The ongoing work of those in Nepal.

 Very helpful article here on the prayer needs and present situation in Nepal. 

(Click on the photo, and it will take you to the article )  

This is an overwhelming time for the church in Nepal. I have long admired Nepalese church leaders for their industry and faithfulness to the task in hard times and with limited resources. They have much to teach us in our cosy Western ghetto. 

Three things hit home to me as I pray for the church in Nepal at this time.  

1) A challenging climate, a brutal reality: The country (and church) is not unused to tragedy, trauma and challenge in Nepal.  The article recalls 2015. Sadly the nature of the terrain and situation in Nepal means that geological challenges come relatively often and severely. This side of a broken world, this will not change. Pray for wisdom in the rebuilding, all those who steward the future. 

2)  Fruitful multiplication: The church has grown significantly and very fruitfully in recent years. "According to Pudasaini, the work of sharing the Gospel began in Nuwakot in 1971 (B.S. 2028). The district currently has approximately 180 churches and 13,000 church members, he said."

In 50 years, this region in Nepal has seen the gospel reach an unreached district, the gospel spread and multiply, despite all the challenges. Even at this time of extraordinary tragedy, we can thank God for his extraordinary, supernatural work in people's lives, which is so profound. Nothing happens outside of the sovereignty of God. Whilst we grieve the many lives lost, we also thank Him for those whose lives are safely and eternally hidden in Christ, those who continue to proclaim his eternal safekeeping. His church continues. Nothing stops the purposes of God. 

3) Ongoing prayer needs,  showing the love of Christ.  

Whilst it is so difficult to stand back, away from the immediate sorrow, distress, need, urgent call for food and care, profound human devastation and trauma, we also need to see that God remains with His people. Groups like football teams and civil leaders like those mentioned who work with young people, will be the key leaders of the next generation into the next season. A new generation will be born out of this tragedy. Time is not a healer. Those who have now a line in their lives (before and after the loss of loved ones) will never be the same. Their history, character and ongoing needs have been irrevocably formed by tragedy and trauma. Children who have no parents will grow to be youth and adults without their birth parents. There are those who minister to them get this, and profoundly, some of them remarkably share this exact or other similarly traumatic experience. 

In such a season of acute need and sensitivity, we pray for those who show love and speak truth for life through their own transformed life. Those who rebuild on the foundation of Christ will see his plan for sorrow unfold in their lives. Those who rebuild on the foundation of the cross will see that even overwhelming trauma can have a purpose. Those who rebuild in the company of Christlike people will know something of shafts of radiant light, goodness and mercy even in the darkest of time. This is what we pray for. We pray that those who have received comfort in a previous season of distress will now be able to speak of the comfort they received. (2 Cor 1:4&5). This is the God who is with us, Immanuel in a broken world, a very present help in our time of need, whether seasonal or eternal. 

Continue to pray for the team.

 Thank you again for upholding the team on their journey and showing love in the name of Christ in Nepal. I was encouraged to hear of one church in the UK praying in dependence on God's sovereign protection. A desire for miraculous recoveries of those who had incredulously survived these last few days might seem an unrealistic prayer. The morning after such a prayer meeting, came the news of rescue. Our God is a rescuing God. He does it against all human circumstances and failures. 

 

The team have asked for prayer on the following:

1) Continue to pray for remarkable keeping and rescue. Thousands remain missing.

2) Pray for those impacted by those who are not rescued. Over a thousand women will be single mothers; over a thousand children will be parentless. 

3) Pray for the government and authorities that their rescue and recovery efforts will be successful and that they will achieve what they have set out to do/said they will do.

3) Pray for those who go in the name of Christ. Pray that their practical help will help people make it through the next few days. The team have been heartbroken by those mothers, living in shelter, who have some food but certainly not enough. Pray also that the relational and spiritual encouragement from the team will deepen trust in the one who holds all eternity in His hands. 

4) Pray for the families of team members. Some are struggling with serious health issues, bereavement, and their own practical and financial struggles. Pray for the sustaining of the team and their loved ones back home. 

5) Pray for wisdom in how the future will be planned. On a corporate level, the rebuilding of the new communities. On a more personal level, so much need and so many conflcting / legitimate priorities. GOD, give wisdom to be in just the right place at just the right time to forward his purposes. 

6) Pray for protection on every level. For protection and physical safety, protection against further disaster, and spiritual protection as they engage on the frontline in faith. Those who trust in one way may blame bad Karma on those who trust in Christ. Those who walk by faith have an opportunity to explain the hope that they have. (1 Pet 3:15). Those who grieve have an opportunity to explain how it is possible to grieve with hope. (1 Thess 4:13-18). 

With God, nothing is impossible. He is building his new community. Not in buildings made by man, but an eternal community which will never be destroyed. (2 Cor 5:1) 

A place of simple rest and dependence. Psalm 116

 I had the privilege of sharing deeply real, open fellowship with 3 friends in the new community this week. Each seemed disconnected; we spoke 1:1, but the conclusion was the same each time. Our confidence is in God, and in this we are full of joy and settled. The first was grieving the loss of a loved one after a tragedy. The second was grieving the loneliness of grief after losing a family member. The third was grieving age and the care of someone who will not recover; this side of being with Christ. 

Psalm 116:7

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

The theme of the psalmist appears to be (v. 1) whether the LORD has heard us or seen our trial, but the greater reality is us hearing or seeing the reality of his presence and salvation. 

Each of us who grieves is lonely, goes through dark seasons, and feels our isolation and the depth of our struggle as we process. The question remains: do you see, hear and know my experience, LORD? We need human company; regardless of all we have in the LORD, it is a human condition to want company. It is not good for us to be alone. The best of new communities understands this. We don't treat the grieving as a project or process; we are brothers and sisters who cry together. (Romans 12:15) However, it is ultimately God alone who can restore us to rest. We can share with others, and they understand somewhat. We can receive love from others, and they can, to an extent, show love. The understanding of God and the love he shows us, the listening comprehension he displays, is on a different level. The cross of Christ, the salvation of God, encompasses all our brokenness, overwhelmedness, trauma, grief, suffering, social distancing, incomprehension of brokenness, fallenness, and decay. Our God is good and never anything else. All of our experiences, however bad, are resolved ultimately in his redemption. He chose to take such on himself, alone. This is love. We didn't love him, or listen to him. He loved us first, and listened to our cry on the cross as he cried out in our place. This is love, not that we had an ear to him, but that his heart, plan, and invitation were unreservedly open to us. 

All thanks be to God. Rest in him whatever restlessness you are challenged with. Trust in his eternal, faithful, unchanging character, plan and listening ear, however long your season of illness, care, loss, or darkness. He is the bright morning sun that will never cease to shine (Rev 22:5). His death and resurrection assure us that his heart is with us, his way is for us. One day we will sing the same song of Joy in the presence of all his people (18) and comprehend how big and how open his heart and ear have always been and will always be. 

Thank you for praying for Nepal.

 Just a few days before, we were walking along the road in Nepal, staring at the black clouds descending on the mountains. It is a unique thing to see massive mountains 360 degrees from a valley. I was reminded of the verse in Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, 

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed,” 

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

My simple instinctive thought was ... how Big GOD is. How can people not see his might, power and existence when they look at such a geological masterpiece... even in its fallen state. It is a unique thing of awe to see massive mountains 360° from a valley. 

As was typical of every day during our stay, the sun blazed in the morning, but was followed by a monsoon refreshing for the afternoon/ evening. Proper big drops of rain that give you a refreshing shower on the first gigantic drop and full-on body-wash in the next 10 seconds. Not like the wimpy polite stuff we get in the UK. None of us foresaw what would happen next. Soon after getting back home to the UK, we got the news...

Since then, the team have been working on relief aid. The initial 48 hours were the continued list of new community friends and leaders missing. Was it the lack of internet and communications that made contact impossible? Sadly, the reality is more devastating. So many have lost their lives. Buildings can be rebuilt, belongings can be replaced, but the reality of lost human life means our reuniting will be in the eternal rest and presence of God, not in Nepal. Pray for those who strive to minister to the broken-hearted and grieving as they themselves grieve those for whom they had worked and seen new communities sprout up over the last few years. I personally am so grateful for such a team and leader in Nepal who have a longstanding connection, know the situation and people, and know what is needed. 

The work will continue to demand much from us for a long time to come. Today, pray for access to situations. Wisdom,  understanding, and direction from God on where and how help is most helpful. Some places are accessible, others not yet. 

Thank you so much to friends who have prayed, supported and been so generous. If others want to help in some way or give, please DM,  and we'll do all we can together for His glory.

Please mark any gifts for ACTION UK with "CODE 215 Nepal" 

As a faithful friend reminded me, "nothing happens outside of His sovereign control". At this juncture, we don't understand His purposes, but we do trust His ultimate good. 

Photos from today. 

Today we thank God for Mo.

Many will have heard that our very precious sister Mo Edmonds went to be in the immediate presence of The Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we thank God for Mo and her impact on so many as a channel of His grace.  Whether on a mission team in Ukraine or Africa, a friend in the powerhouse that was the ladies' fellowship, or simply a friend who was helped, you will feel the deep loss.

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, 

as good stewards of God’s varied grace"

The Lord transformed and used Mo as a fruitful manifold channel of his manifold grace. Fruitful Christians are channels of grace; this is what it is about. Good sheep who know "The Shepherd" love people, whatever their situation. Mo was unassuming, so approachable, and genuine. She so easily became a deeply appreciated, loved and close friend. For my family and me, she was a great gift of encouragement in a tough season. She encouraged us to serve; she loved both the wider family of God and us with genuine compassion from God. Never underestimate the eternal value of such. 

In Mo's case, the impact was both local and international, missional and pastoral. There are those in Ukraine (South and North, young and old) and Africa, residential care, down the shops, in the day centre, and many other places who have been changed by Mo's friendship, fellowship and walk with Jesus. True Christian service doesn't look for a title, but looks for hurting sheep and commits to them, praying for their dependence on Christ. True Christian service does not look for an excuse ("I am more than 70 and a bit", "I have had cancer", "I have health issues"), but looks to God, who can do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine. Mo did everything without pretence.  What God calls us to, He equips us for. 

Please do pray for Den and the family, Laura, Sally and Blaze. As they remember God's goodness through Mo, may they also know the help of His presence in both profound loss and comfort. To be with Him is far better. God is good all the time, and so we look to Him as we thank Him for His goodness. 

Pray also for church communities who witness and love in the name of Christ without their buildings.

 Today, a Baptist church in Zaporizhzhia was intentionally destroyed. Pray for the family who grieve the tragic loss a loved one, and for the church community as they continue to share the message of hope in Christ. Since '22 this fellowship and building have been used by God in humanitarian aid, a hub to help many to safety, having already lost so much. 

Having no respect for God and human life goes together. 

1 Peter 1:25. When destruction is the modus operandi of the "presidentially powerful", it is important we meditate on the ultimate governing eternal, unchanging reality...that some things will never be destroyed.

Pray for friends in Odesa and Kyiv after overnight attacks.

 Article here: