This past weekend we left our kids in Weaverville, NC with Richard's parents and drove north to speak at a church neither of us had ever seen before, and to speak to people neither of us had ever met. Richard preached a full 45 minute message at North Rome Wesleyan Church, and we both presented our ministry in Lesotho during the Sunday School hour to combined classes. In ministry partnership terms, this was a fantastic opportunity to build our team, and gain prayer and financial support.
As we pulled up to the rural church, Rich and I had little or no expectations. It was only 1 degree outside and probably only 32 degrees inside. We were cold and tired from our long trip. It was an average sized church, and when we arrived there were no cars in the parking lot. We had just driven 14 hours for this speaking engagement. We shared worried looks, but quickly put them aside as we prayed. "God we know you set this appointment, this is your assignment, please give us the words to speak to these people, no matter how small their number." This was our prayer as we set up our display table, Richard hooked up his power point presentation, and we shook hands with the preacher. "Dear, God you are in control, please use us."
After we prayed with the pastor, we sat at the front of the church and Rich nervously anticipated his introduction to speak. As we waited, the sanctuary began to fill. At first the people begin to trickle in, and then all at once they flowed through the doors like warm air heating up the room. People moved closer and closer in the pews, Richard's nerves grew, I reassured him, and by the time he was summoned to the pulpit, about 350 people had gathered in this rural, unassuming church. As my husband spoke the words God laid on his heart, my heart soared. God knew. God did this. God allowed these people to come and hear the important work my husband was sharing with them.
The most amazing part of this divine assignment was its origin. A man we had never met, mentioned to my father months ago that his church is very missions minded. This same man took our names to his pastor and church, and got us an unlikely opportunity to speak. Last Sunday, while I was listening to Richard I could not help looking over my shoulder to examine the crowd for the man who had made this possible. I had a problem, however, I did not have a clue what he looked like. I peered over my shoulder anyway and scanned the faces. I found our champion sitting a few rows behind me. I had never laid eyes on him, but I could tell him by the smile on his face and the joy, interest, enthusiasm, and even pride in his eyes. Our eyes met and we shared an instant connection. He had recognized me as well. God had made this connection.
After the services our champion invited us to his home where his wife had made a lovely lunch and some of his six adult children had gathered. He is a short man, slight in stature, and soft in voice, but bold in faith. He is a cow man, a simple man, and when Richard and I passed him as we entered his home, a huge smile spread across his face and he said, "I feel like Zacchaeus."
Much like God used Zacchaeus in the Bible, God used this simple man from the hills of rural Pennsylvania to do an extraordinary thing. This man facilitated the partnering of his church with Kingdom work that is taking place in one of the most obscure countries of the world. One common man, acting on what the Lord asked of him, is making a tremendous impact on lives that will ripple across the world.
Luke 19:5&9-10
"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
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