Sold Out!

While driving down 140 W toward Oklahoma City, Howie was overwhelmed with tiredness and asked me to drive. I immediately thought of the last time that happened to him. We were in Texas when the engine blew on our Sprinter van shortly after I took over the wheel. With this in mind, I began to pray.

Broken down on a lonely Texas road

Traffic was heavy and we entered a construction zone, funneling traffic down to one lane. I was behind a truck with a car in tow. I was following about four car lengths behind the vehicle at 35mph. when the Lord said to me, “Don’t follow so closely”. Immediately I applied the brakes and dropped back, just as the wheel broke off the car in tow, leaving it rolling down the lane and the fender in the center of the lane. Sparks flew as the axle dragged along the highway.

I praise God for his guardianship in giving me a warning, though it didn’t at the time make sense to follow, I did. With a line of vehicles following closely behind me, it could have been a real mess, but because I followed the Lords instruction there was no accident.

Often I am asked how the Lord speaks to me. I describe it as a strong thought that crosses my mind, always something I was not thinking about, and seemingly out of the blue. When I am in doubt, I simply ask “Lord, is that you”? He has always given me an immediate answer if it is “Yes”. If I don’t hear an answer, I assume it was not Him, or check my heart to see if I am harboring sin that obscures His voice.

I am reminded of the scripture that I read the evening I was baptized. It is Jesus speaking and found in the Gospel of John. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

There is another verse I am reminded of found in 1Kings where God spoke to Elijah. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12

Listening for the Lords voice requires a quieting of our own. Some people have a very hard time quieting their thoughts, but with practice it can become quite natural.

So Lord, teach us to quiet our mind, still our own voice and show us how to wait on you.

My friend was feeling frustrated because she had been traveling a considerable amount with her husband and said, “I just can’t seem to focus or function well when I am away so much. I don’t know how you do it, being on the road all the time.”

My response was simply, “You need to forget about home.”

I certainly found it hard to live a normal life when Howie and I began the ministry. But I found a way to wrap my mind around “normal” and “away”, finding the delicate balance where I can function productively.

Why the need to forget about home?

Imagine with me that we are away on the other side of the country. All is unfamiliar and new. The mind wants to wander back, by default, to find comfort in the familiar, the structure of routine and the motions of habit.

 Change the mind’s default

Howie and I live on the road full time and don’t have a home to return to in the way that most people in America do. There is no comfort found when I ponder the popular idea of “home”. I needed to change the default for home to land in another place.

Redefining home

Transforming the definition of home in your mind can be revolutionary. I have shifted my focus to make home my very present state and therefore I function with all of its seeming comforts.

My home is where I live
My home is here, where my feet are standing
and
My home is heavenly

Where I am is where I live. So, remember this if you happen to be showing hospitality to us “Wayfarin’ Strangers”. We can experience a moment of life together.

At home wherever I am

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Our van motor is blown in Texas and we are in need of a “Bread of Life” Van

          Last week we were traveling up Rt 283 just north of Brady, TX when our van just stopped. We had it towed to the nearest Sprinter mechanic in Clyde, TX who happened to be swamped. Finally after waiting seven days, he had the opportunity to carefully inspect our engine. He concluded that our engine is “dead on arrival”.

Our Sprinter has been a blessing as we carry the Gospel throughout the United States, living out of it most of the year. Being nearly ten years old, rusting in spots and well over 200,000 miles, we feel it is not a wise investment to sink twelve to twenty-three thousand dollars we have been quoted to replace the engine.

We have continued to trust the Lord, seeing His fingerprints on this entire event. The question now is what to do. Since we have ruled out fixing the old van, we are considering other options to continue the Gospel ministry.

As musicianaries, we have very limited personal funds for such a huge expense as replacing our van. But we serve a mighty God who we trust will make every provision in due season.

Please pray for us to have discernment and direction to find just the right replacement van. Pray that this vital ministry to the unchurched will continue.

It is our passion to share Jesus with the American people. It is hard to believe that in this once Christian influenced nation there are communities that are indifferent, and even hardened against, the message of Jesus Christ. As musicians, we have been able to penetrate these communities and soften ears to the name of Jesus. Together with the local body, we scatter the seeds, water the tender sprouts and sometimes reap a harvest.

How can you help?

We are thankful for a small church here in Clyde, TX for taking us under their wings. They keep saying that God had us brake down ‘here’. We are sharing with them on Wednesday night. They are contacting other area churches on our behalf. This Saturday they are hosting a bake sale in hopes of raising $1000 toward another van. Wow! We are so blessed and praise God for putting us here.

We are also grateful to our musician brotherhood for making connections. Ricky Russ at Inspirational Country Radio has welcomed us, affording us time on the air to plead our cause. Please send out some love to Ricky and West at Inspiration Country Radio / ICRFM Facebook

• Pray – God moves through the prayer of His saints.
• Give – No matter what we do, we need funds. We minister year round and do not have a surplus of funds to tap into should an event like van replacement arise. Donate here.
• Host Us At Home – Plan a home concert to introduce us to folks that may be interested in partnering in ministry.
• Host Us At Church – Our focus is to the secular community and it is helpful to minister in Churches that are able to take up a love offering or partner with us in regular support.

We continue to pray.

Howie and Debbie Campbell

Today we have been washed up on the West Coast after three grueling days of driving. New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Oregon. 1800+ miles and now collapsed on the rocky shore in Oceanside.

Washed up after a long drive

Tomorrow we begin our musicianary thrust throughout the Northwest. Three events in Tillamook, followed by several with the folks at the Union Gospel Mission of Portland , an action packed weekend awaits us in the Tri-cities of Washington, then off to a backyard party in Milton-Freewater, concert in Kalispell, MT, finally the Lakota Soiux Rosebud Reservation.

Sometimes I feel very weary, like today as we crashed on the beach. Often I think that settling down would suit me just fine and I will establish a homestead rather than of all this wayfarin’. I might even think about replacing my sprout jar with a leafy, green garden. But these are just musings that quickly pass as I dream about what the weeks ahead will offer.

I am reminded of the scripture in 2 Corinthians where Paul mentions that “when I am weak, then am I strong”. Even though today I am feeling quite “washed up” and stretched out on the rocky coast, I know that the Lord has something special planned. It is this hope that compels me get up, get off the rocky shoreline and move ahead in Christ.

Debbie