YFC Staff Conference - Report from Africa #5

I stood in the back of the shed listening to the worship. It carried my heart to a new level of appreciation for our Lord Jesus Christ. A four voice ensemble sang with such passion and volume that it seemed like a one hundred voice choir. Oh how I wished you could have been there with us!

I walked to the soccer field where most of the meetings took place at the General Assembly of Youth for Christ International. It was four years ago this month. My mind could picture the huge tent which sat on this location. Flashes of thoughts raced through my brain. I remember the native wear evening when everyone dressed to reflect their country. A pastor from Colorado spoke and left a strong impression on each heart. I see the face of Ajith Fernando and his solid teaching from the Word of God. What precious memories.

When I closed my eyes I heard a loud buzz of bees. I looked up and the tree next to me must have hosted thousands of bees. They were busily gathering pollen from the hundreds of blooms on the tree. The marvels of God are so amazing when we stop and quietly take it in.

Ministry has turned the hearts and heads of many people upside down at this week’s conference. It can become so confusing when you expect ministry to be more controlled and stable. What do I do with no salary. How do we put food on the table for our family? Cathy and I reflect on many times during the last forty years when those were our questions. How do we pay our house note? Each time it happens you feel flipped upside down.

Our grandson Ben loves flying upside down! He laughs and cackles when I do it with him. Then he asks for more. When you become over twenty-one it doesn’t have the same excitement. In fact the older you become the more dizzy it makes you.

People shared very painful experiences and opened up to one another. I heard one man talk about his parents who abandoned him. There was a portion of his heart locked up ever since. Another man immediately spoke up and said the same happened to me. He was older and now the head of a family. His advice to the younger man was anointed by the Spirit of God. Wonderful to see God knit them together.

This was a busy week with the staff conference. We left on Friday and traveled to Mpumalanga where I began teaching in village churches yesterday. It is so nice. People are so hungry for the Word of God.

Remember, God’s promises are in occupied territory. You must look intently into Jesus’ eyes to see clearly the issues in your ministry journey. Finally, do you love Jesus more than YFC? That was the heart of my messages to the staff from around Africa.

It is now Monday morning and you have key questions to answer. What will be different for you today? Will you serve Him?

Cathy and I are praying for you! Thank you for your prayers of support.