The Nehemiah Story – Part Seven
The Disgrace

Oops! Part Seven of The Nehemiah Story was supposed to be about The Plan. But many times, our plans are not God’s plans. He impressed upon this writers heart that The Disgrace needed to revealed first!

The vision for ministry that God gave to the founders of Experiencing God Through Missions Inc (EGTMInc) is not a new one. It is the same vision that God gave to Nehemiah, 2500 years ago. First, God is always at work around us. When He reveals to us where He is working, we know that is His invitation for us to join Him. Even though, as Nehemiah found out, sometimes, there are more ‘against’ us than ‘for us.’

Next, God tells us not to work alone, because we can’t do it alone. All through the Bible, God’s people worked in groups of two or more. EGTMInc is not a one church or one denomination ministry. The first mission project organized by EGTMInc, so many long years ago, had dedicated volunteers from seven different church congregations; our latest mission projects had dozens! We welcome participation and partnerships from all theologically conservative evangelical churches and groups. Our volunteers – who become missionaries after their first mission project – come from all walks of life. Our goal is to serve God and build HIS Kingdom – neither our kingdom nor the kingdom of any other person or group!

Nehemiah knew that he, and his ‘army officers and calvary’ could not, by themselves, rebuild the walls. The people that lived there would need to ‘buy into’ the project. After he quietly assessed the situation, he gathered together the key leaders. He made it known to them that he was there because God had sent him. Our purpose is to glorify our Savior, not ourselves, and quite often comes at great physical, financial and emotional expense to our missionaries and supporting team members, as it did to Nehemiah.

“We will no longer be in disgrace,” is how Nehemiah began his ‘sermon.’ Notice that he said ‘we,’ not ‘you.’ He was letting them know where his heart was.  He knew the massive and dangerous rebuilding effort would require more than just building materials and physical labor. Their heart would have to be totally sold out to the effort.

The leadership of EGTMInc believes that ‘we,‘ the Christians – ourselves included – are “in disgrace.” Especially, in the United States, a country founded on, because of, and for, Christian principles and reasons. We have many states and areas where Christians are not only a minority, but almost extinct! We need to rebuild our ‘walls!’ We need to get busy rebuilding God’s Kingdom.

Just as Nehemiah couldn’t do it alone, neither can we. When God reveals to us where He is working in the vast spiritual darkness, we are going to join him and ask you to join with us.

Maybe the next article will be about The Plan?