Welcoming God’s Word at the Conference

Romans 15:7 says "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

This is what we've been experiencing in Congo, and it should motivate us in America to welcome others as we have been welcomed, to the glory of God. We praise Him for continued answered prayers and for this living lesson before us in these people who we came to teach, but also have much to learn from.

Monday morning they literally rolled the red carpet out for us at the place where they hosted the conference.

It was a visual for what we were about to experience with wonderful people welcoming us and welcoming God's Word with joy. The warm hospitality and honoring of us as guests was humbling and heart-warming. Men and women greeted us with smiles and thanks for coming and many wanted pictures with us.

One of the pastors had to leave his home at 6 AM to get there by 9 AM. The first session began with special music from Didier’s daughters and another gifted singer from Kitumaini. On the break a group of pastors spontaneously (with permission from Didier) stood up to sing about Jesus as the rock and how when He is high, everything else will be alright (or something like that).

Tyler surprised us all in his teaching when he quoted Romans 8:28-29 in French from memory - and there was a rousing response.

Monday’s opening message was on the supremacy of Christ in all things as an introduction to Colossians. Tyler then spoke on the sufficiency of Christ in soul care, how Christ and His Word is enough to save and to change people. Didier said it was a very impactful point that we can help people with the Bible and we can change. Even if our problems don’t change, we can be changed by the Word to be more like Christ in our problems. Between the 2 of us we taught most of Colossians 1 on Monday. I think about half of the 60-70 attendees are pastors, and it is really good that their wives and other servants take part.

On Tuesday I picked up where we left off with Colossians 1:25-29 on expository preaching and exalting Jesus, focusing on the phrases ‘to fully proclaim the word’ and ‘we proclaim Him’. Then Tyler gave a very helpful exposition of chapter 2:1-5 and my task was to teach through 2:6-23. The men are so responsive and hungry, and it is feeding my soul as much as I hope to feed theirs. With schedules and traffic our teaching time is 9:00-1:00 each day with a brief Q&A followed by a lunch fellowship so we head out around 2:00. The mamas there need hours to prepare dinner, another humbling reality with the amazing meals Mama Annie cooks for us each night.

Didier said one of the women was so blessed today that she asked Didier if she could bring all her children Wednesday. Tomorrow we will teach Colossians 3 which begins with a focus on heaven, and we will give all attendees an abridged version of Randy Alcorn’s book in French. We hope to cover chapter 3 into chapter 4, then on Thursday we will focus on preaching and will give all preachers present a book by David Helm on Expositional Preaching (9Marks series). On Friday we will focus on counseling (sexual sin, anger, deliverance, and reconciliation). Please keep praying for the next 3 days that our teaching and the books that Tyler brought will bear fruit long beyond our time.