Agape World Missions

The Sacrifice of Giving – 1

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:14:19 +0000

I was in a church in the Uk where one of the church leaders had gone to spend what I gathered was part of his sabbatical in a church in Southern Africa. As he shared his story of his time there, something I could Identify with caught my attention as he spoke.

He arrived at this church and was given his accommodation. The local church had gone to great lengths to make this accommodation as comfortable as they possibly could. But there was no washing machine. As time went on, he shared with some of the elders of the local church how he was having difficulties with laundering his clothes. Shortly after that, he was told what he said he could hardly get his head around. A couple in the church approached him to offer their washing machine to him. But that wasn’t all the story.

The couple had been saving to buy this washing machine over several months and paying gradually towards it. Now, the payment was going to be completed and they were due to take delivery of the washing machine. Their offer was that the company instal the washing machine in his house and when he completes his sabbatical and departs, they will then take their washing machine. He said that coming from the United Kingdom, this gesture he found difficult to understand. He accepted their offer but that left a lasting impression on him. What a wonderful story on giving by this couple, who did not have a washing machine themselves. Their giving impacted his life.

In our several mission trips to Africa, we encounter the fact that the disadvantaged we meet and minister to are often very willing to share generously and joyfully of the little they possess. That reminds me of the story of the widow in the bible in Luke 21:4 . This widow gave all her livelihood as offering at the Temple. Jesus who watched this declared that by her giving, she had given more than all who gave out of their abundance. She had given sacrificially.

This poor widow, gave everything she had. Shortly after, Jesus was to give His all. His Father had asked Him to lay down His life for all mankind that through that sacrifice, ALL might come to God through Christ.
Meaningful giving is always going to be an act of sacrifice. This also usually impacts lives.

What do you see, with one or two eyes?

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 08:26:20 +0000

As a young man, I happened to come into managing a health facility because the person who was supposed to run it was not in a position to do so. As often happens when you are thrown into a role you are not fully prepared for, you might feel overwhelmed. However, I quickly began to learn the ropes and there was no shortage of those who lent their advice, solicited or otherwise. This was in a developing country.

Some children and women, to help augment the household income had to hawk some wares around the offices. The most common things were local snacks and food which people who attended the offices could buy to eat. These snacks they prepared the night before or early that morning. Some of the children would go to school in the morning and come to ‘work’ afterwards to sell their goods. The income from these trade always went a long way in helping these families.

On assumption of the management of the facility, I decided that I needed to stop this ‘illegal’ food selling in and around the premises. I wrote to the ‘traders’ to cease from selling their wares around the area.

The following day, the husband of one of the women come to see me with my letter. He pleaded with me to allow the wife to continue to sell around our office. His story was heart wrenching. They had six children, only manages to get labourer work infrequently. They lived in a rented overcrowded accommodation. Without the income of the wife from that little ‘business’ of selling she brings in, the family will starve. Yes, starve. As I listened to his story, I knew they were so many families like them in a similar situation. This is not just a story that is common in that community but around the world. The story of the poor around the world is heart wrenching and continues to grow.

He concluded by telling me, ‘young man, I can see you are not married, when you do, you will discover that you marry with only one eye’. He was effectively telling me, when you are married, and as you run this facility, you need not see everything or can you?

Just know that God watches over you

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:49:22 +0000

I watched a news footage the other day of this large mass burial of unclaimed bodies in New York. These were victims of Covid-19. What a sorry sight.

Those were people’s fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, parents, children and lovers. But there were no mourners.
The coffins were stacked one on top of the other. One could not tell if the occupants were white or black, male or female, Christian or Muslim. But the destiny of the bodies were the same.

The footage did not show when the large burial site was covered, but surely it was. No tomb stones erected and no fun fare. From dust they came and to dust they now return.In times like these, it is important to know that Jesus is the answer to our world.

Jesus would want us to trust Him. He calls us friends.
He would like us to get close to Him because He loves us.

For after all, we are just pilgrims passing through here.

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is not a coincidence

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:48:33 +0000

There is the story of this wealthy and influential man. He had great wealth including donkeys. His name was Kish. In the time he lived and where he lived, having donkeys was a necessity because they were an all purpose animal. They were used for transportation, hauling, farming and all sorts. Donkeys were also a sign of wealth in that era.

The story has it that at some point, some of this man’s donkeys strayed. Kish decided to send his son named Saul to go look for the missing donkeys. For three days, Saul and his companion looked for these donkeys, travelling through the region they lived in but could not find the donkeys.

When Saul and his companion became weary, they decided that they will have to return home. They however reasoned that if they seek out the Seer, who lived in that region, he might help them to locate the missing donkeys. On meeting the prophet named Samuel, he informed Saul and his companion that the missing donkeys have been found. The prophet also informed Saul that he had a prearranged appointment with him – which God had instructed him about and orchestrated.

The above is the story from 1 Samuel 9 and 10 from the Bible. God had decided to make Saul, the son of Kish, the ruler of Israel at that time because the people requested for a king. God informed Samuel, the Priest about it. Saul and his father Kish thought that Saul was looking for the strayed donkeys whereas he was on his was to meet the prophet Samuel. From the narrative in 1 Samuel 9, Saul did not know much about Samuel and must have felt ill qualified to be king of Israel. He said their tribe was the smallest tribe and his family the least important in Israel. However, God had chosen him to be the king in spite of how he viewed himself.

To get the attention of Saul and bring him to his destiny:

The donkeys had to stray.
Kish, his father had to send him to look for the donkeys.
Saul was obedient to go. He also was diligent looking for the donkeys for three whole days.
Neither Kish nor Saul knew what God was doing or about to do.

How often have we been in situations where things happen around us and they do not make sense?

How often have we cried, God why is this happening to me?

What is that burden in your heart that you sense the need to fulfil and the thought is not just going away?

What is that problem that stirs your heart?

What are those needs around you which you feel you do not have the resources to tackle?

God might just be leading us to our destiny. And sometimes what is happening to and around us might not make sense.

God might be calling you to great things that you may feel inadequate for.

Just know that God works in ways that we do not fully understand.

He also uses those who are committed in doing something, like Saul was busy looking for the stray donkeys for three whole days and then he comes into his destiny.

God also will provide the resources for that which he has called you.

Are they some stray donkeys you feel a need to go look for? Why not ask God about it – then LISTEN to Him.