Desiring God Conference – done!
Friends,
THANK YOU for your prayers for my talks at the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference. It’s done! And God was amazingly gracious. All yesterday I was feeling so tired with a headache and starting to feel quite overwhelmed. There were over 1600 pastor’s at this year’s conference and looking out at them I could start to feel and comprehend the tremendous joy and opportunity and burden of the possible implications of this talk – how God could use this to impact their lives and the more than 100,000 members of their congregations. Global implications if the Lord would so choose to effect. In my prayers I asked God “what in the world am I doing here?!” It was a sweet preparation of my heart though in feeling so incredibly small and inadequate and to rest again in the bigness and greatness of God. The seminar last night went so well. I really just enjoyed the whole time. There was a great turnout with many more people than seats. But then late to bed and early to rise for my plenary talk. After a wonderful prayer time with John Piper and the other speakers we headed out to the hall. The Lord so blessed me through the singing (”strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord” and “We rest on Thee”). All of the nervousness and trepidation of the day before was gone and as John Piper prayed the Lord granted me freedom in my talk. Thank you for praying for my voice as well! I had a stronger and more resilient voice than almost any time I can remember in recent months. Plus for 68 minutes I was able to trumpet out 100% of what was in my heart through my voice. What a huge blessing!
I need to get to bed, but I just wanted to write quickly to say thank you thank you thank you for praying. I’ll share more about my experiences when I get back. I leave at 1 pm tomorrow for Japan. I’ll arrive in Japan Friday night at 8 pm. Can’t WAIT to see Pearl and the kids (and be home for a nice long stretch of no travel!)
You can see my talk on video or audio on the DG website -
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1624_mis…
With heavenly affection,
Michael
Hi Michael,
I’m Casper, a 25 year old Dutch-Australian living in Singapore. Today at work whilst I was doing my usual job as an interaction designer for a big electronics company whilst I was listening to your Desiring God Conference sermon on my headphones. It hit me really hard. I’ve had a great passion for Japan and understanding how the Gospel can connect with it’s culture for a long time, especially in light of the issues you raised. It was so encouraging to hear your message and call. It was still weighing on my heart heavily as I was silently pushing pixels around the screen afterward. I was considering how to respond when my boss interrupted those thoughts by calling me into a meeting and where I was let me go. His main reason was because he believes I’m being wasted there and that my desires and passions weren’t connecting with the organisation yet of course the economic situation did have it’s part to play.
Now is that a divine calling?
So now I’m trying to figure out what the next step is and your sermon has once again put the ministry of the Gospel and also Japan at the fore of my mind. I would love to know if you have some ideas on how someone like myself could be involved in ministry to Japan.
Cheers,
Casper
Comment by Casper — February 5, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
Hi Micheal. I watched your sermon and wanted to leave a comment, as like you i was wondering where my life was heading and what did i want to achieve? What you said was motivating and now i feel i can step up a gear and realise my aspirations. Thank you.
Comment by Liam — February 5, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
Hi Micheal and Pearl,
My husband and I are living in Kanagawa Prefecture for the next year. We have been here about 5 months now for his job. I am not working and have been praying about getting involved in some type of missions work. I have not been able to find anything around here and was wondering if you know of anyone here or of something that I could do! I would even be willing to travel to you all for a short term assignment if God called. I do not speak any Japanense- major limitation, but I am willing to do anything.
Thanks for your work!
Meg
Comment by Meg — February 6, 2009 @ 9:51 am
Hi Michael, this is josh in silicon valley.
I’m serving small home church & fulltime work in here.
I just watch your message at pastors conference.
It was great.
Do you have a any plan to visiting San Francisco & Bay area? I want to invite you to my cell group & share your vision. Please let me know.
Best Regards!
Josh…
ps. we will keep pray for your ministry.
Comment by Joshua Kim — February 7, 2009 @ 3:57 am
Michale, will you be interested in coming to China to share your stories and challenge the believers here to join Dad’s work in Japan?
Ben
Comment by Ben Shen — February 9, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
Thanks for your encouraging sharing and comments from around the world. For those wanting to get in contact with me you can find that info on our ministry site –
http://www.cbijapan.org/jointheteam/contact.htm
Comment by Michael — February 10, 2009 @ 9:26 am
Thanks my brother for your amazing and courageous message to all of us at DG Conference. I came from Uganda and attended the conference.I’m pastoring a college based church in Kampala. Your message was very timely and touched my heart. It was good of you to say clearly without shame that the church in America should send the best not left overs or rejects. I have had bad experience with missionaries in Uganda and the church in Uganda is settling so much for the prosperity gospel. We need some real rescue package from godly Bible teachers otherwise the church in Africa will continue to be a mile wide but an inch deep. I would love to meet you some day God willing. Keep the good work.
Ps. Micah.
Comment by micah Rwothumio — February 11, 2009 @ 12:15 pm