Caleb Duncan preaches to senior adults at Gano Mission Center

Caleb Duncan preaches to senior adults at Gano Mission Center

I’ve never preached through a translator before, and I was so stressed the first time I did. As I studied for this sermon, I knew that I had to break everything up in phrases so that Mrs. Dora could translate for me. It was a day for the senior citizens in our community, so I didn’t suppose any salvations would break loose in the gym. Usually I just read some scripture and say what’s on my heart, but this was a lot different. I felt like it went okay, and that as long as I was just preaching the gospel, I would be alright. I remember getting to the end of my sermon after about 20 minutes and making the statement, “You can be 65 to 70 years old and STILL miss what it means to follow Christ. Don’t miss this, I beg you!” When I put down the microphone, the usual feelings start to come over me again: “What did I miss? Did I present this correctly?”

Ten minutes later a 70 year old woman named Mrs. Beatrice comes up to me while I’m in an office. I was speechless as I heard the words, “I need this salvation.” This was it. This is genuine. This is God!

After answering some questions for her and laying out what it takes to become a follower of Christ, I had the awesome opportunity of hearing Mrs. Beatrice call out for repentance, confess that Jesus is the son of God, and invite Him into her life to accept the free gift of grace that is available for everyone. Afterwards, we wrote down her information, so we could get her plugged into a church and pray for her specifically.

This is what it’s about. The spirit of God working and moving in such a way, that a 70 year old woman would recognize her need for a savior! I realize that this is not of myself, and that in no way could I save her or call her to repentance or even do any kind of spirit work within her. Factly, God doesn’t really need me for anything. But the reality that he would allow me to take part in his Kingdom Work takes my breath away.

In the first week at Mission Centers I began to think of myself as higher than the impoverished families in this community; that I was somewhat more blessed or spirit filled than them. But also there is a sad reality to this thought; that we are in the exact same boat…We’re both beggars. The only difference is that some of us know where the true bread is at, and some don’t. When we begin to think that we are better than the people here, we’ve lost the humility of being a servant. God is everything and without Him, we are absolutely nothing. But through his Son, we can be called children of God. “Look, what love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 John 3:1)

It’s been an incredible summer here, and I can’t begin to name the things God has done through us, around us, and in us. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Caleb Duncan
Summer Missionary Intern 2014

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July 30, 2014

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