Mission
About to go forth
09/15/2008 07:56 PM
About
a year ago I was impacted in my heart concerning the
injustice in America towards Native Americans. It's one
of the major issues of our national guilt that requires
repentance. Foreigners came into America and went to
war against the natives. America's great beginning is
now showing up in history books as the first real
genocide (a term not coined until the 1900's, because
it wasn't needed until then). I grew up about 20 miles
from Chief Vann's house, and remember the story... when
the time came, the US government forced every native
american in our region into a forced march. That
included those like Vann, who had learned english,
lived and did business among the european culture that
had overrun his people's land. The US wasn't interested
in educating or integrating. Thousands were gathered in
Chattanooga, TN in temporary prison camps until they
took the long and difficult march to respective
territories. Territories our government had assessed as
worthless and infertile. They promised the first
nations people governmental sovereignty in their own
territories, which sounded nice, but really meant no
help, supply, or support.
Just when I was in a season interceding over the issue, I was invited to a 'Trail of Tears' memorial ride. I was invited to a one day ride, and thought it would be a great opportunity to partner my faith with action, to intercede while on the Trail, and share the love of Christ. Then I found out the entire ride was a five day trip to the Muskogee Nation. The next week at IHOP-Atl's Encounter Service, our friends Joel and Marissa Bidderman shared about their ministry to native american youth in Arizona. After the service, I got in my wife's car to go eat dinner, and we looking at each other and realized that God was calling me to the entire ride.
I got a vision for interceding on my bike, ministering to bikers at the stops, and ministering at the reserve. And then I found out that I'm going on the largest motorcycle ride in the US annually, with 90,000 riders expected. This Friday I'm heading out, and once again the life of John Wesley is encouraging my heart. John rode his horse daily and preached the gospel everywhere he went (an average of 15 messages per week over his lifetime). He was bold even when beaten and broken, cursed, yelled at, publicly humiliated, chased out of town. Yet he persevered, being filled with the love of God, enduring in prayer, and burning with God's love towards others. Thousands of lives were directly ushered into the Kingdom because of John's witness. Much like John, I'm heading into darkness in a saddle (though I have a few more 'horses' than he did). And to the native americans! John learned a dozen native american dialects so he could share the gospel with them-- that's a heart truly burdened! I'm praying for divine appointments, strength in my inner man, signs, wonders, healing miracles, boldness, and the Word of the Lord. I also pray for protection against spiritual enemies as I reach out among the heathen, the pagan, the oppressed. Many bikers call their 'eat, drink, liberal sex, and be merry' lifestyle 'freedom', not knowing the bondage they are under, or the hope that Yeshua offers. And as many riders and peoples we visit will be native americans, I'm also preparing my heart for the demonic forces that have entangled practitioners of witchcraft and demon worship. I hope you'll partner with me in prayer.
Just when I was in a season interceding over the issue, I was invited to a 'Trail of Tears' memorial ride. I was invited to a one day ride, and thought it would be a great opportunity to partner my faith with action, to intercede while on the Trail, and share the love of Christ. Then I found out the entire ride was a five day trip to the Muskogee Nation. The next week at IHOP-Atl's Encounter Service, our friends Joel and Marissa Bidderman shared about their ministry to native american youth in Arizona. After the service, I got in my wife's car to go eat dinner, and we looking at each other and realized that God was calling me to the entire ride.
I got a vision for interceding on my bike, ministering to bikers at the stops, and ministering at the reserve. And then I found out that I'm going on the largest motorcycle ride in the US annually, with 90,000 riders expected. This Friday I'm heading out, and once again the life of John Wesley is encouraging my heart. John rode his horse daily and preached the gospel everywhere he went (an average of 15 messages per week over his lifetime). He was bold even when beaten and broken, cursed, yelled at, publicly humiliated, chased out of town. Yet he persevered, being filled with the love of God, enduring in prayer, and burning with God's love towards others. Thousands of lives were directly ushered into the Kingdom because of John's witness. Much like John, I'm heading into darkness in a saddle (though I have a few more 'horses' than he did). And to the native americans! John learned a dozen native american dialects so he could share the gospel with them-- that's a heart truly burdened! I'm praying for divine appointments, strength in my inner man, signs, wonders, healing miracles, boldness, and the Word of the Lord. I also pray for protection against spiritual enemies as I reach out among the heathen, the pagan, the oppressed. Many bikers call their 'eat, drink, liberal sex, and be merry' lifestyle 'freedom', not knowing the bondage they are under, or the hope that Yeshua offers. And as many riders and peoples we visit will be native americans, I'm also preparing my heart for the demonic forces that have entangled practitioners of witchcraft and demon worship. I hope you'll partner with me in prayer.
