Pray for MOVEMENT NYC

 Movement NYC is a new church launching on Easter Sunday morning in New York City.

You can see a short promo video at: http://vimeo.com/22152794

Or learn more about it at: www.movementnyc.org

Please pray for:
– All the details to come together for the launch
– Favor with the managers
– God’s hand of blessing and anointing to be upon it
– For the Holy Spirit to move, Jesus to be made famous, and God to be glorified.

Are you ready, NYC?

Two things I’m absolutely, positively thrilled about and excited for:

I’ll be sharing more on these in the coming days… but for now, would you please pray with us for God to move powerfully in New York City?

broken again.

In the past week I have missed Africa. I’ve missed it so much.

But today I didn’t just miss it. Today my heart was broken all over again for these people. I can’t say exactly what brought it on. I just know that my thoughts and prayers were with them and the weight of their need fell on me yet again.

I can’t forget.

Sweet little faces, their little hands in mine, their big eyes looking up, all smiles. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live as they live. I complain about such insignificant things. And yet they find a way to be joyful. Their laughter is beautiful because it transcends their circumstances. It rises up from poverty and need and speaks their heart. They are children. They love to run around and play games just like any other child. They are forced to grow up so quickly and yet their innocence is written all over them. They are the most loving, appreciative children I have ever encountered. The smallest acts and gifts mean so much to them. (Matthew 19:14)

And then there are the women in Nazaret. The women who had been so used and disrespected in the past, and yet still found a way to open up to us. They glorified God for His faithfulness and chose not to dwell on the pain of their past, except to testify of God’s awesome salvation. Their mourning has turned to dancing (Psalm 30:11-12). Their need is still great, but their joy in the Lord is greater (Isaiah 61:10).

And the street boys. The boys who go without so much- shelter, food, money, education, even family. The boys who depend on one another and do whatever it takes to get by. These boys broke our hearts. Not only for the needs they have, but because they are truly boys. They are children. And instead of reaching out to them, their society looks down on them and avoids them. They need love. I am so thankful to people like Derebe who see these boys and see their need – both physical and spiritual. I pray that they would seek the Lord who loves them and take refuge in Him (Psalm 72:4, Isaiah 41:17).

I pray that we (the team) would find ways to serve these people while we’re here in America. If nothing changes after this trip, that would surely be a tragedy. May the Lord guide us in our giving and our prayers, that His will would be done and He would truly be glorified. I am so thankful for the things He has shown me and the people He has brought into my life. May I continue to learn from the beautiful people of Ethiopia. May He continue to break my heart for the things that break His.

excerpts.

“The morning began with a few women sharing their testimony. I so admire their transparency and their courage. Some of their stories- no, all of them- broke my heart, but the Lord has done an amazing work… Our God is truly mighty to save. He’s bigger and greater than we can even imagine…” (July 1, 2009 from Nazret)

“Wenchi Lake is absolutely breathtaking. We got on horseback and started down the mountainside. I don’t know that my words can ever fully do this experience justice. I saw cliffs and mountains and waterfalls. Huts with fences made of sticks where little village children stood in the doorway and waved, smiling and saying ‘Hullo!’ It was a scene from National Geographic and yet I was in the midst of it. On a horse.” (July 3, 2009 from Ambo)

“Tadi told us that many of them had spent their childhood wishing just to be a tree in America. He wondered aloud what it would take to make them want to be a kid in their own country rather than a tree elsewhere… I’m not sure I’ve ever felt as broken for this place as I did when he was speaking…” (July 4, 2009 from Ambo)

“These kids are so quick to love and it’s really a beautiful thing to witness. They give so much and I hope we are able to give even a percentage of that back to them.” (July 5, 2009 from Ambo)

“It is my prayer that this trip truly changes me. I don’t want to be the same Brittany I was when I left New York. I want to be better, wiser and most of all, closer to Jesus. And closer to being the person He calls me to be.” (July 6, 2009 from Ambo)

“I want to find a way to be that person Jesus wants me to be in a place that makes it so easy to be comfortable in the world… I want to listen for His voice and go the direction He calls me to go and not be afraid of it.” (July 10, 2009 from New York)