What's in Your Hand?

"Then the Lord asked him, "What do you have in your hand?" "A shepherd's staff", Moses replied." Exodus 4:2

When God said "Go!", can't you just hear Moses object, "I can't do this!! Pharaoh won't believe me. I'm a lousy public speaker. Even the Israelites won't accept me." God answered with reassurance "I will be with you and empower you." Moses' simple shepherd's staff was one of the proofs.

I often have opportunities to use what is in my hand. In the early days of International student ministry, I advised students who were looking for their very first cars. Some bought 'beaters'. I remember crawling under the front end of a car with a significant engine oil leak. The student wanted to drive to California and back. I said, "I doubt it will make it both ways but if you add oil regularly, probably you can make it one way." At other times, I would ask my supervisor at the dealership for 15 minutes to use my hoist to check out a car that a student wanted to buy. On another occasion a Muslim friend from a well-to-do family moved into subsidized housing and the walls and doors looked drab and scruffy. So he asked me to teach him how to paint. He had never done any of this stuff himself.

Asif, his mother, and siblings arrived in Canada about a decade ago. After graduating from high school, he landed a decent job and was able to save up some money. Eventually he accumulated enough for a down payment on a small bungalow.  He proudly gave us a tour. It's old but solid. Just the week before he had trouble with the furnace and had to get that replaced. Ouch! He shared some of his renovation and improvement ideas and I suggested some of my own. It is most encouraging that he has taken a step forward and moved out of subsidized housing into his own place. We reassured him that this property has lots of potential and good value. At the end, he gladly accepted Joy's offer to pray a blessing on this home and on him.

My mind floated over to the hillside on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where a large crowd had collected around Jesus. He saw that they were famished. The disciples drew a blank what to do since it would take a small fortune to feed them all. Andrew found the young boy with 5 small loaves and 2 fish--just a drop in the bucket compared to the need. Can't you imagine what the boy told his mom when he got home? "I shared my lunch with 10,000 people." God used what he shared with others.

When we arrived in Pakistan, I prayed that God would use my hands. I'm not so eloquent or influential. But God not only used my handy hands but also allowed me to give leadership to people who needed a mentor. Many of you reading this are handy with your hands and perhaps growing in your ability to share spiritual truths too. Way to go! May God continue to use your skills.

Dear God, you creatively gifted each of us with unique abilities. Please send us to people to help where you get the glory. Amen.

Stepping Forward

"For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared." Ephesians 6:15

“That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", declared Neil Armstrong as he placed his left boot on the surface of the moon—way back in 1969. As a teenager I was glued to the TV. Armstrong literally had to dream, eat and sleep space and becoming an astronaut. He remained focused on this career path. A huge team prepared for this historic mission. God hand-picked Paul for a far greater Mission to be a pioneer missionary to Gentiles in Asia Minor. Good 'ole Barnabas came alongside of Paul until he was launched in ministry. When cash-flow was tight, Paul supported himself as a tent-maker. In the above verse, I don’t think he was referring to combat boots. After all, there have been effective ‘bare footed’ missionaries in developing countries over the years. It appears that it has to do with preparation of the heart to be in harmony with God and ready for action. Paul walked the talk. Even though his job description included Tent-maker, he was a Church Planter at heart. I think his workbench was also his ‘pulpit’. I love this marketplace stuff.

When we left for Pakistan for our assignment at Bach Christian Hospital, I had several skills in my ‘toolbox’. On the practical side, I had years of preparation on the farm where I learned the basics about farming, construction, welding, machine repairs, etc. which I later honed in subsequent jobs. I learned a lot of ‘mr. fixit’ skills. I even learned to fly, thinking that I was destined to become a Missionary Pilot. On the spiritual side, many people invested in my life. The list includes my parents who prayed for me, Sunday School teachers, and those who involved me in outreaches like teaching Vacation Bible School and Camp Counselor. To make a long story short, I graduated from Bible College in Theology, praying for the Lord’s will for my life. So, my heart was ripe to respond to God’s tap on the shoulder ‘go to Pakistan’.

Was all that preparation wasted after a decade in Pakistan and returning to home base? No, not at all. In fact, we think God was preparing us for a more effective ministry in the homeland. I had a better handle on cross-cultural communication and sharing Jesus with Muslims. I mastered another language. Now when I tutor a newcomer learning English, I can empathize with him and be more helpful. The East is very relational and I can appreciate the ministry of hospitality more fully. I understand the role of community to a greater extent. In evangelism, exploring a 'new community' is a huge thing for Muslim seekers considering the Christian faith. These are all new skills in my ‘toolbox’ and they've been put to work. God knew how to prepare me for ministry on both sides of the ocean.

The fact that you are reading this post, probably indicates you are interested in this subject. Good for you! If you are a follower of Jesus, you too are on a Mission similar to Paul...probably not in Asia Minor but in your 'backyard' or elsewhere. May God take your boots to the person of His choice to befriend and share God's wonderful news, peace with God through Jesus.

Dear Loving Father, Thank-you for wisely shaping us in order to be of service to you. Prepare and guide us in this ministry. Amen. 

Redirection

“That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, “Come over here and help us.” Acts 16:9

Sept. 14, 1978: "We are approaching Islamabad International Airport where it is 6 a.m. and 30 degrees C. Welcome to Pakistan," announced the British Airways flight attendant. Joy and I along with 2 year old Christina had entered a new phase of our lives. I was a rookie in living in a new country and in ministry to Muslims. Shortly after arrival, I took a tour of the town we lived in on a hot day. The new sights, sounds, and smells made me nauseous and out of commission for a few days!! What a wimp. But over a period of 10 years God helped me adjust, learn Urdu, and thrive in our adopted land.

 Leading up to our departure, my wife and I saw clear markers that God was directing us to serve in Pakistan at Bach Christian Hospital. He helped us prepare for ministry and provided an amazing team of prayer and financial partners. My first assignment was to give leadership to the Maintenance and Building Department. It included small building projects, maintaining hospital equipment, keeping utilities going, a stand-by generator and hospital van. Doing so in a developing country is a chapter all of its own. Each of the dozen Pakistanis on my maintenance team did his part. As time went on I helped a Pakistani brother gain experience and confidence to eventually take my leadership role. The security of raising a family on a 15 acre compound composed of a hospital portion and residential allowed Joy, as a young mom to get involved in evangelism.

 Fast forward, we were now into our 9th year of service preparing for Home Assignment and were experiencing some uncertainty about our future. Initially I fought the idea that God might be redirecting us. A timely incident that later helped confirm a new direction was when a mob attacked four Pakistani brothers and I selling Christian literature in a conservative town. We were dragged in front of a judge who himself had studied in Canada and obviously had a positive experience. He said “Our people have freedom to share about Islam in his country.” With that he let us go. Our return to Winnipeg happened at a time when there was a new wave of Muslim International students at our Universities. We recognized that we had entered a new season in life and ministry. Although I was working full time in my old trade, as a mechanic, we got connected to a campus ministry where we learned the ropes about ministering to International Students. For the past decade God’s people have allowed us to again serve full time in sharing the Good News with Muslims and mentor others.

 In the verse I highlighted, God directed Paul in an unusual way but with clarity. You may be in a confusing stage in your life or ministry. If so, God is able to clear away the fog and give clarity and confirmation of his will. He is our 'Mission Director'.

“Dear God, we know that you have a purpose and place for each of us. Please help us to recognize your voice in directing to specific people or places of service. Amen.”