Dear CULTURELink Family,
In July’s quarterly report, we told you of upcoming training, mobilizing, and caring opportunities. Not only have those come to fruition, but additional invitations and requests continue to come in. Below is an overview of where and how God is allowing us to serve. We are amazed by and grateful for His provision and direction.
Training
By the end of this month, Ryan will have led three sixteen-hour Help! We’re Going on a Short-term Trip! training seminars for missions leaders since August––in Tampa, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Additionally, he trained and sent a thirteen-person team to the Dominican Republic from an Atlanta-area church; it was the church’s first short-term trip since the pandemic. He is also in the midst of training a team of high school students from Lancaster, PA who are leaving the country in a few weeks.
Caring
Northern Cyprus
Meanwhile, the Ragans went to Cyprus at the beginning of August to assist at the OPEN Connect conference––Karen in administration and Larry in missionary care. OPEN Connect is a unique network of Christian workers who run legitimate businesses in the most closed-to-Christianity regions of the world. Creating, launching, and running B4T (Business for Transformation) companies is an effective entryway into these countries to employ nationals, transform communities, and communicate the gospel.
While at this 5-day conference, Larry spent over thirty hours in formal care sessions, with many more informal counseling meetings taking place over meals and coffee. Some of the topics discussed were: addictions; depression; crisis of faith; team conflict; directionlessness; ministry and work strategy; abuse; processing life decisions; grieving the loss of children; and several others who just needed a friend. At the end of one conversation, the missionary said, “Sometimes I wonder… Does anyone really care what we are going through in these tough regions?” Larry’s response, “Yes and my CULTURELink partners do, too!”
Lebanon and Jordan
In September, Larry and Karen ventured back to Lebanon for the first time since the pandemic to conduct the spiritual life portion of a four-day retreat for the seventy Syrian and Lebanese staff of Heart for Lebanon (H4L). While there, they also spent several hours in one-on-one sessions, covering everything from premarital counseling to processing grief.
These laborers pour themselves out continuously for others; it was a blessing to able to encourage them. One of the leaders of H4L said, “I felt like LIFE was poured in and over me. From the teaching to the chocolate gifts your wife brought, God filled me up.” The week following the retreat, Larry and Karen invested into two more teams that serve with other organizations across Lebanon. After that, Larry traveled to Jordan to guide two more teams on conflict resolution, avoiding spiritual burnout, and other issues.
From these relationships in Cyprus and Lebanon, Larry has been in regular communication with six people via Zoom for follow-up care sessions. These servants now join the dozens with whom we are already mentoring around the globe. While many organizations provide worker care, many on the field appreciate talking with someone independent. A level of vulnerability, honesty, and freedom can be achieved more quickly when speaking with an outsider.
What's Next
Turkey and Somaliland
On October 22, 2022, the Ragans will board a plane and be gone for a month. With four ministry invitations to respond to, it was determined the wisest way to steward God’s resources was to combine these opportunities into one trip. God’s hand organized the schedule so that each of these requests fell one after the other.
First, they will attend the Balkan Call conference in Istanbul, Turkey. This event will host over 300 pastors and strategic church leaders from across the Balkans. The Ragans will assist with missionary care and administration.
Once the conference wraps up, Larry will connect with ELAM Ministries to teach their leadership development students. ELAM is focused on reaching the Persian population within and outside of Iran. Over five days, Larry is responsible for 30 hours of content on servant leadership and pastoral ministry. Please pray as he prepares over the next two weeks.
After a day of R and R, the Ragans leave for Somaliland. They will be staying with a multinational B4T team who runs a farming and land restoration company. Some have recently been jailed by the Islamic government and they all face persecution. Pray for God to bless their business. Pray as Larry and Karen pour into these workers.
Finally, they will return to Istanbul to conduct a debriefing day with a team from Virginia, then meet with another team in Antalya, Turkey for spiritual care.
Costa Rica
In November, Ryan will travel to Costa Rica to teach a week-long class to college-age students on a Gap Year. This was an annual occurrence before the pandemic and we are grateful to continue our partnership with Atlas Travel & Study Abroad. Additionally, they have invited CULTURELink to recruit and lead specialized teams that will travel to Costa Rica for a week-long intensive to study, discuss, and observe B4T concepts using materials produced by their partner organization, Creating Jobs.
Thank You
We are so grateful that our Stateside training expressions are returning to pre-pandemic levels. These domestic opportunities provide for most of CULTURELink’s basic operating expenses. However, everything we do around the globe comes from our International Fund. This designated fund is provided for by churches, foundations, and ministry investors like you. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission of making disciples of those who make disciples of all nations. Without you, we would not be able to care for those who care, heal those who heal, and equip those who equip the nations.
Your investments make it possible for us to say yes to the many doors God is opening. Thank you for being on our team and partnering with us.
To invest in our International Fund click the button below and select International Fund.