The church that faith built

Take a look at the new building of our African home church, the Coastlands. Pastor Xavier has led the congregation in constructing it completely debt-free.

Businesses, individuals and churches made significant contributions, including our U.S. home church, Grace North in Anthem, Arizona. One local business donated the carpet, another fencing materials; a church member sewed curtains, another provided kitchen counter tops...and so it went up to today, when all is nearly complete. I call it "the church that faith built," because we've watched it grow from parcel of land to nearly finished place of worship.

We've also seen a pastor believe God for what he knows God wants to do in this community, which Pastor X says means a lot of faith-stretching.

How do people change when they can't read the Bible?

A friend asked me recently, “How do you reach women with the Christian faith when they can’t read? How are they able to change their lives?”

I believe the answer is to tell them the stories of the Bible and then dialog about them. For example, I can tell the story of God creating a wife for Adam. From this story we discuss life lessons that the story illustrates: Why did God say that it was not good for the man to be alone? What does it mean for us that the woman was created from Adam’s own body? What does it mean to become one flesh?

We can learn about handling rivalry from Sarah and Hagar, about wisdom and bravery from Deborah, and about sharing our faith from the Woman at the Well. My goal is for women to learn the Bible’s stories in order to apply them to their lives and then share the stories with others.

The Last Big Push

Over the past thirty-five years, Becki and I have been in about fifty nations. With your help we have been in Southern Africa for most of the past year. Over the years many things have changed. Most notable has been the gradual reduction in the number of nations that welcome missionaries.

On the surface it would appear that doors are closing to the teaching of the Gospel. This does not, however, completely represent how things are. For within these “closing” nations are large numbers of people who are still “unreached.” Many of these groups are not only open to the Gospel, but are responding enthusiastically when missionaries bring them the good news in ways they can understand. However, time is running out.

For the past three years I have made an in depth study of what the Bible calls “the end times.” I have also closely watched current events. My conclusion is that we are rapidly approaching the fulfillment of things prophesied and that time is short. All of us must use all of our energies and resources for the last big push to make the good news available to every person on earth.

In light of this, Becki and I are vividly aware that the day is soon coming when we will stand before God to give account of our lives. The same is true for you. My hope is that we all will hear those blessed words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” As God has encouraged me, I encourage you to live in anticipation of His return and the fulfillment of all things. Because the person who sacrifices for the Kingdom gains both in this life and the life to come, this is the time to live courageously, holding back nothing.

Photo: The Eastern Gate in Jerusalem, which will be unsealed for Jesus' triumphal entry, Ezekiel 44:1-3

Living in South Africa

What does the situation in South Africa mean for us? First, let’s talk about the challenges.

Attacks against foreigners from other African countries have continued since last May, with 10 migrants killed in November in Cape Town alone. Although we are not threatened by this violence, several members of our congregation in Tableview (our suburb of Cape Town) have immigrated from other African countries. They and other members who live in the townships have seen this violence first hand and have ministered in its aftermath.

South Africa also suffers from one of the world’s worst crime rates, with high incidences of murder, rape, robbery and carjacking. Some citizens of Cape Town move to gated communities or install electrified wire around their block walls. And yet, this year record numbers of tourists came to South Africa from Europe and the rest of the world, and we personally have seen or experienced no crime.

Often when John or I talk to people we meet around Tableview, they express fears that the country is deteriorating. They wonder if South Africa is following the “Zimbabwean path.” Will South Africa be able to maintain a successful democracy on a continent where the will of the people is rarely respected?

In all this, Pastor Xavier and Heather, our pastors at Coastlands Community Church, remain optimistic and forward looking. He has convinced us that no matter what happens the church will thrive, that families will need ministry and that people will respond to the Lord. We admire the dedication of our pastors to the people of Tableview, whether in the hospitals, school system, community, or the church.