The Need is Great!

Sometimes I get so caught up in the details of running a ministry. I spend hours preparing teachings, creating presentations, managing websites, responding to emails, and all the other daily tasks. The danger is that I can forget WHY I am doing all these things, that they are just a means to an end. That end is creating Christians who not only know the Word for themselves, but are equipped for going out and teaching others how to study and know the Bible. Marysol and DeWet Blomerus run the Titus Project, one of our outreach ministries, in South Africa. They recently finished an outreach to the townships near their base. The area they are ministering is not a safe place, and they were putting their lives at risk to go there at all. Marysol and Dewet interviewed some of the pastors that their outreach team served, and the overwhelming theme from the pastors was "Send more Bible teachers!" They wanted to share this with everyone, so please take a moment and watch their video on You Tube below. It was such a sweet reminder of WHY we labor as a church in missions, and the great need for sending more Bible teachers to Africa (and the whole world!)
You can view the video below or you can see it full size on You Tube by clicking on the link below.
The Need for Bible Teachers is Great
You can also check out more about what is happening in South Africa by going directly to:www.blomerus.org

Ellis family Prayer Request

	Ellis family Update
June 2, 2009
Our Summer Schedule · California: June 23 – July 25 (date tentative) · Taiwan: July 7 - 15 · Kentucky: July 28 – August 17 (dates tentative) Ellis family on the web www.ellisexpress.blogspot.com www.thesbspodcast.com www.sbsinternational.org Our contact information Phone: (406) 844-2045 Address: 18 Mission Lane Lakeside, Montana 59922 Email: skellis6@gmail.com Support information: Living Waters Christian Church: Put check directly in the offering and make note on check “for Sean and Katie Ellis” All Others: Send check to our address above, but make check out to YWAM Montana; do not put our name on the check, but include a piece of paper that says “for Sean and Katie Ellis”	The Ellis family is headed to Taiwan! Most of you have heard by now that God has given us a new direction in missions, and that we will be moving to Taiwan this January of 2010. Our role there will be to help oversee, train, teach, and multiply Bible study programs throughout Asia. The School of Biblical Studies is exploding in many areas of Asia, as the need for sound Biblical training grows with the new churches planted and thousands of new believers each day. Just this fall, we will be starting new schools in Thailand and Cambodia! Taiwan is situated in a perfect location to be able to help resource these new schools, as well as serve as a launching pad for many new schools to come. We will be learning Chinese, and also trying to serve the growth of the Biblical Studies school and ministries there in Taiwan. Our Urgent Prayer Request With our moving to Taiwan, we feel it is very important to come to both California and Kentucky this summer. This will give us an opportunity to share personally with all of you what the ministry will look like in Taiwan and throughout Asia. Also, we will not be able to travel back home as often once we are based in Asia, and want to take advantage of the low cost currently for coming to see you, our friends and family. At this point, we are still short over $2,000 needed to do our summer support raising trip. In addition to these travels within the United States, God has opened an opportunity for Katie and I to go to Taiwan in July and begin to set up our move there. I will be teaching Revelation in the School of Biblical Studies, and Katie and I will have the opportunity to meet with leadership, see what schooling is like there for the children, and scout out places for us to live. This will be Katie’s first trip there, and actually is her first time in Asia! We still need $300 to cover the rest of Katie’s airfare, and some small finances for food and transportation while there. We have already seen God bring in over $1,000 for our travels, and now need to see the rest come in so we can make plans to meet with all of you, book reservations, and set up ministry. Would you pray for this need for us? If God leads you, you can send in financial help with the instructions on the side of this email. Thank you so much for standing with us and God bless you!

Things are Changing Fast!

Things are changing fast and the Ellis family is on the move!
When God called us to Montana to work with the School of Biblical Studies program, we felt that there were many things that God had in store for us. I had been running the SBS in Kona for 7 years, and I was excited to help Montana enter a new season of SBS training. Looking back over the three years we have been here, I can see how God allowed us to be part of the growth of the program. We have gone from schools of 35 students to now 51 students this year. God gave us a whole new strategy for doing the school, by splitting the class in half and offering two sessions of the SBS. Even with all these developments, we also have been blessed to work with Ron and Judy Smith, the founders of the SBS course, who live in Montana. There had been projects on my heart for years that I wanted to work on for the SBS movement internationally. Together, the Smiths and I have seen some of those come to pass as we prepare for our global conference in Germany, have seen our podcast site take off, and have been a part of seeing the school multiply.
As we saw the greater needs and opportunities of the SBS all over the world, God began to steer us toward Asia. The SBS program is growing there quickly with new schools in Cambodia and Thailand just in this year. God had already been showing us a new paradigm for the SBS in creating regional resource centers for the SBS world. Taiwan seemed like an ideal location for one of these centers, and as we talked with leaders there, we began to feel that God wanted us personally to start this center. After much prayer and consultation, we have decided to move to Taiwan and work to establish an SBS International Resource Center there. Our goal is to move there in 2010, and we will be heading over in July to "scout" out the land.
Things are changing quickly for us, and as we were pondering all of this change, a family member sent us the link to this video we included below from You Tube. The video talks about how quickly things are changing in the world today, especially in the area of technology and the Internet. It asks the question at the end, "what does all of this mean?". I am so glad that I don't have to figure that answer out, because God already knows it! He is "ahead of the curve" and we just have to ask Him for wisdom and His strategies for the future. Part of that strategy for us includes the move to Taiwan, as He knows how quickly things are changing in Asia in the growth of the Church there.
If things are changing quickly in your life, or if God is challenging you towards change, let us take comfort in a God who is in control and has plans for blessing our world and us.
Click below to watch the video or click on the link below to view the video full size on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Dancing all over the world

The other day a friend of mine sent me a video that has been widely popular on the Internet. When you first watch the video, it is easy to see why people find it both amusing and fascinating. On the other hand, it makes you wonder how much spare time we have on our hands. I thought the video was just made up on someone's computer, until I looked into the story behind it. The video (pasted below for you to watch) is nothing more than a guy who is traveling all over the world, and records himself dancing in each of these locations. Here is the guy's story.

Matt is a 32-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play video games. Matt achieved this goal pretty early and enjoyed it for a while, but eventually realized there might be other stuff he was missing out on. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he'd saved to wander around Asia until it ran out. He made a website so he could keep his family and friends updated about where he is.

A few months into his trip, a travel buddy gave Matt an idea. They were standing around taking pictures in Hanoi, and his friend said "Hey, why don't you stand over there and do that dance. I'll record it." He was referring to a particular dance Matt does. It's actually the only dance Matt does. He does it badly. Anyway, this turned out to be a very good idea.

A couple years later, someone found the video online and passed it to someone else, who passed it to someone else, and so on. Now Matt is quasi-famous as "That guy who dances on the Internet. No, not that guy. The other one. No, not him either. I'll send you the link. It's funny."

The response to the first video brought Matt to the attention of the nice people at Stride gum. They asked Matt if he'd be interested in taking another trip around the world to make a new video. Matt asked if they'd be paying for it. They said yes. Matt thought this sounded like another very good idea.

In 2006, Matt took a 6 month trip through 39 countries on all 7 continents. In that time, he danced a great deal.

(back to Sean) As I watched this video, I thought about several things. First, I was struck by how amazing our world is. It is impossible for me to look at how varied and majestic our world is, and not believe in a God who created all of this. Revelation 7 flooded into my mind, where John sees every nation, tribe, people, and language gathered at the throne of God in heaven at the end of time.

More than anything though, I thought about my life. Here is a guy who has the faith and sense of adventure to quit his job and travel around the world. Perhaps he sensed how life was short and many pursuits of man seem unfulfilling. Maybe, he was just lazy and didn't want to work. Anyhow, he steps out into this journey, and the next thing you know, a major company is paying him to do what he wanted to do in the first place. He sees 39 different nations and reaches people all over the world with his video. A video with no real message. A video that only seems to promote fun and the world, but no discernible teaching or way the world needs to change. I think about my life, and how in 1994, God called me to this life of missions. A life with no financial certainty. A life with no clear understanding of all that is next. Since I stepped out into this call, no major companies have called to offer to fund my missions trips and work. Many individuals and churches have given, even through their own economic tough times. Though Stride has not called me, one major backer has stepped out to help me: God! In those 13 years, God has provided for us and allowed me to travel the globe to Nepal, Sweden, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Israel, Norway, Italy, South Korea, and Taiwan.

In just the last few months, I feel a sense of joy and awe at what God has allowed me to be part of. I have been on the island of Taiwan, looking out across the ocean to China, a nation exploding with Christianity now. I have taught students about the books of Romans and Isaiah, and helped others see how worship has been a way to glorify God since the beginning of time. I have MC'ed a wedding, taught men's Bible studies, and traveled up to Canada to train missionaries. I wish I had a video that could capture all those moments, but I know that God receives the glory for it all. He is the one who calls us, provides for us, and guides us. If this guy can do what he did, why can't we do even greater things knowing God is our corporate sponsor? If he did it all just to have fun, why can't we risk and go to bring a message of life and hope to the nations? I say, "Let's dance!"

Hospital Trip turns into Missions lesson

You never know what God can teach you out of the most unusual circumstances. On the way to Taiwan to teach in the SBS there, I began to feel not well on the airplane. If you are in missions, there is one guarantee: you will become ill at some point on an airplane. There is nothing as fun as being trapped for 11 hours straight on an airplane not feeling well, especially if it is causing some gastro-intestinal issues (ahem.....) After arriving in Taiwan, it was clear that I needed to see a doctor. They have an amazing, nationalized health care system in Taiwan, so my friend Scott took me to the hospital to see what was going on. As we were waiting in the beautiful new hospital, I noticed that there were Scriptures from the Bible in huge letters on the walls of the hospital. I asked Scott how that happened. He began to tell me the story of Dr. Mackay, an early missionary to Taiwan. Due to his influence, they had named hospitals after him in Taiwan, and put Bible verses on the walls of the hospital. I began to think of the wonderful influence of this man. In a nation dominated by Buddhism, you have Christian Scriptures and this worldview of health permeating their culture.

Dr. Mackay was born in Zola Village, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada on March 21, 1844. Even as a small child, he felt the call of Christ and wanted to become a missionary. Thus on March 9, 1872, the Canadian Presbyterian Church commissioned him to go to Taiwan as a medical missionary. In 1880, Dr. Mackay founded the Mackay Clinic in Tamshui, which was the first Western hosital in the northern part of Taiwan. It was here in the humble surroundings of Tamshui that Dr. Mackay treated many patients while at the same time proclaiming the good news of Christ.

They treated patients suffering from a host of diseases such as malaria, which was a significant problem at that time. Besides treating patients, Dr. Mackay often preached and took teams of Taiwanese Christians with him on his medical and evangelistic tours in northern Taiwan. With the Bible in one hand and forceps in the other, he often defied mountains, rivers and jungle overgrowth to do medical evangelism.

Although practicing medicine and evangelizing Taiwan was very difficult work at that time, Dr. Mackay endured for over 30 years. During this time, he not only pulled over 20,000 teeth, but also proclaimed the Gospel to many different people around the island. In fact, he established more than 60 churches and baptized more than 4,000 believers. On June 2, 1901, Dr. George Leslie Mackay died of throat cancer in Tamshui.

It turned out that I had a virus, so there was nothing they could actually do to help me. Yet, God used this time to impress on me the beauty of missions, and how this one man and his family impacted not only his generation, but all the way to our present time. With Bible in one hand, and forceps in the other, Dr. Mackay is a great example of how we should be reaching the nations with truth and mercy ministries. So, next time you become ill, who knows what God will teach you through that time?

MST Project in Thailand

As I was teaching in Canada, I had the opportunity to talk with one of their young staff named Steve. Steve was leading us in intercession one morning for a ministry called the MST Project. The MST project is targeting one of the darkest elements of Thailand, sex tourism. Steve had just spent the last few months in Thailand working with MST. Most ministries in Thailand related to this issue try to directly help the women and young girls trapped in this bondage. A few young men who had worked long term in Thailand, felt God give them a different strategy. Who was reaching out to the thousands of men who come to Thailand each year for this sex trade? If they could cut off the demand, there would be no need for the supply of prostitutes. Many shied away from their vision, feeling these men were disgusting pigs who did not deserve prayer, help, and the Gospel message. Yet, as these young men braved the streets, they found that most of the men were "normal people" you would never suspect are going to Thailand for prostitutes. Many of them were broken, divorced, or completely hopeless in their personal lives. MST brings in outreach teams that go out in small teams to witness to these men. They also engage in spiritual warfare, utilizing a store in the district to set up prayer vigils. Others take polls of the men to initiate conversation.
I was reminded again of how much need there is in this desperate world. That this very moment, there are girls no older than my daughter Sophia (age 11) roaming the streets of Thailand, looking for their next customer. Knowing no other way of life, perhaps even sold into this trade by their own parents. For every one of these poor girls, is a man in pain and lost in sin. Could we dare to reach out to both of them? See both of them set free from slavery? MST Projects is hoping for just this. I have included a link to their website as well as a video below that will help you see that hope in the midst of darkness.
MST website:
http://www.mstproject.com
MST video:

Outreach Teams on Their Way!

In Acts 13, the early church at Antioch gathered around Paul and Barnabas to pray over and commission them out on their first "official" missionary journey. I had the privilege of doing this for our outreach teams just this last Thursday. One of our main goals in the School of Biblical Studies is to take what we learn and go out to the nations, teaching and training believers in developing nations. One of the main tools we use to do that is our Titus Project ministry. Birthed here in 1997 in Montana, the Titus Project takes our SBS graduates on an eight week outreach to help pastors and believers understand how to study the Word of God, as well as assist pioneering SBS works. I was the MC at our meeting the other night, and led our campus as we prayed over three Titus Project teams. One team will be ministering in Nepal, where they will be teaching in a pioneering SBS, doing inductive study seminars in remote villages, and continuing our effort in the Bhutanese refugee camps. The Bhutanese Bible School (pioneered by Titus Project) has undergone many changes since the United States agreed to allow thousands of the Bhutanese to resettle and immigrate to the U.S. The second team will be headed down to Chile, where they will be teaching in the SBS there, and doing teaching seminars for local churches. It is our desire to multiply more Bible schools in South America, and Chile would make an excellent hub for the region. The third team is headed to Mexico and Costa Rica, where they will be working with local churches and YWAM to expand training in Biblical studies. We currently have no Bible schools operating in Central America, so this is quite a strategic trip as well. Please pray for the safety of these teams, as well as the anointing of God in their teaching and training. I will posting updates and pictures as the teams send them, so stay tuned for amazing God stories!