By Denys Blackmore
Twenty-five centuries ago an extraordinary man named Nehemiah served in the palace of King Artaxerxes, ruler of the Persian Empire. As the king’s cupbearer, Nehemiah was the most trusted of royal assistants. As a Jew in the time of his people’s exile from their promised land, he was a man out of place. Nevertheless, he was a man of character who made the best of his situation and gained the respect of the world’s most powerful leader.
One day, Nehemiah received a first-hand report that Jerusalem, the beloved city of his ancestors, was in a desperate condition. In fact, it was a city in ruins. The grim news overwhelmed Nehemiah with sadness and concern. But more importantly, it prompted him to cry out to God for divine wisdom and intervention. What happened next was historic, dramatic and transformational.
But before we get to the rest of the story, let me say that there are some timeless truths in the life of this remarkable man. Let’s think of them as The Nehemiah Principles, and let’s determine to see how they fit into our lives as believers today. I address these principles every time we conduct one of our Strategy 21 leadership conferences—the unique events where we equip Christian leaders for more effective Gospel ministry.
Our most recent Strategy 21 conference was in Novokuznetsk, a Siberian city 3,000 kilometres east of Moscow. Life can be bleak in this remote region, but you would never know it from the leaders who attended the conference. More than 100 participated and they were full of energy and enthusiasm and a passion to reach their part of the world with the Good News of Jesus. As I shared with them the principles from Nehemiah’s life I could see (even through the translation into Russian) that they were connecting with the story and its overarching truths.
Strategy 21—which refers to strategies for ministry in the 21st Century—provides a process for leaders to examine their respective fields of service and determine what is needed to reach their region most effectively with the message and influence of the Gospel. A key part of each Strategy 21 experience is the guided interaction of attendees in small groups. In the Novokuznetsk conference these groups opened the door for participants to share openly and honestly. They poured out their concerns for the brokenness and pain they encounter constantly in this difficult place. They also shared the spiritual victories being experienced. One young woman told of her joy in recently leading over 40 children to faith in Christ.
The one thing that came through with total clarity is that the only way to fix the brokenness and heal the sadness in Siberia is through the power of Christ. Only He can mend lives and fill hearts with joy. Only He can relieve the despair, calm the calamity and rebuke the corruption of godless practices.
Now, let’s get back to Nehemiah…
When he heard the news of Jerusalem’s tragic state, Nehemiah’s heart was broken. He was moved so deeply that he sat down and wept. Wracked with pain in his spirit, he then fasted and prayed. But his response didn’t stop there. Nehemiah yielded himself to God with a willingness to do the extraordinary and—God willing—to literally intervene on behalf of Jerusalem —a city he loved but had likely never even seen.
God moved in the king’s heart and Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah why his servant was so forlorn. The door had been opened! Nehemiah seized the opportunity to tell the king about the news of Jerusalem’s dire state. At the time, Judea was a province of the Persian Empire, and Nehemiah was speaking to the head of the Empire! The king was the only person in the world who could have authorized an intervention…and he did. Nehemiah was given royal permission to remedy the situation and bring transformation to the city of his ancestors. Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah the authority to act as governor of Judea. He provided a strong escort, letters to all the pashas of the provinces through which they would pass, and a directive to Asaph, keeper of the royal forests, instructing him to assist Nehemiah as needed.
Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah first did a secretive survey, surveilling the city at night. A plan quickly formed in his mind. The next day Nehemiah began to mobilize the demoralized remnant of Jews in Jerusalem, challenging them to do their part in a massive project—the rebuilding of the city walls. Against the odds and against formidable opposition, the job was completed in just 52 days. Throughout the entire experience Nehemiah demonstrated an unshakable faith, and that faith is at the core of The Nehemiah Principles.
- The Principle of Self-controlled Concentration.Nehemiah was so moved with passionate concern that he immediately began to fast. He put everything on hold in order to concentrate on the great burden that God had put in his heart. Denying himself physical nutrition—the most basic of human desires—Nehemiah was able to address the more pressing spiritual need.
- The Principle of Focused Reliance.Nehemiah knew that he would have to rely on the Lord and he expressed that reliance through prayer. Communicating with his earthly authority, King Artaxerxes, was necessary—but only after he had communicated with his Heavenly Father. In the moment of crisis and beyond, his reliance would have to be on the One who alone is reliable and true.
- The Principle of Willing Preparation.As Nehemiah thought about his personal role in response to the plight of Jerusalem, he did so with a willing heart. He was fully prepared to do whatever God wanted him to do and would enable him to do. This heart preparation then facilitated his strategic preparation for the project itself.
- The Principle of Thoughtful Assessment.In Nehemiah’s story we see thoughtful assessment, not knee-jerk reaction. He thought with total faith in God, carefully measuring the situation and the conditions. He processed what would be needed in great detail and with a clear understanding of God’s desire as revealed in His covenant love for Israel.
- The Principle of Diligent Planning.From the moment he first heard of the need in Jerusalem, Nehemiah’s intentionality in planning became evident. He had prayed that the Lord would prepare the heart of the king to be generous toward, not only in permissions but also in provisions. In complete faith he allowed no hindrances as he developed a unique strategy to meet the unique challenge.
- The Principle of Bold Obedience.Nehemiah worked with bold, faith-filled obedience in every way. It was evident in his role as both servant and leader. When God cleared the way for Nehemiah to leave his position at the palace and go to Jerusalem he went obediently, setting off on a long, arduous journey with innumerable unknowns.
- The Principle of Personal Responsibility.It would have been easy for Nehemiah to be touched by the need in Jerusalem yet forget it and do nothing about it. That’s a typical human response, in fact. But he sensed very keenly that the devastating news was a message from God that called for more than compassion. He realized that God wanted him to exercise personal responsibility in mobilizing himself and others for the cause.
With total reliance on God for every step of his great mission, Nehemiah offered to God all the human resources available—his intellectual capabilities, his past experiences and learning, his accumulated wisdom, his role and position in life, and his influence upon every person with whom he came in contact.
Imagine how much more could be accomplished for God’s glory and purpose in spreading the Gospel and making disciples if there were growing numbers of Christ followers who devoted themselves to the degree that Nehemiah did. It’s the desperate need in Canada and around the globe. What a joy it was for us to see Nehemiah-like dedication among believers in Siberia. I think especially of Ilya Bantseev.
Sixteen years ago, after living in Canada for several years, Ilya returned to Novokuznetsk, the city where he was born. Ilya had little in his pockets but a lot in his heart—a bold vision to “rebuild the walls” for the sake of Christ in his hometown of 600,000 people.
Determined to plant a church in Novokuznetsk, Ilya and his wife and their newborn child had embarked on a venture of faith and sacrifice.
Ilya began preaching and singing on street corners. He endured unimaginably rough conditions, faced cruel opposition, received death threats and weathered all kinds of hardship over many years. Dogged perseverance was his most prominent quality, and God honored Ilya’s faithfulness. Today, by God’s amazing grace he pastors a thriving congregation and leads a work of Christ that is such a joy to behold.
When we arrived in Novokuznetsk in June we discovered a congregation of over 1000 people, a Teen Challenge centre with 200 residents, a mission team, a church planting school and much more. This is an unusually large work for anywhere in Russia let alone in Siberia.
About a year earlier I had the privilege of meeting Pastor Ilya. I was impressed by his gracious manner and humble spirit. When he heard of the EHC evangelism strategy and also our Strategy 21 leadership training conference he felt that it could be a great help in his region of Siberia in a number of ways. He saw the possibility of gathering leaders from his area to pray, think, plan and work together to reach the region’s hundreds of thousands of broken people with the Gospel. The EHC every-home strategy would be a great way to take the Good News from home to home and be a vital part of their church planting vision.
And so we went.
It was a memorable time as we spent several days praying together, presenting biblical principles and interacting with precious people who shared such wonderful testimonies of God’s saving grace. We will not soon forget the strong desire and commitment that these dear people demonstrated to reach the hopeless and helpless with the Good News of God’s love in Christ and to disciple those who respond.
Along with the adults who attended there were also many young people who participated. They expressed very enthusiastically their passion to see the youth of their region transformed by the power of God’s grace.
Throughout the conference everyone demonstrated a depth of seriousness and commitment to reach the lost that was moving to those of us visiting from outside. What a people to partner with!
Also participating with me in the Strategy 21 conference was one of our EHC Board members, Dr Irving Whitt. We were joined by Sergey and Taras, our EHC partners in Ulan Ude, Siberia, plus two EHC National Directors, Samvel Minaysan from Armenia and Ondrej Garaj from Slovakia.
As a direct result of the conference, strategies are now underway for reaching 100,000 homes in several key areas of Siberia. New literature has been specially designed and published for these initiatives.
Like the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, Novokuznetsk is beset with difficulties. The divorce rate is nearly 90%. Drug abuse and alcoholism are rampant. Crime is epidemic in many areas. Hopelessness marks the lives of untold thousands. Evangelical Christians make up less than one-half of one percent of the population.
Ongoing prayer and financial support is greatly needed for this modern-day example of a Nehemiah-type mobilization. You can play a part in meeting this challenge and experience the joy of God’s blessing on a truly remarkable work.
Denys with Pastor Ilya Bentzeev
Meals were prepared and served by local believers
Sergey Lyahov, our faithful coordinator from Ulan Ude, Siberia, giving testimony of the mission outreach in his area over the past six years
Dr Irving Whitt, with translation by Olya