I recently got my first business card. It has a catchy phrase with a photo I took, four different ways to connect with me, my name, and my job title—Missionary Storyteller. (I'm pretty proud of it, not gonna lie.) When I hand it to people, I'm often met with the same question (after their compliment … Continue reading The Beauty of Storytelling
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The Reformation that Keeps Reforming
If you are a follower of Jesus, I'm sure you know that 2017 marked the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany writing against the vile practice of indulgences in the Roman Catholic church. This began a long … Continue reading The Reformation that Keeps Reforming
To Those Who Left; To Those Who Stayed
To those of you who left America this summer... Know that the hardest part about leaving will be returning; know that the reverse-culture shock will often hit you harder than the initial culture shock of a new country; know that your thoughts might be irrational and offensive to others as you process your trip; have … Continue reading To Those Who Left; To Those Who Stayed
Something Irresistible—The Journey of a Syrian Refugee
Grenoble, France—June 13, 2017 Grant: Tell me your story. Philip: I’m from Syria. I lived in Damascus, the capital of Syria. I’m from a Muslim background. My family is originally from the Syrian coast. I was born in 1990 and my family was close-to-Atheist. We haven’t practiced the Islamic rituals. Because of the Communist influence … Continue reading Something Irresistible—The Journey of a Syrian Refugee
Behind the Veil of Villeneuve {Photo Story #1}
We spent hours in prayer and worship amidst our time in Villeneuve knowing that without it our time would be wasted. Ministry, especially cross-cultural, must be seasoned with prayer before, during, and after. "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" —James 5:16b. “Today we labored in prayer for hours in Villeneuve, … Continue reading Behind the Veil of Villeneuve {Photo Story #1}
The Sin of Safety: Why Accepting Refugees Shouldn’t Be a Question
Last month I wrote the first of (hopefully) three blogs addressing current issues I see hindering the witness of the Church today. The first being our view on race which you can read here. The second, which I will be focusing on today, is our view of the foreigner. Should America accept refugees? Talk about … Continue reading The Sin of Safety: Why Accepting Refugees Shouldn’t Be a Question
Life as a Tent Dweller
Three months ago while in Israel (yes, yes, I'm still talking about Israel) I had the chance to stay in the Negev Desert in a Bedouin tent. The Bedouins are a desert-dwelling nomadic people group. Their home is not a stationary building or a designated location. Instead, the tent is their home and they reside wherever they … Continue reading Life as a Tent Dweller
Coming Down from the Mountain
As most of you probably know, I spent this past semester studying abroad in Israel and travelling across Europe. From start to finish, this trip has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I’m completely humbled and utterly grateful for the opportunity God gave me to do all of this. But as … Continue reading Coming Down from the Mountain
The Weight of Sin
As I stood and looked at the street alley beneath my feet lined with used needles, old pregnancy tests, cigarette butts, and empty bottles, I felt the weight of evil surrounding me. This past week I had the chance to serve with a ministry in Tel Aviv called Abundant Life. They reach out to prostitutes in Israel by providing a … Continue reading The Weight of Sin
The Offensive Church
I have a confession to make: I often live my Christian life defensively. But I don't think I'm alone in this. You see, in a world where Satan, sin, and evil run rampant, it's easy to close our eyes and cover our ears in dismay. To become defensive. How can we keep sin out of the … Continue reading The Offensive Church
A Bounded Heart 