Mile by Mile…Brick by Brick

Hello Friends,

One of the really cool things about itinerating as an Assemblies of God (AG) missionary is that you get to spend time visiting old friends. And boy do I have a lot of old friends in Florida and Alabama. My dad pastored in West Florida and South Alabama while I was growing up, I attended youth camps at least once each summer, and then attended AG’s Southeastern University in Lakeland FL.

Now, again I am traveling—back through Alabama and Florida, seeing old friends, but always looking to make new ones.

This week I had the chance to have breakfast with missions pastor Jeremy Todd from Coastal Church in Daphne, Alabama. It is great to see young leaders planting a new church with a passion for the lost and hurting people in their community yet, with a tremendous missions heart for a broken world.

During these journeys I remember many of the missionaries that came to my dad’s church—people like Charles Greenaway, John Treherne and David Brauchler. All those guys were real heroes to me. I thank God they instilled in our hearts a passion for missions and to reach the lost.

Missions can powerfully change someone’s life—we’ve witnessed it over and over again.

Our Builders International team missionaries have recently taken construction teams to Nepal, Honduras as well as to a sensitive country. I want to invite you to join us as a team member on one of our future Builders trips. To find project details go to: www.buildersintl.org

Let’s do something significant for the Kingdom of God and affect thousands of souls!

God bless you for your prayers and giving as we travel, looking for new partners to be able to get back to Builders International/ MAPS Construction and do our part to build the kingdom of God brick by brick. Without your prayers and financial help our “building for life” mission is just not possible.

You can sign up as our prayer and giving supporter at by clicking here. 

Thank you for your strong support today and in the coming year!

Building Together!

The Next Generation Of Builders: Isabella

I love it when I see young people step into the missions call that God has placed upon their lives, but nothing is quite like seeing that take place in the lives of your own children and grandchildren. This is one of those moments for the Wellborn family.

Here is a photo of my granddaughter Isabella (above in the green cape), who along with her mom Michelle, led an outreach team to Neuquen, Argentina this week!

Here is Bella on stage listening to Michelle preach.

Bella gives out witnessing bracelets she has made out of rubber bands—she made 80 to witness with during the outreach.

I am so excited to hear the reports!

On The Road: Legendary Builders

During the AG100 Celebration I met up with old friend and missionary legend Huldah Buntain (above). I had the opportunity to work with her on two separate Ambassadors in Mission trips to Calcutta, India. She ministered in Calcutta side-by-side with husband Mark.

In 1954 the couple agreed to travel to India and serve in Calcutta for one year. That year turned into a lifetime of service to the people of Calcutta and its surrounding communities. Together, they established a holistic inner-city outreach consisting of more than 100 schools, over 700 churches, a daily feeding program for 25,000, and a full general hospital that has treated more than two million people and provided free care to 880,000.

That work continued even after her husband’s death in 1989.

(Huldah, co-founder of Calcutta Mercy Ministries above with Mother Teresa.)

In 2005, Huldah, along with her daughter, Bonnie, and her brother-in-law, Fulton Buntain, founded Calcutta Mercy Ministries so that the work in India will continue to receive support and international volunteers participation.

Read this Builders’ inspirational story of over 60-years of service by clicking here.

 

ON THE ROAD: Meet Ryan Moore

“During lunch with a missionary is where I received my call to be a builder. Little did I know, this was an ancient calling with a rich history. The missionary I was at lunch with grew up overseas as a missionary kid and watched his parents face the challenge of construction; these stories sparked my call to build.” —Ryan Moore, Builders International

The Assemblies of God is blessed with so many young leaders and visionaries. I had the opportunity to have lunch with one of them today—Ryan Moore, director of Builders International. Builders International/MAPS Construction is a construction ministry of AG World Missions that sends out approximately 300 construction teams every year. Ryan, along with wife Laci, are committed to expanding the kingdom of God brick by brick. You’ll want to check out their website here to learn more about them and this incredible ministry. 

ON THE ROAD: Saying Goodbye to Vienna

It’s hard to believe that today wrapped final day of #Vienna14 International Fine Arts to the Nations outreach. This time has flown by and it’s time to head home. Then I’ll have about two weeks before I venture off with the team again to take Fine Arts to Bogotá, Colombia.

It was a joy to be ministering side-by-side with students like Mitchell who are passionate about sharing their faith. This is the same passion that God ignited in my heart so many years ago when I followed God’s call to the mission field. I know these students’ lives will be changed forever because of the outreach they’ve had opportunity to participate in this past week and a half.

I can’t brag enough about our great team (on the right half of the above photo). I’m very proud of all our students and leaders . We have accomplished so much this past week.

Two of the college-aged team members are even talking about returning to assist Vienna Christian Center as short term volunteers.

I was so impressed by our #Vienna14 Human Video team as they took to the streets with their presentations. They really created a buzz with the crowds that gathered.

Here is our group sharing the gospel in the shadow of the cross.

I know that these students have helped our brothers and sisters in Vienna gain confidence in deploying their gifts in ministry. Lives have been changed, and the impact will continue as these students reach their city for Jesus Christ long after we have headed home.

In this video clip you can see the Vienna Christian Center youth choir warming up. There are even greater testimonies yet to come from these world-changers.

I couldn’t have asked for better leaders. Here is veteran team leader Holly Davis sharing Jesus one on one in the streets of the city.

I have to admit I’m going to miss these special trips and these special Jesus kids—especially the really long dinner tables.

It’s difficult to say goodbye to Vienna…

But the journey home begins…

Linda and I so thankful for your continued financial and prayer support of our ministry that has allowed me to journey with these students to see them connect with the Great Commission, especially as we wrap this summer of outreach.

Counting down 15 days to Colombia…

Hopefully I should recover from jet lag by then.

Blessings! -Jim

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