Embarking on our Last Expedition

I can't believe it has gone so fast!!  Here i am with less than 2 weeks away from returning to TEXAS!!  My experience in Africa has been life changing and as we embark on our final village expedition I don't expect anything except God showing up in a mighty way.  

Our last expedition, which we leave on in the morning at 8a.m., will consist of us holding youth, women focused, men focused, and pastor focused meetings.  My buddy Mark from the U.K. and i will be leading the pastor focused meetings.  We will teach leadership principles and be able to share the amazing love of our Savior.  I am truly excited as we prepare to do this.  

I would ask that you pray specifically for the villagers.  That their eyes would be opened to the love of Christ.  We will be ministering to several hundreds.  Also pray for the pastors.  Pray that they would be encouraged and strengthened throughout these next four days.  Pray that they would walk away knowing the gospel and be able to share that with the people they are shepherding.  

I know it has been a while since i have blogged.  Internet access here is sometimes fishy.  Know that i love and thank you all for supporting me through prayer, love, encouragement and financial giving.  It has been and will continue to be an Ebenezer stone in my life.  I will update once i return on Monday.  Thanks again and God bless you all!!

Back from the Village

Let me just say that God moved mightily throughout our team this last week. I will give you a day by day account of what happened each day.

Day 1
We arrived on Wednesday evening and setup camp. Now when i say we set up camp we really did. When we arrived our campsite was in the middle of 8ft. grass and huge trees. When we got finished it was a nice open area of tents and a bush kitchen. Let me tell you it was a beautiful sight. We ate grilled chicken and rice that night. Decadent!!! Thats the only words to describe the chicken. We then gathered around the fire and had a time of prayer and worship. There is something about being out in God's open country and worshiping Him underneath His vast and starry universe!!

Day 2
We woke up and had some fantastic oatmeal. After our meal me and 3 other guys began walking to the chiefs palace. It was about a half a mile or so to the palace from our campsite. We arrived and stuck out like a sore thumb. When 3 makuas walk into an African village, heads turn!! Hehehehe. It was awesome!! The Chiefs palace is a huge piece of land with farms and village huts surrounding the whole property. We walked around for a while and then were met by the chief. The chief is a short chubby man that wore a peter pan like hat. It was a totally cool hat!!

After talking with the chief we then were greeted by most of the headman that were there for the leadership conference. Zambians are some of the nicest people you will meet on the face of the earth. The rest of our team showed up and we began the conference. The conference consisted of us sitting amongst the headman and learning abou them and their villages. We then sat back and listened to Jake the sector manager from Overland teach the headman about Vision.

After the conference had come to an end for the day we headed back to our campsite. God had really been heavy on me all day abd i knew he wanted me to approach the group and challenge them. I talked with Dan our AMT leader/teacher and one of my buddies who is a pastor in England named Mark. They to had been given the same direction from God. Its amazing how God will say the exact same thing to people when He wants something done. We then proceeded to have worship and then approach our team about what God had been telling us.

I told the team how God had been speaking to me all day and calling me out to step up and take charge. He had called our whole team especially those who had ministry experience. He had also called me to not let fear grip me any longer. The final thing He told me was to step up and preach His word to a people who were hungry and thristy for truth. For so long i had let fear take control and i for sure didnt want to get in front of people and preach. For one i didnt think i was good at it and for two i was scared. Thats when God's truth overpowered my thinking and showed me that His word and salvation are more important than my comfort. These people needed to hear His good news and He was asking me to tell them.

The thing i learned this day was that everyone who has had their life changed by Christ has some good news to share with everybody they come into contact with.

Day3
I woke up and was so focused. I was focused on the mission God had given me to do this day. We left our campsite and headed out to the chiefs palace. From the chiefs palace we headed out to work in the fields of a nearby village. We harvested maize and then walked 3 miles to go and preach to a small village. When we finally arrived we only had 20-30 minutes to preach because we had to be back for the conference. 2 of our team gave their testimonies and then i preached.

I preached what God had done in my own life. I preached about the Grace that God gives and how you dont have to work for it. I talked about how you cant serve to masters. You cant go to the witch doctor and also trust in Christ. Its Christ and Him only!! I also preached on the amazing love God has for us. After getting done i gave them a chance to receive this amazing gift of grace and love. We set in silence for about 5 seconds and one lady stood up and said she wanted that gift. My heart lept for joy!! I knew now God had put something inside of me and i could no longer shrink back and hide. It was Christ in me and nothing of myself.

We had walked a total of 6 miles once we returned to the palace and all i knew was it was totally worth it. It reminded me of the lost sheep. God left for the 99 for the 1. We walked forever and one lady received the greatest gift of all. Wow!! Thank you Jesus!!

Day4
We left our campsite and headed back to the palace for our last day of minstry at the palace. We arrived and headed straight to the cheifs fields. About 6 of our team went to a Seventh day adventist church and preached the Good News to them while we were in the fields.

After finishing in the fields we headed back to the conference and greeted all the headmen. We said our goodbyes and went back to our campsite. Once we arrived all of the guys went to the soccer fields to play a game. We played until there was no energy left. We beat the other team 2-1. Yes we have gotten better!! After the game we presented the gospel to the guys from the village. All of them stood up to either be prayed for or recieve the gift of salvation. It was totally not what i expected but once again God does what we think is impossible.

Day5
We woke up tore down camp and headed back to the Overland Base.

Closing Comments
As i have mentioned spiritual warfare is very prevalent here in Africa. We had come in contact with a boy who was demon possessed. The crazy thing is 2 weeks ago he was totally normal. When we came into contact with him he went crazy. We prayed for him for 2 days straight. I would ask that you would pray for this boy. I know in the U.S we dont see these cases that often or at all. I know i havent always considered it to be a big deal, but when you see it first hand it becomes more real than ever. It has been easy in the states to kinda beleive in demons and spirtual warfare, but since i have been here i know its real and i know we are in a battle. The good news is we win!!

Another thing is that at the conference all the headmen came together after we left and began confessing sin to God and each other and praying with one another. God truly did amazing things. He not only gave me favor with the chief. In fact me and the chief held hands for a while. In Africa this is a common thing for men to do with each other, but when you put a Texan in Africa with a short chubby man holding his hand its a little weird at first. The truth is i held my cool and knew that it was a cultural thing and just rolled with it.

As you can see God truly gave us favor. To Him be the glory forever and ever amen!!

Back to Village Life

Wow!! Its already going fast. We have a little over a month left for our training. It has truly been a blessing to learn from some great people.

Well tomorrow morning we leave at 8 am for the Bush (remote village). This time around we will be staying in tents next to a school. Our ministry will consist of serving the villagers by helping them in their fields or around their houses. We will also be helping with a Christian Leadership Conference. I can't tell yall enough how big of an opportunity this is for our team. God has truly favored us in our journey thus far, but to bring this opportunity is a once in a lifetime chance for some.

The reason this opportunity is so big is because we will be staying next to Chief Niawa in the Niawa Kingdom. This is perhaps the first time in history for this kingdom that we get to share the gospel to the leaders in the Niawa Kingdom. Attendees at the conference will consist of all the village Headmen of the Kingdom. There will be hundreds of men from all over Zambia at this conference. No other Missionary group with Overland has had this kind of opportunity.

We will be helping at the conference and building relationships with all the headmen and the chief. We will get one on one time with the headmen to share our stories and life together. We will also be holding evangelistic meetings every night at the conference and villages.

I can't stress enough how much we need all of your prayers. Pray that God would use each of us to impact the lives of the headmen, chief, and all we come into contact with. That Jesus living inside of us would shine through to them. Pray and give thanks to God for the victory we have in Jesus. This same victory is what we want to share with all we come in contact with. I love you all and thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Yall rock!!

We will be gone from Wednesday to Sunday evening. Once i return i will update you with the great news from our ministry journey. Grace and peace to you all. Much love!!

One Month

Its hard to believe its already been close to month since i've been gone from the states or let me say the state (Texas). hehehehehehe. When anybody asks where i am from i tell them the country of Texas. I love my state!!

Well alot has happened in only one month. I have lived the village life along with starting our in depth Training course which involves diesel mechanics, welding, bush cooking, leadership, preaching, survival training, along with many other emphasis. It has been a blast!! We are just now finishing diesel mechanics. We have a final exam tomorrow where we will be tested over the basics of a diesel, gasoline and 2 stroke engine. Im ready!!

At the end of this week, we will start welding along with presenting our own sermon for our preaching class. Im not the greatest preacher, but hey im willing!! This is a busy week full of test, reading and quizzes but it does make the time fly. In the next couple of weeks we will prepare once again to leave and go to a village for a week or so. Village ministry is really amazing. Its hands on and very relational.

Since i have been here, I have been challenged in several areas of my spiritual walk. I have found that out here it is not as easy to be rescued by someone. I have had to choose to trust fully on God. In the states i am surrounded by friends, family, and mentors that can, for lack of a better term, rescue me. Out here its not as easy. This has pushed me to not trust in theology, doctrine, denomination, or man, but has instead pushed me to trust and rely on Christ. I have literally had to take a huge step back and start from the basics. Who i am in Christ, what Christ has done, etc. God is continually stripping away my pride and continually bringing up circumstances to where my trust is in Him and nothing else.

Im not gonna lie, it is hard but good. The process of this is painful, but the outcome will make me fall more in love with Him and more in love with people. This is a process i think we all have to go through at some point in our lives and maybe more than once. Well, probably alot of the times more than once.

Well i have to go for now, but i thank each of you for praying and helping me to get to Africa. It has been an awesome journey thus far and i know it will continue. I love and miss yall. Thank yall for the feed back and encouragement!!

Oh yea, since uploading pictures on my blog is kind of a hard process, i have and will continue to put pictures on facebook. The internet connection here is kind of slow at times and doesnt always allow me to blog or get on the internet for long periods of time. I promise you that i will continue as much as possible to keep you updated. Thanks again!!

Village Life

Wow, I'm back. Sorry its taken me so long to write. The bandwidth on our server is very small. It is sometimes hard for me to get on the internet. I also have some pictures that i will post very soon, hopefully this week,

Well let me get down to business...

Day 1
We left sunday may 10th. We arrived in a small village called Siachombo. When we arrived the villagers greeted us with songs and dancing. It was totally awesome!! I got a little emotional watching how they greeted us and welcomed us in for the week. After this we unloaded our truck and set up camp. We ate some stew and then bedded down for the night.

Day2
We woke up ate some oatmeal and then headed out to work in the fields with the villagers. My group worked with one of the leaders in the village named Solomon. On our way out to the field and 8-10ft. Black Mamba slithered right in front of us and went across the trail. In Africa this is a very unique thing to see. Black Mambas are very territorial and can stand up to 3/4 their length. They can also strike at least that far. The good thing is that the snake left quickly and moved on. Well, after seeing the snake we were all very cautious as we stepped through the maze fields that were all taller than us. We harvested ground nuts (peanuts) for about 2 hours and ate frsh watermelon while we were out. We then headed back to the camp and stopped by Solomon's house before we got there.

Later on this day we got to slaughter a goat. I know for some of you this will be hard to take but this is a way of life for villagers here. We ate the goat that night.

Day 3
We headed into Nyawa Village to do some ministry there. We slaughtered chickens for food that night along with a goat. Im sorry i have to add all of this in there. We had a church service with the villagers and then played a soccer game with the young men of the village. We lost by one point. After the game we had a n evanglistic presentation where a couple of people gave their lives to Christ. After this we had a huge meal with the Villagers of Nyawa. Their staple food around here is Shema. Shema is a corn mash like substance.

Day 4
We headed out this day and my team worked with a widow and helped her around her home. We helped her buiild a shelter for her to keep the maze in all year. We then heade back to our camp and got ready for our evening evangelistic meeting. At this meeting my eyes were opened to a whole new realm of spritual warfare. In the villages they have witch doctors. These witch doctors use different means of healing. A lot of the warfare that goes on in these villages is demon possession. The villagers open themselves up to all kinds of evil and curses. Many people received salvation at this meeting along with some people being healed of different ailments.

Day 5
We headed out this day and went to another village nearby called Siamani. Here we worked in the fields for a couple of hours and then headed back into the village to do some evangelistic ministry. There were 2 or 3 people saved at this meeting. Every village has what is called a headman. The headman is in charge of the village and answers to the chief. The chief is on charge of the whole kingdom. In these kingdoms there are several villages. Some of the headmen are in charge of 8 or more villages.

Day 6
We then went to a village named Natiko. There we met at the school forst and then headed out to the fields to harvest maze. We harvested then headed back into the town to play soccer against the young men of the village. We lost again by one point, but i do have to say that our team had gotten better since the last game. We then held our last evangelistic meeting and 3 men gave their lives to Christ. We then headed back to camp and had a huge meal with our village.

Day 7
We said our goodbyes. It had been a great week of ministry and we had really connected with the people. Our ministry there had started and now will continue to go on with Overland. Jake a guy who is in charge of the villages we minstered in will now continue meeting with these villages and disciple and raise up leaders and in the future plant churches in each one.

I know this is a lot to read but i just want to keep everyone informed. It has been amazing and challenging all at the same time. God is continuing to challenge me in every area of my life. Continue to pray for our team here and the ministry that will be done. I love you all and will continue to keep you posted on African life.

I will hopefully post some pictures this week. Love yall!!!!!

Hey Hey

Hey Everybody i just wanted to take a little time and let everyone know how things are going here. Zambia is a beautiful country!! I can't say thank you enough to my supporters for giving unselfishly to allow me the opportunity to minister here. It has already been life changing. I have met people who will be lifelong friends.

It is awesome how God has brought people from all over the world to Zambia for one specific purpose. He has brought us all at different stages in our lives but the right time for each of us. We had a group activity today that helped us get to know our team better. It is awesome to see how everyone is at a different stage, some of us have already been through some of these things and some of us havent. God is sooo good!!

We pack up Sunday morning for our first expedition. We are traveling to a tribe to spend the week there and live with them and work with them. This is something i have always dreamed about. We get to eat with them, talk wtih them, live in community with them. Overland Missions (this is the organization i am with right now) hopes to plant a church here becasue there are no churches close to them. This tribe is very hungry for the Word of God. Please pray for us as we show Christ's love.

I will continue to keep you updated. I will hopefully get to post some tomorrow, but i cant promise anything. I love you all and pray that God would begin to show each of you the passion that He has placed within You. May today be a day of thankfulness!!

Titus 3:4-7

WOW, IM HERE!!!!!!

I have arrived in Africa. It is so beautiful!! We are on the edge of the Zambezi River Rift Valley. Wow God's creation is simply amazing!! I will put pictures up soon!! We landed to day in Zambia at 12:30 p.m.

I will be keeping you all updated as I go through the training. I will hopefully be able to post at least 2 times a week.

This issomething i have dreamed about forever and I am actually here. I was in three countries before i ever arrived in Zambia. I cant thank all of you enough for your continued prayers and support. I will talk to yall soon. Love ya!!

Im OFF

Alright everybody. Today is the big day!! Im off to Africa for 3 months. Please keep the team and me in your prayers. I love you all!! Next time i blog will probably be in Africa. Who knows i might get to in Canada or London. Ill take lots of pictures and video. Peace Out!!

4 Days Away

It has flown by!! I leave Monday for a whole new adventure!! God is sooo good, in the good times and bad. Its crazy to think how good He is to us and sometimes how self focused we are. Im not trying to be all negative, but i would just like to think for a moment on the faithfulness of God. He is faithful when we are unfaithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. Wow!! It is good news to hear of the love of God!! In my final four days in the U.S. for a while, i pray God would continue to bring up how faithful He is.

I was watching something the other day and a quote came up that i havent forgotten yet. "A life lived in fear is a life half lived." Those are some powerful words. They hit me right in the gut. I have lived a life where fear has controlled alot of my decisions. I can look back and see how much fear had a hold on me. I praise God for allowing me to do this because fear has taken a back seat. This doesnt mean it tries to rear its head up every now and then but it sure doesnt have a grip like it used to.

Well i know that alot of this probably seems like rambling, but its just what has come out of my heart today. I pray God would use it all to speak to your hearts if that is His will.

Odessa, Tx

You know there is something about going home that is refreshing for me. I am from Odessa, Tx. Go Bronchos!! Hehehehe, just had to throw that in there. Anyways, most people when they go to Odessa or see pictures of it, say its ugly and the armpit of the universe. I however love Odessa. Its my hometown, where i grew up, where i built lasting friendships, and where i began to learn about life.

I was there this last weekend and had a fundraiser dinner for my Africa mission. It was a huge blessing!! I saw people i hadnt seen in years. My junior high choir teacher Mrs. Love came out, as well as my high school choir teacher Mrs. Medlin. There were people there i didn't even know very well, but they all had a common bond and that was knowing me or my family.

God has blessed me and my family tremendously. I was told countless times,"Ross your dad would be so proud of you!!" You know my stepdad told me those exact words, but added "and I'm proud of you!!" Wow!! Words have a lasting impact!!

The joy in all of this has been for me to see peoples lives change and grow. Im not even in Africa, but i have received much satisfaction from seeing what God is doing in the lives of those around me. In my stepping out in faith to follow what God is leading me to do, people are doing the same. Its not about me, but it is all about HIM!! I do not write these things to say look at me, but i do write these things to encourage you and say look at God!! I never dreamed that i would impact some of the people i have.

"God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him"
-John Piper

Why not me?

Wow!! It has gone by so fast. I have been thinking alot this week about how a little over 4 months ago i was given this huge passion and vision for missions. I was looking through my emails and found my itinerary for my trip there and back. Every time i look through it, i get so excited and cant hold it in. I thank God for this opportunity. This is ultimately for His glory.

You know up to a few weeks ago, i thought i was going to rescue Africa, but actually i am just a small part of what God wants to do through all of us. There is a line in a song by Casting Crowns that goes like this, "how refreshing to know You don't need me, but how amazing to find that You want me." Wow that line has truly transformed my passion and desire to go to the nations. God does not need me, but yet He wants to use me.

In my video i say, "here am i, why not me?" I pray that everyone would begin to say that. "God, why not me?" God desires to use us, but He is not waiting on us to make sure His plans follow through. Life is short. It is not about us but it is all about Him!! My life phrase is to live life with no regrets. Too many times i hear people say,"i wish i would of done this or that, or if i could do it all over i would have done this or that." Those words make me cringe. I feel so bad that people live in regret. The truth is we don't have to. God gives us opportunities all the time. Most of the time we wait around for a "word from God." A famous Christian speaker once said,"just do something!!"

Please don't hear me wrong in thinking that sometimes God wants us to wait. I totally understand that!! But sometimes i think we wait when God is asking us to step out in faith. Just a thought.

The Body Of Christ

It is so amazing to me how we can meet other Christians for the first time and they can hear our story and then want to help us in some way. Well this happened to me last night at our Community Service. I was able to share with our Church my passion for Africa. I was able to show them the video that my buddy rick helped me produce, along with telling them what i will be doing, where i will be going, and future plans for missions.

I love sharing this passion that God has given me. I find myself not wanting to shut up about it. One of the main reasons i am writing this is because there was a girl in town from Florida. This was her first time here and she was in town visiting friends. I met her after the service, but came to find out that before i had met her she had given me money for my trip to Africa. All she had heard was my story and passion.

I was totally blown away. The Body of Christ has been amazing to me in this time of my life. I have never had so many people pray for me, encourage me, love me, and give to me unselfishly. I have truly seen the Body of Christ come together like never before. I do not say this for my benefit, but i say it because this gives great GLORY to my Father in heaven. To see people come together and pray and give whatever to those in need, is a huge testimony of Biblical Community. I love you all. I thank you all for your prayers and support. And to the girl i just met last night, your giving without knowing me is a huge testimony to what the Body of Christ is all about.

Promo Video with Website added

South Pointe Church

I have just returned from Abilene, Texas. I was there for the first part of the weekend on a silent retreat. God totally moved in me and showed me His great and unfathomable love. I was also there to see friends, family, and raise money for my Africa mission.

Let me just say that South Pointe Church is a great representation of the body of Christ coming together and praying and giving to those who have need. I used to serve at South Pointe as the Co-Worship Leader. I love them dearly and always will. They are my family and I am humbly grateful for each of them.

They helped me and blessed me greatly by how much they gave to send me on this mission. I can never repay or thank them enough for what they have done and continue to do. They are a praying church and the Spirit of God is evident throughout.

Thank yall so much!! I love you dearly.

Promo Video

Mission Africa: Promo Video

Hey i am just now finishing my promo video for Africa. I am so excited!! As i sit here with my buddy Rick Davis working on this project, the passion of God is flowing through me. I am so ready to go and live out this passion!! I will post the video here in the next few minutes. I appreciate everyone's prayer and support thus far. It has been very encouraging and has definitely spurred me on. Yall rock!!

Support Letter

Dear friends, family and others,

I am writing to share with you about this incredible journey God has me on and I want to ask you to partner with me in making a difference in His Kingdom. As most of you know I currently serve as the worship leader at The Community at Lake Ridge in Mansfield, Texas. I am also in my senior year at Criswell College. It is hard to believe that I am already 24 and about to graduate from college in a year.

My Life Passion Ignited…

I’ve led worship since I was 16 years old and felt that this was the avenue God had for me in ministry. While I feel God has gifted me in this area and absolutely love it, God has continually been stirring inside of me that there was something else, something more that I was supposed to do. I have had this feeling for a few years, and through some God appointed circumstances, He has ignited a new passion within me that I feel clearly is His calling for my life. God has opened my eyes to the world and is calling me to the mission field, to share His love to all the nations. This is an exciting thing to be able to share with you. I would like to share with you a little of the incredible journey that has brought me here.

My Journey To Discovering My Passion…

When I was 19, me and my best friend Brian Snyder really wanted to go to Africa and work in an orphanage. We usually just talked about it and how cool it would be, but both of us knew deep down it would probably never happen. So, I continued leading worship but still sensed a deep desire to do something else. It wasn’t until a year ago when I moved to be a part of TCAL, that I was able to question what I was doing in ministry.

Then last August we as a staff had gone to a Willow Creek Leadership Summit, and one of the sessions was about an organization called the International Justice Mission. They are an organization that works around the world to rescue women out of prostitution, children out of slavery, and others who have been wrongfully jailed or experience other horrible circumstances. I remember watching and listening, and sensing a deep desire to go and help do exactly what I had just saw. I wanted to be the rescuer. I wanted to be in the trenches sacrificing my life for others.

I walked away from the conference knowing that maybe one day I could pursue something like that, but I still had doubts I would ever be able to do it. I brought all these things that were continuing to grow inside of me up to my pastoral staff. They allowed me and encouraged me to search and question what God was doing in my life and my calling, even if it meant not leading worship. They wanted me to succeed and win in life and were willing to do whatever they could to help make that happen.

It is Good To Have a Coach…

In searching all of this out, a man by the name of Deryl McElreath, came in to my life. He is a life coach and was at the time talking with my pastor Paul Mints. Paul wanted him to coach our staff. I was totally excited and at the time had no clue the impact that Deryl would have in my life. I began meeting with Deryl bi-weekly. Deryl was coaching me at the time on my finances and health among other personal life circumstances.

At one of our coaching meetings in December, Deryl asked me what it was I wanted to coach on to day. I told him I didn’t want to coach on our usual topics, but that I was really trying to find my passion in ministry. He said, “awesome let’s talk!” He asked me the ultimate question, “if I gave you 10 million dollars what would you do with it?” I thought about it for a second and began to unload a huge vision of what I saw God wanted me to do. I told him I wanted to go into missions and live amongst the people and eat with them and work with them. Then I would come back to the states and get others excited about what God is doing in missions. I would challenge them to look outside of their own lives, cities and world to look at what is going on in other countries and the need that many people have all around the world. Our meeting had come to an end and I walked outside and began quoting Matthew 28:19 and saying this over and over. Every time I would say go and make disciples of all nations I would began to tear up. I remember chanting, “This is what you have made me for; this is it!”

So What Now…

God’s new call on my life has been made very clear, and over the months it has become more and more evident. God has also been opening the doors for me to begin this passion to be a missionary – a rescuer - to the world. With that said, I am making plans to go to Africa this summer to attend a 3 month missionary training. The organization I will be with is called Overland Missions (www.overlandmissions.com). They are located in Zambia near Victoria Falls, and they specifically focus on teaching young adults about how to reach unreached people groups around the world. I encourage you to go to their website and check them out.

How can you get involved?

In order to fulfill God’s call on my life, I will need a team of partners who will invest in the Kingdom work God is calling me to. I need $8,000.00 to be able to attend the 3 month Advanced Missions Training in Africa this summer. I definitely need your prayers, but if possible I also very much appreciate your gift of financial support. Please know that your support will be an investment in God’s work and call to go tell “and rescue” the nations with His love. I leave for Africa the first week of May and will return in early August. I need all gifts possible by April 24th. However, if you would like to give but cannot until later, or if you would like to give monthly for the next few months, that is fine. If you could let me know what to anticipate so I can plan appropriately, I would appreciate it.

You can make checks payable to The Community at Lake Ridge and write in the memo “Rescue Africa.” All gifts are tax deductible. Mail your checks to:
The Community at Lake Ridge
401 Seeton Rd. Mansfield, TX 76063

Thank You and Closing Comments…

Thank you to the many of you who have had significant roles in my life. I am who I am because of the many who have cared, loved, and invested in me. I have a passion for God and a love for His people, and many of you have helped grow that in me. I pray I will always be a man after God’s heart, and one that is passionate about what He is passionate about. For whatever way you can help me, I am grateful. Thank you. I will be posting regular updates on my website www.rossraines.com. Please check it regularly in the next months.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all, or just would like to hear more about what I am doing. Any encouragement you can also give me would be appreciated. You can reach me at 432-978-6525 or ross@rossraines.com.

I pray God will use us all to show His love to this world that desperately needs Him.

Ross Raines

57 days away

I leave for Africa in 57 days. Dude it is coming fast. I sent out a facebook message to alot of my friends. Hopefully yall will check this thang out!! I pray as you read through my blog that you will begin to pray for not only me but for the team that is preparing to go to Zambia. I myself do not know any one on the trip. This excites me to the core!! I look forward to getting to know other guys and gals who love the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords!!

Hopefully tomorrow my support letter will be up and will give you detailed information on what you can pray for, what exactly i will be doing in Zambia and where to send financial support. I appreciate all of your prayers thus far and will continue to keep you informed as the days approach for my departure and while I am serving in Africa.

Prayer and Support

I am in the process of shooting a video, which i hope will be up in the next week or so. I am also getting my support letter written and edited, and will post as soon as i get it finished. You can look for it sometime this week. Please continue to pray for my fund raising. I know it will all come in, but i am also looking to raise monthly support once i return. Maybe you can be one of those supporters. Monthly or a one time gift, it is all appreciated. Once i get the letter posted it will give info of where i am going, what i will be doing, and where to send financial support. I thank all of you for your ongoing prayers and look forward to what God is doing and will continue to do.

The Journey Ahead

It is 2 months til i leave to Zambia, Africa. I'm so excited!! I wish i was already there. I look forward to pursuing what God has told me to do. It has been over 3 months or more since the day I truly was given a vision for what i saw God had made me for. When i was asked by a friend of mine/life coach Deryl, "if i could do anything and was given 10 million dollars to do it what would i do?" It was like i unloaded a dump truck full of vision all over him. I began to see what passion God had given me. I wanted to go and help people in missions. To live with them, work with them, eat with them, and hurt with them. I even wanted to go and help out women in the sex trafficking ring in Europe and Asia.

There are a multitude of things i really see myself doing in this vision. I have the personality of a rescuer. The thing about rescue is sometimes and really alot of the times it is not the good ole movie experience. It is in the places nobody sees or desires to go to. It is sometimes in the dark places where evil is prevailing. But for the sake of Christ i will do whatever He asks. He has made me for this and I will follow hard after him. I am weak, but He is strong!! I have been crucified with Christ, yet it is no longer i who live but Christ who lives within me. -Galatians 2:20

Welcome to RossRaines.com

Hi, I'm Ross Raines and I am a worship leader and soon to be missionary to Africa. Here is a little bit about me.

Born: San Angelo, Tx 7:57 a.m. Tom Green County

Age: 24

Family: Mom-Janet Flippin, Step Dad- Monty Flippin, Older sister-Lindsey Raines

Favorite Books: Anything by John Piper, Leadership 101 by John Maxwell, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, A Long Way Gone, Abba's Child by Brennan Manning

Favorite Movies: Lonesome Dove, Braveheart, Gladiator, Tombstone, Taken, Nacho Libre

Favorite quotes: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
-John Piper

"You can tell the character of a person by what it takes to stop them."
-W.A. Criswell

"Prayer is not a psychological means for overcoming inhibitions, it should be grabbing God by the knees and pleading for mercy until He gives it."
-Anonymous

"I have been crucified with Christ, I myself no longer live but Christ lives in me."
-Galatians 2:20

What’s on your IPOD? Demon Hunter, Jeremy Camp, Charlie Hall, David Crowder, alot of worship, alot of Christian Rock, Classic Rock, Foo Fighters

Random odd fact: I like the smell of skunks

Favorite TV Shows: American Idol, Full House, Saved by the Bell, Sports

Education: Graduated High School at Odessa High School, and I am in the process of getting my Bachelor's from Criswell College