A Tennis Missionary remembers

Difficult
1.  Microwave only cooking for meals.
2.  Currency - exchange rate from USD to Euro, the lowest ever.
3.  Restaurants that are not affordable for me, starting at $30USD per meal.
4.  Language - French to English; English to French.

Wonderful
1.  Walking in the evening - in deserted Parisian back street with unique buildings.
2.  Daylight until 10:30 pm.
3.  Grocery store food that is well priced and the best quality I have found in the world.
4.  Free Wi-Fi Internet connection in the neighborhood (16th District) that I stay in.
5.  A fifteen minute walk from my housing to the tournament site.

Most difficult:  The only place that I can truly afford to eat at in Paris is, McDonalds and can goods from the super market.  In 2007, the downside is I ate at a McDonalds nearest the tournament in 07 and got food poisoning and in bed for two days.

The best:  I love history and in the evening after the tennis, I can walk the streets nearest my church hostel and look at wonderful old buildings that most have the date of completion on the side of the building and a few have historical plaques - understandably all in French.  Read Day One - French Open here

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com   (latest: Day One - French Open)

The first day Monday went well and thank you for those who are praying.  8:30 am - Arrive Charles De Galle Airport Paris.  Checked bag lost by British Airway.   11am - dropped off my one carry-on bag at the church hostel.  A slight case of food poisoning from Hardees fast food at the Hong Kong airport. (not in my top nine list for the French Open)  Noon - prayed with a French Pastor. Grocery shopping.  1pm -picked up my credential for the tournament at Roland Garros (thanks Edina).  Spoke to twenty-nine people on site.  4pm - matches rained out.  Walked back to the hostel in the rain. No clothes to change into.  6pm - Sleep. 3pm (jetlag) - Arise and shine!

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. - Isaiah 60:1

3 days prior -- Friday slept on a floor of a house in Manila. Saturday in my own bed with my wife in Hong Kong.  Sunday in economy seat on British Airways.

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com (posted soon: My Top Nine List - French Open)
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com

I am at a Campus Harvest (listen/learn here) conference in Manila, Philippines.  CH is a student ministry of Everynation churches and is held over a four day period.  It is evident that these youth (approximately 4,000 in attendance from 15 nations ) are serious about their Christian faith, want to grow spiritually, lead others into a strong and active faith and are willing to take training to better their knowledge.  My kind of people.- watch a video here.  They are really great youth who are kind, polite, with the right priorities and want to help others.  Sounds like a winning combination to me.

One of my favorite cities in Asia, has to be Manila.  It has a wonderful Christian heritage and it shows in the smiles, kindness, generosity and joy of the people.  It has great restaurants of all types, tastes and nationalities. The students are highly educated with many wonderful universities and in industry the customer service from these fine people is superb.  Sadly it has one of the lowest incomes per person in Asia - having been bypassed by foreign investors to places such as China and India.  However as I see it - God has used this as many of the women of this nation have had to leave to find work often as domestic helpers and child care givers especially in the Muslim Middle East countries.   Despite difficult circumstances...they have brought their Christian faith in churches that are started and homes that they stay in while employed overseas. 

A wonderful people, city and nation that needs our love, concern and prayers and especially for the students at this conference who want to be future leaders.

Prayer requests for my European trip

Pastor Bob Kraft and Tennis Ministry Prayer points:

1.  Manila, Philippines - May 21 to 24 Youth Conference.

a.  My housing with the host family.
b.  Relationship with Everynation church leadership.
c.  Discussion on future Gospel tennis camp to business and government leaders in Philippines.
d.  Discussion on future cooperation with youth conference and tennis ministry.

2.  Hong Kong - May 24

a.  Family time.

 3.  Paris, France - May 25 to June 9

a.  Access to tournament site and players lounge.
b.  Wisdom and relationship for those against this ministry.
c.  May 31st - Fan outreach to French Open, pray for participating churches.  Bob and Mia's eleventh wedding anniversary.
d.  June 1st, Bob preaching in Paris church.
e.  June 6th - Fan outreach to French Open; Bob's fifty-first birthday.
f.  What Would Jesus Do bracelets to be given out to players - if I have them.
g.  Protection against physical sickness or illness.
h.  No back pain.
k.  Adjustment to jet lag.

4.  London, England - June 10 to July 9

a.  Housing with host family.  Pray for a smooth relationship.
b.  Access to tournament sites and the players lounge.
c.  Wisdom and relationship for those against this ministry.
e.  Food availability.
f.   'More than Gold' spiritual booklets that will be received on time and passed out to the correct people.
g.  Transport to the tournaments sites.
h.  June 15,16 - Bob attending a weekend church retreat with host family.
i.   June 21st - Meeting with businessman and residents of London for discussion of future ministry events.
j.   No back pain.

5. Hong Kong - July 10 to 18

a.  Family time.
b.  Office time/tennis lessons.
c.  Adjustment to jet lag.

5.  Honolulu, Hawaii July 19 to August 10

a.  Family time.
b.  Relationship with various churches in Hawaii as I meet Pastors and church members.

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com

Longevity

Too few are willing to tough out some rough years in order to see the real fruit that longevity (5-10 years) brings.

"2009 will be my fortieth year of playing tennis; thirty-seventh year of teaching tennis and thirty-fourth year of coaching for my living.  I have found that anyone who lasts ten years or more in the profession of coaching has longevity.  A coach simply has to be good enough to find students who want to take lessons from them and if not - they can not financially survive.  I feel a real kinship to tennis coaches and my first question is always, "how long has you been coaching?".  The answer tells me everything."

When we build relationships in ministry...and then leave, the loss makes it incredibly difficult for people to trust the next person enough to get close to them. Rapid turnovers lead to people who aren't interested in getting to know the new...worker. After all, what guarantees are there that this new person won't leave in 18 to 24 months?

"2009 will be my twenty-third year of involvement in ministry.  Ministry is much different than coaching tennis.  People have to trust you over skill acquisition.  In sports, you can be a great coach, a lousy person and still succeed.  But in ministry you can not be a great Pastor, a lousy person and succeed.  Over a period of years you build a number of relationships with people who want to work alongside you and are in agreement with your methods.  This is success in ministry.  Who works along side tells you everything about that person."

Something wonderful happens in...ministry when the...director remains in place for five or more years. My own experience is that it takes five years to get a vision going and see fruit. Year one and two are all about settling into the work, establishing key relationships, listening to needs, and recognizing opportunities. Year three gives us the chance, now that people know us, to set a vision and strategy. Year four and five sees that vision take shape and perhaps begin to bear fruit. Beyond that we reap a number of benefits.

One is the development and growth of our vision for ministry. As the whole church gains an understanding of the vision and sees that we’re in it for the long haul, more leaders emerge to help. A second is that younger youth begin to look forward to the day they can be part of that ministry. A third is that people trust the...ministry and know what to expect.

As 1 Thessalonians 2:8 reminds us "So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us."

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com (posted soon: Day Nine - French Open)

Weekly Verse - July 7, 2008

July 7 MONDAY:  Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an prostitute. - Judges 11:1
The next time someone uses your past to try and intimidate you, remind them of Jephthah. Our God is awesome.

TUESDAY:  Behold, I (God) will do a new thing. - Isaiah 43:19
When Jesus becomes Lord of your life, neither your genes nor your environment can prevent you from becoming all He intended you to be.

WEDNESDAY:   Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. - Proverbs 27:6
Do you learn from critisim, become stronger and wiser because of it, and rise to new heights.

THURSDAY:  The Stone which the builders rejected, became "The Chief Cornerstone! - Luke 20:17
God has a habit of using those who've been rejected.

FRIDAY:  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Proverbs 17:17
The best way to have such a friend is to be one.

SATURDAY:  Two are better than one...pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! - Ecc 4:9-10
A real friend is someone who lays down his life, his desires, and his needs, in order to be there for you.

SUNDAY:  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17
A true friend will sharpen you and help you to reach your God-given destiny.  You can't get there without them.

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com (latest: 2008 Artois Championships Queens Club London - Finals)
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com  (latest: Wimbledon highlights - Day ten)

Weekly Verse - June 23 to July 6, 2008 (Wimbledon special edition)

Wimbledon begins

June 23 MONDAY: (Wimbledon: Men - Round of 128)  Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older he will remain upon it. - Genesis 21:18
Give your children a taste of the things of God when they're little, and when they grow up, this world will never satisfy them.

TUESDAY:  (Women's Round of 128) Along unfamiliar paths I (God) will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. - Isaiah 42:16
Don't just your children your doctrine; expose them to your faith.  Tell them Who brought you through the dark places, so that when they encounter them, they'll have more than religious rules - they'll have confidence in God for themselves.

WEDNESDAY:  (Men - Womens Round of 64) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves. - Hebrews 13:17
Who speaks into your life through proven leadership?  To whom are you submitted?

THURSDAY:  (Men - Womens Round of 64) A man's gift makes room for him. - Proverbs 18:16
Your gift will always meet a need for someone else.  Find your gift and develop it, for it's the key to your destiny.

FRIDAY:  (Men - Womens Round of 32)  We have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:16
The challenge is in learning to recognize Christ's thoughts, and to trust them.

SATURDAY:  (Men - Womens Round of 16) God thinks His thoughts through us when our minds are renewed. - Romans 12:2
You ask, "How do I deal with 'a stronghold that is hurting my life'?" Attack it with the Word of God in the Bible! That's what Jesus did!

SUNDAY:  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. - 1 Corinthians 16:9
Every opportunity God gives us will bring opposition, building your faith and strengthening you.

June 30 MONDAY:  (Men - Womens Round of 16) For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of Godly men.- Psalm 1:6
You don't have to accept whatever comes into your mind: you have a choice! If your thoughts line up with the Word of God in the Bible, accept them. If they don't, reject them.

TUESDAY:  (Womens Quarterfinals)  Delight yourself  also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4
When Jesus is the center of your affections, His desires become yours.

WEDNESDAY:  (Mens Quarterfinals)  Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way. - Isaiah 30:21
It's a word in your past, confirming that you're on the right track.

THURSDAY:  Womens Semifinals) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts. - Colosians 3:15
God's peace will give you confididece in difficult calls.

FRIDAY:  (Mens Semifinals)  As an eagle stirs up her nest...so the Lord alone did lead him. - Deuteronomy 32:11-12
Rejoice if God is pushing you out of your comfort zone, for without it you'll never fly.

SATURDAY:  (Finals- Mixed Doubles, Woman Singles, Mens Doubles) We walk by faith, not by sight. - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Remember, the will of God always involves - faith.

SUNDAY:  (Finals- Mens Singles, Womens Doubles)  His (Jesus) strength is made perfect in your weakness. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
He can lift the disadvantaged higher than those who've had every advantage!

Weekly Verse - June 2, 2008 (French Open - Special edition 2nd week)

French Open

June 2nd - MONDAY:  (Singles Quarterfinals - Mens Doubles Semifinals) So that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. - Deuteronomy 14:29
You don't have to do anything to experience God's love, but you must do certain things to experience His blessings.

TUESDAY:  (Singles Quarterfinals - Womens Doubles Quarterfinals)  There is nothing too hard for You (God). - Jeremiah 32:17
For every problem, God has a definite answer; for every hurt, He has a cure.

WEDNESDAY:  (Womens Singles Semifinals - Mens Doubles Semifinals )  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. - Luke 9:24
If you're wise, you'll Forget your accomplishments, but remember your debt to others.

THURSDAY:  (Mens Semifinals, Womens Doubles )  Give, and it shall be given unto you. -Luke 6:38
Jesus isn't just talking about money, He was also talking about forgiveness and relationships.

FRIDAY:  (Mens Singles Semifinals - Womens Doubles Semifinals )  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. - John 10:10
If you're broken, let Jesus fix you.  Don't lay THAT responsibility on anybody else.

SATURDAY:  (Womens Singles Finals - Mens Db Finals, Mixed Db Finals)  Love is very patient and kind...does not demand its own way.  It is not irritable or touchy.  It does not hold grudges. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Why don't you totally commit your life to God today?

SUNDAY:  (Mens Singles Finals - Womens Doubles Finals) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:27
Satan will do all he can to get you 'off track.'  That's a fact you need to treat seriously!  No matter how LONG you've been serving the Lord, you're not immune.

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com (latest: The_French_Open_-_A_Cold_War_veteran)
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com (latest: My Top Ten List - French Open )

Prayer requests for my European trip

Pastor Bob Kraft and Tennis Ministry Prayer points.

1.  Manila, Philippines - May 21 to 24 Youth Conference.

a.  My housing with the host family.
b.  Relationship with Everynation church leadership.
c.  Discussion on future Gospel tennis camp to business and government leaders in Philippines.
d.  Discussion on future cooperation with youth conference and tennis ministry.

2.  Hong Kong - May 24

a.  Family time.

3.  Paris, France - May 25 to June 9

a.  Access to tournament site and players lounge.
b.  Wisdom and relationship for those against this ministry.
c.  May 31st - Fan outreach to French Open, pray for participating churches.  Bob and Mia's eleventh wedding anniversary.
d.  June 1st, Bob preaching in Paris church.
e.  June 6th - Fan outreach to French Open; Bob's fifty-first birthday.
f.  What Would Jesus Do bracelets to be given out to players - if I have them.
g.  Protection against physical sickness or illness.
h.  No back pain.
i.  Adjustment to jet lag.

4.  London, England - June 10 to July 9

a.  Housing with host family.  Pray for a smooth relationship.
b.  Access to tournament sites and access to the players lounge.
c.  Wisdom and relationship for those against this ministry.
e.  Food availability.
f.   'More than Gold'  spiritual booklets that will be received on time and passed out to the correct people.
g.  Transport to the tournaments sites.
h.  June 15,16 - Bob attending a weekend church retreat with host family.
i.   June 21st - Meeting with businessman and residents of London for discussion of future ministry events.
j.   No back pain.

5. Hong Kong - July 10 to 18

a.  Family time.
b.  Office time/tennis lessons.
c.  Adjustment to jet lag.

5.  Honolulu, Hawaii July 19 to August 10

a.  Family time.
b.  Relationship with various churches in Hawaii as I meet Pastors and church members.

My most underrated team-member.

The most underrated person on my team - is my wife.  I know what she has done, what she has honored in my work, what she has done for our two children, the sacrifices she has made and the persecution for the Gospel she has endured.  I do not speak about her often to others and I can respect and defend her decisions based upon what she had done for myself and our children.

When we first married, she acted as a translator for me for mission work in Communist China and paid a heavy price for that with persecution.  When I started the tennis ministry, it involved me working long hours - long after she had fallen asleep.  She honored that without complaint.  She gave up her own desire to travel to where she wanted to go, so that we could travel to where I was requested as a missionary.  She works to help support the family and thus allows me to use the additional money to support missions.  She birthed our two lovely children and spends all her free time schooling them.  She prepared wonderful meals for me.  She allows me to travel for the Gospel's sake, understanding the message to others that takes place as I travel. She curtails her spending so that we can have more for the family and additional money to support missions. We went forward together and were sent out by the church. 

A better wife I could not have. God brought her to me in Mainland China.  I often imagine that God must have looked down at me and said "I have the right person for what you need, she is there" and then He pointed to a spot in China.

http://dailyverse.multiply.com (upcoming on May 7th: ENJOY LIFE WITH YOUR WIFE [AND YOUR HUSBAND], WHOM YOU LOVE)
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com