Oh how I wish each one of you could have been with us the past two weeks!! G0d showed Himself in ways beyond our imaginations, and He filled each one of us with His Presence in such a way that unity, love, power, and grace fulfilled ALL that He brought us together to accomplish!! He brought together an incredible team of His f0ll0wers from different cultures— all for the purpose of creatively displaying His Presence, His Power, His road for s@lvation, and His Sp!r!t alive in His people set apart for His glory!!
This team was designated the “Craftsman Team” because we believe G0d has filled each of us with HIS Sp!r!t in such a way that each one of us would be creatively and uniquely used by Him to build His Temple/HIS PEOPLE! We were believing HIM to show us creative ways to tell His story, to draw people to Himself, and to implant His road of s@lvation in the hearts of those who would share it!
Throughout the week, I stood amazed as I watched G0d do just that—unify us as ONE BODY and fill us POWERFULLY with His Sp!r!t! Here are some of the ways I saw G0d’s Craftsmanship displayed in His team of servants—both M@lian and Am3r!can:
Danaya— Leading and guiding this team of mixed cultures, interpreting with sensitivity to G0d’s Sp!r!t the words spoken both in English and Bambara so that all could understand the work G0d was doing among us, leading his team to create new songs to go with the stories of our focus—songs with power to make the hairs on our skin go for a walk, boldly caring for the people in the villages that G0d has called Him to serve
Kevin/Ibrema— creatively drawing a picture of each story through drama that left the story etched on our hearts and minds in a way that we could tell it to others, leading and guiding our Storying Art Camp by the power and Presence of G0d within Him, creatively relating to all who came to be near us no matter the age or position in life, a servant with a heart to learn and go where G0d leads him
S0— telling his story of transformation by Jss at EVERY opportunity, walking in peace with eyes open for opportunity to speak boldly for the One who has changed Him and brought peace to his life, BOLDLY stepping out in his f@ith to be baptized and proclaim to all HE IS NOW A FOLLOWER OF JSS, accepting G0d’s call to go to the village to share the G00d News
0— recognizing and embracing G0d’s gift of song within her, working with unwavering focus with her team to create new songs to tell the stories, singing with passion to w0rship the One who has forgiven her, BOLDLY standing before family and friends to publicly confess that she is giving her life to Jss, her boldness to tell her husband that she wants to be baptized and her f@ith to do that even if he disagrees for her to do it, her patience to honor her husband by waiting to be baptized at his request until he can be with her
Emily/Esther— creatively connecting with the young women who attended the Storying Art Camp through henna, dancing, playing the ukulele or sitting silently and communicating G0d’s love to them, creatively sharing G0d’s stories through painting and henna/jabbi—a popular way to celebrate special occasions here, sharing her testimony and the work of G0d in her own life
Joseph— his heart of love and w0rship expressed through prayer, singing, writing songs; his boldness to pr@y and cast out demons, to confront evil and stand face to face with it on behalf of those in bondage by it, his passion to lead people to Jss, to guide them to salvation, and to proclaim the G00d News
Nyagali— quiet, creative sp!r!t with a heart to share the G00d News, her eyes were opened to new creative ways to share the G00d News with her friends and she sensed G0d’s call to begin developing these things as a ministry here in M@li
Kathryn/Kadia— boldly expressing the road of G0d to reconcile man to Himself through Jss as she painted and shared the stories through henna/jabbi, creatively connecting with the young women and sharing God’s love with them through dancing, sitting together, and quietly communicating, boldness to share the story of Samuel in the village to a group of children and adults
Esther— quiet, creative sp!r!t with a heart for ev@ngelism, her eyes were also opened to new creative ways to share the G00d News, wants to begin a henna/jabbi storying group and then to take it to the village
Kim/Katu— sitting with a young woman who lost her husband, sharing her own experience as well as the G0d who saw her through it all and has empowered her to overcome daily the hurt and loss, pr@ying with this young woman as she sat crying… maybe feeling understood for the first time, G0d breaking down the walls with His compassion and understanding in the life of this young woman
It has ALWAYS been one of my favorite things to WATCH G0d grow in His people, to see Him demonstrate HIMSELF in those who set themselves apart for His service, and to see His power displayed in His children!! This trip was filled with favorite moments of joy as I watched Him do just that in all of us!!!
Thank you for pr@ying for us and for the power of G0d to be displayed in us!!
more to come…hold on my friends…we will be declaring His glory…