Not in Kansas Anymore
Don and Cynthia Storrs - OCTOBER 2014
Formerly "The Wallonia Street Journal"
ABOUT US
The Literature Corner ...
Becoming a True Spiritual Community - Larry Crabb, Thomas Nelson (Publisher)
This past year I joined a men’s group through our church Woodmen Valley Chapel. This group of guys has become very supportive of one another and are good friends. We want to grow in our walk with Christ as well as authentically share our lives.
We have started a study of Larry Crabb’s book and are finding this an excellent catalytic tool for great discussions. I highly recommend it for whatever small group you might be in.
(5 stars)
O U R S T O R Y
Cynthia and I have been serving in
missions for over 34 years. We were
appointed with Greater Europe
Mission in 1980, and starting in 1982
served 15 years Belgium (French-
speaking church plant), as well as
serving at the Belgian Center for
Biblical Education (administration and
teaching), and initiating GEM’s short-term Europe-wide service team ministries (EuroTeam). In 1997 we moved to Kandern, Germany, where I assisted in GEM Staff Development and Cynthia taught at the Janz Team owned Black Forest Academy. I joined the BFA staff in 2001 as part of the administrative team and had my first introduction to the future ministries of TeachBeyond.
In 2007 we returned to North America to serve in GEM’s mobilization department based in the North American offices in Colorado. Why this shift? As we approached our 30th year in missions, I was challenged by what my future would be.
Yes, we could remain in Europe and continue on in the ministries at the Black Forest Academy and still assist in GEM work, yet the future work of missions needed to be given to the next generation and beyond. I was particularly challenged by the life of John Mott (see adjoining section) and mobilization became my focus.
In 2010 I was aware that TeachBeyond was seeking help in recruiting more staff for BFA as well as many new opportunities in Europe, Asia, and Middle East. I met with George Durance, TeachBeyond’s President, and we arranged a seconding agreement with Greater Europe Mission so that I could serve with TeachBeyond in their mobilization efforts.
WHY MOBILIZATION?
A few years ago I stumbled upon the name of John Mott while attending a lecture on mobilization. In the late 19th century, John Mott was attending Cornell University to prepare for a career in law. Then in 1886 he heard a challenging message by a professor, and he wanted to make his life’s work sharing the claims of Christ with students. That summer, Mott represented Cornell University's Y.M.C.A. at the first international, interdenominational student Christian conference ever held. At that conference - which gathered 251 men from 89 colleges and universities - 100 men, including Mott, pledged themselves to work in foreign missions. From this group sprang the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. In the years that followed, more than 22,500 students went into the world to proclaim Christ, thanks to the vision and encouragement of John Mott. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his work in establishing and strengthening international Protestant Christian student organizations that worked to promote peace. John Mott could have been one of the 22,500 sent out, and he was committed to do so, yet he never went. His vision was to increase the number of workers for the future harvest. He is credited with having said,
“He who does the work is not so profitably employed as he who multiplies the doers.”
Raising up future workers in God’s Kingdom has become a passion for me thanks to the example of John Mott.
ABOUT TEACHBEYOND
To see view this video of TeachBeyond's President, Dr. George Durance, sharing the vision of our ministry, please click on the link below:
http://www.teachbeyond.org/george-durance/what-is-the-vision-of-teachbeyond
Our official ministry with TeachBeyond began three years ago when I joined their recruitment team. However, we have worked with the TeachBeyond family for nearly 10 years prior when we served on staff at the Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany. In 2007 the Janz Team Ministries, who had owned and operated BFA for over 50 years, decided to broaden their influence beyond this one school and help other schools throughout the world have a Godly impact in their respective communities and beyond. The vision and name changed to TeachBeyond and today we work with over 35 schools worldwide.
The 2012 TeachBeyond Annual Review
is now available!
Download a copy by clicking
this link below:
http://teachbeyond.org/files/2012TeachBeyondAnnualReview.pdf
