Niger, West Africa

Yesterday I received an email from the Islamic Assistant Coach of the team we played while in Niger. On the last night of our trip, he and the head coach had come to tell us goodbye and thank us for our efforts in working with them over the past few days. The head coach is a believer. The assistant coach was, as stated, Muslim, and was participating in the fasting of Ramadan.

But please get the picture -- he had traveled to tell a group of 5 Baptist Men goodbye in a Christian setting. Throughout the week, he and I had developed a strong relationship. We discussed his beliefs. We discussed my beliefs. We shared a great deal. I was privileged to present the Gospel message to a group of young girls as he sat and listened - so, I KNOW he heard.

As we walked hand-in-hand through the compound that night so they could connect with a taxi, we continued to talk of our faith. The time of fasting had ended and we had shared a coke and a piece of Zuchinni bread (the night before, we had shared Niger ice cream before we caught our taxi). When we got to the main road and the taxi came, we stopped; he hugged and kissed me; I hugged and kissed him; and I said, "Listen to Coach S********." He said, "I will." I said back to him, "I'm not just talking about ******(the sport they coached), I'm talking about what he has to say about Jesus." He said, "I know and I will." I kissed him again, and he left.

Yes, you heard me right. A black man and a white man/a Christian and a Muslim/walked together down the streets of a city and in the compound, hand-in-hand and kissed one another good-bye. When I received his email, I REJOICED!!!! It meant that God was giving me more opportunity to share the Good News with him. I am convinced, the seeds planted will produce fruit/that there will be a harvest.

I have shared more about our trip in the newlsetter this month and will share more later as well. Suffice it to say, God is not through with TRBA in Niger. Every report from our local missionaries is reporting back results from the seeds planted. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Encouragement For Missionaries

Once again I want to share with you a post from my son's blog. It is entitled "Reflections on Central Asia 4 - Holding The Ropes."It says something that I wish to say and I pray that we - as church leaders - will see and sense the same need. I do encourage you to click onto his blog once and a while - it does provoke some thought. Here is the link -- Meditations On The Law.

Here is his posting:

"There is nothing like visiting friends that you haven’t seen in a long while. That is just what we were able to do while on our trip to Central Asia. A few years ago we sent out a couple from our church to serve in Central Asia. Now, for the first time, someone from our church was there to see them.

It was only for a day, but it was delightful. We got to see them, their new baby, and talk about how we might work with them in the future. The truth is, we won’t be able to do much. The country has tight restrictions and if we were to take a team to work with them, it would put a big target on their back. They would be kicked out soon after we left.


But, with that aside, I learned a lot from the short time we had with them. First, they desperately need encouragement from home. Don’t get me wrong, they’re excited to be where they are, but their spirits pick up when they know that people are praying for them back home. Especially when some of those people get to see them face to face.

This, of course, brings me to my point. I can’t really reflect much publicly on the time we spent with them. But, I can encourage your church to get involved in the lives of some of the missionaries that your church has sent out (notice the expectation for your church to be sending out). And, to the missionaries, I encourage you to reach out to your churches back home (notice the expectation for you to have a church back home). It is a two way street. Send teams to your missionaries, even if it is just to take care of the kids. Send them care packages, pray for them, email them, skype with them. Whatever you can do to let them know that their church is behind them—do it. It will mean the world to them and it will give them boldness and energy for the sake of the kingdom. In essence, that encouragement is kingdom building work.

Then, after you’ve encouraged your missionaries, encourage your church as well…"

On my recent mission trip to a "closed country," I also experienced the same buren as my son was talking about above. I do so appreciate those that sacrifice so much and carry their families to such places. Not just the sacrifices that put some in harm's way - but just the sacrifices they make in such extreme conditions when they could be here and have the freedom to serve God in some degree of comfort. The young couple I worked with, I can not tell you their names - but I am praying for them daily. The young couple he is talking about, I know and love dearly. In his church, they pray for "Ruth and Boaz." They can not call them by name. Nor can they tell the specifics of their work. I rejoice for that couple - for our God knows their names and knows the sacrifices when we just lamely lift them up in our prayers.

Let me encourage you to personally do - and lead your church to do - what my son asked:

(1) PRAY for them - and let them know you are doing that!
(2) Find some way to visit your "friends." A card--letter---email of encouragement (being very careful not to be too specific)--- if you send an email say something like---"I was talking to father about you tonight and all of our brothers and sisters have been talking with him about you. It brings us such joy to remember you every day. Every time we gather, we think of you and wish you the very best."
(3) You don't have to say all the above - just send a card that says we love you.
(4) Truly think about sending a small group to visit them and encourage them - maybe help them around the house/with children/carry them some supplies from back home
(5) And yes - encourage your church to be missionaries in their mission field daily as well!

I like his assumption that you - as a church - are sending out missionaries. If we would think that way about our churches, we could greatly impact our world!