Dave Hayden, Supervisor, The RTI Project

1 April 2019

Thursday 3/28/19 – We had a team meeting to discuss and pray over the message I was to deliver Saturday evening at ICS. Some very good suggestions were made regarding vocabulary usage and providing brief explanations of terms. I gladly accepted the feedback and, using the team’s input, began making the edits to the message, as we moved toward Saturday service. Had I chosen to bring my computer the edits would have been more easily accomplished. Sam graciously loaned me his laptop which made the process much better.

Saturday 3/30/19 – Our day began at a relaxed pace. Sam practiced the worsh’p music he’d be leading and I went over my message several times. At 3:45 PM Samson, Sam, Cindy and I gathered to pr’y over the service. Tonight would be the first night without Steve Dangaran helping lead. We asked our Father to guide and direct us in all that transpired. I specifically asked for pr’yer that I would experience peace and that I wouldn’t stumble over my tongue, as is common for me when speaking to a group.

Dave preaches at the Saturday night service at ICS.

At 4:00 PM we entered the church (2 floors below our apartment) and began setting up. A wireless microphone was placed on me and the feedback quickly became deafening. Adjustments were made and it appeared all would be fine. By all appearances the evening would be one of very low attendance. At 4:55 PM only about 15 to 20 people were present.

A few lines into the first song I became curious about the full sound coming from behind me. A quick glance to the rear revealed a full house! Wow!

Sam started the service at 5:05 PM and we stood to sing. A few lines into the first song I became curious about the full sound coming from behind me. A quick glance to the rear revealed a full house! Wow! If I counted correctly, there are 82 seats set up and it appeared they were all filled.

Sam leads worship time at ICS.

Typically, public speaking has created severe back spasms and vibrato speak that’s nearly unintelligible. The Lord blessed me with extreme peacefulness. Shortly into the message, the microphone began its feedback howl again and a church elder came up to change the battery and make adjustments. I was able to maintain my composure through the awkwardness of the moment and even suggested that I should have been able to fix it myself since I spent my entire career as a radio technician. The team worked together and our Father blessed us with a wonderful time of fellowship and relationship building.

A post-service debrief at a local restaurant.

Afterward, we took a taxi to a local restaurant named Cindy and had dinner with one of the company families. It was a good chance to debrief the evening and discuss upcoming events we’ll be involved in. We’re looking forward to the remainder of our time here in the Arab Lands.

–Dave Hayden

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