It’s obvious when the Lord is really doing something. Because when he does it, not only is it something we couldn’t do ourselves, but as the Apostle Paul wrote, “he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.” (Ephesians 3:20)
That’s what’s happening right now with two incredible opportunities for this ministry, and especially for my book, The Grasshopper Myth. Something more than we could have thought to ask or hope for.
As I mentioned in a post last May, my wife Shelley and I will be heading to Europe in September because we’ve been asked to share the principles of New Small Church and The Grasshopper Myth with two very special groups of people:
Group 1: American Military Chaplains
On the weekend of September 20-21, we’ll be in Schweinfurt, Germany where we’ve been invited to teach the principles behind pastoring a healthy Small Church to the chaplains who serve the spiritual and emotional needs of our brave American military.
Military chaplaincy is a unique ministry that I don’t claim to have any expertise in. But, after reading The Grasshopper Myth, a senior chaplain told me that many of its principles could be of great value to military chaplains. “After all”, I’ve been told, “military chaplains are really just Small Church pastors in uniform.”
Group 2: Small Church Pastors in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia
The weekend after we’re in Germany, we’ll be in Osijek, Croatia – one of the war-torn states of the former Yugoslavia. I’ve been asked to speak at the national ministers’ conference there, because on September 28, printed copies of The Grasshopper Myth will be presented hot-off-the-press in the Croatian language. After that, they’ll be distributing it to pastors throughout the rest of Croatia, plus Bosnia and Serbia.
These are nations that have gone through so much pain for generations. That they’re calling us to come and bless them is an amazing opportunity. Click here for my previous post that tells how all this came about.
Shelley and I will be with them on the day they present The Grasshopper Myth to the Croatian pastors. This is God opening up a door no one else could open! One that I couldn’t have even imagined.
Obviously I will receive no money for book sales from any of this. The Croatian churches are printing this on their own and have been getting help to raise funds to print it. We’re also helping them with printing costs, so we’ll be there to give, not to receive.
How You Can Help Us Help Them
First, PRAY for us: I’m not a chaplain and I don’t speak Croatian. I wouldn’t presume that I’m an expert in either place. I’m just saying “yes” to their requests and to what I believe is God’s call.
Second, DONATE if you can: Because both events are happening so close together, we’re able to do them in one trip, so we can keep the costs down to approximately $4,500 (some costs won’t be clear until we’re there). They also need another $1,000 for the printing costs, so we’re hoping to raise a total of $5,500.
To make your payment, click the Donate button below. It will take you to the New Small Church PayPal page, where you can enter your donation total.
You can donate using your PayPal account or any major credit or debit card. And no, you don’t need to be a PayPal member to pay this way.
If you want to give by check instead, make it out to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, and mark “Croatia Trip” on the memo line. Then mail it to 17575 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 as soon as possible.
If you need a tax receipt, you’ll receive one through Cornerstone.
Thank you so much for your prayers already. They are what have opened these amazing doors.
I hope to write a few posts during the trip, but the best way to be updated while we’re there is to Like the New Small Church Facebook page and/or follow @KarlVaters on Twitter.
So what do you think? Will you keep us in prayer as we go?
We want to hear from you. Yes, you!
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