Thus begins the start of the rest of our lives. This was the conclusion to the final commissioning and thanksgiving service today. There are no photos, as I was taking part and preaching. I will try and find some on facebook when I can, but they may not appear here. We began with a map of Chile. We were all sat surrounding the image on the floor. One by one, as the rest of the young people sang together, the districts of MC Chile placed the city in which we lived and served on the map. Victoria. Coronel. Rancagua. Ovalle. Antofagasta. Alto hospicio, Iquique. Santiago. As each place was laid on the map, so the members of that district stepped forwards to pray together. There were many tears. Some of the group had to leave to get their transportation home at this point, and it was my privilege to lead a tearful tribute and prayer for their safe travelling. We had the opportunity to share a few stories about how God was at work in the lives of the young people (which could have gone on forever!). I took Esther as a text - a woman who:
1. Was the right person in the right place at the right time (how is God changing our character to be the right sort of person, and how many in the TUR knew that they were in the right place at the right time) 2. Was prepared to bide her time, waiting for the opportune moment. (How many of the TUR have been taught patience - not least of all in the middle of a desert.) 3. Surrounded herself with a support network. (How many now have 43 other TUR members who will shout on the sidelines for us, and how do we surround ourselves with people who will support and encourage us and who will tell the truth.) 4. Willing to pay a high cost for vocation (how many have discovered there is a cost to following God's call?) 5. Put God and God's people first. (How many have discovered this as a passion?) All were invited to respond. It is good to note that some of the people who were in attendance included those who had made a connection with the group during the day's evangelism activities, and even some of these people responded. Each member of the bus tour were given an envelope marking 'dia cero' - day zero. The translation was a little sketchy about this, due to tears and tiredness. But it seemed important emotionally! We then concluded by piling out into the street singing the Fejumech anthem 'we will shine'. Matt Redman once wrote a song with the lyric 'can a nation be changed? Can a nation be saved? Can a nation be turned back to you?' Perhaps in Chile, the glimmer of an answer to this question is that 'yes' it can. And it does not need protests to do it. It will be significant to see how 44 TUR members change the Church and the World in the next 40 years. Dia cero.
The countdown begins. . Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
1. Was the right person in the right place at the right time (how is God changing our character to be the right sort of person, and how many in the TUR knew that they were in the right place at the right time) 2. Was prepared to bide her time, waiting for the opportune moment. (How many of the TUR have been taught patience - not least of all in the middle of a desert.) 3. Surrounded herself with a support network. (How many now have 43 other TUR members who will shout on the sidelines for us, and how do we surround ourselves with people who will support and encourage us and who will tell the truth.) 4. Willing to pay a high cost for vocation (how many have discovered there is a cost to following God's call?) 5. Put God and God's people first. (How many have discovered this as a passion?) All were invited to respond. It is good to note that some of the people who were in attendance included those who had made a connection with the group during the day's evangelism activities, and even some of these people responded. Each member of the bus tour were given an envelope marking 'dia cero' - day zero. The translation was a little sketchy about this, due to tears and tiredness. But it seemed important emotionally! We then concluded by piling out into the street singing the Fejumech anthem 'we will shine'. Matt Redman once wrote a song with the lyric 'can a nation be changed? Can a nation be saved? Can a nation be turned back to you?' Perhaps in Chile, the glimmer of an answer to this question is that 'yes' it can. And it does not need protests to do it. It will be significant to see how 44 TUR members change the Church and the World in the next 40 years. Dia cero.
The countdown begins. . Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
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