Two weeks ago we announced some news about a new adventure we are preparing to embark on and have been busy doing what we can to get ready for the new role with the Pais Movement and relocating the family to Arlington, Texas. We are still waiting on our visas but we have begun selling many of the things we won’t be able to take with us to go towards funding our relocation.
I also have already picked up aspects of the new role which entails, coaching leaders currently on the ground training Pais missionaries in 13 nations across 6 continents with more soon to be starting, developing resources to equip missionaries throughout the world, and strategising for creative and innovative solutions to some of the challenges teams face in their various localities.
Last week I spent much of my time in conversation with leaders in Kenya, Australia, India, Ghana, USA and Nigeria, listening to and helping think through their challenges and celebrating so many of the ways God is doing miraculous things in their cities, towns and villages.
As I mentioned previously as Pais Ireland staff team we have been reading through the gospel of Mark. Every time I read one of the gospels I am always compelled by the incredibly tangible notion that God is passionately in pursuit of the restoration and redemption of his creation, humanity in particular. When Jesus showed up everything changed, sickness, death, the demonic, impossibility and misinformation retreated, His authority was sovereign and final.
Last week one of our teams here in Northern Ireland was leading an after school gathering in one of their local schools. They set up creative stations around the room and the students who attended, most of who have no church backgrounds, explored what prayer is and can look like. At the healing station one young man who’s hand was badly swollen and bruised after an accident earlier during a hockey game asked if his hand could be prayed for. It was so swollen you couldn’t even see his knuckles anymore but as some of the other students began to pray for it the swelling visibly reduced and return to normal.
Students encountering Jesus in ways like this are no longer the exception here in Northern Ireland. All of our teams have countless stories of moments where Jesus has shown up and everything has changed in all sorts of environments. Another of our teams was out on the streets last week and as one of our new apprentices who is a particularly talented artist painted Jesus knocking at the door a small crowd began to gather and Jesus began to show up as our team prophesied and prayed for those gathered around. In amongst all of that they had the wonderful privilege to introduce several to Jesus.
We’ve had an incredible few years exploring Jesus’ incredible parting words here in Northern Ireland. Mark reports at the end of his gospel that Jesus told those following Him “Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned. Everyone who believes me will be able to do wonderful things. By using my name they will force out demons, and they will speak new languages. They will handle snakes and will drink poison and not be hurt. They will also heal sick people by placing their hands on them.” (Mark 16 v 15-18) Well OK we’ve been exploring everything except for the bit about snakes (thanks to St Patrick if legend has it right). And in the wider context of my new role we’re excited to keep exploring that with teams around the world. I find myself incredibly inspired as my mind wanders imagining how communities around the world could flourish all the more as we continue to develop training and tools to equip an army of everyday heroes to be catalysts for encounters with Jesus.
Long may our communities come alive as they encounter Jesus!