Who’s Crying Now?

The sermon at our church this past Sunday was given by a Missionary that our church supports. His approach? He told his story. What was super kewl about his method of delivery was, that he also included music titles and lyric quotes in his storyline description of his Journey. His opening statement was; “What is Your Story? His Purpose of this method, is a prayer to be inspired to Go. Go were? To be called to serve. His opening line:

“This is my Story, this is my song, praising my savior, all the day long.”

The first part of his story was about how he found his calling while in Nicaragua feeding hungry children. In some cases, the children didn’t even have a utensil to eat the beans and rice they were being served. Some children just used 3 fingers as their method to feed themselves. He went on describing the overwhelming voice of God who spoke to his heart. He described how he wept in tears so hard, he couldn’t even pray.

“This is my Story, this is my song, praising my savior, all the day long.”

Within this man’s story was a story about his previous mission journey to Haiti. Their mission was to rebuild churches from previous hurricane flooding destruction. During this mission, they had a 3-day torrential rain event. Their sleeping quarters were tents laid out on the concrete they had laid in preparation of the next phase of construction. For the most part, they were able to keep dry. On the second night of the rain, the missionary heard noises outside his tent. As he unzipped his tent to see what was going on outside, he found the local Hatian Pastor from the community they were supporting, on his hands and knees mopping the water away from their tents with a towel. I let out two audible Hmmffs in the church when he shared this. This statement moves me as I write, just as it moved me when I first heard it. Think about that for second if you will…

“This is my Story, this is my song, praising my savior, all the day long.”

As he continued, he gave us some insight into the gang members control over the Capital city and the gangs rural spread. These gangs rule mainly on rape and murder. (My interpretation: They rule with Hierarchy.)

He continued and closed with Revelation 7:9-10

The Great Multitude in White Robes

⁹After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

There were more quotes of lines of Christian music. This time from the hymn of King of Kings:

In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light
‘Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes

And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

Then he shared a stat. More than 4 in 10 people in the world do not have the gospel. There are 3.2 billion people who cannot sing that song. There are 3.2 billion people that don’t even know there is a God in heaven. There are 3.2 Billion people that have to sing in the darkness without hope and without light. AND he the man cried before us.

That’s when he told us about the Good News!

“God has a purpose and a plan. He has a plan for our Churches in North America and across the world. We have the message! We have the good news! We know what Christ has done and continues to do for us!” We have the ability to serve God and take his message across the world! “The Church; it’s up to you!”

“This is my Story, this is my song, praising my savior, all the day long.”

His closing:

“My Story is blessed so that I can be a blessing.”

Phil’s Chorus:

My story is blessed so that I can be a blessing.

Oh, how that plunges deep inside me.

Oh, how the drive within seeks to help in the battle

Oh, how I want to give the women of this world in this battle hope.