1. family and parenting
2. children

devotional study guide
This journal belongs to: ______________________________
Mission trip dates: __________________________________
Come into His presence. Go on HIs behalf.
KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
Mission trip location: ________________________________
table of
contents
INTRODUCTION2
DAY 1 We Are a Kingdom of Priests
4
DAY 2 Jesus Is Our High Priest
8
DAY 3 Jesus Commissions Us as Priests
11
DAY 4 Priests Are Servant Leaders
14
DAY 5 Priests Are Worshippers
17
DAY 6 Priestly Mediators
20
DAY 7 Priests Are a Community
Where We Put God on Display
23
DAY 8 Trusting Jesus as the High Priest
26
DAY 9 Priests Are Invitational
29
Back2Back Opportunities
38
Back2Back Overview42
5-Point Child Development Plan44
We encourage you to take the time to finish this book after you return home. Stories and
lessons the staff have learned on African soil, Mexican mountains, Haitian shorelines, and
Indian streets will fill this book and your heart for what’s to come.
We are recipients of God’s
goodness, mercy, forgiveness,
gifts and grace.
As priests, we are conduits
of His goodness, mercy,
forgiveness, gifts and grace.
INTRODUCTION
KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
by Beth Guckenberger, Co-Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries
I had never thought of myself as a priest; it’s still a stretch to
think of myself as a saint. (I Corinthians 1: 2 To those who are sanctified
in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.) But God’s word
is clear affirming in I Peter 2: 9 that ‘you are…a royal priesthood.’ All
Christians are priests.
BEING A What is a priest’s mission? A priest’s chief responsibility is to
PRIEST show others what God is like. We can’t just be recipients of His
MEANS grace and goodness; we are also to be conduits or vessels of that
I am more than
the recipient of
God’s goodness,
mercy,
forgiveness, gifts
and grace.
Being a priest
means I am
a conduit of
His goodness,
mercy,
forgiveness,
gifts and grace.
2
goodness to others. All Christ-followers have a calling, (and I don’t
mean the particulars of where you sense God asking you to be or
serve). His larger mission is for us to put Him on display.
When someone interacts with a priest, a Christ-follower, they should
know more about God after the exchange. This is true whether
we are delivering good news or engaging in conflict. We need to
conduct ourselves in such a way that, on the other side of our
conversations, someone learns more about God’s character. It may
be they understand His generosity, or His sensitivity, or His truth,
or His grace. But whatever it is, it’s the one task He has left us with:
represent me through your actions to a world lost.
It’s why this week we will ask you to join us in meeting human need;
we want the person being helped to understand this is what the
Father is like. It might feel like we meet their need for other reasons
(our own humanity, or so they will be indebted or endeared to us),
but the real reason we mediate (or meet human need) is so they
understand God’s heart for them.
The Bible talks a lot about our priesthood, and we will spend this
week diving into those verses and the questions associated it. You’ll
learn as a priest, Christians should be set apart, even holy. What does
that look like practically? We should be invitational, not exclusive.
How can we mirror Jesus’ there’s-a-place-for-everyone approach?
We will spend time understanding a priest is a servant leader he or she goes last in line, takes the worst, not the best for himself.
How can we understand Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 23:11-12?
NOTES
_________________
_________________
The greatest among you will be your servant. For those
_________________
who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who
_________________
humble themselves will be exalted.
_________________
_________________
Finally, we will talk about how community is where we put
on display that this way of God’s really works. I Corinthians 3:16
says,
Don’t you know that you (which is in the plural form
like ‘you all’) are the temple (singular) of the Holy
Spirit?
It was His idea to pull us together into a shared mission, and as we
work it out together, we have ample opportunity to demonstrate
to the world there is another way to live.
I hope this week you will become more comfortable with
understanding yourself as a priest. I am sure you will have many
opportunities to put God on display with those in your group,
with the staff and with the children you came here to meet. Each
time we offer, encourage and serve one another, we show a bit of
the character of our Father. Each time we don’t demand our own
way, put someone’s need above our own or sacrifice for another,
we show someone what God is like.
Join us as we explore this truth together. That will mean holding
each other accountable and praying for one another. It will mean
asking questions and engaging in conversations that leave the
other challenged to sacrifice more, listen more and be set apart.
This is what community should look like, and we invite you into
ours. Together, we will send a message to this most vulnerable of
populations: God is there for them.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
JOIN US AS
WE EXPLORE
TOGETHER.
Together, we will
send a message
to this most
vulnerable of
populations: God
is there for them.
3
DAY 1
WE ARE A
KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
by Kimberly Hackworth, Back2Back U.S. Office
ISAIAH 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has
anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for
the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…
to comfort all who mourn…to bestow on them a crown of
beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will
be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the
display of his splendor.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
WHAT IS OUR
PURPOSE?
To glorify God.
Jesus did not
come just to
save us; He also
came to transform
us to display His
splendor to a
hurting, broken
world.
4
Isaiah, the prophet, was commissioned to announce freedom to the
Jews in captivity, and Jesus used these same words many years later
to announce the start of His ministry in Luke 4:14-20. Jesus did
not come ‘unsent’; He was commissioned at an appointed time to
establish His kingdom of heaven here on earth. He had a warrant
from heaven to free sin-bound captives (all sinners – you and I) and
release us from darkness into His light. In verse 3, Jesus came to
comfort us, crown us in beauty, give joy and adorn us in praise. We
no longer have to carry despair or hopelessness. Slaves live with
despair, sons live life with joy! At the end of verse 3, Scripture tells
us we will be strengthened and made righteous, firmly planted for a
purpose. What is our purpose, the purpose of a former slave, just
bought back with a Savior’s love? To glorify God.
Jesus did not come just to save us; He came to transform us
to display His splendor to a hurting, broken world. He gets to
show off using His children. He makes hard concepts easier to
understand when they are lived out in front of us.This is what
mercy looks like. This is what patience looks like. This is what
love looks like. He wanted His character to be displayed, so
He does it through us. Isaiah 61 continues,
4
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the
places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations…And you
NOTES
will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named
_________________
ministers of our God…
_________________
Jesus came to free us, and provide healing, comfort and a new
identity. We are free only by surrendering to Jesus and trusting
Him with our life.This means our decisions and relationships; it
means trusting Him with our past hurts and our future plans.
“They” in verse 4 is anyone who has accepted Jesus’ invitation
for salvation. When we are saved through Christ, we become
His people, (or in other words, His priests), and through this
relationship, Jesus commissions us to go into the world on
His behalf. When He says ‘Go’, we can obey and allow the
Spirit to work through us to rebuild and restore broken lives.
This act of obedience allows us to serve as agents of renewal
for those in the need, to minister on earth as it is in Heaven.
_________________
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_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Followers of Jesus
are a royal priesthood
We were >
many races. We were >
many nations.
_________________
_________________
We are now
one chosen race.
_________________
We are now
one holy nation.
_________________
We were > We are now
possessedHis own
by our guilt
possession.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
5
DAY 1
CONTINUED
WE ARE A
KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
by Chris Cox, One21 Director
GO ON HIS BEHALF
I was visiting a Back2Back site with a One21 mission
team filled with high school students and youth workers.
The goal for the day was to bless the caregivers of the home,
reminding them of their value as they nurtured and cared for
each child. The day started with the youth pastors having a
prayer and brainstorming session with the caregivers on best
practices for working with teenagers. In this room, we were one
holy nation of youth workers unified by Jesus and our desire for
generations to know Him.
Lorena
prayed,
“God,
would you
make
this soup
taste like
heaven.”
As we led the caregivers outside, the children gathered around,
laid their hands on them and began to pray over each one. The
sweet voices of children lifted prayers, interceding for the men
and women who sacrificed daily for them. Then, the children
handed out gifts to each caregiver, strategically chosen with care
to help them in their work. Lorena, the “chef ” of the home,
opened her bag of kitchen tools, towels and labels. She held
them above her head and shouted, “yes!”. She turned to us
and with tear filled eyes said, “Each day I make the soup for the
children and the groups who serve here. I ask God daily, ‘Would
you make the soup taste like heaven? The children deserve it.”
Lorena reminded us of what God is like - He would want the
best for His children. He honors her daily decision to offer her
gifts and all she has to make the best she can for His children.
Together we are on the same team, we are one holy nation, sent
by God to send a message to the lost. He wants every one of
us found.
6
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
WE ARE A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
1 How does Isaiah 61: 1-6 speak to you about your role as a priest of the Lord?
Have you ever thought of yourself in this way before?
2 Read through the Isaiah passage and circle the words that reflect “good news”
to you. How do these words invite you into God’s story?
3 How would you define, “good news to the poor?” How do you think you can
be a messenger of “good news to the poor” this week?
7
DAY 2
JESUS IS
OUR HIGH PRIEST
by Hope Garcia, Back2Back Monterrey
HEBREWS 7:24-27
…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent
priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who
come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede
for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need - one who
is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above
the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to
offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for
the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all
when He offered Himself.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
Since the time of Aaron in the Old Testament, priests were the
mediators between God and the Jewish people. One of their main
duties involved offering sacrifices to God to atone for the sins the people
committed, bridging the gap so a relationship could exist between the
perfect God and the sinful people He had chosen. Priests offered sacrifices
for sin two times every day on the altar of burnt offering at the entrance
to the temple. Only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, a chosen
high priest would enter the inner room of the temple, the Holy of Holies,
where the presence of God resided to make atonement for the people’s
sins. He could only go behind the curtain after he went through strict
cleansing rituals and offered many sacrifices for his personal sin (Leviticus
16). This once a year entrance into the Most Holy Place undoubtedly had
the chosen high priest shaking in his sandals! If he was found unclean, he
would be struck dead in God’s presence. It was that serious!
8
Jesus came to bear the sins of us all, opening up direct lines
of communication between God and us. Today, we no longer
need an earthly priest to offer sacrifices on our behalf. It is
awesome to remember when Jesus’ body was torn on the
cross, the curtain in the temple that separated God’s presence
from common man was torn in two (Matthew 27:51) Through
Christ, the ultimate High Priest, we now have personal access
to God’s intimate presence whenever we want!
NOTES
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
GO ON HIS BEHALF
_________________
I was standing in the back of the cabin-like auditorium
just listening. A semi-circle of folding chairs was filled with
middle and high-school students on a retreat from neighboring
children’s homes. They were raptly listening to a young college
student passionately share about her way of communicating
with a Living God. Her face was alight and her excitement kept
her mouth and hands going fast as she told them how God
hears and responds to prayers. She wasn’t sharing to entertain
the group for that half hour. She shared because she had
experienced the reality of God’s responses in her life. Listening
to her from the back corner filled me with thankfulness and
peace.
_________________
Only a year before, Karla was sitting at a picnic table beside
my house confessing sin she had been living in for months. We
talked, prayed and repented that day, but she continued to
struggle with a dark conscience. It was hard for her to draw near
to God because of the guilt she felt over the reality of having
fallen into the same sin several times and the possibility it could
happen again. I continued to repeat the truth that Jesus’ blood
cleansed her completely, once and for all, and that His blood
sacrifice gave her the constant ability to draw near to God, no
matter what. Over the weeks that followed, Karla slowly started
to believe, trust and accept the work of her High Priest. Now, I
was listening to her, broken yet redeemed, teaching others how
to draw near to God, as well. Only when we accept the Lord
as our own High Priest and experience Him in this way can we
truly become ministers to others.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
Only when
we accept the
Lord as our
own High Priest
and experience
Him in this
way can we
truly become
ministers to
others.
9
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
JESUS IS OUR PRIEST
Read Hebrews 9: 11-15
1 Why is it necessary that Jesus pay the price for the sin of the world? Why
don’t our attempts at atonement work?
2 What did the blood of Christ do for us?
3 Are you carrying any burdens that you have not accepted forgiveness for?
What are they?
Read Hebrews 10:19-22
4 How can you practically “draw near to God” today?
5 Write a prayer thanking Jesus for being your High Priest and opening a way for
you to have communion with our Holy God.
10
DAY 3
JESUS COMMISSIONS
US AS PRIESTS
by Anna Valdez, Back2Back Monterrey
I PETER 2:4-5
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of
God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being
built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. REVELATION 1:5-6
...and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us
from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God
and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
We have a title and a purpose. We are royal priests, and God has
called us to rule. Although royalty in our culture is characterized by
entitlement and elitism, we are different. We can rule over our own flesh,
rule over evil spirits and powers, and we can use this power to be an
appealing example to draw others into His Kingdom of Priests.
As His Kingdom, we are invited into the messiness of loving others. We
do not bear our title with exclusivity, but instead we engage others in
His redemptive story. This is only possible because God made us ‘living
stones.’ This is an ancient practice where a people put a large stone in
a place where something significant happened, so all would pass by and
remember that event. Scripture calls us ‘living stones,’ a walking monument
to the significant movement of Christ in our life. Now, we can stand as
examples by living as people of forgiveness, reconciliation, selflessness and
compassion. When we go far beyond what society considers charitable,
we make a decision to live by His promises in our ministry, home, jobs and
community.
Scripture
calls us ‘living
stones,’ a
walking
monument
to the
significant
movement
of Christ in
our life.
11
GO ON HIS BEHALF
It was my third day in Monterrey, Mexico as a
caregiver for nine teenage girls in a children’s home,
and I kept thinking,This is so hard! How can I ever do this? Jesus
you have to change these girls. Can’t you see how difficult this
is? They have to be different. Fix their parents. Fix their lives!
I often stayed
up late making
pancakes at
night to satisfy
their hunger.
I wanted them
to see what
mattered to
them, mattered
to Him.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
12
Initially, I was focused on their behavior, and I had no one else to
talk to about them, except Jesus. After constantly complaining
to God for months, He gently convicted me, and I realized I
was the one who had to change. I couldn’t teach my 15-minute
devotion at night and expect them to be enlightened. Their
understanding of who Christ is would come from my daily
display of His work in my life. My connection with them had
to be a living example of God’s love for them. When I was
patient, I showed them He was patient. When I was peaceful,
I showed them He was peaceful. I had to make sacrifices, and
show them this is a taste of how He offers Himself to us.
When one of the girls, Magi, wanted to talk about her deceased
brother, I stayed up later than I wanted. I wanted her to see
Jesus listens. I often stayed up late making pancakes at night to
satisfy their hunger. I wanted them to see what mattered to
them, mattered to Him. I wanted to try to connect with Lola,
who has Down Syndrome, and hum songs as we swung for an
hour. I wanted her to see Jesus is gentle. Jesus gave me access
to His eyes when I decided to be the living stone, and now I
see each girl shine with potential, as He does. We continue to
pray, as they understand more each day of who He is. We pray
they will continue to respond to Him, allowing themselves to
be transformed and stand as living stones, a testimony to how
God loves.
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
JESUS COMMISSIONS US AS PRIESTS
1 When has God called you to live differently from those around you?
2 Who are the hardest people for you to invest in?
3 What sacrifices might you have to make in order to invest more deeply into
those around you?
4 Who are some people that you have invested deeply in? Do you have a story
like Anna’s? Be reminded of the beauty found in these moments as priests.
5 How can you be a living stone in your home?
6 What do you need to ask Jesus for today?
13
DAY 4
PRIESTS ARE
SERVANT LEADERS
by Chad Huber, Back2Back Mazatlan
PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your
own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
God often
connects
us with
a person
who makes
our own
lives richer
for the
experience
of knowing
them.
14
As followers of Jesus we are to be priests who serve.The
concept of serving others without regard for our own interests is
familiar. We are called to serve those who cannot repay us (Luke 14:14)
and to love others without worrying about being loved in return. When
we submit to these principles and live them out, we are molded into
the image of The Ultimate Giver - Jesus. We offer ourselves and He
responds. We pour out and He fills up. We can’t out-give or outserve Him. What initially sounds like a one-sided exchange becomes
so much more.
Transformation comes when we trust God’s character enough to
break through the initial barrier of wanting our own needs met, and we
stop being afraid of what might happen if they are not. Lives are forever
changed when we take the uncomfortable step towards the unknown.
God is always there to connect our hearts to the heart of someone
in need. As an added bonus, He often connects us with a person who
makes our own lives richer for the experience of knowing them.
After I take a step to serve in Jesus’ name, I often feel like I am the one
blessed by the encounter. No matter what we give away, we come
away richer than before. As we are told in Acts 20: 35, it really is more
blessed to give than to receive.
GO ON HIS BEHALF
Rancho de Los Niños is a children’s home in Mazatlan,
Mexico serving children with varying types of disabilities. It is difficult enough to live in a children’s home, away from
your biological family. It is something else entirely to live in a home
with 20+ kids of varying levels of disability. Yet, it never ceases to
amaze me how God knits hearts together in such a difficult place.
Meet Ricky. Ricky is a 21-year-old young man who has lived at
Rancho for many years. Ricky is almost completely blind, partially
deaf, moderately developmentally impaired and primarily nonverbal. Can you imagine how hard it is for an English-speaking
visitor to forge a real heart-to-heart connection with Ricky?
Well, maybe it is not as hard as we think.
Meet Steve. Steve is a recent mission trip guest who served
in Mazatlan. A connection was obvious from the very first day
Steve met Ricky. God is in the business of connecting hearts,
and He had already appointed a friendship between the two.
When Steve chose to serve faithfully, without regard to “selfish
ambition or vain conceit”, he came into agreement with God; and
participated in His bigger story. Watching Steve spend an entire
day giving his undivided attention to this one special young man
was a beautiful sight to see.
Taking Ricky by the arm so he could walk safely around the three
acres of land? Check. Spending hours on the trampoline cheering
Ricky on to jump higher and with more confidence while Steve
held his hands for balance? Check. Rubbing his temples, then his
knees, and finally his dirty bare feet because they hurt? Check.
As a mere observer of this budding friendship, I can I tell you the
exchange was not one-sided. Both were filled beyond measure. I
can tell you those on the sidelines were able to witness how Jesus
sent a member of His royal priesthood to give something away in
the interests of another. We saw a little more clearly what Jesus
might look like that day.
NOTES
_________________
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_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
We saw a
little more
clearly what
Jesus might
look like that
day.
15
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
PRIESTS ARE SERVANT LEADERS
1 Who is a person that exemplifies the “selfless servant” in your life?
2 Take a moment to write a note to that servant, thanking them for being a Kingdom
Priest on your behalf. (You can decide later whether you send this note when you
return home, but go ahead and use this space to write it.)
3 “Transformation comes when we trust God’s character enough to break through the
initial barrier of wanting our own needs met, and we stop being afraid of what might
happen if they are not. “ What needs have you been longing God to meet through your
service this week? Will you trust Him enough to let go of your needs, and see what is
before you?
4 Visualize the people you have met this week, and those serving with you. What face
stands out? Who are you being invited to serve?
16
DAY 5
PRIESTS ARE
WORSHIPPERS
by Matt and Julie Cooper, U.S. Staff
PSALM 135:2
All you priests on duty in God’s temple, serving in the sacred
halls of our God, Shout ‘Hallelujah!’ because God is so good,
sing anthems to his beautiful name.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
As priests and followers of Jesus, we are called to be
worshipers. When we worship, however, are we entering in with
the right attitude? Are we aware of the power behind worshiping
God?
In John 4: 23-24, Jesus tells the woman at the well, “The time is coming
when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” I
think for Jesus the important thing is that we come into worship with
the right attitude, coming with nothing hidden, nothing holding us
back. It makes me think of King David dancing before the Lord “with
all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). Our worship should be out of complete
freedom, fully expressing ourselves before Him. I love that picture.
I also love what can happen when we worship. In 2 Chronicles 20, as
the people faced an impending battle, fear and discouragement set in.
God reminded them, “The battle is not yours, but mine [God’s]. You
will not even need to fight but rather stand still and watch the Lord’s
victory” (vs. 15-17). King Jehoshaphat and his people then began to
praise the Lord and “appointed singers to walk ahead of the army,
singing to the Lord and praising Him” (v. 21). At the very moment
they began to sing, God caused the opposing armies to start fighting
among themselves – and every single one of the enemies ended up
dead! (vs. 22-24)
As the people
faced an
impending
battle, fear and
discouragement
set in. God
reminded them,
“The battle is
not yours, but
mine.
17
GO ON HIS BEHALF
I never thought I would experience enemy armies
dying like King Jehoshaphat, but then I lived an experience,
where in the spiritual sense, I witnessed what happens when
we “send the singers to walk ahead of the army.”
As we lifted up
the name of
the Lord,
He reminded
us the victory
was His, and
spiritual battles
were won before
our very eyes.
We watched
as God did the
miraculous.
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18
A number of years ago, we were feeling extremely burdened
for many of the students we worked with. We sensed God
wanting to bring breakthrough and revival. We prayed, we
fasted – we were willing to do anything to see God bring
change. It was during that season God brought together a
small worship band consisting of Back2Back staff and friends
from a local church. Over a period of several months, our band
played at youth retreats, at children’s homes, at churches, for
the teens of our Hope Program and even for our staff on a
few occasions.
We were far from a polished performance. We loved to
worship, and we loved leading others into a place of worship.
Each time we played, we simply poured ourselves out before
the Lord, attempting to worship Jesus with nothing hidden –
and at each gathering we invited those there with us to do the
same. Time and again, God met us in the midst of our worship.
As we lifted up the name of the Lord, He reminded us the
victory was His, and spiritual battles were won before our very
eyes. We watched as God did the miraculous. He restored
emotional wounds. He healed the broken-hearted. He brought
salvation to the lost. God ignited revival in burned out souls.
The battle was God’s and the battle was won – seemingly all
because we were obedient to worship Him. What a beautiful
part of the battle He allows us to play.
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
PRIESTS ARE WORSHIPPERS
1 Is it hard for you to believe that we play a part in spiritual battles through
our worship? Why?
2 What are obstacles for you in having the right attitude as you enter worship?
3 Do you have a personal testimony of how God has shown you that the
“battle is His”? (or) Have you ever experienced a victory through the
power of worship?
4 In what ways is God asking you to trust Him with a current battle going on
around you? What steps can you take this week to worship him, and trust
him to fight this battle for you?
19
DAY 6
PRIESTLY
MEDIATORS
by Brent Fudge, Back2Back Haiti
PHILIPPIANS 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the
riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
I have spent many hours roaming the aisles of Home
Depot or Lowes looking for that one product I need; a
plumbing adaptor, swing set hinge or a rubber grommet. Part of my
problem is sometimes I don’t even know what it’s called, in English or
Creole!
Roaming
around isn’t
limited to
Home Depot.
Many of
us before
Christ have
roamed the
corridors of
life unable to
identify what
we needed
or where to
look to find
answers.
20
Roaming around isn’t limited to Home Depot. Many of us before Christ
have roamed the corridors of life unable to identify what we needed or
where to look to find answers. We journey through life lost when apart
from God’s presence and guidance. Some of us may remember those
times with vivid detail. Others may remember those times as a distant
past, but for all of us, once we are not lost, but found, we are called to
be priests. As priests, we are mediators for those who are in need. 1
Peter 2:9 reads, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of
him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
As priests, we declare the praises of God. Many times, the best way to
declare the story of God (and what He’s done for you) is by meeting
human need in His name. When we care for the lost, needy, fatherless,
widowed and orphaned, we become priestly mediators between our
Holy Creator and the world. This declaration of praise to Jesus announces
we are out of the dark and now in the light. Now, we can be that Home
Depot employee who knows what the part is called and where to find it.
GO ON HIS BEHALF
As we came alongside the caregivers in Haiti,
we were burdened, not only by the needs of the
children, but of the caregivers as well. They manage
large loads, with little training, just offering their gifts and heart
daily. Some days, they struggled to understand the children
and what their voice might be saying. After years, they have
grown fatigued. This is where we wanted to step in, to be
supportive.This past January, we invited several workers from
area children’s homes to attend a training, equipping all of us
with a deeper understanding of trauma (and how it affects
the children.) The caregivers offered example after example
of behavior, looking for answers. God provided mediators
through Dr. David and Jayne Schooler who taught creative
methods to listen for cues when a child speaks, or coach
them in sharing their emotions constructively. They explained
why children with traumatic backgrounds behave the way
they do, and the insight was meaningful when we thought
about ourselves as well as the children. It can be difficult,
trying to not just manage the children, but parent them. As
one caregiver shared,
“This training is like water to dry land. I was parched for
information to help me in my work, and this training has
refreshed me.”
In just a few short months since we all sat and learned about
ourselves and children, about trauma and emotion, and about
connection before correction, caregivers have seen positive
changes in the children through the new tools they received.
When God mediates, you see results follow. His truth
brings compassion and life. He gives gifts like patience and
self-control. He always knows what we need and uses His
children to reach out to us, as we wander around those aisles.
Once we have tasted how good it is to find what we are
looking for, we raise our hand in praise to the Father. Then
we offer ourselves as His representative, being a kingdom of
priests who delights in serving others.
God provided
mediators
through Dr.
David and Jayne
Schooler who
taught creative
methods to
listen for cues
when a child
speaks, or coach
them in sharing
their emotions
constructively.
NOTES
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
21
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
PRIESTLY MEDIATORS
1 Make a list of the “human need” you have witnessed this week. Think about the
children, caregivers and Back2Back staff as you make this list.
2 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are “God’s special possession.” How does this truth
free us to meet the needs of others?
3 Why do you think God invites us to be mediators of human need?
4 Take a moment to pray over the children and caregivers you have met this
week, that God may use us to meet the following:
Social needs:
Emotional needs:
Physical needs:
Educational needs:
Spiritual needs:
5 What are the ways you can begin to mediate for human needs at home, in your
community, work, or school?
22
DAY 7
PRIESTS ARE A COMMUNITY
WHERE WE PUT GOD ON DISPLAY
by Erick and Julie Mowery, Back2Back Cancun
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s
temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
Christ calls us daily to follow Him, to take this journey and along the way we find the more time we
spend together, the more we get to know Him. This
getting-to-know Him is all so we can be like Him. We are
called to keep learning and growing, so we can represent
Christ to the world and display His goodness and love.
When Jesus chose His disciples, He found ordinary people and
said, “Come and follow me.” They did not have any special
training or skills, but were chosen because He saw they could
be like Him, an accurate reflection of His grace. But to do that,
they had to walk with Him daily, to learn from Him by being
in His presence. The fact God calls ordinary people to follow
Him so they can display His love and mercy to others is both
exciting and scary. We don’t have to have special talents or
skills; we just have to be willing and available to be taught and
trained.This willingness comes from a desire to know Him, not
a duty to follow Him. When we realize how much He loves
us and how much He sacrificed for us, desire will trump duty.
God calls
ordinary
people to
follow Him
so they can
display His
love and
mercy to
others.
23
GO ON HIS BEHALF
Recently, we had a college team come down to
serve in Cancun, Mexico. One evening, the staff was
Getting hungry,
I walked over to
them and said,
“Hey guys.
Go get some
food.”
They hesitated
and said,
“No. You go.
We’re third.”
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
24
waiting for everyone on the team to get their dinner
before we got ours. After waiting awhile, I noticed there
were four men from the team who had not gotten their
meals. Getting hungry, I walked over to them and said, “Hey
guys. Go get some food.” They hesitated and said, “No. You
go. We’re third.” I didn’t know what they meant by that, so I
asked. They explained they are trying to live out a principle
of ‘being third’ - God first, others second, me third. I didn’t
need someone to explain what that meant. I was seeing it
lived out in front of me! It was impressive to witness their
desire to reflect Christ’s servant nature. It was a practical
manifestation of the character of Christ. I know they were
hungry because they had worked hard all day. I know it
left them less time to eat, but when we follow Christ’s
example, it will cost us. A friend once told me: “We all like
to serve until we are treated like a servant.” Jesus set for
us an example of being willing to be a servant, and every
time we follow it, we honor Him.
As High Priests, we are a community and responsible for
putting God on display. This happens each time we take
a step of faith, serve one another, love when it’s easy and
hard or give sacrificially. The impact of realizing I am God’s
temple, His holy dwelling, challenges me to live and respond
differently. What we do (or don’t do) can have profound
impact on how we display God to those around us. We
want the whole world to see His love changes everything.
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
PRIESTS ARE A COMMUNITY WHO PUT GOD
ON DISPLAY
Meditate and answer these questions about your communal
experience this week:
1 How did you display the love of God to the community you served?
2 How did you display the love of God as community with the people on your
team?
3 How did you display the love of God with God as His Kingdom of Priests?
Now think ahead to your return home:
1 What community can you go to serve?
2 Who can you invite to live as community with you?
3 How can you deepen your community with God?
25
DAY 8
TRUSTING JESUS AS
THE HIGH PRIEST
by Corrie Guckenberger, Back2Back U.S. Office
EPHESIANS 1:15-19
That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the
Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers
of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I
prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than
thank. I ask — ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God
of glory — to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing
him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see
exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of
this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter
extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy,
boundless strength!
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
Jesus has proven Himself as the High Priest. As you have
learned this week, we also operate as a priest because He
is our High Priest. To represent God to a lost world, through our
humble service, worship, sacrifice to meet human need and putting
Him on display in our community, requires a relationship based on
trust. If that trust is hindered or weak, our ability to serve and function
as His royal priesthood is compromised. If serving is compromised
to those around us, we are not responding horizontally as He would
desire. He desires for us to be filled vertically, so we can go out
horizontally to this world by serving the community around us.
26
GO ON HIS BEHALF
When living in Nigeria, I had the privilege to visit one
of the children’s homes each week and grew to know
the Sisters who ran this particular home. One day, I
NOTES
_________________
was in the car with one of the Sisters. She communicated
to me how she wished there was a vow of community that
could be taken because in community trust is built and lived
out. She is right.
_________________
I would often bring local schools to minister to the children
in this home. Local eighth graders came on a consistent
basis – loving the children, cleaning the home and bringing
fun things to do with the children. I realized with each return
visit there was a deeper affection and a greater desire to be
a part of these children’s lives. When I heard stories of how
these eighth graders started bringing their families to visit
the children on their own time, I realized they had formed
a community with the children. They formed trusting
relationships. It was no longer their community serving
the other community, but it had become one community
serving each other out of the affection of Christ. It was also
an overflow of trust in their heavenly Father to love through
them. “Oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust
him—endless energy, boundless strength!”
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
It was no
longer their
community
serving
the other
community, but
it had become
one community
serving each
other out of
the affection of
Christ.
27
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
TRUSTING JESUS AS THE HIGH PRIEST
1 Do you find it easy or difficult to trust?
2 Who do you trust the most in your sphere of relationships?
3 What character traits could make it difficult to trust a person?
4 What trust issues do you need Jesus to overcome?
5 Do you have a trustworthy community around you? How are you depending
on them? How can they depend on you?
28
DAY 9
PRIESTS
ARE INVITATIONAL
by Michael and Courtney Schreiner, Back2Back India
HEBREWS 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who
has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not
have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted
in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us
then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
us in our time of need.
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE
Where would we be without Jesus? Jesus gives us
a free and open invitation to be in communion with an
all-knowing, always-loving God. Jesus was the man who
came in flesh, used by God to help transform His culture’s
people and ultimately their hearts. And, He is still doing it
today! He does not care how ugly our past is. He invites
us. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us — no hidden
laws, no requirements. It’s simple really. He gives us the
opportunity to receive His sacrifice and freely offer it to
others; to offer an invitation to live and love as priests in a
kingdom culture. NOTES
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
29
GO ON HIS BEHALF
Living in India, an ancient culture embedded with rituals,
various religions and unique superstitions, we have come
to realize transforming a culture and the people needing Jesus’
love requires much more time and effort than we can humanly
offer. What we have learned and come to love about God since
living in India is this — He does not change the culture, but rather,
He transforms people within it. He invites us as His priests, and by
doing so, shows how we are a crucial part in the development of His
kingdom here on earth. He uses us! Consider this an “open invitation”
to join Him in His work here on earth.
Despite the
daunting
cultural
differences
and potential
risk, two young
girls in our
community
have accepted
the invitation to
be known by
the High Priest,
claim their role
as kingdom
priests and are
inviting their
Hindu families
to join
His Kingdom. 30
The majority of the children we serve in India come from Hindu
families. Hinduism is deeply rooted in culture and for generations
upon generations in families. It is so rooted that an invitation to follow
Jesus within a Hindu culture is not an easy task. Many who choose
to follow Jesus are shunned from their villages and disowned by their
families. We have asked ourselves, “How will the Gospel ever take
hold, Jesus? Will our efforts even matter?” But we knew the invitation
we had been given, and we knew it had to be shared. Despite the
daunting cultural differences and potential risk, two young girls in our
community have accepted the invitation to be known by the High
Priest, claim their role as kingdom priests and are inviting their Hindu
families to join His Kingdom. God shines His light through these girls,
and they have the holy privilege of representing Him to the family
members still unsure of this faith.
These girls, two young kingdom priests from the Back2Back India
Hope Campus, shared with us their growing faith in God and
expressed their concerns for their families back in their villages who
still worship Hindu gods. The girls expressed their desire for their
families to know God. They shared how they pray daily for their
families, asking Jesus to be their High Priest. The girls talk about the
conversations they have shared with family members, anxious for
these kingdom moments to take root in their hearts. Within the
hearts of these young kingdom priests, transformation is taking place,
an invitation is being offered and a kingdom culture is being cultivated.
In this story, we find the hope in being a Kingdom of Priests. We
have life, so we can share life. We understand truth, so we can share
truth. Jesus began by inviting Back2Back to serve children in India. He
invited caregivers, Back2Back staff and mission trip guests to engage
in His story as priests, and as they obey, the light of God’s kingdom
spreads. Ultimately, He invited two young girls to live putting Him
on display, and in doing so they invite their families into a story that
changes everything.
REFLECT
REFLECTION: KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
PRIESTS ARE INVITATIONAL
1 How can we, as kingdom priests, be invitational to those who come from a
significantly different worldview than us?
2 Take a moment to list the world religions that do not center on Jesus. Ask Jesus
to redeem the people who live within these worldviews.
3 Are you ready to join the Kingdom of Priests? Who can you invite into the
presence of God? Where will you go on His behalf?
31
32
receive
33
34
35
36
37
We’re grateful for your investment in the lives of the children you met and the
impact that you made on their lives! Thank you for coming alongside us by
providing care for today and hope for tomorrow to orphans in need.
We hope that your experience serving with us was meaningful. As you return
home, we invite you to stay connected with us!
pray
Join us in praying for specific needs of the
children at each Back2Back ministry site.
www.back2back.org/pray
give
Invest in the life of an orphaned child.
www.back2back.org/give
sponsor
Help an orphaned child rewrite his or her future
through child sponsorship.
www.back2back.org/sponsor
go
Join us on a mission trip. engaging in a week of
service for orphans and vulnerable children.
www.back2back.org/go
> On the following pages are opportunities to continue to be
an advocate for the orphans you met this week.
38
Invest in a Student’s Future
Back2Back, through the Hope Program, offers students an opportunity to continue their
education, while living in a home environment. Students grow within a spiritual community,
have their physical, medical, and psychological needs met, are provided with educational
opportunities and are mentored by caring adults. By contributing to Back2Back’s Hope
Program, you can invest in the future of a student.
Learn more about the Back2Back Hope Program
www.back2back.org/hopeprogram
staff Support
All the staff
members at both
the U.S. office and
international sites
raise their full salary
through the support
of individuals and
churches. Consider
standing alongside
this team through a
monthly or annual
contribution.
Learn more about supporting Back2Back Staff
www.back2back.org/staffsupport
39
3
ways
you can
sponsor
A Child
nourish restore transform
every day every child every home
Provide for every day
practical needs of orphaned children living
in Haiti, India, Nigeria
and Mexico.
Connect with a child
personally and help
meet spiritual, physical,
educational, emotional
and social needs.
Invest in transformational change for a
child’s orphanage or
community to make a
lasting impact.
$25 a month $100 A MONTH $250 a month
40
Learn how you can make a difference through child sponsorship.
www.back2back.org/sponsor
Ministry Sites
Back2Back mission trips provide a
life-changing experience leaving a
lasting impact. Whether you are an
individual, family, student, church or
business, there are opportunities
to serve orphans and vulnerable
children in Mexico, Nigeria, India,
and Haiti.
Join us, learn the needs of
children firsthand, and play a
role in their story.
Learn more at
www.back2back.org/go
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
We serve several children’s homes, improvished communities, local missions and
schools for at-risk children.
HYDERABAD, INDIA
We serve children’s hostels, a slum-area ministry in the city, and have a Hope
Program for adolescent vulnerable children.
MAZATLAN, MEXICO
We serve several children’s homes, including one for children with special needs
and another for at-risk girls. We also provide a home for teen girls through the
Hope Program.
CANCUN, MEXICO
We serve children’s homes, support widows and at risk families and do
community development as a form of preventative care through the
Community Center of Tres Reyes. MONTERREY, MEXICO
We serve children’s homes, impoverished communities, facilitate foster care and
provide a home for teens through the Hope Program. JOS, NIGERIA
We serve children’s homes, run an educational center in a nearby village, and
provide a home for teenage boys through the Hope Program.
41
In 1997, Back2Back followed God’s call to
be His hands and feet to serve orphans in
Monterrey, Mexico. We started small by
sheltering, nourishing, and
teaching children about
God’s love.
The children you
will meet
this week
have experienced abandonment, loss, abuse and
neglect. This inflluences
how they communicate
and behave. Your investment will impact their
lives as it will impact
your own. 163,000,000
orphans is not a statistic.
It is a story.
After years of experience we
importance of investing on a
level in the lives of children. In
the Back2Back 5-Point
Development Plan was crea
an approach to orphan
ministry that addresses
crucial areas of child develop
(spiritual, physical, educational, em
and social needs).
We all have a role in this mission. Tog
We value healthy Galatian
partners and children. Galatia
way you will fulfill the law of Christ” G
load.” In Greek, “burden” means som
while a “load” refers to the weight of
We value what is best for the child. Th
filter from which we make decisions.
We value education and training on
communicate God is the hero and He is using us
We value relationships. More than any
ourselves is paramount. We want to share the hop
circumstances, but restored in Christ. We are al
become adopted into His Kingdom as co-heirs.
You will demonstrate these values all week
through projects and intentional play (what we
call: “play with a purpose”). You might be a part
of a game or activity that teaches sticking together,
taking turns, or showing perserverance. However we engage, we
promise to lead you in thoughtful, trauma-informed care.
42
realized the
a deeper
n 2011,
Child
ated,
care
five
pment
motional
taff
ks
ac
Nat
ion
al
ers
rtn
pa
ev
dd
Chil
Back2Back is
about sustainability
and development of
the orphan child.
el
op
me
nt
pa
rtn
ers
Bac
k2
B
This is only possible when
we work as a team. God
uses His people 365 days a year
to send children one message:
They are loved!
ry
ist
Min
gether...
You are here
ans 6 relationships with ministry
ans 6:2 “Carry each others burdens and in this
Galatians 6:5 “For each one should carry his own
mething one is incapable of carrying himself
f a soldier’s backpack.
he 5-Point Child Development Plan provides a
trauma-informed care. We want to
to fulfill His will.
tangible gift we want to commuicate giving
pe of the Gospel is we are not victims of our
ll “orphans” but when we receive Christ we
Whether you are
engaging in this Mazatlan
story in
Cancun
Haiti
Monterrey,
Mazatlan,
Monterrey
Cancun,
Haiti, Nigeria
or India...
India
Nigeria
You
are
invited
to make
a difference
for one.
Learn more at www.back2back.org 43
5-POINT
Since 1997, Back2Back has realized the
importance of investing on a deeper
level in the lives of children. Simply
providing for a child’s physical needs
isn’t enough. By providing holistic care,
rather than merely meeting immediate
external needs, we can truly help
children to experience complete
restoration. With that in mind, the
Back2Back 5-Pont Child Development
Plan was created, an approach to
orphan care ministry that addresses
five crucial areas of child development.
44
spiritual
physical
Alondra is just
one of 163 million
orphaned children in
our world. But unlike
many other orphans,
Alondra will wake up
tomorrow knowing
she is cared for by
her heavenly Father.
Through opportunities
for spiritual growth,
such as discipleship
and Bible study, we
empower children
like Alondra to
not only discover
their tremendous
significance as an
individual, but to also
realize their unique
purpose in the grand
story that God is
writing.
The dining hall is noisy
with voices as Alondra
files in with her
dormmates.
Back2Back
understands the
importance of
nutrition for children
and ensures that
the children at Casa
Hogar Douglas
receive healthy meals.
Back2Back partners
with children’s homes
to improve the
quality of care for
children like Alondra,
meeting needs such
as medical and dental
care, nutritious meals,
warm clothing, clean
water and safe shelter,
ensuring each child
has an opportunity to
thrive.
T CHILD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
educational
Through an emphasis
on education,
Back2Back invests in
the future of children
like Alondra, so that
they might break
free from the cycle
of poverty. When
children have access
to education, they
are significantly more
likely to become selfsustaining individuals
who give back to
their community. To
see this goal realized,
we provide each child
with the tools they
need to succeed,
tutoring children who
are struggling and
even offering college
scholarships to teens
who participate in
Back2Back’s Hope
Education Program.
emotional
Alondra has two
sisters who live in
her children’s home,
but no concept of
a nuclear family.
Many orphans who
grow up in children’s
homes suffer from
psychological issues as
a result of past abuse
and neglect. By living
alongside the children,
we gain their trust and
begin a dialogue of
recovery. By offering
opportunities for
them to seek healing
through counseling,
we seek to empower
the children to work
through issues, such
as anxiety, depression
and attachment
disorders. Our goal
is that each child
would be restored to
emotional wholeness
social
The schoolyard is alive
with voices as Alondra
plays with her best
friends, Deynari and
Estefi, who are also her
roommates. They clap
their hands together
while chanting a rhyme.
Back2Back addresses
the need for positive
social interaction. We
encourage each child
to pursue personal
growth by offering
training in vital life
skills, such as conflict
resolution, stewardship,
work ethic, independent living skills
and interpersonal
communication. By
mentoring children
in these areas, we
empower them to
flourish relationally.
45
Back2Back
Ministries is an
international
Christian nonprofit organization
that is dedicated
to being a voice
for orphans. We
exist to love and
care for orphans
and impoverished
children, by
meeting their
spiritual, physical,
educational,
emotional and
social needs
that they may
overcome their
life circumstances
and break free
CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Tallie Betscher at childsponsorship@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1705
HOPE EDUCATION PROGRAM
Karen Holliday at kholliday@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1707
STAFF SUPPORT
Karen Holliday at kholliday@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1707
MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES
Chelsie Standeford at cstandeford@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1701
INTERNSHIP & MINISTRY SITES
Chris Ramos at cramos@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1709
DONATIONS
Karen Holliday at kholliday@back2back.org
513-754-0300 ext. 1707
PRAYER NEWSLETTER
Email prayer@back2back.org to begin receiving
monthy ministry prayer updates.
from the cycle
of generational
poverty.
STAY CONNECTED
Find news and updates at www.back2back.org
For more information, contact
the U.S office at (513) 754-0300
Back2Back Ministries, P.O. Box 70, Mason, Oh 45040