God bless you, David! I finished my second trip to Kenya (Kitale, up in Trans-Nzoia County) back in July and I've been struggling to put the experience into words. A skill that, thankfully, you possess in far greater abundance than me. This hits home for me in so many ways about my experience as well. (I did my first field preaching this year in the Pokot desert region...talk about a Wesley moment!!)
Perhaps our greatest prayer for the Western Church, and for the GMC in particular, is for our Spiritual senses to be reawakened once again. More than anything, this is indeed what we need!
I was totally humbled and blessed while in Kenya. I was invited to speak at a revival as an "anointed pastor from America." Overwhelmed by the huge crowd singing "Come Holy Spirit" over and over in Swahili, I made my way to the front and knelt at a chair, realizing that they already had the Holy Spirit, and I wasn't needed! As people dropped in heaps being filled and overwhelmed by the Spirit, I asked my translator pastor why and he responded that there were only 5 pastors serving 22 churches, and they needed more pastors! The Holy Spirit would give some of them Spiritual Gifts to serve as pastors with no seminary training needed! Methodism was increasing by 100% every three years! Thank you for this inspiring Substack article, reminding us that we need to let God's Holy Spirit transform us! You are appreciated!
This is such a good encouragement for people to think beyond when they can touch. If I had my way no one would ever be allowed to pastor or teach until they have spent time in multiple other cultures. I consider my experiences with Christians around the world as one of my most valuable blessings. We compare ourselves with ourselves and become unwise. Spiritual atrophy is real. And it is sneaky. Thanks for this illustration of its importance.
In my own case, I wonder if what I need is a realization of how blind I am. Until we realize we’re blind, we probably won’t be willing to repent and receive spiritual sight. It seems like you’ve come back to the US with a fresh recognition of your need. May we all receive the same hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Really good and truthful. I’ve had the same experience in Uganda once greater degree and earlier experiences in Trinidad. It’s always hard to come back. In Africa, it’s just a different spiritual awareness and mindset. Once faith is put in Christ, it’s not hard to believe that Jesus still does miracles and casts and demons, etc. Here, we don’t cast out demons, we tolerate them and allow them to join the church. May God awaken and reform us!
How wonderful! What a great blessing to hear how the Lord is moving in places where He is permitted and encouraged. I am thinking of Randy Clark's book "There Is More" and hoping more and more followers become open to unending and matchless power of God in Jesus' name.
Thank you so much David for taking us to Kenya with you. Please give love to our brothers and sisters there from an old sister in Troy, Ohio
Rather an interesting read, David. Thank you for the window of words!
Regarding the local situation here, I'll have to suggest that the only key I know, is behavior-changes in pulpits. I see the inside of only one brick-and-mortar church in general, so I know very little about that generality, but the Lord does give me to do a lot of wide-ranging Internet interaction in Christ. It is clear to me that the Lord is bringing those changes, in interesting ways. Within the transeuropean cultures, there may be as much obedience to Christ against church-preaching not of Christ, as there is church-preaching of Christ. There are subsets of the orthodox groups taking up the opening in some places.
But the first key, and the last, and most important of all, I will suggest, is placing highest priority, remembering highest authority, of the things Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed. It was recently made clear to me how some, most explicitly, teach obedience to the commandments of Paul and not Christ, devolving into Romans 13 and national priority of this world, with a very detailed thread of logic-elements entirely of Holy Scripture. (I won't discuss this further publicly, but if anyone would like detail, email me at jeb@ponderworthy.com.) The vital element missing from that massive contraption, is simply not placing highest priority, and not remembering highest authority, of the things Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed.
It is quite rare to find anyone who considers even the bones of the whole contraption -- it is huge, very complex -- but its elements are legion. For the sake of both gentleness and effectiveness, we generally need to address the elements individually. And I will suggest that this is what is missing.
I will opine, that as churches everywhere place their priority upon that which Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed, and consider those things of highest authority for all for ever, His strength will rise in them. There are whole "spirit-filled" denominations which are floundering today, for the lack.
God bless you, David! I finished my second trip to Kenya (Kitale, up in Trans-Nzoia County) back in July and I've been struggling to put the experience into words. A skill that, thankfully, you possess in far greater abundance than me. This hits home for me in so many ways about my experience as well. (I did my first field preaching this year in the Pokot desert region...talk about a Wesley moment!!)
Perhaps our greatest prayer for the Western Church, and for the GMC in particular, is for our Spiritual senses to be reawakened once again. More than anything, this is indeed what we need!
I was totally humbled and blessed while in Kenya. I was invited to speak at a revival as an "anointed pastor from America." Overwhelmed by the huge crowd singing "Come Holy Spirit" over and over in Swahili, I made my way to the front and knelt at a chair, realizing that they already had the Holy Spirit, and I wasn't needed! As people dropped in heaps being filled and overwhelmed by the Spirit, I asked my translator pastor why and he responded that there were only 5 pastors serving 22 churches, and they needed more pastors! The Holy Spirit would give some of them Spiritual Gifts to serve as pastors with no seminary training needed! Methodism was increasing by 100% every three years! Thank you for this inspiring Substack article, reminding us that we need to let God's Holy Spirit transform us! You are appreciated!
This is such a good encouragement for people to think beyond when they can touch. If I had my way no one would ever be allowed to pastor or teach until they have spent time in multiple other cultures. I consider my experiences with Christians around the world as one of my most valuable blessings. We compare ourselves with ourselves and become unwise. Spiritual atrophy is real. And it is sneaky. Thanks for this illustration of its importance.
In my own case, I wonder if what I need is a realization of how blind I am. Until we realize we’re blind, we probably won’t be willing to repent and receive spiritual sight. It seems like you’ve come back to the US with a fresh recognition of your need. May we all receive the same hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Really good and truthful. I’ve had the same experience in Uganda once greater degree and earlier experiences in Trinidad. It’s always hard to come back. In Africa, it’s just a different spiritual awareness and mindset. Once faith is put in Christ, it’s not hard to believe that Jesus still does miracles and casts and demons, etc. Here, we don’t cast out demons, we tolerate them and allow them to join the church. May God awaken and reform us!
How wonderful! What a great blessing to hear how the Lord is moving in places where He is permitted and encouraged. I am thinking of Randy Clark's book "There Is More" and hoping more and more followers become open to unending and matchless power of God in Jesus' name.
Thank you so much David for taking us to Kenya with you. Please give love to our brothers and sisters there from an old sister in Troy, Ohio
Karibu Mzee! Welcome to modern Africa.
Rather an interesting read, David. Thank you for the window of words!
Regarding the local situation here, I'll have to suggest that the only key I know, is behavior-changes in pulpits. I see the inside of only one brick-and-mortar church in general, so I know very little about that generality, but the Lord does give me to do a lot of wide-ranging Internet interaction in Christ. It is clear to me that the Lord is bringing those changes, in interesting ways. Within the transeuropean cultures, there may be as much obedience to Christ against church-preaching not of Christ, as there is church-preaching of Christ. There are subsets of the orthodox groups taking up the opening in some places.
But the first key, and the last, and most important of all, I will suggest, is placing highest priority, remembering highest authority, of the things Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed. It was recently made clear to me how some, most explicitly, teach obedience to the commandments of Paul and not Christ, devolving into Romans 13 and national priority of this world, with a very detailed thread of logic-elements entirely of Holy Scripture. (I won't discuss this further publicly, but if anyone would like detail, email me at jeb@ponderworthy.com.) The vital element missing from that massive contraption, is simply not placing highest priority, and not remembering highest authority, of the things Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed.
It is quite rare to find anyone who considers even the bones of the whole contraption -- it is huge, very complex -- but its elements are legion. For the sake of both gentleness and effectiveness, we generally need to address the elements individually. And I will suggest that this is what is missing.
I will opine, that as churches everywhere place their priority upon that which Christ the Lord Personally said, did, and discussed, and consider those things of highest authority for all for ever, His strength will rise in them. There are whole "spirit-filled" denominations which are floundering today, for the lack.