Where Is Justin Now?

Where Is Justin Now?

I first highlighted Justin in my June, 2009 update.  At the time, Justin considered himself a nomad, who had spent two years in Afghanistan, two years in Taiwan, and one year riding his bicycle from his home in Oklahoma to the southernmost tip of South America (approximately 12,000 miles).  Wow!  Then he ended up in Chicago, where he got an even tougher workout through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc.!

Five years later, Justin is living in a Muslim country in Africa.

Though I usually meet with people for about two years on average, the Lord has led Justin and I to continue to meet via the telephone/Skype over much of the past five years, through the many transitions that brought him to this place in his life.  Here are some questions I recently emailed him:

What’s it like being a Christian living in a Muslim country?  What’s the best part and the hardest part?
“It’s quite challenging being a Christian living in a Muslim context.  Our lives seem to really stand out.

“The best part is that although we are a small light surrounded by darkness, I feel that our small light shines really bright in this very dark land.  One of the main ways people see a difference in us is in the way that I love my wife.  People often comment on how much we love and respect one another.  Sadly, this is very uncommon among our neighbors.  Our marriage is actually one of the easiest platforms for sharing in this culture.  We share about Jesus’ love, and how His love has changed our hearts, so we are able to love each other.

“The most challenging part is that, in Islam, it is easy to get drawn into legalism and to fall into boasting.  It is important that our Muslim friends pray five times a day, fast, give offerings to poor people and many other things.  The people that the Lord has brought us to, try with all their might to hold things together, to find approval and love.  They believe God is far away.  It is our hope to help them see that God is present with us.   He is near, and has open arms for us; that in the presence of God, we can rest, we can create, and we can love.

Please share an experience you’ve had that might encapsulate your time in Africa so far:
“I am often trying to explain grace and the work of the cross. With just a few months of language training at the time, my words often fell short.  One time I was particularly frustrated.  I took a lashing from a young guy who was literally yelling in my face telling me how the Bible had been corrupted and Jesus did not die on the cross. I did not have the words to respond, so I just looked him in the eyes, sought to love him and listen.

“Fast forward a month or more; I see the same man in the market.  As I walk up and greet him, another guy lays into me for being a Christian.  The man who yelled in my face a month earlier, begins to share with the other man that for me it is all about Jesus.  Then he clearly explains the basic points of the Gospel.  It melted my heart.  I could not have explained it so well.  I was taken aback by the Lord’s grace – the way He moved in this man’s heart.

What major things have happened in your life between 2009 and now?
“A few years back, I felt like there was something that I wanted to express within myself and I couldn’t find just the right words.  In response, I began painting, and that quickly launched into several art shows and exhibits.

“I found and married my wonderful wife, Charli.  One of the most difficult parts of my journey has been reconciling the hurts and wounds in my life that resulted from broken marriages within my family.  I owe so much to Randy for helping me do some hard, transformational work before meeting Charli.  She is my best friend and I could not imagine my life without her.

“When Charli and I were dating, many of our early conversations were about our desire to take the Gospel to the nations.  We did not know when or where, or what it would look like.  But, we wanted to be clay, fully moldable in the Maker’s hands.  Through much prayer and the Lord opening many doors, we now find ourselves living in Africa, working in the arts, with a long-term vision to share with others the transforming work the Lord has done in us.

“In these last few years, I finished my Master’s Degree at a seminary.  During that time, one of the greatest gifts was learning to walk in community.  I was able to lead a community group that multiplied 4 times in 3 years, and was able to walk closely with around 120 people.  In this community group, my work with Legacy Shepherding Ministries really became evident as I learned to love people deeply, listen well, and live life together.

What are some things you gained from Legacy Shepherding that you’re putting into practice in Africa?
“Listening, really listening!  I have a greater capacity to love.  Many of the skills I learned have prepared me to lead, to lead by love, to lead out of my own journey.  I’ve spent many years doing really hard work with Randy and it has paid off one hundred fold.  It has been life changing for me, and I hope to see more people mentored through Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc.

What would you want us to pray for you?  What can people here do to help?
“Please pray that we would be faithful, that the Lord would be near each day, that he would open the eyes of the people we meet, and that we would love with all our hearts!  Please pray that our marriage would be protected, and we would continue to seek to serve each other, rather than ourselves.

“I think it is important that people remember the nations. There are many talents in our churches in the States that are not being used. We would love to see more of your beautiful faces on this side of the world.” – Justin

Randy’s Random Reflections:
While in seminary, Justin randomly got a job at a rug store, where he learned a lot about rugs.  The training seemed insignificant at the time.  It was just a job to pay the bills and get him to the next stage in his journey.  But now that he’s in Africa, it seems to be opening some unforeseen opportunities and relationships.  Justin keeps running across beautiful, well-crafted rugs for sale in the markets.  Rugs that will sell for thousands of dollars in the States.  Rugs that he is able to purchase for mere hundreds of dollars.  So our nomad is becoming a rug entrepreneur as well.

All the pieces seem to be mysteriously coming together.  I can imagine God’s checklist:
1) get Justin connected with Legacy Shepherding Ministries in IL, even though he’s a world traveler living in OK  
2) send him to seminary, and have his tuition paid for so he won’t have any debt  
3) teach him about rugs, even though he doesn’t realize he needs to learn about rugs
4) inspire him to start painting (and be good at it) so he may work in the arts as a way of connecting with foreign people  
5) get him married to a kindred soul, who’s willing to risk living in a Muslim country 
6) send them to Africa, fully funded, where their love can shine brightly 

It all seems like a plan that has been unfolding.  It will be interesting to see what God does through the lives of these two loving souls.  They seem to have been created for this type of work.  I hope they build some beautiful bridges between the two faiths and with the people they meet.

Do You Want In?
Over the course of this year, I regularly met one-on-one with 32 people, plus 4 others in a group setting, most of whom are in their twenties and early thirties (my target demographic).  I believe that through this experience, they are loving God more deeply, loving others more freely, discovering their unique designs and purposes in the world, and going out and giving it away, doing some truly exciting and inspiring things with their lives.  It continues to amaze me.

I joyfully invite you to partner with me in developing young Christian leaders who will make a loving impact on our world.

Will you please join my financial support team and join me in praying regularly for these young leaders?

Contributions are tax deductible.

In His Love,
Randy