At every moment, God is searching for a man who will stand in the gap, a vessel through whom His light can shine into dark hearts, communities, and nations. His heart is always toward the oppressed, the distressed, and the lost, longing to bring them back home.
At one
point, God declared:
“I sought
for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before
me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” — Ezekiel
22:30
This
reveals that those who truly stand in the gap are rare. It demands sacrifice, something
only those who are genuinely transformed in heart and fully surrendered to God
can offer. It requires people who are ready to give their lives completely for
the sake of Christ.
Standing in
the gap takes individuals who have made a total decision with their lives, just
like the disciples who forsook everything to follow their Master. Outwardly, He
did not appear to promise a comfortable life, yet they followed Him because
they sought something greater: eternal life, not only for themselves but for
the transformation of countless souls.
A person
who stands in the gap does not live for himself or herself but for others.
Selfishness disqualifies anyone from this calling because such a person cannot
be trusted with heavenly responsibility to be used for selfish ambition. This
is why it is so difficult to find even one among thousands who is truly willing
to stand in the gap.
Looking
through Scripture, from Moses in the Old Testament to the disciples in the New
Testament, it is clear that those who stand in the gap are completely sold out
to God. They no longer live for themselves.
Moses
himself was once overwhelmed and asked God to take his life. The disciples
endured trials, persecution, and great sacrifice, things no unserious person
could withstand.
Even Jesus
Christ, the ultimate One who stood in the gap for humanity, felt the weight of
that sacrifice. At the height of His suffering, He prayed:
“If it is
possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be
done.” — Matthew 26:39
Jesus has
already done the hardest part. As He said:
“Others
have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” — John 4:38
Now He has
called us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature, standing
in the gap for the lost.
But does it
come easy? Not at all. The Apostle Paul made it clear that suffering, hardship,
and discomfort are part of this calling:
“To you it
has been granted not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His
sake.” — Philippians 1:29
On this
note, CFM has chosen this path, a path many would not dare to take. Since 2007,
when CFI began, Kent and Ruth Hodge, along with their team, have embraced this
difficult mission. They have laid down their lives to make the gospel of Christ
accessible to the poor, especially those affected by insurgency and crises in
Northern Nigeria.
For many
years, Kent Hodge has stood in the gap, enduring economic hardship and national
challenges. Yet, through it all, hundreds of students have been trained in the
Bible, while also feeding, clothing, and equipping them with vocational
skills—completely free of charge.
Each
semester, students from across Nigeria and neighboring nations receive full
scholarships to study practical theology for life and ministry. They are
provided with meals, accommodation, and vocational training, enabling many to
become not just self-employed but employers within their communities.
Standing in
the gap can be overwhelming and requires collective effort. Just as Aaron and
Hur supported Moses when his strength failed—holding up his hands so that
victory could be achieved, CFI needs prayers, financial support, and material
assistance to continue this mission. Every week, millions of naira are spent on
feeding alone. Your prayer and support will make a difference in the lives of
these “little ones”.
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