For those of us who have a basic understanding of the scriptures, I need not list the many verses of ‘Praise Report’ given by Paul concerning his missionary journeys, or all the other disciples who reported what great things the Lord had done on their missionary trips.

Upon returning from Africa, I was eager to share the many experiences that God had placed me in, but after awhile I got the feeling my stories were falling upon deaf ears. I think people were expecting more of an update concerning natural and practical ways of helping the African people socially and economically. I had no stories of how I improved the various villages with the necessities of life such as food and shelter, medicine or education.

After having attended several meetings affiliated with church groups who were in the process of developing ministry teams to Africa and other parts of the world, I realized their programs were offering nothing in the way of spiritual gifts, deliverance and healing.

When, in the Lord, I searched my heart for answers, the Holy Spirit brought up an interesting point. Paul and the early church disciples had a lot to share about supernatural events that happened on their trips and almost nothing, upon their return home, about social and economic events. Their endeavor to minister always included spiritual gifts that were at work within them by the power of Christ and his anointing. They healed the sick, cleanse the leapers, raise the dead, the deaf were made to hear and the blind could see, but there was no mention of things like health care or better housing.

Jesus said, "Freely you have received so freely give." If we have nothing of substance in the way of offering financial aid we still have, according to Jesus, a lot to give. If the church today were out of money, they would also be out of gifts. They are unable spiritually to offer help to a suffering world supernaturally because their training does not equip them for it. This should never be the case in Christian education but unfortunately it is precisely the case.

The modern church of today places an enormous focus on education in the area of medical science technology and how it can help a suffering world but little if any education on faith for divine healing.

Biblical instructions for the equipping of the saints with the ministry of the Holy Ghost, who by Christ performs signs wonders and miracles, has taken a back seat to a human logic that says something quite different.

Pastor Tilson