This past month I had the
opportunity to attend the YFC Staff Training School in the Czech
Republic. Throughout the week, we attended sessions about the history of
YFC, different ministry models around the world, fundraising strategies, and
effective ways to reach teens. But of all the sessions, my favorites were
about prayer and holy habits of a leader. Both sessions were given by the
same man--Marian, a humble, soft-spoken leader from Slovakia. English
being his second language, his speech was simple, yet so was his message.
He shared about the beginnings of YFC in Slovakia--how a group of men met for
Bible study and prayer. They were untrained, young, and inexperienced,
yet God had big plans for them. They prayed bold and daring prayers--that
they would seek God above all else, and that God would use them. Little
did they know how God would answer those prayers.
Marian shared his own personal
story of how God led him to sell his house, buy a piece of land in another part
of the country, and build a ranch. Now, many years later that piece of
land hosts one of the largest Christian music festivals in all of Europe,
drawing a crowd of thousands! God's plans are so much bigger than ours!
His story inspired me and
resonated with what God has been teaching me lately. Beginnings are
always hard. It's hard to know where to start, it's hard to start alone,
it's hard to keep going when you see little results. So often we want to
start with action--projects, events, programs. These things are great and
often bring immediate results. But God
has been showing me that the best beginnings start with the unseen--they start
in people's hearts. They start with foundations that are laid in prayer,
fasting, and spiritual disciplines. They start with time spent in worship
and communion with God. It’s easy to brush these things aside because
they aren't very tangible. But that’s
the thing about foundations: they are
underground. You can’t see the strength
of a foundation except by the sturdiness of the building, by its fruit. The same is true in ministry. You will only see the depth and strength of
its foundation by the fruit it bears. Now
is the time to lay a strong and deep foundation. Please join me in praying for the ministry of
Youth for Christ in the Gulf.
Things to pray for:
1.
Local youth leaders in Bahrain—we've started a monthly meeting
to share our experiences and pray for our youth groups and the youth of Bahrain
2.
Plans being made for our annual youth camp, Desert
Challenge. DC will be on March 28-29
3.
The country and leadership of Bahrain, especially this week as
it marks the 3rd anniversary of the protests that began in 2011.
