Missions Update | From Pastor Micah

Hey Gospel City Family!

I could not be more thankful for your prayers and interest surrounding the recent trip to Ethiopia! The Lord really went before us and was with us all along the way. I am looking forward to sharing little pieces from the trip in my upcoming sermon this weekend, as together we open our Bible’s to John 4:1-18.

Upon returning from the trip, we’ve really had a lot to process and it’s taking time to be able to articulate exactly what God is doing, and how it’s impacting us. I suspect this will be the case throughout the summer, as I continue to meet with the Lord and ask Him to shape my heart as a missional disciple of Christ. My goal is to trickle stories to you, as I know Pastor Mitch and Jon Papp will as well; but also, I am excited about some creative ways that we will work on for sharing the stories of what God is doing around the world and specifically through the missionaries that we got to work with!

In the meantime, can I encourage you to pray for our church’s long-term goals and initiatives when it comes to “making disciples of all nations?” I told you that I had some long-term desires for going on this trip, and I want our church to be “in the game” when it comes to getting the Gospel into hard places. Pray that the Lord would lead our elders toward the right missional partnerships and opportunities, so that together we can live-sent!

I am coming back to you more aware of the persecuted church than ever before, more inspired by those who have counted the cost and literally given up everything to make Jesus known, and more prayerful that the Lord would raise us up as missionaries to go near and far with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me share a brief journal entry with you that I wrote down on day 1 —

Friday, April 26

I am in Ethiopia! 

This morning I got to preach Hebrews 11:1-7 to about 30 missionaries who regularly go to Christian-persecuting cities. I just had coffee with 2 brothers who proclaim Jesus even unto death! 

 

Edes is the most joyful follower of Christ, and he has been arrested 14 times for sharing Jesus among his people. He spends anywhere from two to six months in prison each time. He said his people get so angry at him, but he said, “I don’t care because Jesus is coming again and I want them to be saved from hell!” 400KM from here he said we would be killed for the message preached this morning! 

 

It is a real world of evil and persecution toward Christians. The other brother, Abdi-Kareem, is one of five Christians in his entire city! I am so sheltered in America. These missionaries can’t believe that 2,000 people freely come to church at Gospel City on a given Sunday. Oh, the things we take for granted! 

 

These folks never get to sing corporately, pray corporately, or sit under substantive Bible teaching — So this conference is a real treat. In a town where I was woken up by the prayers and chants of Muslims ringing over the city this morning — behind the walls of a small complex — this morning these missionaries got to sing joyfully TOGETHER, pray boldly TOGETHER, and open their Bible’s TOGETHER! 

 

They pray like their lives depend on it, because they do! 

 

They worship like they might see Christ tomorrow, because they risk everything for heaven! 

 

And they are hungry for the preached Word, because they’re starving in a broken and desolate land! 

 

I am humbled and convicted to be here. 

 

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!” 

You Are Loved!
—Pastor Micah