Robert J. Hawkins, World Missions Coordinator
“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20).
Immediately following last year’s 2019 General Assembly, I began praying for the World Mission Program for 2020 and the theme that would follow. While I was in Sri Lanka with our General Treasurer, Jason Hill, this February, we were both praying one morning. At this time, I was not seeking God for these particular things, but these words came to my mind so vividly—“Fear or Faith?” Immediately I knew it was God speaking to me about the theme for the World Mission Department for 2020-2021. I told Brother Hill about this over breakfast. When we got back to our room, I looked at my phone and a notification had come through for me. In it were those words and the question—“Fear or Faith?” I showed it to Brother Hill, and he asked me, “Is that where you got your theme from?” I told him that I had just seen the notification at that moment. Brother Hill said, “I would say that this confirms it!”
In January, Bishop Forbes and I were in the Bahamas seeking God for doors and hearts to open. We were looking for a venue where we could have meetings with the hopes of rekindling a revival of truth,
holiness, and a vision of The Church of God in this beautiful island nation that has such a rich history with The Church of God. While we were there, we met some wonderful people and did our best to plant the seeds of the Word of God in hope. After we returned home, we continued to pray (and still are praying.) It may have been in March that I had to go to the local Division of Motor Vehicles in Cleveland for some business in relation to my Driver’s License. I had to stand outside, and they told us we had to wear masks. I didn’t have a mask, but a nice young lady offered me one of hers as she had extras. I thanked her, and I noticed she had a slight foreign accent, so I asked her where she was from originally. She said, “The Bahamas.” I told her I was recently there and why I went and, for some reason, I mentioned the name of one of the men of God we met with while there. She then stated, “That’s my uncle!” We spoke about all these things a while longer, and I gave her my business card, letting her know that if she ever had a prayer request to please let us know. Again, God spoke to me, not in words this time, but in feelings. He confirmed that He was leading and guiding and was with us in what we were endeavoring to do.
As simple as all of this may be, it encouraged me and created a hunger and thirst in me for more of God’s leading and presence. Oh, how we need the Holy Ghost to continue to work with us, and this will only happen as we willingly and humbly work with Him. Oh, how we need for Him to confirm the Word that we are preaching and teaching with signs following—for “signs” following believers help to point people in the right direction. On our journey home to heaven, we need the power of the Holy Ghost working with us!
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16:9, 10).
WITH GOD all things are possible!