Two years ago we sent a basketball team from Hudson Community Chapel to the Philippines with Tom Randall for a two week trip. My son was part of that team. They had an amazing time traveling around the Philippines playing basketball and telling people about the God who loves them so much He sent His Son to die for them. They arrived shortly after a typhoon had devastated the area. The people were responsive and needy. Some towns had been hit hard and schools had been demolished by the storm. The team gave extra money and Tom had some money given him from the States and they set about giving money to rebuild and help the people of this area in the name of Jesus. My son and the others on the trip talked about pulling up to towns completely wiped out by the storm and seeing Tom organize, purchase and then disperse rice so everyone could eat. To say it was memorable is a gross understatement. Anyone who has ever had the great privilege of being an answer to prayer and putting flesh on the love of God knows it is an experience you never forget and one you will always long to repeat. So it is with this small band of brothers who went over to play basketball and found themselves doing so much more. A week ago I received a call from Tom to pray. He had received word that he was formally charged with kidnapping in the Philippines. Tom has several orphanages in the Philippines and someone was claiming he had taken their child. A group of eight policemen had raided the one orphanage and delivered the warrant signed by a judge. Tom told me he thought it was an extortion scheme but it was well orchestrated and had some power behind it since it involved at least 8 police and a judge. Last night he called to tell me what had happened since we started praying. It seems the governor of the area had remembered what the basketball team had done for the towns in his district. The governor had asked for assistance from Manila but no help had come. Instead a group of American basketball players had traveled all over his region distributing rice and building schools. When he heard of the charges he called the mayor of the city where the charges were filed. He told the mayor he was getting personally involved to defend Tom. Now it looks like the 8 corrupt policemen and the judge are in some serious trouble. Tom breathed a sigh of relief with me on the phone and we both spoke in awe of a God who two years ago would begin to weave a blanket of protection for Tom when Tom thought he was just having a blast spreading the love of God in a way people could see and taste. So, today I encourage you to spread the love of God where you are. You never know if the love you spread will one day soon be the net that catches you and saves you from an enemy you cannot see but does not hold a candle to the God you serve.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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6 comments:
God, I am sure is so pleased to see the church serve Him to follow Jesus' example. Serving is exciting. Count the times in God's word that we are to minister to the poor, widows, those that are broken and hurting etc.
Tom is a selfless servant. A wonderful example. God is able and so faithful!
James 1:2 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"
Daisy Lee Bates was the president of the Arkansas NAACP when "the Little Rock Nine" integrated Central High School, as a result of "Brown vs. the Board of Education". She personally looked after the students in every way once they began attending the school. She always carried a pistol, because of the constant number of threats on her life. Most importantly, she was a believer.
She used to tell the students and their families that "the future is purchased in the present," meaning that what they were doing by integrating Central High would not only benefit them later on, but also future generations that they would never know. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." But Hebrews also tells us we do not always see all of God's promises up close. But that should not temper our faith.
Tom Randall was being faithful to God's leading two years ago and he knows, as Daisy Lee Bates knew many years ago, that "the future is purchased in the present."
Joe-
Your blog's been such an encouragement to me! To see all the examples of God's provision for those he loves has been just what I needed. To travel with Tom sounds like an adventure wherever he goes. He truly does walk in faith.
This last entry was especially exciting. Good title!
What a great testimony to planting seeds - while your Phillipines experience was amazing, who knew at the time the impact your trip would have down the road...
Great story. Thanks to Tom for sharing. And thanks Joe for the post.
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