Sam Barber, Global NDI Director
Since this is The Journey newsletter, I’d like to share about a recent journey I took to the Central Europe Field, where I was invited to speak at their first Leadership Conference since the pandemic. Leaders from ten countries gathered in Durres, Albania, a beautiful coastal city on the Adriatic Sea. Our host, Rev. Cezi Glendenning, a native of Durres, gave us a guided tour of this historic city, where we saw a second-century Roman amphitheater and experienced Albania’s renowned food and hospitality.
I was deeply moved by the stories shared by the field leaders, many of whom are first-generation Christians. Despite the lingering influence of communism and the strong presence of another religion in the region, people have been finding Christ in miraculous ways, often without any external witnesses. These testimonies left me in awe of God's prevenient grace.
It was humbling to teach on the theme of “What’s in Your Hand?” from Exodus 4. Just as God used what Moses already had to strengthen his faith, I encouraged the leaders to bring their seemingly limited resources to Jesus. On the final night, while speaking about Jesus feeding the 5,000, I invited everyone to respond by offering whatever they had to him. Nearly everyone came forward, hands cupped, symbolizing their willingness to give what little they had to Jesus. Together, we prayed for a miracle, trusting in God's power to multiply our offerings. It was a deeply moving moment, filled with the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.
Is God at work in your community like he is in Central Europe? He is! Like the little lad and his meager lunch, if we will bring to Jesus what we have, he can do something amazing with it.
