Ten years ago, on August 2nd 2012, we left the UK with our children (aged 13 and 11) to go to Nigeria and start a life serving God overseas.
There have been plenty of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, fun and danger and a lot of hard work, but throughout it all God has been faithful. (Our Nigeria blog www.jacksonsinjos.blogspot.com is still available to read online.)
He's given us many loyal and encouraging supporters who have sustained us by prayer and by helping to supply what we've needed materially. We've had all that's been necessary financially and in terms of people generously giving us hospitality and a place to stay when we've returned to the UK. Living by faith does mean we can't rely on a particular salary each month but we know that the Lord has promised to provide all we need when we need it, and he does. There is no more reliable source.
We've seen the hand of the Lord touch many lives in Nigeria, the UK and currently South Africa. We've learned a lot about Jesus, about other people and about ourselves. We've been given so many experiences and met so many expressions of God's family that we would never otherwise have encountered. We've seen how Jesus asks a lot but gives so much more and never forces compliance - it's always by invitation. We're awestruck and grateful to have the opportunity to be part of his work. To God be all the praise and glory.
When anyone asks, "How long will you stay overseas?" our reply is always, "Until God moves us on." To borrow a phrase, we serve at the pleasure of the King of kings.
May we always be alert to his leading in all aspects of life, obedient, and expecting him to do the unexpected and marvellous - never taking him for granted, never saying "I can't" but always being willing to offer the little we have in his service.
A couple of weeks ago I listened to a sermon that touched on Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The preacher spoke about a man who had agreed to help in a prison ministry programme but only in a background role. He offered the talents he had in driving, serving food and washing up, saying he was too shy to be involved in any frontline way. A few years later those talents had been multiplied so that now he's mentoring prisoners and speaking to the group as a whole in a way that reaches their hearts. The Lord can do amazing things with the little we can offer and can develop us in ways we cannot imagine.
To anyone who's wondering if it's worth it to step out in faith and follow God's leading into the unknown, it is. This doesn't always mean leaving home and country. It could be changing job, changing attitude, surrendering yourself, doing something small. There could well be tears and you might feel you're on a bit of a rollercoaster but through it all is the opportunity to have life in its fulness. Don't refuse the invitation.
