JC in Durban

The second of my 2008 visitors has come and gone now. John Clevely (JC), the leader of Beulah Family Church in Thornton Heath, UK, that sent me out here, came to visit me and get acquainted with the church out here. He arrived last Friday morning, and yesterday left for Zimbabwe for the second leg of his trip to Southern Africa.

Unfortunately (or not, in some ways), JC never got to visit Hope Church on a Sunday as we were sent off to Mtubatuba where JC preached. From there we went around Hluhluwe (where I got a flat tyre and had to change it in the middle of a game park with 200 lions!) and St Lucia, where we saw hippos and crocs. Mtuba was an interesting visit though. JC preached his favourite Ephesians 1 sermon, provoking a strong response from the gathered people. I felt very much to jump out in things and not just sit back and watch, so I brought a prophetic word that seemed to be the launch pad for a whole lot more contribution in the meeting. I had a few other things I could have ministered too, but I struggle to know what would be too much for a visiting englishman to do in someone else's church that doesn't know me so well!

JC also got to meet Mandy, which was good. She gets the seal of approval, not least as a Spurgeon fan! :o)

Though I'm still busy with things here to do with students, Cato guys, publicity, preaching (now set for Mar 16th!), writing, training, etc, I did manage to get a good bit of quality time with JC. It's so vital that we maintain relational links with some real depth, not merely for our own sakes, but because that's the sort of fellowship God would have us share with one another.

One of the things we talked about a bit was what I'm going to do when I come back to the UK. As it stands I still can't see any leading of God that supercedes any direction to go back to Thornton Heath and to get into teaching. It would have its many difficulties, but I have faith in God for whatever future He, in his sovereign wisdom, calls me to. Mandy has been quoting the stories of great modern missionaries a lot recently, and it's a good reminder for us to be no less radical than they. They weren't special people except that they allowed free reign to their love for Jesus in obedience. In truth they (and not they, missionaries, only) lived the life God calls us all to to a greater extent than many of us dare to do. Along with Steven Curtis Chapman, who I listened to this morning, I say, "I wanna be a God follower, I wanna go wherever He leads; I wanna be a God follower, I wanna walk the trail He's marked for me - more than anything!"

I think that trail in the last of my months in Durban is leading some exciting places too. Watch this space! :o)