Ministering through Skype
by Mike Garner
S:
Pastor, how do I know if the Holy Spirit
is speaking to me? So many people
say they hear Isa (Jesus) – but how do I KNOW!
T:
In my church last night, a person began
shaking and cursing God. They looked
so scared, like something else was controlling them.
What do I do?
These are just a few of the questions that come up in my online chats with
underground church leaders in the Middle East.
In the fall of 2006, I met some amazing believers from that area during a
short-term mission trip. It was an
amazing week of healing and deliverance.
As they boarded their flight home, unsure of who would be
awaiting them upon their return – family or police – intense love and deep
sorrow battled it out in my heart.
“This can’t
be the end, Lord!
There is so much more to do!
We’ve only just scratched the surface!”
But how to continue the healing prayer sessions?
How to help them find Christ’s healing and freedom
for themselves – and learn how to help those they serve to receive it as well?
And thus was born Skype School.
Oh, at first it was just a random online meeting or
two with a leader who happened to be on Skype (an internet chat program) at the
same time as I was.
But then the chance connections became planned ones
– and I was counseling and praying with about half a dozen church leaders.
A few months into this and I was asked to start a class
with carefully selected leaders (for security purposes).
We began by learning about grace – something sorely
needed as they battle to pull away from the legalism rampant in any Moslem
culture.
From there we covered spiritual gifts and the fruit of the
Spirit.
And then on to how to pray for people with deep wounds and
in spiritual bondage.
From the green lights on Skype, I thought I was
teaching/training about 15 people.
Months later I learned that each of my lessons was
being taught to the leaders’ churches and then taken around their country
wherever they traveled.
Recently one leader told me:
“Pastor, you can go
to any city in our country and someone will know you there!
We take what you teach us wherever we go!”
Since then, I’ve counseled, prayed with and trained well
over 100 church leaders – all through the internet!
And the ministry keeps growing!
I’ve been a pastor of a church for over 25 years.
Now I am privileged to be a pastor serving many
church leaders in the Middle East – and most of this ministry occurs at home on
my computer!
The process is actually quite simple.
I have one chat window open with my translators
(where I type the lesson in English) and another chat window for the class
(where it is translated into their language).
In the class, there may be at any given time from 6
to 20 green lights (showing who is online at the moment).
But all of the 30+ leaders can access the class next
time they log onto Skype – it just pops up!
Please pray for us!
It is such an amazing privilege and blessing to be
able to use this tool for the Lord.
Even with all the security measures they take, these
leaders take great risks just to be online to receive these teachings.
Praise to our creative God, who is using this
ministry in mighty ways.