Would you expect to see revival in the midst of a cornfield?  It’s happening in a rural community about five hours north of us, near Colfax, IL.  People are hungry for more, God is moving. 

Our group stuffed the white van full of sound equipment, instruments, and luggage.  We were off for our weekend adventure to connect with our friends.  This small Lutheran church has supported us in all sorts of ways - encouragement, service in Cairo, finances, resources, food…the list goes on.  This group of saints have a “Kingdom” mindset and desire to sow their seed on fertile soil.  A portion of their “harvest money” goes to the spiritual harvest field.  Talk about a biblical model.  Tithing their first fruits (Proverbs 3).  God is blessing their generosity, He keeps giving them more to give.  I am certainly learning much through their example. 

We were invited to be guests at a banquet, to share the vision of what the Lord is doing in Cairo, how God has used their investments and how we can continue to partner.  They had a feast for us.  Afterwards we lead a time of worship.  A bit different than their usual, but they were sure open.

Talk about a hospitable bunch!  We were each split up into different host families for the night, giving us an opportunity to meet all sorts of people from their church.  I was placed with this sweet older woman from the church.  You never would guess she was over 80 years old.  This church is composed of families.  People who have been a part of this church for generations.  A great spiritual inheritance. 

Sunday we joined in their worship.  Kristy gave a message on the Kingdom being near, speaking about the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.  Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, as it is in heaven, let it be on earth.”  We have this spiritual authority in Christ to ask for things to be manifest on the earth as they are in heaven.  Amen.  After church, they asked us to lead a couple worship songs for their Sunday school time.  This is where things got a bit interesting.  We started with a couple fast paced songs.  I saw some stirring, body movements.  They are not used to clapping in church, so the kids didn’t know if it was okay to move around a bit or clap during the song.  A couple of the TR ladies started dancing with the little ones.  Such joy.  Such purity.  A couple seconds later, some bold adults joined in.  Even a couple men!  That’s right, grown men, doing Jewish circle type dances and shouting, “Praise the LORD!” I was astonished.  Then the pastor joined in.  A couple women went into the kitchen and pushed out the boys that were hiding.  Before the end of the song, many of them were out on the “dance floor” praising the Lord in a new way.  It was pretty remarkable.  I got a little teary watching this all take place (as I was leading worship seeing it unfold)…here I was in a little old church in the middle of a cornfield and revival is breaking out.  Who would have thought?  Where there is hunger, the Lord has NO boundaries.  If you ask Him, He will come. 

Uprising is our weekly prayer and worship time on Friday nights. We generally have dinner and then a time of prayer and worship. It looks different every week, depending on how God leads. We’re not a church, so it’s not a “service” per se, but more of a time for the community to come together and worship and pray. Once a month we take this shin-dig over to one of the local projects. Our crowd when we head to the projects is generally of the younger age bracket - mostly just kids.

So this week when the tides where turned and mostly adults showed up, it caught us all a little off guard. Guess you never know what God is going to do. But it was such a blessing to see adults come out and praise the Lord together! I was particularly touched to see our friend “V” (see earlier post) come and give testimony about what God was doing in his life. It was a sweet gathering and a wonderful time with the Lord. Thank you, Jesus for how you are reconciling people to one another - bringing families together and showing me more an more a picture of the beautifully diverse Bride you died for!!

Evidence of Your Uprising!

by Stacy Ciha

God is indeed moving. 

I can easily say that to you, but then you ask, how do you know He is moving Stacy?

I am seeing the evidence before my eyes.

Every Friday we meet at 6:00 to share a meal together and then we have a time of worship and prayer (And no, we’re not a church…we get asked this many times!  We are simply believers who want to unite people in prayer before our King.)  We have done this for most of the time that I have lived in Cairo.  We call it Uprising.  The first year it was basically us.  Then, we had our one faithful community member that joined us (If it wasn’t for him, we may have stopped and that was not what we were supposed to do!)  We asked many times, “Why are we doing this?!”  We went back many times to the vision behind it, to bring people together, a place for people to meet God who may not be going to a church etc.  After probably two years we began to have more of a regular group, with new people each week and children that joined us.  We have slowly seen God grow it into what He wanted it to be.  And we probably still have no clue!

On a recent Friday we were over at the housing projects where we meet one Friday a month and I went to pick up some kids who wanted to come.  As we walked up to the building I heard everyone singing “Trading my Sorrows”.  How amazing it was to hear the sound of worship float in the area of this often dark place!  As we walked up the stairs I expected to see many children as this is who we usually have join us here.  I was surprised to see that this week we actually had more adults!  As I joined in worship I couldn’t help but laugh in joy!  These adults that joined us are ones that have recently gained victory in some way!  One has become sober after years of addiction.  One has just won a many year process of gaining custody of her daughter.  One has just begun to walk the road of healing from addiction and has brought his family with him.

This is all by your hand Father.

You are really doing it!

And this is only the beginning…

What is “The Siege” and why are you doing it?  Good question!  Below is a letter sent out by Heather that does a wonderful job of explaining “The Siege”.

To family, friends, or acquaintances, made in the image of God, 

God is good.  I have been a prayer missionary in a small impoverished African American community called Cairo. IL almost three years and I have reaped more from being down here than I ever hoped or imagined I would.  God has given me the one thing I truly wanted…to know him better.   

I spoke in front of a church 6 hours north of Cairo last Sunday.  My declaration was clear and from my heart.  “I stand before you telling you there is no loss in His kingdom.  If I never marry in Cairo, if I never live the American dream, if I never save a penny, if I never establish my own home, it has all been worth it…He is so worth it.  Do not fear loss for the sake of Christ, you will only gain when you seek his kingdom first.”   

The riches of my heart are currently at a place they have never reached before.  He has allowed me to walk a crazy, sometimes hard, sovereign journey and on this side of it I am confident of His Faithfulness, His Goodness, and His Nearness.  For me, there is no turning back…I’m having way too much adventure, purpose, and fun. 

So why after all this, am I writing to you?  I want to share with you what God’s unfolding for my ministry team and I down here this summer.  Through much prayer, Two Rivers Ministries (the organization that invited me down and that I currently work for www.tworiversweb.com) is embarking on new territory.   

Up until now we have established a community deeply-rooted in love amongst our staff; regularly hosting and welcoming people, visitors, volunteers, and drop-ins in our midst; we have kept open a prayer room that is staffed and is a place for rest and worship and study; provided service and compassion to the poor; run a computer lab; and lead bible studies with youth, poor, elderly, the addicted and/or mental handicapped. 

Here where the new territory comes in.  We are inviting reinforcements.  We have prepared and organized a kingdom advancement project called The Siege (www.thesiegecairo.com).  We are sending out recruitment materials to Houses of Prayer, internships and prayer groups all over the nation to invite those who would prayerfully consider coming here for a season of prayer and fasting.  Up to 50 people will be joining us on staff this summer for 50 days of night and day prayer and worship in the streets of Cairo. 

Our mission: to love God and love other people; to bring worship and love before him in the second darkest city I’ve ever been to (Cairo, Egypt being the first); and to love people with relentless kindness, unwavering forgiveness, ceaseless patience, and unconditional acceptance (talk about being empowered by the Holy Spirit). 

I am writing you this because I want you to have the option of taking this journey with me.  I’ve never heard of anything like this or seen it walked out in such a small town with the focus of the city being the prayer room.  We understand that we, as Two Rivers, do not have ability to walk this out in our own strength but we are stepping out onto the water so to speak, fixing our eyes on Jesus. 

I am asking you to partner with us in your heart, to pray and stand in the gap for us on behalf of the light of the gospel going forth in Cairo, Illinois.  Understand that it’s not a work of our hands.  Seeing God the Father and understanding his love for us and his overwhelming goodness is nothing we can conjure up in others hearts.  It is truly a work of His Spirit, a miraculous work of real relationship between Father and child.   

I love watching the heart of the Father transform hurting, broken, and depressed people.  I love watching the light in their eyes return; the countenance of their face lift, and the hope of their heart return to its rightful place.  His children were destined to walk in His Freedom.  God really is good and He really does love them and care for them and does not desire us to walk as victims of our own and other’s sin.  The Great Healer knows how to heal us and redeem all that has been lost. 

I desire your prayer.  This summer I will be leading a six-hour prayer watch 6 days a week with approximately 10-12 adults and a co-leader.   

My life is the testimony and my love is the evidence.  I am asking that you will pray that: 

1. The foundation of the Father’s affection for me will forever be unshakable.
2. I stand on the ground that Jesus’ blood FULLY covers me.  Shame, defeat, doubt, unbelief, condemnation, guilt, performance, discouragement, and rejection are not from the Father and I AM FREE!
3. That I could HEAR the one I love clearly, walk in the Spirit, and stay in the Word.
4. That I would have discernment and a Spirit of wisdom and revelation. 
5. That I would speak the Word of Truth boldly and with clarity. 
6. God’s kingdom would come to Cairo and that His will would be done in this city. 
7. Pray that the youth and teenagers of Cairo, IL would encounter the heart of the Father.
8. The light of the gospel would go forth, and the city’s destiny would be released.
9. That we would find favor with the community, city and government officials, and churches.
10. 2 Chronicles 7:14, Joel 2

I am also extending an invitation to come.  You could come for a visit, retreat, or adventure and see this tiny town in the middle of nowhere that God is absolutely in love with and has mighty plans for.  Or you could pass this info along to some other person who is as crazy as we are that might want to come and join us for the summer.  The application is on the website (www.thesiegecairo.com).  

I want to give God praise in the area of finances.  He’s already got that all covered for me!  I got a phone call in November of last year and I am being fully supported for the year of 2008.  And another individual already added on top of that.  Praise God that he desires people to be loved in Cairo and for us to join in with the Great Intercessor, Jesus as he is already praying.   And since coming to Cairo I have been able to pay $13,000+ on my school loans.  I will live debt free. 

Blessings on you, your family, your faith, and your future. 

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, …for through him we have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” Ephesians 2:13-22. 

Forever by His side, wherever He takes me,

Heather A. Amundsen

“Have I not been brought here to experience some great readjustment in my spiritual nature? (Yes! I can name so many experiences, especially Cairo, where this is the truth)  Instinctively the old nature at once cries out, “Oh, will it be very painful?  Hasn’t there been enough of it already, dear Lord Jesus? (This is truly what comes across my mind!)  And then I laugh.  Shall the clay vessel on the Lord’s wheel and under his loving, molding hands, think of pain in the last stage of a long, joyous yielding to his patient fashioning?  The only thing that matters is that the adjustment of abandonment to selflesss love be made perfectly, so that I stop seeking to be loved and abandon myself to the joy giving love to others.  How beautifully someone has summed this up in the words of an old Quaker lady quoted to me, “Self-sacrifice is the ectasy of giving the best we have to the one we love the most.”  ~ Hinds’ Feet On High Places

from my journal…(this is from a couple weeks ago as i came back from a weekend away from Cairo)

“Coming back to Cairo can be hard when I see it as something against my will.  Right now I cannot deny that I am supposed to be here.  Then, I wonder why it can be so hard.  It is because I see as God’s will and something I must do…BUT, if I want the Lord’s will to be my will, which I do, as it becomes my heart’s desire, may it not feel like such a duty, but a JOY.  It is a sacrifice, but I don’t want it to feel that way.   You have given me JOY to be here, you have given me joy even in sacrifice, may you change the way that I talk about Cairo…As I got out in Paducah to get gas, I saw a whole dead bird behind my car.  Blood was oozing out of it.  Normally, I would not look back, but I did.  As I did, the word SACRIFICE came to mind.  This is what people used to lay at the altar, now Jesus has offered himself in that place.  Then, Romans 12:1 came to mind, “…by the mercies of God(it is by his mercy that we can even do this) to present your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship…”  This is the vision you want me to have with sacrifice in my life.  I am to sacrifice myself, my body, my desires AND this is WORSHIP.  This is an expanded understanding of worship that I’ve been seeking.  Worship is more than music or creative expression, it is a heart posture, a giving of oneself for the only one that is worthy.

Yet our Father also says that He desires obedience and not sacrifice.  I see what we would call a SACRIFICE could actually be OBEDIENCE in God’s eyes.  To even be able to sacrifice or act in obedience we need to SURRENDER our desires, our will to our Father who is in control.  This is a place that I come back to often.  Sometimes I wonder how He can be so patient.  I am actually sick of the returning to this place spiritually!  I keep wanting to have control or act as if I do have control over people, my life when Lord it is really all in your hands all along!  Lord, I am ready to act in what I know to be true.  Lord, I want it to be a joy to submit, obey and surrender to you.

These words, SACRIFICE, OBEDIENCE, AND SURRENDER have been rolling around in my mind and heart.  I do not have any rock hard conclusions but only beginnings of comprehension.  Lord, I need your understanding of them.

I really love hanging out with the kids, they crack me up and I love watching them discover God a little bit more each week.

One of the little tikes in particular is a constant source of glee. He is a VERY bright second grader with matter-of-fact comments, a child like innocence, and dimples to die for. The kid kills me every week with at least one good liner. But this past week was a feast. We walked through the Gospel this week trying to plant some more seeds. Here were the best lines from my favorite little “M”.

After watching a short video on the gospel, I asked the kids what they remembered from the video. There were several verses that had come up on the screen and M replied. “I remember it said that Jesus died to give us INTERNATIONAL life.” I agreed that God may in fact take them around the globe ;o) but I think it said “eternal”. hee hee.

On sin. “Sin is like a little black ball inside of you and the more you sin the bigger it gets until finally it takes over you and sends you to hell.”

On Heaven. “No one knows exactly what it looks like, but if you close your eyes and ask Jesus, He’ll give you a picture.”

On the necessity of Christ’s death. “If Christ didn’t die, we’d still have a sin problem.” little theologian.

Prior to Bible study he shared a story. “Yeah, last week I went outside with my little brother and it was cold, so I took off my coat and put it on him because momma always said to look after the little ones.”

From a few weeks ago…to the question what was Jesus’ body like after he rose from the dead. “It was a real body, and that guy came and touched the screws in his hands, and then Jesus went and ate a tuna fish sandwich.”

Next week, I may let “M” teach, and I’ll just sit and learn from him.

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

in their homes, while they’re asleep,

when they’re out roaming the streets,

as they sit at their desks,

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

when they are good and when they are bad,

whether they listen or not,

when words come from their mouth that shouldn’t be heard,

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

when they’re joyful,

in their tears, hurt eyes and hard hearts,

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

in the difficult,

in the sad,

in the injustice,

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

whatever their shade,

black, white, or anything inbetween,

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

let your love rule the day,

it does anyway,

speak softly over them Jesus,

so they may know…

YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

(There are so many children out there that do not know THEY ARE LOVED BY A HEAVENLY FATHER!  Why don’t we tell them??)

God is sooo good, and so real.

Thank you all for your prayers for my provision to be here in Cairo as a missionary. I know people have been praying for me, and I want to share with you how God answered these prayers!

So, this month was my “transition” month to being a full-time support-raising missionary. I still had a bout a month’s worth of savings to get by on after my last pay check this month, and I was getting down to the nitty gritty here as I was approaching the end of the month. We had set up a system here at Two Rivers as we began support raising that we would use what little grant money we had left to help cover everyone’s monthly bills as needed (unless you could raise your monthly support). So basically, going into next month I didn’t have all of my support raised, so what little support I had was going to go to paying my bills and I would receive $150 to live on for the month. I’d been praying all month for God’s leading. I didn’t feel like He wanted me to send out a million support letters, but just to trust Him to provide, basically without any of my help. I know He’s wanting to teach me about His faithfulness and so often I try and take things into my own hands, so this was a specific lesson for me.

But as the end of the month grew near and I knew things were looking bleak from my end. I didn’t know how God was going to do it, but I was really trusting that He would - that Matthew 6 is a promise, that I didn’t have to worry about what I would eat or wear, that God would provide for His children. If I was where He wanted me to be, than surely He would take care of me.

This week as I was praying, God gave me a picture. He speaks to me in pictures a lot (like a movie inside my head). So in this one, I was a little kid sitting on a cliff, and Jesus comes by in a red hot air balloon, lands and I hop in. We take off and I’m wondering what He’s going to show me. Soon we come to a landscape just covered with rolling hills and ontop of the hills are more cattle than I could ever count. He reminded me of the verse that the Lord owns the cattle on a thousands hills. As we began to float over them, we often got closer and the cattle would begin to run. I saw just rivers of cattle stampedeing the hills, like buffalo. He was showing me His resources. I remembered going to the Tillman’s family farm in Springfield last fall, and they had cattle there that they could call in from the fields with a simple “sou-cow”. Jesus looked at me in my picture and just said, “why don’t you call the cows in?” So I did. I sat in my room, in my chair and I said “soo-eee” outloud. Calling in my cattle.

Then yesterday, I sat in my chair again before I went to bed. I was praying “Okay, Lord. Tomorrow is the last day of the month, I don’t have enough support raised. I believe you are faithful. I believe you are able. I believe Matthew 6 is true. You have 24 hours, Lord.”

Which brings us to today, oh blessed leap year.

Today, our friend Harlen from a Lutheran church up in northern illinois came down to take us all out to lunch and to talk about an upcoming trip we are taking to minister at their church in April. At lunch, Harlen begins to share things God has put on his heart, his desire to give to others and find ways to help those in need. In the midst of sharing some things, he said he had a friend who raised cattle and wondered if we could use some meat if he could get some for us. We all kind of looked at each other, like - um, what? Free meat? Free steak?!! I can’t remember the last time I had steak. mmmm. And before lunch was over, he set it up to get us practically a whole cow’s worth of meat. God had also been moving on his heart to donate a significant amount of money to our ministry.

Unbeknonst to me, Sharon had talked with Harlen this morning about some checks he had sent that had been lost in the mail, and how he wanted to give to support us. Sharon had mentioned my current state of lack of funds and basically invited him to pray about whether he would want this money to go to supporting me. So all this afternoon he’s been praying about this. And after a time of praying over Harlen after lunch he asks if he can make an announcement. Sharon says, “sure”. And he shares how Sharon had been telling him how we are all raising support now and about me and how he wanted to be my sponsor!!! His face lit up as mine lit up and I told Him how this was such an answer to prayer and totally God’s timing!! Always on time, even at the 11th hour!! Harlen jokingly said I must be thankful that February had an extra day this year. I couldn’t agree more. His sponsorship helped me to cover over half a year’s salary. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

To God be all the glory, honor, and praise. Only He could have brought the cows home for me. I’m looking forward to that steak.

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support, this is such a sweet blessing from the Lord and confirmation yet again, that He will be faithful to lead me and provide for me!!!

Part 2:   More Than I Could Hope Or Imagine! 

This week our staff along with some friends in the region are entering into an intense time of prayer for raising up 24/7 prayer in the region as well as preparation for 50 days of 24 hour prayer here in Cairo this summer! We have seen God’s faithfulness so much in this place of prayer and He continues to lead us into new seasons of obedience in this. Please keep us in your prayers this week especially for wisdom and guidance for the Lord in these new endeavors, for opportunities to love on people in this community in Christ, and to hear from the Lord.

Today was quite a day. My supporter from Colfax was back in Cairo today to deliver us a cow :o). See “leap year” entry below. We now have two freezers stuffed with over 650 pounds of beef!! Including steak and prime rib, what?!! Amazing. He even tossed in some pork. What a blessing!! I know we will enjoy feasting on such delicacies, but I’m also so excited to be able to bless others in the community with this precious gift! (Addendum: I think it’s quite funny that in my “vision” from my “leap year” entry when I called the cows, I actually used a pig call, “sou-ee”, and then we ended up getting some pork with our beef ;o) hee hee.)

In addition to bringing us a fresh cow, Harlen also felt led to support me for the entire year!!!! That’s right, folks, I am now FULLY supported for this year of ministry, and on top of that, he gave me a raise ;o), more than I was asking for each month. AND it doesn’t stop there….Harlen also felt led to support some of the other staff here at Two Rivers too. Blessings all around!

Kristy pointed out during our staff meeting today that since the beginning of the year, the Lord has raised over $50,000 for our ministry, if you count support raising and other gifts - all without a grant. This is greatly freeing for any ministry! So, praise the LORD!!!

Thank you all again for your prayers, I can certainly tell that people are praying for me and this ministry. God is faithful to listen to hear our prayers.

If you would like to read more about Sara’s Journey, her personal blog can be found at http://www.gerberdaisy.wordpress.com

This song speaks of where our heart is.  We have been waiting in Cairo.  This is a place that often feels like a desert.  It kind of looks like one, but it is more than that.  We often feel like we are like the Israelites, waiting, just waiting to get to the Promised Land that we know the Lord wants to bring the people of Cairo to.  As it turned 2008 I sensed for my life and for Cairo that it would be a year of “new beginnings”.  It turns out that 40 years ago was the height of the civil rights movement in our country and in Cairo.  Martin Luther King was killed in 1968, forty years ago.  Throughout scripture God moves in 40 year time periods.  Our address at our center is actually 2008 Martin Luther King Drive!          

There has been a new steadfastness and perseverance in my spirit.  I now know for sure that I will not leave this “desert” until I see the rain.  I do not know how much of God’s harvest I will see in this city, but I know I will see the beginning.  We are waiting.  I am waiting.  The rain of God that I am talking about will open hearts to Him.  His Holy Spirit wants to dwell here.  The rain will till the soil here.  God will bring His people to the Promised Land.  Are we ready?  I am.  We are.           

It just so happens that it is raining ice right now as I type this…odd, or is it?! 

“Oh, I’m waiting in this desert, just waiting for the rain.   Oh, but I won’t leave this desert until I see the rain.  And I’m waiting in the wilderness of promises yet fulfilled.   Oh, but I won’t leave this wilderness until I see the rain.  I’m waiting for the rain.  Oh, I’m waiting for the rainI’m just waiting for the rain.  Oh, I’m waiting for the rain.  For I have heard the story told of a prophet who prophetized.  Of the rain that would come in the middle of a drought of a sign of the rain to come.  And though years have come and years of gone.  We’re still waiting for the rain.  Oh, but I can see the clouds gathering now.  Are you ready, are you ready for the rain?  Open up the heavens and let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.  Open the heavens and let it rain, let it rain, let it rain“ “Let it rain God, let it rain…let it rain…” 

 -Misty Edwards (unplugged cd, for those that are not familiar with Misty, check her out, God truly speaks through her music.  Much of it is of the time we are in right now.) 

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
    his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
   as the spring rains that water the earth.”-           Hosea 6:3

“…for waters break forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert;  The burning sand shall become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water…And a highway shall be there, And it shall be called the Way of Holiness;  The unclean shall not pass over it.It shall belong to those who walk on the way;  Even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; They shall not be found there, But the redeemed shall walk there.And the ransomed of the Lord shall returnAnd come to Zion with singing; Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”- Isaiah 35:6b-10 (you should read ALL of it!)

(A friend e-mailed this scripture to me a couple weeks ago saying that it is encouraging to people in a “desert”.  That morning, we had just been praying for the redeemed in Cairo!) 

God is cool he rules, the Devil is a fool and
Is cruel and likes to duel. The Devils selfish
And God likes to eat pickle relish. The Devil
Is a punk and God throws away all his junk.
 

“This is how you should pray.

  “  ‘ Our Father in heaven,
May your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
May what you want to happen be done
 On earth as it is done in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
Just as we also have forgiven those
Who sin against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are attempted.
Save us from the evil one.

Blessed are those who hungry and
Thirsty for what is right.

Blessed are those who are sad. they will be comforted.

Gary Tilman and his wife Sharon run a ministry in Cairo. It’s not a church, but a group of people who believe God will turn their city around.

Cairo has been in decline for more than half a century. The population has decreased, the buildings are falling apart and the economy is all but extinct. There is crime, drugs, racism and unemployment.

The Tilmans’ Two Rivers Ministry works out of the old St. Joseph’s school building downtown and brings worship services to the streets of Cairo, attempting to get as many people as possible to join them in worship. The Tilmans have a crew of six or seven younger people who are also part of the ministry.

They are a very inspiring group of individuals.

They play music, sing, pray and read scripture. They get together Friday nights at a comfortable, lounge-like place at St. Joseph’s and sometimes have dinner beforehand.

The problem is, after years of trying time and time again to get the people of Cairo involved, the ministry has had no one join them.

Does this mean the ministry is a failure or that Cairo can’t be saved? No. It means the mission may be bigger than anticipated; the ministry might have to change the way it approaches the people of Cairo or it might need help from others who believe in the mission as well.

Personally, I think the people of Two Rivers Ministry are doing a wonderful thing. They have a long road ahead of them, but I think Cairo needs spiritual revival if it is ever going to come together as a successful community and improve its conditions.

I’ll admit I wasn’t especially fond of Cairo during my first few visits, but there are great people there who had to be found.

The principle of finding good in the bad can be applied to just about anywhere. I believe there are a lot of places in the country and in the world that have serious troubles, places that need help because others have brought suffering there. The problems don’t replace the good things. They just overshadow them.

Some may see a place with bad problems and think the problems are all that is there. They need to realize one thing, as I have: Looking through the bad things and finding the people that care is the only human power that can and will save the world.