Change a Life (It May Be Yours)!

How are the outreaches effective? Our teams go into an under-served, local community with free medical, dental, optical, hair care and children’s outreaches. But, months before we arrive, local pastors and churches apply to host a team. The selection process requires the church leadership to commit to a follow-up plan for every guest we serve. The task of follow-up and discipleship becomes the primary focus of the local church.

It is not uncommon for church attendance to double in size following a team visit. Church growth like that is noticed in any community!

Please plan to join us in Mexico City on one of these team outreaches:
* July 28 – August 4, 2012
* August 4-11, 2012
* August 11-18, 2012

The ground cost of $775 includes an application fee, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, good food, and daily opportunities to change a life (it may be yours!).

Estimated round-trip airfare is $800. (From Tulsa, OK; cost from other cities may vary. You may use frequent flier miles if they are available to you.)

Can’t go but would like to sponsor someone who can? We can help to make that happen, too. Call, write, or send us an e-mail today for information about going or sending. Either way, you will make a difference.

Blessings!

Ric & Sheila Shields

Sheila bottle-feeding a wombat

I also hosted a ladies tea while we were there and interacted with ladies from the Kaleidoscope Community Church. There were many opportunities to be a part of the church and their outreaches, too.

Art & Soul is one of those outreaches. It is a 10-week course that speaks to different areas of our lives (Identity, Core Beliefs, Emotions, Loss & Grief, Faith & Spirituality, etc.). Those who attend paint what the topics mean to them. People taking the course, from all walks of life, are getting closer-and-closer to embracing a life with Jesus. Ric also had the opportunity to minister at the church and do some coaching.

Sheila playing with a kangaroo

Thank you for helping to make wonderful ministry opportunities like this possible for us.

Blessings!

Sheila Shields
 

But, our March 6-21 trip to Australia is not about wildlife. Neither do we intend it to visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, or meet Darlene Zschech and the folks at Hillsongs.

We look forward to spending time with our friends, Mick & Michelle Sanders, in Berwick (just outside of Melbourne).  They lead a ministry called “Kaleidoscope” among the un-churched.  Michelle often tells us, “Look, we’re not really normal.”  We’re okay with that and look forward to seeing what they do and how they do it.

There is no plan to replicate their ministry.  We believe their creativity and passion will be a spark to the kindling in our hearts for something new, unique, and relevant.  Of course, there will be opportunities for us to minister.  Sheila even hopes to have a special Ladies Tea for some of the women who are a part of Kaleidoscope.

Please pray that we would travel without difficulty (it’s one of the world’s longest non-stop flights), have good health, and be used of the Lord for effective ministry.

And please believe with us that Sheila will see a wild wombat. 

Blessings to You!

Ric & Sheila Shields

Our team of 9 members served in Argentina last month. In addition to helping with some construction work at the Instituto Biblico Rio de la Plata (IBRP), we also planned to host some Ladies Tea events. Early on, we learned the meaning of the word, “flexibility.”

I told the 4 men on the team to be prepared to help with some “finish work.” In my mind that meant things like laying tile, painting, and some trim work. Apparently, “finish work” can have an additional meaning. For example, I never would have thought to define it in terms of mixing and pouring 175 loads of concrete in order to “finish” the base level of the upper 4 floors of the new Student Living and Learning Center. A final “finish level” will be added in the weeks to come.

The 5 ladies on our team had other plans. They intended to host 6 Ladies Tea events; 4 in area churches, in 1 neighborhood Bible Study, and 1 for the female students at IBRP. Our best estimate was to plan to serve upwards of 350 individuals. It’s a good thing they prepared for more. By the end of the trip, our team had served some 495 individuals. Those attending received more than a plate of goodies, a beverage, and a small gift. Many were touched by the love, mercy, and grace expressed by our team. We cried with some, prayed with several, hugged many, and were well-received by all. Imagine our surprise when the pastor of a small church slipped a generous offering into Sheila’s hand and said, “This is to help you continue providing this ministry in the days to come.”

But, the number 36 may mean the most to me.

Each year, OPEN DOORS provides sponsorships for residential Bible School students in Argentina and Bangladesh. For the past few years, we have provided Study Bibles for all of the 4th year residential graduates of IBRP. For most, it is their first Study Bible. While we were in Buenos Aires, we were able to purchase the Bibles for this year’s graduates and I had the opportunity to write a small note of encouragement on the flyleaf and sign each Bible. These 36 graduates will reach hundreds of people over the course of their ministries in the years ahead. How gratifying that we had a small part in helping to provide for their ministry training.

Please notice I said “we had a small part.” Without your help, it wouldn’t be possible. It isn’t about Sheila and me. The 2 of us are blessed to represent you wherever we go.

Sometimes, numbers don’t tell the whole story.

9 team members worked with all their heart; 175 batches of concrete bring the Student Living and Learning Center closer to completion; 495 ladies can now share the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus that they encountered; and Study Bibles for 36 graduating students will provide tools for effective ministry in the years to come.

These numbers don’t lie; they point the way to the Truth.

Blessings to you!

Ric & Sheila Shields

The 1,100 mile drive between Phoenix and Tulsa provides ample opportunity to think and pray. In early-June, somewhere along Route 66, a seed was planted in my heart that took root and grew into an idea. I discussed the idea with only a few, close friends over the course of two months. In the end, the idea became a plan which grew into an opportunity for the Lord to bring about a miracle on behalf of OPEN DOORS.

We are aware that money does not grow on trees, nor is it a by-product of spontaneous generation. The truth is that people sent generous checks and promises of support in envelopes. We also received numerous e-mails and notifications of donations and support from people. In the end, the Lord provided… generous people responded… and we are the beneficiaries of an astonishing outpouring of love and support.

Don’t be mistaken; this was not just a lucky outcome to an ill-conceived idea. Our hearts tell us that an amazing miracle has happened and we believe those who participated will also find the blessing of the Lord in their lives in the days ahead.

In the past 40 days, we have received nearly $120,000 in one-time gifts and monthly pledges. None of it is due to our cleverness. The Lord has done this and we are humbled at His faithfulness and at the love of our partners and friends.

Many fantastic opportunities lie before us. Thank you for helping to bring them within our reach by your support of our ministry through OPEN DOORS.

Blessings!

Ric & Sheila Shields

Weeks later, at the same hospital, I responded again to a similar urging in my heart. But when the elevator door opened to the 3rd floor, no one was there. I walked up and down the hospital hallway, but found no one familiar to me.

Though no one was there, the empty hallway was filled with purpose.

Had I been presumptuous? I hope not. It actually felt like I was just being obedient. Long ago I had learned the Lord uses many different ways to help us hear and respond to Him. Though no one was there, the empty hallway was filled with purpose. I had done what I felt led to do and am confident to this day that it was the right thing.

To those who have already responded to our appeal to raise $100,000 in 40 days, Thank You! Maybe you are one who felt the Lord speak to you about giving but have not yet responded. As humbly as I can ask, would you consider doing what the Holy Spirit urged you to do? Not because of our need, but because the Lord spoke it into your heart. There is a reason why He prompted you. Perhaps, like what happened to me in the hospital that evening, the Lord is providing you with an opportunity to hear and respond in obedience. And, because of your obedience, the blessing of the Lord will come to you, to us, and many to whom we will minister in the coming year.

We have reached 101% of our goal in one-time gifts and 12-month commitments. However, I also know our God loves abundance. Additional funds could make it possible for us to do more than we planned. More student sponsorships. More fresh-water wells. More books written, translated and published. More resources for struggling pastors and churches. Even things we have not yet imagined!

Please understand my heart. I don’t mean to put people into a difficult situation. I am just so confident that the blessing of the Lord rests on generous people (Proverbs 22:9). My hope is that you will be blessed and see the provision of the Lord in all the days ahead.

From the Deepest Part of Our Hearts…Thank You!

Ric & Sheila Shields

These are not people we know.

While we have occasionally seen our photo on the refrigerator of a friend, you won’t read about us in tabloids. You’re not likely to see us on cable or television networks, either.

Others may do a better job of marketing. We’ve tried to stay away from that stuff. It becomes too easy to believe that you’re bigger than life and uniquely anointed.

Like most people, we pay taxes, have a mortgage, car payments, pay taxes, insurance, utilities, all the expenses of living…and we pay taxes. For now, we have suspended making contributions to a retirement program. Maybe next year. We’ll see.

We live in a comfortable home built in 1983 because an amazing friend sold it to us at a price far below market value. We drive used vehicles, and neither the 2007 Malibu nor the 2003 Tacoma are luxury vehicles.

Life and ministry is not all about us. That’s why OPEN DOORS has provided over $1 million dollars to dig fresh-water wells, sponsor Bible School students, and involve people personally in missions and global evangelism all over the world since 1990.

We make every attempt to simply be obedient. We believe God has honored those attempts and the successes of the past 21 years of ministry are due to His blessing upon our feeble attempts.

We are not very popular. That’s okay with us because Jesus never called us to a contest. He called us into a Great Commission. We’re just happy to chip away at helping to advance the Kingdom of God around the world.

Blessings!

Ric & Sheila Shields

“Maybe we should look at it differently,” I responded to my friend. “At the end of last month, it was:
21 years,
6 continents,
24 nations,
90 outreaches,
730 team members,
250 fresh-water wells,
500 Bible School students,
but only one reason.
“The Holy Spirit spoke to our hearts and we responded in obedience. It has taken all of that and 40 days besides.”

Amazing opportunities, combined with hardships, heartaches, and the generous gifts of friends and partners, have brought us to this point. When Sheila and I felt the Lord speak to us about helping people become personally involved in missions and global evangelism 21 years ago, we could not imagine the amazing journey ahead. We are so glad that we took the big step required of us, and will always be grateful to have friends who have helped to make it possible.

Blessings!

Ric & Sheila Shields

Sheila sees things differently now. Actually, these glasses were donated with the hope of helping someone in Mexico. We were glad to not find anyone with such poor vision who could benefit from them.

I have gone to Romania each of the past three years with small teams of ladies. Together, we worked with missionaries and pastors in village churches. In each place, we provided a “Ladies Tea” — a special reception in the churches where ladies were encouraged to invite their friends and neighbors.

We have watched the hard, tired faces of the ladies as they arrived and turned to us with wary glances. Soon, their faces relaxed and their countenances changed as smiles replaced the wrinkled lines.

After playing some games, serving snacks, and performing simple skits, we gave testimonies of God’s activity in our lives and presented a story of God’s love to them. We prayed with those that wanted us to and gave each one a small gift as they left.

Last October, OPEN DOORS provided a Ladies Tea in Egypt for the pastor’s wives at a conference. Because women are still quite marginalized there, they were surprised that someone would arrange something special for them. Some were still talking about it just last month when Ric returned to Egypt!

This year, October 19-29, we will take another team to Argentina. Can you guess what the ladies will be doing? If your first thought was, “Ladies Teas,” you are right! We will work with ladies and their guests from various churches in and around Buenos Aires. We will touch their lives face-to-face, hug-by-hug, and give God opportunities to work through us to show Himself huge on their behalf.

This process has wriggled its way into my heart. It takes so little to impact a life. It is so simple. No spectacular gifts or skills are required.

I have a sense that God may continue to use OPEN DOORS in this way in the future, and I just cannot get enough of watching bleakness turn into hope. We just give of ourselves and reap the rewards of encouraged lives and the giving of hope where hope and encouragement have faded away.

Thank you so much for believing in us. And thank you for giving to help us change lives around the world with the grace, love, and joy found in following Jesus wherever we go.