Remember Ambassadors

The Remember team arrived back in Charleston on Monday night at 11:30pm, after nearly 24 hours of travel. Looking back on the trip to Jordan, it is a joy to see what we were able to accomplish, from operating a clinic, to making new contacts, to fellowshipping with our fellow believers. The trip was a great success—and that is a result of the power of your prayers. In addition to the ministry that we were blessed to do, we wait in eager expectation to see all the blessings that have not yet come to fruition as a result of this trip!

We had three days of medical clinics, and our doctors were able to see around 80 patients, primarily Iraqi refugees with little access to doctors and medications. We packed medications with us, thanks to generous donations made by our sponsors, and those medications were used to meet the needs of those our doctors saw. What was left – thousands of dollars of worth of medications – was donated to local Christian clinics.

But the real ministry we did is not reflected in these numbers, but in the individual lives of those who were blessed.

One elderly lady was so grateful for what we were done for her that she clung to Lori, our nurse who was doing her medical charts, and started crying “Habibi, Habibi,” which translates as “beloved.” The grateful thanks of so many are impossible to duplicate in writing, but it was, and is, touching to see how much of an impact we made on each others lives and what we each can gained from this trip.

The success of this trip was made possible by the prayers of the saints, and by the interworking of the Body of Christ. While in Jordan, we worked with a variety of other ministries, each of which played a different, vital, part in the blessing. I can’t help but be excited when I think of how this working of the Body as a whole will lead to future ministry potential; the Body working to serve the Body – that’s what we are all about.

If there is one thing that has been evident on this trip - and I’ve mentioned it before - it is that God has been opening every door for us. From miracles at customs, to vital in-country contacts, to the patients that our doctors have seen, we’ve been jumping through those doors just as quickly as we can.

I’m not a doctor, but my lack of medical expertise has not stopped me from seeing the blessing that our medical staff has been to these Iraqi refugees. They’ve seen a multitude of illnesses, from the chronic to the acute, and prescribed dozens of medications (and donated thousands of dollars worth to vital local ministries!).

But I think the most important thing they have done is to pray for each patient. These men and women need so much more than medication; they need the healing and the peace of the Great Physician, and we have prayed for each one, child and adult alike. Their smiles and tears have made sure we know that our work is not in vain.

And we have pictures!

Two spirit-filled men who “just happen” to be doctors.

Lori is not just a nurse, but a friend to all she comes in contact with.

More updates to come…

(L to R) Nathan Glupker, Lori Harmon, Gabe Waddell, Dr. Chris McLain, Dr. Robert Clifford

There is nothing better than seeing God’s hand at work, and nothing has been more clear this trip. Though we make plans, His are so much better than ours.

Our local contacts have told us, “That shouldn’t have happened…” and “That could only be the Lord…” more times than I can count. Sometimes it has been overt miracles - and not the “minor” sort, either - and sometimes it has just been the outpouring of God’s love through His people. Either way, and both ways, His hand has been so evident.

It is Monday evening here now, and tomorrow morning we will be setting up our first clinic. It may be slow as we figure out how to transport the Iraqi Christian refugees to our doctors, but future days will hold even more.

On behalf of our whole team, thanks for your prayers - they are opening God’s doors for us.

Even the stunning brightness of the Pacific sun cannot outshine the light of Christ that I have seen this week. We have talked to so many brothers in Christ, with so many unbelievable stories, that I don't even know where to begin.

One brother escaped authorities cracking down on his Christianity by running, as they shot at him. Another has spent multiple times in jail, because he was a house church pastor. And one was a young man, converted three years ago, and in spite of the fact that he is a self-proclaimed “baby in Christ,” he is ready to put everything on the line for his Savior.

China is a changing country. The economy is changing, the international eye is providing more scrutiny on the communist government. The summer Olympics are causing that government to brutally crack down on Christians. Just tonight, in fact, we got word of more house church raids!

But that is not all that is happening in China. Because there are those that are willing to put their lives on the line, the gospel is growing – growing by leaps and bounds. One brother told us about the revival that has not only started, but has blossomed into a full blown, if highly secret, movement on the mainland.

I questioned him on this revival, because I have read many stories about it, but never heard first-hand news. He spoke excitedly, his otherwise stoic face brightening in to a smile as he over and over used that exciting word - “revival.”

And then he said something that made me stop. I wasn't sure I had heard him right, so I asked a rather direct question: “Do you think that the revival is a result of the persecution that Christians have experienced?”

The answer was without hesitation, as he looked at me as if he was surprised I would even ask such a question.

Yes.

Pray for them. Pray that they stand strong, and that the light that shines so brightly here would illuminate the world's most populous nation with its glow.

To me, they are heroes of the faith.

To the Chinese government, they are hated criminals.

Here, they are simply called "the Brothers."

They are the leaders of tomorrow's underground house church, and they are intimately familiar with persecution - persecution they have suffered, that their loved ones have experienced, and that they have seen in the members of their churches.

So far we have been able to meet them briefly, in an informal setting, and the first thing that I was struck with is just how young they are.  These men are not wizened saints who experienced persecution in the past; this is today's generation, facing today's persecution.  They are the up and coming, knowing that as they inherit the vibrant house church movement from its current leaders, they also inherit its persecution.

Many have already experienced persecution of their own, and we are here to get their stories to share with you.  I can't wait to begin to film them - stay tuned for more!