Crisis Conference in Turkey

Seventeen of our staff from the Middle East, Africa, East & Southeast Asia, and Western & Eastern Europe, (and a few from the U.S) spent 4 days together in Izmir, Turkey last month.  We serve Cru as Crisis Managers for different parts of the world. 

Quite the global group.

We discussed the crises that have impacted our ministry around the world over the last 18 months.  About 60% of the crises were politically related, but also included religious persecution, natural disasters and unexpected deaths.  We learned from how these crises were handled, but one of the key focuses of our time together was on taking care of ourselves as people who enter into other’s traumatic experiences.  

For example, our crisis manager for Francophone Africa shared how difficult it was for her when our staff in South Sudan were displaced and unable to receive adequate food for months, with no safe place to go to.  She was moved to tears as she recounted how difficult it was to be unable to help.  But as they were able, they helped our staff get back on their feet and able to continue to serve.

I’ve served as our global and U.S. Crisis Manager since 2003, and I know being able to turn off emotions to be able to handle challenging emergencies is crucial, but it I has impacted me longer term and in other areas of my life.  We talked about how important it is for us to debrief and deal with  the vicarious trauma that can impact us over time.

Thank you for the investment you make in our lives, our ministry, and in our worldwide staff with your partnership.  Please pray for us.

A Day in Ephesus

During the conference we took one day to drive to the ancient city of Ephesus.  The city is being excavated and it is one of the best reconstructed Roman ruins in the world.

This was the first time I have been in a location written about in the Bible.  Acts 19 describes Paul’s time in Ephesus.  Reading the scene where the crowd was in an uproar because Paul was leading so many to Christ, that it was impacting the Artemis idol business.  

It is also said that the apostle John spent time there with Mary, Jesus’ mother.  John died and was buried in Ephesus.

In the picture above I’m in the amphitheater described in Acts 19 where the crowd was in an uproar because people were converting and not buying the idols of Artemis.  

An iconic image of Ephesus

Some mosaics that were in the homes on the hills from about 500 AD.

Friendly toilet situation in the bath house.

In front of the Library of Ephesus

The Library of Ephesus is one of the most well reconstructed Roman ruins from that time.

This is the road where all the commotion happened in Acts 19, on the way to the amphitheater.

I know some of you may have visited Jerusalem or other sites mentioned in the Bible.  It was amazing to be looking at the same amphitheater that Paul was in, and walk the same streets.