Todd Corbin |
Ministry Essentials | Orlando, Florida |
|
April 10, 2020
Hello Friend! We hope you are safe and healthy in these troubled times we are currently living in. We wanted to send you an update on what is going on with our TCK ministry; our family; and how this pandemic is affecting us. We hope you'll take a couple of minutes to read through this letter so you know better how to pray for us. May God meet you in this time as we wait upon Him together.
With Love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
Hello Friend! We hope you are safe and healthy in these troubled times we are currently living in. We wanted to send you an update on what is going on with our TCK ministry; our family; and how this pandemic is affecting us. We hope you'll take a couple of minutes to read through this letter so you know better how to pray for us. May God meet you in this time as we wait upon Him together.
With Love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
| april_reduced.pdf |
March 27, 2020
Hi ministry partner and teammate! We hope you and yours are safe during this very troubled time. It makes you wonder what God is doing with all this, doesn't it? One of my co-workers said, "It is like God is doing a total reset for the entire world." It's scary, but also I am encouraged to know that none of this took Him by surprise, and He holds you and me in the palm of His hand. I just want you to know that I pray for you by name ever second weekday of every week when I am not traveling. And, for the foreseeable future, I won't be traveling. :-) So, know that you are getting prayed for 2-3 times per week down here. So, if you have anything specific you would like me to add to my prayer list for you, please don't hesitate to let me know.
I wanted to attach a letter for you from the president and founder of Ministry Essentials, David Shepherd. He wanted to address all of our ministry partners to give you some perspective on how Ministry Essentials is responding to this crisis. The letter is only one page. So, could you just take a minute to open the attachment and read what he had to say? I would be very grateful.
Thanks again for standing with us. You are a vital part of what we do, and also you are dear to our hearts.
With love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
Hi ministry partner and teammate! We hope you and yours are safe during this very troubled time. It makes you wonder what God is doing with all this, doesn't it? One of my co-workers said, "It is like God is doing a total reset for the entire world." It's scary, but also I am encouraged to know that none of this took Him by surprise, and He holds you and me in the palm of His hand. I just want you to know that I pray for you by name ever second weekday of every week when I am not traveling. And, for the foreseeable future, I won't be traveling. :-) So, know that you are getting prayed for 2-3 times per week down here. So, if you have anything specific you would like me to add to my prayer list for you, please don't hesitate to let me know.
I wanted to attach a letter for you from the president and founder of Ministry Essentials, David Shepherd. He wanted to address all of our ministry partners to give you some perspective on how Ministry Essentials is responding to this crisis. The letter is only one page. So, could you just take a minute to open the attachment and read what he had to say? I would be very grateful.
Thanks again for standing with us. You are a vital part of what we do, and also you are dear to our hearts.
With love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
| covid-19_donor_update_03.2020.pdf |
March 23, 2020
Hi Friend! First of all, I am so very sorry that after sending out two messages a few weeks ago asking for urgent prayer for my health and the health of so many who were at the conference where I worked, I failed to give you an update as to how I am now doing as well as the conference overall. Please forgive me. Several of you wrote in the past week asking how I was doing, and I am so grateful for your concern. It became obvious to me that I should have written one more update to let you know the result of your prayers. I am embarrassed. There is no good excuse. I came home from the conference, and of course, the world went into a tailspin with all this virus stuff, and it just slipped my mind.
I am planning to get another quarterly newsletter out in the next week or so where I will talk more in depth about the conference and where things are headed with us. But let me just tell you that after I returned home from Europe, I went to the doctor and found out I had pneumonia. I was immediately put on an antibiotic and have completely recovered. But it wasn't easy traveling back here in the midst of all the virus panic, let me tell you. Every time I coughed even just a little, all around me would stop talking and look over at me. I kind of felt like I was the plague or a leper. I can laugh about it now, but at the time I found myself doing all I could to suppress a cough, and if I couldn't suppress it, I would do all I could to get in a bathroom on the plane where no one could hear me cough my guts out and blow my nose like there was no tomorrow.
Many who got sick at the conference had stomach issues--which I never had. As it turns out, it was food poisoning from the conference hotel. There meals were buffet style, so fortunately, I must not have chosen whatever food option that was there that was no good.
Anyway, thanks for praying for me and for all of us serving at that conference. As far as we know, no one who was there got the Corona virus. God did work in several lives at the conference, and we could truly sense your prayer cover. Thanks for your active part in walking beside us in this vital ministry to the teens and young adult children of these missionaries. You are a blessing to us and to them.
Love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
Hi Friend! First of all, I am so very sorry that after sending out two messages a few weeks ago asking for urgent prayer for my health and the health of so many who were at the conference where I worked, I failed to give you an update as to how I am now doing as well as the conference overall. Please forgive me. Several of you wrote in the past week asking how I was doing, and I am so grateful for your concern. It became obvious to me that I should have written one more update to let you know the result of your prayers. I am embarrassed. There is no good excuse. I came home from the conference, and of course, the world went into a tailspin with all this virus stuff, and it just slipped my mind.
I am planning to get another quarterly newsletter out in the next week or so where I will talk more in depth about the conference and where things are headed with us. But let me just tell you that after I returned home from Europe, I went to the doctor and found out I had pneumonia. I was immediately put on an antibiotic and have completely recovered. But it wasn't easy traveling back here in the midst of all the virus panic, let me tell you. Every time I coughed even just a little, all around me would stop talking and look over at me. I kind of felt like I was the plague or a leper. I can laugh about it now, but at the time I found myself doing all I could to suppress a cough, and if I couldn't suppress it, I would do all I could to get in a bathroom on the plane where no one could hear me cough my guts out and blow my nose like there was no tomorrow.
Many who got sick at the conference had stomach issues--which I never had. As it turns out, it was food poisoning from the conference hotel. There meals were buffet style, so fortunately, I must not have chosen whatever food option that was there that was no good.
Anyway, thanks for praying for me and for all of us serving at that conference. As far as we know, no one who was there got the Corona virus. God did work in several lives at the conference, and we could truly sense your prayer cover. Thanks for your active part in walking beside us in this vital ministry to the teens and young adult children of these missionaries. You are a blessing to us and to them.
Love,
Todd and Liana
Todd A Corbin
Ministry Essentials International TCK Mentor/Consultant
(407) 704-9061
February 26, 2020
Hello dear friends! I am currently in Hungary working at a large conference of missionary families. We have 70 teen missionary kids at this conference. Many of them look forward to this one event more than anything all year long. It is their one chance to see many of these other teens because they come from 23 different countries this year. Almost all of them are American young people, but all live somewhere in Europe and some other countries in areas where it is not safe to reveal--for their own protection.
Anyway, as you may know, whenever God has a work He wants to do, Satan will throw every single arrow he can to distract, defeat, discourage, etc. And friends, he is working fiercely, and this is only the 2nd full day of the conference. MANY in the conference are getting sick, including staff. Some of those who are sick are graduating high school seniors. This is their very last opportunity to come to this conference, and they are having to stay in bed. In the teen prgram, because it is such a large group, we can't afford to lose staff members for all the programs we have going. Already today, one is very sick, and we are scrambling to cover her stuff. There is also strong spiritual attack taking place in the minds of several of these teens. We had an incident yesterday that we are still working on and that could spiral in a bad direction. We have some teens who, before they even got here, were in very, very dark places in their lives and need holy intervention. These are serious problems, folks.
Will you please cover this conference with your prayers and ask God's Spirit to defeat Satan's armies that are so evident here? I know sometimes God allows this kind of stuff to remind us of how much we need Him. So, from that perspective, it is a good thing because it strongly reminded me this morning of this. But I also know that "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."
On behalf of these precious young people, their parents and all our staff here, please join us in defeating Satan's work.
Thank you so much.
Love,
Todd
Hello dear friends! I am currently in Hungary working at a large conference of missionary families. We have 70 teen missionary kids at this conference. Many of them look forward to this one event more than anything all year long. It is their one chance to see many of these other teens because they come from 23 different countries this year. Almost all of them are American young people, but all live somewhere in Europe and some other countries in areas where it is not safe to reveal--for their own protection.
Anyway, as you may know, whenever God has a work He wants to do, Satan will throw every single arrow he can to distract, defeat, discourage, etc. And friends, he is working fiercely, and this is only the 2nd full day of the conference. MANY in the conference are getting sick, including staff. Some of those who are sick are graduating high school seniors. This is their very last opportunity to come to this conference, and they are having to stay in bed. In the teen prgram, because it is such a large group, we can't afford to lose staff members for all the programs we have going. Already today, one is very sick, and we are scrambling to cover her stuff. There is also strong spiritual attack taking place in the minds of several of these teens. We had an incident yesterday that we are still working on and that could spiral in a bad direction. We have some teens who, before they even got here, were in very, very dark places in their lives and need holy intervention. These are serious problems, folks.
Will you please cover this conference with your prayers and ask God's Spirit to defeat Satan's armies that are so evident here? I know sometimes God allows this kind of stuff to remind us of how much we need Him. So, from that perspective, it is a good thing because it strongly reminded me this morning of this. But I also know that "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."
On behalf of these precious young people, their parents and all our staff here, please join us in defeating Satan's work.
Thank you so much.
Love,
Todd
December 24, 2019
| december_final_reduced.pdf |
October 24, 2019
| october_reduced.pdf |
June 29, 2019
| june_reduced.pdf |
April 3, 2019
| april.pdf |
December 28, 2018
| december.pdf |
September 19, 2018
| september_reduced.pdf |
June 30, 2018
| june.pdf |
March 2018
| march_reduced__1_.pdf |
December 2017
| december_2017_reduced.pdf |
October 25, 2017
Good morning, friend! FALL is here!! This is probably my favorite time of the year, although unfortunately, autumn in Florida never quite looks like this (but I can dream, can't I?) 😉. As the end of October is just around the corner, it is time for me to get another prayer update out to you. There are several things for me to bring you up to speed on.
MINISTRY UPDATE
In September, right after Hurricane Irma stormed through here, I flew up to the Midwest for a 13 day trip. On this trip I gave updates on the ministry to 2 of our supporting churches; met with 5 college TCK's; and had several one on one meetings to share about this work. Through this trip, I am praising God that He brought us 3 new supporting families! All in all, I drove over 2,600 miles on that trip through 8 states! For a guy who doesn't enjoy driving--especially alone--that's a lot, but...these TCK's and their families are worth it!
In October, I attended an excellent conference in North Carolina for people who care for missionaries and their families. And in 2 days I will be headed out west to attend another seminar. This one is on mental health and trauma. I am finding in this work that more and more TCK's are struggling with very deep issues. Any training and tools I can get to better counsel them is always very valuable. I will also be visiting several TCK's and more potential supporters. Please pray for safety; for God to enable me to absorb the information I am given in this seminar; and for Spirit-filled conversations with all.
FAMILY UPDATE
With Liana's ministry in the public school, there are bright spots and not so bright ones. She loves her class this year. God has given her such an incredible gift for teaching and loving these kids. They are like sponges soaking up her every word. She has also had some very encouraging words from some of the parents with whom she works. In her role as co-leader of the 3rd grade teachers, it hasn't been so rosy. We firmly believe God has put her in this role for a reason, but there are some long-standing issues in the team that continue to fester and occasionally show themselves. Pray for wisdom, grace, and patience as she deals with these issues and the people who like to stir things up.
Dylan is thriving in tech school, and is really enjoying helping out with the youth and children in our church. Honestly, we have not seen Dylan this happy in a very long time. One of the associate pastors in the church has kind of taken Dylan under his wing. This is a huge answer to prayer for us. We have prayed for something like this for both our boys for many years. Would you pray God would bring someone like this for Austin as well?
HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?
I think that's it. Thanks so much for standing with us in this ministry and for lifting us up before the Father. Please don't stop. We would like to do the same for you. Are there specific things we could lift up for you to our Heavenly Father?
We love you.
Todd and Liana Corbin
Todd's cell: 407-704-9061
Liana's cell: 407-704-9839
Good morning, friend! FALL is here!! This is probably my favorite time of the year, although unfortunately, autumn in Florida never quite looks like this (but I can dream, can't I?) 😉. As the end of October is just around the corner, it is time for me to get another prayer update out to you. There are several things for me to bring you up to speed on.
MINISTRY UPDATE
In September, right after Hurricane Irma stormed through here, I flew up to the Midwest for a 13 day trip. On this trip I gave updates on the ministry to 2 of our supporting churches; met with 5 college TCK's; and had several one on one meetings to share about this work. Through this trip, I am praising God that He brought us 3 new supporting families! All in all, I drove over 2,600 miles on that trip through 8 states! For a guy who doesn't enjoy driving--especially alone--that's a lot, but...these TCK's and their families are worth it!
In October, I attended an excellent conference in North Carolina for people who care for missionaries and their families. And in 2 days I will be headed out west to attend another seminar. This one is on mental health and trauma. I am finding in this work that more and more TCK's are struggling with very deep issues. Any training and tools I can get to better counsel them is always very valuable. I will also be visiting several TCK's and more potential supporters. Please pray for safety; for God to enable me to absorb the information I am given in this seminar; and for Spirit-filled conversations with all.
FAMILY UPDATE
With Liana's ministry in the public school, there are bright spots and not so bright ones. She loves her class this year. God has given her such an incredible gift for teaching and loving these kids. They are like sponges soaking up her every word. She has also had some very encouraging words from some of the parents with whom she works. In her role as co-leader of the 3rd grade teachers, it hasn't been so rosy. We firmly believe God has put her in this role for a reason, but there are some long-standing issues in the team that continue to fester and occasionally show themselves. Pray for wisdom, grace, and patience as she deals with these issues and the people who like to stir things up.
Dylan is thriving in tech school, and is really enjoying helping out with the youth and children in our church. Honestly, we have not seen Dylan this happy in a very long time. One of the associate pastors in the church has kind of taken Dylan under his wing. This is a huge answer to prayer for us. We have prayed for something like this for both our boys for many years. Would you pray God would bring someone like this for Austin as well?
HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?
I think that's it. Thanks so much for standing with us in this ministry and for lifting us up before the Father. Please don't stop. We would like to do the same for you. Are there specific things we could lift up for you to our Heavenly Father?
We love you.
Todd and Liana Corbin
Todd's cell: 407-704-9061
Liana's cell: 407-704-9839
Hey there! With all that has been going on with us this summer, August and September came and went like the blink of an eye, and I missed getting an update out to you. I am really pressed for time now too as I fly out of town tomorrow morning. So, this will be short and sweet with none of the bells and whistles that are typically part of our updates. I just wanted to be sure to at least bring you up to speed so you know how to pray and how things are going. So, I’m sorry this won’t be the prettiest update I’ve ever sent you. :-)
SINCE OUR LAST LETTER
COMING UP
URGENT NEED
Our support account continues to be running a deficit. We have ministry expenses dating back to June still not paid for, and the ministry expenses continue to mount. If you currently support us, thank you so much. Please don’t stop, and if you have a few extra dollars you could include, that would be wonderful. If you don’t currently support us, but would like to join our regular support team, we really need you. We are currently running $1200/month short. If you can’t be part of our regular support team, but could send a one-time gift, that also would be a big blessing. But no matter which category you are in, please, please pray for God to raise up the rest of our regular support team. I am in the middle of a huge support-raising campaign. The needs of these TCK’s are many, and so many of them get passed over because there is no one or no funds to help. Please help us change that. See giving info below.
A PERSONAL STORY FROM A COLLEGE TCK (This was just brought to my attention within the last week. I have known this TCK since he was 15. He gave me permission to share this with you.)Last year I (the TCK) tried to kill myself. I went up to the 9th floor of my apartment and climbed over the railing. I stepped onto the precipice and tried my best to leap off. I wanted it to be over quickly. I kept hoping that I’d somehow lose my footing. That a rogue gust of wind would push me away or my arms would give. Instead, I stood there frozen. Though I hated to admit it, a part of me still prayed for a miracle. I just wanted a word of comfort. If there was ever going to be a time for divine intervention, it was right then. But nothing happened. I just stood there looking down on the street below. I was praying for peace but all I felt was cold.
I carry the shame of that suicide attempt with me to this day. My suicide attempt only took a few hours on a single, lonely night and yet the experience haunts me to this day. I keep wondering if other people’s lives would be different without me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank God, this young man did not go through with this. But how many other TCK’s are right where he was a year ago wondering, “Will other people’s lives be different without me?” Please help us be part of the solution for these precious souls.
HERE”S HOW TO HELP:
ONLINE GIVING: https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift2/?giftid=607C6BD9452B441
**IMPORTANT: Be sure to click on the “Add a Designation” Tab and scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on “Ministry of the Corbins”
BY CHECK: Make checks payable to: Ministry Essentials PO Box 4947 Wheaton, IL 60189
**Indicate that it is for: Account #1020720**
We love you.
The Corbins
Todd and Liana Corbin
Todd's cell: 407-704-9061
Liana's cell: 407-704-9839
SINCE OUR LAST LETTER
- In late July, I led the teen program in Budapest, Hungary for our 4th partnering agency and did a TCK seminar for parents. Great discussions, and the agency is keen on having me continue to pour more into their young people.
- Right after that conference, I was in Colorado for 1 1/2 weeks to help lead a TCK re-entry program and then a debrief week for the college TCK summer interns (2 of whom I was mentoring all summer long)
- Austin graduated from Army Basic Training and was assigned to the Old Guard in Washington, DC. He is one of the 7 soldiers who do the 21 gun salute at all military funerals in Arlington National Cemetery
- Dylan started college at a local community college
COMING UP
- Pastors to Missionaries Conference in Asheville, NC (October 3-7)
- Speaking in 2 supporting churches and visiting supporters in Michigan and Ohio (October 15-24)
- Visiting a couple college TCK’s in Washington state and a teen TCK in Montana, 2 of whom are struggling with hard issues (November)
URGENT NEED
Our support account continues to be running a deficit. We have ministry expenses dating back to June still not paid for, and the ministry expenses continue to mount. If you currently support us, thank you so much. Please don’t stop, and if you have a few extra dollars you could include, that would be wonderful. If you don’t currently support us, but would like to join our regular support team, we really need you. We are currently running $1200/month short. If you can’t be part of our regular support team, but could send a one-time gift, that also would be a big blessing. But no matter which category you are in, please, please pray for God to raise up the rest of our regular support team. I am in the middle of a huge support-raising campaign. The needs of these TCK’s are many, and so many of them get passed over because there is no one or no funds to help. Please help us change that. See giving info below.
A PERSONAL STORY FROM A COLLEGE TCK (This was just brought to my attention within the last week. I have known this TCK since he was 15. He gave me permission to share this with you.)Last year I (the TCK) tried to kill myself. I went up to the 9th floor of my apartment and climbed over the railing. I stepped onto the precipice and tried my best to leap off. I wanted it to be over quickly. I kept hoping that I’d somehow lose my footing. That a rogue gust of wind would push me away or my arms would give. Instead, I stood there frozen. Though I hated to admit it, a part of me still prayed for a miracle. I just wanted a word of comfort. If there was ever going to be a time for divine intervention, it was right then. But nothing happened. I just stood there looking down on the street below. I was praying for peace but all I felt was cold.
I carry the shame of that suicide attempt with me to this day. My suicide attempt only took a few hours on a single, lonely night and yet the experience haunts me to this day. I keep wondering if other people’s lives would be different without me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank God, this young man did not go through with this. But how many other TCK’s are right where he was a year ago wondering, “Will other people’s lives be different without me?” Please help us be part of the solution for these precious souls.
HERE”S HOW TO HELP:
ONLINE GIVING: https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift2/?giftid=607C6BD9452B441
**IMPORTANT: Be sure to click on the “Add a Designation” Tab and scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on “Ministry of the Corbins”
BY CHECK: Make checks payable to: Ministry Essentials PO Box 4947 Wheaton, IL 60189
**Indicate that it is for: Account #1020720**
We love you.
The Corbins
Todd and Liana Corbin
Todd's cell: 407-704-9061
Liana's cell: 407-704-9839
West Rome Missions Committee, you can save the life of a TCK!
View this email in your browser
Christmas...a time of new beginnings. When Jesus, God-incarnate, came to earth more than 2,000 years ago, it was the beginning of God's plan of redemption coming to fruition. He came to become one of us; to demonstrate what true holiness looks like when it is fleshed out; to pave the way for us to have direct access to God; to take on all our sin and to pay the price for that sin; so we could be redeemed and declared holy in God's sight! All of these things were NEW to the people of Israel, to the whole world, in fact. It was the beginning of a new age; a new way of life; a new way to see God. God's plan, which was made before time, was finally taking center stage. And because of that, you and I have a new beginning! That's a reason to celebrate!
And it is a time of new beginnings for us...West Rome Missions Committee, as you know from our last letter, God has opened up a brand new ministry for me to continue to pour into TCK's. It has been a very busy 2 months working to get this whole new program set-up for Ministry Essentials, but, you know what? I LOVE it! You've probably heard me say before, I believe investing in TCK's is what God ultimately created me for. All the other roles in my life were preparation for what I am doing now. And with starting this ministry from scratch, and going into a lot of uncharted territory, even my years of service with the Pioneers TCK's were excellent preparation for this. It is so awesome to look back and see how God's fingerprints were all over my life through the years, culminating in this.
What is a TCK, a.k.a. Third Culture Kid? TCK’s are kids who grow up in a culture that is different from that of their parents. They take parts of both cultures, but never totally latch on to either. This combination of cultures becomes their own culture.
It doesn’t matter which country or how many different countries they grow up in, their culture is a mix of 2 or more cultures. The result is that the only people they really feel alike with, are other TCK’s. The rates of depression, self-mutilation, eating disorders and even suicide are unusually high for TCK’s. Read More about TCK's...Suicide Rates are on the Rise...During our years living in Hungary, we noticed there were a group of high school TCK's in our church that virtually no one was doing anything with. Everyone was so focused on ministering to Hungarians, that these TCK's were easily overlooked. This sense of being forgotten or feeling overlooked often takes the TCK down a road to bitterness, loneliness, and depression, which sometimes continues a downward spiral all the way to suicide. And you know what I recently learned? More than 80 US mission agencies have no program at all for their TCK's. That is tragic.
EMBRACE
Over the past half year, I communicated and interviewed with several agencies, all of whom see how critical this need is. For so many years, we've kind of dropped the ball as agencies and churches, and the TCK's are paying for it. As I mentioned last time I wrote, I have just joined the Ministry Essentials team and am launching a brand new program for them called EMBRACE. The name says it all. We want to pour into TCK's; love on them; listen to them; and help them embrace their identity as TCK's, but also their identity in Christ. It is our desire to help some of those 80 mission agencies who have nothing to offer their kids; or not enough manpower to invest in them the way is needed. Until now, Ministry Essentials had some people focusing on educational testing and the TCK's at a Christian school in Thailand, but they had no one to journey with and mentor the TCK's of all these other agencies. That is where I come in. It is exciting how God has opened this unique door for me, and doors with these other agencies are already opening.
But we need help...This program is completely new for Ministry Essentials, and especially at the beginning, there are a lot of ministry costs, for which there are no funds. If you are not currently on our support team, would you consider joining us this year? And if you are already on our support team, or if you can't join our regular supporters, would you consider making a one-time donation to help us get this ministry up and running? Click here to see: 2 charts that show our need, and how you could partner with us. We cannot do this without the help of God's people, and these kids are so, so worth it.
As the Corbins thank God for the new beginnings brought by the birth of Jesus...we also thank Him for you, and your partnership with us through giving, praying, encouraging and continuing to follow our ministry. We pray His richest blessings on you and your family. if you'd like to be part of bringing the EMBRACE ministry to fruition, please click on the blue button below.
I Want to EMBRACE TCK's by Joining the Corbins Team CLICK HERE
Merry Christmas to you! We love you.
Todd, Liana, Austin and Dylan
View this email in your browser
Christmas...a time of new beginnings. When Jesus, God-incarnate, came to earth more than 2,000 years ago, it was the beginning of God's plan of redemption coming to fruition. He came to become one of us; to demonstrate what true holiness looks like when it is fleshed out; to pave the way for us to have direct access to God; to take on all our sin and to pay the price for that sin; so we could be redeemed and declared holy in God's sight! All of these things were NEW to the people of Israel, to the whole world, in fact. It was the beginning of a new age; a new way of life; a new way to see God. God's plan, which was made before time, was finally taking center stage. And because of that, you and I have a new beginning! That's a reason to celebrate!
And it is a time of new beginnings for us...West Rome Missions Committee, as you know from our last letter, God has opened up a brand new ministry for me to continue to pour into TCK's. It has been a very busy 2 months working to get this whole new program set-up for Ministry Essentials, but, you know what? I LOVE it! You've probably heard me say before, I believe investing in TCK's is what God ultimately created me for. All the other roles in my life were preparation for what I am doing now. And with starting this ministry from scratch, and going into a lot of uncharted territory, even my years of service with the Pioneers TCK's were excellent preparation for this. It is so awesome to look back and see how God's fingerprints were all over my life through the years, culminating in this.
What is a TCK, a.k.a. Third Culture Kid? TCK’s are kids who grow up in a culture that is different from that of their parents. They take parts of both cultures, but never totally latch on to either. This combination of cultures becomes their own culture.
It doesn’t matter which country or how many different countries they grow up in, their culture is a mix of 2 or more cultures. The result is that the only people they really feel alike with, are other TCK’s. The rates of depression, self-mutilation, eating disorders and even suicide are unusually high for TCK’s. Read More about TCK's...Suicide Rates are on the Rise...During our years living in Hungary, we noticed there were a group of high school TCK's in our church that virtually no one was doing anything with. Everyone was so focused on ministering to Hungarians, that these TCK's were easily overlooked. This sense of being forgotten or feeling overlooked often takes the TCK down a road to bitterness, loneliness, and depression, which sometimes continues a downward spiral all the way to suicide. And you know what I recently learned? More than 80 US mission agencies have no program at all for their TCK's. That is tragic.
EMBRACE
Over the past half year, I communicated and interviewed with several agencies, all of whom see how critical this need is. For so many years, we've kind of dropped the ball as agencies and churches, and the TCK's are paying for it. As I mentioned last time I wrote, I have just joined the Ministry Essentials team and am launching a brand new program for them called EMBRACE. The name says it all. We want to pour into TCK's; love on them; listen to them; and help them embrace their identity as TCK's, but also their identity in Christ. It is our desire to help some of those 80 mission agencies who have nothing to offer their kids; or not enough manpower to invest in them the way is needed. Until now, Ministry Essentials had some people focusing on educational testing and the TCK's at a Christian school in Thailand, but they had no one to journey with and mentor the TCK's of all these other agencies. That is where I come in. It is exciting how God has opened this unique door for me, and doors with these other agencies are already opening.
But we need help...This program is completely new for Ministry Essentials, and especially at the beginning, there are a lot of ministry costs, for which there are no funds. If you are not currently on our support team, would you consider joining us this year? And if you are already on our support team, or if you can't join our regular supporters, would you consider making a one-time donation to help us get this ministry up and running? Click here to see: 2 charts that show our need, and how you could partner with us. We cannot do this without the help of God's people, and these kids are so, so worth it.
As the Corbins thank God for the new beginnings brought by the birth of Jesus...we also thank Him for you, and your partnership with us through giving, praying, encouraging and continuing to follow our ministry. We pray His richest blessings on you and your family. if you'd like to be part of bringing the EMBRACE ministry to fruition, please click on the blue button below.
I Want to EMBRACE TCK's by Joining the Corbins Team CLICK HERE
Merry Christmas to you! We love you.
Todd, Liana, Austin and Dylan