One Little Prayer

On stateside assignment, when I realized that I had to leave the mission field to take care of mom and dad, I uttered one prayer. “God, I want to die a missionary.” I never prayed it again. Six years later, when that season had come and gone, I answered the phone to someone I had never met. “Let’s talk missions,” asked Jimmy Barry. Six hours later, Jimmy asked, “Come to Africa, pray about this and see if it’s something you would like to do.” I answered, “Don’t have to pray about it, I already did.” 

Now, I’m watching a movement of God. People are on their knees from country after country, tribe after tribe bowing to the one called Jesus. The power of Jesus through a simple four stage process is changing hearts, lives, families, and communities as fast as feet can run. In Kenya last year we printed and distributed 150,000 books. We needed to print 42,674 more, but we were at the limit of our resources, so now new believers in Kenya patiently wait for their very first discipleship book. There will be a lot of you who say this is a great problem to have. In fact, what missionary or pastor would not want a waiting list of people needing discipleship materials? Yes, it’s a great problem to have, but still it’s a problem that demands a solution. It’s not a problem with the guys and gals on the ground. They are running as fast as they can with the gospel. It’s mine and Jimmy’s problem. You see God placed these two old geezers here and gave them that problem to solve, and we uttered together one more little prayer - “God, give us the wisdom to know how to solve the problem you gifted to us.” 

Then we went to work. We began a little rebranding to be more inclusive than just Uganda. You may have noticed our logo changed from Uganda’s colors to a brownish logo on a dull gold background on our new website - www.imfcworld.com. We restructured the constitution and by-laws to facilitate stateside growth. We learned the in’s and out’s of online fundraising. Now there is a method whereby people can raise funds on behalf of the guys and gals in Africa instead of just the ability to donate themselves. We’ve created a system for people and churches to partner in more ways than just sending a mission team from time to time. Very soon a worldwide multicultural prayer network will come online. I’m currently looking for just the right volunteer that could maintain and grow it. Now that the administrative groundwork is in place, Jimmy and I believe that God gave us the wisdom to know that he never asked us to be promoters of an institution, rather he called us to be just what we have always been - disciple makers. So. . .

We are bringing 4 Stage Discipleship to the United States. God has placed in our paths certain individuals (some of whom are pastors) that have seen that discipleship works, and is allowing us to influence them some as they seek to use 4 stages where they are, where they worship, and where they live, work and play. God seems to be blessing this wisdom. Just last week the Noonday Baptist Association asked me to teach a seminar on 4 stages, and then mentor some pastors as they try to revitalize their churches. Soon I’ll be interviewed online in front of many of the Baptist associational missionaries around the US. I’ve been asked to participate in a non-denominational podcast about discipleship. There is a conservative evangelical Methodist pastor that is looking to open doors especially among those that are quite Wesleyan. Things are happening all around us right now. 

Will following our mandate result in increased resources for the brothers and sisters in Africa? We don’t know, but that is not our question to answer. We simply need to continue producing disciples who make disciples wherever we happen to be, and for that to happen we are praying one more little prayer: “God, keep us holy, so that we can continue to be your servants.” Could you - would you partner with us in that one little prayer? And together we’ll see what God has in store. 

Blessings,

Steve D
www.imfcworld.org

What's Wrong with Me?

The other day, while I was talking with someone they mentioned they were content. Under my breath I said, “I’ve never been contented in my life.” Honestly, I didn’t want anyone to hear that comment. It just sort of came out, but this person being the person they are wouldn’t let that comment go, and he forced me to explain. I tried to use my political avoidance type speech, but he wouldn’t have it, so eventually I had to expound. 

I know what the Bible has to say about contentment. I really do.  Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have. 1 Timothy 6:6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment. . . But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  This is just three quick little verses, but you can trust me on this - the Bible has a lot to say about contentment, and contentment is not my strong point.  

I was not talking about nor currently writing about contentment with physical things. Honestly, I have lived with a lot, and I have lived with very little yet found life wonderful both ways. I’m talking about internal contentment in a psychological or sociological or maybe even a theological type thing.  For instance, several weeks ago I was set to speak in a church, and its pastor told me he was looking forward to today, because the “house was going to be full - packed even.”  A few days earlier another pastor showed me his sanctuary and described how many people would fit.  Both times, the massive number that was outside those walls and would never come inside was very heavy on my mind. When I served a going and growing church in Florida and we baptized many every Sunday, the people on the streets that I passed daily bothered my soul. A church where I served in Alabama that was growing like a weed was never enough for me.  God has given me 280 million people (280,000,000) to lead closer to Him, but it’s not enough. I lie awake a night thinking about them, and I just want more. I am not content. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just be content?

Blessings,

Steve DuVall

www.imfcworld.org

More Relevant than a Beard

Yeah, I know I am behind the times, perhaps an ancient cog in a mighty big old wheel, but I try to stay relevant, so I grew a beard. That should be enough, right? 

You see I had heard about Black Friday.  In our family it once was a tradition that Deb, her mom and her sister left the house around 11:00pm on Thursday - Thanksgiving Night - to go shopping for all the Christmas “deals.”  They would return looking like they had done battle around noon on Friday to recover. Dad and I stayed home and watched the news reports about all the crazy people grabbing this, that or the other thing. We laughed one night when we watched a live news report of a female fist fight in the shoe department at Macy’s - downtown Atlanta. For a moment we were concerned about the safety of our women, and then joked to ourselves about which one of them had caused the fight over shoes.  I still giggle a little while thinking about my tiny little wife playing keep away with a pair of red pumps in the middle of the night. She claims it wasn’t her, but when kidding Deb, why should I let the truth to get in the way. Then a few years ago along came Cyber Monday. I am a little fuzzy on this one, but I think if you do your online ordering by today, which is Cyber Monday, then delivery will reach you in plenty of time before Christmas to get everything wrapped and delivered to where it belongs. Ok, that makes sense to me, but it's a sad sign of the times for the mom and pop shops that are not so relevant anymore. Then a couple of months ago I heard about a new thing - Giving Tuesday.  I heard about it while talking to our website developers.  Apparently, Giving Tuesday was developed by someone ten years or so ago, who wanted to change the Christmas season focus from material possessions to helping others. Well, OK then — this is something I can really get behind, and tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, so let's consider the IMFC. 

Most of you who are one of the IMFC or follow the field work closely know what goes on. You know that three thousand people per month are fed by the IMFC as we work to transform their lives by teaching them how to begin and sustain a business. You know about the lives saved through the MAMA Kit distributions, or changed through the sanitary pads “trainings.” You have read the stories from the prisons, or participated with us as we disciple behind the bars and razor wire. If you know about those, then you know about the discipleship movement going on right now among the refugees. You would also know that Kenya and the Congo are begging for more Discipleship books. Wow, thousands of people are running with the Gospel. The Gospel is still relevant today! Who knew? 

Every one of us who are a part of the IMFC in both hemispheres believe God has called us to make a bigger difference. We completely understand running with the Gospel. I am sure that most of us want to live life being more relevant than a beard, so if you feel you need to do more and complete God’s purpose for your life then follow one of the links below.  

• Walk Dusty Roads
• Join IMFC's Brand New Prayer Team
• Donate for Giving Tuesday
• Create your own fundraising team for one of the IMFC ministries

I do look forward to working with you more closely.

Until Jesus Comes - GO,
Steve DuVall

This Is Weird

Hmmm. This is weird; I’m very confused. Well, it’s not weird that I am confused, this is something that happens to me quite often. The current problem is that I don’t know if I am grateful or thankful.  Grateful and thankful are both positive feelings of gratitude with the difference being that grateful implies that you need others to be happy, while you can be thankful all by your lonesome.  

I’m thankful that my wife loves me enough not to kill me in my sleep even though I probably deserve it much of the time.  

I’m grateful that Debbie consented to marry me.   

I’m thankful that together we have a wonderful, smart, talented and beautiful daughter.

I’m grateful that Hannah’s sense of humor mirrors mine.

I’m thankful that I have a job that positively affects hundreds of thousands of people of many different races and cultures.

I’m grateful that my little family has plenty of food, clothing, and shelter - much of the world, especially where I work doesn’t. 

I’m thankful that I have more real friends than I can count who live all around the world - on every continent -  and many, many of them I will call them very close friends.  Well that's not quite true - I don't think I know anyone at all living on Antartica.  

I’m grateful that a dear husband of one of those friends who passed away just last night is walking with Jesus today, speaking with Moses, Paul, my mom and dad, and he no longer has to fight a disease that robbed him of all his memories.  He is whole today.  

I'm both grateful and so very thankful that so many of my friends and family are becoming partners with the IMFC reaching the poor and displaced people of the world, so I guess I am not confused at all, rather I'm just a very happy, contented and blessed man.  Hmmm. I guess though that in this day and age being happy, contented and blessed is a very weird thing.    

Happy Thanksgiving all y’all.  

Steve D

www.imfcworld.org

SHAKING YOUR WORLD

This is huge. This is a game changer. This is the truth.

Do you know why the church isn't growing? Because it's the church that is trying to do the growing. It's the church trying to reach the lost ones in the community. It's the church trying to go to the ends of the earth.

Are you ready for the game changer: THE CHURCH WAS NEVER MEANT TO DO THE GROWING. 

Jesus commissioned His followers to go into all the world. Jesus commissioned you and me.

Now the church is a huge part of that individual's efforts, but it is ultimately up to the individual to go and teach. The church grows because of the individual's efforts.

If you don't believe me look it up. 

Blessings,
Steve

Papa, Why Are You So Silent?

Papa, why are you so silent? I have heard over and over again, through messenger, Whatsapp, and emails, and I have not answered until now. I should probably stay silent a bit longer. I know that Jimmy would, but he is always silent unless there is something deep and profound that needs to be said. The thing is most people know I am usually anything but silent, but one of the boys in Africa asked me Saturday if I still loved them, and so here I am confessing, "Yes, I still love you." The reason for my silence is simple - the men and women who associate themselves with the IMFC are running with the Gospel so fast that we have to change things on our end in order to keep up.

Our organization is plenty sufficient to do nothing more than what we are doing right now.  Uganda is very well covered, and we are a legal NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in Kenya now, with amazing indigenous leadership, but with the Gospel spreading to Tanzania, the Congo, South Sudan, Barundi, and other places - internally we must change.  The guys and gals are planting churches and making disciples by the thousands, and there are needs. Kenya needs the Manna Ministry. Pregnant women need MAMA kits. Some of the guys need cell phones and motorcycles - maybe a couple of vehicles. Therefore the US administration side will be making changes. Our board of directors needs to increase. We have many volunteers throughout Africa and the US, who need to be unleashed to do what they need and want to do. They have been asking for years, "Can we do more?"  The answer is yes, so we need to get out of their way, so they can change the world.

Soon, my silence will be exchanged for something loud and clear, but the organization is not quite ready for the voices to be unleashed. Right now Jimmy and I are consulting with accountants and attorneys and consultants - the paperwork is mind numbing. A new interactive website is in the works.  The IMFC has done amazing things in Eastern Central Africa, but what about home here in the USA?  A plan for helping US churches reach their community is in the making. I am not promising anything, but don't be surprised if there is a short book that you can read on how to make disciples who make disciples. For the first time in the history of the IMFC we are going to launch a major Campaign. We are keeping it simple though - Launch Kenya! Be ready for it in mid-November. A peak into the future will come out shortly after the reveal of Launch Kenya! Currently it's being called Vision 20/20. Could the IMFC become a mission "sending" agency?  Shh. I've said too much.

So long for now. . .

Blessings,
Steve

PRINCIPLES FOR MISSIONAL LIVING

1. Pray
2. Be a blessing (always - even when you don’t feel like it)
3. Ethics and morals matter
4. Kindness wins
5. Sin kills
6. Show up
7. Always be training - don’t go alone 
8. Always move with certainty 
9. It’s alright not to know
10. If you don’t know what to do, just pray, and leave it at that
11. Very few problems need “your” solution
12. Not every problem needs a solution
13. Do not make promises you cannot keep.  This includes prayer.  If you promise to pray, do it right then in their presence
14. Do what you say you will do
15. If someone else is doing something - let them
16. If someone else “can” do something - encourage them
17. Start slow
18. Always think - better, faster, cheaper
19. Simple is always best
20. With Jesus in your heart you have all you need to reach that person in front of you
21. Share always - their choice is your responsibility 
22. Their decision is not your responsibility 
23. Leave well