Jesus likes to be asked

Well, it has been a while since we have updated the blog. No excuses for that, but nonetheless we are back now.

The most important thing we can ask of you right now is prayer. Pray for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. Pray for us as we have to make decisions about which needs are most urgent, how to maintain accountability, and how to expand our network of interested parties.

Our friend at Love in Action Ministries, Ken Tuck, made a wise suggestion. He and his wife, Martha, have started praying for God to provide us with people whose heart is for international missions. Now, in the body of Christ we know there are different passions and functions. Some are bold witnessers (my fiancee clearly falls into this category), while others have giftings for building up the church. Similarly, God has called us to different interests and different focuses. Some are passionate about their families, and some are passionate about God's work in their own countries. But we need people who have a passion to see Christ's kingdom expanded outside of the United States, people who see what is happening in the Philippines and want to be a part of it.

Will you join us in praying for that? Please pray that God will provide us with the right people who have a heart for the work going on here. We need more people with a vision for what God is doing.

Also, we have so many needs, we don't know where to start. The most important thing we can provide for these dear brothers and sisters is a place to meet. That is such a struggle for these pastors, and we need to find a way to be able to support them. One of our churches meets in a partially finished building. Another has outgrown its building. Another we helped purchase land, but soon they face the end of their lease at their current building and are without funds to build their new building. Many of them are planning to start aggressive outreaches, but they need funds to do them.

We are confident God will direct us, and He will meet our needs. But we are mindful, too, that He does these things in response to our prayers. There is a moment in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia (you will forgive me, I do not own the books and am going off memory) where two children go on a mission for Aslan the King Lion. They arrive without necessary provision, and one child says to the other, "Shouldn't he have provided for us?" And the other child replies, "I think he likes to be asked." Now, those are not exact quotations, but you get the point. We are confident God has brought us these ministry opportunities, and we are sure of His provision. But our Lord Jesus Christ likes to be asked.

So, will you join us in asking Him? We ask Him for wisdom, for accountability, for faithfulness, for provision and most of all for fruitful ministry for these churches. Again, as we state so often, these are not merely humanitarian needs we are trying to meet. These are real the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ whose mission is to reach the various people groups of the Philippines to Christ.

Please join with us in prayer. Pray also to see if you are being called to be involved with us more.

If you would like to join our email list, please send an email to homegrownharvesters@yahoo.com. Also, please spread the word about us to your friends and your church groups. We need more prayer partners. The more the better.