My Unsung Heroes!

Here's a recent picture of our launch team (about 6 people are missing). God is so cool for providing so many people who are sold out to the mission of Verve. These people are my heroes. Many of them have moved across the country, left jobs, homes and families to join us! Lots of them haven't found jobs or places to live yet.

As the leaders of this thing it's a little intimidating. These people have sacrificed so much to move here. I can't help but think about things like, "What if this church folds within a year? What if they move here and their life gets worse? What if they don't find jobs? And on and on..." Although these are thoughts I sometimes battle, they aren't true. God has called them here. They have followed God in obedience, not Vince or Jen. God will meet their needs. Verve is God's church, not ours.

We've already had people move here and either go back home or decide not to be part of Verve. This is really hard on me. I feel responsible and guilty (even though I have no reason to feel this way). I know God is in control. I can see that God had a plan for them moving here. And sometimes I can even see that He had a plan for moving them back.

I think the issue behind this is faith and trust. Do I trust God enough? Do I trust that God is working in these people's lives no matter what it might look like? Do I trust that He can use this as a positive experience, despite the sacrifice?

Would you do me a favor and pray for these unsung heroes? Thank you!

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Party

My Pampered Chef party went great! 5 of my neighbors ended up coming, which was sort of disappointing, but also exciting at the same time. I had never even met 3 of them. Everyone commented on how awesome it was to meet each other. One of the girls invited us all to her house on August 1st. How cool is that?

My quest for a part-time job has ended because I signed up to be a Pampered Chef Consultant. I've always been against any kind of home-based business because of the whole "pastor's wife" label and not wanting anyone to feel pressured by me. One of my good friends, who is a pastor's wife, sells jewelry in Virginia and she does an amazing job at keeping the two separated. I've learned a lot from her on boundaries.

The main reason why I signed up was because 4 of my neighbors want to host shows in the next month. I will have the opportunity to go into their homes and meet all of their friends! Talk about an incredible experience.

If you sell Pampered Chef and you have any advice about anything can you leave a comment?

Please pray that God uses this job as an opportunity to build lots of new relationships. And also that I don't suck...I'm not exactly a cook (my daughter loves to tell people that I don't cook for her and that the only time there is a full meal on the table is when "company" is over!) It's sad, but true. Thanks!

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Back From Camp...

We're back from the Mien Camp in California. It was awesome! The campground is in the middle of a forest, which was especially exciting for someone like me who is sick of desert brown! I've never admired trees so much in my life.

One of the Mien girls asked if she could talk to me about Verve and what we're doing in Vegas. We never really got around to the topic because we started talking about sex trafficking in Thailand. She went on a mission trip to Thailand because of her desire to help. Thailand is a major "hub" for trafficking. It was an awesome conversation and hopefully we can connect more in the future.

I'm in the middle of a book called "The Natashas: Inside the New Global Sex Trade." It's eye-opening and informative. The more I learn, the more I feel God calling me in this area.

We got to spend time with Leslie Seaman and Cori Bates from Forefront. It's so good to connect with old friends. Cori and her husband are moving to Thailand to become missionaries later this year. How cool is that?

One of the Mien adults just got out of prison a few months ago for killing someone in an opposing gang. It was so cool to talk to him and see how God changed him in prison. Another of my passions in life is prison ministry. I've been involved in various prison ministries over the years. Here's a little known fact about Jen Antonucci: Growing up I wanted to be a prison warden. Yep, it's true!!!! Absurd, and true!

Wednesday is my neighborhood Pampered Chef Party. Only 3 of 18 girls has RSVP'd. Please pray that more than 3 neighbors show up! Thanks!

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Mien Youth Camp

In 2001 our church adopted the Mien people group. They are a group of people who live in the mountains of Southeast Asia. We made a commitment at that time to reach them with the gospel. It's been an amazing 8 years...God has done some awesome stuff!

When communism began in Southeast Asia in the mid-70's many Mien people escaped to America. They moved into cities throughout the US and tried to hold onto as much of their culture as possible.

My family is headed to California tomorrow morning to go to the Mien Youth Camp. Several Mien churches come together once a year for a week of camp for their middle and high school-aged kids. In 2007 the four of us were able to go and we are so excited to attend the camp again this year.

Vince is speaking several times and I plan on doing as much counseling as I can with the girls. Please pray for us. These kids face enormous obstacles in their daily lives. Most of them live in inner cities where gangs, violence and crime are the norm. Most of their parents don't speak English and they're trying to preserve as much of the Mien culture as they can. If you've seen the movie "Gran Torino" you'll get a glimpse into their lives. The neighbors of Clint Eastwood are from a similar people group called the Hmong.

Thanks for praying!

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Meeting Update

It all started when Jackie's friend's teenage daughter was a victim of sexual slavery. Feeling alone and depressed the young girl was approached in a mall by a young man who offered her a job cleaning offices at night. The girl felt like he was trustworthy and agreed to meet him with her friend at an office complex. They cleaned some offices and he gave them cash, telling them to come back the next night for more work. Her friend couldn't make it, so she found a way to the office complex on her own. She was kidnapped and drugged. They were prepping her for a transfer to Southeast Asia, where she would be sold into sexual slavery.

By the grace of God they caught her and her accomplices at the Las Vegas airport 3 days after she was taken.

From this horrible situation Jackie started C.A.S.S. (Christians Against Sexual Slavery).

I had a great meeting yesterday! I'm going to join the committee for C.A.S.S. once they resume meeting in the fall. I was able to get the names of some local people and organizations to contact.

Thanks for praying! As I was preparing for the meeting I thought, "Who am I? What am I doing? I'm a stay-at-home Mom, for Pete's sake! What in the world do I have to offer?" God quickly dispelled that crap and I was able to move forward. I'll keep you posted on all this!

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Meeting

Please pray for me today at 2pm. I have a meeting with a ministry that works with victims of sexual slavery.

Thanks!

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I've Been Carjacked?

A perfect stranger just drove away in my minivan...

Vince has a new book coming out in February called, "Guerrilla Lovers." The premise of the book is that as Christians we need to love people in a way that surprises them. Guerrilla warfare is a type of warfare where you "sneak attack" your enemy (think Vietnam War). In the same way we need to "attack" people with God's love. It's an awesome book that's challenging and inspiring.

So when was the last time you loved someone in such a way that shocked them; that made them question your sanity? A love with no strings attached and no creepy motives...

I came home from the gym this morning and found an old man in the street by my house. We said hello and I headed up my driveway. He stopped me in my tracks and said, "Do you have any jumper cables?" I thought I did so I started to look in my trunk. Once I found them I brought them over to him where I saw a younger girl working on her car. She asked if I could jump start her car. After several tries it wouldn't work. Her battery was deader than dead.

She was totally frazzled and upset. She had to bring her Uncle (the old man) to the bus station and her car was dead. Without even thinking I said, "Why don't you take my car?" She said, "What? I don't even know you!" (She just moved into the neighborhood with her cousin this past weekend) I said, "I don't care, you need to take him to the bus station and you need to buy a new battery, so take my car!" She finally agreed, jumped in and drove off. As I walked away she said, "The world needs more people like you in it."

What could you do this week to show someone God's love in a really practical way? Could you make cookies for your neighbor? Could you buy your garbage man a gift card to Home Depot? Could you shower your kids' teacher with presents for no reason?

People will think you are crazy. They will wonder what in the world you've been smoking! Even Vince questioned my sanity when I told him about my car. But it's worth it anyway! So here's your assignment. Do something Guerrilla Lover-ish this week and tell us about it in the comment section on this post.

Happy Guerrilla Loving!

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