This past fall, Nate Bjorge, Worship Director at the Wheaton Campus, was asked by our partners at Mittendrin church in Germany to providing training for their Worship Arts Team. In this post Nate shares about his experience. 

God is working in Potsdam, Germany through the people of Mittendrin Church in powerful ways. During our time there, we got to make some inspiring new friends and gain a greater vision of the global church and God’s growing impact on our planet. We were prepared to bring what advice and knowledge we could to help them grow and equip their worship arts ministry and ended up being ministered to more than we expected.

Potsdam is a largely atheistic city but that does not stop our friends at Mittendrin from reaching out to those who do not know Christ. Beyond that, they have a genuine love and care for the them. You would think that in a highly atheistic culture, the believers would be even more bubbled together inside the church. This was not at all the case in Potsdam. The people of Mittendrin Church display hearts that are focused on the people outside of the church walls. Often, in our culture, it seems we lose sight of a genuine love for the lost and we began to view God’s calling for them as a duty or obligation.

This was only one of the many ways we were encouraged by our friends in Potsdam. That God would give us hearts that yearn to see more come to know Him because of How amazing He is in our own lives. We also pray that these global friendships would continue to be mutually encouraging and that God would continue to move powerfully through all his children across the nations.

Our news feeds are full of stories of tragedy and conflict. It can be easy to despair and feel like God is nowhere to be found.  However each week  the CompassGlobal staff are blessed to read reports of how God is using their lives of our Global Partners to reach people hear, near and far. It is challenging and inspiring.

Recently CBN did a report on Jason & Heather Fader, supported CompassGlobal Partners who serve in the country of Burundi.

The Faders represent just one of over 60 supported individuals or families that are supported by The Compass Church. And YOU can play a part in the work God is doing through them!

• Stop by Compass Central at your campus and pick up a copy of the CompassGlobal brochure.
• Pick one or two of our Global Partners and commit to praying for them regularly this year.
• Email compassglobal@thecompass.net to have your name added to their newsletter list so you can receive direct and regular updates.
• Send emails with encouragement throughout the year to share a Bible verse or simply let them know you are praying!

This is a simple way to not only participate in what God is doing around the world, but to be encouraged as your news feeds are regularly interrupted by glimpses of His extraordinary love in action!

You can read part 1 of this series here.

If you have visited one of our Justice Markets, you may have noticed that we sell the brand of coffee “I Have a Bean”. While the beans themselves come from far away countries like Kenya and Brazil, the coffee itself is roasted in our own backyard, in Wheaton to be exact.

There are a lot of factors that make this coffee company unique, even in such a large industry. For example, “I Have a Bean” is  made from beans that are rated in the top 1% of quality.  It is fresh roasted, and if you order online before 10 am, they will roast, grind, and have your coffee ready for pick up that same day.

But what really makes this company stand out is it’s mission and its employees. Check out this video from CBN to discover why.

When you purchase beans from a company like “I Have Bean”, changing the world really can be as easy your morning cup of coffee!

The problems and needs of the world are great. But sometimes impacting them can begin as simply as your morning cup of coffee. Not convinced? Check out this image below from Missiographics!

Here is one easy “coffee and missions goal”  for 2018…every time you take the first sip of a cup of coffee, pray for one of the points listed in the graphics above:

• For the countries where coffee is grown.
• For the growers as they provide for the families.
• For the millions of other people drinking coffee today.
• For those sharing the Gospel as they share a cup of coffee.

Maybe its time to go pour a fresh cup!

As you make plans and dreams for 2018, have you asked God if He is calling you to participate in a short term missions trip this year? At The Compass Church we plan short term missions trips with the goal of building relational connections and providing support to our partners on the field, as well as providing an environment conducive to life transformation for the team members.

Trips are currently being planned for Houston, Kenya, Costa Rica, Haiti, Belgium and Moldova. For more details, attend one of our upcoming informational meetings or email jkindelin@thecompass.net