Into the Lion’s Den Singing

Jennifer Nickels • Jan 25, 2024

TEAM retirees Herb and Linda Gregg faced an unthinkable challenge when Herb was kidnapped and held by jihad extremists for 231 days. Hear their incredible story of hope, love, and relying on the promises of God.

In my role at TEAM, I speak often with our retired global workers. In those conversations, we talk about why they went to the mission field. How did God call them and in what ministry did they participate? As these seasoned missionaries share the challenges and joys of serving overseas, I always ask, “Was it worth it? The sickness, leaving family behind, language learning, cultural adjustments, raising kids overseas...was it worth it?” The answer is always “yes.” Yes, for the sake of the lost to hear the Gospel, it was worth it. Again and again, I hear a resounding yes, it was worth it.

Hope in Trying Times

Herb and Linda Gregg are among those TEAM retirees who not only answered the call to missions but continue to proclaim it was worth it. Herb and Linda gave their life to missions and from the very beginning of their call into overseas service, they wanted to reach people with little to no access to the Gospel. After serving in Brazil and Portugal, the Greggs felt God leading them to Russia, to serve unreached people groups in the Dagestan Republic. Here they would face an incredibly difficult challenge. Herb was kidnapped and held by jihad extremists for 231 days (about 7 and a half months). During this trying time, Herb and Linda learned like never before to rely on the hope, love, and promises of God. (Info on where you can hear the full story below...read on...)

Even now many years later, the Greggs continue to witness God’s grace and peace in the face of great uncertainties. Herb explained that we learn about God’s attributes through the Bible. However, God also gives us experiences to learn about His attributes – patience, peace, love, power, grace, mercy, and His victories. These are the very attributes he learned while held captive.

A Heart for the Lost

During my conversation with Herb and Linda, their heart for those who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ was so evident. The Greggs have a beautiful urgency for all Christians to understand that we cannot be afraid of what is unknown or uncomfortable - that should not be our story! Our story needs to proclaim that God’s love is faithful and that we can draw closer to Him each day. It is often in our story that others see Jesus Christ.

In their book, 231 Days; A Miraculous True Story of Faith in the Face of Terror, Herb shares how the Lord used his kidnapping to drive home the point that Jesus called us to carry our cross and follow Him, and that is not without cost. In our hard times, we have the chance to reflect to the lost and hurting who Jesus Christ is in our lives. This was made clear to Herb during his time in captivity as God allowed him to be a witness among the jihadis in Chechnya.

Herb, Linda, and their family give all glory to God for His faithfulness to them throughout their ordeal.

God Will Be There

After Herb was released, the Greggs returned to the mission field. When asked why they returned, they replied, “Just because Herb was kidnapped, it didn’t make lost people any less lost.” The couple continued ministry in Asia and Mexico before returning to the States. Their harrowing experience allows them to share with others that God is the same God as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This trio was in the fiery furnace with Jesus and was not burned. They didn’t even smell like smoke. In a similar way, Herb was in a “fiery furnace” and yet when he was released, he was not burned. No matter what we must face, God will be there. He will meet us with all His power, grace, and glory. We need to continue to serve Him in the calling the Lord has given to us so that we also may proclaim that it was worth it.

The Greggs speak of their experience and what they’ve learned about trials using another story from the Book of Daniel as well. Linda offers this powerful encouragement for believers when facing trials: “You cannot be afraid when God takes you into something hard. He will be with you through it all because God’s grace is sufficient, and so we go into the Lion’s Den singing.”

Hear More of The Story

Herb and Linda Gregg with James Kirby Martin have written a book, 231 Days; A Miraculous True Story of Faith in the Face of Terror. In addition to the book, there is a documentary, titled 231 Days, found on Christianmovies.com or Amazon Prime.

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Exploring The Creative Power of Creative Arts Ministry

By Lorena de la Rosa • 16 May, 2024

Creative Arts Ministries focus on using the arts to provide new avenues for Gospel reach and discipleship around the world. Ever felt the urge to channel your creative talents into a higher purpose but were unsure where to start? Whether your passion lies in art, music, or another creative endeavor, God is opening doors where creativity meets ministry, where the journey of expression takes on new meaning with eternal significance. Creative Arts Ministry is all about using your creative side to share the Gospel, encourage the global Church, and build disciples all around the world. Made with a Purpose At TEAM, Creative Arts Ministry encompasses a variety of initiatives and global workers on multiple continents, all focused on using the arts to provide avenues for the Gospel. Jon Tello, TEAM’s Global Arts Ministry Coordinator is a creative person who was first called to ministry when he was in 9th grade, even though he had no idea what that meant. “I talked to my pastors, and they said, ‘Hey, this is awesome, you’re going to be a pastor. You’re going to preach and teach God’s word,’” Jon recalls. He wasn’t sure how his love and gifting for art fit into this. Yet in his heart, Jon knew, “God made me into an artist for a purpose.” Jon says his experience is not unique. Many who feel called to global missions feel that their passion for the arts must take a back seat. They are left with the question, “As an artist, how do I fit into the bigger framework of this thing that we call the global Church?” Luke, a TEAM global worker in Japan, concurs. “A lot of people get into [cross-cultural work] just adjacent to where their skill is,” says Luke. He goes on to explain a great metaphor for what happens next. “In music, there’s a term called ‘dissonance.’ It’s when there are two notes very close together, but they clash.” Being near to one’s true calling and giftedness, yet not quite able to express it can lead to frustration and burnout. For Jon, Luke, and many others in TEAM, God is helping them find a “sweet spot” where they can use their creative gifts for Kingdom work, particularly in areas where traditional church planting and direct evangelism are difficult if not impossible. A Call to Creatives In a world teeming with creativity and a growing desire for missions, many find themselves at a crossroads, wondering how to blend their artistic talents with the call to serve. Picture this: a vast landscape of possibilities, where your creativity isn't just a skill, but a powerful tool waiting to be unleashed in the mission field. Jon’s role in TEAM allows him to help global workers tap into this potential. Jon remarks that the concept of art for ministry is anything but new. During the Renaissance period, the literary rate was so low that the Church commissioned artists to create beautiful images to communicate with the people. Jon says Creative Arts ministry today works very much the same way to reach and impact believers and unbelievers alike in ways that words alone cannot. “In a sense, we are artists commissioned by the Church that are going out across the globe, doing just that: creating imagery, creating music, creating a story to tell,” Jon says. Though once a TEAM Italy global worker, Jon now works alongside other artists to help them use their skills in ministry. “They need somebody to help them embrace who God has created them to be and for what purpose,” Jon said. “And once we’re able to do that, it’s a beautiful thing to see these artists truly thrive.”

Loving Like Jesus Cross-Culturally (Part 1)

By Megan Lunsford • 23 Apr, 2024

When seeking to serve cross-culturally with an authentic love for others, there’s no better example for us than Jesus. If we sat around a table and threw out the question, “How do we love like Jesus?” I think we would have several commonalities as we respond. For example, Jesus loved all people right where they were. He loved those who were deemed the least, those hardest to love, or those who were His enemies. These are all beautiful realities of the heart of Jesus. When we step into relationships, it can be easier to take on the warmer, more gracious gestures of Jesus’ love, especially in cross-cultural relationships. Think about it––when doing life with those who look and act differently than us, we are already out of our comfort zones and would rather keep things as simple and familiar as possible. But there are other facets of Jesus’ heart we often overlook that can transform us and others even more into His likeness. Jesus is love because God is love. Everything Jesus did was out of love; it’s the mere definition of who He is. As followers of Jesus, He calls us to the same: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John:7-12) Every display of love we offer to others is an opportunity for them to encounter the ultimate love of the Father. That’s a pretty big deal! In this article, we’ll look at three expressions of Jesus’ love that we tend to overlook when engaging others cross-culturally. (Next month, we’ll look at three more.) 1. Jesus loved sacrificially. Everywhere Jesus went, crowds followed Him. We even see times in Scripture where Jesus had plans to step away for time alone but those who were hurting found Him and He had compassion on them and stayed with them. Can you imagine rarely having any time to yourself but, instead, constantly being surrounded by crowds of people wanting help from you? Jesus loved sacrificially. He welcomed all who came to Him with love and compassion, never turning anyone away. “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) In the same way, we can make room in our lives for Jesus to bring sacrificial interruptions which, in His eyes, are orchestrated encounters to transfer His love to others. It can be tempting to be so “on mission” that we are full steam ahead and find ourselves frustrated when the Holy Spirit sends an interruption into our path that we feel we don’t have time for. Or, perhaps, we have scheduled a meet-up but it’s the norm in another culture to be 30 minutes or an hour late. We anxiously think through how it will affect whatever we have planned next. While it’s normal to feel a little stressed, what if the very "interruption” standing in front of you was really a divine appointment sent by God? Or what if that person running late experiences how peaceful and gracious you are in adapting to their culture and therefore, they can encounter a beautiful display of Jesus’ love? To truly represent Christ, we should remain ready and willing for each assignment the Lord sends into our path, no matter the cost or how much we will have to re-route our day. He is always a hundred steps ahead and will work all things for His glory and our good. 2. Jesus loved by discerning each situation well. Think about how many situations Jesus had to respond to on a daily basis. We read in Scripture that there were lines of people waiting to be healed by Him, talk to Him, hear His teachings, or simply touch the hem of His robe. Jesus was fully dependent on His Father to discern each situation before addressing it. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19) Another temptation we can have when in a relationship with those God has sent us to is to think we already know the solution or what God wants to do before we’ve even asked Him. We believe we are full of knowledge, so we just pull from the bank we have stored within and go with it. However, when we access what is familiar to us as our default, we risk missing out on a God-given solution that might truly be the key to unlocking whatever challenge is in front of us. What does this look like when interacting with others? We can simply ask, “God, what is on Your heart for the person standing in front of me?” Then we listen and respond as He speaks. When we make it a daily habit to pause and hear God’s heart for each situation before responding, we are guaranteed to be effective in loving those around us. He knows the heart of every person that will cross our paths. Imagine how impactful we can be if we first lean on His wisdom and discernment before moving forward. 3. Jesus loved by speaking truth. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. If we are honest, this conversation makes us a bit nervous as none of us would be comfortable with Jesus calling out intimate details of our lives that we would prefer to hide. But Jesus went further than just airing her dirty laundry. He offered her the hope of the Gospel and a relationship with Him - a divine fulfillment that could never be found in an earthly relationship. Jesus modeled a powerful example of loving others well cross-culturally. He took the low place and spoke truth, truly out of love––speaking to her heart from His. Like Jesus, our goal in sharing the truths about Him and His Word is to bring hope and satisfaction through Him alone. When we speak truth from Scripture, we are calling others higher into all God has for them. The tricky part here is we should avoid speaking truth if it isn’t first fueled by compassion. If it merely comes from a place of judgment, condemnation, or self-righteousness, it will fall flat 100% of the time. But if it truly comes from love, you are likely to not only win a heart back to the Father but, like the story of the Samaritan woman, even an entire village! If you see someone living outside of God’s best for their lives, ask God to show you your heart before engaging theirs. Once your heart is properly postured, you can speak truth out of an overflow of God’s love and trust Him for a transformation in their lives.