South Africa Story Part 1
Our Leader, Jesus Christ, said, “This gospel shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” How do you feel about His statement? Do we respond with “Amen!” Do we silently think, “Not in my lifetime?” Do we quietly shelve this prophecy with the passive hope that someone else will go where we have no time or desire to share Christ?
A few months ago a Pentecostal Bishop reached out to American Christian Ministries (ACM) and asked for someone to be sent to preach the good news of Jesus and to disciple church leaders. He and his people had been listening to some Christian messages through ACM and he was hungry for his people to be ready for Jesus’ soon coming.
The question was, “Who would go?” The bishop lived in a remote part of South Africa known for its violence, kidnappings, and robberies, especially of foreigners. When I got an invitation from ACM to go, my wife and I were puzzled why this bishop in such a remote place would want me to come and preach to His people and disciple them. We asked God, “Is this invitation only from the bishop, or is it from You?”
As we prayed, claimed God’s promises, and waited on Him, God spoke to our hearts and confirmed that I should go. God provided the funds for the flight, lots of prayer partners, and even provided Pastor Martin Kim to join me as my prayer and ministry partner!
Just a few days before our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, the world went into panic mode over a new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, which was detected in the country where we were headed. I went out into the woods and prayed, “God, do You still want us to go to South Africa?” The still small voice of God whispered to my heart, “I have not changed your marching orders. I am still sending you!”
On the morning we were to fly out, I received word from the bishop’s niece that the bishop had cancelled the meetings where I would be preaching. He had received word that all flights from the USA would be cancelled to South Africa. So, on the Sunday morning we were to fly he told all of his people in his churches that we were not coming. I asked God what to do. God said, “The bishop cancelled the meetings, but I didn’t. Go anyway!”
I messaged the bishop’s niece to tell the bishop we were coming by faith. She said the bishop had left his church to go out to his country home far away and was without cellphone coverage. She urged me not to come for no one would be prepared to come for the meetings. Again, God said “Go!”
Call to Action: Following God's Marching Orders
So Pastor Martin Kim and I flew to Johannesburg believing that God was calling us to an end-time mission. Little did we know, God had prepared an adventure of a lifetime for His mission in these last days! (To be continued!)
Part 2 will be published the week of March 13.
