Thursday, December 3, 2015

Big! Big! News!

The Vaughns are celebrating some pretty big news this week.  I am graduating from UF Saturday, December 19th, and many have asked “So then what?”  So here is the scoop:
God has called our family into full time ministry.  Our family is moving to Chloe, WV after the first of the year to serve as full time missionary camp directors at Eagle Ranch.  This will be a camp ministry built from the ground up.  God has opened so many doors, and literally moved HUGE mountains just this week.  We are so very excited to be able to share Jesus with the people there on a daily basis (which is what we should be doing anyway). 




Matthew 28:19-20 says Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  And that is exactly what we are going to do.
We knew we were being called into ministry several years ago, but I just dug my heels in the sand and refused to leave my mama.  Y’all know I sure do love going to my mom and dad’s house for Sunday lunch or birthday dinners.  But a lot of life has happened and shown me that there is NO greater joy than obeying the Lord and being where HE wants you to be.
Eagle Ranch will be a year round camp and retreat center with programming for everyone.  We will host our first camps this summer, once we complete the construction of our bunk houses and bath house. 
Can you pray for us?  We are going to need it!  Here are some things you can pray about:
  • Pray our house sells quickly.  We are meeting with the realtor tomorrow, and we can go and serve as soon as it is sold.
  • Pray for our children as this will be a big change.
  • Pray for my mama!  She is actually doing pretty well and that does my heart good.  I am sure gonna miss her and my dad….and my sisters, and nieces and nephews, and my friends, and my students, and the list goes on and on.
  • Pray for the people there in WV, that their hearts will be softened to the gospel of Jesus Christ and they will come to have a personal relationship with Him.
  • Pray about how you can support us.  We need prayer warriors, financial support, and mission teams to come help us.  How will you help?
Are we scared?  A little.  But mostly excited! But I find comfort in Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: 25-34:
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Jesus LOVES us!  He is for us.  He will provide for us!  And we have been blown away by the power He has shown these last few weeks.  Thank you for going on yet another journey with the Vaughn family.  It’s sure to be a wild ride!

3 comments:

J. Matthew Cain said...

This is wonderful! For others out there reading this it is an amazing thing to finally give up on all that we know and are comfortable with in this life in order to follow God's calling in our lives. In my own life I fight like Jonah, just as SaraBeth and Rob have and I am sure many of you have and are doing the same. One of the hardest things that we as Christians face is Matthew 28:19-20. Notice this verse does not imply that only Pastors are called to make disciples, we all are! Only when we give up on the nice clothes, shoes, cars and houses and focus our hearts on allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives in discipling others. That is when we live and have our life more abundantly. There is know greater joy and peace throughout life than giving HIM our lives and truly allowing Him to be our Lord. In Christ name I bid you peace.
J. Matthew Cain

J. Matthew Cain said...

One day I will learn to proof read. ...discipling others, that...

Unknown said...

Thank you Matt for your encouragement!