Francis Chan

Keith leading.  Me on violin, Chris Pinder on bass, Joshua on drums, Clarence and Logan on guitar, Faye on vocals

Friday Night  Francis Chan "The Holiness of God"

Well, the Francis Chan "Revive Bahamas" event is now over.  Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 pm we gathered for worship, led so well by Keith (and members of our Kingdom Life team), and then were blessed to hear Francis Chan speak.  Friday evening's effect was to lead us to a more accurate view of how holy and mighty God really is.  Francis called us to look at Scripture again, through the words of Isaiah 6, and "see" who this God actually is.  Holy.  Terrifying.  Not to be trifled with.  "And the train of his robe filled the temple."  Francis is gifted at portraying a fluid storyline.  And he captured the audience's attention with his description of what Isaiah must have seen in his revelation.

Night Two  Francis challenged us with "What is your happy ever after?"

Night two, last night, was a more challenging night.  We were called to consider "What is my happy ever after?"  And to make sure we are not seeking it here on earth.  He challenged us to run hard in this race of bringing the gospel to the lost and needy, throwing off all hindrances, and then let our time of resting and celebration be saved for heaven.  He said to married couples, "If you find you spend a lot of time fighting, just stop.  You don't have time for that. Run the race." 

He talked about the needy places and people he has seen.  Women in the red light district who sell themselves for $1 per customer while their children, who have no place else to go at night, try to look away.  700 of these women were recently able to gather and receive a warm meal, hear the gospel, and be offered a chance to change their lives forever.  Many have.  Some are now following Jesus, employed in jobs that they can feel good about, and some have even become married to Christian men.  But this doesn't happen without sacrifice.  Ours.  Christians around the world who have the means to help.  With our prayers, our money, our lives...

But there is need right here.  And there are people here enough and means enough right here to meet those same needs.  He asked "Why does America have to send missionaries here?"  Francis challenged the Bahamas to become a nation known for something better than "Atlantis."  He said, "When Americans think of the Bahamas, wouldn't it be cool if one day, instead of thinking of Atlantis, they would think  'That's the country where the church has "been the church?"  Where the needy have been met....where the rich have shared what they have with the poor?  It could happen.  It can start tonight."  (Alright, I have taken some poetic license here and paraphrased quite a bit!)

All in all, it was a great two nights.  Compared to other speakers I would say Francis is like "the guy next door."  He doesn't preach like John Piper or master theology like D.A. Carson.  If you have the chance to hear him, don't go expecting to take lots of notes or have a clear outline.  But expect to be challenged. Francis does effect his hearers to consider how they can take steps toward deeper love for the lost.  And in this, God is glorified. 

 

 

Night two worship session

 

 

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