The Naramore household is transferring north to serve among the many North African and Center Jap folks teams in New York Metropolis.
Jamie, who previously served because the cross-cultural strategist for the Arkansas Baptist State Conference, his spouse Jessica and their 4 youngsters – Sam, Lottie, Livian and Madeleine – left on Monday to comply with God’s name to minister within the Empire Metropolis, particularly in Queens.
On Sunday, their sending church, The Summit in Saline County, held a commissioning service and prayed over the household as they ready to embark on this new journey.
“The Lord has referred to as us to New York Metropolis to see the Kingdom superior amongst folks of North Africa and the Center East,” Jamie instructed the congregation. “There are over one million and a half Muslims from these nations dwelling throughout the metro space. … They arrive from components of the world the place the church is persecuted, entry to missionaries may be very restricted and the results and the fee are extraordinarily excessive for doing what we do in these locations. However God seemingly continues to open the again door for these folks to come back inside earshot of the gospel.”
When explaining the “why?” of this transfer, Jamie referenced Romans 10: 13–15, “For everybody who calls on the identify of the Lord will likely be saved. How, then, can they name on him they haven’t believed in? And the way can they consider with out listening to about him? And the way can they hear with out a preacher? And the way can they preach until they’re despatched? As it’s written: How stunning are the ft of those that carry excellent news.”
Missions at all times on the thoughts
From the start, Jamie and Jessica had missions on their radar. It was at all times an possibility, however the timing by no means appeared proper.
“We by no means felt the Lord’s launch, however He was at all times giving us alternative to work with internationals wherever we lived – North Carolina, Texas, and Arkansas,” Jamie mentioned.
That modified through the pandemic. Sooner or later, whereas sitting within the stillness of their yard, Jamie mentioned he and Jessica nearly concurrently checked out each other and mentioned, “I believe, now, we’re purported to go.” A verse that got here to their thoughts on the time was Psalm 46:10, “Be nonetheless, and know that I’m God; I will likely be exalted among the many nations, I will likely be exalted within the earth.”
The couple began praying, asking God the place He needed them to go. They knew they needed to minister to the folks teams of North Africa and the Center East however didn’t but know the place.
The Naramores checked out worldwide missions and even began the appliance course of, however in 2022 they determined the Lord was telling them to stay within the states.
“We began praying all all through the U.S. and Canada. We prayed about Montreal and Toronto. Detroit has extra Arabs than wherever else on the continent,” Jamie mentioned. “We put New York on our prayer checklist simply type of out of obligation. We knew some folks there. It’s type of a giant deal metropolis. We should always pray about it.”
Negotiating
The Naramores had been leaning towards making the transfer to Detroit.
“We actually thought we had been going home looking in Michigan. We thought this made complete sense,” he mentioned. However they may not depart behind the thought of New York.
“We tried negotiating with God. We mentioned, OK, what if we simply keep on the ABSC and we’ll spend our summers bringing our children as much as New York and getting concerned within the work there. He wouldn’t launch us from there,” Jamie mentioned.
“We had a laundry checklist of causes no, however we had the identify of Jesus saying, ‘I’m price all of it.’”
So, to start with of 2023, the Naramores dedicated to New York and started engaged on a plan.
“We needed to spend time determining logistics on what it seemed like to maneuver. How will we fundraise? Jobs? What will we do there? After which how will we keep linked to the broader SBC household as soon as we’re there? … And the Lord simply created little methods for all that stuff,” Jamie mentioned.
The Naramores are being despatched by their house church, The Summit Church Saline, as long-term international interact discipline employees, and Jamie is endorsed by the North American Mission Board as an evangelism catalyst for Ship Community in New York Metropolis.
“Like IMB, we’ll do evangelism and discipleship, coaching Arab folks tips on how to plant church buildings and lift up leaders to allow them to do the duty,” Jamie mentioned. “Our focus will likely be mobilizing the Southern Baptist household in New York Metropolis to minister cross culturally.”
Prayers
Jamie mentioned they’re asking for 3 principal prayers.
- A thriving house – Pray for his or her household, particularly their youngsters, to abide in Christ, thrive in life and enjoyment of serving the Lord collectively.
- Open doorways – Pray for the 1.5 million Muslims throughout New York Metropolis and greater than 200,000 from the Center East and North Africa to listen to, consider, and advance the Gospel.
- Strategic partnerships – Pray for extra prayer warriors, referred to as out laborers, monetary companions and a unified workforce that glorifies God as all of them do their half.
For updates on the Naramore household and methods to associate with them go to naramore.epistle.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Alford and initially printed by Arkansas Baptist Information.
