February 18, 2002
Lay missionaries shine the light from Down Under
___By Ferrell Foster
___Texas Baptist Communications
___GRAPEVINE--Justin Moss and Chad Olsen, a couple of single guys living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, didn't think they had much to offer in Christian ministry. But they gave what they had, their time.
___The two members of 121 Community Church in Grapevine gave eight months to missions last year as part of a Lay Envoy movement supported by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Their place of service: Perisher Blue ski resort in New South Wales, Australia.
___Moss, 25, and Olsen, 21, spent five months working to establish a Christian ministry in the mountains and spent the rest of the time working with churches discipling youth, preaching, and starting a mentoring program and a young adult Bible study in the area around Sydney in southeast Australia.
___The two had no special training for their mission work, but they had clear callings from God that came during Louie Giglio's "Passion" conferences. "We're still not qualified" as missionaries, Moss said. "We are just being open to what God wants us to do," Olsen added.
JUSTIN MOSS (left) and Chad Olsen recently returned from an eight-month ministry in Australia as part of the Lay Envoy movement supported by the Baptist General Convention of Texas Partnerships Resource Center.
___The BGCT encourages people like Moss and Olsen through the Lay Envoy effort, said Don Sewell director of the Texas Partnerships Resource Center.
___"We simply assist Texas Baptists who sense God's call to serve while they spend extended time overseas," Sewell said. "They may be working for an international company, studying or simply feel called to serve and can financially support their cause."
___Much of the financial support for Moss and Olsen came from family, friends and their church.
___Australian Baptists supported them with money for personal expenses, season passes for the ski resort and insurance on their car. "They were a huge support," Moss said.
___Texas Partnerships, as with all Lay Envoys, assisted with statewide prayer support, connections with missionaries and national Baptists, and supplies of other resources needed to accomplish what God had called them to do, Sewell said.
___Using a chapel built "years and years ago" by a man now in his 80s, the two Texans helped Australian Baptists begin "drop in" worship services and Bible studies at the foot of the Perisher Blue slopes.
___The banner outside the chapel read: "House of the Snow God." The name came from the biblical book of Acts, where the Apostle Paul referred to the statue for the "unknown God," Moss said. Many people who come to ski "worship the snow and worship creation," he explained. So, the Baptists pointed them to the God who created it all.
___Moss and Olsen "had a very positive impact," said Scott Pilgrim, a representative of the Baptist Union of New South Wales. They played a key role in pioneering the new Baptist outreach ministry in the Snowy Mountains.
___"They related very well to Christians in the mountains and developed good contacts with a number of unbelievers," Pilgrim said. "We were very impressed by their ministry and encouraged by what Justin and Chad were able to achieve."
___"To go there and to help people ... was awesome," Olsen said. "I grew so much in my personal relationships" with God and with others. It was "definitely a learning experience and a lot of fun."
___"It was completely life changing," Moss said, "to get away from everything you've ever known ... and rely on God for everything. ... God changed me as a person."
___Back home, their mission trip had an impact, as well, said their pastor, Ross Sawyers. "We believe God wants us to have a global impact. These two guys, being willing to follow God with a yearlong commitment, have helped us set the pace early for that kind of vision."
___The church is only about a year old.
___"It looks like another student from our church is going this summer to continue the work they began," Sawyers said. "We would love to have an ongoing partnership and investment in the places we go. This is beginning to happen."
___Australia will not be the last mission effort by the two men. "It's not over for either of us," Moss said. He hopes to go back to Australia for a few weeks next year, but he also sees potential for mission involvement at home. He hopes to work through 121 Community Church in sending out teams and going with groups on shorter trips.
___"It's not over, definitely," Olsen agreed. "This is more of a starting point." He plans to go back to school and then use his profession someday to continue in missions.
___
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
