PRIORITIES???

We love receiving photos like the one above.  This one came from Joyce and shows just a few of the children who received Bibles over the past few weeks.  Praise God for many more children who have received their own copy of the Word of God.  Pray that they will treasure their Bible and that God will speak to them through it.

We thank God for how He helped Joyce as she ministered and we thank Him for news of children coming to know the Lord as Saviour.  Pray that these children will know a real change in their lives and will become men and women of God.

Our hearts are rejoicing today because God has answered prayer concerning the office situation in Nairobi.  We won't take time to go into details here, but if you are on our mailing list you will be able to read more when we send out our latest update over the next few days.  Meantime, we just thank and praise God for how he has worked everything out. 

We were encouraged this weekend as we were booked to take a meeting in yet another new venue.  This came as a result of the recent missionary convention we attended.  Indeed we were at that convention with our stand as a result of a previous similar event.  It is wonderful how each opening can lead to another opportunity.  We were also encouraged this weekend to be told of a group who want to support FML financially each month.  This was totally unexpected and we really felt humbled.  Monthly gifts, no matter how small make planning a little bit easier and we appreciate those who support us in this way. 

As you know, we now have a page on this site for local projects being run by local people.  One such project is in relation to the construction of a Church building.  You can read the story by clicking here.  We were so encouraged to see the progress made.  Have a look at some photos...(click to enlarge and see captions)

We would love to encourage you to pray for this project.  Local people are working hard to provide a place for people in the area to hear the Gospel.  We are particularly encouraged to see the effort that is going into a room for the children.  We pray that this will be a place where many boys and girls hear the Word of God and are saved.   This project is so typical of the vision that Kenyan people have.  They get about the work and they have a determination to keep going until the work is complete.  They face many obstacles but they keep going.  They build basic buildings, with no luxuries, and they keep the vision of lost souls before them rather than trying to erect a nicer more modern building than the neighbouring congregation.

I wonder do Christians in the West, in the UK, in Northern Ireland have the same vision?  Are missions held as they used to be?  Do congregations go out into the highways and byways to reach the lost or do we sit back and hope that the lost will come in through the doors of a Church?  Do we sit in modern Churches that have comfortable seats, plush carpets and the best sound systems but yet there is very little vision and many empty pews?  This Church may not be painted to perfection, it may not have cushioned seats and soft carpet, but speaking from our experience in Africa.... this building will be filled with people seeking after God.  This building will be a light house in the area and every effort will be made by the local believers to go out and win the lost.

William and I have been blessed to be able to do some work on our home over the past year and so many evenings we talk about how the Lord has enabled it.  There is much still to do, even from a safety aspect.  It may not be the most modern home and we may not be in a position to do everything we would like to do and have everything just so so but it is the home God has provided for us.  We still have a mortgage to pay, but God provides for it.   We may have had visitors at times who have criticised our home either to ourselves or to others, who have thought we should have done more over years when dad and I lived in the home and didn't have the funds to do the work.  But we do not regret the times when we did have a little money but we chose to spend it on trips to Kenya instead of doing work on the house.  If we had the funds personally now we would be on the first flight we could get and our own needs would wait.  We may not always fit the mould with our car that has dents in it for the past 4 years because there's always something more important to spend our money on.  But we thank God for a roof over our heads and a happy marriage and pray that the house and material possessions will never become more important than Eternity.   We also pray that our vision for souls will never be dimmed and that we will continue to be challenged by those we minister among and learn from their determination to work for God no matter the cost.  We pray that we will never be drawn away by luxuries and large Church buildings but will take the humble road as Jesus did and have a servant heart. 

Maybe it is time for Christians in Northern Ireland to get their priorities in the right order.  There is nothing wrong with a nice house, a car and a holiday.  We look forward to a few days away together too and know that time together is important for a couple and for a family.  But maybe as we look at these photos we can ask ourselves are we really going out to win souls wherever they are to be found or are we content to sit in our big, modern, empty Churches while all around souls are dying.

A simple reminder from a song which was sung at our wedding.  Perhaps it is more real and significant to us today than it was then. 

[Verse 1]
While the world looks upon me
As I struggle along
They say I've got nothing
But they are so wrong
In my heart I'm rejoicing
How I wish they could see
Thank you Lord
For your blessing on me!

[Chorus]
There's a roof up above me
I've a good place to sleep
There's food on my table
And shoes on my feet
You gave me your love Lord
And a fine family
Thank you Lord
For your blessings on me!

[Verse 2]
I know I'm not wealthy
These clothes, they're not new
I don't have much money
But Lord I have you
And that's all that matters
Though the world may not see
Thank you Lord
For your blessings on me!

[Chorus]
There's a roof up above me
I've a good place to sleep
There's food on my table
And shoes on my feet
You gave me your love Lord
And a fine family
Thank you Lord
For all your blessings on me!