Could it have been Shekinah glory?

On October 23, 2008 our family gathered along with about 1400 other people at the First Church of the Nazarene in Northville MI to lift our Jesus high, to do our part to make Him famous, and to create hope for the Congo. Everything about this 70/30 anniversary benefit from the get go seemed blessed by God. After weeks of preparation, an incredible spirit of cooperation and blessing on the part of First Church, prayer, hard work by many, especially Claudia Marsh and Deb Baxter, some stress, the unrelenting roar of the evil one countered by faith and much anticipation as we asked God to strengthen what He had wrought for us, the evening was upon us.

The crowd made its way to their seats. Don Aupperle, station manager of WUFL Family Life Radio of Sterling Heights, opened in prayer. A holy hush fell over the audience as they listened to our son Jack, his wife Molly, and their friend Mariah open the evening. They were the perfect opening act. Shawn Lantz, our oldest daughter, offered a historical power point, introducing her Grampa Laban and Gramma Marcella, brave missionary pioneers who plowed fertile ground in the Belgian Congo and saw his diary plea entry of August 31, 1939 fulfilled before their very eyes during their 15-year career in Africa. His plea was an exchange of the 10,000 dental patients he had in Grosse Pointe, MI before leaving for the Congo for 10,000 souls in the Bandundu Province of Congo. It read like this, "Lord, I have covenanted for 10,000 of these precious people. I thank you for the fire you have kindled in my heart. May it never go out." This incredible legacy he left to his son, Jim, who remembers sitting in a dugout canoe watching 1,200 of the 10,000 converts being baptized two years after they made their commitment. There were at least 4 such baptisms just at Nkara alone. Shawn's presentation was stirring.

Then Selah made their way to the stage--vibrant, engaging, energized--and they were totally embraced by all. Their renditions moved us to tears. We all felt the pain and void left by Audrey's death along with warm hugs of shared suffering in the atmosphere as they sang song after song with a profound richness of depth that comes after burying a child.

Todd invited all of the family including grandchildren on the stage to sing, "Yesu Azali Awa", and Jim led "In the Garden." Some of the grandkids were totally comfortable with a mic. I wonder why. . . and you know, there is something special about an entire family praising the Lord in song. Unforgettable in our minds it will remain.

Our beloved and courageous son-in-law, Greg Sponberg, bared his soul relating the horrific loss of Baby Luke on May 27, as he passed into the arms of Jesus at the age of 71 days. His words were heartrending, hopeful, gut wrenching, uplifting, profound, relinquishing to the will of God, honoring to our Lord Jesus, depicting of a deepening relationship that chooses sweet surrender rather than a bitter clenching of the fists, demanding answers from an infinite God whose plan we will never grasp here on earth. He spoke of appreciating how many had helped Nicol and he bear their burden of grief. They could actually feel that burden bearing. His words were sheathed in grace, and his wounds have been amazingly coated by the salve of the Holy Spirit. Greg as the spiritual leader of their family has chosen to tenaciously hold on to the promises of God and his God-honoring message moved us all.

Todd interviewed Jim and me. We spoke of the hospital, Women's Literacy Center, and evangelism. That's what we love to do. . . talk about heroes of the faith with whom we rub elbows in the Congo. . . those who possess the real wealth. Their wealth is their faith--faith that can move mountains. That's what turns God's head. Here on earth, the Congolese are often the last--the last to be taken care of, the last to be noticed, the last if ever to be reported about on the evening news, the last to receive recognition of any kind--most of whom are birthed and deathed in obscurity--but over there on the other side of eternity, THEY WILL BE FIRST.

A brand new DVD was shown produced by Echo Media which depicts how hope for the Congo can be created through individual financial investment. That along with our new anniversary booklet designed by JCI Design were well received.

Robin Sullivan, of WMUZ Christian radio, was next. She gave a challenging invitation to partner with Laban Ministries, and partner you did who attended! My oh my, what an awesome love offering you gave. Detroit, we are so proud and amazed at your generous hearts! It astounds us and just grabs the heart of God I know that, in such a time as this, you reached down so deep and gave so hilariously that you outranked yourselves. You gave the largest offering at any one event Laban has ever hosted. Including pledges, one time gifts, purchases of Christmas ornaments for the Women's Literacy Center, monthly investments, and cash you gave a total of $38,000.

As astonishing as that is, there was more to come. After intermission Todd invited us back on stage, at which time he, Amy Perry, and Allan Hall (Selah) presented Laban Ministries with a check for $60,000! This money came through Selah concert attenders who gave to the facet of their choice on the Laban Mission Campus over the past two years, such as evangelism, fresh water wells, fuel for the radio ministry, supporting the 130 nationals on staff in Congo, and the daunting goal of Bibles for every hut in the Bandundu Province of Congo. They absolutely knocked our socks off by this stupendous gift! We had no idea Selah had been collecting these funds. How in the world can Dad and I even find words to thank you? We are so grateful.

Selah continued to sing their guts out. They gave everything they had. The Lord was so honored and so real.

Nicol was next. From deep, deep within her soul, she poured her heart out in word and song. Resurrection and Hold On made us lift our hands in praise to God Almighty for the sustaining strength and power evidenced and lavished on Nicol as she sang and on us as we listened. Greg comforted Nicol as she shed tears and testified that the Lord has been there every turn of the way. I held Angie in my arms as the pathos of Nicol's voice enveloped all of us and caused us to weep for loss of Luke and Audrey, for grace to sustain that loss, for victory over giving up, for heaven growing sweeter each day, for hope that the best is yet to come, for family unity, for healing, for the resurrection, and for Christ's soon coming triumphal entry and sweeping us away to be ever present with the Lord.

Nicol and Todd sang together. Selah returned again. The glory of the Lord filled the place. No one seemed in a hurry. No one seemed bothered by the fact that the program lasted almost three hours. We all gathered as a unit. It was as though God chose those who came, and it was very apparent that many who came were seeking his face. They came expecting to hear from the Lord. They came to glorify Jesus. They came to empathize with our family. They came with generous spirits and enlarged hearts for the kingdom of God. They came with burdens of their own. They came seeking healing for themselves and for us. They came. And God did an amazing thing. He showed up big time.

In the Old Testament, "the Shekinah was a luminous cloud that rested above the altar in the place of worship and lit up the room." Oh did His Presence light up the room that night and put our hearts ablaze with love and caused us to worship in spirit and in truth.

Thank you Lord for making yourself so real, for lavishing your love and peace on us, for bidding us to come and rest in your arms, for healing, for unending grace, for an outpour of love, for making us feel safe, cherished, delighted in, and loved beyond measure. We love you with all of our hearts.