Being faithful has many different forms, Let me tell you about a few I have seen recently...
17 people were faithful and obeyed the call to go on a missions trip to Nicaragua. And they were faithful all the way to the point we had to cancel. There is always the question about who will God build our teams with and He never leaves us disappointed as He provides the perfect people team after team. This team was no exception.
After we had to cancel our trip for June because of the unrest in Nicaragua our hearts were disappointed, broken, and hurting for our friends. We wanted so badly to go, but even more we wanted our friends to be safe. We wanted to help but didn't know what to do.
We started praying for God to show us what we could do, how we could help from right where we were. He started stirring up in a few past team members that we needed to come together to pray. So, those few were faithful to those promptings. At the end of July we called all past teams and our church family to a night of prayer and worship, a night to share what was happening in Nicaragua, to pray in specific ways, to worship the God who holds it all. This night was full of the Spirit and hearts ready to cry out! It was a good night filled with love for a place that we hold close to our hearts. God brings so much beauty when we are faithful!
We have also watched as our partner ministry churches in Nicaragua stay firm as they were in the midst of darkness all around them. These churches and people within them have been so faithful. We have seen them grow, do outreach events, and continue to love the hurting. Sharing Jesus has never been overshadowed in those places.
Those are stories are of how we have seen people be faithful to the things God was stirring in them. We can also see how God is faithful throughout each of those as well. He promises to never leave or forsake us! He remains the same even as our plans, lives and world changes! Sometimes (more times then I would like to admit) it takes great heartache to remind me just how big our God is! He is always faithful, even when I am not! Yes and Amen?
As we have prayed and awaited updates from Nicaragua we have had days that came with bad news (unrest still strong) and then we have days when we hear that there has been some change for the better! This is week we got a good report! This doesn't mean that things are good or even normal yet, but hope comes when peace is replacing violence! Keep praying because we have a big God who hears us and is at work!!!