LXP Lesotho

LXP Lesotho Leaders Retreat

“Building the Walls: The Example of Nehemiah, Servant Leader”

Over the past five years the number and membership of the LXP Lesotho youth student leadership team has changed. However, what has remained consistent is the way the Lord calls to the team young people who are hungry for the truth, passionate to grow in faith and servanthood, and with the courage to take up their cross and follow Christ at any cost. It is an honor to serve these incredible youth and to train them in the way they should go.

Our three staff members spent three days and two nights camping at a local school with three young men and four young women, ages 18 to 22. Three of the young people were attending an LXP Leaders Retreat for the first time. It was a smaller number than we have had in the past, but the impact of the event has been profound. The sessions and activates were based on the book of Nehemiah, studying his life and personal character. Nehemiah was a strong leader who used his position of authority to serve others and advocate for those who were unjustly oppressed. At great personal sacrifice and in the face of life-threatening opposition, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem alongside his people. The way he handled his position and the ensuing opposition was a source of relevant guidance to our young leaders.

“Come, let us rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 2:17
In addition to the bible study, time was spent reviewing the vision, mission, structure and values of LXP Lesotho as a ministry organization. It is crucial that the staff and leaders continue to refer back to the foundation God laid at the conception of LXP in 2009 and look forward with the proper perspective in order to be faithful to the work to which he Lord has called us in Lesotho. One of the young men expressed how this in depth look at “who are we as LXP?” equipped him to share more effectively with others what he is a part of and helped him realize what a powerful tool LXP can be to introduce people to Jesus and disciple them to walk closely with Him.

One afternoon the team walked into the nearby town of Butha-Buthe and went one by one to share the love of God with those they met. The majority of the youth admitted they were afraid to go, and some even considered just walking around without talking to anyone. However, each and everyone was amazed by the courage and words God gave them as He sent them to specific people in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the town center. One of the young ladies spent time with two older women who shared their pain of a miscarriage and a troubled marriage, and they left with uplifted spirits. A woman on the street hailed one of the staff and when he told her why he had come to town that day she said she really needed to hear about God’s love for her at that moment. We give God glory for the way he revealed Himself in different ways to the youth who were sent and those with whom they shared.

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61: 1-3

The impact of this retreat was profound for the individuals and the team as a whole; the group experienced revival and refreshment. The unity among them was also deepened as they shared with one another the opposition they face from their peers as leaders in LXP Lesotho and learned from Nehemiah how to faithfully build the walls they are called to while effectively dealing with those who oppose the progress. Some of the young ladies also shared they had been struggling with feelings of depression and weakness due to circumstances in their lives and choices they had been making which were hindering their closeness with the Father. Through the teachings on rebuilding walls that have been broken down the girls received healing and redemption from God and are moving forward with new passion and energy.

We are so thankful for the way God continues to raise up this generation of young leaders and for the resulting impact for the Kingdom they are having in their communities. Our faith is in Him that the good work he started in the lives of these youth and in the ministry of LXP Lesotho He will carry out to completion. Your prayers and support are essential in this and we are grateful!