Travel Diary 11: PRAY!

Hi Everyone,

Before getting to the report about today and what I learned when meeting with the Liberian team, I have a serious prayer request. Here is the situation. I am scheduled to leave Liberia Thursday at 6:40pm and fly to Ghana. I am scheduled to arrive in Ghana at 8:30pm and catch a flight my flight to Amsterdam at 10:10pm. 

THE INBOUND FLIGHT INTO LIBERIA HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY LATE THE LAST FOUR TIMES INCLUDING MY FLIGHT MONDAY. IF IT IS THE SAME TOMORROW, THURSDAY, I WILL PROBABLY MISS MY FLIGHT TO AMSTERDAM. I SEEM TO BE AT THE MERCY OF KENYA AIRWAYS. PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSE TO ON TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ABOUT JULY 16.

It was an informative time with the Liberian team today. As much as I’ve learned about African Traditional Religions in the past 24 years, I learned more today.

I had each team member give a report on the mentoring group they are leading. There are three groups meeting here. The reports were positive with pastors being mentored responding to what is being taught. One team member, whose group is into the notes for mentoring meeting #20 about how to interpret Scripture and he reported that the pastors are really responding to this and stating that this is exactly what they are needing. 

But the big story from today is how much the Liberian traditional religions are still followed here and how much pressure there is on each person to adhere to the traditions and pass them on. The reasoning being that you are forsaking your ancestors who passed the traditions onto you if you do not pass them on to the next generation. These traditions are laced with principles of witchcraft, ancestor worship, and fear of the spirit world. And as I said, the family and community to adhere to the traditions is strong. One risks losing business and relationships if he/she forsakes any of the traditions. 

ANOTHER UNEXECTED INSIGHT

Years ago I prepared studies in what the Bible teaches about divination, magic, and sorcery. I also prepared other studies on demons, Satan, and Angels. This team has, so far, incorporated these lessons on magic, witchcraft, divination, sorcery, and demons into their mentoring and they have been big hits because they push back on what the traditional religions teach about these same things.

Before we closed, there was a request that I also prepare position papers or booklets on so called prophetic dreams, visions, and revelations because these are the claims false teachers us to draw crowds and gain fame. It has been my intent to do more writing when I have the chance and with Chris McMillan taking more of the responsibility inside the ministry, hopefully this will free up some time for me to think about these things, do some research, and write up some papers on these. 

Our driver this week, who oversees 21 churches in the Monrovia area, was loaned a copy of my booklet on Apostles, Prophets, Signs, Miracles, and Wonders Today and has thanked me for writing it. 

I think that is it for today. I want to get some new pictures into the photo album including a few more from the Q&A time with the youth yesterday. Then I can relax and set my sites on home and PRAY the incoming flight tomorrow arrives in time to turn around and get me to Accra, Ghana in time to catch my 10:10 flight.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THAT!

By His grace,
Steve

HERE is the link to the photo album