GlocalNet

The Lausanne Conference was going on in South Africa while I was in Europe - I was planning to attend but then I was asked to speak with the Swiss State Dept., and shortly thereafter at a gathering of 60,000 Muslims in London so I decided instead of going and talking about missions - I’d do some “personal missions” and be a witness for Jesus at those two gatherings.  It was incredible.  I felt like the Hispanic, African American, or Chinese person in a church that was appointed to prove the church was multi-ethnic!  It was like we were “novelty” items and people wanted to meet and talk after each panel or speech or whatever. 

They loved the honesty - when I was clear about what I believed and what I perceived they believed, I called them out, too, with “let’s be honest without being angry - why can we talk about everything else, but we can’t talk about God?  Why can we change our minds on anything - but not God?” 

They loved the multi-faith perspective that allowed all of us to hold our beliefs without compromise but still work together to build relationships and even build our communities. 

They loved the fact that I regularly work with imams and communist - it puzzled them.  I overheard one of them say, “He really is an evangelical but he will also be your friend.”  That unleashed so many questions and people felt safe to ask me, so I answered. 

But what really took the cake for me - was the American Ambassador from South Africa to the US, Ambassador Rasool.  I really liked this man a lot.  He has held elected offices in South Africa in different positions - but is now the Ambassador. 

It was ironic because we’re speaking of peace - I’m speaking on the Sermon on the Mount, and I’d just been with Gandhi’s grandson -who was a big non-violence advocate who used the Sermon on the Mount as the basis for all he did.  This South African Ambassador is proclaiming the same thing.

It was ironic because he is the man who helped different people get to the Congress and work on different headaches with other groups - and here I am speaking with him in London.  It’s like God took me to that meeting of tens of thousands just to meet him.

It was ironic because I’ve always avoided Christian television - it’s not always real positive towards the Middle-East and Muslims - I love those people and don’t want them thinking I feel that way about them.  The next thing I know, I’m being interviewed by the Channel that is the top English language Muslim channel in the world, hundreds of millions of listeners reaching 132 countries. 

My dad once told me when I started in the ministry - “Son, don’t send your resume around looking for a church - just wait, pray, and let God put you where he wants you and you’ll never worry about why you’re there, and when it gets hard you won’t give up because you’ll know God put you there.”  That’s exactly how I felt. 

I’ve realized something though - there aren’t enough “thoughtful” and “kind spirited” evangelicals in diplomacy.  That’s why I’m a novelty in some of those circles.  Like I learned as a little boy “I am an Ambassador for Christ. . .”  We need some young men and women who are global in their thinking, sharp, intelligent, who get history and the making of situations good and bad, with people skills who naturally live out their faith in the field of diplomacy like never before.  We don’t have a voice at the tables of those who shape the world, and yet they have a perception of us - and it isn’t good - that has to change.  Only the ironic working of God and his sense of humor at work - will allow us to accomplish what he is calling us to.  Sign up http://www.globalfaithforum.org