The Jurjevich Journal
Taking the Invitation to the Ends of the EarthReginald Heber
Reginald Heber
“We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.”
Quote from Reginald Heber; Source: Palestine (l. 113)
This day, June 15th, whispers in our ear “listen to the wind and the waves of destiny, drawing you near to the shore of eternity”. For one hundred and eighty-six years ago today, Reginald Heber and his wife, the former Amelia Shipley, set sail from Great Britian on their mission to the vast region of India. The testimony of God’s work through their lives resounds on all continents within the Church to this day.
CHILDHOOD YEARS: Born on April 21, 1783, in the English county of Cheshire, in the village of Malpas. His childhood was marked by a rare mental capacity and sincere spirituality. At age 3, during a violent storm in the night, he comforted his mother with the words, ‘Do not be afraid, mama, God will take care of us.’ At age 5, he was naming book and chapter of Scripture verses that his father would quote to him. At age 6, he mastered Latin grammar. At age 7, he discovered what would become a constant passion of his life: poetry.
COLLEGE YEARS: At the age of 17, in the year 1800, he attended Oxford university, where he excelled in literature. Perhaps his greatest work during those years was his famous poem, Palestine.
YEAR OF TRAVEL: In 1805, with his friend John Thornton, he travelled extensively throughout Europe. Many nations of Europe at that time were in crisis and nearing war. Heber kept a daily journal, capturing on paper whatever his five senses encountered. As the trip led them more eastward, his first real interest in missions developed as he received first-hand a glimpse of the religion of Islam in the southern regions of Russia.
CALLING TO BE A PASTOR AND TEACHER: In 1806, upon returning from his European adventure, he decided that his calling in life was to be in the Christian ministry. Once again at Oxford, he studied for the pastorate. In 1807, he began to pastor in the village of Hodnut. Two years later, 1809, he married Amelia, daughter of the Dean of St Asaph in Wrexham. Heber was a prolific writer, engaging in ‘lectures on philosophic, literary and religious subjects, attention to questions of political importance, contributions to the Quaterly Review and activity in missionary matters’. Besides that, he wrote ‘The Dictionary of the Bible’, a book of poems and translations, and writing reviews on books of the day.
BIRTH OF THE PROPHETIC: The prophetic anointing tends to make it’s appearance unannounced and spontaneous, fresh and creative. Heber had a desire for more than just what he could accomplish on his own. He recognized the potential power released when, collectively, the Church united and focused on a common goal, pulling together its finances and giftings. In 1819, such an opportunity arose when ‘a Royal Letter was issued authorizing collections [money] to be gathered in every church and chapel to aid the work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in India and the East’. A missionary organization was begun. It’s purpose was the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s focus was on India and the Far East. It’s financial support would come from ALL the local churches.
Heber travelled to Wrexham to hear his father-in-law preach on the vision of this missionary organization, and was asked by him the day before the scheduled sermon to write a hymn suitable for such a occassion. Thank God for Heber’s father-in-law! What a wonderful example how the apostolic (his father-in-law) and prophetic (Heber)anointings flow together. Herein lies a very important missionary principle: the apostolic makes place for the prophetic, the prophetic enhances the apostolic. In Ephesians we read that the foundation of the church is the apostolic and the prophetic.
Heber composed the famous missionary hymn “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains” in one day, ‘coming from a heart devout and full, and a mind skilled and inspired.’ With intense missionary zeal he wrote: “Salvation! Oh, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim, Till earth’s remotest nation has learned Messiah’s name.” He had written many hymns before this moment, but this event was a turning point for him in the ministry of the prophetic song.
The following year, 1820, he collected his hymns, along with those written by his contemporaries Walter Scott and Robert Southey, and published a modern English hymnals. This was a tremendous resource for all churches, because it provided suitable hymns for Sunday worship and the holidays (Advent, Christmas, Passion Week, Easter and other occassions). His hymns continue to be sung to this day on all continents. You might know this popular worship song, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighy!’
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
Now you know the author. And now for the rest of the story …
INDIA
MISSIONARY CALLING:
In December, 1822, accepted the appointment as Bishop of Calcutta. That brings us back to this day in history, June 15th, 1823, when Reginald and Amelia set their countenance on India and the Far East. After nearly four months of travelling, they arrived in Calcutta, from where they would oversee the mission work throughout the entire Indian peninsula, but also Ceylon, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Mauritius, Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) and Madeira.
The spiritual condition of the mission base and church of Calcutta was not one of peaceful tranquility and acceptance, but one of disharmony, suspicions and jealousies. Heber overcame the obstacles with decisive action, practical administration, tact, wise judgment and counsel. One of his notable accomplishments during this period was the re-establishment of Bishop’s College and the establishment of schools for girls.
In June, 1824, he set out on a 10 month journey through the upper provinces of India, visiting all the mission stations he could, regardless of the difficulties he faced. Upon arriving at a mission station, he would spend as many as eight hours in public worship, in spite of having suffered from a severe fever. Upon arriving in Bombay in April, 1825, he reunited with his wife and after a few days again started on a mission trip through the southern provinces of India. “Once more, but now in intense heat and in the sickly season, he is daily preaching – often in several languages – presiding at crowded meetings, visiting and addressing schools, establishing mission stations, confirming and baptizing, settling quarrels and clerical differences, attending to social duties and always planning for the advancement of his people.”
On April 3rd, 1826, exhausted from a period of intense ministry, he went to his room to rest. He did not get up from his bed, but instead entered on into Eternity. His time in India was less than 3 years, yet he accomplished a lifetime of fruit in that time.
“We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.”
Quote from Reginald Heber; Source: Palestine (l. 113)
Information and quotes taken from: Pioneer Missionaries of the Church, by C.C. Creegan, D.D., copyright 1903 by the American Tract Society.
Do You Ever Feel that Life is Just Caving In on You?
20,000 seat auditorium at the Cave Church in Cairo, Egypt
I recently was facing a four-figure financial ‘cave-in’ of sorts, and was feeling very stressful about it. God, why are You allowing this to happen to me, your most humble of servants? Then I saw a friend dealing with a seven-figure ‘cave-in’, that made my situation look a whole lot easier to face. Then soon after that I saw another friend have a ten-figure ‘cave-in’, that made my personal crisis look about as stressful as a vacation on a cruise ship! We all deal at times with financial, relational, physical, spiritual or ministry ‘cave-in’ experiences. They can come unexpectedly. Without warning. Question is how do we handle them. Do we give up and stay buried in the rubbish heap and debris, or stand up, dust ourselves off and find out what the Divine purpose and strategy was behind allowing the ‘cave-in’?
A couple of weeks ago, while visiting with my friend Tommie Naumann (pastor in Thessaloniki, Greece), he shared the following video with me about something actually happening in our generation in the city of Cairo, Egypt.
Here is a two part video that will help us all to appreciate the hand of the Lord behind the ‘cave-in’:
God’s Love in Garbage City (part 1)
http://www.cavechurch.com/video/video_pop.asp?ID=1
God’s Love in Garbage City (part 2)
http://www.cavechurch.com/video/video_pop.asp?ID=2
Outside the Cave Church in Cairo, Egypt
You can visit the church’s website for more details: www.cavechurch.com
49, but who’s counting? Right!?
The Plane has Landed!
Check it out: http://www.alphausa.org/Media/Player.aspx?media_id=1000006384&file_id=
Thanks to everyone who reminded me that I am fast approaching half a century in age, having turned 49 on February 18th. Interestingly enough, in Turkey the life of an individual is measured from conception, so that would actually place me closer to being 50 years old. In any case, I prefer my second birthday over my first. Second birthday? Yes, you see, there is such a thing as a second birth. My first birth, in 1960, is a countdown to death, with life an ever fleeing grace. My present breath is but a lifeless hyphen to be some day etched on a tombstone between two dates: date of birth and the date of death. My second birthday, in 1978, not only makes me younger (31!), but is one date that will never be consigned to the confines of a marble stone. Life, and life eternal, is the grace of the second birth through Jesus Christ. While the first birth leads to death, death has lost it’s sting for those who have the second birth, and will escape the second death. Ok, the second birth sounds strange enough, but now we have a thing called the ‘second death’. Read in Revelation 20:4-6, 11-16. http://a4.video2.blip.tv/0620000181411/Alphainternational-Alpha2007CinemaAd410x229153.mov (give it about 20 seconds to upload)
My first birthday stirs up thoughts of who I have known, where I have been, what I have done, when things happened, and how I have spend all those years. My second birth brings into focus who I am and will become in Christ, where He will send me to, what He would have me to do, when His promises will be fulfilled and how I will live in such a way that will glorify Him. While both are important in piloting a plane, it is still one thing to take off, and another thing to land that piece of flying metal safely. When your life makes it’s final landing, hero pilot Capt. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 will not be on hand to safely ditch you into the Hudson River to be rescued. Only Jesus Christ can bring you to a secured landing.
Day 18 – Returning home to Baton Rouge
Another 30 hour day of travelling. I left Thessaloniki as the early morning sun brighten the slopes of Mount Olympus in the distance; arrived in a snowy Munich, Germany, for two hours; made the trans-Atlantic flight to a crisp afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina; arrived in a rainy and cool New Orleans; finally asleep in my own bed in Baton Rouge. As my lovely Dutch wife often says, “East, West, home is best.”
Nathan & Tamsey Smith
It was a blessing to have a brieft visit at the Charlotte airport with my very good friends Nathan and Tamsey Smith ( www.smallpersonmusic.com ), and Nathan’s sister Kristen. I shared quickly with them about the trip and we had a few minutes of prayer together. Nathan and I were together on staff at Christian Life Church ( www.clcwired.com ) in Orange Beach, Alabama, and made a mission’s trip to Croatia and Bosnia two years ago together ( http://www.smallpersonmusic.com/HOPE_2007.html ).
Day 17 – Thessaloniki, Greece
Samuel, A Need for Spiritual Fatherhood
Costas and Eva Douldouras, core members of the Thessaloniki church
Today was a day of rest for the most part, trying to catch up on correspondence and updating the blog. This evening Tommie asked me to meet with the team that is launching the men’s ministry of the church, and to bring a prophetic word from the Lord for them. One of the challenges of the Balkan/Middle East is for men to take up their leadership roles in the family, community and ministry. I could sense the prophetic anointing upon the Thessaloniki church as I set with the three men who are forming the foundation for the men’s ministry for the church, brother Costas and two other brothers, one from Albania and one from Ghana. The ministry and grace of the Thessaloniki church will overflow into other nations and continents.
In preparation for the meeting, I was led by the Lord to the passage dealing with the prophet Samuel anointing the shepherd boy David as the king of Israel. Here are some reflections:
- Samuel was a prophet that functioned on the national level, releasing the kingly (apostolic) anointing, which can only be entrusted to a prophet that stands as a spiritual father.
- Saul, the first king of Israel, whom Samuel had anointed, had ruined his ministry and become ineffective in leading the people. Samuel grieved in his heart because of Saul’s mishandling of the anointing and office as king. He “mourned for Saul, and the Lord repented that He had made Saul king over Israel”. (I Samuel 15:35)
- Samuel grieved about Saul to the point of allowing his feelings and emotions to control him, and cause his own effectiveness to become stagnant. The Lord had to address the issue with Samuel, and let him know that He was waiting on Samuel to refocus on the priority at hand. (1 Samuel 16:1a)
- “Fill your horn with oil, and go.” This is the best description of the prophetic ministry found anywheres in the Scriptures, for it sums up the simplicity of the office. 1) Fill: the ministry of the prophet is to fill the void, the empty places, 2) Your horn: the Lord has given each of us a unique ministry that we have to take personal responsibility for; no one else can do it for us. The horn represents declaration, a message, a sound and identification of who we are in God, 3) With oil: the oil represents the presence of the Holy Spirit in authority and power that He works through us in the ministry we are called to, 4) And Go: Many times we are waiting on God while it is really He who is waiting on us. The anointing is activated when we become active. Many wait on God to ‘move on them’ or for a special feeling when it simply is about us going and doing what He has told us to do. (1 Samuel 16:1b)
- Samuel was told by the Lord to go and anoint one of the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem. Provision for leadership is through ‘sonship’, and has to be established by ‘fatherhood’. (1 Samuel 16:1c)
- Leadership that goes amiss will become first jealous of new ‘sons’, and secondly, deadly toward ‘fatherhood’. (1 Samuel 16:2a)
- Preparation for inpartation is in settings of worship, consecration and sacrifice. (1 Samuel 16:2b, 5b)
- The prophetic is like a two-edged sword that can establish blessing or release judgment. (1 Samuel 16:4-5a)
- Even the sharpest of prophets can sometimes get ahead of themselves, and speak too soon! As the sons of Jesse walked pass the prophet Samuel, the Lord instructed him not to judge according to the outward appearance or physical stature, which the world judges by. The Lord made clear that He makes decisions based on the condition of the heart. (1 Samuel 16:6-10)
- The one who was first place on “The List of the Most Unlikely to Succeed’ was, of course, not present nor invited to meet the prophet Samuel. He was kept at a distance, kept occupied in tending his father’s sheep, left unnamed and simply refered to as ‘the youngest’. (1 Samuel 16:11a)
- The absence of “The Youngest’ prevented the others from taking their place at the sacrifice; without his presence everything was fustrated and out of order. They had to wait to occupy their place till he came. At times we have to wait till another takes their rightful place so that the team is complete and the ministry can move forward. (1 Samuel 16:11b)
- When David came into the presence of Samuel, the Lord spoke to the prophet to 1) Arise, 2) anoint him, 3) for this is the one! Samuel was obedient, and anointed David with the contents of the horn he carried, and the oil poured over David in the midst of his brethren. Samuel fulfilled his commission. (1 Samuel 16:13a)
- Next, the Holy Spirit came upon David and remained. The Lord confirmed the commission. (1 Samuel 16:13b)
I spoke to Costas, and his two assistants, to focus on raising up 10 more men who have encountered the Lord on a personal level, received breakthrough and freedom, filled with the Holy Spirit and arise as leaders for the men of Thessaloniki. Afterwards, they can focus on reaching the hundred, and then the thousand. But first the ten who are grounded and solid in the faith and calling upon their lives.
Days 14-16 – Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey: Nation of 80 million
Istanbul, a city of over 18 million, never seems to lose it’s charm and mystic attraction, being the pivot point between Europe and Asia, the bridge between East and West. My time there was one of renewing old friendships with Turkish pastors and friends. Opposition and persecution of those walking with the Lord is on a heighten level, with the killings of five Christian leaders over the past four years. In the face of adverse conditions, the Lord Jesus continues to manifest His presence throughout the nation and strengthening the churches. The believers count the costs on a daily basis in following the Lord, knowing that they are an open target for physical harm. Pray for their protection and for boldness to continue in the faith by God’s grace and strength.
Day 13 – Skopje, Macedonia & Thessaloniki, Greece
Map of the Former-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Early on Sunday morning, Tommie and I set out for Skopje, capital of the former-Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, about a two hour drive from Thessaloniki, Greece. It was strange to hear a familiar Slavic language after having listened to Arabic and Greek for two weeks. Tommie and Gunilla pioneered the church in Skopje during the 1990′s before moving on to neighboring Thessaloniki, Greece. The church is now led by a longtime friend of mine by the name of Sasha, whom I was able to meet with briefly before the meeting. Since I would be preaching in his church, he would fill in for a pastor in another city who was sick. Tommie wasn’t planning on sitting around either to listen to me in Skopje, but took off to preach in a church about half an hour away.
The church in Skopje has in total about 150 members and is focused on church planting in the nation. Pastor Sasha described to me some of the evangelistic strategies they are doing, like focusing on specific professional groups (police, teachers, etc.) with hosting evangelistic dinners. After the meeting, I was driven to the city where Tommie had preached and met with him and the local pastor for a quick lunch. Then we drove back to Thessaloniki, arriving just in time for the evening service. The spirit of the Thessaloniki church is very refreshing and relaxing, as they attempt to keep simplicity in their fellowship and by having relationship and not programs at the heart of all they do. I sensed strongly that this church will be a catalyst for revival in the city of Thessaloniki. Although a young church, the maturity of the core team and their pure character will become a strong witness in the city.
(Website: http://www.networkcommunity.org/English/ )
Tommie & Gunilla Nauman, church planters in the Balkan/Middle East regions
Thessaloniki, located in the northern half of Greece
Day 12 – Larnaca, Cyprus
The Barnabas Anointing
My Saturday morning flight from Jordan placed me arriving in Larnaca, Cyprus, around 9:30 AM, and greeted by the director of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) ministry for Cyprus, Helge Brudeli. Helge, and his wife Solvei, are from Norway and have been serving the Lord in the nation of Cyprus for many years. The first half of 2009 will be a time of rebuilding their team and ministry base, while taking a couple of months in Norway for the birth of their second child. We spent most of the day for fellowship together, meeting with their core team and having a time of intercession. Upon their return to Cyprus in the month of May, Helge will begin his vision for a prayer and ministry center that will serve the believers and churches of Cyprus as a facility for moving the nation toward spiritual revival. Before catching my flight to Thessaloniki in the evening, Helge took me to the property where they are praying for the ministry center to be built. After a walk around the property and time of prayer, it was on to the airport.
The 'Aggeloktisti' Church in Larnaca
Barnabas, one of the apostles of the early church recorded in the Book of Acts, was a native to the island of Cyprus. His life and ministry were of significant importance to the development of the New Testament church, leaving a spiritual legacy from which we can learn from.
- He was born in the Jewish community, from the tribe of Levi, and given the name Joses (Joseph, which means ‘He will add’) by his parents. Barnabas was one who as a leader added to the vision and success of others. He was a contributor, not to the problem, but to the solution. (Acts 4:36)
- His character and value system made such an impression on the Jerusalem apostolic team, that they gave him the name of ‘Barnabas’, which means ‘son of encouragement’ or ‘son of consolation’. (Acts 4:36)
- He led by example in the area of giving toward the ministry needs, ‘…having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.’ (Acts 4:37)
- When Saul (Paul) was converted to Jesus the Messiah, he faced opposition upon returning to Jerusalem with those whom he had previously tried to imprison and kill. The Jerusalem apostolic team and body of believers would have nothing to do with Saul, not believing he was now a true follower of Jesus. Out of fear that his ‘conversion’ was simply another tactic of his for persecuting the church, they rejected him. It was Barnabas that managed to build the bridge of trust and acceptance between the Jerusalem church and Saul, preventing the potential aborting of an apostolic calling and ministry upon Saul’s life. (Acts 9:26-27)
- When revival hit the city of Antioch, the apostolic team in Jerusalem commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch and solidify the ministry. Interesting the process that Barnabas went through when he arrived in Antioch and met with the believers: 1) he saw the grace of God, 2) he was glad, 3) he encouraged them all that “…with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” (Acts 11:23)
- The three things about Barnabas that are pointed from his time in Antioch were 1) he was a good man, 2) he was full of the Holy Spirit, 3) he was full of faith. Simplicity of godly leadership. (Acts 11:24)
- Barnabas had a fruitful time in Antioch, for “… a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24)
- Barnabas knew when the ministry was too much for one individual leader, and he sought out to begin building a team. His first step was to find Saul (Paul), who was living right down the coast in the city of Tarsus, where not much was going on. He brought Saul to Antioch to assist him in the building of the local church. (Acts 11:25-26)
- Barnabas and Saul spent a full year in teaching the Antioch church. This was an intense foundational time for the local church. (Acts 11:26)
- The believers of Antioch were so well grounded in their identity in Christ that the term ‘Christian’ was first used in their city. (Acts 11:26)
- Through obedience to the prophetic ministry, the Antioch church took up an offering for the Jerusalem church in preparation for a coming famine that would cover the world. They placed the needs of others before their own, and took it as an opportunity to invest back into those who had given so much to their spiritual welfare in the past. The offering was entrusted into the hands of Barnabas and Saul to be brought to the Jerusalem church on their behalf. (Acts 11:27-30)
- Barnabas, having fulfilled his task in Jerusalem with Saul at his side, returned to Antioch. They brought with them from Jerusalem a believer named John Mark, thereby expanding the Antioch ministry team. (Acts 12:25)
- In the Antioch church were five primary leaders in the ministry team, known to move strongly in the prophetic and teaching anointings. The leadership team ministered to the Lord with prayer and fasting. (Acts 13:1-3)
- The Antioch team allowed the Holy Spirit to speak and give direction in the development of the vision and ministry of the local church. They were willing to release their primary leader, Barnabas, and with Saul, into the apostolic ministry. (Acts 13:2-3)
- In what is known as the First Missionary Trip of Paul, the team (comprising of Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark as their assistant) was led by the Holy Spirit to travel to the birth place of Barnabas, the island of Cyprus. On Cyprus, they experienced the first leg of this trip: 1) their strategy of always going to the synagogue and preaching the Gospel to the Jewish community first, 2) breaking the power of darkness that was operating through the sorcerer Elymas, 3) and the conversion of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus. (Acts 13:4-12)
- The second leg of the trip had them sailing from Cyprus north to the region of Pamphylia (southern coast line of modern Turkey), where John Mark decided that missionary work was not for him, and he left the team and went back to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:13)
- From Pamphylia, Barnabas and Paul went into the neighboring region of Pisidia and in the city of Antioch, where they 1) continued their strategy of preaching in the synagogue to the Jewish community first, 2) many Jews and Gentiles believed in the Gospel, 3) the unbelieving Jews and gentiles persecuted and expelled Barnabas and Paul from the region, 4) the believers in Pisidia became disciples and were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:14-52)
- From Pisidia, they travelled into the city of Iconium: 1) brgan preaching in the synagogue, 2) a great multitude of Jews and Gentiles believed, 3) opposition from the non-believing Jews toward the believing Gentiles, 4) continued preaching boldly, with signs and miracles confirming the message, 5) aggressive attempt to abuse and stone them, 6) they fled. (Acts 14:1-6)
- They fled into the region of Lycaonia, and ministered in two cities: Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra was apparently no synagogue to be found, so they ministered directly to the Gentiles: 1) crippled man healed as Paul was preaching, 2) Lycaonians thought the Greek gods Zeus [Jupiter] and Hermes [Mercury] had come down in the flesh, 3) Barnabas and Paul stopped the Lycaonians from sacrificing to them, 4) opposition from the non-believing Jews from Antioch and Iconium led to the stoning of Paul, 5) the disciples gathered around Paul as he laid on the ground for dead, and he was healed, 6) the next day they preached in Derbe and had many disciples. (Acts 14:6-21)
- It was a short distance from Derbe to Antioch (Syrian), back to their home church, but they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (Pisidia) to strengthen the souls of the disciples: 1) exhortation to continue in the faith, 2) many tribulations will accompany the believer entering the kingdom of God, 3) they appointed elders in every church, 4) prayed with fasting, 5) commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed (Acts 14:21-25)
- Back in Antioch (Syrian), they gave a report to the church about the trip, having the opportunity to download all that the Lord had done on the trip. Then they took time, a long time, to rest.
Map of the first ministry trip of Barnabas and Paul
- During this trip, Paul began to emerge as the primary speaker, with Barnabas playing the backup position. Barnabas, because of his maturity and desire to encourage others, had no problem in easing into a supportive role and allowing Paul the freedom to lead. Throughout the Book of Acts, we can sense that Barnabas was completely secure in his ministry. He was not about hogging the limelight for himself, but always looked to put others out front whenever possible. If we could sit down and ask Barnabas directly about this first mission trip, I think he would say that the greatest success of the trip, above the churches that were planted, above the signs and miracles, was Paul becoming a strong leader in his own right.
- Certain believers from the sect of the Pharisees in Jerusalem arrived in Antioch and began spreading the teaching that physical circumcision was required for salvation. Paul, who by now was the main preacher in Antioch, and Barnabas, withstood the teaching. The Antioch church sent them both to Jerusalem to find out from the apostles of the Jerusalem church what the truth was in this matter. So was the setting for the first ever church council gathering in Jerusalem to handle a theological crisis within the universal church. (Acts 15:1-5)
- The Jerusalem council heard the argument from the Pharisees, and then heard from the apostle Peter on his perspective. Afterwards, the entire council and multitude listened intently to the testimony of Barnabas and Paul. Interesting enough, in Jerusalem it is Barnabas, not Paul, who takes the lead. Lastly, it was James (the Lesser; not the apostle numbered with the Twelve, but the half-brother of Jesus) who made the final decision. (Acts 15:6-21)
- The Jerusalem church sent two of their leaders, Judas (Barsabas) and Silas, to accompany Barnabas and Paul back to Antioch with the council’s decision on the matter. (Acts 15:22-29)
- After a season in Antioch, Judas returned to Jerusalem, and Silas remained with Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. (Acts 15:30-35)
- Division came between Paul and Barnabas. Paul wanted to return to all the places from their first missionary trip, in order to see how the churches were doing. Barnabas thought it was a great idea and was in total agreement with the purpose and goal of the trip. Barnabas decided that it would be an opportunity to restore John Mark and give him a second chance of joining the apostolic team. In fact, Barnabas had made his mind up on that issue and there was no changing it. When Paul heard of it, he insisted that John Mark not be given another opportunity. The contention became so great that Barnabas and Paul separated, with John Mark joining Barnabas to Cyprus, and Silas joining Paul on his second missionary trip into what is today Turkey and Greece. (Acts 15:36-41)
- I don’t want to judge one or the other too harshly, for both were blessed and used of God before and after their disagreement. Keeping our focus on Barnabas, he concentrated his apostolic ministry on the island of Cyprus. His skillful mentoring and encouragement did restore John Mark, evident to the fact that John Mark went on to make a valuable contribution to the growth of the early church, writing The Gospel According to Mark, the second of four Gospel accounts. Paul later in his life attested to the fact that John Mark should accompany him in ministry.
- Church history has it that Barnabas was killed as a martyr in the city of Salamis in Cyprus, and is declared the patron saint of Cyprus by traditional churches.
For a little encouragement while you are running the good race, check out this video: http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
Days 6-11, Irbid, Jordan
Leadership Bible Training students in Irbid
On the Thurday evening, I ministered to the youth group concerning discovering their gifts and talents, and working as a ministry team. They are a very solid and committed youth group.
Youth Group in Irbid
On the Friday evening, we held a church service, at the end of which I was honoured by the church presenting me with the national Jordanian headdress for men. The service was followed by a very intense prophetic time of ministry.
Honoured by the church in Irbid as a 'Jordanian'; with brother Camil dressing me and pastor Bolis looking on
Pastor Bolis Abadeer of Irbid, Jordan
Pastor Bolis Abadeer speaking at city-wide prayer gathering in Irbid
I spent the first week of February (2009) with Bolis Abadeer, pastor of the Assemblies of God church in Irbid, located in the northwestern corner of the nation of Jordan. Pastor Bolis and his wife Vivian have three wonderful children, and a church filled with some of the most spiritually gifted and generous believers you will ever meet. Their hospitality is more than Middle Eastern custom, but a heart felt passion for caring for others.
Their testimony of how the Lord led them to pioneered this church is inspiring. As a believer from Egypt, Bolis struggled in surrendering his life to the will of God. For three years (1977-1979), the Lord dealt with him to move to and serve Him in the nation of Jordan. However, Jordan was the last place Bolis wanted to live. Just as Jonah in the Old Testament went in another direction to avoid obeying the will of God, after three years of refusing to obey, Bolis set out for the nation of Syria. He knew no one in Syria, and afterwards prayed, “Lord, where do you really want me?” The Lord responded, “In Jordan.” Once in Jordan, he met a man who brought him into contact with the Assemblies of God church in the capital city of Amman. Bolis joined the church, attended and finished the Assemblies of God Bible School in Amman and worked as an architect. It was in Amman where Bolis and Vivian met one another, and they were married in June 1980.
Pastor Bolis praying with the other pastors in city-wide intercessory prayer rmeeting
If you wish to contact pastor Bolis to learn how to intercede more specifically for their church and nation, seek information on visiting and ministering in Irbid and Jordan, and/or support the ministry financially, you can reach him at b_abadeer@yahoo.com .
Pastor Bolis will be visiting the United States from mid-July through mid-August, 2009, and has open dates to meet with church leaders who are interested in meeting him. If you wish to meet him personally, or invite him to minister for your church to learn more about ministry in Jordan and the Middle East, you may contact him by email inorder to schedule a visit together. He will be based in Virginia during this trip.
