Where are you going?
by Joel Kotin
The exodus continues from America’s biggest cities
I have read several articles by Joel Kotin and plan on reading many more. He is helpful to one desiring to understand cities and people movements. I read him in order to help me discern the most strategic places to minister the gospel to make disciples of all nations.
The Ministry Plan: How will Boston and Beyond move forward in Iowa?
The vision of Boston and Beyond is the Great Commission. We simply believe that the Great Commissioner is fulfilling His promise to enable His church to do His command by ministering in the city. Success will demand that Christians are willing to be living sacrifices to the Lord. This in turn will demand the disciplining of all areas of life: personal, family, ministry.
Personal: Deb and I are committed to taking care of ourselves physically. This involves disciplined eating and exercise. We need to also care for our souls. This includes continuing to grow intellectually and resting regularly. To achieve longevity of service, we will need intensity of discipline.
Family: Throughout our lives, we have made significant family sacrifices. Our children, if asked, “Where did you grow up?”, are not able to answer, since we hauled them all over the place. There were financial sacrifices and emotional sacrifices caused by an absentee father. While Deb and I sacrificed willingly, our children had little say in our choices. This is not a complaint. We feel that raising Christian children includes teaching the necessity of sacrifice. Our children are doing well—things are good, over all. However, more than one grown adult, and spiritually mature child, has asked their dad to be more present and not just physically present. Being emotionally present with family has become a primary goal of my life.
Ministry—Boston and Beyond:
Evangelism—Deb and I will always be about ministering the gospel to people here to do the Great Commission there. We have several new and not so new friends with whom we are pursuing evangelistic relationships. We also are developing a working relationship with international organizations, particularly in Iowa City. Everything starts with helping individuals become Christians.
Church Planting—The goal of Boston and Beyond is global church planting, reaching people here and discipling them to prosper there. As we minister the gospel here, another local/individual church may be organized. A church originated in the global community here will help facilitate church planting there.
Enlistment—Deb and I will be ministering regularly in local churches, Bible colleges and theological seminaries, as well as talking with experienced vocational workers about joining Boston and Beyond. However, the primary individuals enlisted for global church planting will need to be those who come to Christ through Boston and Beyond ministries. Many disciples have already been made. We desire more.
Demographics—The study of people movements is an intricate part of Boston and Beyond. This study involves research, as well as travel. Its scope is primarily cities, but also regions. Substantial time and travel will be dedicated to these studies. The goal is finding the most strategic locations for global evangelism leading to global church planting.
Networking—The work of organizing to plant churches globally is well under way. We have worked for years with many of our constituency to further the work of discipling the nations. We are already aware of how B&B disciples have impacted nations. Yet much remains incomplete. We need to plant churches.
Next Week: Our Support Estimate—an opportunity to join our Savior in making disciples of all nations.
With love, Bill and Deb
A Note: A reminder that this is a continuation in a series of communications, that lay a foundation for an explanation of what our next step in ministry will be. I don’t desire to be preachy, but I hope to ethically inform those who have so faithfully supported us through the years. We want you to know what you can expect of us in the future. Typically, I have kept these to one page. However, this one is a bit longer.
A Needy but Strategically Located Church
Late last year Deb and I received a prayer request concerning a church family located in Des Moines, Iowa. They had lost two pastors to Covid, and as a result, were without a pastor. Having followed the church for years, this both burdened my heart, but also stirred my interest. About 25 years ago, a leader in the same church asked me to consider becoming its pastor. My responsibilities at the time were such that I regrettably needed to decline. I have been aware of the church ever since, and have watched as the neighborhood, where the church building is located, has become a global community. Indeed, when Deb and I visited recently, we noticed three or four (maybe more) international groceries located within easy walking distance of the church—but I am getting ahead of myself.
Having read on their website, “Interim Pastor Needed”, I contacted the church leadership and offered to minister to the church family during its time of need. We were able to fill in during February, for which we were very thankful. Deb and I traveled the 90 miles to Des Moines for three Sundays and I spoke five times. The church is Northridge Baptist Church, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the eager-to-succeed church family.
Here are some of the things I touch on, (as I did at Northridge), when teaching about ministering in the global community.
Northridge now has an interim pastor—Dr. Dean Taylor of Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary. Our responsibilities at Northridge are now complete with one exception. We will continue to pray that the Northridge church family will thrive within its global community. May the world hear the gospel because of the Northridge ministry.
Tomorrow: Continued Education and Networking:
Our Ministry to Aakesh
In the synopsis of these communications, I mistakenly stated that Aakesh is from India. He and his family are practicing Hindus from Nepal. Like Toluwalase, we met Aakesh at a picnic. Although we had a good day together, we have not been able to meet in person since. However, we have communicated online several times, and Deb and I dropped off food at his home after our Thanksgiving dinner.
We intend to have Aakesh and his family in our home soon. Our desire is to learn more of his belief system and become better acquainted with his family. We do this believing all people are of inestimable worth—image bearers of God and those for whom Christ died. We know that unless we get to know them, love them, and understand them we will never be able to share our Savior with them.
Aakesh will frequently remind me that he is Hindu. I am not deterred by this. His devotion informs me he is serious about spiritual things, and I know his seriousness may be turned towards the God of the Bible. I know this because there is only one way to God that works. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, and all other ways fail and will leave one wanting. By the help of God, we hope to join our Savior, showing Aakesh and his family a better way—the way of justification by faith in Jesus the Savior. This will take time, study, and much prayer.
It is these kinds of people to whom we particularly desire to minister, those who are convinced in another way, but serious about talking with others about life and belief and are open to genuine friendship and serious discussion.
Along with Toluwalase and Aakesh, we have other friends from around the world to whom we hope to minister the gospel, and with whom we are currently building the relational foundation. I think particularly of a Japanese friend with whom Deb meets online weekly. There is also a Chinese family who desire to immigrate to the USA, who hosted us when we visited their city in China, and with whom we are still in communication.
Hindus, Muslims, Japanese, Chinese: four very different kinds of people who are our friends and in need of the gospel. The gospel remains the same, but the way to help each of these to understand the gospel may be very different. We need wisdom, so thank you for praying for us, as we seek ways to demonstrate the love of Christ to them.
As I have explained in a previous communication, Deb and I will always be fundamentally about developing these kinds of gospel relationships. Please pray with us, that God will bless our efforts.
Bill and Deb,
Tomorrow: A Needy but Strategically Located Church
The Surprising Demographic of Iowa
In 1976, as a new believer, and while courting Deb, we attended dinner at the home of one of her coworkers, whose family was from India. Before dinner, Deb and I asked permission to pray, thanking God for our food–our first ‘witnessing to the nations’ opportunity. Walking home later that evening, we marveled at the opportunity God provided to share the gospel with India from our college campus in Iowa.
After having lived in many places, and using those places to speak the gospel globally, God has brought us back to Iowa. My love for Boston has caused me to ask God, “Why Iowa?” Part of His answer to me has been this: Iowa is a divinely prepared place for Great Commission ministry.
Demographic studies confirm that, increasingly, immigration trends favor the area between the coasts, and specifically, Iowa. The reasons are many, but they chiefly include lower cost, economic growth, better schools, and a more friendly atmosphere.
But statistics can be boring things. Instead, those of us who live in the Heartland should pay close attention to the foreigner living next door, immigrants trying to make their way in a new and perhaps strange places. We should recognize that our sovereign God, our Great Commissioner, has brought these precious souls within arm’s reach of us, who have the gospel in our hearts.Just think. The distance from our heart to their souls is the distance the gospel needs to travel for new birth to occur.
Rather than give in to the temptation to be annoyed by the inconvenience of dealing with folks different than us, let us be amazed at how our Savior is doing what He said He would do, making it possible to obey His command to disciplize the nations.
A friend informed me that 500 foreign-born folks were recently hired to work at his factory—many of them from Afghanistan, (we can expect many Ukrainians, as well). What an opportunity! In addition to sending missionaries, why not equip our church families to minister to the nations in our own backyard? Why not mobilize to do so?
My point is this. The great strategic places of gospel ministry are no longer confined to global centers like Boston. Opportunities are all around us, in the city, as well as in rural areas. Our neighborhoods have become global, which provides the believing church unparalleled opportunities for faithful gospel proclamation.
What does faithfulness demand of those of us living in the Heartland?
Bill and Deb
Tomorrow– Our Ministry to Aakesh
Our Introduction to Toluwalase,
Toluwalase is from Nigeria and is a graduate research assistant in an academic institution in Iowa. More importantly, he has become our friend.
In November of last year, Deb and I hosted several Nigerians for dinner. It was a nice time of becoming acquainted with Toluwalase and his friends. In February, we invited Toluwalase back for a second visit. This allowed us to get to know our devout Muslim friend better. Toluwalase comes from a middle-class home in Nigeria and has two sisters.
When he visited, I asked Toluwalase what he did earlier that day, and he reported that he went to services at his mosque. This led to a discussion concerning his beliefs as a Muslim. After perhaps an hour of this, and after finishing our meal, we headed back to his home, where I would drop him off.
On the way, as we drove through a rather intense Iowa snowstorm, Toluwalase asked me these questions, “What do you think about Jesus? Is He the Son of God, or is He God? What do you think about Him?” I explained that I could talk for days about Jesus but would instead answer his questions about the Trinity. After briefly describing what the Bible teaches about the Trinity, I said this, “Probably Muslims would agree with Christians that it is impossible to fully understand God.”
I also had the opportunity to clarify an essential difference between Islam and Christianity. In Islam, Allah may exercise mercy, but there is never a removal of our sins. As Toluwalase explained, his understanding of Allah and his requirements for salvation/paradise is that one must do more good things than bad—there is in Islam a very elaborate good works system. I tried to help my friend understand that in Christianity there is no room for even one sin in the presence of God. Just like one drop of poison will spoil a barrel of pure water, so one sin makes the person unclean before God. Therefore, Jesus needed to be fully God and fully man, so that an adequate sacrifice for sin could be made. This is where our witness to Toluwalase rests.
At the heart of our ministry is the desire for evangelism. Everything depends upon this. To repeat, Deb and I will, always, first be consumed with making the gospel known to the nations, speaking the gospel here so that the gospel can be known there. The opportunities in Iowa are abundant.
At the end of these daily communications, we will share our abbreviated ministry plan, but for now, please pray with us, asking God to introduce us to individuals from around of the world, representing the diverse religions and world views that are here. Ask our God to help us engage these new acquaintances with authentic friendships, leading to the sharing of life in Christ.
Tomorrow: The Surprising Demographics of Iowa,
Bill and Deb
The Death of an Old Friend
In January, John, one of seven children of an old and close friend, called on the phone. He began our conversation by asking me if I would be available to do an online funeral for his grandmother. I replied, “Sure, but why am I not talking to your dad?” John informed me that his father was also in the hospital and in critical condition. It soon became clear that I would very likely be doing two funerals, for mother AND son, over the course of a few days—and that’s exactly what happened.
It was an amazing experience, in which Deb and I were honored to participate.
We have not been in close communication with this family for 20 plus years, yet the memories we shared are warm and vivid. Often the children would be dressed in military fatigues, which could be purchased cheaply at the army surplus—their play resembled their attire. I recall seeing well-camouflaged youngsters swaying in backyard trees, paintball battles interrupted by concerned police, and many other amazing, daring, and dangerous exploits performed by this clan. One of these boys has William as a middle name, given with yours truly in mind.
More importantly than their activities, however, are their testimonies of Godliness. Their mother is a quiet but firm prayer warrior around which the family has always revolved. It was her faithfulness that brought her husband to faith in Christ. It was her trust in our God that preserved her as her adult sons became warriors, some of whom came home badly injured. In fact, her warrior sons are so accomplished that I am not allowed to share names or branches of service. Her only daughter was not a wilting flower. She explained to me that her boy friends were more afraid of her than the protective brothers—some family! Oh, and there is one brother who did not enlist, but who came to the funeral with two concealed firearms along with one very sharp knife. It doesn’t end there. One daughter-in-law is a Jiujitsu world champion. I have wondered what would have happened if someone dared to interrupt the funeral service—I have never felt safer.
The Godliness of the father, my old friend whose funeral we are remembering, is perhaps best understood by considering the family he produced. When asked what they would like said at the funeral, the family made it clear that the gospel must be proclaimed, because that was what was important to “Dad.” I watched my friend through the years and have been informed, inspired, and edified by his deep, blue-collar spirituality.
As the funeral approached, and the warrior sons prepared their uniforms, I reminded them that this was a day to honor God and the memory of their dad. The funeral message included the following: a gospel invitation, a reminder to use this time to draw near to God and to each other, an admonition to care for Mom, and a charge to carry on their father’s legacy of faithfulness to God.
Thank you, Father, for allowing us to be part of this,
Bill and Deb
To our precious and cherished supporters,
I have shared that, by March of this year, a clearer picture of our ministry should emerge. This reflected the changes which both the geo-political realities and our personal move to Iowa necessitated. Over the next week or so, I hope to describe what those changes appear to mean for our future ministry together (the Edmondsons and their supporters). The description will take the form of nine communications. Although few will read all these, they will provide a public record on our Supporters Website. Following is a synopsis of what you can expect:
Hopefully these communications will provide clarity of vision, and accountability of mission. We love you, appreciate you and need you,
Bill and Deb
Recently my brother and I took a trip to Kurdistan. Technically, it was not a missions trip, but rather, my vacation time as a Christmas gift from Deb–an incredible gift, to say the least. I hope you enjoy reading my report below.
Introduction:
Over Thanksgiving and returning home on the second of December, 2021, I traveled to Istanbul where I joined my brother, Bob for a cup of coffee (so cool) and then flew on to Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan. My interest in Kurdistan had its genesis in June and July of 2016. At that time Deb and I met a person from Kurdistan who desired friendship and discipleship in the things of God. This friendship and discipleship continued, on and off, through February of 2020. This man was a unique person, an inquisitive disciple, and a very frustrating friend. He ended up walking away from the Lord in a devastating fashion. While we discipled our friend, he told us many fascinating things about his homeland, Kurdistan, and his people, the Kurds. Among other things, Kurdistan is a Muslim semi-autonomous area surrounded by Muslim countries and yet, is pro-western and also seeks at least some ties with the nation of Israel. This piqued my interest.
While discipling my friend, there were unexplained emotional outbursts of anger and other seemingly strange mannerisms, which prompted me to confer with my brother, Bob, who travels and ministers to various cultures and has gained valuable insights. Bob helped me navigate some of the cultural landmines that were hindering the discipleship process. While Bob and I worked through some of these things together, we both began to take an interest in the Kurdish people. As time went on, Bob obtained an opportunity to minister to a Kurdish Bible Institute in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan. When I heard of his plans, I asked to accompany him, so I found myself in Kurdistan in November of 2021.
As you may percieve, this friendship with my Kurdish disciple, resulting in this Kurdish adventure, marks one of the more frustrating, fascinating, intriguing, and edifying times of my life—I still spontaneously pray for him daily. I can’t say much more about my friend, but let me tell you a little about the Kurds and Kurdistan.
A little about the Kurds and Kurdistan:
The Kurdish population is estimated from between 25 and 45 million, not including the Kurdish diaspora. The main Kurdish areas are in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. There are so many things that could be said about the history of the Kurds, but one might summarize their history as being one of pain. Being without their own nation, they have been in a constant state of ‘near war’ within their countries of residence. The Kurdish people are fond of saying that their only friends are the mountains to which they flee in times of war. My personal observation, which my Kurdish friends agreed, is that the Kurds of Kurdistan are a people of trauma.
The Peshmerga
While in Kurdistan I was constantly reminded of the regional tensions by the ubiquitous presence of Peshmerga—Kurdish military personal. Peshmerga may be translated by the word sacrifice and symbolizes the solders’ willingness to sacrifice their lives for the Kurdish people. Indeed, the Kurds are known to be fierce warriors. Our host in Kurdistan repeatedly assured me that I need not fear Isis, because the Peshmerga would protect us.
The Red Prison
We had the dubious honor of visiting the Red Prison, which was a prison maintained by Saddam Hussein for the purpose of torturing and murdering those who opposed him. I’m not inclined to talk about all that we saw. Suffice to say that it is horrifying to view the levels to which regimes will go to gain power.
Anfal (the late 80”)
Part of what was documented at the Red Prison was the Anfal campaign, which Saddam Hussein waged against the Kurds of Kurdistan. It is estimated that around 90% of the Kurdish villages were emptied and destroyed because of the Anfal campaign. Men and boys of military age were routinely slaughtered, as were many mothers and daughters. As many as 185,000 people perished.
Halabja (the first gassing)
One of the first heinous acts of Anfal campaign was the gassing of Halabja. After bombing the city to drive people underground, Chemical Ali, Saddam’s brother, dropped mustard gas on Halabja, killing as many as 5,000 and wounding as many as 10,000. We were given a tour of the Halabja Monument by a man who himself was injured during the attack and who lost five members of his family to the mustard gas.
Isis
The Red Prison also documented the reign of terror which Isis brought to the Kurdish region, slaughtering many with whom they encountered and imposing strict Sharia Law on the rest. However, the Peshmerga were some of the most effective fighters against the Islamic State. Still, mass graves have been found of those slain by the terrorists.
We have only covered a little of the recent history of Kurdistan, but what has happened recently is only the latest addition of the hard life lived by the Kurds throughout history. Truly a traumatized people who continue to live in the arena of trauma.
Although it was the United States who saved the Kurds from Saddam Hussein, sadly, the Kurdish people have also been betrayed by the United States on more than one occasion. For instance, while Halabja was being gassed by Saddam Hussein and his brother Ali, the United States was sending aid to Saddam’s war efforts, since Iraq was at war with Iran. More recently, we abandoned the Kurds of Syria, allowing superior Turkish forces to attack them. Truly, the Word of God supplies valuable insight when it reminds us that the present world lies in the hand (power) on the evil one.
The Missionaries
I’m not sure they would like me to reveal their names, but in Kurdistan my brother and I were hosted by Christian missionaries from Sierra Leon and Chile. They were the Christian form of the Peshmerga, giving their life as a sacrifice to care for a traumatized and lost people. We stayed with them for the two weeks we were in Kurdistan, two weeks which included an ample amount of sickness. They, along with their young son, were such a blessing. They inspire me to do more.
The Bible Institute
This missionary couple has begun a church plant and have started what I understand to be the first Bible Institute among the Kurds. My brother came to Kurdistan for the purpose of teaching a course called Pastoral Graces in the Bible Institute. Because of illness I was privileged to fill in for him for one three-hour session—so thankful to God. The first hour I outlined the biblical framework for caring. Those of you who know me know I started in Genesis 1, explaining that we are made in the image of God who cares for us, so we care for others. From Genesis, I gave a quick tour of the Bible, highlighting the centrality of caring for others as a central concept of Revelation. The second hour was devoted to learning of the trauma experienced by my Kurdish friends. Actually, the second hour began the first hour when several Kurds spontaneously started sharing their traumatic experiences. In the third hour it was my immense privilege and intense pleasure to share three principles which help the traumatized deal with trauma; 1) While all things are not good, God will use all things for good for the one who loves God 2) According 2 Corinthians 1, we can use the comfort with which God has comforted us to comfort others 3) As we see in Revelations 22, we have a sure hope for the future of all nations—there will be leaves for the healing of the nations. One Kurdish friend summed it up by saying, “There is hope.” I was told that my small contribution was helpful to the Kurdish believers. However, I am convinced the joy of teaching these stout believers was far more meaningful and edifying to me than to them.
The Community Center
Our missionary hosts also developed and are maintaining a community center in Sulaymaniyah which cares for many basic and not so basic needs of the community. They are even endeavoring to build a rock-climbing wall.
The Refugee Camps
What was particularly awe-inspiring was the ministry to the refugee camps, which are needed because of the civil war in Syria and the Isis campaign throughout the region. It was wonderful to tour facilities used to care for women with no future and no prospects. It was heart rending to hear their stories of horror. But it was wonderful to behold smiles of contentment and joy—a result of the ministry in their midst. These women called their time within the ministry facilities their happy time—the one time in their forlorn existence when they could be at peace, safe from harm, and secure in the love provided by the missionaries.
The Yazidis
Do you remember the Yazidi, that odd religious group singled out by the Islamic State for annihilation? The Peshmerga missionaries with whom we became acquainted, also care for these haunted human beings. In fact, they have Bible studies with some of the leadership of this group. They provide clothes and teaching material among many other things to the Yazidis. They also match up Western Christians with Yazid children. These salvific relationships continue through the years. I so admire these missionaries who work tirelessly in a very hard place to help a traumatized people to know and experience the peace that is only found in Jesus Christ.
The Kurdish Crud
One unwelcome gift we received was a virus I refer to as the Kurdish Crud. Both my brother and I were sick for many days and even upon our return. We learned that during this time of year (the Kurdish winter characterized by high humidity but chilly weather) many of the Kurdish people are sick for several weeks. We shared this unwanted distinction with them.
Final Reflections
I think of my adult children as they care for my grandchildren. Our family is well cared for, physically and spiritually–indeed, blessed by God. My grandchildren have some of the best parents on earth (my objective opinion). But what of the refugee children? Who will care for them? What are their prospects? Looking into their inquisitive, questioning, pain-filled eyes, I weep. My trip also rekindled a deep longing in my soul. The world is lost and getting worse. Kurdistan is only one place amidst hundreds of places where human suffering and spiritual lostness predominates. The deep longing of my soul is to be faithful to the call of my Savior to do something about this mess. Let us not grow weary in well-doing.
It was a meaningful, edifying vacation,
Bill E