The Conference Begins

This morning, the conference quietly came to life as, one by one, couple by couple, people arrived from every direction—Uganda and other parts of Africa, India, Germany, and beyond. Different languages, different ways of life, different journeys… and yet, a shared calling. It was a beautiful reminder that the work of Christ in the airports of the world is far-reaching, touching lives in ways we often don’t fully see.

There was a great time of worship (not just any worship, mind you, but African worship), full of energy and the rhythms of heaven; unapologetic and full of joy.

Pastor Vicki, who is leading us this week, brought the opening message centered on the theme of the conference: Bearing Fruit. It was a fitting beginning—grounding us in the idea that we’re called to bear lasting fruit and to share the love of Christ, and encourage those we encounter along the way.

Some of our time was spent getting to know one another—meals shared over conversations, connections formed between people with great Kingdom work stories.

One conversation in particular stood out to me.

I spoke with a woman (Yuko) who recently began piloting an Airbus, flying routes from Los Angeles to Hawaii and throughout the States. I asked her what her favorite part of flying was, expecting something about the aircraft or the destinations. But her answer was so good!

She said it was what she sees from 30,000 feet.

The vast earth below and incredible sunsets. Thunderheads rising like mountains. Endless clouds. Vast stretches of blue sky reaching farther than the eye can follow, and the thin red glow at the edge of a sunrise—how it feels like a whisper from God, bringing the hope of new life and the promise of heaven.

For her, it’s a constant reminder that God is big… magnificent… and deeply loving.

YES!!!

Her description felt like a living picture of what this conference is about. We spend so much of our time at ground level—busy, moving, serving in the day-to-day rhythm of airports and people and schedules. But every once in a while, God lifts our perspective.

He reminds us that there is something much bigger happening that is unimaginably beautiful.

That the work we’re doing—often in passing chats, quiet prayers, brief encounters—is truly part of something vast and spectacular. Something that stretches farther than we can see.

Day one has begun.

And already, it feels like we’re being invited to see Him more clearly.

Amani kwenu, Mungu akubariki

(Peace to you, and God bless you)