We were in Cambodia with Joyce Meyer, and Delirious, and many variously skilled volunteers as we served together for HopeCambodia - a 30 day intense missions and humanitarian project that like HopeRwanda, just worked in whatever way possible to serve and assist the people and communities of that land. The people were so very hungry for Truth and Hope, just for people to believe in them and speak potential over them was received in very humbling ways. And the worship... well, as Mother Teresa said, 'You'll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you've got'....
These mostly young men and women were so desperate to experience the love of God in a fresh way, that when we started to sing, you could literally see the Word of God coming alive in them in such a unique way. I have learned over years to never ever underestimate the power of a song filled with the Word of God, as when you attach the Word to simple melodies and chords, they have a way of giving strength to the inner man, much like a meal brings strength to the starving. The nourishment that is received is the perfect antidote to discouragement, depression, long-term sickness.... The list is endless but then, so are the possibilities.
At one stage we simply asked the pastors and leaders to come to the front and we just sang the Word of God over them... through tears and laughter, the Spirit of God just poured Himself into these absolute heroes of the faith, who have lived among paralysing challenge for so, so long. I just stood back, and stood in awe at the kindness of God, who is made perfect in our weakness.... And we joined together in the hymn, How Great Though Art. Stunning!
We definitely had problems with government officials, religious affairs police, bomb threats and the like...We had meetings shut down, stadium events cancelled, and through it all, the people were so very gracious and so grateful that we had all come, I never heard ANY complaints from even the poorest of the poor who clamoured over us to get to the vitamin milk we had brought . AT one point we were actually locked INSIDE a theatre compound, in pitch black, while Martin Smith and myself, Stu G, and Nigel Hendroff led worship through the famous Delirious RED megaphone.. and finally that night, after we were allowed to go outside (still locked inside the gates) beautiful, spunky Joyce M had to literally jump over the gates to preach (still using the megaphone).. and SO many who were hungry for truth stayed and sang and listened to the Word of God.. and truly , it was one of the richest nights of worship of my entire life as you simply CANNOT shut down the gospel, no matter how hard many may try, we just sang praise over the city instead!!
