CMFI Church Catalyst division (fancy wording for the church planting teams) held a Church Planting Form that took place on the coast of Kenya. Church Planting teams from all over the world met up with our CMFI home office leader David Giles. The Forum began every morning with worship and devotional thoughts. Charles Wesley's words written in 1740 have never quite penetrated my heart like they did that first morning. When my fellow missionary friends and I sang,
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.
Knowing that each of us represented at least one other tongue if not more was a tearful moment for many. Tears of joy knowing the praises of truth that are sung in so many many tongues! We then took turns giving shouts of praise in our second or third languages! Can you hear it? Praise the Lord! Bwana SiFi We! Misisi Yesu! Wow! Heaven will be glorious my friends! Then, with a voice of comfort Tim Ross began sharing with us. Tim was a missionary in Kenya who now serves as a minister in the States. He began with a story that reflected the loneliness that can come sometimes as missionaries. He said that one of the most encouraging things that his family received while on the field was a small framed verse from 1 Thess. 1: 1-3. He began reading,
"We always thank God for
all of you and continually mention you
in our prayers. We remember before our God
and Father you work produced by faith, your labor
prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in
our Lord Jesus Christ."
More tears were glistening as we heard from someone who was been in our shoes reciting this verse as a suave over our souls. Tim passed out a gift and it was the framed verse to have sitting somewhere to remember. Holding the verse in our hands he began to say that on behalf of our loved ones in the States and a God that loves us that we are not forgotten, we are prayed for, and that we are a part of a great work. All of these things are things that we know but labors on the field we do not always have the fellowship of others or times of instruction by someone in our national tongue. The picture that I am trying to paint is not one for you to take pity. But, to understand how moments like this are so very treasured and meaningful. We do sing the praise of our God and Creator in tongues that are not of our own ~ which is a gift! The challenge on the field is to be diligent about finding ways to grow and worship our God and creator. We do not have as many of the things provided like in the States. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus and our labor of love are helping that to occur in our areas of influence on the foreign field. Tim's words were encouraging and challenging as we began each day together.
We would then transition to Church Planting discussion points. One would share in various of ways different fields were operating or tools used. It was good discussion and brainstorming for the work at hand. My favorite is always getting to see my friends who serve in various places. My co-workers who serve in fields much like my own and then those places that are very different. But, they are my friends who know what serving in missions is like. The joys and sorrows that we find so far away from our "home culture." Meeting new friends is also a joy! Brainstorming together is a great help but being able to fellowship together is a gift! We enjoyed the time at the Beach which is always a restful place for the soul!
Our time together was a gift!
- We are grateful for safety in traveling during this slightly sensitive time in East Africa.
- Grateful to be with friends and gain insight at the Forum
- Continually pray for our work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!!
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