May 26th, 2010
Exhausted but Exhilarated
The title seems obvious enough, but it’s a bit deceptive.
Yes, I’m exhausted. In 11 days, I’ve been on 6 different airplanes (3 more to go), in 4 very different major Nigerian cities, given everything I’ve got in teaching 19 sessions of an hour or more each (only 1 more to go), to nearly 10,000 pastors (yes, you read that right…nearly 10,000 pastors), in a very different culture, in heat & humidity equal to a country near the equator, sweat more than my body weight of water (okay, that’s an exaggeration…but it felt like it), on less than the required amount of sleep and eating food (not much at times) as foreign as the culture and certainly foreign to my taste buds (though prepared with great love and with much sacrifice). Yes, I’m exhausted!
Yes, I’m exhilarated…(and not because I’m only 1 session away from being done…though I am honestly excited and thankful for that). I’m exhilarated because I’ve had the privilege of sharing my passion for Christ, His truth about what the church is supposed to be (the hope of the world when it’s working right), the reality and reason that most churches aren’t working right, and principles from God’s Word for how to fix the problem by leading Change without Compromise. And, I’ve been able to share this in a vitally important country like Nigeria, (they say as Nigeria goes so goes Africa), with nearly 10,000 pastors. Are you kidding me? Who gets to do this? Yes, I’m exhilarated!
Here’s the part that’s a bit deceptive. On the surface, the “exhausted” part looks equal to the “exhilarated” part. But, honestly, there’s no comparison. I know the exhausted part is temporary. Seriously, getting home, hugging my wife and family, eating my favorite meal, getting a night sleep, and having the opportunity to be back with my church family, and I’ll be like brand new. It’ll be like I was never gone.
But, the exhilarated side is eternal. God’s Word doesn’t return void and our labor for Christ is never in vain. God has done a significant work through this investment that I’ve made. I believe (as well as the team I’m with and the Nigerian leaders who’ve prayed, led, organized and sacrificed to make these teaching opportunities possible) that God has begun a work in many of these pastors lives which will forever change them and the churches they lead. And, these pastors, the multitude of people they lead, and the multitudes they’ll reach are eternal!
(As well, I have to add to that God has turned my investment around and forever changed me. If I hadn’t said yes to this exhausting investment, I would have missed out on the eternally significant impact in my life.)
So yes, I’m exhausted and exhilarated but don’t let that deceive you. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Who wouldn’t trade that which is temporary for that which is eternal? My prayer is that more believers will start and continue trading their temporary comfort for eternal consequence. After all, it only makes sense. As 1 Corinthians 15:58 says…”Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Check out these pictures…
Main Floor at Final Conf Site...Abujah
3000 Pastors hearing God's Truth about Change w/o Compromise
Suit & Tie? Practicing what I preach by being relevant to their culture!
My Favorite Picture...Truth Shared & Passionately Received
I hope you’ll benefit from my thoughts and share them. And, I’d love for you to let me know your thoughts!
Categorized: Christian Living, Leadership |
Toni
Thank you for this blog. It has been fun following your tweets and photos and such…and it will be a lot of fun welcoming you back to NorthRidge the first weekend of June! I have prayed for you this whole trip, as many of your NR family has, and I pray a very safe trip home. God bless you Brad, for sharing God’s truth, for being His hands and feet!
Dave
Pray for your strength.
cherilans
Hi Brad! I’m so proud you’re our pastor! I’ve told so many about your mission in Nigeria. You’ve gone through personal sacrifice so He could work through you to share His Truth via the gifs He has given you. I truly admire and respect your courage and strength in overcoming the physical challenges and breaking through the perceived barriers there, then going on to make a huge, eternal difference in both you and the many Nigerian pastors and their flocks. It is overwhelming to comprehend the enormity of this… I really can’t put into words the joyful feeling I’ve had witnessing your experience from afar. I’m so glad, with your great communication skills, you have been able to share this tremendous journey with us. I hope you can continue to share more of your insights and realizations after you return home (safely, I pray!) as you further reflect on how God has touched your faithful heart and soul. Thank you for your great example of discipleship – you have again inspired and motivated me to continue to focus on giving my life to Him. Thanks so much! God Bless You!
bob burnside
ditto…cherilans post
Rev Jonathan Okoroafor
Great listening to @ Maitama, Abuja. Thanks so much My brother, Pastor Brad
Tweets that mention Exhausted but Exhilarated « Brad Powell Online -- Topsy.com
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Mashni, Adam Mashni and Brad Powell, Brad Powell. Brad Powell said: Who wouldn’t trade that which is temporary for that which is eternal? New blog…exhausted but exhilarated. http://bit.ly/9ULasD [...]
Jan
It has been fun following your trip on Twitter and while NR has continued on, somehow it isn’t the same when your not there. You have changed thousands of lives and those thousands will change thousands more and on it will go. My prayers have been with you throughout your trip and I will continue to pray for your safe return.
Look forward to seeing you at our NR home soon.
Get some rest, give Roxann that big hug (don’t forget the grandsons!) and enjoy that meal at your favorite restaurant.
Maina T. Adams
Brad, you are a blessing to us (to me more particularly) these two days in Abuja. Your labor shall not be in vain- even as you know it already, I reiterate it to you.
I look forward to God’s transforming work in the Nigerian church & consequently the world at large as THE WAVE is rekindled here.
I pray for a renewal of strength as u r now probably settling down to rest awhile at home b4 u continue wit Ministry.
THANKS A MILLION & GOD BLESS U & UR WIFE.
Bev Bettega
Fantastic, Brad. Only God could provide such an opportunity to share in His gospel throughout the world. I’m glad you pushed through the exhaustion to the exhilaration!
Taffy
Amazing. I often thank God for your influence in my life and for the wonderful changes that you’ve brought to my heart through the power of our Lord. But then to realize that you are likewise spreading this influence far beyond Plymouth, MI and far beyond the USA–all the way to Africa–is fantastic. I am very proud of you. Your talent of communication, strength of faith, and your dedication are much appreciated and admired by all of us in your congregation. I thank God for sending you into my life.
Gabriela
Wow!!!! You poured your heart and soul into this mission!! You really are a blessing from the Lord and a light in the lives of all who have the privledge of knowing you and hearing your message. You are such an inspiration to me and reading all the sacrifice you made in this recent journey inspires me even more to help people. These people must love you there and will be forever transformed because of you. You are a great man Brad!!! Thank you.
Eva
Your investment, your gift, and your love, appears to be not simply a “pebble” yet a “boulder” dropped into the pond! What a blessing that your choice has impacted so many leaders who will go on to impact so very many believers! And isn’t it glorious that your adventure, with all of it’s discomfort, sacrifice, and complete “stretching” of yourself has brought such intense personal growth and reward that you will most definitely implement within your family and our church!
Thank you God for Brad’s safe return! E
Mark
Brad,
I was exhausted and after reading your post I now feel exhilarated myself. I’m currently working out of state for an extended period of time, working long days and away from my family. It was beautiful and enlightening to come back to my hotel, check my email and find your link in my inbox. I look forward to being back at NR when I return. God Bless
Sheryl
Glad you are home! We were praying for you to have life changing events and are wondering if you met Pastor David Oyedepo? He pastors a great church in Lagos, (Winners chapel) that has over 95,000 members along with Covenant University? The church also operates business ventures such as a water processing plant, various restaurants bakeries ect….
vivian
Brad, so good to know that you are home safe. I am so proud to be a part of the NR family. God Bless you and your family.
Penny Grantz
Pastor Brad,
You have the ability to bring the wonder of Christ to all your church members every week. How wonderful that you were able to share that gift with that gathering of pastors. I know you empowered them. Thank you for all the works you do in Christs name. Amazing. I am so glad I belong to North Ridge,
Angelina
I’m so glad to read that you are back home safe and sound because we need you as much as the people in Nigeria. I look forward to seeing you at church. God Bless you and your family. Whenever you can teach others how to love God’s way it makes our world a better place and is very pleasing to God. Thank you.
Marla Forman
Praise God for your willingness to go.
Emmanuel & Liz Etim
Hello Pastor Brad,
We the Nigerian Northridge church family welcome you back from your Second Missionary trip to Nigeria. We are very grateful to the Lord for using you to spread the gospel in Nigeria. Now that you have experience some of the Nigerian food & culture, we will like to take this opportunity to invite you and your family plus some of the church staff to also experience Nigerian food (date to be determine) prepare by the Nigerian Northridge church family. We pray that the Lord continue to give you wisdom, knowledge and strength in teaching and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ across all nations.
On behave of the Nigerian Northridge church family,
Emmanuel & Liz Etim
God Bless You and guide you in your journey back to Northridge-Church
I am a Nigerian and a member of Northridge Church..same with my family.Wreside in Northville, MI
school grants
It’s posts like this that keep me coming back and checking this site regularly, thanks for the info!
Joy Inyang
Word cannot express how I felt seeing all the men and women of God you touched in my country. This is a country of about 130 million people. When this men you have touched unleash the gospel as it is suppose to be thought, what a revival. I do not know if you know how big this is and what this mean to a country plague by immorality. God is definately using you for something mighty. I pray Gods guidance and blessing on you and your family. How did you get to choose Nigeria with all the negative image. There are a number of Nigerians in the church and we will love to help in whatever way we can if you need to get us involved.