“I am writing to let you know that we have successfully introduced Making Life Disciples to 38 pastors in our community! Of those 38, we have 8 that have taken the challenge to train a group of Life Disciples in their respective churches!In three weeks, I will visit the graduates of those classes to begin a stronger relationship with them so we can begin to introduce our clients to them for mentoring and discipleship.
The effort has taken almost a year; however, we believe we will begin to see the fruit of our labor and it will last a lifetime! We were caught in the web of trying to “be” the church [in its mission to make disciples], when we recognized the true calling for our center was to reach the abortion minded/abortion vulnerable…” [as domestic missionaries with a specialized focus].As you can imagine, I was extremely heartened by these results and reminded of this wisdom: “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” (Eccl. 11:6, NIV)
“I believe that I had mentioned to you at the [Care Net National] Conference that we had 3 churches that were graduating as soon as I returned. Upon their graduation, I went to meet with each class. Oh, they had so many questions! They of coursed wondered how soon it would be before they “got a girl”! Of course, I wondered the same thing!I cannot believe it myself, but as I am writing this, we have “the girl” right now across from my office meeting with a Life Disciple (We are calling them ‘Life Coaches’…)
This young woman… had an appointment for an abortion scheduled for next week, when she first came to us. During that appointment, she told our R.N. that she literally had nobody to help her during this difficult time. Marla, our R.N., knew immediately that we did have someone who could come alongside her! The call was made and they have connected! The abortion appointment has been cancelled, however, as we know a baby is not safe until it is born! Please feel free to share this to encourage others!
MLD works! We are watching it right now! And by the way, there is laughter coming from the room across the hall!”The ministry I’ve been called to—ministry to the abortion-vulnerable—is very challenging: it is private and hidden; further, it has been politicized and disconnected from the gospel, discipleship, and grace. If things are going to change, the church must lead.
“A lot of our so-called Christian work today reminds me of little children when they first witness father or mother doing some gardening. The ground is prepared and then the seed is sown, and every day the child goes into the garden and he looks around to see if the seed is beginning to sprout, and if it doesn’t show any signs and he wants to make sure that the seed is beginning to sprout, she just scratches around amongst the soil. She wants to SEE something. My friends, that is what a lot of us are doing… O we have so little confidence in the divine ‘seed’ to bring about the harvest that God has ordained it shall do.”[1]
May God give us all more confidence in his sovereign grace, and may the account above refresh your spirit and strengthen your faith!
[1] Iain Murray, The Life of Arthur W. Pink (Banner of Truth) 46. “He” has been changed to “she” in two places to go with the picture.