In ways known only to God, everyone on our team (and no doubt, many others) contributed to preparing the hearts of the ten children who came to follow Jesus on Good Friday afternoon. I had been their Vacation Bible School teacher. After reviewing the lessons, I put my Bible down and talked about the most important decision we have before us, namely to do what Christ’s disciples did and follow Him. Ten hands went up, and then twenty hands folded in prayer. At that very moment I remember thinking, “Wow, God!” as I instantly realized the lifelong impact these children will make on a city that is in great need and the many gospel seeds they will plant there in the years to come.

Indeed, their city is in great need. During the past ten years Detroit’s population has been reduced by 25%, falling below 1M people and making it ineligible for federal funding. Thirty-five percent of the population live below the poverty line. Bus service to the suburbs (where there are *some* jobs) continues to be reduced. And with no access to employment beyond the crime infestation they know, it is easy to understand why many of Detroit’s citizens want to forget all the new sunrises and turn instead to substance abuse, domestic brutality and suicide.

Nine more high schools will close by year end, and only 25% of this year’s freshman class will flip the tassel on their graduation caps in 2016. Yet amongst all this sadness, Christ reigns over the city.

The Church can’t wave a magic wand over Detroit and say, “Be Well,” but it can bring the light of the Good News and help shatter the darkness that hovers over it. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” Armed with this truth, we are called to bring the knowledge of Christ to the entire world – leaving no street address or sidewalk where the Great Commission command does not apply. In the end this makes us all church planters.

 The Seedlings

During the time our team was in Detroit, we knew the enemy was attacking us. Having now had some time to reflect on what took place, I am convinced much of that battle had to do with Who would win the souls of these children. In the end, the devil lost. He always loses.

When I arrived home I immediately made plans to ship children’s Bibles to Detroit. As of this writing nine of them have been delivered, and the tenth Bible is in transit.Yet placing God’s Word in two hands is only the first step in spiritual growth. In planting a church there is also the need for discipleship. I have offered Christ my willingness to return to the city but I live in Philadelphia, and the children need mentors now. “How will this be accomplished?” I ask God.

By praying for them daily and having encouraged each one to tell their parents, Sunday school teacher and pastor about the eternal decision they made, I know He will provide. These children are His followers now, and no one can snatch them from His care.

From ashes to paradise, this is the victory that is theirs. I praise God for eyes to behold such a miracle.

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For a complete list of church planting resources visit this site. To God Be the Glory.

April 29th: There has been an update to this post. A few minutes ago God answered our prayers and De’ja has now received her Bible. Thank you, Lord.

Likewise as Christ’s followers we can either share His Good News without compromise, or we can live a life of bland indulgences that does little to make an impact on the world He came to save. Maybe that is why “Taste and See” is in the Bible. He wants us to trust Him with everything He sets before us.

When our order was ready, we sat down and I poured the mild sauce on the two breakfast burriotos while my husband enjoyed his two Egg McMuffins. There was only one place to sit, and it was near the man everyone else seemed to want to distance themselves from…Tom. We ate our breakfast and drank our juice. Tom, meanwhile, attended to his cell phone and then quietly went outside to his car.

I finished eating, and all the while I knew God wanted me to reach out to the one who was wearing a heavy down coat on a pleasant day and whose leg showed great debilitation, swelling at the ankle with incredible issues lying below the skin. I knew that the Holy Spirit would be after me all afternoon if I ignored His prompting; and since I’ve learned that it’s always best not to do that, I went outside to the parking lot.

Tom seemed surprised when I waved at him through his car window. I couldn’t tell if he was surprised because someone showed an interest in him as a human being created in God’s image or if he was surprised for some other reason. He first rolled down the window and then opened the door and got out. Leaning against his car, we began to talk. I asked him about his life. He told me he was Quaker by religion and then proceeded to share a series of recent life details that some might have questioned as true. I did not. I explained that we (my husband and I) had just come from the first service of worship at our church. Did he know its location, I asked. Tom said he did, and then before I could suggest he might want to drive there and be only a few minutes late, the conversation took a different turn.

Soon Tom’s phone rang, and it appeared it was time for me to go. I only had time to mention that as he drove he might want to tune into some Christian radio stations and listen. He smiled, we parted company.

For years, I have kept a prayer journal. God has placed in that journal the names of many people I pray for each day and hope that one day, they will be with me in heaven. Tom’s name is now there.

As Felix’s pursuers passed by they saw the web and didn’t even bother to look inside. Later as the godly fugitive stepped out into the sunlight, he uttered these insightful words: “Where God is, a spider’s web is a wall; where He is not, a wall is but a spider’s web.”

Source: Wisdom For The Way

Throughout the year there are many ways we affirm the value of others, but at Christmas the time we take to decide on a gift, how well suited it is to the person receiving it and how we wrap it are all indicators of how much we care about them as individuals. And since the most meaningful gifts are to be found in relationships, why would I even consider doing my Christmas wrapping as though it didn’t count for all that it represents.

It’s interesting how at this time of year when the hush is supposed to settle upon us and reflection set in that we scurry and squander. If you’re like me, you’ve been dismayed by the reports of extravagant spending in an American economy that is struggling to put people back to work. Glitz and gluttony rise to a super high pitch during the Christmas season while the still small voice of the Christ child can appear to diminish to a whisper.

Maybe that’s why we need to be like Clovis. No one is going to attack Susan without his notice. No one is going to attack my Savior without my notice either. There’s a lot of noise outside my window, but I live to tell of a Man who is my best friend. I guard our relationship and defend His preeminence.

In a world that needs Him, Christianity remains a faith to be protected. There are all kinds of attacks pulling on it all year long, with over-the-top indulgence being but one example. Living in the world may be more challenging than it was even five years ago, but we have a choice to make in how we live, what we buy and who we help. We can do simple, and we will be the better for it.

So wherever you live I’m inviting you to sign this Thanksgiving card to God by adding a verse from your Bible that expresses your gratitude. I Chronicles 16:8 says, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Let our voices be heard and let’s see how many verses we can add to this post. You don’t need to be part of PhotoMission to participate, and everyone is asked to include your name and your country in your comment.

Let the praises begin.

I don’t have a lot of history where Hope’s past is concerned, whether her life was filled with cushioned furniture and geeky kitchen gadgets or how many friends she had who enjoyed contemporary urban life. I do know that eight years ago she said good-bye to her home in Europe and set out on an adventure that brought her to a remote region of the world where there are few earthly possessions to be had, only orphans to be cradled.

Hope is a mother to many and yet, has no children of her own. She spends her days in an orphanage preparing countless crafts that brighten the lives of little ones who would otherwise wander abandoned on the streets. And while you can easily spot her strong will in the photo you might be surprised to learn just how far that strong will has carried this remarkable woman of faith. Rather than use a translator, Hope chose to learn the language of the children she mentors. Such fluency enabled her to build a cohesive bond with them while they were young.

Soon after arriving at her new home, Hope acquired a small restaurant to employ adults who had grown up in the orphanage. The reality of her presence in their lives did not end with making puppets from brown bags or stick people from drinking straws. Hope became like a real mother to the orphans, and the dedication that accompanied her commitment then gave birth to making a difference in their lives today.

So I’ve been addressing this area of my life by being less caught up in distractions as my day unfolds and being more interested in my relationship with Christ. Clearly the more time I spend in His Word the more I realize there is no one else I would rather be near. Time is, after all, going to move on with or without any input on my part, but the relevancy of knowing that I can communicate with my Creator throughout the day ought to prompt me to be more involved in praying for the things that are on His heart. That early morning hour over coffee when my Bible is open should just be the start of what it means to walk with Him through the day.

So I put together a list of ten things to help me remember that I don’t abide by the clock when it comes to talking to our Lord. The more I talk, the more He listens. The more He listens, the closer the bond between us becomes.

I can:

* express simple and elegant words of praise.
* intercede for five people who don’t yet know Him.
* intercede for five people who do know Him.
* lift up the needs of our country.
* lift up the needs of a country that is foreign to me in every way.
* pray for the leadership of my local church.
* pray for the leadership of churches in a specific city miles from where I live.
* open His Word to a book and chapter midday and read it as though I’m reading it for the first time.
* think about a part of the human body that I couldn’t live without and give Him praise for creating it.
* read a Psalm on the spur of the moment.

So that’s a good beginning. What comes to mind when you think about the conversations you have with God? What things would you add to my list that would personalize it for you?