Six years ago I participated in Strategy Coordinator Training. Those four weeks helped us to make some foundational changes in the way we approach ministry and gave us some wonderful tools such as T4T, upon which much of our present methodology is based.
One of our assignments was to prepare a one-page “persuasive” document summarizing the work in Australia, mainly to invite others to get involved as partners in the work. In addition to a brief history and some statistics, I jotted down some challenges and opportunities for sharing the good news. I remember looking at the map of Australia, noticing how close it is to the world’s key population centers and realizing that it is potentially a launchpad into those areas. So I wrote, “Poised on the geographic edge of the world’s most populated areas, Australia has the opportunity to impact untold millions with God’s love and helping to bring the Great Commission to fulfilment.” I had no idea what God was going to do with that.
One year ago this month, our Congolese partner Fred traveled back to Africa for the first time since arriving in Australia. His purpose was to help his sister find refuge, but in his “spare time” he managed to train 5 key leaders in Kigali (Rwanda) in the fine art of making reproducing disciples. That same month, Carlos & Josephine started a TFT group in Tacloban (Philippines) using Skype. A few months later Josue took Reboot back to Florida (USA) and started 2 groups, and in May, during his mission trip to Spain, he started a group there. Around the same time, Tony started a Reboot group in New Zealand.
Paul, our Nepalese partner, went back to Nepal in July to get married and–you guessed it–he trained two leaders there who have subsequently started new groups. Winnie, a Filipina in Sydney, had won a lady to the Lord who by this time had witnessed to many friends back in the Philippines. In August, Carlos & Josephine started another new TFT group in the Philippines using Skype.
In October I had the wonderful privilege of training some missionaries gathered in Prague (Czech Republic). As a result, groups have already formed in Germany and Russia, with one lady coming to Christ already and being trained using TFT. Last night I enjoyed being part of a Skype session where we trained 9 leaders in Manila (Philippines), and we learned that they have already started training another group.
As I look back, I just stand amazed. God is beginning to fulfill that vision which He gave me 6 years ago. Seeing God at work has tremendously increased my faith, and I now define faith as “God can do it!” I challenge you to grow deeper in faith. Trust in Him and what He can do. You can’t do it, and I can’t do it, but He can do it through us.
