Jon Stolpe
Jon Stolpe
February 2016 Top Posts and Commenters
Top Posts for February 2016:
- 5 Ways To Represent Well
- When The Waves Grow Fierce Around Me
- 3 Ways To Respond When Someone Is Unkind To You
- How to Respond When You Feel Buried
- 5 Lessons I Learned By Studying The Life of Joshua
- 5 Ways To Improve Communication With Your Spouse
- I Have A Confession
- 5 Keys To Overcoming Your Mistakes
- The Discipline Of Gratitude
- 8 Ways To Make Missions Part of Your Life
Top Stretched Commenters of the Month:
- Lulu
- Dan Erickson
- Norman Stolpe
- Bill (cycleguy)
- Jana Botkin
- Jane
- LarryTheDeuce
- Jon Stallings
- Katina Vaselopulos
- Shawn Washburn
If you are a blogger, share your top post in the comments. Which STRETCHED post was your favorite this month? And why?
Planning For The Unexpected On An Overseas Missions Trip
When you plan for an overseas missions trip, you should plan for the unexpected. Things happen in the land you are visiting, and they also happen before you get there that impact your plans.
Six years ago, my wife and I were making plans for our first overseas missions trip to Nairobi, Kenya. We were excited to serve in the slums of the Mathare Valley and local schools with a group from our church and missionaries from CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship). We attended many pre-trip meetings with our team, so we could learn about what we should expect on our trip. We followed through by getting our vaccines. We raised money to help offset the funds required for this two-week missions adventure. And we paid for the trip which included the costs for airfare, passports, vaccinations, food, lodging, and transportation.
We believed we were following the plan of God when we signed up for this trip.
For this reason, we were very confused when we had to cancel plans for our trip four weeks before the trip. Leanne was experiencing some significant health issues, and we prayerfully discerned that a trip to Africa was not ideal at this time. I know for certain that we made the right decision. Leanne’s health continued to decline for a period of time and required a hospital stay and a long recovery period.
We lost the money we paid for the trip, and we wondered if we would ever have the opportunity to experience overseas missions.
In addition, I struggled with the dilemma of responding to our donors. So many people had given money to make this trip happen, and there was no way I could repay them. Asking for money requires humility, and telling people their donation couldn’t be used as planned is beyond difficult.
Thankfully, we were surrounded by people of grace. So many people reassured us along this journey. They understood our situation, and they wanted to make sure we were healthy. It didn’t come at first, but eventually, some of our friends and family even encouraged us that an overseas missions trip may still be a possibility for us.
Fast forward to 2012. In the spring of 2012, the youth pastor at my church asked me to go to Guatemala with teenagers from our church’s youth group. You can read more about that decision by clicking here and here. It required a leap of faith, and it required a renewed humility.
I went on that trip with my daughter and 29 other teenagers, and I fell in love with the village of Xenacoj. I also made an important connection with Dave Sgro with GO Ministries. Little did I know at the time, our family would establish a relationship with Dave, GO Ministries, and the people of Xenacoj. We are returning there for the third time as a family this summer (fourth time for me), and I am confident in our decision to go overseas again.
As part of this journey, I discovered the importance of Missions Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage. This insurance would have prevented us from losing the monies we paid for our trip to Kenya, and it would have provided important coverage in the event something would have happened on this trip. We haven’t had to use the insurance so far, but I feel much better knowing it has been in place for our past two trips to Guatemala. And we’ve purchased this insurance for our upcoming trip this summer.
If you’re planning an overseas missions trip, I’d encourage you to check out Faith Ventures. They’ve been very helpful in setting my mind at ease as we prepare to return to Guatemala.
Missions Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage covers things like: lost baggage, emergency evacuation, medical expenses, and trip costs in the event of cancellation or interruption. Based on our experience, we will be purchasing this coverage for our future overseas missions trips.
Worth noting, Leanne’s health has been great following her recovery over five years ago. She will tell you that her overseas missions experience has been life changing. We are both amazed to see how God has worked through our dreams of serving overseas despite the challenges that life has thrown our way.
What concerns do you have about overseas missions? What is holding you back from serving overseas? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Ice Breaker – Favorite Quote
Most weeks on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question on Fridays. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: What is your favorite quote?
My Answer: “…make the most of every opportunity…” Colossians 4:5
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Don’t forget to sign up for the 7 Week Stretch Challenge. You can sign up right here:
I Have A Confession
I have a confession to make.
I suck!
Before you tell me to put an end to my self-limiting beliefs, give me an opportunity to explain.
I want to come across as having it all together. I try to be positive. I try to be confident. I try to come across as the expert. I’m a perfectionist, and I want everything just right.
Here’s the problem: I don’t have it all together. I’m not always positive. There are times when my confidence is lacking. I don’t know everything. And I’m a perfectionist with more imperfections that I care to admit.
Several weeks ago, I announced the 7 Week Stretch Challenge. (You can sign up for it today by clicking here or by filling out the short form below.)
In each of the weeks of the challenge, I focus on various topics designed to help you grow (STRETCH), help you move forward with more intentionally, and help you make a bigger difference. Here are the topics for each week:
- Week 1 – Still yourself.
- Week 2 – Take note.
- Week 3 – Reflect.
- Week 4 – Engage in key relationships.
- Week 5 – Try something new.
- Week 6 – Community (plug-in).
- Week 7 – Help others.
If you sign up for the challenge, I send you an email each week focusing on these things. I picked these topics, because I know you need to work on these things.
Do you know how I know this?
I know you need to work on these things, because I need to work on these things.
I suck at taking time to be still. I suck at taking note of the things going on in my life. I suck at taking time to reflect. I suck at engaging in key relationships. I suck at getting out of my comfort zone to try new things. I suck at putting aside my own wants and desires to plug into community and to help others.
I need to work on these things, and you do to.
The 7 Week Stretch Challenge is for you, but it’s also for me. If you haven’t jumped on board yet, sign up below.
What’s your confession? What area of your life needs some attention?
Going Back To Guatemala
Guatemala! Here I come!
Last week, I booked round-trip airline tickets from Newark, NJ to Guatemala City, Guatemala for my family. I also purchased missions travel insurance and trip cancellation/interruption coverage for our trip this summer. (After an experience nearly six years ago, we know this insurance is important.)
The reality of our summer plans is starting to hit me.
I’m excited to announce that our family will be heading back to Santo Domingo Xenacoj in Guatemala this summer for two weeks in July. This will be my fourth time in Xenacoj where our family will be serving widows and orphans in and around the village. We will be working with GO! Ministries, and we will be teamed up with missionary teams from Adventures In Missions (A.I.M.).
In the coming weeks and months leading up to our trip, I’ll be sharing more information about our trip along with ways you can help. Stay tuned!
What are your plans for the summer?
Ice Breaker – Your Heart Sings
Most weeks on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question on Fridays. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
Question: What makes your heart sing?
My Answer: My heart sings when I see my kids doing what they love. My heart sings when I watch my daughter run. My heart sings when I see my son tickling the ivory keys of our piano. My heart sings when I help someone at work figure something out for the first time. My heart sings when my customers can’t say enough about my team members. My heart sings when I see people connecting to each other. My heart sings when I work hard and see the fruits of my labor. My heart sings when I spend uninterrupted time with my wife. My heart sings when I see the smiles of widows and orphans in the village of Xenacoj who are simply thankful for another day. My heart sings when I finish a workout knowing the hard work will pay off. My heart sings when I see an item scratched off my to do list. My heart sings when I reach a big goal. My heart sings when I go camping with my long-time friends. My heart sings when a piece of truth connects deeply with me in a brand new way. My heart sings when I put aside the busy distractions of life long enough to see and feel the hand of God touching my life. That’s what makes my heart sing.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Don’t forget to sign up for the 7 Week Stretch Challenge. You can sign up right here:
Podcast Interview Part 2 with Rocco DeLeo at And Dad Makes 7
Today, the second part of my interview with Rocco DeLeo hit the podcast airwaves. We talked about bringing a mission mindset into your home. Please go check it out, and let me know what you think. Click here.
Today I’m Going Back to the Future
Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies. The concept of journeying through the space-time continuum to another time and another space is mind-bending to say the least. And today, I am actually already at tomorrow. Let me explain. My friend, Ralph Mayhew, lives in Australia. He is a leadership blogger, and he is hosting one of my guest articles. The post went live at 5AM Thursday Australia time. But it’s 2PM Wednesday here in my hometown. It boggles my mind. Today, I officially went back to the future.
To see what I’m talking about, go visit my article – 7 Keys to Leading Yourself. Click here to get to the article.
Leave a comment over at Ralph’s site, then come back and let me know what you think. And in your own way, you’ll be doing some amazing time travel of your own.
8 Ways To Make Missions Part of Your Life
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
Mahatma Gandhi
I’m on a mission!
Are you on a mission?
What’s your mission?
I’m on a mission to help others STRETCH. I’m on a mission to glorify God. And I’m on a mission to point others to Christ. I have a lot of missions in my life.
A mission is a job or task that we have to do.
If you call yourself a Christ-follower, you are on a mission whether you realize it or not. We are tasked by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Now what?
How do we make missions part of our lives?
The missionary journey that I am on will most likely look a little different from your missionary journey. We have different gifts and passions which will cause us to serve others from a unique perspective. If you are struggling to make missions part of your life, today’s post will get you started.
8 Ways To Make Missions Part Of Your Life
- Get to know other missionaries. Thanks to the internet, you can plug into missionaries all over the world. Take time to connect with one or two of these missionaries and learn more about their story and their ministry.
- Find ways to serve in your own community. You don’t have to go overseas to be on mission. Their are needs right in your own community. If you’re afraid to go alone, grab a friend and go serve at a local food pantry, shelter, or nursing home. Serving others in your community is such a great way to share the message of your mission.
- Learn to define missions differently. When people think of missions, they often think of someone going to Africa or another foreign country. They put missions in a box. Learn to be creative in how you serve others. Being on a mission starts through your conversations and actions with those where you work and live.
- Make missions part of your schedule. If you aren’t intentional, you will overlook missions opportunities. Our family serves with our H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) group twice a month. We also have a date on our calendar for returning to Guatemala this summer.
- Go somewhere foreign. I am often asked this question: “Why do you go overseas when there are needs right in our own country and community.” For one, the Great Commission instructs us to go into ALL nations. Secondly, a believe a foreign mission trip or missionary journey can actually alter our perspective when we return home. A foreign missions trip can be a catalyst for creating a mission mindset at home. If you live in the country or suburbs, go into the inner-city to serve. If you live in the city, go into the country to serve. Serving in different places opens are eyes to the needs in and around us throughout the world and close to home.
- Give. Don’t underestimate the value and importance of giving when it comes to missions. If you want to make missions part of your life, find a way to give your time, your money, your gifts, and your other resources.
- Pray. Ask God to show you how to make missions part of your life. Ask God to work through the missionaries and ministries on your radar. Prayer is an effective way to make missions part of your life.
- Share. Your story is powerful. Share your story of missions with others. You will inspire others to make missions part of their life when you tell your missions story. This year, my family will be heading back to Guatemala for two weeks to serve in the village of Xenacoj. You can be certain, I’ll be sharing more about this trip right here.
How have you made missions part of your life? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Ice Breaker – Love Songs
Most weeks on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question on Fridays. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.
(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas. If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com. If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)
With Valentine’s Day coming up on Sunday, this week’s question seems appropriate.
Question: What is your favorite love song?
My Answer: Songs have a way of connecting us to a past memory. For this reason, I have several favorite love songs:
- Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton is one of my favorites. My wife and I shared our first dance to this song.
- In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel is another favorite. My college friends who were there will remember the dance floor clearing, so Leanne and I could dance to this song.
- It Must Be Love by Rickie Lee Jones from the Thirtysomething soundtrack takes up one of my spots. I listened to this track over and over again the summer after Leanne and I first met as I was traveling to Connecticut and Massachusetts for my summer job with ServiceMaster.
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers is another favorite. This song is a little more energetic than your traditional love song, but it reminds me that love is fun and it often means going the distance for the one you love.
- I Will Be Here by Stephen Curtis Chapman has a spot on my list. This song was performed at our wedding, but I don’t think the words of this song fully resonated with me until Leanne and I went through some of the challenges of life.
Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!
Don’t forget to sign up for the 7 Week Stretch Challenge. You can sign up right here: