Wyoming getting ready to board my flight back
to Atlanta. The
past week and a half I have been leading a group in ministry to the Shoshone
Indians in Wind River, Wyoming. This was my second of such trips
this summer and both were very different.
The first group was full of the biggest arguers and
complainers I have ever seen. I wondered the whole time why the heck they went
on a mission trip in the first place if they didn’t want to serve. Fortunately,
it was only a group of eight, it was pretty well set up, there were plenty of
ministry options and the facility in which we stayed was spacious and suited
our needs easily.
The second group was
incredible and, at seventeen, significantly larger. They came to grow, to learn
and to serve. Unfortunately, just about everything fell through – our ministry
options, the cook, our contacts left midweek, even the superintendant at the
school where teams had been showering for the last several years knew nothing
about whatever arrangement there was previously. I took just about everything
day-to-day, experienced spiritual warfare and saw God work. We had to rely on
him for almost everything. I think the Lord allowed the two extremes – team
quality, contacts, logistical setup, ministry setup and spiritual fervor – to
better prepare me as a leader and service to his kingdom. Here’s a picture of my family in Savannah for our annual family reunion. We had a wonderful time!
These weeklong trips can seem counterproductive to the
established ministries. A leader will almost always find at least one person
who is just there to have fun. Sometimes a youth pastor is type-A and wants to
take control, sometimes the teams think it would be a fun trip and are not
prepared to serve. As a group leader, it is certainly hard to disciple, but
these trips are all a part of a system that I believe in. Raising up leaders
has to start somewhere, and it’s usually small. On the first group I saw just
one who dedicated himself to service. I pray that regardless of their motives,
that God meets them there and ignites something in their hearts… a little spark
that says, “Wow, I can make a difference.”
One of the things I realized this summer is that, while I’ve
always tried my hardest on the mission field, I haven’t done a very good job of
advancing the kingdom of heaven in my normal, day-to-day life. I can count on
one hand the amount of deep, truly meaningful conversations I’ve had with my
high school friends. And in an effort to change that, I have called them all up
and asked if they’d like to be a part of a Bible study of sorts.
Now, most of my high school buddies aren’t the type to attend
a typical Bible study, and heck, neither am I. So I told them we’d gather and
discuss basic Christianity – what it was meant to be, where we’ve gone wrong
and how to get back, where we’ve done well, how to live passionately for Christ
in a cynical age, etc. This Wednesday we will begin this discussion. I am
thrilled about what God may do in the lives of some of my best friends and
thankful that I get to be a part of it. I’ll keep you informed.
As for Nicaragua…
training camp for one of the groups I’ll be mentoring, teaching and leading
begins on August 6th. I am looking forward to meeting them and watching
team dynamics develop. I have pushed back my departure date until about August
30th due to the support I still have to raise. I will be getting a
house locally with another missionary my age named Baker Nicholaou, known by
his friends in Nicaragua
as “Pepe” (pictured with me right).
I invite you to partner with me in raising up a generation
of Christian leaders through intensive discipleship. I will personally be
leading and/or assisting about 150-200 people in mission trips over the next
year, many of which I will spend a great deal of time coaching, investing into
and teaching. These trips will be anywhere from a week to 8 month trips. What
an incredible privilege to be entrusted with the discipleship and leadership of
so many! I look forward to experiencing God in new and incredible ways and
leading a bunch of hungry young adults into truth and life.
I have about 40% raised and about another 20% in
unsubstantiated pledges, which means I’ll need about $9,200 more to raise for
the year, about $765/month. If you would like to contribute, you may do so as
frequently as you’d like online
(it says The World Race, but don’t worry, I am really going back to Nicaragua) or by sending a check to AIM (6000
Wellspring Tr. Gainesville,
GA 30506) with a note that it’s for Seth Barnes Jr.
If you would like to pray for me, here are a few ideas:
- Pray
that I raise my financial support soon - Pray
that God prepares well the participants of future trips to Nicaragua - Pray
for me to have great ideas and wisdom
Thank you so much for your investment into me and your
partnership with me in the furthering of God’s kingdom on earth.
Live well,
Seth
