The Tongue is a Fire

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” ~ James 3:5-6, 8-10 ESV

The tongue is a fire!

If we desire to be more intimate with the Lord and surrender our hearts to him, then we have to surrender everything to Him. This includes our tongue and our words. I don’t usually think about surrendering my words and tongue to God.  But it’s so important!

“Three things come not back. The spent (shot) arrow, the spoken word and the lost opportunity.”

As soon as our (my) words are out there we (I) can’t get them back again.

There is an old Puritan story of a woman who went to her pastor and he confessed that she was guilty of slander and gossip. She told the pastor that she wanted to turn from all that and be done with it, and she wanted the pastor to help in doing so. So he said to her to take chicken feathers and lay them on the doorstep of all the houses in the community.

In which she had done that she was to come back and ask him what else she needed to do. He told her to go back the next morning and gather up all the feathers and bring them back to him. She explained to him that she could not do that because the wind had blown the feathers everywhere. The pastor said exactly you might be able to turn from their sin and be forgiven but the wind has blown your words everywhere.

In which she had done that she was to come back and ask him what else she needed to do. He told her to go back the next morning and gather up all the feathers and bring them back to him. She explained to him that she could not do that because the wind had blown the feathers everywhere. The pastor said exactly you might be able to turn from their sin and be forgiven but the wind has blown your words everywhere.

I’m asking the Lord to give me a heart that desires to speak words that will ultimately glorify Him and to do good and not do harm. Have my heart Lord and my tongue.

Guest Post by Kris Allison

~  Inspired by an Alistair Bigg sermon where Kris was challenged to think biblically about the power of the tongue.

True Repentance

“Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.  And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in sight of everyone.”  ~ Acts 19:18-19 NASB

In this story in the book of Acts, we find a picture of true repentance.  These new believers fully turned to the Lord and away from the practices that previously held them in bondage.  They burned them so that they could not return to them.  They also did it in the sight of other believers for accountability and because of the joy of experiencing the true God over counterfeit sin.  They did this to completely cut ties with their former self and its practices.

How often I treat repentance as a partial turning.  I don’t take the necessary steps to cut ties with that sin.  Yes, I confess and turn for a time, but I still leave wiggle room so that I can come back and dabble in it again.  And I don’t share about it with others, but choose to deal with it on my terms and in privacy.  I do this partially because I feel as if I will be judged by those who are even close to me and partially because I want to be able to return to the sin in times of stress and coping.

In this scripture I see some principles, that if followed, would bring about much freedom in my life and in the lives of those who trust in Jesus.  First and foremost, sin and the enemy operate most effectively in darkness and secrecy.  By confessing to those who you trust and who love Jesus, you disarm the enemy.  He can no longer stand as your accuser bringing doubt and condemnation.  He loses his power!

Secondly, burn the pathways that can lead you back to participating in that sin that has so easily entangled you.  For these new believers, they created boundaries for re-entering into their lifestyles of sin by burning the very books that they would use in the practice of magic.  Creating boundaries in your life by burning sin bridges is not legalism.  It’s a healthy step that allows the Lord’s Spirit to bring the refining work of sanctification over your life.  

What do you need to bring into the light?  Who’s a safe believer that you can confess with to disarm the enemy in this area of your life?  What are your magic books and what would it look like to burn them?  These are all questions that I’m asking myself this morning.  Maybe you could do the same? 

The Purpose of Grief

The world looks different these days. It has changed how we handle, process, and grieve so many life events. For me, the new slowness of life around me has brought more attention and space for me to process grief. I am not a feeler. I tend to run towards anything that is happy and avoid the sad. But the stillness around me has left me with not much to do outside of process. 

Yesterday, 2 dear humans that were a part of my life left this world. One a family member and the other a woman who played a large part in my first 10 years in South Carolina. I felt the sad, and instinctively thought of how to get out of it. But, due to the current circumstances, there isn't much to run to.

So I sat in it and I wept. and I asked the Lord why death has to hurt so deeply. Why a season already causing confusion and a loss of control now had a grief and heaviness as well.

And in the sitting and the weeping and the hurting, I felt the sweetness of a Savior. The assurance of a Jesus who sits in the nights weeping and rejoices in the glory of the morning with us.

And I realized, maybe, just maybe, this is what grief is for. To remind us it is okay to be a human. To cry. To feel deeply. And to bring us back to the Savior, who is always near, even in seasons of confusion and heartache.

Guest Post by: Kam Kelley

That They Would Seek God

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“Having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their self habitation, that they would seek God.” ~ Acts 17:26-27

As I read this scripture this past week, I was reminded about the poem of the dash on a person’s tombstone. In it, the author writes “for it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.”

Listen to what Paul says in Acts 17 when proclaiming Christ to those in Athens. The Lord has already appointed our time here on earth and it’s just a small blip in the history of mankind. He’s even determined the boundaries of our existence. He knew before the foundation of the world when we would physically exist. He knew where we would grow up. He knew that you would be born in America, or Africa or Asia, etc.

This has huge implications, because it speaks of purpose. He could have chosen not to create me. He could have had me grow up in Europe in 400 A.D. or in the middle of the bush in Africa in the 1500s. But he didn’t, because he had purpose for me here and now. And his purpose wasn’t that I would be great or that I would make a name for myself. It wasn’t so that I would make significant contributions to this world, though I may. It was much simpler than that. His sole purpose was that I would seek Him, that I would know him and encourage others to do the same.

I think we get caught up in pursuing our own little dash, that we miss out on the fact that it’s not our dash in the first place. It’s His. It’s all about Him. Would that perspective forever define my dash? Would my dash be sold out to completely seeking Him?

~ Brent Roberts
Africa Freedom Mission

How Long

With all of the uncertainty that exists these days, we can trust in the steadfast love of a good God and rejoice in His salvation through Christ. We can sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with us.

May this song, written and performed by friends of the ministry encourage your heart and faith during this time of uncertainty! God is good. He’s in control. He pursues us with a steadfast love.

I Consider My Life Worth Nothing

Francis Chan, Founder’s Week 2020.

“People started coming forward for healing and everyone I touched was healed. This has never happened in my 52 years of life and ministry.”

This message is a challenge to consider our lives as worth nothing for the sake of the Gospel. Francis Chan just shares from the heart about why he felt called to leave the States and move to Hong Kong. He also talks about how he has over the past few years, believed that the Lord still ministers through believers through the miraculous.

“Do you still believe that if you lose your life, you’ll find it?”

Amen!

A Toast to the Stoudemayer's

A year ago tomorrow, these two, Trey Stoudemayer and Jacey Voris met in my home. They came for the weekend to be a part of training for summer leadership in Africa. Trey, a gregarious storyteller who could captivate an audience anywhere, and Jacey, a quiet and discerning young woman who just leads by example, were sure to be a match made in heaven, I just didn’t know it yet.

That weekend, Jacey was already committed to serving with us, but Trey was trying to decide on whether or not to go to Africa for the summer. As the weekend progressed, the call intensified, but he still had some tough decisions to make and needed some doors to open if if it were going to happen. As we prepared to head our separate ways, someone offered up a suggestion. Jacey told Trey that she felt the Lord leading her to fast for him and pray that God would open those doors. Long story short, He did! After a week of prayer and some conversations with his employer, Trey was given the green light to spend the summer in Kenya.

When the summer hit, and teams started arriving, I remember receiving daily calls from Trey. He would call me for advice on how to handle certain situations, ask questions about their itinerary or finances and sometimes just call to talk and catch up. Well, about halfway through the summer, our daily conversations took a turn. Trey informed me of his affections for one of the other leaders (you guessed it, Jacey!). He told me that they had not pursued anything, because they didn’t want it to distract from teams. He also told me that the feelings were mutual.

As the summer ended, so did the restrictions for pursuing a relationship. All this time, they knew that they were interested in each other, but they intentionally waited to make it official until after teams had wrapped up their summer. In that time of separation though, they formed a relationship that would turn out to be lifelong. At the end of the summer, Trey told me that they were coming home with intentions of getting engaged and eventually married.

Their first date occurred in Africa. Not many American couples can make that claim. They waited for the teams to leave and during the final few days went on a date in Nairobi. I still remember the giddiness in Trey’s voice when he called and told me about it. And after they left Kenya, Trey followed through with his word. He came home, bought a ring and proposed to that girl (just not in America)!

In September, a small group of our leaders traveled to Zimbabwe to pray and plan for Africa Freedom Mission. Jacey wanted to get engaged in a place that she loved and her love for Africa started in Zimbabwe. So, during our trip, Trey pulled her aside and asked her to be his wife.

I cannot express to you just how happy I am for this couple. I truly believe that they have all they need to be successful in marriage. They have a genuine love for Jesus, each other and come from families that have modeled Christ-centered marriages their whole lives. They are committed and disciplined. They’re not perfect, but they have a genuine desire to follow the Lord in everything. I remember a call I received recently from Trey. He said, we’ve started giving each other side hugs now because we are afraid of what any more physical contact might lead too. This is not normal for young adults these days, but it is for these two and because of it, they’ve been able save themselves for marriage, a pretty rare feat these days.

Tomorrow marks exactly one year, to the day, since this young couple met in my living room. And tomorrow marks the beginning of their lives together as Mr and Mrs Stoudemayer. So, in honor of you guys, I would like to raise a toast! To Trey and Jacey, may your lives be filled with laughter, joy, hope and love as you pursue a life with Jesus and each other. May you make such an impact for eternity by your union together that it shakes the nations. I love you both and am proud of who the Lord is maturing you to be. Many many blessings in this new season.

Love,
Brent Roberts
President & CEO
Africa Freedom Mission

I Can't Run

I run. That’s my coping mechanism. Just ask any girl that I’ve ever lived with, they’ve definitely heard me say something along the lines of “after ___ happening I need to go run.” I run when I’m stressed. I run when I’m anxious. I run when things don’t go my way. I run not only in a physical and literal sense, but I also run from things that scare me. I see my friends being bold in talking to new people, in advancing the Kingdom, in fully surrendering. But I run from those things. I feel unworthy, not good enough, that I could never do those things. So I run.

You might already know this, but in July 2019 I spent two weeks in a refugee settlement in Uganda. I tried so hard to run from not going. I truly didn’t feel equipped. The enemy attacked me every single day while on that trip - telling me I wasn’t good enough to serve. That God couldn’t use Africa as part of my testimony. That I would never be redeemed from feeling unworthy of His love and of an earthly love from those around me.

But you know what, He did it. He used 500 students to braid my hair, call me beautiful despite the mess that I was, and cover me in hugs and hand holds to redeem my heart. To set me free of feeling unworthy. So I returned home feeling fresh. I felt loved. I felt that my life had purpose - to love no matter your story and no matter your past because in that settlement, I felt the greatest love I’ll ever feel this side of heaven. 

I came home and felt at peace. I felt peace with never going back to Africa. My work there was done. Oh but God, in all is power and might, sweetly reminded me that I was not finished. One night, I sat in a circle on the floor at my friend’s house. We were having a small group, but not just any small group. The Holy Spirit was so present. We were praying bold prayers, healings were taking place, darkness was coming to light. And God whispered to me, “I’m not done yet.” 

Ask any of my prayer warrior friends and they’ll tell you that I struggled with this. Deep in my heart I knew the Lord was calling me back to Africa. But like I’m so good at doing, I ran. I refused to apply. I refused to even think about going back. Again, the enemy was telling me I had no purpose, I was unable to go again because I wasn’t enough. 

But I can no longer run. I can’t run from the fact that God isn’t finished. That there are more people to love, more villages that need the gospel, and more grace to give. I can’t run from a calling to advance the gospel, no matter how hard I try.

So I’m going back. Back to the place that made me feel alive. That gave my life purpose. Back to Africa. Yet, I can’t run from the fact that the feeling of purpose I felt in Africa also can’t be felt here in Eastern North Carolina. Because freedom and redemption live here too. Because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Because my testimony is one of redemption. I can no longer run from my story, from the goodness of God, or from the places that he is calling me to. 

In July 2020, I will be spending two weeks in Zimbabwe with Africa Freedom Mission. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord will do big things during those two weeks. If you feel led to partner with me to make this trip possible you can visit the link below. 

Donation link: https://fcsmnstry.io/mkr/bs7QfF

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If you would like to follow more of Allie’s story you can visit: https://www.allielinkphoto.com. She’s also an excellent photographer!

Surrendering All

“All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live”
~ I Surrender All (J.W. Van Deventer )

Growing up, I sang the lyrics to this well known hymn many times but never really stopped to think about what I was singing. Take a minute and listen to some of these words:

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I Truly Give
As I thought about this statement, I was forced to ask: Do I freely giving Him all that I have? In Matthew 16:24 Jesus tells His disciples that “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. To follow Him, I need to let Him rule my life and not try to rule it myself. If I’m honest, there are parts of me that are easy to give and others that are more difficult. He doesn’t ask for some, but all. Oh how I wish to sing this song in full sincerity.

I Will Ever Love and Trust Him, in His Presence Daily Live
Do I ever love and trust Him? When the rubber meets the road and the trials and temptations of this world come my way, do I really trust him? In the good times and in the bad times do I seek His presence? These are just questions that I’ve asked myself.

These verses and questions led me to think about David, “a man after God’s own heart.” If you ever want to see an amazing example of authentic love for the Lord, read Psalm 63. In this Psalm David is proclaiming his unshaken love for our God, his desire for God’s presence and his willingness to surrender all for the gift of relationship with the Father. May that be my own desire!

Though I’m not yet near where I want to be, I have seen growth in these areas over the last few years. Many people think that in order to grow in our intimacy with the Lord we must strive harder, but it’s quite the opposite. Instead of striving, we’re called to surrender - surrender our desires, our wills, our wants and perceived needs, our heart, our decisions, our dreams, everything. And as we surrender and empty ourselves he begins to fill us. He fills us with his heart, his dreams, his will, his character, his presence, his Spirit! Surrender doesn’t come easy, though, but it is necessary to become fully satisfied in Him.

Africa Freedom Mission
As I thought about these lyrics and their implications for a life of surrender, I was taken back to an event that happened in my life this past fall. I was on Instagram one evening and stumbled across an ad for a ministry called Africa Freedom Missions (@AfricaFreedomMission). When I saw it, my heart jumped out of my chest because Africa has such a special place in my heart. After learning more about their organization and its leadership, I quickly submitted an application for the trip.

AFM sends teams on 2-week, 4-week and summer long missions to four different countries in Africa. Because of previous experience serving on teams in South Africa (twice in the last three years), I knew that 2 weeks was just not enough. So, I applied to serve for a month in Zambia along with my amazing girlfriend Hallie.

If I’m honest, when I applied, I hadn’t taken time to fully discern the Lord’s leading. I always want to be someone who submits my plans and desires to Him and the respond in obedience to His leading. So I slowed things down for a week. During that week, Hallie and I committed to pray for discernment and for one another with respect to serving on this team in Zambia. There were also things that I hadn’t considered that would be impacted by such a decision (lack of summer income to pay for my final year of school). So, I wanted to make sure it was Him leading and not just my desires to return to a place that I’ve grown to love.

This devoted week brought me back to those truths in Matthew and Psalms about completely surrendering my all to Him. Going to Him in prayer not only helped solidify my desire and acceptance to serve in Zambia this summer but allowed me to continually let Him take the lead. Seeing the Lord provide opportunities like this has really strengthened the relationship I have with Him. It has allowed me to witness His active hand in my life. And it has helped me rest in the fact that His plans are far better than mine. 

I’m continuing to learn what it means to surrender and give Him with everything. But if I am going to be His hands and feet on this Earth, I can’t take this task for granted! Would you join me in this High calling of surrender?

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Malik Peterson is a junior at Grace College studying nursing. He will be serving in Zambia with AFM for the month of June.

Worthy of It All

There is a generation of young people rising up that is completely in love and satisfied in Christ. Our desire is Him and His glory alone. There were 65,000 people from ages 18-25 in a stadium, seeking an encounter with the King of Kings. We are roaring the name of Jesus into 2020.

We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! By the year 2033, every tribe, tongue and nation will have the powerful word of God and the good news of the Gospel written in their specific language. Jesus Himself speaks of this hour. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

WAKE UP CHURCH! WE ARE LIVING IN SUCH A TIME AS THIS! “God declares, that ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) No one knows the hour of the coming of Jesus but he definitely gives us some good hints! He brings beauty for our ashes and uses us for His glory (Isaiah 61). He allows us to be empowered by His Holy Spirit to carry out His purposes. Are we willing to live our lives on our knees, fully surrendered to the Lord for His Glory to be shown throughout the world? It’s time to surrender everything for Him because Heaven bent to save us.

We will be persecuted, but He is worthy.

We will face trials, but He is worthy.

It will not be easy, but He is worthy.

He is worthy of it all!

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Post provided by Gabe Cruz, leader for Zimbabwe Summer 2020 with AFM

A Local's Perspective

Showing a smile, hugs, words of affirmation, giving attention to the usually ignored people are things which are always within our reach in our everyday life, yet we daily take them for granted.

Every year as I have served with mission teams, I have seen them manifesting the fruit of the spirit usually in the form of caring deeds both among each other and so much more to the locals here. 

On one occasion we spent the whole day listening to one couple's problems and praying with them.  On other days, we spent time playing with and investing in the lives of children in my community. On some evenings after worship we would minister to each other as we shared about our group and personal encounters that we had during ministry.  We would then pray for each other. In fact, I would always look forward to these times because of how I saw the Lord use them to change so many of the team members lives, including my own.

I’ve seen time and time again; these teams come and actively show God’s love for my friends and neighbors here in Zambia.  It’s a simple ministry but yet, so profound.  And as I have observed them, year after year, God has used their example to teach me this truth – “I have all that I need to show the light that is within me.”

Living in an environment like Zambia. where you are surrounded by many who have an un-ending list of needs, you are tempted to feel that you always need to provide things in order to show the love of Christ.  But these teams have shown me something different.  As they have come here, stepped out of their comfort zones and served, they’ve done it mostly by just being present, listening to the stories of my friends and countrymen and then stopping long enough to pray for and encourage them.  I’ve seen them stop what they’re doing, put their own agendas aside and just play games with children who are starving for attention and the love of the Father.  I’ve seen them go into homes where oppression and fear exist and proclaim the love of the Lord over broken situations.  They’ve taught me through their actions that there are many ways in which we can be the hands and feet of Jesus and that we are fully equipped to do so if we only surrender all that we have to Him.

So, as we prepare for another year and another season of ministry.  I’m excited.  I’m excited for the new friendships that I will be able to form with visiting teams.  I’m excited to see how the Lord will work through this new crop of young missionaries and I’m excited to see the fruit that comes from our time serving together in Zambia!

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About the Author: Laban Mwelwa is a dear friend to many who have served on a mission trip to Zambia. He is an associate pastor at Lusaka South and works part-time with Awana Zambia. The article above is his perspective of working with visiting teams.

Surrender

In this season of my life, God is teaching me what it means to completely surrender everything to Him. And it’s a process that’s been VERY, VERY difficult!!!

In Matthew 14:29, Jesus calls out to Peter sitting in the boat and asks him to simply come, to walk on the waters towards Jesus. Listen to it in context. “Then Peter got down from the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord save me!’ immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”

At first glance this may seem insane. Who in their right mind would tell another human being to leave what seemed to be the safest place in the storm to step out into the water. To WALK ON WATER!?! BUT that’s exactly what Jesus did and it was genuinely one of the most beautiful and meaningful miracles Jesus ever displayed.

Throughout our lives we are faced with many storms. Wether that be problems within our family, issues with our health, loss of family or friends, struggle with mental health, etc., our storms can be big or small. But we have a picture of how we can weather these storms through the example of Peter. With his eyes fixed on Jesus, in the midst of a terrible storm, he surrendered everything and trusted fully in Christ. He didn’t take time to reason with his circumstances, but simply listened and followed.

Peter’s initial focus is what the Lord is calling all of us to.  Jesus desires that we would single-mindedly and wholeheartedly focused on Him. This doesn’t come with doing more good for Jesus, but by laying down more for Him. It doesn’t come with service, but with surrender!

When we are able to live in surrender to the Lord, laying everything at his feet (our desires, our aspirations, our shortcomings, etc.) and when we trust in His plans, His faithfulness and His promises to work everything out for our good, our focus shifts from our problems to Jesus! The problems fade away and the glory of His presence calms the storm.

Yes, we will fail at times. And there might be times when we stray away from Christ, and begin to drown within the gritty chaos of life. But we have a promise that is evident in this Scripture: all we have to do is call upon His name and just as He responded to Peter, he will respond to you and me. With an outstretched arm and with no hesitation, He will take our hand and saves us. Not because we deserve it, but He does so freely because His love is enduring and never ending. He is a God of abundant grace and mercy!

We MUST stop letting ourselves be consumed in our struggles because, they are just momentary afflictions. They are wind and waves. Though they look threatening, they are just opportunities for us to learn to trust Him more. No doubt, they seem difficult and overwhelming at times, but minute in comparison to the loving outstretched arm of the Creator of the Universe.

So, surrender everything to Him. Lay everything at His feet. Yield completely to your creator and allow Him to use you in any and every way. And after you’ve laid it all at His feet, look up. Take His hand and follow Him. Your life will never be the same!

Recently, surrender for me was applying to serve in Zambia with Africa Freedom Mission. I could have looked at the obstacles that stood in my way, been discouraged and went back to the boat. But I’ve chosen to sacrifice my plans and my way and run after Jesus. I don’t know what Zambia has to offer, but I do know that iff I’m in His arms, I’m safer than being in some rickety boat. It’s INSANE how God works in our lives when we choose to surrender to Him completely.

I guess you could say that surrender brings so much goodness!!! It provides opportunities like this! I’m going to Africa people!!! And I get to go with a company like this, Africa Freedom Mission! HE.IS.GOOD.

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Morgan Hendrix is 16 years old and is from Loganville, Georgia. This trip with AFM will be the first time she’s ever traveled outside of the US. If you would be interested in partnering with Morgan financially, you can do so at the following link: MORGAN

Christ In You the Hope of Glory

We love because He first loved us. We are compelled by the love of Christ. Such are the scriptures we can use to describe the service of the teams in Zambia.

Africa Freedom Mission’s president and I have been friends now for over 10 years. So, a few years ago, when he contacted me about having teams come and work with us in Zambia, I was excited.

One of the teams that he sent recently visited the Children's Cancer Hospital here in Lusaka. This is the only cancer hospital in all of Zambia. So, there are quite a few children from around the country who are here receiving treatment. Over the years, I’ve been touched by many of these teams’ willingness to visit these children, and this team was no different.

As we stood outside getting prepared to go in, the hospital staff came to debrief the team on how they were to conduct themselves once they were allowed inside. The words, "show them love and don't breakdown," were echoed several times. Nothing can really prepare you to enter this ward. Many of the children have visible signs of their struggle against such a terrible disease. Some of the children are nearing the end of that struggle. So, it is a very difficult place to do ministry.

When we went inside, I was amazed by the passion and compassion the team displayed as they ministered to the children and their parents. They truly shared Jesus’s love for the children as they went bed to bed. Sometimes it was a hug, or a simple little game and sometimes it was a simple word of encouragement. They would spend a few intentional minutes with them, making sure to share the gospel, but also being sure to make them feel special and loved by God.

While there, they also spent time talking with and ministering to the parents. Many of these parents travel from far away to seek care for their children. They leave home and family in search for a cure or any help that they can find. In these hopeless situations, it’s hard to know what to say, but the team did a wonderful job of just loving them in the moment. Many of the parents were extremely thankful. And while they often didn’t have the words to express their gratitude, I saw it when they nodded their heads with tears in their eyes to say thank you.

I have seen, over and over, how these teams that come to serve with us bring a presence and ministry that provides spiritual healing to the children and parents in this hospital. It is because of Christ in them! It has been such a blessing and encouragement to them as well as our team as we seek to share the love of Jesus with our friends here in Zambia.

As I sit here sharing these few thoughts, I am thankful. Thankful for the friendships that teams bring. Thankful for the opportunities they have provided us to share in the ministry of the Church together. Thankful for the lives that have been changed by their sacrifice. I’m also excited. I’m excited about the future. I’m excited to how the Lord will use this partnership to reach many here in Zambia for Jesus.

If you are considering serving with Africa Freedom Mission, my encouragement to you would be to go ahead and apply! And if you are trying to figure out where to serve, I might be biased, but Zambia would be an amazing place to minister, to experience all that the Lord has for you, and to develop some friendships along the way that will last a lifetime!

~ Alex Mwilambwe, AFM - Zambia Partner

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Alex Mwilambwe was formerly the National Director of Awana Zambia and now works for Global Children’s Network. He lives on the outskirts of Lusaka in a community called Chalala with his wife Liseli and their family. Alex is on leadership with Lusaka South Baptist Church.

His Presence is Our Home

There’s revival in the secret place. There’s a daily invitation that comes with a house key awaiting our response each morning. The presence of the Lord is home, we can turn the key knowing we are unlocking a love that takes us as we are and doesn’t leave us the same. The rotation of the key marks an exchange- beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for heaviness, peace for anxiety. The exchange takes the frailty of our humanity and overflows the strength of His Holy Spirit into every fiber of our being. As His children, we are called into the secret place, where The Father’s arms are open awaiting our embrace- there’s a fire in his eyes that glances upon us with the utmost love and compassion. Every turn of the house key symbolizes the sweet surrender and submission to whatever the Lord may seek to reveal in the stillness of that moment. 

The more we abide in the Father’s heart, the more our hearts cry out for more of all that He is, the more our hearts break for what breaks his. The more we entangle ourselves with the Father, the more we mimic his ways and embody His character- my prayer is that this will always be known as our utmost honor and the greatest pursuit our lives will ever know. The Father uses intimacy to equip us- intimacy propels us into action. As sons and daughters, we must relentlessly seek to embody Christ so much so that the enemy trembles at our every waking day, the very steps we take the second we rise up should cause the enemy to tremble. As we dwell in His presence, hallelujahs become like arrows pointing in preparation for what’s to come. This starts by the simple acceptance to the invitation, our hands turning the key for the Father’s heart. 

“My heart will not be afraid even if an army rises to attack.

I know that you are there for me, so I will not be shaken. Here’s the one thing I crave from God,the one thing I seek above all else:

I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer. In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me, for he hides me there in his holiness. He has smuggled me into his secret place,where I’m kept safe and secure—out of reach from all my enemies. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, listen and you can hear the fanfare of my shouts of praise to the Lord! God, hear my cry. Show me your grace. Show me mercy, and send the help I need! Lord, when you said to me, “Seek my face,”my inner being responded,“I’m seeking your face with all my heart.”” Psalm 27: 3-8 TPT.

~Kristen Kinley

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Kristen Kinley is a junior at App State studying early childhood development family and children studies with a minor in nonprofit management. She is involved in New Life Ministry at Harvest House and is also participating in AFM’s summer leadership program in Zimbabwe. If you would like to help her in her fundraising, you can do so at this link: KRISTEN KINLEY.

Thankful

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving is so important in our walk with the Lord. It’s how we enter His courts (Ps 104). It’s referred to as an offering to the Lord (Lev 7:15). It’s how we glorify Him (Ps 69:30). It’s a sign of God’s restoration (Isiah 51:3). It’s a participation in the blood of Christ (For 10:16). It’s the heart of a converted believer (2 For 4:15. It’s a response to the generosity of God (2 For 9:11). It’s how we avoid obscenity, foolish talk and coarse joking (Eph 5:4). It’s how we stand against anxiety (Phil 4:6). And as you can see from 1 Thessalonians, it’s even to be practiced in the midst of extreme pain.

Thanksgiving is so important! Here, at AFM, we are so, so thankful! We are thankful for:

• Our ministry partners, Mary Kate Richardson and Michael Ngumbao Yaa who are serving underprivileged children in Mombasa, Kenya by providing education to those who cannot afford it. For Bruce and Sue Douglas who sacrafice their home and family to train and mobilize local church as well as AFM leaders for Kingdom work and who minister to the community of Lions Den, Zimbabwe. For Alex Mwilambwe and Laban Mwelwa, who serve the local church in Lusaka and are pursuing a vision to build an orphanage and training facility for youth in Chongwe. And for Noah Nkugwa, who serves the community of Mukono, Uganda by providing education to many different children.

• Our staff and volunteers who give of themselves for the sake of the ministry. For Kaylee Johnson, Hannah Rogers, Carly Orcutt, Trey Stoudemayer, Jacey Voris, Mary Rippetoe, Kam Kelley, Austin Panter, Caleb Roberts, Lucas Glover, and Taylor Suggs. You guys rock!

• Our Leadership Team, for Dave Crossland, Clay Hughey, Kris Allison and Stephanie Lerohl. We’re so thankful for the wisdom and experience that they bring to this ministry as we seek to follow the Lord’s leading in Africa.

• Our trials and tribulations, because they are testing our faith, and through testing and perseverance are pushing us towards maturity and a deeper love for one another.

• And last, but not least, our teams, to big of a list to give a specific shoutout, but thank you to all of you who have already signed up this summer to serve with us in Africa. You are our thanksgiving offering to the Lord for His faithfulness!

From the bottom of our hearts, Africa Freedom Mission wishes you the happiest of thanksgivings this year 2019. We pray that you would “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Blessings,

The AFM Team!

Divine Appointments

“But an angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip saying, ‘Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza’…So, he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch…Then the Spirit said to Phillip, ‘go up and join his chariot.’” ~ Acts 8:26-29

Phillip had a divine appointment. Think about this account in its geographic and cultural context. Phillip is with Peter and John returning to Jerusalem from Sebaste (Samaria). Based on the text, it looked as if he was resting (“get up and go”) and an angel of the Lord spoke to him. His immediate response was obedience. How many times do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit telling us to do something and we just sit there and debate “was that the Lord’s voice or just my own thoughts.” Or better yet, we debate with the Lord, “Next time Lord, I’m just too tired right now. Can I just rest a little longer?”

But Phillip’s response was immediate obedience. Now granted, the first voice he hears is from an angel of the Lord. So, I’m sure that got his attention. But there have been those times when I know that the Lord has asked something of me and I debate and try to justify non-action.

Think about what the Lord was asking him. “Phillip, get up now. I want you to walk 100 km out into the middle of the Judean desert. I’m not telling you why. Just get up and go!” If I’m honest, I think my response might have been a bit more delayed, but Phillip’s wasn’t. He gets up and he leaves for the desert.

When he gets there, he finds this Ethiopian eunuch sitting in his chariot. And not only does he find him sitting in his chariot on this desert road, he finds him at the precise time that he is reading from the prophet Isaiah about Jesus. Talk about the Lord teeing up an opportunity to share Christ! And that’s what he does, he shares Christ and the Ethiopian eunuch responds in faith.

As I meditated on these verses this morning, I came away with a few things I believe the Lord was revealing to me about himself, myself and his heart for the Nations.

Trust Me Always and Completely

When the Lord asks you to do something, there’s a purpose. It’s either for your good or the good of someone else.

I Am Love

In this account in scripture, we have the Lord asking one of his children to get up from resting and walk 100 km or more to save this guy who the Jews would have considered unclean and an outcast not worthy of entering the Lord’s presence.

My Plans are Precise

The Lord knew the exact time that Phillip needed to leave the villages in Samaria in order to cross paths with an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading a specific portion of Old Testament scripture that was preaching about Christ. He ordered everyone’s steps precisely so that Christ could be preached to this Eunuch and another one of His children could be added to the fold.

When I Ask, Obey Immediately

If Phillip had delayed, he would have missed the opportunity to share Christ through the scripture that the Eunuch was reading out of Isaiah. He might have missed the opportunity all together.

Join me in the Harvest

The Lord is always active calling sons and daughters to Himself. He uses His people by the leading of His Spirit to do this. If we don’t listen and obey, we miss out on the opportunity to partner with him in the Harvest.

Position Yourself First and Foremost to Listen

I believe the Lord has gifted me as a strategic thinker and planner. The thing that has always been my greatest strength has also been potentially my greatest weakness. If I don’t slow down to listen, I can plan the Lord right out of what I think He is doing. What if I lived more like Phillip? What if I positioned myself to listen and respond? How would my life and ministry look differently, if I woke up each morning, settled my heart and simply asked “Ok, Lord, what would you have me do today?”

People of Faith

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” ~ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬

The Lord is always at work to make you and I, us, a people of faith. We fall short. We mess up. We sin. But God convicts and restores. We doubt and we hunger in our souls, but our loving Lord showers us with the bounty of His grace. It is an unending grace that is fuller, deeper, richer and far greater than our sin. It never ends despite our youth transgressions. God’s grace never diminishes when we doubt and is not idle when our soul hungers for truth.

This amazing grace of God is rich and extravagant. It is gentle and tender, but oh so powerful. It is unique and incomparable because it comes from the hand of Jesus. - @kris_allison58

A Burden for Revival

“The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also. Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and pray before the Lord.’” ~Zech 8:21-22

Zechariah calls us to pray for a spirit of hope & urgency to prevail. He calls us for continual prayer that is seeking the Lord’s face & will. He encourages us to join united together in prayer- in the work of extraordinary prayer for *revival.* You hear many people talking about revival nowadays, throwing the term around loosely. But you see very few people who have a heart that is *burdened* for revival.

My question for you is: Are you devoted to asking and praying for the Lord to give you a BURDEN for revival?
I challenge you today. Gather a group & begin to pray to the Lord to give you a burden for revival. Pray together that the Lord would reveal His will to you & that He would pour His spirit upon you. Do this daily, weekly, as much as you can. & when you begin to feel the Lord’s prompting, go into the streets, to the nations, proclaiming & preaching the Kingdom of God at hand. Then watch what happens & how the Lord will use you to set the captives free & revival breaks out.

Spirit-directed prayer opens the way for blessings of the Kingdom of God to come upon the earth with healings, deliverances, salvation, holiness, compassion for the poor & oppressed, & the fruit of the spirit. Above all, God is glorified, worshiped, and praised.

We know that the ultimate battle has already been won (Col 2:15) but we also know the Lord left us work to be done until He comes back to us again. (John 14:12) The battle of this age in time is won in prayer.” — @merippetoe.

The Lord of the Harvest

Its time to DIG!!

Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
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Did you notice how Galatians 6:7 starts it says “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. This is where the root cause of sin lies. Sometimes we are deceived, we either don’t believe the truth or we think we will somehow be the exception to Gods law.”

We reap what we sow! We cannot sow crabgrass and expect to reap pineapples. We cannot sow disobedience to God and expect to reap His blessing. What we sow, we reap. Let us not deceive ourselves: We will reap the harvest of our lives. But this does not dismiss trials or testing!! (Read James 1 and 1 Peter)
Why do farmers plant their seed? Because they expect to harvest a great deal more than they sow. A single seed that sprouts can yield dozens, and even hundreds of seeds.

It is the same way with both sin and righteousness—a small decision before the Lord whether righteous or unrighteous reaps a much bigger crop. Jesus used the picture of a sprouting seed to show that when we allow God’s Word to produce good things in us, the results multiply: “The one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matt. 13:23). On the other side of that, the prophet Hosea describes what awaits those who choose to sow seeds of wickedness: “They sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind” (Hos. 8:7). Some are deceived because their present seed does not appear to be producing an immediate crop. So they continue down their course, mistakenly believing that there will never be a harvest.

But unlike the crops of the field, which get harvested at approximately the same time each year, there is no regular timetable for the harvest of life. Some crops we reap quickly; others take a long time. But do not be deceived—their season will come. We are not sowing good seed and doing good works to receive the blessing of the Lord. Our faith is not based on works, it’s to bring glory to his name alone!! — @austinpanter02

A Good Soldier for Christ

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. NO soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:3-4
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We are called to be Soldiers of the Gospel and to take His name to the ends of the earth. Soldiers are mission-minded with one objective that they carry from the very one who sent them. Soldiers are active and they are obedient. They are attentive and they are loyal to their Commander. And it is NOT accidental that God’s Word calls for His disciples to be likewise.

Soldiers face death daily; they go through hardship and they endure suffering for what they believe in. They live a life on the battle field and aren’t oblivious to their surroundings. Some of us today are living a life in the middle of war as if we are on vacation: completely careless and ignorant to the spiritual warfare around us and the mission that is set before us. We need to WAKE UP to what is happening NOW! We can no longer sit back and watch as the world is starving and thirsting to know Jesus Christ when we are the ones with the GOOD NEWS! If we don’t tell them, who will????

With that being said, a good solider of Christ is one that is willing to risk it all like a REAL Soldier. Following Jesus costs your life...are you willing to risk your life for the gospel? Are you ready for the battle ahead? Will you obey the very One who is sending YOU? It’s time, soldiers, to be ready for battle and obedient to the mission laid in front of us TODAY! — @carlyorcutt