Category Archives: Launching

Oct8

A New(Old) Breed of Missionary

Posted on by
Standard

I had the pleasure of meeting Frank and Rebekah on the very first Dream Tour Summer 2011. And when I say, “pleasure”, I mean it. They are intelligent, grace-filled, fun, and welcoming. They are new breed of missionary (or very old breed depending on how you look at it), or volunteers as they call themselves. They donate their time to Kingdom work while supporting themselves. Wow.

They just embarked on a new season in their lives and moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Ireland to do some amazing work there. Please pray for them as they change the world through their work and mission.

My name is Rebekah Burder and I’m married to Frank. We are Adventures in Missions volunteers living just outside of Kilkenny, Ireland.

We’re responsible for developing relationships between Adventures and local missions contacts, as well as helping out with logistics for trips through the Ambassador, Encounter, and World Race programs. Additionally, we’ll be helping manage and mentor a team of volunteers working in local youth centers.

We moved here about a month ago, and are just starting to learn the culture of this beautiful country.

Our dream has always been the idea of what Paul writes about in Thessalonians. To donate our time to a mission while supporting ourselves. Together, we run our creative agency, D2L Studios. Frank handles graphic design, website development and reputation management.

I am a professional blogger, which includes social media, photography, and writing. Everything we do is able to be accomplished online, which allows us to move internationally without it effecting our finances. We’ve spent about ten years developing these skills specifically for that reason.

We’re passionate about small businesses, mentoring, leadership, and non-traditional types of employment. We are also passionate about debt-free living. Paying off all of our student loans, cars, and credit cards was the very first step we took to free up our future. Our dream is to see this generation do the same. Develop skills that allow them to donate a portion of their time to bring the kingdom to earth. We are also passionate about mentoring young adults as they transition from college to career.

The area where we need prayer the most is for workers. Ireland needs young people who are energized and ready to build up the presence of the kingdom. We’re specifically recruiting for youth workers, who will establish drug and alcohol free youth centers in cities. They’ll need a passion for mentoring and youth.

You can follow us online at www.aheartforthenations.com.

 

Sep26

The Heart of a Healer

Posted on by
Standard

I met Tiffany in Florida on the January Dream Tour (yeah…January in Florida…had it so rough.) She and her brother were gracious and generous hosts. She was just getting ready to embark on the next step of her dream journey by going to G42 in Spain. The time went by quickly and she’s back now gearing up for a brand new season in 2013. Here is a look at her dream journey so far.

Tiffany

When I was 19 years old, I chose Nutrition as my major in college. I knew that I wanted to help people. And I always knew it wouldn’t be in a hospital – that was never my ambition. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to work with women that needed help. My goal was to work in a Community Nutrition program that worked with low-income families (like WIC – Women, Infants & Children).

At that time, I didn’t have a relationship with God. But, He already knew me. He already planted the desire to work with women & children that needed some extra help.

For the next 10 years, I would finish my degree and begin working in Community Nutrition. I held several nutrition and health educator positions. I was able to help women and children in Illinois and Florida make healthy choices.

And then I met Jesus. And my dream got bigger.

I began taking my knowledge and experience around the world. I still want to help women and children with their physical health but, now, with their spiritual health too.My dream is for women to experience full inner healing – especially women that have abusive pasts.  I believe that women that are whole and know who they are will have a positive impact in their families.

In the past three years, God has done incredible inner healing in my life.  So, now that I’m on the other side, and have my own journey and stories to tell, I want to help other women experience it as well.

So far, this journey has brought me around the world on the World Race in 2011, to Spain for G42 Leadership Academy in 2012 and next year I plan to spend all of 2013 in the Dominican Republic.

Everywhere I go I have the knowledge to help people feel better physically and the experience and the Holy Spirit to help people feel better spiritually and emotionally.

God takes our little dreams, waters them and they bloom into something bigger than we ever thought.

Tiffany has a healer’s heart and God is using all of who she is to help heal others. Please pray for Tiffany’s journey. Go to her blog, to follow her journey.

Sep3

Anti-Trafficking Dream Tour

Posted on by
Standard

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…”

We’re hitting the road again!

This time, we’re headed to the ministries who are actively involved in ending the sex-trafficking industry. Our team will connect with those who help the victims and reach out to the perpetrators. We will serve along beside them in the nightclubs, the outreach centers, and the businesses that employee the men and women who are building a new life.

Although it’s impossible to have completely accurate data, it is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children involved in the sex trade in the United States each year. 100,000 of these are children.

The numbers are reaching epidemic proportions right in our own backyard.

“…to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…”

The goals of the Dream Tour Team are to:

  1. Serve, encourage, and connect with the dreamers who are in the front lines battling against human-trafficking.
  2. Love on the victims and the perpetrators.
  3. Explore their personal Kingdom passion for the captives.
  4. Allow God room to lead and provide in miraculous ways.
  5. Tell the story of real dreamers in the real world.

Here is the tentative route:

  • October 8th – Launch from Gainesville, GA
  • October 9-13 – Jacksonville, FL
  • October 14 – Tallahassee, Fl
  • October 15 – 18 – New Orleans, LA
  • October 19-20 – St. Louis, MO
  • October 21-23 – Chicago, IL
  • October 24 – Columbus, OH
  • October 25-28 – North Carolina, multiple stops

We’re building the team and the finalizing the route right now. Please pray with us as we step out in faith and hope.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  SPONSOR A DAY OF THE TOUR!

It takes about $75 a day to keep the Dream Tour Team rolling on down the highway. This covers fuel, food, and lodging for a team of 4 people. Can’t get much cheaper than that!  We’ve already received two sponsors. Now we need 19 more.

Please sponsor a day! Make your easy, tax-deductible donation on-line here.

“to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”  Isaiah 61:1

Aug29

Meet Toni-Lyn and Her Dream

Posted on by
Standard

Toni-Lyn dreams of an end to human trafficking starting right here in the states. What is she going to do about it? She’s headed out on a Dream Tour this fall!  More details to follow…

Hello! My name is Toni-Lyn.

If I could be any animated character I would be Pocahontas. She is free-spirited, roams God’s creation, and she soaks in the beauty around her. Plus, she sings about rivers and colors, and seems like a peaceful warrior, and I just love that!

As kind of the antithesis of that goal (to be a free-spirited, singing, wandering, color-lover, obviously) my outlandish ambition would be to “accidentally” drink the concoction that would give me super powers to shoot lazer beams and fly and climb walls. I’d like to take over a city and fight evil. Either that, or I would like to be adopted into the Cosby family (the TV show version). I’d at least like to be Rudy’s best friend.

My Vision for the Dream Tour

About 5 months ago God gave me a vision of a road trip where we could discover what sex trafficking looks like all around the US. Besides the fact that sex trafficking is highly prevalent in the states, it also looks very different at different stages of the process (prevention-rehabilitation) and in different settings. Here we are now, God is opening doors wide for this very vision!

My hope for the team is to stretch our awareness of what sex trafficking looks like across the states. We will video blog to raise awareness and celebrate God’s pursuit of the people we meet.

It is my heart to have us be unified as we go out and not only gain a deeper understanding of this issue but of the hearts’ of the people we encounter. This will also be a time of celebrating our own stories of redemption and God’s restoration and freedom!

I am excited to have a team of us exploring the depths of this issue. My concerns mainly stem from the knowledge I have of working with such a dark thing, the enemy won’t want us near and the warfare may come heavily. However, I also know from building relationships with people trapped in the sex industry that bringing our light in will permeate any darkness we come across.

Please be praying against the darkness! Pray joy, life, freedom, redemption and celebration! With thankful hearts we will go out to see what it is that God has given and is waiting to pour out over this nation.

Aug27

The Journey Begins…Emily’s Story

Posted on by
Standard

Emily and I met at Panera last fall to talk about her next steps. She was in that place of ambiguity where her heart and her head were giving her the mixed signals. That’s when she started the long and difficult journey of a lot of asking, seeking, and knocking over the next few months. It was so cool to watch her step out in faith, big faith, that maybe didn’t make the most amount of sense but was right into God’s arms.

I asked her to write a bit about her journey, because TODAY she is stepping on to the plane to Scotland and the next two years of her life. Please pray for her today. 

Emily

Tomorrow (Monday) I hop on a plane back to Scotland. It’s difficult to comprehend everything that has gone on to get me to this point.  But, tonight I see that this new journey started last year when I was struggling to find my place in the world…

In March 2011, I completed an amazing Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Seamill, Scotland. Afterwards, I found myself back home in Des Moines, Iowa trying to integrate that life-changing, Spirit-filled experience into the “real world” of job searching, family issues and general life as a 23 year old.

I have months of journal entries during that time, crying out to God for help because I was so unsettled. My heart and mind knew there was something more for me but there were no leads or answers. I felt like I was being taunted by my God-given passions and dreams. I had a deep fear that I would fall into the predetermined set of expectations of what I was “supposed” to be doing but maybe miss what God wanted me to do.

In November, I got an email from my DTS leader back in Scotland asking if I would ever consider coming back on staff for two years. Even though I loved my original experience with YWAM, I had never seen myself pursuing anything else with them, but when I read that email my soul was ignited.

More emails occurred and the description of my possible position and roles on the base were exactly what I had been praying for. It fit my passions and giftings so well and filled my heart with hope. It was still not an easy journey though because with the excitement came the reality of this huge commitment to take on the life of a missionary- fundraising and sacrificing the comforts of home, family and friends.

Also during this time I was talking with a church in town about a possible position with them. It seemed like a good opportunity as well, plus a lot less sacrifice. There were months of praying, discerning and discussing with people close to me and ultimately I felt like God was giving me a fork in the road with both jobs, but my heart was toward Scotland.

After the months I spent of literally crying out to Him for more, would I trust Him with this perfect opportunity to work for YWAM? Would I take the HUGE leap of faith to move to Scotland and commit to the unknowns of where that road would lead?

Yes.

The big day is now here and as I reflect, I am overwhelmed by God’s greatness and goodness. The bumpy, winding paths God took me on to get me to this place aren’t the ones I would have chose to take necessarily but there is a story of faith and trust that He is building in me through this experience. And this is just the beginning…

Stay tuned for more of Emily’s story, what she’s doing in Scotland, and some lessons learned along the journey. 

Jun26

Telling Stories With a Life Lived

Posted on by
Standard

Nathan was working with Kingdom Dreams when I met him. He left to pursue his next dream. Our team visited him in Denver in April. He is a breath of fresh air. He’s talented. He’s a dangerous Christian. He’s a man who’s gonna change the world starting with India.

Nathan

The Background

It’s happening. That thing I was most afraid – well I’m doing it.

See I never wanted to be a “missionary.” Growing up, hearing places like Africa never peaked my interest, let alone anywhere else in the third world.

First time I traveled abroad was to India with a medical outreach team back in 2008, and after going, I wasn’t too sure I wanted to go back. Constant noise, terrible smells, immense poverty, caste hatred, and all forms of disease plague the land.

India was also the first time I came across sex trafficking outside of a book setting. Kids selling roses between crowded rickshaws with a baby in one hand, other hand reaching out, all within eyeshot of the pimp who will reap the benefits.

I walked through streets of human excrement. Saw more homeless people in a square block than all of Denver’s homeless combined. In my mind, the place was a mess. But something happened there I never want to forget.

A Seed was Planted

Quite simply, India is a paradox. Such natural beauty mixed with vibrant colors abounding everywhere contrasted with filth, pollution, corruption, and hate, all surrounded and encompassed by the caste system.

At one point I came across a huge billboard rising directly over a large gypsy slum reading, “Luxury Villas for the Accomplished.” I could not help but wonder what it meant to be ‘accomplished,’ and wondered where these accomplished people were so they could come and pick up their fellow human beings and tell them someone loved them, saw them, hadn’t passed over them, and finds worth and value in their life.

Many of you know about that whole World Race thing I was apart of. A not so typical mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months. Well it was: energizing, depleting, refreshing, dirty, epic, and still hard to put into one sentence.It wrecked me. I’m screwed. I know who the Lord called me to be.

I know where my identity lies. And that compels me to live a life of bringing a voice to those whose voice has been taken or oppressed.

International Director of Word Made Flesh, Chris Heuertz, states that “we need the poor, more than the poor need us.” Something happens that brings a fulness to my life serving alongside the poor in wealth and poor in spirit. Jesus shows up.

My Kingdom Dream

I want my life to tell stories of hope and joy.

I’m learning Jesus always cost something, but the reward is great.

I believe the Lord is calling me to tell people’s stories, and everyone has a story to tell. When telling people’s stories it can be easy to turn a “person” into a “cause” to champion. And while poverty and such circumstances may be an aspect of what someone is living in, it does not define who they are. Jesus does.

This trip scares the crap out of me. I’m serious.

I really don’t know what I’m getting myself into or what this will turn into. And at the same time I do. I think I’m getting myself into more of Jesus. I want to learn how to love better and see Jesus. I believe living with the poor tends to do that.

“We live in a world where bad stories are told, stories that teach us life doesn’t mean anything and that humanity has no great purpose. It’s a good calling, then, to speak a better story. How brightly a better story shines. How easily the world looks to it in wonder. How grateful we are to hear these stories, and how happy it makes us to repeat them.” – Donald Miller

You’ve Been Hand Selected

I most likely will need financial support for years to come. I need you to support and partner with me. Make no mistake – this will cost you something. It may cost your time, comfort, resources, money, energy, effort, or all of the above. But guess what? You’ve been hand selected by yours truly, plus that Jesus guy, to bring Kingdom to the world.

For more information on WMF Kolkata, and how to support me as Jesus wrecks my world, go to…

http://nathansalley.net/wmf/

Jun20

Soccer and the Word

Posted on by
Standard

Steve contacted Kingdom Dreams early on in our first year. It’s been a pleasure of following him in his journey toward making this dream a reality. He’s pioneering new roads to bring the Gospel to kids starting in his own community in Houston. 

Steve has held on to what he believes God has laid on his heart to do. He doesn’t give up, he keeps pressing, and he is starting to see doors and lives opened. Please pray with Steve as he continues to pursue this Kingdom dream.

Steve

My life is driven by two intertwined passions: soccer and the Word of God.

I love every aspect of the game. I also thoroughly enjoy teaching young adults the Scriptures and observing with awe as God brings about transformation in all of our lives.

This passion for the Bible has often inspired my “soccer dreams”. For example, as early as junior high, I wanted to play a soccer game in the DMZ between North and South Korea in order to reconcile these previously unified nations that had been torn apart by war.

Currently, my dream is to unite my twin passions for the Word of God and soccer. By using the world’s beautiful game, my goal is to invest in the lives of players such that they develop into men and women of character.

As transformation occurs in their lives, I envision a revolution in the game of soccer that has the power to transform communities, bring reconciliation and healing, and ultimately change the world.

Throughout history, there are instances of wars being put
on hold so that opposing forces could engage in a game of soccer.

Could you imagine if the sport, in unison with the Word of God, was harnessed in such a way that it brought peace to the wars being waged in the hearts of the players?

Could you imagine if the peace within the players then translated into them being agents of change in their homes, work places, schools, and communities?

This is the fundamental DNA of my dream.

I’ve directed Project Delta for the past year. It’s amazing to watch how the Lord is bringing about change. It was only this past August when I showed up weekly for the entire month without a single person showing up!

In slightly less than a year, we are now seeing between 48-50 players weekly. Relationships are being built, the players are hearing the Gospel, my church wants to get involved, and new opportunities are frequently arising!

My biggest personal insight is that I am not a planner! As a visionary, mapping out details and creating a systematic plan to follow is a challenge. However, the Lord is teaching me about how His grace operates in my weakness.

People can support Project Delta in the following ways:

a) Pray for us. Our desire is that God would use the sport of soccer as a means of establishing relationships through which we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ

b) Follow Upcoming Events on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/projektdelta

Jun6

Letting Go of the Itinerary

Posted on by
Standard

I met Chad and Amber on the fall tour last year in Wisconsin. What a powerhouse couple for the Kingdom! They are fully sold-out to do whatever and go wherever God leads. My guess is that they will live a life filled with more and more dreams as they are faithful with what God has given them. Watch out world – Chamber is bringing it! 

Amber

Chad and I are planners. I’m talking type-A, methodical planners.

We were enjoying the comfortable routine of married life we had set up for ourselves; traveling through our days paying close attention to the “itinerary” we had mapped out for our success. You know, “work at X company, volunteer with X, live in X city for X years, save X amount of money to buy a house, travel to X…” and so on.

Well, in August of 2010, God began to lead us down an exit ramp that was not part of our itinerary…

“God, are you CRAZY?! You want me to quit my job?”

This debate took place on a mission trip.

Chad and I felt God making it extremely clear to us that he had plans for our lives that we were ignoring. During a time of worship, God showed me Proverbs 16:9, which says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” As I knelt there feeling like an emotional wreck, God was leaning down and whispering, Let go of your plans, Amber. Just let Me lead. Meanwhile, God was confirming the same thing to Chad.

It was time to throw our itinerary out the window.

Upon returning home, we made some huge changes to our lives. I resigned from my corporate job and started a freelance graphic design and photography business. Since we had no idea how to run a business on our own, we found it imperative to incorporate listening prayer into our new daily routines. God has been wowing us ever since.

For almost two years now, he has taken care of every detail of our business and has granted us opportunities to meet people that otherwise never would have crossed our path.

Because we learned to let go of our own plans, we now find ourselves in a state of joyful transition with God. We’re now open to discovering his purpose in our lives, which—shocker—is WAY better than our original plan anyway. The more he speaks to us and leads us, the more addicted we are to listening for his voice and obeying his call.

Most recently, God has shown us how important community is. He gave us a passion to invest in the lives of people around us and encourage/mentor them to grow in their faith.

We began intentionally building friendships with some young adults in our church. Soon, a dream was realized, and we helped start a ministry there for college students and young adults.

In a handful of short months, God has brought new people to our group, formed deep friendships, and given us a sense of unity as we strive to live like the church described in Acts. This group is truly hungry for the Lord and ready to learn.

Pray with us as we begin a couple of studies with them this summer that will challenge their faith, and in-turn, challenge our church as a whole.

Check us out at www.langhoffdesign.com or follow along at www.langhoffdesign.com/blog.

Jun1

F Bombs and Faith

Posted on by
Standard

Sarah was on our Winter Tour. She is a passionate woman who is all about Jesus. Sarah has been walking out the dream journey for all of it’s wonders and struggles.

(We’re all in the process of sanctification; we’re working out our deals. I’ve noticed that one of the deals of passionate people is often cursing.)

Sarah

Hang around me long enough and you’ll hear me say it. “F bomb.” It’s the perfect interjection.

Pulled over for speeding? “F bomb.”

A particularly convicting point in Sunday’s sermon? “F bomb.”

And as I’ve been living my ordinary, regular, not-so-exciting, post Dream Tour life, trying to make my dream of opening a London prayer and worship house a reality, I’ve been dropping a lot of F bombs. Because this dreaming thing is hard. More specifically, seeing your dream become a reality is hard.

A passion is easy. Passion can be lived out every day.

My passion is love and freedom. So as I go about my daily life, I listen when my students complain about doing work I’ve assigned or give me a zombie look when I’m giving everything I have to make the Magna Carta interesting. That’s releasing love.

At my not-so-Spirit filled church home group, I tell stories about limbs regrowing and speak prophetic words over them. That’s releasing freedom.

But a dream is hard. And it takes another F bomb to make it reality, one that I struggle with sometimes.

Faith.

You see, while on the Dream Tour I got an email from an organization called Burn 24/7 inviting me to intern with them this summer. This organization creates 24 hour, 7 days a week prayer and worship houses in various locations all over the world for set amounts of time. This summer, leading up to the 2012 Olympics, they are hosting a 30 day “Burn” in London, and I got to be a part of it!

All was well until…it wasn’t. I didn’t hear from them. And time went on. And I emailed them. And nothing. And I emailed them again. And nothing.

WHAT THE F BOMB?!? I don’t get it. Jesus, You said this was happening right? You set all this up, RIGHT???

And all He said back was “Rest.”

Ok, yeah I’ll do that, JC, but I have to buy a plane ticket and raise money and say goodbye to people and- “Rest.”

Rest is simply trusting that God is who He says He is and I am who He says I am. He’s my Provider, my Dream Maker, my Promise Fulfiller, my Guide. I’m a warrior, a princess, His. If we really believe those things and rest in those Truths, then I wouldn’t be worried about getting this internship because I’d be believing God and what He’s said over my life.

So I rested. And just a few days ago, I heard back and I got to buy my plane ticket to London. I leave June 14 and will be there for 2 months. I still have a lot of needs, but I’m resting in my Papa.

He’s got this.

If you would like to be a part of answering these needs or just hearing about the amazing things God’s gonna do in London this summer, you can read my blog here or financially support me here.

May24

Igniting Something in Jacksonville

Posted on by
Standard

I met Jeff in Jacksonville, Florida on the Winter 2012 Tour. He invited us over to talk with his young adult group.  Jeff and his wife Sheila are what I call, “igniters” – they not only opened their house to 20-somethings, they opened their hearts and modeled how to live a life of radical faith. The group we met that night were alive and vibrant and filled with hope for all God has planned for them. 

Jeff is the perfect example of how God moves us from dream to dream. Jeff successfully “ignited” a younger generation as the Pastor of Young Adults for several years. Now that he has been faithful with that, God is moving him into a new dream – a church plant in Jacksonville where even more people can be ignited.

Check out his story. Watch out…it might ignited something in you too. 

Jeff

What a mighty God we serve…Alright…Okay…I am very much aware that this phrase sounds a little on the cliche side, but for some reason I feel the need to BOLDLY proclaim this powerful statement of fact!

He is a mighty God!

Over the past 18 months I took some time to do a little soul searching. I believe that this is an exercise that everyone (especially my brothers and sisters in ministry) needs to practice regularly. This process always helps to keep me clean and close to my Creator. This exercise always seems to bring my life a new perspective.

So, as I am sitting here…giving much thought to my life’s path, I cannot help but travel down memory lane. I am such a blessed man and I truly realize this. I have been involved in some of the most amazing ministry endeavors over the years and am totally blessed to have seen so many lives changed for eternity. I have made countless friendships and formed many partnerships as I have delivered God’s glorious gospel around the world.

All of these things are great to think about, but I have to squeeze past them…I must think of the here and now…I must think about the future…I have to force myself to look ahead and to ask of God, what is it that you expect from me next.

We must know the things He has for us to do we are to dream big dreams. We have to seek clear guidance because the job is never complete…there are still so many who have never heard about Jesus. Ministry moves on, concepts change. The Word of God never changes and God’s plan for our lives is concrete.

I have dared to dream.

Scripture teaches that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. Through this process, God has clearly communicated the need to start a new work. The Point Community Church was born from a desire for significance. Even before our first official meeting we have experienced Him working and opening doors and have also experienced a leadership team come together that has a desire to be significant for His Kingdom.

I would very much appreciate your prayers and if you feel led to help in this work that God has called me to lead, I would love to talk with you. Our first official meeting will be held on June 8, and our official launch date is November 11, 2012. We have many financial and mechanical needs, but most of all we covet your prayers. I am truly convinced that God is going to use this church to lead in a spiritual awakening.

You can follow our progress on my blog at www.jeffstockdale.com.

Jeff Stockdale is the Pastor at the Point Community Church, in Jacksonville Florida.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JJStockdale
https://twitter.com/#!/ThePointJAX

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thepointjax

Blog: www.jeffstockdale.com

Our prayers are with you Jeff and Sheila as you dream big for Jacksonville, Florida!