We may know in our heart that God has ordained a life dream, goal, or desire, but the ability to see a positive end result can seem daunting. Sometimes believing that you can indeed do what God has called you to do can be stretching. Be encouraged, there is hope!
Those who have allowed themselves to imagine success through God’s eyes and subsequently stepped out in faith have seen godly results. I attended a missions conference a few months ago and had the privilege of hearing from speakers who openly shared about their own experiences and victories.
Daniel Pach shared about the importance of reaching out in love to our diverse neighbors. Daniel survived the Sudan Civil War. Due to casualties of war, Daniel was orphaned at a young age, and with God’s help overcame many obstacles in coping with daily life. Daniel led thousands of boys to freedom as they fled war-torn countries in the midst of active gunfire. Amy Scheuring is the Executive Director at Women’s Choice Network, an organization that reaches out to women to empower them to choose life. Amy presented techniques for valuing all human life in a society which is often marred by shifting cultural landscapes and morals. A panel led by representatives of local ministries discussed how individuals and churches can be involved in global missions while living locally.
Although varied in ministry focuses and life circumstances, all the conference speakers had one common thread.
They experienced victories and saw challenges through spiritual eyes, not through natural eyes fueled by emotions or human reasoning.
God designed our spirits to teach our soulish emotional realm. We are created to be led by the spirit of God which dwells in each of us when we become believers. There is victory that flows from thinking as God would think and seeing how God would see.
As I processed the nuggets I gleaned from the conference, I saw a parallel with SEAPC.
We have rejoiced in many celebrated breakthroughs. We have seen the technical training centers open in Cambodia, and we’ve seen God grant favor in China for implementing the autism ministry program CARE. God has opened the door for short-term outreaches into Japan and Haiti. After years of praying, a ministry is now up and running in Guatemala.
However, in addition to these victories there are big challenges on the horizon. More sponsors are needed for children around the world. Additional funding is needed for the completion of the nursing school at John Bishop Memorial Hospital in Kashmir, and also for the school for the blind. There are still more technical training centers to be built in Cambodia.
These challenges SEAPC is facing may seem daunting, but there is a promise. Just as the speakers from the mission conference attested to, when God calls and leads He does not disappoint.
Going forward we have the opportunity to step out as He directs, as we prayerfully imagine godly results while looking through His eyes and listening through His ears.
