Spiritual Emphasis Week - What's in your pack?

Our speaker and RVA alum shared that as a missionary he often travels to encourage and train other teams around Africa.  As a result, he has gotten his essentials down to one pack.  Coming back to RVA he told of the many thoughts that were in his mind.  The fact that it was the start of his life as a 1st grader, and then how he sat in the same seats as the students during his Junior year when God grabbed hold of his heart and made his walk real.  He shared the desire to equip his daughter, his teammates' kids, and his "nieces and nephews" with the essentials he puts in his pack while traveling with Jesus.

The first session started off with one guitarist encouraging us to praise God rather than just sing songs.  I couldn't help but desire more to join us as we poured out our heart of love to God in that room.  I thought, "if only those who don't know Jesus could see our genuine love, surely they would love Him too."  My prayers soon turned to those students at RVA who have not yet accepted Christ, asking that they would see the love around them and desire to join in.  

Our speaker then talked about the brokenness of the world.  He explained how easy it is to see the brokenness around us.  Then He talked about the wonderful relationship God intended and the way we can live in that relationship through Jesus.  He went on to explain that God doesn't just want us to live with Him, but to go back into the brokenness of the world and tell the "broken" of the salvation that is waiting for them. 

Our second session brought encouragement for surrender.  Our speaker shared a story of a guy who dated two different girls at the same time.  When the girls found out he lost both of them.  The story hit home as many of us live divided between God and idols of the world.  We were encouraged to consider how God feels when we try to "date two people."  Neither is really loved well.  The God who loves us so well deserves our complete love back.  

The third night was powerful as our speaker talked about the lies Satan tells us and the spiritual warfare that is part of life on earth.  It was amazing to see God reveal lies to the students and give them the power to bring them into the light and ask for help to live in truth.  As the students knelt at the alter laying the lies down I was amazed to see other students pray over them showing the type of community we have, a community where even the students come alongside each other in accountability.  Having heard of many conversations after this session I pray that we as staff would continue to come alongside the students who have laid down lies, to encourage them in their walk towards truth.  I know how easily Satan can bring those lies back and that freedom is a daily choice.  My prayer is that students will see the need for a partner in the journey and that we will be available to regularly speak the truth for as long as needed.    

The fourth session shared the importance of living in the Spirit, how we need to live in Him to fight Satan's lies and for the sake of encouragement as we listen and obey.  The stories the speaker shared of God's work because of his obedience to the Spirit showed God's faithfulness giving light to the path.

Our fifth session took place on Sunday morning along with the greater community of missionaries in Kijabe.  Our speaker pointed to action steps as we go from the week, steps to share our love for Jesus with others, stick with people and see how God will make Himself known.

As we came into Monday saying goodbye to Spiritual Emphasis Week the staff chapel speaker encouraged students to take another look, are they part of what the speaker shared during SEW or are they once removed.  Pray with us for the students to continue to look at their lives and take the essentials with them daily.  Pray that they would ask for help and live in community for strength in their walk.  Pray for those who still haven't made the decision to choose Jesus instead of brokenness.  May the Spirit continue to speak into their hearts and minds.