CHRONICLES OF A NOMAD

THE "DON'T GO THERE" LIST

2012-01-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've noticed that on numerous mission trips that warnings have been given to us right before we leave for our target area. I must be wired weird, because when I hear these warnings I often sense them as a confirmation that I am going to the right place. Here are some of those "don't go there" moments that I remember. If you have gone on a trip with me and remember any "don't go there moments" that I forgot, feel free to email it my way. I guess I am just one of those guys that likes to go looking for "trouble."

Honduras- Today I discovered that the peace corps just got dimissed from there. So I received some words of caution today because we leave for there in six days.

Vanuatu- We were told by three individuals that the tribe that we wanted to minister to was forbidden.

Asia - We were warned that the area that we were going to was a place of terrorism

Guatemala- We were warned not to get dropped off in the middle of Guatemala City, then when we warned that Povancito prison was extremely dangerous, then we were cautioned by the prison guards before visiting the prisoners in solitary.

Kenya - On my first trip to the Maasai I learned that they were killing members of the Kikuyu tribe, commuters, and burning down tourist shops in the exact area that I was called to go
On another trip we were warned not to go because of the deadly conflict that took place during the election
On another trip the Mongeki's (sp?) had dug a trench across the road that we were suppose to be on and were randomly killing people.

Eastern Europe - People laughed at us and told us not to go into Gypsy ghettos numerous times because they would steal from us.

Asia - I was cautioned not to minister in a brothel (known for human trafficking) because they would take my bags.

Asia - I was informed that if I went to a certain part of Asia that they would run me off the cliff'ed roads beacuase I was a Christian.

Rwanda - I was cautioned because of the horrific genocide that took place there in the 90's.

Democratic Republic of Congo - Three times Africans from neighboring countries warned us not to go there saying that it was a modern day holocaust.

Fear vs Faith

2011-12-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

Zip up that hoody Bislow! : )

Epic Snowmobile Crash!

2011-12-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

There are two ways I like to start my morning one of them is by spending some quality time with God the other is by watching an Epic Crash video. This vid fit the bill: http://www.zapiks.fr/share/player.swf?file=50284

Interview with John Lamos

2011-12-08T11:04:00.001-07:00

I recently did an interview with my tatooed buddy , John Lamos, for a school project. I figured that I would post it here to help shed some light for our ministry partners and other curious minds.

1. How has God broken your heart for people in a broken world?

I have always had a heart for the lost in America but 6 years ago God placed a BURDEN in my heart for a people group in Africa and after visiting them he BROKE it when I began to realize how many lost people were ready to respond to the gospel in areas that had never heard about Christ.

2. Was there a certain moment or situation where God slammed into your heart and you started to break for people in a new way?

Lots of them. One of those times took place years ago at a restraunt. I had this strange compelling to minister to the waiter but I chickened out and let the opportunity slip by. That following week a girl in our youth group died and next to her obituary in the paper was the obituary of the waiter. I later found out that he had committed suicide. I swelled up in tears and conviction and drove back to the restraunt. I gave a track to every employee that I could find. I told them that I missed an opportunity once and that I wasn't going to do it again.

3. How do you live out a life of compassion?

I have been traveling the world the past 6 years to nearly 30 countries and have done my best to bring the hope of Christ to the lost and suffering by launching disciple-making movements and doing a variety of humanitarian initiatives among them. Every trip I see people in pain and I do my best to get people back in America to support their needs spiritually and physically.

4. Has God given you a vision for the future? Where do you feel like you're headed?

I started a ministry called UNUSUAL SOLDIERS and we are on a mission to start ten basecamps in 6 continents that will train nationals to launch movements in dark, dangerous, and despised places. I have also developed three 'outside-of-the-box' training programs for Americans that are geared to train and prepare Christ followers to take the hope of Christ to dark, dangerous, and despised people worldwide.

5. How important is discipling and raising up people behind you to live this heart of compassion and love for people?

It is everything. Its not a movement if I am just a one-man-band. If movements are going to be launched in these places then its going to take the Holy Spirit and an army. Every where I speak my heart is set on abolishing the American dream and mobilizing people to dark, dangerous, and despised places.

6. Is there a group of people that God has specifically broken your heart for?

Our ministry, UNUSUAL SOLDIERS, focuses on those places that others ignore or fear (dark, dangerous, or despised places). Some of those places include rape victims in the Congo, areas of cannibalism, the tafficked children/girls in Eastern Europe, homosexuals, third world prisons, Restricted Countries in Asia, bush tribes, areas of war, etc.

7. If there was one last thing you could say to a younger generation about living out God's heart what would it be and why?

Courageous Christians are becoming an endangered species. My challenge to them would be for them to read the book of ACTS, get inspired, and be the generation that turns the tide. Here is a quote from Thom Rainer that gives me hope that this generation will shake things up:

"According to our research, as few as 4 percent of the 72 million Bridger generation may have a born-again experience. Yet that 4 percent will practice a radical Christianity. They will take their faith more seriously than previous generations. And many will go into dangerous mission fields, willing to give their lives for the sake of the gospel.The Bridger generation will not be satisfied with business as usual in the churches. And those churches that desire to reach the second-largest generation in America ’s history better be prepared to give more than lip service to the cause of Christ. These young people are shaking life up in many churches. "

8. What are some projects you are currently working on right now?

We are trying to start a Rescue Farm for trafficked victims in Romania
We built a discipleship center in Kenya last year to assist nationals in discipling new believers from the bush
We recently bought a home for homeless rape victims in the Congo and are continually trying to improve it
We are continuously doing international conferences to help nationals launch movements
I am attempting a book project that will help launch people
We also have a few ministry advocates coming up with some fresh dreams and visions as well.

The Rescue Farm??? (Big Five)

2011-12-02T11:40:00.003-07:00

When we went to Romania we had a far-fetched-dream of some day buying a rescue shelter that could help rescue and restore those trapped in prostitution on the streets of Romania. We are still unsure what the future holds but we were amazed when our Gypsy contact showed us a 15 acre farm that was bought to be used as a ministry years ago. Nothing has been done with the farm and there is much work to be done to get it up and going. However, our gypsy friend said that one of the main things the farm lacks is a vision and needless to say our team was full of ideas. We have a dream that this farm will become a refuge for trafficked women and children and that some day it will not only be used to disciple them but will also provide a vineyard to help them learn a trade and start life over. I can't wait to see what God's future is for this place! We are once again over our heads!

"Princess" Dianna (#1 BIG FIVE)

2011-12-02T11:23:00.001-07:00

Both of these beautiful gypsy girls were born blind due to an environmental condition in Romania. Dianna the one to the right is completely blind. She has never seen colors nor the faces of her family. While I was in Romania I discovered that my grandmother had passed away and I had made a promise to my grandma before I left that I would do my best to fight for those suffering in her honor. Hours after she passed away our team committed to give Dianna's family enough money to have both of her eyes surgically restored. This shot our budget, but we didn't care. I could never imagine my daughter living her whole life blind because she couldn't afford a surgery. It was a cause well worth giving towards and I can't wait to go back and SEE this precious girl after her surgery.

Romania 2011 (BIG FIVE)

2011-11-30T15:05:00.003-07:00

After trips overseas I try to throw down the BIG FIVE experiences of my trip. There were a ton of superb moments on this trip and many of them started before we even got to Romania. The way God orchestrated this trip was amazing to say the least. A little over a month ago I was trying to decide if this trip would be a "go" because of a lack of funds and a lack of contacts but the Lord provided a cheap plane ticket, a team, and a gypsy contact all in the matter of a few days.

We went to Romania with two burdens. A burden for the ostracized Roma (Gypsy) people and a burden for those on the streets trapped in human trafficking. Our team also had a far-fetched-dream to one day buy a farm somewhere in Romania that would eventually rescue, restore, and disciple prostitutes stuck on the streets. Now that I look back on that trip I am amazed at how God met all those dreams and burdens.

I will unpack the BIG FIVE later but here is a sneak-peak:

Helping an eight year old Gypsy girl see for the first time
Ministering in a home that was rented out as a Brothel
Descending into a manhole to visit the drug addicts under the streets of Bucharest
Speaking at Gypsy Churches and visiting a very underprivileged Gypsy village
Watching Brooke minister to a woman trapped in the vicious cycle of prostitution/drugs
*BONUS* The Rescue Farm!!

EVERYBODY'S GRANDMA (Jan 2,1919-Nov 15,2011)

2011-11-28T09:53:00.018-07:00

I don't know many 92 year old's who are as active as my grandma Peggy was. My grandma was one of those ladies who refused to slow down despite what her aging body told her. She still drove her car with a "lead-foot" and never felt the need to move to an "assisted living" residence. She was as tough and strong-willed as they come.

She was the kind of Grandma that every grand kid hopes for. She visited our house every afternoon and spent hours reading our children books on the couch and even on the floor. We were starting to think that she was invincible, but after a fall in her house a few weeks ago her body took a drastic turn for the worse and she made her grand entrance into heaven.

You were a GREAT Grandma to many and you will be forever loved and missed!

Here are some interesting facts about the one-and-only Grandma Peggy:

Peggy outlived all twelve of her siblings.
Peggy began dating Harry at the age of sixteen. He was seven years older.
Peggy began elementary school at age four and graduated at age sixteen.
Governor Nelson once called her personally to apologize for his dog's behavior at a luncheon in Lincoln.
Peggy was a telephone operator in California.
Peggy was a nanny for movie star, Eddie Cantor.
Peggy was born Ella Fetty, but her brothers nicknamed her "piggy" which turned into "Peggy" and it kinda stuck so she legally changed her name!
Peggy went to college with Esther Williams, movie/swim star.
Peggy loved to dance. In fact, a young Harry once swirled young Peggy's feet right through the window of his house. (I'm sure this made her future inlaws really happy.)
A few weeks after they were married, Harry left for the war and they didn't see each other until four and a half years later.
Harry and Peggy faithfully exchanged letters during his time at war. His letters were written in a special code to let her know where he was stationed.
Peggy’s children and grandchildren could never convince her to wear a pair of blue jeans or pierce her ears.
Peggy took her first four wheeler ride at age 92
Peggy became a mentor for high school students in her 80's
Peggy introduced my mom to a bible study that changed the course of my families life.
Peggy won the good neighbor award in Franklin
When Peggy got sick she urged Caleb to still go to Romania. As a result an eight year old girl will be receiving a surgery that will give her sight for the first time. All of the memorial money will also be going towards this little girls surgery.
Peggy's strength and vigor to the end of her days were an inspiration to us all (Joshua 14)

DATE: 11/11/11 TIME 11:11 YEARS 11

2011-11-11T09:29:00.003-07:00

Eleven years ago God gave me the greatest woman I could ever ask for on November 11th, at 11:11am. I am looking forward to the next 111 years! Here is a poem that Jess wrote and gave to people on our wedding day.

God’s Perfect... Timing…..Written by Jessica Bislow

The Eleventh Day, of the Eleventh Month,
The Eleventh Hour, the Eleventh Minute,
Is there some significance in it?

The rhyme and reason to this day,
Began because of a burden to pray.
Pray for each other, and in search of God’s plan
Our desire was to be led by the Father’s hand.

Our simple minds at times needed reminding,
Especially as the day was unwinding,
And as ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE appeared on the clock
We thought to ourselves, “Man we see that a lot!”

On our own we began to lift the other in prayer,
And at times we were together, prayer time we shared.
On occasion sound came from just one or the other,
But God honored that time and drew us closer as friends.

We decided we wanted to be friends forever,
To have and to hold, to build and not sever,
The relationship God simply placed in our laps,
We realize that he holds the ultimate road map.

When this day of November entered our conversation,
It brought some excitement and anticipation.
God had it planned to fall on a Saturday,
Our special reminder, we’ll give thanks to him ALWAYS.

Praying for Grandma Peggy

2011-11-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

What is Unusual Soldiers?

2011-11-06T15:26:00.002-07:00

"What is Unusual Soldiers?" I started asking that question after an aged gentlemen labeled myself and some potential church planters by that title in Arkansas, 12 years ago. Those two words have "haunted me" in a Goldy way. They have never left me and I don't think that they ever will. Since, that moment I have been seeking clarity from the Lord as to who or what UNUSUAL SOLDIERS actually is. After a decade of journaling, traveling, praying, training, and seeking advisers I think that I have finally found the answer that I have been looking for.

I just finished an "explanation" video on Friday and I hope that this video helps those that are curious catch the vision of what Unusual Soldiers is all about. I did my best to make my scattered thoughts...simple....hopefully. DVDs should be hitting some of your mailboxes by the end of the month...God willing.

Death of a Legend

2011-11-05T15:26:00.005-07:00

When my wife and I found out that Jack D died this morning our hearts were broken. Jack was not your ordinary guy. He never let his age or his health issues stop him from investing in the lives of young people. When I was a rookie youth pastor he would often be the one that I would call at times for guidance and encouragement. He was the Hero to many young people and his humor and quick wit were unmatchable. He even let me dress him up like "YODA" for a youth event once. He really was a one and only, a rarity, a legend, and a Goldy friend that we will never forget.

Many great memories my young hearted friend. You will be greatly missed when we make our Port Huron visits. We look forward to seeing you on the shores of Heaven and I hope that you can cut a deal with the Lord to catch a glimpse of all the people that you have impacted down here.

KIMBO SLICE

2011-10-19T16:11:00.000-06:00

So what do you do when you are sitting in a small two-gate airport waiting for your flight and in walks Kimbo Slice...KIMBO SLICE. I was stunned when I saw this beast of dude walk by me with his comrades. I had heard alot about KIMBO from my UFC buddy Justin, but I had never intended to "bump" into him. I was stunned to see him there so I figured that I had better google him and come up with a "game plan." As I googled him I quickly found the video below about a fight that he had the previous night in Grand Island, Nebraska. To make this dude even more intimidated I learned that some the fight entourage that was with him consisted of a "pimp" who runs a well known X-rated cable channel.

Kimbo hammered his opponent the night before and there was no telling what he would do to me if I dared mentioned the word "Jesus" to him. But I was over taken with conviction that not talking to him would be a missed opportunity.

After going to the bathroom numerous times. I finally MANED UP and approached him. I talked to him about my friend, Justin "The Viking" Wren, and gave him my Unusual Soldiers business card. I pointed to the card and told him that I had written a couple scriptures on it that I felt that the Lord had given me. Then I found myself inviting him on a mission trip with me overseas next summer. I don't even know if the dude is a believer.

At the end of our short conversation he punched me...well kind of....he pounded my knuckles and told me, "Thanks for the love, man."

I think that convo with KIMBO may tie some of my scariest moments on the mission field. But it was worth it. Imagine if a dude like Kimbo got fired up about Christ and impacting the world. That would be insane.

Maloney's Tour of the Africa HQ

2011-10-06T14:45:00.002-06:00

Maasai Discipleship Center from Walled Lake Missionary Church on Vimeo.

Pastor Matt takes viewers on a tour and explains the vision of the new Unusual Soldiers Training Center in Maasailand.

Welcome to the New "STRANDED"

2011-10-05T17:49:00.000-06:00

What is the difference between the new/old STRANDED?
The original (cheap) Stranded is more of an endurance test the new (expensive) Stranded is more of gauntlet of facing your fears.

Whats the same?
Both of them are introductory courses to UNUSUAL SOLDIERS so they have the same written curriculum.

Where can I apply?
Right here on www.unusualsoldiers.com

THE ACTION BIBLE

2011-09-13T08:38:00.002-06:00

I am no expert on parenting. I actually googled "parenting for dummies" the other day to see what I could find. It is easy to get ambitious to impact the world and neglect the world that is around you each and every day. I can easily get in the habit of straining my brain so hard on advancing God's Kingdom that I come home brain-dead to three kids and a wife. So my wife has usually done most of the routine schedule things with our kids.

About a year ago I noticed that my oldest boy, Trace, was beginning to slowly drift from Daddy. He was only three but we wanted to make some changes while he was young. We would wrestle and play alot, but we knew that we needed some kind of consistency. Something that he would always be looking forward to. So I sucked it up and became the bedtime story guy.

However, if I was going to be the "bedtime" story guy then I would need to read them out of a Bible that I would actually enjoy. On my search for the perfect "kids" Bible I stumbled on the Action Bible. I love this thing and it has become a great tool in discipling my kids. It was made by a MARVEL Comic artist so the story line and the Graphic's don't land in the "Cheesy Christian" Category. Its actually written so well that every Bible Story transitions to the next. It won't be long until Trace and I can say that we have read the whole Bible together!

Since we started this routine it changed our family dynamics and gave me a close bond with my little guy. It was probably one of the best decisions that I have made as a father. If your a parent of some little tykes then you might want to check it out.

Insanity at its Absolute Best

2011-09-09T18:48:00.000-06:00

Unusual Soldiers Training Center Africa

2011-09-07T14:44:00.002-06:00

Here is a *raw video to take you on a quick tour of our very simple Unusual Soldiers training Center in Africa. The main thrust of this building is to hae a "revolving door" that disciples, trains, and sends out new believers from distant villages. We are hoping to have six groups funnel through this upcoming year with 1/2 of them being from the bush and 1/2 of them from the nearby schools.

If everything goes according to plan we are hoping to have the Moran warrior Chief funnel through our training this December. This chief recently received Christ and if he takes disciple seriously he could seriously have a MASSIVE impact on the Maasai throughout all of Tanzania.

* obviously a raw video it only works for 28 seconds. I'll try to fix it later.

Keeping it Simple

2011-09-02T14:42:00.003-06:00

I am not a bash the church guy. I go to church every week and I have spoken at a great number of them. So please don't take this vid as a means of categorizing Biz as a church-hater. Like Jesus, I am just stoked about disciple-making. Starting sparks, that start fires, that ignite movements. I thought this video captured it. Check it out and as my friend would say, "Eat the Meat and spit out the bones."

This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.

Love Riot: Destroy

2011-09-02T14:23:00.000-06:00

I found this video the other day. I found it inspiring in a Mad-Maxish kind of way.

Fire Starters Fire me up

2011-09-01T10:43:00.007-06:00

My favorite part of my past mission trip had nothing to do with what I did and everything to do with what I saw. I saw ordinary guys from the United States push themselves and seize opportunities like never before. They ignited sparks in many places that could one day erupt to being a raging fire for Christ.

Justin started a wrestling match in the middle of a market. This gathered a huge crowd and just like the apostles of old he took on that moment and preached his guts out.

When Colin met the rape victims he couldn't help but pitch in a large amount of money to help them buy sewing machines. Previously to meeting Colin they had no way to support themselves, but now they do.

It was at a warrior village where I saw Matt seize one of the most profound opportunities of our trip. After meeting the chief of the Maasai Moran warriors, Mattt spoke to him with a compassion to see lives changed. Before their conversation was over the chief had come to the Lord with a desire to know and learn more. This could have a wildfire impact on thousands in Tanzania.

Late one night some hecklers made it known to the women of the village that no one was to receive Christ after my message. I was tired and defeated, but to our surprise the hecklers came to visit us. Todd engaged them in a life changing conversation and all of them seemed to genuinely respond to Christ.

Rene was a flight attendant. He had never been on a mission trip before, but he came more prepared than any of us. He blessed so many people with gifts from America. He came ALIVE throughout the trip and he didn't miss a beat when he walked by a group of people deeply rooted in witchcraft. His game face was on.

This was Ben's first trip to Africa and he was ready to go. He seized an unplanned opportunity to speak to a group that was gathered at a circumcision ceremony. He captured the moment and many responded.

Dustin had been waiting for this trip for a long time. He always looked for opportunities that were missed by others. A large crowd was spoke to at a village, but the warriors left as soon as the speaking began. Dustin followed the warriors, engaged in conversation, and lives were changed as a result.

I saw one of our guys, Josh, begin to discover his personal purpose in life as he got up to share with others at a new Church plant in the bush of Tanzania.

BREAKDOWN STATS FROM AFRICA

2011-09-01T10:00:00.003-06:00

Number of breakdowns: Twelve +
Most Breakdowns in two days: Seven
Number of water crossings: Five +
Number of flood crossings: One
Number of vehicles that almost rolled: One
Number of struts completely broken: Two
Number of axles (differentials) broken from frame: One
Number of vehicles rear ended: One
Number of motorcycles rear ending us: One
Number of times stuck in the mud: 6+
Number of transmissions blown up: One
Number of cars towed for 5hours with jumper cables: One
Number of vehicles that ran out of gas: Two
Number of people hit by a Car: One

And these were the "good cars" they said.

PYGMY ENCOUNTER

2011-08-26T13:55:00.006-06:00

As we traveled traveled through the forest in Eastern Congo my mind raced to all of the conflict and war that this country was going through. We passed my numerous military officers, UN workers, and armored trucks.

I was unsure what I had gotten my team into, but there was one thing that we were sure of, the Pygmies were in desperate need of faith, hope, and love.

When we arrived in our first village, sounds of chants, flutes, and singing echoed in the distance. As we got closer we walked by numerous igloo-like homes made out of leaves on the ground.

The Pygmies were called animals by other tribes because of the poor primitive lifestyle. Other tribes have even sought to cannibalize and annihalate them in the recent years. They were living a real life Hell, and are constantly on the move through the Jungle when rebels strike.

Our scouting trip to the Pygmies helped us gauge what their physical and spiritual needs were. We were able to give every family some spices and encourage them in Christ. There was a great response, but we don't want to be the type of people that just blow in, blow up, and blow out. We are praying for a lasting impact to be stowed upon these people, spiritually and physically.

One of my teammates, Justin Wren, felt an intense burden for the Pygmies and is currently praying about his next steps in helping the Pygmies. His ideas have gone from building water wells for them, to living with them for a season, to dedicating his future MMA fights to them.

We are eagerly waiting for the Lord to give Justin and our team clarity on how to best assist them in the future. We still believe that they are a people well worth risking for.

Daddy?

2011-08-26T13:21:00.004-06:00

Its a little strange to have a group of grown women, from Jehovah Jireh, call me, "Daddy". I didn't understand the term until my translator explained it to me. He said that they call you "Daddy" because they see that God is using you to be their provider.

It was a blessing to help these victims of the conflict buy a home last year, but after seeing their new home our team realized that there were still needs to be met.

The women were walking miles every day (into a neighbring country) just to fill up water jugs. They were also going days with little to no food. The rescue center was growing with more women, more children, and more needs. And once again the Lord prompted our hearts to do more than leave them with only a prayer and message.

Deborah, an ambassador of Unusual Soldiers, shared the needs of her ministry with us and our team was able to bless them with a water tank, electricity, and sewing machines before we left.
The sewing machines were bought by Colin Reed to assist these women with the income necessary to help them sell their products as a means to put food on their tables for themselves and their children.

There are still many needs. They still sleep with mats on the floor, they have no money to educate their children, some have died of AIDS, and outside of this rescue center and Jesus they see little hope for a successful future.

Please continue to pray for these women and the ministry of Jehovah Jireh.

A Few Days Later

2011-08-25T17:05:00.004-06:00

Its strange...

One day your helping rape victims in the Congo.
A few days later you are ministering to Pygmies in a rebel infested forest.
A few days later your preaching at a church in Rwanda.
A few days later you are training pastors in Kenya.
A few days later you are treking to unreached villages in Tanzania.
A few days later you are watching Dinosaur Train with your kids in Nebraska.

What a strange life.

I'll write more about our trip after my brain and body recover.

The Maverick

2011-07-22T13:26:00.000-06:00

I am not sure what I like more. The concept of this car or the fact that it was created by a missionary.

Defying Gravity! Defying the Odds!

2011-07-20T08:13:00.000-06:00

Actions Sports are the home of some seriously hardcore athletes in my book. They are a handful of stubborn mavericks that push the limits and don't know how to give up. This recent video of an "old timer" Chad Reed is only one example why actions sports rank at the top of my list.

For the Pygmies!

2011-07-19T15:00:00.005-06:00

It’s hard to comprehend, a people group on the other side of the world that are so looked down upon that others have sought to annihilate and cannibalize them. The Pygmies of Eastern Congo are a beautiful and innocent people, but their small stature and poor living conditions have made them into targets rather than individuals. Rebels of the Congo have termed them as “worthless humans,” but we know that they are precious and invaluable to God.

In August, Justin Wren, Colin Reed, and myself will be venturing 70km into the jaws of the Congo jungle. The jungles are danger-zones in the DRC. They are full of corruption, rape, kidnappings, greed, murder, and civil war. It’s a real hell on earth, but we believe the cause is worth it.

The DR Congo has also changed the rules. They have not only made it tougher to get into their country, but they also have skyrocket prices on everything as well. Its going to cost us a whoppin' $300 bucks a day to just rent an SUV. But we have decided to move forward regardless of the surprises we have faced, because every expense just reminds me how valuable the Pygmies really are to God. They are a priceless people well worth going broke for.

However, if you would like to support Justin or Colin as they embark on this journey with me then have at it. They are trying to raise nearly $10,000 in two weeks you can fill out the support form below and send it into KBM.

The Machine Gun Preacher

2011-07-11T18:01:00.000-06:00

Another crazy blooded fool trying to change the world
Machine Gun Preacher documentary trailer from Sebastian Roche on Vimeo.

WE SURVIVED "MAN TRIP" 2011

2011-07-07T12:54:00.003-06:00

Last week I grabbed my birthday money, a dirtbike, and a handful of buddies and ventured out to Moab, Utah. I have traveled numerous times in my life, but rarely for vacation purposes, especially with just guys. There was no denying it this MAN TRIP was going to be epic... if we survived. Here are the BIG FIVE:

We survived each other...without a counselor

We survived climbing...without ropes

We survived getting lost in the desert...without water

We survived whitewater kayaking...without a guide

We survived a 10,000 foot drop...without a plane.

The Blessings of Support Raising

2011-06-24T09:33:00.004-06:00

When I went on a mission trip to Mexico in high school I told my parents that I would never raise support for a living. I thought that it was one of the most awkward and humbling things that I had ever done. After I became a Youth Pastor my dislike of fundraising only intensified. I understood the "tent-maker" ministry like Paul, but to just go out and ask individuals for financial help and prayer support was something that I could never do.

Well...something obviously changed. Somewhere along our life there was a paradigm shift. Now our family loves support (vision partner) raising! It has become one of our favorite parts of our job, and one of life's greatest blessings. Here is a shocking passage that a friend of mine, Adrian Despres,recently showed me. Apparently, Paul himself went through a change of heart as well.

Well, now I've done it! I've made a complete fool of myself by going on like this. But it's not all my fault; you put me up to it. You should have been doing this for me, sticking up for me and commending me instead of making me do it for myself. You know from personal experience that even if I'm a nobody, a nothing, I wasn't second-rate compared to those big-shot apostles you're so taken with. All the signs that mark a true apostle were in evidence while I was with you through both good times and bad: signs of portent, signs of wonder, signs of power. Did you get less of me or of God than any of the other churches? The only thing you got less of was less responsibility for my upkeep. Well, I'm sorry. Forgive me for depriving you. 2 Corinthians 12: 11-13 (Message)

Paul is going on one of his rants and at the close of it he actually apologizes for not raising support like the "professional apostles". He realized that his lack of support raising among the Corinthians actually affected his ministry in a negative way.

Here are some of the blessings that we have encountered since we started raising support 6 years ago:

Its deepened our friendships and helped us stay connected with friends
Its allowed us to attempt things for God that we once considered impossible
Its given a few supporters the opportunity to travel and minister with us abroad
Its allowed supporters to adopt certain mission projects, people groups, or initiatives
Its allowed us to train up a new generation of Unusual Soldiers in the US and abroad
Its woke us up to mobilizing people to dark, dangerous, and despised places
Its allowed us to buy rescue shelters, discipleship centers, motorcycles, and clothes to help advance ministries around the world.

We have had alot of questions about support raising over the years so I hope to revisit this topic in the future to help any current or future support raisers out there.

NORTHEAST INDIA

2011-06-21T10:43:00.005-06:00

We ventured near this area just a few months ago. It was in a cease fire when we were there, but apparently things have erupted once again between the neighboring tribes. It is a political mess over there full of a lust for land, anarchy, and "genocidal" ambitions. The video below was taken a couple days ago and it probably won't be on youtube very long, but it shows you the extent that rebel groups are willing to go to get the governments attention.

I am currently talking to a friend from from Michigan who is praying about assisting us with bringing the love, hope, and peace of Christ to this area.

Get the latest here

STORM CHASING

2011-06-20T09:57:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I grabbed some motocross gear, picked up our preacher, and went storm chasing for nearly seven hours. It was full of all kinds of adventures in the adventure. We never saw a tornado but we did nearly get stranded on a minimum maintenance road, got nailed by golf ball sized hail, dodged flying limbs, saw a massive "tidal wave" cloud, saw the discovery channel guys, and ended up in four towns with declared tornado warnings.

We probably aren't the smartest "30-year-olds" on the block, but we definitely found a way to maximize our Sunday afternoons.

TESTIMONY FROM HEAD (KORN)

2011-06-19T07:49:00.000-06:00

The Fighting Viking

2011-06-18T19:31:00.004-06:00


An Undefeated Fighting Chicken -vs- Justin "The Viking" Wren

I met Justin "The Viking" Wren at one of our training events this summer. He survived being STRANDED in Nebraska and is now with a KBM team in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Justin gained alot of fame when he starred in Spike TV's, The Ultimate Fighter. Justin has fought multiple times without tapping out in an MMA or a UFC fight. However a little over a year ago he met the ULTIMATE FIGHTER, Jesus Christ, and he tapped out and committed his life to Him.

Justin's life has been wrecked ever sense as he has begun to soldier for Christ. I was blessed to watch Justin seize a moment in the DR to share Christ with some men gambling on the streets. Before stepping up to them his palms were sweaty, but he refused to let fear have the final say. This was a different kind of fight than he was use to...it was spiritual. When Justin approached them the crowd stopped gambling and they immediately circled Justin as he shared his testimony with them.

Justin has the hard wiring of being an Unusual Soldier for Christ and he will be traveling with me this August on what could be one of my most dangerous mission trips. We will be ministering in war zone areas of the Congo, to rape victims, and to the unreached Maasai in Tanzania. Please keep this Viking in your prayers as he steps forward to be boldly used by God.

To support Justin's mission trip please contact Todd at www.kbm.org

Fire Hydrant

2011-06-17T18:44:00.005-06:00

"I don't think that God speaks to me in pictures," Sarai told me after her quiet time with the Lord. I then asked her if the Lord had impressed anyone or anything on her heart as she spent time trying to listen to him. She laughed and said, " I did have an image of a fire hydrant come across my mind, but that was probably just me."

Moments later I took my team of four people down town to a place to rent motorcycle taxis. We hopped on the bikes and told them to take us to a fire hydrant. The drivers were a little confused so they took us to a river. We had to tell them again that we were looking for a hydrant not a river. As we were traveling Sarai sees a lone fire hydrant on the side of the road...so we all stop. It was just the five of us, a fire hydrant, and three confused taxi drivers. A couple minutes later some "tough" guys come over to us and we begin to have a conversation with them. Sarai sees the moment and seizes it, and to her amazement a couple of them receive Christ just 10 feet away from a fire hydrant.

Sarai's paradigm was rocked that day as God revealed himself in a way that she will never forget. Welcome to the Crazy Club Sarai!

SEND ME

2011-06-17T17:39:00.004-06:00

The last "Stranded" group took off a few hours ago. When they arrived they were trembling with timidity. They didn't want to go through this "wilderness" test called Stranded. They were stripped of their comfort zones and conveniences, they lived on next to nothing, and had to rely on each other for survival. Some cried, some puked, but they all survived.

It was a wake-up-call to them when they realized that millions in the world live in those same situations every single day, the only difference is that not everyone survives in the real world. Many were convicted of selfish attitudes and character issues that needed to be adjusted. They also came face to face with fears and lies that were keeping them from being fully used by God. It became obvious that their minds were spinning as they processed who they were at their core.

At the closing of our time together they made a a declaration of war. They sang the song below with an eagerness to change the world for Christ. These once weary timid souls drove away from my house today as soldiers ready for a fight.

Few songs capture the spirit an Unusual Soldier like this one...

What in the WORLD does Caleb do?

2011-05-02T09:17:00.000-06:00

*conVERGE EP05// Caleb Bislow from remedyLIVE on Vimeo.
Derry Prenkert pulls out some of Caleb's wild stories on Remedy FM.

Unusual Soldiers Booth/Kite

2011-04-19T09:44:00.002-06:00

We just got back from running an Unusual Soldiers Booth at a Switchfoot concert. My untamed friend Brandon Heidemann "jumped off the cliff" and hosted the concert at Red Rocks in Denver. They did a great job pulling things together. This was the earliest concert ever hosted at Red Rocks and miraculously the weather was pretty good.

We definitely learned some do's and don'ts of hosting an outdoor booth.

DON'TS
1. Don't fully rely on retractable banners. They are basically kites and we broke two of them in about a half hour.
2. Don't put loose paper on your table. They will fly away...but maybe that is a sneaky way to do good marketing.

DO'S
1. Do bring string, sand bags, an outdoor tent, and a strong back.
2. Do have girls help organize your table.
3. Do go to the other more extreme vendors (Snowboarders for Christ) to "recruit"
4. Do something outside of the box to get people to your booth
* Before the concert I got this idea of doing "Free Caricatures by an Untalented Artist". My 64 year old Italian buddy,Tom, volunteered for the job and it was a Big Hit. Unfortunately, he was a better artist than I had hoped.

10 memorable types of people that came to the Unusual Soldiers Booth
1. A kid with a 2 foot mohawk
2. Guys from the Army and the Air Force academy
3. People interested in Missions
4. A few tatooed radicals
5. A parajumper
6. Some dude wanting to know if the girls at Stranded were hot
7. A "worried" mother
8. A Bridal Party (pictured above)
9. YWAMers
10. And quite a few "normal" people

Coming this Spring...

2011-01-06T09:29:00.003-07:00

...to an area no where near you.

Here are the players...


Luke and Brooke Cortese from Colorado

Doug Laman (The Father-in-Law) from Michigan

Winter Retreat Recap

2011-01-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

I recently got back from speaking at a retreat at Spring Hill in Michigan. It was my kind of youth event for a variety of reasons.

1. Derry Prenkert (Event Host)
Derry directed the camp which meant that the kids would not be leaving with out dissecting what God was doing in their lives. Derry and I go way back to the college days. And even though we live 800 miles apart we have found ways to merge our ministries together to attempt things for God that are way bigger than the both of us.

2. Jonathan Seller (Worship Leader)
Jonathan led the worship and the two of us go way back as well. He was in my youth group when I was a youth pastor. He was one of the few that totally went after God hard from a young age. After going to Moody Bible Institute he became a worship leader for an edgy service called The Venue and now he is planting a church in Michigan. You can get his CD here.

3. Jordan Pearson (Youth Pastor Worship Leader)
Jordan helped lead worship and his youth group. Jordan was another one of those guys who went hard after God from an early age in my youth group. He broke the box of the typical home schooler by going to Bethel, dressing stylish, and taking on a youth pastor job in Hawaii. He is now a pastor at a church plant in Indiana.

4. Mission-Minded Youth Groups
The group that I spoke to was hungry to hear and respond to God. I love being around a group of people that are ready to live radical for God. There were responses from coming to Christ to being called to missions. It was a wild ride to watch God work.

5. The In-laws
I got to see my in-laws who lived about an hour away. They always say that when you marry the woman you marry the family, and I can honestly say that I am blessed to have in-laws that are passionate about the Lord. My father-in-law will actually be imbarking on a mission trip with me to Asia in March.

6. The Camp was Violent
Seriously, it had some cool testosterone filled events.

Honduras Strikes Back

2010-12-23T10:12:00.005-07:00

A couple years ago I went on a scouting trip with a dream of merging my home church in Franklin with a ministry partnership in Central America. It was a wild trip that led us through four countries, some wake up calls, and some possible ministry partnerships. Since that trip I always thought that the Miskito tribe of Honduras would be the place that the Lord would call me back to. Now two years later that gut-feeling is coming to fruition with a Wolverine fan named James Wilson (Our Pastor) and an avid hunter named Kasey Lochen (Our Youth Director). We will be taking the journey south the end of next month. We are anticipating that great days are ahead as we endeavor for the Lord.

CLIFFS IN STARTING UNUSUAL SOLDIERS (BIG FIVE)

2010-12-22T10:35:00.004-07:00

CLIFFS
I had a picture similar to the one on the left for about five years inside my journal (2000-2005). I sensed a call that God was calling me to embark on some kind of ministry called Unusual Soldiers, but I had no clear idea what it was, what it looked like, or how to even start a ministry. I call those restless decision moments Cliffs. Those moments when you want to step over an edge and do something for God, but the fear of the unknown tells you to keep your feet planted. I knew personally that I had to leap and that it would only be in the moment that I stepped off that edge that I would discover if this "unusual soldiers" thing would fly...or fall. So here are the five big cliffs our family had to face in the initial years of Unusual Soldiers.

1. The Faith Jump (January 2005)
After eight years of youth ministry I was beginning to get restless. I loved the church and the youth ministry that I worked with but I knew that I did not have the heart of a "shepherd". A shepherd guards the flock, keeps them fed, and helps them grow, but I longed to take the love of Christ to the "wolves." This desire grew and I called those types of people that risk everything for Christ: Unusual Soldiers. I tried to incorporate this as a youth program, but asking kids to take bold risks for God doesn't always sit well with parents. I began to accept that this strange calling may one day require me to jump off a "cliff." I often prayed about it, but the Lord seemed to continually tell me to wait.

It was in January of 2005 that I felt like God had given me the greenlight. I talked to Pastor Phil, our Senior pastor, about my restlessness and told him that I would be resigning from youth ministry that following summer. It was difficult for me to muster the words because I didn't have a clear direction as to where or what I was going to do. I just knew it was time to step over the edge.   We had a great conversation and he encouraged me to follow God's leading even if it was into the unknown. After having that conversation I knew that church would begin the search for a new youth pastor and that there would be no turning back. I put myself in a position that literally forced my wife and I over the cliff to pursue this dream that we felt God had given us.

2. Following a Burden to Africa (June 2005)
I felt like I was out of my mind. I was about to resign from my stable youth ministry position at the end of July and I felt this crazy burden for a tribe called the Maasai on the other side of the world. It felt like I was jumping off of two cliffs at once. It was embarrassing for me to talk to others about this mission trip idea, because it didn't look like the typical mission trip that I had done in the past. I wasn't going with a team, a missions agency, or a clear cut plan and to top it off that the tribe I wanted to go to had been in conflict.   I decided to take the trip over my vacation time and spend the remnants of our bank account to go. I thought that I looked like a fool going through a midlife crises at 28 years old but my church lovingly endorsed my trip, prayed for me, and commissioned me off. The things that God did on that trip will never be forgotten. It redefined me, set me up for the future, and began to give me a more global vision of who Unusual Soldiers are and what they do.

3. Raising Support for a Living (August 2005-present)
If there was one thing that that I disliked more than anything else in youth ministry it was fundraisers. Organizing car washes, selling Pizzas, trading trash for cash, etc. My parents often remind me that when I was younger that I firmly told them that I could never take the humble road of raising support for a living. However, after praying and seeking Godly counsel I decided to join Kingdom Building Ministries fulltime as a speaker and a trainer, and that meant that I would have to raise my salary and my budget. So for 8 months my wife and I moved back in with my parents and we began the gut wrenching journey of raising support. After reading some books we knew that our personalities could never handle pressuring people into supporting us so we simply asked others to listen for the Lords voice and respond to it. After months of constantly battling if we were raising support right, the Lord burst through a few months later, and we moved to Colorado to work for KBM full time. This gut wrenching decision actually led to many deeper friendship around the country and little did we know that it would also allow us to endeavor for God globally in the future.

4. Scrapping what Worked in the Past (June 2006)
Timberlakes Camp was a speaking event that I will never forget. It was the camp that I decided to scrap all of my old messages and try out all new messages that were geared around the theme "Unusual Soldiers." Its hard for a speaker, at least me, to give up messages that messages I know have "worked" in the past.    But this camp redefined everything. I created 8 new messages for Timberlakes that were more threaded with the core of your I was. It was a time of challenging students to live fully for Christ, to listen for his voice, and to be willing to embark to dangerous places for Him. The messages came out of my mouth very unpolished , but the fire that filled this camp moved me. I realized for the first time that there is a generation that is longing to live radical and...dangerous for Christ. And pursued speaking on mainly Unusual Soldiers content from that week forward.

5. Asking a potentially Life Altering Question(2007)
Our KBM speaking team was meeting for their annual retreat at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We were all assigned to read a biography of another itinerant and give a small report of it to the rest of the team. The speakers were randomly sharing insights and I sat back and just observed, like I commonly do when I am around numerous extroverted personalities. While I was listening I noticed that my heart seemed to burn for a different kind of speaking ministry than the other speakers. I began to wander if my calling even fit with being a "Christian Speaker". The bio I read was of Sammy TippitKBM team asked about my bio, I voiced that I was struggling if the Lord still wanted me to be a KBM speaker, because of the deep burden that I had to take the gospel into dark, dangerous, and despised places. I stated that I felt like I needed to live for God in a way that might look "borderline reckless" to others inside and outside of the faith. I told them that I had wild dreams of going and doing wild things for God in dark places. I remember timidly asking them if this type of ministry even fit with KBM. I knew that that question could mean that I may need to look for a ministry elsewhere, or start my own, but I needed to know. The speakers and the leadership team said, enthusiastically said, "YES!" and embraced my unique calling to go to the dark places for Christ. Since that moment God has been faithful and allowed me to go to variety of dark places internationally for him and attempt things for him that I know that I could have never done without Him and our ministry partners.

6? Starting a Ministry...(2010)
That is a story full of cliffs that are still being faced. So maybe in the future you will hear another big five about post Unusual Soldiers, Inc.

Hopefully this BIG FIVE list will be an encouragement to you if you sense that there is a cliff in your horizon that God is calling you to jump off of. Know that it won't be easy, but there is nothing that compares to stepping off the edge with Him and living a life with no regrets. May He give you the courage and strength to jump off the first and most frightful edge... and the others that may follow.

THE BIG FIVE

2010-12-15T08:56:00.003-07:00

The BIG FIVE are commonly known as the top five animals that roam the savannas of Africa. They are the animals that make you gasp in joy or fear once you see them. Finding these animals in the bush are the high point moments for any outdoor enthusiast.
1. The Lion
2. The Elephant
3. The Cape Buffalo
4. The Rhino
5. The Cheetah

When we came upon this lion and "cape buffalo" it was a BIG moment for me in Africa. I had no idea that we could drive right next to this beast with the windows down. I still get a chill down my spine when I think about it. It was a dreamlike moment of fear, joy, excitement, and amazement.

In the days ahead I am going to randomly embark on a series called "THE BIG FIVE." The first one will focus on the BIG FIVE decision points that led us to starting Unusual Soldiers.

PRETTY UGLY

2010-12-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

As much as I hate to admit it this picture is probably what ministry looks like to the outside world. Maybe even to some of those reading this blog entry. Most of us have seen the odd couple before. A beautiful woman walking hand in hand with a...well...quite homely looking dude. Odd couples are everywhere. And I am not sure why but it seems like it is always the guy that failed the good looking test. Let me explain why this is a picture of ministry

THE PRETTY GIRL (Matthew 25)
Activism has gotten huge this past decade. This generation is hungry to make a physical difference in the world. They are on a rampage to end poverty, human trafficking, violence, etc. I might even dare to say that activism has gotten trendy with so many actors and actresses taking the plunge at making an impact. Regardless of why, it has captured the interest of so many people and it is awesome to watch a generation look beyond themselves to help others. This is the part of our ministry that is PRETTY. Bringing hope to people physically might even bring you the world's applause, even if it is done in Jesus' name. However their appears to be a great temptation to lean heavily towards this type of ministry while letting the UGLY part fade out.

THE UGLY MAN (Matthew 28)
Making disciples throughout the entire world was the final commission of Jesus. It was a calling to do more than just help people physically. It was a calling to bring spiritual hope to people who don't know Christ. Lets face it, this part of ministry may look intolerant to some outside of the faith, and is often seen as UGLY in the world's eyes. But our mission is not to go and be intolerant. I have numerous Buddhist, Atheist, Hindu, and Animist friends. We don't hold animosity towards one another because of our different opinion, but we do enjoy discussing our beliefs with one another. To me discussing the hope of Christ with someone is the greatest act of love. I mean seriously, if we are 100% convinced that Jesus is the only hope that can save people from being separated from God/Heaven after death, then what kind of people would we be to hold that to ourselves. I realize that some Christians that have used very uncompassionate anger-filled methods that are even ugly in my book, but we can't let their mistakes keep us from making disciples.

As ministries we must be careful to never "divorce" sharing the best news on the planet (Mathew 28) from meeting the needs of the least of these (Matthew 25); no matter how unpopular it is. Some outsiders may frown and criticize our ministry efforts, but lets not forget that it because of our love for them that we do it.

Unusual Soldiers Training Events

2010-12-13T08:43:00.007-07:00

Two Unusual Soldiers training events will be taking place this May back to back in the middle of nowhere (Franklin, Ne).

STRANDED is for those that desire to live bold and on edge for God.
SLINGSHOT is for those that sense a specific calling to advance the love of Christ in a dark, dangerous, or despised regions.

Who: Young Adults
Cost:$99
Space: Limited

You can now apply for these training events at www.unusualsoldiers.com.

UNUSUAL SOLDIERS & KBM

2010-12-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

I have had some questions about our ministry since people have watched the DVD we sent out a couple weeks ago. You will find the term UNUSUAL SOLDIERS deeply woven into the fabric of the DVD and you will find a quick blurb about KBM. So hopefully this will clear up any confusion that some of you may have.

1. What is Unusual Soldiers?
Unusual Soldiers is the passion of my life. In a nutshell, its a ministry that focuses on taking the hope of Christ to dark, dangerous, and despised places worldwide.
2. How does KBM fit into that?
KBM has embraced my unique calling as an itinerant and has given me the opportunity to awaken Unusual Soldiers across the country through training and speaking. They have also given me the freedom to minister in dark places worldwide.
3. Is Unusual Soldiers incorporated?
Yes, but it does not have a tax exempt status yet.
4. Why did you incorprate Unusual Soldiers?
I often look at my life backwards and try to live without regrets and I felt that I would regret it later in life if I didn't incorporate. I sense that it is a lifelong calling on my life and seemed like the right step.
5. Why are gifts still funneled through KBM?
I am still a hundred percent committed to KBM. They have a kindred spirit, a global vision, a staff that propels me, and a speaking team that ignites me. KBM's administration team have blessed me a ton with our newsletters, reciepts, paper trails, editing, event bookings, etc. We may funnel some global initiatives through UNUSUAL SOLDIERS, Inc. in the future, but as far as our personal support and speaking events we plan to continue to run through KBM.
6. What does your partnership with KBM look like?
KBM and Unusual Soldiers have continued to slowly merge as Unusual Soldiers has gained more clarity in defining its purpose the past couple years. You will now see Unusual Soldiers training events included in KBM's Ministry Guides this year if you are on their mailing list.
7. Do other itinerants have outside ministries?
Many of the Speakers are part of two ministries. Some are pastors, denominational leaders, church planters, founders of nonprofits, chaplains, authors, etc. Unusual Soldiers is simply what I would call my home-base ministry. The main difference is that Unusual Soldiers currently runs everything under the KBM umbrella.

My Better 1/2

2010-12-09T11:20:00.004-07:00

It's no secret, my wife, Jess, is amazing. Many have asked us how Jess feels about the ministry that I feel called to and I always love hearing the words that come out of her mouth. Jess recently wrote an email in response to that question for a woman's Bible study in Tennessee. Her response blessed me and made me realize that my wife truly is a one in six billion.

Jessica's Challenging Note:

Being married to an "unusual soldier" is quite the adventure. Caleb is a man called to dark, dangerous, despised places that most people would like to avoid. Sometimes there are elements of danger or uncertainty to the "missions" he goes out on. Long ago (about 11 years) in college I knew that there was a different beat to his heart and some of that scared me...even to the point of tears. At that point when we were dating I had to completely surrender my fear and Caleb to the Lord. I mean the kind of surrender that you can't change your mind and take back.

For the first 5 years that we were married he was a youth pastor and there was very little risk involved in the things that we were doing at that point. However when the time came to step out in faith an do things that we knew he was called to do we were prepared to trust the Lord. We have emptied our bank account on several occasions to follow what we felt was God's leading. Caleb has traveled to countries with no agenda to see if the Lord has something for him to start or be a part of over there. Always God has brought the right translators across his path and people with similar heartbeats to share Christ with unreached people in their own countries. The Lord has never disappointed when we felt he was the one directing our paths. We have seen the Lord bring in more than a year's salary's worth of money to take the Gospel into unreached areas of Kenya Africa. I could give you story upon story of things that the Lord has done and ways that he has taken care of us...it is nothing short of amazing to remember how he has worked.

You may be wondering how I feel when Caleb is gone from us overseas...(usually 10 days to three weeks) Well, I can honestly say that the Lord has placed a peace in my heart beyond human understanding about what is going on with Caleb. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is doing what he's supposed to be doing. I think that other people worry more about him than I do when he's gone. Often he doesn't get to call for days in a row and I just have to trust that the Lord is his keeper and leave Caleb's safety in his hands. There is a peace in placing our situations in God's hands instead of holding tightly to our own control.

What I would really love to see is for each of you to begin to have your own stories of what the Lord has done in and through you. It is neat to hear others accounts and know that God can do great things, but there is nothing quite like sharing a story that has happened to you. My challenge to you would be to ask God if there is something he would like you to do, someone he would like you to reach out to, something you should give away, or something you should be a part of and then DO IT. Talk to Diane or your parents and see if they think God would be glorified through it. Then have the courage to do it and just see what God has in store for you. Many times we don't see God work because we aren't willing to look silly or do something that isn't comfortable for us to do. He gets the Glory when we are weak but surrendered and He is the strong one.

God Bless,
Jess

The Congo Rescue Center

2010-12-08T11:02:00.004-07:00

I have discovered this year that what many people in America pay for a used car can go really far in areas of conflict overseas. Due to many of your generous contributions this rescue center was purchased in Congo for 30 abandoned women and their children. Their stories are heart breaking to hear, but when your watch them worshiping God with such joy, you would would have never thought that they were carrying so much baggage. The joy of the Lord truly is their strength. On the layout above the unfinished homes of the compound are now complete and the yard has now been converted in to a sheltered prayer room. The story of these women was definitely one of my ministry highlights of this past year. You can watch the full extent of this ministry experience on the DVD that was sent to everyone that was on our mailing list. Thank you for allowing God to use you in dark, dangerous, and despised places...worldwide.

The $10,000 HQ

2010-12-08T10:35:00.004-07:00

My wife and I were brainstorming different ways to get a ministry office outside of our house this year. While we were brainstorming this historic library in town came up for sell. We figured that it was out of our price range, especially since it had a good roof, new storm windows, and a new furnace. We prayed about the building and offered $10, 000 for it. We knew that we could not go any higher and a day later, as expected... we were denied. However, a couple days later another potential buyer traveled 4 hours to look at the building and said that he really liked it but that he could not bid any higher, because he didn't want to bid against a Mission's Ministry. So that day the seller of the property then called us and said, "You must have Somebody looking out for you." And joyfully sold it to us for the $10, 000.

WHIRLWIND

2010-10-13T09:50:00.000-06:00

The past few months have been a whirlwind for Unusual Soldiers and unfortuantly that has left this site virtually untoucheded for a few months. So if you are visiting welcome back. Things have been spinning so fast that it has been hard for me to stop to crunch out some fresh sentences for this blog, but I think that the tornado is about to pass and I hope to get back to keeping people in the loop of what God is doing. In a nutshell here are some of the things that have been spinning around the past few months...

Unusual Soldiers is now Unusual Soldiers, Inc. and is in the process of becoming a nonprofit
Unusual Soldiers now has an international Headquarters/Training center in Franklin, Nebraska
Unusual Soldiers purchased a rescue center for abandoned women in the Congo
Unusual Soldiers is in the middle of producing and releasing its 2nd DVD this fall
Unusual Soldiers partnered with KBM this summer for two intense training events in Nebraska
Unusual Soldiers just got back from a scouting trip to the gypsies in Eastern Europe and is now strategizing next steps
Unusual Soldiers is in the midst of launching its first discipleship training center in Kenya
Unusual Soldiers is preparing to launch an Exodus (diciple making movement) in one of the darkest and most restricted areas on the planet this Spring

So that is what is spinning. I am currently in Michigan speaking at a couple mission events helping a friend raise money for the dicipleship training center in Kenya. God has already exceded his expectations and it appears that great days are ahead for the Maasai!

Life has never been so exciting...and so exhausting.

Speaking event

2010-07-11T18:15:00.001-06:00

Caleb is speaking at a sweet church in Florida. It's in an old theatre in the middle of the crime area of Orlando. Very multi-cultural....very cool.

-- Post From My iPhone

Chasing Parachutes with my little Buddy

2010-07-05T10:21:00.002-06:00

The Congo Project

2010-06-18T09:47:00.007-06:00

Jason and Rachael are on a wild mission to help the abandoned women in the Congo get a home. These women are victims of rape and survivors of war. They have no safe and secure place to call home. Is God calling you to join the Thompson's in making a difference?

Currently $2,743.15 of the $10,000 has been raised. To help them assist these women please send in this response form with your information or check out the latest from Jason's blog here and his wife Rachael's blog here.

The $10,000 Beard

2010-06-15T13:39:00.005-06:00

So I thought that this would be a great time to grow a beard for a $10,000 cause because my schedule didn't have many significant events and nobody would have to look at me. Well I was wrong. My beard continues to grow and has been stuck to my face during......a wedding I officiated...a camp I spoke at ...and of course at a family reunion that hasn't met for the past decade.

The journey continues as the Thompson family continues to creatively raise money for the Abandoned Women in the Congo. Stay tuned for a financial update soon. See thompsonjason.blogspot.com for more details and send them money so that the women can get a new place...and I can shave my face : )

BISLOW ON STRIKE....

2010-05-31T09:12:00.006-06:00

Fifteen women and their eighteen children huddle together every night in a small rented room partially made of tarps. The conflict in their country has forced all of them to homelessness. Most of them have been abandoned by their husbands and their society because they were raped by multiple rebels. As a result of the rape some are pregnant, others have HIV, and all of them carry haunting memories of the past.
This home/church called, Jehovah Jireh, is run by two visionary women who rent this small room for $30/month. They don’t have beds, the tin roof leaks on them, there is no bathroom, the noise from the mill next door is deafening. It’s as bad as it gets. Our team was blessed to give them new mattresses, but more must be done. These hurting women and children deserve a serious upgrade!

I was wrecked by their stories and their current living conditions and that is why I have decided to...go on a strike.
Strike from...Shaving (yeah,I am a little eccentric)

I have not shaved my beard since I met these women and have committed to abandon my razor until this urgent need is met. I am praying that God will put it on the heart of a person, a group, or a church to assist them with a new building. Jess is surprisingly on board with me, but she is eager for me to shave (especially the gray spots).

So here is my Strike Request:
I want to get these women into a new building! Please ask the Lord if He wants you to stand in the gap for them by helping them rent a building for $200/mo (or help them buy a building for apx. $10,000).

This commitment would require you to:
- make consistent wire-payments to Africa
- be dependable and diligent in your payments
- be committed for a minimum of 3/years
- to consider building a relationship with these victims or adopting them as a people group to continually invest in

Please contact Caleb or Jess at bizandjess@yahoo.com if you think God might be calling you.

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoAQKMTr35g

Here is your chance to do something Radical!

2010-05-17T08:42:00.006-06:00

Our friends Derry and Janelle are on a mission. Not many will dare do what they are attempting because of the costs, the unknowns, and the commitment it involves. They are trying hard to adopt a child from Africa. This process can be very expensive, like $30,000 expensive. But the profound impact it can have on a child is well worth it. I would like to encourage you to pray about helping them make this happen in a creative way. Right now you can help them out by checking out their online Auction for Africa Adoption and bidding some outrageous amounts of money to help them raise the money to adopt their child. This auction only lasts until Wednesday so get your bid in quick and spread the word to others fast thorough facebook, email, and your blog!!!

In short, by you getting this:

You are helping them get this:

137 Pygmies

2010-05-10T22:19:00.000-06:00

Imagine what it would be like to be...abandoned

2010-05-06T11:20:00.000-06:00

Audio Report from Caleb's Trip to Africa

2010-05-05T08:48:00.000-06:00

http://www.kbm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=345:4162010-rwanda-and-democratic-of-congo-africa-caleb-bislow&catid=56:event-reports&Itemid=348

How can I live a normal life...

2010-04-23T12:28:00.006-06:00

after I have met so many people just trying find their next meal
after I have walked into a building of raped and abandoned women
after I have talked to victims of HIV
after I have spent time with people that are despised because of their tribal identity
after I have seen the smiles of poor shoeless children
after I have learned about rebels trying to annihilate a "low-class" tribe
after I have found out that their are numerous reachable tribes in areas of conflict
after I have discovered that a rebel group is killing people in the name of Christ
after I have been to a country notorious for kidnapping and brainwashing children
after I have stepped into a school of orphans that have lost parents in a senseless war
after I have felt the pain of genocide survivors
after I have spent the night in the decaying homes of the marginalized

...how can WE live "normal" lives in a world with so many needs.

The boy

2010-04-21T12:01:00.001-06:00

Yesterday the Maasai pastors and I went out on a limb to find one boy that we have sensed that God has a divine calling upon. We journeyed to the area where we last saw him two years ago. We showed Maasai people his picture and they pointed us to his home. We quickly discovered that the boy had become a moran (Maasai warrior) and that he could be anywhere. We also learned that the boy was raised by his brothers. His father had died of old age, his sister died while delivering a child, his mother died due to the stress of losing her daughter, thus leaving this boy as an orphan who grew up under the wing of his brothers. While talking to the brothers the both seemed to surrender and solidfy their personal lives in Christ.

The brothers pointed us in a direction to seach for their young brother. As we made a 1/2 drive into the bush we came upon a circumcision ceremony. The Maasai then pointed us in an opposite direction about an hour away to search for the boy. It was dark, almost midnight,and we were tired. However,
we pressed on until we finally came upon a campfire with a gathering of armed Maasai warriors and among them was the "boy."

We took the warrior back to his brothers camp to get to know him. It was obvious that he was deep into moranship and respected among the fellow warriors. We enjoyed deepening our relationship and we offered him the opportunity to go to school but he told us that he could not leave moranship until he "graduated" in December. The boy confessed that he was still following Christ but that he must finish what he started. I have a gut feeling that like David in the Bible that God has a great plan for this guys life, I challenged him to seek after God hard and told him to contact my translator if God nudges him in a new direction...so we will have to wait and see how the story unfolds in the future.

-- Post From My iPhone

BIG HITS FROM RWANDA AND DRC

2010-04-17T08:15:00.003-06:00

BIG HITS

PYGMIES IN RWANDA
- Their were 137 Pygmies in the area that we contacted
- I nearly teared up seeing these people again
- God allowed us to give the donated clothes to the Pygmy children
- We met a retired french woman who joined us in handing out clothes and she also bought soap to give them as well
- Their is a building near the Pygmy children where they use to go to school but the funding for the school has stopped. It would only cost a $125/mo to get their school going again and that would pay for an approved Christian Teacher.

PASTORS CONFERENCE IN RWANDA
- We met with 30 pastors and evangelist in Rwanda
- Many of them seemed sold on the Unusual Soldiers vision, but we are not sure what the future holds.
- As I met them I found myself with two growing burdens: 1. The thousands of women who have been in the Congo 2. The Pygmies who have been ostracized in the congo

VICTIMS IN CONGO
- rape victims, survivors from the war, orphans, HIV, and the poor are everywhere in the Congo.
- Crossing into the Congo from Rwanda reminded me of the time I crossed into Haiti from the Domincan republic. It was a Night and Day differnce.
- A ministry Called HEAL AFRICA is doing amazing things to restore those in the CONGO. I was amazed when we toured the facility that our translator also translated for Hillary Clinton. Praise God that the USA has not forgotten the CONGO.
- The stories of the Rape victims filled my heart with sadness (see previous post).

PYGMIES IN A CONGO REFUGEE CAMP
- We got to visit Pygmies who had fled the war in a Refugee camp
- The Pygmies are so ostracized that even in a refugee camp they live separated from the rest of the refugees from other tribal groups
- Pygmies are classified by others in Africa as being short, weak, good for nothing people
- We got to do a service to a few hundred people and the Lord's presence seemed to fall upon us. I spoke them about how God sees them: beautiful. Derry shared the story about losing his dad last year and related it to them becasue many had lost loved ones. God also opene3d the door for us to present the gospel and many knelt down and gave their lives to Christ.

PYGMIES IN THE BUSH OF CONGO
- In 2006 Rebel groups participated in trying to annialate the Pygmies from the forest. They eve3n went to the extent of eating their dead bodies because they believed the rebels believed that it would give them supernatural powers.
- Many unreached Pygmy groups still live in the forest of the Congo. They live in major areas of Conflict where US citizens are strongly warned by the embassy not to go.
- When rebels find outsiders in these areas they are known to ask for the outsiders for $5,000 if they want to live.
- One of our translators goes to these areas often to reach out to the Pygmies in the forest. Their need is great and eternity is at stake. It was awesome to meet a pastor of such courage.

ONGOING BURDENS...
It seems that God may be speaking to me strongly about the Pygmies in the DRC and the Rape Victims. Derry seems to have an increased burden for the schooling of the Pygmies in Rwanda. Neither of us have a confirmation from the Lord, but will take some time in America to see if there are any next steps.

Pygmy boy

2010-04-17T06:28:00.000-06:00

A picture for my boy Trace to see. Trace gave some his clothes to the pygmies and this is one of the boys who recieved his blessing. Way to go little T.

-- Post From My iPhone

Flights....

2010-04-17T06:25:00.000-06:00

Matt, Derry, and I are hoping and praying that we can get home without any problems due to the volcano.
-- Post From My iPhone

Rape

2010-04-17T05:50:00.000-06:00

Rape is everywhere in the Congo. We met 15 victims who were seeking refuge in a prayer room. These women have been through a gauntlet of Hell and now sleep on a dirt floor, with a leaky tin roof, and with walls made out of tarps. Their stories were almost to painful to hear...
- one of them saw their entire family killed by rebels just two months ago
- most of them have been gang raped by rebels or goverment soldiers
- most of them have been labeled outcasts in society because of rape
- most of them were abandoned by their husbands
- many of them have gotten pregnant or have HIV as a result of rape
- despite their past, their abandonment and horrible living conditions, they have found hope and joy in Christ.

We were able to buy each of the women a mattress and I was amazed that for only $50-$100/mo we could provide these women with an adequate shelter to live in. Not sure where God is going to take this but what an opportunity to make a difference.

-- Post From My iPhone

Kenya Update

2010-04-10T05:10:00.002-06:00

Things actually all gone as planned in Kenya...I think that is a first. Unfortunatley I can't upload video yet to let you see what is happening so you will have to settle for some bullet points. Here is the lowdown:

Day One
- Matt Maloney from Michigan and two Maasai Leaders met me in Nairobi

Day Two
- We met a blind missionary who started his own international ministry...VERY INSPIRING
- We did a Maasai Strategy Conference with Maasai Leaders in Maasailand
- We gave each Maasai Leader a Visual Strategy book to help them share the strategy with others
- We dreamed with Maasai Leaders about starting an Unusual Soldiers Basecamp in a central Maasai meeting place.
- Matt and I slept in a hut and noticed a fist sized spider crawling near Matt' pillow...Matt survived, but the spider died : )

Day Three
- We met Derry and his youth group (from Indiana) in a nearby town
- We took them to Maasailand in an area that had just performed a circumsicion ceremony
- Derry and many others shared stories of inspiration
- The youth group did some powerful dramas and testimonies
- I got to minister to some Maasai warriors hiding from the crownds in the bush!
- This was a great day becuz Derry's youth group played a significant behind the scenenes role in the Maasai project, and now they got to meet the Maasai face to face.
- Matt Maloney and two Maasai men were prayed off as the went to scout and minister in Tanzania
- I got to stay in the Maasai village with the warriors, and the Youth went to Nairobi

Day Four
- I am back in Nairobi
- Looked at puchasing a mobilizer (Motorcycle) for the Maasai today
- I will be meeting up with Derry tonight
- Derry and I will be flying off to Rwanda tommorrow

Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers. Our journey instencifies this week so please pray that God's will be accomplished!

Phone test

2010-04-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is a test to see if I can write a post from my phone to my blog.

-- Post From My iPhone

Soldiers...not Students

2010-03-02T09:29:00.005-07:00

As I spoke at a monthly youth gathering in Nepal. I quickly learned that it was not what I had anticipated. These were not your typical "students" these were "soldiers." I think the picture tells it all.

HOPE FOR HAITI

2010-03-01T09:48:00.002-07:00

Was it Dangerous?

2010-02-25T08:02:00.003-07:00

"Was it Dangerous?" I have gotten that question from a few of my prayer partners and wanted to update people in regards to the dangers of my last trip.

Three Strikes
While I was there we encountered three strikes. One of the strikes was over people wanting land, another was a communist group with a political agenda, and the third was a group of workers at a border crossing.

During the communist strike in Nepal no vehicles were aloud to use the major road. This forced us to rent a rickshaw (three wheeled bicycle) for 8 km. By the time we got to the strike zone the people had cleared and only the stones across the road remained.

When I was on my way back to India another strike erupted at the border crossing. Our vehicle was surrounded by a mob of people who were upset and yelling because of some type of nut they were trying to import. Despite all of the yelling the people finally came to an agreement and opened the bridge again.

The Closed Region
Maybe I was just naive, but I don't know if I had ever felt safer than the week that I spent in the closed region. I met with four house churches and even got to share my faith with a few unbelievers who were very interested in the gospel.

This area is slowly opening up to the gospel, but sharing your faith and building churches is still punishable by prison. In the past some Christians were put into a dark underground prison for 5 to 7 years. It was said that when prisoners were released that they would often be blind. I spoke to one man who actually came to Christ in prison due to his fellow Christian inmates. So it appears that not even prison is stopping these beleivers that are fully surrendered to Christ.

God is doing a great work in this area and I am currently strategizing with a team o on how we can 'up the octane' on this movement next year. It appears to be evident that 'now is the time.'

The Brothel
It was a little intimidating for my team to go into a walled in Brothel to interview street workers, but we went for it. My translator said that the people in red light districts have a reputation for grabbing bags and running, but we fund no "thieves" there. As we interacted with some street workers we invited them to join us for tea outside of the Brothel. However, there was a man and a woman there who must have thought that we were bad for their business and asked us to leave. They said that if we weren't there for business then we needed to go.

For our short time there we couldn't hope but notice that many of the girls with in the walls of the Brothel were teenagers. They seemed to have a mask on, were very closed, and never revealed any of their personal stories to us. It is believed that many of the girls in this Brothel had either been kidnapped or tricked into doing this profession and are now trapped. I have a gut feeling that with God's help I will be back and hopefully have a better plan of how to get these girls to open up.

Real Heroes

2010-02-24T10:22:00.005-07:00

I was sent links to this gripping video twice today. It is often passworded on different websites due to its graphic nature but none the less it is worth watching if you can stomach it.

After getting back from a region near Orissa this video has only spurred me on more with high hopes to return and assist the people in advancing the Kingdom. These truly are the types of places where the real spiritual heroes roam.

Images of religious practices and idols in Asia

2010-02-24T09:18:00.014-07:00

The Leperosy Colony

2010-02-22T09:35:00.004-07:00

Before Kaiya was born it was on my heart to dedicate her to the Lord in a place of ministry that closely related to that of Mother Theresa.

When God opened the door for my team to go to a small Leprosy colony on the side of a road...I was excited. They were a beautiful people with radiant smiles, missing fingers, and tragic stories. One teenager shared how he had recently lost both his parents to the disease, another man shared how he could still walk but now he could no longer feel his legs.

Perhaps the one I was most drawn to was the mother with one of her sons locked to the wall. We learned that the boy's father had leprosy and was on the street begging. As we interacted with the family I felt like we should pray for him. The mother granted us permission, and then a conflict of emotions began to war up inside of me. I wanted to pray for him, but could I touch him when I prayed for him. I couldn't believe that those thoughts even entered my mind. I have always been a risk taker, but this felt different. I was afraid. What if I got this disease, what if my kids did,...etc. It was at that moment that I remembered a passage I had read earlier that day. Jesus not only held lepers but he touched them. So we laid our hands on the boy as he wildly began to grab for my face and glasses as we prayed. When we finished praying. The war continued as I got out my hand sanitizer after leaving the colony. It was a surreal encounter. I have always "preached" that we need to reach out to the untouchables, but I actually think that was the first time that I had actually done it. It was a humbling experience, one that reminded me that I still have a ways to go to be like Jesus.

I hope that one day Kaiya can teach her Daddy how to better love the untouchables.

Quick Update from Asia Trip

2010-02-22T08:43:00.014-07:00

I got back from a scouting trip to Asia last week. It was a great trip and very different than any trip that I had been on before. There were people without Christ in every direction I looked. My heart couldn't help but be burdened. My main objective was to take in as much information as possible, and then process with the local believers on what we can do to help them fuel a movement into reaching dark unreached areas near them in the future. We are hoping to have a strategy in place by March.

I had the privilege of ministering at over twenty "venues". The venues ranged from nearly eight hundred people at a conference to one unbeliever in a hotel room, from church buildings to underground cell churches, from kids to Christian leaders, and from remote villages to inner city brothels.

I am excited about the connections that have been made and am anticipacting great things in the days ahead. I will be blogging more about the major takeaways of the trip throughout this week.

COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG

2010-02-22T08:38:00.006-07:00

Its been awhile since I last blogged. I will be updating my last trip soon and will try to be more consistant at bloggling in the future (weekly). I have been getting alot of spam comments on this blog so I readjusted the comment settings to filter the "spammers". If you wish to leave a comment you should be able to do it via facebook.

Merry Christmas from the Bislows

2009-12-22T10:08:00.002-07:00

Here is a little reminder of the reason for the Season from the TPV (Trace Paraphrased Version).

The Chase "Part Two"

2009-12-22T09:49:00.001-07:00

Great Short Film

2009-10-27T09:25:00.002-07:00

Great Short Video...very powerful and worth the full twenty minutes.

MESSAGES FROM THE DREAM TOUR

2009-10-10T10:55:00.004-06:00

The Dream Tour continues as I will be speaking at some area churches near our home in Nebraska. Our main message of "Raising up Unusual Soldiers Worldwide" will be on itunes soon, however you can find a couple other messages that were spoken below at a couple churches.

13th FLOOR MESSAGE
Hebrews 13:13
Colonial Woods Missionary Church
Mission stories include: Rob Zombie Concert, Forbidden Tribe, Alternative Bar, Detroit Bar
Click HERE for the video message

MAASAI PROJECT - how a vision of a boy led to a movement in a nation
Acts 2
Wakarusa Missionary Church
Includes the mission story of what happened in Maasailand during the Exodus and beyond
Click HERE for the audio message
Select the sermons link under the media link

Earthquake in Vanuatu

2009-10-08T12:08:00.001-06:00

Please remember our friends from Vanuatu in your prayers

Maasai Drought

2009-08-24T21:44:00.002-06:00

The Maasai are seriously hurting and in need of their drought to end. Here is a video I found on Moses (MaasaI) facebook account. When there cattle die so does their income.

BEFORE and AFTER

2009-08-24T13:35:00.002-06:00

A must watch before signing up to go with me on an Unusual Soldiers Trip

PYGMY CHURCH PLANT BREAKING BARRIERS

2009-08-24T08:37:00.001-06:00

John Piper preaching his guts out!

2009-07-27T08:12:00.001-06:00

Last scripture he guotes is Hebrews 13:13...my life verse.

EIGHT YEARS OLD

2009-07-22T14:37:00.002-06:00

This is a video I put together to wake us up to some of the pain and suffering that took place in Rwanda.

RISK EVERYTHING CAMP

2009-07-21T09:01:00.003-06:00

Risk Everything Camp was a great camp and the theme was PERFECT! I go to alot of camps where they have a theme and then my job is to try to mold my messages into it. This Camp however did it different. They discovered my passions and molded the their theme around my boiling points. Which resulted in the words "UNUSUAL SOLDIERS", "RISK EVERYTHING", AND "EXTREME" being a part of the daily language. Needless to say that this got me 'AMPED'.

Many of the students left with a dream to change their world. It is my only hope that they put feet to their words and go for it. On Thursday night the Camp put me in a prayer station called the "Commissioning Station." I got the awesome privilige to pray over many students. This was like icing on the cake for me. Rarely... do I get to hear what students are processing and dreaming about, but at this camp I got to pray for numerous that felt called to venture out.

Here is a video a student made directly after Camp in attempts to raise up an army of Unusual Soldiers in his school. I got quite a kick out of the Unusual Soldier in the video game portion. It reminds me of all the talk we do as Christians without ever really going for it. May this be our reminder to go for it.

Rwanda Exodus Recap Video

2009-07-07T11:20:00.001-06:00

Genocide Hell (reader discretion advised)

2009-07-03T10:31:00.007-06:00

I walked by thousands of cracked skulls in Rwanda. My mind raced as I gazed at the skulls knowing that every skull had a tragic story. Some were parents. Some were children. Some were babies. Some had suffered horrible beatings. Some had been raped by the rebels. Some had their limbs severed. Some were set on fire. Whoever they were they had all suffered and died due to the Genocide Hell that took place in Rwanda 15 years ago. A Hell that lasted 100 days and took the live of 1 million people while the rest of the world turned its head away and did nothing to intervene.

This is a story about 15 of those skulls
A man named Charles welcomed us as we entered an old Catholic Church. During the genocide many had fled to this church hoping that it would be a place of safety. 20,000 Tutsi crammed into this building with one thing on their mind, SURVIVAL. Unfortunately only seven of them survived the Hell that was unleashed on them. The clothes of the 20,000 victims were left in the church as a memorial reminder of what had taken place there. I couldn't help but wander if Charles was just a tour guide or if he had actually witnessed this massacre.

Charles later opened up to us and told us that he was in the church with 15 of his relatives when the rebels broke into the building with grenades. When the church got word that the rebels were coming. His mother gathered the family and said that it would be best for each of them to separate themselves to increase the odds of survival. Charles' older brother told him that when people are killed that their blood would flow to towards the front of the church and that it would be best for him to lie down in the blood if he was going to survive.

The rebels surrounded the church and broke into a small room with grenades. The room was the same one in which his mother was hiding. Charles saw the rebels take her life. The men then began their rampage slaughter. They were killing ruthlessly. They began to line people up in the back of the church. They cut off limbs and began to wave them high in the air as an act of saying 'goodbye your all going to die' to everyone. They also began to decapitate individuals as a spectacle for all the survivors to see. They would then throw the decapitated heads of the victims into the crowd of youth while shouting, "Who wants to play football?". They cut babies from the wombs of women and swung children by the feet crushing their heads against the wall to kill them. They declared that the Tutsi tribe were nothin more than rats and cockroaches as a means to justify their actions. They mocked, the slaughtered, they raped, they killed.

Charles continued to lay in a puddle of blood and witnessed the slaughter of his entire family. The only exception being his older brother. His brother was also playing dead at the front of the church. However, Charles' brother decided to move closer to Charles when the guards weren't looking. But a killer saw him move and took his life right in front of Charles.

For three days and three night Charles laid in that puddle of blood. During one of the nights Charles snuck out of the building and ran to the swamps. Only seven out of the 20,000 people survived. All 15 of his relatives died. He was now an orphan. He was only eight years old.

Charles doesn't not know why God chose him, but he feels that his story needs to be told as an attempt to make Genocide History...forever.

I purposely left the story graphic so that readers would know the extent of the horrible things that happen in our world...TODAY. We can't live as if we don't know this stuff exist and if we don't know this stuff exist we must become aware. The world is so full of NEEDS and so many of us live in a life of WANTS. What if all we WANTED was meet the NEEDS of the World. Imagine the impact we could have. May God propel us to action to be the love of Christ and to proclaim the life saving grace of Jesus to all.

GENOCIDE TODAY

Rwanda Greatest Hits

2009-07-03T09:46:00.003-06:00

1. 25 Muslims
25 Muslim women gave their hearts to Christ at one of the cinemas. A Muslim man was very upset that they would do such a thing and verbally scolded them. Despite the man's anger the women showed up to the church plant the next day without their head coverings signifying that they had chosen a new way of life. Please remember these women in your prayers. Their level of commitment will undeniably cause and uproar of animosity in their homes and possibly in their families.

2. Roadside Church
Our vehicles had numerous breakdowns. From overheating to dead batteries it seemed the enemy was doing all he could to stop us. During one of these breakdowns we decided to use it for the good of God's kingdom and began to witness walking by our vehicle. Before we knew it nearly 25 people had gathered. Numerous received Christ and said that they desperatly wanted a church in their area. A pastor that was with us committed to disciple these new believers at a location of their choice every week. They were given an solar powered audio Bible and three of the new believers committed to oversee the gathering to make sure that the beginnings of this church would be a success.

3. 10 minutes
We were preparing to to a Cinema at a new location and preparing to share the gospel with a group that had gathered. As I was preparing I felt nudged to turn the opportunity over to Dustin. Dustin seized the moment and depended on the Holy Spirit for words. God moved and numerous received Christ. From that day forward Dustin seemed to have unleashed a new found confidence in Christ.

4. Africa Time is a Myth
It is known that in Africa everything always starts and hour after the projected starting time. We had invited new believers to a church service at 8am. However on the day of the service we awoke to worship music before sunrise. When we finally got up at 7am we were surprised to see that new believers had already gathered for the church service. They were an hour early and eagerly anticipating the service which is unheard of in Africa. We had an amazing time of worship and discipleship with this group that seemed gripped to grow in Christ.

5. Undignified
We stepped into a small house only to find it crammed with people worshiping at the top of their lungs. To an outsider it may have looked like a "keg party". People were crammed in this little room, shouting, singing, smiling,and dancing wildly throughout the room. But it was not alcohol that caused them to dance without dignity...it was Jesus, the ultimate high.

6. Vision becomes a Reality
On the way to the airport my ministry partner Dustin had a vision of three people receiving Christ with their hands held high in the air. Instead of sharing the vision with me he drew it in his journal. At the last place we did the Cinema I invited people to come forward and to kneel before Christ their new found King and humbly surrender their lives to him. Many came forward, but as Dustin gazed at the crown three of them side by side held their hands high to the Lord as an act of surrender. Dustin was amazed that what he had seen in a vision had become a reality.

RWANDA EXODUS 2009

2009-07-03T08:19:00.016-06:00

I am not sure where to begin or how to put this trip into words. Going into this trip my body was still weak, fatigued, and recouping from my previous trip. I felt empty from the get-go, but Hebrews reminded me that when I am are weakest, He is strongest. So I will boast in His strength, His power, His greatness, fully realizing that it was Him that lit a fresh fire in the forgotten parts of Rwanda.

BASIC ATTACK PLAN:
1. Gather 26 armies together in the capital city of Rwanda(2-3 key leaders)
2. Train them in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting
3. Send them out to their remote locations
4. Show cinema to the new community and preach the gospel
5. Invite people to a church service the following day
6. Pastor remains in the area and announces the birth of the new church

THE ARMY

THE MISSION

NEW CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS

I have hesitated to mention the "numbers" of this trip but my wife reminded me that each number is a person, a soul, a life, and that is worth mentioning. However a trademark of Unusual Soldiers is not to be a "BIG FISH" story teller, aka an exaggerator. So I have tamed down some of the statistics to maintain integrity and project numbers that Dustin and I felt were reasonable and true.

NUMBERS
26 teams met in Kigali for training
26 teams were sent out
100 Proclaimers for our mission were donated by Campus Crusade (a $10,000 value)
1 apostolic church planter was in each group
26 groups were divided into 9 zones of Rwanda
26+ Jesus films were promoted and watched in remote and forgotten areas of Rwanda
1,000 to 5,000 people showed up at each remote site
apx. 60,000 people watched the films 'The Passion of Christ' or the 'Jesus film.'
apx. 30,000 people committed their lives to Christ at the cinemas
1 church was started the day following each cinema (25 churches in all)
1 church was started spontaneously due to a car breakdown

'Greatest Hits' and 'Lowest Moments' coming soon...

RWANDA PRAYER INFORMATION

2009-06-08T09:49:00.016-06:00

Caleb will be heading out to Rwanda with another guy from the US (Dustin) on Sunday. Joseph, a man Caleb met last summer in Sudan, has been planning an exodus to reach the most remote regions in Rwanda with the gospel. It will be the first time in the history of Rwanda that anything has ever been done like this. It will be an 'upgraded' version of what happened in Kenya a year ago with the Maasai. Please pray for a harvest of souls for the Kingdom and an effective discipleship strategy to be infiltrated. Joseph is believing that this exodus of radicals could touch thousands. So please join us in prayer and fasting that it does. Here is a list of things to pray for as well as some videos to increase your burden for the people of this nation.

Pray for:
1. The 25 teams to fully embrace the vision of reaching the unreached, making disciples, planting churches
2. The teams to be have a deep sense of unity
3. The safety of the 25 teams as some of them endeavor to reach places they have never been
4. That Gods will...will be done. Our small team will be endeavoring to reach out to the Pygmy tribe and DRC Refugees in the mountains of north east Rwanda
5. That the teams will be spirit led in all that they do
6. That the teams will embrace a deep burden for the lost in their country
7. That God will be Glorified in this endeavor
8. That the enemies plans of attack would fail
9. That vehicles would successfully reach their locations
10. That the effects of this Exodus would spark a disciple-making movement throughout the upcoming years.
11. That a country that has lost trust in pastors (due to their involvement in genocide) will know that there i hope and that Jesus never failed them
12. That the people of Rwanda would know that they are loved and that their pain has not been forgotten

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

FORBIDDEN VILLAGE TRILOGY

2009-06-07T11:24:00.008-06:00

Alright this is the last of the videos. These videos are very raw and unprofessional but hopefully they will give our ministry partners a sense of joining us on our God venture.

Its time for me to get focused on Rwanda (I leave this weekend already). Thanks so much for remembering this trip in your prayers. In Christ and through prayer barriers can be broken! God surely broke through an "unbreakable" place in Vanuatu and plans are already being made for next steps. We have a gut feeling that our scouting trip was only the beginning of great things to come. More to come in the days ahead...

FORBIDDEN TRIBE (PART ONE)

FORBIDDEN TRIBE (PART TWO)

FORBIDDEN VILLAGE (PREQUEL)

WRECKED

2009-06-06T01:07:00.002-06:00

The Forbidden Tribe (part one)

2009-06-03T14:08:00.006-06:00

While we were on the island we told people that our hearts were broken for the unreached and throughout a series of conversations they told us about a forbidden tribe. A Bunlap village that wanted nothing to do with Christianity. The chief warned Christians and missionaries to stay away and had previously burned every Bible that was given to the tribe. The more people talked against this tribe the more our hearts sensed that God had commissioned us to go forward to them.

Finding a translator was easy, but finding a translator that would go with us to this group of Bunlap was very difficult. One of our key men even backed out on our day of departure due to the Chief's desire for us to stay away. After reading Acts 5 one morning we all knew that God was the supreme authority and that we must obey Him above all.

Back to Reality

2009-06-03T11:24:00.003-06:00

Well I have been back to Nebraska for the past three days and it is taking a while to get readjusted. God amazed us in unexpected ways in Vanuatu and I will try to update readers as much as I can this week with the highlights. I am inbetween trips and have an Exodus in Rwanda in a few days so I will do my best to get some updates up. Thanks for praying.

Here are some posts you might be seeing from our trip:
One way ticket to an island in the Pacific
The Real Stranded
Entering the Forbidden Tribe
Led by the Spirit
The BREAKTHROUGH
Kicked out of a Village
New Zealand's K street (sin center)
and more...

Vanuatu: GO TIME

2009-05-11T08:55:00.004-06:00

We are headed off to Vanuatu soon. The team arrives in Nebraska tonight. We will do some training tomorrow and then head to Denver and fly out on Thursday. One of our guys got real sick last week and the doctors even thought that he had the swine flu at first, but it turned out to be Strep Throat. We are excited to scout the land for the King and see what God has in store for us.

This is one of the regions we will be scouting:

May God go before us. Our prayer letter will be sent out soon and will also be posted on this site.

STRANDED JULY 24-30th

2009-04-30T19:47:00.001-06:00

Application information coming to www.unusualsoldiers.com soon.

STRANDED strikes BACK

2009-04-22T08:54:00.005-06:00

STRANDED, the entry level 'Unusual Soldiers' training camp, is coming back this summer the end of July for 3 to 10 more students (age 18 to 25ish) eager to make an impact on the world. Join this facebook cause if you would like to be kept up to date on the details and keep an eye on www.unusualsoldiers.com for details that should be posted under ventures this Friday.

The last group took on the week like soldiers. Time will only tell how the next group will hold up.

STRANDED HIGHLIGHT
Mickey, one of the students said that he came to Stranded because he had cruel friends. The outdoors was by far not his favorite thing and by the end of the first night he said that he was ready to go home and that really wanted to punch me in the face. I was honored by his comment because I assumed that meant I was doing something right. The night was full of shivering, headaches, and exhaustion. After his breaking point he was forced into a leadership position at 3am. The fate of the team would be determined by his leadership in the midst of his frustrations. He did it. For the next 45 minutes he led the team with excellence. Throughout the rest of the week we saw him attempt things that he had never done before with confidence. As the week went on it was amazing to watch his courage grow in Christ as well. By the end of the week he even joked about wanting to move to Nebraska.

So what kind of trials did Mickey go through? There is only one way to find out. Join us.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

2009-04-16T15:53:00.003-06:00

This stuff is happening all over the world!