My Unique Upbringing

I found myself yesterday continuing to reflect on the blessing I've had, and how I was fully equipped by how I was raised. Naturally I could never ignore my convictions, that what breaks my heart could never be ignored, because how I saw my parents go after that. I could never sit back and do nothing, because I have a knowledge of the need of the world. My heart breaks and therefore I must do. 

But what I'm learning more about myself in this time is that my pastoral heart and my heart for preaching had fully been encouraged too by the leadership of Pastor Richard Maybery. The way he called out my purpose in me before I could even see it. We had plans to go to India together and he always told me he was training me to be his next pastor, though at that time I just thought it was funny. From a very young age he challenged me with theology and books that most six year olds probably never would have access to it, but he would sit and explain it to me until I understood. He believed in me before I saw what he believed.

I remember the crushing feeling of knowing I'd never have that trip with him, that my whole childhood of training with him felt like it had gone to waste. I wish he could see me now. I hope he would be proud to see me preaching and doing what he encouraged to me to do what he does in the Philippines. 

Going to the tribal churches and having the opportunity to preach and meet the people, I can preach and lead from my heart as if I'd been doing it my whole life, because of my unique upbringing. I'm continue to be grateful. 

Christina also was able to preach yesterday at one of the churches, and we were both blessed by the openness of the members. Their hearts and ways.

My day, with Andreas, ended with a challenged of trying Bulat with some of my KLB friends after a Facebook comment thread. I'm always willing to try something because I want to fully explore the culture, but yesterday was really a sacrifice. A sacrifice was worth it though to continue building the wonderful friendships I've made. 

Building Kingdom Culture

On Tuesday evening we spent time with KLB's core group, teaching them the essence of what it means to live the kingdom life. It was wonderful to see how the truth was setting them free as they received spiritual revelation of their identity in Christ. Having come from a more traditional background that still teaches progressive sanctification and essentially salvation by works, we showed them that we are sanctified the moment we are joined to Christ because we are joined to the Holy One who is our Righteousness. It was an amazing time as we literally witnessed veils being lifted off their eyes. Hallelujah!

Yesterday we spent the morning and afternoon with the core group and continued to teach them the essential values of Kingdom Life that form Kingdom culture, which are:

Belong - Faith - Alignment
Relationship - Love - Purpose
Identity - In Christ - Union
Devotion - Worship - Service
Expectation - Hope - Kingdom

In the afternoon, after treating everyone to a Bo's coffee, we taught the group how to minister in the Spirit, showing them how to pray for people in such a way as to make room for the Spirit to do His work and colabouring with Him. It was a powerful time as God ministered to each of them as we demonstrated how to pray for others.

We then had a couple hours break before we went to visit pastor Jonathan's church in the evening. As part of their weekly prayer meeting, we were invited to minister to them. During the worship I received a prophetic word for the people and shared
a message about how God sees us and that we must learn to live for the audience of One. The Lord's presence was tangible and many were deeply ministered to during the sermon. It was a very special evening and I praise God for speaking right to the core of the needs of the people. God truly sees us and knows what we need.

Leaders' Seminar

After a pretty rough night trying to sleep in a room next to a very noisy road, we had our breakfast and made a beeline for Bo's Coffee place to get a decent coffee to keep us going. Julius and Berwyn picked us up at 8.00am and we made our way to a place commonly called RTR, near Cabadbaran where Berwyn lives and pastors Mabini Christian Fellowship. In RTR is the Four Square Church that we have visited before at previous visits that is pastored by pastor Lumba. Pastors and leaders had been invited to attend a day seminar and to fellowship together over a lunch that we provided.

Our purpose was to help the leaders think about the difference between essence and form and to learn to ask the right questions in terms of what they do and why they are doing what they do. Frances and I shared the teaching and we had a lot of fun interacting with the people and challenging traditional mindsets. Our aim was not to give all the answers but for the leaders to be equipped to ask the right questions that they can answer themselves. After 2 sessions in the morning and afternoon we offered to pray for the leaders and many came forward to be ministered to. God is so faithful. Frances and I were pretty tired by the time it came to pray for over 30 people but God began to give us prophetic words and power to pray for the sick. One man felt the fire of God all over his body. Another man said he could see better after receiving prayer for healing. There were many tears and some were deeply ministered to as the Holy Spirit touched their hearts and lives with His love and presence. God's grace is truly sufficient for us as His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

We praise God for the many testimonies of leaders who said that they had received fresh revelation and felt equipped to take their ministries further. Hallelujah!

After a long but powerful time, we were invited for dinner at Berwyn and Liberty's home in Cabadbaran. It was a joy to see the whole family and I spent most of the time playing with Christopher and Christine. It was a lot of fun! I really don't mind my bald head being used as a landing pad for all sorts of animals and toys.

Thank you Lord for revealing your heart today and for bringing us back to the essence of what you have called us to as leaders and as your people.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7