Thursday 9 September 2010

Forgotten God

I really enjoyed Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  It is not a theologically tidy book but it is super-high on inspiration.  What I really appreciate is his emphasis on the transformation of the inner person by the Holy Spirit.  Tonight we will have a church council meeting to discuss a three-year plan.  David and I have been thinking that there are some things that can't be accomplished by such a plan.  What is needed in our community more than any strategy is a renewing work of the Holy Spirit.

After each chapter Chan gives a personal story.  I thought the following could be categorised under the label 'amazing things God does.'
Years ago, Dave Phillips and his wife, Lynn, had a talk about the callings they felt God was stirring in them.  As they discussed what they were most passionate about, they agreed that bringing relief to suffering children and reaching the next generation with the gospel were at the top of the list.  The thought of starting a relief agency was considered, but Dave's response was, "But that would mean I have to talk in front of people."  By nature, Dave is a very quiet, behind the scenes man.
But after much prayer, Dave set aside his fears, and he and Lynn stated Children's Hunger Fund out of their garage.  Six weeks after CHF was launched, in January of 1992, he received a phone call from the director of a cancer treatment center in Honduras asking if there was any way he could obtain a certain drug for seven children who would die without it.  Dave wrote down the name of the drug and told the director that he had no idea how to get this type of drug.  They then prayed over the phone and asked God to provide.
As Dave hung up the phone, before he even let go of the receiver, the phone rang again.  It was a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey asking Dave if he would have any use for 48,000 vials of that exact drug!  Not only did they offer him eight million dollars' worth of this drug, but they told him they would airlift it to anyplace in the world!  Dave would later learn that the company was one of only two that manufactured this particular drug in the United States ...'
By the way Chan is speaking at CFC Standtown this weekend.  On Sunday night we are sending a convoy to go see him.

6 comments:

Delme Linscott said...

That is an awesome story. Thanks for shairng it. May you be blessed in your ministry and may the Spirit guide you in your future decisions.
Living in grace,
Delme

To whom it may concern said...

Thanks Delme

Davy P said...

Paul , FC is also doing a convention for pastors ,youth leaders etc. Saturday morning 9.30 -12.30 Kings fellowship Bangor
£5 payable at door but book seats as very ltd seating contact
glen@kingsfellowship.org

Sunday night need to leave early as big crowd expected.

Anonymous said...

What did you think of FC? I didn't get to go.

Anonymous said...

What did you think of FC? I was not able to go.

To whom it may concern said...

Nick,
Caroline went and I baby-sat. She said she would have liked to hear more of him. Have you read Forgotten God?
Paul