This article was originally published in the July 2017 edition of ITMI Monthly.
“Facing the Giants” is a movie about a Christian High School football team on a six-year losing streak that extends to through the first 3 games of the season. Coach Taylor asks team leader, Brock, who believes the team’s season is already lost, to do the “death crawl.”
The death crawl is a difficult fitness building exercise, and coach asks Brock to do it with another player on his back. Brock predicts he can go 20 yards. Coach asks for 50 yards, but Brock must wear a blindfold so he doesn’t quit when he reaches his preconceived limit.
Brock attempts the challenge, and his coach encourages the entire way. When he can’t give any more, Brock pulls the blindfold off and discovers he has gone a full 100 yards!
We all need each other to push us on to what God wants us to do and not be left to our own - sometimes fatalistic and under-believing limitations - that cause us to “stay in the boat” and miss incredible consequences of what God is able to do.
ITMI’s Jahim and Gisma Buli, in Juba, South Sudan are facing the “giants” in their world. Jahim is being persecuted by other believers because he will not let his services be interrupted by emotional outbursts and spiritual experiences for experience’s sake.
He wants his ever-growing congregation to worship and grow in a godly, Biblical way.
The Ever-Growing Congregation of Word of Life Church in Juba, South Sudan.
Jahim leads his congregation to worship in a Biblical way.
Pray for this young pastor as he seeks to be strong and faithful in the midst of a way of life that adamantly presses for submission to the majority’s whims and feelings.
Last month, Jahim and Gisma’s son was born dead after being carried for seven months.
This is the second son they’ve lost at birth. The doctors said Gisma’s survival was a miracle. Medical help is expensive and not easy to come by in civil-war-torn South Sudan.
By God’s grace and provision, Gisma is well. Even though she has questions, she and Jahim are resting in God’s sovereignty and trusting His plan.
Jahim posted a picture of them coming from church with the caption, “The Word of God is a medicine to the heart and gives a smile.” Jahim and Gisma have faced the giants and are resting in God’s capacity to carry them above all their challenges and limitations.
"The Word of God is a medicine to the heart and gives a smile." - Jahim
Join me in wrapping them in prayer, will you?
Please allow me to encourage you to face the giants that seek to hold you back from all that HE has planned for you and your family. Please continue to trust HIM to be the source of your help and your life. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
Thank you for helping us help the Charls and the Jahims and Gismas…God is working and slaying the giants, may we be faithful to follow His leading.
It is a joy for me to share a blessing that God provided for the Evers family. Wyatt Andrew Evers was born to Andy, our oldest, and his wife Kat on Father’s day.
We already love this little guy a whole bunch. Wyatt, welcome to the Evers clan, we know great things are in store for you!
In His Service,
Steve Evers
has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.
