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Looking Back - Monday, July 26, 2010 - Largo, Florida, USA

I'm sitting with a warm cup of tea, trying to wrap my head around 3 months of traveling and ministry in Europe. Last Thursday I arrived home. It was bizarre to think that less than 24 hours ago I had been hauling luggage onto the tube station at Russell Square in the heart of London. As soon as I got back the obvious questions were asked, but suddenly I realized I didn't quite know how to answer them: how was your time? ; what was your favorite part?

This last blog post is my attempt to consolidate the story to let everyone know what God has done in me and through me during this time. In a word the lesson I've learned is "Apostleship." Even before I left for England I had been serving at a camp in Romania back in March. There I spent time with a man named Lee Seville. He is a British lawyer turned Christian missionary. Many years ago he left England for a tiny Romanian community near Arad. Since arriving he has helped serve the community there and built a team of Christians to grow the influence of love and compassion in the lives of people surviving on far less than most of us would even consider manageable. He was the first to begin teaching and showing me what it means to be an apostle.

Apostles are essentially what we now call missionaries. The language is a bit twisted these days. We say that "everyone is a missionary." The truth, however, is that not everyone is called as an apostle. The word roughly means "one who is sent." In practice, even in the early church, an apostle was one spiritually gifted to bring Christ into an area, not because the latest survey data suggests that neighborhood A fits the profile of a community likely to be attracted to what the sponsoring church offers, but because the Spirit says to go there. The way Lee described it was like a man walking through the countryside. As he walked God told him to spread some seeds in the field to his side even though it wasn't where he was headed. A few years went by and wildflowers started to blossom and grow in that field. A pastor came walking through and noticed the flowers. He was a gardener and instantly felt God calling him to gather these wildflowers together and bring order to the life that had been sown by the apostle.

This picture illustrates the basic idea of an apostles role as opposed to a pastor. Apostles go out and pastors gather in. This sometimes means that in a church an apostle and a pastor will be at odds if they do not understand each others' roles as well as their own gifting. During my time in Europe I met many apostles. I saw creative, passionate, energetic people who were spiritually empowered to go out into communities, sometimes alone, and bring the kingdom of God to life there. There seem to be many distinct struggles that pop up in apostolic ministry. Accountability, support, and personal spiritual discipline can be harder to maintain when you're called to live away from the large Christian communities most of us take for granted. That's another reason that apostles/missionaries have to be called to their appointed task.

Ron and Ruth Berger are part of Youth for Christ's missionary support team. They have been so helpful to the process for me. It was their guidance to tell me that when God calls someone to a work he also provides the supernatural power to complete it. For me that basically meant that my calling or lack thereof would be confirmed by spiritual fruit produced in it - my patience, energy to work, and insight into the heart of the ministry. I have been in a season of spiritual discipline and prayer. While my time with the Single Airmen Ministry in particular was very enjoyable and growing, I am certain that this is not my calling...at least for the time being. It's an odd thing to look at a ministry and on almost every count to know you're equipped to do it well but still know deep down that the Spirit of God is not leading you there. This is a huge lesson. It doesn't matter what human wisdom would say about examining your own skill sets and making your own decisions based on that. All that matters is where God's Spirit is moving. If I succeed on my own strength - I get the credit. If I trust in God's leading and serve even though I feel ill equipped - the credit is God's.

My last couple of weeks in Europe I stayed with Gerry G in London. the G stands for Gerry because on his passport they had to westernize his Indonesian name. He has been living, working, and studying in London for 4 years. Recently he lost his job, and is now threatened with losing his visa and facing deportation. He has a month to either find work or find another country to move to. Terrorism is high back in Indonesia, and the last thing he wants is to have to go back there as a Christian. My last few days were spent driving up to Scotland with an Airmen named Reid Scott and Gerry. Gerry and Reid met at Hillsong church in London, where I served at Colour (see earlier post). It was a perfect wrap up to my trip. Here were two guys, neither living in their home country, facing all the challenges of life as a visitor. They have learned the culture, they enjoy the scenery, and the people, but there's something out of place about them. Both guys are struggling with questions about relationships. How can they start relationships when they don't know how long they will be there?

There's something about TCKs. They're often forced to live apart from the people they love most. There's a longing there that reinforces that "out of place" quality that living away from home brings. Really, it comes to the same thing. These people don't have a home - they have loved ones. Their homes have become scattered across dozens of different countries and continents. In some small way I understand how they most feel. I've made close friends in Europe that I will be lucky to see more than once every few years. The struggle for TCKs is to not let their hearts be hardened by that separation - to chose love even when it's bittersweet. I believe there was something very real about Paul telling the church that even though he was not there in person that he was with them in Spirit. I have heard eye opening stories about miraculous workings of the Spirit that only confirm that belief. This has been my lesson, and this is my encouragement to any of you who follow Christ: I believe we are all Third Culture Kids who can never truly feel at home in this world; I believe we all face the choice of whether or not to accept and reciprocate the love of the God who waits for us behind the veil of this life. I'm a part of the post-modern generation, and the concept of home is very dear, if very confused, to me. This is the hope that I look for like a point of light breaking the horizon after a long night, that one day I will find the thousands of pieces of home that I have loved from a distance all over this world and the world beyond, will come together and my Jesus, like a door, will open for me and my Father will welcome me to my seat in his house.

Thank you so much to everyone who has given money, prayer, and thought to my journey with Youth for Christ in Europe. I hope you can sense the impact this time has had on me. It would be far more than I could write or than you'd care to read to tell all the stories of how people were blessed, myself included. Put it this way, I will be missed by the people I met, and I will be missing them.

I'll end with a brief story from my time in Heidelberg, Germany. Scott and Chelsea Luebke were my gracious hosts for my time serving with Club Beyond (the high school and middle school outreach on the US Army Post there). The summer was in full effect as we sweat through the setup of an afternoon cookout for the kids. I was able to share my music with them, and tell the stories behind some of my songs. Afterwards, one of the chaplains and his wife came up to me and thanked me for what I shared. In our conversation I was able to tell them a bit about my music, ministry, and working life. The called their daughter over who is also an inspiring musician so I could share with her what I shared with them. I tried to encourage her with her dream, but to trust that God's ability to use her in big ways could be much grander albeit different than she might first expect. The biggest thing was to work hard at every opportunity she had right them, and not miss them because she's so focused on the future. It's crazy how simply being the "musician" and standing up front suddenly gives you a voice in some peoples' lives. While the responsibility is far too much for me, I know that God will use me as much as I trust him to. The same goes for all of you.

Warmest regards and joy and peace from our God,

Scott Peeples

US Independence Day - Sunday, July 4, 2010 - Waterloo, Belgium

Life with Christopher O'Shaughnessy is a prime example of creating a ministry around your own gifts, passions, and talents using the opportunities at hand. My time with Chris in Belgium has shown me what the daily routine for a missionary can be like in the busy times and in the slow times. Chris's ministry is primarily being available. He's available to work with Youth Compass, a Christian missions organization focusing on international students and TCKs (Third Culture Kids). He's available to travel around the world speaking to TCKs and organizations that try to reach them. He's available to serve at the church which lets him live there for free. Missions and ministry do not very often fit neatly in a box. To serve effectively you must be adaptable and creative.

To give you an idea about the environment that these TCKs live in, let me tell you about the 4th of July. Boone is one of the high schoolers that Chris has worked with for years. That's Boone holding the football

The party host's son, Boone, starting up a game of football (American).

Boone's father, Greg, hosted one of the strangest 4th of July parties I've ever been to. Greg is from the south and has a strong southern accent. He also speaks fluent French. He lives in community with an assortment of consulates, ambassadors, high ranking executives, and Christian missionaries. To give you an idea of the diversity represented there, I played soccer with a guy from Ghana (pictured on the far left with boone), 3 Australians, and several American born kids now permanently living in Belgium. They offered fresh handrolled authentic sushi. There were diplomats from more countries than I have ever been to. It was very European. Rather than hotdogs and baked beans, we ate shrimp and couscous. Instead of hamburgers and ketchup, we ate chicken and rocket salad. At one point I was sitting in the shade with Boone and Chris watching a group of kids play soccer. Boone leaned over and pointed, "what's funny is they all speak English to each other, but that is none of their's first language."

Chris received his degree from Cambridge where he studied the sociology of TCKs. He himself grew up in a military family and traveled quite extensively. He has dual citizenship in the UK and US. His understanding of TCK culture is quite unique. Chris sees TCK culture as being a forerunner of emerging macro cultural trends. That is to say, TCKs look like what we will probably all look like in about 10 or 20 years. They are extremely independent, they are skeptical of the permanence of relationships, and their affiliation with any "home" country is tenuous at best. If you ask a TCK where they are from you'll often be greeted with a blank stare. To them it's an indication that you don't understand their life at all. Do you mean "where was I born?", "where did I live last?", "where are my parents from?", etc.

A line of new friends who probably share very little national connection.

The thing I took away from this experience was that despite our national differences; despite where I'm from, what language I speak, and where I've lived, I can connect with people from anywhere because I've learned to appreciate their culture and their background independent of my own. They do the same for me. This July 4th I celebrate the values that America stands for and its rich history (flawed as it is). It wasn't a day to look down on other countries and think America was in any way superior. It was a day to walk arm in arm with every other nation and appreciate the patchwork of our national identities and the part that the US plays in a much larger story. So, to all my friends and family back home (by which I mean Florida) and to all my countrymen, happy independence day. Let's thank God humbly for the blessings we have and ask his favor on our relationships with the rest of world. We are a global community - more so every day.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 - Brussels, Belgium

Hey guys. Things have been a blur the past few weeks. Since I last wrote I've been spending tons of time with airmen. There's a bit of a core group that is really involved with the SAM. We've been into London for a few day trips. England's first Chipotle opened in London and we made a trip in to visit. It was mostly Americans there eating with us. I don't think Brits quite grasp the concept of massive burritos and spicy salsa.

My last weekend with Micah we took a group of Airmen to Paris. Micah, having been there many times before, was able to be our complimentary tour guide around town. It was such a great chance to have one on one time with some of the guys (and girl) that came with us. Getting away from base definitely helps open up those relationships. It's also great to see these folks getting out and exploring England. Sadly, most of the airmen only visit London once or twice in two years of being stationed in Mildenhall. It's not far, and it's not expensive to make a trip there; they just tend to settle into a routine and never push themselves.

After getting back from Paris, Micah escorted me on a ferry across the English channel. From there we drove to Brussels to meet up with Chris O'Shaunessy and debrief about my time in England. Since being here I have had the chance to serve in the youth ministry that Chris and his ministry partner Londi Howard run. Mostly that means playing music for the various get-togethers they have, but also just spending time with the kids. In the off time Chris and I are able to talk through the Single Airmen Ministry. Part of my purpose in coming was to help them brainstorm and plan a growth strategy for the ministry. Many other bases are looking for programs like it.

I'm finding ministry is something you just have to make yourself available for - not so much something you purpose and achieve. Something about being out on the "mission field" makes you less focused on yourself; so, you're available to serve others. I wonder what would happen if we all worked on becoming other people's needs from moment to moment rather than just our own.

good things

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 - MCYM in Garmisch, Germany

Our hotel on base in Garmisch, Germany.

Last night Micah and I returned to Mildenhall, UK from a Military Community Youth Ministry (MCYM) conference in Garmisch, Germany. We stayed at a hotel on a US Army post sitting at the feet of Germany's tallest mountain. The conference brought together about 50 missionaries and staff from all over Europe for teaching, worship, business meetings, and breakout sessions. MCYM focuses on working with military high school and middle schoolers. Micah and I are not considered to fall under the MCYM umbrella, but being part of YFC, they're at least extended family.

Probably the most memorable part of the conference was something YFC does called Hellos and Goodbyes. Hellos: new missionaries and their families come up to the front and tell everyone their stories of how they got there, where they'll be serving, what they're scared/excited about, and how we can pray for them. Then one of them leaders comes up to pray for them and give them a few gifts. The goodbyes are just as touching. Missionary families come up and then everyone around the room shares favorite memories and things they value about that family's service.

There weren't a lot of dry eyes as people shared heartfelt gratitude for friendships, faithful service, and some even apologized for not being as supportive as they could. All this is to say that YFC seems to be not only a large international government contractor, but more importantly, a mom and pop kind of organization which puts relationships and personal values at the forefront.

I'll post pics and stories as they come in.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - Cinco de Mayo

We celebrate with homemade fajitas made with supplies bought at the commissary (on base grocery store). Afterwards we have bible study with about 10 airmen at the chapel. We're going through a study called Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll. Micah tells me how far some of these guys have come.

Monday, May 3, 2010 - First Break (check out COLOUR LONDON 2010 VIDEO BLOG #10, that first couple of ladies is Amanda, one of the airmen, and her mom at Coulor)

It's finally Monday which means the weekend didn't kill me. Micah, Chris (one of the airmen), and I left early Friday afternoon to head down to London. We drove about an hour to park our car in Epping - the last stop on the London Underground. From there we were able to ride into downtown and walk to our hotel in Kensington. The city is amazing. Cathedrals from the middle ages and even ruins from Roman occupation stand at attention side-by-side with modern office buildings on roads teeming with people of every nationality, creed, and fashion. The people are one of the most striking things about London. I thought the people-watching was good at Tampa International Airport, but this was a whole different level.

As breathtaking and conveniently close as London is, surprisingly, many airmen never bother to make the trip.

Micah's been telling me all about this ministry since I arrived. I'm having to learn British culture and military culture all at the same time. One thing that epitomizes the Single Airmen Ministry is having to mediate between different worlds. Micah's showing me how part of his role in helping airmen stay healthy includes introducing them into British culture. England, and especially London, however, houses so many other cultures that Micah must also show them how to interact with a culture they know nothing about. This weekend was a great example of that.

Hillsong United began in Sydney, Australia as a movement of worship driven church. That ministry has birthed much of the popular contemporary worship we use today (think of the Passion worship leaders like Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, and Charlie Hall except for the rest of the world). Hillsong has planted a church in London which now annually hosts Colour Conferences for women. These two day events reach out to Christian women encouraging, equipping, and edifying them with an intense time of worship, teaching, and fellowship. There aren't many female airmen, but one of our girls, Amanda, was attending the event with her mother. So, Micah and I, along with 4 other airmen went down to serve on the volunteer staff. For the 3400 women attending the conference there were about 400 men volunteering to serve them. We held doors, greeted, answered questions, and generally tried to be gentlemen.

The last night, for instance, as the ladies were leaving we handed out roses wearing tuxes and suits.

It was a non-stop, feet-tiring, fire-alarm at 2 AM (whole different story) kind of weekend and I'm glad to be back in Mildenhall. We slept in a bit today to rest up for the week ahead. Check out my facebook to see pictures as they're posted.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - Arrival

So here I sit in the "Ballroom" of the "Faulty Flats" in Mildenhall, UK. Most things here associated with the Single Airmen Ministry have special names given in love for their quirkiness. I've spent the day with Micah after flying from Orlando to Dublin to London. Micah's been sharing with me about the ministry and some of the idiosyncrasies of life with the US Air Force in England. So far I've lunched in Cambridge, bought a cell phone (called a top off phone which basically works like a rechargeable calling card), and settled into my room at the Faulty Flats. Most of the airmen have keys to get into the Flats, so Micah warned me not to be surprised if there are random people in the kitchen making tea in the mornings. The thought for the day is "jet lag," and I'm very excited to try out these English beds. Thanks to everyone who helped get me here. I'm looking forward to sharing more with you as things begin to unfold!

Wednesday January 13, 1010 - Adjusting

After some serious prayer, counsel, and deep reflection with my supervisor in CO I am now planning to go to UK for a 3 month discernment period starting April 27th. This will serve the purpose of confirming God's calling there and providing me with more material to share with sponsors and friends. Keep me and the ministry in your prayers!

Thursday May 28, 2009 - Relocating

Once I was located in Largo, FL. Soon I will be located in Mildenhall, UK, Lord willing.