Sit with them…

“So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he [being the Ethiopian Eunuch] said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”- Acts 8:30-31

This very familiar story truly captures the essence of what I have seen take place during this trip: pastors and their wives yearning to have a deeper understanding of Scripture, and a team being sent out to sit with them.

As we completed our last day of training, we were able to see immediate fruit from our several months of labor. Listening to the observations and applications from the pastors and their wives demonstrated that our time with them was not in vain and that they were successfully becoming equipped to continue teaching and leading the people of India.

At the end of one of our training sessions, I listened to a young pastor as he began to share the impact that our time in the Scriptures had made in his life. He explained that so many of them read the Bible everyday and yet don’t understand it well enough to gain much application. Many of these pastors are in charge of congregations that are also wanting to hear from the Lord, however, they have not been taught to systematically study and apply the Bible. He shared that the past two days have opened his eyes and he can now clearly see what the Lord is saying through Scripture. He also feels equipped to share the study method we taught him with those in his church. Praise God!

Today, on our way to the airport, we visited the home of one of the pastors that attended our training. He had just finished his church service. When we asked him what he preached on, he shared that he taught them the Bible study method using a passage of his choosing. Not only did he understand the method and apply it to his own time in the Word, he has now equipped 65 people that meet in his home for church. Praise God!

Though we have only been here for 10 days, the work we have done here will impact generations! However, the work is not done. There are so many pastors in so many places who are striving to preach and teach God’s Word effectively! They are committed to working and fighting tirelessly by the power and might of the Holy Spirit. What they need are more who are willing to get in the chariot and sit with them.

Are you willing to go?