Buildings, Bicycles, Baptisms, and Believers Being Sent

Today I have been experiencing the power of memory. I have been remembering happy times of serving the Lord in the continent of Africa where I worked for 20 years of my life as a Christian missionary. I lived next door to and across the street from Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Sikh's, Buddhists, Atheists, and Hindus. We formed friendships with them, had them in our home and entered their homes as guests. We loved them, prayed for them and shared Christ with them. Frances and I also led the Church of God churches during a period of unusual church growth and building. We visited many villagers, slept in their homes on a reed mat, or in the back of our Peugeot station wagon, or in a primitive hotel in order to have the privilege of preaching the message of Jesus Christ to them. Here are a few highlights.

Buildings_1
Buildings are NOT essential to the kingdom of God. Most converts are made in street meetings or in personal witnessing by one neighbor telling another neighbor the good news that Jesus has come and Salvation is free to whosoever will receive it. After a few people have received Christ, the effort to disciple them into devout followers is usually pursued by trying to find shelter that will protect the students from the weather. Here is a typical beginning effort found throughout the continent of Africa in rural areas. This building is made from small branches or poles tied together, with thatch tied to them. Church of God World Missions has helped purchase land, build buildings, and support Pastors for this task.

Building_2
Here, at the edge of the city of Yaounde, Cameroon, another larger building takes shape. This will become a ministry center where disciples are made, Bible training takes place, first aid will be given from a one room clinic for local villagers is given, housing for the pastor in another room, and a feeding station for the hungry. On Sunday it will be a worship center. From it many orphans and widows will be ministered to.





Bicycles
Here is an example of a means of transport that is used all over Africa in every sized city and town. This is so much easier than walking. The bicycle can carry huge loads and gives the pastor a tool to work with in carrying Bibles and gospel literature to his neighbors. The recipients are all anxious to share the message of Jesus and the deliverance from sin that is offered through God's plan of salvation found in the Bible.



Baptisms
Water Baptism in Africa is a far more significant event than it is in North America. Here, we invite converts to be baptized in a pool of water that is normally built into the choir area of the church. In Africa a baptistry inside the church is a rare thing. Here in Africa we must be alert to huge snakes, crocodiles, bilharzia and other devastating diseases which are waterborne. Most pastors will rebuke these things in the name of Jesus and will earnestly pray for protection from evil spirits as well.


Believers Being Sent
This picture is typical of a group of "preachers" who have come to know that God loves them and who have experienced the joy of sins forgiven. They eagerly study the Bible in classes that last from ten days to three months before they go out to share the gospel with others. One of my greatest thrills has been the high privilege of teaching them and of interacting with them in special ten day sessions where we give them 60 hours of special training in various Bible subjects, then send them to their local villages to share what they have learned.

May the Lord be with them today and every day as the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus the Son of God continues to be spread.