https://www.brcglobal.online/missions-board-blog daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://www.brcglobal.online/missions-board-blog/2019/3/2/2019-february-missions-board-meeting-summary monthly 0.5 2019-03-03 https://www.brcglobal.online/missions-board-blog/2019/3/2/2019-january-missions-board-meeting monthly 0.5 2019-03-03 https://www.brcglobal.online/comments daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://www.brcglobal.online/comments/2019/5/29/enter-comments-here monthly 0.5 2019-05-29 https://www.brcglobal.online/parables daily 0.75 2020-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580645981119-TGQBNRKNLWYI1PK9LJLQ/plates+and+parables_edited-2.jpg Parables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580670447789-S1BT27EC52FIJXXYJVFI/Capon_Pic_edited-1.jpg Parables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580670096619-VFMGLJRN0I46N9UW42ZP/Capon_Grace_Book_Cover_edited-1.jpg Parables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580670088970-5BIXIGUM95LMJSTELC4A/Capon_Kingdom_Book_Cover_edited-1.jpg Parables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580670103328-7DPNKP22OYJJG1PNT56R/Capon_Judgment_Book_Cover_edited-1.jpg Parables https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580670781272-DRDYJOOUWS78S9OT55IN/Some_Pivotal_Events_in_the_Gospels.jpg Parables https://www.brcglobal.online/kingdom daily 0.75 2020-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580671897122-UGL64NIYFDY478QAUC4O/Kingdom_of_God_is_Like+copy.jpg Kingdom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1580747228562-D6EK04FL50SG5V6DQ59U/Outline.png Kingdom https://www.brcglobal.online/bl2flearliest daily 0.75 2023-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1687034431891-KMI673IRNVIDVVZ6U0YI/devastation.jpg B&L2FL https://www.brcglobal.online/bl2flearliest/2023/6/17/yzwwgq0vzc1m3ik3vcerjunomvnbjl monthly 0.5 2023-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/a2a230e6-6052-447e-8eb9-436c70833b8e/IMG_7927+copy.jpg B&L2FL - Commissioning Trip to Florida - Make it stand out Last Sunday, June 11, Pastor Josh Feay at Black Rock Church announce our trip and prayed for us that we would be helpful both in a physical sense (putting up wallboard, etc) and in a spiritual sense (pointing people to Jesus). https://www.brcglobal.online/bl2flearliest/2023/6/17/bill-amp-lois-fly-to-florida-tomorrow-thanks-again-for-your-support monthly 0.5 2023-06-17 https://www.brcglobal.online/theologyonagraph2 daily 0.75 2024-03-30 https://www.brcglobal.online/florida_trip_june_2023 daily 0.75 2023-06-05 https://www.brcglobal.online/home daily 1.0 2019-07-16 https://www.brcglobal.online/orphans daily 0.75 2019-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551555992618-TMC30L1NQ7WGLCYZR45F/1+map+with+30+v5+with+text.jpg Orphans https://www.brcglobal.online/poorest-of-the-poor daily 0.75 2019-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551556090178-Y2K9JQQTRMLOWTIWDGZ3/2+BRC+missions+poor.jpg Poorest of the Poor https://www.brcglobal.online/least-powerful daily 0.75 2019-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551556142140-7TFMEMCHFU1L9HMVOMDS/3+Orphans.jpg Least Powerful https://www.brcglobal.online/students daily 0.75 2019-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551556196453-Y9GZ7CS7ZBD861IVSAM2/4+Students.jpg Students https://www.brcglobal.online/prayer-partner daily 0.75 2019-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551566599319-X4MIVTBDZCLK13HQXYWF/Prayer+Partners.jpg Prayer Partner https://www.brcglobal.online/faith-promise daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551566758910-CP03XEZ9EVCY3EOLKMT6/Faith+Promise+final_edited-1.jpg Faith Promise https://www.brcglobal.online/stamp-trips daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567944403-CIF6RY3Q9LGFH0KD7XU6/1+Airbus+350+cropped.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567320139-K995YYM87C0VZ5ZDT5TX/STAMP+trips+1+no+text.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567943828-TJHS78T9077Y8CFAU2D0/3+along+the+way_with+day.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567934096-L92I6I1XJXI7EX6ZQLRM/4+Church+and+Baptism_edited-1.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567942789-HOEZVX7EP6UPIZ6N6F9Z/5+Pastors+Meeting+and+Home+Farms_edited-4.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567945420-WMVX6FYKXB7PEFIA018N/6+John+Keith+Bri.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567941791-D6495L6STYDXGM2NUPB6/7+Duck+Duck+Cover_edited-2.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567939974-R6BXEK3HGT9JHLR5B3VO/8+Reading+Day+at+Camp_edited-2.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567939351-SP5469JSZIEGFS6WY1HU/9+Saying+Goodbye_edited-2.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567937366-TCYN80DNRSRV5OZDJ453/10+Final+Dinner+with+Interpretors_edited-1.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567937315-LW31M7QDCYVHMY88Q5JJ/11+devotions+the+last+day_edited-1.jpg STAMP Trips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551567934150-2E1W8O519V15O6163LWL/12+Qatar+airlines_edited-1.jpg STAMP Trips https://www.brcglobal.online/local-ministries daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551569506603-JNGSZBN0X2XYWF11ZU39/International+Students+with+faded+map+background+final.jpg Local Ministries https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551569505243-PWFHK8Z8WNS6LRZMFV7E/Local+Ministries_final.jpg Local Ministries https://www.brcglobal.online/global-engagement-community daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551571372010-8NFASUZS678CUOSJOLDM/global+engagement+community+with+text_edited-1.jpg Global Engagement Community https://www.brcglobal.online/global-partner-education daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551575102688-4OA197E327MNFC7YRO8O/Distribution+by+Continents_edited-1.jpg Global Partner Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551575102742-8L28KAYI6BJHLPFOJGUJ/Distribution+of+Global+Partners_edited-1.jpg Global Partner Education https://www.brcglobal.online/local-partnership-festival daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551575359730-S8WV6X9S7G8086EAN0SY/Local+Ministries_final.jpg Local Partnership Festival https://www.brcglobal.online/annual-missions-conference daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://www.brcglobal.online/black-rock-student-missions daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551575644444-RR7NKW0SNHWXCYWNCMQ3/Students+with+Globe+reduced.jpg Black Rock Student Missions https://www.brcglobal.online/black-rock-kids-missions daily 0.75 2019-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1551575865711-P33U0RN2E81P2EE0TTN0/Asian+kid+with+globe+smaller_edited-1.jpg Black Rock Kids Missions https://www.brcglobal.online/pagewr daily 0.75 2019-03-17 https://www.brcglobal.online/pagehc daily 0.75 2019-03-21 https://www.brcglobal.online/volunteer daily 0.75 2019-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1558704038854-V3KIAS7PB2J5PWFIPGHH/Volunteer_edited-2.jpg Volun https://www.brcglobal.online/security daily 0.75 2019-05-26 https://www.brcglobal.online/development daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1558983960536-4DHN7IHUS5W3D0RBOMTD/BOM_edited-2.jpg Development - When the Board of Missions considered the addition to the traditional troika of “Pray”, “Give”, “Go” a word like “Engage”, “Connect” or some other word indicating social media activity among Black Rockers and their missionaries, it was determined that a gradual approach to seeking the Lord’s will on this matter should be pursued. This is the beginning of the process https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1558984118259-XU890ULF61RB4SGAR82T/what+happens_edited-1.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559079824660-ZUW4891OK2YPVUIGMQ8E/next+steps_edited-1.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559079826003-JR85BM0ED1GBYX626BGG/STAMP+with+text_edited-1.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559079825466-9RZ8IGI0JGWK6FY7YHZW/Small+Groups_edited-2.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559112261029-9XA5N585LJ2QKZKD3I9C/Global+Connect+Changes_edited-1.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559112261205-1S6G8XTSQK1XNSZGRTDD/social+media+big.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559112260187-S4LBKYQFER5TF1IPLGZ9/4th_edited-1.jpg Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1558983442346-R90Y8U0QAKO09FCQI76V/Fail2.jpg Development - But Let’s Face it: Getting more people to engage about Black Rock Mission on social media might not work. God has not written “START A MISSIONS SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP” on the walls of the church! So we are open to the possibility that adding “Engage” to “Go, Give, Pray” may not be of the Lord. If that is the case, the Missions Engagement Group will cease to function. https://www.brcglobal.online/new-missions-pastor daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559112780493-M389AY8UENJNQWN8XZPN/New+Missions+Pastor_edited-1.jpg New Missions Pastor We’ll have a new missions pastor by next Missions Conference. https://www.brcglobal.online/support daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559113404598-H15E63LUS6V0ECHF09CL/Support_edited-1.jpg Support We’ll provide lots of support. https://www.brcglobal.online/roles daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559114162457-0OIIEJNCU3SPY77FYKUG/Roles_edited-1.jpg Roles https://www.brcglobal.online/channels daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146784141-YZK2KN6YOEPYC4YXKCBB/channel+updates_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146824432-E80IYS28XBVOEFLJOWKW/STAMP+image_edited-2.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146784705-MQIMD9AE2ZJ7GJIP95AY/connecting+image_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146786500-ATJNQGWHEQOOW098DYWG/Happenings+image_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146787101-E0CXL6UW9XNIOIC0BDKD/Issues+image_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146789146-M8GJT8E8PSRDVXLMOZUZ/Service+image_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146789211-6R33EIL0C25OYZ0M6JRL/Statistics+image_edited-1.jpg Channels https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559146539132-I26C995MOO9Y49OH7L3X/Channels_edited-2.jpg Channels Social Media Channels https://www.brcglobal.online/make-it-engaging daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559147832271-AWQCBB86FBGVYM38SVGL/Engaging+for+Impact_edited-1.jpg Make it Engaging - How Do We Increase Engagement with Black Rock Missions? How do we make our Missions Social Media Engaging? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559151082499-VZADU6JYBAJ2J70VGVLB/Exclusive_edited-1.jpg Make it Engaging https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559151463942-MFRJNEDBM0B80LTZ3NOT/comprehensive+with+text_edited-2.jpg Make it Engaging https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1559150689706-V6FBRKNIZ16TOS7R041Z/Safe_edited-2.jpg Make it Engaging https://www.brcglobal.online/contact-us daily 0.75 2019-05-29 https://www.brcglobal.online/how-to-post daily 0.75 2019-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1562017185227-E105EXUUN8IBHWATW700/Directions+for+Realm.jpg How to Post https://www.brcglobal.online/coronavirus-and-locusts daily 0.75 2020-03-27 https://www.brcglobal.online/kaztrip daily 0.75 2024-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/cbb1218d-c689-4dbe-9e40-adb653c1d09c/Youth_dinner.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out We were each asked to offer some advice at the youth dinner. I told of how Lois and I have mentored 14 couples preparing for marriage and based on that experience, I urged the young people — once they began looking for a mate — to look in the right places, like the church (not at bars!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/07d49ce0-d821-4d32-8479-f600dfe66702/homeless_Gypsy.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out In a kind of sign of appreciation and worship, the homeless on the bus… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/354e932e-01cb-4078-adc3-aac5ad943aae/Women%27s_Dinner.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Saying a prayer at the women’s dinner for which the men on our trip (the three of us) had cooked an American breakfast (for their evening meal). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/6163aab1-8646-4c33-9300-4d1f0a46f597/Starbucks.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out We walked some more on the streets of Almaty… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/07b192e6-604a-455b-abeb-39f0aea1b968/water+mountains.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out The water on the side was ice cold and very clear…and right down from the mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7cad68e8-967f-402a-a4bd-932657867565/church_service.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out This is the inside of the church with the service in process. They had asked me to preach the sermon, which I did. I spoke on Luke 24, regarding the road to Emmaus and pointed out that the two protagonists of the account probably weren’t stalwart followers of Jesus since instead of waiting to hear whether Jesus had really risen from the dead, as they had heard some claim, they went home to mow the lawn, or something equally trivial. I pointed out that a scriptwriter would have Jesus appearing before the leaders who had put Him to death — much more dramatic! In fact it would be reckless of a screen writer not to do that (risk of producing a not very sellable script). But because of God’s reckless love for even losers like these guys (and us), we have this account of Jesus approaching even people walking away from Him (both literally and figuratively). I had asked the worship team to lead the congregation in the song entitled “Reckless Love” so I could refer to it as in the above. It all worked out pretty well, once the initial embarrassment had subsided. As I mentioned, we arrived late Saturday night well after dark and couldn’t see very well as we unloaded the cars from the kids camp. Since it had been raining (very rare this time of year), we all got very muddy shoes very quickly. On Sunday morning, when I reached the podium to speak, I moved the podium slightly not noticing that someone had kindly placed a glass of water thereon, which of course spilled, but without my noticing it. As I began speaking I kinda acted out the walking to Emmaus bit, I unintentionally created a very muddy path — so much so that Eugene felt compelled to stop me and ask someone to come up with a mop and clean it up before I could resume! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/427bc069-c26c-4bfc-a0b2-d4c058ae25d1/painted_rocks.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out One young gal (probably about 12) gave me one of her painted rocks. I left it on the window sill to dry, but when I came back for it some over-zealous cleanup person apparently threw it away. (Lois, do you recognize this scenario?) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/64b40996-f268-4690-8478-f0e05babded7/Ilya_prision_homeless.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Ilya, however, (shown here behind the bar) steps outside the bus to speak to them about spiritual things. He was in prison for 17 years and then homeless, so he can speak quite forcefully. I asked him later if he relates to each person he talks to about his history. He replied that he doesn’t need to because everyone in town knows who he is. (I ended my questioning right there). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d0048649-cee1-41d2-8cad-a5cd12dc5c20/Triphome2.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Flight from Doha to JFK, NYC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7ae1c1d8-d33e-4b56-8a9c-2adb97ace382/Itinerary.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Here is the itinerary so far. 38 of the first 68 hours since leaving Kennedy were devoted to traveling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d2ed0531-b61f-4548-9ea2-7b9a65d14f1a/map.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Another very long flight, but at least the plan is to have a day of recreation and rest before getting on the two very long flights totalling 20 hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/53c68148-eeab-4f7c-8d1b-00140852175b/Mens_meeting_I_Missed.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out While the woman’s meal was going on, there was an informal meeting of boys and men. I missed this because I was exhausted from the stress of cooking for so many (I’m not kidding). I went to bed at about 8PM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d7662d6b-8133-42b3-82e1-b0d163e4eca5/WhatsApp+Image+2024-08-04+at+11.14.02.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Our host (end of table with daughter on his knee) spoke four languages: Cassack, Russian, English and Korean (as confirmed by our tripmate Albert who is Korean). There is a surprisingly large influence of Korean in Almaty, due to the large influx of Korean missionaries after the breakup of the Soviet Union. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/822f942c-f0dc-41f9-b97f-3e9d03b3f9c7/flood_image_height.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Eugene shows the height of the recent flooding on this house https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/6304443a-1d3b-4894-8823-4b39c0b5479c/Cooking_for_Youth_Dinner.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out That night we attended the youth dinner they scheduled around our visit. A few of the young people that had not been to one of these functions in months attended (because, we were told, to meet the Americans). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/37c67229-a9c9-4aae-87af-c26a51ba56e7/possible+downtown+locations+1.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out One downtown location possibility… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/5721e6a2-0a82-45a6-b0e4-71e202782ab4/IMG_1286.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d453c90c-60d7-448c-a3b5-eb8d09dbff02/kids2.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Some of the kids with whom we’ll be working… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7ed14e3e-e6d8-413a-8fff-d44470a352f2/Victoria+and+her+Mother+Olga.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out But first breakfast at a very nice cafe with Eugene and his family (Victoria and her mother Olga here), who were attending a church conference in Almaty the day after we left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7776603a-48f9-415e-a7ec-823d778ff22f/Mens+dorm.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Too tired to take a picture the night of arrival, we surveyed our surroundings Sunday morning. Here is the men’s “dorm”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/3b83d1e6-80ea-4b05-8c72-a49ec53465b5/kids1.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/b1089143-b81f-4b87-ac12-74d7fe1b2e6f/Graduation_Party.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Party celebrating school’s end at the church where we’re visiting. I understand that some of these kids will be at the camp we’re helping to run during the first couple of days of our trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/feebeff2-baca-4e97-826e-56c409f3a6b1/homeless_prayer_b4.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out This woman, although not part of the ministry in terms of going on the distribution routes, just came here before work to pray for the ministry this day. She spoke good English and Allison enjoyed speaking with her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/02923b42-ce04-43a8-b1cd-c402b218cd17/Leaders_dinner_at_table.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out …on how the homeless outreach went that day, but other matters of the church are discussed informally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/f39029c5-bba9-4411-95b0-8168135c2d59/Swissel_sticks.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Not surprisingly, the kids enjoyed the candied swizzel sticks we brought with us. (The girl who gave me her painted rock is just to the right of the Olga). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/620f209c-02f3-4719-aa2a-30b23aca3b71/homeless_handouts.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Some people don’t want to come into the bus, so they wait outside to get their food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/b18d2d9d-3175-44ee-bfa4-88ad56c16c42/Group_Photo_Doha_Airport_mod.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out This is our group heading to Kazakhstan, taken in Doha Airport (outside temp: 105 F; we didn’t go outside). Allison is to the left, Chis is in the back middle, I’m on the right, and Albert is in the front taking the selfie. Our group is small on purpose so as to attract less attention at our destination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/84b3c301-b3cb-45e9-abee-90a7f0a98f4c/girl_yellow_hands.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out We brought iridescent paints to paint small rocks from the beach as a craft project for the kids for Saturday morning. This gal preferred the effect on her hands! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/37d1357c-d412-4bba-8435-2cee9ce265a5/Albert+and+Chris+Cooking+for+the+Women.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Albert and Chris preparing the potato salad for the women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/c0319f90-4321-4779-b515-5787a95cce54/mtn3.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out But by late afternoon, we had to head down… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/b913ee16-45df-4004-9cb4-5beb501b69a6/Women%27s_Dinner2.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Not much food was left so I guess we succeeded! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/558d1fee-dc2c-43bf-8779-ee651c32b43f/departure.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7a199314-0286-4f02-9a27-2869df75a25d/box1.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out On the way back to Rudney, we stopped at a facility that refits shipping containers for other uses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7117240b-d60c-4192-adae-b426df17248d/Max_Graduating.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Eugene, the pastor of the church we are visiting, is on the left posting for the picture with his family. His son, Max, graduating from high school last month. His wife is Olga, and their daughter is Victoria. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7378f511-7fc4-4823-a14e-9a811b9079fa/homeless_prep_web.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Bofore we went out to distribute food to the homeless, we had a prayer service with the leaders of the ministry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/57f5db3e-9d4b-4ddc-bd9e-78265f4b576e/Volodian.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out When we met Volodian the previous day (Sunday), I didn’t have the presence of mind to take his picture. He was dressed up in his Sunday best: a beautiful dark maroon sports jacket and tie and white shirt. When the above picture was shot, he was working around the church. Much like Svetlana (above), Volodian was homeless for decades until (quoting him), he “found Jesus”. Now he lives at the Hope Center (church) in exchange for helping to cook for and counsel the homeless. I found his use of the phrase “found Jesus” so interesting because in the West, this phrase is used as mockery, but Volodian would not get the joke at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/4565c515-7996-4bd3-908a-ac9da16f2bee/Key+leadership+couple.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out The couple in the center are key leaders in the church. He drove the van containing suitcases back to Rudney with Allison, the woman from our team, and I, as passengers. Neither one of the couple spoke English and we were facing a nine hour drive, which we accomplished with only two 15 minute stops (Eugene is one hard-driving guy!). Fortunately, we had a little more room than on an airplane (but not much more!). But the time went by faster than expected since we all got pretty good as using Google Translate to carry on a conversation during most of the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d36f3f9a-c6c4-4a86-aa9d-1f7ff392577f/mountain+gondola+1+%281%29.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out …we had a dinner reservation with a pastor from a Cassack church in Almaty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/aeb4f36d-40ae-48f0-b615-32ae1cd07014/Leadership_dinner.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out On every other Monday night there is a dinner for the church. Of course, there is a report …. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/16dcb2c7-e618-4841-99d4-fb88152f15ba/Svenlana_Volodian_and_family_at+Pepper_Village.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Tuesday evening we visited Pepper Village, a small suburban community about 10 miles outside of Rudney. This is essentially a planned community. The local govement is attempting to build in services sufficient for lots of growth. The roads are paved, gas lines are available, a new, large school has been built and local entrepreneurs are being encouraged to move there. However, there is no church here. So Eugene’s church is planting one there, headed up by Volodian (center, white shirt) and his family (Svetlana to his right, their daughter, Sonia, and young son, the latter not in the picture). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/53b39e78-bd49-4c3e-971f-153063d8bebe/possible+downtown+location+2.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out …and another downtown location possibility https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/cad47ba4-ebc8-4bc8-a26d-5ddcdc002beb/Kazahkstan_map.png Kazahkstan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/f3de80f6-b522-4a93-9e9a-144b224cad88/shopping_earrings.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out After the tour of the city of Kostanay, and the discussion of next steps as to their church plant there, we did some shopping (I bought earrings for Lois here)…and… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/0c79eb37-defd-48a8-a813-42be265f3432/WhatsApp+Image+2024-07-23+at+04.04.58.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Eugene (the pastor of the church we’re visiting and whose kids for whom we’re conducting a camp) with his wife Olga. Eugene is a bit of a ham; he loves wearing his ethnic hats. At this writing, we are in Doha. (See next pic). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/15a5f352-5b45-418a-92ca-a2bb2664b9e5/Triphome1.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Flight from Almaty (southern edge of Kazakhstan) to Doha, Qatar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/83908de4-3f30-4543-b033-7572fdbbf25b/Daniel_homeless.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out This is Daniel, a homeless man for whom I prayed and with whom I had an interesting conversation. Sometimes Eugene is available to translate, sometimes not. Fortunately, God doesn’t need a translator, and generally (unless they came to stab; see above), the person being prayed for senses that we care about them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/ff7895d7-a1a9-4668-acf6-bf4e8b47d0f2/Shopping_for_Womens_dinner.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out When Pastor Eugene stayed with us during our missions conference last March, I cooked him my usual breakfast: eggs, meat, mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes all mixed together. They had a women’s dinner scheduled for Thursday night where Alison was going to speak. As for the meal itself, Eugene asked me to cook my breakfast meal for the dinner! I said OK before asking how many women would be there. When he told me about 35, I told him I had no idea how to cook for that many, but he waved it off and told me I’d figure it out! Nice guy! Here we are buying supplies. More pics on this later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/b266354b-1663-47b9-9c2d-3acd561f45a8/Google_Map.png Kazahkstan - Make it stand out This is a satellite view of the city of Rudney and its associated quarries. It demonstrates how important the quarries are to the city. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/fa271607-725c-4cd2-800b-9a4ef7277884/beach_group.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Our first activity with the kids was to go to the beach with them. (I’m in the back in the middle). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/009d1fe1-cafc-45fa-a542-0fffc1431251/box2.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Eugene was buying one of these to use as a place to bring and store second hand clothing, much like our Goodwill Stores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/bd7f7c96-df3c-40b7-a582-6f6e87d5f652/Kids_explaining_camp_experience_to_church.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Later in the morning, during the church service on Sunday, the kids described their experience at camp. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/e1b71e89-bc58-4617-9cc8-eed5b2ea4d67/homeless_mostly_a_few_women.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out While most of the homeless we saw were men, some were women. Many of the men became homeless when the mine (the very raison de’tre of the town) had to lay most of its workers. The mine had to do this because its former market for the iron ore mined in the town’s quarry had been sent to Russia for refinement, but with the sanctions imposed by the United States, that market dried up (the government of Kazakhstan didn’t want to cross the US). So these men were not directly involved in the Russian Ukraine war, they certainly have become some of its casualties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/f9f3ea88-0897-462f-b2e5-289c2b940ea2/kitchen.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Here is the kitchen, although we did not end up using this very much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/b6955f0a-d630-4c33-bea6-fced8e34815b/IMG_1273.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Each morning Eugene’s wife Olga (standing) would fix us a wonderful breakfast. The foods were all familiar and very tasty and fresh (since the vegetables came from their backyard garden). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d735a0de-9530-4b28-b8e7-ed52cc9bf188/homeless_bread.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out …raise up the large piece of bread given them. The bread is donated by local bakeries, most of them owned by Muslims. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/264617e2-a1a0-4ba6-9b0e-aedc78a44ded/Albert_praying+copy.5.jpg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out In one of my favorite images of the trip so far, Albert prays for this man . Note that Albert’s eyes are open unlike the usual custom. We were told to keep our eyes open, not for some esoteric spiritual or cultural reason, but because homeless people for whom members of the church have prayed in the past have taken out knives and attempted to stab the person praying for them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d6a30cf5-219f-4b79-819e-56d328890ea4/Svetlana_cooks_for_homeless.jpeg Kazahkstan - Make it stand out Svetlana (center) was homeless for many years until she came to the Hope Center, where she now lives and in exchange for that lodging, she prepares the meals for the homeless. https://www.brcglobal.online/bl2fl daily 0.75 2023-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/8ccb023e-bb44-4218-ab24-3d90b78e3ba2/IMG_7630.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/ef87ce69-09c4-4cb5-9904-02a1ab303094/2_Group_shot_cropped.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out The “blue shirt” and “green shirt” teams. Lois and I were the third and second in from the right in the back row — part of the blue shirt team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/366c55a4-359a-4d90-b270-26126514a526/9_Two_Eating_Lunch_1_Longing_for_lunch.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Lunch at Mark and Jen’s home with their friend (but always hungry dog, Teddy). (We got to know Destin, right, above, and his mom pretty well, and are planning to attend one or two of Destin’s basketball games in Trumbull this coming winter). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/be19a35b-26ac-4191-89a6-ca281de0d700/HQ_Chruch_for_Trip.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/354d373d-f377-4892-b1b9-e44721eb4f15/5_Cleaning_Schedule.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Clean up schedule for the green shirt team from Black Rock church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/0fd5c88a-ab42-4f9e-9fc7-fa90d8203e22/6_Team_at_Jim_%26_Marvins_Home.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out Blue and green shirts at the home of brothers Jim and Marvin, where we worked all week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/1df07f75-0fe8-48ea-b0eb-10de6f51faa0/3_+blue_green_shirts.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Lois working under the supervision of Steve, our blue shirt supervisor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/563c4e32-f242-44b0-80f3-45e87a192c49/8_Lois_Toilet.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out Lois would even do the dirtiest work! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/ba548c57-530c-417e-8bea-dde9a799f8ad/1_Reach_Global_Crisis_Response_ByBeach.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Damage at Fort Myers beach area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/7e618a45-6c5d-4443-a9be-bb951158b917/Itinerary.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out Here’s our schedule for Sunday morning, June 18, 2023 (above) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/6168216f-75e9-4c97-9506-27e3d58acf69/Map_of_HQ_Church.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/d9f95f19-e72e-4637-b992-9fd2a402f52d/devastation.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/11d5dce2-c64f-4bd2-bc87-6d514eb81376/IMG_7927+copy.jpg BL2FL - Make it stand out Last Sunday, June 11, Pastor Josh Feay announced and commissioned our team as we head to Fort Myers, FL to help with Hurricane Ian recovery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7adbc1b10f2549b4efdf96/29cc268c-e8b5-4989-a120-4688764e0f43/4_Psychological_Response_to+Crisis.jpeg BL2FL - Make it stand out Slide from presentation on crisis response https://www.brcglobal.online/fairfield-cg-2024 daily 0.75 2024-09-13 https://www.brcglobal.online/home-alt-bedford daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500612440-PGQSIY8KL9F7T5VIXQLO/chambers-2.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Contact Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500503574-5BAPXZO9U06UV61P49UO/chambers1.jpg Home Alt Sustainability Starts with you Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500933384-LII4SRIPHFYOUFX0UCXC/chambers-4.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390504287124-HQ8GNX1JCE22V047MSQ9/chambers-8.jpg Home Alt Preserve Nature Join Us