When we left for Africa we heard God telling us that we needed to focus on developing relationships. In the 18 months that we have served in Africa we have done just that. It is in building those relationships that we have met some wonderful people.
We have been in the States now since the 2nd of November and have been sharing in churches and with friends what God has been doing through us in Africa. On the 29th of November we had the privilege to share with our home church – Lifebridge Church in San Diego, where we were asked to give the message at all three services.
The message we shared with our church family was the same message we have been sharing with the young people in Africa. God wants to have an intimate, personal relationship with them. In fact 1 John 3:1 tells us, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” We shared that this has not been easy because most of the young men and women we are working with have no idea what a loving father is. For the majority of them, their earthly father has either abandoned them, abuses them, and/or is drunk most of the time. The words “love” and “Father” just don’t fit together for them.
These young people have been so wounded that we have had to earn their trust and only then are we able to share with them what love is supposed to be. It has been amazing to see these kids finally get it - that God wants to be their Father and He wants to have a loving relationship with them. Through our relationship with them they are beginning to understand what real love is. And as they watch us caring for one another they see what a loving husband and wife looks like. This simple but powerful message, both spoken and acted out, allows them to realize that it does not matter what they have been through or what they will go through but that God will always love them unconditionally.
During one of the services I shared about the youth camp we held. On the final night of the youth camp we gave the kids the opportunity to receive a fathers blessing. There in the front of the small chapel, we wrapped our arms around them one by one, prayed over them and loved on them – crying with them and speaking encouragement into their hearts. The students left that camp empowered by the love of the Father, with healing for their wounded hearts, and hope for their future. After I shared this story with our church I challenged the fathers to give their children a fathers blessing. Young people everywhere, regardless of their address or color of skin need to hear encouragement from their father. They need to hear that they are loved and valuable, that someone believes in them.
Just the other day, we heard the report that one father went home after church and bought his family together and gave his entire family a fathers blessing. We pray more fathers take this message to heart and act upon it.
It is amazing to be a part of what our Father is doing and we are even more convinced that the message He has given us to share is not just for Africa but it is for all of us. We are grateful to be able to share His love with so many from different cultural backgrounds, different languages, and people groups. We know that the message of God’s love is universal, and pray that each of you reading this will open your heart and allow Him to lavish His love on you!
