In January 2000, I asked myself the question, ‘What on earth am I doing here?’ Before commencing residence at Cairo, I had been busy planning my retirement at the Gold Coast, Australia, when ‘out from nowhere’ the Lord disturbed my good plans by calling me and my wife to serve Him in the far-away land of Egypt.

At the time, I wondered what the Lord had in mind for an old foot-soldier like me. Was it payback for all the wrongs I had committed in my life? No! Time and many, many wonder-filled experiences proved the opposite. Fear or no fear, I knew the Lord well enough to trust Him with every unknown that lay ahead.

My experiences at Maadi Community Church (MCC) proved to be the most challenging of my life, and demanded my all. Everyday life kept me challenged out of my comfort zone and drew me further into the faith-testing, dark depths of the unknown. This place ‘scared the willies’ out of me so much so that I knew that for survival and success it was imperative that I shadow my heavenly Dad.

Across from our apartment building in Road 213, Maadi, was a garden that ran lengthways, dividing the road that allowed for two directions of vehicle travel.

This nature strip became my regular meeting place with the Lord—It was where I would meet with Him to speak openly about how things were with my wife and me, and the challenges of the work He had called us to. It was in this garden setting amid the movement of pedestrians, animals, and vehicles that I experienced a great sense of closeness to the Lord.

In the garden stood a three-metre-high tree that played a symbolic role in helping me to see the importance of being connected in life and service to the Lord. Shoulder high from the ground, a limb had been sawn off the trunk… an arm of the tree was missing! Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper in my mind the Lord’s declaration, “I Am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).

After being reminded of this truth, I raised my arm and placed the palm of my hand on the limb-severed scar on the trunk of the tree and prayed, “Lord, I know I cannot do anything for You in my own strength… I will give up trying to do this. Through my abiding in You, and You in me, please do everything You have

purposed to do in and through me and Beryl in our time in Egypt. I pray this in Your name and for Your glory. Amen.”

Friends, a priceless pearl of wisdom I have learnt in my walk with God is that I cannot accomplish any aspect of His kingdom building work in human strength alone. Supernatural ability is needed—and it comes from being ‘connected’ to Christ and… remaining in Him.

This is the only means by which the Holy Spirit can flow from the heart and mind of the Father into our lives to accomplish His perfect will and purposes.  This truth is underscored in the Book of Zechariah where Scripture quotes God as saying … “It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit” (4:6).

There was a time towards the end of our ministry at MCC that while walking to our apartment I spoke aloud to God, saying, “You have spoiled me for the ordinary. I cannot go back to where I was… I am standing at a new place with You. I have tasted Your ‘new wine’ … the old can no longer satisfy.”

Our ministry at MCC was by far the ‘golden years’ of our lives. Many books can easily be written about the awesome wonder and goodness of God, working through two ordinary, weak vessels… Bill and Beryl. The two Aussies who dropped everything and obediently went to Egypt were not the same two who left eight-years later–their lives were not the same.

Friends, for a few moments at the Sea of Galilee, the apostle Peter nervously stepped outside his boat and stood on water. But I testify to you that by ‘remaining connected’ to Jesus and exercising complete faith in Him you will be able to ‘dance on water’ with quiet confidence in all of life’s mean and ugly challenges… your stand will be strong, steady, and invincible!

Victory, and abundant life, is possible! However, you must remain connected!

Every person in the world is connected, but to what or whom? Many are connected to what others and the world can offer: human wisdom, power, position, popularity, and skads of perks. I have lived in this broken world long enough to know that of all the connections on offer there is only ‘One’ that counts. Reminding you of what Jesus said:

“I Am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).

Friends, Jesus is ‘the’ connection that counts! Connection is achieved and maintained through obeying His commands… there is no other way! (cf. v. 10).

Bill