Almost 20 years ago now, I was circling the 60-foot maple tree that stands just yards from my front door, talking to my Heavenly Father. Forward Edge needed to upgrade the training we provided for our short-term mission teams, and I was asking God for guidance. In a matter of seconds, the following concept poured into my brain like water from an open spigot:
Imagine that God is an ocean, always sending waves toward the shore. Now imagine your mission trip as a wave. How do you “catch the wave” of God’s plan and purpose for your trip? You have to SURF. “S” = servanthood. “U” = unity. “R” = respect. And “F” = flexibility.
For almost two decades now, this SURF acronym has been the focal point of our training for short-term mission teams. What I didn’t realize when God gave me this concept, though, was that SURF was not only relevant for our short-term mission teams, but anyone wanting to “catch the wave” of God’s plan for their lives.
Consider, for example, how SURF applies to what we’re all going through right now because of Covid-19:
SERVANTHOOD: What opportunities has the pandemic provided for each of us to reach outside ourselves to serve and bless others? At Forward Edge, we’ve been reaching out to our friends and partners around the country, just to see how they’re doing, and to ask how we can pray for them. This may seem minor, but it’s been a major blessing—to those receiving the calls, as well as those making them.
UNITY: I believe the pandemic opened “a window of grace” in the area of relationships—a unique opportunity to deepen and, if necessary, repair relationships that had become distant or damaged. I have personally taken great advantage of this opportunity—deepening my relationships with family members, Forward Edge partners, and precious, old friends, some of whom I hadn’t spoken with in years.
RESPECT: If nothing else, the pandemic has made us much more aware of our shared humanity. Never in human history (with the exception of the Flood perhaps) has the entire planet been impacted—simultaneously—by the same, life-threatening calamity. It’s an experience that can deepen the love, compassion, and respect we feel for our fellow human beings.
FLEXIBILITY: Think of the ways we’ve all had to pivot in the face of circumstances we didn’t see coming, circumstances beyond our control. I’ve especially appreciated the way our Country Directors and Field Staff have “caught the wave” of the pandemic by preparing and distributing food baskets and hygiene kits to the children and families in our programs. They are my heroes.
One of my favorite singer-songwriters, David Wilcox, wrote a song a while back that reminds me of the metaphor God gave me years ago—the metaphor of God as an ocean. It also reminds me how the threatening “waves” God sometimes allows to crash into our lives not only test our faith, but reveal the true condition of our hearts. The song is called “Let the Wave Say Who I Am.” Here are the lyrics:
If the surface of the ocean
Is this time that we’re alive
Then this rising wave in motion
Is this moment that we ride
If you don’t move when it’s moving
Then your life leaves you behind
If you can’t see what it’s doing
Trust the wave more than your mind
When the wave is all around me
I got no other plans
I just balance through the changes
And let the wave say who I am
From a thousand miles of water
From the wind beyond belief
Every wave roars out its power
As it rises on the reef
And the high blue wall can break you
You can never fight the sea
You just learn to let it take you
To the place you want to be
Now the wave is all around me
I got no other plans
Keep my balance through the changes
Let the wave say who I am
As we ride together this wave of the pandemic, may we each find ways to serve and bless others…ways to deepen our relationships…ways to grow in respect for our fellow human beings…and, if necessary, ways to pivot from old routines and patterns to embrace the “new thing” God is doing—in our personal lives, and in the world around us.
Yes, dear friends, let the wave say who we are: The Body of Christ!
In his book, “Empowering Children”, former Forward Edge board member, Dr. Ravi Jayakaran, shares the importance of involving children in the process of their own development. When a community invests its resources in its children, it invests in its own future. Just as Forward Edge values all children and believes
Ileana has been in our Nicaragua children’s program for the last eight years. Our team has poured into her heart, spirit, and education, and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman of God. Her life hasn’t been easy, but as you’ll read in her letter, she has learned to
Tim Ainley, CEO of Forward Edge, recently shared an inspiring message at a graduation commencement ceremony that is a timely and impactful message for us all. But, especially for recent graduates, young adults, and teens, these words could be the guiding principles you need as you step into a world
When I introduce new people to Forward Edge, I’ll often describe what we do this way: we help children around the world overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. I believe these three descriptors are distinct and important. Let me explain a little
11 yrs. old
Entered the program: March 2023
Abdul Fahad (who goes by Fahad) lives with his parents and four sisters in a two bedroom mud house with a thatch roof. They have no access to electricity but have potable drinking water through Create Hope. There is no latrine and the village residents fetch water from a local dam until it dries up and then travel long distances to find more.
Fahad’s family was Muslim but through the love and influence of Create Hope, Fahad and his parents have accepted Christ. Both of his parents are unemployed and have no reliable source of income. His mother is disabled and cannot walk or do anything for herself. His father sometimes does small scale farming to provide for the family but not on a regular basis, as he owns no land. Create Hope helps provide food for Fahad and his family.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
