WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND WONDERFUL REWARDS

WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND WONDERFUL REWARDS

    Does this not sound like the BEST catch phrase to make you want to read more and to find out how you can get such an opportunity.  This was exactly what I saw when I got the Call of our Lord to follow Him into the ministry.  In Mark 10, there was a fantastic conversation between Jesus and His disciples and it comes to completion in verses 28 through 31.

"Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  Mark 10:28-31

I think that Peter so accurately expresses to Jesus how I feel sometimes when I am on this journey.  Amazing how this journey goes.  There are many struggles and worries (family, income, health, being away when things happen are just a few).  Then there are the wonderful events that happen and the rewards (seeing the lives changed by people who fall in love with Jesus, experiencing a great awakening in the dark world of the culture in the Middle East and North Africa,  hearing and speaking to the followers who are willing to sacrifice all are just a few of these wonders).  

    All of this leads me to conclusion that truly the catch phrase, "Wonderful Opportunities and Wonderful Rewards;" was an accurate description of this Calling in my life.  With all of this being said, let me share with you about my most recent trip to the region. 

     Overall the trip was a success.  I was able to get all the planning done for the upcoming project in September and solidify some great plans for being able to share in schools and the with the 4 churches in the area.  We also took a one day trip to a remote area of the country.  In this remote area, we prayed for the people and the country.
     Egypt was again a time of training, planning and relationship building.  Egypt has really gone through some drastic events over the last months and this has caused a lot of challenges.  One part of the trip that I was really looking forward to was being able to visit some of the families of the men beheaded for their beliefs.   However this had to be cancelled due to the security issues of going to the area.  I was disappointed but we all know who is in control so there must have been a reason.  With this being cancelled we traveled to some of the areas where we have completed projects and seen people make professions to the Lord. It was a great time of reliving the Work that was happening and has happened.  I also spent a great deal of time in training our local leader there and with meeting possible new connections for the future.

     My next trip back in the region is to Lebanon and a few other places.  Please pray that God is preparing a way there.  Then after trip, I have been invited to Pakistan to preach, meet with Pastors and churches and to share Jesus in July.  This trip will definitely need to be bathed in prayer.  So please join me in prayer.

      Please pray for us as we are going again to have to start looking at Great Commission Partnership and the need to  pray for God to lift up more partners.  If you want to become more involved or want to know more about Great Commission Partners, please let me know.  

      Luke 10:2 says, " He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  We need you so that we can continue this "Wonderful Opportunity."