Today I took a couple of large boxes filled with IAP files to the shredder. The process of getting some of these files from the cabinet to the box was interesting. First, I had to look through the files to see which ones were necessary and which were not. Some of the files I didn’t even have to think twice about throwing out. Others caused some hesitation before sending them to the pile.

Another class contained history that needed to be preserved. These took some time sorting. Some contained ideas that eventually were never acted upon, while others revealed plans that actually came to pass.  This sparked memories, precious memories. They are treasured because they point to God’s faithfulness and remind me not to give up. Paul said it this way, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Some take-away’s come with today’s task:

• The past is the past; I can’t change it, nor will ever be the same.
• Some of the past needs to be thrown away. There were some letters that revealed heartache and conflict. Things I would have done differently if I could. Did I learn from these times? I hope so. But I can’t change the past, so I need to shred it. Or as Bob Buford put it, “Never let failures live beyond their death.”
• I cannot control the future.  God did not follow the written plans. Many times our timing was not His...so we had to wait.
• Projects are not the end result. Changed lives are. So what should I really treasure?

Last night my wife and I spent the evening with some friends in Reardan, a farming community just outside of Spokane. The dinner was wonderful, but reliving some of the IAP history was not only enjoyable, but refreshing and encouraging. Daniel, a business man from Romania, was in town and staying with Fred and Vickie. Daniel wasn’t always a businessman. When we first met him he was just a young man trying to find his way in a broken country that was looking to heal from years of communist oppression.

IAP was invited into this brokenness and began by setting up a farm. Fred took the lead with getting donated equipment and Marlin, another Spokane businessman, took time out from his business and, with his wife Sharon, moved to Romania to help these people build businesses that would not only create jobs, but provide funding for churches and outreach. Into this exciting adventure comes Daniel. These men and others took this young man that knew very little about business, mentored him and the rest is history.

The farm turned into a seed mill, the mill into the construction of silos and steel buildings. This process was not a cakewalk and a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the development of RDI. But to see the product of hard work and perseverance and hear the stories of what God has done warmed our hearts. Daniel is now the President of RDI which currently employs 27 Romanians. We viewed pictures on his computer (which I might add was new and much better than mine…not fair…J) of a recently finished 8 million dollar contract. IMPRESSIVE!!

Business, professionals, marketplace people have a wonderful opportunity to minister where they are planted, whether that be as a business-owner or an employee. But God also pricks the hearts of some to take their spiritual gifts and vocational skills and use them to impact the community outside of their local environment. Fred, Marlin and other successful businessmen caught the vision and helped to change lives and impact a needy part of our world.

This transformation that takes place in a life when it connects with people and helps change the world is what keeps IAP moving forward. Although our role in this story is sometimes small, we are blessed as we see God move in the lives of so many. He continues presenting opportunities for linking businesses and professionals with projects in low income countries.

What is your story and how can IAP partner with you?

I just finished meeting with two women from a local title company who came in asking what they could do professionally to earn my business. It didn't take very long for the conversation to shift from business pleasantries to a conversation of substance.

One of the ladies asked, "How is everything else going?” Anyone who knows me knows how I responded. My demeanor immediately brightened as I began to share about Letta MFI and the ongoing work of IAP. This is what Kim (my wife) and I are passionate about. This is what gets us up in morning. As one of the ladies sensed my enthusiasm, she shared with me her daughter's desire to possibly take off a year from college and get involved in Africa.

"In Africa? What does that mean?" That is the question this mother is asking herself and praying about. "Is this just some new fad or trend that has captured my daughter's heart or is there merit in this prompting?"

I challenged this concerned mother to nurture this dialogue with her daughter and commit it to prayer. She cannot discount that the Spirit of the Living God may in fact be behind all this.

I admit that as we watch the news and world events we are inundated with celebrities and people of notoriety who are turning their efforts and fortunes toward the continent of Africa. What is their motivation in this? I am not going to even begin to search their hearts and judge their motivations, but it is interesting that it seems like Africa is becoming a status symbol of sorts. Why is this?

Why is this happening...or...why is this interesting?

Oh, I know why it is happening. It is happening because the need is so great on the continent of Africa. People who are confronted by the reality of the situation are quickly cut to the heart and demand a response to the injustice of poverty and the fallout from such a crisis. The images of death, malnutrition, orphans, widows, blight, famine, war, genocide, disease, etc haunt those who have be confronted by this overwhelming reality. To not act would be inhumane (un-human). To not act would rob one of any hope or joy in their own life. Regardless of the motivation, there is a response.

What is interesting is that it has become a status symbol in some regard. Why? Why are the Bonos, the Dilians, the Jolies, the Pitts, the Clooneys of the world being noticed and placed on a pedestal by many for their philanthropic work in Africa? Simply and humbly stated, it is novelty. It is something new and newsworthy.

The fact is that even in times of immense prosperity here in the United States and other "civilized" nations during the 1900's (and truthfully even now) we have, as a people, turned a blind eye to the situation in Africa. We have simply chosen to forget or ignore our global community, so we could have more time and resources to commit to our self-indulgent lifestyles. I know that sounds harsh, but I am right there in the middle of that statement. We as a nation and more specifically as the American church have utterly failed in our response to the needs of the world. So because we have been apathetic and ineffective for so long, the world will take notice of those who have not.

Wow, John! Are you actually saying that the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation and individual actors and superstars have been more the "hands and feet" of Christ than the very Church that Christ established through his death and ministry!

What I know is this.

There are millions of people who, because of circumstances and not choice, wake up daily to "Africa" and everything that that word encapsulates. These people are crying out to the Lord of Hosts for reprieve and provision. The Lord is not going to ignore their cries. He will respond. He will use all means necessary to sustain those that love Him.

The true injustice is that God is not receiving the glory. As God uses those who are willing, to answer the cries of His people, His name is being replaced with names of men.

Church of God, understand that the plan for this world is you. You, being filled by God Himself, have the power and ability to return the glory of God to its rightful place. Africa is not a lost cause. It is not a stage on which to perform. It is not an outlet for my carnal need to feel good about what I am doing. It is an altar.

As the Church rebuilds this altar and sacrificing ensues, God's glory will be made known to this world and Africa will no longer be a trend, but a place of worship.