Day 3 of our conference I left the adult world and brought our kid’s ministry to Africa!  The kids have been having their own conference, with a different ministry team teaching them about “The Kingdom Culture”, different cultures around the world and the culture of the Kingdom of God.  Day 1 was in Lebanon and the Middle East, Day 2 in Brazil, and now on Day 3 were are taking them to Africa.  This is a great joy for me because Africa holds a special place in my heart.  I spent 2 weeks in Africa, and much more time studying the culture and history of the region of the world.  Had the Lord not sent me to the Middle East I would have gladly served Him in Africa. 

We started our morning with worship African style - dancing around the church with drums and other African instruments, and with the leaders in African attire.  The children had lots of fun, and it wore them out so that they wouldn’t have enough energy to misbehave J (only problem is that I wore me out too!).  We then showed the children PowerPoints and videos that taught them about African culture and showed them some of the problems African children are facing: hunger, poverty, AIDS.  Our children were really shocked to see some of the photos, they were filed with compassion to help Africa and learned to appreciate the lives they have in Lebanon.  We also taught the children about tribes in Africa and then divided them into groups and gave them “tribal markings”.  Through games and videos, the children were able to learn a lot about Africa.

The highlight of our day in Africa was having Steve Mills speak to the children.  Having lived in Africa for over 20 years, he was able to give the kids a first hand account of life in Africa and tell them how exciting it is to serve God as a missionary.  He then asked anyone who had a desire to be a missionary to come for prayer.  10 out of around 40 kids went to the front!  These children may be young, but I believe that God will begin, now, to put desires in their heart for the plans that He has for them.  It is an honor to be a part of planting seeds in these children that will one day bear fruit around the world!

Today is the first full day of our conference.  Breakfast at 8am, our first session at 9 and everyone is learning that I don’t really wake up until I’ve had a cup of coffee, or two!  We are having a great time in the conference and really enjoying the teachings.  It is also great for me because I have a couple of our speakers are “old friends” of mine.  Philip Murdoch is our Global 12 Representative for Brazil (like Pastor Chady is for the Middle East).  I call him an old friend because I was with him in Brazil over 8 years ago as a part of a missionary team that helped him for 2 weeks at the start of his church.  Now, in Lebanon, is the first time I have seen him since!  Another friend of mine is Steve Mills.  He is our Global 12 Representative for West Africa, and our Missions Pastor at Bethany, so he’s the one responsible for me!  I was with Steve Mills in Africa six years ago, and have stayed in touch with him since.  He was here in Lebanon for last year’s conference and it was great having someone from home back this year.  In addition to David Chipley, who I mentioned yesterday, we have one more American speaker with us this year, Rick Kingham.  Dr. Kingham was one of the founders of Promise Keepers and now, as founder of The Center for Glocal Leadership, works worldwide developing leaders.

Our guest speakers have been a great blessing to us, and I want to share with you a few small tidbits from each message. I hope they are a blessing to you!

Pastor Rick Kingham started of us with a wonderful message from 1 Peter 2:9, encouraging us that if God says “you are”, then I am!  I won’t walk in authority until I believe what God says about me. 

God says:

            I am CHOSEN

            I am a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

            I am a HOLY NATION

            I BELONG TO GOD

Pastor Philip shared with us God’s model for changing lives:

            Order – Creativity – Multiplication – Dominion – Abundance

Stressing that ORDER COMES FIRST!  Before abundance, we have to our lives in order. 

Steve Mills’ message was “Restoration by Encountering the Living God”.  An encounter with God is what changes me:

            Philip’s encounter changed his ministry and changed a nation

            Paul’s encounter changed his revelation of Jesus, from enemy to Lord

            Peter’s encounter erased his prejudice

Each time God encountered a man they went and shared Jesus.  This is God’s plan for me, to use me to minister to others.

After months of preparation and many sleepless nights this past week, our annual conference for 2008 kicked off with a bang!  With attendees from all over the middle east we are expected God to move in a way that will impact the entire region.  Pastor Chady opened with a word from the first chapter of the Book of Ruth and charged us to not leave the Promised Land, to not leave God’s plan for our lives, or will end up in a place proclaiming our lives to be sick and deadly (The Hebrew meaning of the names of Naomi’s children are sick and dead).  We must stay in the place God has called us, even if there is a famine.  Pastor reiterated this point with Abraham and Isaac.  Abraham was led to a land where there was famine.  We are called to barren lands that the land may be blessed through us!  Isaac planted crops in the dry land, and we too must plant in the barren land.  I know sometimes I like to look at my circumstances as a judge as to whether i’m doing what I should.  I’ve learned, though, that it takes a lot of faith to stand in a barren land and not give up but believe that a harvest will come from this land.  As long as we remain faithful, a harvest will come!

In our night service, Dr. David Shibley shared with us for the first time.  Dr. Shibley is of Lebanese decent but was raised in America.  Before the conference he was able to meet family members that he had heard about but never met, so this trip was very special for him.  He shared with us 3 things that influence our lives: 1) Thoughts 2) Encounters with God 3) Choices that we make. He shared from Isaiah 6:1-8 and proclaims that what Lebanon needs is the people of God to see the Lord.  When we tune into God we will hear a directive word we have never before, and we will hear His missions heart.  Dr. shibley then gave us seven voices that will change us:
1)Vocice from above: command of authority
2)Voice from Below: cry from eternity
3)Voice from without: plea of humanity
4)Voice from within: whisper of necessity “I must do”
5)Voice of the past: march of history
6)Voice of the present: call of opportunity
7)Voice of the future: shout of destiny

The sermons this first night were life changing, and we are expectant that the best is yet to come, in this conference and in our lives.

After living in Lebanon for one year, i am finally settling in to my own place.  I move in on the 25th, and I can hardly wait.  I found a 3 bedroom apartment, 160m (i think that's like 1700 sq.ft, but not sure) near the church, so i will still be able to walk to the church.  The owner has just finished renovating the apartment, so it is freshly painted and the kitchen, bedroom, floors and windows are all new.  It really was great find, I am so thankful that the Lord prepared everything.  I am starting from scratch, though, in furnishing it.  I will start with the necessities, like a bed, refridgerator, washing machine, stove.  Afer that, i will take it little by little.  Please pray that the Lord provides as I am buying the things i need for the home, and also that i will have good roommate to stay with me.

 Now you will have a place to stay when you come visit me!