On the Horizon

Well, Christmas is over. It’s time to put the music, tree, ornaments, gifts, and movies away and get back to serious business, for we are serious people . God was good to us this year to give us a “second family” to celebrate with. For the Barneys, Millers, and Apsleys please know how much you were missed and thought of. We look forward to coming home and celebrating holidays with you again soon…

As I was sitting in church about to preach on Christmas Eve it dawned on me … Uncle Jeff would be preaching that morning, Dad would be conducting and leading the choir, Jeff was probably playing organ, Stacey was probably singing and or playing bell choir, Jennifer was probably taking care of power point, Casey might be doing music in Big Bear; I realized that there in church I was with family by extension - as each of us was with the family of God, so also we were together.

Preaching went well on Sunday and Monday. By “well” I mean I didn’t faint, and I learned a lot all week while I was studying. A few of you have asked what I preached on and for those who asked I will send you a copy of my notes. But for this blog I wanted to highlight one point I taught on Christmas day.

We were looking at the responses given in scripture to the Birth of Christ. I have always thought of it as Shepherds, Wise men, and Herod. For whatever reason, this was the first time I realized that Herod called together the Jewish Scribes and Priests to ask them where the King was to be born when the wise men show up at his palace. They answer him with the prophecy listed in Micah 5. And then the wise men go to find him, and the Priests stay home? Men who have devoted their lives to teaching Israel about the Messiah choose to ignore the truth when He comes. Even Herod believes the truth about the Messiah being born as seen in the drastic action he takes in killing the baby boys in Bethlehem. This struck me with the question, “Are we willing to allow the change that comes when God moves in our life, or would we rather ignore the truth to stay comfortable?”

We’ll be BUSY for the next two months here … we’re so excited … kids’ club, pastor’s seminars, women’s seminars, village trips … and two of the bigger projects we expect to be working on will be to get a fledgling Bible college off the ground and prepare to establish a youth camp here in Keseke.

Youth Camp … most of you have heard us talk about Eagle Ridge, the camp project we have been working intensively with for the past year. Once again, it “just so happens” that while the camp Board was praying and seeking ways to engage with international youth and use camping as a tool to reach them with the Gospel, that Harold & Coni were provided with land for a youth camp. As far as we know, there is no other ministry focused on the youth here, so we are very excited to explore the potential and connect as many dots as possible for Eagle Ridge to partner in this.

Bible College … the building has been found and rented, and now come the nitty-gritty details to prepare for students. The purpose of this school is to teach current African pastors in high-impact short term classes so they can go back into their areas and disciple their own flock. Africa has shallow spiritual roots because they have very few people to help them grow in depth and maturity. The need for discipleship has become very apparent in the past few years. While we work on this, their top translator and right hand man, Gabriel, will be leaving for the States late January/early February to study for a year at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta. For the year this is a big loss to them, but with a year of intensive study, Gabe will be an invaluable part of the ministry here. He is hilarious and hopefully when we get back we can introduce him to many of you; he is a joy to know. He will have a few months off in the summer, and we are hoping to take him to many of the churches that support Harold and Coni, so they can meet him and hear his heart about the work Harold and Coni are doing in this region, and the work the Father is doing throughout Africa.

In the meantime, here’s to sweating in 85 degree temperature with 75 percent humidity.