Under the expansive roof, men hover over cracked and decrepit pieces of furniture, coaxing life into their aged frames. These chairs and cabinets have traveled difficult roads to get here, but they’re in good hands now. The ultimate goal: to transform each one into a unique and eye-catching work of art.

In a city of millions where concrete facades gradually give way to rolling farmlands, furniture arrives at our workshop in various states of disrepair: broken, scratched, splintered, sagging, dusty, and grimy. The process of transformation is intensive. Diligent effort, applied patiently and skillfully over months, is invested in each piece before it’s market ready—a process which parallels Christ's work in us.

Faith into Action

More than two years ago we began work far outside our comfort zone in this restricted-access country, in the business of restoring antique furniture. Being fresh to the industry and as managers of the enterprise, we faced a steep learning curve. And navigating the local business scene weighed down with unethical conduct has proved a trying task.

In a culture where corruption grips tightly and shrewdness to the point of dishonesty often dominates the business sphere, living out the example of Christ—integrity, honesty, hard work, sacrifice for others’ gain—isn’t readily found. As our workers toil to transform each piece, invisible cultural dynamics hang in the air like the saw dust.

One of our main desires is to encourage our Christian workers to act out their faith in everyday life. Though our employees claim to know Christ, the absence of lifestyle transformation remains a sticking point for many. Our essential question is: How do we instill in new believers a comprehensive Christian worldview which will affect every facet of their life? As we push deeper into discipleship, we are increasingly aware that fostering maturity is among the most difficult of all mission endeavors.

On one occasion, however, nature found a way to demonstrate God’s reality to our employees more vividly than we could.

Blow a fuse, light up hearts

One day a rainstorm deluged the region, flooding our spacious workshop. Power is often unreliable here—all the more so in a great storm. Consequently, a fuse powering our entire workshop blew out, plunging us into darkness.

Nevertheless, we gathered in the darkened shop for morning prayer, petitioning God earnestly for the power to return. Grumbling, the workers expressed doubt that a government electrician would show up in the downpour anytime soon. But we persisted—let’s pray and let God’s will be done.

Shortly following the devotion, a knock at the door signaled an electrician’s arrival! He had come to do the unthinkable. With a quick climb up the pole to replace a simple fuse, the shop whirred to life.

A lesson became illumined in electric fashion: God hears our petitions. Our workers got the message as brightly as the lights that flickered on in their work space. He answers even simple prayers to restore electricity. And if God is trustworthy in everyday things, isn’t that proof He may be trusted in other areas of life as well? This single incident provided an entry point for many fruitful conversations.

While we see encouraging spiritual growth among our itinerant farmers turned carpenters, engrained aspects of culture still stand in opposition to the gospel. It’s difficult for our brothers and sisters to live differently when no one else is. Yet a major truth of furniture restoration rings true for heart transformation too: one never knows the potential of a piece of furniture at first glance. Just as some pieces require more time-intensive and rigorous transformation before their unique features are revealed, so heart transformation is never straightforward or predictable. No shortcuts, formulas, or quick fixes will do. Yet a vision for that ultimate, unique, and eye-catching work of art is always foremost in the mind of the Master Craftsman.

Our prayer remains that God would continue his work, permeating spiritual strongholds with redemptive power such that authentic restoration would take place in each one of those whom we discipled. Thank you for praying with us!