With anticipation, I landed at the airport and waited to be picked up by Steven, a staff m
ember. I had been excited about this visit for months. Finally, I would see the Mustard Seed legacy sites where Lillian Dickson served and developed her incredible ministries to children. I had also been invited to speak in a conference that hosted 150 pastors and other leaders.
My visit was not to be a disappointment. I met hundreds of children and teachers at the schools and children’s homes started by Lillian. I was amazed at how much the ministries continued to thrive and grow long after she had departed. They are financially independent and also sponsor children in other countries nearby.
The conferen
ce was meaningful and I learned so much which I now apply in my ministry. One of the speakers stepped forward and I immediately liked him. He was a humble and dedicated pastor. I felt inspired as he spoke with great passion and vision, sharing stories about reaching kids for Jesus. His stories revealed how involved he was in the community. Then he invited his wife to come forward and sing with him. I was enraptured by their singing, which was not in the national language but in a local tribal language.
His name was Sy Wong and he leads a church located in the Yi County. The church hosts a lot of community works and events which integrate the local tribe’s culture and customs. Some of these are a school for hunters, a farmers’ market and a community support workshop for personal finance. The church plays a large role in community traditional cultural continuity as well. He grew up in a remote mountain village in the south. His people lived far away from the bustling cities. One day a white woman walked into his village. She shared Jesus with him, and discipled him. His life would never be the same since he met Jesus. And the lady’s name? Lillian Dickson.
Paul Andrew Richardson
