Caroling

For weeks, we have been listening to Christmas carols on the radio, on Pandora and on our iPods.  Holiday favorites have filled shopping malls for months but how often do we stop to really listen and consider the words of some of these old classics.  More than just pretty music, these songs tell the story of our Savior's birth and serve to remind us why we are celebrating!

"Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices; O night divine, O night when Christ was born."


"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray."


"Joy to the world, the Lord in Come!...He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love."


"Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King!  Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."


From old classics to new favorites, I cannot help but think of the 2.2 billion unreached people who aren't singing this time of year.  The words to our favorite songs have no meaning for them because Christ is not real for them.  And then one song reminds me of the promised hope, a day when every nation, tribe and tongue will sing!  

"For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophets seen of old,

When with the every-circling years

Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heaven and earth shall own

The Prince of Peace, their King,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing." 

Insights: The RightNow Conference

Earlier this month, two members of the Cafe 1040 US team traveled to Dallas, TX, to attend the RightNow Conference.  This gathering was an opportunity for church and missional leaders to come and be fed, hone in on the foundation of why we all do what we do, and remember what is behind it all.  The Gospel, God's love and grace, and our blessing in order to be a blessing!  Here are Nikki's thoughts on this great event:

We heard speakers/pastors from all across the nation from Francis Chan and Matt Carter to Matt Chandler.  They led us in ideal, authentic community, our rhetoric versus the reality, social justice and even hell.

One talk particularly grabbed me (although it was hard to pick just one).  Matt Chandler gave a talk entitled 'Rubbish and Rescue.'  He compared the rubbish we tend to hold on to, but the rescue that is awaiting us.  Let's take discipleship for instance.  He said, "discipleship is often a practice of repression rather than allowing the gospel to conform you."  We tend to simply guide people to repress their fears, repress their sins, repress their desires in order to be more Christ-like.  But that's not it al all.  Our pursuit of righteousness is great, trying to get rid of all of the crap in our  lives is great.  But repressing it doesn't work because its with the wrong motivation.  It's the Gospel, the yearning for Christ to be supreme that rids us of our dirt.  Instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us, we try to conform to a pattern of religion which is exhausting and the worst trade off ever.  Our righteousness or goodness is nothing compared to the relationship the believer has with Christ.  Our sin dies when Christ becomes more desirable than that sin.

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6

My prayer is that we strive to know Christ, to be more enthralled by Him, rather than try to make ourselves good enough for Him.  My prayer is that we wholly submit to the Holy Spirit to come in and transform us, rather than attempt to become righteous through our own means.  

This is the Gospel we preach; this is what brings the nations to Him!

What GREAT INSIGHT!  Going beyond just the American Church, what does this principle mean for missionaries working cross culturally inside the 10/40 Window among unreached people groups?  This means that it is the job of the missionary to share Christ and the job of the Holy Spirit to transform lives/families/communities/people groups.  No missionary working from their own righteousness can bring salvation to anyone, rather it is the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms lives!  It will be by the power of the Holy Spirit that 'every nation, tribe and tongue' will praise the Lord!

The Celebration of L'Eid Kabir

A Special Post From Our Staff in North Africa


On November 7th, all of North Africa will be celebrating what they call L'Eid Kabir, or The Big holiday. This is the holiday that represents when Abraham went to sacrifice his son, but God provided a lamb in the place of his son.  As Christians, this story has huge significance as it is a foretelling of Christ being given in our place as the blood sacrifice for our sins.  To the billions of Muslims around the world it is only a celebration of Abraham's faith and the saving of their lineage.  (They say the son mentioned in the story is Ishmael, while we believe it to be Isaac.)

During the celebration, every family will get together and sacrifice a sheep.  Even now the market places are becoming full with potential sheep to buy for the slaughtering.  It is usually the Father or man of the household who slits the throat, then everyone waits for the blood to drain before continuing to skin and gut the animal.

Right away they take out the liver, lungs, heart, and pancreas, wrap them in the animals fat and cook them on a small grill.  The family will share in this small feast of organs for lunch and continue to talk and relax until evening when they have couscous usually with the should of the lamb.

Please pray for our friends [and all Muslims] during this time.  That they will see the blood shed by the lamb as something more than a traditional holiday.  Pray for us, that we may be given more opportunities to share our faith in the Ultimate Sacrifice during this time of year.

We spent what?

By Michelle G.


I was SHOCKED to read in the news this week that Americans just spent $6 billion on Halloween - decorations, candy, costumes!  Roughly $2.27 billion of that was just candy alone - ohhhh the cavities!

Now I have no intention of debating with anyone the merits (or lack) of Halloween - there are plenty of people writing this or that about Halloween.  No matter what you think of this  holiday, it was the amount of money Americans spent on it that shocked me!  Over $2.27 billion on candy alone?  Add costumes and decorations and we spent an estimated $6 billion!  This got me thinking...

What if instead of spending $2.27 billion on candy we had given just 10% of that money to missions in the 10/40 Window?  Or better yet, what if we had given 20% or even 50% of what we spent last week on candy to reach those who have never even heard the name of Christ?

It isn't that I don't like candy.  3Musketeers are my favorite, so are Twix, Twizzler, Pretzel M&Ms.  Ok so I like candy a lot but we could all get by with half the amount of candy we bought this past week.  Other than the lack of a stomach ache, we probably wouldn't even notice.

And what if we didn't buy  new costumes from the stores each year but shared with our friends those we already own, purchased costumes from consignment shops or used items already in our homes to make something just as cute?  What if we didn't buy any new decorations for just one year?  What if instead, we took what we would spend on costumes and decorations and we used that money to support a missionary going to a unreached people group in North Africa?

Just a thought, just asking "what if...?"

Golf Challenge and New Raffle Items Added

GOLF CHALLENGE
The 2nd Annual Cafe 1040 Golf Challenge is just one week away!!!  WOW!  If you haven't signed up, we still have room for more golfers!  Here are the important details:

Friday, October 14 @ 9am
Crystal Falls Golf Club
Dawsonville, GA

4-Man Scramble
$300 Minimum to Play
Challenge: Raise $1000 for a great ministry!

GREAT PRIZES!
$10,000 Hole-In-One Prize and 3 chances to win!

More details and sign up information here!

Don't have a foursome but you still want to play?
No worries, we'll match you up with some great people just come out and join us for the morning!

Can't play but still want to be involved?
We have several great sponsorship opportunities.  Hole sponsorships  are available for $500 (tax deductible).  Mention that you read it on our blog and we'll give you $100 off!

RAFFLE
Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY! We have added a GREAT new prize to the raffle - a family 4 pack of tickets to Zoo Atlanta!  There are lots of new baby animals at the the zoo just dying to see your family so get your raffle tickets TODAY!

Remember tickets are just $10 or you can purchase 6 for $50.  You can purchase tickets at the golf challenge or online by entering the name of the item you want to win in the 'name of golfer' field!  We will draw for all items on Friday, October 14, and you do not have to be present to win!

Other great raffle items include: an autographed, commemorative UGA football; Strengths Training and Leadership coaching; two beautiful necklaces (separate raffle items); chopsticks and a restaurant gift certificate; and 2 tickets plus a parking pass to a concert at Verizon Amphitheater.  (see previous post for more details and pictures).

RAFFLE! Enter to Win Cool Prizes!

Have you dreamed of owning a commemorative autographed UGA football?  Looking for that perfect necklace to update your look or as a gift for someone special?  Ever wondered what your "Strengths" really are?  Well, you're in luck!  These are just some of the items in our Golf Challenge Raffle!

That's right, we are raffling off some GREAT prizes and anyone can win, not sure golfers!  Tickets are just $10 or 6 tickets for $50, and you can purchase them online!  Just be sure to put the name of the item you would like to win in the box that asks 'name of golfer.'  Raffle drawing will take place at the golf challenge on October 14 but you don't have to be present to win!  Get your tickets TODAY!

Ok curious about what you can win?  Here they are:

Autographed Commemorative UGA Football

Charlotte Necklace by jrae handcrafted jewelry

Strengths Finder Assessment & Coaching Session with Andy Christiansen

Vintage Style Button Necklace by jrae handcrafted jewelry

Elegant Chopsticks & Dinner @ Lin's Chinese Cuisine in Alpharetta

'Sunset Over New England Marsh' by Keith Polischuk Photography

One Hour Customized Leadership Coaching with Andy Christiansen

Why does Cafe1040 exist?

Have you ever been curious why Cafe1040 exists?  Using 10 volunteers, 600 golf balls and 100 golf tees, we explain it here!  ENJOY and share with your friends!

Come hang with us in Athens!

Live in Athens, GA?  Then you're in luck!  Our very own Cafe 1040 recruiter Courtney is hanging out in Athens for a few days.  She'll be around to answer all your questions about our program, chat about life, share her own experiences and pretty much anything else you want to talk about!  Here is her schedule and remember, the deadline for our spring semester program is September 30!!!

Tues & Wed @ Two Story Coffeehouse, 5 Points from 1-5 pm

Wed night @UGAWesley

Thurs @ Two Story Coffeehouse, 5 Points from 9am-1

See you in Athens!

Make Plans to Join Us This Thursday!

This Thursday, September 8, is the Kick Off Party for the 2nd Annual Cafe 1040 Golf Challenge!  We are holding this great event at Smokejack Grill in Downtown Alpharetta at 6:30pm and we would LOVE to have you join us!  We will be sharing more about the heart of Cafe 1040, why we do what we do, and you will have an opportunity to hear from one of our graduates who just recently returned from overseas!

Whether you are considering playing in the golf tournament, already have your team together, or you just want to know more about Cafe 1040 before you commit to playing in the tournament, please make plans to join us this Thursday, September 8, at 6:30 pm, at Smokejack Grill in Alpharetta!  Bring your family and enjoy an evening with Cafe 1040!

Let us know you are coming by emailing your RSVP to golf@cafe1040.com!

See you Thursday!!!


(Dinner will be provided and attendance does not constitute a commitment to play in the tournament. The 2nd Annual Cafe 1040 Golf Challenge will be held Friday, October 14, at Crystal Falls Golf Club in Dawsonville, GA.)

Will You Pray For The Nations With Us?

There are over 2.5 billion unreached people in this world!  Can you even imagine what 2.5 billion people would look like if you brought them all together?  I know I can't!  But what I do know is that without someone willing to go to them, someone willing to send messengers to them, someone committed to pray for them, they will perish without Christ and they will be separated from the one true God forever.

There are so many ways for you to get involved right now and the most immediate way is to join us in praying for the 2.5 billion unreached people!  Join us in praying for workers to carry the Gospel to them, pray for open hearts and for the Holy Spirit to move among them, pray that financial resources will be available for the workers, and pray about your own involvement either by going or sending and committing to pray every day for the unreached!

Click the link below to sign up to receive the Unreached People of the Day email from the Joshua Project and start praying today for the unreached!
http://www.unreachedoftheday.org/unreached-email.php

250 Years Later: What would would William Carey say about 2 Billion Unreached?

I kept reading last week celebrations of the life of William Carey.  At first, I thought ‘WOW!’  I mean how cool is that - the ‘Father of Modern Missions’ was born 250 years ago!  But then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  ‘Oh no, 250 years later and more than 2 billion people have still NEVER heard the name of Jesus Christ!’  I don’t mean they choose not to believe, I mean they have literally never heard His name!  2 billion people living on this earth right now, today, have never even heard the name of Jesus!  What would William Carey say?

I first heard the name of William Carey last spring when I took Perspectives.  If you don’t know Carey, here is your crash course:  Born August 17, 1761, William Carey first met Christ as a teenager.  A transformed man, Carey was soon overcome with a desire to share the Good News with those who had never heard it and so he dedicated his life to missions.  Known today as the ‘Father of Modern Missions,’  Carey moved his family to India where he spent the rest of his life sharing Christ with others in word and deed.  More than a missionary, Carey dedicated considerable time to raising awareness in the Christian community about the unfinished work of the Great Commission, mobilizing others to join him in answering the call, and translating the Bible into other languages.  He went where no one else was going, learned the language of his new home and overcame many obstacles including death of family members and a devastating fire that destroyed much of his translation work.

In celebrating this modern movement that Carey began, I find myself asking what he thinks of where we are today?  Would he be blogging about the fact that despite 250 years of progress in every other area of society and technology, still today over 2 billion souls living on this earth with us who have never heard the name of Christ. Would Carey be heartbroken or outraged that only 3% of Christian workers today are serving among unreached people groups?  What would Carey say to the American Church who give less one cent of every dollar given to missions to reach the unreached! 

According to the Joshua Project, there are 6,926 unreached people groups in the world today - the majority in the 10/40 Window.  That is over 41% of the population of the entire world!  In India alone, where Carey dedicated his life to reaching unreached peoples, still 77 people groups of 113 total are unreached.  That is over 68% of the population of India that remains unreached 250 years after William Carey was born!  What would he say to us if he were here today?

Just a thought, but I’m guessing he would say something like, ‘GO! Go now and go where no one else is going!  Go to the unreached!  If you cannot go, then give generously and pray for others that will go and others that will give!’

And he said to them,‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’

Is God calling you to go the unreached or support those who are going?  Visit www.cafe1040.com to see how we can help you get there!

Beautiful Feet!

From our staff in SEA.

22 Beautiful Feet - Headed Out...

It's hard to believe that the Summer semester students have completed the 3 month overseas program and left SE Asia over a week ago.  A couple of days before we left Basetown, the students shared their next steps and five year plans with us (still seeking Him to direct their steps).  I was so encouraged and I can't wait to see some of the ways God is going to use these beautiful people and their beautiful feet (shown above) for His glory.

10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."  12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  13For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  15And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news."

Romans 10: 10-15 (ESV)

Praying that these 11 will be sent out to share the good news with those who have not heard.  Please join me in praying that God will help keep them focused on the path He showed them while they were here and direct their steps.

Friday Fun!

Here is another entry in our 'Wear It Like You Love It' t-shirt design contest!  Are you working on your entry?  Remember each person can submit two designs!

Email your entry to contest@cafe1040.com - we are looking forward to seeing them all!

From desiringGod: Train the Untrained to Reach the Unreached

Occasionally we will use our blog to share with you interesting and thought provoking content from other blogs that we read.  Here is one from earlier today, posted on the desiringGod blog.

In today's post, Train the Untrained to Reach the Unreached, Darren Carlson with Training Leaders International talks about the importance of not just sharing the Gospel but training new leaders deepening their faith and equipping them to share the Gospel as well.

More from our students: Language and Culture

It's not always easy to relocate to a new place where you don't speak the same language as everyone and social standards are different.  Here is what a few of our summer semester students had to say about learning language and adjusting to a different set of cultural norms.

Danielle, on learning a new language:
"The company does a great job of focusing on how we best learn a language as opposed to the lofty goal of fluency in Arabic in three short months.  It has been encouraging to gain confidence in our ability to learn a language so that we are prepared to go anywhere in the world that God send us."

Sarah Beth, on wearing long sleeves:
"Since head coverings and modest dress are the norm for women here, the girls on our team are asked to cover our knees and elbows--and doing that when the temperature gets hotter every day is a bit of a challenge.  However, if dressing that way will help the Muslim people here be more open to talking, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

Friday Fun!

Every community has at least one - a church that regularly comes up with catchy phrases for their marquee!  Here is one of our favorites!

Cafe 1040 Students on "Community"

What is 'community?'  Is it your family?  Your neighborhood?  Your church, school or workplace?  Or is it something more?  And are we responsible for creating community?

Read what Cafe 1040 students have learned about community during the past few months:

Ben, on loving his teammates:
"We spend every waking (and sleeping) second together, so it is no small task to continually love each other the way the Book exhorts, the way we show the world we are set apart.  Pray that the Helper would enable us to communally obey the greatest two commandments."


Mike, on 'secret church':
"We gathered in the center room of one of the apartments, closed the doors, took the batteries out of our phones, and had music playing outside the doors to mask any noise.  On the inside we prayed, sang softly to the Lord, and encouraged one another with the Word...Until that night, I totally took community for granted.  I probably still do.  But God is beginning to give me a glimpse of the way His Body is supposed to function."


Brandon, on learning about real community:
"In a village, people gave what they have at every opportunity it seemed.  Everything was everyone's.  Each night at dinner neighbors would wander by and end up at the table with us eating and laughing.  The community resembled what we read about in the Bible and it truly was beautiful."

Think it's hot here? Imagine what it's like in the Sahara!

(From a future Cafe 1040 staff member)

August 5, 2011
It's hot.  Temperatures will peak at 101 in [metro Atlanta] for the next few days.  I had dinner with a friend last night who said Dallas was experiencing their 24th day in a row of 100+ heat indexes.

In contrast, the students in our North Africa Program just got back from one of their excursions--a week in the Sahara.  My friend who is one of our Overseas Mentors said temperatures topped 135.  Preheat to 350 and open the oven.  That's the Sahara all day.

Cafe 1040 is a training program for some of the most difficult conditions in which to live and do missions in the world.  Enduring a week in the Sahara informs our students of their own ability to live and function in the harshest of environments.

Their guides are from a people group with a population of over 200,000.

There are zero known Christians in their population.

And there is no church or Christian organization in full-time mission to this people group.

Friday Fun!

Its Friday and in honor of all the new changes to our blog, we are instituting 'Friday Fun!'  For our first FUN post we picked a video from last year's 1st Annual Cafe 1040 Golf Challenge!  ENJOY!



WANT TO GET IN ON THIS FUN!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2ND ANNUAL CAFE 1040 GOLF CHALLENGE!

2nd Annual Cafe 1040 Golf Challenge

Love to golf?  So do we!  And what could be more fun than a morning of golf and learning more about what we do at Cafe 1040!  Nothing, of course!

Final preparations are now underway for our 2nd Annual Golf Challenge!  This is our largest fundraiser and last year was a huge success.  Help us make this year even better.  Here is how you can get in on the fun...

Friday, October 14 @ 9am

Crystal Falls Golf Club

Four Man Scramble

$4,000 Fundraising Goal Per Team

Download a Challenge flyer here!

Kickoff Party

Thursday, September 8 @ 6:30pm

Smokejack Grill, Downtown Alpharetta

Golfers and their families are invited to join us at the Kickoff Party!  We'll have great food, share with everyone the vision for Cafe 1040, and share valuable information on reaching your fundraising goal!  (Participation in the Kickoff Party is not a commitment to participate in the golf challenge.)

Interested in corporate sponsorship?  

We are still looking for corporate sponsors at all levels!

• Challenge Sponsor: $6,000
• Driving Range Sponsor: $3,000
• Lunch Sponsor: $1,500
• Hole Sponsor: $500 per hole

Full tournament,sponsorship and donation details can be found here!

READY TO SIGN UP?  CLICK HERE!

"Wear It Like You Love It" T-Shirt Design Contest!

Want to see all your friends wearing a t-shirt you designed???  WELL THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY!  Cafe 1040's 'Wear It Like You Love It' t-shirt design contest is underway now!  You could win an iPod Shuffle and the chance to have your design printed our new t-shirts!  You can find all the rules and other relevant information on our Facebook page.

The Berbers

Caffeine Injection - October 2008

Last week was amazing for our students and consequently ourselves. We hiked about 13 miles up and around a mountain to reach a UPG specific to North Africa, the Berbers. The hospitality was unbelievable, but what was also incredible was that they were shocked to see that we were interested in them. The few tourists who do come through simply want to see how they live, have a good meal, and leave. But we were different. We wanted to stay with them for 4 days, sleep where they slept, help them work, help them cook, and most importantly get to know them. Although obstacles were absolutely present (they don't speak Arabic!), the quality time that was spent spoke so much more than we could have. We have made some great friends and can't wait to go
back.

Please lift up these unreached peoples! Pray that men and women would hear Dad's voice leading them to tell these people about the hope of His grace, for they are a people without hope.

-Suzi and Chris

Questions of the Heart

Caffeine Injection - May 2009

Jessica is one of the staff members in SEA, and this was her response to the Trafficking
Excursion:

It was absolutely horrible...the sex trafficking. The thought of what those little girls (women, little boys & even men) are forced to endure each night. I wanted to 'pay for' a couple of girls and give them a hotel room...to let them have a night away. I wanted to go Rambo on those that lock the chains around them. (Then, God completely broke me over the pimps, mama-sans, parents, and those who are in complete bondage to the idea that this is okay.) I mean 10-15 men each night -- much less the beatings from the men--much less the fear of the pimps--much less the rejection of one's own family--much less the feeling of hopelessness. I wanted to just hold them and let them know there is hope. I cried and prayed and did both again.

We walked through the 'slums' of this city that is nicknamed 'Hell on earth.' Heaps of trash and cardboard walled houses lined would-be roads steeped in raw sewage. The poverty of such a place is credited with being one of the main causes of the trafficking -- because mom & dad need money to continue their gambling habit or a new TV or in some cases food. So here are all these kids running around with no shoes and many no clothes with their bodies as the biggest asset in the neighborhood.

How do we react? Your heart all but explodes. What is love? How do we help? Where is justice? Who are the poor? Where is the Body? Who will stand in the gap?

I don't have the answers, but on many days my heart screams in the seeking. In the weeks leading up to the trip and even more so since we returned, God has had a central theme of 'who are the poor?' and what is my role in helping the 'least of these' and those whose lives are choked in the grips of such poverty and evil. The verses in John 15:13, I John 3:16-18, and James 1:22, 2:14-28 seem to jump out of the pages. (Actually, I could list several others, but that's a place to start.) At some point, inactivity and not being informed is not acceptable and even disobedient. Each of us is at different places, and God will lead each of us to respond differently. The thing is that I think we are all called to respond.

Within the Body, we want to argue that God hasn't 'called' me to do something, but what about "never grow tired of doing good" or "do not withhold good from those to whom is is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so" or "Feed my sheep" or "if you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me" or what about the part out of I John that says "but whoever has this world's goods, and sees his bother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" At what point are the words that He left in His word our call? On one of Frances Chan's podcasts, he actually made the point that we go to the movies or we watch TV without hearing a 'call' from God; but when it becomes an act of service to God or something that might pull us from our comforts, we want an audible voice. We can listen to sermons and read books and do studies and quote references, but at some point we have to act. We have got to 'exercise' our faith right NOW, wherever we are. We've got to act with more love and more vigor than the evil that is around us.

The urgency has changed a little in my heart, but I've seen the little girls and young women sitting outside the house with the literal red light glowing behind them. I don't know where you are supposed to 'walk' or what your 'hands' are supposed to do, but we have all been called to reach out. I believe we, as the Body, can do more than we are doing, but I fear we get lost in distractions.

-Suzi and Chris