St Francis of Assisi Parish, Jebel AliSt. Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali is a Church that I have a lot of emotional attachment to as it is the place I found Jesus on July 14, 2002. I was, therefore, delighted to have the opportunity to conduct the Discipleship Program here (April 24-26 2007). But the joy was somewhat mitigated by the poor response to the Program.
Not since London have I seen so many empty seats in a church and as I fought back my disappointment, I remembered something God had said to me when I began to see churches packed with people eager to hear me: "Aneel, I give you the crowds only to make you happy, but don't ever allow yourself to be carried away by them! I don't need the numbers. I bring those I need to talk to and these are never too many!"
I realized that I had forgotted the advice and, despite my best intentions, was being swayed by the crowds and risked going the way of several other people in ministry who no longer ministered to small numbers. I promised myself that I wouldn't do that again. Almost as if in reward, the numbers began to swell and by the end of the session, there were over 150 people in attendance. I did believe that all of them were the people whom God wanted there.
Not since London have I seen so many empty seats in a church and as I fought back my disappointment, I remembered something God had said to me when I began to see churches packed with people eager to hear me: "Aneel, I give you the crowds only to make you happy, but don't ever allow yourself to be carried away by them! I don't need the numbers. I bring those I need to talk to and these are never too many!"
I realized that I had forgotted the advice and, despite my best intentions, was being swayed by the crowds and risked going the way of several other people in ministry who no longer ministered to small numbers. I promised myself that I wouldn't do that again. Almost as if in reward, the numbers began to swell and by the end of the session, there were over 150 people in attendance. I did believe that all of them were the people whom God wanted there.
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