By John Raines
The Father’s small generosities feel the most lavish, I thought, walking out of a small shop in the Middle East. We’d just purchased icons of the prophet Elijah. I think the Father was smiling as he confirmed his promise to guide and provide here just as he had for that man of God centuries earlier.
Last month I traveled to the Middle East with Father Brett and Children’s Director Christina Westberg to visit our global partners in three locations and offer pastoral care as part of the Good Friday Gift. Our goals were: 1) build up our connection with these dear brothers and sisters, 2) bring back a blessing from their gifts and ministry, and 3) strengthen and encourage them with words and prayers from home. By the end of our trip, God had blessed these goals richly.
The centerpieces of our trip were prayer and fellowship. We spent more than 20 total hours praying with our partners there, mostly in prayer appointments with individuals or couples.
On Sunday, we celebrated the first full Eucharist at a worship service. Thirty-plus believers gathered to sing praises, hear the Word, and receive the Sacrament. Table fellowship
overflowed into joyful meals where dishes like stuffed grape leaves, kebabs, and crispy falafel filled and delighted us. Throughout this, the Holy Spirit provided words of comfort, knowledge, and prophecy.
We heard the guiding word of our trip in Father Brett’s Sunday homily from Elijah’s time in the Kerith ravine (1 Kings 17). Elijah had obeyed the Lord, and was sustained by water from a brook and food brought by ravens as he waited for God’s direction. Finally, once the brook had dried up, God’s word came, and Elijah moved again. His time was marked by waiting and the apparent dwindling of God’s provision. Yet Elijah emerged with faith that could trust God for the impossible—miraculous provision of bread, the resuscitation of a dead child, and fire from heaven that vindicated God’s word to his people.
We later learned how the long, slow obedience of life in the Middle East often holds Kerith ravine seasons. Whether in language acquisition, waiting for paperwork to be approved, pioneering new humanitarian aid projects, or recovering from seasons of tireless spiritual battle, our partners endure lengthy periods between hearing God’s words for them. Yet, just as Elijah’s faith increased in the ravine, we saw the faith of our brothers and sisters flourishing from deep roots planted beside the stream. Faith that confesses the goodness of God, the power of the Holy Spirit in their midst, and the hope and joy of good works prepared for them to walk in. Our brothers and sisters claimed the lesson of Kerith ravine that God is readying them.
On our last night together, we visited the small shop run by ancient-tradition believers. Canvas icons on the wall depicted Jesus, Mary, and half a dozen or so regional saints I had never
heard of. But we all began chuckling when we noticed Elijah, the only icon drawn from a biblical narrative (and the only one in color). He was sitting in the Kerith ravine, reaching upward to receive bread from a raven. The Father, looking upon us in love, had lavishly prepared it as a final confirmation of this word.
We returned home, strengthened in our souls by the faith and obedience of our brothers and sisters, and confident in our own call to pray for these loved ones and await God’s next word with them.
Pray with us for our global partners:
- Encouragement and progress for those who are learning Arabic or Kurdish.
- Opportunities to meet neighbors, develop friendships, and find natural ways to share.
- The Lord to strengthen the local gatherings.
- The Lord’s leading for future ministry opportunities and locations.
John Raines serves as a music team leader and has been at Rez since 2010. He and his wife Hattie attend the 10:30am service with their children.
