Below illustrates how we equip others to love and serve the nations locally and globally. We often refer to this as a joy-centered, trauma-informed lifestyle. 

Steve was recently interviewed by Our Urban Voices to discuss Helping Muslim Refugees Heal from Trauma.

One Point of Intrigue  

Joy is “I am delighted or glad to be with you.” God is happy to be with us even when our lives are a mess. A beautiful trait of joy is that it does not require good circumstances. Joy is primarily transmitted through our faces especially with our eyes [think about God’s face shining upon you or being the Lifter of your head]. Our brains desire joy more than any other thing. 

One Story

“You can not have disciple-making without trauma healing” was the emphatic statement our Iranian brother [more of his current situation below] expressed years ago. When Mahmood and Steve met, Steve was equipping Mahmood with trauma healing. Little did either of them know what would lie ahead. 

Mahmood saw the necessity of trauma healing and began integrating it immediately which led to Good Listener – a social media platform to assist with trauma among Iranians and Afghans. Last year, as Persian peoples called to process and share their hurts, pains, traumas, and struggles, over 150 of them decided to follow the ways of Jesus. They ask Mahmood why does he offer this service and listen to their stories FREELY. He replies because of his love for and encounters with Jesus.

Over the past two years, Steve has shared about joy-building with Mahmood including a practice called Interactive Gratitude [see below]. Recently, Mahmood shared about using this practice with his local church and in particular with a woman who has attended for four years. According to Mahmood this woman was lonely and attended mainly for the fellowship. After the service she approached Mahmood with many questions – “Is this a part of worship or prayer? I like this practice. I want to know more. Where did you learn this?” After Mahmood answered her questions, she replied, “Okay, I am ready.” He said, “Ready for what?” She said, “Ready!” Again, Mahmood asked, “Ready for what?” She said, “I am ready to be a Christian because I am hearing a lot. But tonight is different for me. It is the first time for me speaking WITH God. It’s perfect. It’s amazing.” 

Mahmood and Steve continue to talk weekly about family, life, and everything else including joy in the midst of hardship. 

One Practice
Interactive Gratitude – Gratitude is the on-ramp for raising joy in our lives. Learn to build joy while listening with God.

1. Write out or audio record 2 sentences by starting with any of the following: 
God is . . .
God of . . .
God who . . .
Feel free to address God as you like (ie Father, Abba, Friend, etc.)

2. Dear God thank You for . . . 
Again feel free to address God as you like.

3. Dear child . . . 
Pause to hear what God wants to say to you. Don’t over think it. Write what comes to your mind. 
You might start with Dear Son/Daughter, Friend, Precious Child, etc. 

Ideally read this to someone else to bear witness together. Here is a written example and an audio example. 

SUPPORT CARS NEEDED

The support cars allow the rider to focus on the race set before them. They also provide essentials for the rider to flourish within their abilities and skills. 

In this stage of our race, we are asking for more support cars 🚗  in various forms. The following are ways for YOU to participate with us:

• Pray – Join our virtual prayer group via an app that gives more up-to-date and detailed requests. If you love praying with others and/or want to learn how to pray with others, then simply email us and we will add you. 
• Give – Holy Spirit guided us to ask for an end-of-the-year $35,000 to propel us into the next year as we continue to equip others to love and serve the nations locally and globally. Give via our support page.
• Advocate – Serve as a door-opening ambassador. Browse your contacts and ask the Holy Spirit who needs to connect with the Moses family. Simply write an intro email or group text to connect us. We desire more potential prayer intercessors, financial supporters, and advocates.