Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Prayer for Quick and Favorable Response
I want to encourage everyone to be in prayer this week specifically for God to give us (James Place/Elmbrook) a favorable response from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) regarding our application for James Place to be a recognized immigration counseling agency. And please pray that they would also grant me partial accreditation so that I can legally counsel clients. I received verification that the BIA is in the process of adjudicating the application THIS WEEK. Pray that there would be no hindrances, that all the information and documentation would be clear and understandable, that they would find no reason to deny the application, and that God would be honored in this process. In light of last weeks seminar at James Place, where 60+ immigrants came to receive information regarding an immigration benefit for their children, there is a huge need for this service in our community and an incredible opportunity for these people to experience the love of Christ (possibly for the first time) as they come to James Place. The main comment I heard last Monday was, "Thank you for giving us this information. It is so kind of you to care enough to help us in this way." With an approval from the BIA, we would be able to help each of these people with the next step: applying for and receiving this new benefit.
Thank you all for you prayers regarding this matter.
Dependent upon Him,
Jason
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Waiting
If you are like me, you sometimes wonder at God's time frame. I can get easily confused and frustrated when I try to make him fit into my schedule.
I haven't posted to this blog in a few months because I have been busy with establishing this Immigration Office at James Place. I had put in an application for accreditation to the Board of Immigration Appeals in January right before I wrote my last blog post. I have been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting since that time to receive their decision. I wanted to wait to post again until I had an acceptance letter in hand. In April, I found out that they had misplaced the file and they finally found it mysteriously under a pile on a desk. Then finally, I received their response on Monday. They denied our request.
So all that waiting and all that work believing that God wants us to open this immigration counseling office this spring, and we get a "no". (That is the second "no" by the way). I could say that I think it is all a conspiracy; and it would be correct - a giant conspiracy by Satan to thwart and destroy anything good and godly in this world. But I also know that God is sovereign, and I believe that with all my heart... he works through people who make bad decisions and use poor judgment. This process has shown me just how graciously patient God is with me, so I need to be patient with others and patient as I wait on Him. But it has also taught me to move beyond my culture and my personality. In America, we don't wait for anything... everything is instant gratification: from microwave ovens, to movies on demand, to credit card spending, to fast lane check out lines and fast food restaurants. It is hard to wait when our culture boasts "time is money" and every second that passes by we calculate just how much money or opportunity we just lost. To me, it is becoming a stressful way to live... and God doesn't always work within our "you can't buy back lost time" culture. He is so much bigger than that, so much wiser. I have been learning to understand his Kingdom culture more; which is comprised of a host of values and beliefs which are contrary to my birth culture.
So, I hope to have good news soon, but until then I will rest in the fact that God has it all under control and remember the truth that the best things in life come to those who wait... the best tasting food must be waited for - it can't be made in a microwave oven.
Will you pray with me that we can receive this accreditation in HIS timing? Thanks, Jason
I haven't posted to this blog in a few months because I have been busy with establishing this Immigration Office at James Place. I had put in an application for accreditation to the Board of Immigration Appeals in January right before I wrote my last blog post. I have been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting since that time to receive their decision. I wanted to wait to post again until I had an acceptance letter in hand. In April, I found out that they had misplaced the file and they finally found it mysteriously under a pile on a desk. Then finally, I received their response on Monday. They denied our request.
So all that waiting and all that work believing that God wants us to open this immigration counseling office this spring, and we get a "no". (That is the second "no" by the way). I could say that I think it is all a conspiracy; and it would be correct - a giant conspiracy by Satan to thwart and destroy anything good and godly in this world. But I also know that God is sovereign, and I believe that with all my heart... he works through people who make bad decisions and use poor judgment. This process has shown me just how graciously patient God is with me, so I need to be patient with others and patient as I wait on Him. But it has also taught me to move beyond my culture and my personality. In America, we don't wait for anything... everything is instant gratification: from microwave ovens, to movies on demand, to credit card spending, to fast lane check out lines and fast food restaurants. It is hard to wait when our culture boasts "time is money" and every second that passes by we calculate just how much money or opportunity we just lost. To me, it is becoming a stressful way to live... and God doesn't always work within our "you can't buy back lost time" culture. He is so much bigger than that, so much wiser. I have been learning to understand his Kingdom culture more; which is comprised of a host of values and beliefs which are contrary to my birth culture.
So, I hope to have good news soon, but until then I will rest in the fact that God has it all under control and remember the truth that the best things in life come to those who wait... the best tasting food must be waited for - it can't be made in a microwave oven.
Will you pray with me that we can receive this accreditation in HIS timing? Thanks, Jason
Thursday, January 26, 2012
News from Tobo
I know that many of you still pray for the church in Tobo and are interested in hearing updates as to how things are going back in Lengbati. I received this update from the Williamsons a few days ago and thought I would post it so that you could be in prayer, both for them and the believers in Tobo. God's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts; but we can rest in His sovereign plan, convinced that his love never fails and that his kingdom will not end. The following 2 paragraphs are from Williamson's update:
"In December we met with our NTM leadership, church planting consultants, and teammates about the condition of the church and the concerns we have with its growth. Nisae and I have poured our hearts into the believers here and have given much effort into seeing them grow in maturity and adapt a Biblical Worldview that is lived out among their unbelieving community. What we have seen in response has not been what we have hoped and prayed for, but rather our efforts have been met with resistance and callousness. The believers have closed the door themselves on our family’s ministry among them and ultimately on what the Holy Spirit wants to do in their lives. At the conclusion of our meetings, we all decided that it would be best to take a step back from the Church here in Tobo and allow them some time to decide for themselves if they are going to follow after the Lord or not or continue to live in the shadow of their prideful community.
Nisae and I have done everything possible to spur on growth in the believers’ lives and to facilitate the possible reigniting of the church. We’ve built friendships, laughed, cried, admonished, preached the Word and modeled it, pursued, and encouraged each believer in hopes that God would use these efforts to produce fruit in their lives. However, the Lord has not chosen to bring about a harvest at this time and we think that leaving the Tobo church on their own is now what is best for them, and us. Therefore, with the support of our leadership, consultants & teammates, we have decided to move out of the tribe in February and live in Madang (the town where our support center lies). After we’ve put a stop to our teaching in Tobo and explained why we are moving out and the reasons we are all stepping back from the church, our co-workers, Chad & Janeene Mankins, will continue to live in Tobo to translate God’s Word and other materials in hopes that down the road the church will reignite and desire growth."
Please lift up this situation before the Lord. Thank you for your prayers, they make all the difference.
Peace,
Jason for the Knapps
"In December we met with our NTM leadership, church planting consultants, and teammates about the condition of the church and the concerns we have with its growth. Nisae and I have poured our hearts into the believers here and have given much effort into seeing them grow in maturity and adapt a Biblical Worldview that is lived out among their unbelieving community. What we have seen in response has not been what we have hoped and prayed for, but rather our efforts have been met with resistance and callousness. The believers have closed the door themselves on our family’s ministry among them and ultimately on what the Holy Spirit wants to do in their lives. At the conclusion of our meetings, we all decided that it would be best to take a step back from the Church here in Tobo and allow them some time to decide for themselves if they are going to follow after the Lord or not or continue to live in the shadow of their prideful community.
Nisae and I have done everything possible to spur on growth in the believers’ lives and to facilitate the possible reigniting of the church. We’ve built friendships, laughed, cried, admonished, preached the Word and modeled it, pursued, and encouraged each believer in hopes that God would use these efforts to produce fruit in their lives. However, the Lord has not chosen to bring about a harvest at this time and we think that leaving the Tobo church on their own is now what is best for them, and us. Therefore, with the support of our leadership, consultants & teammates, we have decided to move out of the tribe in February and live in Madang (the town where our support center lies). After we’ve put a stop to our teaching in Tobo and explained why we are moving out and the reasons we are all stepping back from the church, our co-workers, Chad & Janeene Mankins, will continue to live in Tobo to translate God’s Word and other materials in hopes that down the road the church will reignite and desire growth."
Please lift up this situation before the Lord. Thank you for your prayers, they make all the difference.
Peace,
Jason for the Knapps
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Clay Pots ~ Busy months
You haven't heard from me for awhile. That is because I have been flat out busy. The month of September found me traveling twice a week down to Illinois for further training and "on the job experience" in immigration law. It was a great experience to sit down face to face with people, hear their stories, understand their situation, and help them to apply for an immigration benefit.
September and October are also are busy months in the chimney business, so I have been come home black with soot or concrete dust four days a week. I am thankful to God that he, in his grace, has chosen to humble me... in the village of Lengbati, people put me on a pedestal, hung on my every word, and never let me sit in the smoke or get myself dirty with mud or ashes. Ironically, now I have been exalted to lonely rooftops, hanging on ladder rungs, and filling my lungs and eyes with ashes every day. I am grateful to God for the experience.
September and October are also are busy months in the chimney business, so I have been come home black with soot or concrete dust four days a week. I am thankful to God that he, in his grace, has chosen to humble me... in the village of Lengbati, people put me on a pedestal, hung on my every word, and never let me sit in the smoke or get myself dirty with mud or ashes. Ironically, now I have been exalted to lonely rooftops, hanging on ladder rungs, and filling my lungs and eyes with ashes every day. I am grateful to God for the experience.
The month of October was full of gathering documents and information in the compilation of the application package to be sent to the Board of Immigration Appeals for the recognition of James Place as an Immigration Legal Services site and my own partial accreditation. November will be a month of waiting for the BIA's approval of the application, creating handouts and documents to be used in the office, writing down procedures, learning new computer programs, physically moving into the office space, and getting the word out to the public. I am praying that God would allow us to officially launch early in 2012.
Immigration is a touchy subject in our country today. It seems to be a topic which surfaces frequently in the Presidential campaign, and there are strong and legitimate opinions on both sides of the issue. When I was living in the village of Lengbati, I found myself in the midst of situations where both sides had legitimate arguments which always made the situation 'touchy' and potentially volatile. I find myself in much the same situation with immigration; but I have learned that in such situations, the best thing to do is to fall at the feet of Jesus and beg for wisdom and discretion, and ask for him to give me his heart of love for all people.
Please pray with me that God would do just that... that he would impart wisdom, discretion, patience, compassion, and love to myself and those who are working along side me in this ministry. And pray that God would use us to introduce these needy people to Jesus Christ and the citizenship which awaits them in heaven if they believe.
Immigration is a touchy subject in our country today. It seems to be a topic which surfaces frequently in the Presidential campaign, and there are strong and legitimate opinions on both sides of the issue. When I was living in the village of Lengbati, I found myself in the midst of situations where both sides had legitimate arguments which always made the situation 'touchy' and potentially volatile. I find myself in much the same situation with immigration; but I have learned that in such situations, the best thing to do is to fall at the feet of Jesus and beg for wisdom and discretion, and ask for him to give me his heart of love for all people.
Please pray with me that God would do just that... that he would impart wisdom, discretion, patience, compassion, and love to myself and those who are working along side me in this ministry. And pray that God would use us to introduce these needy people to Jesus Christ and the citizenship which awaits them in heaven if they believe.
His Clay Pot,
Jason
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