Divine Apppointments

Yesterday I was able to head to the Cape Town International Convention Center to register for the CT 2010 Congress. Most of the delegates arrive today and tomorrow. That said, as I walked into the convention center I was immediately struck by the global nature of the event. I met young stewards there to help and delegates from Brazil, Australia, China, Finland, Sweden etc... Although I have spent time in some truly global cities such as London I do not think I have ever seen such diversity in such a compact place. Amazing!

Anyway, one of my prayer requests has been for divine appointments that would lead to future ministry. God is so funny in how He answers.

So right after I register I head to a empty table to put together all the congress paraphanalia they gave us. At the same time a young man joins me from a country in Asia. As we greeted one another and spoke I learned he was from the one country (not to be named) I do not like going to.

Sure enough we hit it off and his ministry has a very active outreach and pastoral training ministry to a border country that is unreached, closed and hostile to Christianity. As we finished our interaction he three times invited me to come to minister there! A little cross-cultural news is that in certain Asian contexts when something is said three times it is a strong affirmation either positive or negative so the invitation was a strong yes!

I left the interchange inwardly laughing. God knows I do not like this cultural setting and really struggle with it. But the first invitation and contact is from a place I do not like going to on a personal level. Yet, I promised the Lord when I first became a Christian that I would "go where ever, do whatever, no matter the cost." The cost of true discipleship requires this part of the cross.

Yet in American I hear far too often in the church "I am not wired that way." Or "that is not my gift, calling, expertise, etc, etc...".

Question: have you limited God's use of you because your not "comfortable" with what He has asked?

It appears I may again go where "I am not willing" at some point in the future because the love of Christ compels me. We shall see how the Lord develops this opportunity to an unreached people and a restricted access country in Asia.

Blessings

Mike