I like the concept of blogging and often think up great things to share, but then don't spend enough time writing, which is something I need to fix. I've just been promoted which is great, but brings me to a place of thinking about the future.
I've never really shared this before. Sixteen years back in early September after quite an encounter with God, I heard the phrase 'the ministry I lead you into will see 100 million souls come into My Kingdom'.
To be honest that didn't fill me with any joy as I was returning to God after two drug and booze filled years and fueled by my very conservative Christian upbringing only brought historical condemnation into play - God can't use a sinner like you Brettle. Suffice to say I put the whole concept on the shelf and let it gather dust for a few years (anyone relate ?).
Eleven years later and lots of mission trips under my belt, I began to have thoughts and prayer times about 'the phrase'. I went through diaries of trips and soon realised that over that period I had either personally led or been involved in projects that had seen 1.2 million people come to Christ. Yes, OK, the Baptist in me chastised me because I counted, but hey - God was giving me a target too.
It was that moment over 4,000 days after God had spoken, I took seriously what he had said, the date was September 2004. October 2004 was the 100th anniversary of then the Welsh Revival was remembered and this finalised a lot of research n the subject to a conclusion which would later be shared around the world (long story for another post).
From that moment on, I have started to measure everything I did to the life goal of seeing 100 million people make a decision for Jesus and it's amazing what you give up and focus on with that kind of measuring tool in hand.
I started to pray more strategicly, I changed my circle of friends, I prayed that I would meet people who would inspire me to win souls. I got into debt building churches in India, I started to meet others with a similar heart. I committed myself to pour into children a soul winning heart. I did a life audit and gave up 80 things that didn't win souls and finally as God led, changed jobs to work more on UK projects, which is where I believe God is going to move next in a massive way. My life now is about soul winning.
98.7 million to go !