Praying for South Sudan

It’s really almost here!! I can’t believe that in only one week from today I will be somewhere over the Atlantic headed to South Sudan. After months of training, planning, and preparation, the time is almost come for me to meet Africa for the first time and find my heart changed forever.

It seems like only last week when the Lord continued to press this trip and these people on my heart. I remember asking myself last fall as I walked into a chapel service at SEBTS one morning if I would ever walk in and not see the trip info to South Sudan flash across the screen and immediately feel conviction.  I needed to be on that plane when it left. After much prayer and realizing that conviction wasn’t going anywhere, knew not only would I be on that plane bound for Kajo Keji, but that my God would provide every need and somehow give me the resources to travel to South Sudan to share the only Story worth telling. Did He ever. He has provided every financial need in big ways and in times where no other explanation existed. Praise be to our Great King who provides for all needs even before we begin asking.

I am beyond excited to see how God uses our team in Kajo Keji to strengthen and encourage believers as well as reach the lost. Many of you have asked specifically how to pray for our team as we are working in South Sudan, so I thought I’d give you a few specific ways.

1. Pray for the hearts of the people we will engage with the gospel that their eyes may be opened to the Truth and they would come to know lasting and eternal joy with the Father

2. Pray for the transparency of our team, that others may clearly see the gospel in our lives and that we may articulate the Story well despite cultural and language barriers

3. Pray for clarity of mind and heart, that our lives be focused on Christ and not be distracted by lesser things that pull us away from honoring God through worshipful obedience to the Great Commission

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way” 2 Cor 6:2b-4a

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and sweet encouragement in the days ahead. Our team covets your prayers and interceding for us before the God of the nations. Now is the favorable time. Now is the day of salvation! May our great and glorious Savior receive all honor and praise as the nations cry out in worship to Him.  

Encouragement: Who Are You Celebrating?

Encouragement. It sounds like such a simple word, full of promise and possibilities. This word often floats into our minds as one of those happy words when someone points out the rainbow above our storm cloud or brings a small smile to our faces amidst chaos and confusion. Rarely do I meet a person who hates to be encouraged or lifted up, reminded that someone besides themselves was thinking of them that day.

Yet, for all of the wonderful feelings that come when others encourage us, we must also ask ourselves who it is we encourage on a daily basis. Who is it that I go out of my way to lift up, to bring a smile to his or her face? Who is it that I take the time to write a thoughtful note to or send a simple text message that I was thinking of her that day? Who is it I fall on my knees before the Father in intercessory prayer for God’s mercy, wisdom, and direction in his life during a difficult trial?

Today, I began celebrating my birthday week. Yes, birthday WEEK. One fun fact about me is I absolutely love birthdays. I try and take every chance I get to celebrate people, their lives, and remind myself how grateful I am they are part of my life. Each day of the week leading up to my birthday I try to do something a little different out of my usual day, to stop and simply celebrate where God has me in my life with amazing people He has put there. This week is filled with fun adventures and a few little splurges, but most of all it is spent in celebration of the wonderful circle of friends and family around me who “do life” with me in honesty, transparency, and godliness. These are the people I love remembering and celebrating as I look back over the last year. And, they are the very ones I want to encourage.

Encouragement is more than a happy thought or a smiley emoticon. It is a powerful means of celebration of one’s life, an empowering and sometimes vulnerable move of support, action, and genuine love. Be an encourager this week. Don’t wait. Go out of your way to lift up someone else. Celebrate others around you and praise our God and Father for the influence of that person in your life. Christ compels us to encourage others. May we live in worship of our great God and celebration and encouragement of those around us.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:1-3