Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
(Exodus 1:8)
I wonder how Moses felt about this commission? Too small? Too insignificant? Was he over- whelmed and afraid? I think so. He spends quite a bit of time arguing with God about it. (See Exodus 4). The story of the Exodus has spoken to me a lot this year because I have been on a similar journey. If you have kept up with my blogs then you know God has been calling me away from "tending sheep in the wilderness" (aka- Personal Training) and into a new call. A call to minister the Word of God to the Homeless and Impoverished of Downtown Amarillo. Like Moses I argued with God about my qualifications and my "calling" but the cry of the people became too great:
"The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob".
(Exodus 2:23&24)
Finally I gave Him my surrender.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
(Isaiah 6:8)
As of January 1st I am no longer taking new training clients in order that I can step fully into what the Lord is inviting me to do. This year I have had the opportunity to share the Isaiah Challenge with multiple Churches and Outreaches. I have been able to preach the gospel to the poor (literally!). In December I was invited to be a part of a new program at the 2-1-1 Resource Center Downtown. I teach a Biblically Based self-worth class to the homeless and impoverished. I have been given opportunity to help bring in a Christian Addiction Recovery program with other faith programs on the horizon! God has done many provision miracles and sent other laborers into His vineyard to help with the work of Isaiah 61.
"the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,"
(Isaiah 61:1)
This call is to Christ and His Church. If this passage has ever burned within you then this is a HELP WANTED call! I have many open doors and am praying the Lord to send forth laborers into His vineyard. Roman and I are expanding NMI-Network (the itinerate ministry we have had for the past four years) to include this work of God's Spirit to the poor. Over the past several months we have had several meals and "fellowships" to get to know the people being ministered to. Special gifts such as Valentine Candy and Prayer Beads are part of how the Lord has led us to show His extravagant love to those society calls the "least of these" but He calls "the greatest in the Kingdom". If you would be interested in helping in any way with this work please contact us! (E-mail challenge@angelaasbill.com) All ministries need financial support (we are non-profit and tax deductible) but they also need MUCH prayer. Another need I have is for those who would like to be a part of serving the people, giving a testimony, organizing an outreach, etc. We are not going Downtown to offer physical bread (though that is a part of it) we are going to offer the TRUE BREAD WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN!
This is a new and scary venture for me but:
Where He leads me, I will follow!
(My 2nd self-worth class. First class 9 attended. 2nd class we increased to 22 people!)
