Project North Africa

I’ve never had a grandkid but my parents say they are better than your own kids and everyone knows why: you enjoy them for a moment and then pass all the problems of raising them to their parents.

About six months ago, Suffian, one of my sons in the faith, began Bible studies with another friend by the same name. Together I helped Suffian develop the a six step Bible study that would lead someone from 0 knowledge of scripture to understanding the wonders of salvation by grace through faith in the person and work of Christ (just that sentence alone is six lessons full at least). And Suffian lead his friend through those lessons and answered his many questions.

Well a couple months ago Suffian #2 called and let Suffian #1 know that he had taken Christ as his Savi0r! That’s great! But we didn’t hear from him for two months. He dissappeard. Then he calls last week and this week came to his first church meeting. He was so excited to be with brothers in Christ and professed his saving faith in Christ to all present. It turns out his family had gotten just a little furious with his new faith and had destroyed his cell phone (on the which he had Suffian #1’s cell number).

Suffian #2 is the second new believer this month who is facing real persecution from his family for his faith. We are so happy to see that for both of these young men, their difficulty doesn’t succeed in dissuading their passion for Jesus. Please pray for more grandkids!

I am starting a sermon series tomorrow through the book of Nehemiah. He wept over the ancient condition of his city who was left defenseless. The city was to be a place where God’s name was lifted up.

So just to let you know why we need to pray for more laborers here in the city where I work and 6 urban centers like it all over my country here is some proof that the city is defenseless on the day of Jesus Christ, left without hope or hopebearers:

1. The Ratio of Christians to NonChristians– Our city has multiplied four times in the last 25 years. From 250,000 to over 1 million people. A large influx of the poor from the rural areas looking for work. So today there are about 30 believers here in this city. That is one for every 33,333 people! (In the city I come from, 1 in 8 claim to be born-again believers)

2. The Ratio of Churches to Non-Christians- There are three evangelical house churches here in our city (two Baptist and one Charasmatic). That’s one for every 333,333 people. (There is an average of one evangelical church in my country for every 1,000 people.)

The disciples of Christ are the light of the world set to be for it’s salvation. Where there are so few disciples of Christ there are no defenses against sin, the Devil, and the flesh and thus no place for refuge from God’s wrath as promised to the doers of iniquity.

3. The Results of the Dissapearance of Defenses- The people grow up here in a lie and in sin. They don’t recognize truth if they were to see it but they never do see it. Families are disintegrating in hate, selfishness, pride, abuse, sexual infidelity, religious hypocricy, and empty rituals. Drugs and predudice rule. Jesus is unknown. His power over sin in the life of the individual has never been witnessed by the “average Mohammed”.

I wonder if you’d weep for the Muslim cities that are left completely defenseless on the day of judgement with noone to weep over them like Abraham, Moses, Nehemiah, and Jesus all did? Would you adopt a city and love it like Jesus did? Do you love your city like that? Does it break your heart?

Right. Just work. Today I am here alone as the other three guys on the team are travelling. So I arrived to the office this morning at 8:30 like every morning and what did I find? I don’t even have keys to my own office! I never thought I’d need them. I am doing things all day with paperwork and correspondence that the other guys are usually taking care of.

So I am learning how much I appreciate them by there absence. Time for a day off of team mountain climbing when they return with some lamb sandwiches to celebrate just to say thanks.

I am involved in something much bigger then myself: a team of men with like hearts. Outside of my immediately family there is nothing that makes me happier than working with a team of men whose hearts God has touched.

Have you thanked the people working on your team today? Have you shown your thanks? That’s job number one for me this week.