Quarantine.   This is a word that used to be saved for severe cases of medical mystery, but now it is what we find ourselves living in.

For me personally, the last 40 days would not classify as a time of "quarantine," but instead, a time of "incubation."

What is incubation?   The definition of incubation is the process of keeping something at the right temperature and under the right conditions in order for it to develop properly.    We see this done with mother birds, sitting on the nest and allowing her eggs to come to life.

Now we have incubators, machines that maintain the perfect temperature and ideal conditions to birth different types of eggs.

That's where I see us spiritually in this season.   God is incubating us.   He's putting us in situations where we must seek Him more.  

There are many examples of spiritual incubation in the Bible:

God's timing is perfect.   He knows how to get us in specific situations to help us learn, grow, and trust Him more.  

Romans 5:3-5 says:

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

God is refining His people, His church.   Right now it feels like suffering.   But this suffering will produce perseverance.   We are growing to become more like Jesus in this time as we seek Him as our first priority.   If you're not growing during this time you are missing out!   This is the time to make Jesus #1 in your life. Ask Him to give you a deeper hunger for His word.   This is the time to draw closer to Him more than ever before.

This perseverance of our faith will produce a more Godly character.   Coming out of quarantine, out of this incubation, we should be tempered to be the representation of Jesus Christ on this earth.   Maybe we went into our homes 40 days ago not looking like, acting life, and representing Jesus as we should.   But now, 40 days later (and however much longer we have to wait), we are being incubated to represent Him to the world!  

As our character grows, we produce more hope.   There is no greater time in the history of the world to show people the hope that we have in Jesus!   When we come out of this incubation, if we've allowed the incubation time to work as God does, we should be the most passionate "Church" that the world has ever seen!

While mission trips are currently on hold, the local church remains unstoppable!  It has been so incredible to hear our pastors world-wide preach online and continue to minister to the needs of their community.  Click on PPM's Global Church Live this Sunday to see how church is being held all over the world!

As a ministry, we have pivoted our efforts to support the local churches around the world in a new way.  Check out the many ways you can help on our Covid-19 Global Response page.

We continue to stand amazed by the faithfulness of each of you, our supporters.  We know that many of you are suffering in different ways.  Many are isolated, alone, struggling with losing employment, and missing big life events and celebrations.  Please know that we are standing with you in prayer.  Every time we receive our support update we are thrilled to see many of you still standing with us!  To those of you who have had to stop support due to job loss and financial difficulties, know that we are so very grateful for your faithfulness in giving in the past and are praying for God to supply for all of your needs as you trust in Him!   Thank you so much for believing in us, supporting our family, and allowing us to do the ministry we are called to!