Shaun and Maria...admiring His creation!

I realize I’m a little behind…but it’s been worth it. The busyness has been fruitful.

We minister to several very distinct cultures: 

Yesterday Maria and I walked into a little church that is known for hosting Refugees in San Diego. We walked in and took the closest seat we could find…then we looked around. On the ‘white’ side of the church were all white folks including us. Across the aisle were “colorful” people mostly with darker skin. They wore bright colors and head wraps. The ladies had outfits that wrapped around and drug the floor and were beautiful. The men were dressed up and pressed. Even the kids were strutting their stuff. This side was where all the Refugees from Africa and Bhutan/Nepal were sitting. Since they were the reason we were there, we changed sides and joined the colorful one’s. They are here at this church because one very overwhelmed man has loved them and his church offers them food. His church is accommodating but not really sure how to embrace these colorful one’s that don't speak English.

   We met 20-year-old Gerald a Refugee from Africa that translated for those who spoke Swahili and 15-year-old Josh from Nepal who translated into Nepalese. Their faith in Jesus is brand new and their hunger to grow is evident.  We see potential in these guys which has prompted us to pray about asking them to let us disciple them. We can actually imagine them becoming spiritual leaders among their people. There is also a knot of young girls that seem to be great candidates for discipleship too.

We’d love to add these refugees to our already crowded plate. The need is huge but the workers are few…

Here are a few more things that are on our cultural plates:

1.     Training enthusiastic American young adults to become missionaries. They are fun, high tech, energetic, idealistic, frightened, unsure, pampered, teachable, willing and wanting to make a Kingdom difference. We teach, train, mentor, take them with us in our ministry and then send them off to where God calls them.

2.    Leaders in Tijuana. Strengthening the church in Mexico by strengthening their leaders. It’s the norm for Mexican Christian leaders to never have had any investment or training…ever! That can mean a weak church. It’s amazing to see the maturing that happens when even just a little investment is made. This is awesome to be able to help lift up equipped leaders.

3.    The diverse culture of down town San Diego: Hipsters, Gangs, Homeless, under the radar Latinos. What a beautiful mix of crazy colors and diversity…and we run into them all. They are invited to our monthly picnic in the park, monthly community worship and into friendships with Jesus...and us too.

4.    Helping to create a local coffee shop as one of NieuCommunities missional expressions in the neighborhood of Golden Hill. This is new for us but I can see huge potential.

That’s our world and we love it! YEP, it challenges us in so many ways but it’s so worth it.

Shaun and Maria Sheahan