February 2015 – The Rousehouse

…do justice, and to love kindness…

Posted on February 18, 2015February 12, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

One out of every six people on earth live in India, and by 2025 it is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation. India is growing as a world economic power and potentially as a great missionary sending nation. The church has grown rapidly in many parts of the country, especially in the south. At the same time, a high percentage of the world’s unreached peoples are in India.

At UWM (United World Mission) we have a team of families that live and serve in Patna India. This team is what I would call game changers. They are making a holistic impact on the people, economy, families, and spiritual aspects on this part of India. This team is also some of the most selfless and loving people I have been privileged to know let a long serve with. Where they live is known to be one of the poorest, dirtiest, and toughest places in the whole world! I have heard other missionaries that are serving in China, central Asia, and other places that say that they have no idea how this team does it. Just a small example of how poor this area is, they use dried cow poop to build fires to cook their food. That’s pretty extreme in my book!

I feel blessed to be apart in a small way of what they are doing in India and would love to share some info and stories of what they are actually doing. Our team has developed a micro-finance loan system to bring hope and change to economically depressed communities. Through partnership with Indian church planters, God is using this community development tool to pave the way for the gospel and to bring about eternal hope in the heart of India’s unreached communities.

MEDIC Projects-sewing center, water wells, micro-finance loans, and education

Mercy Economic Development International Concern (MEDIC – Bihar) which is a faith-based charitable trust seeking to enrich the lives of the poor of Bihar through community transformation with micro-finance initiatives. The vision of MEDIC is to Build Sustainable Communities with Hope for the Future by providing economic, educational, medical and holistic opportunities to the poorest of the poor. They have projects in micro-finance (MEDIC), wells and hand pump projects, sewing centers for woman, education, and looking to start-up a program for youth.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

If you feel a draw to serve with or support this ministry I would love to have you contact me. Please be praying for this team and the new believers in this area of India.

Feel free to check MEDIC-Bihar out on Facebook or at their website here.

What can you start doing today?

Posted on February 14, 2015February 18, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

Some of you may follow me on Facebook and saw an article that I posted earlier this week about missional living. The article suggested 8 easy ways to live missionally. It sparked a brief conversation between a good friend and me. **Let me tell you first that this guy lives out his faith, missional living, better than most American Christians that I know or have heard of. He, day by day, is loving on and serving those in his neighborhood. He is relentless in-spite of how messy and jacked up it can get…and it gets messy up often!

His point was just that, missional living is not easy. While I agree with him, I also believe that each one of us can start doing something today that is an easy next step in living out Jesus. Practical ways of being His hands and feet, salt and light to the “world” around us.

The problem I see is how we, churchy people, label missional living as something radical that only missionaries do or those crazy people who move to poor neighborhoods and say they are called to do. When in reality (God’s perspective) we are all called to live missionally. I am NOT saying that we are all called to be missionaries or sale our houses and move into a low-income areas to start a church! No not at all! ~Well some of us are probably called to do things like this if we are to be honest with our self.~ But for every single one of us we are “called” to love our neighbors, serve those in need, and live in a way that will point others to worship Jesus.

My question for each of us is, “What is one simple way we can start living missional today?”

Take a look at this article then ask where, who, how can I begin being missional. I would love to hear what step you are going to begin taking today towards missional living! Let’s start a movement of love, love that is in action!!!

This is my fb post regarding missional living. you can read it by going to my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/spanky.rouse

Fun in the sun

Posted on February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

Last Saturday we saw the weather forecast for the next day and it looked beautiful. Still a little chilly but warmer than normal and full of sunshine! If you don’t know, the Rouse’s do not enjoy the winter months! It is almost torture for us mostly because we just hate being cold all of the time. Along with the cold we hate having to be inside all the time. Since it is cold outside we stay bundled up inside which can make us a little crankier than normal.

The Rouse House picnicking Romare Bearden Park downtown CLT

**Before all of you northern folks start in, we know that our winter isn’t as bad as most but it is cold enough for us. We realize that we are big babies so no need to comment ;)**

Last weekend the forecast was warmer than normal and with a whole lot of sunshine, therefore we planned to be outside as much as we could. After church Lara, being the most awesomeness wife and mommy, planned for us to have a picnic at one of our favorite parks which is downtown Charlotte (our whole family loves this city and loves being downtown so we do so as much as we can). It was such a good time! We ate lunch on a blanket, people watched (a favorite pastime for Lara and I), kicked the soccer ball around, cuddled, laid out on the grass, played a game of freeze tag, walked to find coffee (no coffee though, everywhere was closed! not the best part of the day), and laughed a lot.

Between the warm sunshine and family time this was just about as perfect as it can get! I like to say it was like good medicine that just refreshes every part of me. These are the times that are priceless and make the best memories.

Off to the races!

Posted on February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

This year is off to a fast start with a ton of really cool things in the making!

Billy and I at the gate of one of the largest Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand

I feel like I am starting to pick speed and understanding with my job and ministry roles at United World Mission. I don’t feel as much like the new guy who has no idea what is going on, which is very comforting. Since I returned home from Thailand (I will be writing some more about my time and experiences there later on) I have a deeper sense of who our field missionaries are and what we are doing in the way of work/ministry. In my first couple of months I felt a bit lost trying to catch up on who and what is going on around the world but now feel like I have a better handle on things…at least in Asia because I went to the Asia Conference. I am planning on writing up some stories and bios in the next few weeks on these unbelievable people who I get to serve with in Asia so be on the look out for those. You will want to know all that God is doing among some of the most unreached, really cool stuff.

Now I am looking to learn my African fields and missionaries so I can best serve them. In getting to know some of our leaders in East Africa via Skype I have been reminded how much I love Africa! Talking with them over the past couple weeks has spark so much excitement and conversation in the Rouse House about serving in Africa again together soon. We just can’t get away from the cool God stuff that is happening and could happen in that wonderful place. We will see what God has in store in the days and years to come.

At home in Charlotte, I have been able connect with so many people from around the country that are interested in missions. I LOVE this part of my “job”. I get to talk with people about the passions, calling, and conviction to “GO” that He is putting in their hearts. My role is to encourage and coach them on when, where, how, and what…all radical life changing decision with radical world-changing possibilities. Some may wonder, as I did in the beginning days, how I am impacting the nations by not living overseas and being a field missionary. My answer today is, I may have one of the biggest impacts because I am apart of sending, training, preparing, encouraging, and inspiring ordinary people to go do extraordinary God work around the globe. That is absolutely THRILLING for me to think about!

this is the awesome team I get to work closely with…minus our fearless leader, Mark

I am also involved in some team development, Expansion opportunities (Opening up new countries or creating new ministries opportunities…this is so fun!), and Partnerships (local churches, ministries, organizations, etc). I love the flexibility to learn, grow, and be developed so that I can find what my sweet spot is and work with in my wheel house. UWM is a GREAT place to serve and work! I really do believe that I am so blessed!

As always, The Rouse House is extremely THANKFUL for each one of you that pray, support, and give to us so that we can do what He has called us to and be who he has created us to be!

If you would like to know how you can partner and support the Rouse House please click here. We are asking God for a handful of people to help fill the $500 a month need in our support raising budget so that as a family we can take advantage of more opportunities to serve in missions. We would love for YOU to pray and consider joining us.

Month: February 2015