We recently were blessed by a team of volunteers from the state of Washington. Most team members were medical professionals in some capacity and ALL of them desired to be a blessing and succeeded in being a blessing to the ministry of New Hope Uganda. They worked diligently in our Kasana clinic, serving the needs of our staff and children and then traveled quite a few hours east to hold village clinics in the vicinity of our Musana Camps site. The ways in which they gave were far-reaching, even in part only known to God Himself, as we never truly know the extent to which He uses us when we are submitted to Him.
They further blessed us as staff by showing an interest in us as individuals. In an effort to strengthen us as we work here long-term, they brought books, DVDs and CDs to give to us. Geoff and I received a biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer which is absolutely fascinating and extremely encouraging as well as challenging us to deeper layers of commitment to our God. We also are devouring “Radical” by David Platt. If you haven’t read it, you NEED to get a copy and start chewing. “Radical” has motivated me to take a good, hard look at the Gospel I am teaching to the kids here at New Hope. I’ve begun analyzing my words and bent as I disciple and mentor children and staff here. What has been my overall emphasis as I teach with both my words and my life? Am I presenting a Gospel—good news—that is centered only on what God has done for us as individuals rather than moving beyond our personal salvation and setting a focus on His Kingdom agenda? Of course I have an interest in the individual hearts of the children to whom I minister. I want them to KNOW the love of God and that He is FOR them. But does that message of truth drown out the full scope of who He is, what he has done for ALL of creation, the BIG picture of His sovereignty and subsequently what He demands of us?
The other day I spent about an hour with a young man who wrestles greatly with the sin of stealing. He had come to me asking for a job in order to earn back the money he had the night before taken from a family member. First, I wanted to talk with him in order to revisit the reason for the repeated problem. We thought he had progressed past that sin and I wondered why we were back again in the struggle. This is a child whom we brought in from the village a few years ago and who has demonstrated growth in his overall attitude, behavior and interaction with others. He loves to pray for others and frequently remembers to pray for those who are battling health issues. As we talked I assumed I was speaking to a “saved” person and approached the discussion based on that assumption. After talking for a few minutes, the Holy Spirit stopped me mid-sentence and said, “Ask him if he is saved.” I did. He said, “No.” Wow. Face-to-face with the reality that sometimes I just don’t have a clue as to what is really going on in the deepest places of the hearts of the kids with whom we live!!! One on one is the best way to delve deeper to be sure!
As a side-note here, let me say that as a ministry we are currently honing and intensifying our focus on the kids--are all 500+ known by us? Where are we lacking? We sent a list around to all staff so that we could write our names next to the ones we know. Likewise, we asked to kids to name staff members with whom they comfortably relate. Some kids were identified by many staff members as known, but some of the same kids said they were not close to anyone. EYE-OPENER!!! It is true that working with “orphans” requires an understanding of the hurts unique to their histories and realizing that they often relate in a guarded, mistrusting way. We are very aware that issues of rejection become prime motivators in interaction and lack thereof. Yet, for all of our “awareness,” we still are sometimes surprised at what we find behind the smiles and agreeable words--words usually aimed at “telling the staff what they want to hear.” And often there are walls up of which we may not be aware.
Going back to my conversation with the young man. . . the entire conversation shifted with his honest admission and I was grateful. I want to KNOW him and what he is dealing with, his heart and what he has come to believe or NOT believe regarding God. I certainly didn’t want to spend time talking one thing when he was not in a mind to hear it!!! So, we backed up. Before his honest confession, we were trying to find out why he was still struggling with the same sin over and over. I now realize that there will not be victory over that sin until he allows Jesus to change him! But, he couldn’t clearly tell me who Jesus is or why He died as a sacrifice for man. Often the kids “hear” the elements of the Gospel, but they label it the “white man’s Gospel” and so tune it out, even though there is solid evidence that Christianity was present in this part of Africa hundreds of years before the first European missionaries arrived! So, I backed up further. We started in the garden. We visited Abraham and his faith. We visited Moses and the Law. We visited the Israelites and their inability to live successfully by the Law. We visited the need for One to bring us into a right relationship with our Creator God—a relationship that the Law ultimately couldn’t give. We visited the prophets and their news of the One Messiah to come who would be a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice and WHY He was qualified to be The One. We visited other religions whose leaders had also died, but DIDN’T RISE to life again!! We visited the power of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, coming and living among people and ultimately making things right again between God and His creation! From the garden to the cross and resurrection and beyond! What a journey in 40 minutes! I did not push him to tell me anything further, but I prayed for him and told him he needed to decide for himself what he would believe about Jesus. I certainly didn’t want to hear a confession of belief in Jesus just because we were sitting together and I was waiting, staring at him!!! I hate hearing words that are said for my benefit only! I’d much rather wait a long time for a real change of heart rather than a quick “Sunday School” answer complete with a “put-on” smile!!!
During this past week, he hasn’t yet said anything further to me regarding what he believes about Jesus. He worked hard last week and paid off his debt. I continue to pray for him to be TRULY changed by Jesus. It’s his decision. I invite you to pray with me for him.
So, what are we doing and what Gospel are we preaching??? Is the power of who God is and the power of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our central focus? Or are we ourselves and OUR ministry our main focus? Do we seek most of all to be “comfortable” and/or “comforted” in what we do, or are we set on responding to and doing what God has asked us to do regardless of the “stretch” it may require of us?
Just like my young friend who needs to decide what he believes about Jesus, and ultimately how he will relate to the truths of God, I leave you to also decide your response. . .
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