Monday in Africa

Monday was a bit of a surprise. We went into the day thinking that God was going to lead us one way, but then found Him guiding us in a different dirction. We were going to Togiboty and Boubon. Both were Christless villages.

The entire day felt different from the very beginning. We had a different interpeter and we knew that we were going to villages where there were no believers. In most cases we understood that the people we would be sharing with would be hearing the Gospel of Jesus for the first time. We also knew that our task was not only to share the Gospel, but also to prepare the way for the team from Living Hope that will come behind us in May.

My main focus was on discovering God's will for where Living Hope's launch place for reaching this area would be. The early favorite was Tagiboty. The missionaries here had a good relationship with the chief and knew the village pretty well. They did not know much about Boubon, but were interested in seeing what the Lord was doing there.

We went to Tagiboty first and our first order of business was to meet the chief. He is a funny little guy with lots of personality. He laughs and jokes a lot. We gave him gifts (a bible, a cassette player, and a cassette tape sharing the Gospel), exchanged welcomes which I'd been trained and prepared to do, and we sat down in his compound. There were lots of people around and the chief looked nervous. He smiled and told us we had access to the entire village to pray and bless the people and we were hurried out.

We got out stuff together and got started. Jason Graham went first and did a great job sharing the "creation to Christ" Gospel presentation. About 20 people listened and we gave Gospel cassette tapes to the adults. We were then called to a man's home that wanted to talk with us. Bill Starr, Toddy Crosby and I went into his two room 10 ft by 20 ft home and sat down. The man's wife and two children were there so I felt safe... and then he started talking and I realized he was a witch doctor. I am sure there is a more pc name for his work, but regardless of what you call it, this man was working with demonic power to do some bad stuff.

We shared the Gospel with Him, but he was not interested. He'd asked us to his home because he knew that we were spiritual leaders. He wanted us to take his picture and tell people to come to him for all of their witch doctor needs. We assured him that we only shared Jesus and we offered up prayers for him and left.

Our next stop was to be at a man's house where his wife was sick. He told us that the prayers of the people here did not work, but he believed our prayers to Jesus would work. As we were about to enter his compound, an older relative stepped in and would not allow us to enter. He embarassed the man that had asked us for prayers. We just left.

We met and shared with others as we walked through the village. We were surrounded by children the entire time we were walking and praying who were holding our hands and rubbing our arms. Our interpreter, who has a very serious disposition started laughing and so I asked him what had happened. He told me that the little girl wondered why I had so much hair on my arm, but none on my head. I even get bald jokes in Africa:D

After praying by the river, we headed back to the chief. He wanted to talk to us again, but with less people. We sat and listened as he shared about the history of his people. We were able to get permission for our team to return in May and we left satisfied with that, but concerned about that village. Although the chief is great and there are some sweet people there, it has a darkness about it that needs the light of Christ to dispel.

We went and had a picnic lunch. We rode camels and relaxed for a bit and then headed to Boubon.

At Boubon we had a ball. Boubon is a little more modern. They have electricity and running water. The chief was away, but we met with his second in command and he was glad to meet us. We divided into twos to walk through the village and share the Gospel. The people were kind and receptive. Jason Graham and I both spoke and received a very warm reception. No one accepted Christ, but they were all very interested in what we were teaching.

We met up with the other team and they had the same experience. The people were very warm and open to the Gospel.

At the start of the day, we thought Tagiboty would be the probable place that we would launch from to reach "The Road to Karma," but it turns out that Boubon will probably be our base of operation as we seek to start churches in these three villages: Boubon, Tagiboty, and the village farthest from Niamay, Karma. Our hope is that Living Hope will adopt "The Road to Karma" a thirty mile stretch of three villages with about 50,000 people. It would be so great to see in a decade or less churches thriving in these three villages. The vision is clear and the strategy is sound. Now the prayer and ongoing sharing and training in Christ begins.

Would you be willing to pray for these three villages and the evangelism and tranining teams that will be going into them at least three times a week?

Sunday in Africa

Sunday, January 23, 2011 is a day that I can't imagine I will ever forget. We began the Lord's Day by traveling in a rented taxi van to Karma, a demon oppressed village outside of Niamay, to worship with a faithful believer. As we reached the outskirts of Niamay, the roadside provided views of a brown dead landscape littered with goats, lambs, donkeys, and people with jackets and coats. It was crazy cold for Africa. I think it was 60 degrees.

When we reached Karma, a thin man with sharp features met us enthusiastically and jumped into the van. Henry was thrilled to see us. His smile was big and his laugh was loud as he talked back and forth with Mark and C (C is our brilliant translator fluent in 6 languages and currently studying Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic in seminary.) As we came into the village, Henry's face changed. He looked tentative and a little nervous.

Henry led us around to the back of the village to a tree. He explained how and why he had received permission for us to gather there. In the shade of that tree we exchanged names and pleasantries and then each of us shared how we came to know Christ. We also opened the Word of God together and prayed. Henry was soaking in everything that was said. It was clear that this brother had not had community for a while.

He explained to us how the 6 other recently baptized believers there in Karma had been persecuted for their faith and had turned away from Christ. One of the former believers actually told Henry that if he came and talked to him about Jesus again that he would beat him. Apparently, these believers were treated by their families and friends the way they were treating Henry and instead of remaining faithful had given up their new found faith in Jesus. Sadly, this is not uncomman in a country where Christians are persecuted.

Henry has not given up. His wife, his parents, his siblings, his in-laws, and all of his friends have rejected him. Most will not talk to him and there is a very real possibility that he will be deprived of home, of work, and even the possiblity of buying food. In this culture community is vital to survival. On his own, Henry should not be able to survive.

But Henry has more than survived. He has thrived. After our time under the tree, he walked us through the village. Among the Songhai there is a saying, "The guest is king." Although they know we were Christian, they treated us with kindness and respect. Henry led us to a hill where we were able to look down upon the whole village. We prayed and then Henry began to sing. Mark and C knew the song and joined him. Henry sang the loudest and with the greatest joy. This persecuted man has the joy of the Lord in him!

That afternoon we had a meal together, made a run for the market, and then headed back to the tree for more traning. Mark asked me to teach Henry what happens when a believer dies and what heaven is like. I was tired of sitting so I asked to stand and began to teach. C stood next to me and translated and we accidentally drew a crowd. First it was children, but then some women joined too. After I spoke, the other men stood and shared encouraging Scriptures with Henry and many of the people stayed. We taught for about an hour and a half. I could not believe that most of the people stayed and listened.

As we prepared to leave Todd Crosby stood and boldly shared the Gospel. Afterward, we asked if we could pray for the people standing there listening. This was a big deal for people that think prayer is something you do when a horn goes off 5 times a day and you get on a towel, face the east, and quote Arabic words you don't know the meaning of. We explained that because we pray in Jesus' name, our God hears us always at all times. It was amazing to these poeple to hear their names lifted up in prayer.

As we left, Henry sang again and prayed for us. It was 11 am in Bowling Green, KY and I asked him to pray for Pastor Jeff who was about to preach again and for the gathered believers at Living Hope. He then prayed for us and we left with gladness and hope in our hearts.

I have come to a firm understanding about myself and Hamma. I may have more knowledge than him, but he has more faith. I am thankful for the truth I know, but I am humbled by the faith I need. My prayer is that I can have faith like Hamma and encourage the people I love toward that same end.

Saturday in Africa

On Saturday afternoon, January 22 the team from Living Hope and I had the privilege of training committed leaders from Niger Africa. These are devout believers that love Jesus and desire to see their nation know Him and love Him.

Jason Graham began the training by teaching on spiritual warfare. Todd Crosby then followed him by teaching on personal holiness. Bill Starr instructed them on the qualifications of leaders that do God's work. I finished the evening by talking about what bold leadership looked like and required based on Nehemiah.

After we were done, C, a national partner with our local missionaries from the IMB, taught them the church planting strategy we are a part of. It is called E2E: entry to exit. It is the plan for how we see the Gospel going out, disciples being developed, churches being started, and the Kingdom expanding in West Africa to the praise of Jesus' name.

When I think about what these people are sacrificing and how they are so happy to be serving Jesus, I am humbled. They have so little and yet they are doing so much. Their knowledge is so limited, but their faith is so great. Their pain and problems are so intense and yet, their joy is unshakable.

Our God is a great God. I pray that we in North America will not abandon Him for the power, pleasue, popularity, and possessions Satan is offering us in exchange. The offer Satan is making us is like the one he offered Jesus. If we will abandon God and choose sin, he will give us something to satisfy our pride and flesh. May we never forget that sin takes you further than you inteded to go, costs you more than you wanted to pay, and gives you less than it promises. May we remain faithful to God's Word, God's Great Commission, and God's Kingdom purpose.

Traveling Friends

Acts 20:3–6 (ESV) There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

I have read past these names so many times with little thought of how important they were to Paul. As I am about to set out on a mission trip to Africa, I am thankful for the men I am traveling with: Bill Starr, Jason Graham, and Todd Crosby. We will be working with Mark and Parker, whom my wife and I traveled with to do ministry in New York several years ago and that I served on staff with for years. Each of these leaders are gifted in their unique way and my joy is to get to serve with them.

Who we journey through life with is important. We all need good friends that we can stand in Christ with. Praise God for your friends today and celebrate the fact that Jesus calls us to community and to live on mission with others who love us, love Him, and that we love.

The Part I Do, You Do, We Do

Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power. (Psalms 110:3)

One mark of revival, during which God comes to His people in power, is that God's people are compelled to offer their lives for His service. Many churches lack people who are willing to get involved in carrying out God's redemptive work. The mission fields are crying out for Christians to go and share the gospel with those who've never heard it. What we need is not more pleas for volunteers, but an outpouring of the power of God. When God comes among His people in power, there is never a shortage of volunteers or resources for His work! ~Blackaby

One of the things that sets the church apart is the sacrificial spirit of God's people. The church is not a club or a business. A local church is a family. There are indicators of organization in a church and there are business aspects in a church just as there are in any family. What makes the church different is the what, the how, and the why.

The what is the Kingdom. Every true church exists to grow God's Kingdom. The church does not exist for itself. It exists for the cause of the King of Heaven.

The how is God's power released in God's humble people. The King of Heaven has adopted children to be His own. They freely give what God has given to them to serve the needs of the church, which impacts God's Kingdom.

The why is God's glory. The King of Heaven deserves praise and honor. Every lost person represents a stolen praise that should be given to God. All praise and glory belong to God and when a person lives without God and does not praise His great name, God is robbed of what is rightfully His.

Today I praise God that I get to be a part of a family of faith like Living Hope and get to see thousands of people serving God's church to grow God's Kingdom for the glory of God.

Challenging Words that Comfort

I will be leaving for Africa in a few days with a small band of men to encourage a new church in the truth of God's Word, to challenge missionaries on that field, and to select a city that Living Hope will plant churches in. The excitement is building, but so is the temptation to be anxious. I don't want to get sick. I don't want to let the team or the church or the people down. I don't want to miss what the Lord has for me in this.

I drew comfort from this today and pass it on to you.

If I go upon the Lord’s errand, with a simple reliance upon his power, and a single eye to his glory, it is certain that he will be with me. His sending me binds him to back me up. Is not this enough? What more can I want? If all the angels and archangels were with me, I might fail; but if HE is with me, I must succeed. Only let me take care that I act worthily towards this promise. Let me not go timidly, half-heartedly, carelessly, presumptuously. What manner of person ought he to be who has God with him!

C. H. Spurgeon, The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith, 17.

Watch Your Words

This morning while I was running on the treadmill, I watched four different news shows at the same time. It is odd that I and the rest of North America have come to see this as normal. We have so much information coming at us and those that provide the news have the pressure to fill 24 hours a day with information. In the process they can and often do say things poorly. In the midst of so much tragedy and pain, it seems that the news media is not simply telling about it. It seems that they are making it worse.

We all must be careful about what we say. Words have power and they can really do damage.

Jesus made a big deal about words. He said in Matthew 12:34–37 (ESV) "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Years ago I heard Rick Warren talk about the impact that electronic and social media has had on people's lives and how careful we must be. He said something to the effect that in this age information is instant, global and permanent. Our words go out fast, they reach lots of people and they remain.

Let's pray for our words.