Different, But Still Meeting
2020 will be a year we never forget. Coronavirus! The global pandemic that started in Wuhan, China and changed the lives of people across the globe in ways we never would have imagined.
How has Simplicity Ministries
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responded to this pandemic? I am not traveling to do ministry, but as churches begin to reopen and things normalize again, I look forward to getting back on the road to preach. Our Rwanda Mission trip for May 21-June 4 has been cancelled. As international travel resumes and nations permit entrance without a quarantine, we will begin work on rescheduling our trip to Rwanda.
Beginning on March 16th, Men of Simplicity (MOS) was no longer able to meet in person at our five locations. In one week's time God enabled us to transition 65 men to a new venue to meet for MOS -- Zoom Cloud Meeting (pictured above). Most of the men have made the transition well. We have had an average attendance on Zoom of 81% of the guys (this is just slightly lower than our normal attendance rate). In addition, we launched a new group of 5 men from California who are now participating. This gives us a total of 70 guys whom we are still discipling each week. It's different, but we are still meeting!
As much as I am thankful for the technology that has allowed us to continue to meet, this reminds us all of the importance of "not forsaking our own assembling together." There is no substitute that can replace in person fellowship of the church. As things begin to reopen, may we not take that for granted. Blessings, Mike Thibodeaux
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Going to BRIGHT Lights During Quarantine
(by Jordan Thibodeaux)
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It's 3:00pm on a Wednesday. Two months ago, I would have been in the car about to pull up to the church for our BRIGHT Lights girls' discipleship group. Today, I am in my room about to pull up the meeting online. It definitely looks different, but BRIGHT Lights is still happening despite social distancing and quarantine requirements. Zoom video conferencing software allows us to hold meetings in a similar way to how we would in person. I click on the link, and the meeting begins. Everyone is able to see and hear everyone else. We even have the option of using break out rooms to divide up into smaller groups for discussion and prayer.
There are certainly some challenges to holding BRIGHT Lights online. The weekly verse activity has been hardest to replicate over Zoom. One week, we tried taking turns saying the next word in the Bible verse - a simple activity we've used in the past. However, because the order of images looks different on everyone's screen, going in a "circle" was not possible. We all ended up laughing when no one knew whose turn came next. We are learning from such difficulties and continuing to work hard to come up with creative alternatives as we meet remotely. We are also using Zoom and FaceTime for one on one accountability meetings.
Using Zoom is enabling us to maintain the close connections that our group has established over the last three years. The girls in BRIGHT Lights have become my closest friends, but as you well know, fellowship is key to building and maintaining relationships. A lack of fellowship for a month or more would have damaged the group's tight-knit quality. Online meetings may not be ideal, but they are definitely better than nothing at all when it comes to spending time with other believers.
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People love to click and watch videos. Here's a captivating way to share the Gospel story on social media, email, or a text message: a six minute film that simply and effectively explains God's story of rescue. There is a window of time right now in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic during which people are looking for hope. You can share the Good News with them by sharing this video.
You are invited to join Simplicity Ministries' share The Story evangelistic outreach group:
http://JoinGroup.org/Simplicity-Ministries. Click the link, click "join group," create a free account, and then click "share." Pick one of the ready made posts for social media. Then pray and ask God to use your post of the Gospel message to bring someone to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
As you share The Story on social media, emails or texts, you'll be able to see the metrics of our group's Gospel Reach. Together, we could share the message of Hope in Christ with thousands across the country and around the world! [Click here to view the short six minute film, The Story, created by spreadtruth.com.]
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Intern Perspective
(by Jonathan Taylor)
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In Mid-March, I made the decision to drive home to Missoula, MT. Since everything
Simplicity Ministries
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is doing right now is online, I am working to make it a smooth transition for our Men of Simplicity (MOS) discipleship groups. I have been contacting guys to create and test Zoom accounts, as well as troubleshoot problems that come up. I never thought I would see the day where I felt like an IT guy. Technology has never been my strong point, but I am learning quickly and gaining more confidence each day.
My favorite thing I am doing right now is leading a prayer group for our MOS guys on Mondays. It is a thirty minute prayer meeting for which I write six prompts for us to pray through. We pray for our Monday night meetings, protection for the men and their families, our leaders, our nation, and many other areas, as well. It has been a true joy to be able to lead this time and invite our men to join us in prayer.
In scripture, we see time and time again situations that are not ideal. But in those situations, I see the choice people have: remain faithful to God and trust Him or seek comfort and follow their own path. God uses people who trust Him in the midst of difficult times. The circumstances of Covid-19 are not ideal - but that is out of my control. I am learning to trust God and remain faithful in the midst of it all. I pray you all are healthy. Thank you for your support during this time as I continue my internship remotely.
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I have been preaching the gospel full-time as an evangelist of Simplicity Ministries
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traveling in both the U.S. and internationally, since August of 1999. It is a privilege and a great honor to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this manner. But, it would not be possible without prayer partners and financial partners who invest in the kingdom of Christ through this ministry. Thank you for praying! Thank you for giving! During this pandemic, we are praying and seeking the Lord, pushing forward, adapting our methods, preparing for future ministry, and staying focused on our mission.
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Upcoming Ministry Events
Our Prayer List
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Schedule
- Sundays (5:45PM): MOS Open Door Baptist Church, Troutdale, OR (19 Men Participating)
- Mondays (6:45PM): MOS & MOS Connect - Gresham, OR (64 Men Participating)
- Wednesdays in May (6:30pm): Preaching the devotional time at Fairview Baptist Church, Austin TX via Facebook Live.
- May 21- Jun 4: Rwanda Mission 2020 -- CANCELLED due to Covid-19.
COVID-19 has brought Mike's traveling ministry to a halt. Mike will resume travel as soon as it is possible to do so.
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