Missions – Todd and Angela Owen – New Missions Systems – Fort Myers, FL

Description of Ministry:

In Pursuit of a Dream – I once was a Bible translator in northern Papua New Guinea. I was sitting at the edge of Nagada Harbor one Tuesday afternoon in 2006, drinking a Sprite and scribbling in my journal the boys were leaping out of a gnarled tree that leaned out over the water. The girls made sand castles and spotted tropical fish.

As I thumbed through 3 years’ worth of entries, the Lord confirmed what I was feeling in my heart: a fresh dream was being birthed, a vision to help stem the tide of missionary attrition was being cast that would change the course of our life and ministry. For years, I’d watched missionary upon missionary fold up and leave the field, many leaving ministry altogether. Even as I read I realized the extent of my own fatigue; my own need for missionary care.

Through a series of events, Angela and I ultimately ended up pursuing this dream by affiliating with New Mission Systems International in late 2010 and have been engaged in preparing young missionaries for field realities, providing ongoing care, performing crisis intervention, and building a global missionary care program. We are grateful to be serving in such a vital, strategic, and life-giving ministry.

Ministry Update:

The older I get, the more I recognize the mystery of life. Nothing is as it seems. Though I like to think that success is the direct result of sweat, of effort, I know better. “If you just work hard enough it can all be yours.” I’m grateful that my Father smashes foolish notions & enables me to embrace my true identity: a recipient of grace, a covenant bearer, a child in need of a Daddy to take care of me. I work hard, to be sure, but it is the gracious hand of God that brings fruit. The famous personality Ben Stein once related that it is who you know that determines opportunity for success. Perhaps. His parents were politically connected & wealthy. He became Nixon’s speech writer before becoming an actor & activist. The mystery of the Kingdom is that God can take an unknown kid raised in a blue collar family, put Jesus in him & grant him all that he needed for life & godliness. For this I’m grateful. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Yet I still wonder at the ways of God; the mystery of it all. I toil & sweat & hope for success. Yet I find fruit most often when reclining at His feet, fellowshipping with Him, taking my concerns to Him for his consideration. In my wonder (unbelief?) I ask Him to provide & wait. Sometimes tenuously, for his response. Yet I’ve never gone hungry, never missed the bills, never went without. I’m grateful that He is a Father who keeps His promises. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (food, shelter, needs) will be given to you as well. Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matt. 6:33-34. I’m so grateful for the promises. I’m grateful for you, too. I’m grateful for Christ in you, working out the mystery in your life. I’m grateful for your generous gifts of prayer & finance. I’m grateful for your partnership in ministry. Thank you.

Prayer:

Please ask God to open doors for provision. We still need to raise 59% of our budget.

Please ask God to grant wisdom & discernment as Todd ministers with & to affiliates both overseas & at home.

Please ask God to set divine appointments for us to meet – whether for support, ministry, or both.Thank God in advance for opening many doors for both partnership (prayer & provision) & ministry (planning, implementing, counseling, etc.)