Upcoming Mission Orientation Weekend

          This upcoming weekend I'll be speaking at a Mission Orientation Weekend at Swartbergsvlei 4x4 grounds. Located "in the bush," the aim is to give people interested in missions a brief field experience and training ground. I'll be speaking on humanism tomorrow evening; then Saturday, following a presentation on the ideology and threat of Islam, I'll be talking about the love of Christ to ALL people groups and therefore the importance of our obedience in going to all nations with the Gospel of Salvation (On that note, if you haven't already seen the film More than Dreams, I would highly recommend it to you. Containing 5 testimonies of how God convicted and transformed people's lives into repentance through dreams, It is a great reminder of Christ's power and love).
          Please lift this weekend to the Lord in prayer for (1) a strong conviction of sin, (2) further insight into the understanding of God's character, and (3) a strong desire to go out as fishers of men in answer and obedience to His commission.

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD" ~Isaiah 2:3

Views from the Helderberg

A Glimpse of Jonah
          Last weekend, I hiked to the top of the Helderberg, one of the well known mountains of Somerset West. The sweat was running down as the heat of the day became more intense. No clouds in sight; no shade to walk by. However as I approached the top of the mountain, a thin canopy of cloud spread over the peak. I could suddenly feel the coolness of the breeze wafting by, and my mind suddenly began dwelling on the story of Jonah; the shade God provided him while on the hill; the shade which He took away. And I was much grateful for the cover above. However, I thought, surely the shade couldn't have been the lesson to Jonah; what was God teaching him?... Suddenly a cry echoed out over the rocks, and in the distance I could see two figures now at the top; a shout of victory! After a few minutes, I too hit the peak and was introduced to the men, Jeff and Carl. A very brief chat later, they were headed down the mountain. Opening then to Jonah, I began reading the fourth and last chapter to find what i failed to remember. And the portion which stuck with me, the same portion which I before had missed the significance of was this:

Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.” Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” (vs 9-11)

Prioritized Focus

          The prideful, grudging desires of and responses to the flesh will lead to hardened heart against all who are lost and dead, an unwillingness to carry out the Lord's work in ministry, even a distaste for the result of that work once carried out. So it was one thing to have been thanking God for shade that day, yet I hadn't lifted a finger to pray for and talk to the lost.

Daniel?… I know him!

The cross I made at the
peak from a plant

          I started down the mountain and before long had caught up with Jeff and Carl. While finding our way down the rocky portion, it came upon Carl to ask me to remind him of my name. He was quite mused that his brother was also named Daniel, and carried on to say that Daniel was indeed a great man. In complete agreement I concurred, adding also that he gave us may great examples. However Carl had in fact meant his brother and was skeptical that I actually knew him and this, how did I have this knowledge of him? When I proceeded to tell him I was referring to the Biblical character, his reply was, "Oh! No, I've moved beyond that stuff"... BAM!!! a completely open door into discussing God, discussing the Bible, discussing all sorts of things. Isn't it wonderful how God uses our pitiful mistakes and misconceptions in a conversation to carry out His precious work!

Fruitful Discussion
          From that moment for about an hour, as we hiked downward, there was such fruitful discussion about nature, physics throughout, nominal hypocritical Christians, various other religions, the existence of only one God amoung the millions which man has created, the destructiveness of following God for religion's sake, and other such topics. My heart was filled with such incredible joy in the Master's workings. Is their salvation not infinitely more precious than a mere patch of shade!

          Now I ask you to pray for these men, as Elijah once prayed for his servant: “O LORD, I pray, open [their] eyes that [they] may see." May God reveal Himself to them that they might clearly see Him through all that surrounds them

Jeff (left) and Carl (right)

South Sudan Mission Report

Shall We in Fact Go?

Crossing the Nile River in Uganda

          How were we to make it to South Sudan with the funding consistently falling short of our needed amount. The calling had been so strong to help the South Sudanese in their newly found need of discipleship--a newly established country, a new constitution, with great threats from the Islamic invasion of Sudan. In Joshua, when Israel was commanded to cross the Jordan, it was not until they had walked right into the water that the river was parted, that they were able to proceed in how God had led them. God required obedience before revealing His methods. 

Where the Lord Leads, He too Provides

          On September 27, a team of four of us set out from Capetown to train up and disciple the South Sudanese. A mere four hours into our journey, the phone rang. All the finances to enable us to reach South Sudan had been received. Praise to the omniscient Provider who knows our needs before us!

Unsurpassed Artwork

View from a mountain gorge of
one of Tanzania's vast expanses

The Great Rift Valley
as seen in Kenya

Victoria Falls
the smoke that thunders

          We continued through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda up into South Sudan. Throughout each country the beauty continually staggered me into an awe of the complexity and creativity of our creator. Passing through both the tropic of Capricorn of Northern South Africa and the equator in Uganda. From the sunrises, to the thundering splendour of the vast clouds, each new flower’s intricate design, the mighty expanses, and rugged mountains all declared the glory of God!

God Amoungst the Muslims

          While in Tanzania, Hunter and I met a man named Yakuti, a Muslim mechanic who helped with one of our trailer repairs. As we were having our quiet times while waiting for one of the men to finish welding, Yakuti, curious that we were reading the Bible, asked us if we were familiar with the Quran of his religion. What a perfect opportunity to share our faith with him. Although he believed both the Bible and the Quran he was unaware that the Bible explicitly stated that Jesus was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and that no one came to the Father but through Him. once we showed Him directly from Scripture that one cannot be saved through Islam, but only through the way of the Master, he prayed for repentance then and there, tears of conviction rolling down his face. Now, Yakuti’s life is a proclamation of Christ’s immense power.

Pride before the Fall

One of the men who joined our

teacher training seminar

          God had many an opportunity for drilling me throughout our time in South Sudan, to reiterate His strength in my weakness; to tear down my high walls of pride, greatly hindering my relationship with God. Our ministry started out with a five day course to college students in the diocese of Kajo-Keji, giving lectures and devotions each day, showing films in the evenings, and going on outreaches to schools, chaplains, and local villages. After my first few lectures, I became very comfortable with presenting the talks, quite liking the positive and encouraging feedback of how I did, not realizing Satan’s decoys from the purpose of our mission: to minister, not entertain. Again and again I had to ask forgiveness for my prideful behaviour, and in response Christ didn’t just forgive me and move on. No, I was given more opportunities to lecture, each time seeking more to keep central focus on God, not merely on my presentation of Him. And the thing that encouraged me the most, that confirmed the power of His message, was this. As I was presenting, there were often times when participants didn’t seem to be listening or taking notes; but as soon as I mentioned a passage from Scripture, immediately the ink began to roll from their pens, as they were eagerly attentive to that of the Bible. What a blessing to see the hunger for God’s Word, for the message that changes life and converts the soul. We were able to do several various seminars and outreaches throughout the region, speaking at different churches and meetings, and again and again, the Lord was confirming His message through the people. Praise God for the work of His Holy Spirit!

Telling the story of Gideon
to chaplains

Participants in Kajo Keji

One of our best translators over-
joyed at receiving a study Bible

Turning Family against Family

Hymnbooks that survived the war

          We carried on our ministry northward throughout several other diocese and, as opposed to those in Kajo Keji, who having fled south to Uganda for the war had nearly no knowledge of the happenings thereof; plainly saw the heavy toll the war had taken on them. Bullet holes in the thatch, tombstones cracked, overgrown churches and schools which were the victims of air raids, and many other sights. However the effect of the war never really struck me until I was talking with one of the doctors we met, who described how in Khartoum where he had gone for schooling, he was forced by the Arabs to join the army and on threat of death forced to kill those from his hometown, including his own brother. I can’t imagine being put through that, the thought today still terrorizing him. Yet we know that Christ works ALL things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. With him and another friend, I had the priviledge of attending a time of hymns and worship held under a large mango tree, where we sang both English and Arabic songs. What a blessed time of fellowship!

One of the bombed churches

Eagerly reading their new literature

Bombed cathedral wall - rebuilt
since Frontline's last visit 

Redemption in Lui

          Also in Lui, stood Laro, the Slave Tree today known as the Salvation Tree; which is a truly a remarkable depiction of redemption. Used just less than 100 yeas ago by the slave trader Adilla to chain slaves where they were then sold to other traders and merchants passing through, this tree was the very location of the first prayer meeting held by Doctor Kenneth Fraizer upon his discovering of Lui in 1920. It also provided shade for many church services and times of worship, leaving a perfect illustration and reminder of God’s own redemption for us sinners. “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see,” quoted slave trader John Newton after his conversion.

          I couldn’t help but be drawn to the immensity of God when looking at this tree. For under the same branches at which i stared, nearly a hundred years ago, slavery ran rampant under the rule of fierce Arab slave traders. To put myself in their position, I would be overwhelmed with this terrible atrocity, not knowing God’s sovereign plan for redemption in that very spot they were chained. How can we become so confused in God’s purpose when things seem to us to be out of place. Oh that we would find truly how to rest in His palm with faith enough not to question the trials we face.

Blessed with Malaria

Talking on the Ten Commadments (while with malaria)

          After a few weeks inside South Sudan, my health began failing, and to my initial dismay, a small mosquito had presented me with the gift of Malaria. However, this was indeed a blessing! For throughout its duration, not only was my prayer life was significantly strengthened as well as my trust in Christ’s supernatural strength, but He used in ways I hadn’t thought. My continual prayer was that through this God would be glorified in our ministry. I wasn’t sure exactly how this would work now, not being able to function well at all. But as soon as I stood up to talk and began with the material, Christ filled me with such a strength to talk and share with them. Then after we were finished with that discussion and i sat back down, the symptoms returned, until the next lecture...and so on. I felt better much talking in those times than in other lectures and am reminded now of Livingstone’s quote, “I am immortal till my work is accomplished.” Now I cannot say whether those listening gained more from those lectures than they would have otherwise, but I do know this. That through them, God was working boldly. For when we are weak, Christ is strong. If only we could more consistently and continually be not only weak in ourselves, but dead to all earthly pleas of the flesh.

Tongues of Fire!

          On our return trip through Uganda and Kenya, I was exposed to several Pentecostal churches; and although it was very interesting to see their heavy focus on the power of the Holy Spirit, it seemed in many instances they were using His power for their own gain, preaching a name it and claim it gospel. There was a huge vibe and response when preachers would tell the congregation that they would go in the power of God, and that with His Spirit in us that “we are living, breathing gods on earth” as said by a more extreme preacher. True, we cannot but rejoice in the tremendous power of the Holy Spirit, but when men use His blessed Name for personal gain, creating “a form of godliness,” we must be weary of their counsil, “tak[ing] every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Living to Die

          It says in the Good Book, “He that honours Me, I will honour.” May we not continue with contentment in our own deeds, which in all their esteem amount to no more than wood, hay, and stubble; but rather a desire for His work, His kingdom on earth. May we seek in everything, with everything, to live a life fully comprised of service to God. What a privilege to be commanded to serve the Servant King.

"When God wants to drill a man...

                                                                       ...and thrill a man and skill a man;

When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man,

That all the world might be amazed, watch His methods; watch His ways.

How he ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects.

How He hammers and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay that only God understands,

While his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hands.

How He bends but never breaks when His good He undertakes.

How He uses whom He chooses, and with mighty acts induces him

To try His splendor out; God knows what He’s about!”