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Justin and Amy Culp: Reaching the Lopit People of South Sudan

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“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” – Revelation 7:9

From 2010-2011, Justin spent over a year in South Sudan doing evangelism in some very lost areas, and helping disciple some of the local pastors.  While there, he came face to face with the great need for the gospel in many parts of this new country.  After Justin and Amy got married in 2011, they raised support and went back to South Sudan to work on church planting and discipleship among an unreached tribe called Lopit..

Pioneers believes strongly in reaching unreached peoples, church planting movements and a passion for God.  Justin and Amy have been working with Pioneers to start reaching the millions of unreached people in Southern Sudan with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their goal is to disciple local believers to be strong leaders in their local churches and to start reaching the rest of their own tribes and fellow Sudanese people.  This happens mostly through relationship and Bible Study as we seek to avoid dependency-building “platforms.”

Recently, Justin and Amy have returned to the USA to face some necessary family issues, and while hoping to return to Africa one day, have been given a new ministry focus.

Encountering the world of Islam is a team focused on equipping and mobilizing God's people in the USA and around the world to reach the largest and often most feared group of unreached people worldwide - Muslims.  While working with the EWI team to help streamline some of their processes and better serve this mission, Justin also gets to focus on preparing his family to one day return to South Sudan.

Would you be willing to pray and/or financially support us as we follow God’s call in this endeavor? 

Use the link on the right side of the page to donate, or support can be sent to:

Pioneers

c/o Justin and Amy Culp - 111886

10123 William Carey Dr.

Orlando, FL  32832

October 27, 2023

   

Ezekiel turned 11 last week.  We had an impromptu birthday party at the community center pool, and had one friend from his class spend the night.

      This is one of those months where I’m scrolling through Google Photos trying to figure out what story to tell. With school underway our family has mostly been in the routines that the school year brings. Ezekiel is in chess club and has decided to be the school’s first Yell Leader. Caleb is taking horseback riding lessons and excelling at school. Amy works at a public behavior school as a para and has daily adventure stories, but is also standing out in the way that she loves the kids. Justin is visiting churches, communicating with more churches about potential visits, and making new strides with Salesforce programming and architecture. 

            Amy has had some pretty incredible encounters lately with Muslim women at work and in her other day to day errands. She has been communicating and building friendships with a few other moms. We’ve also been praying about some special relationships with kids from our school. One family in particular has some hard circumstances and just happens to have kids in class with both of ours. The Lord has even opened doors with that family in the way He brought those children to our community group’s Angel Tree kids. 

            On the nerdy side, Justin has basically finished the debugging process on a complicated API pull for importing gift data into our Salesforce org. He also managed to design some useful screen flows that will help streamline the day to day communication tasks that our team needs to accomplish. Now he is working on figuring out how to clean up some data from 2700 contacts and get all of the useful information into the same place (the right record fields) so that the screen flow project will actually work. He has also been providing some technical support for remote teammates who have had some challenges. Once the reports and activity task records are cleaned up and actually useful, this project that has been in the making for quite some time will be ready to launch. 

Ezekiel's 11th birthday party with a homemade cake.

            Ezekiel had his 11th birthday. We are moving in a few weeks to a new place that will save us 2-3 hours a day in driving time, and make life a lot less hectic because of that. We are packing for that move, managing homework and field trips and practices and the day to day American family busyness stuff. Justin also does occasional side jobs for people who need handyman help to make up some of what we lack in the support-raising department. 

            Thank you for praying, writing, giving and keeping up. Being in support-based ministry often feels boring, but is also necessary and the Lord has been working greatly in our family, church, school and daily relationships. If you want a visit from Justin at your church, please reach out!

August 30, 2023

We got a new dog this month, Lola.  She had been at the shelter longer than any other dog there.  She is super friendly and smart. 

               I hope you had a good summer.  Last time I wrote a newsletter was around Independence Day… it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago!  We’ve had a lot happen in the last couple of months, it feels like our lives are always busy, but the summer months are particularly so.

               My job has quite a few different faces.  People often ask me “What does a normal day look like for you?” and I never really know how to answer.  Since we made the transition to Encountering Muslims my official role on the team is organizing our CRM, which is the way an organization keeps track of contacts, leads, fundraising activities, course participants, campaign management and other information.  If we were a typical for-profit company, this would be the heartbeat of our sales program, or inventory management, but in the missions and nonprofit world it’s a little different.  Most of the people on our team have “siloed” information, meaning that whether the information is “local” to a personal computer, or even stored in other out of date systems like a spreadsheet or <shudder> index cards, it can take a lot of time to keep track of what we’re doing.

               Siloed information also causes other problems.  A few months ago I called one of my donors to ask him if we could get together while I was in town.  He told me that he was busy that weekend doing a fundraiser for another missionary that the church supports, but invited me to join him there.  Long story short, that other missionary was one of my coworkers.  We didn’t even know that we were talking to the same person about support at the same time – see how that could be problematic?

               Since I have a programming background, and we decided to stay in the USA for a while, The leader for Encountering Muslims approached me and asked me if I would learn Salesforce, and design an org for our team to solve some of these problems.  If you’re a nerd like me, who is also back from the field because of complex family dynamics that are unpredictable and deserve a lot of focused attention in themselves, being asked to do a job like this is pretty exciting!

Ezekiel was showing Rosie how to drive the go kart... and then she broke my retaining wall with it.

               But that’s just one part of it.  It’s hard to be a person who feels such a call to reach unreached people, and to disciple people who are young in faith and/or leadership, but then sit in the office all day learning how to use a new program.  This is especially true when the team of which I’m a part has a mission to reach unreached Muslim people in the USA and around the world, while also mobilizing US churches to do the same.  So another part of my role on this new team involves both of those things.  We live close to a storefront called the Sudan Coffee Shop.  I’ve gone there with the kids and played cards with the guys and tried to build relationships.  I’ve also been speaking in lots of churches about Encountering Muslims and the importance of refocusing our sight on lost people who need the gospel, but whom we typically treat as enemies.  If I’ve visited your church recently, you’ve already heard what I have to share, but that’s not the only reason I’m speaking in churches.

               As some of you already understand, there are seasons of missionary work where the majority of your time is spent doing fundraising activity.  Mailing letters, making phone calls, having meetings with pastors or potential donors, writing thank you cards, traveling to various networking opportunities…it’s a full-time job in itself!  That aspect of my job is always there, there are always people to call and thank, always updates to give, always a little bit more fundraising to do, but this has been a unique season for lots of missionaries, including myself.  Ever since 2020, giving to charitable organizations has been tenuous.  Jobs are less certain, everything is getting more expensive, banks are failing…  this is a season where people are hesitant to take on new financial commitments, and some who have been faithfully committed for a long time just can’t do it anymore.  Because this everyday reality has been more pronounced in recent years, we’ve had roughly the same deficit in our support level since joining Encountering Muslims.  God has provided us with so many new friends and financial partners, but at the same time, others have had to stop.

               This summer has actually been a really busy and productive season for fundraising.  It’s hard to learn new things in Salesforce when the kids are home all day, but I’ve spoken at churches or visited with pastors in six different states, I got to be the missionary speaker at a kids and youth camp where I met some new churches, and have really spent the bulk of my “work” hours (way more than 40 in a week!) on these things while they’re available.  But now, the kids are back in school, the house is quiet, and I want to be done!

               Now that school is back in full swing, the busyness is different (homework, practices, etc) but I’m free to get back into the Salesforce learning, and the other various outreach opportunities that the Lord has provided me with, but that means I have to trust Him enough to stop spending so much time on fundraising!  Pray with us that God provides the monthly partners that we need (and maintains the ones that we have) to ease up on that area of ministry and move into the next!

               I know this is longer than usual, but it HAS been 2 months…and sometimes I talk to you people at church or on the phone and realize that some of you still have no idea what I’m doing now!  Thanks for reading, praying, emailing, giving, caring and being awesome!

At Alton Bible Church, Pastor Fred wanted to call me up for Q&A before I preached.  I threw Ezekiel under the bus... He did great!

July 10, 2023

 

Since I get so many "I love hearing about your car issues!" emails - 

I figured I'd put in a picture of last week's adventure!

The retired Righteous Rides van that I bought almost 3 years ago finally gave up her ghost!

                       I hope you had a good time with family, church and friends on Independence day this year.  When I reflect on the summer holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans’ Day) I’m always struck by the harmony and tension that a Christian feels.  About 20 years ago I saw a bunch of trendy young people getting tattoos that said NOTW (Not of this World) which resonates with the idea that we’re all “aliens and strangers” in the world which we currently inhabit. 

                       Depending on the church and tradition to which one is accustomed, we can swing to political (and patriotic) extremes one way or the other, but so often the Christian life seems to be one of tension.  Am I thankful for the country I live in and come from?  Of course!  The freedoms and opportunities it affords?  Absolutely!  And yet, when I really reflect on the idea of “home” it just never quite lands where I’m sitting.  Having used that name for so many different geographical locations over the last 20 years is part of my unease with the word, but it’s even more. 

               The New Testament authors seemed to feel some of the same tension.  The obviously glaring imperfections of the Roman Empire were hard to ignore, but being good citizens was still essential to living out a Christian faith in the Roman world.  And yet, we all feel like foreigners and strangers in a world that no longer understands us (or never did).  As we eagerly await the promised redemption of creation, the promised home in Heaven, the promised escape from the trials and pains of this fallen world, the blessings and joys of this world start to pale…but they’re still blessings and joys! 

Caleb lost a fight...

With a treadmill

               When Amy and I were first dating/engaged, she used to say “I’ve never met anyone who looks forward to Heaven (and tries to get there) as much as you do.”  I hope that’s still true, but while I’m here I want to look at the things God is doing, even when they’re painful, and the things God has given me as small glimpses of the eternity I’m eagerly anticipating.  He gave me independence, but it was an independence that came with a glorious, shameless dependence on Him, the One who creates, provides, redeems and justifies.  Happy Independence Day!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

May 31, 2023

            School’s out for summer. But not forever. I remember when I was a kid and looked forward to summer vacation, and then realized that it meant more chores, and getting bored, and by the end of the summer I was excited for school to start again! Now that I’m a parent with a home office, I still kind of feel the same way. The kids are home! When do they go back! We spend the month of May bringing school to a close. Justin got a pie in the face on Field Day (that was a popular item in our silent auction), standardized testing meant that the kids were an absolute disaster in the evening, and shortened schedules made everything feel pretty dysregulated. Now that we’re all settling into the summer routine, it’s kind of exciting. 

            The kids have a whole mess of camps to attend. Justin is the missionary speaker at a camp in the St. Louis area in July. One of the integration projects that Justin has been working/waiting on with Salesforce is basically finished, so we get to move forward to some more exciting stuff in that realm. There are lots of new churches to speak and share with, we are still trying to get our support back up to goal (Pray for that, it takes a good chunk of Justin’s time that he’d rather be spending doing other ministry). In a week Justin is officiating a funeral for his dad, which is going to be difficult. Pray that the gospel is clearly communicated. 

            Last week we went on a “date” and had supper at a local restaurant owned by Iraqi people. The food was great, and it was interesting to see how the owner went from being non-interactive with us at the beginning, to being excited that these Christians were so interested in their home and culture and language and religion and food. Did you know that Iraqis put sweet pickles in their Shawarma? We were a bit surprised to find it, bit that’s how we started the conversation with the waitress who said “Oh, Iraqis put sweet pickles in everything!” We also knew some of the same people from the local mosque, overall it was a good connection to make. 

            Cute story time: Two weeks ago Justin got to church early for security, and Amy and the kids ended up not making it for various reasons. When I (Justin) got home from church, Ezekiel had written a sermon, and he and Caleb picked songs and made communion so we could have church at home…and then Ezekiel preached a sermon on forgiveness! I remember most of what he said but I was a little emotional and forgot to write down notes! 

            Thanks for keeping up with and praying for us. If you haven’t heard from us lately and would like to (especially if you want me to come to your church) reach out and let me know! 

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Cul

April 28, 2023

               For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!  Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God..” Romans 5:15-16

               In the past month, I’ve been remined about the reality of spiritual warfare, the goodness of God, and exhaustion.  It all started the day I received a phone call about my dad dying.  He has been an alcoholic longer than I’ve been alive.  I’ve seen him homeless, and in other ways having to live with the outcome of his addictions.  I’ve shared the gospel with him, others have cared for him and shared the gospel with him, at one point he even “got saved” but then fell back into his old lifestyle, and then one day a few weeks ago he was found in his apartment surrounded by empty bottles.

               A few weeks later at the kids’ school, we had our yearly spring fundraiser event.  It is the biggest source of scholarship funds for the school, but involves lots and lots of work to get it going.  This year we had a committee of already busy people who were stressed that the event just wasn’t going to happen, or wasn’t going to be as fruitful as it has been in the past, but we decided to do what we could do while remembering the things that are real priorities in our lives.  Last Saturday the event happened, it was fun and everybody I have talked to loved it, and the proceeds were actually more than last year.

               This week I had a plan to get caught up on calling some of you, calling new churches where I want to go and speak about Encountering Muslims and our own fundraising.  I started the week by changing the oil in my truck and found a broken spring shackle on the rear end, rendering the thing undrivable until I can get it fixed.  That day was a whole day of trying to arrange another vehicle to drive, which a brother from church was able to provide.  Today I was just reflecting on how much this reminds me of working in Lohutok!  

            I spoke at River Oaks Church a couple of weekends ago, and Pastor Larry said, “God used twelve years in South Sudan to prepare Justin for the ministry he is doing today.”  I kind of chuckled about having never seen it that way before, but man he’s right.  People die while others grieve and need help, busyness just keeps going on and cars break… But the gospel is still there, and still needed, and we are the ones who have it.  In the midst of all of this chaos, when giving up seems like an attractive option, the Lord still has a heart for the nations, the nations are still on our doorstep, and He is still providing opportunities all the time for mobilizing churches and taking the gospel to the unreached.  Thanks for reading, praying, keeping up. 

March 26, 2023

Caleb's science project - Baking Soda rockets.

How does adjusting the amounts of reactants affect propulsion? 

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  … For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong… 1 Corinthians 1:20, 26-27

            Last month I had a bunch of exciting things to write about.  This month has been all about travel and kids.  My time is usually split between a few different roles.  Some days I’m a programmer, some days I’m a teacher, some days I’m an evangelist, some days I’m a fundraiser, some days I’m a librarian and some days I’m just the stay-at-home parent.  If you see our prayer calendars, you may know that one of my biggest priorities right now is getting our support level back up to where it needs to be.  Since our transition to US-based ministry for a season, and the current economic issues that people are facing, we’ve lost some donors and have been using a bit of reserve every month. 

               For me that means lots of phone calls, visiting new churches and re-visiting churches who know us.  This last month, the fundraising activity sort of took off and used up a good part of my time.  I spoke in 4 churches and had 12 meetings with pastors, supporters and potential donors.  I also went to a donor development training, the kids had their spring break (which involved Ezekiel and me going to Mississippi) and then Amy had her spring break (on a different week) and traveled to visit family in Georgia.  It’s exciting to get some momentum going in the world of fundraising, but today I sat here and said, “What am I going to write about?!” 

Ezekiel presenting his science project.

Which lego car will travel the farthest when being propelled by a balloon?

            There are a few things developing that I am excited about, but not ready to shout from the mountaintops until they’re a little more certain.  I went to Columbia a couple of weeks ago to take Basic Archery Instructor training for possible use with refugees, and then had an amazing person donate a bunch of the equipment that we will need to get that started.  You can be sure I’ll write more about that when there is more information to share.

            The kids had their science fair, Ezekiel’s Sunday school teacher told us how impressive and engaging he is in class, Ezekiel made honor roll, Caleb has injured himself 4 times this month, the boys have injured each other a few times.  Caleb turns seven in a few days, his birthday party is coming up.  Thanks for keeping up with and praying for us!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp

February 27, 2023

This month Ezekiel won the JOY Award at school.

His teacher talked about how much he cares for other people and loves Jesus!

            Some of you have asked me recently why I don’t write newsletters as often as I used to. I honestly had to look back and realize that it’s been almost 2 months since I’ve written! Our lives feel like a constant whirlwind of activity and yet sometimes it feels like there’s just nothing to write about in a newsletter! 

            2023 has, so far, been a year with lots of learning. Amy is taking teaching classes at Missouri State, Justin is constantly up against things that he needs to know for the programming part of his job, and then having to learn new things for there. Lately, on that front, it’s been HTML and Javascript, which are necessary for making Salesforce work properly for our team, but I don’t think most of you want to hear about my struggle with Document Object Models! 

            There has been some exciting stuff happening here lately. I (Justin) have been doing a lot of churchcalling and trying to get out to share the ministry we’re now called to. I’ve talked to quite a few churches about the importance of changing the way we think about reaching Muslims with the gospel. I’m also working on a few ways to partner with some of our local refugee ministries to use the resources and skills I have for that work. 

            Last weekend I made a trip to St. Louis to visit some churches. In 3 days I visited four churches, and still had time to meet a co-worker who lives in the area. Here was a guy I’ve met through online classes and zoom calls, but never in person, so knowing nothing about who he is or what he does, I reached out to have coffee. Coffee didn’t happen, instead he invited me to a meeting for Perspectives alumni where he was the speaker. I heard him tell an amazing story about how small the world is becoming (we use the word “glocal”). My friend, who spends time wondering whether playing video games with his Muslim friend in St. Louis should count as “work hours” told us how that relationship led to him being in Bosnia, during that big earthquake a few weeks ago, in that very city where the earthquake happened, with the parents and siblings of his friend in St. Louis. 

We also did the Family Timber Challenge this month

We were the last ones to finish because the kids had to do every lane of every element!

            Taking time to love someone and forge a friendship that wouldn’t “normally” happen meant that the relatives of this immigrant Muslim man had their lives be literally saved by their son’s Christian American friend who helped them find a place to stay (It was 30 degrees and raining when the earthquake destroyed the entire city). Now that family is forever related to missionaries who speak their language, love Jesus, and love them as well. 

            Sometimes our work seems tedious, but days like that remind me why I’m here and why it’s all worth it. Thanks for praying for us! 

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

December 16, 2022

 

He chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  Ephesians 1:4-6

               When I think about the season of Advent, the word that always comes to my mind is “waiting.”  It’s not a word that evokes feelings of firelight and presents or food and family.  When my kids are begging me to go somewhere or do something, the last word they want to hear is “wait.”  We spent all this past week at the school book fair, and my son wanted a different new thing every day, and he always looked crushed when I said “Wait until the end and then we’ll decide.”  I’m also hard pressed to think of an adult that I now who enjoys being told to wait.  I think patience is a fruit of the Spirit because it's one of those things that doesn’t come to us naturally.

               And yet, waiting seems to be God’s modus operandi.  For the One who is Eternally present, waiting makes sense.  How miserable would tomorrow be if everything we ever wanted happened today?  The most miserable people I know are the ones who have everything they thought they ever wanted.  Waiting is also the anticipation of a kid for Christmas morning.  It’s the excitement of a bride and groom who kept the wedding day sacred.  It’s finally enjoying the fruit of your long labor.  The joy of holding your baby after hours or days of birth pains. 

               In my own life, “hurry up and wait” is like, on my to do list.  Longing for people whom I love but am separated from for a season.  Hoping for the Lord to come through in so many areas of life, family, ministry, finance…  The temptation is to think that if God doesn’t answer me right now, according to my time, it’s probably never going to happen and everything is hopeless.  But then that small voice reminds me that I’ve been saved from hopelessness because I serve a God who authors hope, fulfills hope, and designs hope for my good.  Without that icky word waiting, there is no such thing as hope!

               Joseph overcame betrayal, slavery, false imprisonment and literally just being forgotten.  The kids books and movies don’t do justice to the decades of waiting he experienced, and yet after all of the victories seemed won, his grandchildren spent 400 years as slaves.  How many generations of Israelites were born as slaves in Egypt, lived their entire lives as slaves in Egypt, and died as slaves in Egypt without ever seeing the outcome of their suffering?  How many of them felt like God had simply forgotten about them?

               God eventually called Moses to lead them out, but to what?  More waiting.  Kings lived and died, and eventually the Israelites were led into exile, more waiting.  The prophets were silent for another 300 or so years…more hopeless generations.  But without waiting there’s no place for hope.

               Paul said that before the world was founded, we were chosen In Christ to be holy and blameless, adopted to sonship.  That’s worth waiting for.  The Israelites learned and proved that “holy and blameless” is impossible to achieve on our own.  But the Lord knew that.  He predestined us to the adoption that Christ made possible…before the world was even founded.  If he can do that, working through thousands of years of…waiting…what am I so worried about? 

               When I think about the season of Advent, the word that always comes to my mind is “waiting.”  Not because Christmas is just miserable and reminds me of the perceived misery of waiting, but because this is the season where we remember that, after thousands of years of waiting and hundreds of years of absolute silence, God finally broke through the barrier and entered His creation to be with us and fulfill that adoption that was predestined before the foundation of the world.

               Waiting feels miserable for limited, impatient, fallen people, but hope fulfilled is worth the wait.  Christ is here, He’s not a baby anymore, He satisfied your debt and freely offers you His perfect righteousness, He inaugurated your adoption plan, He promises to end it all with something even better.  Merry Christmas, following Christ is worth the wait.

 

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp

September 27, 2022

          I’ve been to more than twenty countries around the world, and every state east of Kansas City, but I’ve never been west of Wichita and Salina, KS. I’ve also driven through a few mountains but, apart from the small hills in Lohutok, have never spent time in mountains outside of a vehicle. Labor Day weekend, Amy had a friend getting married in St. Louis and I had the chance to go to a conference in Estes Park. The kids came to Colorado with me and it was an exciting weekend. 

          The conference was an event for Merge and Vision 5:9, which is an association of missions organizations who have the goal of reaching the Muslim diaspora in the USA with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a great chance to meet people from other places in the USA who are involved in the same kind of work. We got to talk about different approaches and strategies, network with people who would be interested in the training course our team provides, make some fun new friends, and connect with some old friends. I even got to talk to some people about ways to use CRM to improve processes…the boring stuff that I do now. 

          The kids are back in school full swing, Amy’s working as a para, I’m learning a new software and networking with churches to talk about Muslim ministry. I’m also volunteering as the librarian at the kids’ school (Don’t I strike you as a librarian? Haha). I’m speaking at churches and trying to get people involved in reaching the Muslims around them, and also trying to get our support back up. Other than that, these newsletters are hard to write because life just feels…boring! 

           Thank you so much for keeping up with us, our calendars, praying and caring. We couldn’t do this without you!

July 28, 2022

I introduced the boys to Star Wars…Now they have a whole new set of games to play hahaha. I went to the supper table one night and saw this

          Do you ever wonder if you’re really accomplishing anything? I do. Do you ever feel like the Lord has put you in a place where everything you are supposed to be doing is something you just aren’t good at or equipped for? I do. Sometimes the Lord gives us little glimpses of what He is doing, but not always. When I read where Paul was told “My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness” I’m like…yeah that’s good for Paul who knew deep down that he wasn’t really weak…right? When I think of the Apostle Paul, weak is the last thing that comes to mind, but I’m starting to think that Paul probably saw himself differently. Maybe when he talked about only boasting in the cross, he wasn’t just speaking platitudes because he knew he could take credit for so much more…he really did feel like he didn’t deserve credit for anything. 

          In the past few weeks I’ve been struck with the degree to which I really don’t feel qualified for anything that I’m doing right now! I’ve had seasons where I’ve thought “Wow, now THIS is what I was made for” but this is not one of those seasons. Pretty much every area of responsibility I have today involves a steep learning curve, and it’s hard to find a place to stand! 

           Last week I was working on SalesForce, which is part of what I am doing for our new Pioneers team. When I talked to one of their nonprofit employees who helps people get started, he said “Most nonprofits I talk to don’t have somebody with your level of understanding” and it felt like he was either trying to be nice…or saying they all know more than I do! 

           Later that week, while running errands with the boys in the car, I was listening to a book called Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Here I am today as a student in the course that I should eventually be able to lead, and the author of this book was one of the speakers in the course material. The boys were in the backseat playing as I listened to the book, and then all of a sudden Ezekiel said “Dad can you pause this?” I thought he was getting bored with it, but he had actually been listening and wanted to clarify that he was hearing it right! People actually believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Word of God, sinless, born of a virgin, coming back to judge the world, and yet ISN’T God and didn’t die for sins? I got very little work done that day because Ezekiel spent 3-4 hours listening, stopping, asking questions, backing up to listen some more, and comprehending things that so many adults have trouble with. 

          Are you in Christ? If you are, God is not inactive. In his immutability, he is so infinitely active that He could never be more or less so. Despite our weakness, insecurity and failure, God chose to use you, and me, for His kingdom…believe it or not. Justin Culp

June 28, 2022

            What would it mean to you to “get your life right”? If you woke up one morning and said “Finally, I’ve gotten my life right, now I can follow God.” What would it take for you to be able to say that? 

          This is part of a conversation I had this week when I was selling off one of our used vehicles. I listed the vehicle for sale online and 3 hours later I was riding in the passenger seat with a man who wanted to buy it. He asked me what I did for a living and I told him, and he said “Man I just can’t get away from you church people.” I asked him what he meant and he started tearing up, telling me about problems at work and home. I offered to pray for him and he said “I know what I need to do, I just need to get my life right, I’ve got a lot of problems.”

          I asked my new friend what he meant and he said “I just have to stop doing some stuff.” When I asked him what he had to stop doing he just got kind of uncomfortable. I said “Can I help you with that?” He said sure, and I explained the gospel to him. The gospel is not “get my life right and God will accept me.” If someone preaches that to you, that person is preaching a false gospel. Jesus condescended himself to humanity so that he could fully and completely bear the sin, sorrow and shame of mankind. Those who hear the gospel and turn from their sin to follow Christ and faith are consequently hidden in Christ with God. That means that all of the righteousness and obedience that belonged to Jesus when God looked down from heaven and said “This is my son in whom I am well pleased” belongs to you if you belong to Christ.

          Those sins that you need to “make right” are wrong and harmful and worth getting rid of, but trying to do it by your own strength in order to “get your life right” is like a snake eating his own tail. Jesus makes you righteous, Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives you the conviction and power (through those sufferings and trials of life, work, church, family, and so on) to have victory over sin and shame as you rely more and more on Him to redeem your utter wickedness. That’s the gospel. That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we get up every morning. That’s why all of this is worth it.

Thanks!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp

May 30, 2022

 

         It was fifty degrees outside and Amy, Ezekiel and I were standing in Smithville Lake with a couple of hundred people watching. We didn’t get very many pictures because we were all in the water, so I don’t have any to share here, but it’s probably the coolest thing that happened since I wrote to you last. I asked Ezekiel why he wanted to be baptized and he said, “I am repenting and believing in Jesus and I want everyone to know about it.” 

          The last couple of months have flown by. I’ve been learning a new program for my new role with Pioneers, taking a course on Islam, proofreading another one, helping with field trips, speaking in churches, making hundreds of phone calls to potential supporters and churches, speaking in some churches both familiar and new, working on our house and cars, and more! The kids and Amy are done with school for the summer, we don’t have any big plans to travel. Amy is working on come continuing education/certification that she needs and we’re looking into other needs that we are working on as a family but are harder to do during the school year. 

          The past few weeks I’ve been taking the online Encountering the World of Islam course. We are currently in lesson 4 out of 12. I’ve been meditating this week on the shame and disgrace of the cross and the humility to which Christ calls us when He says “If anyone wishes to come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” The cross is a hard concept for Muslims to grasp because honor and shame are so important. Who could believe that God would shame his prophet like that? 

           Even further, just thinking about honor and shame when witnessing to Muslim friends, it’s a hard thing to do effectively. We frequently listen to someone talk about what we believe as if it’s ridiculous and silly, and we are ridiculous and silly for believing it… I don’t like being talked to that way and I want to answer in kind, but can I communicate the gospel without attacking back? Can I accept the shame without shaming in return? I’m not very good at being insulted without defending myself, but that’s exactly what Jesus did. He bore our sin without ever coming to His own defense and thereby took our sorrows, shame, grief and sin on Himself so that we could have eternal life. I have a long way to go, how about you? 

          Thanks for keeping up with us and praying. Feel free to reply to this email if you want to communicate with us! 

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

March 28, 2022

 

    If you know, you know

A few weeks ago we were getting ready to have our nightly family Bible time. Amy and Ezekiel were still getting ready, so it was just Caleb and me in the living room. I asked Caleb, “If Jesus came back to Earth right now, do you think you would go to heaven?” He said yes. I asked him why and he said “Because Jesus died for our sins.” I said “For everybody’s sins?” He said yes. I said “So everybody gets to go to heaven?” He said “No, only people who repent and believe in Jesus.” I said “Have you repented?” He said “Well, yes I did…” and I said “So when you stand in front of God, are you going to have sin?” He said no. I asked him why and he said “I repented.” Then I said “Have you sinned since you repented?” He said “Well obviously.” I said “So what about that sin?” 

He paused for a while and then said “I don’t know.” I got my Bible out to start Bible time because Ezekiel had joined us, but Ezekiel stopped me and said “Daddy can I try?” I said sure, and Ezekiel said something like this: When Jesus died and rose from the dead, He had victory over sin and death. When I repent and believe in Jesus, He isn’t just forgiving my old sins, it’s like when God looks at me instead of seeing my sin, He sees Jesus’ perfectness.” When I finished crying, we had family Bible time. 

I love that my nine-year-old already understands imputed righteousness better than a whole bunch of people five times his age. Because Jesus’ perfect record is mine, I have the authority (and responsibility) to preach the gospel regardless of what kind of morning I’ve had, or how ministry is going, or how capable or dumb or strong or worthless I am feeling at the time. That’s been my meditation for quite some time now.

I got back from Uganda and South Sudan at the beginning of March and then the kids had spring break. I’ve started learning the new things I need to know for my role on the Encountering the World of Islam team, and have been trying to get in touch with churches and others to find opportunities to share and raise more support. Thank you all for praying for us and keeping in touch. It means the world!

Would you vote for president Caleb?

February 28, 2022

Caleb made an “Exploding Potion” for his school science fair this year.

By now most of you know about the transition that we are going through as a family.  After extending our home assignment for a while to handle some educational and health issues, and then adding “Maybe another few months” for a while, we were told that we need to plan on spending a couple of years in the USA while we work some of these things out. 
 

              You can probably imagine some of the range of emotions we’ve experienced during this process, other experiences surrounding “re-entry” as it applies to relationships and everyday life are a bit harder to relate to.  We do appreciate all of the encouraging conversations we’ve had with our supporters, and the time you spend keeping up with us and praying.
 

              I am writing this newsletter from Uganda, I have been in Africa for the last few weeks.  I had to come back and close down our home.  Anything we leave behind will get destroyed by rats and termites, so most of my time was spent deciding what to throw away, give away, sell away and pack away.  I was able to spend a few evenings having supper with other missionary friends which was nice.  After twelve years, these Germans, Kiwis and South Africans are people I can easily enjoy and relate to, while at “home” it feels way more difficult.  I had a few tearful goodbyes with Paul and Michael and Teresa.  Now I’m trying to sell one last vehicle and getting ready for my flight back to Kansas City.  When I get back I will settle into a new role within Pioneers on a team called Encountering the World of Islam.  I will also be reaching out to more churches for chances to share and hopefully replace some of the donors that we’ve lost in the transition.  The kids are enjoying their teachers and classes at a Christian school that the Lord provided for us.  It really is hard to see what’s next and know what to write about in a newsletter!

For Ezekiel’s science fair project his class did “Habitats.”  He chose savannah because that’s what we have in Lohutok.  He was pretty proud of it.

 

              This morning I was reading the Bible and I came to Psalm 13.  I was reading Psalms out loud and this one I just couldn’t get through!  I started over again and again and was just fascinated at the way that King David was saying the same thing that I’ve been praying for months.  Sometimes it’s hard to go from verse 4 to verse 5 (look it up J ) but we know that in Christ we must!  As I am grieving the reality of leaving my friends and family behind for such a long time, I’m trying to force myself to meditate on the truth of the Gospel.  No snakes, no stones…only good gifts from a perfect and loving Father who is in Heaven.

               Please pray for us as we make this transition, talk about it with our kids, try to budget while recovering from support loss, learn how to have meaningful Christian relationships with people in the USA again, and work towards healing for future ministry.

November 27, 2021

 

               Last time I wrote with some big news.  After months of praying about how the Lord would have us staying engaged in the Great Commission during this season of rest and counseling, we were given a position on a new Pioneers team, Encountering the World of Islam.  I didn’t write last month because, to be honest, it would have been boring!  Transitioning to a long-term stay in the USA and to a new team comes with a whole range of excitement and other emotions, but for a while it is just…transitioning.  We’ve found a place to live that won’t require moving every few months between missionary housing, a place we can keep as long as we need it.  This house required a LOT of work, but we are here now.  I (Justin) have also been contacting all of our supporters and churches to make sure everyone is up to speed on what we are doing now.  So the transitional period has literally been one of building, moving and calling people.

               As I write this the kids are playing in their new rooms, Amy is on her way back from a trip to St. Louis, and I am working on a sermon to preach tomorrow.  For the next few months I will be speaking in various churches around Kansas City and St. Louis as we try to reconnect with our partners and find new ones!  Living in the USA means a new budget, so we have some extra support to raise.  Since we’re updating all of our partners and churches about the season of life God has given us there have been a few partners who felt like their support should be sent elsewhere, so we don’t really know how much more support we need until I’ve finished reaching everyone.

If you haven’t heard from me yet, please feel free to reach out to me, my phone number is at the bottom of this letter.  I am still working through our list of supporters and trying to call all of you.  We really love and appreciate all of our partners and have been humbled by how supportive most of you have been! 

If you’re interested in having me come and visit your church, reply to this email.  On the prayer calendar I will list where I am speaking on each Sunday.  I look forward to possibly seeing you!

I’m writing this on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I rarely use newsletters for fundraising, but with Giving Tuesday coming up, would you consider a monthly partnership or a one-time gift to help our family in this new missions role?  If you’re getting this as a letter, you can use the enclosed envelope.  If you’re getting the email or facebook ad, just look for the giving link provided.

September 20, 2021

 

               Last month I read a book called The Imperfect Disciple by Jared C. Wilson.  It was kind of a last-minute, “I need something to read on this road trip” book, but like so many other things that have happened with us in this line of work, it was exactly what the Lord knew that I needed for the time and for what was coming. 

               Most of you know that, although we were planning to return to South Sudan and Uganda last year, our home assignment was extended by many factors including Covid, travel restrictions, counseling requirements, and educational needs for our kids.  For the last year we have been focused on our family’s mental health and healing, and I (Justin) have been working on the pastor-training courses and making a few trips back to keep those things moving.

               As we have progressed through the counseling process and helping our children with their needs, it has become clear to us and our leadership that there is still more time to be spent making sure that we do this well, and that our family is able to heal and grow in necessary ways before we return to Africa.  On one hand it is a tough pill for me to swallow, thinking about the relationships and ongoing work in Lohutok and the urgency of the Great Commission, we are eager to continue with evangelism and discipleship among the Lopit and see Christ’s church grow and flourish in that place where there are so many hindrances.  On the other hand, we all understand that the Lord often calls people to seasons of rest and healing, that this season is an investment in our family that will bear fruit for the rest of our lifetime in ministry, it is important, and that there is no sense in “kicking against the goads.”  Don’t stop reading yet!

None of us have ever been good at gardening, but we did get some turnips this year!  The boys didn’t actually like them, but Peter Rabbit got them interested.

               The past month has been one of upheaval, prayer, phone calls, zoom meetings and decisions.  After lots of guidance from our organization and our amazing home church, we finally have a path forward that isn’t just “sit and wait” which most of you know I’m not good at!  Amy and I both feel like God has called us to the unreached, a conviction that you’ve heard us talk about and seen us chase tirelessly.  We’ve come to a point where we can’t just keep saying “maybe six more months” and have decided to find where God would have us engaged with His heart for the nations while we also seek to be obedient during this season of necessary family investment. 

               Last week I had meetings with the leader of Pioneers’ Encountering the World of Islam team.  There is an overwhelming need in the USA and in the rest of the world for engaging with Muslims, and also for engaging with the local church about the need for the Gospel among Islamic people groups here and around the world.  I have accepted a role on the EWI team that feels like a perfect fit for this season of our family’s journey, and we are excited to hear the Lord say “I’m not finished with you yet.” 

               Those of you who support us have been incredibly understanding and encouraging to us throughout this process of counseling and transition.  We’ve struggled with the shame that brings humility that brings trust in the Lord as we think about the fact that so many people are praying for and partnering with us to reach the Lopit, and now we are taking such a long break from ministry in Lohutok.  So many of you know our kids’ names and the names of our Lopit coworkers and disciples.  I don’t think that calling and mission have gone away, but we’re accepting the Lord’s leading to do it in His timing.

               Thank you for sticking with us through all of this, and we pray that you would continue to partner with us financially and in prayer as we start with a new team, continuing to work towards Christ-Centered Churches among every tribe, tongue and nation.

               Most of you will be hearing from me by phone in the next few weeks.  Be patient with me, there are about 160 of you with whom I need to connect!  I want to answer your questions and let you hear how excited we are to be on the Encountering the World of Islam team.  Please continue to pray for our family as we transition to kids in school, new team roles, new family routines that will eventually be more restorative and restful, new support goals (America is more expensive than Lohutok!) and new living arrangements.  If you want to reach out before I get to your phone call, as always, you’re always welcome and my contact information is below!

Philippians 1:3-4,

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp