Open Doors speaks with Nik Ripkin on Somalia..

Short & edifying interview on YouTube with Open Doors & Nip Ripken of "The Insanity of God"

Nip Ripken Speaks about Somalia
https://youtu.be/mmUTk_-rgBs

Jeff I watch that interview last night as we prepared to pray for Somalia on Persecution Watch.

Definitely an excellent interview.

Also I would commend the movie, The Insanity of God, being shown this August 30th in select theaters across the nation. My understanding is this is a one-night showing. Also tickets may be limited. But if one is able I would encourage all to possibly see it.

I truly pray this movie will raise an awareness of the persecuted church through the Nik's experience.

Great interview, also looking forward to seeing the "Insanity of God" documentary Aug 30. I also appreciate the input of our brothers concerning sharing the gospel with wisdom.

After reading "Living Water" by Brother Yun, I was encouraged when he said just go and let the Lord lead and He will put the right words in our mouths to say. Even if we don't get it right the first few tries, it's practice and obedience to the Lord. There was nobody to teach Brother Yun how to share the gospel, he relied solely on the Holy Spirit to lead him....and look how the Lord worked, even through the mistakes Brother Yun made.

I'm not saying we shouldn't learn the language and culture, of course we should...absolutely.... It reminds me of what the Lord said to Corrie Ten Boom one day, "Keep it simple Saint".

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Sister I wonder where the balance does lie between taking the cross-cultural training, learning the language, and then going with dependent upon the Spirit?

I remember the testimony of a sister in the video Sheep Among Wolves. She said she did not know the Arabic language or the language of Kurdistan. All she had was a willing heart to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I might add she was also 59 years old. Yet she is serving the Lord and on some of the dangerous places where even young people would fear to go.

Given the urgency of the hour do we even have time for the training programs or the more traditional training that one would go to be a professional missionary in a foreign culture.

I would imagine that such questions will have to be put before the Spirit. But I wonder if in the end times when we do go to the harvest, will it not be with that radical dependence upon the Holy Spirit that Brother Yun talks about?

Just some thoughts and reflections

The "Insanity of God" documentary is playing tonight at 7pm, August 30 at a theater near you. Prepare to be challenged and encouraged in your walk with Jesus. Here is the link...and what it's about

http://www.insanityofgodmovie.com/photo-video/

The Insanity of God is the personal and lifelong journey of an ordinary couple from rural Kentucky who thought they were going on just your ordinary missionary pilgrimage, but discovered it would be anything but. After spending over six hard years doing relief work in Somalia, and experiencing life where it looked like God had turned away completely and He was clueless about the tragedies of life, the couple had a crisis of faith and left Africa asking God, "Does the gospel work anywhere when it is really a hard place? It sure didn't work in Somalia.

Nik recalls that, "God had always been so real to me, to Ruth, and to our boys. But was He enough, for the utter weariness of soul I experienced at that time, in that place, under those circumstances?” It is a question that many have asked and one that, if answered, can lead us to a whole new world of faith.

How does faith survive, let alone flourish in a place like the Middle East? How can Good truly overcome such evil? How do you maintain hope when all is darkness around you? How can we say "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world” when it may not be visibly true in that place at that time? How does anyone live an abundant, victorious Christian life in our world’s toughest places? Can Christianity even work outside of Western, dressed-up, ordered nations? If so, how?

The Insanity of God tells a story””a remarkable and unique story to be sure, yet at heart a very human story””of the Ripkens’ own spiritual and emotional odyssey. The gripping, narrative account of a personal pilgrimage into some of the toughest places on earth, combined with sobering and insightful stories of the remarkable people of faith Nik and Ruth encountered on their journeys, will serve as a powerful course of revelation, growth, and challenge for anyone who wants to know whether God truly is enough.

I have not read the book. But there is a book written by Nik Ripken by the same name detailing what you described Sheri. The book too is entitled The Insanity of God. I probably will read the book after seeing the movie tonight. Lord willing of course.

Wow. I wept. I rejoiced. I thought and weighed carefully questions proposed in the movie and my own mind. I wept some more. I rejoiced through tears. That was very impactful. That was not "entertainment" in the sense of "amusement". That was awesome.

I can share brother Jeff's emotions about the Insanity of God movie. I just got back from seeing it. Very powerful!!! Makes me cry out to God to be delivered from my own self centered American lifestyle.

When this movie does become available on DVD or through other sources. Definitely worth seeing.

I can share brother Jeff's emotions about the Insanity of God movie. I just got back from seeing it. Very powerful!!! Makes me cry out to God to be delivered from my own self centered American lifestyle.

Amen brother, may we all in some way start to follow in the way of the cross in North America. I was not able to go and see it as I would have had to drive to across the border, but trust the Lord is bearing fruit through this film.

Thank you for sharing this report.

All I can say is God forgive me for being so childish in what I "thought" were trials....it's time to grow up and BE the church. So many things stood out to me and made me think hard....

The emaciated man who was lain on the table in front of his wife and 8 year old son half dead...his little boy tells his dad how proud he is that he's keeping strong for Jesus......

When the Chinese believers heard Nik Ripken tell about the deaths of believers in Somalia....the very next morning Nik heard a loud commotion thinking it was the police, but it was the Chinese brothers and sisters who promised the Lord they would get up an hour early to pray for their brothers and sisters in Somalia....they were praying their hearts out, crying out to God....nothing of the likes I've seen......

A brother in the Lord told Nik he suffers through persecution and prays that we in the west will use our freedom to share the gospel with everyone we can........

Nik learned from those who endure persecution....if we share the gospel regardless of the cost, we are identifying with our brothers and sisters in persecution.....but if we keep Jesus to ourselves, we are identifying with their persecutors......

The question was asked if believers should involve their families and risk sharing the gospel, the answer was...the whole family should risk everything for the gospel no matter the age, because Jesus is worth it....

There was so much more!!! I will never be the same again...this documentary was by no means entertainment, rather a serious wake up call to believers in the west. We argue about petty things while our brothers and sisters are being beaten and bruised for sharing the gospel.

Is Jesus worth it?
Is Jesus worth it?
Is Jesus worth it?

That question sums up the whole movie the Insanity of God. Is Jesus worth it? Is He worth suffering for that we might make Him known to others?

This is the question that we will need to be asking ourselves in the days and weeks and months ahead. Is Jesus worth it?

I can't really say much more. Then to ask myself that question is Jesus worth it?

Reflected from the foot of His cross?

Yes, amen brother Blaine. If Jesus is worth it, we will do anything He asks no matter what that looks like. My husband was in tears this morning, the Lord kept replaying the things he saw last night...he couldn't sleep. We both are shaken to the core.

Is Jesus worth it?

My sister may we all be in tears before the Lord. May we all be shaken to the core. And may we all ask that question is Jesus worth it to me? Is it worth it to me that I might lay down everything. Even my life. So that I will make him known to others.

Dear sister truly much to think on.

Honestly, the movie and the message and examples just helped further solidify a clear calling the Lord has laid out to me in measurable prophetic pieces from shortly after the time of my originally being born again to especially refining & reminding of this call lately, & had I believe a good impact & thought provoking effect in my wife as we have already begun discussing and praying for the pre-preparations to this call lately. This is pertinent for all believers. And any believers who see the global mission field of Muslims in the earth among largely or totally Unreached people groups especially need to see this, count the cost, be encouraged & ask that question. 2 really in this order:

1.) Is Jesus worth it?
2.) Are souls worth it?

In answering yes to these we fulfill the two greatest commandments Jesus gave (which encompass all the others):
1.) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul & strength.
2.) Love your neighbor as yourself

And for those of true prayer & intercession, I would ask you to Pray for me & my family as we begin pre-preparations in prayer & really thinking through, processing, & considering "selling it all" & moving to the Middle East among Muslims for the Gospel in the Lord's timing.

I saw your request and will be praying for you and your family and for His wisdom in all your decisions.

I felt compelled to tell you this.
I live in SLC, UT. Last month my mom wanted to go visit a funny little section of the city which is a ramshackle area and as we turned a corner there in the middle of the poverty was an enormous beautiful mosque and I was completely unaware of the existence of it and it is well hidden! It was a day when there were worshippers there and in this poor neighborhood were hundreds of nice cars and well dressed Muslims coming out of the building.

I was kind of in shock because I had NO idea of the presence of this mosque and the population of Muslims in SLC. But I know that the Lord has now made me aware of the enormous presence of the Muslim world in my city. So, my prayers were redirected at that very moment for evangelism to Muslims here and now.

So, dear brother, I pray for people like you are called to this work!

Sis Leslie

Praise the Lord Jeff. We will pray for the Lords guidance, His perfect will and timing as you and your wife seek His face in this.