Hope Conference

So this week, i'm down at Pattaya for the Pioneers 'Hope 2008' Conference. The best way to probably describe it so far is that it's MASSIVE! There's a whole lot of different things that happen here - from morning singing and Bible talks, to 'area' team time - so for me it's the Mainland South East Asia area and heaps of time to meet LOTS or people, share stories of the ways that God has been working in our lives, be encouraged by ways that people have struggled or been growing in their walks with God, have opportunities to be praying for each other and later in the week to be spending time with our teams and our mobilisation bases - so to spend time with a few members of the Aussie PiOz office who have also come out to the conference.

A couple things that i've been struck by is just how many ways that God is working around the world, but also the need for so many more workers out in the field to be reaching even more people who are 'unreached'. On top of that, to be able to meet and speak with many missionaries who have been out in the field for most of their lives, and to be so encouraged by their perseverance, focus on the gospel, their love for the people, their love for God, and for others to know Christ. The other thing that has struck me is just the size of the organisation and how much of a huge body of christ that we all are. and how for it all to work, we all need to be working together. I've always seen it in action at church, but this is kinda of on a scale like i've never seen or comprehended before and it's just a great glimpse into the whole bigger body of Christ and the way that God just fully orchestrates everything and everyone into place so perfectly and again, a great glimpse of his sovereignty. when i see things like this, i realise how important it is for us all to be doing our little part for Gods work. Whether it be out in the field, helping those who have gone through support, prayer and other ways. We're all part of God's work together and it's just a privilege to be able to see that in action and be a part of it. So for those of you back home who haven't had a chance to see it, i just want to encourage you that by supporting me, and by serving back home or whereever you are, you are part of something MASSIVE! you are part of a work that is God's plan of salvation for this WHOLE WORLD. We've all got our parts to play, so let's do it! :)

Quick Prayer points:
- for the many gospel workers out in the field - for us all to keep our eyes fixed on the author, provider sustainer and saviour, and that we'll faithfully be teaching god's word to those who don't know him
- for the many around the world who do not know him, that they will
- for more workers in the field
- for us all to be faithfully serving God in whatever capacity. and that we'll be doing it with joy and a servant heart