Crusade day 1: Iron chariots and giants. That’s the picture we had yesterday of the first day of the aLn urban spiritual battle in Nairobi, Kenya. Here’s just a few of the days challenges: “The Kit” – all their equipment: sound system, stage, etc. – still unreleased in port (plan B rentals miraculously set up in time); a late start for the crusade, then the generator fails… wires are spliced, then a set of speakers start to fall towards a section of the crowd; then amongst the tens of thousands at the crusade, hundreds of children get in a fight, and then several hundred have to leave early because the late start put them past their curfew; then the band is a “no show - they were in an accident on the way! Can you imagine? Unbelievable resistance – this team is facing overwhelming barriers… in the visible world. But…
This is a team of Joshuas and Calebs, fixing their eyes on the unseen, believing Jesus called them to bring the Gospel and Kingdom of God into Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, and Nairobi itself, one of Africa’s most sophisticated cities… an area full of iron chariots and giants. All of us sense the enemy frenetically at work to distract and discourage… but, even more, the Spirit’s encouragement to expect the impossible, increasing our resolve and faith-filled hope that tens of thousands will be experiencing the radical transforming power of Jesus. More to come…
Bruce and Charlie (Bruce Halsted and Charlie Burnham)
