logan mccormick, Christ-follower and new international missionary

I got the chance to sit down with Logan McCormick today. Logan just returned from an international missions trip to the closed country of Morocco. Logan joined with a group from the United States to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need in Morocco as well as look for opportunities to spread the Gospel.

Q: Logan, what most surprised you about Morocco? Probably the culture. It was my first time out of the country and first cross culture missionary trip. So the idea of being in a strange place, with a different people group, with different preferences, religions, foods, customs..all of it was extremely eye opening.

Q: What were some of the things you enjoyed the most in Morocco? Spending time with our team from the United States, learning their callings and backgrounds. Playing with the Morocco children, making them laugh even though I couldn't speak their language, walking on my hands to put on entertainment, just overall trying to be a servant and an example of Christ.

Q: How much is the gospel needed in Morocco? Horrible! 99% are Muslim, 5 times a day people are worshipping, praying to a dead false God. People who are Christ-followers face death for converting to Jesus. It is overwhelming. It is really hard to understand.
Q: What did you feel like God taught you or revealed to your heart in Morocco? He taught me to have patience. I wanted to change the community in one trip, but I have to trust in His direction and care. I need to be thankful for my family and place to live. I need to be more aware of the work of Christ in the world.
Q: Let us know about some of your teammates/co-workers in Morocco... I enjoyed spending time with some leaders from our church, learning from other leaders and cross cultural missionaries...learning from people who have literally given decades of years in foreign places for the sake of the gospel is inspiring.
Q: Any last thoughts? I just want to thank everyone that financially supported me and prayed for me. It wasn't easy for my family to let me go. I'm praying that God will encourage and repay everyone who helped me go on this trip of a lifetime, hopefully I will get even more opportunities like this one!
-thanks Logan-Casey Cariker

taking the gospel to the nations...for here and forever

I (Casey) ran across this story from one of our missionaries and our missionary team (a few from Rejoice Church) who recently did a great work in the Ivory Coast of Africa. This is amazing that they are bringing hope for here and hope for eternity! Read below... Every year there is something that stands out in our 10 days in Doropo in the NE corner of CI with the project Save-A-Life, an outreach of THP. This year was no different.

Each day started with hundreds gathering over at the hospital, awaiting the morning arrival of the medical team, hoping that they would be one of the "lucky" ones who would be chosen to be treated and/or operated on by the visiting doctors from America. Every day they waited hours in the heat…patiently, some not so patiently….but waiting….and waiting.

And each day, I, as the team leader for the medical team, would line up the patients, and choose those cases from the scores, who the doctors would see… those who would be operated on as the doctors examined them and gave their input. It was not an easy task.

As I would step out into the waiting room or roped off area outside of the hospital, hordes of people would hold up their small, registration papers, or push a child with a health problem in front of me. Others would grab my arm, speaking in my face….all were desperate to receive this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for treatment that they could never receive or afford if we had not come. For some, next year, if we did come back, would be too late.

The morning of the last full day of surgeries... This morning my heart was heavy because I already knew I had too many surgeries scheduled….I was only hoping….

But as I stepped into the inside courtyard of the hospital, the African head nurse stopped me. "We have an urgent case, Maman. Can you come see it?" An older, half-naked man lay on one of the plastic covered mattresses in a small, dirty patient room. He was curled up in gripping pain, a strangulated hernia, and an imminent death certain without the intervention of our general surgeon.

All of our scheduled patients were forgotten as our doctor and the nurses prepared the humble operating room and the suffering patient for surgery. At the end of four hours, a man's life was saved. And finally, reluctantly, I moved to tell those waiting patiently on the benches that, this year, they would not get the needed operation. "I am so sorry we can't operate on all of you. We wish we could. But I want you to know this: we haven't come because we are making money on these operations. We are here because God sent us. This year you won't be able to get this free surgery. But there is something much more important that we are here to offer you that is free…that is God's love…."
Over and over the Lord's love was shown and spoken to the crowds as they waited for the free medical care. Sixty-six received a life-changing operation, in the villages hundreds received the free medical care …..and praise God, 189 received His free gift of salvation. Are you sending people "to the nations" with the resources God has given you? Are you willing to "go" until God says "stay"? -Casey C.

hanna project/rejoice partnering to take the gospel across the world

Here are some last thoughts as our team from Rejoice returns from their work
with the Hanna Project in Africa....

So that is why we have been here. We've addressed a bunch of medical
needs. We've helped people to see. We've shared a smile and a Bon
Bon (piece of candy). All that for what? To make us feel good? Yes!
To ease pain? Yes! To improve life a little for a short while? Yes!
To show there is more to the human spirit than meets the eye?
Absolutely! As we partnered along side the African pastors and
churches they have served as more than just translators and
communicators, they have loved people. They have had an evangelistic
campaign going out to villages at night during the time we have been
here. Tonight it was reported that during our time in the region they
have seen the Lord work and 189 Africans have made a solid decision to
accept Christ and make Him Lord. It would take days to explain what a
serious step that is here in regard to your life afterward. We
rejoice that doing our part has contributed to this victory for the
Kingdom.
Have you considered partnering with the Hanna Project? What about taking some risk and going to "the nations" to tell them the good news of Christ? How could you share the good news with those who are closest to you?

rejoice church doing missions in pakistan

Rejoice Church's own, Fran Wood, arrived in Pakistan this week. Many of you have been praying for your as she travels, meets new friends on the other side of the world, and shares the compelling gospel of grace to those who are in need. So far her trip has gone well, the response to the first ever women's conference has been overwhelming and the need is great. Fran is speaking later this week on forgiveness and has now been asked to prepare an extra message for the hundreds of women who will be attending. One of the greatest gifts was receiving two burka's from her new Christian friend in Pakistan. Make sure to take some time to pray for Fran and the rest of the global missions team as they share the joy that can only be found in Christ! - casey c.

pray for fran wood and her mission trip to pakistan

Rejoice Church has always been a church that sends and go to the whole world to tell them about the love of Christ. This past Sunday we had the opportunity to collectively pray for Fran as she leaves this week to Pakistan. Fran will be working with "global x" as they lead out the first ever women's conference in the history of Pakistan. Fran will be teaching on the subject of forgiveness. Also pray for her husband Kevin and her daughters Jordan and Jessica while Fran is gone. Kevin and Fran have been married for 23 years. Kevin works in operations at Sinclair in Tulsa and Fran oversees the financials at Rejoice Church. The thing that most excites them about Rejoice Church and the launch of the south campus is "that so many people love to serve and give to others!"

Have you ever been on a mission trip overseas? Take some time out this week to pray for Fran as she travels! -casey cariker

rejoice student ministry continues homeless ministry during cold weather

This past weekend, a huge number of students from Rejoice Church continued their homeless ministry by preparing needy people for the cold weather. Between our 60 students and Airport FWB Church's 20 students, they handed out almost 100 backpacks with gloves, scarves, blankets, and anything else that will make someone warm during this cold Christmas season. Many of our friends downtown commented that this was a huge need especially since John 3:16 and the Salvation Army beds were full and downtown Tulsa has been eliminating some of their homeless shelters. I'm so thankful for teenagers and adults who care to give to people who will never be able to give in return! How do you plan on giving this Christmas? Who could you give too that could never pay you back?