"Your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." - 2 Thessalonians 1:3b

Thursday, February 23, 2012

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Taking a break from commenting on today's text (Numbers 1-2) because I can't wrap my brain around anything in that passage today when all I can think about is how powerful the message of the gospel is and how God works in mysterious ways! Mike and Michael, as you know, are in Ecuador with Operation Christmas Child.  This is the information they passed along early this morning in an email to the family:

Last night we got home from the distributions around 6 and dinner and the program started at 7. The program consisted first of the Ecuador National Leadership Team from OCC - all nationals. It is just unbelievable how Samaritan's Purse doesn't swoop in and take over, but instead finds pastors and churches to work with and utilizes them for the work of their own ministry. Over 30,000 children have graduated from The Greatest Journey project in just two years. Over 1,300 nationals have been trained in how to lead this 12 week study. For 2012 their goal is to double this. Overwhelming!
 
Then the big suprise came. The men who are leading the ministry to the Huaorani tribe in the jungle presented the work that is going on there to these people who just a generation ago knew nothing of God. THEN two of the men who speared Nate Saint and Jim Elliot walked in. Short little men, in their eighties, who then shared in their language the story of the killings, which was then translated into Spanish, and then into English. I video taped it all. Michael and I then got our pictures taken with them!


I can only imagine the warm welcome these men will receive from the 5 missionaries who were killed on January 8, 1956, when they go home to Heaven!  I can only imagine how wonderful that reunion will be - something our limited human minds have difficulty comprehending!  

If you have never seen the film, The End of the Spear, or the documentary, Through Gates of Splendor, do so soon!  Both share the testimonies of martyr missionaries Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian.  It is a powerful story of redemption! 

Praise the Lord....the glory is His alone!
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2 comments:

  1. Jill IceFebruary 23, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Amazing. God's ways are so much higher than what we can even imagine. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet those men!

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  2. Mike Durrill - Lead Pastor at Valley Community ChurchFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    I know! One of the men from school (Michael's principal) said, "WHO GETS TO DO THAT!? That's amazing!!" I am so thankful for the impact that this trip is having on their lives...that God has orchestrated this and has allowed them to see first hand the power of the gospel. God's grace is incomprehensible!! I know I am just as undeserving of it, but aren't we all amazed when we hear fantastical stories of this nature? God is GOD. He's GOD! All-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present GOD. We are blessed to be called His children.

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