Friends and fellow-worshipers,
Maryl and I want to thank you for your support this year. It has been thrilling and stirring to see God go before us and prepare His way and His provision. Through Worship Without Borders we have already touched nearly 150 churches, in five nations, three continents and held 16 local church worship seminars. We have seen the power of God come forth and touch countless lives as His worship is released in city after city and nation after nation. New songs are being birthed and prophetic worship is being released as His Spirit moves among His people. Even more exciting are the growing numbers of people coming to Jesus for the first time at all of our meetings.
Worship Without Borders goals for 2008/2009:
- 4+ nations per year
- Teach, train and release worship in key local churches in each nation
- Provide music, worship materials and instruments for churches
- Provide miscellaneous aid as needed (medical, humanitarian, clothing, etc.)
- 2 customized worship seminars stateside per month
- Teach, train and release in local churches in USA
- Target, mentor and train younger musicians and worship leaders to join us on short-term missions trips to duplicate ourselves and expand their hearts, the ministry and the kingdom
Worship Without Borders travels:
We topped off 2007 with a ministry trip to Uganda to bless pastors, leaders, widows and orphans with Bibles, musical instruments, medical supplies, reading glasses for pastors, 2 dairy cows (!) and much more. God moved in church after church as He revealed Himself in worship and song. At the end of the last conference, while over 200 pastors were singing their prayers of intercession over Uganda, a Muslim man followed the sound into the church and inquired, “What must I do to be saved?” Now, one by one, his entire family is coming to Jesus!
In March 2008 we went to Kamchatka, Russia to establish curriculum for a new School of Worship with worship leaders from all over the area coming to study and be released in leading worship, organizing their worship ministry, flowing in prophetic worship and the new song.
The final day at the school each student composed and sang a new song of their own creation. It was amazing to hear the variety, passion and joy expressed in many different languages with clarity and confidence from these precious people who were so timid when we first came. We have received reports that these songs are beginning to spread through the Russian churches.
In May we had a worship conference with Phil and Judy Jaquith, Fuente Para El Mundo, in Puebla, Mexico with many people coming to Jesus in service after service. In July, I taught six clinics at the International Worship Institute in Dallas, TX with Steve Fry. Later in July we went to Calgary, Alberta to be with John Bevere for a series of meetings at Eastside City Church, an MFI affliliate. In addition to these international opportunities we have been sowing into City Church worship ministry in Seattle, WA on a once-a-month basis for over a year as well as aiding and assisting for the last six months at Life Center in Centralia, WA a church that was flooded in December.
Worship Without Borders Future plans:
2008:
- September — Clackamas, OR seminar
- October — MFI international conference
- Bozeman, MT seminar
- Detroit, MI seminar
- Prosperity with Purpose Conference, City Church
- November — Melbourne, Australia citywide worship conference (possibly Singapore and Philippines)
2009
- February — Puebla, Mexico (they want us back for more strategic training and to impact their church planting in the area of worship)
- West Palm Beach, Florida — a worship conference with Danny and Giselle Bonilla
- May — Nigeria and Ghana MFI conferences
- June — International Worship Institute, Dallas, TX
- July — Worship Conference in India with Pastor David Prakasam
- The Lord is opening up many more international opportunities than stateside and the demand is greater than finances currently permit. Over and over we hear the same thing; that churches are lacking training and Biblical foundations for worship and that the vision impartation and training through Worship Without Borders has transformed the worship experience in every church. We also see some churches in other nations struggle to worship with our contemporary worship style and songs. When they learn to worship and create music within their own culture and instrumental foundation, it opens up the way for a profound encounter with the living Christ and spontaneous salvations occur. Our vision has grown and matured over the past two years as we have witnessed these events. We are passionate about seeing more salvations occurring spontaneously during worship services, much like it occurred in the Welsh revival and other revivals of history. The numbers of people coming forward to receive Christ have continued to grow as we pray and teach toward this end.
- We are learning to strategically plan where we minister so that the teaching will be duplicated and spread further throughout the nations. Our original plan to fund International missions with our stateside seminars has become unrealistic relative to the growing missions emphasis. Consequently, we have set goals to broaden our missionary support base in order to maintain and pick up the pace of this important ministry. Along with a deepened support base and occasional ministry opportunities stateside, we are developing materials (cds, dvds, books, study materials) for worship ministry. These items can contribute not only to education, but to funding as soon as production costs are met. We will soon need to hire a part time person to help us manage finances, scheduling and other office needs that are difficult to keep current while traveling. At this point we have not been able to draw a consistent salary from the ministry. We are praying that our personal needs will begin to be fully met before next year arrives. Will you join with us so that we can meet these goals?
- We believe God has led us to join my brother, Pastor Wendell Smith at City Church in Seattle sometime in the near future, both to add my strength to Wendell’s ministry and to join in with their strategic International vision. Our current pastor, Pastor Jess Strickland, has confirmed this direction releasing us with blessing. Due to financial considerations and commitments here, we do not have a solid date yet, but will let you know when that changes. Maryl and I want to extend our deep gratitude to the pastors, intercessors,leaders and friends around the world for supporting us during this vital time in our lives and in our ministry.
Thank you for your time, consideration and especially your prayers as we labor and worship together.
In Him,
Tim and Maryl Smith
Your Worship Missionaries
503.327.4808
timsongsmith at gmail dot com
wwob.org