Acts 72

It’s our first day in Brussels!

In John 4:35, Jesus challenged his disciples in Samaria: “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest!” (John 4:35)

Luke 10 tells what Jesus did after explaining to the crowds the cost of following him. “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)

Everywhere Jesus looks in Brussels he sees a harvest. In the streets, on the metro, at the Grand Place and the European Commission. The fields are ripe and the workers are few.

Jesus appointed seventy-two people in addition to the disciples and sent them ahead of him to places he was going to go. Their ministry was to prepare the way for his coming. We believe Jesus has planned an entrance into Brussels like history has never seen. Our role, with others, is to prepare the way.

To those appointed the first thing he said was not “Go!” but “Pray!” and not “Pray that you’ll be effective!” but “Pray for more workers!” Lord, send more workers to Brussels!

Would you pray for 72 days for 72 workers?

If today – Thursday, August 5 – is Day 1, 72 days take us to Friday, October 15. To help us pray, I would like to invite you to read the book of Acts with us. As a family, we’re going to read Acts with our team, and there are 72 sections in the book (in my Bible anyway!). I will post to our website the chapter and verses for each day. Today’s reading is Acts 1:1-11.

Among other things the Lord will lay on our hearts, this must be our prayer: “Lord, the harvest in Brussels is ripe. You are the Lord of the harvest. Send us 72 workers!”

We already have 7 workers, including the Deal family and Steve and Mary Elizabeth Severs, arriving from California on Saturday. I’d like to tell you about worker number 7, whom we just met yesterday.

Daniel is British, and has worked at the European Commission for ten years. He speaks four languages and is an accomplished musician. He knows many of the Christian leaders in Brussels and has led worship in several Brussels churches. Daniel has many friends that he calls “pre-Christian,” including Pierre, who, at 6’11’’ is the tallest of 22,000 European Commission employees.

Daniel is currently the worship leader at a Belgian church and has asked his pastor’s permission to help us for two or three months in order to see if this is the ministry that he has been praying for and working towards for many years. Daniel met us at the airport and we are staying at his house now in an apartment he rents out. We will move out in a few days so the Severs can move in. They’ll stay here for August, at least. We get to stay with Pierre!

Be praying as well for our workers in the U.S. who are raising support to join us as soon as possible. The Kittrell family and the Doyle family hope to be here in January to join five interns, expecting to arrive about the same time.

Again, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this: read one of the 72 sections of the book of Acts each day from now until October 15 and pray daily for 72 workers. 7 down, 65 to go!