1999 God View - Missions
While we were visiting a church in Portugal, back in 1998, a man was at the front praying for the weekly offering and all of the sudden he had a vision. There was a guest speaker that Sunday from India so we thought the vision had something to do with him and India. However, one of the ushers who spoke English came to us and told us that the ‘vision’ this man was seeing actually had to do with us and he interpreted as the man spoke.

In essence the picture was about Ted in China. Ted had been there only once but was going back in a week. We hadn’t done that much investing in this nation but somehow in God’s economy He wanted to encourage us all. We should never underestimate or diminish even the tiniest of efforts when they are God initiated. Our obedience counts for generations to come!

“I see a man walking on a muddy road with what looks like rice paddies or watery fields on each side. I thought this must be Brother _______, but no, I heard the Lord say it was brother Ted and he is walking in China. The road is muddy and his feet are making large footprints. However, the road does not stay muddy but the footprints stay in the mud like hardened cement. I see children laughing and singing and jumping into these footprints. They are following the footprints. I ask, ‘Where are they going Lord?’ The Lord replies, ‘Why do you ask where they are going? They are going to My Kingdom!’ Now I see Ted again, but this time there are older people as well as young people around him. The older people have walking sticks and canes and garden rakes, and they, too, are laughing and singing. This is the end of my vision.”

He believed, as we did, that God is saying there will be permanence in what we have done in China. We will have a lasting affect that will effect generations, which is our hearts desire. Regardless of what we or anyone else may see with our natural eyes, God‘s View is eternal and declares that fruit will remain wherever He sends us!

We are in awe that God would allow us to participate in His plan. We have done so little compared to the millions who have done so much in that nation. However, God’s word to all of us is not to diminish or belittle any of our work, prayers or efforts. When we obey and labor for Christ, this is God’s View: He notices and makes certain that fruit comes forth to His glory! The Holy Spirit is at work. We are building upon the blood, the tears, the intercessions, and the teachings of countless godly ones who have gone before us. Many times we may feel like Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I am nobody. Who are you?” But God says that every effort, every building block, every prayer, even every dollar matters. Our lives make a difference in their lives and in lives to come, so don’t give up!

We can hear past generations crying out, “Let there be a harvest…let growth come forth…let the fruit of our labor, our lives, our deaths come forth with an abundant harvest.” Thus, we are humbled and honored to add a little to those who have given so much. We pray you will be, too, and will add your part to the Big picture that ultimately belongs to God!