The Lord's prevenience is revealed in many areas. Preparing people of peace who are receptive to the message before we are aware of them. Providing the resources we need before we know we need them. See below for a story from Noah Cremisino of God moving to assemble a church planting team in surprising and unexpected ways before Noah even knew there was a need.Tell us a story of how you are seeing God work preveniently in your location. And, take a minute to beseech the Lord of the Harvest to thrust out more harvest workers in ChristChurch, NZ.
John
This may be a story of a pre-prevenience given the context of the question, but I think it applies.
As my wife and I prepared to move from Denver to NZ to join the Father in what He's already doing here (with simple church in mind) we felt that God did not intend to send us alone. A team of wonderful people had come together around us (2 different couples) and it seemed as though God had orchestrated things quite nicely.
As time went by, however, it became clear to us and both of the couples that they weren't actually meant to come along - at least not at this point in the journey. And, thus, in a matter of a few months, we were back to being "teamless".
This was not meant to be a deterrent, we didn't sense that it was, but it definitely left us asking God why he'd given us the sense that we were not to go alone.
Skipping along.
To keep it short and sweet - we arrived in NZ in March and within 2 months God answered our questions and fulfilled His promise (about us not going alone). Through the often mind-boggling web of connections we ended up meeting a young couple (same as us) who God had brought to the exact same city as us with almost identical visions of planting house churches and joining the Father in His prevenient plans for the city.
This couple came from South Africa as "tent-making missionaries" to New Zealand, just a year and a half before we did. The "coincidences" are too many to list here - but it's obvious that God has been planning His work here in Christchurch for much longer than any of us could comprehend.
It's an absolute JOY to be on mission with the Father. I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want to do it any other way. He leads and He fulfills. We just obey and watch incredible things take shape all around us.
As my wife and I prepared to move from Denver to NZ to join the Father in what He's already doing here (with simple church in mind) we felt that God did not intend to send us alone. A team of wonderful people had come together around us (2 different couples) and it seemed as though God had orchestrated things quite nicely.
As time went by, however, it became clear to us and both of the couples that they weren't actually meant to come along - at least not at this point in the journey. And, thus, in a matter of a few months, we were back to being "teamless".
This was not meant to be a deterrent, we didn't sense that it was, but it definitely left us asking God why he'd given us the sense that we were not to go alone.
Skipping along.
To keep it short and sweet - we arrived in NZ in March and within 2 months God answered our questions and fulfilled His promise (about us not going alone). Through the often mind-boggling web of connections we ended up meeting a young couple (same as us) who God had brought to the exact same city as us with almost identical visions of planting house churches and joining the Father in His prevenient plans for the city.
This couple came from South Africa as "tent-making missionaries" to New Zealand, just a year and a half before we did. The "coincidences" are too many to list here - but it's obvious that God has been planning His work here in Christchurch for much longer than any of us could comprehend.
It's an absolute JOY to be on mission with the Father. I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want to do it any other way. He leads and He fulfills. We just obey and watch incredible things take shape all around us.
Great story! I love the way we are learning to not get discouraged with the changes that creep in, as we are seeing how God has all things in His control and in His plan. Thanks for sharing your journey, Noah. It is very encouraging to me.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear the update Noah! Keep up the good work of Abiding.
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