Black Friday Shopping

We were in Ohio this weekend so I did not get around to writing in the blog. My wife and I are big Black Friday shoppers. We have spent the night outside of stores to get the best bargains. Even when we do not spend the night outside of stores we always get up around 3am to get out there and shop. To me it just makes sense to try and get the most for the money God has allowed me to have. I am sure there are other ways to do this but Black Friday has really become a 'tradition' for my wife and I. We really get excited about getting our family members presents while spending as little as possible. My wife will sit down after the Thanksgiving meal and plan a strategy. Stores all open at different times and have different sales so making a strategy allows for the best possible outcome. The strategy does not always work, but more times than not it really helps. One strategy we often use while shopping is Missi will shop while I wait in the long line with another cart. That way she can scoop up the bargains, drop them in my cart, we can check out quicker and get moving to the next store. Teamwork is great! The best part for me is being in the crowds. It really is a chance to show God's love. I always smile at people and wish them well. I help whenever I can and try to carry on positive conversations with everyone.

I know in the big picture of things, shopping like this really does not matter. It is not the gift but the thought behind it. The real reason for the season is Christ. However, getting up a 3am, dealing with the crowds, getting the most for my money, is my way of showing just how important the people I buy gifts for are. Besides that, it is a very special time that my wife and I spend together each year.

Tim

National Missionary Convention

We are currently attending the National Missionary Convention. This years convention is in Tulsa, OK. If you have never been to a convention I encourage you to attend next years convention in Peoria, IL. It is so encouraging to see all of the different organizations that work to spread the work of Jesus Christ. The convention is for Church of Christ/Chistian Church organizations to display their mission anr recruit supporters and other potential missionaries. There are also many different workshop style classes throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. These classes are designed for all the different parts of missionary activity from Churches, to missionaries, to college students, and any other potential missionary organization. Team Expansion always has a very large display. Through this convention, Team Expansion works hard to recruit new missionaries through the many different opportunities available. Missi and I have taken this opportunity to meet the many different missionaries who attend this convention and let them know exactly what our mission is all about.
CrossRoads always has a huge wall building area during the convention. Missi and I have helped cut the wood and supervised groups assmebling the walls. This year anyone who want to participate can assemble a wall that will either go to an Indian reservation in Arizona to house some needy families, or help Pioneer Bible Translaters build a new office to house their international headquaters.
It is only with your prayers that we are able to do what we do. I really am amazed at how God has worked through this family. Thank you for all you do for us.

His always,
Tim

Prayer requests
1. Meeting up with the right missionaries
2. Travel safety back to Louisville then to Ohio for Thanksgiving
3. Keeping our hearts open to God's will and direction

Planting Churches

Sitting here in Southeast Christian church during the Global Missions Health Conference is an experience. It is amazing to see how many Christian based missionary organizations are operating. But it also has shown me how unique and special Team Expansion is. This is a medical missions conference. All of the organizations represented here are nearly exclusively medical related. They only focus on medical missions. Team Expansion is unique in that there are medical missions, however, there are many other different missions that Team Expansion has. In a recent email the president of Team Expansion said that at the end of 2007 there were teams in 47 different countries. Few organizations can equal that number. I am not bragging. I am simply pointing out that Team Expansion is not going to focus on any one particular way of doing missions. Team Expansion is a 'church planting' organization. If the best way to plant a church in a particular area is through a medical clinic, then that is what is done. If the best way to plant a church is through preaching, then that is what is done. Missi and I are so blessed to be associated with an organization that is focused on one thing; planting churches using whatever tools are available.

Tim

We are all missionaries

This is a time of year for many conferences that involve missions. Last weekend Missi and 7 others from Team Expansion and CrossRoads Missions attended the National Youth Workers Conference in Pittsburgh. She made some great contacts for future mission trips and got the word out about the opportunities available through our ministry. Since it was over Holloween weekend there were 'costume' days for the exhibitors. I have attached a few pics of her in some of the costumes. Missi has so much energy that God uses in some wonderful ways.

Next up is the Global Missions Health Conference at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville 13-15 Nov. There we will be able again to make contacts and even connections for possible short term ministry teams.

However, Missi and I are not the only missionaries on this team. Our son, Sean, left this weekend for a youth group overnighter at a nearby campground. There he will fellowship with other teens from Northside Christian Church. You know, paintball and other activities along with some Bible study. The amazing part is Sean took 3 unchurched students from school with him. These boys have all told me that they have seen something in Sean that they really liked. 2 of the boys were on his crosscountry team and the third is the brother of one of those boys. None of these boys has been baptized yet or attended Church regularly. Sean simply asked them to start going to Wednesday night small groups with him. He also picks them up for Sunday morning church. As a father I am so proud of him. He sees the need to reach out to those around him and show them Jesus. In its most simple form, he just asked them to go. Jesus has done the rest.

We are currently working numerous contacts for potential trips in 2009. As soon as any trip is confirmed I will place it on our web site. Anyone can go on a trip that we organize. The group does not have to come from the same church.

We have plans to be home in Springfield for the Thanksgiving weekend. We are going to first attend a dinner at Gallipolis Christian Church on Thursday evening, then drive to Springfield to be with family. If you want to visit with us, or would like us to visit with you just leave us a note and we will get back with you. You can comment on this post; email us at balchfamily@hotmail.com, or call us at (937)360-9230. That is my cell.

Prayer requests this week:
Pray that the boys on the trip will accept Jesus
Pray for our contacts
Pray for our supporters


God Bless,
Tim