Dreams

Two pieces from my newsletter I'm posting here:

God is using dreams to touch the hearts of Muslims. One of our national leader tells this story.

His uncle owns a small shop in Syria. In his shop he had the Evangecube opened to the panel with Jesus on the cross. (Shown here) A young Muslim girl entered his shop and saw the cube. When she saw it, she was surprised and asked about the cube. He shared with her the first panel, explaining Holy God then opened to Jesus. When he did, she began to cry.

She had a cross necklace hidden under her dress. She took it off and gave it to him as a present. He asked her, “Why are you giving me this cross?” She replied, “I had a dream so I went and bought a cross. Now I came into your shop and the picture on the cube is exactly what I saw in my dream. She wept as she talked and professed faith in Christ right away.

North Africa

In a village of a few hundred somewhere in North Africa God used a dream to complete His will. One night every single person in the village dreamed about Jesus—the exact same dream. The next day, they began to talk about the dream, and they realized the Lord has sent every one of them the same dream about Jesus. They put their trust in Christ and that day the entire village began to follow Jesus. He said, “I will build my church…” Matthew 16:18 Even if man blocks His messengers, Jesus will fulfill his promise.

Da Vinci Code

I can't get very excited about the Da Vinci Code movie, or book. In fact just writing that sentence makes me tired. However, I do like what John Miller wrote in today's Wall Street Journal:

The amazing thing is that church leaders, like those at Campus Crusade, have been among the most aggressive contributors to this enterprise. Instead of acting like the mad-as-hell crusaders of the recent past--a strategy that probably has backfired more often than it has succeeded--they are now assuming the role of debunking missionaries.

This marks a sea change in attitudes from a decade ago, when the American Family Association began its much-ballyhooed boycott of Disney for a variety of affronts, including its ties to Miramax, which was peddling movies such as the impious "Dogma" and the gay-themed "Priest." (The AFA's boycott actually ended to virtually no fanfare last September, in the wake of the Disney-Miramax divorce. Disney's release of "The Chronicles of Narnia" also helped smooth relations with the religious.) The content of "The Da Vinci Code" is arguably more objectionable to Christians than anything that ever carried the Miramax label, but the AFA isn't telling its flock to stay away from theaters. An article on its Web site even suggests that readers see the movie so that they'll know how to defend their faith. The AFA is also hawking "The Da Vinci Delusion," a DVD produced by Coral Ridge Ministries.

Read the whole thing.

Cost per Baptism

From Guy Muse's Blog

However, I was COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY this past week after reading James Rutz's, Megashifts. On page 117 he quotes Barrett and Johnson from their World Christian Trends. Their own calculation for the cost of each U.S. institutional church baptism is...

$1,551,466!!!

Can you believe it?

Could this be the difference between seeking to work solely in the power of the Spirit, and instead relying on the power of money for Kingdom work? I know we must be careful to judge and criticize. One cannot compare "apples with oranges" but surely the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something if we would but listen!

Of course, this is what Rutz's Megashifts is trying to point out about the global grassroots megashift where:

"...traditional, top-down [church] systems are turning into gigantic, bottom-up co-ops...The revolution now upon us is a complete paradigm shift...It is going to be a lot bigger than the reformation...It is, at last, the reformation of Structure--not just flattening the pyramid a little, but turning it upside-down so that the true leaders are the servants, lifting up and equipping those they serve..."

Church Cultural Shift Stuff

The Pharisees clumped together and built a parallel culture--refuge theology is Pharisaical. When dealing with Pharisaism, we are dealing with a religion that has nothing to do with Jesus. They have a heart for religion, but not a heart for God.

The missional church is the most radical resorting of Christians since the reformation. Those who are missional have more in common with those in other tribes than with those in their own tribe who don't get it.

The kingdom of God is all about people, and God has seeded the value system of the younger generations (Xer's and millenials) that will feed the shift He has begun.

Kingdom growth is profoundly anti- what we have typically been doing.


More from SBC Outpost Blogger ..

Water

WATER IN SUDANESE REFUGEE CAMP SEEN AS ‘MIRACLE FROM GOD’

Despite problems in western Sudan’s Darfur region, the Persecution Project Foundation continues to work with more Christian and Muslim refugees in Northern Aweil county. The organization is working to meet the food and water needs of about 30,000 families fleeing genocide. Last month the organization dug a well in an area where the U.N. failed to find water. “The village leaders, especially the Muslim leaders of their villages, actually saw this as a miracle of God,” said Ed Lyons of Persecution Project. “We said, ‘Yes, you’re absolutely right,’ and handed them some Arabic Bibles and said, ‘This is the God who provided this water for you.’” The foundation is working with local Africans who are doing most of the relief efforts. “They also get a chance to preach the gospel message, and it’s having overwhelming results in this area.” Lyons added. While no churches have been planted in the area yet, this is one of the ministry’s goals. (Mission Network News)

Report from Sudan

Here's another email from David Kaya in Sudan:

I am in Nairobi now on my way back to moyo Uganda. Brothers thank you for your support for the journey to the forgothen people of my country Sudan. I am sick as I write to you this letter. Live in the heart o the sudan is a hell on earth. I don't know how to write the report about my journey!!! It seems the world and the christian world has still done so little to help the situation and the need of the people for the gospel and the physical needs. To give you the summary of all things done on this trip, 1794 people gave their lives to the Lord on Sunday during my preaching,36 churches planted as the result of the training, 3women died in the service of famine and 4 childern died in the service also due to Malaria and other infections Mingisticsand cholera. all were burried in the church. A life of a person in adoor is not worthy a dollar, your dogs are even given treatement compared to the people in Adoor.

David

A Miracle

“I am going to heal you so I can use you.”

This is the voice Jan heard the night before last. Jan is part of the intercessory prayer team that is with us in the Middle East. Some might wonder, why would someone travel all that way just to pray? Can’t you pray from home? As I’ve heard more about Jan and how she came to join the team, I’m convinced this is about obedience.

The Lord laid Jan’s name on Mike Jorgensen’s heart to invite her to come be a part of a prayer team. He obeyed and she accepted. She was the one I asked you to pray for her traveling here. Her plane was delayed by a day and she faced some tough obstacles on her journey over here—alone. She could have been discouraged and turned back, she pressed on.

Early in the morning she woke around the same time the mosque was calling out for prayers. She heard a voice saying, “I am going to heal you so I can use you.” Jan has suffered from arthritis since 1996, taking medication to ease the stiffness and pain in her hands and neck. Her hands suddenly felt very warm and she felt compelled to clench her fists, something she hasn’t been able to do since ’96. She then thought, well what about my whole body? And she moved her neck around with ease.

Later that morning she woke up and thought she had dreamed all of this, but then she moved her neck and clenched her fists easily. When she told Mike Jorgensen what had happened, he described her as giddy as a school girl.

Egyptian Church

I was standing in the hotel lobby waiting with most of the folks on our team to go to Applebees for dinner. Yes, Applebees in the Middle East. Why Applebees? I think because a few guys could catch the Masters, or perhaps because there was already a craving for American food? Afshin, the American who grew up Muslim and became a Christian when he was 17 was going to speak at an Egyptian church and was waiting in the lobby as well for a taxi.

Applebees or Egyptian Church? Hmmm? Give me the Egyptian church!

I asked Afshin if I could join him. So off we went in a cab with an Egyptian who had attended our conference and would serve as our translator. Two minutes into the ride, “George” looks at me and says, “They will want you to speak also, okay?”

I had no Bible and no preparation. In the lobby, I promise you, we had just been talking about being asked to preach or speak with no notice when you’re on the field. So I said, “No problem, I’d be happy to.”

We twisted and turned up a few winding streets into what you might picture as a big city alley when the cab stopped. We jumped out and entered the church. It was packed with Egyptians coming to worship. The pastor was close to finishing his sermon, then we’d be asked to speak. Afshin went first, giving his powerful testimony. He connects with many in this area when he shares about his father disowning him after he told him he was a Christian. He gave an invitation and one young guy raised his hand to accept Christ. Hallelujah.

One funny moment. Afshin begins by saying how much he loves the country we’re in, how beautiful it is, and so on. Our translator stopped him and said, “Hey, these are Egyptians.” It was sort of like the commercial you see and hear of the rock star kicking off the concert by saying, “Hellooo Chicago!,” which is met with total silence and one lone voice from the crowd saying, “This is Denver!” Very similar and hilarious. Afshin, responds immediately, “I’d love to go to Egypt."

Afshin has spoken around the country as a full-time evangelist for several years. I’ve barely spoken a word from a pulpit. He had everyone stand and give me a standing ovation, a very nice thing to do. The great thing about not preparing is that you totally rely on the Holy Spirit. Between that and having to speak only for a little while sustained me. The first thing the Lord led me to say was that believers in America love the people in the Middle East. That the Holy Spirit and Jesus unify believers regardless of where we live or what culture we come from. Then I just told them why this white guy was standing there. That we plant churches and help teach others to plant churches. From there I taught all 120 or so of them the six hand signals and principles of church planting. I challenged them to plant a church in this city, with Egyptians or not. Four of the men who attended our conference were in the congregation, and I pray the Lord used me to set them up with the momentum to begin a planting work amongst these people.

As I was speaking, the pastor was seated directly in front of me. I realized I hadn’t run any of this by him. Who knows if he was on board with planting a new church or not? After a bit I sat down and the pastor assumed the pulpit. He held out a small amount of money and offered it to anyone who could come up front and repeat the principles I had just taught. A bunch of hands went up and one young man came forward and repeated it perfectly.

After the service ended, we shook everyone hand and walked to the street. I had many pull me aside to urge to tell you that they love America and believers in America. We walked to a main street to catch a cab when a young couple with a young girl asked us to come to their home. What a fantastic time. We had coffee and cookies and sat with the family and several other guys from Egypt. We swapped stories, then the husband, who leads worship, broke out his lute. Yes his Lute. We sang and they guys started dancing then we all prayed for one another and walked out into the cool Arab night. We were up high overlooking the city. It was beautiful on multiple levels.

The Preschool

Imagine you live in a city of 100,000 people and when you walk out the front door of your church, this is what you see.

That is where we were tonight. This is the minaret of the mosque that was directly next door.

For the past five years, this church of only 12 baptized members (maybe 25 total) has had no pastor. They would occasionally have someone come and preach, but otherwise they would come and pray and sing together. Four months ago, the Lord moved in the heart of a deacon and called him from that role to this church’s dynamic pastor whose heart is on fire.

He surveyed this city and found that there were 300 “Christians.” These are folks who simply are not another religion. Among those 300, he found 77 followers of Christ. Armed with this data, he prayed with his congregation and sought counsel from our national leader and now has a strategy in place.

Beginning with the 300 who have some semblance of Christian background, he is going out to them with the gospel and Navigator discipleship materials. He realized that in his city, the people want a traditional church, so he’s remodeling theirs. It smelled of chemicals and was in some disarray when we were there because of the construction. After five years with no pastor and so few believers, he’s approaching the situation like a new church planting.

There second outreach approach was extremely cool. They converted the parsonage into a preschool. They’ve opened it to Christians and muslims and have 28 students, half of which are muslim. But then he threw in the kicker, he showed us the curriculum. It was some of the best, no it was the best, children’s spiritual foundation curriculum I’ve ever seen. I joked that we could use it for adults in Sunday School. And I was only half joking. But then it got even better. They put on a Christmas presentation with the children as actors and actresses. It was a full gospel presentation via drama and all the parents came to watch. What a great example of meeting a need and using creativity. Sorry for the flash glare, but if you look close, you'll see the kids and the Christmas presentation.

Notes:

Unexpected blessings – The Lord put another group of Americans in our hotel. There are a busload (I don’t know how many, but the require a bus to get around) of women associated with Campus Crusade. As you might imagine, the word Crusade is a bit loaded in this part of the world. So here, it’s called something else. They have come because they are significant financial supporters for Crusade and to pray intercessory prayer.

We’ve gotten to know them and they listened to our purpose from our American Middle East Coordinator then laid hands on him and prayed. They’re praying for our conference while we teach. What an unexpected blessing to get in the elevator with another American who asks how they can pray for you that day in this part of the world.

Two covered women.

Thanks for praying for me to teach. I taught my section today, Making Disciples. To stand in the Middle East and teach seminary trained pastors is daunting. I mean, really, who am I to them? What is my faith to what they face? But God is faithful, and I had an absolute blast doing it. In our curriculum there can be long passages of scripture to read. So while we read some verbatim, I told a few of the others as stories. It’s funny how God works. I sat back down in the pew after teaching and it suddenly occurred to me that the Lord has used Alexa (4 years old) to help me. If I just read bible stories to her directly from scripture, even The Message, she would pay attention for about a total of 25 seconds. So at night, or at the dinner table, I’ll tell her stories from the bible. In her room at bedtime, I’ll occasionally act them out. She laughs hysterically when I fall down as Goliath. That practice was enormously helpful today.

Afshin

Afshin Ziafat is a former muslim who lives in the U.S. now. He's with us on this trip and gave a powerful testimony yesterday. The link is an old one, but it gives some highlights. Excerpt:

Like many other former Muslims, however, his decision bore huge consequences. His father, a prominent leader in the local Muslim community, finally discovered the decisions Afshin had been hiding.

"He said, 'If you are going to be a Christian, you cannot be my son,'" Ziafat said. "And it hit me like a ton of bricks, because here's a God I've only known a year and a half and here's my dad, my hero. And I want you to know that I was ready to throw up my hands and say, 'Forget it. I'm a Muslim.'"

Employee of the Year

The security concerns are frustrating because they tie my hands with what I can write back to you. With just a little experience in this region, and in this country in particular, I can’t quite discern what is perception and what is reality regarding what is safe to put in an email or the web and what is not. So I error on this side of caution and I’ll try not be annoyingly generic. But the concern is real. Here’s an example: A few months ago two of my e3 colleagues went with two local pastors into a country here in the Middle East that contains an unreached people group the local pastor believes God is calling him to work with. They visited believers in this country, encouraging them and planning an effective, God-ordained strategy to plant churches among this people group. When they crossed back over the border into the country the local pastor is living in, he received a visit from a few security officials from the country they just toured. In the security officials hand was a sheet of paper that listed every single place they visited—Every house, every restaurant, every business. They had been followed the entire time and hadn’t had any idea it was happening. Our pastor was undaunted (these guys are really amazing), and after answering the security officials questions in a satisfying manner, was left without any trouble. Christianity is—to me—shockingly free in that country. More on that in a sec. Keep reading.

Is that happening where I’m at? I seriously doubt it, (at least with our group) but it was an effective reminder of the caution we need to take. So with that, let me describe our first day as best I can, but with some filtering. It is cold and rainy here, which is also surprising. I expected it to be very dry and, stereotype alert, sandy. We grabbed a few taxis in front of our hotel and climbed a few winding narrow streets until we came to the church where we’re holding our conference. After about an hour, the church pews filled with men and women from five countries from the Middle East. We worshipped and then kicked off the church-planting training.

You know how smells connote memories? We had lunch in the basement of the church and as I walked down the steps and into the “dining hall,” it smelled exactly like every little church I’ve been in. You know what I mean, don’t you? I spooned a heap of rice with seasoning, vegetables, nuts and some meat (lamb?) on my plate and grabbed a seat next to a 23-year old guy, “Keenan,” from a neighboring country. This country is same one that I wrote about earlier with the security services. Keenan’s uncle immigrated to America and managed to bring his parents and three brothers over as well. Keenan’s family are nominal Christians, but the Lord has lit a fire in Keenan. The fire burned so hot that Keenan felt called to go back to his home country. He worked in a hotel in the U.S. and two weeks after getting promoted and named employee of the year, he quit and moved back to the Middle East. God has laid a burden on his heart to work with young folks in his country—those 35 and younger. With no real training, he began calling prayer meetings in his apartment. I asked him if he encountered much resistance. He said he did, but not from whom I expected. It is the “Christians” in his country who have opposed him. He is essentially persona non grata in his home church. The elders do not want growth and want nothing but to hold traditional services. Sounds like some churches in America, huh? Ha! He continues to mobilize young believers. He prays with them and trains them, then sends them out across his country to evangelize and start home churches. God has now given him a bigger vision to send more young people from his country to other Middle Eastern countries as well.

I’m making this too long now, so I’ll cut a few other items short and give you a few highlights. We heard from an 84-year old woman who many believe is the oldest believer in the country we’re in. We asked her to give a testimony of using the Evangecube and she ended up preaching a little. In a nutshell she told everyone in the room she wanted to go to heaven and stand before Christ and God the Father and tell them she shared the gospel. She wanted to finish strong, and she is doing it.

Later we met with some key leaders from the five countries and heard the visions they have for their ministries. More on that later.

Getting Started

This morning we gathered to pray (left) and our local leader, (face smudged for security) after giving his testimony, talked about being brought in to the intelligence service here. Questioned about his evangelizing, he replied, "I'm not evangelizing, I'm answering questions about life." When pressed further, he told the man about J-sus. After sharing more, the officer simply told him to go. The power of the Holy Spirit to blind men and change their hearts is amazing.

He then offered a short story about his assistant, "C" and C's experience with the Intelligence Service. Called in for questioning, particularly about evangelizing, which is illegal, he finally told the officer, "When I leave here I'm going to tell the first person I see about J-sus. I must obey God, not man." And with that, he was released without a further word as well.

Arrival

We arrived and now it's time to get rolling. Already the enemy is at work. Ten of our pastors from another country were turned away at the border. Please continue to pray for this trip. Lots more "stuff" going on in the city we're in as well. I feel somewhat like we're on the front lines of a spiritual battle.

More stuff tomorrow, but it is pretty cool to have Jason Elam from the Broncos here with us for a few days.

Report from Bolivia

In March a team went to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for a church-planting campaign. I'll be co-leading a trip there in June. Dave and Lynn Meritt were on the March Campaign and put together a neat, little online newsletter with some good pics of their trip.

Reason 3,348,383 It's Cool To Be a Missionary

Tibet

I love stuff like this.