Another long day - but I decided I would try and sort through all the emails that have banked up. I have quite a bit of reading material that comes through from SIM offices - International, Australian and French. Came across this link to a talk by Gbile Akanni, who is from Nigeria. If you can get past his strong accent, it's worthwhile listening - skip over the first 5 minutes or so and settle back for an hour.
http://no8-wire.blogspot.com/2010/05/making-disciples.html
Nigel Webb
Director
SIM NZ
nz.director@gmail.com
Hear how God expects us to raise up others in the next generation to continue the work He set us to do. One word for it is DISCIPLING; another is MENTORING or ACCOMPANYING. In fact, Gbile Akanni says that Evangelising and discipling are part of the same order given by Jesus in The Great Commission ! He refers to Joshua 1: 1-4 and chapters 11 - 13.
It struck a deep chord with me. I try to put it into practice in my own situation - that's why I worked so hard to have missionary status and then recognition for my work in the local church by our Church Union. In our French context, these things seemed to be very important in order to have credibility. And it has worked ! Praise the Lord !
Gbile Akanni ends his talk by reminding us that people need to see us first, need to share our lives first, in order to see Jesus. I think we have forgotten that aspect of our commitment to follow Jesus. It's not easy to open up and share ourselves with others. But it is vital if they are to catch on to who Jesus is. Think about how many Christians influenced your life, helping you to meet Jesus, to commit to Him and to follow His path ?? What are you doing to replace yourself in the work God has called you to ?
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