From Small Beginnings

I recently came across this article about a Russian family who survived in the wilderness cut off from civilization for over 40 years.  It is worth a read just for interest sake, but I was struck by one particular episode in their very difficult life.  The constantly lives at the edge of starvation but one winter discovered a sole rye plant growing in their pea patch.  They knew this might be what would safe them from the famine so they protected this little plant, putting up a fence, guarding it day and night from the squirrels and mice.  When the plant finally ripened it produced just 18 seeds.  But this harvest of a single stock was the basis for a whole crop of rye.

So often the growth of the church is like the experience of that Russian family.  Jesus himself spoke in a parable comparing the growth of the kingdom to a grain of mustard - a tiny seed that grows into a large tree.  But is needs to be watered and cared for, especially when it is just a young plant.  The work here in Haiti is really just beginning.  And here we plant seeds, water when it is needed, chase away the birds that would steal the seeds and pray for God to give the growth.

On a recent trip to Port-au-Prince I was again struck by the people trying to make small beginnings.  Did this man start his business with just one bird?  Maybe.  Was he hoping for more than just enough money from the sale of his pigeons to eat that day?  Probably.  You have to start somewhere and in Haiti people start small and hope for big things.  But they need than a better economic situation.  They need more than a prosperous country.

What the people of Haiti need first of all is a good spiritual foundation.  And it does start small, with these young children.  I am thankful that I am called to preach the gospel and to live a godly life so that people might come to faith in Christ.  And these new plantings of the Lord need to be tended.  So we spend time with them.  We teach them the Scriptures.  And we pray that the Holy Spirit sees fit to regenerate their hearts and bring them to faith.  "I planted, Apollos water, but God gave the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:6)  Pray with us that from one seed would grow a plant and from that small plant a whole field of ripe grains.  All ready to serve the Lord here in Haiti and to give Him the glory he deserves.