Our Best to West Africa

Fifteen years ago I was in the heart of West Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for a regional pastor’s training. I remember feeling a sense of urgency: “We must do more!” The need and opportunity in that region of the world is so great both physically and spiritually. The people are poor in comparison as this world counts riches but rich in culture, joy, and faith. The effects of our resources both medically and in the teaching of the Word of God is dramatic and effective.

However, the efforts of certain Islamic leaders to spread their ideology into West Africa has a deadening effect, much like the sand that is creeping south. Villages receive this new religion, expectedly and as a requirement, as a whole community, not one heart at a time. They often convert because of the wealth of aide that comes along with the oil money. These villages become closed doors to the good news of Jesus. The need to win hearts and village leaders for Christ has never been greater.

Tomorrow we will send Cindy, the best and kindest of servants from CCC, to Togo, West Africa. I am so happy to have a small part in sending a bucket of water to the roots of a great gospel tree that is growing in Mango, the Hospital of Hope. Join me in sending Cindy with love and prayer, with tears and fasting, with faith and confidence that God will use her to touch the lives of the hurting there the way He has used her here.

As a means of reflection I have attempted a Petrarchan Sonnet (well, the first octave anyway):

Two great movements in Africa’s course
The desert spreads its deadening sand
Carried by unseen wind from northern band
On its wings comes Islam’s horse
Killing demand, darkening force
Yet grows a stubborn tree in Togo’s Land
Healing, kind, bright and planned
Water, Oh water the tree from Dearborn’s source!