{"id":3096,"date":"2016-04-19T16:13:37","date_gmt":"2016-04-19T21:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.littworldonline.org\/?p=3096"},"modified":"2016-11-18T22:32:07","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T22:32:07","slug":"courage-to-take-the-plunge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maiglobal.org\/id\/courage-to-take-the-plunge\/","title":{"rendered":"Courage to Take the Plunge"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

\"JohnBy John Maust, MAI President<\/p>\n

One of our old family videos shows daughter Michelle, then age 4, perched on the steps of a swimming pool, water wings on her arms. Only her feet dangle in the water.\u00a0\u201cMichelle, come out and join us,\u201d her Grandpa urges from the middle of the pool.<\/p>\n

Michelle shakes her head. \u201cNo. When I\u2019m ready,\u201d she says firmly.\u00a0No amount of coaxing will change her mind. Older sister Natalie giggles at Michelle\u2019s fear of entering the water. \u201cNatalie,\u201d Grandpa says, defending Michelle, \u201cshe\u2019ll \"waterwingscome when she\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day did come, of course, when Michelle was ready and ventured into the pool, but it took awhile.<\/p>\n

Sometimes at MAI I feel like little Michelle. A hard decision or risky opportunity awaits, and I take a deep breath<\/strong> at the edge of the pool. For instance:<\/p>\n

-Should we go ahead with the training workshop in a difficult country of the Middle East, despite the recent bombings in Istanbul?<\/p>\n

-Should we continue plans for a certain publishing conference, even though we aren\u2019t sure where the money will come from?<\/p>\n

-Should we hold the next LittWorld conference in Asia? Or Europe? South America? Somewhere else?<\/p>\n

Faced with hard decisions in daily ministry, I recognize more than ever my need to seek God\u2019s leading in prayer and Scripture, and then to sit quietly and listen to His voice. I\u2019m not talking about listening for an audible voice (which might be nice sometimes!), but for those impressions or thoughts coming to mind that you somehow know are from the Lord.<\/p>\n

I want to be in a state of constant readiness to follow Jesus when and wherever He leads.<\/strong> As Christ walking on the Sea of Galilee told Peter, “Take courage! It is I. Don\u2019t be afraid\u2026 Come.” Please pray for wisdom, discernment and courage in my leadership of MAI\u2019s global ministry.<\/p>\n

This year, with God\u2019s help and your generous partnership, MAI will equip Christian publishers and writers in nearly 20 countries<\/strong> of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. An estimated 640 gifted men and women will benefit from these on-site programs.<\/p>\n

Success of this global training, in God\u2019s grace, will mean more and stronger publishers and writers worldwide who “declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).<\/p>\n

Please pray that our work will result in more and better locally authored Christian content that nurtures the Church and influences society in countries of great need.<\/strong> Pray too for God\u2019s financial provision<\/a> for MAI so that we will finish our fiscal year on April 30 “in the black.” <\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By John Maust, MAI President One of our old family videos shows daughter Michelle, then age 4, perched on the steps of a swimming pool, water wings on her arms. Only her feet dangle in the water.\u00a0\u201cMichelle, come out and join us,\u201d her Grandpa urges from the middle of the pool. Michelle shakes her head. 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