A while ago Jen and I had a so called Amish Day. On a weekend day we would not use any electricity, phones or computers. All we would do is read books, play board games, spend time with God and each other. It was an amazing thing to do, since it really helped to get our minds to slow down and focus on what really matters. In a world full of information it is so easy to fill our minds with stuff. And it can be so easy to be overwhelmed. It can also be really easy to put all our focus on something and while doing that loosing what really matters our focus on the father. The something can really be anything even something good. I was reading the book Is that really you God with the story of YWAM and how it started and one of the stories they were sharing was a story of a ship. God told them to buy a ship and they all moved forward in that. But then the focus changed, and instead of God the ship was the main thing on their mind. Eventually they lost the ship, but through losing it they learned a valuable lesson which is still today one of the keys in YWAM: Keep your focus on God.  

The question is what is on our mind? What are we focusing our thoughts on? Are we worried about the future that is predicted in the media or are we focused on our father who is with us all the time?

When we thought through those questions let’s ask ourselves how we can change our focus and the things we think about. Maybe its by more selective reading or watching of media. One thing that helps for sure is to always stay connected with God. It might be a little prayer every hour in our day and a good quiet time with Him. Maybe its done through a regular reading of the bible. There are many ways to do that, ask God which one is the right one for you!

Hey our friend

How was your week? We hope it was a good one. Jen and I were doing a lot of work in the neighborhood. We connected with lots of new and old friends from the community. We also had our first class with the students on neighborhoods. It was great. We love how God gives people a heart for community and how he always shows us again and again the need for it. Remember to create community wherever you go!

God is so amazing, this year our cost went up with increase in rent, health insurance and other living costs in San Francisco, but since the beginning of the year we have already seen a big increase in monthly support. Right now we are still in need of $1.300 to cover our total monthly cost. Thank you to each one of you who is already part of our team. If you are not, but you would like to join our financial support team, find out more by clicking on this link. Thank you for considering us.

Remember this week to keep God the main focus in your mind!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Reading the news for the first few weeks of 2016 can shake you up big time. We can read about the financial world and the drops in the stock markets. We read about North Korea and how they did a new bomb test. We read about terrorism and how it could hit us in everyday life. But what does all that do to us? It creates fear and worry. But fear and worry is the main thing that keeps people away from hope.

But what is our job as Christians in that? We are the ones that need to bring hope into a world run by fear! When I talk to people and topics from the news are brought up, I listen for a while, but then I normally share about the good things that are happening in the world. Most of the time people leave more hopeful with less fear then when they came. I remember years ago we went to a poetry reading and most of the poetry was really dark and depressing. So one week I had my students share some of their poetry which was all about hope. It was amazing to see the difference in the faces of people. People that looked almost depressed had later on that glimpse of hope in their eyes. But not enough right after they shared someone shared some of the darkest stuff I ever heard and that glimpse of hope from people’s faces left. The night was almost over but some of my students were promised to share so the coffee shop owner insisted that they would be allowed to do that even the night was already at the end. All people stayed and listened while one of the students read a paraphrased Psalm all about hope and then another student sang the song amazing grace acapella. After the students finished I looked at the faces in the room and every single person looked hopeful some with tears in their eyes! Christ is the author of hope and the destroyer of fear and what he brought to this world to every person is a message of hope. Whoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life. If that is not hopeful I don’t know what would!

So this is a call for each one of us. We have the message and power to bring hope into a hopeless world. Lets pray about ways how to do that. Maybe through a conversation at the office that goes from instead of speaking negative about something to sharing about something that God was doing the world recently. Or even better sharing about something God was doing in our personal life. Or it might start in the evening with a conversation to a neighbor when we get home. There are many ways to live our faith and being carriers of hope. Let us all step into the one where we have influence in!

Hey our friend

Wow what a week. I Markus got hit with a bad cold and fever which kept me grounded for almost a week. But when I got sick it also made me thankful. I realized that it has been 1 year since a cold strapped me to the bed. Thank you God for that!! Jen went to the welcome dinner for the students and was able to meet all of them. This week they will start working in the neighborhood. Pray that God will give each of them a passion for building community wherever they go!

Also another praise report!! During the last week God brought in 400 more dollars of monthly support so we are now only in need of $1.300 more on a monthly base!! Praise God. Thank you to all of you that are already part of our team!! If you or someone you know are not but would like to, click on this link to find out more how to do that. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Have a blessed week and remember to go after fear by spreading hope!

Markus and Jen

As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66.13

When I read the verse for the year 2016 (each year the German Church chooses a verse for the new year) I was reminded of a situation that happened to us a few weeks ago. We had coffee with friends at our usual North Beach coffee Shop. While we were talking their son was playing and enjoying the new discoveries of the coffee shop. He especially loved a box which had chess figures in it. It was amazing to see how much energy and joy that little boy had. At the end of our time we were about to say Goodbye to each other when we heard a cry. The little boy fell on the floor and hurt himself. But what was the first response? He went to his Mom to find comfort. He didn’t stop crying right away and the pain was still there but being hold by his Mom and by also holding on to her he found a deep comfort till he finally stopped crying and started to feel better.

When we look at the verse we see the part of a mother that comforts a child, but then God also talks about how he wants to comfort us. Many people around us are in great need of comfort because of many life circumstances like broken relationships, hopelessness etc.. But how can they find comfort? God uses each one of us to be someone that brings his comfort to people. We don’t have to have a certificate as a counselor to do that. No many times all it needs is a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on or just someone that is there. When you comfort someone you bring Gods peace to them and you can start pointing them towards him for even deeper healing. You know reality is we all can do that. We just have to do it.

We want to encourage you to start this new year of with making people priority in your life. If a crisis comes up in someone’s life and they need you, make time.

When all of us are available in bringing Gods comfort, the world will change and people start to see more hope and feel more comfort.

Hey our friend

How did you say hello to the new year? We celebrated with some friends from YWAM at our Apartment which was a lot of fun. The day after we had a visit from Ruth (Jen’s Mom) which is wonderful. We are still enjoying a little vacation and start to work again on the 6^th.

Thank you to all who support us in our work here through Prayer and finances over all those years! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

We also look for more people to join our support team on a monthly base in this New Year. With rent increases and also increases in health insurance as well as the drop of the euro exchange rate we are in need of another $1700 on a monthly base. Pray about if you should be part of our support team or ask God if you should share this with someone you know.  When you click on this link you find out more how to do that. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Start this year by making time for people and by bringing comfort!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen