“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
Over the past year I (Chris) have been wrestling with the idea of furthering my training of the Word & ministry and have been seeking ways of doing this through getting a masters. Once on the field I thought this door would close. As my life turned into a day-to-day desire to know Him more I sought to ask for His will to be done. Seeking Him had to become my priority, then loving my wife, and finally our work here.
Peace began flooding back to me when I returned my eyes to our Father. The Lord knew that He needed to be about His Father's business (Luke 2:49), and so should I. It’s weird how uncertainty can actually bring peace while ease causes the opposite. Shouldn’t all of our decisions be based upon what is going to have the greatest impact for our Father’s Kingdom?
After settling into the changing daily routine I was able to finally call our new life a home. I felt the presence of the Father walking hand and hand. I no longer was seeking what I thought I needed. And then one day He says it’s time. I received an email from Golden Gate informing me of their full online masters program. Immediately I deleted it. A few weeks go on and, BING, a new email comes through while studying the language. This time it’s personally written from a staff member so I replied with a, “Thanks, but because of my current situation I’m not able to attend at this time.”
Over a few months I would receive random emails asking for me to call. So I grabbed the Magic-Jack and tried to call no answer. This goes on for weeks. On my last attempt to call I get a voicemail and I leave a message. A few months passed by and nothing came back up. Then I receive an email saying my Magic-Jack has a voicemail. I listened to the email and decide it’s just a pitch, but I felt something pushing me to call back. I waited till midnight our time to call and ended up off the phone at 5 am.
In those 5 hours I talked with three different staff members, nevertheless it was one person, who the Father spoke through, that I felt the call. This gentleman happened to be at his lunch when I called him. I shared with him how hard it would be for me to pay for one or two classes a semester and for me to get books. In my mind I’m thinking of the logistics of getting them and the cost of a class. You can’t just place some books in the mail, for this degree, and send them to the country I live in.
His mind is focused on cost of the books, which I never even thought of! He told me that he had always put some of his money aside to help a student and that he was called to help me, and that whatever book is needed for the entire degree program he would take care of. He also said he would personally make sure I would get them safely. Both of us, touched by the spirit, had tears of joy. His yoke is easy and his burden is light when you place all you have on Him.
This is not about receiving a degree or not having the finances to take care of it. It is about how to keep the great commission at the forefront of my mind, and the training to disciple those here. It is about helping the lost go beyond “come and listen” to “go and tell.” It is about the Son shining brightly.
I know that there is no way possible that I could be here today if it was not for His provisions. I have seen the Father answer many prayers supernaturally. And being a witness to the faith of the locals here is amazing and has taught me so much. It is my pr’yr that not only rocks cry out His name, but the thousands of others that surround me.
The Son wants more for His community and this is a way for myself to be further trained in loving & teaching the lost. Will you join me as I seek to know Him more?