God is always at work around us

The truth taught in Experiencing God (Henry Blackaby) that "God is always at work around you" is a wonderful word of both faith and fact.  This, and all seven of the "realities" of Experiencing God are worth your attention. From the time that Global Evangelism Ministries (GEM) began we have endeavored to operate within these realities.

As you know, I am in the Czech Republic (CR) for a few days just listening to, and looking for the exact places God is at work around us.  GEM has been coming to the Czech for several years now, trying desperately to know exactly what (if anything) God is wanting us to do. Some of you will remember that we were approached by the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention several years back about beginning a work in the western area of the CR.  During the past years we have made numerous trips here trying to establish a work in this area of the world.

GEM has conducted annual Prayer Walking trips to the CR and have waited patiently on our next assignment.  We conducted a "successful" basketball clinic" in partnership with my friend Todd Burden and InBounds Ministries a couple of years ago.  During all this time we have been praying for a contact person on the ground in the CR that could help us move forward with this much needed ministry.  However, unto this point, we have been unsuccessful in this effort.

I know, in my heart of hearts, that God wants us to be involved with Him in this region of the world.  Let me take you back to the ways God has been moving in and around our lives in this region of the world:

1. On our very first trip to the Czech we met with some good people working with the IMB who pointed us in the direction of the western CR.  They told us that they had been unable to identify any evangelical work in this region of the country.  We traveled there, alone and looking, and discovered the IMB assessment to be accurate.
   
2. On our next trip, while traveling by train back out to an obscure town in the western CR, we met a Czech on the train who spoke very good English.  "Doris" (name changed), although without Christ became a champion for us and has helped us every step of the way on our journey.  Doris has served as our translator, logistical person, and friend during our numerous trips to the CR.
    
3. Doris helped us with the basketball camp, where we met another Czech who has continued to express interest in our continuing this ministry.  The problem, he does not speak any English. We fully realized that we must make a contact with a believer here who has a heart for evangelistic work.  We have been praying for God to raise up a contact person for GEM.
   
4. While in Prague this weekend, I was at the point of decision that perhaps God did not have a work for us here.  I was sitting alone and feeling a bit defeated in my hotel, just waiting for my flight home the next day. Then, God proved His faithfulness again!

At approximately 2:30pm (local time) while sitting, thinking, praying, and pondering my cell phone rang and a voice on the other end said something like this; "Hello, my name is Preston, and I understand that you are looking for a contact in Domazlice."  In a matter of minutes we made plans to meet at a coffee shop near my hotel to discuss what God was doing.  WOW!  What incredible timing God has!  Remember, God is rarely early, but He is NEVER late!

Our meeting went well and within the next hour or so, I had received a phone call from a brother working with the IMB in a large town near Domazlice who knew of our previous work and was eager to meet and plan future ministry there.

Here is the truth, GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK AROUND US.  Within a matter of two hours God revealed His will for us.  Although I don't know exactly what it looks like, I know that He is always working around me.  I realize that this blog does not explain it all and more will be on the way, but this is certain.  God has not finished with GEM in this area of the world yet.