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Fresno, Calif.
Action teams debriefed


Youth Mission International’s Action teams were debriefed August 7-11 in Fresno, Calif., after completing assignments in Canada, the US, Middle East, Kenya and Peru July 9 – August 7.

The team in Jordan and Beirut worked alongside an Arabic evangelist and saw dozens come to Christ in this Muslim context. One Muslim vegetable seller found an invitation to the team’s meetings in his cart. He came to the service to find out whether the team knew his mother who lives in Canada. Instead, he made a lifetime commitment to Christ.

“Discipleship happens in the context of missions,” shares Randy Friesen, director of YMI. “The training and outreach was 40 days and reminded us of God’s dealings with Jesus in the desert as well as with Moses in the wilderness. During this time, we saw fruit, but it was a real battle. In the midst of it, God is changing us and accomplishing His purposes.”

Friesen also shared the importance of keeping God’s perspective during debriefing times. He parallels this to Caleb and Joshua’s debriefing time after scouting out the land in Numbers 13. In this account, not all the Israelites saw their short-term mission assignment through God’s eyes. Some had the “grasshopper complex”. He said this is an easy attitude to take when we are “challenged by front-line ministry and spiritual giants.”

Friesen said, “We need the Body of Christ to help us see with God’s perspective.” He believes that is what happened at this debriefing time. The teams, like Caleb, “can allow God to plant seeds of faith” so they too “can see strongholds of darkness be transformed into places of refuge”.

YMI is a member program with the Global Disciple Training Alliance that draws Anabaptist youth discipleship programs from throughout the world into strategic partnerships. This year they will specifically focus on Arabic ministry.

 – from a report by Debbie Horst, board member of the GDT Alliance

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Last modified January 5, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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