PERU: DAY 1

 I marveled at the near midnight colors of the clouds cutting across the wing on my side of our Boeing jet as we made our decent into Peru just a few short hours ago. Blues, greys, and intermittent flashes of red, orange, green, and white played across my narrow field of vision—and then it happened. We broke the cloud line.

The mist-filled murkiness of our midnight approach into South American peeled away into a crystal clear visage of a sea of lights. Lima loomed below. Beautiful and beckoning at the end of an approximated 2,900 miles of flying.

We were here. Peru. Adventure and opportunity await. Prayer and planning have refined and pointed us toward our purpose. Let's do this!

Loving People On a Not-So-Lonely Mountain

 I hear crickets. Dogs call to each other across the ridges. A turkey gobbles off in the distance. The huge leaves of the banana tree my hammock is perched in on the side of this mountain rustle with the never ending breeze. After a scorching week in the sun the coolness of the continuous flow of wind borders on miraculous. It has been a week of weeks. Our team has been outstanding. They work and play with an energetic tenacity on par with their vivacious faith. Grace drips from these people like the sweat they have shed for seven days.

We have been to school after school playing with kids, performing skits, praying, speaking, loving. We have visited small churches, in the remote places of the Guatemalan Mountains where our people have preached the love of Jesus. We have given away food. We have built a wall. We have built a road. We've been busy. It's been good.

Busy and good are not always words I like to put together—but accomplishing the work, sharing the good news, and serving my friend Greg's ministry are both. Because busy can be good when it is purpose driven.

As I lay in my hammock staring out across the expanse of darkness at the closest ridge I can see the humble twinkle of distant village homes. The places that house the beautiful people of Guatemala.

I can rest full of faith in the one who sent us. I can sleep soundly satisfied in our pursuit of purpose. I never enjoy leaving my family behind—and under different circumstances would probably bring them—but even in my homesickness I can rest in the peace of God.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares his followers to be as a shining city on a far dark night. That's our job. To take hope with us. We partner with powerful people of God in needed places. We are Gondor in the midst of Mordor. We are beacons among burdens—and bonfires among chilling darkness.

I have burned in my heart the desire to go to far places and far people because, as A.W. Tozer penned, "if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame."

Zacapa 2014: THANKFULNESS

I have had the outstanding privilege of serving young adults for the last eleven years. For the last four of those God has graciously granted me the opportunity to travel to Latin America in service to Jesus and His Church abroad. This week has been far and away the most intense experience of my life. So intense I am finding it difficult to collect the appropriate words.

I feel I have seen and experienced more of the powerful presence of God over the last ten days than I would have dared to imagine. So much has transpired that I'm not sure I will ever be able to absorb, record, or articulate all of it.

However, one resounding feeling rises above the chaotic din of stress, joy, and relief for this experience....

THANKFULNESS.

God is faithful. When you pursue Him. When you put your trust in His hands. When you decrease so that He gets the glory, honor, and credit—He always comes through.

Every. Single. Time.

Zacapa 2014: WHAT A JOY

For ten days now Jamie and I have had the distinct pleasure of traveling with a group of the most selfless, courageous, and loving people I have ever known. They have endured physical discomfort, an endlessly rearranging schedule, and intense spiritual warfare—the likes of which we rarely ever recognize in the states.

I have watched them daily push through fatigue, sickness, and injury to proclaim the love and joy of Christ. I have cheered them on as they left personal fears behind—being God-prompted into never before contemplated situations. The shy have became powerful proclaimers of truth; the insecure, bold beacons of grace.

Through sweat and dust and heat the life-giving Spirit of Christ has remained at the centre. The presence of God the all-encompassing Source. The Gospel the Great Calling; and the lost the Chief Mission.

This week eighteen students from small town America (Russellville, AR) along with Jamie, myself, and our accompanying locals had the chance to serve alongside Greg Miller Ministries. Doing so we shared the Gospel will 2,780 people, prayed individually with 495 of them—and lead 207 to Christ. As well as helping to facilitate a worship experience where 250 more people were saved!

Rebekah, Dakota, Dimas, Brian, Ashely, Stacey, Morgan, Cara, Jeff, John, Jacob, Aaron, Katelyn, Ian, Tosha, Emily, Madisun, & Lizette....WHAT A JOY it has been to serve alongside you on this trip!

More to come soon....

Thanks for reading, Nate

Countdown Zacapa - 6 Days

Less than a week to go until Jamie and I will be Guatemala bound—18 young adults in tow! We are so seriously excited! It is always such a privilege to travel to another country and help a long term missionary. This year we have the opportunity to partner with Greg Miller Ministries. I had a chance to meet Greg last fall and he is an awesome guy with a huge heart for the nation God has called him to.

This morning I recieved word that Guatemala experienced an earthquake today. A lot of thoughts immediately went through my head, first among those the well-being of Greg, his loved-ones, and a close family friend who's family lives in the mountains of Guatemala.

The good news is that everyone we are connected to there is ok. The bad news, however is that not everyone is ok.

All of this only serves to point out a very real truth when you're taking about investing in short-term missions. Things can change on a dime. You have to be ready to be flexible and fluid. Plans can change.

Ultimately, the goal remains the same. We're headed to Guatemala in just a few days to serve the Church by serving Greg and his team. If the finer details change along the way, that will be ok. We will still go. We will still serve. Thankful for the privilege this opportunity brings.

Countdown Zacapa - 14 Days

Am I good enough?

This is a question people ask themselves all the time. Maybe not precisely those words, but some form of self-doubt and/or creeping insecurity nags at us from time to time. It's nearly inevitable.

The short answer is "yes." The shorter answer is "no."

No, you are not good enough, at least not on your own. The horrible reality is that so many are out there trying to make it on their own. It's tragic. And a lot of heart break and bad decisions play out as a result.

But yes, you are also good enough. Wait a sec here........ DIDN'T YOU JUST CONTRADICT YOURSELF?

It's true that on our own we are not good enough. But the whole point is that we don't have to be on our own. We weren't meant to be on our own. Life isn't supposed to be a lonely affair full of solo sunsets and one-sided conversations.

GOD made you for himself, and for others. With him you are more than enough, not because you are good enough but because he is above and beyond good enough.

When you are living your life with God in it, whether you're loading into an airplane and flying to another country, or walking next door to help a neighbor—God goes with you. He goes before you. He helps.

So go help somebody. Say something encouraging. Do something meaningful. Stop worrying about being good enough, and start doing something good.

Countdown Zacapa - 19 Days

In nineteen days Jamie and I are leading a team of twenty young adults to Guatemala. We've been making arrangements, making plans, and preparing our team almost eight months....and here we are. Less than three weeks away.

Taking young people to a far away place is one of the deep joys of my life. I love seeing the impact it makes on them. How it shocks them out of the apathy that so quickly can overwhelm us in our selfish culture. It's a process of pealing back the nuanced layers of desire and distraction that define most of our American existence. In a word, it is a powerful experience.

After six months of regular meetings, tonight we met for the final time before we leave. I challenged them with the notions of sacrifice and selflessness. Not because any of us are looking or hoping to become martyrs, but because I want all of us to live outside of the context we are so over encumbered with here at home.

We go to do something that is not about us and not for us. We are partnering with a wonderful missionary who has been in Guatemala for over twenty years. I can't wait to get these guys down there.

Please consider praying for us as we travel.

March 22 - Eyes That See

Read: Luke 10:21-24

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!" (Luke 10:23 ESV)

I am a really fortunate guy. Unlike many people in my life I have never had to worry about wearing any kind of corrective lenses. I have perfect natural vision. The rarity of this does not escape me. I am really really grateful for it.

Spiritual awareness is another kind of sight. Jesus often spoke very candidly in terms of seeing and hearing truth. Those who perceived and accepted his truth he proclaimed as blessed. Those who did not were not only already cursed because of the hardness of their hearts, but he warned that they would eventually face the eternal consequences of their curse in Hell.

I have known many people who were blind to truth. Some of them were unbelievers who eventually came to faith in Christ by repenting and believing in him. I have also known many who professed to be followers of Jesus, but were in actuality blind to the truth of what he cares most about. They did not follow him through repentance or believing.

My wife and I make it a regular practice in our marriage to openly discuss the things we believe. My constant prayer is that this prayerful openness would always help us to keep our eyes open to the truths that Jesus leads us to. That we would continually look only to him. And that by putting our focus where it belongs we might resist the distractions around us that would blind us.

March 21 - The Bigger Deal

Read: Luke 10:17-20

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20 ESV)

They returned triumphant. They felt victorious. Inspite of some of the rejection and hard heartedness of men, the disciples had done a great work. People had been healed, demons had been cast out, and the gospel message had went forth in preparation for Jesus.

I imagine that this group, mostly comprised of men marginalized by the religious establishment, felt pretty good about themselves. Jesus' words to them don't ring out as a form of correction but as cuationary concern. Of course he wanted them to heal and cast out demons. He was the one that empowered them to do it. The real matter to be rejoiced over was salvation.

In ministry it is really easy to get caught up in the wins. When things are going extremely well you start to ride a wave of success that feels awesome. Knowing God has empowered you to succeed and seeing it happen creates an opportunity to led pride sneak in. Whether you're in vocational ministry or not it is easy to let this kind of thing happen during successful seasons of life.

We must celebrate success, often. We must share stories of life change and the miraculous as they happen. But let us never forget that for each one of us the biggest cause for rejoicing in our life is the salvation of our souls.

March 20 - Reject

Read: Luke 10:13-16

"The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16 ESV)

Sharing the truth about Jesus is guaranteed to set you up for opposition. There will be people who do not like what you have to say. There will be those who disdain how you say it. There will be many who simply reject the notion that God holds them accountable for their actions. Acceptance and rejection are staples of Christianity.

Even in your own journey through faith you must ultimately decide on the ideas which you will accept or reject. Theological questions, life issues, and other things to be wrestled with internally have to pass through the filters in your mind until they are received or they are rejected. Jesus himself must never be rejected. He tears through all internal filters and ideas. He is the main idea.

As the seventy-two sent ones travelled the countryside sharing the message of Jesus they faced rejection. There was a crooked religious heirarchy that shunned them. There was an occupying pagan force that ridiculed them. There were their own countrymen that misunderstood them.

Jesus prepared them for that eventuality. He told them that people would reject them. His point was not that they were rejecting the disciples so much as the fact that they were rejecting God himself. To reject those sent by Jesus is to reject Jesus, and to reject God. The wonderfully encouraging idea in this is that it also means that by accepting those sent by Jesus, you are accepting God.

March 19 - Regular People

Luke 10:1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. (Luke 10:1 ESV)

Jesus selected seventy-two people from among those following him. Wait, what? What about those twelve apostle guys? Well, yeah. He had those guys too. There was probably some overlap. But Jesus took thirty-six pairs of followers and commissioned them to go ahead of him. They went into the towns and villages and healed the sick, cast out demons, and preached the powerful approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, they did what Jesus did.

It's a really cool and powerful example to me. Jesus picked regular people. Not the religious types he frequently had conflict with. He then sent them into the places that he himself was planning to go and had them begin to do the very thing he was planning to do when he eventually got there. That's pretty incredible.

Jesus picks regular people. He uses regular folks. It's easy in America to point to super mega sized churches and their leaders as the modern rockstars of the faith. No doubt about it, many of them are doing astounding things in their communities. But I love the idea that Jesus held a massive schoolyard pick one day and chose seventy-two regular dudes to go do what he was about to do.

That all has a pretty clear implication to me about what we should be up to. We should be going to places and taking about Jesus. We should share his message, his love, and his power in those places. We should pray for the sick. We should believe Jesus to make the difference. We should preach the Kingdom of Heaven. We should believe Jesus to invite them to be a part.

Memphis Lights

I'm pretty excited about finally being able to share the new short film with you guys. After hours and hours of work here it is.... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLuja369Gw&w=560&h=315]

Poverty and homelessness are prominent in parts of Memphis, TN. This is the story of one church's effort to share a light in the darkness.

February 22 - Jesus Preached

Read: Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 4:15 ESV)

I can't speak for you, but most of the time when I think about the life and ministry of Jesus I wind up dwelling on his miracles. There were so many, and they are awesome stories of the restorative nature of his redemptive love for mankind. If I'm not meditating on or studying about one of his many miracles I am usually thinking about the final moments of his ministry that led up to his torture and murder, or of course the act of his execution itself. Then there is always that intriguing time after his resurrection where he lived among his followers before eventually ascending into Heaven.

To be honest, I find myself spending the least amount of time dwelling on what may have very well been the aspect of Christ's ministry that occupied the largest amount of his time. Jesus was first and foremost a traveling preacher. In today's lingo, he was essentially a missionary. All of the awesome stories we read about his life and works exist within the context of a man who regularly traveled across very rugged terrain to share the redemption story of the Kingdom of Heaven.

He went from town to town speaking in their synagogues. If there wasn't a nearby synagogue he looked for something else to speak from like a hill, or boat. Luke's gospel captures this wonderfully. Luke the physician recorded more of Jesus' words than any other gospel.

We live in an age when words seem to carry little weight sometimes. Actions are held to a higher level of credibility. Indeed Jesus' incredible acts of mercy were miraculous displays of kindness. However, they were made even more impactful by the accompaniment of his message. He preached that God's Kingdom had returned to man through mercy, grace, and repentance. He spoke and he acted on it. He didn't do either alone. He preached repentance and then became the sacrifice to pave the way.

48 Hours

The last 48 hours were a whirlwind of awesome. I departed Friday afternoon from Russellville First Assembly of God in the company of 17 other excellent individuals as part of our Chi Alpha missions team "Kairos". Our destination? Memphis International Church. We arrived around 7:30 pm Friday and didn't waste any time getting to work, but the purpose of this entry is not to highlight what our team did this weekend. That will come in another later writing. I just wanted to take a brief moment as I lie here ready to catch up on some sleep and reflect on the remarkable nature of the church I spent the weekend with. Memphis International Church is a place that is light on resources, but steeped in compassion. It is their driving motivation. And in a place full of such diversity, it is the tie that binds. I was utterly blown away by the level of outreach they are able to accomplish with what little they have. To that end, search your heart and support them if you find it in your means to do so.

I have been in a LOT of churches in my life, but never one that is so on target in terms of understanding their community and engaging it with the unfettered love of Jesus. This is a place that is deeply connected to the Great Commission. They get it. They aren't trying to shape people into homogenous hive-mind-like drones. They are showing and sharing Jesus with every brick on their property, but it doesn't stop there. They are regularly reaching out into their community. They understand that the Church is much less about a building, and much more about the connected Christ-centered community.

It's not a large church. It's not a large congregation. But they are making a difference where they are at that puts a lot of places I have seen to shame. What an incredible weekend!

More to come soon.

10 Things I Learned Via Missions

Life usually doesn’t fit into nice neat little lists, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. Welcome to my Tuesday 10, where I try to fit the messiness of life into a list of ten. I have worked as a Missionary Associate with the U.S. Missions Department of the Assemblies of God for almost a decade. Crazy how fast that time has flown by! When I started I was incredibly focused on reaching those nearest me, with a singular, and often narrow-minded purpose. In the time since I have come to understand the remarkable value to be found by participating in missions on a greater scale. Here are some things I learned along the way.

1. Airplanes aren't as bad as I once believed. I used to be terrified of flying.

2. I paid much better attention in Spanish class than my report card may have indicated.

3. God is not American. While I have instinctively known this for many, many years; both my time abroad and Gungör helped to reinforce the idea.

4. Nail + Foot = Terrible Pain

5. When you commit yourself to loving and serving others unconditionally, you will humble yourself to do just about anything.

6. Most Americans are spoiled self-entitled brats.

7. If it doesn't fit in the bag, you don't need it.

8. A 3 oz. bottle of shampoo/conditioner will last for at least twenty showers.

9. Worshipping in a multicultural international congregation that transcends language barriers is incredible!

10. No matter where I go, or how important my work there seems, it has always had a more profound impact on my own life than that of those I have tried to help.

GO12: The Most Important

In this final trailer for the GO12: Santo Domingo documentary, Daniel Andrews captures an entire week of outreach in just under five minutes--helping us all to realize how the most important thing really is giving your time, energy, and heart to helping others realize the beautiful love of Christ. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zacBWhieLo4&w=560&h=315]

GO12: Trailer - Leaving

Daniel and I have been working on a short film documenting our recent trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for over a month, and it is almost finished.  We recently screened the nearly completed version with a few people who went on the trip and it was met with a warm reception.  We are excited about getting it out there for more people to see. Written by Grant Jones one late night in Santo Domingo, this trailer captures the heart of what the film is about, leaving.  I hope you enjoy the trailer.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBk-2FN4evY&w=560&h=315]

GO12: Waterfight

Since returning home nearly a month ago Daniel and I have been hard at work editing the footage we filmed from the trip.  We're hoping to roll out a fully produced documentary within the next couple of months, but in the meantime, here is a small teaser. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSntqG0Y6Is&w=853&h=480]

To read more about GO12 see one of these stories. Challenges Going Learning Jordan Hearing Doing Grant Dakota Home

I Want Your Money

A lot of the time when people ask for your money they bury it under a sales pitch, but that's not really my style.  Jamie and I want your money.  The truth is, we need it to fulfill the call we believe God has placed on our lives.  Many of you who visit either my blog, or our family ministry site, already regularly support our ministry through your money, your prayers, or both.  We are incredibly grateful.  We can't do what we do without you.  I won't spend the next three paragraphs outlining how God will bless your bank account if you give us X amount of $ per month, although I do believe blessing often follows giving.  Instead, I just want you to know that any financial pledge you prayerfully consider sending our way will greatly bless us, and our ministry.  So, what do you think?  Will you consider joining our growing team of financial and prayer partners? You can click HERE to make a donation to our ministry, whether it be a regular commitment or one time pledge.  Or click HERE for a printable faith promise form.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Please copy and paste the following info into the comments section on the donation page or into the “Missionary Info” section of the faith promise form.

Nathan and Jamie King Chi Alpha Account – 505543

GO12: What's next?

Taking part in missions work is an extremely rewarding experience, but upon your return home it can also be incredibly difficult. The following is a little something I shared with our team this week. I hope it can encourage you, even as it encouraged us. "So, what's next?"

I remember asking myself that exact same question last year after returning home from Ecuador. How are you supposed to be equipped to handle every day life in the States after seeing and experiencing so much? How are you supposed to get back to business as usual? The answer is both easy, and terribly intimidating at the same time. You can't go back to how it was before, or at least you shouldn't.

By sacrificing time, money, sweat, tears, love, and comfort you allowed God to literally move you, geographically and spiritually, beyond the spoiled apathy and monotony of the American Church. Your obedience in going brought about transformational leaving. You see, God had to remove you from comfort, entertainment, and even loved ones, to push you to the point where He could open your spiritual eyes so that you could see the world and the Church as He sees it. Just as you left behind so much in going, now you must ask Him to help you leave so much behind in returning.

Instead of filling our days with scheduled business and mindless distractions, we each must realize that by answering that first question, what's next?, we will be answering a more important question.... What is God's will for me? In this respect I feel that I can offer you some helpful advice, and a sense of encouraging direction that will ease the transition back into life at home without forcing you to abandon the revelatory fervor God has birthed within each of you over the last eight days.

You found incredible joy and purpose in the Dominican Republic by giving constantly of yourself, some of you to the points of near exhaustion and sickness. You gave because you believed in the purpose which you felt that God had directed you to. Let me assure you, each of you have as clear and constant a God-given purpose on American soil as you did in the Dominican. Guard your hearts against the idle business of purposeless endeavor we often pursue. Set yourself toward some sacrificial end, and until a time which God directs you to it; pray and ask that He would lead you, not only to that end, but would also deliver unto you the means to see it through.

Let us continue to humble ourselves and take up the thankless tasks. There we were often met with fanfare and celebration, here that same heart may be met with indifference or disdain. Let us continue to love unconditionally. There love was almost always reciprocated, here it may be confused, misinterpreted, or ignored. In short, let us continue to love because Christ first loved us. Let us continue to shine, because we have come to know and love the Light, and our world is steeped in darkness.

To read more about GO12 see one of these stories. Challenges Going Learning Jordan Hearing Doing Grant Dakota Home

GO12 Videos Waterfight