{"id":26576,"date":"2024-06-26T10:11:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T16:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/?p=26576"},"modified":"2024-07-01T15:13:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T21:13:00","slug":"howell-deputation-update-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/news\/howell-deputation-update-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Howell Deputation Update #6"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>God\u2019s Love Compels Us.<\/h2>\n<p>Two Sundays ago, I had the opportunity to preach at Sherwood Community Friends Church. The main theme was the need for churches and individuals to focus on making disciples not just converts. I was using 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 as my main text. \u00a0You can give it a listen below if you choose to.<\/p>\n<table style=\"background-color: #c8ced6;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eBuqInF0O40?si=R0lLmBJTIAFv2GXv\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-24954 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo-300x225.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo-16x12.png 16w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo-600x450.png 600w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Howell-2023-Web-Photo.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The term disciple is one that we use regularly in our churches and church communities. Often that term is elevated to represent someone of a deep significant spiritual life. It can represent that for sure. However, I think this misses the intent of the original word. The Greek word breaks it down to simply someone who has the posture of a student, a learner, someone putting in the mental effort to struggle to understand the concepts being taught. In the early Jewish culture, this idea was represented by someone following so closely to their rabbi that they were literally covered with the dust from their teachers\u2019 feet. This is a theme that resonates with me deeply. The idea that we invite those around us to watch and learn from us, to listen and see the good news of Jesus Christ. To walk along so closely together that the dust of Jesus will cover them.<\/p>\n<p>As we have walked among our American friends these last six months, this has been our focus. As we have walked among our Irish friends these last 16 years, this has been our focus. As we have walked in ministry over these last 35 years, this has been our focus. The reason we do this is straightforward.\u00a0 Verse 14 says <em>\u201cThe love of God compels us.\u201d<\/em> The love of God in us controls, drives, and demands that we make sure all of those around us know that they too are loved. They too are chosen. They too are deserving. When we fully take to heart the plea of Abba\u2019s heart to <em>\u201cGo and make disciples of all the nations,\u201d<\/em> we are filled to the max with love for those who haven\u2019t yet been shown the right path.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26578 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Howell-Ireland-Scenery-2-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>A young woman, who we will call Mary, started attending one of the groups that we facilitated. She was hungry to know God\u2019s word. She asked questions and struggled through the idea of how these words were put into her daily life. What does this budding faith look like in a teenager and in a young adult? It was an absolute joy for Trish and I to watch her assume the posture of a learner, of a student, of one ready to soak in all that the teacher had for her to glean. We lived life together, shared meals together, spent time together, dug into God\u2019s word together, celebrated God moments together, rejoiced, and wept together. Day by day, the role of teacher and student lived out in an authentic way. To see her today is such a thrill and joy to know that she is a blessed and loved child of God. To know that she is now compelled by this love to share with others is such a blessing. God has done a mighty work in her life through the discipleship process.<\/p>\n<p>Please pray with us and our Irish friends. That the roots of Christ\u2019s love will dig deep into those that we are discipling. That the love of Christ, displayed on the cross, will bring about a new life in Christ. That their old way of living will no longer have control over them and hold them in bondage. May they embrace their new life in Christ and thrive.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for your love for the Irish people. Please pray hard and pray often for them. God is at work and unfortunately so is the enemy. May the love, peace, and mercy of God fill us, encourage us, and empower us to go and bear fruit.\u00a0 Fruit that will last.<\/p>\n<p>Specific Prayer Requests:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pray for us as we look for a new house to rent. An added prayer is for the kitchen and dining space.\u00a0 Pray that this will be a great place to break bread together with our friends.<\/li>\n<li>Pray for God to break through in the lives of our Irish friends.<\/li>\n<li>Pray for the remaining balance of our funding to come in. Please pray for God\u2019s prompting to be heard and obeyed by those who are thinking about coming alongside us financially.<\/li>\n<li>Pray for our health and safety. For our emotional, physical, and mental health.<\/li>\n<li>Pray for our daily spiritual growth to be so rich and full and transformative that it spills over like a mighty rushing river at flood stage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Grace and Peace,<\/p>\n<p>David and Tricia Howell<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>We currently have 1,023 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 1,100. If you know anyone who would like to pray for our ministry, please forward <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/howell\/\">this form<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to them.<\/p>\n<p>We are currently at 78% of our ongoing monthly need. <em><strong>Please note that our funding status has changed since the last update we sent out. After reviewing our support budget, it was determined that our field ministry budget needed to be increased, which increased our funding need total.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let EFM know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, please prayerfully consider supporting our ministry in Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for supporting us through prayer and financial giving. We need and appreciate both so that we can reach 100% in both areas before heading back to Ireland.<\/p>\n<table style=\"background-color: #c8ced6;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>There are four ways you can partner with us:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Online. Visit\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.friendsmission.com\/howell\">https:\/\/catalog.friendsmission.com\/howell<\/a><\/strong>. You\u2019ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.<\/li>\n<li>Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.<\/li>\n<li>Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Automatic_Bank_Transfer_Form.pdf\">here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and email it Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at\u00a0<strong><a href=\"mailto:debby@friendsmission.com\">debby@friendsmission.com<\/a><\/strong>. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.<\/li>\n<li>Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check \u201cHowell Support\u201d and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of \u201cEFM.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>God\u2019s Love Compels Us. Two Sundays ago, I had the opportunity to preach at Sherwood Community Friends Church. The main theme was the need for churches and individuals to focus on making disciples not just converts. I was using 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 as my main text. \u00a0You can give it a listen below if you [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"full","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[424,457,245,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-26576","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-news","7":"tag-424","8":"tag-deputation-howell","9":"tag-howell-family","10":"tag-ireland","11":"entry","12":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26576"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26591,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26576\/revisions\/26591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsmission.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}