Angola #4: Then You Better Go
Twice God had moved my heart concerning Angola. Twice I had failed to understand what He was saying to me.
I wasnt expecting my life to change when I attended church on Sunday, November 30, 2003. But God has a way of surprising us when we least expect it.
Before the sermon the wife of our senior pastor shared about her recent trip to Africa. She was impassioned and eloquent as she described the AIDS pandemic in the southern region of Africa. AIDS is raging throughout this area. The suffering is widespread and medical care is limited. Every village holds multiple funerals on a daily basis. Few orphanages exist for the increasing number of children without parents.
I listened in shock to these horror stories. My heart was breaking for these needy people. My family attends a very large church that uses huge screens to help us view the service. At the end of her talk the senior pastors wife looked directly at the camera. It was like she was looking only at me. She said, We have so much; they have so little. What are you doing what are you doing – to help out in Africa.
I turned to my wife and said, Honey, I dont understand it but Gods calling me to go to Angola. She smiled and replied, I know He is. And since He is, then you better go.
She died one week later.
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
