Extreme pruning

 Ever since last March when a tree crashed down and narrowly missed our car and house I've been slightly concerned when the wind blows strongly in the regular storms we experience this time of year.  Now I don't need to worry as the tree fellers have done their work, drastically pruning the eucalyptus which threatened to do damage to life and property.  There were no hard hats, no ladders, no harnesses and thankfully no accidents.  As we're out in Nigeria under the auspices of an Irish mission it also provided some harmless amusement when the tree fellers turned out to be "tree fellas".

We've been back here a month now and InReach groups are starting up.  Every Friday Toby and I go to the ECWA Bible seminary at Kagoro, an hour's drive from TCNN, to lead InReach conversations.  It's been very encouraging to see some of the students who went through the sessions last year and hear them tell new participants how Inreach has affected their thinking, attitudes and actions.  As Nathan said, "I started InReach thinking it would teach me stategies for evangelism. I found it first taught me about myself."
Another encouraging thing is knowing that we're in step with what God's doing in many places throughout the world.  At the Keswick Convention this year I came across Rebecca Manley Pippert for the first time.  She's been teaching about reaching people by living out Jesus' love to them where they are for many years; exposing non-believers to Jesus rather than insensitively/aggressively imposing our arguments and beliefs on them.  What she's written books about is what Toby and I feel God's been leading us to do with InReach around Jos over the past year, separately yet together within God's great plan. The wonderful thing is that wherever you are, whatever you do, you can still live Jesus love to your neighbours in simple yet efective ways.
Have a look at our website to find out more: www.inreachministry.wix.com/inreach.