“I am filled with an undying ambition to do something worthwhile in the great land of Africa”.~ Don McClure
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Welcome to Footprints into Africa's Blog
Welcome to Footprints into Africa's Blog: "Footprints into Africa is a Non profit organization based in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Established by Bishop Warwick Cole-Edwardes, a well-known preacher throughout Africa for over 3 decades now, who has made it his life�s mission to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ into Africa and beyond."
MY MISSIONARY TRIP 2010 TO ZAMBIA AND CONGO
INTRODUCTION
In the amazing providence of God I am able to visit into Africa again. I will be visiting Zambia and spending time with Anderson Mwila in Kitwe where we are planting a new church in Masonda. From there I hope to go into the Democratic Republic of Congo and spend time with Mukumbo Mayamba and Pierre Kabange in Lumbumbashi. These are precious brothers and I am certainly looking forward to seeing them. I also have the great privilege of being Bishop to Africa, the continent I love and want to serve. God is at work in Africa and it is thrilling to experience what the Lord is doing and to tread the paths of missionaries who laid down their lives for the Gospel especially in the Congo. In preparation for this trip I read 2 amazing books on Africa.
1.NO CROSS MARKS THIS SPOT (by Stella Kilby)
In a memorable speech which he delivered in Cambridge on 3 December 1857, David Livingstone ended with a ringing challenge
“I beg to direct your attention to Africa. I know that in a few years I shall be cut off in that country which is now open – do not let it be shut again. I go back to Africa to try to make an open path for commerce and Christianity. Do you carry on the work which I have begun? I leave it with you.”
Cambridge did take up the challenge and the Universities Mission was formed in 1860. A party led by Bishop Frederick Charles McKenzie arrived on the East Coast of Africa in February 1861 to open up a new mission in the newly explored area of the Shirwa. Sadly this mission ended in tragic circumstances.
Also in 1860, eight people died in the marches of Linyati in Central Africa in what was described as the worst disaster in missionary endeavour. This book “No cross marks the spot” is Holloway and Anne Helmore’s story. It is a story of incredible courage, faith and endurance as they survive a long, hazardous journey across the Kalahari Desert only to face death at the end. The book not only records their remarkable story but also suggests that the missionaries did not die from fever as was previously thought, but the local chief in fact poisoned them.
It was stirring reading of men and women who laid down their lives for Christ in Africa …. How I long to follow their dedication and courage. Looking forward especially to going into Congo … my first time and follow the steps of some great missionaries.
2.AGAINST THE STREAM (David Smith)
This amazing book speaks on “Mission Africa – Then And Now” in which he says the following about Africa:
“When the Western media report events from this great continent the focus is almost always on hunger, violence or natural disasters resulting in the displacement of thousands of people. As a result, the dominant image of Africa in Western popular consciousness is one of a continent in almost perpetual crisis, ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, governed by megalomaniacs who bleed broken nations of their wealth, and split apart by ethnic and tribal tensions that threaten yet further genocidal conflicts. We may ask whether the stereotypical Victorian concept of the ‘dark continent’ is still at work here, so that the plight of Africa is blamed, at least by implication, on the assumed backwardness of its people and attention is thus diverted from any responsibility which the Western nations might have for the troubles. It is not uncommon to come across statements like this one from a Western ‘expert’ on Africa: “Below the paper-thin veneer of civilization in Africa lurks a savagery that waits like a caged lion for an opportunity to spring. In such statements the world is still being divided into two great categories, with Africa as a hopeless case and the West as the guardian and exemplar of all that is civilized and decent. Africa is seen as:
a) The dark continent
At the 1910 World Missionary Conference it is significant that there was not a single representative from Africa present at Edinburgh. The main focus of attention and interest at this time was Asia rather than the African continent and, despite the impact of pioneers like David Livingstone and Mary Slessor, it was China and India that caught the imagination of the missionary movement and attracted it’s most gifted and able personnel. We may wonder whether this was due to the prevailing perceptions of the peoples of Africa and of their religions, which, as the result of the influence of evolutionary theories of religion, were widely regarded as ‘backward’, in a way that the religions founded by Buddha or Confucius were not. The ‘heavy artillery’ of the missionary movement was best concentrated on the daunting task of confronting the ancient traditions of the East, while mission among more ‘primitive’ people in Africa might be left to the foot-soldiers of mission. This leads us to an image of the African continent and its peoples to be found in countless missionary reports, hymns, and in the wider Victorian culture, that of the ‘dark continent.’ The term was used by the explorer H.M. Stanley who returned from his travels across the continent and classified the region as ‘darkest Africa’.
b) The wronged continent
Within the evangelical movement in Britain in the nineteenth century there was a deep and persistent awareness that a great wrong had been done to Africa and its peoples through the terrible trade in slaves that had blighted the continent. In a ten-year period at the end of the eighteenth century over 300,000 African slaves passed through the port of Liverpool en route to the Americas and the total number of Africans sold into slavery has been conservatively estimated at 20 million. At a time when we are urged to remember the Jewish holocaust in Europe, perhaps we might also recall this earlier, African holocaust and the havoc it brought to large areas of the world.
c) The contested continent
In the course of the modern era of missions the realization grew that Christians were not the only people with missionary interests in Africa. Islam had been viewed in many different ways in the nineteenth century, including a tendency to dismiss it as an irrelevant and spent force. The future seemed to be so obviously in the hands of the West that a religion generally regarded as founded by an imposter need not be taken too seriously. However, as missions came into direct encounter with Islam across the Sudanic belt, the realization grew that Muslims had been very effective at propagating their faith and that they were motivated by a missionary fervour that could extend the house of Islam deep into sub-Saharan Africa. Islam was not tainted with the legacy of colonialism in the way that missionary Christianity could be, and it appeared to be able to present itself effectively as an African religion rather than as a foreign import. This clearly acted as a further incentive to mission in African and in places like Northern Nigeria large churches came into existence as a direct outcome of this awareness.
Africa was a contested continent in another sense. When the missionary movement began, the European presence on the continent was minimal, with the exception of British control over the Cape Colony in the south. By the time of the Edinburgh Conference in 1910, the entire continent, with the significant exception of the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia, was under alien rule, shared between Portuguese, British, French, Belgian, German, Spanish and Italian colonial powers.
So how do I respond to Africa ….. In the light of the above … why do I need to be so passionate for Africa?
I’m off into Africa and here is the record of my trip … hope you enjoy it ……
FRIDAY, 26 MARCH
“I liked Zambia. It was humid and dank, with crumbling roads lined with enormous Bunyan trees. Women dressed in brightly coloured kangas balance loads on their heads as they dodge puddles full or orange-brown water. There were hand painted road signs rather than mass produced ones, and the cars that drove on the roads looked like they had been stolen from a wrecking yard. It was laid back, almost to the point of being comatose, without the angst Zimbabwe suffered because it had once been something better. In Zambia I got the feeling that nothing had changed since the British left.”
(My room definitely has not been painted since then)
We bargained for a taxi and we set off from the airport in this ramshackled taxi with the petrol on reserve. At the bus terminus jammed with hundreds of buses heading for all over Africa we boarded one for Kitwe and arrived at 3:00pm. From there I was taken to the home of Anderson’s parents in the township where I will spend the next 2 nights. They are such warm, loving hospitable people, only the Africans show such hospitality. Sadly there is no electricity ….. so must get my lectures ready for tomorrow quickly. I always bring a few books with me and the one is magnificent “Missionary Paul Theologian”, by Robert Reymond. Listen to how he introduces Paul –
“Paul was a man Christ possessed, a man intoxicated with Christ, who had resolved to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2), who declared that for him to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21) and what is more, who considered everything as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord, for whose sake he said “I have suffered loss of all things …. I considered them loss that I may gain Christ. Quite evidently, all of the native gifts, worldly learning, physical and mental energies, tireless work, personal genius and unflagging persistence which he had directed earlier to the spread of the traditions of Pharisaic Judaism …. He now consecrated to serve Jesus Christ …”
Oh …. how I long to be like that – a man Christ possessed and intoxicated with Christ. It is dark now, so I must go and see if I can buy a candle so that I can continue reading this phenomenal book. Listen to this on the doctrine of justification which is amazing (even better reading under a candle!)
“the doctrine of justification means then that in God’s sight the ungodly man now in Christ has perfectly kept the moral law of God, which also means in turn that in Christ he has perfectly loved God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and his neighbour as himself. It means that saving faith is directed to the doing and dying of Christ alone and not to the good works or inner experience of the believer. It means that the Christians’ righteousness before God is in heaven at the right hand of God in Jesus Christ and not on earth within the believer. It means that the ground of our justification is the vicarious work of Christ for us, not the gracious work of the Spirit in us. It means that the faith righteousness of justification is not personal but vicarious, not infused but imputed, not experiential but judicial, not psychological but legal, not our own but a righteousness alien to us and outside of us, not earned but graciously given through faith in Christ which is itself a gift of grace.”
It is late but what an amazing day …. Oh guess who has just dropped in to say hello, JOHN CHIMU, a lovely pastor I met last time I was here. We spoke well into the night; my candle is almost dead ….. so time to sleep …. With injections for yellow fever, pills for Malaria and Cholera, I should sleep like a log. BUT as I lay awake I thought here I am in central Africa, in an African township, no electricity, and no hot water …. But … it is wonderful …. Such warm loving people. I spent K80, 000 on transport which shows you that transport is expensive. Tomorrow we are off the MASONDO, look at a piece of land and give 2 talks on Colossians which should be exciting.
SATURDAY, 27 MARCH
Awoken with the rooster crowing but must wait till the sun rises to do my readings …. It is now 5:30 and I read from MCCHEYNE’S daily readings in Exodus, John, Proverbs and we started Philippians. What a reminder that
“He who began a work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ ….”
For the past 43 years I have also read Oswald Chambers –
“MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST” and listen to what he wrote for today:
“an elevated mood can only come out of an elevated habit of personal character. If in the externals of your life you live up to the highest you know, God will continually say ‘friend go up higher’ – the golden rule is ….
go higher.”
Yes Lord that’s me I want to go higher. Then read for 2 hours from my book. Listen to this challenge …..
‘FIRST, only a flourishing spiritual life and a genuine walk before God in holiness will fortify the missionary in times of discouragement. The ministerial ‘burn out’ about which one reads and hears all too often today is to be traced directly to the minister’s failure to maintain personal intimate fellowship with the triune God. Because of the demands of so many other duties, all too often he allows the cultivation of his spiritual work with God – this training of self in godliness – to drop out of his daily vocational routine … the burdens are so great, the pressure so constant, the failures so painful, that unless he is personally thriving in his devotion to the Lord, delighting in his Saviour’s love and fellowship, enjoying intimacy with Him in prayer, and generally having the Gospel proven to him again and again in the secret places of his own heart, his ministry will not well endure the shocks that will come to it. BUT if he is walking closely with his Lord, he will find strength to endure every trial and to overcome every obstacle and his ministry will not be undone by the discouragements, but rather he will persevere in the midst of difficulty and in this way bring even greater honour to Christ.”
Wow …. that is challenging … can’t wait for some tea, have a wash and then head off to our meetings, so thrilled to be back in central Africa teaching the precious Word of God….
Found a bus, paid K5000 and headed for MASONDA. It is the most amazing place to visit because 98% of the people are unemployed – the poverty is heart wrenching. While Anderson got everything ready I went across the road to play some soccer with a group of kids and this just drew a huge crowd of kids – they thought I was Rooney!
From there I went for a Coke at the Tavern (shebeen) and sat with the men as they drank their Chilukas, trying to persuade them to join us for our meetings, but no one pitched. We had our first meeting where I spoke on THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST (Col. 1:15-23). The house was packed with people, which greatly encouraged Anderson. After some great singing we had lunch where everyone was given a good meal. After lunch, in the scorching heat, I spoke on LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE from Col. 3:1-15. They were so appreciative and slowly we then wound our way to the bus in time before a huge storm broke out …. So cool after a hot day. What I found so very interesting on our way back home was to look in at THE CENTRAL AFRICA BAPTIST COLLEGE. It has fantastic buildings and looks very impressive; I just wondered where all the money came from to put up such fine buildings. So here I am now at home at 4pm and after a Coke, settled down to read my book till supper at 7pm – when the sun goes down.
Robert Reymond wrote the following as he concluded this amazing book – what a reminder:
“The missionary may have the highest academic and professional competence, but his labours cannot be sustained by any aggregate of natural gifts, however splendid. Such gifts alone cannot compensate for the lack of a spirit-kindled heart … he knows that before everything else he needs a daily personal walk with God – a walk which will so inspire him by the awesomeness of the divine face that no human face will frighten him; a walk which will so fire him up by the divine holiness that he will hate sin as God hates sin; a walk which will so thrill and engage him by ever-new revelations of God’s immeasurable love and gracious ways towards men that he will proclaim with rhapsodic delight both to God’s flock and to those outside the church the mercies of God in Christ; a walk which will so humble him before the divine majesty that he will always give all the glory to God for whatever he enables him to accomplish in and through his labours; a walk which will enable him to say with Paul ‘neither count I my life dear unto myself, if only I may finish my race with joy and fulfil the ministry which I received from the Lord.”
It was an amazing book and challenged me deeply. So as darkness began to fall, I went to buy another candle and will spend another perfect evening in Zambia. What a privilege to be teaching the Bible in Africa, I really love it! Mrs. Mwila brought me my supper, a fish (head and all) with chips and tea …. So now I go to bed feeling so very fulfilled BUT I have a huge day ahead of me tomorrow as I try to get into the Congo …. I am a bit apprehensive I must admit … (sorry David Livingstone)!!
SUNDAY, 28 MARCH
Woke up early to another magnificent morning in Zambia. As soon as the sun came up I was able to do my readings from Exodus, John, Proverbs and Philippians Chapter 2. Again so challenged by Jesus:
“but made Himself nothing
taking on the very nature of a servant …”
Oswald Chambers again spoke so strongly to me when he wrote
“the only thing that will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. Obey Him with glad, reckless joy.”
After my readings while I wait for Anderson to come and pick me up, and after a great wash, I began a new book entitled PRINCES OF THE CHURCH by W. Robertson Nicoll. It contains cameo sketches of some of the giants of the past. Listen to how he describes two brothers:
HORATIUS BONAR - “what impressed everyone was his unslackening toil. The light burned late in his study window, he was at his desk early, and as he was physically vigorous, and possessed of a resolute will, the work he accomplished was marvelous. He was constantly preaching and was as much at home in speaking to a little gathering at a cottage fireside as in a large Church.”
ANDREW BONAR – “unless I get up to the measure of at least 2 hours in pure prayer every day, I shall not be satisfied. I was, he says in another place, living very grossly, labouring night and day in visiting, very little prayerfulness. I did not see that prayer should be the main business of every day."
Now we set out for the service at Masonda – and hopefully into the Congo. I had an ice cold bath which will keep me awake for the day and a great breakfast with eggs on bread with some tea, so I’m set for one of the most exciting days in my entire life. We had an excellent service where I spoke from Acts 16 on the conversion of the Philippean jailer. The Lord is so gracious, He even uses us to draw people to Christ and wonderfully at the end of the sermon, 5 people stood up and gave their lives to Christ. Isn’t that just wonderful, precious never dying souls saved for eternity. Sadly we had to rush off to catch a bus to Kitwe then another one to CHINGOLA. From Chingola instead of catching another bus to KASUMBALESA we bargained for a taxi which gave us a cheaper rate to the border.
Nothing would every have prepared me for what I encountered at the border at KASUMBALESA!!! About 5kms from the border the trucks were lined up on both sides of a narrow road waiting at some time to enter Congo, there were 1000’s. Then we arrived to be greeted by tens of thousands of people from all over Africa and little me … the only white in sight!!! Suddenly I realized I could be in trouble because men who wanted to take us through Customs mobbed Anderson and me. In my haste I could not get a Visa before coming so I was taking a chance I know, and sadly Mukombo was not there to meet us. So we proceeded to the Congo side to try and get a Visa with these men hanging on, but whom I did not trust. Eventually they brought an official who asked for U$50 and my passport. I gave in … and off they went only to come back 1 hour later to say I had to pay a fine of an additional U$100, which I did not have. Praise the Lord, Mukombo then arrived with 2 huge African men, one really a HULK of a man. He took over immediately, rescued me from the lions den, and after some heavy bargaining, got me a Visa for U$100. It was scary ….but after 2 hours we headed off in a taxi for LUBUMBASHI where I will be speaking 4 times at a conference. On arrival I found that they had booked me into a B & B which I begged them not to do, I wanted to live in their homes. But it is clean and has electricity but … wait for it …. the water is not working!!! But I am grateful for a clean room so now I will go and taste my first meal in the Congo. Sadly Mukombo said I must not leave the room because it is dangerous to walk around … so after supper I will read till I drop and go over my 4 talks. What a great supper after a very emotionally draining day. They presented me some spinach, potatoes and a whole Bream fish, from tail to eyes to head. I have learnt now how to eat it. It is amazing but one just longs for a cup of tea … hopefully tomorrow at the conference!
“even then his health was indifferent, and doubtless he overworked himself. He would come to his class often the very personification of weariness and exhaustions. But generally he revived as he poured forth the treasures of his thought and knowledge. His mental alertness and vivacity, were if possible even more astonishing than his attainments.
BOOKS instead of extinguishing now kindled the flame of his thought.’
The other book that I had started back home but wanted to finish on this trip was incredibly helpful. It is entitled ‘OBSERVATIONS FROM AFRICA’ by David E. Marantz. Listen to what he says:
“Across Africa since at least the year AD 1000 there have been continual hardships … wars and conquests, slave raiding and selling, droughts and famines, a multitude of rampant diseases for both man and beast, a chronic shortage of population, a very destructive and disruptive colonial history and countless other misfortunes. All the happenings have moulded African culture. Present day social and family organization, values and economic principles all most naturally reflect their collective history. These are not just events of long ago, but are part of African life today. The effects of these conditions live on in many of the problems and attitudes that continue to the present time. The African traits of building broad relationships, and the openness to sharing food and other essentials were strategies that were developed in order to cope with continual tragedy and loss.”
Its way after midnight, I’m exhausted …but what a day across Africa. So here I am safe in LUMBUMBASHI with a valid Visa into the D.R.C. having a huge day ahead of me of bringing 3 lectures. However, just seen my medical report has 2 stamps added to say I received Cholera injections … but I didn’t!!! plus I never filled in 1 form for this Visa; never gave a photograph…but I am in…with a valid visa!!
MONDAY, 29 MARCH
Woke very early to the ringing of bells from the Catholic Cathedral and immediately started my readings for the day following McCheynes’ daily readings. Finished Exodus, continued with John, Proverbs and Philippians – how precious is the Word of God. Oswald Chambers always cuts me to the bone, listen:
“the battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn.”
Just before breakfast finished reading a lovely little book by Lorna Eglin called ‘MISSIONARY STORIES ON SAFARI’. I was given it some time ago and I found it so refreshing, easy to read and kept the fires for missions into Africa burning. It relates to her work in Kenya for many years. Fantastic, found some hot water … so had a great shave and wash … ready now for the day …. Interesting that the breakfast was 4 slices of bread with margarine and a cup of coffee …..
After breakfast, I started my other book for this trip, entitled ‘PAUL THE MISSIONARY” by Eckhard Schnabel. He made this fantastic statement which we so need to stress today: -
“the cause of missionary success is not rhetorical brilliance, refined communication strategies or any other method or technique of evangelism or church administration. The effective cause of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ and becoming active members of local communities of followers of Jesus is the power of God and of the Holy Spirit. Content is more important than rhetoric, substance is more consequential than form, the presence of God is more effective than the communication techniques of the preacher or missionary.”
Now off to the conference and to visit a little Bible College …. Will be one of the highlights of my life to be teaching the Bible in the country where so many missionaries gave their lives for Christ, like C.T. Studd, H. Roseveare, H. Davies and thousands of them who died during the SIMBA uprising. It is an awesome privilege for me to be here. But first I must get another SIM card to SMS home because Mary and my Mom worry that I am ducking the landmines …. Both very apprehensive. Just received an sms “please get out now….”
Mukombo has started a small Bible College called C.M.B.C. (Congo Missionary and Bible College) and it made me smile to see how he has duplicated so much of what we do at K.M.B.C. This morning I went into LUMBUMBASHI for the first time on the way to the Church from which he also runs the College. In all my travels into Africa I have never seen things like this, the buildings have not been painted or renovated since the Belgians left, the pot holes have become craters and the area around the Church is so desperately poor …it is desperate, the taxis and kombis are literally strung together with wire .. it is a shambles. But the people at the Church are wonderfully friendly and unbelievably warm. After this culture shock I gave 2 lectures to 25 students. The first one was on Missions and the second on THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER, and it is so humbling to see how grateful they all were for the teaching. For lunch we had some meat, putu and spinach which was very tasty. In the afternoon I then spoke to the Church, which was packed, on 2 Timothy 4:1-3 “PREACH THE WORD”. Came back to my room exhausted but so unbelievably fulfilled, teaching the Word of God across Africa. At the end of my sermon 8 souls came forward to give their lives to Christ, that it just too wonderful for me … souls saved for eternity.
Just to get me stirred again I read my book and listen to how he writes on methods of following Jesus:
“missionaries and evangelists, pastors and teachers should not be motivated by what they see everyone else doing or what works in the ministry of a successful colleague. They should not be motivated by mere novelty or by what seems attractive to the greatest number of people. And they should certainly not become dependent on some particular method, on a specific communication strategy in the sense that they become convinced that a particular method or strategy guarantees success. Missionaries and church planters from the technological societies in the West face the temptation of placing their confidence and faith in methods and techniques. The first and the main question is not which method promises the best results, but which method corresponds most closely with the news of Jesus the risen and crucified Messiah and Saviour.”
Had some supper and read for the rest of the evening. I really battled to fall asleep as the experiences and sights I have had here in the D.R.C. are quite disturbing and yet …the 3 lectures went so well and 8 souls were saved …..wonderful ….what a privilege to be in the D.R.C.
TUESDAY 30 MARCH
Again woke up early so could get into my Bible readings for the day. I started Leviticus today and continued with John, Proverbs and finished Philippians. It was fantastic to be reminded
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Today I head back to the border at KASUMBALESA so must admit to being a bit apprehensive. If they ask for money I have nothing left … so Philippians was for me.
Oswald Chambers then reminded me regarding intercession:
“Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that takes every power, but a work which has no snare.”
Before I go down to breakfast, Eckhard Schnabel says:
“missionary work and pastoral ministry that acknowledge the authority of Scripture and want to pay more than lip service to the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus the crucified and risen Saviour will always recognise the power of God as the primary cause of repentance and conversion, of change and transformation.”
So now I am ready for the day. After breakfast I have one more talk to give to the Church, have lunch with Mukombo and the leaders and they will then take me to the border at KASUMBALESA where I hope all will go well and I can then find a taxi to CHINGOLA where Anderson will be waiting for me and from there we go on to Kitwe for my last evening … a long day lies ahead .. but so very exciting!
After breakfast of 4 pieces of bread and a cup of coffee, went into the town and found the Roman Catholic Cathedral which is celebrating its centenary this year. What surprised me was to see how simple it was, just perfect to spend some time alone with God, thank Him for bringing me to the D.R.C., getting me over the border and saving precious souls. As I knelt before God, I really asked that I might be used for His glory for the remaining years of my life especially in serving Africa and training pastors for this Continent. It was a special moment for me … all my life I have loved going into these Cathedrals to pray … somehow it stirs my innermost being!!! Left there feeling very moved and stirred.
The Church was well attended and I preached on THE FOUR CERTAINTIES from Hebrews 9:26-27. How so very gracious the Lord is because afterwards a further 8 dear people surrendered their lives to Christ. To see souls saved from hell is always of tremendous joy to me. Their love and send off for me was quite overwhelming and they provided the most amazing lunch for our farewell. From there we took a taxi to KASUMBALESA to cross over the border. Along the route we were stopped by a traffic officer but after some shouting and a hand over of some money, we were allowed to proceed!!! Along the route of 1½hours long there are no petrol stations, our petrol gauge is on reserve …. But … every now and then people along the side of the road sell fruit and 5-litre containers of petrol. So we would buy one and off we would go … amazing! Arrived at 2pm. As already mentioned this is horrific, I can only think that the reason there are no whites around is because they fly in to LUMBUMBASHI and go through customs at the airport. But the 1000’s of trucks greet you and 10’s of 1000’s of people and so many crooks waiting to escort you through customs makes you very nervous. But … Mukombo and his 2 henchmen took my Passport and 30 minutes later I was allowed to proceed to the Zambian side. The Zambian customs officer was so kind and stamped everything so all that was now needed was for us to find a taxi going to CHINGOLA and negotiate a fair price. Now was the time to say goodbye to Mukombo and his 2 men who had catered for my every need and escorted me through the border. As I embraced these precious brothers my emotions gave in and I wept, I couldn’t say goodbye … just embraced again and got into the taxi. How I love these men, they have so little and just give and give and continue to preach Christ against all the odds. 6 of us packed into a small taxi, with the windscreen shattered and headed for CHINGOLA where Anderson so faithfully was waiting for me. We caught a bus to Kitwe, but I was drained! On arriving in KITWE I was immediately taken by Anderson to his little home in the Parklands suburb where they had prepared my favourite meal. It was the perfect way to end off one of the most amazing weeks in my life. After supper found our way home, bought a candle and now I can finish my book by Eckhard Schnabel. Listen to how he concludes:
“the success of missionary work and of pastoral ministry, the conversions of unbelievers and the growth of the local Church, is always the result of the gracious presence of God and His Holy Spirit. Evangelicals need to stop paying lip service to this conviction which they generally hold. They need to retool their strategies and reformulate their methods so that their proposals are not only somehow, somewhere, Biblically based. The Word of God forms not only the basis of the Church but also the centre of the Church and the content of what is being preached and taught. Missionaries and Church planters for whom the Word of God is basic and central make sure that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus is the content of what they preach and teach and also governs the strategies and methods they formulate.”
As I go back to my home Church in Pinetown that is exactly what I believe and want to do for as long as they will want me to serve them.
Wow … what a day … incredible joys of seeing souls saved, tears saying goodbye to my 3 Congo brothers, an unbelievable evening with Anderson and Margaret … now my candle is almost at the end so I’ll hit the pillow … but will take a long time to fall asleep, if ever … too emotionally drained.
WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH
Did not sleep well last night so woke up early and did my readings. Finished Proverbs while continuing in Leviticus and Colossians. As always Oswald Chambers challenged me when he said
“we see where other folks are failing, and we turn our discernment into the gibe of criticism instead of into intercession on their behalf …”
Dear Mrs. Mwila brought me some boiling hot water at 6:30, enjoyed a shave and wash and then had my last breakfast with Anderson, two pieces of bread with an egg on and … some tea which was great. At 7am the official photographer arrived to take pictures of me with the family. You feel so overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of these people and then the farewell. Oh dear, we hugged, prayed, shed tears and I was able to give Mr. Mwila 2 shirts and Mrs. Mwila enough money to cover all my expenses. They then escorted me to the bus terminus where Anderson and I caught a bus to NDOLA. Zambia is a lovely country, the people are friendly and warm and along the route a young man stands up and gives a full sermon. Afterwards I went to thank him but did say I was disappointed that he never mentioned the name of Jesus once. We then caught a taxi to the airport and dear Anderson and I just walked away …. Too choked up to say anything … certainly couldn’t say goodbye ….
At the counter where I booked in the lady asked why my bag was so light … all I have left is my toiletry bag. I came with 2 sets of the 6 volume Matthew Henry Commentaries, a set each for Anderson and Mukombo, together with other things for them. At supper last night I gave Anderson every bit of clothing I had brought with me, my shirts, trousers and even a lovely GAP jacket which Murray kindly gave me and my new set of Nike running shoes. He was over the moon and so was I! So all I have left is what I have on my body, the books and clothes all given away …. and …. all the books I had brought to read finished and digested …
The huge benefit for me on these trips is to read, and I go back having read all these fantastic books which stir me greatly and shape my thinking. I am at the airport now, gone through customs so can now begin my last book entitled “BIBLE AND MISSION” by Richard Bauckham. It was one of those books that really expressed your thoughts far better than we could ever do, listen carefully, this is moving…
“it required but a short time in a country like Ethiopia (for me Zambia and Congo) to see that poverty in the developing world extends well beyond economic depravation. In some ways want of money is but a symptom. More fundamental is the poverty of resources, education, and access to ideas; and opportunities to engage in conversation about the things that matter most. The isolation these poverties produce impoverishes us all.”
Africa has one throw of the dice left … we were about to get ready for home when the announcer says the plane is to be delayed 3 hours due to technical problems. No use complaining it does mean I can finish this book. Listen to what Bauckham says on Jesus and Paul:
“PAUL identifies a consistent divine strategy, a characteristic way in which God works, to which, the origins of the Church in Corinth conform. The God who chose the first Corinthian converts is the God who chose the least significant of all the peoples (Israel) for His own. This is Hannah’s God who exalts the lovely and humbles the exalted (1 Sam 2:3-8), just as He is Mary’s God who filled the hungry and dismisses the rich (Luke 1:51-53). This is the God who chose the youngest of Jesse’s sons, David, the one no one had even thought to summon (1 Sam 16:6-13). This is the God who habitually overturns status, not in order to make the non-elite a new elite, but in order to abolish privilege over others and all gladly surrender privilege for the good of others. We could trace this theme also through the Gospel teaching and actions of Jesus. Modern writers have often spoken of JESUS’S option for the marginalized.”
Eventually we flew down the Johannesburg, missed my connecting flight to Durban but was put on the late flight arriving home at 11pm, having experienced one of the greatest trips of my life. David Marantz in that book I mentioned “OPERATIONS FROM AFRICA” concluded the book with this last sentence:
“Last of all experience Africa
be a participant as well as an observer.”
I am so very grateful for another opportunity to have experienced Africa.
When I come home from these missionary trips into Africa I share my heart and some personal thoughts, so here goes …
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS FROM MY TRIP
1. AFRICA
I love visiting Africa; I love her people, her vibrant living and the way they are so open to the Gospel. I love living with the Mwila family in the township of Kitwe with no electricity and reading all night with a candle, to experience the love from Anderson, Mukombo and Kizambi, comes once in a lifetime. To ride in her taxis on reserve all day, in the buses packed with people is an experience. To feel overwhelmed and afraid at the Congo border was scary … but Africa is where I want to be. ZAMBIA particularly because she is completely landlocked and surrounded by 8 central, eastern and southern African countries makes our base there critical. Africa is now leading the Evangelical world so it makes our interest in this Continent of top priority. The Lord has enabled me to visit Zambia, Zimbabwe, D.R.C., Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi and it has been wonderful.
2. KITWE EVANGELICAL CHURCH / LIGHT BIVLE CHURCH OF LUMBUMBASHI
These are two small Churches we are seeking to plant and grow. In Anderson and Mukombo we have 2 outstanding, godly men both trained at K.M.B.C. What can we do for these precious people?
a) KITWE
Next year we need to take up a small team and head up a crusade into the area with open-air meetings and children’s meetings in order to draw more people in. Also there is a piece of land we can purchase for only R5000, so maybe someone would want to donate some money for this project, then of course at some stage to put up a small structure. But thank God for Anderson.
b) LUMBUMBASHI
Mukombo has trained up some great men around him and the urgent need here is to seek some support for him because at the moment he lives by faith with no salary.
Both of these men are in poor areas but I loved preaching there. Bauckham encouraged me when he wrote:
“this means that as well as the outward movement of the Church mission in geographical extension and numerical increase, there must also be this downward movement of solidarity with the people at the bottom of the social scale of importance and wealth. It is to these – the poorest, these with no power or influence, the wretched, the neglected – to whom God has given priority in the Kingdom, not only for their own sake, but also for all the rest of us who can enter the Kingdom only alongside them.”
May we keep going with this in mind.
3 K.M.B.C.
Twenty-four years ago I founded K.M.B.C. as a missionary and Bible College to train pastors for Africa. But I wanted to focus on especially African men who were godly but because of their lack of finances and disadvantaged educational opportunities can not enter into many Bible Colleges today. In the goodness of God almost 300 have now graduated from K.M.B.C. and are serving around the world. The Lord has sent us students from Morocco, Ethiopia, Togo, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, and D.R.C., ZIMBABWE. South Africa, Botswana. Swaziland, Cameroon, Nigeria as well as Pakistan, Indonesia and Korea – it has been a dream. Across Africa there are 1000’s of small Churches with 65% of the pastors having had no formal theological training. We must keep going, keep training, keep sending men into Africa with a passion to preach the Word of God and I want to give the rest of my life to this work.
4 RESOURCES
Remember what Baucham said about poverty:
“more fundamental is the poverty of resources, education and access to ideas ….”
A few years ago we started BOOKS FOR AFRICA which Tom and Gloria Davies look after. We raise funds and send a New Bible Dictionary and New Bible Commentary to pastors in Africa. Now I want to add to this and collect second-hand books for the little College Mukombo has started in Lumbumbashi. Hopefully we will send up hundreds in the future. Martin Robinson was right
“if I were to start all over again, I would spend 50% of my time in preparing and training other leaders.”
5 POVERTY
Being in Kitwe but especially in the D.R.C. exposed me so much to the poor and whether it is our work in these 2 countries or back home at our College, K.M.B.C, I am focusing mainly on these precious souls. Please listen to Bauckham one more time:
“without international solidarity with the poorest of the world’s poor the Church’s mission in many parts of our globalized world is not only compromised by simply INVALIDATED. It has departed from the Biblical centers of God’s way with the world”.
This is a demanding situation of opportunity and challenge for Christian witness. It must send the Church back to the Scriptures, outward in solidarity especially with the victims and neglected, and forward in hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God.”
Fred Arnot, a missionary to Central Africa wrote on 18 September 1881 –
“I do not feel as if I were in a strange country, or among a strange people, and I can say with my whole heart that I love these Africans and long for their conversion … now is a golden opportunity, God has opened a door and the time is short. It does not seem too much to say that scores of true servants of the Lord are needed in this part of Africa …. May He send them forth.”
6 CONFERENCE
At the moment I want to dream and see if I can set up a conference next year to connect all these works –e.g. Joe Mundamau in Zimbabwe, Charles Tembo in Malawi, Mukombo Mayamba and Pierre Katange in D.R. Congo, Anderson Mwila and Stephen Kangwa in Zambia. God willing this “Central African Conference for Pastors” will seek to encourage expository preaching, training of leaders and encouraging each other in the work. Dream with me, it could be something unbelievable….
7 MY ONE SADNESS
I now want to close by relating a story from the film “Schinler’s List, the Steven Spielberg story of Oskar Schindler, the Nazi war profiteer, who shortly after the German invasion of Poland in 1939 began to use the Jews of the Krakow ghetto as workers in his pots and pans factory. At first he saw them only as chattel to be used to line his own pockets, which he did quite successfully, becoming exceedingly rich. But as the war dragged on, and as he increasingly witnessed Nazi atrocities being inflicted against the Jews of Poland, increasingly did he begin to use his own wealth to bribe Nazi officials and army officers to give him more and more Jews for his factory which the Nazis had turned into a munitions factory, which became a model of non-productivity in the Nazi war effort. Though it virtually bankrupted personally, he saved over twelve hundred Jews from certain death in the gas chambers.
I recount this story line only to say and I was struck by some statements in his mouth toward the end of the movie. The war has just ended, and having worked for the Third Reich, both he and his Jewish factory workers realize that the Allied authorities might search for him. As he bids farewell to them, they present him with a letter signed by each of them, which they hope, will help him before the Allied authorities.
At this moment Schindler suddenly becomes very sober and quietly says ‘I could have done more. I could have done more!” He begins to sob. ‘I could have done more. I didn’t do enough. This car – why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.’ Pulling off his lapel pin, he exclaims, ‘This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. One more. I could have bought more people! But I didn’t.’ His knees crumble and he sobs heavily.”
I feel so much …. I could have done more … but that morning in the Cathedral in Lumbumbashi I knelt down and asked the Lord to use me for the rest of my life as a servant for Africa!
NKOSI SIKELELE iAFRIKA - GOD BLESS AFRICA
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