My Haggai Leader Experience: A Letter For You
Hello there my friend!
I would like to share to you about the recent Leader Experience that I attended in Maui, Hawaii, USA. The program is called the – (HLE) Haggai Leader Experience.
It was held last March 1, 2020 to March 28, 2020. But because of the current pandemic, we (Filipinos) went back home to the Philippines 3 days earlier than our scheduled departure.
Due to closed borders, as of this writing, there are still more than 10 participants stranded at the Mid Pacific Center in Maui, HI, USA. They were, however, blessed to attend the closing ceremony.
WHAT IS HLE?
Haggai Leader Experience is a 25-day training for Christian leaders who were carefully chosen from around the globe.
But this is actually more than just a training, it is an experience. A time where you get to have a total stranger for a roommate:
an opportunity to learn norms from other cultures:
it is actually an open door to a bigger world.
I will summarize it in a phrase as – “breaking borders and embracing differences to further the Lord’s kingdom”.
“breaking borders and embracing differences to further the Lord’s kingdom”
In this batch, there were 58 of us from 22 countries. I met fellow lawyers, doctors and medical practitioners, pastors, trainers, public speakers, entrepreneurs and influencers. In short, trend benders.
WHAT DID I LEARN FROM THIS HLE?
HLE is life changing and there are three most significant insights that I brought home with me:
- MEETING CHRISTIAN LEADERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES made me realize how blessed I am as a Christian based in the Philippines. In other nations, they have to do their worship underground. Most of them experience discrimination. Some even literally die following Jesus. Hearing this first hand from fellow believers made me ask myself, what have I done to share the gospel? What have I done really? This nagging question gave me that confidence to actively share the good news back home and wherever I go.
“…what have I done to share the gospel? What have I done really?”
- I WAS REMINDED OF MY SALVATION during my encounter with a pastor participant. This bold preacher asked me – “when you die from COVID tonight, are you sure you will go to heaven?” Why would he even ask me that in the middle of this pandemic?! I almost freaked out. But kidding aside, he directed me to John 10:27-30 that says – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” He continued by saying, “if you have sincerely received the Lord in your heart, then no one can snatch you away from our Father’s hand.” I was relieved hearing those words and we ended that night with him leading me to re-dedicate my life to the Lord.
“when you die from COVID tonight, are you sure you will go to heaven?”
- I WAS ENCOURAGED TO EVANGELIZE. In one of the sessions, we were instructed to listen to God by having an hour of alone time. We were asked to just choose a spot where we can bask in His mighty presence. My feet led me to the prayer garden where I sobbed like a baby. I was crying because the Lord did not want me to focus about my plans, my business, or whatever worried me during that time. He plainly led my heart to understand Ezra 7:10. In the said verse, it says – “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” It was as if the Lord was telling me – “Dexter, what I want you to do now is to study my Laws (which I am struggling at that time). And I don’t want you to just study my laws, I want you to follow it (Because I was not following them in some aspects of my life). After studying it and following it, go and teach (evangelize).”
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10
Those are my three main take aways from the Haggai Leader Experience. There’s a lot to mention but this letter is not enough.
Earlier I said that we needed to go back to the Philippines 3 days before our scheduled departure due to flights being cancelled. Blessedly, I arrived home without hassle. But I needed to be on voluntary home quarantine for 14-days “alone” and away from my family.
It feels funny. To my mind, maybe the Lord is not done with me yet that He still wants me to have a 14-day alone time with him (haha). But right now, I came to realize, that the Lord will never be done with me as I will always be a work in progress, needing His grace every single day, from strength to strength, from glory to glory, until I meet Him one day.
HOW TO ATTEND THE HLE?
Brothers and sisters, are you a leader and you think this experience could make an impact in your life as well?
I pray that the Lord will open the door, your schedule, and your heart to joining the HLE.
Check the link below so you could start going through the process of applying and to see how the Lord will use this journey in your life:
LINK: https://www.haggai-international.org/apply-for-training/
At this moment, I would like to thank the Haggai Admin and Staff, the volunteers, and the sponsors in making this Haggai Learning Experience possible for our batch. Your hard work, dedication, and generosity will greatly be blessed as we work hand in hand in ending gospel poverty. I just want to say – “you made my mountain top journey worth remembering”.
Sincerely,
Dexter Diwas, Philippines
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