Last year, we participated in a Jungle Leaders Conference and wrote about it here. This year, we were invited to return and lead the evening worship music again. At the first conference, I knew a few participants, but most were meeting me for the first time. This time, they all remembered me and my family… even without my name tag! I felt quite honored, especially considering that our role was a very small part of the whole conference.

While reconnecting with the other believers this year, I was asked about the “round guitar” (aka the banjo). Since Levi was in the States, there would be no banjo this time, and I think many were sincerely looking forward to hearing it again. I can play the banjo and briefly considered it, but no one plays it like Levi!

For the first evening, I gave the message. Many of these leaders come from small, isolated assemblies. Many of them feel under-educated and they struggle keeping their assemblies going. I wanted to encourage them in that the size of the assembly is not important. Whether any of the leadership attended a Bible school is not important (though beneficial). What is important is their faithfulness, their desire to continue to grow and mature in the Word of God, and their continued presence.

We attended the conference on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (on Wednesday, we attended our home church at Fourteen). Each evening, we started loading up at the house around 5 p.m. From 6-7 p.m., there was fellowship and supper at the conference location. Just after 7 p.m., we led the music for about 20 minutes, followed by a 40-minute message, and then another 20 minutes of music. We usually arrived home just before 10 p.m. By Friday night, the kids were noticeably tired, but the Lord gave each of us an extra measure of His strength, energy, and joy!

One of our desires is to spend more time one-on-one or in small groups with these community leaders. The conference was great, but our ministry has always been relational, and we want to invest more quality time with these leaders. We want to hear their stories—their victories and struggles, their joys and hardships. We want to study, pray, offer counsel, and be mutually encouraged together.

To make this possible, we have set aside part of our property for this purpose. We are praying and seeking input from others about building a small guest house, where we can invite leaders, small groups, or families to stay for a few days and meditate with us on the Word of God.

Building plans are in progress, and we are saving funds. The Lord sent us an architect who shares this vision and is drawing up the plans at half her normal price and also presenting them to a building engineer for a quote. Our hope is to get this structure up and “in the dry” sometime this year so that it can soon be of practical use.

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