Newsletter
Tim Scott
Ashes

There is a particular quality to the air in a place that has been through fire. Not the romantic fire of a hearth or a campsite — but the kind that consumes entire cities, that levels what generations built, that leaves a landscape so altered it is almost unrecognizable to the people who once called it home. Vietnam knows that kind of fire. Walking through this country today — through the streets of cities that were once reduced to rubble, past a countryside that absorbed some of the heaviest bombardment in the history of modern warfare — you are walking through what came after. You are walking through the after-ashes.

And what you find is not what the logic of destruction would predict. You find life. You find rebuilding. You find a nation that absorbed one of the most devastating conflicts of the twentieth century — a war that consumed Americans and Vietnamese alike, that shattered families on both sides of the Pacific, that left an entire generation carrying wounds that no government program and no passage of time has ever fully healed — and kept going. The question that this place forces on every honest observer is not simply historical. It is profoundly personal. How does anything — a nation, a soul, a life — rise from ashes? What makes the difference between the ruins that stay ruins and the ruins that become something new?

Ashes
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Flow

There is a posture that God invites every believer into — and most of us spend our entire lives fighting it. Not because we are wicked or faithless, but because the world has trained us, from our very first breath, to grip things tightly. To scheme, to strive, to press, to worry, to manufacture outcomes through sheer force and anxiety. The world calls this wisdom. And it has produced in the hearts of God’s people a deep, chronic, soul-wearying strain that was never part of His original design for us.

Jesus said it plainly, without qualification, to people living in conditions far more precarious than most of us will ever face: “Do not worry about your life.” — Matthew 6:25.

Flow
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Outsider

There is a thread that runs through all of Scripture — a pattern so consistent that once you see it, you cannot unsee it. It is not the pattern the world expects. It is not the pattern even the religious establishment of any given era expected. It is this: God does not choose the way man chooses. He does not select the powerful, the credentialed, the connected, or the ones whose résumé impresses the room. He reaches past the inner circle, past the halls of influence, past the people who have built their identity on being in — and He finds the one standing at the edges. The outsider. And He changes the world through them.

Outsider
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Boldness

Here is a hard truth that must be spoken: a large portion of the modern church has grown deeply, profoundly, tragically ashamed of the gospel. Not ashamed in so many words. No one stands at a pulpit and announces that they find the cross embarrassing. But the evidence is visible in what is preached — and far more in what is not. The blood of Christ has been quietly removed from the vocabulary of too many congregations. Sermons about sin, judgment, and hell have been replaced with messages designed to comfort, entertain, and above all, not offend. The thunderous warning from 2 Timothy is being fulfilled in real time: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” — 2 Timothy 4:3.

Boldness
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Warfare

The battle we face is not primarily political, social, or economic. It is not fought with weapons that can be seen or measured by human instruments. The conflict that defines the Christian life takes place in a realm invisible to the natural eye — a dimension where principalities and powers, thrones and dominions, wage war against the souls of mankind. Scripture pulls back the curtain on this invisible conflict with startling clarity in Ephesians that our struggle is “Not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” — Ephesians 6:12. Notice the plural — not one enemy, but organized forces. Not localized skirmishes, but systemic warfare across a spiritual geography that spans “the heavenly places.” This is not a metaphor. This is not poetic language meant to inspire. This is literal spiritual reality. Every believer lives embedded in a war zone. Every decision, every prayer, every step of obedience either advances the kingdom of darkness or advances the kingdom of light. There is no neutrality. There is no middle ground. Jesus Himself confirmed this reality when He addressed the seventy disciples upon their return: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” — Luke 10:18. The adversary was not defeated by human strategies or institutional power. He fell because of the authority delegated by Christ Jesus.

Warfare

August '09 Newsletter

Dear Friends, Greetings in the Lord!  Over the past months we have been very busy, working in Colombia and Ecuador, and our journeys are full of many testimonies.  We are so grateful to each of you for your prayers, as it has kept us going and protected us in every way.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTiIV_9J0dY&rel=0]

Most recently, in Colombia, we have once again entered the front lines of the drug war and been witnesses of this evil industry.  Some might ask, "How does the drug trade and those areas relate to the work of the gospel?"  The answer for us is much like the statement the Apostle Paul said in Romans 15:20-21, "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; but as it is written, "THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND."  You see, our mission is to preach Christ where He has not been named and to areas deemed to difficult to reach.  The jungles and valleys where coca farmers and narcotics traffickers live and conduct their trade are just such places.  We look at those areas and imagine what would happen if a revival broke out!  But how can they hear without a preacher?  This is why we go.  We want to tread where no one has gone before and deliver the message of the Gospel to those who have not heard.

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So with that, for the past weeks we have been actively traveling with the Colombian anti-narcotics police to some of the most dangerous states across the country.  FARC rebel activity has been high in every area we have set foot, but praise God we have been protected and suffered no injury or kidnapping.  This is due to your prayers, and as you pray doors have been opened for so much more.  We have been on medical missions and urban outreaches and we know that the drug war can be overcome.  Your support in this is vital as it allows us to reach people in need and make a lasting impact.

Picture 2

Now, as we continue the same theme of Romans 15:20-21, we are preparing an expedition to traverse the entire continent of South America via the Amazon to its mouth on the Atlantic coast of Brazil.  We are calling this expedition, "Out of the Belly."  For we believe, like John 7:38 says, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This mission is metaphorically the same.  We believe that from the belly of the Amazon, as Christ is preached, it shall flow rivers of living water and souls that praise the name of Jesus.  Praise God we believe it!

This expedition will include many river journeys and unreached work.  Our goal will be to effectively reach remote people groups, coca farmers, and loggers along the mighty river.  We will be joined by a full time interpreter and we will need to hire guides, boats, gear, and assist local ministers to help us in this effort.  We will float, trek the jungles, and take any means of transport to reach those who haven't been reached before.  It will be a daunting journey, but a necessary one, as it might be the only opportunity some will have to hear the gospel.

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Our estimated time of this journey will total more than two months and cost roughly $8300.  We sincerely and prayerfully ask you to join with us in this journey.  No matter large or small, whatever you can do to support this expedition will be treasured.  Your monthly and one-time gifts are needed above and beyond, but we know together we can achieve great things for the Kingdom of Heaven.  Let us attempt to complete the great commission and say to the Lord we have given our best effort.  Thank you and you are with us always!  May the Peace of the Lord be with you!

In Him,

Tim and Will

Mission Accomplished

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z3OgXPj8Nc&rel=0] Burned 2 labs now loading back on Blackhawk. Wash from blades so strong nearly knocked us over.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of6J1VHX9o4&rel=0]

Mission accomplished. Everyone safe. This operation occured near the border of Ecuador and Colombia.

Cocaine Lab in Colombia

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p29WTIEkaDg&rel=0] This lab was seized and it was more advanced than labs in Peru. It included presses and ovens to produce cocaine chloride, which is the final product. After the video you see here, the lab was burned and coca fields were destroyed. One booby trap in the field was found and purposely exploded. Colombia produces 80% of the world's cocaine. This is a forgotten war, but necessary to fight. Addiction holds many people ransom and void of the gospel. In the word it says, "How can one hear without a preacher?" That is certainly true and it can also be said in our time, "How can one hear when high?"

Burning the Cocaine Labs

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIf7OVg8QIs&rel=0] The chemicals of acids and kerosene make the fire explode.  Everything must be destroyed.  The blaze was very intense and put off a repulsive smell.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqV-aNwi_oE&rel=0]

Blaze gets going!  You can see how fast the fire explodes.  However, as we moved to seize another lab the fire was unrecognizable when we traveled 100 feet farther into the jungle.

After the mission we drove 4-hours back to Pucallpa in the night.

This is an image of our interpreter Joseph shows how dusty the ride home was. We returned to our base at 1:30 AM.

Cocaine Lab Seizure!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ZqDI9ahSM&rel=0] Will at lab sight 2 minutes after seizure.  You can see we are all out of breath and trying to take in everything that just happened.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwXNHKk-540&rel=0]

Immediately after the cocaine-workers were captured the Dinandro soldiers set themselves to breaking down the crude lab.  The mounds of what looks like dead leaves are exactly that.  Those are coca leaves awaiting processing from this lab.

Brute Cocaine Process

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_VYP6En678&rel=0] Here, we are shown by the Dinandro team what the end product of the labs is.  The white balls which look like dough is brute cocaine paste.  This is one phase away from being cocaine chloride, which is the white powdery substance mostly trafficked world wide.  Drug cartels then will pick up the brute paste from these lab chemists and create the final product on their own.

Jungle Narcotics Mission

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C41HXOJrKSc&rel=0] March into jungle.  This video was 15 minutes into our hike towards the cocaine labs.  notice the clearing we come across.  This is one of the many illegal coca fields we saw en route to the jungle lab.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfRJub1oYr0&rel=0]

This next video is ten minutes before the first seizure.  Many times we would halt for a moment in the jungle to maintain silence and the element of surprise.

Chemicals Bound for Labs

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv00-I940Pc&rel=0]

This boat was caught two days south of Pucallpa. It contained  large amounts of chemicals used to create brute cocaine paste.  This seizure was immediately following the new intelligence gained from the informants being held in Lima.  The boat will now be used to police the waterways by the Dinandro (anti-narcotics division of Peru).

July '09 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the Lord!  This month we would like to continue with Part 2 of our Uncontacted Expedition AMAZON.  We want to thank you for your prayers and support.  We can truly feel them as we venture to these remote lands and are so grateful for your love and commitment.

Uncontacted Expedition AMAZON Part Two: We enter the jungle.  The triple canopy has a cool breath as we walk into its shadows.  Somewhere in this green world is a tribe that has never made contact with the outside.  Our investigation has led us to this specific area and now we must walk deeper, hoping to make peaceful contact.

Picture 1

Day 1 Jungle: (After investigations and interviews in surrounding villages.)  No rain today.  Food provisions doing okay.  One can of tuna a piece for 8-hours hiking.  Can’t take any extra weight.  Having to conserve water as well for hike back.  First destination—creek bed where multiply sighting happened within the last 15 days.  Bushmen Pepe and Felix lead the way.  Their machetes clear the twisted vines.  We cross a creek and see a Coral snake glide through the water.  Highly poisonous and if we take a bite this far in—it is over, unless we shake it off like the Apostle Paul.  Someone back home is praying for us so we tiptoe over the log with confidence.  We hike and hike until we reach a small creek.  We hear whistling and bird noises all around us.  Pepe and Felix are spooked.  Monkeys chime in as well.  Then silence.  We look at the creek bed and notice footprints.  Felix almost destroys it by accidentally stepping on it, but pictured on the right side of photograph next to the large boot print there is an outline of a small child’s footprint.  This is our first sign.  Everyone is excited.  We mark it on GPS.

Picture 2

Day 2 Jungle: We hike on an alternate path.  This is the location where four uncontacted tribe men were spotted fishing with spears.  We round a ridge and hear the bush rustle.  We come down to the creek bed.  Large prints, not human, but that of a Leopard.  It is a big one too.  Fresh it must have just been here.  Pepe and Felix, say this area is very dangerous because these animals don’t come into a lot of contact with humans and might consider us prey.  We pray to not be prey.  Pepe shows us the sight and takes us to the place where he says he saw more foot prints 5 days before we arrived.  Nothing there anymore.  Footprints, if found are always fresh, because the rains will cover them each night and erase evidence. We hike back to camp.  Will takes a nasty fall into a branch of thorns.  Picks them out with his head light at camp that night.  Doesn’t get one the stickers out until two weeks later.

Day 4-6 Jungle: Food provisions getting lower.  Still on the one can tuna diet.  Hiking everyday. Muscles used to jungle now.  When we march it just feels like a trance.  We come to a beautiful lagoon and rest for a moment.  20-meters further on, as we hike up the riverbed, we notice a fresh human print in the water.  They are close?  Probably watching us.  They are people of the jungle, they know how to disappear, and they know how to observe.  We hear more noises, and then head back to camp.

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Day 7 Jungle: Getting to our furthest points in the jungle.  Leaving a gift hung in the trees.  A metal pot, plastic cup (both items they would recognize as similar to their crude instruments), and a pictorial of us and them greeting each other.  Pictures are the only language we can both understand (we drew the pictorial based on the tribe’s description).  We leave the gift. We take a hunting trip on the main river at night for meat. No motor just paddles.  The darkness and quite is overwhelming and peaceful.  1-hour later a violent downpour of rain breaks the serenity.  We spend the next terrifying 5-hours bailing water making our way back to camp.  Water comes within a half inch to totally submerging canoe and drowning.

Day 8 Camp: Although we do not make contact we are all positive of the tribe’s existence and their territorial range.  The unusually high water volume and unseasonal rains would make the best opportunity for contact in late August or September this year.  At the village camp we minister at church and pray for the sick.  Members are excited that we have done this mission, as many are fearful to undertake contact.

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Day 10 Camp: They are out there.  Close.  We pray we will be able to return and make peaceful contact.  We pray the Holy Spirit will guide this tribe and prepare their hearts.  We pray for those who have not heard the gospel.

Picture 5

To step out and attempt what no one has attempted before we must give our all.  How can our conscience be clear if we have the ability to reach someone and fail because of fear or discomfort?  You get one pass at life.  Life it to the fullest for Him.  Let not fear rule you, but live in such a way to accomplish the mission you were sent for.  Step out in boldness and don’t worry about the results.  God works by faith, not by sight.

Our mission is to accomplish Mark 16:15 and with your prayers and support you are with us as we bring the gospel to all creation.  Together we are accomplishing much!  But without your help we cannot do any of this.  It is your continued support that opens doors and prepares the way.  Please consider supporting our upcoming missions and current expeditions (Anti-Narcotics Colombia, Island Revival campaigns, uncontacted journeys.)  You are in our hearts always and we need your help to go further and reach more.  Peace be with you!

In Him, Tim and Will