We’re celebrating! After more than 8 months of hard work, the food mill that your CHIC offering made possible, is finished! Twelve truck loads of equipment were brought over from Laos. Grain bins were sanded down, repainted, and re-assembled. Roller mills, hammer mills, and extruders were cleaned and re-conditioned. Augers and transitions were fabricated. And a heavy-duty electrical system was installed. But now it’s all together.

We had our first taste of the corn-soy puffs as they shot out the end of our extruders! Put a little honey on them and they wouldn’t be far off the taste of some of the breakfast cereals we grew up on. After they are ground into a flour and fortified with vitamins and minerals, this product will be sold to school feeding programs in countries throughout this region. This flour is steamed into nutritious cakes, with a little sugar added, and given to grade-school children throughout Laos.

Why? A study by the World Food Program in Laos estimated that almost half the schooI-aged children in Laos are chronically malnourished. Not enough of all of the key nutrients in their diet means that many of the children are stunted—not only in height, but also their mental development. The World Food program has been working to counteract this problem through a school-feeding program throughout Laos. Similar programs exist in refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border and in surrounding countries.

The food mill that CHIC has built will not only meet this big need, but has many ‘ripple-benefits’. Our mill brings jobs and income not only to the families of people working in the mill, but also to l farmers who are able to grow and sell more crops in the local economy. In the process of making and selling nutritious food, Covenant missionaries engage with the community and work with local churches to spread Christ’s love. FROM THE THAI-LAO BORDER IN THE NORTH, WE WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU, CHIC, FOR BEING A BIG PART OF THIS PROJECT!

Watch this video about the ongoing work in Thailand.

Experience first-hand what God is doing in Thailand through Covenant World Mission. Sign up today for one of the Thailand youth mission trips.

CHRISTMAS IN THAILAND
Date: 12/26/09 – 1/3/10
Cost: Airfare plus $500 per person
Travel to Chiang Kong and Laos to work with the Peter and Ruthie Dutton and the Mekong Valley Project. (Max. 10 participants)

SPRING BREAK IN THAILAND (Trip A)
Date: 3/21/10 – 3/28/10
Cost: Airfare plus $400 per person
Work with Karen and Carl Groot at Abundant Life Center, Bangkok. (Max. 5 participants)

SPRING BREAK IN THAILAND (Trip B)
Date: 3/21/10 – 3/28/10
Cost: Airfare plus $400 per person
Travel with Randy Bevis to the Covenant Camp in Roi Et to do a work project. (Max. 25 participants)

SUMMER IN THAILAND
Date: 6/20/10 – 6/30/10
Cost: Airfare plus $500 per person
Travel to Chiang Kong and Laos to work with Peter and Ruthie Dutton and the Mekong Valley Project. (Max. 30 participants)

For more information on youth mission trips to Thailand, please visit the World Mission Website. or contact Karen Hallberg, director of mobilization and connection, via email or phone: 773-907-3318.

Third Day, opened the last Main Stage worship service last night at the Thompson-Boling Arena. From the moment they took the stage, we knew we were in for an amazing night. Unlike any previous guest artist this week, Third Day asked everyone to lift our hands to the heavens and really sing to God, as we sang ‘God of wonders beyond our Galaxy, you are Holy. Holy’ Another awesome part of worship led by Third Day was when as lead singer, Mac Powell, sang ‘let your light shine’, the whole arena went dark and was illuminated by cell phone lights.

Thailand missionary, Randy Beavis then thanked everyone here at CHIC for all the love, support, hard work and effort that has gone into trying to heal the struggles of the people of Thailand. These efforts came in the form of prayers, sending three students to help hands-on, and the offering which also took place last night that resulted in a whopping $109,327 to be sent to Thailand. Randy shared that all of these efforts don’t have to end here at CHIC. In fact, Randy has organized three mission trips to Thailand within the next year that he hopes CHIC participants will take advantage of. Covenant World Relief has more information on these different mission trips.

Efrem Smith, Pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minnesota, delivered the message and what a message it was! With last night being the very last Main Stage service of CHIC, Efrem spoke on what happens next, and on our responsibilities in continuing the work of God. He began by stating two simple facts; first, we are all undone people, and secondly, we have been given UNLIMITED opportunities during this week to go back into our churches, community, and WORLD and be examples so that others might know God and be able to see, through us, how amazingly God showed up and showed out during CHIC.

Referencing the story of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:4, where the Lord declares that before Jeremiah was even formed, he knew him and appointed him to be a prophet to the nations, Efrem explained that before we were even created, God DECLARED that our lives are purposeful. “You being here this week was an answer to someone’s prayer” Efrem said. “God knew your purpose. Your life is a declaration and God knows just how wonderful you are” he proclaimed.

Efrem advised CHIC of what needs to happen when we all return into the real world now that CHIC is over. “Don’t go home all religious. Don’t go home thinking that you’re better than everyone else because the truth of the matter is that you’re still undone” but the task is to follow the calling that God has for all of our lives to do the undone work in our communities.

To illustrate what ‘following the call to help the undone’ looks like, Efrem narrates the way that he became a follower of Christ. He was a sophomore in High School when a close friend, Joey, decided that he would follow God’s call and help the undone in his community. As a start to Joey’s journey, he began to ask Efrem to come to youth group and to church, but more importantly, he became a true friend to Efrem which all eventually led to Efrem’s coming to Christ. “If Joey had not followed God’s call, then I might not be standing here before you tonight” Efrem said.

“You aren’t going back alone” he reaffirmed. We don’t have to carry this weight of the world on our own. Efrem designated us as now being anointed, appointed and equipped to empower. We just have to have the courage to do it. Do you have the courage?

Efrem ended with a powerful story that a close friend shared with him about the zoo animal, the African Impala, which is a medium sized antelope that has the ability to jump 13 feet in the air and out 30 feet away. The story was of Efrem’s friend and son visiting a zoo where this Impala was featured. With this powerful animal being able to jump so high and so far, how is it possible to keep it caged up by a three foot wall?, asked the son. He later learned that without being able to see where he’s landing, the Impala won’t jump: the Impala doesn’t have faith. “DON’T LET A THREE FOOT WALL KEEP YOU FROM WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU” Efrem yelled as he dared each and everyone of us to jump repeatedly. “I DARE you to jump. I Dare you to jump!!!!!!” Then, not only were students jumping on the main floor, the entire auditorium was jumping up and down. At that very moment, we weren’t jumping because of music or because of whatever other stuff we had going on. We were jumping as Christians, rejoicing at the goodness of God.

The CHIC 2009 worship band closed the service for the last time here in Knoxville singing the most popular worship songs for our last chance to worship with 5,500 other Christians who had just experienced a week of being undone. The benediction was read and streamers and confetti fell from the ceiling marking the end of week of transformation for some, and new beginnings for others. The whole arena was filled with worship, jumping up and down and yes, even body surfing.

This week you have been undone so that you can undo the undone work of the world.
-Judy Peterson

Q: What urged you to apply to participate on this trip and how did you feel when you were notified that you were going?

Kerrick- It was partly me and partly my parents.  We love traveling and my mom found this opportunity so I said “why not!”  I never win things, so I couldn’t believe it when I found out

Rachel- I am looking to go into missions so I thought this was a great opportunity.  Also, I feel like God teaches me a lot through my trips oversees so I was really excited to participate.  I knew when I was told I was going that God wanted me to do it.  

MJ- Initially, I wanted to experience a new place and experience someone else’s culture.  I didn’t know what we would be doing when we got there, I was just really excited to participate.

Q: What was the most beneficial part of the trip for you?

Kerrick- I think it was the care that they showed for us especially when we weren’t doing anything but listening to them.  I felt as if I should be the one caring for them but they just embraced us so warmly. 

Rachel- God taught me a lot through this trip.  One main thing that I realized is that there are many different types of mission work and that being a missionary is not always what people think at all.

MJ- More than anything, it has put my life in perspective.  I am so grateful for what I have.  Many times I think that I have it hard here in the States and at home, but I realized that there are people all over the world that have it so much worse than I do.  

Q: Would you say you have been Undone through this trip and how do you plan to change based on this trip?

Kerrick- I have been completely undone.  Especially in my thinking of what a missionary is and what Christians are.  I learned that there are all types of Christians and there is no one “cookie cutter” type.  I definitely became closer to God and from this trip I can respect Christians more for the work that we do for God’s kingdom.  The Dutton’s and Karen Groot [missionaries] definitely helped in that.

Rachel- It’s been a complete refresher for me to really see how much God loves me.  Moving forward I am just going to continue to show that love by loving people radically. 

MJ- I have been undone in my understanding of the things that others go through.  I really got it on this trip.  That there are people who have it worse than I do, so I need to be ready to help them.  It was such an eye-opening experience.

For the second night in a row, CHIC participants here in Knoxville were able to communicate LIVE, via satellite, with the three students who are currently serving in Thailand. MJ Pacheco, Rachel Lindsay and Kerrick Stevens are the three students who were selected to participate in the trip, being led by Pastor Cue of Los Angeles, CA., which is allotting them a firsthand view of the types of hardships and lifestyles that the CHIC World Relief offering will help to alleviate and make better.

During the live satellite broadcast MJ, Kerrick and Rachel shared with us their experience working with the women of the Abundant Life Center(ALC) and working with local children in different outreaches for the neighborhood. The students shared with CHIC the things that stood out most to the them as they experienced God’s undone work in the world, stressing that what they were doing and who they were working with should not be confused with a charity case but simply a ‘different way of life’.

Kerrick shared how amazed he was to see how little the people of Thailand have, yet how willing they are to give their last. He commented on how hardworking and dedicated they are in maintaining their way of life. Rachel was also taken aback at the women of the ALC and their hard work and dedication when it came to their mass production of 500 messenger bags, sporting nothing else than the CHIC 2009 logo, that will be available for purchase later this week. MJ shared with CHIC her passion for the youth ministry of Thailand and how she can see the potential for growth and expansion with the the CHIC World Relief offering.

As we continue through the week, North Park Campus Pastor, Judy Peterson, wants us to keep in mind the World Relief offering that will be taking place at the end of the week. As Kerrick stated, the people of Thailand have so little but give so much. Likewise, we should find it in our hearts to give in order to improve the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Visiting Covenant missionaries currently serving in Thailand has given them an opportunity to witness an unfamiliar lifestyle. The students have been amazed by what they have seen so far as God has begun opening their eyes to the needs of those beyond the United States.

Lindsay shared some of the words God has been speaking to her throughout the trip. “Don’t be satisfied with the way the world is. Just love and love and love and love them. Love them until it hurts, until you can’t handle it anymore. Then, remember that I’m carrying you.”

The main objective of the trip is for the students going to Thailand to be able to communicate to their peers how important it is to be aware of the needs of people around the world. The trip participants hope to do this by raising awareness of poverty and giving their fellow students the chance to take action in a project that will directly affect poverty in Thailand. The funds raised by the offering will be used by Covenant related ministries to address the needs of people in Thailand by supporting relevant and sustainable projects. The students selected for the trip participated in an intense application process which began when they submitted a written application and recommendation from their youth leader. They were then invited to submit a video application, which was followed up by a phone interview. When asked what she is most excited about, Rachel Lindsay, who is 18 years old and attends Grace Evangelical Covenant Church in Clay, NY said, “I’m excited to just be immersed in another culture.  I can learn so much from the way others live and I’m excited to see what God has to teach me.”    MJ Pacheco, who attends Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN is also excited about the trip, saying, “I am most excited about meeting the people when we go to Thailand and learning about their experiences as well as everyday life in general. It is going to be a completely new experience; I can’t wait”! The third student to go on the trip is Kerrick Stevens who attends the Community Covenant Church of Peabody in Massachutes. He is also excited about meeting new people in Thailand and reporting back to everyone at CHIC. All three students ask for prayer regarding the time change and jet lag issues they may encounter as they come back to CHIC to meet up with their youth groups and experience a few days of the event in Tennessee.

Please be ready to give generously to the Covenant World Relief offering during CHIC 2009.

You may also download a zipped MP4 file (22.2MB).