Why are we even here?

Why Are We Even Here?

Sarah, Katie and I sporting our knock off Toms in a random photo shoot after discipleship :)

We headed out for discipleship last Thursday and were in for a surprise. . .

Promise's one room shack serves as our meeting room and is mostly overtaken by a large bed. Now occupied by ten adults it was as cozy as sardines in a can. So far everything seemed like a normal discipleship, Sarah had pulled out her notes to begin teaching and we opened in prayer. Then Promise spoke up, “I am angry! Very angry! I'm going to speak in my own language and someone can translate.” Off she rattled in a heated voice, the only words I could catch were our names. Katie, Sarah and I glanced at one another, a little worried and extremely curious. The translator gave up after the first few words and nodded her head as she agreed with Promise's passionate outburst. Finally Promise switched to English and we were surprised and relieved at what she shared. She said she was upset with the discipleship group as a whole. They come every week to hear us teach and we do all the talking, they never answer our questions but just nod their heads. They don't apply anything they hear or take any of our challenges to read the Word. So why are they even coming? Why do they set aside this time, learn, and go back to living as before? NO. Tonight they were going to teach discipleship, they were going to talk, they were going to lead.

Our hearts leaped. Promise was tired of the milk, she was ready for the meat. God had changed her heart and she couldn't hold back any longer. She had everyone's attention and you could tell God was using her words to penetrate with sharp effectiveness. Promise graciously told the two newcomers that they didn't have to share but she expected everyone else to talk about what God had been teaching them.

We pulled out our notebooks and took in the sweetness of the moment as one by one they began to share. I was touched by what Rachel shared. She referenced Proverbs 6 which talks about the faithfulness of the ant, how she has no commander yet works diligently, unlike the sluggard who always sleeps. “Pray for me. It is hard to read the Bible”, Rachel confessed, “I always want to fall asleep. Pray for me now. It doesn't matter who prays, you're all my friends.” Later Rachel turned to Promise and said, “Promise, you teach me. I don't want a commander, I want to read the Bible for myself … You encourage me Promise! Thank you.” Wow, what a beautiful thing to witness, the women we had been discipling were turning and discipling one another … that is what discipleship is all about!

Lately Promise and her boyfriend, Thomas, have been going through a rough time. She said they have begun to read scriptures together and talk about what they feel and receive from the verses. She said she writes down their questions and God's answers. She proceeded to share some of her testimony, “I was in a dark place and now I am in a light place. I feel the taste of the name of God on my lips, I feel it sweet like honey on my lips … Now I feel God is with me, next to me, He is my director … now I know verses, not just the scriptures. I am with God. I know God. I know the love of God.” She then turned to us and thanked us for doing our job. For helping them to know the word. “Everything has changed since I first met you. Bit by bit it's changing.” She encouraged us, “Don't stop here!” She prayed that God will give us more power to tell more people. She pleaded for us to stop for the one, even if it is for two minuets. She said we are leaving them changed, for they have realized their lives are useless without Him.

May our hearts be birthed or reborn with the passion that Promise shared, may her words encourage you. For as she shared, “We all have the power to share God but are often too lazy to use it.” She also said, “One day I want to stand on the stage like Sarah and tell people about God's name. If I advise people, I want to advise them about Jesus not about life!”

Promise shared about her heart aching for the lost, “I can't sleep, my heart pains over South Africa … I have shame in my heart … the young children and teens are not going to school. You see young teen girls holding their toddler's hand with their stomachs swollen with the weight of another one on the way … young boys are carrying guns. We need serious prayer in our community, I need serious prayer, ALL of South Africa needs serious prayer.”

This is just the story of one women. One women who a few short months ago was drinking heavily and who was lost to tears every time she tried to pray. This is the story of a women whose life has been changed by knowing the power of forgiveness that is in Jesus. This is a women who was impacted and is in turn encouraging, empowering, and challenging others around her. How many more men and women will have stories like this? I already know of some, I can't wait to hear of the others.

Thank you God for using the ministry of Impact Africa to change people's lives for eternity. I stand in awe of what You have done, what You are doing and of what You are going to do. To You be all the glory, honor, and praise.