WHY AFRICA?

I'm sitting in the hotel lobby waiting to depart for the airport and I wanted to post a quick blog. Ahh, the joy of technology. I'm in a reflective mood right now. I'm trying to understand all that God has done in my life over the last 12 days ... too much to think about.

It strikes me that there is always a price. Most of the time it's not financial. Priscilla went through surgery 10 days before I left for Africa. We thought everything was fine. Just before I left for Lemoru I found out that there were complications and she would have to go back for more surgery. I couldn't be there for her and that was devastating to me. I wanted to jump on a plane and rush back. She begged me not to. She told me that I was exactly where God wanted me to be and that she would be fine. I knew that she was right. Still, it hurts. There's always a price.

When I returned from Lemoru I found out that there have been two deaths in the church family -- Two people that I loved and cared about deeply. My heart aches again for the loss, and because I can't be there. We have so many capable pastors and ministers in the church and I know that they will take care of everything with excellence. Still, it hurts that I can't be there when you are in need. There's always a price.

Missionaries pay that price all the time. In paying the price they discover that God is good. God always provides. And God always sees you through. He's doing it for me. The price I've paid is nothing compared to others I know. I'm reminded of David pouring the water on the ground and saying far be it for me to offer something to God that cost me nothing. There's always a price.

I'm wondering why God wants us to go to Africa ... why Kenya?  I'm thinking there's plenty to do in our own backyard. Mexico is a 15 minute drive and the needs there are overwhelming ... almost as ovewhelming as they are here. So why go to Africa? I don't know. That's something we need to pray about. There are a few things I feel God revealing to us ... they are not completely clear yet ... just like the horizon on a foggy morning when the fog is starting to clear.

1. God has given us some strong relationships in Kenya. Mark and Debra Richardson are missionaries that we know, love and trust. They are here, in Kenya, to a certain degree because of their experiences at Calvary. It seems only fitting that we are, in turn, in Kenya because of our experiences with them. Our strategy is to work with "in country" missionaries who we know, love and trust -- in Kenya we have that.

2. The center of Christianity is shifting. For the last 1000 years it has been Europe, and then America. Most Christian historians are agreeing that the strength and power of Christendom is shifting from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere -- And particularly South America and Africa. Check out my book suggestions and read The Next Christendom. It's not easy reading (I read it for my doctoral work) but it's worth the effort. In short, the future of Christianity for the next 1000 years will be in the hands of Africa (as well as South America). If we invest ourselves in Africa we have a chance to make a difference for Christianity for the next 1000 years.

3. Kenya as a country is only 43 years old. They won their independence in 1963. In many ways they are where we were (in America) in the early to mid 1800's. They will be a powerful force for Christianity (or for Islam, if we don't help), but they need a lot of help. In the 1800's our country benefited from European missionaries, who helped us evangelize America. It's time to return the favor. If they don't receive the needed help from U.S. missionaries and European missionaries, then Islam could win the day in Africa. It is a critical time in Christian history.

4. The HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa demands that God's church do something. We will be judge harshly if we just sit by and do nothing. I believe that Jesus Christ is the answer to the problem of HIV/AIDS. I pray for a cure. But, the church has the utlimate cure. We have the message of life. The more the nation is discipled ... the more people live the Christ-life ... the more HIV/AIDS as a disease will diminish. We have the answer. We must speak.

The vans to the airport are here ... gotta go. I'll blog more on this subject from the airport.

blessings,

pastor ellis

Comments

[Palmira Carrier]

It is a blessing to hear from you.
In Psalm 103:2-3
It says:
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits---- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.
Hallelujah
So we must continue to pray.
In Christ,
Palmira

[Scott Hollinger]

Ellis, we've missed you. We're so proud of you. Thanks for sharing your angst with us. Thanks for sharing your missionary journey with us. And hurry home.

[FLOR COX]

I am sorry that you had to be away from your family. It is hard to do your job I have learned through this blog. Your know as a new chritian I thought your job is so easy just preaching on Sundays, but I am learning that it is easy for us just to go to church every sunday and wait for wednesday class and then sunday comes again but what goes in helping us learn about christ is all very hard work for that I thank you, I know that probably you would have been a Great Engineer but thank you for following your heart and helping me be a christian.

flor cox