Change takes time…
When darkness dominates in certain parts of the world like India, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Bosnia it is hard for those of us in the West to appreciate how long it can take to see fruit from labor. If we don’t see the “numbers” here that we tend to associate with God’s movement in a year or less it would be difficult to remain motivated as a preacher and open as a Church. In places like Bosnia people may go years without seeing the first person submit to Jesus, but numbers don’t always tell the story through the eyes of God. Faithfulness to a calling in the midst of dry seasons may eventually be what bears a tremendous harvest even while it may be decades later. As church budgets dwindle in the new world economy the temptation will be to look at the numbers when it comes to supporting missionaries. In order to make a decision other than that then prayer and reliance upon the Holy Spirit for guidance are a MUST. If you have been guilty of playing the numbers game with your church or your church budget I’d encourage you to watch this…
The time has come to be equally concerned with the quality and quantity of relationships within the Church and how the Church is doing outside. It has also come time to figure out how to measure how we are doing apart form the weekend worship attendance.
Ignorance Is Bliss
Do not watch the following story if you do not want to be made aware of the reality of sex trafficking in places like India. At the core of my being is a desire to help make a difference for the enslaved. There are 1,000,0000 children who are trafficked in India alone. To put that number in perspective that’s about 25% of the entire population of the state of Kentucky.
Now imagine being a 16 year old girl who was trafficked, was rescued and rehabilitated only to be trafficked AGAIN. Share this story with as many people as you can and most of all give to International Justice Mission.
“As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!” (Psalm 40:17 ESV)
LOVE WINS!
In honor of the children we left behind
Yesterday was a GINORMOUS day! Thanks to many of you for celebrating with us. As far as the United States is concerned three children orphaned by AIDS and extreme poverty have been given a family as if it never happened.
Today I want to encourage anyone and everyone who reads my blog, sees this post on Facebook or Twitter to watch this video and ask God if one of these kids, other than our three, is supposed to be yours. Ask for a dream, like I had, or simply just begin to pray for these children that moms and dads would bring them home. Contact Jill Baker at Promise Kids A Future if interested in joining us on this adoption journey, and maybe at this time next year we’ll be attending your celebration.