Don't Be Lukewarm

Hello from Turkey! (Next up UK) Alejandra and I very much enjoyed our time out here in what used to be Asia Minor, and it was so awesome to walk some of the same streets as the first disciples, and try to get a feel for what the early church looked like.

In Celçuk we actually did meet up with some Turkish disciples of Jesus at a Christian camp - and it was especially fun to connect with good friends Gary and Linda Kirst, and listen to Dr. Kirst's exposition of selected Scriptures from the New Testament pertaining to the early Ephesian church that would have met just a couple miles from where we were staying.

Obviously, we had to check out all the ruins from this city where Paul spent about 3 years pastoring, followed by Timothy, and later perhaps even John.

Next, Alejandra and I drove out to Laodicea with my old college roomate Michael where we walked around in the lukewarm pools of Pamukkale.

Pamukkale means "cotton castle" in Turkish, and that's exactly what this place looks like, as mineral-rich waters have dripped down the mountainside for thousands of years, forming a shimmering white colored travertine limestone surface that looks like snow.

Just about 7 miles away, on another mountain lies the ancient city of Laodicea, and it was to the church in this wealthy metropolis that John penned the words of Jesus telling them, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:15-17).

It was so amazing to feel the pages of the Bible jump out at us as we could see the white terrace pools of lukewarm water that we had just been in, from the very location where the Laodicean church used to meet...

You can just imagine how tremendous that message would have been to hear back then; and so I stood in what is considered the ancient Laodicean chapel of that city, and Alejandra took a picture of me as if I was preaching on that very passage 2000 years ago.

Even though being moderate at times is very important, when it comes to following Jesus - it's all or nothing. It's foolish to depend on your wealth and live for comfort if at any moment your life can be demanded from you (Luke 12:16-21).

...Just before traveling to Turkey, I decided to go help in the aftermath of the earthquake that took place in Morocco about a month ago...

None of the beautiful people that I met and befriended out in the village of Imeghlad could have known that when they went to bed on September 8th, some of their friends or family members would have their roofs cave in on top of them, and they would never wake up.

...And what happened in Morocco isn't even close to the devastation that took place here in Turkey on the 6th of February. Or what about the earthquake in Afghanistan or the flooding in Libya or the war in Israel? ...Don't think that all the people of these suffering nations are any worse sinners than we are... In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus talked about a couple terrible things that were happening in his own time, and he told his listeners that unless we repent - we too will all perish.

...Part of the rest of the passage in Revelation 3 says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" (v.19-20).

Both in Ephesus as well as in Laodicea, Alejandra and I could see indications of houses that were inhabited by Christians well into the Byzantine period.

May countries like Turkey and Morocco be transformed by the power of the gospel so that millions of its citizens may be victorious, and sit on the throne along with Jesus (Revelation 3:21).

Sam and Alejandra

Discipling Others

Hi - Alejandra and I compliment each other a lot in ministry, and it's interesting that while we're both very intentional in discipling others, our methods are a little different.

Ále is really good at using booklets and pens and pencils where people have to look up Bible verses and answer questions as they discover indispensable truths about Jesus in the Bible, and little by little start comprehending the gospel and what Christianity is all about. It has a little more of an academic feel to it, but it's always done in a safe environment that is conducive for her friends to ask questions and be honest about what they think and feel... Even though I get restless in this type of set-up, I find it so fascinating how everyone loves learning from Alejandra, and how she can captivate everyone with her teaching, while keeping them so focussed and attentive.

I, on the other hand, just like running around with my friends and talking with them about spiritual things as they find their way into our conversations. I like reading whole passages from the Bible with them, and explaining what they mean, and I like sharing the gospel to random people I interact with on the street, as my younger believer friends are there with me, soaking up the experience, and contributing in any way that they can.

A while back I posted this picture on social media where I put as the caption that, "The 3rd wheel in Colombia is known as the violinist, but in Christianity it's known as discipleship." That's kind of true, and especially this guy (Cristian is his name) has been a joy to disciple.

Just this last Sunday my friend Duvan and I (who is a little further along in his faith but whom I've also been discipling), baptized Cristian in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and it's as if he's on fire, man. We've seen him grow so much in such a short amount of time, and it's like he wants to tell everyone about what Jesus has done for him (Mark 5:19).

The coolest part about it is that now Duvan and Cristian are discipling their own friends, and inviting them over to church to eat and talk and read the Bible together, just as it should be (2 Timothy 2:2).

In a couple weeks our church in Duitama is going to send both of these guys to Cucuta to help the church there for a while, and our prayer is that they would flee from controversies and quarrels and from the love of money; and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:3-11).

May all of us, who have been baptized in the name of Christ, "Fight the good fight of the faith, and take hold of the eternal life to which we were called when we made our good profession in the presence of many witnesses" (v.12). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On my birthday this month (September 26) Alejandra and I are hoping to travel to Turkey to visit a couple friends that have been instrumental in discipling me in my own life

And once we're across the pond - for our 3rd year anniversary (October 12) we'd like to visit Scotland and the Faroes to visit with a couple more friends that have likewise mentored and discipled me, even though our time together has been too short... Ever since Alejandra and I got married, I've always wanted to take my bride with me out to these amazing islands out there on the other side of the Atlantic... Maybe this is our best chance to go for it!

Who have you been discipling recently? Who is discipling you? ...Alejandra and I would love to know how you're doing and how we can pray for you. Thanks for praying for us, Sam and Alejandra Killins

Church is Home

Hello dear friends! Back in March Alejandra and I made the tough decision to give back our apartment to its landlord so we could invest more of our resources in the church in Cucuta. For one whole year we really enjoyed that place, and it was fun to host people and share the gospel to our neighbors, and look out at the beautiful view of the mountains.

The picture above was taken the last day we hosted some of our friends there, and it was wonderful to just sit around after the meal that evening and drink coffee, as we shared our lives as couples, and prayed for one another in the different challenges we were facing.

We still get together to eat and pray with our friends whenever we get a chance, but now we do it in restaurants or in the church building, where Alejandra and I currently live.

Inversely, the church in Cucuta always used to meet in restaurants and conference rooms, but now we have our own little building where we can pray and worship and study the Scriptures and break bread together, as we linger over the person of Christ, and share our love.

Sometimes Alejandra and I wish we could be in multiple places at the same time so we could visit (and live in) various churches at once, but we just can't.

In a way that's good though, because it forces us to work as a team with other friends to build up the churches that God has entrusted us with... That's the way it's supposed to work anyway, right? Just as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, when he clarified that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth... That neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Especially the Refuge Church in Cucuta is the one that needs the most growth, but which has the fewest number of people who are able or willing to visit it and preach.

Well... I take that back. There are actually two couples who I (Sam) had the privilege of marrying that Alejandra and I trust and cherish a lot. One of those couples is Juan Pablo and Valentina who are from the church in Duitama but are currently in Cucuta encouraging the church there, as they simultaneously work online.

This last Friday before they left we put on a missions meeting in Duitama to pray for them and collect an offering to help them on their way (3 John 6-8).

Then, in a couple weeks Alejandra and I are going to travel with another couple who are teachers at an American school in Bogota (and who are part of the Parkway church there in the capital), to pick up where Juan Pa and Vale will leave off.

I know that a lot of you can't so easily just jump on a plane and serve in either one of these cities to asisst in the strengthening of these churches (though if you can and want to let's definitely talk!), but maybe you can give financially a little, if you like, to support Alejandra's and my life and ministry.

If that's the case, just follow the instructions on the Christian Missions in Many Lands website www.cmml.us/waystogive designating the gift to Sam and Alejandra Killins, or follow the "Support" link on our CMML missions profile site: www.cmml.us/m/702

Thank you so much!!!