15 Years' Worth of Fruit

This week I would like to share a letter written by AZ's Director, Tim Hilty. It was penned in response to bi-weekly ministry reports submitted by each of our team members. I found it to be encouraging and hope you do, too. Tim writes from the states~

Action Zambia,

I just wanted to respond to the encouraging reports that I've been getting from those of you on the field. Testimonies about the type of fruit we are beginning to see in our ministries are very good and it's important that we celebrate it when we see it. I'll mention but a few things.

It was very heartening for me to hear the report from Brent about GCB {Great Commission Bible Church} and their decision to start another cell group within their ministry area. In this we can praise the Lord as we see the church latching onto the importance of discipleship as well as multiplying (through the training they received).

And, in an email I received from Tracy recently, he shared how he was able to officiate at the graduation of ten pastors at Anderson Jere's church. The Veritas curriculm that ABI is using to teach pastors biblical exegesis requires that pastors also teach to others the same material that they have received. So when Anderson Jere takes what he has learned in ABI and in turn teaches it within his church we praise God for multiplying our labors and efforts. Please pray that God would bless the men and women we invest in~that they might apply the Word to their lives and be stewards of the training they are receiving. Of course, there are many other examples we can point to as well.

I think it's appropriate to point out that these things are coming about in part due to our long term focus in ministry. Multiplication, equipping, discipleship, and relationship all have one thing in common~they take time and they require a "15 year focus" rather than a "15 month focus". Never give up in the work that you are doing and never abandon some of these principles because the great irony is that when we operate with the long-term in mind we will actually begin to see some dividends that last. . . . quicker than we would see if we operated with the short-term in mind. In other words, when we build for the long haul, we should also expect to see fruit from that~and some of that fruit will be evidenced quite early. We do not have to wait 15 years for fruit. The temptation is out there to make short-term investments but what we need is long~term investments. May we pray diligently that God would help us persevere and stay the course. Be encouraged, we are involved in a good work. May the glory of God be displayed in each of our lives.

In Christ,

Tim