Those That Have Gone Before Us

Last week I posted a blog, "Religion Dead in Europe?" The leader of the Assemblies of God, Ireland (AGI) posted a comment that I must share with you. Gary Davidson is an amazing leader, discipler, pastor, mentor, and friend. He and his wife, Wilma, have spent over 30 years giving their lives to the people of Ireland. I want you to read his comments, hear his heart, and be moved by his response.

"It is photos like the above that continue to 'break my heart' after 31 years of ministry in the Emerald Isle. Near where one of our thriving congregations is a lovely church building that has become a mosque [pictured above: built in the 1860's this was formerly a Presbyterian church]...yet we have also been privileged to see three former 'abandoned' church buildings reopened and now house thriving congregations. Yesterday I ministered in one of them...St. Mark's...two morning services that were full with the second with standing room! People were saved and filled with the Spirit and we prayed for two hours with hungry souls. Old wells being reopened...Alleluia!!!"

In May of 1980, Gary and Wilma Davidson left their home in Oklahoma and moved to Dublin, Ireland, where they still minister today. They have planted churches, they have seen hundreds of individuals respond to Christ, discipled pastors, and are currently leading the entire AGI movement. Gary and Wilma truly are heroes of the faith. They are world-changers and Kingdom-builders to the core of their souls. God has done and continues to do amazing things through Gary and Wilma.

Gary and Wilma were instrumental in Katy's and my decision to move to Ireland. Our endeavors in seeing a student ministry raised up in colleges in Dublin will be in partnership with the first church Gary and Wilma planted, St. Mark's Church, now one of the largest congregations in the Republic of Ireland. You can see Gary standing in front of St. Mark's Church in the picture below.

We are standing on the foundation they have established through the national church. We will be reaching students, because they chose to reach the nation of Ireland. I am thankful for those that have gone before us. To change a nation, generation after generation must be committed to building The Kingdom.

Religion Dead in Europe?

A pastor friend of mine sent me this article the other day and it reignited an urgency that I haven't felt in a while.

Many refer to Europe as being in a post-Christian state. People of Europe see the bad things Christianity has done on their continent and in the world: The Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, the perception of rampant sexual abuse by catholic priests, etc.

They look at atrocities like this and make a decision. Their logic says, "If Christianity produces these horrific situations, then we will not have Christianity." All across Europe today, many churches sit empty. In fact, there are many churches that are now being turned into bars. The picture below is of the Church Bar in Dublin, Ireland. Churches are closing left and right. Europe needs a move of God.

We MUST get to Ireland, quickly. Not only is our time on this earth quickly winding down, but the culture in Ireland is rapidly pushing the idea of Christianity into the intellectual gutter.

Please pray that our budget will be raised quickly so that we can leave as soon as possible. There is no time to waste. The time is NOW.

We love and appreciate all you do. Keep up the amazing work.

P.S. America is typically just a few decades behind Europe politically, socially, and in many cases religiously. Something to think about.

Jesus Was a Hoarder

If reality television existed in Jesus' day, He would have been on the show Hoarders. The show would probably open with Mary speaking candidly about her son as the camera pans across Jesus' motley crew.

"He has so many things going for him. He knows the bible better than any rabbi out there. He's good looking. For Samuel's sake, He is the Son of God! But He keeps all this junk around that He'll never be able to use. It was cute at first, then a little concerning, but now I'm scared all this baggage is going to ruin His life!"

"Joseph, what do you think about this situation?" the interviewer would ask.

"I just don't know what to do anymore," Joseph replies. "I mean, what on earth is he gonna do with a tax collector, fisherman, hookers, or robbers?! I mean, he takes them EVERYWHERE! Hopefully he'll deal with this before it kills him."

Ok, so Mary and Joseph probably wouldn't have said anything like that. But the religious leaders most definitely looked down on Jesus and his crew of nobodies.

I have two points. 

• Jesus believes in you. It doesn't matter who you think you are, what you've done, or where you've been; God sees His precious child who was made specifically and with purpose.

• We should see people as God sees them. It doesn't matter who we think they are, what they've done, or where they've been; God sees His precious child who was made specifically and with purpose.

We are all junk that should've been thrown away long ago, but Jesus saw something nobody else could see. Just like books, we all have an author. Our author knows the intricacies and intimacies that are laced in every page of our lives. We are ALL jacked up but Jesus looks beyond our cover to our heart. We should too.

Be encouraged. Be challenged. You are loved. They are loved.

"To love someone means to see him as God intended him." - Fyodor Dostoyevski