We are so blessed here at Northland because we have such an incredible short-term missions department, called Distributed Journeys. This team works tirelessly to provide incredible opportunities to each of you to serve in the Kingdom of God all around the nation and the world! From New Orleans after Katrina to Sri Lanka there are trips of all lengths, costs, commitments, needs, and times. They mostly occur in the summer months but do go on all year long. Check out the Northland website for more information http://www.northlandchurch.net/main/journey/

This summer we have a small group from Oviedo going to Swaziland, South Africa to work with our long term partners, Vredulust Church, capitalizing on relationships built by Oviedo’s own Pastor Dan Lacich and two congregants who went last summer and are going back this summer, Marianne Testa (a leader this year) and Kathy Franz! This is such an incredible example of the power of community, telling each other about the invitation we have all received from God to be ‘on mission’ with Him. First, Pastor Dan went, then he invited Kathy and Marianne, then Kathy told her small group all about it and shared the work of God and now there are 9 people in that group going together this year and Marianne has become a leader for our church there! WOW, the power of the Holy Spirit through willingness and participation!

We also have our own Student Ministry Coordinator, Erica Emler, going with a team of students to Jamaica with a Northland partner mission organization called IsleGo.

When asked why they were going here are some of their answers:

“God provided all the opportunities, options, and motivation while removing all the obstacles, (the biggest stretch will be) giving over all the control and trusting that God will honor the trip and use us to accomplish his will.” Ron Cox

“Dan Lacich came to our small group and asked us if we would consider going to Swaziland. After hearing Kathy Franz speak about her journey we knew we had to find a way to go. Raising support and finding childcare has already been answered by God. It is amazing to watch Him at work.” Jen Cox

“Tim is the leader of our home and he felt the call to go to Africa and after a lot of prayer, God has calmed my mind about going and know I feel Tim and I are being called to go…9the biggest stretch) asking for the money and time off from work and the fear of the unknown, getting out of my comfort zone.” Susie Brown
PLEASE STOP BY the table in the foyer to learn more about how you can partner with these teams in prayer and in preparations for the work to be done before they go, once they arrive and after they leave. You can Be A Part of it with them in many different ways!

I am reminded of the verses that I used in my sermon, Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:10. They both talk about the work to be done being here, there and everywhere, now and always and that He has the power to accomplish what He has started but also that He has invited us to participate in it with Him! What an honor!