Proclaim!'s Annual Gala - Celebrating 10 years

Welcome Adonai

We didn't know until the last minute if our Croatian band Adonai would make it to play for the Gala. They were scheduled to fly on April 22 from Budapest, while early in the week airports all over Europe were closing because of the volcanic ash cloud. But the same God who parted the Red Sea cleared the skies just in time! 



Some of these band members were little kids (or not even born yet) when we started going to Croatia in the early 90s. It was a long-time dream to have this  band doing ministry with us over here after many ministry tours together in Croatia and other countries of Europe. They played for the Gala and then led worship the following week at the Gathering of Proclaim missionaries.

God was faithful to exceed our expectations for the Gala fund raising dinner.  Three weeks before the event we were concerned with the low number of responses for the evening. But after a couple weeks of making phone calls, getting the word out online, and having a sign up table at our church (with musicians performing on site), we had reservations to fill all the seats for which we had contracted.

Normally we have many people who don't make it, and a few unexpected guests fill some of those places.  This year, for the first time, we actually had more people than we had planned for!  What a fantastic problem -- we managed to find places for everyone. We were really pleased with how the evening went, with a delicious meal, great music and a sample of our Proclaim Peru mime outreach ministry.

The focal point of the evening was a riveting and timely message by Stuart McAllister of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, challenging churches and believers to "make the main thing the main thing" in communicating the gospel, truly listening and responding to individuals at their point of need. Stuart's participation was especially meaningful since he was the speaker at our first Proclaim Gathering in 2002.

  
Many of our Proclaim staff invested a huge effort in the Gala and surrounding events. We were heavily involved in planning and onsite logistics -- Jim in helping coordinate stage, sound and lighting  and oversee ground transportation for all the events / Kathie working with flights, hotel facilities, Gala registration, etc. What a beautiful team effort as so many Proclaim members and volunteers sacrificed to bring everything together. Through all the preparations and throughout the event we were acutely aware of our total dependence on God.  He did indeed show himself strong in our weakness, overcoming our mistakes and things that didn't go according to plan.
  
All the efforts were rewarded as guests not only expressed appreciation for what they had seen and learned, but responded generously to the opportunity to support the ministry financially and be involved in other ways.  We really had a sense that God was glorified, which is the point of everything. Thanks for praying.