Great Cuba Pics

My sister Suzanne, Pastor Eduardo, and me.

Brent did not like the Cafe Cubano.

Love the Cuban kids!

Me and Jordan. He's my buddy.

Nick is like my son. Claire's look shows exactly what she feels about him.

Swimming in the Rio San Juan in Pinor del Rio was amazing!

Brent with blonde Cuban hair. Oh my!

The entire team (minus the guy making the picture --- me!)

Mission: Cuba --- Report

Well, it’s Sunday evening. I’ve spent most of the afternoon sleeping. I am drained from the trip and from our service at church today. Someone told me that today’s service was one of the most moving she had been a part of in her entire life. The Holy Spirit was moving in huge ways today. It was a simple service. Many of our team members shared. But their stories were anything but simple. Emotions flowed freely and God used the rawness, openness and honesty to impact many lives.

Our trip was amazing. We took a team of 17. Six of the 17 were teenagers and they added so much joy to the team. We spent the week sharing Jesus in many ways: Bible teaching, witnessing, encouraging the pastors and church leaders, and just enjoying life with the Cuban people. They are the most loving, open, giving people I have ever met. They welcomed us into their homes and into their lives. They shared their stories of struggles and pain. I spent time praying with a mother whose adult son was near death, a young mother whose one-month-old son was born with a heart defect, and a woman in need of knee surgery.

I also had the privilege of teaching the leaders of a church in El Diezmero and leading the church at Alamar in communion on Easter Sunday night. Even though the rain forced us inside, we still had an amazing time of worship.

Every team member experienced God-moments throughout the week. One of my favorites was meeting a husband and wife in a town called Santiago de Las Vegas. We walked into their home and noticed right away that there was a jewelry workbench set up in the front room of the house. The husband was a jeweler who made his living creating and repairing jewelry. As we began to share with them, the husband indicated to us that he was a Christ-follower. The wife said she was “somewhat.” As we shared Christ with her, joy began to come over her face. She listened and nodded, indicating that she was familiar with the joy, peace and hope that a relationship with Jesus brings.

As I finished talking, the woman began to tell me that our visit was an answer to prayer. She said that she had been struggling with depression for the past couple of years. Just two days earlier, she said, she had asked God to give her some kind of sign that she was going to be okay and that things would get better. With tears in her eyes, she said that she knew our visit was God’s answer specifically for her. Her face radiated joy as she talked! I knew that God had sent us to their home just for her --- to be an answer to prayer! I am so thankful to have been a part of His work in her life that day.

As a sign of his gratefulness to us, the woman’s husband took off a beautiful ring that he was wearing and gave it to me. It is handmade of sterling silver with a beautiful pale yellow diamond cut stone. I tried to refuse his generosity but he insisted I take it --- from his heart to mine. I will think of him and the Cuban people every time I wear it.

I could write pages about this trip but I will tell you one more story and stop there. At the end of this great week of ministry, our Cuban friends and our team experienced a tragedy that I still cannot comprehend. Leonel, one of our translators, a pastor, and a dear friend to me and many others, died suddenly Thursday night of an apparent asthma attack.

Hits in the gut, doesn’t it? I’m still reeling from all of it. Leonel was with us every day. He stood beside me and interpreted my preaching and sharing with people one-on-one and had done so on all four of my trips. (He had even learned some of my gestures --- he was that good.) He laughed with (and at) us “loco” Americans. He was a 30-year-old father of two who had the biggest smile I have ever seen. He loved his church that met in a borrowed garage. He was the first person I “fell in love with” on my first trip to Cuba. He and I had connected (as he did with everyone) and I always took things for him and his family each time I went back.

Thursday afternoon, the team was in downtown Havana and I took him into a store where I bought him two pair of jeans. Thursday night our team was laughing with him on the bus. And Friday morning we were at a funeral home grieving the loss of a man who had deeply touched us all.

I cannot explain any of this. God has a plan --- yes, I know. His plans are best --- yes, I know. But knowing that and understanding that are two different things. I’m not supposed to understand --- yes, I know. And I am okay with that. But it still hurts as all real hurt does.

I thank you for praying for our team over the past week. It really does mean a lot to me and to all of us. The Lord used us and protected us --- we saw dozens of people come to know Christ --- and for that I am incredibly grateful.

But may I ask you to continue praying? Please pray for our Cuban friends who are grieving today. Pray for Leonel’s mother, his daughters and the rest of his family. Pray for Pastor Eduardo who lost one of his key leaders. Pray for Juan Carlos who lost his best friend. Pray that God will use this tragedy to draw the church closer together and that the testimony of Leonel’s life will bring many others to know Christ. That is what he would want out of all of this.

My heart is heavy but I know that my friend is in heaven with the Lord. He is experiencing exactly what he and I walked the streets of his country sharing with people. This life is not all there is. Heaven is a real place and God is preparing a home in heaven for everyone who places his or her trust in Jesus. Have you made the decision to place your trust in Jesus?

Gloria a Dios!

Home

We're home from another great mission trip to La Habana, Cuba. (That's Havana for my non-spanish speaking friends!) Thanks to everyone who prayed for us. It was a great trip in so many ways. It was also the most difficult because of something completely unexpected that happened on our last day.

Join us at Capstone tomorrow to hear the whole story. Our team will be sharing their stories of how God worked in them and through them over the past ten days.

I'll post more over the next few days when I get some time. I'm worn out and have got to get ready for tomorrow's service.

Gloria a Dios!

One More Thing

Sunday is Easter and Capstone will be awesome --- maybe even better in my absence ;) . Make sure that you are there and bring a friend with you. 82% of unchurched people invited to church by a friend will actually go with them. Those are some great odds. So make sure you invite, bring, and are there to celebrate the Resurrection!

Mission: Cuba --- Last Post for Awhile

We're off to Atlanta Thursday afternoon and then to Havana, Cuba, early on Friday. I am so ready for this mission trip. It could not come at a better time in life. Things have been so crazy lately. I need a break. Pray this is a refreshing time for me personally!

This is my fourth trip in the past 18 months. The Lord has blessed me and our church with this ongoing mission to Cuba. About half of the people on our team are first-timers. That's always a lot of fun. My daughter Claire is so excited about going back that I don't think she's slept the last few nights!

Internet access is restricted in Cuba so I will not be able to post or update while we are away. We will be gone through Friday night, March 28. I hope to be home and give you a trip summary on Saturday, March 29. And, our team will be sharing in the Sunday, March 30 service at Capstone. So make sure you are there.

The following is our itinerary. We covet your prayers. If you have a minute, check back each day and pray over that day's schedule. Pray for health, safety, and effectiveness as we go. Thanks and I love you all for caring!

Friday, 3/21: Fly from Atlanta at 7:00 am through Miami and arrive in Havana at 2:05 pm. Pray as we go through Cuban customs, settle into our accommodations, and get acquainted with Pastor Eduardo and his church in the evening.

Saturday, 3/22: Pray for the children and youth events including Bible stories, testimonies, games, crafts, and baseball ministry. We will prayer walk in Old Havana and purchase materials for the construction project. Youth service and party in the evening.

Sunday, 3/23 – EASTER SUNDAY! Pray as we worship with the Cubans in their house churches, and as we preach, share testimonies, music and baptism. In the afternoon, we will visit the Christ of Havana monument and pray over the city. The day will conclude with an Easter celebration and communion service in Alamar with the house churches.

Monday, 3/24: Pray as we travel to the Province of Pinar del Rio. We will pray for and witness to the Cuban people as we travel.

Tuesday, 3/25: Pray as we begin our house-to-house evangelistic visitations and the construction project in Alamar. At 5 pm, we will have a children’s event in downtown Havana and then participate in small group services.

Wednesday, 3/26: Pray as we continue our house-to-house evangelistic visitations in Arroyo Naranjo, El Cerro and the ongoing construction project. In the afternoon, we will have a children’s event in Arroyo Naranjo and an evangelistic service that night.

Thursday, 3/27: Pray that the construction project will be completed today and for our final house-to-house evangelistic visitations in Santiago de las Vegas and Sierra Maestra. After dinner with the youth group, we will return to the hotel to prepare for the trip home.

Friday, 3/28: Final visit in Alamar with Pastor Eduardo and friends in the morning. Pray as we leave Havana at 3:05 pm and for smooth passage through US Customs in Miami. We are scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at 8:49 pm.

Team members: Bobby and Dale Abbott, Maureen Bailes, Benjamin Beaver, Greg and Margaret Burkett, Claire Chapman, Jerry Chapman, Suzanne Chapman, Kevin Chavis, Ashleigh Hart, Ashley Johnson, Nick Marcie, Braden Nichols, Erin Pickel, David Strickland, Brent Thomason

Thanks for praying!!!

Sunday Night Summary

Good Palm Sunday evening. Here's a quick rundown of some random stuff:

• Today was a GREAT day at Capstone. We had communion. It's always a special service and once again, God showed up to work in many hearts.
• After church, the family and I celebrated my birthday. Yes, St. Patty's Day is #42 for me. That's SO HARD to believe. Where did the last 20 years go???? I'm thankful for an amazing family who loves me and loves being together. There's always a laugh to be had when we get together.
• Then we had our final Cuba mission team meeting this afternoon. It was a great meeting. We have 17 people on the team and it is a solid, focused team. We're going to have a lot of fun and get a lot done. The plans are all ready. We're doing a re-enactment of the last supper during the Easter communion service in Cuba. Should be great. I've got to get my stuff wrapped up in the next few days. We leave Thursday afternoon.
• I'm exhausted. I've been running wide open this week. Lots of adrenaline. I haven't slept well. If you think about it, pray that I get some rest between now and the trip. I don't want to leave here exhausted.
• No big plans for the birthday. I'll be at the Soup Kitchen in the morning and probably have coffee with my friend Mike sometime during the day. I actually like low-key birthdays.
• I heard the story today of someone who had been to another church in the past few weeks. She said that going there made her realize how much God has blessed us at Capstone and how much she loves our church.

Sometimes we get so used to things that we don't realize what we have. Isn't that the truth?

Have a great Monday.

Mission: Cuba

One week from today (March 21), Capstone's mission team of 17 will be boarding a plane headed to Havana, Cuba. I cannot wait to get there and do the work God has planned for us.

My Cuba experience began in October, 2006. My friend David Strickland invited me to go to Cuba with a mission team he had been traveling there with for many years. It was last minute but I did not hesitate to say "yes." The trip came at a time in my life when I needed it and it was a great blessing to me. I met some amazing people (Cubans and Americans on the team), saw God do some incredible things, and came home with a passion to take our church to Cuba.

Because travel to the island is restricted by the US Government, we had to apply for a special license to go in and do religious work. Surprisingly, we were quickly approved for a two year license. That license expires in January, 2009. We plan to take at least one more group in before that date and also plan to apply for a renewal.

You may ask, "Why Cuba?" The simple reason is that God is at work there and He has called me personally and our church to be a part of it. The house church movement is flourishing there. Large assemblies are basically prohibited and so people meet in homes for worship and ministry. The model looks just like how we do HOME groups in our church. They study God's Word, sing together, share food together, and care for each other. It's incredibly Biblical.

Some of the house churches even go a step further and tear out walls to have larger rooms for church or they set up outside behind their home. It's pretty amazing to go outside in the back of someone's house and see a pulpit, a drum set and chairs all arranged, just waiting on the next time of worship. Then you hear the sounds of the neighbors pigs and chickens (and their smells) coming from behind the wall and you're reminded that this is Cuba.

The vast majority of the people live in a state of perpetual poverty. But amazingly their attitudes do not reflect that. They are filled with joy and smiles and laughter and kisses for their new found American friends. As you walk in to their homes, they give you their best seats and if they have anything to drink in the kitchen that particular day, it is offered to you first. Their hospitality is heartfelt and genuine.

So please pray for our team over the next week. The week before the trip is always busy with final preparations and everyone trying to get their work done before we leave for eight days. We have six high school students on our team and they have exams next week. The enemy also works really hard to throw obstacles in the path of those doing God's work. Pray for protection for health, family and time.

Finally, please pray for our time in Cuba, the people we will be sharing with, and the Cuban pastors as we go to encourage them in their work. Gloria a Dios! (Glory to God!)

Dale and Bobby

Dale really wants her picture on my blog so here goes.

Dale and Bobby have been to Cuba with me on each mission trip. They are great people and Dale always keeps us laughing. Her spanish is especially "muy bueno."

You may be wondering what is on Dale's face and Bobby's shirt? I ran by on the sand right before this picture. I was wearing flip flops and threw wet sand all over both of them. It was HA-larious! The picture was made right after the hysteria of getting smacked in the face with wet sand.

It was priceless.

Two Stories

I haven't had a chance to blog much over the past few days. I've been crazy busy. There has been some great stuff going on and God is teaching me through it. Here's what I am learning:

Ministry is all about faith. I have known this for a LONG time (and have told many people this fact) but seemed to have let this one slip my mind lately. When we were first starting the church, everything was about faith: people attending, volunteers, money, set-up, supplies --- we were dependent on the Lord for ALL of it because we had none of it.

Now that we are almost six-years-old and have people, volunteers, supplies, teams, etc., it's easy to forget the faith component of ministry. Our finances have been down the last few months and we've had some unexpected expenses. We are not in financial danger at all but we've got less in the bank than we've had in a while. In my "managing" of the situation, I expressed my concern to our leadership team and they reminded me that ministry is all about faith. God will take care of us. I know this as well as anyone. I just seemed to have forgotten. Thanks, Lord, for the reminder.

(And then on Sunday, in His amazing ways, we had the highest offering of the year. Praise God!)

The church needs to be truly helping people in real need. Our church is filled with servants. We have people who LOVE to get their hands dirty serving and actually serve people --- not just give money towards a cause. We regularly have groups feeding the homeless, helping people repair homes, stocking the shelves at the Soup Kitchen, taking coats and clothes to people in need, listening, giving, sharing. God has created a culture of service in our church and I LOVE being a part of that.

But two things happened this weekend that really challenged me to question how we (the church) can truly help people in real need.

Saturday morning we had a crew serving at Anderson Interfaith Ministries. Capstone sponsored a truck of food that we were giving away to anyone in need. The truck came from a food bank. On it was grapefruit, apples, onions, cereal, oatmeal --- all kinds of stuff. We were there to unload, pack and give out the food.

Hundreds of people lined up to get the free food. In the crowd was a woman who is a regular part of our church. I see her each week. I talk with her. But I've never known that she had this kind of need in her life. When I saw her, my first thought was "I had no idea." The second was, "What can we do for her?"

The second thing happened on Monday. I was at the Soup Kitchen handing out tea to those who came in for lunch. In through the door came a woman who had been in our church for a year or so and whose mother is a regular part of the church. This woman has been away for six or eight months and her mother had told me that she was back out using drugs and living a destructive lifestyle.

When this woman saw me, she fell into my arms like a child would her father. She began to tell me that she had thought about me and the church just the night before because she knew she should be in church but her sin was keeping her away even though she knows this is the time to go because she needs it the most!

I asked her where she was living and she said that she and her boyfriend had just been evicted. I did not know what to do! We talked some more and I just hugged her and reassured her. I encouraged her to go home to her family who loves her and to come back to church. I gave her my cell number and told her that I would help her in anyway I can if she'll call me. I haven't heard from her.

After they ate their lunch and they left, my heart broke because I realized that I did not know what to do to help her. Like all of us, her choices are her own and she knows that. But I wished I had something I could give her or somewhere I could give her to stay or someone who was trained to help her and her boyfriend get their lives back on track.

I know there are agencies out there who do this work. But I keep thinking, "it's the church, it's the church!"

God has used both of these events to stir in me a desire to figure out how we as the church can truly be helping people in need. I don't know what the answer is. I'm not sure I even understand my own questions. But I know God has to have a solution.

There's more I could write but I'll stop there. Let's just say that God has been speaking and teaching the last few days and weeks. I have SO MUCH to learn. Once again, He is teaching me that the church is SO MUCH MORE THAN A GATHERING on Sunday morning. I hope we'll be faithful to be the church He has called us to be.

Peace on Earth

My heart is heavy this morning because of the death, destruction, anger, rage, prejudice, grief and fear that is gripping so many around our world today:

• Eight innocent people were murdered at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem yesterday. The murderer's actions are being called "heroic" by Hamas.
• 68 innocent men, women and children were killed by two suicide bombings while they were shopping in Baghdad yesterday. 120 more were injured.
• Two innocent, promising female college students were senselessly murdered and left for dead in the street in the past two days --- one at Auburn and one at the University of North Carolina.
• An innocent child was abused by her mother who used a powerwasher on her.
• And there are many other unseen atrocities happening right here in our community to innocent women and children and men --- most we will never read about. Those hurts are as deep as any other.

Because of the Love of God and His amazing Word, peace can be ours, even in the midst of unrest:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace . . ." Romans 8:6 (NIV)

"God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 (NLT)

May His peace rest on you and every person in our war-torn world today.

God is in control

Are there days when you feel overwhelmed by what you have to do, what is going on around you, or the fact that you simply cannot make things happen the way you think they should happen? If you are honest, we all have those days.

In my quiet time this morning, God gave me a powerful reminder from His Word. I am sharing it with you in the hopes that it will remind you of how amazing our God is. Have a great day.

"Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord's thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen."

Romans 11:33-36 (New Living Translation)

Thoughts during American Idol (that have nothing to do with American Idol)

It's Tuesday night and I'm watching American Idol. I'm feeling like writing some random stuff so read on if you dare....

It seems that God has really used this Miracles series at Capstone. WOW - at the time I feel the weakest as a pastor/teacher and am even fighting this head flu stuff going around, God comes through LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES. He's good is all I can say. If you want to listen to any of the sermons, you can find them here.

I made a SERIOUSLY good pie on Sunday to take to the family lunch at Mom and Dad's. If you know me very well then you know I love to cook --- especially when life gets stressful! I was watching Food Network last week and saw Ina Garten making an Apple, Pear and Cranberry Crisp. I went online and found the recipe and whipped it up. The family loved it. Make it --- you will love it too.

Tonight I whipped up a quick batch of Rice Krispie treats. Not as gourmet but definitely good stuff.

I am so ready to go to CUBA! We have a great team of 17 (including my daughter and sister) who are going to work hard and get some major ministry accomplished. I need a physical and mental break and so I am counting down the days. We will work hard. It will be hot and sweaty. But I'm really looking forward to getting on that plane March 21! I'm also looking forward to seeing Pastor Eduardo. Even though we come from completely different cultures, he and I have a lot in common. We're the same age. We have daughters about the same age. We share a passion for seeing people know and grow in Christ. Even with our cultural differences, there's a bond there that I treasure. Please pray for Eduardo and all our Cuban friends.

I'm also really excited about a new sermon series we're beginning following our Cuba trip. It will take us through April and May. It will challenge all of us to get in shape spiritually and grow deeper in Christ. I'll share some more as it continues to come together!

Finally (for the night), I love the work our staff is doing. They are working hard. Bekky is challenging the music team to step up in commitment to their craft and musical worship and we're seeing that on Sundays. Brent's leadership team has come together and our students will be the ones who benefit from their commitment. And, David is artfully guiding our kids' ministries into some new stuff and challenging our HOME group leaders to keep doing what they do so well. Keep up the good work folks! I'm honored to serve with you all --- and the dozens of volunteers who actually make all of us look so good!!!

MAJOR PROMISE: "You are the God who performs miracles." Psalm 77:14

Downtown Greenville with Sis

I had a great Friday evening. I headed to Greenville to spend some time with my only sister, Suzanne. (That's her in the middle of me and Leonel, one of our translators in Cuba.) I picked her up at her place in Mauldin and we ventured to downtown Greenville.

Main Street is such a great place, especially at night. The temp was great. Folks out walking. Lights in the trees. It really has a cool, relaxing vibe. This is the third time I've had dinner over there in the past month or so. Really cool.

But better than the scenery was the time with Sister. She and I have grown closer as the years have passed. We were the typical brother/sister growing up. I irritated her to no end (just thinking about that still makes me smile!). I was the little brother who wouldn't leave her or her stuff alone. It was great.

She married young and moved out and so we kind of went our separate ways. She was busy working and raising kids and I was doing college, getting married and getting the career started. We stayed in touch through it all but weren't really close.

That changed over the past few years in a big way. I'm really thankful for that. She's become a great friend, someone I actually enjoy being around --- not just someone to irritate like when we were kids! We've shared a lot of life the past few years --- the ups and the downs for both of us. None of it is forced because we are family. She's a great person with a great heart and for that I am thankful.

So after a great non-alcohol dinner at a Brewery on Main Street (that's kind of an oxymoron, right? She had eaten there before and said the food was great --- which it was --- go try the spicy pimento cheese with flatbread appetizer - amazing!), coffee at Coffee Underground, and great conversation through it all, I dropped Sis off at her place and headed back to Anderson.

It was a great night and I left reminded of how thankful I am for my older sister. (Did you catch that, Sis?) I love you!