Global Presence

Quest Global Presence Vision Trip to Thailand: Nov 3-14, 2011

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(by Keith Tungseth, Chair of the GP/QJC Advisory Board)

 

PURPOSE: To gain deeper learning about Global Presence development strategies from long-term Covenant missionaries and their national church partners.

 

FOCUS: Sustainable Development Research Foundation (SDRF) AND COVENANT CHURCH OF THAILAND: We will experience local church culture and learn about holistic development.  We will explore opportunities to partner in the ministries of SDRF and seek God’s vision for this region.  For example: Medical and dental teams; Development-focused teams provide consulting and know-how in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, appropriate technology, and public health.  Children - short-term outreach/service events to serve at-risk children; prayer ministry and building of relationships among believers.

 

TEAM: Up to 6 Questers plus our guide, David Andrianoff.  Michelle Garred will help us put together 4 team training sessions in Sept/Oct for information and team formation.  And we expect team members to participate in the September 10 Depth Class on Peace-building as well.

 

COST:  Best estimate: $2,500. (We propose that Quest pay ½ of that through budgeted funds)

 

QUEST MISSIONARY CONNECTION:  Bob and Grace Shim are supported by Quest.  Here are comments by Bob Shim concerning our proposed trip:  “Great to hear from you!  That's fantastic that there are so many folks involved with the Global Presence team at Quest…. It would be our pleasure to host a team of "Questers" seeking to broaden their view of what God is doing globally and explore how to better partner with ongoing Kingdom work. In my opinion, there is no better way than coming and witnessing first-hand how God is reconciling peoples to Himself in remote corners of the world. I think I can offer a bold guarantee that if a team of Global Presence members came, met with local peoples, experienced their culture and hospitality, walked in their shoes, and saw how God is transforming their lives and communities, they will return home changed forever (in big and small ways)….”

 

Bob Shim works with Jim Gustafson in a Thai foundation called the Sustainable Development Research Foundation (SDRF) that has work going on in 5 different Thai provinces in holistic community development and building grass-roots church movements. Their work in the Southern provinces has been in predominantly Muslim communities and all of their ministries involve building peace and building bridges with communities. SDRF's work in the southern part of Thailand is in two places: Songkhla and Koh Yao. In Songkhla we have the ministry to HIV/AIDS-affected peoples (the Center for HIV/AIDS Affected Communities, or CHAC) and on the island of Koh Yao we have the Marine Research Institute (where we do marine aquatics research) and our ministry to the Muslim fishing communities.

 

THAILAND AND COVENANT WORLD MISSION: Thailand is a country rich in tradition and culture. Predominately a Buddhist country (ninety-five percent), it has relatively few Christians (less than one percent). A main hindrance to acceptance of the gospel is a common belief that Christianity is a religion for Westerners. The Covenant ministries in Thailand are trying to break this barrier by using Thai cultural forms for worship and Bible teaching. In addition to church planting, several transformational ministries are operating across the country, including agricultural businesses, community health and education, job creation for migrant workers, education of children, and ongoing tsunami relief and development. The overarching goal of these projects is to share the love of Christ and plant the gospel in these communities.

 

If you have interest in being part of the team or any questions about this trip, please contact Keith Tungseth,  Keith@Tungseth.com   206-391-7951

Restless Wanderers

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By Amy Li (Global Presence)


Upon returning to the States after 2.5 years of living in China, I oftentimes wonder when I'll leave again.  Sometimes I would catch myself looking for cheap tickets to a faraway land, fully knowing I wouldn't be able to take any time off work.  I think fondly of the freedom and adventurous life I led.  Then I remember, hey, I had an incredibly tough time in China too, and at times I thought I would be perfectly content spending the rest of my life in comfortable America.  
But things back home haven't been as peachy as I had imagined.  I had high hopes of returning to the wonderful community I left behind.  I thought I would once again experience the stability I had craved so much.  But honestly, I have been overcome with disappointment.  I don't know how to reconcile the extremely different world that I was in and the world that I'm in now.  I don't lean as heavily on God as I did in China, and I miss that intimacy so much.  And what happens when you live out something you've dreamed about for so long?    
So one day Sarah Ryer, Megan Espinoza and I were sharing lunch and chatting about our overseas experiences.   We all agreed that returning home after an intensive time overseas is one of the most difficult things ever.  It does take a long time to truly feel settled again and resources for reverse culture shock/ re-settlement are very limited.  We missed the communities we were a part of so much and thought, would it be possible to create a similar community here?  Would we be able to form a community where we are not too busy for each other?  Can we provide a space to share stories and be a support and encouragement to each other as we figure out how to adjust back to life in the U.S of A again?  Then the vision of Quest Wanderers was born.  
We hope to provide a regular space to swap stories and learn from each other.  We strive to be a support and encouragement to each other as we struggle with regaining our sense of belonging.  So let's re-live our overseas experience together through words and maybe action (We can be spontaneous and go on adventures together!).  Let's try to blend our old and new worlds together.  Let's learn about God's heart not only for the people we served overseas but also for those here (I am guilty of favoritism towards the Chinese) =).  And maybe you could even teach me how to plan ahead again. =)  

We don't have all the answers, but we can certainly listen and relate.  If you've had any sort of overseas experience and are struggling, come!  If you have any advice to impart upon us, we would love for you to join us.  If you simply just want to come and hang out, you are welcome too.  The next Quest Wanderers meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24th, Q Cafe, 7pm. Dinner will be provided.  Please email me, amysili@gmail.com or Megan Espinoza, megan.espinoza@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

Amy Li

At the End of Slavery-IJM Film Screening at Quest

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IJM is excited to announce their latest documentary, "At the End of Slavery" is coming in September 2009, and Quest Church will be hosting one of the FIRST screenings on Saturday, September 19 from 7-9pm.  Admission for the event is FREE, and the film screening will be accompanied by a presentation and Q & A with IJM's Vice President of Government Relations, Holly Berkhauter. 

For a preview of the film, click this link.  http://vimeo.com/5985149

More From Chamwino

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After we were welcomed to Chamwino by St. Peter's, I accompanied Quest Elder Barbara Lundquist; Dr. Kati Szego, a former pupil of Barb's and current professor of Music at Memorial University in Canada; Karl Dreschler, a Seattlite who will be living for a year in Chamwino while working on behalf of Chamwino Connect; Lewis Kashiri, a man from Zimbabwe who also plans on assisting the project in Chamwino; and Zachary Gerald to our next stop. The musical folks in our party had arranged a visit with a remarkable group of women singers, the Muh Eme singers. As we traveled, we were accompanied by Pastor Daniel Meshach, the amazing Nassan Mazengo and Rev. Eubert Nyembela. After a few years of reading names printed on paper, it was great to meet many of these folks in real life. [caption id="attachment_290" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Left to right pictured are Kedmon's mother, Pastor Daniel, Pastor Nyembela, Barb, Kati, Karl (standing) and myself.

Welcome to Chamwino

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Just over two weeks ago, I made my way out of the airport in Dar es Salaam and into the waiting arms of Barbara Lundquist and a local friend, Zach Gerald. Pitching my trusty backpack and a bag of donated clothes into the back of our vehicle, we headed for Prof. Mitch Strumpf's house and early the next morning set out for the village of Chamwino. What does it mean to build partnership with a parish halfway around the world? I was about to find out. As we approached St. Peter's Church, we were greeted with song and dancing. [caption id="attachment_284" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A few of the folks gathered at St. Peter's. The woman on the far right is Kedmon Mapana's mother!"]IMG_3583[/caption]

Along the way, St. Peter's Pastor, Pastor Daniel Meshach, joined us for a song.

World Concern with Quester Derek Sciba

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Quester Derek Sciba joined Pastor Leah for an interview this week about his work with World Concern.  Derek has recently returned from visiting a number of World Concerns projects around the world.  View the interview on vimeo here and check out the links below for ways you can be involved globally locally!

 

 

Connecting Chamwino and Seattle

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Picture Below: St. Peter's Anglican Church in Chamwino, Tanzania.  Currently, the church is under construction and nearing completion.  With this trip, funds from Quest Church will be sent to bring a regular water supply to the building which will also be used as a preschool, and to construct toilets!

]St. Peter's Anglican Church in Chamwino, under construction

Part II: Sex Trafficking in Cambodia

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Quester Lauren Ebright posts part II of her recent journey to Cambodia to combat sex trafficking.

See the whole post, pictures and all, here

Inside Cambodia PART II: A Population In Poverty

Poverty in Cambodia
Photo Credit: Lauren Ebright | The Broken Telegraph

by Guest Contributor Lauren Ebright

 

Where is the Light for Burma?

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Shine the Light on Burma?
Remember 2007? Buddhist monks peacefully protested in the streets of Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar). As they walked or stood, in robes of crimson and saffron, they were arrested, beaten, shot, killed, silenced.

Sex Trafficking in Cambodia

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Quester Lauren Ebright recently returned from a soul changing journey to Cambodia.  A hair stylist by trade, Lauren and her salon are working to establish a partnership training folks in Cambodia to be hairdressers, a sustainable means of supporting themselves and their families. Read Lauren's words below, catch her and her husband Ian at the 11 am service, and say hello.

Find the original posting and pictures on the blog here: http://brokentelegraph.com/2009/06/09/inside-cambodia-part-i-prostitution/#more-1739

Shawn catalyst :6782253551

---Inside Cambodia PART I: Life After Prostitution
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Photo Credit: aim4asia.com

by Guest Contributor Lauren Ebright

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