HoveyServinGod

I (Brian) have been thinking about how much stuff is covered under the blanket of "Ministry". It is really hard to comprehend if you have not experienced it first hand.  In my mind it is a bit like running in a marathon or a big sports event.  Generally people only get to see the end result.  They don't get to see the training that takes place everyday, the sacrifices that are given up in order to accomplish the goal.  I am not a runner....unless someone is chasing me of course, but I can only imagine the hundreds of miles someone puts on in their preparation for a marathon.  I am sure there are days they don't want to get out of bed to run or have aches and pains, but they press forward because they keep the focus in mind...the end result.   When people think of missionaries is generally about preaching, winning souls for Christ, starting churches, and so on...however those are all end result things and we seldom think about all the "training" that is don

To define a 'hero' is a matter of perspective.  There is usually criteria that needs to be met to obtain the title.  In the Hovey home, Gunner was our hero of the day.  Why? Let me explain.... Today we had team meetings in the morning at another missionary family's home.  Gunner and Moriah were to stay at home with a friend and national partner that they are quite comfortable with.  Meetings started at 8:30 this morning, and we stopped for a break around 10:00 am.  Not too far into our break we were all surprised to hear little footsteps running up to the house and a little hand knock on the door.  It was Gunner!  He had run through the morning drizzle and was clearly out of breath.  "Mom!" He exclaimed, "Ms. D. is locked in the bathroom and you need to come quick to let her out!"  I put down my snack foods and ran after him back to the house (which thankfully was next door).   Moriah was getting shoes on and preparing to follow Gunner outside, and

As I was doing my devotions with Brian last night we were reading from Romans 4:20-21. No unbelief made him [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,   fully convinced that  God was able to do what he had promised. (ESV) Abraham was SURE of God’s promise.  I wish I knew that delicate art!  I confess, I’m not there....YET....I am convinced though that God is still working on me.  This week has been full of ups and downs emotionally.  I have been praying that God would be the stability of my heart, but I would really enjoy external encouragement at my beck and call sometimes!.....sigh.  This verse however, testified that Abraham's faith had to GROW.....it wasn’t like he just decided to have faith and wa-bam!  It was there.  No.  He had to learn and his faith 'grew strong as he gave glory to God.'   This Sunday in church I was given the privilege of sharing a song with the congregation.  I have to confess

The Bena district is a large region adjacent to Goroka Baptist Bible College (where we live). This area is known for sorcery and fierce tribal fighting. The culture in PNG is very male dominated, and Papua New Guinean men are much less likely to be in church than women. There are few men worshiping and taking leadership positions in the churches across the country, but these men need to know Jesus Christ; they need to be leaders of their families; they need to be leaders in the church. A vision our ABWE team has is for God to raise up men in the Bena district to take a stand for Christ. We are praying for GOD to call 100 Bena Men to Himself so that they can be saved and discipled. God is answering these prayers in a mighty way as recently 15 Bena men came to know Christ as their personal Savior. These men’s lives are truly being transformed!  We, in partnership with a large group of Pastors in our area, would like to give out 200 personal invitations to the Bena men to attend outreac