The Engets

We are spending the first two months of our life in Ireland observing culture and ministry in Limerick. We have been blessed with relationships and learning opportunities day after day. 

I would like to introduce you to the missionary family that has taken us in as their own.

Brent and Lori Enget have been missionaries in Limerick for over six years serving the students at the University of Limerick. As the directors of Students for Christ Limerick, the Engets live and breathe for Ireland and the students of this city. They have three beautiful daughters, Saorsa (Seer-shah), Aine (Aw-nee), and Ianna (Ee-aw-nuh).

The Enget's heart for God and people are inspiring and challenging to Katy and I. From their years of experience, we are gaining insight into Irish culture and ministry that would literally take years to attain on our own.

While our hearts long to be in Dublin, we are building relationships here that are sure to be lifelong. Our hearts are full from the love we've received attending Abundant Life Christian Church and spending time with the students involved in Students for Christ Limerick.

We are blessed to have this time here, and our ministry in Dublin will surely show for it. We are blessed to know the Engets.

Hold the Phone

Katy and I are so blessed with the opportunity to live in Limerick learning culture and meeting really great students here. However, there is a part of me this morning that feels a bit empty.

CHEEZY ALERT: I miss all of you. I want to call you, letting you know how we're doing, thanking you for prayers and support, and chatting you up about how your lives are going.

Long story, but in Limerick we do not have internet at our home. When we get to Dublin, we will have internet and will hook up our Vonage phone (the phone number on our prayer card). At that point we will build a schedule to begin calling all of you. I have no idea how long it will take to get through the entire list, but I promise…we will call you.

We built so many great relationships through our travels in 2011, and this morning I am reflecting on each of you individually.

• You mean the world to us.
• You are our support.
• You are our friends.
• You are our family.

We love you. We miss you. Talk to you soon.

Iceberg Evangelism

We can learn a LOT from the Irish culture when it comes to ministry. Within the context of the Irish culture, ministry must be foremost relational. They are relational to the core. Task second, people first. While reading The Cost of Community the other day a word picture came to mind. Sharing the Gospel here is like an iceberg.

On average, 88% of an iceberg is underwater. That's a lot of ice that we never see until we look under the water. To fully understand and respect the enormity of an iceberg, you must look under the water.

Similarly, for an unbeliever to truly understand the Gospel, they must be ENCOURAGED to see the Gospel's influence on us. I believe, in the eyes of an unbeliever, the life we live is 88% of the Gospel we preach. If we never allow people in to see that, we are only having 12% of the potential impact on the people we are called to reach.

In Ireland, life begins and ends with relationships. Ministry here is nothing if not relational. I believe it should be that way in any culture or country. As follower of Christ, every one of us has the opportunity and the responsibility to build relationships with the people in our circles of influence. When we attempt to bypass (or ignore) relationships, we are losing this metaphorical 88% of the Gospel revealed through our own life and redemption. We are only showing them the tip of the iceberg because that's the easiest and prettiest place to be.

Let me put it this way. What kind of gospel are we sharing with the world, if we never allow the world to see Christ's redemption active in our own lives? Are we pretending to have no problems, to be perfect, or even to be sinless? To truly effectively preach the gospel, we must allow them close enough to see our personal victories, close enough to see our pain, and even close enough to see our sin.

Iceberg Evangelism: It takes vulnerability, transparency, and lots of time.

I dare you to try it.