For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19
This is the word I got from the Lord before I travelled to Africa in the pandemic. Although it was a tough journey mentally with all the concerns with covid, visa and leaving the family behind for a while, however, His timely word really encouraged me that the Lord wanted to show me something new and it was the right time to step into this land. Our local partner and his team were ready to serve their community after the government had relaxed the restrictions due to covid for a few months. They were itching to go and it was such a privilege to see the hearts of the local brothers and sisters in Christ all fired up to love on their people even with all the uncertainties ahead of them.
I really sensed the Lord was doing something new and His work had begun. Through the lens of the Kingdom, I saw their hearts in raising up the young generations and purifying them. God is preparing an army from the Africa region to each respond to a call to the world for His Kingdom to be established. These people have something to contribute in the last days as to how they were playing a part of God’s plot during the Old Testament times with Israel and also during baby Jesus time. God has allowed Covid time to prepare and raise different armies from different regions to all contribute to being part of establishing His Kingdom.
I had the privilege to disciple and share with different groups of young people through the sports leadership platform and sports teams to teach and model the culture and values of the Kingdom of God.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
Some groups were just Christians and some groups were a mix of Christians and non-Christians. I know our local partner had shed tears and sweat for a long time to establish trust and relationship with the non-Christian community and continue to love on them. The participants knew this organization is run by Christians but they couldn’t resist participating and serving together because they all say there is something powerful and different about this community.
Over these years our local partner has been very sensitive and the government has been always watching the leader and their operations of what they are doing in the community. The leader needs a lot of wisdom and discernment as he approaches the locals when he shares privately and publicly and he really depends on the Holy Spirit to lead and touch the community.
It was such a powerful and humbling experience when I was given these platforms and trusted relationships to share and minister to these people. They all say that they see this God living in our lives and they were hungry to know more about Him. Although it’s amazing to see the people so hungry for the Lord, at the same time, it is heartbreaking to see them unable to make a public declaration to follow Jesus as the consequence is too high.
It got me thinking when will the army be raised up to go forth not only to their respective community but also to the ends of the earth? There is a breath of excitement as we prophesied Isaiah 43:19 to this land as the Lord is breathing into a generation in the last days.
However, God’s strategy is so much higher than our ways and thoughts. As I was planning to extend the visa for another month, the government rejected my application. Meanwhile, our local partner had 4 different camps all lined up for the next month and he told me suddenly it all got cancelled. I had mixed feelings on how it all unfolded but only to obey God and trust in His guidance. Instead of fighting our own ways, our local partner respected my decision of I should go back to my family and we should all have some time to catch up with our families. We will wait upon the Lord and see how He opens doors for us to serve together again.
After a rough ride back home with repeated covid tests and quarantine etc, I am still reflecting and digesting all the moments I had in Africa, maybe I don’t understand everything that the Lord is doing but definitely, He is moving and I cannot wait to see this army from Africa to rise up and contribute their calling to the rest of the body of Christ in the last days. Maybe next time I will be greeting them back in Asia and seeing them encouraging and preaching the Kingdom of God through their experience in a family unit which edifies the rest of the body of Christ.
All glory to Jesus!
