Dr Dorothy Mathieson is stepping down as Servants International Coordinator at the end of 2004 after three years of faithful service. She offers 12 highlights of her term as a glimpse of the good things God is doing in the Servants world…
1. Aussie team (13 of us) conducting a simulation game at the UNOH conference – wild laughter, pressure packed learning about the complications of doing development. Home end volunteers, all with meaningful roles – essential for Servants growth.
2. NZ prayer groups – one has been going for over 20 years! They are informed, involved, prophetic prayers – the power behind our work.
3. USA -a leader in urban mission challenged us to serve not just criticise the churches. Seeing Jesus in a new way in His broken body, humbled and called us in from the edge of the church to serve in love.
4. UK Greenbelt gathering – tents and rain but many were touched as Dave Andrews poured out his heart about God’s call to the poor.
5. Germany – 2 lovely young women shared their global search for a mission that combined a passionate love for Jesus with social justice – biblical wholism. That’s why they enquired about Servants.
6. Switzerland – Servants here is built around good friendships and lots of enjoyable time together. After eating Swiss chocolate sandwiches, who wouldn’t join Servants?
7. India 1 – My favourite snapshot is of a Muslim believer cuddling the baby of a Servants family. Such love and courage and new faith developed through the tortuous struggles for legal land for his slum community.
8. India 2 – a former Brahmin now teaches women in the cooperative how to pray. Our workers recognise and are awed the creativity of the Spirit.
9. Nagaland – a Bible school becomes excited at our invitation to join in urban mission training in a mega Indian city this month. They are desperate for keys to serve their own youth who have the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in India.
10. Thailand – a NZ family returned home from serving the poor in the south. But they left behind a beautiful deposit of love and sacrifice that will surely bear fruit.
11. Cambodia – the fabulous dancing, singing and feasting of the TASK celebrations – the local leaders to whom all Servants projects have been entrusted. 10 years of challenging, life-changing discipleship. What a party!
12 Manila – 8 Filipinos , all from the slums, gathered to form Servants Philippines – to send out their own friends to serve in other cultures. They asked with some tears- can we who are poor send out missionaries? Yes – by the same grace that has called us – we can!
These are a few of my treasured snapshots – my images of hope and confidence that God will continue calling workers and growing His Kingdom among the poor. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve Servants over the last 3 years.
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