Going Back To School
Laila and I decided to go back to school. We needed to learn more to be better equipped and more efficient in the work of the Lord.
The school is missions. Thus, for the past two weeks we have been traveling via Austria, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Philippines, and are now on our way to California and home.
Of course we took to give away. Our suitcases were packed with special gifts. In addition, we had made provisions to respond to ministry needs as the Lord made clear to us how we could help our precious brothers and sisters in other lands.
Allow a little explanation. Covenant Church is not ordinary. Walk our mission hall and you will find pictures of dozens of missionaries who have been to Covenant Church. The imprint of their ability and humility upon our hearts has left our congregation indebted to God and his precious people from around the world. The intent of our trip was to travel and visit a number of our friends in different countries. We only wish the trip could have been a little longer and included Africa and Indonesia.
Giving away is not difficult. Giving is a pleasure. The Gift of Jesus Christ to us is so priceless that nothing we give could even begin to repay Our Lord. And when one considers that everything we have is but on loan from God to us, then the question is not one of our generosity, but our stewardship. How can we best use what the Lord has put in our hands in a way to bring honor and glory to God? How can we bless the nations for Christ?
One more thing about giving: the disciples protested that they had left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus gently instructed them that they had left nothing but that the return in the present world would exceed their sacrifice and heaven’s reward would be exponential.
The real intent of this article is to share about our going back to school. We needed a time out to sit at Jesus’ feet. We needed a time of refreshment to hear a fresh word from the Lord. We have received the message.
The lesson has been about grace. Oh, I know the scriptures about grace, but we have been in the school of practical learning about grace. Today I looked at a brother who was so thoughtful. He hugged me. He told me he loved me. He said Laila and I had brought refreshment and blessing to him. A little later while Laila and I were eating, Ellie Deomampo explained that this dear man is one of the poorest. He has a wife and three children in a small shelter. They only have two meals each day of rice and whatever. Their income is about $50.00 per month -- but oh the GRACE of this brother whose eyes are almost blind from diabetes.
We also spent time with a brother from a Christian family. His sister married a Muslim. His brother-in-law came to him and said, “You can live in our house in the city and go to college.” For three years he lived in the home of a Muslim who fed him and paid for his college expenses. Then one day the Muslim brother-in-law asked, “What do you want to do with your life? Whatever training you need I will pay for it.” My friend answered, “I want to follow in the footsteps of my dad and be a Christian pastor.” To this the Muslim answered, “I thought you would say that.” My friend tells me that from that day forward he was treated with double honor, and the Muslim continued to pay for all his college expense to train to be a Christian pastor. Thus, my friend shares, “Can I do less than give my whole life sharing the gospel of Jesus with Muslims? It is my duty.” Grace flows.
For the past few days we have watched Ellie and Ernie Deomampo pour out their hearts to the precious people of Batangas, Philippines. Ellie and Ernie are retired professionals of Charlottesville, VA. Ernie is an Elder of Covenant Church. They leave nothing lacking at home. Yet, they have helped to found a church on Ernie’s ancestral land. Buildings continue to be built. Hundreds of people make the church the center of their lives. A government approved school has been established. Bible studies are planted in numerous neighborhoods many miles around. They are feeding the poor and ministering to inmates. Other ministers and churches are coming under the care and instruction of the local church. We witnessed grace flowing. We were humbled.
We did a seminar for seventy-five pastors and their wives. Three missionaries traveled from the jungle to the coast. They took a ship ferry at 1 a.m. that was so crowded they had to stand. Once ashore, they took various modes of transportation to arrive by 9 a.m. and stayed awake until 3:30 for a seminar. They were pleasant, grateful, and gracious. I learned from them about grace.
Oh, I pray that the Lord will be gracious to help me apply these lessons of grace. I loved Jesus before I left home. However, witnessing grace in the lives of dear saints in distant lands has moved my heart to deeper love for My Lord.
I look forward to being home and pray that the grace of God may flow from my life.
Much love,
Pastor Bare
Ephesians 2:8