{"id":2014,"date":"2018-04-03T17:05:53","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T17:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=2014"},"modified":"2018-04-03T17:05:53","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T17:05:53","slug":"generations-brian-sawyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/generations-brian-sawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"All Generations: Brian Sawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Who can carry the torch?<\/h2>\n

I am thankful for the fifth Core Value of the IPHC, \u201cWe Prayerfully Value All Generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is because the IPHC values ALL Generations that believers like myself can work hand in hand with those who have gone before us, at the same time with those coming behind us. I am 36 years old and have been blessed with the opportunity to minister on every inhabited continent of the world. Over my last few years of ministry in the IPHC, I have witnessed generations working together in many different cultures, contexts, and collaborations. I have observed this in teaching, evangelism, construction work, laboring in orphanages, planting churches, and right down the list to working with microbusiness projects.<\/p>\n

In fact, multigenerational ministry is what propelled me headfirst onto the international mission field. In 2011, a veteran short-term missionary invited me on a three-week trip to Peru. There was one stipulation, I had only 24 hours to make a decision. Up until this point I had never been outside of the U.S., nor had I planned on going outside of the U.S. However, I was strongly moved by the support this family of missionaries showed me. These missionaries did not stop with inviting me; they also made it possible for me to go. They paid for my part of the trip up front and allowed me to reimburse them later. Their willingness to invest in me in word and deed is an excellent picture of an older generation reaching down and putting a younger generation on their shoulders, while encouraging them, empowering them, and saying \u201cYOU CAN DO IT!\u201d<\/p>\n

It is beautiful when one generation allows their ceiling to be the next generation’s floor. This act not only allows younger generations to climb to heights the older generations did not experience, but it also allows the older generations to see fruit produced out of the seeds that they have sown in the younger generations. Since my trip to Peru, I have been on more than twenty trips and traveled to 30 different countries. I have the generation before me to thank for this. Thank God for those who have paved the way and for those who will continue making a way!<\/p>\n

Every generation is faced with its own set of challenges. Being part of a younger generation, my main challenge has been lack of experience. The wisdom that can only be brought forth through years of experience teaches us how to succeed in difficult places.<\/p>\n

I was once given the opportunity to minister amongst the Aboriginal people of Australia. Unlike myself, the generation on the ground there before me had spent time with this people group. It is often very easy to make the mistake of thinking that your relational patterns work everywhere, while, in fact, with some people groups of the world even the smallest cultural misunderstanding can cause offense. Apart from the guidance of seasoned leadership, my ministry efforts would have most definitely fallen short. However, instead of leaving me to figure out the ins and outs of this culture group on my own, my leaders used every van ride, flight, and time outside of direct interaction with the Aboriginal people to explain what they had learned during the years they had spent engaging with them. This, in turn, allowed a time of ministry which bore much fruit. The truth is that we are better and stronger together.<\/p>\n

Multigenerational relationships are mutually beneficial to all parties involved. The blessings are never one-sided. In other words, it is impossible for the older generations to bless younger generations without the younger generations in turn blessing the older generations. Both have much to glean from one another. I have been told by several that living and working in a foreign land can, at times, become discouraging and lonely. Some individuals work for decades without seeing the fruit they are standing in faith for, but when a younger generation steps out onto the field with them, it is like a breath of fresh air. The fire and zeal of the youth become like a new wind in their sails. Almost like an adoption agency looking for the right parent to raise up a child into their future destiny, the older generation is looking for the right people to pass on their wisdom and eventually life\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, I was appointed as the Conference Missions Director (CMD) for the Redemption Ministries Conference, formerly known as The Eastern Virginia Conference. Being a CMD has enabled me to work with many older generational pastors and mission leaders. Together, we help keep missionaries on the field. Serving in this position has not only given me the opportunity to glean from the generation above me, but it has given me the incredible opportunity to impart to the generation beneath me. I have witnessed first-hand the Millennial generation excelling in all aspects of ministry, from working amongst unreached people groups to pastoring and church planting. It is truly an amazing feat to experience every part of the Body of Christ functioning as it should, generations upon generations working together to further the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n

One of the main tools Christ has used to shape my life has been the influential voice of the generations that preceded me. Apart from their guidance, I would not be the man I am today. The wise counsel that I have received and continue to receive has been so immeasurably valuable to me that I almost continuously find myself attempting to \u201cpay it forward\u201d by consciously making efforts to invest in the up and coming generations of believers. Millennials and Centennials are both extremely passionate generations. This passion is the reason why, when I see someone from one of those generations stepping out in faith to embark on a journey for the Lord, it is a journey I want to invest in. When I give my money to what younger generations are doing, I show them that I believe in them. When I give my time to younger generations, I show them that I care about them. In order to lay a firm foundation in the lives of the generations following after me, I see no room to slack in the giving of neither time nor money. Scripture teaches us that iron sharpens iron. I believe that the iron in the older generations\u2019 spirits sharpens the iron in the younger generations\u2019 spirits and vice versa. This, in turn, produces an army of believers prepared, ready, willing, and walking in the calling God has for their lives.<\/p>\n

This past Sunday, like most Sundays, I was visiting one of the churches in our conference on behalf of World Missions. During their very contemporary time of worship, something in my peripheral vision grabbed my attention. There was a senior man, if I was guessing I would say around eighty years old, dancing with all his heart before the Lord. Not only was he dancing with all his might, he was dancing alongside twenty, thirty, and forty-year-olds. At that moment, it dawned on me; I think a lot of times it can be tempting to dwell on the many differences between the generations, while instead, our focus should be directed towards our common denominator \u2013 the love of Jesus. Within the church, regardless of age, generation, culture group, denomination, or race, what we all have in common is our love for Christ and His love for us. When our focus on that love supersedes our focus on external factors, suddenly those external factors seem to fade away. We are all here to know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to share Jesus. This idea becomes much easier to comprehend when instead of worrying about \u201cwho\u201d is going to carry the torch, we realize that we all were created to carry the torch together until the King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns.<\/p>\n

By Brian Sawyer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Who can carry the torch? I am thankful for the fifth Core Value of the IPHC, \u201cWe Prayerfully Value All Generations.\u201d It is because the IPHC values ALL Generations that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":2013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[274,4],"tags":[268,276,295,296,297],"class_list":{"0":"post-2014","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-allgenerations","8":"category-world-missions","9":"tag-268","10":"tag-all-generations","11":"tag-april","12":"tag-brian-sawyer","13":"tag-sawyer","14":"entry"},"title_es":"Intitulado","content_es":"

Por Janene Wooten<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\"\"<\/a> Hola, mi nombre es Janene Wooten. Soy un misionero de IPHC estacionado en Hungr\u00eda y trabajando en el personal de la base internacional de The Awakening. Tengo 24 a\u00f1os de edad. Eso puede parecer joven para algunos de ustedes, y supongo que s\u00ed, pero ser misionero en el campo es un sue\u00f1o y una promesa que llevo desde que era un ni\u00f1o. Sab\u00eda desde los 10 a\u00f1os que esto era lo que quer\u00eda hacer, y m\u00e1s que eso, sab\u00eda que era lo que estaba llamado a hacer. Estoy tan agradecido de finalmente estar aqu\u00ed sirviendo y trabajando como parte de nuestra iglesia global. Cuando primero me pidieron que escribiera este art\u00edculo, comenc\u00e9 a preguntarme c\u00f3mo las generaciones de la iglesia me han afectado. Al reflexionar sobre mi vida y mi tiempo en el ministerio, me qued\u00f3 muy claro que el ministerio no se trata de una generaci\u00f3n, sino de que cada generaci\u00f3n se conecta y trabaja junto a la otra. Cada generaci\u00f3n tiene algo \u00fanico que aportan, y creo que el ministerio y la iglesia deber\u00edan ser un perfecto ejemplo de eso. Ya ves, crec\u00ed como un ni\u00f1o misionero y nieto. Vivimos y servimos en el este de \u00c1frica la mayor parte de mi vida, y lo considero como la mayor bendici\u00f3n absoluta. Pude trabajar con personas maravillosas junto a mis padres y abuelos. Aprend\u00ed los \"trucos del oficio\" y me prepar\u00e9 para la vida que sab\u00eda que Dios me hab\u00eda llamado a vivir. Tuve la oportunidad de viajar por todo este hermoso planeta y encontrar personas de todos los \u00e1mbitos de la vida en diferentes pa\u00edses y continentes. Una de las mayores bendiciones de todos fue ser testigo de lo que parece ser servir en el Reino de Dios. Este servicio se trata de personas, independientemente de su edad, estado, nacionalidad o g\u00e9nero, que se unen para el objetivo com\u00fan de ver este mundo cambiado por el Evangelio. Estoy muy orgulloso de ser parte de una iglesia que prioriza el valor de las personas, especialmente todas las generaciones de personas. Las misiones y el ministerio siempre me han parecido una reuni\u00f3n multigeneracional. Cuando era ni\u00f1o, iba de viaje con Babu y la abuela (Phillip y Gailya List) y mi mam\u00e1 y mi pap\u00e1. Los ver\u00eda traer diferentes experiencias y t\u00e9cnicas a la mesa mientras preparamos y serv\u00edamos a las personas a quienes Dios nos gui\u00f3. Luego, a medida que crec\u00eda y llegaban otros misioneros al este de \u00c1frica (los Sneeds, Tignors y Dunnings), los ve\u00eda trayendo nuevas perspectivas e ideas al campo. No se trataba de poder, antig\u00fcedad o \"salir con lo viejo y lo nuevo\", sino que se trataba de entender que todos fuimos llamados y enviados a servir a la gente de \u00c1frica Oriental. Ahora, mientras camino en este nuevo campo, con nuevas experiencias y desaf\u00edos todos los d\u00edas, estoy muy agradecido por la gente que vino antes que yo. No puedo decirte cu\u00e1ntos correos electr\u00f3nicos y mensajes he enviado pidiendo a los misioneros, a quienes he crecido admirando, su sabidur\u00eda y consejo, o cu\u00e1nto valoro cada vez que alguien se sent\u00f3 conmigo para compartir sus historias desde el campo. Este tipo de aliento me ha ayudado a prepararme para lo que el Se\u00f1or me ha llamado a hacer. Lo que estoy haciendo ahora es una asociaci\u00f3n con lo que han hecho aquellos que vinieron antes que yo. Estoy agradecido por los a\u00f1os de oraci\u00f3n, pionero, labrado de tierra y siembra que llegaron mucho antes de que yo estuviera aqu\u00ed. No quiero menospreciarme a m\u00ed mismo, por favor no me malinterprete, pero quiero dar honor donde se debe honor. Para m\u00ed, las generaciones que vinieron antes que yo, los misioneros y ministros que han estado sirviendo al reino por tanto tiempo, son las personas que m\u00e1s aprecio en este mundo. Con eso dicho, estoy muy agradecido de ser parte de mi generaci\u00f3n. Soy joven y no tengo las experiencias que otros tienen, pero me apasiona que esta generaci\u00f3n conozca a Dios y est\u00e9 ardiendo por \u00e9l. No solo digo estas cosas porque suenan como buenas palabras cristianas; Me refiero a ellos. Creo que Dios le ha dado a esta generaci\u00f3n pasi\u00f3n. Nos encanta luchar por las cosas. Desafortunadamente, esta pasi\u00f3n se puede tirar en diferentes direcciones y se puede unir a las causas en todo el lugar, pero en su verdadero sentido, creo que la pasi\u00f3n en s\u00ed es de Dios. El enemigo ha puesto tanto esfuerzo en distraernos. Nuestro mundo est\u00e1 lleno de tecnolog\u00eda, medios e iconos para alejar nuestra atenci\u00f3n y nuestro coraz\u00f3n del Se\u00f1or. Si el enemigo puede mantenernos con los ojos fuera de foco hacia el llamado de Dios, entonces \u00e9l nos paraliza. Sin embargo, creo de todo coraz\u00f3n que si esta generaci\u00f3n realmente experimentara el Esp\u00edritu Santo y conociera el poder y el amor de Dios, habr\u00eda un movimiento como no hemos visto en d\u00e9cadas. La clave es que debemos luchar m\u00e1s duro que el enemigo para volver a centrar la atenci\u00f3n del mundo y fijarnos en a qui\u00e9n Dios nos llama a ser. Me encanta estar cerca de ministros y misioneros de mi generaci\u00f3n. Puedes sentir emoci\u00f3n y urgencia en su presencia. Tengo esperanzas para el futuro de la iglesia porque veo personas de mi generaci\u00f3n que aman a Dios con furia y aman a las personas desde un coraz\u00f3n que est\u00e1 conectado con \u00e9l. En noviembre, asist\u00ed a una reuni\u00f3n de j\u00f3venes l\u00edderes europeos. Mientras estaba sentado all\u00ed y los escuch\u00e9 compartir sus visiones de sus ciudades y pa\u00edses, y mientras lloraban y sonre\u00edan con pasi\u00f3n y emoci\u00f3n, mi coraz\u00f3n capt\u00f3 ese fuego una y otra vez mientras cada uno hablaba. Me fui ese fin de semana teniendo confianza en el Evangelio y el mover de Dios que est\u00e1 llegando a Europa. Una cosa que todos nosotros tenemos en com\u00fan es que, en un momento u otro, alguien de una generaci\u00f3n anterior se ha tomado el tiempo de ense\u00f1arnos y discipularnos en nuestro llamado. Este no es un concepto nuevo, (s\u00e9 que no estoy inventando la rueda); la Biblia est\u00e1 llena de ejemplos de esto. En el Antiguo Testamento, tenemos ejemplos como Mois\u00e9s, Josu\u00e9, El\u00edas y Eliseo. Del Nuevo Testamento, tenemos a Isabel, Mar\u00eda, Pablo y Timoteo. En cada una de estas historias, el mayor sab\u00eda cosas que el m\u00e1s joven no sab\u00eda. Los m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes ten\u00edan preguntas y necesitaban gu\u00eda para abandonar su vocaci\u00f3n, y juntos el Reino avanz\u00f3. No se trataba de reemplazar o excluir, sino de aceptar el hecho de que cada generaci\u00f3n aporta algo que es inmensamente importante y necesario. El mayor comparti\u00f3, alent\u00f3 y ense\u00f1\u00f3 a los m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes; mientras que los m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes trabajaron al lado y humildemente aprendieron antes de ir por su cuenta. Esta es la imagen m\u00e1s bella del Reino para m\u00ed. Para concluir, quiero agradecer a todas las personas que se han tomado el tiempo de participar y discipular a las generaciones venideras. Rezo para que podamos agarrarnos de esta sabidur\u00eda compartida y nunca dar por sentada la inmensa bendici\u00f3n que es. Tambi\u00e9n quiero instar a mi generaci\u00f3n a hacer preguntas y tomarse el tiempo para escuchar. Debemos permitirnos ser ense\u00f1ables, y dejar que las cosas que aprendemos nos den confianza y denuedo para salir del llamado de Dios en nuestras vidas. Creo que los pr\u00f3ximos a\u00f1os de esta iglesia, y la iglesia en su conjunto, ver\u00e1n tal crecimiento y avance si continuamos valorando a todas las generaciones.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/04\/All-Gen-Banner-e1522763823620.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Ar-wu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}