Reaching the Unreached-- Garre

 According to www.joshuaproject.net the Garre is one of the top 10 unreached in the world. What's even more crazy is that they're not only an unreached people group, they are an unengaged people group. This means they currently have no access to the Gospel; no literature, no surrounding christians trying to reach the with the Gospel.....nothing. You can check out more about them here: http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?rog3=SO&peo3=19613

Please pray that the Lord would stir the hearts of His saints to go and labor among the Garre, and that the Gospel invade and consume the hearts of the Garre!

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples,"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." ~ Matthew 9:36-37

Reaching the Unreached -- Somali

 For those who don't know I aim to be a missionary to the unreached; first and foremost to the Somali people. Yes that means the people of Somalia (duh right?). Why the Somali people? Well that for another blogpost; or you can hit me up and ask me why :)
 With courtesy of www.joshuaproject.net, here's a list of countires where Somali people can be found.

Somalia- 7,991,000

Djibouti- 358,000 (Somali, Issa)

Eritrea- 4,900

Ethiopia- 5,504,000

Kenya- 2,443,000 (Somali)
          - 186,000 (Somali, Ajuran)

United Kingdom- 94,000

Yemen- 1,014,000

Italy- 54,000

Canada- 37,000

United States- 79,000

 So with the field being ripe for harvest, pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to go labor with the Gospel to the Somalis. Pray as well that the Lord would open the door and led me to where He want me to go to reach the Somalis! Thank you!

~Joshua A. Taylor

Chi-Town Preach!

Well, this may be early to share, but I'd like to share anyways.

 Earlier this year for springbreak, me and 2 dear friends of mine went down to Florida (Pensacola and Panama City Beach) to go around on the beach (and other places as well) sharing the Gospel with a plethora of college students, who were of course down there to party it up. Beach Preach is what we called it. To sum up how it went- God did work in us and through us! He blessed us with great fellowship with one another, and oh so many awesome gospel conversations. It was, hands down, one of the best weeks of my life for sure!
 My friends, Austin and Andrew, and I knew that we wanted to repeat the trip for springbreak next year, but sadly it won't happen, since Andrew being a RA this year at Purdue won't be available for half of the week. Booo. Nonetheless me and Austin have come up with a different route, a different idea that has me just as excited!
 Chicago Preach! Yes! Me, Austin, and some other possibly will spend about 4 days or so during spring break next year in Chicago, hitting the streets preaching the Gospel! The rest of the week we plan on camping. I love this, and am even stoked just thinking about it!

 So why do I share this with ya'll? Well a couple reasons:

Join us.

 We'll if you're on spring break that week, or will be free that week, and would love to join us in invading downtown Chi-town with the Gospel, then let me know. Hit me up on facebook, twitter, or email and I'll be in touch with details as the dates of the trip get closer.

Pray!

 About.....2 months or so before we left for Beach Preach we shared with tons of people about it, and asked them to partner with us in prayer, and I know the Lord answered those prayers! So I don't think it's to early to ask to start praying for this trip! We expecting the Lord to bless this trip; every nook and cranny of it. So yes, if you don't mind, please begin to pray today. How can you be praying? Here's how:

- Pray that the Lord would bless us with great fellowship throughout the whole trip, drawing and knitting our hearts together in love.\

- Pray that the Lord would bless and anoint the preaching

- Pray that we would have our confidence in the power of the Gospel, and the working of the Spirit

- Pray that the Lord would work, even now, on the hearts of those He will lead us to share with. That their hearts would be open by the power of Spirit to receive and obey the Gospel, like He did in Lydia's heart (Acts 16:14).

- And pray that the Lord would draw us closer to Himself, causing us to grow in the fear & knowledge of Him, and our affections for Him!

 Thanks brothers and sisters! Keep fighting the good fight, and seeking first the kingdom!
 ~Joshua Aaron Taylor

Salvation is of the Lord!

 "I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him."- Ecclesiastes 3:14

 Oh my goodness! What a verse! This verse has been rockin' me for the past couple days! So mind blowing for sure! Although this verse says "WHATEVER God does....", I can't but help to let this verse personally gravitate me to meditate on it in regards to the redemption and salvation of sinners. Especially my salvation and redemption through the blood of Christ! So here's what come to mind when I meditate on this passage.


That salvation is of the Lord.
That He who began a good work in me will complete it at the coming of Christ.
That I've been saved by grace through faith; with nothing I could've done to contrubute, and in turn boast about it.
That it's impossible to undo the work that the Lord has already done.
That nothing separate me from Him and the love that He has for me .
That I may make my boast in Him alone.
That I walk in a manner that worthy of and pleasing to Him.
That I may stand in awe and worship Him.


 These are just some of things that come to mind as I meditate on this dandy and stellar passage. I pray that these truths and this passage encourage and bless you as well.Yes! Praise God for what a GREAT salvation He has given us!




 

Say Whaaaat!?

We all hear things that friends and family say to us or just say in general that we don't expect them to say. I like to call them, "Say Whaaaat?!" quotes. Just thought I'd share with ya quotes from friends and family. Things  said that made me do double takes, left me rolling on the floor cracking up, or just left shocked and speechless. Enjoy.

1) "Josh, next time eat more calm and civilized." - Joseph (8 yr old bro)- while having lunch at Arby's after church

2) "Wait. Are you adopted?!"- Michelle (a best friend)

3) "Aren't you adopted Josh?"- Jess (a friend)

4) "Hey Joe! Hey Joe!"- Jasmine (5 yrs old sis)
    
    "What Jazz?"- Joseph- Joseph

    "You know that you're a sinner, but Jesus died for you."- Jasmine

5) "You know Austin. I just feel like that Lord is calling me to wait until I get married to move down to Louisville." -Me (I said this jokingly).

 "Then you'll never move down to Louisville then!" - Austin R. ( a best friend)

6) "Josh? Do you ever get blacker in the summer?"- Lauren H. (a friend)

7) "So Josh, are you going to Somalia soon?"- Josiah K. (a friend)

8) "Man Josh. Your voice sounds like deep rich chocolate!"- Josiah k (after hearing my voice for the 1st time after vocal chord surgery)

9) "Josh! Your black!?"- Matt H.(a friend) (after realizing, after the longest time of knowing me, that I'm half black)

10) "Hey brother! Oh wait. You're not my brother!" Joel M. (a best friend) -after I answered his brother's phone.

Gonna Write a Book Ya'll

 So a good friend of mine has sold me. After telling me, or to put it more correctly, persuading me to write a book; I've decided I will. A book about what? Hmmm. Not sure yet. That has yet to be determined, but I sure do have some ideas floating around in my head. Like:

1.) a book on the grace of God

2.) a book on evangelism

3.) a book on the gospel (there's a lot of those tha have been written though)

4.) a book about learning and talking biblical doctrine and theology and living it out

 These are just a couple ideas floating around in my head. So pleas pray that Lord will show me what he wants me to write about.

Why write a book?

 Why write a book? That is a good question. Maybe a better question would be what is the motivation behind wanting to write a book? Well this is  my motivation: "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" 1 Thessalonians 5:11. I want whatever I write about to be a blessing to the body of Christ. To encourage and buildup the body all to praise and glory of God!

 So I'll keep you guys posted and updated on this. I'm excited to see what the Lord will have me to write and share with the body of Christ, with you all!

grace & peace,
Teazey

We Are Friends

We are friends

Brothers in Christ

Brother and sister in Christ

We have this partnership in the Gospel

We have the same faith

The Faither

The same Savior & Lord

The same goal

And same end 

 What happened though?
How did it come to this?
Was it something I said?
Something I did?


Come now
Let's figure this out
Let's clear the air
Let us reason together


Let us put away
Any envy, jealousy, and bitterness
Let us cast aside
Any pride, selfishness, or self-boasting


And instead let us
Clothe ourselves with
Humilty, meekness, and patience
Also with
Kindness, gentleness, and love


Not to mention
Let us forgive each other
Where forgiveness is needed
Having in mind
That our Lord
Has forgiven us in Christ


After all this
Let us continue to run 
This race together
Fighting the good fight
Striving side by side
For the faith of the Gospel

Let there be encouragement 
And mutual upbuilding
Sharpening & rebuking
Reminding one another
Of the promises & truths
In God's Word 


All this for building up
The body of Christ
For sake of 
Christ & the Gospel
And the glory of God


Yes! 
By the grace of God
We are friends!