COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

OLD DOG LEARNS NEW TRICKS

When we first began to work in India in 1983, it took about a month to get a question answered. An air mail letter would take 14 to 16 days to get there. Assuming that they answered and mailed the letter that same day, it would take another 14 to 16 days to get to us.

Phones were out of the question. I can remember traveling to the only available telephone which was located at the center of the city, and standing in a line for two hours waiting my turn to make a 3-minute call back to the USA. The connection was long in coming and poor in quality.

Our relating churches were excited about our visits and responsive to our ministry. But, they quickly reverted to their traditional ways after our departure. You don’t see lasting change simply by visiting once or twice a year and sending cards and letters.

Email is the next best thing to being there! The advent of the computer age and access to cyberspace has revolutionized the ministry, exponentially opening doors that would have never been open to us. "I will give you the nations" is an obtainable promise.

Our websites, www.DonAtkin.com and www.Kingdomquest.Net, receive thousands of visits from the global community each year. The proliferation of cell phones in Third World countries has led to several international calls coming to us each week.

Perhaps the most startling and thrilling thing to me is the deep authentic relationships that are developing through email. Guiding, counseling, even discipling is resulting wherever we find hungry hearts. Here are examples from Kenya and Liberia:

Dad ~ Thank you so much for the wonderful Commentary on Hope Deferred; Desire Fulfilled. It has been a blessing to me as I have shared with my wife. She is teaching today on marriage restoration, with some insights from this topic, too. Dad, you have really changed our minds from the way we used to understand the things of God. We now can be ourselves and ready to be used. Without us controlling leadership to others, now pastors can enjoy under apostolic relationships. Religion had overtaken us. We can serve and lead others well. Thank you, Dad, and continually praying for us, as we enter next month’s conference. Greet mother for us. God bless you all. ~ Your son

Great and thanks my dear papa in the Lord, ~ I appreciate God for you in these wonderful great and powerful teachings. They are like a cutting edge to us in Liberia. Every time you send me any of these, I always down load them and use them for teaching in the church. We thank God for you. ~ Your Son

Changing lives ~ because this old dog has learned some new tricks! We should never become too old to learn. Metamorphosis continues!