Captain Jetlag & The Fatherly Tear-Blessing
No, it’s not the title of a lost Elton John album from 1979
Captain Jetlag & Toad’s Wild Ride
Thank you for praying me away to Cambodia , across Cambodia, and all the way home. We were driven along on an incredible whirlwind of movement and power. I ministered to 158 different pastors and key leaders in intimate groups of 35 or fewer from many denominations and tribes in 6 different provinces in less than 2 weeks. We drove 2000+ lumpy-bumpy kilometers to gather with them. Our local ministry leaders told us they would gather pastors from each region if we drove out to them to encourage and challenge them from the Scriptures specifically regarding unity in heart and action. So that's what we did, and it was incredibly well received. On Sunday, I preached at 5P Pentecostal Church in Phnom Penh, and I was overwhelmed by the reception of my sermon on overcoming suffering. As a result, I was blessed to pray for folks in crisis at the close of service. I felt incredibly appreciated and loved.
Toad’s ride was wild as promised; we hit some dips so hard my buddy Tall Joel smashed his head into the roof. My arthritis didn’t approve of the hard descents from weightlessness in the truck, lol! - WORTH IT! - that’s why God formulated Advil Duo!
In the second week of ministry, Joel and I were at a large conference of pastors from all of the 25 provinces; over 180 pastors and leaders showed up with great expectation and excitement! I taught two sessions at the conference; the first addressed “scripture-based pastoral identity” (having the confident security in ourselves to minister with and through others). My second session was on the fact that there is ONE body of Christ, and churches MUST function together for the good of the Kingdom of God in Cambodia. Both sessions were very well received and opened new doors.
It was an incredible, high-impact trip! I arrived home much more jetlagged, sore, and fatigued than usual, call me Captain Jetlag…but I’m already ready to get back on the road, which is a good thing because…
No Rest for Captain Jetlag, (but LOADS of Pregnant Smiles)
I will be headed for Greece and Turkey in a few days on a 12-day teaching tour following the journeys of Paul in the Book of Acts; we fly out on April 5. I'm SUPER excited because Andrea will be able to join me on this journey. It will be like a combo “ABTO” (amazing bible-teaching opportunity) & romantic vacation with my beautiful wife. I feel truly blessed. I was invited by a church in Northern California to attend as a guest teacher; I will be teaching from the bible in locations such as Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea, Mars Hill in Athens, the Island of Patmos, and then on to islands of Santorini, Crete, and Mykonos.
I want you to know that no GTN partner/support dollars will be used for this trip. Bay Hills Church has hired me to come as a teacher. All of your investments through $upport go to our ministry, training underserved pastors and leaders in places with high need and low opportunity. I can't thank you enough for your incredible generosity and faithfulness in prayer and sharing. It is changing pastors who change their churches, their tribe, community, country, and the globe.
Africa Again for Captain ‘Lagwig!
Four weeks after we return from Athens, I'll be back at LAX, boarding a plane again, and headed back to Burundi, East Africa, for round three of pastoral training in Bujumbura! We’re racking up the SkyMiles in 2024 and making a kingdom difference on Earth for King Jesus.
Salty Tears and The Fatherly Blessing
Here's a powerful story that bears repeating. At the conference, the keynote speaker became aware that many of the pastors had never received a “fatherly blessing” or even a hug from their earthly fathers. He invited another older pastor and me to come up at the end of the session, prayerfully place a blessing upon the pastors, and dispense fatherly hugs. Many pastors, including many men older than myself, cued up to be hugged and prayed over.
It struck me that many of the men who were older than 50 had never received a hug from their fathers because their dads were executed during the year zero genocide under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. It's moments like this that you recognize the incredible compassion of Christ expressed from brother to brother (one church, one body). It was beautiful, powerful, and tear-filled. I'm choking up even as I type these words. Thank you for partnering to bless, encourage, equip, and challenge His shepherds in the Majority World.
-Chuckk
You can view videos and more photos from the Cambodia trip here on my website.
Here’s How to Help
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For those who prefer to mail paper checks, the GTN mailing address is:
Global Training Network
PO Box 6507
Peoria, AZ. 85385
Checks need to be made to Global Training Network, not me personally. In the memo, it's vital to include my name and ACCOUNT NUMBER for support to make it to my personal account:
Chuckk Gerwig, ACCOUNT NUMBER #50322
