What is your calling??

We are all designed with a longing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We long to be transcended - to be caught up in something we didn't initiate or plan, but something that connects us with those around us and transforms us in a way we could never have accomplished on our own. This has shown itself in many different ways throughout history - from "hippies" in the 60's to Crusaders in Medieval times. Good leaders recognize this desire and use it to their advantage -sometimes for good and often for their own selfish purposes. 

Our first night together back in 2010

As Christians we realize the ultimate fulfillment is in drawing close to God Himself. He is the one who has "set eternity in [our] hearts..." (Ecc. 3:11) and transcends all other purposes and causes we might devote ourselves to. Even for those who deny God to His face, it is the reflection of His character and transcendence that stirs this desire in our hearts and makes us long for more. The more closely we align ourselves with His desires, the more we find fulfillment in what He is doing through us.

For my family, this has never been more evident than when we decided to become involved in orphan ministry. Over and over again through Scripture God aligns Himself with orphans and widows - the marginalized, the helpless. It is impossible to separate praise and honor for who God is without taking up the cause of those who society has cast aside - HE IS THEIR CHAMPION! Check out this great passage from Deuteronomy 10 - 

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?  To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.  And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.  Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.  He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Time and time again as our family has stepped out in faith, we have seen this in action - God has truly come to the rescue of the orphans we have come in contact with. Often He waits until the deck is stacked against them and all other options have been exhausted - as if to lay aside all doubts, boasting, and any glory we would seek to take from the battle. He makes it clear who is in control - and it is an awesome thing to be a part of!

The past few weeks many of you have seen and heard my wife and I pleading on behalf of our orphaned sons in Ukraine. We are watching and waiting on God to unleash His miracle through His people! He gives us just enough to keep going - financially and emotionally.  We came up short of our $5,000 deadline, but had enough that the hosting organization is willing to keep going and "forward" the rest into the next deadline - but this is the last payment! So we need about $1600 from our last deadline, plus $1100 for this final payment - in short, we need $2700 by June 5th. SO MANY of you have contributed in so many ways, and we are humbled and excited to see you be a part of this. Here's what you can do to continue your support:

1. PRAY - rescuing these kids is always a spiritual battle. We NEED your prayers - they NEED your prayers. God moves in amazing ways when His people get serious about praying.

2. ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE!!  It takes about 30 seconds (depending on your internet connection) to share a picture, status, or blog post on social media. That's it! So far we have had about 3-4 friends take up the cause of getting our boys home and seriously advocate for them on a consistent basis - and that is where most of the $$ that have come in have come from! If we had 10 people willing to advocate I know we would reach our goal in a couple days. It doesn't take any money, a lot of time, or any special abilities - just SPREAD THE WORD!

3. If you can, of course giving financially will help - regardless of the amount. My 7 year-old emptied his piggy bank and gave $2.71 to help his brothers come home - could you match his donation? Many of you could do 10, 50, or 100 times that amount - is it worth giving up a night out, a ball game, or maybe even a weekend at the beach to see two boys come to know what true love really is and watch it change their lives forever?

https://npo.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=30-0687266

(you may have to copy and paste the link above to donate - make sure to change the program from "unrestricted" to "other" and put in Brian and Laura Thompson - hosting)

Don't sit on the sidelines and read another moving story that stirs your heart but doesn't move you to act. BE A PART of what God is doing in whatever way you can - this is what He made us for!

This is what they look like now - hard to believe how much they've grown!

How God Ruined My Life for these Boys

For the past 3 1/2 years these boys have been a part of our family. We have laughed with them, been silly with them, had lots of fun, watched them love and care for our own boys like their own brothers, disciplined and corrected them when needed, cried with them, and watched them grow into the young men they are today - intelligent, responsible, capable, fiercely loyal, and full of potential. Those of you with teenage boys of your own I’m sure can relate. There is one thing that makes our story much more unique, however. Our boys live half a world away, in a country where they now face the greatest threat of their lives. At any time their home could be invaded by hired thugs looking to stir up trouble, they could be “recruited” to fight for either side in the growing escalation, or they could simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time and face the danger of being caught in the crossfire of a very real and very one-sided war.

The little hope they had for a future in their home country is rapidly disappearing, and the possibility of bringing them to their forever family here is so uncertain. At this point the one ray of hope for them is to spend a summer in safety and security. Away from all the fear and violence that has started to surround them daily. Away from the worries of an uncertain future. With a family they know and love and desperately want to be a part of. In a place where they can be encouraged, loved, and hear the good news about Jesus and His love for them. This may be the final chance they’ll have to see His love in action and hear the one message they most desperately need to carry them through the trials of a life you and I can imagine, but very few of us can truly understand.

What would you do if these were your children? Would you beg, borrow, and plead? Would you do absolutely ANYTHING to get them home?

Right now, the only thing standing in the way is money. $5000 by Friday to be exact. As I drove to work this morning contemplating the enormity of it all, God brought Jeremiah 32:27 to mind - “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”  We have every confidence that God will move on our boys’ behalf and that we will see another miracle take place - will you be a part of what He is doing??  It doesn’t take much - if 20% of everyone who reads this message would give just $25, it would all be taken care of. If just 50 people would step up and join us in advocating for these boys and raise $100 each, it would all be taken care of.

How many times have you read something like this and thought, “wow, I wish there was something I could do to help…”  Well, this is your chance. Every gift helps, no matter how small!

Follow the link below and choose your amount. In the drop down box for "program" select "other, and then add our names "Brian and Laura Thompson - hosting" to make sure it gets credited properly. Please let us know by email - pastorbt77@gmail.com or on FB so we can track your donation as well. Thank you so much!

https://npo.justgive.org/basket?acton=donate&ein=30-0687266