A call to involvement
“Than the Lord said to [Moses], ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground …’” (Exodus 4:2-3, NIV).
When Susi Childers told God she didn’t think there was anything she could do for the cause of missions, God spoke to her as he did to Moses so many years ago, asking, “What is that in your hand?” “Only a camera,” she responded, feeling much like Moses must have. After all, it was the common instrument of photographer, much as Moses’ staff was the everyday tool of a shepherd. But when Moses gave that staff to God, it divided the Red Sea and led the children of Israel from out of slavery in Egypt. Likewise, when Susi surrendered her camera to God, “A Voice for the Voiceless” was born.
Today, the German photographer-turned-missionary heads an organization committed to helping the voiceless be heard in the world—particularly women and children trapped by such things as prostitution, sex slavery, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and abortion. And while being a voice calling for an end to these practices through legislation and social action, “A Voice for the Voiceless” also calls the church to pray and to seek God’s guidance in determining what is in its hands that God can use—if we are willing—to help bring an end to such exploitation and injustice. After all, the voiceless are also God’s children who cry out to him for deliverance that comes as we who have voices speak.
It was three years ago that Bernie first met Susi Childers and was introduced to “A Voice for the Voiceless.” God moved his heart in an unusual way, and he has not been the same since. Responding to the Lord’s call to involvement, Bernie has been instrumental in helping Tamagawa Seigakuin to be a venue on several occasions for the group to share in Tokyo. Additionally, last Sunday we were pleased to welcome Susi to Tamagawa Church to share about the work. Through her beautiful portraits, we were introduced to several of the voiceless of the world while hearing their stories.
As Susi challenged the congregation, we challenge you: Don’t turn away from the spiritually lost and the millions of suffering voiceless in the world. The Lord is calling you and asking what is in your hand that he can use to help bring deliverance. None of us was saved for our salvation alone, but to be the bridge others will cross on their path to Christ. We urge you to be a part of the answer the world is seeking.
Update on Cheryl
Thank you for your prayers for Cheryl. We have been aware of them as never before, and we are seeing answers to prayer in several ways. Blood work at the end of the first four weeks of medication showed some positive trends. On top of this, there are other encouraging signs: she no longer has daily fevers (they come now only when she’s overdone it and feels exhausted in the evening); her energy level has improved considerably (which is why she sometimes overdoes it); her weight loss has stabilized (and she needed to lose those seven pounds anyway); and more.
More than anything else, however, Cheryl is grateful for the many intimate conversations she’s had with God while learning to live with cancer. Surely God was speaking all along, but busy schedules have a definite way of drowning out God’s voice. Recently, with most of her typical schedule on hold, Cheryl’s hearing has improved considerably.
At the same time, we continue to need your prayers. Here are two specific prayer points: that a doctor in the United States will agree to prescribe the next round of medicine for Cheryl, something that will help the insurance picture greatly (pray for Cheryl’s meeting with this doctor on November 5 and his good favor); and that the two weeks of rest between medication (October 27-November 9) will provide enough relief for the kidney and liver, as well as an improvement in her platelet count, for her Japanese doctor to be confident that she can handle a second round of medication.
Some other prayers
►There will be a follow-up meeting on November 12 for students who attended July’s Bible Camp. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be evident in a mighty way, reminding girls about commitments they made and giving them courage to act upon those commitments;
►We will lead our fall missionary staff meeting/retreat here in Tokyo on November 21-22. Please pray that the fellowship will be rich and encouraging. Please also remember the various ministries of fellow staffers: Mike and Makiko Boyle (Hagiyama Church, Tokyo); Mike Wagner (Tamagawa Seigakuin, Tokyo); Don Deena Johnson (Nishi Kunitachi Church and Sei Ai Gakusha schools, Tokyo); Tyler Hobbs (Tarumi and Konike Churches, Kobe/Osaka); and Zonia Mitchell (Saga University, Saga).
