Outside the Camp
In September, I found myself in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville NC for my first New Wineskins conference. I was excited to be at the conference and to be in the mountains. I knew going into the week that God would clarify some things for me, but I had no idea what that might look like. Now I do. Over the week at New Wineskins, God reminded me that I have a tendency to try to control the outcomes of my life. When successful I am driven by pride and when not so successful I move into a posture of fear. God called me to repentance and dependance upon him.
Early in the week on a hike the Lord showed me a clear vision of a community of people from all nations gathered in worship. I saw specific people - refugees from various nations - that the Lord has connected me with over the past year. This vision made sense to me, based on what God has been doing in my life; and so I filed this away in my mind as something to pray about. Little did I know what Jesus was about to do next.
On the closing night of the New Wineskins Conference, there was an invitation to stay after the plenary session to pray for the nations. My plan was to stay for the main session and then skip the prayer for the nations. I was tired and "needed" rest. But in the end the Lord grabbed my heart and I began to walk around the room praying for various nations and for many of the beautiful people I had met over the week.
There were flags from the nations represented and banners specifying how to pray for the persecuted church. But at one point I couldn't go forward and the realization that there was no Afghan flag in the room hit me like an avalanche. I began to weep uncontrollably and felt a deep burden for the Afghan people, both for those inside the country and outside. This heavy weight led me to lament the situation in Afghanistan and the tragic circumstances that the refugee families I know had to endure and still endure. But eventually the weight turned to praise and I left to go rest.
The next morning I woke with an urgency to pray with a focus on my Afghan friends in Ft. Worth TX. One of the assigned readings from the Daily Office was from Hebrews 13. God wrecked me with verses 12-14 - "So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The image of going to Jesus outside the camp to bear the reproach he endured struck me afresh. And in tears that morning I wrote in my journal the words I have been resisting in this season of my life: "God is calling me to seek the Afghan starting in Ft Worth and perhaps someday beyond."
I don't know what this means in the near term but what I do know is that my one focus for the rest of my life is to be the one to see the Afghan next to me and to share the One with that unique person created in the image of God. I will devote my time, money, gifts and energy to this in Ft Worth and perhaps someday beyond.
Since the conference the Lord has opened up a door for my wife and I to visit each week with a number of families from Afghanistan. We practice English, and a little Dari, and learn about one another. We are praying that God will show our new friends his love and that they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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The Rev. Brent Christian has lived most of his life in Colorado and met his wonderful wife Sarah at Colorado State University. While in college, God gave him a passion for the Church and helping people of all ages come to know, love, and serve Jesus. He received his Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary in 2007. Brent loves partnering with Sarah to disciple their three girls: Maddie, Abbey, and Chloe. As a family they like to hike, backpack, ski, cook, read, watch movies together, and invest in their neighborhood. When not doing any of the above the family is usually eating ice cream at one of their favorite local shops. Brent’s greatest desire is to make much of Jesus and to invite others to do the same. He is currently an Associate Priest at St Andrew’s Anglican in Ft Worth TX.