Meet Israel

As I stated in my previous post, there have been blessings that came out of going to the hospital and being back in Kigali for the week. Not the least of which was my crossing paths with Israel Namegabe. I met Israel while staying at the Jackson’s house. He was staying there as well and had been for the week while he was in town from the DR Congo. Israel is one of those people who just ooze out his passion for sharing the gospel and love for Christ. Our first interaction involved him introducing himself to me, and then in broken English, asking if I know God. It totally caught me off guard. I told him I did and then he asked me why it is that I believe in Jesus. That led to a great first interaction.

The more I got to know Israel the more I was impressed with his heart and relationship with God. As we started talking about more personal details I learned that he is married and has a family of 11 children back in DRC, 9 girls and 2 boys! When he asked if I had brothers and sisters and I told him one of each, he asked if something was wrong! When we where finishing our conversation last night he had asked me to pray that God would help provide good education for his children. 3 are currently in secondary (high school) which costs money, and 7 are in primary getting ready to go to secondary. Not only is it going to be expensive for him to try and cover secondary for all his kids, but he is very eager for his children to have an opportunity to go to University outside of the Congo, maybe even in Europe or the States if God opens those doors.

I told him that I didn’t know much about people living in foreign counties going to school in the states, outside of the fact that it is possible. I told him that I thought there may be scholarships or grants out there as well but I have no idea where to start looking for that information. Then I figured I could make a quick video of Israel to introduce him and let him tell his story briefly. Though I don’t have finances to help or the knowledge necessary, perhaps God will connect him with someone who does.

How you can help

Take a look at this short video of Israel. If God put’s it on your heart to help him in some way through knowledge you have, through prayer or through finances. Please send me an e-mail and I can put you in touch with him (chris.lglp@gmail.com).

Also, feel free to share this video on your blog, facebook, or anywhere else.

Lastly, Israel has a deep passion to share the Gospel where ever God would send him. He speaks French and Swahili fluently and can communicate pretty well in Kinyarwandan and English. Perhaps God will put something on your heart with that.

After my interactions with Israel I just felt compelled to give him an avenue to share and then see what God does from there.

Thanks everyone, and God Bless!

Meet Israel (to help: chris.lglp@gmail.com) from chris maddox on Vimeo.

Some friends of mine whom many of you know, or know of, are in the midst of an unbelievably raw time in their lives. Through what I imagine has been a season of both overwhelming love and pain, they have been able to find joy and hope, through God, in the face of their loss. I don’t feel as though I can express the weight of this so if you want more information on what I’m talking about,  CJ has been writing frequently on his blog as he has moved through this process, I’d encourage you to read and hear the words from him directly.

Today I saw this video posted of a new song that has presumably come out of this time. The fact that he is posting, to me, is a sign that he continues to invite people into this, hoping to share the love of Christ with them each step of the way, while also publicly engaging God in this process of healing. My prayer is that by posting this it would further expose that message, his and Renee’s hearts, and ultimately, Christ’s message which is spreading so much with their faithfulness. It is a powerful blessing to live with people like this within the body of Christ, and within my community.

I can hear Peace around the corner
playing our favorite song
He’s a Giant living reminder
this is not our home for very long

You can take my heart and all I dreamed of
You can have the future that I saw
’cause I would trade my Peace for another
this is what I wanted after all

after all is said and done
I’d trade His life for yours
I would take just one
and after these days fade away I’ll see Your face
I will run home

He’s our favorite thing to cry over
what He did will change us all
and it’s the pain we just can’t stop
that’s moving us along

after all is said and done
I’d trade His life for yours
I would take just one
and after these days fade away I’ll see Your face
I will run home

I can hear Peace around the corner
playing our favorite song

I saw this video (presented by willow creek) in Chapel today at Food for the Hungry. Pat, thank you for showing it. I think it’s powerful.

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” – Gen 22:1

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.”
- Gen 46:2

Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” – 1 Samuel 3:4

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

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