God’s Concern for All Creation

I want to take this opportunity to share insights from an on-line course I’m doing with Discipling Nations Alliance (DNA) which is an organization that serves the Church with teachings that help the body of Christ be the principal agent of restoring, healing and blessing for broken nations. We need to reclaim the holistic Gospel which includes all of creation. God is concerned about more than salvation.
Genesis 9: 9 – 17 reads:

Now behold, I am establishing My covenant (binding agreement, solemn promise) with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you—the birds, the livestock, and the wild animals of the earth along with you, of everything that comes out of the ark—every living creature of the earth. I will establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the water of a flood, nor shall there ever again be a flood to destroy and ruin the earth.” And God said, “This is the token (visible symbol, memorial) of the [solemn] covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations; I set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring clouds over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the clouds, and I will [compassionately] remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again will the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the rainbow is in the clouds and I look at it, I will [solemnly] remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This [rainbow] is the sign of the covenant (solemn pledge, binding agreement) which I have established between Me and all living things on the earth. (AMP Version)

The Gospel includes life, land, society and Nations. Here are supporting passages:
Deuteronomy 30: 15 – 20; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 58:6-7; Deuteronomy 4:5 – 8; John 3:16 and Colossians 1:5-20.

In Luke 2:52, it speaks of Jesus growing in wisdom, finding favor with God and men. The role of the Church is to equip His people to serve, check out Ephesians 4: 11 – 12. Her ending point is to prepare God’s people for works of service. We were born again to reflect the attitude of Christ. What happen when we equip others to serve? According to Ephesian 4: 13 we become unified, mature and reflect the fullness of Christ. Also, Ephesian 3: 17 -19 tells us when others look at us, they should see the fullness of Christ which is love.

God’s principal strategy for the Church is for her to disciple its people to be servants who display His agenda while serving in all domains, not just in evangelism and spiritual issues. I wonder, and I would like you to consider it:

“Do I see this type of service in my own life?”

Discipleship Training School (DTS)

It was a privilege to be part of the staff body for our DTS which ended February 15 with all five students graduating. The theme of the school was Ride the Waves and indeed there are times I felt like I was truly riding the waves. As a school we stayed steady, God showed Himself faithful and as our truly firm foundation.

DTS Outreach

As a school, through intercession, we felt directed to have two outreach locations this year even though we are a small school. The team was divided in two teams based on prayer, with each person getting directive from the Holy Spirit where to go. The locations were Myanmar and Thailand in Asia, and the Gambia in West Africa. Two students and two staff were Team Asia (I was with that team) and three students and one staff were team Gambia.

Raising funds was tedious. Funds were coming in slowly and at the same time finding airfare was a challenge. As Jamaicans would say, “things were getting down to the wire,” and none of us staff had all our money together. But God, through a tangible donation from a parent in the “nick of time” to the staff, helped lift the load. It was God’s answer to prayer! Even after that donation I still needed funds, but today I can boast in God’s faithfulness that all expenses were paid off.

This was my first time going to Asia, and I saw it through God’s eyes. One thing I can say is that God have a witness of Himself in every nation. Things that impacts my heart were:


The hospitality of the people despite their lack
Seeing a child, whose mother is a Buddhist and his father is drunk most of the time, singing and worshipping the Lord until he was overcome in tears and didn’t have words to explain what was happening to him.


Witnessing two Buddhist women saying yes to Jesus and receiving Him by making a public confession with their mouth.
Teaching slum children stories about Jesus
Minister to HIV persons and seeing how joyful they were
Minister at a drug rehab center and hearing their dreams
Meeting Kingdom people in a nation that was once closed
Attending a day of Prayer and Fasting in a predominantly Buddhist nation, and learning that out of the five political houses in Myanmar, three (3) were Christians.
Hearing testimonies of healing, miracles and salvation of many through a outreach held in partnership with YWAMERs and the churches in Myanmar
Building relationship with university students in Thailand
Overall, between both outreach teams over sixty (60) persons received salvation

Intern Program

Two of the students are back with us until May participating in YWAM Montego Bay Interns Program. Presently there are four (4) persons enrolled.

Rest

I got to spend sometimes with my family for two weeks. It was a much needed time of rest and reconnection.

Teams

Thanks to our partnership with University of Georgia annual team of seventy-five (75) students and staff we were able to:


− Build a home for a single mother of five children, two of whom lives with her.
− Facelift a church by painting two bathrooms, inside the sanctuary, and part of the outside


− Started a much needed barrier with tires at a Primary School
− Did some road work to facilitate smoother driving to a Children’s Home
− Painting and raking our base YWAM Mobay
− Much needed assistance at a Deaf School
Thank you, team, for your diligence and hard work!

Gardening

Yes friends, three of our interns and myself has started a gardening project with the hope of planting a variety of vegetables. So far, we have cleared the land and are presently tilling the soil in preparation for planting. We have collected seeds such as pumpkin, cucumber, sweet pepper, tomato, scotch bonnet pepper, and papaya. It’s hard work, but it’s done with a team spirit and joyfulness. We are also making compost to use as nutrients for the soil.

NIKO 2020 Up-date

Due to COVID-19 our April camp was cancelled. All being well, the next one will be August 2 -7, 2020.

Praise Report

  • Abundant provision for all students and staff for outreach both Africa and Asia
  • For the over sixty (60) persons who say yes to Jesus during outreach
  • The seed that was planted with the expectation of them bearing fruits.
  • For all the safety, provision and protection during this season

Prayer Requests

Support–All YWAM staff is responsible to raise their own support through financial gifts from friends, family and churches. Will you prayerfully consider joining my support team for the next two years by giving a monthly or one-time donation? My goal is to raise at least U.S.$500 monthly which will cover expenses such as accommodation, food, savings, tithes and gifts, and miscellaneous. I am presently at U.S.$252.

Homes of Hope–Pray for the single mother and her children that have received this house. That they will continue to experience God’s kindness and that it will lead them to repentance. For all the persons who have sowed with their resources and labor that will be protected during this season of pandemic.

Slum Ministry in Asia

  • Please pray that the seed that were planted will bear fruit.
  • For better living condition for these families, also for jobs.
  • For conversion from Buddhism to an authentic walk with God
  • For protection during this season

Ministry with University Students in Asia

  • Pray for each student that they will come into their full identity as sons and daughters
  • For clarity for those who are completing their studies as to what’s next
  • For provision of jobs
  • For those who want to do D.T.S., will get direction where to do it and for financial provision
  • For the campus ministry that is discipling them

May God bless and keep you and your family that you may prosper in all your endeavors.
Ingrid Smith