His Seeds

Friday // Galatians 5:25 was put on my heart months before coming to the Philippines, and now has been a recurring theme when being here. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." God has been doing that in my personal life, giving me my own revelations. But it's even greater to see how God has been bring revelations to many in our time here and I know He will continue to bring revelation to those who are here.

We started our day travelling again for about one hour to Pastor Zabala's church, where Aris shared a message on Jeremiah 29:11. It is wonderful to see how people rejoice in worship and fellowship here, regardless of what the congregation or church is like. People are ready for prayer and are open to any words of faith which may come, and are quick to respond to what the spirit says. The culture here is warm, friendly and hospitable. They are willing to give so much away, even when they have nothing, but they are afraid to ask. I really felt heavily on my heart for them that God wanted to show them that they shouldn't be afraid to ask God for the desires of their hearts, because God is the very one who put those desires on their heart. 

I remember feeling like I didn't really need to have too much faith on my own, because of the missionary home I was raised in I felt like I could depend on my parents to pray for all our needs when there needed prayer. I later realised that I also didn't pray specifically because I was scared of being disappointed. That maybe if I named exactly what I wanted to God that I would be incredibly disappointed after and that would cause a damage to our relationship. 

I remember the moment I realised this was last year when I was talking to my parents about my ticket to Korea and Germany, and how there still wasn't money for the ticket and for me a simple prayer just didn't feel enough, I felt like they needed to do more. I remember how my parents told me to have faith and trust, because God has always provided for us, and that I just needed to ask for it. I remember the aggravated feeling, and me feeling like I was going to get hurt - which is interesting in retrospect, because God had really always provided, even if sometimes I felt like I had less than my friends at school. God truly had provided, but again in that moment I felt like my dreams were going to be taken away from me because of lack of finances. This was a deep pain, because being in missions often means that there are ways we go without, and faith is a huge key in there being provision. 

I cried that day and my heart broke when I realised that I hadn't realised that I'd been depending on the faith and prayer life of my parents, with semi my own, instead of entrusting Him with everything. I prayed and named my hearts desires. The next day the money came in from someone covering not only ticket to Germany, but my ticket to South Korea and all my family's tickets to Germany. My faith has only been getting stronger since then.

To be honest, living abroad alone is really, REALLY difficult at times. I feel in many ways I have been thrown into the deep end of adulthood, besides the normal leaving Highschool and starting university. Suddenly rent, deposits, budgets and taxes have become part of my daily life (along with cooking, dad - you're the best cook). Providing for myself at eighteen requires a lot of faith too, as if something goes wrong and so far away from my family, it can be very daunting.

Two weeks before we left for the Philippines I had my hardest two weeks since I moved to Frankfurt, to the point that I just wanted to move back to Cape Town. The weight of what I needed to do and fix felt a burden I no longer could carry. I trusted God that when I was in the Philippines that He would give me a fresh light and perspective on everything in my life, because I didn't know how to continue.

Wow, is He faithful. I feel like this fresh and raw struggle gave me a much deeper authenticity to what I would share on, that I could empathise in a more real way. I felt and experienced everything even more deeply than I usually would.

For example, a moment shared just holding a child at the orphanage and having her fall asleep in my arms felt like a divine moment. Watching Christina lead them all in communion moved me. Hugging and kissing them all goodbye hit me. God shifting and moving. 

The evening was a time of fellowship with the volunteers who give so much to build the kingdom. They are incredibly faithful and diligent with what the Lord has given them. I am beyond blessed to have met them, they have taught me so much.

I am heartbroken to be away from them, but they played a role in my life, and I hope I to a point played a role in theirs. God planted seeds in my heart and I hope I have been faithful enough to sew them.

Heartbroken

I've attempted time and time again the past weekend to write another blogpost, and I was unable to bring myself to do it. I never comprehended that I would fall so in love with this city and this country, and each time I tried to start my heart would break into further pieces as I thought about leaving I would start crying. 

Well now I'm still crying, but at the airport as we prepare to board our possibly delayed plane to Manila and then to Hongkong, then lastly Frankfurt. Right now it feels though I will probably cry the whole trip back, but I also hope that I will get some rest. 

The more and more I reflect, the more and more I'm amazed how in such a short space of time that I would feel so at home and loved and make family. I am the type of person who feels everything deeply, and I knew it would hurt when I would leave, but this is a new level that I've never experienced before. I found family and friends, and I leave so incredibly blessed by the experiences, memories and relationships made. 

I will catch up and write posts about the last weekend still for the next few days, I just couldn't bring myself to do it just yet. I'm rather heartbroken right now, but I truly believe this isn't the last time I'll come here. My heart has a huge chunk which is being left behind here.

Day 2 - The Secrets of the Kingdom

Glory to God!

Today was our second day of our "Heaven on Earth" conference. Around 200 pastors and leaders have been attending the meetings and we are in awe if what God is doing. To the relief of Frances there were no cockroaches under the toilet seat this morning (I have had to rescue her from 2 already). After our mangos for breakfast and a latte to-go we made our way to the convention hall. 

This morning we looked at the otherness of the Kingdom of Heaven and how

God's Kingdom is a realm that is beyond every limitation. We then looked at the secrets of the Kingdom and how the deep things of God are revealed by the Spirit. Consequently we looked at the need for people to be born of the Spirit through dependence upon Christ to be able to see the Kingdom and enter into the Kingdom.

After our lunch break, Frances spoke on the Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. The leaders have really taken to Frances and enjoy her preaching very much. After a short coffee break I spoke on how Christ is God's gift to the believer and that we must learn to live by faith in Him to access the riches of heaven. This evening we took Pastor Julius, Roszel and their daughter Yra-Lee out for dinner to spend some time with them. Yra is the cutest thing and is an extremely gifted child. She is simply a bundle of joy! Her little brother Jonkris is also adorable!

"The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." Matthew 13:11 

Conference in Butuan - Day 3

Today was the third and final day of our conference in Butuan. This morning we looked at how those who fear God live new lives for God. We looked at the examples of Moses in Hebrews 11 and Paul in Philippians 3 and noted how they had made a definite decision by faith to turn away from the world and to turn toward God. We then looked at how God must become our Source and not just our Solution as we learn to approach the throne of grace. After the session after our lunch break we shared communion together and the presence of God was wonderful. We then invited people to share their testimony of what God was doing in their lives and many reported to having been revived and inspired by God's revelation to them. We also heard today and witnessed that Jireh Mae is now able to walk by herself without the help of her dad, who had to help her previously because of the pain in her body! Now she is walking around without pain! Hallelujah!

The conference has been great. The pastors and leaders that attended were very hungry for the reviving truth of God's Word and the presence of His Spirit and they did not leave disappointed but were filled spiritually and physically. Many testified to being greatly encouraged in their faith and strengthened to persevere in the fear of the Lord as they rely on, respond to and revere God's presence in their lives. I praise God for His awesome revelation to the people that has stirred their spirits to live for His glory. Hallelujah!

On the way to the conference hall I saw these signs that I found interesting. Mc Donalds really is all over the world and look - you can rent some jungle! The common method of transportation are tricycles that are fun to ride with. During the lunch break I had to get something from my hotel so Berwyn took me on one of the pastor's motorcycles.

Tomorrow is another full day but I am living from the Source and relying on God's grace. Glory to Him!

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 2:2,3

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Conference in Butuan - Day 1

Today was the first day of our 3 day conference in Butuan on Living in the fear of the Lord. Over 90 pastors and church leaders attended today's meeting which started at 9h00 and finished at 15h00. Today's sessions were used to lay the foundation of what it means to fear God. We looked at the need to make room for the Holy Spirit; God's purpose for creating man and how Jesus came to model and restore mankind to God's original purpose for him on earth. We then looked at how living in the fear of the Lord is living from God by relying on Him to be like Him (godliness); living because of God in response to Him (fellowship); living for God in reverence of Him (co-labour). In the last session we looked at how Jesus feared the Lord and delighted in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-3).

Today was a good start to the conference and I am pleased with the great response and how people are getting excited about God's revelation to the Church to strengthen and encourage her. Tomorrow we will dig deeper and I am convinced many lives will be revived by the Word and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

At my hotel they have set up a philippine scaffolding to paint the walls - quite a contrast to the one on my office building in Bockenheim! Below is a picture of pastor Julius (pastor Berwyn's brother-in-law) who is doing a wonderful job at leading the worship at the conference.

"The church...was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." Acts 9:31

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Testimonies of God's Grace

Today was another wonderful day in the Lord. The word has spread and over 120 leaders attended today's prophetic leadership conference. A Free Methodist seminary professor cancelled his class and brought his entire class to the conference because he heard about the revelation God is pouring out upon His people. In the morning we continued to look at the nature of the prophetic and after a tasty lunch (including a whole pig and a birthday cake for me), we gave people the opportunity to testify about what God is doing in their lives and what has really spoken to them. We spent over an hour listening to stirring testimonies of what God is doing during this conference. Some testified that they were about to give up the ministry but God has so encouraged them and so strengthened their faith that they have recommitted their lives to His call. The Lord is really enlightening the hearts of the leaders with spiritual revelation and everyone is being revived by the Word and the Spirit - it's more than I could ever ask or imagine. Glory to God!



After the testimonies I taught on "Building Kingdom Culture" and how the leaders can apply what they have learned very practically. The feedback is very positive concerning the simplicity of the communication and the clarity of the messages. God's grace is evident and we are rejoicing in God's revelation to us.

"...this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery..." Eph. 3:8,9

Prophetic Leadership Conference

Today was the first day of our 3-day Prophetic Leadership Conference. About 50 pastors from Butuan and the surrounding villages attended. These precious people are so poor that they would not have been able to attend if we hadn't paid for their bus fare to get to the conference hall! We also included a free lunch and refreshments to bless these men and women of God.

In the first sessions we looked at the diffrence between the natural and the spiritual, and the nature of the prophetic and how it is revealed in the lives of Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul and the early Church. On this first day the Lord led me to emphasise the foundation of "Christ in us" and to encourage the people to realise what they have received in Christ by being united to Him. We also looked at the significance of spiritual revelation and how the believer can only know the secrets of the Kingdom by the Holy Spirit.

The leaders responded very positively and are feasting on the revelation of God's Word. The feedback I have received today is that the teaching is simple, easy to understand and people are able to apply it to their lives. There is a real buzz in our time together - excitement about the revelation of God's Truth, and enjoyment of fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

After the teaching session in the afternoon I invited all those who were hungry for more of God to come forward to be prayed for. Almost everyone came forward with faith and expectation. We began to worship the Lord (without instruments or any "props") and waited for the Holy Spirit to do His work. As I observed the Father touch His people I simply worked with Him and prayed for those who were already responding to God. Once again people wept, laughed, fell over, stood quietly, shouted, spoke in tongues and allowed God to do His work in them. I watched the Holy Spirit fill pastor couples simultaneously as they both fell into the Father's arms. When everyone had been prayed for I encouraged the leaders to do the same with their people and to pass on what they had freely received today. The Lord is equipping His people to spread the fire of His Truth and Presence to the people in this nation. Hallelujah!

We closed the meeting a little earlier than scheduled because the Holy Spirit was done and many of the people still had a 2-hour journey home by bus! These people are so hungry for the Word of God and they so appreciate that someone would come all the way from Europe to share God's heart with them in Mindanao. Apparently US citizens are not allowed to travel to this area because of the radical Islamic terrorists present in parts of Mindanao. Pastor Berwyn had planned for me to visit the "mountain people" on Friday but because of his concern about potential danger, he has arranged for these people to come to his church in Mabini.

Tomorrow promises to be another exciting day in the Lord and I will be sharing some key principles on leadership to help the spiritual leaders become a Kingdom influence in their churches and in their communities. Hallelujah!

"Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to build and to plant.'" Jer. 1:9,10

Mabini Project

Mabini is the name of a small village, near Butuan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. I (Pastor Richard), will be travelling from 7 July - 20 July to this area to pursue a relationship God has orchestrated between Pastor Berwyn and me and between Mabini Christian Fellowship and Kingdom Life Frankfurt. During my 10 day visit I will be leading a 3-day prophetic leadership conference, a 1-day worship seminar for the youth and I will be ministering to various churches and leaders in the area. The purpose of the trip is to establish the work God has begun and to find out how God wants KLF to support and build in this area of the world. I hope to keep a regular report of what God does during my visit on this blog together with pictures and videos.