http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org Jessica McClure Serving the Kingdom - Don't let your eyes become accustomed to the dark. en-us Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:55:01 GMT 30 http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=breaking-the-silence http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=breaking-the-silence First of all, many apologies to you all on my radio silence for the past two months. For most of it, I had the excuse of living in a tent in the middle of nowhere, with no internet cafes or free wi-fi   in sight. I was actually relieved at my inability to communicate, as I didn't have to try to formulate words for what God was doing in my life and in the life of those around me. Now, I am more than two weeks done with my Real Life summer, back in the U.S.-all debriefed, with good-byes said, and ready to start the next season of my life. Each time I log into my AIM account, my blog sits there before me and I think "I need to write a blog. I NEED to write a blog." And each time I have found some excuse to put it of until "tomorrow", but honestly I just didn't have the emotional energy or know where to begin sharing from my heart. But, I am biting the bullet and this is my feeble attempt. I was chatting with a good friend on gmail wh Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=yes-i-am-alive http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=yes-i-am-alive God is good.  He is faithful.  Even though I can't access my gmail account, my bank account, or pretty much anything else right now on this stinkin computer, He is allowing me to update you.  I really have too many words.  Or not enough.  I  sleep in a tent with a broken zipper so the smoke from the fire in the morning pours in on me and the 5 other girls I share it with.  I have gone more than a week without a shower at a time.  I have sat in the dirt with children.  I have drank water from the same river I have bathed and washed my clothes in.  I have puked on the side of an African highway, clutching the ground while a group of children stared at me-because of said river water.    I have haggled with people in broken Porteugese over prices of-you name it-transport, food, etc.  I have seen hunger for the Lord like I have never seen before in a small church plant that sprung from a showing of the Jesus film one mo Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=andwere-off http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=andwere-off I just got through typing a blog for our group site, so for the sake of not being redundant (and the fact that I have gotten probably 5 hours of sleep total in the last two days), check it out here. God is good.  This summer is going to be good.  I fly out tommorow.  Pray for us. Much love.  I'll update again when I can. Sat, 7 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=so-it-begins http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=so-it-begins Hey friends, Tomorrow, the craziness begins. I report for Real Life training and meet my co-leader Stephen (Marissa, the other female co-leader is meeting us in Jo'burg since she lives in Swaziland right now). On Tuesday, our students will arrive and we will have training together for about a week. We fly out of ATL on the 7th, arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa sometime on the 8th. We will have to bus up to where we are staying in central Mozambique (which I hear is about a 16 hr trek -yikes!), but these details have yet to be divulged to me. We missionaries have to go with the flow, eh? :) Right now I am at work in the AIM office, tying up loose ends and trying to finish up some projects before tomorrow evening. I am really antsy to get this party started, though-meet my team and get going already! But I know that there is a time and purpose for everything, so I look forward to bonding this time at training camp. I appreciate your support so much and do ask for your prayer cov Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=getting-excited http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=getting-excited Ok..I was just perusing some of our World Racers's blogs, and I realized that some of our racers are currently in Vilanculos, with Jaco and Maria, our host contacts. One of the girls posted a blog about a snorkeling experience she and her teammates had off the coast of Vilanculos, which is apparently known to have one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Check this pic outummm...yeah. can you say beautiful? Do you know what is more beautiful, though? The 43 little ones that are under the Rudolph's and their ministry's care. 43 precious children of God with no mothers or fathers to take care of them. Yeah, that pic looks like paradise, but they are the reason that we are going to spend 55 days eating peanut butter for lunch and sleeping in tents. The Rudolph's have a website describing their ministry. Check it out, if ya like.Only a few more days until my training begins. I will post again before the craziness starts.I got this from the Mozambique orphans website. I Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=because-we-all-need-to-laughsometimes-at-ourselves http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=because-we-all-need-to-laughsometimes-at-ourselves Well, on a less deep and heart wrenching note than my last couple of posts, I thought I would share a blog site that has had me chuckling and procrastinating the past week or so. The author of Stuff Christians Like does a tongue in cheek critique of the Christian sub culture. Some of it is just for fun, like #233. Reading every single word in the bulletin when bored (come on, you know you have done it), but he does wedge some nuggets of truth in there from time to time that actually make you think and nod your head in agreement like #244. Making God Emo.I want to post one that made me laugh out loud yesterday. Sure, it's ridiculous. I need a little more ridiculousness in my life. Plus, he mentioned Bio-Dome's Stephen Baldwin, which is always a sign of a good time. #240. Kirk CameronHave you ever thought what it would be like if Kirk Cameron and Bono got into a street fight to see who is the best famous Christian? Just a no holds barred, anything goes donnybrook? No? It's just me then, Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=confessions-of-a-recovering-scoffer-part-1 http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=confessions-of-a-recovering-scoffer-part-1 Change. It seems to be everywhere. In the weather patterns ( I know I have been away for awhile, but summer is usually pretty much here by now, right? And my parent's pool is still too cold to swim in..what's up with that?), in the economy, even in AIM. We were just told of some major restructuring that is going on within our leadership. The World Race is getting a new director. All kinds of new developments that will, I am sure, be the best thing for us all in the future. This time two weeks ago, I wasn't spending my summer in Africa. Now I am. Just over a week ago today, life as usual was going on in southwest China, now 34,000 deaths are being mourned while many, many more are still left buried under the aftermath of a devestating 7.8 earthquake. If life is anything right now, it is unpredictable.I sense this change in the spiritual realm as well. God is revealing Himself in ways that we have never personally seen before. People are being healed. Set free. And I am not just talking Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=confessions-of-a-recovering-scoffer-part-2 http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=confessions-of-a-recovering-scoffer-part-2 read Confessions of a Recovering Scoffer, part 1 for the beginning of this tale.The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.Matt 3:12Once the IHOP dude got it together a little bit, he brought a powerful message based off of Matthew 3, where John the Baptist began his ministry. The Pharisees, the religious people of the day, the denominational leaders, if you will, came to where J.B. was baptizing and he totally called them out. "You brood of vipers!", he said (v.7). Talk about not being "seeker friendly". I don't know why the Pharisees came out to the Jordan that day, but it was probably not to repent and be baptized. More than likely it was to see what this crazy guy that forsook his priestly lineage, ate bugs, wore camel hair, and yelled at everyone was up to. Making sure he wasn't rocking the boat too much or saying too many crazy things. They were ready to shoot him down with their ar Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=painting-a-picture-of-mozambique http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=painting-a-picture-of-mozambique the following is excerpts from my fellow World Race staffmate, Jimmy's, blog. He and his World Race team first connected with Jaco and Maria, the South African couple that is hosting me and my Real Life team, last summer. It has been great hearing about his experience there, and getting to know a little bit about what to expect. Reading this makes me excited to hop a plane with my team and get there already!! 4:30am in the distance is heard a series of drum beats of unknown meaning or origin. The sun rises shortly thereafter and the African day begins. The people of Vilanculos rise and retire early by nature (and necessity due to firelight being the only source of illumination available). Squad A is living on the grounds of a church led by Pastor Laura. The church was demolished in the recent cyclone and the congregation has been busy at work dedicating all their free time and resources to rebuild. At any given point in time, wooden shafts can be de-barked and large tree trunks Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=looking-back http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=looking-back This is a blog I wrote over a year ago about my time at Iris Ministries in Maputo, Mozambique. I know God has so much more to show me about His healing power and our role in it all. I love seeing how He is continuing these lessons for me.written 1/27/07"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25I get an email newsletter from a missionary couple who works at the orphanage I visited in Mozambique this past November. It is great to still be in the loop on what is happening there. God has been teaching me about the mairaculous more and more and His desire to astound us with the work of His hands. And while I am belieiving more and more in mairacles that can happen in the blink of an eye (the lame walking, the blind seeing, etc.), He has encouraged me most in those little mairacles, the ones where he uses his people (he loves to use us!), the ones that you watch develop over time. The pictur Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=tokens-of-his-goodness http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=tokens-of-his-goodness Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17This past week God has just been so gracious to me. There are times in your life that you trust God's goodness sometimes just by the sheer fact that His very nature is good and you know He doesn't change. And then there are other times where you are just smacked in the face with His goodness-the times His hand is just so evident in your daily life. Here are a few ways He has shown me His goodness within the past week:1.) Well, as I have already announced on the blog, I am going to Mozambique for two months! The craziness of how this has all unfolded this past week has left me a little dazed. Returning to Mozambique has been something I have wanted to do ever since I visited there in the fall of '06. I saw how God was moving through that country in such a powerful way-and even in the midst of the devastation that continues to hit th Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=mozambique http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=mozambique So..my immediate future has changed drastically in the last 24 hours. Yesterday I recieved a phone call from the Real Life coordinator here at AIM-and was asked to co-lead a two month long trip to Mozambique starting on May 30!! (yes that is 24 days from now). This trip is with AIM's Real Life program, which is a one-three month discipleship and ministry training program for 18-22 year olds. I would be co-leading with another AIM staff and bascially discipling and walking alongside the students during this missions experience, concentrating specifically on the girls of my team. With the blessing of my supervisors here at the World Race I accepted the position! I really believe God has opened this door to get some real, hands on experience with AIM and to give me a stronger foundation in my ministry here. Plus, I absolutely fell in love with Mozambique when I went there 1 1/2 years ago, and I have been aching to go back ever since. And the best part--I have no expenses for this t Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=yay http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=yay I have my first monthly supporter!! Thank you, my dear Meredith! You are such a blessing in my life:)Continue to believe with me that God will raise up my support network--I am currently at an average of $27.00 a month-gotta get to $1500!  I also want to thank everyone who has given me one time gifts as well.  I cannot do this without you and it has put me in such a place of humility and grace.  I appreciate each of you.If God is prompting you to partner with me and Him in the ministry of the World Race-click the SUPPORT ME link on the left. Every little bit adds up-giving up Starbucks or eating out once a week helps me send a generation of young people around the world to love the people He loves and be changed radically by His Spirit. I am watching God TV as I type this, broadcasting the revival that is breaking out in Lakeland, FL. Most of my former staffmates in Cairo have hopped planes and are heading that way right now. I want to write my thoughts about this Sun, 4 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=a-reminder http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=a-reminder Dry, empty, tapped out, lethargic. This has been my spirit these last couple of weeks. Have you ever been in such need for something that you can't even muster up the strength to desire it anymore? I knew it had gotten bad when I would rather lay on my bed watching an America's Next Top Model marathon than spend time with Jesus. It all just seemed like effort. In the midst of a hard transition into AIM, getting back involved in the church I grew up in, and virtually no community or spiritual nourishment, I have very little energy left over for effort these days. I pretty much fled to the House of Prayer in Atlanta tonight, seeking a place to just be. I needed God to sing over me. I needed to just be in His presence. Nothing profound, no huge heavenly revelation. Just Him. The worship team began to sing this song and God began to break through the walls around my heart in the midst of it.He is jealous for meLoves like a hurricaneI am a treeBending beneath The weight of his Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-cry-of-bangkok http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-cry-of-bangkok Many people ask me why I have chosen to come on board with AIM and the World Race, especially since I have never done the World Race, never participated in any AIM program. I had the privilege of walking alongside my good friend and former staffmate Amanda as she prepared for the race, sent her off with the blessings and support of our spiritual family in Cairo, followed her journey around the world and have helped her reacclimated back into this life again. What I saw God do in her during those 11 months was incredible. While there were times of great brokenness, God never left her there and the result was beautiful. We currently have three teams out in the field and one preparing to go in July. I read their reflections and hear similar heart cries. I praise God for the work I see Him doing-and for allowing me to be apart of it. This is one of my favorite blogs from Amanda's journey. I am not usually taken to crying in front of my computer screen, but try to get through it wit Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-cry-of-my-generation http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-cry-of-my-generation Community. Life together that is authentic, challenging, and full of growth. AIM is beginning a program in the fall that teaches, equips and trains on this very topic. Here is a letter from Seth Barnes, the president of AIM, with details on the Community Life program. I want to personally tell you about something new that we are doing at AIM. I've been asking God, "How do we help young people live in community and find mentoring?" Something profound happens when a Jesus-follower gives his life to ministry for a year in the context of communal living. I've seen that element with great coaching to be a powerful combination. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=look-what-i-made http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=look-what-i-made well....with some help. (thanks, Manders;)my first prayer support card!!now...I wait 21 days for it to come to me....Who wants one?! Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=title http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=title I am going to let you guys in on a little secret. Independence is very important to me. Sure, I wax passionate about community and sharing life together. Counteracting the independent spirit that our western, consumer driven culture indoctrinates us with. I have all kinds of mini soapboxes about this topic (hopefully you won't ever have to hear them). I haven't lived on an income above the poverty line since college, but God has blessed me and I have always had my needs met-and more most of the time. I have never been very interested in acquiring stuff, which is has been helpful to my nomadic nature and the fact I have moved across the country various times over the years. I have spent the last few years sharing life with a group of people-everything from food to clothes to rooms, even beds at times. And while it has been some of the most difficult lessons of my life, I have become hooked on that lifestyle. I see God's heart for it, and His design in it. I feel like I am doing Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=losing-life http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=losing-life This is a blog taken from my good buddy Matt's page.  He has been on the World Race since January and is currently headed to Africa.  Matt is a fantastic writer and paints such a good picture of what life on the race is like with his words.  I share these with you because even though I am in the States, learning how to book flights and email in Spanish, my heart is out there with them.  These stories spur me on and confirm God's call on my life for this season.  I hope it encourages you."The LORD gives and the LORD takes away, but blessed be the name of the LORD." Someone died today.  It was rather unexpected and it just happened to be the first thing on our journey that took me by surprise.  We've each seen a lot and experienced a lot in the last few days but none of it caught me off guard.  I was expecting things out of the ordinary to occur but it's not every day that, well, I'm inches from God taking a life away. We were in Tambo Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-siege http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=the-siege My family at Two Rivers Ministries in Cairo, IL is looking for prayer warriors to partner with them this summer in their Summer Siege. Over the past three years, Two Rivers has developed from a community center to a house of prayer-seeking to transform the tiny, poverty stricken town they call home through praise, worship, warfare and intercession in the heavenlies. This is all done in the midst of true Acts 2 community living and growth together as the body of Christ. Click here for more information about Cairo and how you can get involved with what God is doing there.P.S...Have you noticed the Subscribe to My Blog link on the left? Click on it to get email updates every time this site is updated. You know you want to;) Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=right-where-i-belong http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=right-where-i-belong Yesterday was the first day of training for World Racers going out on the field in July. I spent about 13 hours with them, helping the training staff where I could, but mostly listening, observing, and getting a little first person experience of what this World Race stuff is really all about. My spirit was SO encouraged by what I saw happening there. I love AIM's raw and honest approach to discipleship. Day one, session one of the 10 day training camp and Seth Barnes, the president of AIM, basically tells this group "You say you are going on this trip because you desire for God to transform you. This process cannot happen apart from recognizing the junk that we all carry around inside of us. I am asking you to start , right now, asking God to reveal those things to you and began praying for a release from these things that bind and hinder you." Later on that evening, they were given markers and told to have a prayer partner write these things that they needed to lay down and giv Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=taking-his-name http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=taking-his-name I have been meditating alot lately on what it means to truly trust God as our Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. As I sit here trying to write letters and brainstorming what kind of networks of support I have, I know this whole process is teaching me about a new level of trust and submission to God's will for my life. Misty Edwards, a powerful worshipper from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, wrote a song that I have been playing over and over again the past few weeks. The chorus saysI am in love with you, there is no lossI am in love with you, there is no costI am in love with youI want to take your nameI am in love with youI want to cling to you, JesusJust let me cling to you, Jesus.The phrase "I want to take your name" has resonated and stayed with me. What does it mean to take Jesus' name? In earthly marriage, a woman takes the last name of her husband. This symbolizes her leaving the authority and protection of her own family, and entering into covenant w Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=let-the-adventure-begin1 http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=let-the-adventure-begin1 I was totally pumped to wake up this morning and find an email from AIM giving me a link to set up this blog. Typing this almost solidifies this crazy new reality I find myself in. A reality I never would have guessed even a few weeks ago. I left Two Rivers Ministries, the ministry I had been serving under the past two years, in November. It was a bittersweet good-bye. My staff there have become my spiritual family, my community, and I had gone through the hardest, yet most transforming seasons of my spiritual journey in that place. I knew God was taking me away for a few significant reasons, one being my family back home in GA. I have lived away for the past five years since college and had become disconnected. My family had no idea who I was anymore, and I didn't know much about their daily lives either. I moved home around Thanksgiving, moved in with my sister and got a job at a Starbucks to pass the time. Life kind of fell into a rhythm for a couple of months. I felt Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=for-your-viewing-pleasure http://jessicamcclure.myadventures.org/?filename=for-your-viewing-pleasure Linked below is the World Race 2007 Promo Video. This is what I need to watch when I begin to wonder why I am raising money to work in an office all day. These faces and stories give me the answer to that question.Enjoy! Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT