Redemptive Lift

Read: Proverbs 11:11

By the blessings of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

I am writing this blog from a hotel room in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. My team of 10 Americans and I have just completed five intensive days of leadership training in the remote and impoverished city of Gojjo with 350 Ethiopian church planters who are taking that unreached region by storm. We have heard story after amazing story of physical healing, deliverance from demonic possession, the dead being raised, and other signs and wonders that, as much as those I’ve just mentioned might be hard to fathom, are way beyond our grid of experience and belief.

To say the least, we are witnessing a veritable Book of Acts type revival before our very eyes. The Gospel is being proclaimed, souls are being saved, converts are entering the discipleship process and the Kingdom of God is rapidly and assertively coming to a place previously ruled by darkness. No more! Now the rule is being returned to its rightful owner, God!

What excites me the most about this is the redemptive lift that is coming to Ethiopia, village by village. By redemptive lift I mean that wherever people respond to the Gospel, not only are souls saved for all eternity, but life in the village gets better right now. In other words, when our church planters and the message they bear take root, the city is exalted. As it should be! The great advancements in the history of civilization as well as the greatest social reforms over the centuries have always been inspired by the people of God who carry the message of God to their corner of the world.

Our church planting goals are not simply to plant a certain amount of churches and have a certain number of souls saved, but to train our church planters to be the voice of reform, education and vision casting within their respective communities. The Gospel demands of people a better way of living. The Good News ought to lead villagers to better health and hygiene, clean water systems, environmental stewardship, human rights, government that serves the best interest of the people, better family relationships and ethnic harmony.

By the blessings of the upright, the city will be exalted…as will the nation. And with God’s help, we are going to see a once impoverished nation transformed to a shining light on the hill for all of Africa to see.

Pretty lofty goal, I know. But village by village, we will prevail. Which brings me to you: God wants your village–your home, your school, your workplace, your neighborhood, your social network…wherever you do life–to be exalted by your righteousness. This is not just God’s plan for Africa; it’s his plan for you!

Is life in your village better simply because you are there? It should be! After all, the Kingdom life was meant to spill out of our lives once in a while!

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:


Ask God where and how he wants to use your righteousness to exalt the little corner of the world in which you live. Seriously, life in your “village” ought to get better simply by virtue of you being there.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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