When the Lord brought together a small team of people with a big vision, it led to the launching of Momentum Europe. I’ll always be grateful for the original core of five couples – the Johnsons, LaMortes, Parrs, Weimers, and Schrimshers – who were willing to believe that God’s time had come for Europe.
It’s interesting to look back over the ensuing years and see how the vision has evolved – to see the process the Lord has led us through to bring us to a point of growing impact.
Now, I’m reminded of the people of Israel as they stood at the walls of Jericho. They had just seen an incredible miracle with the parting of the Jordan River, and they were ready to move into what God had promised them. They knew from the spies who’d visited Rahab that the city was ripe for taking. They must’ve simply wanted to storm the gates, and yet what did God ask them to do? To march and to sound the trumpets….. and to do it for seven days!
Today, the walls we face aren’t built of brick and mortar, but rather of flesh and blood. They are the walls of people’s hearts. Like the people of Jericho, many of those we have the opportunity to speak with about Jesus – whether through the Riviera Project of the Dresden Initiative – are living behind thick walls of fear; afraid of a God who loves them more than they can imagine. With these people, many who have become close friends of our ministry teams, it time to sound the trumpet – over and over (seven times around the city) – proclaiming to them in gentle words as well as loving actions, the Great News of a trustworthy saviour.
Others of our friends already know Jesus but they face the wall of involvement. Helping to spread the love of Christ across Europe looks to them like an almost impossible task so they shrink back, looking for opportunities that are less demanding. For them, our trumpet call is the Great Commission and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We can’t be afraid of what God calls us to do – rather we must embrace it wholeheartedly and joyfully invite others to join us.
In a few weeks our Momentum Europe ministry team will be meeting for a few days to consider how we can “sound our trumpet” more effectively – helping people in Europe come to Jesus and helping others get involved in the harvest. What great music the Lord has given us to play. I’ll gladly exchange the trombone of my youth for the trumpet of God’s calling. Won’t you join us. Together – you, Momentum Europe and the Lord, can make beautiful music.
(photo courtesy of Boians Cho Joo Young/freedigitalphotos.net)