Serving in Japan, Part 2

Call to Missions

On an unsuspecting day near Christmas break in high school, our freshman Bible teacher showed us a video about a teen ministry which took summer missions trips all over the world to preach the Gospel.  In a darkened room full of chatty teenagers, I was gripped by the video and could not pull my eyes away.  I went to my next class and told my friend that I had to go on a missions trip the next summer!  She looked at me oddly and just said, “ok?”

That began God’s call to missions in my life.  I went to India that summer and fell in love with sharing the Gospel with people who had never heard it.  For a month, we did evangelistic dramas and saw the blind, deaf and lame healed.  Many, many people were saved.  The next summer I went back again for two months.  Two years later my mom and a friend, who had been on both trips, went back to stay with the Pastor’s family and did a lot of discipleship and preaching in homes and at churches.  I was eighteen at the time.

When I entered college, I was challenged to lay down my call to missions and wait for confirmation from the Lord–that I wasn’t going out of my own desire but out of a call from the Lord.  I waited for nine months.  It was difficult not having an answer for people when they asked what I was going to be doing.  In college, we went on a two week service and arts trip to the jungles of Peru.  This time, I was so excited to be able to speak with people myself and not need a translator.  It was maybe a month later, during worship at a Wednesday night service, the Lord clearly spoke to me that He would send me…I had only to pursue Him.  It was the confirmation that I had been waiting for.

To make things short, in 2006, at age twenty-one (after graduating from college), I moved to Mexico to begin a two year missionary training program with World Indigenous Missions (WIM).  I worked in the cold, foggy mountains with teenagers in a youth center.  I witnessed there for a total of three years, discipling and training youth to win their city for Jesus.  However, I knew that my long term call was not for Mexico (that had mostly been reached), but for Asia.

In a long series of events, I had become interested in Japan and one day discovered the staggering statistic that only 0.4% of the population had heard and believed the Gospel.  My heart dropped, especially when I realized that the majority of the church population in Japan was over the age of sixty.  Eventually, I became connected with some missionaries in Japan and made a scouting trip there in 2009 to meet different missionaries and ministries to see if this was what the Lord had for me.

Indeed it was. I moved to Japan in March of 2010, and began working with Fuse Jesus Community, a young church plant with the desire to reach the younger generation with the Gospel and make disciple-making disciples.  The mission was not just to see one church planted but many churches reaching the last corners of Japan.

 Look for more of Janine’s story soon…

Serving in Japan, Part 1

Dear ladies from the CCEA Women’s Ministry,

Konnichiwa! Per the request of the leadership of the CCEA Women’s ministry, this is my letter of introduction to you! I must say that when I received the initial letter from them, I was very blessed that you all would take such an interest in “us”, missionary wives, of whom I’ve recently joined the ranks. Having spent time on the mission field as a single woman, I know it’s easy to become “out of sight…out of mind,” which leads to loneliness and difficulty when making transitions back to the States. However, CCEA has to be the church with the most concern and love for their missionaries (that I’ve experienced), and such a letter only further proves my observations. So, from my heart, I say thank you. It warms me on this cold winter day to know that I am remembered and am being prayed for by people who care. It’s a blessing.

About Me

I am originally from St. Louis, MO. I was born and raised there, in a non-Christian home. My mother had me at a very young age. She married when I was 6 to my step-father (dad, from this point on), who was an alcoholic. My mom was a drug addict. As the oldest, with 3 younger brothers, I was often the caretaker, in a house full of fighting and chaos. My parents separated not long after they got married. With my mom working evenings and sleeping during the day, I felt lonely and sad and sometimes scared of the circumstances in which I was placed.

When I was 11, I moved in with my grandma under the pretext of going to a better school district. She lived with her best friend who invited me to go to the church youth group. I had no desire to go but went to please her. I was always the quiet and shy one in the back, not talking to many people.

After about 6 months, we went to a worship conference. On the Saturday evening of the conference, I was encouraged to go up to the front, where all the other youth were in worship. I began thinking about all that they had told me about Jesus and how He had died for me. I felt like, in that moment, I needed to give my life to the Lord. So I did.  My heart was changed and love came in. When I came home from youth group the next week, I walked in the door and said, “I understood what they were talking about tonight. I’ve never understood before, but tonight I did!”

A few months later, I invited my mom to go to church as the youth were leading a special service. She gave her life to the Lord that day and the Lord miraculously set her free from her drug addiction. A few months later, my dad got saved at a tent meeting outreach being held. It took him longer to be set free from alcoholism, but through the support of men from the local church and his faith in the Lord, he got free and has remained free.

The Lord began the work of bringing my scattered family back together. It took time, forgiveness, patience and growth in the Lord. My parents, who had all but signed the divorce documents, renewed their vows. I have one brother who remains in need of the softening of the Lord after the hard years of his childhood, but we remain praying for him and waiting for the Lord to do His work.

by Janine Alvarado. CCEA Missionary to Japan

Look for more of Janine’s story soon.

Serving in Ireland

Esther (14), Aoife (13), Colm (on Shawn’s shoulders), Cliona (12) and Deanna

Hello my name is Deanna Tebbe.  I am a lover of Jesus Christ and my life is about serving Him. I first became a Christian as a young child around five years old.  As a teenager I had the opportunity to go on a couple of mission trips.   It was during these times that a seed for serving God anywhere in the world was planted in my heart.

While I grew up going to church I never really understood how to make God the Lord of my life.  At eighteen circumstances in my life caused me to become angry at the Lord.  I decided to leave church and not follow after Him.  Those were empty years spent searching.  The Lord, with His still and gentle voice, called me back to Him. At twenty-four I knew that I needed the Lord back in my life and made Him Lord of my life.

It was at this time that I began going to Calvary Chapel Placentia, now Calvary Chapel East Anaheim. I was amazed at hearing the word of God taught verse by verse. My focus became the Lord and growing in my walk with Him.

When I started going to Calvary Chapel I was a bilingual (English/Spanish) Kindergarten teacher.  In 1997, a team that Shawn Tebbe had just led to Ireland returned from their mission trip.  Shawn was a part of the Mexico ministry and wanted puppet scripts they had used in Ireland to be translated into Spanish.  He was introduced to me as one who could translate the scripts.  I smile when I think about our first meeting, God must have had a big smile on His face, knowing the plans He had, for this meeting was far beyond puppet scripts being translated.

Shawn and I also served together at the Harvest Crusade that year. A friendship formed and Shawn recognized feelings were starting to grow. He shared with me that he was called to serve the Lord full-time in Ireland, he could not afford a distraction in his life and that we needed to pray. I appreciated his honesty.  Shawn knew that following a call the Lord placed in his life to serve in a foreign field would mean that I would give up my career, family, and friends.  We prayed and the Lord gave me these verses in Ruth 1:16-17:

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also. if anything but death parts you and me.”

The Lord told me I would follow Shawn anywhere He called him to serve. That is what I have been doing for over seventeen years now!

Shawn and I were married six months after we met on Dec. 6, 1997.  We led a short-term team to Ireland in the summer of 1998, and by August 1999 we were moving to Ireland.

We came alongside the first Calvary Chapel church plant in Ireland and served within the Children’s ministry.  Shawn also led worship and assisted the pastor during this time. It was a time of transition for me, transition from being a full-time employee as a teacher to being a full-time wife and serving as a helpmeet to my husband.  We served in Ireland for 3 ½ years and the Lord grew our family of two into five. Our three beautiful girls (Esther, Aiefe and Cliona) were born in Ireland.  Shawn really felt the Lord put church planting in his heart during this time and we prepared to return back to the States for Shawn to go through School of Ministry at CC Costa Mesa.

During our time back in California the Lord added our son, Colm, to the family.  The Lord had our family return back to Ireland to serve Him full-time in December 2009.  God used those years we were in the States to teach us to wait upon Him for His perfect timing and plan!  Our family has the privilege to serve the Lord as a Pastor and his family in Dublin, Ireland.

We have been living in Ireland for over 5 years now.  There are many challenges to living in another culture, but there is also a deep joy in serving the Lord!  The weather is cold, people are skeptical, Christian influence is scarce, Christian fellowship is minimum, yet, God has given us a heart and love for the people who live in Ireland.  Our prayer is that one day when the throne of God appears, there would be many Irish standing among the saints!

by Deanna Tebbe, CCEA Missionary to Dublin. Ireland

Women’s A.G.A.P.E.

Women’s A.G.A.P.E. Groups meet once a week, at various times and last about two hours. They provide a safe, confidential environment in which the Word of God is upheld to the utmost; specifically in areas of: Accountability, (Ephesians 5:21), Gathering (Hebrews 10:25), Admonishment (Romans 15:14), Prayer (Hebrews 7:25) and Encouragement, (Hebrews 3:13).

Personal Testimonies

Wonder what A.G.A.P.E. is like? Take a moment to read personal testimonies from a few women who have been invovled.

“The Agape group I lead has been such a blessing to me. The ladies assigned to my group are a blend only God could put together – We have very independent strong women and we have passive meek ones. It’s quite a blend! I have been amazed at how each of them minister to each other. The strength of one ministers to the weakness of another. All the ladies are all open and honest and hold each other accountable in ways that deeply bonds our friendships. In fact, I am sure our friendships will last for many years. We all struggle in areas of our lives, but are so blessed to come together with ladies who really care, and will support and pray for us.”

“We come together in the beginning some of us as strangers to each other. But we come because each of us wants to draw closer to the LORD. Knowing that anything said is held in strictest confidence frees us to be real with each other. We share our weaknesses and our triumphs – we share what the LORD has done as well as what has tripped us up. We rally around when one of us is weak and when the hard questions have to be asked – it is with the understanding that it’s to keep each other accountable and strong the next time temptation happens. I love to think of us as a tapestry – we are all beautiful on the surface because what is seen is what the LORD is doing in our lives but underneath our threads intertwine touching each other, sometimes frayed but through prayer and building each other up with the cord that is JESUS the finished product is the goal. GODS’ word is spoken – a language we are all hungry for and instinctively understand.”

Yes, I love being part of an Agape Group – it keeps me honest!

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

I feel loved and supported and have a safe place to share my needs.”

“There is accountability, no condemnation, love and acceptance.”

“It’s like a big family that keeps me away from gossip because if I gossip I need to confess.”

If you would like to build deeper friendships, based on the Word of God, and don’t mind giving and receiving encouragement, support and prayer in the Lord. Why not join an A.G.A.P.E. group? Sign up by clicking here. For more information, contact Laurie Whitworth at lauriewtrskier@yahoo.com.

Home Inspiration: Pumpkin Scones

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD, that walketh in His ways.  For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands; happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee.
Psalm 128:1-2 (KJV)

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Brittle:
½ cup Roasted pumpkin seeds
1 tsp butter
2-3 tsp white sugar

Pumpkin Scone:
4 ¾ cup flour
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup cold butter, cut into cubes
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional: ½ cup currants or mini chocolate chips

Vanilla Glaze (Dip):
1 ½ cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
4-8 tsp heavy cream (or more to reach desired dipping consistency)

Cinnamon Drizzle:
1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
¾ tsp cinnamon
3-8 tbsp heavy cream (consistency should be slightly thicker than vanilla glaze)
This is a variation of my favorite Classic Cream Scone recipe.  I always double it so this one starts “doubled.”  With the addition of pumpkin and spices your house will definitely smell like Fall is in the air!

Directions

Brittle: 
In a small saucepan at medium high heat melt butter and add pumpkin seeds.  Add sugar and stir with a spoon until nice and caramelized.  The seeds roast up a bit more during this process and a nice nutty smell fills the air,  As soon as you see the sugar/butter mixture turn to caramel remove from heat and pour onto a piece of parchment paper to cool. Once cooled chop fine with a knife.

Scones: 
Preheat your oven to 425°. In a large bowl add flour, sugar, baking soda and spices and mix together with a rubber spatula.  Add cold cubes of butter and cut through with a pastry blender by hand until crumbly.  The butter will not blend completely and you want it like that.  The tiny balls of butter, once baked, are like little pockets of heaven…trust me.  In a separate smaller bowl add heavy cream, eggs, vanilla and pumpkin.  Mix with a wire whisk until smooth.  Create a well in the flour/butter mixture and pour the pumpkin mixture into it.  With your spatula slowly combine until just incorporated.  The dough will not look perfectly together and that is ok and makes it taste better.  If you over mix, the scones will not have that light and crispy texture that really sets these apart.  Turn about half of the dough out onto a floured surface and lightly roll or pat until approximately ½ inch thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes.  I used pumpkin shapes but you could do leaves or squares.  Whatever you have is great.  Simply cutting triangles with a sharp knife works too! Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes until edges just start to turn brown. Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool. Place parchment paper under racks.

Vanilla Glaze: 
Mix powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream with a spoon until smooth and the right consistency for dipping (should coat the spoon but fall off fairly easy when lifted up).
One by one dip tops of scones into glaze and immediately place back on wire racks to dry.

Cinnamon drizzle:
Mix powdered sugar, cinnamon and heavy cream until a little thicker than the vanilla glaze. Place in a decorating squeeze
bottle or Ziploc baggie and cut small corner to release glaze.
Drizzle the glaze diagonally across glazed scones and immediately top with chopped
pumpkin brittle.
Let harden for 20 minutes and ENJOY!!!

by Tracy Crawford