Golden Nuggets

Another benefit from being a part of IFES World Assembly 2015 was the privilege of hearing fresh perspectives on God's Word. The way that the Bible sessions were presented made the scripture come alive. It would be difficult to share all that we heard, but here are some truths which stood out to me:

Light shaft in the middle of a cave

Luke 5:1-11
Jesus used His power to create fullness where there was emptiness, though His Word

Matthew 8:23-26
Our lives are not free of difficulties, but Jesus is always with us in the midst of them. Difficulties come to teach us a lesson, and we should not hesitate to call on Jesus when we feel overwhelmed.

Ancient pyramid

Philippians 1:1-26
Paul's prayers are full of joy and thankfulness instead of anxiety, despite the Philippians' suffering, and his own imprisonment. He saw God's good work in their lives in the past, and trusted that it would continue to the future.

Paul didn't pray for circumstances to change, but that fruit would grow

The gospel of Christ gives us a reason to live, despite the circumstances we may find ourselves facing.

With Jesus at the center, both life and death have reason. We can live more freely because we have no fear of death.

At the Botanical Gardens

Daniel 1
In the midst of difficult situations, we may be tempted to think that God has abandoned us, but in reality, He is not missing in action. He is in the midst of our crisis, and is able to move the hearts of even pagan kings to accomplish His purposes.

We should be prepared to engage with our culture in order to demonstrate the wisdom of God, instead of choosing the ease and comfort of blending in.

Orchids of every shape and color

Acts 4:29
They did not pray that the threats would stop, but that they would be bold enough to witness in spite of them. The One we pray to is worth living, and dying for.

Daniel 3
God did not just deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - He stood with them in the midst of their most difficult experience.

The faithful do not always escape the fire.

God may not always deliver in the way we expect, but He will always be with us.

Japanese garden

Philippians 1:27 - 2:18
A radically transformed attitude is what enables us to live as citizens of the Kingdom. We must cultivate and practise humility of the mind.The meaning of your life is determined by the thinking to which we belonged. A radically transformed attitude is what enables us to live as citizens of the kingdom.

Philippians 4:10 – 21 

The ‘all things’ that Paul referred to which are possible through Christ was being content in every situation. We must learn how to live in difficult or joyful circumstances. In his time of need, Paul did not think about himself, but the needs of others. We must be generous in our relationships, demonstrating our care and concern in tangible ways. It is not about the size of the gift to those in need, but the attitude of the heart.

Paul realised that he had to rely on God, rather than people, to meet his needs; his joy was not dependant on their gift. He had to learn to have a lifestyle based on contentment – it did not come naturally. In a society that excludes God, contentment is very difficult, as there is always a desire for more.

Italian gardens

Philippians 2:25-20

Christian ministry must be done in love. The stewardship of affection transcends cultures. It makes the gospel attractive to outsiders, as we reach out to them.

When God is on your side...

If there is one truth that stood out to me as I look back over the experiences of the preparations leading up to and actually being a part of World Assembly it is this: when God is on your side, there is NOTHING that can stand in His way.

When we were first encouraged by one of our Board Directors, Sister Joan Purcell, to submit six names as possible attendees to World Assembly 2015, it was a huge step of faith. Even after receiving two partial scholarships from IFES, we had no clue how we were going to raise the funds needed. Each delegate was responsible for raising support to cover their airfare, but even with this, ISCF Grenada still needed to source $12,000EC to cover the outstanding expenses. And we only had six months to do it.

Through the hard work and dedication of our Fundraising Committee, the support of our many volunteers and the generosity of a few donors locally and abroad, we were not only able to meet our target, but were able to assist a delegate from another movement in our region who was in need!

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

ISCF Grenada representing in Mexico!

In an effort to minimize our expenses, we booked a flight that would take us through Venezuela and Panama before we got to Mexico. This too was a step of faith, since none of us had ever been to Venezuela before, and our fluency in Spanish was very limited. However, with the backing of our prayer supporters, we bravely set out, depending on God to be with us every step of the way.

My biggest concern was our connection in Venezuela. We planned to fly in with Caribbean Airlines, and depart using Copa Airlines. In an industry where delays and lost luggage are daily realities, this was a risky venture - if we missed our connection in Venezuela, neither airline would have compensated us. But God did not disappoint, as we all arrived safely in Mexico, with our luggage intact, despite a two hour delay in Panama! Gloria a Dios!

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Setting foot in Venezuela for the first time!

Hope and I arrived two days before the start of the main conference, so she could be a part of the Student Gathering. She was the youngest student there, as the majority of the other participants were university students. It was also the first time she had been away from home for so long, and she was starting to feel homesick.

By the third day however, the students from the Caribbean region had welcomed her as part of the family. Despite her young age, they included her on all their wild limes... sorry I mean exuberant social activities ;) In addition, the openness and camaraderie afforded by the small groups helped her to apply the bible teachings in a real and personal way. We thank God for the fellowship afforded by being a part of the body of Christ!

Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God every time I remember you.

Can you feel the love from the family of God?!

When packing for Mexico, I treated it like I was going on a mission trip. I walked with my basic cold medication, even though I had not gotten sick in a long while, just in case I couldn't identify the brand of tablets in a Mexican Pharmacy. Well, God knew I would need it, because I got hit hard a few days after arriving in Mexico. Thank God my roommate didn't mind sleeping with the AC off otherwise I would not have been able to breathe at nights. I was coughing a lot, and I was a bit concerned since I was responsible for chairing the session on Prayer for the Global University. Once more I got my prayer supporters on board and, although I was not fully recovered by the time we had the prayer session, I was able to speak without coughing into the people's microphones :)

Hope doing a flute solo at the session on
Prayer for the Global University

Apart from being a Healer, God was also our Protector. After the prayer session we broke up into groups to go on various tours to experience life in Mexico outside of the hotel compound. Hope signed up for a tour at the very last minute, so she didn't know anyone else who chose that tour. They stopped for lunch at a park, and she lay down on a bench and fell asleep. When she woke up, she realised that everyone else had left her and gone into town except for one man. We thank God that He was looking out for her, even when we were not around.

Philippians 4:14 - Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

In booking our return flight from Mexico, it was cheaper to overnight in Panama en route to Trinidad. We had planned to spend the night in the airport, since we didn't have any contacts in Panama and felt that staying at a hotel would be beyond our means.

However, upon arrival at Immigration in Panama, one officer seemed take issue with our plans to sleep on their airport floor. She was not willing to let us through, since we could not prove that we had any place to stay. It was very unexpected, because I have personally slept in the airport in Panama on numerous occasions and it was never an issue before. By this time, we were the only passengers left in immigration, and all the other officers tried to intervene on our behalf. Finally, in exasperation, the officer said, "Ok if you want to sleep on the floor and spend the whole day on the airport (our flight was leaving the following night) - go ahead!"

When we got to the baggage claim, one of the officers who was involved in the discussion suggested to us a cheap hotel which was nearby, saying that it would be really uncomfortable for us to stay in the airport, even with our sleeping bags. We took the information, and were able to get a hotel that offered us free transportation from the airport, and accommodation with a complimentary breakfast buffet for only $22US per person!

Hope had become upset because of the attitude of the Immigration Officer, but I was able to show her that, if she had not behaved so aggressively, we would have spent the night and entire day in the airport, instead of sleeping in cozy beds in air-conditioned comfort, with a couple hours to experience Panama City!

Philippians 1:12 - Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel

View from the rooftop pool deck of our hotel!

When I reflect and consider how God has worked on our behalf, I am truly in awe of His faithfulness. GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!!

How was Mexico?

This is a question that has been asked over and over again since I returned from IFES World Assembly 2015, which was held in Mexico.

There is no simple answer to this question. There is no way I could summarize the experience in one word, or sentence, or paragraph, or Power Point presentation, or blog post. But, for the sake of those who don't have the opportunity to sit with me for half an hour to hear how I was impacted, I will try to answer the question...

It was WARM and WELCOMING

Welcome Room with traditional Mexican decorations

Our hosts COMPA did an exceptional job of making us feel at home in Mexico. Even before we arrived, they promptly answered our emails and assured us that we would be well taken care of. When our flight was delayed for two hours, causing us to arrive at the airport at 1am, they were right there waiting to welcome us to our new home for the next few days.

The Welcome team at the airport

Even the staff at the hotel where we stayed were so hospitable. Although it could be said they were just 'doing their job', they did it so well! There was one day when the sun was blazing hot one minute, and then suddenly the sky turned dark and there was a heavy downpour, complete with lightning and thunder. We were having dinner at the time, and after being entertained by our COMPA hosts with singing and dancing, it was time to go to the hall for our evening session. The hotel staff secured large umbrellas to escort us to the hall so we were able to get there in time despite the inclement weather.

Having fun while waiting for the rain to stop falling

It was WELL ORGANISED

I must commend the planning committee for pulling off a global event of this magnitude with such excellence. As someone who organises camps on a small scale, I cannot begin to imagine the immensity of the logistics involved in facilitating a conference for 1000+ delegates from more than 100 different countries. Yet our COMPA family was able to ensure that all necessary details were in place so that all we needed to do was to show up and participate! From the airport shuttles to registration to the main sessions to the seminars to the excursion, they ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Volunteers manning the registration table

It was WORLDWIDE

World Assembly brings together representatives from most of the countries where there is an established International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) presence. As a result of this, there were delegates there from literally all over the world, even countries where Christians are 0.01% of the entire population. At almost every meal time, I was able to sit with someone from a different country and engage with them. Some of the stories shared were truly eye-opening. In my small group, there were persons from countries I had only ever read about in my geography books. In spite of the differences in cultures, there was a real sense of unity among all the delegates that was manifest in our times of corporate worship, which gave a glimpse of what heaven would be like - people from every nation, tribe and tongue all giving praise to Almighty God!

Breakfast with new friends from Mozambique, Peru, Ecuador
and Germany, and this was just the first day!!!

It was WORTHWHILE

The Bible expositions on Daniel 1 and 3 and the book of Philippians... the small group discussions where participants shared openly and honestly about their experiences in their own contexts... the numerous testimonies which were shared where God showed up in the midst of difficult circumstances... the privilege of worshiping God together with believers from different denominations in different languages but in sweet unity... the seminars which allowed us to make practical applications on various topics... the new friendships which were initiated and can be easily sustained thanks to technology... it was more than worth all the efforts and resources which were invested to be a part of World Assembly 2015.

See if you can find me LOL

To get a visual feel of what the experience was like, you can click here

What was most impacting to me personally was the importance of being in consistent prayer for the persecuted church. I have heard firsthand of the ways that God is moving in some countries, despite the barriers which exist. As a member of the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to intercede for our brothers and sisters who do not enjoy the same religious freedom as we do.

1 Corinthians 12:26 - If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

World Assembly reminded me that we are indeed Together. In Christ. In Mission. In the University.

ISCF Camp 2015 Testimonies

These accounts of how God moved over the weekend were too incredible to include in the camp overview so I decided to create a second post to testify of God's working on our behalf.

Testimony #1:

As we began planning for this year’s camp, we hoped that many of the workers who served so faithfully last year would have been available, but this was not the case. For a variety of reasons, many of them were not available. However, God sent new workers, who integrated beautifully with those who remained, and we were able to execute camp smoothly with these wonderful people of God. The workers were few, but everyone pulled their weight and executed their duties diligently while building relationships with the campers.

Testimony #2:

When school ended the week before camp started, there were only six camp forms submitted. We made a decision in faith to proceed with camp, trusting God to provide at least 20 campers to make it enjoyable for all. Nineteen students from nine different schools eventually made it up to Morne Longue and we thank God for every one of them.

Testimony #3:

On the morning that camp was to begin, we contacted our speaker Evangelist Abraham Regis aka Dry Peas to confirm his session the following morning, and were told by his wife that he had absolutely no voice, due to a very heavy speaking schedule earlier that week. Immediately we got our intercessors praying, and later that afternoon when we called he was actually able to answer his phone. By Saturday morning, he was able to deliver a dynamic message about the power of a renewed mind.

Testimony #4:

After lunch on Saturday, the campers played some fun sports, then went to the river for a swim. While we were there, one of the campers complained of feeling unwell so we took her back to camp. She vomited twice but we were not sure what caused it so we prayed and put her to bed. She proceeded to sleep for 13 hours until we woke her the next morning – she was that tired. We thank God that she was recovered quickly, and was able to partake in the activities the following day.

Testimony #5:

For the entire weekend, rain had been falling intermittently. We had a camp fire planned for Saturday night, and although the rain fell before, it was not heavy enough to dampen our spirits, or the wood needed for our camp fire J

Testimony #6:

On Sunday morning one of the campers was not feeling well – he was up all night coughing, as he was asthmatic, and he did not have his pump. We prayed and used some hot water and scented oil therapy and by chapel time he was singing lustily during worship, and by lunchtime had resumed his usual mischievous behaviour.

Testimony #7:

After the altar call on Sunday morning, one of the campers asked for permission to address the other students. She shared with them the burden she was feeling because some of them were not willing to yield themselves fully to God. They were holding on to things from the past instead of being open and surrendering to God. An invitation was given for those who were struggling to come up for prayer, and the Holy Spirit began to convict hearts and the majority of the campers again went forward for prayer. Many of them received their breakthroughs as counsellors ministered to them. It was incredible to see how one student’s obedience to the Spirit’s prompting led to so many of her peers being freed from bondage.

Here are some of the comments the campers had about what impacted them the most:

• ·         The chapel and devotional morning impacted me the most. The other campers and counsellers were warm and welcoming. I enjoyed the camp.
• ·         How the Lord spoke to me
• ·         I benefitted by being close with my God
• ·         The sessions impacted me the most – I learned to put God first
• ·         I benefitted by the renewing of my mind. I’ve changed the way I used to behave
• ·         When everybody started to feel God’s goodness and power, and the early morning group coming together to talk about the Bible

We thank God for the exceptional ministry that the campers were exposed to over the weekend, and pray that commitments made at camp would result in genuine, life-long change in their lives. 

ISCF Camp 2015

God really blew our minds for ISCF camp 2015 #mindBlown… From providing the finances, to ensuring we had sufficient workers and campers, to restoring our camp speaker’s voice on the day he had to minister, God came through in amazing ways, as only He can do.

Campers enjoying sporting activities

On the first evening, we played some getting to know you games that helped the campers from the different schools feel more comfortable and interact with one another. After dinner, we showed the movie “God’s Not Dead” which highlighted the stories of young people who stood up for their faith instead of compromising like those around them.

If you had a million dollars what would you do?

On Saturday morning Evangelist Abraham Regis delivered a dynamic message about the power of a renewed mind. He challenged them to not be limited by their present realities, but to see themselves the way God sees them, and understand their identity in Christ. He then encouraged each person to share what they wanted to be when they got older, and he assured them that with God’s enabling, they would be able to achieve great things despite their humble beginnings.

"You cannot change your beginning, but you can change your destiny"

After lunch on Saturday, the campers played some fun sports, then went to the river for a swim. Dinner on Saturday night took the format of a campfire, with campers roasting hotdogs and marshmellows over the open flames. God held back the rain sufficiently that night to ensure that the campers thoroughly  enjoyed their camp fire. Afterwards, they went into their dorms to discuss what does it really mean to renew your mind, and how they could renew their minds and maintain a renewed mind.

Roasting hot dogs over the camp fire

For chapel on Sunday morning we had a new speaker, Eric Marshall who challenged the campers to renew their minds in practical ways, by resisting the temptation to listen to ungodly music, partake in drinking alcohol and viewing ungodly things on the internet and television. He made it clear that the things we hear and watch, as well as the company we keep, affects how we think and our behaviour. After the message, there was a call for campers who knew they needed to renew their minds in these areas, and who were willing to do so, to come forward for prayer, and the entire camp came up.

"What you hear and watch affects how you think and behave"

After spending some quiet time receiving counselling one on one, the campers then got ready for the  Royal Luncheon. As part of having a renewed mind, the campers were encouraged to see themselves as royalty, as they were now children of the Most High King, so they were encouraged to dress as such. They were really creative in their costumes, and had a great time partaking of the banquet and dancing which followed.

Campers in their royal wear

The final item on the program was talent afternoon, where each team presented an original song based on the memory verses Romans 12:1-2 and a skit which demonstrated the theme of camp. We thank God for the exceptional ministry that the campers were exposed to over the weekend, and pray that commitments made at camp would result in genuine, life-long change in their lives.

ISCF Graduation 2015

ISCF Graduation 2015 exceeded all expectations! There were 12 graduates and 18 guests - board members, sponsors and supporters - in attendance, and we all had a great time of fellowship. 

Fun from the start!

The program began with a welcome and prayer by our Board Chairman, Rodney Mc Intyre, and chairperson Cheryl Jessemy guided us through the program smoothly. There were some really fun icebreakers which facilitated interaction between the graduates and the guest. 

Winning team celebrates

This was followed by a time of praise and worship led by Princess Jaggassar, a graduate from TAMCC. 

Graduates lead in worship

Hearts united in praise

Two students shared their testimonies about the impact of ISCF on their lives as students. Jayna James from Anglican High School spoke about how much she learnt during the meetings, and how she understood better how to interact with students who had different beliefs than she did. 

Jayna James representing ISCF at
Anglican High School

Outgoing CCCF President Kishell Ruben
 shares her testimony

Kishell Ruben, past president of CCCF shared how her involvement in the ministry helped her to take her Christian life more seriously, and to grow spiritually in her walk with the Lord. Shanika and Loraine sang ‘Carry your candle’ to encourage their peers to represent Christ wherever they ended up, and certificates were distributed to all the graduates.

Beautiful rendition of the challenge
to light your world

Jamie receiving his certificate from faithful sponsor
Mae Patterson

We had the privilege of having Eric Marshall as our speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony. As one of our earliest and most consistant supporters who resided in New York, we were pleased to invite him to share his heart with the graduates. They were encouraged by his testimony of God’s provision for him when he had to advance his studies, not knowing where the funds would come from. He also encouraged them to keep serving the Lord, and to not allow the distractions of the world to lead them astray. He ended his message with the words of Psalm 1:1-2, challenging the students to remain connected to Christ long after they left school.

Eric Marshall sharing his testimony with the students

Board Director Joan Purcell prayed over our graduates, asking God’s provision and direction for them as they moved on to this new phase of their lives. Following a group picture, we enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship over refreshments that no one wanted to end. On top of all of this, we were able to christen our P.A. system, which was donated by ISCF supporters living in the States! 

Covering our graduates with prayer

We give God thanks for the great time of fellowship, testimonies and encouragement which was enjoyed by all who attended.

The proud graduates

Why the term 'tolerance' is not found in the Bible

I realised an interesting fact this week, that I never knew before - the term 'tolerance' does not occur anywhere in the Bible. This is how I came upon this remarkable discovery...

By now, everyone should be aware of the US Supreme Court ruling which legalised same sex marriages across all 50 States. My facebook newsfeed was flooded with articles which both supported and condemned the decision. I am very intentional about what I share on facebook. I believe that I have a responsibility, as a Christian, to speak the truth in love, and some of the posts I was reading came across as condemning. Many persons can quote John 3:16 by heart, but have never gone through the trouble of reading on to verse 17 which says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him"

So when I read an article that, in my opinion, was pointing to salvation rather than condemnation, I shared it. For those who have not seen it, this was what I posted:

"A homosexual is not a worse sinner than I am. I’m the worst of the worst, the chiefest of sinners, and if there is hope, love, grace, and forgiveness for me, it’s there for everyone.

And for those who are involved in such activities, for you, truly, my soul weeps, because whether you recognize it or not, you are separated from the love of God, lost, and in desperate need of a Savior.

I weep for you because the world around you is telling you this kind of behavior is normal and right, knowing that it isn’t, watching you walk into destruction without a care because your cause furthers a political agenda that will make them — the political ruling class — powerful and wealthy.

My prayers are that God would open your eyes to the truth, and you’d be rescued by the loving arms of Jesus Christ."

- Michael Cantrell  

In response, one of my friends posted this picture:

As with any issue that is contentious, I decided to search the scripture to see what the Bible says about tolerance, and I realised, it didn't.

Tolerance is a term that is used widely in the media, especially in reference to issues like homosexuality and abortion. It lulls persons into a false sense of belief that there is no absolute right or wrong; that once you believe that something is acceptable, no one should tell you differently.

Unfortunately for those who preach tolerance, the Bible begs to differ. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, has every right to establish His standards for morality. God makes it clear to us how He expects us to live if we want to be pleasing in His sight. He is not the author of confusion, so He does not leave it up to us to decide right from wrong.

It would be remiss of me to not warn my loved ones when I see them heading in a dangerous direction. Jesus was crucified by religious leaders who did not agree with His message. He refused to stay silent while people were being led astray by those who were in authority. As one of His followers, I too will speak the truth, even If this results in me being labelled as 'intolerant'.

Tolerance is not one of the fruit of the Spirit. So I choose instead, with God's help, to demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things, there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)