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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 5/9/2008
Over the past few days I have been learning slowly the lesson of forgiveness. I realize there are far worse things going on in the world than our stolen laptops. However, I believe God uses circumstances both big and small to refine us and mold us into who he desires us to be. I have been so blessed to have words of truth and love spoken to me from my wonderful fiancee' Heather, my family, and many of you. In an email this week my mom said to me:
Our family has really had the call of God on our life to forgive our
enemies. The desire to see justice, people to know their wrong, and
make it right, just don't happen on our time table. I am learning and
seeing the word of truth that your Dad has given to me many times,
"time and truth walk hand in hand." Bitterness doesn't help us to get
better, it robs us of more than the thieves took, our joy, peace,
forgiveness...and the list goes on and on.
I've also found peace and strength in Romans 12 this week. I have been reminded of rich truths as Paul writes:
9 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good.
12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
14 If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.
I close with an adapted prayer based on Romans 12:1-2:
May I give my body to you. Let me a be a living sacrifice, the kind you will accept. When I think of what you've done for me, this really isn't much to ask. Help me not to copy the customs and behaviors of this world but may you transform me into a new person by changing the way that I think. Then I will know what you want me to do and I will know how good and pleasing and perfect your will really is.
Amen.
On the journey for God's best,
Chad
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 5/7/2008
Yesterday between 2:00 and 3:00pm local time our house was broken into. Fortunately, no one was home so no one was harmed. Electronics were the primary things that were stolen, mainly laptop computers, including mine. Strangly enough, 3 lap tops were not stolen, including my roommate Drew's, which was just two feet away from mine in plain view.
The police were called, showing up a few hours later. As these things tend to go, we are hopeful, but don't expect to see our things again. One of our good friends in the community who has a "colorful" past has assured us that things will be "taken care of." So, there is a small amount of hope that remains.
My main concern is the personal information, electronic journals, etc. that many of us had on our computers. Please pray that nothing else will come of our loss and that identity theft etc. would not occur. Of course we welcome your prayers for our stuff to be returned and for justice to be served.
While this is a bit of a sour note to end our time in England on, I remain firm in the belief that our God is good. Stuff is replacable and people are not so it is a huge blessing that no one was harmed. Please be in prayer for us as we continue to try to finish our time here strong.
Be Blessed,
Chad
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 5/5/2008
As our time winds down here in England, I find that the good-byes and "last times" getting harder and harder with each passing day. Yesterday was my last time to do a scripture reading at St. James and my last time to lead worship at the evening service at St. Andrews. My reading at St. James was very fitting as it was the passage I used in my blog "Committed to the Call" (http://chadmustain.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=committed-to-the-call) just last week. Reading from Acts 1:6-14 we were all reminded to ". . . . tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
God is very much alive and moving here in England. The issue at hand is not if missionaries will "bring" God to England but if Christ-followers (wherever they are at) will ask for eyes to see where God is moving and then take action and join in. Author Rob Bells writes:
Missions then is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there. It is almost as if being a good missionary means having really good eyesight. Or maybe it means teaching people to use their eyes to see things that have always been there; they just didn't realize it. You see God where others don't. And then you point him out. Perhaps we ought to replace the word missionary with tour guide, because we cannot show people something we haven't seen. (Rob Bell "Velvet Elvis" p 87-88)
As my time here in England ends, I am not looking for the next place I can "take" God but rather for eyes to see where God is already moving and if there is a way that I can join in. Please continue to pray for Heather and me as we pursue joining in with the work that God is doing in Gainesville, GA.
On Tuesday I am going on my last hike with Drew, Ian, and Graham (who I went to the Manchester United game with).
Snowden is the highest mountain in Wales and the highest British mountain south of the Scottish Highlands (thanks Wikipedia. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdon for more info).
This week will also be my last weekly discipleship time with Dean. On Saturday we are going to go into town for a meal and a movie just to celebrate all of his growth and our friendship over these past two years. Saturday night is our big leaving-do that the different churches we partner with are putting on for us. While it will be a great time of laughter and remembering good times, it will be a very sad time for us as well.
Thank you so much to those of you who have already responded to supporting Heather and me in our next year of ministry. We would ask that you continue to pray about supporting us financially. If you feel God is leading you to support us, please email me at fuggazzi02@yahoo.com or click the following link to do so: https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=staff&desc=Chad%20Mustain
Living and Loving, Life and God,
Chaddington
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/30/2008
My emotions are very mixed these past few days. I have just 15 days left of my two-year time here in England. With each passing day I have that feeling of "this is the last time . . . ." Yet, in the midst of this sadness, I look forward to my new season of life that lies just ahead.
This past Sunday I lead worship at my last all age service at St. James'. I was honoured to have Dean play along side me. Dean truly has a musical gift. He has learned and become quite proficient with both the acoustic guitar and bass guitar during my time working with him. On Sunday he played his bass guitar along side me and did some singing as well. Dean has grown so much and it has been such a blessing to invest in him. While we were leading the song "Be Bold" based on Joshua 1:9, I realized the words we were singing were not only God's words to you and me but my prayer for Dean.
". . . .be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
My prayer for Dean is that he will be strong and courageous in his school, with his family, in his spiritual journey, and as he grows into a leader at St. James'.
Monday was my last lunch club at Cheetwood Primary School where I have worked the past two years as well. As usual we song lots of songs containing God's truths, reviewed many of the bible lessons we've learned, and tried to leave them with the message of God's love found in John 3:16. I would love to share pictures with you but unfortunately because of child protection laws in England, we were unable to take pictures of this group of great kids.
This morning I read one of my favourite Old Testament bible stories; the story of Abraham and Isaac. Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin of The Potter's House in Jacksonville, Florida has some very interesting insight to this passage. In Genesis 22 we pick up the story with Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac, which God commanded in verse 2. Abraham was prepared to do what God had told him to do. In verse 10 Abraham raises the knife and is prepared to sacrifice his son (doing what God told him to do) but then in verses 11 and 12 an angel of the Lord tells Abraham to lay down the knife and Abraham does so, listening to what God is telling him to do.
McLaughlin offers these insights:
"You have to be willing to do what God is telling you to do because so many of us are stuck in what he told us to do. But if all you know is what he told you and you don't have ears to do what he is telling you, then you won't be able to progress and do some of the things God wants you to do."
I have spent the past 2 years in England doing what God has told me to do. Heather has done the same this past year in South Africa. Together we are praying for ears to hear what God is telling us to do presently. We ask you to pray with us, that we might have ears to do what God is telling us to do.
If you would like more information about joining with us in prayer and financial support of what we believe God is telling us to do, please click this link to a previous blog:
http://chadmustain.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=committed-to-the-call
Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support. We could not do this with out you. If you would like to support us or continue your support of us please contact me at fugazzi02@yahoo.com or click this link:
http://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=staff&desc=Chad%20Mustain
For the Famous One,
Chad Mustain
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/28/2008
Dear Family and Friends,
As my time draws near to a close here in England, and the completion of my two-year commitment with AIM, my life and ministry are at some important crossroads. Because you have been so faithful in your prayers and support of me, I wanted to share these changes with you and would appreciate your continued prayers.
England Update
In September 2006 Adventures in Missions embarked upon a two-year commitment with some of the poorest and most needy churches in the Manchester area. The work has been both rewarding and difficult. Through it all I am profoundly grateful for the lives of the children, teens, and adults that we have seen transformed and encouraged. I have poured my life into this community over the past two years and seen God at work.
It is for this reason that I have been heartbroken with the news that AIM will not continue to maintain the England base past this July, thus ending our work here. The primary cause is the great financial cost to maintain an England base in comparison to other parts of the world. The dollar is at a historically low point in comparison to the British pound. I have had to accept this news as God's ordering of my footsteps, however pray that I may be able to do ministry here again someday. Undoubtedly, God has borne lasting fruit and He is not done here!
Personal Update
Much to my surprise and as a real "God Thing", at missionary training camp this past August God brought into my life a wonderful and godly young lady, Heather Beard, who is also a AIM missionary serving in South Africa. And in the shorten version, God brought together our love for people and missions, and then brought together our hearts as a couple, and we were engaged this spring and are to be married in Colorado, Heather's home state this August 2nd.
So What's Next
This rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows has definitely deepened our prayer lives, focusing us on what God has for us as a missionary couple. With England out of the picture for now, we began to pray about whether God would open doors for us to lead and serve in South Africa. Initially we thought yes, but then through prayer and the wise counsel of family and veteran missionary couples, the advice seems to unanimously be to build and guard our marriage during our first year, and this would be difficult to do with the rigors of a demanding overseas leadership position.
Missions In The Next Season Of Life
AIM's home office is located in Gainesville, GA (north Atlanta suburb) and they have offered both Heather and I the opportunity to minister and serve through some key assignments that would allow us to live and work primarily in the Gainesville area this next year. This is still a developing job description but it would include some assignments such as:
•Continued development and working with the Ambassador Program, a short-term one-month mission trip program for 16-18 year-olds
•Provide leadership and instruction for various missionary training camps including the Ambassador, Real Life, and First Year Missionary Programs
•Travel and lead some short term international AIM trips in the spring and summer of 2009
•Speak, lead worship, and provide missions education for churches in the Atlanta area
Committed To The Call
God has brought much into our lives this past year. For that we say "YEA God". We haven't and don't understand all God is doing, but one thing we are sure of -- WE are committed to the call!
The great missionary mandate found in Acts 1:8 says,
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell the people about me everywhere -- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
We are prayerfully content that in being committed to the call that God is leading us to minister via Jerusalem for the next phase of our missions journey.
One thing remains constant for a faith based missionary, whether single or married. We do not draw a paycheck from a ministry organization and rely upon God bringing financial and ministry partners alongside us.
Heather and I have both been blessed individually with a wonderful team of prayer partners and financial supporters. We hope that you will prayerfully consider continuing your support of us during this next year of ministry and as we serve as a couple together.
As a married couple our financial needs and monthly support goal is $3,380 per month for the next year. This amount covers our organizational fees, taxes, social security, health insurance, and what we would live on each month.
It is through your generosity and monthly or one time gifts that we are able to take the love and message of Christ "everywhere . . . and to the ends of the earth."
We would love to hear from you if we can answer any questions related to our ministry or your support thereof.
Be Blessed,
Chad and Heather
fugazzi02@yahoo.com
hmichaele15@hotmail.com
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/26/2008
For the better part of the last two years I have lived and worked with Christine, Drew, and Andrea. I feel so fortunate to have lived in the deepness and richness of community that we experience together. It is such a joy to be able to laugh together, serve together, encourage, and support each other. We have truly made some awesome memories.
Christe, Drew, and Andrea overlooking Budapest.
Our time together is quickly drawing to a close as I will be leaving on May 16th. They will be staying through the end of the summer. As a bit of a "last hurrah" together, we went to Budapest, Hungary from Wednesday to Friday this week. (If you are ever in Europe, RyanAir is one of the cheapest ways to get around!!)
Here are a few pictures from our time there:
I love statues!!
Fisherman's Bastion
Me and Drew along the River Danube
For more pictures, go to:
http://www.chadmustain.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b3438cf04590
This next week begins our two-week "good-bye" process at our various ministry sites. Tomorrow will be my last time to lead worship at St. James'. I'm excited to have Dean help me lead the songs tomorrow. The amount of growth he has gone through is amazing and I'm excited for him to continue to grow and mature into a leader at St. James' Church.
For those of you waiting for my major update, I'll posting that on Monday so stay tuned!!
Be Blessed,
Chad
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/21/2008
I think it is strange that we are able to pass something every day and take little notice of it. I've walked by St. John's church and graveyard countless times without really taking much notice of the more subtle details. Last week as I was walking by as I often do, I looked to my left and noticed that a tree had over grown an old gravestone.
Over the past few days I have found myself thinking again and again about this gravestone over run by a tree. I think sin sometimes works in the same way that this tree has. Over the course of years and years this tree has grown little by little. Because the tree was left unattended, it was allowed to grow its roots down deep and take over a space where it was never intended to be. Now, today, the tree has quite literally overtaken this old gravestone. To remove the tree would be a difficult process and one would have consider how much damage removing the tree would do to the grave stone that dates back to 1876.
Sin can work in a very similar fashion. If sin is able to grow little by little and year-by-year, it can quite literally over-take an individual much like the tree above. So how does one avoid this? The bible teaches self-examination (Leviticus 3:40) and accountability (Ecclesiastes 3:9-10) to avoid falling victim to deeply rooted sins. In preparation for marriage, Heather and I have been working through the junk and baggage of our pasts and even current struggles. While it has been difficult, we've been so blessed to have some great friends to help us with this process. While we still have a lifetime of learning, work, and growth ahead of us, I think we are on right path.
So, I am messy and a work in progress. I find hope in strength that I am God's masterpiece and that he has created me anew in Christ Jesus to do the good things he planned for me long ago (Ephesians 2:10).
As I continue on my journey, in the midst of God's work in my life and my messiness I find hope in Paul's words:
"Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope"(Ephesians 3:20).
A work in progress,
Chad
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/19/2008
Today we finished up the holiday club with a "beach party" as this weeks theme was "Fun in the Sun." We had about 25 kids for all for days of the holiday club which is an awesome turn out. Please be in prayer that the seeds of the Gospel message that were planted and watered today would grow and that these kids would come to know the Lord soon or on down the road. I often think of Paul's message about planting seeds in 1 Corinthians 3:5b-9:
Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or the watering aren't important, but god is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God.
After holiday club today I had the chance to go and watch the Bury Football Club play a match against Macclesfield. Bury is in the Football League Two. They were quite good and popular in the early 1900's but tend to remain in the lower leagues and with a smaller fan base because of the rise of teams like Manchester United. Here are two pictures from the game.
Me and Arthur.
A bit of the action. Bury beat Macclesfield 1-0.
Tomorrow I have my regular morning of a guitar lesson with Dean and the service at St. James. Tomorrow night I'll be leading worship at Ian's church, St. Andrews. Please be in prayer for the service as several of the youth looking to deepen their faith will be attending.
As we worship tomorrow, may we remember the words of Bridget Willard:
Church isn't where you meet. - Church isn't a building. - Church is what you do. - Church is who you are. - Church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. - Let's not go to Church, let's be the Church.
Let us be the church,
Chaddington
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Posted in General Articles
by Chad Mustain
on 4/16/2008
So, yesterday I was talking to my house mate Drew and I mentioned that I've never shaved my head before. He told me he thought it was something every man should do at least once. So, late last night, I decided to go for it. Don't worry, I did consult Heather before doing so.
So yeah, there you have it. That's me with a shaved head. Please, try not to laugh too hard.
On a different note . . . . yesterday I read Isaiah 12 and found it to be very encouraging and I thought I'd share that with you this morning.
In that day you will sing:
"Praise the Lord!
He was angry with me,
but now he comforts me.
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing:
"Thank the Lord!
Praise his name!
Tell the world what he has done.
Oh, how mighty he is!
Sing to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you."
Have a laugh at my expense and be blessed!!
Chad
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