I began my return to Newman in the same way I had begun when I first arrived there in September, 2018. I did what I had learnt so painfully from my Cairo assignment in 2000 – I came without a plan! I must be a slow learner as it had taken me 24 years in service to the Lord to learn that God is the Masterplan-Maker!

If success is to be achieved, every believer in service to the Lord must be careful to operate only in accordance to His perfect plan, not in accordance to their well-intended, imperfect impressions. Here’s a verse worth meditating upon: “…and human hands can’t serve his (God) needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need” (Acts 17:25). Consider also this verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Did the Lord not say to His disciples that, for Him, satisfaction came from doing the will of the Father? (John 4:34.) The will of the Father is to do general good and specific good. How the Lord led me to experience amazing success at Cairo was in according to His specific plan for Cairo… not in accordance to His specific plan of my former church! To assume that God operates with the same plan with everyone, everywhere is an ignorant and naïve presumption. Well, God doesn’t… as no place is the same as any other, no person is same as any other, and, no time is the same as any other.

Every person, place, and time, is unique and requires a perfect mind to know and plan precisely what is necessary for success. My ‘human’ mind is flawed and is not capable of drafting a sound plan for success in such a unique place, and people, as Newman. Yes, with my experiences and planning ability I am able to do general good, but not specific good. What did I choose? I chose to do both! I offered the full extent of my knowledge, experience, and willingness to sacrifice anything within my control to the Holy Spirit… following His daily promptings, experiencing His perfect plan.

What did God’s perfect plan for Newman look like? At this time, I can only tell you what He began to do as He is still doing miraculous things in the lives of many people there. As I continued to obey God, He continued to unfold His plan to me – no more, no less than was necessary for me to know and do. Friends, I am but one of God’s many instruments. God is the Doer! The New Man for Newman was already known by God and we believed he was coming… soon! (Continued next week.)

Best wishes

Bill Joukhadar