Friday, April 16, 2010
Ministry Trip to Central Asia
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22).
(This is a revised version of a post we took down due to fear of retaliation against ministry workers on site in Central Asia. The names and identifiable pictures have had to be removed.)
Tanner is one of our Animal Science students, and a MSU football player, who has a real heart for building the Kingdom of God. He is generous enough to share his experiences from a football ministry trip to Central Asia.
It isn't possible to fit on a page or even twenty what an outstanding experience God blessed us with in Central Asia, spending a week ministering to the people.
To help
you understand it would be best to take a glimpse at the culture. People from Central Asia think very differently than Americans as a result of different upbringings, religions, and governments, etc. In most cases if you are born in Central Asia you are born a Muslim. It might as well be a race. It goes on your driver's license, and is assumed unless you go through the trouble and much disgrace of noting otherwise.
Interestingly, the same can be said of their thoughts that American is equal to Christian. However, it's very important to understand that if someone finds out you're a missionary or doing church work you can immediately lose all credibility, as the accusation and assumption will immediately follow that you work for the CIA, are funded by the government, and are there to take over the country. Without exaggeration this is what the media has put in many of their heads. Our opportunity to build relationships, make friends and share the gospel therefore lay with the hopes of a great unifying force called American Football.
We spent our precious time with university students, mostly football players, during the day on their campuses building relationships, comparing cultures, and most importantly trusting, praying, and waiting for our Sovereign Lord to move. Practices came at night because of traffic and didn't get over till after midnight. Conversations sometimes quickly gravitated from culture and sports to more serious topics of eternity or even Christ Jesus. But, God doesn't often move people who are so rooted in false religion or the lies of the prince of this world, from A-Z in a week. Hence, God will save these men in His time, but it is of the utmost privilege to be used in His plan of deliverance!
One of the most incredible visits I've had concerning the cross of Christ was our last night with three college age men and women, two of whom were English majors in school and knew their bible from a religion class and enjoyed talking about it. As they smoked and drank Pilsner, God allowed us to tell of His plan of salvation again and again to Muslim, agnostic, and apathetic students! A place where I wouldn't dream of doing ministry in the states. Glory be to our Savior!
Along with three MSU football players from central and southern Montana, God sent 6 young men from a large southern US university, two of whom played football, and two ex-professional football players. One of whom was the only NFL player ever from Central Asia, and played for the Steelers for 13 years, was a 6-year team captain and 2-year probowler. He also happens to be a convert from Islam to Christianity. You can image the profound impact a man of faith on an NFL platform had with 60 young Central Asian football players.
In a country where a visa is difficult to maintain and the word missionary is never spoken out loud, our Father has richly blessed (and wore out) us with an opportunity to speak into young people's lives the love and grace available to a cursed people all because of the blood of the Lamb.
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Mat 26:28).
It's my sincerest hope that God would begin to break each of your hearts more and more for the lost people in Central Asia, the Middle East, and on the farm next to you.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).
Tanner J. Ripley
(This is a revised version of a post we took down due to fear of retaliation against ministry workers on site in Central Asia. The names and identifiable pictures have had to be removed.)
Tanner is one of our Animal Science students, and a MSU football player, who has a real heart for building the Kingdom of God. He is generous enough to share his experiences from a football ministry trip to Central Asia.
It isn't possible to fit on a page or even twenty what an outstanding experience God blessed us with in Central Asia, spending a week ministering to the people.
 |
| Lunch with Central Asian friends |
you understand it would be best to take a glimpse at the culture. People from Central Asia think very differently than Americans as a result of different upbringings, religions, and governments, etc. In most cases if you are born in Central Asia you are born a Muslim. It might as well be a race. It goes on your driver's license, and is assumed unless you go through the trouble and much disgrace of noting otherwise.
Interestingly, the same can be said of their thoughts that American is equal to Christian. However, it's very important to understand that if someone finds out you're a missionary or doing church work you can immediately lose all credibility, as the accusation and assumption will immediately follow that you work for the CIA, are funded by the government, and are there to take over the country. Without exaggeration this is what the media has put in many of their heads. Our opportunity to build relationships, make friends and share the gospel therefore lay with the hopes of a great unifying force called American Football.
 |
We spent our precious time with university students, mostly football players, during the day on their campuses building relationships, comparing cultures, and most importantly trusting, praying, and waiting for our Sovereign Lord to move. Practices came at night because of traffic and didn't get over till after midnight. Conversations sometimes quickly gravitated from culture and sports to more serious topics of eternity or even Christ Jesus. But, God doesn't often move people who are so rooted in false religion or the lies of the prince of this world, from A-Z in a week. Hence, God will save these men in His time, but it is of the utmost privilege to be used in His plan of deliverance!
 |
One of the most incredible visits I've had concerning the cross of Christ was our last night with three college age men and women, two of whom were English majors in school and knew their bible from a religion class and enjoyed talking about it. As they smoked and drank Pilsner, God allowed us to tell of His plan of salvation again and again to Muslim, agnostic, and apathetic students! A place where I wouldn't dream of doing ministry in the states. Glory be to our Savior!
Along with three MSU football players from central and southern Montana, God sent 6 young men from a large southern US university, two of whom played football, and two ex-professional football players. One of whom was the only NFL player ever from Central Asia, and played for the Steelers for 13 years, was a 6-year team captain and 2-year probowler. He also happens to be a convert from Islam to Christianity. You can image the profound impact a man of faith on an NFL platform had with 60 young Central Asian football players.
 |
In a country where a visa is difficult to maintain and the word missionary is never spoken out loud, our Father has richly blessed (and wore out) us with an opportunity to speak into young people's lives the love and grace available to a cursed people all because of the blood of the Lamb.
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Mat 26:28).
It's my sincerest hope that God would begin to break each of your hearts more and more for the lost people in Central Asia, the Middle East, and on the farm next to you.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).
 |
| Tanner sleeping in NYC airport...exhausted |
Tanner J. Ripley
Labels: discipleship, mission, MSU, Tanner
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