A couple of weeks ago, a missionary colleague lent me a book about the 24-7 prayer challenge that has been spreading across Europe. (Red Moon Rising: The Story of 24-7 Prayer by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts) The book written by two pastors of emerging missional churches in Britain have seen prayer houses spring up all over Europe.
The current prayer movement in Europe springs from the 18th century German Moravian church that kept a 24-hour prayer vigil for more than a century. The Moravian movement and its leader Count Zinzendorf eventually sent over 3000 missionaries around the world and greatly influenced the teaching of John Wesley who provided the Church of the Nazarene the reason for its existence—to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world.
It is no wonder that one of the authors testifies early in the book to an experience very much like what us holiness folk would call the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
The idea of 24-7 prayer is nothing new. Nall Ave Nazarene in KC where I used to work, held a week of prayer each November using the same concept. Other churches have done and are doing the same thing. I am wondering how this kind of movement would challenge and change the work we are doing in West Africa. What if we had someone in every time zone around the world covering the work in West Africa in concerted prayer? I’m thinking. I hope you are too. Let’s put our minds together and see if they are willing to follow our hearts on this subject.
While reading this book, I get the most recent update from the Africa Region. Eugenio Duarte, our regional director, gave a prayer challenge for the coming year. Coincidence? I doubt it. Here are some prayer priorities for Africa:
Every Nazarene Dependent upon God Only
Every Nazarene a Spirit-filled Disciple
Every Nazarene a Disciple Maker with a Real Burden for the Lost
Every Nazarene Giving Authority to God’s Word
Every Nazarene an Extraordinary Pray-er (not my will but Yours)
Every Nazarene Leader Faithful to God, Church, and Family
Every Nazarene Leader Building Leaders Who Build Leaders Who Change the World
Every Nazarene Pastor an Effective Minister of the Word
Every Nazarene Home a Nursery for Holiness Champions
Every Nazarene Local Church Experiencing a Real Movement of the Holy Spirit
(You could replace Nazarene with Christian believer (Matt 2:23; Mark 16:6; Acts 24:5))
Monday, September 25, 2006
Housekeeper and/or Keeper of the Divine Secret
UPDATE: This post was recently published on the front page of the Church of the Nazarene official website at www.nazarene.org.
Jesus told his listeners in Mark chapter 4 verse 11: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” This is a true story from another part of West Africa.
A woman named Dala works as a house maid. She had a secret to tell. Do you want to hear about her secret? Four months ago she became a Christian believer and attends the Church of the Nazarene. She now carries the secrets of the Kingdom, and the seeds of God’s Word, in her heart and life.
Every few days she goes to a local vendor to buy charcoal. This particular day the vendor asked Dala a question.
The vendor was a middle-aged and man devoted to his religious ideals. When he saw the cross on her necklace, he asked her to give it to him. She said, “Absolutely not! You will just take it and throw it away.” He asked her why she wore it. She began to share with him the Secrets of the Kingdom.
The charcoal vendor was just one of many people in this neighborhood trying to make a living. He was exhausted and grimy from the work of making and selling charcoal. He was usually ignored by most people, except Dala who could not keep the Divine secret hidden in her heart.
Every few days Dala would return to buy charcoal and the man said he wanted to know more about this Jesus. He always had more questions about her God, this prophet Jesus, and the meaning of the cross she wore around her neck. She did not go get her pastor to answer for her. Instead, she shared what she had been learning about God from His Word and from weekly sermons. Within a few weeks, the man received Jesus Christ as His Savior. He later told Dala’s pastor that whenever he had a question, Dala would respond with just what he needed to hear.
Dala found out through their roadside conversations over piles of charcoal that this man also knew much about his former religion. Now, after many weeks, Dala asked her pastor to help the man understand more about this Jesus who is found in the Bible and is now living in his heart.
Jesus told his listeners in Mark chapter 4 verse 11: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” This is a true story from another part of West Africa.
A woman named Dala works as a house maid. She had a secret to tell. Do you want to hear about her secret? Four months ago she became a Christian believer and attends the Church of the Nazarene. She now carries the secrets of the Kingdom, and the seeds of God’s Word, in her heart and life.
Every few days she goes to a local vendor to buy charcoal. This particular day the vendor asked Dala a question.
The vendor was a middle-aged and man devoted to his religious ideals. When he saw the cross on her necklace, he asked her to give it to him. She said, “Absolutely not! You will just take it and throw it away.” He asked her why she wore it. She began to share with him the Secrets of the Kingdom.
The charcoal vendor was just one of many people in this neighborhood trying to make a living. He was exhausted and grimy from the work of making and selling charcoal. He was usually ignored by most people, except Dala who could not keep the Divine secret hidden in her heart.
Every few days Dala would return to buy charcoal and the man said he wanted to know more about this Jesus. He always had more questions about her God, this prophet Jesus, and the meaning of the cross she wore around her neck. She did not go get her pastor to answer for her. Instead, she shared what she had been learning about God from His Word and from weekly sermons. Within a few weeks, the man received Jesus Christ as His Savior. He later told Dala’s pastor that whenever he had a question, Dala would respond with just what he needed to hear.
Dala found out through their roadside conversations over piles of charcoal that this man also knew much about his former religion. Now, after many weeks, Dala asked her pastor to help the man understand more about this Jesus who is found in the Bible and is now living in his heart.
News about more new churches in Benin
Several Nazarene churches have begun fundraising for building campaigns. Fidjrosse church was built with Alabaster funds 18 months ago, except for walls and windows. Two weeks ago Moise the D.S. preached and they took an offering to complete the walls and windows. They needed 130.000f ($260) and they collected 200.000f ($400). That is huge boost and a real change in mindset for this young district. Also, two other churches in Segbeya and a recent church plant in Fifadji (both neighborhoods in Cotonou) have begun building campaigns.)
Yesterday Pasteur Clement of the Fidjrosse church preached about the need for people in his congregation to hear God’s call to go into all the world to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. He said there may be people here this morning who God will call to other countries in Africa who need to hear about Jesus, such as South America, Europe, Asia, even the United States. He asked, “Are we ready to go? Are you ready to go? You may not go yourself but you need to be ready to support someone else who God might call.” Good stuff or what?
In September at least five new Nazarene churches have been planted in Benin: Calavi, Zogbo, Cocotomey, Gbodje, and Akplanka. Now, there are churches in every neighborhood leading out of Cotonou to the west and to the north. Three of these churches were planted by the Fifadji church that I mentioned above.
One of these churches sent a representative to Cotonou to meet with Moise. The man is a director of a private school for children in the area around Savalou. This man heard a Nazarene preacher in their village, and thought to himself, this preacher knows what he’s talking about and he’s obviously been well prepared. Moise told this layperson that that preacher doesn’t belong to the denomination any more. The man said, well, if he learned what he knows from the Church of the Nazarene, we’ll go with the Nazarenes. If we can, we’ll try to get this preacher back into Church of the Nazarene, too.”
On Saturday Sept 16, the southern part of the district held a Sunday School teacher training workshop. There were over 40 participants from various Nazarene churches. I should note that this conference was planned, organized, and led entirely by Beninese laypeople and pastors. Sure, Moise asked me for some input before the conference, but it was entirely their initiative and effort. That is awesome—less truly is more when it comes to missionary work.
Yesterday Pasteur Clement of the Fidjrosse church preached about the need for people in his congregation to hear God’s call to go into all the world to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. He said there may be people here this morning who God will call to other countries in Africa who need to hear about Jesus, such as South America, Europe, Asia, even the United States. He asked, “Are we ready to go? Are you ready to go? You may not go yourself but you need to be ready to support someone else who God might call.” Good stuff or what?
In September at least five new Nazarene churches have been planted in Benin: Calavi, Zogbo, Cocotomey, Gbodje, and Akplanka. Now, there are churches in every neighborhood leading out of Cotonou to the west and to the north. Three of these churches were planted by the Fifadji church that I mentioned above.
One of these churches sent a representative to Cotonou to meet with Moise. The man is a director of a private school for children in the area around Savalou. This man heard a Nazarene preacher in their village, and thought to himself, this preacher knows what he’s talking about and he’s obviously been well prepared. Moise told this layperson that that preacher doesn’t belong to the denomination any more. The man said, well, if he learned what he knows from the Church of the Nazarene, we’ll go with the Nazarenes. If we can, we’ll try to get this preacher back into Church of the Nazarene, too.”
On Saturday Sept 16, the southern part of the district held a Sunday School teacher training workshop. There were over 40 participants from various Nazarene churches. I should note that this conference was planned, organized, and led entirely by Beninese laypeople and pastors. Sure, Moise asked me for some input before the conference, but it was entirely their initiative and effort. That is awesome—less truly is more when it comes to missionary work.
Family News
Last week Payton lost his first tooth. He said, “I think when kids lose their first tooth they become big. They’re not little kids any more.” He came up to me the next day and said, “Dad, you know what. Last night I woke up and Mommy has kneeling over my bed. She was holding my tooth, and she told me to go back to sleep. You know what? I think Mommy’s the tooth fairy.”
We have been reading aloud Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite authors and characters when I read as a child. Lately, Parker has been reminding me of Ramona. He’s been acting his age this week—not impossible, just difficult. Kids are kids wherever they live. I am sure he’d say the same about his parents, too.
We have been reading aloud Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite authors and characters when I read as a child. Lately, Parker has been reminding me of Ramona. He’s been acting his age this week—not impossible, just difficult. Kids are kids wherever they live. I am sure he’d say the same about his parents, too.
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