This morning I awoke early. The sunshine beats right through the window past the neighbors roof right into my eyes at about 6:30 A.M.
I stirred with an anticipation of what God was going to do today. I was overwhelmed by his presence and went to sit with him. As I sat and listened God reminded me that He is in the business of doing the “impossible.”
Worship music playing in my ears I stilled my mind to listen closely to what He had to say for the sermon I was going to speak on later in the day. Usually I dislike waiting till the last minute to start processing what He wants to say to the people we will speak to, but this week had been filled with ministry and I hadn’t had time to be still about the message. I said a prayer to God asking Him to speak to me and through me. I asked God to let the Holy Spirit direct me to what needed to be said today.
I got dressed and went down to breakfast. After breakfast we prayed in the church waiting for service. 10 A.M. rolled around and church was supposed to begin, but no one was in the building. Pastor walked onto the stage and began to preach his heart out, which like a real preacher He wasn’t even supposed to preach- it just happened.
Slowly his family entered the scene. His eleven-year-old son and wife sit towards the back of the room.
Pastor is on fire.
I mean he is preaching it.
He has gone to church.
I look around and have compassion for him.
I mean I remember in ministry we talked about numbers all the time.
We would say things like,
“It’s not about the numbers but that gives you a clear picture about how you are doing as a ministry.”
But now in this perspective, after this week of working with Pastor I have seen his strategies. They are similar to those at home plus culturally tailored. Yet here in this moment there is no one at church but us. I think to myself, is this what it is like every week? In a place where less then 1% of people are Christian, is this what he faces? Pastor is filled with so much joy and pushing back the kingdom of darkness being a small beacon of hope into this community.
Tears begin to stream down my face as he gives the announcements, not because it is the most moving announcement I have ever heard but because I am faced with the reality of what He faces every week. Would I do this every week? Would I be encouraging and continue to connect into the community? If no one ever came, not because of a job poorly done or a trust that does not occur, how would I respond?
In that moment it became clear to me once again a very important reason that I am here on the world race. I knew in that moment that I was here to encourage this pastor. I knew that one of my main objectives was to pour every ounce of joy I had into his life and his families while we were in Chanthaburi.
I pray for you in your life this week. That you would do more then just serve those around you, but encourage those around you.
ESPECIALLY PASTORS.
They give so much and work so hard to see others lives changed for the kingdom of God. They may be in a church of 5,000 or of a church of 3, take some time today to remind them of why they answered the calling on their lives.
Sending Love from Thailand,
<3
Ash
#TeamAsh
P.S. I am $100 From being fully funded! Thank you for all of you that have supported me in this journey! You will get an email soon about what is next to come!
