From Survival to Service: Help Prevent a Pastor's Well from Running Dry
During my recent mission trip to Asia, I encountered many people who deeply touched my heart. The 40-hour journey, although exhausting, made the connections I formed there even more meaningful. Coming from a culture where deep, heartfelt connections are rare, being surrounded by so many incredible individuals was both overwhelming and wonderfully uplifting.
Several days into the trip, we held a pastors' conference that brought together three generations of leadership. Some traveled as far as five hours by car, all seeking spiritual re-energization, fellowship, and encouragement. The theme of the conference, "Perseverance in Times of Struggle," was particularly fitting, reflecting the community's resilience against persecution and danger. The event reached a climax with the ordination of four new pastors, a historic moment for this ministry. It was the first time our National, the Head Pastor of the region, exercised his legal right to ordain pastors. I had the honor of praying for one of these pastors during his ordination, a moment that created a lifelong connection between us.
The next day, on a road trip to provide some respite for our National and his family, we visited the village of the pastor I had prayed for. His church, a humble yet complete structure with a home for him and his family, stood as a beacon of faith in the community. We were invited for tea and snacks in the sanctuary, the heart of the church. There, I prayed for his family and church, and we exchanged stories, deepening our understanding of each other's lives. Living with his parents and children under one roof, the pastor's household was a typical representation of the local culture.
The pastor shared his life story with us, a journey marked by challenges and transformation. His mother, in a moment of raw vulnerability, revealed that she had attempted to abort him during a period of extreme poverty. His survival was nothing short of miraculous, born with fragile, burned-like skin and initially mistaken for stillborn until he took his first breath after the umbilical cord was cut. His path to adulthood was filled with struggles, including severe depression, until he met our National in his twenties. Under our National's influence, he embraced Christianity, finding joy and purpose in his faith. This tale of divine providence was profoundly moving.
As I sipped tea in the sanctuary, holding back tears after this moving story, I was struck by a sense of peace more profound than I had ever experienced in the grandest cathedrals of Europe. It was a reminder that God's presence is as potent in the simplest of settings as it is in the most majestic.
Our conversation then shifted to the issue of safety. The pastor informed us that the local community, despite different religious beliefs, had accepted the presence of the church, feeling the positive energy of their worship and prayers. This acceptance was a small yet significant victory against the tide of persecution.
Before our departure, the pastor highlighted an urgent need: a deeper well for their home and church. In the past season, as the monsoon approached, their existing well had dried up, with surrounding farms lowering the water table for irrigation. This left them with no choice but to manually transport water for two arduous months. Addressing this crucial issue means digging a deeper well, a task demanding several thousand dollars in funding. The requirement for such wells is a persistent reality in this region, not just for the churches but for farms, homes, and businesses alike. We earnestly request your support to help us raise the necessary funds for this vital initiative.
