Fruitful and Multiply

Kids showing off at leaders' conference

This week we were gathered in mainland Africa with a group of team leaders. We were from different countries and continents and we work among different peoples, languages and cultures, but with the same heart, vision and values. We want to be fruitful and multiply.

This is one of the oldest commands and the origin of meaning may have been biological, but the spirit can be applied to many of the things we do. If they are important, essential things, then we want them to be fruitful and to multiply. That is to say that we don’t want them to end with us, we want them to be passed on and done by others.  We want to see our roles carried on by others. We want to work ourselves out of a job and see the work grow and increase. 

But beyond just seeing our work reproduced in others, we want islanders to have that same desire to pass things on. We don’t just want to share good news, we want the people we share with to share the good news. If just one person treats it like a “secret” to keep to themselves, rather than “news” to be shared, then the multiplication process stops. So we have to pass on not only methods but the vision and values.

Hawk  looking for free food

It was exciting to hear about work happening in different places. Sometimes it is easy for us to be consumed by the challenges and victories of working on the islands. It is good for us to broaden our perspectives and see the work happening on a greater scale.

As we’ve been pushed to consider the bigger picture, we have been struck by how the the need to multiply ourselves is played out again and again. As faithful followers, we want to see more people grow in faithfulness. As leaders, we want to see more people grow in leadership. And as we are asked to support other leaders, we want and need to see more and more people able to train and support leaders. We realized that at some point we’ve expected people to go to the select few “experts” rather than encouraging everyone to grow in their expertise. If at some point someone feels like they aren’t qualified or experienced enough to pass on the knowledge they have gained, then the multiplication stops. People need to be empowered to pass on what they have learned rather than waiting to attain an expert-level before they help others.

That’s not to say we should falsely puff people up. We always need to hold in balance the desire to pass on the things we have learned and humility to realize that we still have a lot to learn— even the so-called “experts” need to maintain learner attitudes.

It reminds me of big families. At some point if you have a lot of kids, then the older kids will have to help the younger ones. If everyone waits for mom and dad to help then the family won’t survive. The older kids might only be kids, but they still have expertise to offer the younger ones.

Our boys & old team leader

Listening to the wisdom and experience of some of the team leaders this week, we are humbled by the areas we still need to grow in. But we’ve been team leaders for awhile now, so we want to see our teammates grow in leadership and we look to help our one teammate become a team leader herself. And we look forward to the day, when it will be islanders leading teams and going to new places in the hopes of sharing good news, being fruitful and multiplying.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our travels to Kenya have gone smoothly so far.  All COVID tests were done in a timely manner and were negative!  We were able to participate in the team leaders' conference which was beneficial and encouraging.  The children had good dental appointments today.  The places where we are staying have nice firm beds, which is a blessing for Megan’s back.  We are enjoying the cooler weather and a chance to catch up on some work and personal things while away from the islands. The islands have remained calm.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Tomorrow we head to the embassy to renew our passports.  Pray that everything would be in order and that the process could go quickly and smoothly.  This week we have a number of visits and meetings to complete before heading off to the coast for some real vacation.  Pray that all of our appointments and meetings would go well.  Of course, lift up the islands in our absence.  May there be dreams and visions, softening hearts, opening doors, major breakthroughs, repentance, growth, fruit and multiplying.