This article was written by Judith, a returned NZCMS Mission Partner
A legacy takes time to create. I want to acknowledge all the people – local and foreign – who have invested their time and lives into the South Asia area over many past generations. Most never saw large amounts of fruit. It was hard work in a seemingly unyielding land. But they sowed seeds that have sprung to life during my time there.
I was the fortunate one who saw the start of the harvest. I had the privilege of bringing the young shoots forward to maturity. It’s now two years since the momentous (and very difficult) decision to leave. It was a God thing, and I knew it. But it was very painful nonetheless. It was about six to eight years ago that I finally got to the point of thinking “if I left now, this would continue. There is enough momentum and people committed to God’s ways to make it move forward”. This was after twenty-two years in the area! Some things take a long time to root. It was by being embedded for so long that I was able to help a generation.
From that realisation point on, I withdrew even more from day-to-day leadership and looked for new projects to help support the work and the community. Planting a legacy is vital if the work we establish is going to move into the future. NZCMS gave me the opportunity to recently meet again with some of my key staff from those years and the reunion was a slice of heaven on earth. We cried (with joy). We laughed, talked and talked, and prayed and listened. What I heard was wonderful.
The DNA is continuing to reproduce. The miracles and healings are continuing. The times of quiet before the Lord is changing lives. Bible teaching feeds the soul and spirit. I entreated them to continue to teach, and to teach the next generation to teach the generation after them also. Each generation must learn to pass on to the next.
When I was still there, people came to us with mixed motivations. Now there are no economic benefits to coming to a meeting or for prayer. What some regarded as secondary, are now realising the importance of. i.e. the spiritual food that is on offer.
The ministry I was a part of is now finished. What is continuing is a ministry from and to the heart. Those who were on the staff are being requested to create meetings where locals can find again the source of Living Water. Young people are wanting direction for their lives. Older people are wanting to hear from their Lord and have their burdens lifted. We are hearing reports of the strength of the young adults who’ve come through our teaching and education help. They are now the teachers. Some have now moved into positions of influence. They are finding their roots are deep and are passing on to the next generation what they have found. This is exciting.
Villages are now praying for each other and seeing healings and other miracles. It’s small and slow, but growing. What I lost was my community. My people. What they have gained is a distilling of motives and a realisation of what is truly important. Many are waking up! What has been gained far outweighs the losses. Please pray that this momentum will continue into the future and into eternity.
This is what I aim for over many years. By my time in India and through church prayer ministryand supporting the elderly in Rest Homes