A Modern Day Mother Teresa

Its not often that you come in contact with holiness!  Sure God’s glory is all around us.  Sure God’s presence is everywhere.  Sure God’s light is penetrating the darkness.  But this requires people to open their “spiritual” eyes and see God’s handiwork.  Its not often that God’s glory, God’s presence, and God’s light floods a room, floods your soul.  Yesterday was a “Transfiguration” moment for me and thousands of others, when the light of Christ was shining so bright you couldn’t help but notice!

I was participating at the Global Leadership Summit by Willow Creek Community Church. They simulcast “The Summit” to hundreds of locations throughout the USA and the world. That is when it happened.  Mama Maggie Gobran walked onto the stage to give a talk about “tough callings.”  This was not just any woman, delivering just any talk.  Holiness walked into that room at Willow Creek and walked right out of the screen at every location across the planet.  Mama Maggie Gobran, Founder of Stephen’s Children Ministry, in Cairo, Egypt stepped up to the microphone.  Moments earlier a video played sharing the incredible work this woman is doing in Egypt.  Her actions were the only microphone needed.  Before she could get a word said into that microphone, the entire place was already on their feet acknowledging her work.  WOW!  When I thought it couldn’t get any better than seeing such a humble, sweet soul being recognized in this way, she finally spoke.  And her words penetrated my heart.

Maggie Gobran taught at the most prestigious college in Cairo and her students were the best and brightest in all of Egypt before she answered her calling from God to care for the “least of these.”  Mama Maggie Gobran has become a modern day Mother Teresa for the whole world to witness the light of Christ running to the darkness in Egypt.  What did she have to say about this “tough calling” to leave her prestigious position at a university to minister to people living in garbage dumps?  “When God wanted to promote me He said, ‘Leave the smartest and the brightest and go to the poorest of the poor.”  I assure you no microphone was needed to hear those words so loud and clear.  It was as if Jesus Himself was speaking to all of us. This is what it means to be “promoted” in the kingdom of God!

Her parting words at “The Summit” had to do with silence.  If you want to get close to the heart of God, the silence is the first step.  She shared what will surely become a devotion guide that I will follow in the future.  Mama Maggie Gobran said this is what I’ve learned:

 

Silence your body to listen to your tongue

Silence your tongue to listen to your thoughts

Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating

Silence your heart beating to listen to your spirit

Silence your spirit to listen to His Spirit

In silence you leave many to be with the One.