Ivory Coast
by Richard Nungesser
by Richard Nungesser
This article was originally published in the June 2017 edition of Bread of Life's newsletter, "Impact."
The pastor kept apologizing for his church. He apologized that the floor was only dirt. He apologized that only half the roof was constructed.
He invited me to preach to the church leaders but was embarrassed that his church wasn't completed.
Represented under this half-roofed church were nine different local church pastors and two local missionaries. I know for a fact that as a pastor and missionary there seems never to be enough resources and too many needs to meet.
ITMI's Richard Nungesser encourages Christian leaders in Ivory Coast.
Never enough money for staff, enough chairs for people, enough medicine for the sick, enough food to feed everyone and the list goes on because the needs are real and the work never finishes.
The needs in Ivory Coast are great and here these pastors with half-rooted churches are working to share Jesus with very limited resources. It can become discouraging when you try everything and you don't get the results in the time that you wish.
ITMI's Richard Nungesser with leaders and teachers of the school Bread of Life Ivory Coast works with.
So the questions are asked, "God, what do you want me to do?"
Standing before these pastors and missionaries I want to give them courage and hope. I wanted to remind them of the essence of their work.
I encouraged them with this and I hope it encourages you!
A Revelation from John Chapter 6
Beginning of this chapter Jesus just finished feeding the five thousand and he walks on water. Two amazing miracles that we still talk about to this day.
In fact, amazing miracles that are talked about all over our world in many languages.
The crowd Jesus fed then follows Jesus to the other side of the sea and they ask this question:
28 "Then they said to him (Jesus), "What must we do to be doing the works of God?"
I've asked this question many times, and I'm sure that you have too. Sometimes it seems that maybe we aren't doing the right things because we have 'half-roofed' or there is never a free moment to clean the dirt from your floors.
Maybe you have bills or needs that have yet to be met?
Despite all the difficulties that we face, even as leaders of churches, organizations, governments, communities, and families, Jesus tell us what we must be doing so that we do the works of God.
I don't know about you but I think about this question a lot. I want, as a Christian, to be doing what God wants. But there are so many things to do and how do I know if I am doing the right thing?
Life gets complicated as we work hard day after day or year after year not getting the results that we desire.
BUT Jesus gives us the answer of what we need to do.
I hope that as you read the answer of what you should be doing that it brings a breath of fresh air and courage. You were never meant to live this life alone, so let's see what the answer is!
Lets continue reading John chapter 6:
29: Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Jesus brings simplicity to our complex world. Believe!
Do you know what God wants you to do?
God wants you to simply believe in Jesus. And when you believe in Jesus, you are doing the work of God.
I want to encourage you to go back to your roots. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
Go back to your faith and your relationship with God. Trust him in all things.
I'm happy to inform you that while in Ivory Coast the pastors were so encouraged with the passage and received renewed passion to return to their hometowns and churches!
Bread of Life, also, partnered with this church and helped them finish their roof and added walls to the building. The pastor and his congregation were thrilled!
Thank you for living John 6 with us as we rescue the forgotten and reinvigorate those on the home fronts all over the world for God's glory.
In His Grip,
About Richard
Richard Nungesser is the pastor of Poznan International Church. Richard and his wife, Brooke, moved to Poland in 2000 to share the gospel by teaching English. But when they discovered the great needs of the destitute and homeless in Poland, they founded the Bread of Life ministry to help Polish people meet the needs of their fellow countrymen.
