PREACHING IN NEPAL … NOW
This past month I was invited to preach by a Nepalese pastor in a church service in Nepal. The amazing thing is that I didn’t have to fly there, but could do it online. I started at 10 pm my time on a Friday night. It was 10:45 am Saturday in Kathmandu. There was not just a 12 hour time difference, there was a 12 hour and 45 minute difference. The Nepalese just do time and church services differently that we do.
You will notice that women sit on one side and men on the others…on the floor and with shoes off. Some churches use chairs, and in some, men and women sit mixed together. I love all those differences … but I have to say, that when we conduct our GTN Divine Expedition trainings, I sit with my back against a wall for back support. When I can, I also try to find an extra cushion to sit on :-).
My message was on John 14:1-7. What a great passage:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
I look forward to resuming our training in person in Nepal. Here is a recent note from one of our Master Trainers (he calls me “Grandpa”):
“I desire for out DE training to start again in our country. Please PRAY a lot Dear Grandpa.”
CHURCH IN GENEVA … THEN (… AND NOW)
Many years ago now Sharon and I moved our six children to France just across the border from Geneva, Switzerland, and along with two other families (the Edmonds and Halls) we started an international church called the Crossroads. We were told by the deacons of the church we attended that we shouldn’t go as we were too old (I was 38, Sharon was 40), that we had too many children, that it wouldn’t be cost effective for such a large family to go, and that it would be too hard on our children.
When I went home that day and presented the list of reasons the deacons thought we shouldn’t go, Sharon responded to each point with the words, “But God.” She believed that God could use an “older couple” with ministry and life experience, that God could use our family to connect us with those we were seeing to reach, that God could provide the funds if He wanted us to go, and that our children would have struggles whether we went or stayed “but God” would meet their needs. So we expressed our gratitude for the concern the deacons had for us but felt God was calling us to go.
After four years of living in France, we left behind a growing church. I recently received the following note and photo from Global Training Network President, Paul Madson, who stopped in Geneva and visited the Crossroads, still thriving:
“Linus – Thanks for planting an outpost of heaven here in Geneva. We visited Crossroads this morning in their beautiful new building. It was a wonderful time of worship, fellowship and hearing from the Word! They truly are ‘touching Geneva, reaching the world!’ Blessings to you brother! We continue to uphold you in our prayers. (and Lisa says ‘Hi‘) :-)”
THEN AND NOW RETURN ON INVESTMENT
I don’t know how to estimate compound returns of investment but am grateful for those of you who have invested in our ministry (then and now) and for the return wrought for God’s kingdom. The church we started in the greater Geneva (Amsterdam too) area has impacted thousands of people over the years. Jesus said,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5-8).
Both then and now we knew and know that apart from our Lord Jesus we could and can do nothing…“but God.”
Next up for me is travel to train and meeting leaders in Guatemala and Brazil. Please pray for much fruit.
To the Father’s glory then and now,
Linus for the GTN Divine Expedition team
On Expedition + 