So I will have to give some really intentional thought to how I will express all that took place over the past twelve days. The landscape, the discernment of future partnerships, the atrocity of genocide, the extreme poverty, the ingenuity of the Rwandan people, their steadfast hope, peace, authenticity, warmth and entreprenureal spirit. There is much to share. And pictures to post too! I guess I probably need a week or so to collect all of my thoughts and then I’ll start sharing some of the more significant moments.

Until then, the team posted a video collage of pictures at www.manchesteronthemove.com. I have also linked the youtube post below.

Among the many experiences that we had today, I am most taken by the joy of worship that exudes from the Rwandan Church. We have had the opportunity now to visit with several of the Harvest Churches. Each church has welcomed us as guests of honor, and invited us as friends into their worship experience. Today especially was marked by the joy and excitement of worship as we gathered at Penuel Church, sheltered from the rain to celebrate the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father.

If you described ‘worship’ as an unreserved dependence upon the goodness of God, then you would begin to discover the authenticity of the Rwandan Church. Those following Christ here sing with such conviction, with passion and sincerity. To quote some words that John Cassetto expressed following the first trip in August, they sing “as if their lives depended upon it.” And in one sense, they do.

If you know just even a fraction of Rwanda’s history, you know that it is a nation whose past is shrouded by the darkness and pain of genocide. Only 14 years ago, neighbors became enemies, even to the point of death, because the fullest extent of pride was acted out. One would think that this would be a people captured by anger, resentment and revenge. But I have experienced, remarkably, just the opposite to be true. Because of Christ, people here are choosing forgiveness, love and peace. They are reconciling with those whom they once feared. They are worshipping with those who they once pursued in hate. It is the most amazing display of unreserved dependence upon the goodness of God I have ever seen.

Whether at the Penuel Church with the joy of the ‘Come to Jesus’ choir or the ‘Shalom Choir’ that shares a building with the Bethsaida HIV/AIDs Association or the beautiful voice and dance at Zarephath Church, we are surrounded here by a chorus of hope committed to living the kinds of lives that express reconciliation and peace.

It is my joy to learn from the depth of faith that is evident in those following Christ throughout Rwanda. I am hopeful that in the future I can return the blessing and love that I am receiving here – if only in part. While there is much to be done to support and encourage the work of the local church here, there is much more to be learned. I am certain our personal discoveries and contributions will combine to strengthen our love for God and people in every corner of life – at home and abroad!

Thank you for your continued prayers! Our team is grateful for you!

Blessings,

Josh 

Yesterday we met with the P.E.A.C.E steering committee at the Rwanda PEACE office (ironically located next to President Paul Kigami’s office – the white house of Rwanda). It was a great meeting, with much clarity provided. We continued our meeting that evening with ‘Bob’ from Saddleback. Bob is leading many of the initiatives throughout the country. We learned much and feel like we gained some significant clarity for how MCC will continue to partner with the local church through out Rwanda! Thank you for praying. We will have many details to share when we return home.

We will spend the rest of our time in Rwanda visiting some of the many great works that are being accomplished here….continuing to listen, learn and discern how we might partner in the future!

Ways to Pray…

-          Pilar and Stef Cassetto will travel home tomorrow. Please pray for travel mercies.

-          We hear our kids are doing really well back home. Thanks for you many prayers for them. Please continue to seek God for them while we are away!

-          That God would direct our steps these next few days…that we would find ourselves in locations that will directly benefit our future as a church!

I am really sorry that I am only now able to update you. The internet connection is sparce at best and intermittently comes and goes. When we have connection, we will do our very best to send updates.

Yesterday afternoon was pretty emotional. We had the opportunity to visit with a ministry of the Harvest Church called “Bethsaida.” It is an association of women and men who are suffering from HIV/AIDs. Many of those who participate in the association live and work at the residence. Together they weave baskets, sew dresses and make other clothing to make the income necessary to sustain their lives as they battle this disease. I can not fully express what I feel as a result of that encounter. I am struck by their courage. I am struck by their peace. I am struck by their efforts. I am struck by their love. More than once I was moved to tears considering their reality. What moved me most was to look among these remarkable people and watch scores of their children run and play in our midst. Children who will face the pain of loss long before they should. Children who will be forced to learn how to cook and work and toil when they should be laughing, jumping and skipping rope. It is the sobering reality of the destruction that accompanies HIV/AIDs. It is an unspeakable horror.

However, the hope that was present in that room was supernatural. The association provides them with housing, limited nutrition, life skills that create income and mostly, dignity. In a culture that would likely assign them scorn – Bethsaida reminds them that they are children of God, within the loving reach of a compassionate Heavenly Father!

I think I will have more to share about this experience after some time passes and thoughts settle. For now, I would invite you to pray for the efforts being made through the ministry of the Bethsaida HIVAIDs Association!

Love you all!

Josh

So sorry that I have not been able to post more frequently since I arrived. The internet connection here is sparce at best and often comes and goes without much notice. When it is available, our team does as diligent a job as possible making connection with everyone back home.

This afternoon was pretty emotional. We had the opportunity to visit with a ministry of the Harvest Church called “Bethsaida.” In short, it is a destination of hope. Bethsaida is a small house that operates as an association of women and men who are suffering from HIV/AIDs. Many of those who participate in the association live and work at the residence. Together they weave baskets, sew dresses and make other clothing to make the income necessary to sustain their lives as they battle this disease. I can not fully express what I feel as a result of that encounter. I am struck by their courage. I am struck by their peace. I am struck by their efforts. I am struck by their love. More than once I was moved to tears considering their reality. What moved me most was to look among these remarkable people and watch scores of their children run and play in our midst. Children who will face the pain of loss long before they should. Children who will be forced to learn how to cook and work and toil when they should be laughing, jumping and skipping rope. It is the sobering reality of the destruction that accompanies HIV/AIDs. It is an unspeakable horror.

However, the hope that was present in that room was supernatural. The association provides them with housing, limited nutrition, life skills that create income and mostly, dignity. In a culture that would likely assign them scorn – Bethsaida reminds them that they are children of God, within the loving reach of a compassionate Heavenly Father!

I think I will have more to share about this experience after some time passes and thoughts settle. For now, I would invite you to pray for the efforts being made through the ministry of the Bethsaida HIVAIDs Association!

Love you all!

Josh Peigh

For the past year or so, I have joined many throughout Manchester Christian Church in seeking God for an increased awareness of the plight of the poor. It seems to be an appropriate quest for anyone seeking to experience life as if Jesus was living in your shoes. Jesus himself spent a significant portion of his earthly ministry among the poor. In fact, he himself came from modest beginnings and seemed to always have one eye and his whole heart turned to their plight throughout his life.

But this is such a contrast to the way I live.

It is in contrast to the way I pursue ministry. It is in contrast to the things that capture my attention on any given day. I guess I mostly identify with the cravings that I John 2:15-17 warns against – cravings of the flesh, of the many possessions that one can accumulate in life and, of course, a craving for approval motivated by pride. John clearly instructs that all such cravings are passing away. However, it is the man or woman who has learned to crave the things that please God who will discover eternal life  - both the kingdom kind of life in the here and now and for all of time in communion with God.

So for nearly a year now, I have been searching for that kind of life. Along the way, there have been moments of remarkable clarity and still other times when I am left confused, questioning or with an internal struggle because the gospel of the ‘American Dream’ that I know so well is being challenged.

On Monday, a years worth of searching takes on a new dimension. I will board a plane in Boston, MA headed for Kigali, Rwanda. During the more than 16 hours of flight, I will travel from the now to the not yet. From the prosperous American now, to the compassion, generosity and love that is not yet fully realized in my life.

I am hopeful that these next couple of weeks will begin to solidify more of ‘Christ in me’ that I have yet to know in my life. I am hopeful that I am up for the challenge. I am hopeful that I am prepared to embrace the many ways God may be looking to revolutionize my life, my family, my church and my world.

So what will I be doing in Kigali Rwanda? Good question. The best answer I can give you is: listen. I will spend several days in Kigali listening for direction and discernment – on behalf of my life, my family and my community of faith at Manchester Christian Church. Along with my wife and nine other team members, we will travel and meet pastors, victims of HIV/AIDs, children who lost parents in the 1994 genocide, women who are fighting the dehumanization of rape at the hands of rebel forces. We will meet women who are learning to sew, or weave to provide resources to provide for their HIV/AIDs medications. We will meet children who make greeting cards to make enough money to support their brothers and sisters, all orphaned by the atrocity that was the 1994 genocide. We will spend at least one day meeting with a group of pastoral leaders, organized to form the Rwandan PEACE committee. This group of leaders has been charged by Rwanda’s President, Paul Kigami to implement the P.E.A.C.E  plan throughout the country. It is an effort to see the local church, in Rwanda and abroad, mobilized into action. The goal is to see their country choose reconciliation and servant leadership over hate and corruption. We will listen to their stories, follow them to various corners of their country, observe the many efforts they are making to bring peace to their people.  And all of this in effort to discern how an American church in Manchester NH might benefit from their love and contribute to their cause.

But mostly, it will be a spirit of listening that characterizes this adventure.

In the next several days, I hope to post more thoughts and insights and hopefully a picture or two as I encounter the great country of Rwanda. You may also stay updated at www.manchesteronthemove.com as well. Several will be posting  thoughts on this team blog throughout the trip. Please join me in praying for God to do more than I could possibly ask or imagine.

Blessings,

Josh

What is Monvee?
In the fall of 2006, a group of young leaders at Heartland Community Church in Rockford Illinois, set out on an adventure in spiritual growth. The goal; design a resource that will help ordinary people make extraordinary steps in their pursuit of Christ. The challenge; champion the reality that disciples of Jesus are never mass produced, but must be handcrafted. The journey; three years of research, development and collaborative partnerships all converging into one resource – Monvee™.

Monvee™ is a catalytic response to spiritual growth in the local church. Regardless of where one may be on their spiritual journey, Monvee™ makes spiritual growth accessible, creative and fun by connecting every participant to a uniquely designed spiritual growth plan. After assessing learning style, personality style, spiritual pathways and personal spiritual inhibitors, Monvee™ assists participants in selecting a My Time, My Mind, My Experiences and My Relationships personal spiritual practice. These practices are specifically designed to renew and sustain the necessary courage for people to pursue a life that honors Jesus. Partnered with Monvee™, the local church will thrive in becoming a community where a stagnant relationship with God is the unacceptable exception and spiritual growth is the exciting norm.

So when will Monvee go live at Manchester Christian Church?
I am excited that we will begin to roll out Monvee™ as a spiritual growth  resource at Manchester Christian Church in the fall of 2009. In the meantime, we will join a Beta Test Group this spring as Monvee™ undergoes her last test phase. With any developing resource, there are a number of bugs and defects to work out before public launch. MCC will join forces with 150 other churches coast to coast in providing valuable feedback and evaluation. It is our hope that Monvee™ will be accessible, creative and fun. The Beta Test Phase will shape the resource so those values are realized.

If you are a part of the MCC community and have an interest in participating in the beta test phase, we will be gathering around 200 folks for a one day onsight sometime this spring. With a handful of spots open for the onsight, if you are interested in participating send an email to monvee@manchesterchristian.com.

What are others saying about Monvee™?

The incliment weather has caused us to cancel services over the past two Sundays. Two weeks ago, snow caused us to cancel the first of our three services. Even then, attendance was down by nearly 1,000 people. And yesterday snow again caused us to cancel all of our services. Now we are left with the task of refocusing our plans and directions for the next several weeks. I was reminded today of Jeremiah’s words, “Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I am grateful for these kinds of promises that God has given us…helpful reminders of Who is leading our ship!

In a world that has a tendency for isolation and individualism – connecting with others in community is an important way to experience God. Jesus said, “where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” It is in community that Jesus is most active.

During this series we will discover three critical components of Christ Centered community. First we will discuss the task we have been given to ‘connect the fringe.’ In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul invites those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus to partner with God in His ’ministry of reconciliation.’ This ministry compels us to hep people experience the the love and grace of Jesus in their life – many for the very first time. It is our hope that small groups throughout MCC will be diligent in helping people make this significant connection.

Second, we will discuss the importance of learning to listen to the scriptures together and pray for one another. It is in a community of love and trust that we hear God speak guidance, direction and hope in to our lives – both as we read scripture and learn from one another.

Lastly we will focus on the exponential opportunities to reach out to our surrounding community when we do it together! Done alone, everyone is capable of doing some good in our world, but done together we can truly impact our world locally and globally in exponential ways.

The next three weeks are sure to be a great experience! I am hopeful that many will take a significant step of faith to pursue Christ – together!

To listen to the Activate Teaching Series, week to week, click here.(Messages are generally posted by Sunday afternoon and can also be downloaded as a podcast from iTunes).