensed that my role there was to encourage other participants that I would meet. Over meals, I learned more from faculty about schools like Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, in Dallas. I was especially fascinated by the innovations in education that B.H. Carrol Theological Institute offers. Formerly Deans of Southwestern Seminary, this group in Dallas have created affordable accredited programs online (and on location) around the world. Even before I exited the plane on the first of three flights going there, I recognized the woman standing behind me. Though I'd never met her, I knew she was a professor from Fuller Seminary, a part of the conference planning committee, and a mentor to some of the missionaries I know. I suprised her by asking her, "Are you Dr. Roberta King?"  She was shocked! Soon after we were in a transparent conversation. From that first layover, and many times through the week God confirmed this role of "Encourager" for me. I am sure the Lord will use some of the many connections I made at GCoMM in leading me to more opportunities to empower ministry leaders in their use of the arts for the glory of God. After the conference, God provided a way for me to extend my 10 hour layover in Singapore to 5 extra days! I'll spare you the details how, but it was a testimony to the reality that "no way" doesn't always mean "absolutely no way." Each night in a different bed, I made my way around the island with my little suitcase and backpack. God made a way for me to have numerous divine appointments to encourage friends who have been stuck, depressed or frustrated for different reasons.  Thank you for your support in helping me get there. Every little gift to CRM adds up to meet our needs in suprising ways. There is no gift that is too small. I continute to be amazed by the generosity of our financial partners who believe in us and our part in the Great Commission. Blessing, Joy, Humility, Gratitude, Grace, Kimberly Creasman Partner with us in the Gospel through Church Resource Ministries staff.crmleaders.org/creasman 1240 Lakeview Ave, Ste. 120, Anaheim, CA 92807 USA. You may designate by adding: "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651" Our US Address: 1418 Brett Place #124, San Pedro, CA 90732. Jim (310) 698-2588, Kimberly (310) 658-1500. BTW: What do we mean by “Kingdom Goals?” Our Mission as followers of Christ is not merely Evangelism and Church Planting, though this is still essential part of our work. Our Good news is the Gospel and new/eternal life through Christ. However, signs that the Kingdom of God is present in communities can also include more in addition to this essential task of sharing our news. With a Christian worldview, we can also assist people in building a strong sense of identity, and other issues like sustainability, peace, justice, availability and knowledge of Scripture, healthy growing churches and church leaders, as well as building up individual believers for a stronger and more vibrant personal spiritual life. What I'm Reading: Jim A Patch of Ground: Khe Sanh Remembered. "A poignant, often humorous, recollection of the siege of Khe Sanh--a pivotal turning point in the American war in Vietnam. Under constant bombardment from the enemy, Michael Archer and his cadre of young Marines managed to survive and, in the process, learn about manhood, sacrifice and the darkest recesses of fear and loneliness.." -Amazon In the Bible for August: Joshua What I'm Reading: Kimberly How to Sell a Boatload of Books. I'm still hammering away at my Put On / Put Off project (link to the work in progress where I welcom your comments!). An editor friend from Singapore joined me in Thailand last month and offered to work with me on the project. This little ebook was freeand was a quick and informative read from the former Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelso Publishers. What I'm Reading: Kimberly Link to All the World is Singing: Glorifying God through the Worship Music of the Nations, Frank Fortunato

What's New(s) for Our Search...

Forward

Investigating Options After our 18 years of serving in China/Singapore, we are in a season of asking where we fit best for our next chapter of God's kingdom work. Lord, you know the answer, but as we wait on you to find out, we also seek and knock! This month we're looking forward to these opportunities to explore: July 3-18 Kimberly travels to Thailand for the Global Consultation on Music & Missions. She'll meet and study and pray with others who have similar convictions about the power of the arts in shaping convictions, communicating God's truths, and worshipping our Creator. Last week she met the Department Head of the MA in Applied Theatre at USC for a stimulating and educational conversation. She continues to explore and consider what her role should be in using drama and creativity along with her love for shepherding Creatives. She continues editing: Put Off/Put On: 31 Daily Prayers for Freedom in Christ. July ...  Jim is getting some personal coaching from ministry friends, and is looking for the right context to continue mentoring in Asia.  Whether that will be living in Asia after this year, or based in the US and traveling to Asia regularly, he knows that it will include working more closely with some American colleagues - he is longing for more teamwork.  Jim has always enjoyed facilitating ministry partnerships for others, perhaps he will find a fitting partnership focused on developing spiritual leaders in Asia.  A Vietnamese pastor from his mentoring groups is visiting California this month. They will catch up, and he wants to introduce Jim to some Vietnamese American pastors.  Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of serving you vocationally. Thank you for this faith stretching season! Can we brag a bit? Intoducing, one of the Army's newest officers! Tyler is headed for Ft. Benning, GA at the end of July. A friend of Cameron's from his former school drove 10 hours from New Jersey to suprise him at graduation in Tennessee. After only one year at TKA, seeing friends and teachers enjoying him and saying goodbye was a witness to his big heart. Grateful to be in the USA for Significant Milestones Jim's recovery from his long overdue knee replacement in January has been steady and without any complications.  Hospitalization, Hospice and saying farewell to Grandpa Howard in February - April, in Fullerton. Jim helped his mom through the illness, and now in managing her affairs. Each week this summer, we've enjoyed having her come stay a night or two with us in San Pedro.  It has truly been a gift from God to us to be here and serve them during this time. Cameron’s High School Graduation in May. We are enjoying time with him now before he reports to Liberty University in Virginia, August 19th.  In June, Tyler graduated with honors from Cal Poly SLO with a BA in Political Science and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He begins his service August 9th (Singapore's National Day!). He is spending the in-between weeks with friends in Boulder, CO.  Kimberly's brother and children traveled from Georgia to be with us for both graduations. Super support and good extended family time. Our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Wow! Really? After our lunch together on Fathers Day, Kimberly's (always healthy) Dad fainted and took a fall. This resulted in a broken nose, an implanted cardiac monitor and the suspension of his drivers license while doctors figure it out! YIKES! Mom stopped driving last year. Friends & neighbors in Yorba Linda are stepping up, which is a tribute to Dad's investment in relationships. Lord, we are yours. Thank you that we've been here for these events in our immediate family. We ask for guidance as we all move forward in big life transitions. We long to honor and care for our parents and wonder if through these events you might be asking us to stay in the US. Thank you friends for your prayers, financial support, and personal encouragement through this season of transition! We continue to be so thankful for the timing of our year back in the US - caring for parents, supporting our children, and treasuring the all too few opportunities we have to catch up with longtime friends. In this sabbatical for discerning God's direction for our future ministry, we continue to feel his peace and provision, though we don't know yet what next year will look like. Lord, thank you that you have given us everything we need - financially and relationally. We look to you for clear guidance for our next chapter in ministry. Renew our vision and passion, that our next chapter wil be tremendously fruitful in serving you! You have a lot of choices where to invest your charitable giving, and we are honored and humbled when it's to partner with us through Church Resource Ministries. staff.crmleaders.org/creasman 1240 Lakeview Ave, Ste. 120, Anaheim, CA 92807 USA. You may designate by adding: "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651" Our US Address: 1418 Brett Place #124, San Pedro, CA 90732. Jim (310) 698-2588, Kimberly (310) 658-1500. JIM Heroic Leadership 1 Corinthians California Coastline. Who has time for reading when being outdoors is so breathtaking? KIMBERLY Creating Local Arts Together. The text for the course I'll be taking in Thailand. Canticle of the Sun, St Francis of Assisi A segment of Laudes Creaturarum (Praise of the Creatures). Translation from the Italian Umbrian dialect written in 1224 and inspired the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To You, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name. Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and You give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful. Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which You give Your creatures sustenance. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure. .... Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve Him with great humility.

In a Transition?

May 28th I had a delightful morning in the Adult Center at Rolling Hills Covenant Church. We had an hour together to talk about Navigating Transitions. Here's my favorite nugget of advice:

How to Thrive 

• Lower the bar. 
• Set small short term goals (example). 
• Talk about it and deal with feelings openly with the intention to overcome and not to whine and stay stuck. 
• Strengthen connections (intentional with only a few from the past, and dig in with new ones who are reciprocating as God brings them along). 
• Resist blaming or lashing out at those who are going through with you. 
• Strengthen your relationship with them because they are your allies. 
• Pay attention to replentishing activities in the new situation. (What are examples of this?) Accept and embrace with your heart this new beginning and let go. Even though the unknowns of the future are scary, refuse to mull on the past (ie. “Remember when…” “The good ol’ days”) 
• Covenant with God to cling to him and make the most of your transition to grow in knowing and serving him.

SACRED PATHWAYS: The Enthusiast, Loving God Through Mystery & Celebration

The wonderful ladies in the Rooted group have agreed to explore Sacred Pathways with me in the coming months. We took the survey in Myra Perrine's book What's Your God Language? and have decided to focus on one pathway between now and when we meet again at the end of the month.

How Myra defines the Enthusiasts: 

• ·      Loves God with gusto
• ·      Is called the "cheerleader of the faith"
• ·      Is often closest to God when gathered with others, singing and worshiping the Lord in the congregation (for them, worship is “party time”)
• ·      Is inspired by joyful celebration, and is usually comfortable expressing emotion during worship
• ·      Is at home with spiritual mystery and living a life of expectancy, prayer, and creativity
• ·      Gives merit to dreams as a way of receiving direction from God, and feels the freedom to explore the supernatural
• ·      Enthusiasts are cheerleaders of the faith who often feel closest to God when expressing themselves with open emotion and celebration.
• ·      Enjoy the freedom to express their love and devotion to God with complete freedom and abandon – they’ve lost in the love and mystery of God.
• ·      Contemplatives vs. Enthusiasts: Contemplatives express love to God in intimate, private ways; Enthusiasts express love to God in open displays of affection.
• ·      They write much of our worship music and allow us to see the joy of the Kingdom!

Kimberly's IDEAS to explore this Pathway…

• 1.    Take time (maybe even an hour!) to listen to/sing along with worship music. Journal what you experienced in this focused time or personal worship. Don’t be concerned about the quality of your voice…think of what you are doing as “as sacrifice of praise” no matter how you sound!
• 2.    Choose a hymn or praise song that enthusiastically praises God as your “theme song” for the month. Sing it or listen to it as much as you are able. Learn to play it on an instrument you know how to play (or once knew how to play!)
• 3.    Memorize Revelation 4:8 or  and recite it aloud, repeating if you want, or if you find you have trouble concentrating.
• 4.    Before attending corporate worship at church, pray for the Lord to help you be focused on worshipping him through the service, and enjoy the fact that you are in the midst of the assembly of saints together worshipping and honoring him. While more aware of the fact that you are in the midst of this big family of faith, “Fix your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 Ask him to fill your mind with himself and guard you from distractions, critique, or sleepiness! Keep your journal with you in church and enter into worship with an expectation that he will speak to your through his Spirit. Write down your impressions and insights through the service.
• 5.    Create something, or give something a new sparkle with the work of your hands. Do your best to make something shine for the glory of God. Love him with the work of your creativity and hands. We were made in the image of God and he is our Creator! Choose something that won’t frustrate you, but will be a joyful experiment/practice. Take a photo of it and send it to us, and/or ring the fruit of your work next month to our meeting so we can rejoice with you and be inspired to do more creating ourselves!
• 6.    Begin a long letter of thanksgiving to the Lord, see how long the letter can get over the month. Aim for 1000 reasons you are grateful to him!
• 7.    Read through the Psalms this month looking for the ones which show the Psalmist’s Enthusiast worship style. If you get to the end of the book before the end of the month, go back to chapter one and read them again. Before the end of the month, write your own Psalm or more than one!
• 8.    Identify someone you know who is an Enthusiast and get together with them to talk about their advice for cultivating this in yourself.
• 9.    Keep your journal by your bed to write down any dreams you have that wake you up, or that you remember in the morning. Ask the Lord if he is speaking to you through the images or story in the dream. Share it with a mature friend or two to seek their opinion about what you sense God may be saying.
• 10. What other ways might God be asking you to take risks and expectantly step out eager to see him do a new thing, do the miraculous, show his power and glory to you (or through you) to others? Conscientiously work to step out of your comfort zone this month!
• 11.  If you need a boost to recapture “childlike enthusiasm and faith” spend some time with little ones…visit a children’s Sunday school class.
• 12. Read your Bible this month with more imagination involved. Place yourself in the scene as your read. As you are working on difficult things, actively imagine that Christ is present with you while you do it.
• 13. Use more exclamation marks in your writing this month! ;-)