Prayer for Younger Leaders Gathering 2016

For 10 days in August 2016, 1000 younger leaders from all over the world who are passionate about world evangelisation will be meeting in Indonesia under an initiative stemming from the Lausanne Movement. I have the privilege of being one of the leaders chosen from Trinidad and Tobago to represent the Caribbean region at this once-in-ten-years gathering.

During the gathering, participants will be connecting in issue-based workshops and regional groups, strategic brainstorming labs and with senior leaders. It will be a special opportunity for us to pray, worship and build relationships with peers from all over the world who have the same passion for global mission.

We have already started connecting virtually, using an online tool which was specially designed for the gathering, as well as social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Skype. It has been wonderful to start building friendships with persons whom I have never met in person.

The theme of this gathering is "United in the Great Story". The theme is meant to focus on God's purposes for the world and our particular mission as His church. The program elements will include morning scripture expositions, leadership panels, connect groups, issue-based groups and creative laboratories. The intention is that, after the gathering, there will emerge a generation that is united in the great story and connected for global mission. 

As part of our preparations, we have been asked to be in prayer for the gathering, and invite others to partner with us. You can join the prayer network by uniting with us in the following prayer requests:

• Pray for the participants - for the regions and nations they represent, their ministries, and that meaningful connections and friendships would be made

• Pray that as we gather from many countries, backgrounds and experiences, that we will be united as one body in Christ and in his great story of salvation

• Pray that every participant will engage sincerely with the pre-programme materials sent monthly, and that they will be helpful and meaningful. Pray for everyone's fundraising efforts, and for God to continue raising up generous and cheerful givers for the gathering and the scholarships

• Pray for a smooth registration process for all participants and finalizing of logistics and programme. Pray for the Younger Leaders Planning Team as they coordinate and plan for the YLG

• Pray for the mentors who will come to the gathering, Senior Associates who will lead workshops and for other Lausanne leaders and staff giving guidance and help with preparations

• Pray for this gathering to impact Indonesia in a special way. Pray for the churches and ministries in Jakarta working on recruiting volunteers for the gathering

For the love of ... Valentine's Day?

Personally, I don't do Valentine's Day. I have nothing against love and romance, but to me, it is just another excuse for businesses to get people to spend their money. So it never bothered me that I never had a 'date' for Valentine's Day, or someone to send me chocolates and flowers. Thankfully, God has blessed me with friends who don't need the occasion of Valentine's Day to give me flowers and chocolates. It meant so much more to me to know that these gifts were given out of a genuine desire to demonstrate love, rather than because it is the day society has chosen to celebrate love.

Flowers from my friend :)

However, I am aware that there are many who do not feel this way. There are many who feel lonely and a have a low feeling of self worth when February 14th comes around and they don't have that special someone to share it with. They wonder what they have done wrong, and whether they will ever be in a relationship. And while they know that God is the true definition of love, there is still that longing for a physical demonstration of love.

Instead of spending the day scrolling through facebook and feeling more depressed with each Valentine-related post or picture shared, consider doing something drastically different for a change. What if, instead of longing for someone to share romantic love with, we look for ways that we can share love with others. Here are some suggestions:

• Make a list of people you love, and call or message them to let them know how you feel about them. Don't wait until someone dies to think about the impact they have made on your life.
• Organise a lime with your single friends. You don't have to go out to dinner - you can meet up at someone's house and spend the evening enjoying one another's company.
• Offer to babysit so your friend can go out for some well deserved one-on-one time with their spouse
• Visit an elderly neighbour or someone who is sick and remind them of their worth and value 
• If you don't live with your parents and they are around, spend some time with them

You get the idea. Shift the focus off of yourself, and seek out people that you could be a blessing to.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

To be or to do - that is the question

One thing I have been learning during my recovery is the value of being.

Society puts a great emphasis on doing. It is used as a measure of success, to ascertain the value of the contribution that a person's life makes. People are defined by what they do, rather than who they really are.

But when circumstances do not allow you to 'do', you have no choice but to 'be'. 

For the past three weeks, I have been being still and knowing that He is God. In the days immediately following the surgery when I could not get off my bed, I had to be still. When I had a headache that would not allow me to read,  I had to be still. When it hurt me to cough or sneeze, I had to be still.

Many people did not believe that I could be still, because of my very active life. While I admit that it was not easy, I know that it is a necessary part of my recovery, and that the less I do right now is the better it will be for me in the future.

When you find out that one of your loved ones is about to undergo surgery, most people want to know what they can do to help. One of the best things you can do is just to be.

Be in prayer

It is easy to take recovery for granted, to think that once the operation has been a success, everything will be OK, but this is not always the case. I made two friends while I was in the hospital - women who underwent the same surgery that I did. One of them suffered from severe nausea as a side effect of the anesthesia, and she threw up everything she ate the day after the surgery. This must have been very painful for her, since the stitches and the cut were still fresh. The other friend developed an infection where the IV line had been inserted into her arm. Her arm was swollen and very painful. There are many who have been praying for my recovery, and God has been faithful and has answered their prayers.

Some of my church family that
has been praying for me!

Be in touch

Since my surgery I have been advised to stay away from driving and any other activities which would involve the use of my core muscles. As a result, I have been based at home. The first Sunday that I was at home was very weird for me. Usually if I am not in church on a Sunday, it is because I am on a camp or a mission trip, so just being in my bed was strange. Even though I listened to a sermon online and had my time of worship, something was missing - the fellowship. I am truly grateful to all those who were able to make time to visit me in person. I am also thankful for those who have been keeping in touch - through whatsapp, emails or phone calls. It is uplifting when people take time off their busy schedules to check in just to see how you are doing.

Communion with my friends who spent last weekend here with me :)

My pumpkin spent the day at home with me

Over the Carnival weekend I saw the value of being present. Once I am in Trinidad over the Carnival weekend, I serve with Ekklesia Ministries at an evangelistic camp in Point Fortin. I usually teach a class where we have an opportunity to present the gospel to over 200 young people and adults from the community. This year I was not able to serve as a teacher, so I was not able to do as much as I usually would. However, I realised that sometimes you just have to be in the right place to have the right conversations with people, or to pray as situations arise, or to contribute to class discussions, or to encourage others just by your presence.

This year's theme was God's Gym

Some of the children and adults who attended

Evidence that I rested at camp ;)

Truly happy I could have been a part this year :)

My prayer is that we would not be so busy doing that we neglect what we need to be.