Blog

  I learned a bit about another one of our translators today.  Fatana was part of an Ethiopian Orthodox Church.  He and a large group of people from EO churches were interested in studying the Bible for themselves, so they formed their own study.  They started reading the gospel of John together. Somewhere along the way, they came to realize that what they had been taught about the gospel was wrong.  They repented and asked God for forgiveness.  Many came to faith.  These kinds of stories about the EO Church are not uncommon, unfortunately.

  This trip we have about 55 leaders in Class #3.  My room is predominantly a younger group of leaders, and this is my first time with the Oromifa language group.

  The last two days I have been so blessed to really connect with these men.  A few of them are already young pastors.  All of them are obvious leaders.  And their joy in learning how to study has been evident.  Partnering and sharing the teaching with Pastor Raata has also been a sheer pleasure.  

• Daniel has the voice of a 23-year old James Earl Jones.  When he reads Scripture, he booms!  And he is serious about the Word.  He was the first to present, and established a strong model.  Since then, he has jumped on every insight, is quick on observations, and has all the right questions!  I have no idea what the Lord will do with this man, but I am very excited for eternity to hear the stories.
• Degefa is quieter, but his eagerness shines through.  He anticipates well, and loves to learn.  Always cheerful, he serves in the same spirit, too.  He was carrying chairs after lunch to clean up, and then came to me as I sat holding my empty plate, to honor me by taking it away.
• Ifa has been a surprise.  Arriving two days late, I was wrong to think that he might have less interest.  Instead, he caught up, worked hard on his passage, and helped us go further in our study because of his work.
• Kassahun struggles a bit more in finding his way around in his Bible.  But man, when he gets something, the passion bridges the language gap!  I know that he is a powerful influence wherever he ministers, and he was clearly listening well this week!
• Getahun never stops thinking.  Quietly confident, he is engaged on every question.  His comport is that of a steady guide.  I think he has to be one of the men who learned the most in the course.  Partly because of all of his correct observations, and partly because of his incorrect ones.  Though the latter were fewer to be sure.
• Yai is lithe, respectful, and happily animated when he talks.  He worked hard at one of the most difficult passages we had.  And he was hilariously honest when he had no idea about something. 

  Tomorrow will be our last teaching with these men.  I am very excited for the presentations and our last lessons.  It has been an intensive week.  I am impressed that these men will sit for long hours every day, and then spring up to praise God when He reveals something new to us!  Wrestling in the Word together has been sweet.

  The adhan starts about 5:40 this morning.  Despite waking twice last night, the Lord has blessed with long & sound sleep - a much-needed refreshment after two flight cancellations, and 42 hours in airports & airplanes getting here.

Adhan: the Muslim call to prayer.  

  I lie here in the wee hours of breaking light, musing on this oppressive drone of the empty call.  It arrogates itself to command the faithful, demanding that they worship.  They are under duress to seek their god.  The call does not fear their ire; unwelcome intrusion breaking their peaceful slumber.  It thinks it is king.  But the call is empty in its power, and they obey it to find no hope.

  I slept well under my makeshift mosquito-netting tent.  But now I must take a brisk shower.  There is one mosquito still somewhere in the room.  I have taken out 4 of them.  The shower will end without incident, and I will leave the room later in the morning with that last one still buzzing about somewhere.  But I believe that I have escaped unpierced.  We will call it a draw.  I am happy with the arrangement, and the Lord has given mercies.

  Tesfaye comes to fetch me.  Coffee & scrambled eggs rouse me at Time’ Cafe’.  The coffee is piping hot - small and potent.  It is a rich invitation to the day. A monkey climbs the wall beside our table and perches, turning his head inquisitively.  None of the cafe guests give him much notice, and he goes on his way.

  As we eat and drink and talk, a good-sized group of locals is walking together up the street, moving slowly and deliberately.  A funeral procession.  The hearse is clearly identifiable, even though I know none of the culture.  The people are quietly respectful.  Even the cafe turns off the music until they pass.  One pocket of three well-dressed young men, near the rear, is on their phones as they proceed along.  I wonder where the casket resident is now, and I pray for this group.

  We leave out for Adama in a Toyota truck, driven by Tesfaye’s friend whom & which he has procured for the day.  Driving is often an adventure in other cultures.  And Ethiopia is no exception.  We slow behind a large truck, then swing out into oncoming lanes to pass.  Immediately, there is a goat in the middle of the road.  It has found something interesting to eat.  We slow briefly, and then swing out further into oncoming traffic.  I fear that the goat may perish.  I am also mildly concerned for us.  We pass within inches of its head.  No one in the car is moved in the least.  Neither is the goat.

  Not an hour later, passing through Shashemane, the opposite traffic thickens, and slows.  Happy singing greets the ear.  It is coming from this approaching cavalcade.  Rows of men, brightly dressed, rising on horseback, chanting in sing-song harmony!  They bounce in their saddles with joy.  They are followed by grinning and waving revelers in their bajaj’s (A bajaj is the 3-wheel motorcycle transports that are everywhere) and then there is one white stretch SUV.  A wedding!  

  The Lord has blessed us truly this morning.  We have seen both sides.....

  Join us this Sunday for an introduction and update on our four Ethiopian missionary church planters!

Vacation Bible School (VBS) was awesome again this year. It usually is, but this year was especially so for three reasons. We will get to those reasons in a minute. First, some details of VBS. 100 kids attended daily and were served by 87 volunteers, ages 12 – 80, doing everything from greeting families, to setting up shade structures, to leading groups of kids, to cleaning, and more. 21 churches were represented in the total of 127 registered attendees, and 11 had no home church. 47 out of the 127 were from MCC, or 37%

Why was this VBS special? The first reason is the theme/curriculum. It was all about following Jesus on our ‘Journey of Faith’. Daily themes used memorable action phrases to encourage the kids on their journey:

• DO what Jesus says.
• BELIEVE who Jesus is.
• LOVE who Jesus loves.
• SHARE what Jesus has done.
• GO where Jesus leads.
  
  

These themes/phrases were easy to learn and remember. In a typical VBS week, the attendees learn the songs and dance moves, singing and dancing their way through the next few weeks, and may remember a few key items from the lessons. This week – they have memorable, quotable, action steps to follow. They have something to DO.

Second reason this week was special – Each of these action phrases focuses on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Specifically, what He said and did. Read them to yourself. In order to DO any of these actions, kids have to seek information from the Bible, God’s truth, His Word! How do you LOVE who Jesus loves? Go to His Word and learn about who He loves. Read about examples of Jesus loving others and why. They have something to LEARN.

Third reason this week was special: the kids have flesh and blood examples to follow. They saw 87 people Doing, Believing, Loving, Sharing and Going all week. They got to witness what it looks like for imperfect people, who have trusted Jesus, to put these actions into practice all around them. They were able to learn about the Apostle Paul being a missionary, and then walk along side, learn from, and ask questions to folks who are in the mission field RIGHT NOW! The kids saw that there is not one way to serve, to GO, to DO, to LOVE, but the learned that there are at least 87 ways. They have examples to FOLLOW, who point them at JESUS!

We serve an Awesome God, and He has used you to do MIGHTY work through this VBS!

This week I read Michael Haykin’s Iron Sharpens Iron, a short book about great friendships. I found a couple of quotes in the book that I thought would be worth sharing so you can reflect on them as I have.

The first is an excerpt from John Ryland’s sermon at the funeral of his friend Andrew Fuller. Their friendship, he said, had

never met with one minute’s interruption by any one unkind word or thought, of which I have any knowledge. I never had a friend who was so willing to stand by me, even in such services as most others would wish to decline; yet I never had a friend who would more faithfully, freely, and affectionately give me warning or reproof, if ever it appeared necessary; or whom I could more readily and freely, and without the least apprehension of giving offence, tell of any fault which I imagined I could see in him. And this I think is the best friendship in the world. For no man is faultless; and true friendship will not be blind to the failings of those we love best; but will rather show itself in an anxious concern to prevent the least appearance of evil in them, or whatever might occasion their good intentions to be misrepresented. After having lost long ago the venerable Newton and the first Robert Hall, who were the counsellors of my youth; after losing the affectionate Pearce, and the humble and prudent Sutcliff, two other founders of our Mission, this most faithful and judicious friend is also taken from me, and never will my loss be repaired upon earth!

And then, a bit later in the book, is another neat little quote, this one from Robert Hall Jr., who makes some interesting remarks on the nature and benefits of friendship.

He who has made the acquisition of a judicious and sympathizing friend, may be said to have doubled his mental resources: by associating an equal, perhaps a superior mind, with his own, he has provided the means of strengthening his reason, of perfecting his counsels, of discerning and correcting his errors. He can have recourse at all times to the judgement and assistance of one, who with the same power of discernment with himself, comes to the decision of a question with a mind neither harassed with the perplexities, nor heated with the passions, which so frequently obscure the perception of our true interests. Next to the immediate guidance of God by his Spirit, the counsel and encouragement of virtuous and enlightened friends afford the most powerful aid, in the encounter of temptation and in the career of duty.

Perhaps these quotes, or the whole book should you read it, will help you pursue Christian friendships and better appreciate the ones you already have…

Challies, Tim. "The Best Friendship in the World" Challies, January 23, 2022,

https://www.challies.com/quotes/the-best-friendship-in-the-world/

VBS is starting Monday! Thank you to all that have pitched in to make this community outreach possible. You've made decorations, signed up to lead and help VBS kids, bought snacks and supplies, practiced music, and organized.  A big thank you to Paul Brouse and Nicole Barker for their VBS leadership!

If you haven't signed up kids and would still like to do so please click here.

We pray our VBS is an opportunity to show kids that God loves them very much and a way to bless the kids and families in our church and community.  Here's to a safe and fun VBS 2023!