Captain Slog.. Stuart Read

CAPTAIN SLOG: STAR DATE September 1st.

The Moravian Church of the 1700s has always been an inspiration to me. It started when Count Zindendorf opened his grounds to persecuted Christians who needed a place to be safe. There they began to worship together, but also to bicker and fight over their doctrinal differences. By getting them to focus on the Cross and the love of Jesus that they shared in common, Zindendorf managed to get them to put their differences aside and pray together. As they prayed, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit was poured out. The revival lasted years and the community of broken, hurting, bickering Christians was transformed into one of the greatest missionary movements the world has ever known. They began a prayer meeting that lasted uninterrupted for over 100 years and helped to spark the Wesleyan and New England revivals of the following centuries.
 
When we started Word of Life here in Incheon in January 2008, people from many different church backgrounds started attending. Just as Zinzendorf's community was the only Christian community available to the Moravians, the choice of English language churches in Incheon is also pretty limited! Many of our people were hurting or backsliden Christians who God has healed and restored. He has poured great grace over us as a church. There has been very little bickering over doctrinal issues, which is a miracle considering the diversity we have among the 50 or so people who come regularly.
 
We haven't seen the outpouring of revival or started our 100 year prayer movement (yet!), but one thing that is evident is a stirring for mission. The Moravians had a principle of tithing their people to missions. 10% went overseas for the Great Commission. This summer we were able to send 5 of our church members on short-term missions. That's about 10%!!! Three went to Tibet to engage in spiritual warfare praise and prayer on behalf of the unreached Kham Tibetan people; one went to Yiwi in China to teach the Bible for 10 days; and one volunteered as a team leader at a Bible camp attended by North Korean children who have escaped from the persecution there.
 
The short-termer's all come back shortly and we are excited to hear what God has done through them. We are also anticipating how God might call us as a church to continue to reach out into the world. It seems that there are several in our church who have a growing burden and desire to get involved in ministry to the North Korean refugees. Maybe I will be able to write more about that in the future.
 
Pray for us to be the church God wants us to be: to know His will for us and to pour out His Spirit on us. 

Stuart