Week 1 Teaching Schedule and Prayer Guide

To let you know a little more for your prayers and how I was suggested to prepare, below is what a brother sent me who has also been very involved there:

Tuesday - God's glory alone - glorifying God in our suffering would be very beneficial. The prosperity gospel is common, as well as people who still practice witchcraft. People may seek healing from the Lord, but then also go to the witchdoctor. People also live in constant fear/discouragement because of Satan, so need to know that even if we are suffering because Satan is attacking, God is sovereign and uses Satan's attacks for our good and His glory. 

Wednesday - Scripture alone - many people place a high emphasis upon modern prophets, and people will not come to a church if there are no prophecies. Also, I asked Pastor Didier why more people do not read, and he said that it is because they are thinking about where they will get food, or they are spending all day trying to get food. Therefore, helping people to think of ways that they can incorporate Scripture into their entire day, as well as reminding them of the value of the Bible and how it takes time to study. 

Thursday - Grace alone through faith alone - something else to consider for the question would be the implications of our being saved by God. It is common for people to think that they must go to an apostle/prophet to be delivered of the demons of various sins, so teaching that we have already been delivered in Christ. Also, 

Faith alone - teaching about the balance between faith/works will be good, because many people say that they are a Christian, and yet continue to practice sin. Pastor Didier said that there are people in the church who are still involved in witchcraft, and that sexual immorality and witchcraft are very widespread. 

Friday - Christ alone - something else for the question would be that Christ is supreme over demons, and will conquer all evil. There are some who say that since Christ is supreme over all evil spirits and God is the Lord of hosts, then this means that we can be involved in witchcraft, for all spirits are from Him. Pastor Didier said that people are so discouraged and need to know the hope that we have in Christ. 

I hope that sheds some more light on how to pray. See below for Layton family history in Congo where witch doctors first began to come to Christ over a 100 years ago. Many more (even professing Christ) still need to be transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

https://lifeatthelaytons.blogspot.com/2011/08/layton-family-history-in-congo_23.html

DAY 1 teaching 

(Phil said he woke up at 4:00am and couldn't sleep, so he got up, started studying and re-worked all his notes.  They had plenty of food available so they opened the conference up to women and families.  He said they were an amazing captive audience from 9:30-3:30 with only a lunch break.  The first half of the day was teaching and the second half was Q and A.)

From Phil:

Patience is Didier’s pastoral assistant and was saved from Catholicism a few years ago so the solas resonated with him.

Another guy I met at the church is named Akim, who is a recent convert from Islam a few months ago, and his dad is a Muslim Imam (their version of a pastor). It’s dangerous to convert in his situation so he has to be somewhat underground but the church is helping protect him. Didier said he’s very committed. Another man named Frank was smiling almost the entire time and eagerly, profusely thanking me afterwards.

The theme of God’s glory and God-centeredness really seemed to resonate with all, from a diverse background of churches. I was impressed at the theological knowledge of the men Didier teaches and serves with. Most of all I was impressed at their hunger for the Word of God and attention to listen for 2+ hours without needing a break (yes, Americans you should be convicted! :)

Their eagerness to know is so refreshing to me and I was moved in our time or worship and am so happy this has come together

Tomorrow I teach on Scripture Alone from Psalm 19 and maybe Ps 119 and 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5

I will have to spend some hours each day re-doing and revising the way I do notes to a way that’s helpful for them so I appreciate prayers for time and energy in the evenings and mornings. I’m exhausted mentally and physically but very encouraged spiritually. Pray for me Isaiah 40:29-31, which is part of what I was peaching on today)

I received a text from Phil today:

"I was able to see Mari Etienne (runs a local orphanage and is a good friend of Didier) and Emery (works on the compound and is one of the men recently married with the other couples at the church in the special ceremony).

                                                           Emery and Phil 2011

I was also able to meet some of the pastors Didier is working with and get  to see a new church plant.  We visited churches 1 and 3.

We went to a Internet Café (it’s a room with 20 year old computers and wires hanging everywhere), I was able to get a SIM card for my iPad so now I can text much easier.  (The keyboards at the café are French).  

When we got back I still had time for a basketball game, and even dunked. (He said he has witnesses)

For dinner we had fresh goat, foo-foo (boiled cassava kinda like a big ball of sticky rice) and cassava leaves.

I begin teaching at 9:30 am."  (12:30 am our time)

                                   Didier's Church on the Compound where Phil is teaching

Phil's arrival - blog for Sunday 8/19

This is the guest house where Phil will be staying. This video is from our friends years ago before the compound had a wall built all around it. Electricity is available a couple of hours each evening by the generator, and Phil understands there is now a toilet seat and even a small stove to heat up water for Via coffee in the AM!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8fwlilwWgw


Here is a clip of part of a Sunday service from years past to give a sense of how they worshipped that day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM2hWHqMyfI

Landed in Ethiopia - Flight Plans and God’s Plans

Flight Plans and God’s Plans

UPDATE: LANDED IN ETHIOPIA 5:30 AM SUNDAY AFRICA TIME (8:30 Saturday PM California time)

For prayer requests, see below blog entries dated 8/15, 8/16, and 8/17

BELOW I WROTE ON THE PLANE

When you’re on 1 plane for about 20 hours straight, you have some time on your hands. I’m wrote this from a plane that took off in LA, flew to Ireland to refuel (where we stay seated), was delayed there a bit, and now the last 8-hour stretch on this same plane to Ethiopia. There will be a few hour layove than a few more hours on another plane to Congo. As I take time to reflect, there’s much to be thankful for:

• I’m thankful to have extra legroom on this last leg in an emergency exit row!
• I’m thankful as I remember the last trans-Atlantic flight I was on was with an inconsolable 20-month-old. He’d been through a lot in his adoption and I got far less sleep as he cried mostly nonstop (and I had him on my lap and lost his bag the last leg, but that’s another story!)
• I’m thankful for that journey that brought a blessing, and I pray coming back I will bring a blessing through God’s Son who adopted us

I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:9: “In his mind a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” In my mind I had planned to come this way Wednesday AM, but the Lord directed my steps to leave Friday PM due an airline issue. That in turn:

• Allowed me to come as my Visa arrived last Thursday
• Allowed me time to get all the things done, including extra suitcases of gifts picked up Friday, and several important ministry things Wednesday-Friday
• Allowed me to have extra time with my wife and kids and to see my parents who have been traveling and this was my only chance to see them
• Allowed me to spend a couple hours trying to make the gospel clear to 2 Mormons who came on Thursday. Only the Lord knows all why steps are directed, but I’m thankful He does as we trust in Him in all (Prov 3:5-6) 

This gospel conversation Thursday reminded me of the importance of what I’ll be teaching next week, as the crucial issue came down to the solas. The Mormons reject sola scripture as they quoted to us other books. They also try to sound like they believe what we believe till you press them on the word “sola/alone” - is our salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (sola gratia, sola fide, solo Christo)? I’m convinced more than ever of the importance of these 5 solas I’ll be teaching next week, all Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory).

I wrote this part while our flight plan on the screen showed us going from the UK over Germany and France and near Rome. I’m reminded of the Reformation in Europe 500 years ago that rescued the gospel from the Church of Rome in these 5 solas and how it spread through the English-speaking world to our shores in the centuries after. I’m also reminded that 5 decades ago the English-speaking world spread a false prosperity gospel to the shores of Africa and the need is still great to get back to scripture alone, and the true gospel for God’s glory. Let’s pray together that our sovereign God in His sovereign grace brings reformation and revival to Africa as well as to America more and more. 

Ethiopia and the Bible, Part 2

Ethiopia in the Bible, Part 2

This is the 2nd half of a study I did years ago. The last blog reviewed some Ethiopian believers in the past that the Bible records. This 2nd part talks about what the Bible records about Ethiopian believers after Bible times and in the future. As I travel to this land and with its people, I thought I’d share more about the grace God’s Word provides and prophecies for them and other Africans. 

In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abraham that all nations will blessed in him (gospel and salvation blessings in Christ, according to Galatians 3:8). In the context of Genesis 12, the “nations” specifically included Ethiopia (or Cush, depending on your translation) which is listed first among other nations in Africa in Genesis 10:5-6, and 13. In Psalm 68 there is a prophecy that along with gifts from foreign kings (v. 29) and envoys from Egypt, the nation of Ethiopia or Cush will soon or quickly stretch out her hands to God (v. 31, image of submission and worship). One translation says Ethiopia will “voluntarily offer tribute to God.” Psalm 87:4 further includes Ethiopia among nations who know God (or will come to know God, if taken prophetically). The text seems to describe believers from Ethiopia and other nations being viewed by God as if they were natural-born Israelites.

Amos 9:7 is even more striking:‘“Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” Declares the LORD.’ (NKJV)

In this prophecy the God of Israel seems to be saying that He cares for and has a future plan for the Ethiopians just as He cares for Israel and has a future plan for Israel and the nations (v. 9). Nations besides Israel will be called by Yahweh’s name (v. 12, an expression for special blessings and relationship, especially in regards to salvation). It’s interesting that Amos 9 is quoted in the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 as demonstrating that God bringing Gentiles into the church equally with Jews fits with OT prophecy.

In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abram that all nations will blessed in him (gospel and salvation blessings in Christ, according to Galatians 3:8). In the context of Genesis 12, the “nations” specifically included Cush, which is listed first among other nations in Africa in Genesis 10:5-6, and 13. In Psalm 68 there is a prophecy that along with gifts from foreign kings (v. 29) and envoys from Egypt, the nation of Ethiopia or Cush will soon or quickly stretch out her hands to God (v. 31, image of submission and worship). One translation says Ethiopia will “voluntarily offer tribute to God.” Psalm 87:4 further includes Ethiopia among nations who know God (or will come to know God, if taken prophetically). The text seems to describe believers from Ethiopia and other nations being viewed by God as if they were natural-born Israelites.

Amos 9:7 is even more striking:‘“Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” Declares the LORD.’ (NKJV)

In this prophecy the God of Israel seems to be saying that He cares for and has a future plan for the Ethiopians just as He cares for Israel and has a future plan for Israel and the nations (v. 9). Nations besides Israel will be called by Yahweh’s name (v. 12, an expression for special blessings and relationship, especially in regards to salvation). It’s interesting that Amos 9 is quoted in the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 as demonstrating that God bringing Gentiles into the church equally with Jews fits with OT prophecy.

Ezekiel 38 lists Ethiopia (v. 5) in the context of nations who will come to know that the Lord is Yahweh (LORD, v. 23). Isaiah 18 is addressed to the land deeper in Africa beyond the rivers of Ethiopia or Cush (v. 1), a people tall and known for their smooth skin (something that stood out to me), a powerful nation feared by others (v. 2). Isaiah speaks of a time after God’s judgment in Isa. 18:7: “At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the LORD of hosts From a people tall and smooth, Even from a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation [one translation says “of strange speech”] Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, even Mount Zion."

Some might argue that began to take place in Bible times, with Ethiopians coming to Zion/Jerusalem to worship like the Ethiopian in Acts 8, but some of the passages seem to go further with a fuller fulfillment still to come. Could it be the explosive recent growth of Christianity in Africa (arguably more than on any continent in any century of history in the rate it is growing there since 1900) is fulfilling prophecy? Is Ethiopia not part of the fullness of Gentiles/nations God saves before He’s done with Israel and the world (Rom 11:26-27)? Zephaniah 3:8 says when God gathers nations in the end times, it’s not just for judgment on nations, Zephaniah 3:9 says “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord [NIV “shoulder-to-shoulder”]. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers …”

From the heart of Africa, south of Ethiopia (including Congo) worshippers will call on the name of the true Lord, and we get to meet some of them! May the Lord haste that day when worshippers from Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, and beyond and every nation are worshipping the Lord shoulder-to-shoulder with us and all God’s multi-ethnic family singing, “salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10)! I look forward to worshipping with some of my African brothers and sisters in Christ very soon! I hope this encourages and excites some of you as it has blessed my heart.

Ethiopia and the Bible (reprise) - blog for Saturday 8/18

A number of years ago before my first trip to Africa, I did a biblical study on Ethiopia where we spent the night on the way there. As I fly on Ethiopian Air again and will have a layover in this country, I thought it good to review some of God's heart for these Africans in His multi-ethnic family.

When the Bible mentions Ethiopia (or the literal Hebrew "Cush" in some translations), it’s speaking of a nation that included part of modern Ethiopia, but also Sudan and perhaps beyond to the south. History from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome consistently portray the people from the nation Ethiopia/Cush as black-skinned Africans. Some Scriptures also seem to acknowledge and allude to this trait, which became proverbial.

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

Jeremiah tells the Israelites (and all peoples) that we cannot change our wicked hearts (Jer. 17:9) that are marked by sin. Just as a leopard cannot change its external appearance or an Ethiopian cannot change his skin, man cannot change his sin, the most notable thing about him. But God looks past the external things that man finds so notable, He looks to the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God can change hearts, Jeremiah argues, and Jeremiah in particular highlights how Gentiles, including black Africans, are part of God’s plan of grace.

Many Bible readers don’t know Jeremiah had a friend who was a black-skinned believer in the Lord from the nation called Cush or Ethiopia/Sudan today. Ebed-Melech befriended Jeremiah and saved Jeremiah’s life and God saved this Ethiopian when the Jews of Israel were destroyed (Jeremiah 38:6-13, 39:16-18). Like another famous Ethiopian later, this man was also a court official with significant responsibility, a eunuch, and a believer in the God of Israel when most of Israel rejected God’s Word.

Many Bible readers also don’t know Moses married a woman from this same African nation, according to Numbers 12.  Possibly Moses’ Cushite/Ethiopian wife was part of the “mixed multitude” of Africans and other non-Jews that feared God and came out of Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:37-38) or part of the foreigners who chose to join Israel and her faith, as the Law repeatedly references. In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron objected to Moses marrying her and question his leadership, but God affirms this marriage and Moses’ faithfulness in all his household. The most noted leader of the Israelites was married to black Cushite Ethiopian!

As the gospel spreads from Judea to Samaria in the first part of Acts 8, the first representative of “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 commission) is a man from Ethiopia. He “had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah” (Acts 8:27-28). A man named Philip (great name by the way :) meets him and explains the gospel. This Ethiopian court official of the queen of Egypt who had perhaps converted to the Jewish faith earlier now converts to faith in Christ in that chapter. Early church tradition says he brought Christianity into Ethiopia where it spread and churches were soon founded. This study has stirred the heart of another Philip for Africa! I pray the Lord will also bring and bless opportunities for me to explain the gospel to men like him!

Bon Voyage!

Friday night blog

I have a little time to write from LAX as I await my 12:30 a.m. flight from CA to Ethiopia, an 18.5 hour ride without de-planing! Then a 5-hour layover followed by another 4 hour flight to my final destination of Lubumbashi, DRC, Sunday afternoon their time (they are 9 hours ahead of CA)

Praises:

• The airport process was fairly smooth and even though my Sac flight to LA was delayed almost an hour, there was no problem with my connection
• The longer flight means I don’t need to re-check my bags in an East Coast airport or risk delays we’ve run into in the past (the first time I went, there were hurricane warnings on the E coast and we spend a night in DC and a night in Ethiopia before arriving). 
• I had good time with kids on the way and with grandparents who will take them overnight to help my dear wife who I praise God for all her help.

Petitions:

• Pray for my precious partner Jaime and our cherished children while I’m gone 20 days. With school in full-swing and challenging chauffeuring without the dad driver, please pray for her stamina and spiritual strength, and for the kids to serve her and one another 
• “Travel mercies” is a vague phrase, but as I travel, please ask God to mercifully enable me to get some hours of sleep on the long flight and to be merciful in this cold and cough I have coming on
• I would also ask for God to mercifully help in these flights to be able to put together teaching outlines and scriptures for the first couple days that show His mercy. 
• My parents reminded me while I might be stressing before I get there, or struggling as to how to best put it together, to make sure I’m smiling when I stand up to teach, and shining the love of the Lord above all to them, and letting the joy of the Lord be my strength. So the travel mercies I need are to be a traveler who brings mercy in my message and even my mannerisms and I pray God’s mercies would be new every morning (and renew me each morning) to be most satisfied in Him so He might be most glorified by me 

Praise for Visa and prayer for tomorrow's voyage!

Team leader to base, we have the package, I repeat, we have the package, over!

Today a UPS driver arrived with the package from DC with my approved Visa application, passport, and yellow card required to fly tomorrow! Our dog Dakota ran up to the truck wagging his tail with joy, and I was right behind him in my bare-feet, doing the same inwardly (only slightly more dignified outwardly ! :) 

48 hours earlier it looked like the trip was a no go but God's hand has been clearly at work in the details and timing. Where there's God's will, there's a way!  I'm reminded of when Jaime came with me as we adopted Matteus, it was again down to the wire, waiting for Passport/Visa to arrive via mail literally the day before we got on our plane. 

It was a blessing to rejoice with and pray with the church staff and the praying ladies group, and to know the support and prayers of many. I shared with them my concern isn't physical safety or health as much as it is the spiritual aspects, and asked specific prayers for:

- unity among the church here and there as I go (especially with a bigger more diverse group of pastors, but also knowing our enemy likes to bring disunity or disruption here or there in the midst of good things)

- prayer that I would be a humble servant of these servants of the Lord, as an ambassador of the King, and would not offend or obstruct the truth by anything about me or our culture

- above all, please pray for me and the leaders the words of Ephesians 6:10-20, and that Christ and His supremacy and sovereignty over all would shine (Ephesians 1:20-23) 

In addition to the prayer requests on yesterday's blog, Didier asked me to prepare an additional special message on praying and suffering, and not losing heart, which is such a need among so many. 

My prayer:

"Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.

May this journey bring a blessing,

May I rise on wings of faith..."

As I look out at the wings of the airplane and literally fly out after midnight into the next morning (18.5 hour flight from West Coast across the Atlantic!), I pray this journey brings a blessing and that I and others would love Christ more as a result. Alleluia, Amen

More about my trip - teaching and schedule

Didier called last night and filled me in on plans for the next couple weeks. I originally thought the first week would be just the 5-10 pastors/leaders-in-training in the churches Dider planted. He said they have invited many 50 or so they expect to be there from other churches! The 2nd week they estimate 130. There may be more theological diversity of the pastors than originally which is both a praise and a prayer request as I seek to address controversial issues with charity and clarity.

He said they are hungry for the Word and eager and excited for this time. Our church's giving will also help provide food for their bodies as well as their souls. Lord-willing I leave Friday and arrive Sunday afternoon, Monday will be a rest day, then Tuesday will begin in earnest. Below is the tentative schedule (he did mention it may change and to be flexible, something I need to learn as someone who likes to plan and have all my ducks in a row :) I may need to combine 2 days into 1:

Week 1 Outline - Pastoral Focus - 5 Pillars of Christianity

Day 1 (August 19th): God's Glory Alone (Soli Deo Gloria) is the purpose for everything

Morning topics: God's glory as motivation for ministry, preaching, etc.

Afternoon Q&A ideas: God glorified in suffering, if not healed, etc. (false prosperity gospel) 

Day 2: Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura) is our authority

Morning topics: It is powerful, all we need, we need it deep in us, why must study, etc.

Question ideas: How to study scripture, more on false teaching

Day 3: Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) is what saves, all of God, not of man

Morning topics: Doctrines of grace, how to preach them, how they should affect us, etc.

Question ideas: Sovereignty vs. responsibility, etc.

Day 4: Faith Alone (Sola Fide) is how we receive saving grace, not works

Morning topics: Gospel preaching, how to build faith through preaching and teaching

Question ideas: Balancing importance of works, but not for salvation, other?

Day 5: Christ Alone (Solo Christo) is Lord and Savior should be the focus of everything

Morning topics: Only head of church (pastor is not), Lordship only way of salvation, etc.

Question ideas: How to exalt Christ in preaching (examples of different parts of Bible)

Week 2 Outline - Church Family Focus

Monday - 5 Pillars of the Church (summarize in 1 day above from week 1)

Tuesday - Women in the Church (importance in Bible, single or widows, wives, mothers, etc.)

Wednesday - Men in the Church (servant leadership, in home and church, godly qualities, etc.)

Thursday - Marriage and the Church (purity outside marriage, role of husband and wife, etc.)

Friday - Parents and the Children in the Church (culture vs. scripture, honor vs. obey, etc.)

Sunday 8/26 I will preach in Didier's church and Sunday 9/2 I will preach to a combined big service of the 3 churches. This is a big praise but also a big pressure so I would invite your prayers to our big God:

- that I would serve His family there as I go and my family before I leave

- that I would use my time well between now and then and on the way

- that I would gird my mind and that God would guard hearts and guide steps 

 

Prayer Update for My Congo Trip

Please join me in prayers as I prepare for my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 8/17-9/5. I will be 17 days in country plus travel dates, so will be away nearly 3 weeks. I will be going back at Didier's request to help train the pastors he is working with in their church plants (first week), and also to teach their church on the gospel and family. Lord-willing I will share more on that later.

Please join me also in praising the sovereign Lord who holds all things in His hands (Job 38) and whose hand just moved my Visa application to be approved so I can go! This was no small thing from man's standpoint, but our big God's hand can easily move the hearts of leaders, and I can see His hand at work. I'm told recent Visa approval has often taken weeks longer and after multiple inquiries to multiple agencies to no avail, it looked like I would need to cancel the plane tickets today for the indefinite future. This morning I called one last time and to my surprise (and I suspect the Embassy's surprise) they received approval from the DRC minister of foreign affairs, and the Visa and Passport is in the mail today from Washington DC to CA!

I mentioned the Lord's hand at work because my original flight was supposed to leave tomorrow AM but the Passport with Visa would not have arrived by then. 2.5 weeks ago my travel agent called and advised Ethiopian Airlines had to cancel my flight for Wed 8/15 and I was bumped to Friday 8/17 flight instead. My pre-paid UPS return envelope is scheduled to arrive Thursday 8/16 just in time for my flight on Friday! This was outside my control and outside of the knowledge of the DRC officials who just approved my Visa that is valid for these dates.

It's encouraging to see His hand of providence at work, amid anxiety or uncertainty. May that encourage us all to keep praying as we trust Him and He directs our paths. 

Phil

"God is God and I am not, I can only see a part of the picture he's painting" -- Steven Curtis Chapman

Please pray for adopted Congolese children to be able to come home soon

Since 9/25/2013, several families and friends of ours have been waiting for the Congolese government to lift a moratorium on exit documents needed so adopted children can come home to their families. This morning I wrote and mailed a hard-copy letter to my CA Senators and Representative and our President urging them to urge the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to work together with them and allow these children to come home. The letter I sent is below but if you would like to add your voice to this, you can use below link and feel free to pass on.

http://www.petition2congress.com/14960/please-help-resolve-pending-adoptions-from-democratic-republic-co/?m=5272303

 

To my elected representative who I pray for,

I know you are busy but I pray you won't skip this as a generic letter from someone you don't know, but will receive it as from a real person, voter you represent, father, and someone who wants to help our country as you do. My wife and I adopted a Congolese boy in 2011 who never made it to America as he died on the airplane ride back from Kinshasa (the capitol), apparently in poor health. I carried his coffin to his grave there in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and wept over our loss so I can speak very experientially of the heartbreak that is felt when an adopted child is not able to be united with his loving American family. Adoptive parents begin to love the children they're adopting as they're own before they are in their home, and so this is a great personal concern and care of mine that I hope you don't just write off what I've written and toss this note in the trash. It is equally heartbreaking for any loving family to not be able to bring home their adopted child, and it is no exagerration or emotional overstatement to say orphans and children are dying in the DRC all the time, and hope is dying for children in DRC who families you represent have adopted.

I am writing from Northern CA as one who has adopted 2 children from the DRC and has seen many families blessed as mine has been, and I'm writing to plead with you to do all you can to help the same happen for American-adopted children who the DRC is not releasing (as of 9/2013). I have met some of these children and their parents and if you could only meet one of them, I'm confident you would want to do something to help bring families together for hundreds of children who have been fully investigated and approved and official by the U.S. Embassy (many with U.S. exit VISA in hand) but the DRC is not issuing exit letters. Some parents have spent weeks or months in the country with their children, but the DRC won't let them leave as if hostages for political reasons.

California has a long and rich history of adoption from the orphan trains of the 19th century and in the 21st century is a very multi-ethnic state and fitting force and place to advocate for other peoples (like DRC and others) whose governments don't always have their best interests in mind as I trust ours does. When families are made up of different nations it's really a microcosm of the family of America, and a beautiful picture of biblical truth. My great-great-grandfather grew up in racist Kentucky in the Civil War, but his heart was changed to become an abolitionist and the lone voice in the state government's House of Representatives to support Lincoln's emancipation proclamation. Perry Layton's name is enshrined in the state record as speaking up for those who couldn't speak up, and his son Edwin became a medical missionary to the DRC (which not many white people from the South did in those days, risking their life to minister to black Africans, truly believing "all men are created equal").

There are not many voices from our representatives today speaking up for these little ones in Africa who can't speak for themselves. I've spent many weeks in DRC and seen this country has no care for orphans or their voice, but they do care for what you have to say. They respect America and want to be in its good graces. I'm thankful my great-great-grandpa's name is remembered for caring enough for the blacks to stand up and speak for them when others in his state government wouldn't.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WILL YOUR NAME BE REMEMBERED IN THIS REGARD?

WHAT AM I PLEADING WITH YOU TO DO:
•    Ask Secretary of State Kerry to take a personal interest in resolving this situation with Exit letters from DGM as a first step, getting these American-adopted children home. If for the future, Hague Convention or other steps are desired, please urge the Secretary to work with him on behalf of American families and to assure him the US is committed to make sure trafficking never happens. Please express to the Secretary how important innocent children’s lives are to you and your representatives and ask for his help in resolving this situation immediately;
•    Send a letter asking President Joseph Kabila and the Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo of the DRC to intercede so that these children can be united with their adoptive parents immediately; and
•    Speak publicly about your support for these American families and their children.

I am blessed to live in this country where the voice of every man, woman, and child matters. In our democracy, to have representative leadership who can express the voice of those they're entrusted to serve is a further blessing. So many children I have met in DRC orphanages do not have either blessing but have families here ready to shower them with blessings and love. But without your help, many have been denied the joy of bringing their adopted children home for many months now. I also know first-hand every month these kids have to stay in poverty and orphanages has an effect. I also know what a wonderful thing it is when an abandoned child is embraced in a family. If you care about children and care about Africa please speak for these who can't speak for themselves.

Thank you

Joseph Did You Know? An Adoption Christmas Poem

This past Sunday I preached on Joseph who is often forgotten in the Christmas story and how a detail we often miss in the Christmas story is how his adoption of Jesus is essential for Him to be Messiah-King (by Joseph being His legal father and therefore David his forefather, making Jesus legal heir to the throne in the same way emperors often were in NT times by adoption).

There are many carols and hymns that mention Mary and shepherds and angels many times over, but only one Christmas carol I could find even gives mention to Joseph, so I decided to write my own "song." It's based on "Mary Did You Know?" but marvelling at the incarnation from Joseph's perspective to add another dimension to our Christmas reflections.

Here is a portion of the poem I ended the message with, with the parts that highlight the adoption theme from the earthly level to the heavenly level, from father to Father:

Joseph did you know? That this newborn boy you just washed clean with water,
That He would cleanse you for adoption by His Heavenly Father?
... Joseph did you know? When the angel told you to name Him as His father,
That Name would also save your biological sons and daughters?
... Joseph did you know that your little boy, the one who calls you "Abba,"
Would later cry that to heaven before the wrath of God The Father?
Did you know that your little boy you taught to tie his shoes,
That this son that you adopted would die to adopt you?

Several asked me afterwards for the lyrics so to read the rest of the poem I've posted to below in printer-friendly PDF:
http://media.sermonaudio.com/mediapdf/1224122125327.pdf

For the rest of the message the poem was based upon, you can also go to below:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1224121155435

As our family reflects on God's adopting grace to us, I pray you would marvel afresh, perhaps in a new light, at the Christmas story and how Christ brings us into His family.

Merry Christmas from the Laytons

Happy #1 to our son

No, we don't have a one year old, but Matteus has been with us for ONE WHOLE YEAR!!! So, yes we do have a one year celebration for a 2nd son, just a few days after we celebrated the birthday of our first son (see last post). This past weekend marked the day when he first arrived in CA to meet his siblings at the Sacramento airport (after a 30+ hour mostly sleepless journey with dad)!

It has been a year full of firsts! Since last October he has experienced his first airpline ride, first new words, first foods, first toys, first games, first swimming, first camping, first marshmallows, first rollercoaster, first winter... FIRST forever FAMILY.

He didn't know a lot of things, but he knew by the next month that Jesus loved him

Here was our little one-year-old one year ago

And here he is our two-year-old little man now ...

In one year he has grown, learned another language (French and Swahili almost all forgotten now), and so many new things, and has thrived in his new family and church family as a complete joy to all who know him. We are so thankful that the Lord has graciously given us another blessing to love. It has only been one year, but it feels like he's been with us forever. We can't wait to see what God is going to do with this little guy!

Happy 4th Birthday Adam!

Adam is now 4!! We can't believe how fast time flies by and how big he's getting. Here are some pics from his birthday on the 21st, birthday pancake, prince crown, presents, pillow train, personal spider-man mask, and precious sisters and brother