Today, for the last time, I will join our org's assessment team in praying for and helping to determine our recommendations for candidates at our two-week school. I feel it has been a rewarding time, though not without some tense moments. I think it is hard to look other adults in the eye and essentially say, "We don't think you're ready for this yet," which is happening in a few cases. Yesterday, a session was held, named "Transformational Ministry," which sought to help people rediscover God's desire to change/sanctify them in the process of blessing Muslims. Refreshing. In the afternoon, we taught on and discussed healthy sexuality, and I think people were refreshed by our candor and willingness to address hard questions with them in dialogue.
Last night was a particularly refreshing time for me, as we worshiped together and took Communion, in a large circle. Confessions were made, sacrifices of praise were given, and my heart was truly stirred as I felt God prompting me to forgive others and myself and turn over my fears to Him. I felt like He really met me where I was, and He used one of the candidates, who's heading to a "hard" place, to pray with me. He blessed me more, I think, than I did him. I think I'm coming away from this week believing, more than ever, that God can indeed be trusted.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
5th Day
Yesterday afternoon I took part in a meeting that might prove to be one of the most pivotal of the entire two weeks. A team of 4 psychologists give us their extensive reports on the candidates based on multiple personality tests and personal meetings. Though whether someone goes to the field is never based solely on the doctors' recommendations, we do take what they have to say seriously. It can be a very sobering time. Have to run now, but please pray for our assessment team, as we make some heady decisions. Want to share one more story with you that I recently found and edited: Frontiers worker “Nat” and his friends traveled outside their city to meet with their friend “Mustafa,” an elderly man who began following Jesus last year. He is one of the first believers among millions of unreached Muslims from his nation in Southeast Asia.
Nat felt God prompting him to share verses from 1 Peter and Isaiah 43 with Mustafa. He quickly learned why as he Mustafa shared how he had been battered by spiritual attacks, demonic dreams, and bizarre physical ailments since their last meeting. He told them, “When I used to follow Mohammed, life was easy enough. Now that I’m following Jesus, all kinds of things are happening to me.”
Nat writes, “He was a broken man, and, as he shared, our hearts broke for him.” Mustafa even asked, “What ceremony do I need to go through in case I want to stop following Jesus?” The brothers worshipped and prayed together, and Nat shared the two passages God had given him for Mustafa, who was touched and asked Nat to repeat them many times, including this one:
“Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)
Before they left, Mustafa renewed his commitment to Jesus in a powerful way, and he begged them to visit more often. Nat writes, “We’ll do our best, even if only one or two of us can see him at times. Please also pray that God will call other [Muslims] to Himself from the same area where [Mustafa] lives, so that a growing fellowship can take root there.”
In Nat and Mustafa’s country, there are some wide open doors for Americans who wish to retire inexpensively. Many Americans are already transplanting businesses there because it’s so well-developed economically. Might God lead you to consider going to serve as a witness?
Nat felt God prompting him to share verses from 1 Peter and Isaiah 43 with Mustafa. He quickly learned why as he Mustafa shared how he had been battered by spiritual attacks, demonic dreams, and bizarre physical ailments since their last meeting. He told them, “When I used to follow Mohammed, life was easy enough. Now that I’m following Jesus, all kinds of things are happening to me.”
Nat writes, “He was a broken man, and, as he shared, our hearts broke for him.” Mustafa even asked, “What ceremony do I need to go through in case I want to stop following Jesus?” The brothers worshipped and prayed together, and Nat shared the two passages God had given him for Mustafa, who was touched and asked Nat to repeat them many times, including this one:
“Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)
Before they left, Mustafa renewed his commitment to Jesus in a powerful way, and he begged them to visit more often. Nat writes, “We’ll do our best, even if only one or two of us can see him at times. Please also pray that God will call other [Muslims] to Himself from the same area where [Mustafa] lives, so that a growing fellowship can take root there.”
In Nat and Mustafa’s country, there are some wide open doors for Americans who wish to retire inexpensively. Many Americans are already transplanting businesses there because it’s so well-developed economically. Might God lead you to consider going to serve as a witness?
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