Africa Series Part 1: Say Yes to the Adventure

- Hi, I'm Christy Everton-Johnson and I wanna welcome you to today's more victorious living. I recently got back from Africa a week ago and I am excited to take you on a African safari on a trip that I could not even begin to describe with words. There were so many things that happened on that trip. So many lessons that God taught me, so many beautiful people that I got to meet. You know, it was a dream come true for me to get to go travel there. And I'm excited to take you there today. Years ago, I was able to take you on a holy land adventure and we went to Jerusalem together. Well, on this trip, I tried to snap pictures and I tried to capture some of the things that I was experiencing. But you know, more than just seeing zebras and tigers, well, I didn't see a tiger, but I just see a lion having a monkey jump in my boat and all these different things that happened. What was most impacting was the things or the things that God taught me. And like I said, the people that I met. And so I wanna take some time to tell you about the trip, to take you on a little journey with some pictures that'll be overlaid as I'm talking. And we'll just see how this turns out. You know, whenever I travel overseas or go on these trips, I had these big intentions if I'm gonna do all this great video work.

And then we end up being so busy and going so fast that there's never this time to really capture everything. So I've waited till I've gotten home. I'm gonna peace with the help of Sheridan and BJ. They're gonna help me peace together, some of these pictures. I'm coming to you today, not from Africa. Although I'm hearing a lot of noise like, I don't even know what that is. Sounds like a, like a, what do you call it? Thing that cuts wood, chainsaw, oh my gosh. Y'all will hear in a minute why I'm so spicy. But yeah, we got some animals going up there, crickets or something going on. And we got the lake behind us. And I just wanna take time and just share with you my heart. So this trip to Africa came suddenly for me, although it wasn't necessarily suddenly. I love how God works. So years and years ago, actually before I even gave my life to the Lord wholeheartedly, like I was always a believer from a little girl, I've never not believed. But I didn't believe in the point that I was willing to follow God. And here's why I was afraid of where he would take me. Little did I know I didn't need to be afraid of where God would take me. And you wanna know where I was afraid he'd take me? That was Africa. I was so scared that God would take me to Africa.

I would have to live in a hut. I'd be attacked by mosquitoes. I was just petrified. And so I've never gone to Africa. I've never, I've shot away from that. And over the years, God has been changing my heart. And so about, I don't know, six weeks ago, four or five weeks ago, I was talking with the team. We were having a prayer time. And I said, you know, I believe that God has called me into Africa and can we pray for that? And Julie Sealsman, she just took over. She started praying and she prayed that God would open up that door supernaturally. And he did. I got about a week or two later an invitation from the Jack Brewer Foundation to travel to Africa. And to be a part, to be able to go with Elmo Golden. You guys might know Elmo from his podcast. He served 20 plus years in the Florida Department of Corrections. And I got to travel with Elmo for a week in Africa and experience many things together. And what a blessing that was. So the first thing I want to challenge you with is this. I'm going to try to bring some lessons out of my experiences. But I want to ask you a question. Is there a reason that you're not following God? Because you're afraid of what he's going to do, whether he's going to take you, what he's going to take from you, what he might-- where he might send you.

So taking my example again, I was scared to death to say yes because I thought he'd take you to Africa. What if I hadn't been able to go to Africa? I would have missed such a blessing. We don't have to be afraid of what God's going to ask us to do. We don't have to be afraid of what He's going to take from us because anything that He would remove from us, the Bible says that whatever we lose in this lifetime, for the sake of the gospel, He's going to return it to us in this lifetime a hundredfold. And so that doesn't mean like, you know, takes a dollar, gives you a hundred back or whatever. It's not about that. It is about whatever I laid down, even my comfort for that trip. It was not comfortable. I will tell you that. Laid it down and I went with God. He rewarded me a hundred time fold with the people that I met and the experiences. So what are you afraid of? Let's just get right to the nitty gritty. What is keeping you from following God? Where has God invited you to go? And you know, it may not necessarily be Africa, but it might be a group of people that maybe you've been afraid to approach because they're different. Maybe it's something God's asked you to go and to say, but you're afraid of the reaction of somebody. So what is it? And you can stop it right here. You can make some comments if you're watching on Pando and we'll see those. Other people don't see those. We see those. What is it that you might be afraid of? Please, like me, don't miss the adventures that God has for you because of fear.

The place that He wants to take you can be the biggest blessing of your life. And it was for me. So back to my story. We prayed about going to Africa. God opened up that door. I said, yes. But let me tell you this. When you say yes to God, there is a cost. There was a financial cost, there was money involved, cost a lot to get those tickets to go. And it was such a fast, open door that we didn't have time to fundraise or really go out and seek a lot of funding. It was something that I was like, you know what? I know God has called me to this. It's worth the cost. It's worth leaving my family for two weeks to go. It's worth 48 hours of traveling on the first part of the trip and 30-some hours on the back part of the trip. It's worth it. Following God is worth it, but it will cost you. So the Bible does say, and I wish I had these written down, when I come on some, I'm just kind of going with it, going with the Holy Spirit, but there is a verse that says, count the cost. Count the cost. There will be a cost. The Bible talks about picking up your cross and burying it. Now that doesn't mean you go through life and everything is just miserable. It's this heaviness. When you're following God, it will not be easy. It will not be easy, but it will be so worthwhile, but it will cost you.

It will cost you time and it will cost you relationships. I know there's people who think I'm crazy, but I am crazy for Jesus and crazy about you. The cost was counted. The tickets were made. There were things that had to be done. I'm rubbing my arm because he had to go get yellow fever shots and malaria pills and typhoid shots. I think it was polio or smallpox or something like that. You had to go get stuck. By the time I got home, I couldn't lift this arm. There was a cost. It's going to cost you. Flying, traveling, 48 hours, it cost. I'm still on the other side of that trip, trying to recover because of what it did to my body. There will be a cost, but there was a cost for what Jesus Christ, what he did. He gave his life. It was a cost, but there was a benefit was there not. We get to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ with God the Father through Jesus Christ, so it will cost you. I learned a lot in this journey of patience because I got the invitation to go. in two weeks, and I don't know the itinerary. I don't know the plain schedules. I don't know what we're doing. People are going, "What are you going to do?" I don't know. And so doubt started coming in my heart. You know, "Okay, maybe God's not opening this door. Maybe I'm not really going." And I kept hearing the word from the Lord, "Trust me." And I kept hearing this from Jack's team, "Please be patient." And I was trying not to be, like, to assertive or anything, but there were things that needed to get in place. And I'm one that's usually in control a little more, making decisions when we're going to fly in, what's going to happen, and usually I go in there and book things myself. So even having to trust a travel agent, and trust that I was getting the best deal and all of that, it was quite

the exercise and trust. And I told the guys at the Pitt County Detention Center, I said, what I went through the last week or two, you know, I feel like God used Africa to give me just a little glimpse. I'm saying little, little, little minute compared to what you go through. But I was telling those guys, it was like, I was excited, I'm going somewhere. And then it was like, no, I'm not going somewhere. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Maybe God's not going to let me go. And we were talking about that. I said, I experienced that for one week and it was about to drive me crazy. And they're all, like, shaking their head. Now you know how we feel, but it's every day. It's been for years. We're wondering, one lady, two years just waiting for her court date. And she finally had it yesterday. And she gets out Friday. So, you know, it did come for her, but it didn't come. It took her a lot of patience. It took her being content and trusting God. And so I want to encourage you, I can only imagine how difficult it is. And it's easy for me to say, be patient, be patient, just God. It was hard for me that one week to do it. But as I did it, things did fall into place just like I felt God was what he was doing and what he was wanting. So once I get my itinerary done, we're giving a lot of pre pre stuff here. Because I think it has a lot of lessons. Once I got the itinerary done, then it was time for me to get focused on what was I going to take. And I got really focused on what I was going to take. Because we can't carry a lot of luggage. It was you get two bags to check and with the fare that I bought on that plane. And I could have like a personal item. So anything I added like to add one more bag was $200. Anything over weight cost money. So I was in there, I had gathered like toothbrushes and toothpaste and some jewelry and candy and chocolates and baby items and different things that I knew would be a blessing. Replica, FIFA balls from Dick's Sporting Goods, they were the, you know, like the World Cup balls. And so they were so excited about those replicas. And so, you know, I was trying to pack this and I found myself getting very, very anxious about what I was going to carry. And I packed for days and days and days. And the Lord just really settled my heart. And he's like, "Christy, it's not what you're taking. It's not about me having enough reescups. Although it was really hard when I didn't have enough beef jerky and reescups and ran out of tooth brushes and toothpaste. That was really hard. But he's like, "Those are items that are tangible that are going to disappear. What is most important is what you're bringing within. That you're

bringing me." I was getting to bring the love of God to people. And just by showing up, people were feeling seen. They were feeling acknowledged. They were feeling loved by God that he would send somebody very different than the community where I was in Africa. And he would send me there all the way from halfway across the world to remind them in a prison that they matter to God, that it's not over. And so, the Lord really had to sit me is just rambling around and she's trying to get everything ready because she's hosting Jesus and Mary sitting at Jesus's feet and Martha's getting ticked and she's busy and she's anxious and Jesus just looks at her and says, Martha, Martha, you're anxious and upset over many things that really don't matter and that's what God spoke to my heart. Chris Christie, why are you so anxious? This is something that really doesn't matter. What matters is is you're bringing me to them and you could go with the backpack and still have the same impact that you're going to have having these soccer balls. It's about what is in you. It's Christ in me, the hope of glory. So I want to encourage you, you know, right now you might be like, Lord, I don't have anything. I don't have anything to give. What should I give? What can I give my kids? What can I like maybe you're like get down because you don't have something to give. I just want to remind you what God reminded me that the things that we give, although they're awesome, and I saw we're going to talk about the tangible ways that God used, tangible things to touch people's hearts. But he also showed me that it is the love that we give people that makes the lasting difference. You know, the soccer ball that I gave is going to run. It's the air is going to go. It could get busted and all that dirty dirt and rocks and it's going to wear out. But the hope of Christ will never wear out. And so you as a father or a mother, you may not have something you can send to your kids, but you can give them love. You can write them letters. You can pray for them. And these are things that are in you through Christ. They can make a difference. Let your child know that they're seen. Let your spouse know that they're loved. Ask for forgiveness. Write those letters. Those are things that you can do. You may not have suitcases of things that you could send your kids for Christmas. You might not have a dollar to your name, but if you've got Christ in you, I think of Peter saying, silver and gold, have I not? The what I have I give unto you in the name of Jesus Christ. Get up and walk. That's what he said to the beggar that was asking for money. And I got a little song. I'll sing it for you. It says a lame man was sitting outside the gates begging alms from those who entered in. So you got this beggar that's there. And he's begging for money. And he's lame. And as Peter and John came

upon him, the lame man was expecting from them. Peter said, silver and gold, have I not? The such as I have I give unto thee. That's when the spirit came upon him. And he led to his feet saying, look what he's done for me. I love that song, but it's the story of Peter and John coming across a lame man, somebody who needs something. And he says, silver and gold, have I not? But what I have, I give to you. I give you Jesus. If you could give that to your kids, it will change their life for all eternity. Soccer ball won't. And although it's awesome when God gives us soccer balls to use for his kingdom and his glory work. So anyway, already we're 18 minutes and 57 seconds into this video. We've talked about a few things already. I want to challenge you with these questions. What are you afraid of? What you afraid of? Why are you not following God? What are you afraid to let go up? Or where is it that you're afraid he's going to take you to? And I want to encourage you and help you understand that God is for you. For I know the plans that I have for you, he says, and they're good. They're not to lead you to harm. So why are we afraid? If we're afraid of where he's going to take us, it's because we don't trust him. And if we don't trust him, it's because we don't know him. And that was my, I say that because that was my deal for a long time. I did not trust his leadership. I did not trust his love. I was singing about it. I sit in church. I sit and stand up, sit down. But I did not know that God is good. God be for me as it says in Romans 8 who can be against me nobody nobody can succeed nobody can shut the doors that God has opened nobody can open doors God is shut God yes it will cost we already talked about that it will cost that man the cost is worth it the cost is so worth it I am a different person because I said yes to God to go to Africa I am a different person because of the people I met and the experiences I have and I you're gonna hear in the next video they were not all good I'm a different person because I said yes to God to go to prison I've never been to prison I've never been arrested but God says I want you to go and I want you to love on people and remind them that it's not over there's hope and because I said yes to God I've gotten to meet you I've been able to touch lives and in the process my life be forever changed and so what are you holding on to what are you afraid of where do you think God's gonna lead you that he's not already prepared you for and prepared for you so render those things to God what are you afraid of that it's gonna cost you it cost you

more not to go with God think about what it is costing you not to pay the cost it would have cost me so much to not go it would have cost me meeting new friends it would have cost me the satisfaction of knowing that I had experienced the kingdom of God at work there's nothing greater I want to encourage you finally with our last point in this video because we've covered a lot and that is to be encouraged not discouraged by what you have or don't have it's not about what you can give your kids or your wife tangibly although God will help you and God will provide the things that are needed in Jesus did that he if someone needed water he provided water if someone needed tax money he sent a fish with the coin in his mouth so he can provide in all different ways but don't be discouraged because what you already have Christ in you the hope of glory that is something that you can give to people right now and it's more than enough and it has an eternal impact so I'm gonna stop this one's gonna be a little bit shorter than normal but listen you you've probably seen if you're watching on Edovo or Pando that you should be able to see a PDF at least I know in Pando there's a PDF that you can download and it's it's gonna dive into these subjects a little bit it's gonna give you some supporting scriptures gonna have some discussion questions and watch this video with a group of people watch it again yourself go through those questions with people you can be a small group leader you can be someone who is a leader in your pod a leader in your family do these with your family all these videos they can download Pando for themselves you can watch them together and and you and your son or your daughter or your spouse y'all can go through these questions and videos together and our ministry is here for your significant others so let me close with prayer father I just thank you for my brother and sister that are watching father I say brother and sister because we are related if we're both in Christ if we're in Christ we're new creations but we're also children of the most high god we might have some different birthmamas but we got the same heavenly father and so father I pray for a encouragement and strength encouraged today for my brothers and sisters to be able to rise up and step

into what you have for them I also and encourage them Lord to to count the cost but not be afraid of the cost you don't want to just say I'm gonna follow you God and not count the cost because there is a cost of following you because there was a cost you paid of your life so that I could have eternal life with you and you counted that cost worth it and so father may we follow you whole heartedlybut not be afraid of what it's gonna cost us that we will share with others and that we will pass on Jesus to them. We may not have silver and gold. We not be able to take truckloads of things over to meet the needs. We'll never be able to meet the needs of people apart from you. The God, we can give them the one who is the provider, the deliverer, the conqueror, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and that issue. I thank you for this time together, Lord. I thank you for the the apps that we have that get connected through panda, any dovo and all these other one for Paytale, all these others that are allowing us to be on their programming. God, I pray that these videos will reach the person that they're intended to reach and that they will be encouraged and find the courage to follow you. In Jesus name, amen. Listen, leave us some comments, write us. There's at the end of this, there's some slides that you can correspond with our team. There's a phone number there. We want to hear from you. We want to be a part of your journey and send us your prayer requests. And please, please, please pray for us. God bless you and I'll be back with part two of Africa. Bye bye. Thank you for watching our broadcast. Are you an incarcerated brother or sister who needs encouragement? Write to us at Victoria's Living Correspondents Pia Box 2751 Greenville, North Carolina, 27836.

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