To be brutally honest, Beryl and I were not looking forward to our return visit to Cairo – unable to see “upfront” the amazing opportunities that the Lord had in store for us.

Feeling every bit our age, tired and financially challenged, we flew out of Brisbane on the 31st of October. Whatever we thought or felt, it was too late to cancel our trip – we had to honour our commitment to the Lord, to George and Despina Katsaros (our sponsors) and to Heliopolis Community Church (HCC). Our primary assignment during the visit was to facilitate a “Small Groups Development” workshop with HCC.

Our time with Heliopolis Community Church was amazing. The pastor and his wife were amazing. The group of twenty interested “small groups” learners were amazing. The investment was well made and we were really glad to declare the experience a success! Although the assignment with HCC was worth more than our investment of time, treasure and talent, it became apparent the Lord had in mind to do even greater things – we sensed His hands upon us, and marvellous things continued to unfold before our very eyes.

Our stay in Maadi gave us opportunities to catch up with many friends from our former years with Maadi Community Church (MCC). Not only were these reunions sweet times of fellowship, we were able to bring closure to the amazing eight-year-long “Cairo Chapter” of our lives. We had no idea that this closure needed to take place and we have treasured many highlights of this visit.

"Fireball" Fredrick Omoh-John

The icing that capped this wonderful experience for me was our reunion with two former members of the MCC executive cells team, Fredrick Omoh-John (from Nigeria) and Helen Achiro (from Sudan). Amazing, outstanding, exceptional are just a few well-deserved adjectives that spring to mind that aptly describe these dear friends and partners in Christ … these “spiritual sparks” the Lord has used so effectively in the past to burn up the works of the enemy and to fire-up the enthusiasm of many of the Lord’s Kingdom’s harvest workers.

Helen Achiro

Fredrick and Helen are representatives of the many spiritual sparks (800+) the Holy Spirit ignited and commissioned into His service during our “golden years” of ministry at MCC. Many of these sparks have since been fanned by the Spirit to dry places around the world. What a joy to our souls it was to be reunited with Fredrick and Helen! With precious little time remaining, we began to fan these special sparks with affirmation, encouragement and brotherly love! With people like Fredrick and Helen, this is not hard to do. The day before our departure from Cairo, Fredrick and Helen said “yes” to joining our CCI team – agreeing to serve as our Field Directors in Egypt and in Sudan! (Helen will be returning to Sudan in mid December).

Beryl and I thanked the Lord all the way home from Cairo to Brisbane for this blessing-enriched assignment … especially for our “fanning the sparks” reunion with Fredrick and Helen.

Fanning spiritual sparks is a passionate labour of love!