“You do not have to hear to listen”   Hayden Daum

I love the quote above from an online Bible study clip that I viewed on Facebook. Hayden is deaf, and who but he, could really communicate that message so clearly. That simple sentence really spoke deeply to me. Perhaps you, like myself, often wonder if you are hearing from God. What is He saying? What does He want me to hear?  What may He want me to say to those around me like family, friends, neighbors, the greater community? How can I best listen?

Communicating is not always with words, a concept suggested by the life of St Francis of Assisi, in that he modeled humble service to others, and demonstrated communicating the Gospel through his actions. I (Wayne), have always felt this was my greater gifting-that of  communicating through my actions, rather than my words (man of few words, if you will). 

As we have had the opportunity, through the years, to minister in various places around the world, it is true that different languages, cultures, customs, can make it difficult to communicate clearly. Relying on spoken words, or even our own cultural experiences can be a hard way to relate and identify with one another.  A universal way to communicate, is from the heart. Compassion – empathy – love – acceptance – peace. Paul, in his message to the Galatians, was to walk by the Spirit. 

I marvel at the resources we now have for being able to communicate among the nations. When we first began full time ministry, email (electronic mail) was just emerging.  I am even reminded of when we went on a missions trip to Chihuahua Mexico, where the Tarahumara indigenous people lived in remote caves and forests. The missionary organization we assisted, had vinyl records that we played on a cardboard record player called “Cardtalk” see photo below.  We used these manually spun players, which had a gospel message in the Tarahumara dialect, to play for those we encountered along our way.

Click the YouTube link below for a demonstration of the Card Talk record.

https://youtube.com/shorts/U60ofasNaUs

Today, we have the ability to not only send messages to one another in many forms, we have translation resources, face to face video calling, etc.  Carol is able to connect with other worshipers around the world in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico through the online worship platform where she ministers weekly. I am leading with a team each week, as we share the liberating news of relational and sexual wholeness with the CrossCurrent program materials. We connect with brothers and sisters in India, Thailand, Germany, Morocco, Italy, Czechia and beyond.

What sometimes seems impossible is becoming a reality. Join us as we pray for the many missionaries and ministers, taking on the challenges of communicating the Gospel.  When words are needed, they are answering the call. In many cases translation is needed like with sign language as mentioned before. Hayden’s message explains the deaf community is an unreached people group for Jesus. I had never thought of that, thank you Lord he has. 

Recently we shared an honorarium to some missionary friends retirement fund. They served for decades with Wycliffe Bible Translators studying the many dialects of the Baka Tribes in the South Sudan who now have the New Testament and the book of Genesis translated in their tongue. 

God’s word, communicated in many ways, will not return void. Isaiah 55:11

Encouragement 4 YOU:

Roman’s chapter 15, speaks several times of the word, ‘hope’. In this day and age, sometimes hope can be hard to hold onto. But be encouraged!  The GOD of all hope, sees, hears and is near. Ponder the word here, and be filled with the hope of the Lord Jesus! 

15:4: “for whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have HOPE.”

15:13: “Now may the GOD of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

After all the recent events in our country we as Christians must model HOPE.   In His Grip, Wayne & Carol

From YOUR support on the ground in Tijuana Mexico:

“Brother we were able to borrow the community center in the area to feed people in need. The people were very encouraged by the message and provision God provided. The people also said it was a Christian victory because there had not been such an event done there before.   We also used some of this months support to help the family of 4 year old Amber who needs an operation because her liver is not functioning properly and causing other organ failure in her body.”  K.C.

VOB News Issue No. 280