Open the Eyes of My Heart

TERRY SHANAHAN, NE REGIONAL PASTOR

“I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,
I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you,
And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.
“I am the LORD that is my name.”
Isaiah 42:6-8

This February I was in Florida for the semi-annual Board of Directors meeting to report to the Board the activity in the Northeast since our July meeting. That is always an exciting time as all the staff comes together to share what is going on in their areas. We can see clearly how the Lord is working in our conference and ministries from these times of sharing.

Following the Board of Directors meeting was the Triennial meeting of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship, in which the CCCC is very active. I was able to stay for that meeting as well. People came from all around the world to gather there and do what we had been doing in the Board meetings. They shared what was going on in their countries and their organizations.

As they showed us the slide shows and pictures of their native mission field, it was so foreign to me compared to our life here in America. But when they spoke of their efforts to spread the gospel, to help the orphans and the poor, to share the weight of ministry with staff and partnerships, it was not so very different from our stories. What I heard was they too have a vision, and a plan. They too are being led by God to spread the good news. They are planting churches, some very prolifically. They are assisting their existing churches. They are caring for their people who serve in the ministries. They are struggling with finances to grow and sustain their ministries. They may not speak our language, but they share our hearts and our vision and pathway to love God, love others and make disciples along the way.

This experience really opened my eyes to a greater vision. When we put our head down to push forward in the midst of resistance, we don’t see that we are shoulder to shoulder with a host of others who are pressing in the gospel and pushing out the darkness with us. What an uplifting and eye opening experience. I am so thankful I was able to be a part of it.

As I reflect on all the people I met who put names and faces to the concept of global evangelism, I have new prayer lists to include those I met personally. One particular presentation caught me up. Rev. Go Suan Thang from Myanmar (formerly Burma) shared that he had 30 children in his care that were orphaned by the Tsunami. Because of finances, they do not have a building, but they rent houses. As you might expect, the landlords, when they find out the house has 30 children, do not renew the lease. So they are forced to move regularly- struggling to find a place to live for these 30 orphans perhaps finding their own place. I will be praying for God to answer his prayer. I look forward to the story next time we meet!

My eyes have been opened!