"and when my Spirit comes upon you...
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world."
- Acts 1:8
This verse has been shared countless times over the last 2 weeks of us being in Kigali. And it makes me pause every time I hear it (in English that is... I still can't seem to figure out the Kinyarwandan yet).
This verse was one of the last statements Jesus made to his followers on earth before he ascended to the right hand of God. This verse was one of the last times Jesus said "listen up guys. Here is the plan." This verse was one of the last times we see the Disciples quiet and soaking in every word that came from Jesus' mouth.
And this verse has lasted and reached through the ages to a group of Rwandan pastors, a group of Rwandan next generation leaders and a small group of muzungus (white people). It has reached through time and Scriptures to challenge us to think about our role in ministry, the Church, the Kingdom. It has reached through time to touch us in our hearts and convince us to step up and out in how and where we witness.
I memorized this verse years ago (at least 8 years come August as a silly freshman arriving on Lincoln's campus).
I have quoted this verse countless times since then.
But I have always thought of it more in a global scope... in the scope of the uttermost parts of the world.
But this week... I am beginning to see it more in a local scope... in the scope of Jerusalem and Judea.
This idea of starting at home. This idea of starting with the people and the culture that you know best... your heart culture, your mother culture. The culture where you can make the most impact for the Kingdom because you already know the language, the culture, the land, the people, the history.
This isn't a new idea to me. It's just being put into a different perspective. It's having a face put on it... the faces of 24 Rwandan pastors and 22 young leaders who are anxious to see their people, their culture, their land transformed in the name of Jesus and grafted into the family of God, into the Kingdom. And it's having legs put on it in their ideas and action steps to take after leaving this week of teaching.
I firmly believe that these 2 groups are going to do countless, amazing things in the "land of a thousand hills."
And my goodness is it going to be beautiful to see. To recognize. To learn from.
- Acts 1:8
This verse has been shared countless times over the last 2 weeks of us being in Kigali. And it makes me pause every time I hear it (in English that is... I still can't seem to figure out the Kinyarwandan yet).This verse was one of the last statements Jesus made to his followers on earth before he ascended to the right hand of God. This verse was one of the last times Jesus said "listen up guys. Here is the plan." This verse was one of the last times we see the Disciples quiet and soaking in every word that came from Jesus' mouth.
And this verse has lasted and reached through the ages to a group of Rwandan pastors, a group of Rwandan next generation leaders and a small group of muzungus (white people). It has reached through time and Scriptures to challenge us to think about our role in ministry, the Church, the Kingdom. It has reached through time to touch us in our hearts and convince us to step up and out in how and where we witness.
I memorized this verse years ago (at least 8 years come August as a silly freshman arriving on Lincoln's campus).
I have quoted this verse countless times since then.
But I have always thought of it more in a global scope... in the scope of the uttermost parts of the world.
But this week... I am beginning to see it more in a local scope... in the scope of Jerusalem and Judea.
This idea of starting at home. This idea of starting with the people and the culture that you know best... your heart culture, your mother culture. The culture where you can make the most impact for the Kingdom because you already know the language, the culture, the land, the people, the history.
This isn't a new idea to me. It's just being put into a different perspective. It's having a face put on it... the faces of 24 Rwandan pastors and 22 young leaders who are anxious to see their people, their culture, their land transformed in the name of Jesus and grafted into the family of God, into the Kingdom. And it's having legs put on it in their ideas and action steps to take after leaving this week of teaching.
I firmly believe that these 2 groups are going to do countless, amazing things in the "land of a thousand hills."
And my goodness is it going to be beautiful to see. To recognize. To learn from.
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