Pictures like this will be my memories of our trip to Kenya… God’s children walking side by side… black and white, African and American, older and younger, different, but the same.
The 410 Bridge Departure Book states this: “We provide opportunities for Americans to get involved with God’s overall mission to serve people, and thereby experience a growing relationship with Him. As we walk alongside the people of these developing countries, we recognize the indescribable needs and suffering that exist there. Our desire is to work alongside our friends, empowering and encouraging them towards sustainable solutions and closer relationship with God, one community at a time.”
Every time I’ve visited the continent of Africa, I have met people of faith who closely walk in relationship with the Father, and I have asked God to let me be more like them. The beauty of the Body of Christ is that the members of God’s family need each other. We are all different and each of us is called to “use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
As Jesus prepared to leave the earth, He spoke of God’s plan for the third Person of the Trinity to come alongside those who had put their faith in Him. “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him or knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14: 15-18)
God knows that we need Him to come alongside us. Even better, we need Him to live in us. The Counselor, the Comforter, the Advocate, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth… these are names given the One who comes. And the Holy Spirit is a far superior Companion than any human being! He will constantly remind us of Jesus and He will always tell us the truth.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me.” John 15:26
“But when He, The Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will only speak what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you.” John 16:13-14