It is late afternoon on my last week in Jos. I stand at the third floor window of the office I am working in and look out on the street. The air is heavy with pollution and dust – no doubt the cause of this dry cough that I have. The Santa Special Bakery across the street is baking again and I draw deep breaths filled with the scent of fresh baked breads. It invokes a fantasy of my bursting down their doors with about ten pounds of soft, fresh butter and simply drowning in hot buttered bread. (If I put a little effort to it I am fairly sure I could talk Biana & Char into joining me in bursting through the door – but I am making an effort to behave with dignity. Quit laughing Pastor B!) Across the street a mama and her children are preparing to go somewhere on a motorbike. The driver scoots as far forward as he can, the oldest boy is perched in front of him, the middle boy is between the driver and his mom, and the baby is tied to mama’s back while she is barely on the bike. The American in me shudders with the safety issues, the Nigerian in me shrugs – what else can you do if you have no other means of transportation? The heavily-laden bike zips into traffic seemingly risking life and limb as it dodges a couple of cars. The bike beeps, the cars beep and everybody is satisfied that they have made their opinion of the other’s driving skills known. Although I have seen many mama and baby goats in the neighborhood, across the street is the first billy-goat that I have seen. He really does have a long beard hanging from his chin! He is surrounded by a small grouping of females and babies and one by one they leap nimbly over the sewer and into the street – well except for the last baby who almost falls into the sewer. I am glad that Baba does not serve us goat to eat. Having seen what they eat……..
Baba fixed pancakes this morning and as I cleared my plate he told me that I could not go home – that I had to stay and bring my family and my tribe over here to Jos. It may be a bit of a challenge to get my family to move over here – and I wonder how my tribe – Fresno First Baptist Church – is going to react to the news that they are moving?
Although I miss my family, my church family, my friends, and my life in the USA, there is a great deal of sorrow in me as my time here begins to disappear. How could it slide away so fast? I am a person split in two – half of me is Valerie Hanneman of California and half of me is Mama G of Jos, Nigeria. Half of me wants to go home and half of me is home. When I am back in California it will be the same – half of me wanting to come home and half of me being home. It is not simply a matter of where I am and the people and family that I am missing – I am a different person here than I am in California. Valerie is a very busy woman, zipping from home to work to home to church to home to bed and then it starts over again. Even my personal time in the presence of my God and Savior is specifically scheduled with few bursts of spontaneous moments. I do what I am supposed to do to support my job and I do what I am supposed to do to support my family and I do what I am supposed to do to support my church and serve my God. I know that the presence of God is always with me – but sometimes the clutter of my life gets in the way. (Please do not think that I am complaining about my life, I am deeply aware of how rich my life is and of how abundantly I am blessed by God. I love my life.)
But Mama G’s life is different. My work here at Faith Alive is just as important as my work in Fresno, as I help Faith Alive get stronger in their accounting practices. I love my family – those here and those in California – just as deeply as I do in California and am just as deeply committed to them. It is my relationship with God that is so different. When so much of the clutter is stripped away and my life is so much simpler – it is astounding to me the power and majesty of God’s presence in my life. He floods my spirit. When NEPA is out (and it always is) and I am in bed at 9:30 at night, prayer and worship is a blessed sacrament of my day – something that I long for, not something that I have to squeeze in time for. I see people who face tremendous issues of poverty singing, dancing and rejoicing in the little that they can give, and my attitude towards how I give to God is transformed. I join in the singing and dancing with gusto not worried about how I look or what others think and feel the freedom of worshiping only in the presence of God knowing that He hears my scratchy voice and says it is beautiful to His ears, and that He looks at my dancing that resembles a chicken on electricity, and says that it is beautiful to His eyes, because it is just for Him.
When I came back to California last August I brought Mama G with me, determined not to lose touch with God, not to allow the clutter of stuff to get in between us again, and for awhile Mama G was in California. But then the clutter of life slowly but surely inched its way into me again, and Mama G became who I am in Jos. When I come back to California this time, Mama G is going to be with me – and I am going to try even harder to make sure that she sticks around.
Staff meetings at Faith Alive close with a vow. It is the vow that I am going to make part of my life so that Mama G and Valerie will be the same woman.
“To my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever You ask me to do, my answer in advance is YES! I want to be used by You in such a way that on that final day I’ll hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.””
(Inspired by Pastor Ben Chenjele of Faith Alive, Jos, Nigeria)
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Matthew 25:28-30 (Message) “Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him into utter darkness.”
When I was much younger, the company I was working for started to go under and economics dictated that my position be cut to part time. Fawn’s father and I decided that this was the perfect opportunity for me to try to fulfill a dream – that of owning my own business. And so “The Bookie’s” Bookkeeping Service was born. We bought a computer, filed the paperwork with the city, and opened for business. Guess what – customers did not come beating down my door. I quickly learned that owning my own business took a lot more work that simply being a great bookkeeper. I had to go out and drum up business. A year later I had clients and things were looking better, but the company I was working for closed their doors. Finances dictated that I go out and find another job. I tried working full-time while still building my business from my home – but it was simply to difficult to continue to work for such a little – if any - profit. And so “The Bookies” was no more. No profit – no business.
The Word told a parable on hot afternoon while He was sitting with His disciples at the Mount of Olives. He told about a man who went to a far country. Before he left he called his servants together. To one he gave $10,000 to another $5,000 and to the last servant $1,000. When the master returned and called his servants to give an account of what they had been given. The first servant had used the $10,000 to earn an additional $10,000. With much joy the master commended his servant and put him in a position of high authority. The second servant had taken the $5,000 and earned $5,000 more. Again the joy, the commendation and the added authority. The third servant was a different story. “I know that you are a hard man,” he began, “and so I was afraid and I took the money and hid it so I would not lose it. Here is your money.” The master was outraged. “You say yourself that I am a hard man – and this is what you chose to do? To hid the money away? You could have at least put it in the bank and earned interest with it!” The master took the thousand away and sent the third servant away from him in disgrace.
Jesus is our Master. Our hearts know it, our words confirm it, and our actions should give power to it. He is gone into a far county (heaven) and will shortly be returning for us (even so, Come LORD Jesus.) While He is gone He has given us gifts to be used in His work. To some He has given the gift of evangelism, to others the gift of teaching, preaching, singing, administration, hospitality, washing dishes, doing gardening, loving on the unloveables, painting walls, and so on and so on. There are no limits to the types of gifts that He has given. Each person has been given at least one gift and each person is expected to invest that gift into expanding the kingdom of God.
God is a businessman; He expects to see a profit off of what He has invested with us. He is not looking for a financial gain (why should He? He owns it all anyway) He is looking for the most valuable return on His investment – souls rescued into His eternal life.
Just as the master went away and expected his servants to use what they had been given to profit him, Jesus expects us to take the gifts that we have been given to profit His kingdom. But unlike the master that went away to a far country, leaving his servants on their own, we do not have to depend upon ourselves to maximize the profit from our gifts. Our Master is with us to show us, lead us and teach us what our gifts are and how best to use them. All that we have to do is to surrender ourselves to Him, to give Him willing hearts, willing hands and willing feet. And one more thing – we have to give Him our fears of trying something new and we have to draw from Him the courage to take that step out of our comfort zone.
I believe that if the master had come home and one of the servants had had a loss on his investment he still would have preferred that to the servant who did nothing. He would have preferred that because, even though there was a loss, the servant tried his best. It was the servant who did nothing with the investment who drew the wrath of the master. The servant knew that his master was a businessman who expected to receive profit from his investment but he did not even do the very least possible – which was to put the money in the bank and collect the interest. As a result the investment was taken away from him and given to servant who had proved to be worthy.
How are you using your gifts and how are you profiting the Master? How we use our gifts – if we use our gifts - is our choice. It always has been. Master Jesus will not force us to use our gifts. We can say “I’m not comfortable doing that.” “I am afraid of failure” or any of the multitudes of excuses that we can think up to not step out of our comfort zone. Some of the time we chose not even to use our gifts for the bare minimum – which would be to use our gifts to strengthen our relationship with the Master. If we do not use our gifts will Jesus throw us out of the Kingdom in disgrace? No – He could not because then our salvation would depend upon our own actions – and that is not His plan. But I do think that our Master will be disappointed in us, and He will take our gift away, put us on the “inactive” list and let us be until we are willing to help Him make a profit.
How much better it is to be the servant who takes a chance, who uses the gifts to turn a profit, and increases the bottom line of heaven. If this earthly master was so rich in his praises to his servants, how much more so will be our Master of Heaven and earth? I don’t know about you, but I live for the moment when I hear Jesus say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is my most sought after hope and dream.
This sought after moment will be true for all of us if we chose to use what the Master has invested in us to turn a profit for Him.
Master Jesus, guide me in how best to use the gifts You have given me to profit Your Kingdom. Help me to be the servant that receives Your approval.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
The rooster crows loudly and I wake up. The couple next door have been singing praise to our Jesus for what feels like most of the night – but has actually only been for about an hour. The good news is that they sound good – and I like the music. I stretch and look out my window at the field outside to see the line of people waiting to draw the water from the community well. They bring handcarts to the well and fill 10 – 15 one gallon containers to meet their family’s needs for this day. The field is alive with animals running around. I see a mama goat and her two babies. The babies rear up on their hind legs and butt heads together just for the fun of it - typical of siblings – isn’t it? A chicken chases her brood of six across the dirt road, slapping the slow ones with her wings as they hurry to beat the motorbikes already beginning to fill the air with the whine of their sewing machine engines and their never-ending beeping. Even more chickens gather on the metal bars and put their heads together to visit, argue and gossip about whatever chickens find interesting. There is already a crowd of children forming at the ping-pong table about to begin today’s tournament. In just a little bit their laughter and arguments will also fill the surroundings. The sky is hazy with smoke and pollution – another day begins in Jos, Nigeria.
Only today is not just another day. It is Sonday - today is the day that we will visit Pastor Ben’s church. Pastor Ben works for Faith Alive and has been a good friend and inspiration to all of us. Just last night he and his beautiful wife Doris came over to dinner and what fun it was! Give Pastor Ben any sort of an audience and the man is preachin’ the Word! Last night he gave us new names, he named us after the fruits of the Spirit – I am Peace. This is now the third name I have been given in Nigeria.
We take the bus up a small curvy road full of bumps and potholes, get out and walk a path that winds between houses, up over rocks, down the other side and finally we reach the church. We go in and Pastor Ben brings us up to the side of the platform and seats us in front of the church. There are four churches meeting together today for a quarterly gathering. The worship is incredible as first we all sing together and then each church’s women’s group sings. One of the pastors leads us in directed prayer, what an experience as a multitude of voices lift their individual prayers and yet still we pray as one. We are an hour into service and no sign of the preacher preaching. Each church’s choir sings worship songs and then Pastor Ben calls for the offering. A box is placed in front of the church as people file row by row to pass in front of it and drop in their gift. Only this is not an experience like any other. The people do not walk up to the front – they dance, they sing, they rejoice in their ability to give to God. As I watch I am reminded of the widow and her two pennies that she gave with great joy. We are the last to give, and we also dance our way back to the platform – although not as gracefully as the others. Then the most outstanding thing! Spontaneously first one and then another and then another worshipper begins to come to the front and in just a few moments the aisles and the front of the church are filled with people dancing, singing and worshiping with the most tremendous joy. It is incredible! It is impossible for us to just stand on the platform and watch. Ivy, then Norm, Evan, Eve and I join the celebration. If there is any experience in Nigeria that I wish that I could bring home and show you – this is it. I have never in my life seen such transcending joy on a worshippers face. And I am left to wonder – why is there such joy in the land of poverty over what little they have to give, while there doesn’t seem to be such joy in giving in the land of abundance? What are we missing?
Finally the preacher takes the podium. He assures us that because the service is running so long (we are into it for two hours now) he is just going to do a review of his sermon. Thank goodness we got the Readers Digest condensed version because he went for another hour! I could hardly understand anything that he said – but it was obvious from the faces in the congregation that they were listening to everything he said. Services take a break (they are going to meet all day) but we have to hurry up and leave – we have support group in just an hour & a half. As we make our way back to the bus all of us agree that today has been a day like no other. How can we take this and let it change our lives? How can we use what we have seen to change the status quo at Fresno First so that we can experience joy?
Note from Valerie: this poem was written by one of the pastors of Faith Alive - an extraordinary young man - Pastor Ben - who has made a significant impact on all of us.
THE RACE
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
There’s no sense running any more – three strikes
I’m out – why try
The will to rise had disappeared; all hope had fled away,
So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way
“I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad who
Soon he’d have to face.
“Get up” an echo sounded low
“Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here
So get up and win the race.”
With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said,
“You haven’t lost at all
For winning is not more than this
To rise each time you fall”
So up he rose to win once more and with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose at least he wouldn’t quit
So far behind the others now the most he”d ever been
Still he gave it all he had and ran as tough to win
Three times he’d fallen stumbling
Three times he rose again
Too far behind to hope to win he still ran to the end
They cheered the inning runner as he crossed
First place
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for
Finishing the race.
And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud
Ou would have thought he won the race
To listen to the crowd
And to his dad he sadly said, “I don’t do so well”
:To me you won,” his fagher said
“You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race,
For all of life is like that race,
With ups and downs and all,
And all you have to do to win – is rise each time you fall,
“Quit! Give up, you’re beaten,” they still shout in my face
But another voice within me says,
“Get up and win that race.”
Therefore be encouraged with love from
Pastor Ben Chenjele
Faith Alive
Jos, Nigeria
For a day that would change my life (again) Thursday started out rather unextraordinary. We rode in the Black Jeep down to the clinic, the children yelling a mixture of “Owebo! Owebo” and “MamaG.” The motorbikes wisely got out of the way of the jeep, but I think that some of the “beep-beeps” that they directed towards us were of the “Road hog!” variety. We got to the clinic and went up the walkway, past by the smiling faces and colorful clothes of Faith Alive staff and patients. Always they say to us, “You are welcome.” When we first heard this it was a little strange – we are used to saying this after somebody says, “Thank-you.” But here in Nigeria it is a greeting, asking you to feel welcome in the place you are in. After they say this to us, we respond with “Thank-you”
After a worship time of singing and dancing, Evan Baird gave a fantastic morning devotion about Jesus’ strength in every situation we face. Later several staff persons commented that he spoke beyond his years – or that he spoke with the wisdom of a much older man.
After lunch we prepared for the staff prayer meeting. It was to be a momentous time for Faith Alive and for me.
But before I go into that, let me go back to a bad day in my last visit to Faith Alive. I was about three weeks into my six week stay, I was doing pretty much okay – there were times when I missed my children, missed my mom, missed my church family, missed my Rascal (spoiled rotten pet) but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. Then the first Sonday of August came. The first Sonday of every month Fresno First Baptist celebrates communion. And I was not there. With a pillow over my face I cried from the loneliness of being 8,000 miles from everybody and everything I loved. (I had the pillow over my face because I did not want to freak Biana out.) In my pain, I cried out to Father God, “You have asked too much of me.” Later that evening I was singing and worshiping with the support group and that small still voice whispered, “The Church is one. You are in your Church.” It was my Papa God reminding me that I am not a member of Fresno First Baptist Church, I am a member of the Eternal, Universal Church.
So on this first Sonday in April, when I was not in Fresno First to celebrate communion, I didn’t even bat an eye. I worshiped in my church at Central Baptist Church and in my church with the support group.
The momentous occasion was the first celebration of Communion by the Faith Alive staff.
Ivy was up front with Loretta, Caroline and the rest of the Faith Alive singers leading the worship music. Mama G was dancing, Evan was dancing and then I grabbed Samee Myer’s hand and got her to dancing with us. Pastor Ben gave a short exhortation on the meaning of communion and we began communion. It was a traditional serving of communion with Fresno First Baptist acting as servers. The un-traditional part was that some of the staff was Muslim – who for the most part did not take communion, and the part of staff that was Catholic and did not take communion. As I stood in my Church with my brothers and sisters, celebrating the relentless, uncompromising love of out God as made manifest in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins, Once again, I cried over communion, but this time it was tears of joy, not of sorrow. Before, Papa God took communion away from me to teach me that the church is one. This time, He gave me communion back as I once again felt the oneness of the Eternal, Triumphant Church.
It is not where the church’s building is – it is where the Church’s heart is – and the Heart of the Church is Jesus. Where Jesus is where the Church is, and that is at Fresno First Baptist church, it is at Central Baptist Church, in Jos, it is at the support group of Faith Alive and it is at communion with the staff of Faith Alive.
I have a short, fat, white candle at home that stands as a memorial stone of a weekend that changed my life and changed my ministry. When I get home a second memorial stone will be placed with it – it is a small, clear plastic cup that I used during communion with my church family – the part of it that is at Faith Alive.
We went to Support Group on Sonday night. For those of us who have been to Support Group before it was a time to be anticipated - for those of us who had not been, it was a time to wonder what it would be like. Support Group was as crowded as always. More women than men, as always, lots of children and babies running around. We started with worship music – my favorite! It is so incredible to stand among these (HIV) positive people as they sing and dance before God with all the passion their hearts can hold. These are people who are barely eking out a living, many of them have been discarded by their families, they have an incurable (right now) disease, they face challenges that would crumble most of us and they sing at the top of their lungs about the goodness of God. It is so humbling to be in the middle of all this faith – knowing that my faith, in spite of how much God has blessed me, is so weak in comparison. I am learning more about faith and God’s power, and utter dependence
We heard several testimonies but the one that just tore my heart was the one from Florence. Florence had been studying to be a nun when she was physically violated by either soldiers or insurgents. A while later, after she kept getting ill, she was sent to Faith Alive where she tested positive for HIV. She was immediately removed from the convent and sent home. She was afraid to tell her parents, fearing their reaction. When she finally told her mother, her mother threw her out of the family and told all of the village. The village immediately ostracized her. A few months later, barely alive because of how the village was treating her, she was once again taken to Faith Alive. With the acceptance and help she found at Faith Alive, today she is as healthy as she can be, she is self-supporting and she is determined that she is not going to die from HIV/AIDS.
On Tuesday I danced with my friends at the 8:00 devotion, but then Dele told my about Simon, and I didn’t really feel like dancing anymore. Simion was one of the toddlers that I fell in love with (one of many) – his mom was one of the students in the sewing class. Simon died a couple of months ago – but not from HIV – from measles. He was diagnosed and three days later had died. It is hard for me (as an American) to understand how this could possibly happen! Wake up, Valerie – you’re not in Kansas anymore! Welcome to how most of the world lives!
Dr. Chris is now calling Samee “Mom” and Evie “Auntie.” I had explained to him that I call them by these nicknames because of the huge influence that they have had on my walk with Christ and he immediately adopted them. Evan is a big hit with the children, they swarmed him at the Support Group. Every time we see Char she is holding a baby, this morning at church the same woman who gave her the baby yesterday sat down next to her, handed her the baby and disappeared again. It is so much fun to see her with them. Norm is always being hugged by people he met during the last visit, he is so excited about spending the night in Bakin Kogi and actually pounding nails into the new clinic. Ivy and David tend to be the quietest of our group, but are the hardest working. They both seem to be the first to volunteer and are enjoying this adventure. I am constantly amazed at the wisdom of Papa God in this team that He has assembled. From Evan in his early 20’s, to Evie & Samee who are in their 70’s, and we have multiple ethnic groups and a multitude of views, and yet we truly are a team, we have melded so well together.
We took a tour of the clinic yesterday when we arrived - such big changes have taken place! There is electricity through the whole building now. Administration has moved up to the third floor and out of that dark building they were in.
How great it was to see all my friends and to be welcomed home by them. The kids are bigger. Pastor Ben and his wife are expecting thier first child in June, Yahzie went and got married on me. I am hoping to meet her husband and warn him that if he isn't good to her he will be dealing with MamaG. Blessing is as beautiful as always - we are making plans to go to market soon! Dr Ogbeh and Ayo are gone, Dr. Ogbeh moved with her husband for his job, Ayo went into full-time ministry.
I woke up this morning to the sound of the Iman (or at least his recording) calling the faithful to prayer. So beautiful - and yet so sad.
At breakfast everyone was talking about not getting any sleep because two churchs had all night prayer that included music and drums (very loud drums played at a very untutored level is my understanding). I didn't hear any of that!
After breakfast we came down to the clinic to attend the graduation of the sewing, knitting and computer classes. What a joyful occasion it was! there was singing, then the dance group danced. I suddenly remembered all the shows I used to watch when I was young about Africa and they always showed dancers and I used to dream of watching it for myself - and today I did. The graduates were given thier diplomas, pride was on thier faces as they received them. there were 17 graduates from the sewing schol, 3 from the knitting school and 7 from the computer school. Then Pastor Ben gave message. It was the best one I have heard him give but I am not going to tell you about it because I am going to use the main thought in one of my devotionals.
After the graduation ceremony there were refreshments. Evan showed Florance's daughter, Jennifer, how to use his camera and she took a slew of pictures with it. Char was handed a baby - which she loved - as the mother went somewhere else. After awhile I asked her if she remembered what the mother looked like - neither of us did. We came to the conclusion that if the mother had not appeared by the time we left - the baby was Char's. Then the baby woke up and began to fuss and Char began to change her mind.
Samee and Eve are doing well - Eve started out talking about getting one Nigerian outfit but as the graduation continued she saw more and more that she likes and so I think she will be getting more than expected. Samme is doing great - she loves all the little animals running around - particularly the baby chickens.
Norm and Ivy are reconnecting with thier friends here - it is fun to see that. David is causing a sensation because of his height. I laugh when the children look at him with great big round eyes!
Right now some of the the team is filing medical records - some of them are washing down the walls and I think Norm and Evan are helping to paint the pharmacy. It is good to have actual work projects!
And above all and surrounding us constantly is the never-ending noise of Jos - the people calling to each other, the vehicle horns blaring, the goats bleating.
We are all doing great - still a little tired as our bodies adjust to the time change. It is very hot and muggy which adds to the energy drain (and then there were the two night services!)
I will update you soon
We love you and miss you!
Valerie
Valerie Rae Hanneman
1 Samuel 17:48-51 (The Message) “That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed facedown in the dirt. That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David! Then David ran up to the Philistine and stood over him, pulled the giant's sword from its sheath, and finished the job by cutting off his head.”
A co-worker stopped me for a moment in the hallway, “I heard you are going back to Africa” she said. Yeah,” I responded, “But only for four weeks this time.” “Why would you want to go back there?” “I love the friends I have in Jos, I love the country, and I love being part of making a difference in the AIDS pandemic.” I answered her truthfully. “I don’t know how you could love it in Africa with all the troubles they have – and anyway – what difference do you make to AIDS? It’s not like you’re a doctor or anything.” Boy, didn’t I feel good after that!
David’s dad sent him to the army encampment to see how his older brothers were doing. What an unpleasant surprise he found there. The army of Israel, the army of GOD was cowering in fear from a giant named Goliath. Every day Goliath would come and challenge any one soldier of Israel to meet him on the battlefield – winner take all. Every day - for who knows how many days - his challenge went unanswered. When David started asking questions he was immediately attacked by his older brother. “Why are you here? Did you just come to see the slaughter?” David then went to King Saul and offered to fight the giant. “You can’t fight the giant, he’s a battle-seasoned warrior and you’re a snot-nosed kid!” But David prevailed and he went out to do battle with the giant. When Goliath saw this 14 year old child he was first astonished and then insulting. David very calmly said, (in the vernacular of the day) “You have insulted the Living God. I am going to cut off your head and spit down your throat.” Goliath went ballistic and charged at David. And the shepherd boy RAN AT Goliath. And with one stone in a slingshot David killed Goliath and cut off his head. Did you see that? David, whose faith was in his God, ran at the giant and the giant came crashing down.
There are still giants in the world - real giants. They have different names – the biggest one is lack of a personal relationship with Jesus – but there are others almost as big - poverty, starvation, tyranny, terrorism, disease, crime, and so on. And they are really big giants – so we think that they are too big for us to defeat and we pull back into our camp. We tremble while the giants shout challenges at us, and we pray, “Please, LORD God, don’t let them get me or mine.” Where is our David who will come to our rescue and kill the giants?”
I found my David, I found him at a Third Day concert when they flashed statistics of the number of children in Africa orphaned by AIDS, and from the depths of my soul I cried, “I can’t just ignore this, what would You have me do?” and I found David in the lyrics of Todd Agnew’s song “My Jesus” when I cried out to God again, “I want to be more like Jesus – use me!” The David I saw looked like me. My David is me. Am I going to single-handedly defeat AIDS? I don’t think so. Am I going to find homes for every orphaned child? Only if they come live with me. Am I going to feed every child who is not reacting well to the HIV anti-virals because they are also fighting malnutrition? Probably not. I am not that kind of David. But I am the kind of David that is going to run at this giant – and not cower in fear from it. I am the type of David that is not going to stop just because others think that I cannot make a difference.
God has called all of us to be David, to run at the giants that surround us. We are all called to fight the biggest giant of all – we are all called to be evangelistic, to introduce others to Jesus. None of us are given a weekend pass on this battle for souls. And we are all called to fight other giants as well. Not everyone is called to fight the same giant. I am called to fight AIDS, maybe you are called to fight hunger in India, or called to help children in poverty to read, or maybe you are called to fight Biblical ignorance in the Church. When David defeated Goliath, he did not defeat him through his power; he defeated him through God’s power. Goliath was deader than a doornail the moment that David ran at him, secure in his victory because he was secure in his God.
There are giants in this world, but they can be defeated – maybe not by just one of us, but by the Eternal Church fighting them as one. They can be defeated but not through our power and not through the Church’s power – they can only be defeated through God’s power. But if we run at them as one – they will come crashing down.
Do I make a difference at Faith Alive? Do I make a difference in the AIDS pandemic? I think that I do – otherwise God would not send me. Maybe I just make a miniscule difference – but one thing I know for certain. If I do not follow God to Nigeria then I will make no difference at all, I will simply be one more soldier cowering in the tent while the giant roars. If I refuse or ignore God’s calling, then am I not complicit in the AIDS deaths?
What giant are you called to run at? What Goliath are you going to bring crashing down? We can do it, you know. We can defeat them all. We can all be David. We just need to have faith in God, depend on His power and start running at that giant.
Papa God, what a privilege it is to be used by You to fight the giants. Help us all to have David’s faith in You and in Your power. Help us to run at the giants, secure in knowing that they are already defeated.
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