Spiritual Leadership

I thought a wee report on how things went today would be in order! It was an early start to get out to the church in Ayala ready to share with the various leaders. The first thing to say is that it was great to see so many young leaders. Their sense of faith and life and commitment is very strong. It was great because one of the aspects of John's talk was highlighting the ministry of Timothy who was a young, shy leader entrusted with looking after a whole group of house churches in Ephesus and how Paul encouraged him not to let anyone despise his youth but to set them an example. Most definitely a word from God for them.
Prior to John speaking from a "helper's" view of ministry, I had shared the prophetic ministry of Barnabas as he encouraged the newly converted Saul in his embryonic ministry and then bringing his cousin John Mark into the team as a helper so that he could experience what Gospel ministry was all about. The fact that he blew it and chickened out gave Barnabas the opportunity to give him a second chance, much to Paul's annoyance! That second chance was to ultimately lead to John Mark being used of God to write the Gospel of Mark - no mean legacy of life and ministry for John Mark, or for Barnabas!
All in all, it was a great morning and these talks seemed to be greatly appreciated as was the lunch Ludima and Cesar's Mum had prepared for everyone! More food! This time it was mainly vegetable dishes - young bamboo; mung beans; some unpronounceable dish and noodles, oh and a free range chicken brought especially for us from one of the pastor's yards!

Tomorrow is Sunday so we will head back to Ayala for morning worship and John is going to preach on John 4:43-54 - the Official's son. I get a break in the morning but we are so much in demand (!) that we have been asked to fit in another church here in town in the early evening, so I will preach at that one and John will have a rest! Division of labour.
 We are looking forward with anticipation, aware that in ourselves we are not up to much, but by the Spirit he can accomplish wonderful and untold things. So our prayer is that - " accomplish wonderful and untold things in the hearts and lives of your people."