Celebrating Small Victories

If you follow this blog, then you know of the ministry in the Navajo community of Nahodishgish (if you are not, you may want to review my previous entries). God is clearly at work, but as I learned last night He is working at his own pace - not mine.

God has answered every prayer for this ministry, from raising up a team to serve there to the great harvest we experienced during their visit. He has even answered our prayer for the old church building. We have free access for as long as we want! And he brought a good number of people for our first two worship services. It's been amazing.

Then came last night... a storm the likes of which I have not seen in New Mexico (not that I've been here long)... and only three children and two youth coming out for the service. This on a night when I had brought some friends from our home church whom I had hoped might sign on to help us. Wanting to show my friends just how the Lord was working, I was disappointed with the rain and light attendance. I guess I thought that the Lord wasn't with us this night.

But then, as we took our seats for Bible study, God revealed himself in a rather subtle way. As I called out the text to be read, one of the teenagers with us left the building. Before I could wonder where she went, she returned... with her Bible. Knowing it was time to study God's word, she wanted to be ready. And so we proceeded with our study, with this young lady intently following everything I said.

As I pondered this girl's actions, God made His point perfectly clear. With the quick and near miraculous response to our efforts that we had seen to date, I had expected that we would launch this new church on short order and with little effort. But genuine church planting is never quick nor easy. God is blessing our efforts, but it is going to take time for this ministry to get off the ground and grow into a healthy Navajo church. It will happen in His time, not mine.

In the mean time, we are to praise Him for even the small victories. And really, what better sign that God is blessing our ministry here than seeing a young girl develop a love for His word. In many ways, this small victory means more than all the others put together.

To His Glory!
Bro. Jim