For many of you reading, it will be no surprise to read that the work of planting and building the church in Nakaale is too often difficult and disheartening, and if you regularly pray for our mission’s efforts, you have felt our frustration on many occasions with the lack of progress, the lack of fruit. Today we have good news. One of our members, Maria Alinga, has died.
When we so often mourn over those who have left the fellowship of the church, over those who have fallen into terrible public sin, over those who cannot seem to let go of one cultural immorality or another, it’s a tremendously joyous event to know that one of our members has died in faith and has gone on to her heavenly reward. To be sure, it’s the strangest sort of joy, mixed as it is with the keening of loss and the concern over the family that is left behind. Nevertheless, we rejoice. We rejoice in a life lived in faith, in the knowledge that we will see this woman, who suffered terrible physical affliction in this life, resurrected in glory.
When we daily tend to ask ourselves what fruit will ever come from the preaching and teaching and other ministry that goes on here, the death of Maria Alinga is a poignant reminder to all of us that God is faithful.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
A new perspective that uses a different measure of ‘success’ in missions, but really is what matters! Thank you Chris!
amen
Yes it’s bitter sweet but more sweet knowing she crossed the finish line..in faith and hope!
I praise God for encouraging you through this and thank you for sharing this encouraging thought.