Kimberly Taylor: Ministry From Dallas
As with many things these days, expectation and reality seem to be distant cousins to each other. Despite canceled trips in the spring and summer, my team has continued to plan for the fall with hopes that borders would reopen and ministry could continue as normal. Unfortunately, the impact CoVid19 is having on travel, the economy, and day to day life does not seem to be decreasing. In light of the pandemic and it's widespread impact throughout the world, Cru announced this week that they will be extending international travel restrictions for U.S. staff members through December 31, 2020. Currently there are many international Cru ministry areas that have restricted travel to their locations until the end of the year. Unto, and my team in particular, is of course disappointed by this news even though it was not a surprise. As our work in the trips department completely revolves around travel, it throws a big wrench into things.
However, rather than cancel all the fall trips, we are hoping to postpone many of them to the spring! If borders are reopened and travel can resume, we will have a very busy spring. Despite the bad news this week, I am not discouraged! Within Unto, there is opportunity for continued ministry despite the challenges CoVid19 has created.
Already I have been asked by our Unto Campus team to join them for the next several months. They hope to have me connect with Christian colleges to build partnerships with Unto. The goal is to get students engaged and begin participating in our mission to Relieve Suffering, Restore Dignity, and Reveal Hope. I'm excited to work with this team as it will allow me to engage again with campus ministry! Working with Unto this past year has given me an amazing platform for sharing the gospel in both word and deed. I love what Unto is doing! Yet, I still hope to work with campus ministry in the near future. The potential this team has for combining those 2 areas is really unique!
I'll also continue working with my team in the trips department as well as with the marketing team on the Peer to Peer well digging project.
In an unexpected turn, me and a couple I'm good friends with were unknowingly exposed to someone with CoVid for 3 days. While we waited for our test results, I got to quarantine with them for a week. Although it certainly wasn't the plan, it was great to be close to people I love and soak up all the baby snuggles with their little girl!
Although our team is unable to travel, lives continue to be changed by the work of Cru staff overseas. Here are just a few ways partners on the field are sharing the love of Christ...
Provision of food and supplies for distribution. Primarily to remote village locations to people in real need.Encouragement of those leaders in house churches as people are eager to hear the gospel instead of persecuting them as they did before.Opportunities to share Christ with hurting people because they are more receptive because of the pandemic.Favor with government officials due to aid being offered freely to the needy.Many one on one opportunities for discipleship resulting in lives changed. Thank you everyone for your partnership with me in this ministry! It is making a difference in lives around the world.
Things to Lift Up:
Encouragement for my team as the trips are a huge part of our job.
For travel restrictions to lift and borders to open.
For good work relationships to build with the new team members I'll be working with.
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