Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.
Proverbs 29:18
Every ministry is constantly communicating something to the people around. That thing that we are communicating is our vision (or sometimes lack of vision). If we have no vision we lose our direction and spin out of control and crash (cast off restraint). If our vision is split we will confuse and divide and eventually fall, for a house divided against itself cannot stand. But if our vision is from the LORD and is according to the Word of the LORD nothing can stop us. By that prophetic vision we will wage the good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18) and win for we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
Our vision in love on the front line (as seen on the vision page above) is guided by Love, the Word and Prayer period. In seeking to put a face on that vision here in Malisheve and to cover all of the different activities that we do from the Conversational English Corner to our expanding Bible College program, the Lord has led us to the name "Diamond in the Rough". I will explain below.
A diamond is so insanely valuable. We know from Scripture that each human being is incalculably valuable to God so much so that "He did not spare His own Son" for them (Romans 8:32). This is what we want to communicate wherever we go and in whatever we do to serve people. So we want to show them how insanely valuable that they are to God. This can only be done by the love of God through us.
A diamond is also extremely rare. We also recognize (especially in ministry here in this time) that it is very rare for a person to count the cost, come to Christ and endure in their faith through the trials that come. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction but narrow and hard is the way that leads to life and there are "few" that go by it. So everyday we want to look hard for those "few" people whom God has prepared, who are willing respond with faith to the Word of God in the gospel. So we want to dig all day and not give up, no matter how tired and dirty we become, until we find those precious few.
A diamond comes from black coal deep in the earth. We are surrounded by blackness and darkness in this world. But it is there that the most beautiful, valuable, precious treasures are found. So we are not afraid of the darkness but we dive into it will joy knowing that our purpose is to find these invaluable souls and that we will find them.
A diamond is born out of great pressure. All the glory that God has in store for people will never be realized unless we submit to the pressure and pain that the transformation takes and ultimately unless we join in Christ's sufferings. Only when the hard decisions are made, when the price is paid, only when we are broken can we be remade. The church here in Kosovo is going through that pressure. So we must be willing to first go through the pain ourselves before we experience the blessing and breakthrough.
A diamond is originally rough and unattractive. It needs the cutting and polishing of a master. This is true of every one of us. We are born as sinners. We need a rebirth and then we need the cutting and polishing of the Master, called sanctification, daily. This is an ongoing process. So we serve with patience knowing that each person whom we serve is not the finished product yet but still "rough" around the edges as the master does His work in His way.
As I returned to Kosovo after our furlough this summer, I was contemplating these things and this new vision during one of my first trips back into the villages driving believers to and from meetings. I picked up a young man and a couple of boys to give them a lift on my way back to town. The group was headed to soccer practice so, having my son with me as well, we talked about the soccer season, schedules and such. Then the young man began asking about our meetings and about the church activities. He had know me from years ago when he was a child, though I did not remember him. I was embarrassed to ask his name since he knew mine and I felt I should have known his (This happens often after 12 years of ministry here). But I went ahead and asked anyway. he told me that his name was Diamond. I realized then that this is what the Lord wants us to do, to find the diamonds on the road, at the park, in the store or at the gas station, drinking chai, plowing fields, watching cows, or begging for money. I'm here for the diamond in the rough.
Thank you for joining us in prayer and support to seek and save these diamonds in the rough.
-Pastor Jeff
