Coming down our street recently, we noticed a sign in front of our driveway indicating a detour ahead. The arrow seemed to literally point to our house.
It seemed a telling image of our status: detour home. But detours are only temporary and just mean you have to go a different direction for a short while. For a missionary family, this grounding is hard because we are so ready to get back on the field, but we are using this time wisely and still doing ministry virtually as we connect with others all across the world.
Maybe this whole thing is a Divine Detour! I say this because it’s been amazing the amount of people via Zoom, Facebook Live, and other types of conference calls that we have been able to interact with and pray for. For example, a recent Facebook Live I did with a local house of prayer as of today received 800-plus views.
The whole world has been affected by the coronavirus; it has shifted many lives, ours included. First Thessalonians 5:17 reminds believers to pray without ceasing. As intercessors, we take this admonishment seriously. While we have had to adjust our travel plans, our “detour to home” has not changed our hearts! Our calling to be missionaries of prayer has only increased. Our mission is the same: Fords on a Mission is an ordinary family pursuing an extraordinary calling. As a family of five, we are choosing a life of radical obedience. Our passion is to see God glorified in Nashville and points beyond through prayer, worship, and evangelism.
Here is a little of what we’ve been up to before the mandatory Safer at Home measures started here in Tennessee.
We’ve had a great three months of walking out our calling as missionaries of prayer and followers after Jesus. We got to preach, pray, and encourage people from the church seats to the city streets and connect with various leaders throughout America and the nations. Jason preached at our local church, we both led Bible study groups, and Jason helped lead a regional ministry luncheon, as well as lead prayer at various locations. The family all prayer-walked our state capital in partnership with a long standing prayer ministry called Governmental Prayer Alliance, and Jason led prayer at a house of prayer and on various prayer calls. Jason was on a radio program where his voice was heard online and throughout a couple states. We have also traveled throughout Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Jason led prayer at GAP House of Prayer for the Collegiate Day of Prayer and also had the joy of watching 500-plus leaders come together after a month of prayer and fasting for people in our city. One of our greatest joys this quarter was assembling a prayer team to cover the kick-off of a 30-day prayer and fasting initiative called Awaken Nashville. Church unity is on the rise! Jason even got to meet with some ministry friends at Nissian Stadium where the Titans play to dream about a stadium gathering.
At the end of February, the family traveled to South Carolina on a ministry trip praying through the land, as well as sharing at a local church. The people there are so hungry for God!
Shortly after our South Carolina trip, the tornado hit Nashville. In the aftermath, we were able to volunteer to clear debris, purchase donations, and assemble resource bags for displaced individuals . Nashville’s recovery has been slowed due to the virus, but the Nashville spirit remains strong!
So what does the future hold for Fords on a Mission? Currently Jason is staying involved with local and national prayer initiatives by using technology, which has allowed us to stay connected in prayer with the Body of Christ. Some days we spend three or four hours a day joining virtual prayer meetings using technology. Jason has had the privilege to join local, regional, and national leaders as we all process what is going on and pray. It has also been amazing to see how open people are to listening to and receiving prayer. People are afraid, but as believers we can offer them hope and peace in Jesus!
Amy and the kids have continued their school year, adjusting in order to stay home. We are thankful that we fit a few good field trips and friend visits before the lockdown. We are trying to find ways to encourage others and be as helpful as possible during this time.
Concerning our travels and outreach, we still have big plans of a cross-country prayer trip, a season in Washington, DC, serving our local church and local outreaches as well as our big Bonnaroo outreach, which has now been moved to September. Bottom line is that we will continue doing everything God calls us to do. So our mission continues; we will all get through this! If you’re a believer, it is time to shine and be a source of comfort and healing to those around. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus! We will carry on!
Thanks so much to our ministry partners who pray and support us financially! Without you guys we couldn’t do what we do!
Fords on a Mission 