Uncategorized – Page 10 – The Rousehouse

Visiting a missional community

Posted on March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 by Spanky Rouse

Last week I went on a trip with a co-worker of mine to Athen, GA. If you are like me the only thing you know about Athens is that it is the home of the UGA Bulldogs and some of you may know Athens Church too. (this is a pretty great North Point and Ridge Church partner church) But there is something really cool happening in this college town that most don’t know about. There is a movement happening, a movement of God and it has the potential to change the world!

The reason for our trip to Athens was to visit with some potential ministry partners of United World Mission. At UWM we love and live by the idea that we can reach the world with the Gospel and love of Jesus through partnering with other organizations, churches, groups, families, universities, etc. We love this concept of the “Church” working together so we all work trying to find and create new partnerships around the world.

In Athens there are a couple of really cool ministries or groups of people that are making a huge impact on missions by reaching international students on the UGA campus…the nations are coming to us! One of these partners that I was meeting with, Launch Global, is taking the idea of missional community and running with it! They are moving into neighborhoods, intentionally building friendships with internationals, and seeking out ways to serve them, love them, spend time with them, and share Jesus with them. Many in these groups are learning foreign language like Japanese and hanging out at Islamic centers! These people have devoted hearts for missions, the missions they are running after just happens to be their next door neighbor.

While I was there I had the opportunity to go to one of their weekly gathering where they study the bible, worship, and share stories of how they have seen God use them in the past week. POWERFUL! They then write every name on this large board of someone they are trying to make friends with or are disciplining. With 20+/- people who are a part of this group I read 143 names they pray specifically for each week. Some of these names were from some of the most unreached countries in the entire world. Places that you will be killed for speaking the name of Jesus. You want to talk about reaching the most unreached and loving those that are far from God, this group is doing it everyday!

My takeaways were seeing just how intentional this group were with their daily lives and using every moment and interaction to allow Jesus to shine through to their world. This experience was inspiring. Inspired me to consider how God wants to intentionally use me everyday to love this world and let others know who this amazing God is through my life.

Please pray for this Launch community as they love, serve, and lead others to Jesus! Also, pray that God will make you aware of the mission field that He has put in front of you today.

December 2014

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

During this time of the year most of us are celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, enjoying some down time, and looking toward to the new year.

This year during December I have been reflecting more than ever with a new sense of clarity, eyes wide open one may say. This year has been a bit taxing on the mental, emotional, and spiritual side of life for the Rouse House. Life has been good but on the inside it has been a little more than we would wish to have carried. Let’s just say transitions are tough, even good changes can be hard. On the bright side, I know that we have grown in our relationship with Christ and discernment for His will for our life and ministry. I would not be honest if I didn’t at least say God has blessed us more this year than any other year, for real! Our children are incredible, we are healthy, life is exciting, and ministry is ramping up. God is up to good things in the Rouse House!

With the thought of the new year, I am growing with excitement with the sense of what God is building with in the hearts and dreams of the Rouse House. So much good; good probably isn’t the best word to use because I have come to learn that His plans are not merely good but UNBELIEVABLE. Lara and I have began talking through some of these crazy God size dreams. Dreams and ideas that revolve around missional living. Don’t get me wrong, with dreams come plenty of fears. My thought is, we shouldn’t continue in the ordinary just to have a life of comfortableness, but to take a step into the extraordinary to experience the fullness of this life, is the true meaning of life! The life He is offering to us who dare follow (John 10:10). What does it look like for us to be living “missionally”? We don’t really know the specifics but we do know that it is taking the opportunities we have and living in away that people, families, and communities are changed. Living life in a way that is pleasing to God through our faith and loving others in a way they may know Him more. I am sure we will be able to share more in the days to come so stay tuned.

This new year I am so excited to jump deeper into my role at UWM (United World Mission). I have been loving it so far! I have had the privilege to start the connection with people that have a passion for what God is doing in the nations, help build and create local partnerships, and seek new opportunities to for UWM to serve. I can not believe the amazing world changers I have been able to meet and get to know thus far. People from the poorest areas of Charlotte to the largest cities in China. The stories they have one could write a book about!!! I am honored to call this a job!

January 1 I will be heading to Thailand for 2 weeks (what a way to start the new year!). I get to be a part of our Asia Conference with UWM and get to meet missionaries from all over that region. I can not wait to tell the stories from that trip! I will try to post regularly during then too. The majority of my time will be working but I do have a wish list of things I hope t to do while I am in Thailand. Just a few of them are visiting the lying Buddha in Bangkok, take a river taxi, visit the floating market, and take a ride on an elephant (believe me I will post a few pics of this one).

In February we will be tackling some big projects at our local ministry at Piney Grove Elementary. The school has received a new grant to improve certain areas of the school and asked if we could provide the workers. I am so glad we will be able to be apart of rebuilding a food pantry and clothing pantry for those who may need it! We would love to have you come volunteer with us if you are local. More details to come.

We have much more on the horizon for 2015 so please stay tuned by following us. We would also love your prayers for our family as we keep pursuing God’s desire for who He has created us to be and what He has called us to do.

Love the Rouse House, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Going through the fire

Posted on March 29, 2012November 20, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

There is a price to pay for being in ministry, becoming the leader God wants me to be, and living out the purpose for which God created me for. In Daniel Chapter 3 we see that these 3 friends had to pay a price too. In the end it was sooo worth it but during the process many times it was unbearable and hopeless. It took a really BIG faith in God, Really BIG courage, and an understanding of God’s character to stay the course. They knew that God was for them and that He had control of every step and every breath (Daniel 5:23) of their lives so they could rely on God even when things got “heated”. (Daniel 3:17-18)

Just to be honest I never realized just how tough and taxing the “job” of being in ministry was until now. It can seem like it’s killing you but I’m not alone.Elijah, Moses, and Jonah all found their selves in situation that God had allowed them to be in that seemed too difficult to handle. This life is hard but completely worth it!

I listened to a podcast the other day of Perry Noble, pastor of New Springs Church, talking about going through the fire. He was talking about the benefits Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego received from going through this, what would normally seem like a horrible experience. He made one point that has stuck in my heart. When in the fire you recognize the presence of God like never before. Here is the thing, His presences is bigger than my problem and more powerful than the fire! When going through the fire, if we ask for and look for His presence we will be able to walk out the other side and probably walk out better than how we entered. “Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His presence continually.” Ps 105:4

Moments

Posted on July 1, 2010November 20, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

Have you ever had those moments when you can not help but to recognize that God is real and alive? I am so glad that He blesses us with those moments ever now and then to remind us that He is here and near. I think of times when I have been blessed to see the sun rise on a roar river in the jungles or over the African plan. Amazing and astonishing moments in life always raises awareness of this awesome and beautiful God but what about those simple but powerful times in life.

I have had two moments recently that were simple but I could not help but to see God. One of them was a few weeks ago while we were enjoying one of our favorite things to do on Sunday evenings. Sitting on the front porch while the sun sets. The sounds of the guitar, laughter, and summer noises accompanied with small talk and a beautiful sky. What a moment! That is the picture of God’s people enjoying Him and community. Beautiful!

Another simple but powerful moment was one morning after family prayer time. Lara, Mac, Grey, and me were praying for good weather so we could go outside and enjoy the day at the beach because it looked like rain was coming. When we opened the door a few minutes later the sun was shinning bright and Mac walked out side and said something that I will never forget. With confidence he said, “Gloria a Dios!”. Which means “Glory to God!” He smiled and said,”Was that right daddy?” With a huge smile and joy bursting inside of me I told him that that was absolutely perfect!

Look for Him in the simple but amazing moments in today.

Gabriela

Posted on April 28, 2010November 20, 2014 by Spanky Rouse

I was thinking today about a very special lady that I meet in the mountains of Veraguas in the central part of Panama. Her name is Gabriela and she is so full of life and joy that everyone that is near her quickly become full of laughter. I meet her one day while we were out visiting families in their homes for discipleship, relationship building and evangelism. It was about lunch time and we had been hiking from hut to hut for the past 3 hours when me, my translator, and a local christian came up to this store in the middle of no where. There was a young boy that was running the store but he said his mom was just behind the store at home. We walked around back to talk to her but the only house that I saw was at the bottom of this mountain and I could barely see it through the thickness of the jungle. My translator looked at me with a look like, “seriously are we going to do this?” and I am sure I had the same look on my face. I said you ready let’s do this.

We started down this ridiculously steep mountain thinking the whole way, we still have to come back up this thing today. We get to this house and a lady that looks like she is in her late 30’s is running around washing clothes and cleaning up around the house says come on in and sit down. So we do but she keeps up her sprinting and working like a crazy person all at the same time she is laughing and talking a mile a minute. After being there for only 10 minutes she says she wants us to go back up the mountain to the store to spend some time talking with her. After resting for a few minutes we started back up this mountain. The locals were even sweating and breathing hard so you know that I was about to die.

We make it back and she comes running up after us. She wanted to know all about my family, life back in the US, and why I was here in her village. We talked for about an hour about everything. I found out that she was actually in her 60’s, she has 11 children, she cooks for all of the children in the village at the school, and that she is a big influence in the community. This is the kind of person that can make a huge difference so we were excited to share the good news of Jesus with her and teacher her how to use a bible. Gabriela did not openly received Christ at that moment but she said that she knew that this was truth and that she needed to share this with her family especially her husband.

I believe that Gabriela is going to be a great influencer in her community with the good news. i know that I think about my time with her often and it influences me to have a spirit and attitude of joy. She doesn’t know how much of an impact her time of talking, laughing, and listening was on me and the others there. I pray that I will bless others today with laughter, smiles, time spent listening, and relationship building. Gabriela taught me that relationships are what is important today not how much I can get done.