Evangelism Mali Style

(I did a long post with pictures last night, only to have it get lost in space)

Wednesday was a long, awesome day. We had the opportunity to walk and pray and share Christ with some along the way. In one area me and a partner came upon some boys playing foosball on the side of the road. They stared at us as we walked up to them, but the smile reached the sun when we jumped in to play. Check out the white pastor foosball skill......

In the afternoon I had an appointment with some young men in another community that I met on Monday and visited the next two days. By the end of the second day (and after seeing the Jesus Film), they invited me to share tea and have a serious discussion about Jesus. I guess the first two days were just "ice breakers". Bye the end of our 3 hour long conversation that day, all but one wanted to accect Christ. One problem..... their fathers wouldn't let them and it could bring great trouble on themselves. Pray for these men they would have courage and Jesus will draw them to himself in a way they cannot resist! We took their information and the missionaries are going to send a Malian man to visit them that experienced this himself, and how God worked in his life and family.


I love doing this but I sure miss home!

Monday in Mali.....

Today was unlike any Monday at the office to say the least. We started the day by driving to a suburb of Bamako. Bamako is currently the fastest growing city in Africa and the village of Niamana is being engulfed with the growth. This community is a great place to start a new work! The morning consisted of visiting the village chief and then its mayors. We thanked them for their hospitality and sought approval to share Jesus with their community. They welcomed us and gave us permission to do anything we like. Here's one of the mayors. Check this dude out...

After we got permission to work in the community, we came back after lunch and a brief rest from the 100+ temperature and spent the rest of the afternoon prayer walking and stopping to visit with anyone that was opened to conversation. I had the opportunity to share with 5 young muslim men for over an hour. We had a great discussion and they heard some things about Christ that really made them question some things they believe. After that, we had a community outreach service with music, a drama, and a gospel message. The night went great and I believe many people responded. Not sure if we'll know the results this side of Heaven. One thing I did learn........ I like to clown around with African kids and they seemed to enjoy it too!

Africa is God's country too!

These two young men are some of our African traslator this week. As you can see, Africa is near to God's heart, just like South Carolina! The one on the left is name Cye (not spelled correctly), and he translated for me when I was preaching this morning. The other young man is still a Muslim, but God is working on his heart. We talked about Jesus on the way back, and I believe he is very close to a decision to follow Christ. It is a big decision in a Muslim country. It could me isolating oneself from family or friends.

After the services, we met with the local pastors and church leaders of the 4 churches, and then had a buffet style meal at Ryan's. No silverware involved.... just the right hand baby! Check it out.....

I'm not so small.....

This is the man that guards the home we are staying at each night. I promise I'm not standing on a brick or step either :-) His face says it all. "Who is this dumb white guy?" To be honest, people are so friendly and welcoming when they find out we have come to be their friend and have been praying for them. We have yet to come across a rude or inhospitable person!

Tomorrow morning we have the opportunity to preach in the 4 local churches in the city of Bamako. They are so excited we are here, and we are humbled and feeling really "short" before the holiness of God! He knew before he created us that we would be in Africa "for such a time as this".

I'm praying for you as you pray for me. God has big plans in store for our church (North Point), and our sister churches in Africa this Sunday! Can't wait to see all He does!

I saw the sun

It peeked through my window early this morning but I did not answer its call. Slept til 8 am. Thank you Jesus! The bedrooms are airconditioned so it was very pleasant once they kicked in good. When I stepped out of the bedroom this morning..... I felt the sun! Its about 80 degrees this morning already. Excitged to get oriented and start to hear God!
Praying with you. I might be able to post every day if we have internet access in the city that day...... you never know!
Thank you Jesus for loving all people of the world!

BTW....... I saw the Eiffel Tower kids :-)

My posse's in Africa!

Well we are finally here. About 36 hours of travel and drive and layovers and I am sleeping in Bamako, Africa. Only one bag got stuck somewhere, probably Timbukto..... which is actually a city in Mali! Now I know what I've been joking about all these years.

Several of the missionaries and members of a Christian church met us at the airport and are so excited we are here. The Africans were especially excited we have some African Americans in the group! That tickled them to death. I'ts about midnight and we are trying to clean up and finally get some sleep. I took a little friend that should help me get some z's this first night. Tomorrow is a prayer/orientation, then we hit it hard Sunday with many opportunities to preach and build some relationships. Pray that God will speak through us and the people we meet will be ready and drawn to Christ. I have already had people from NP wanting to sign up for the next trip.

Tomorrow I'll try to post some pictures! Love you guys.
Good Night!

Good Night.....

I'm sitting on the floor of the Atlanta airport about to board a plane to Paris, connecting to Bamako, Mali. We are supposed to leave at 8:50 pm, and about 10 hours later will land in Paris, early morning their time. I'm a terrible sleeper on planes and I pray the Ambien kicks in and helps a little!

We are excited about what we are about to experience. 10 people from Columbia are getting to know each other, most for the first time, as we all seek what God has for us to do in Africa. My prayer is that God will show me his desire for North Point and church planting on a foreign field. God already knows what we will experience, no matter where we are and where we are going. That is why we trust him!

I pray God will speak to you over the next 10 days as you pray and listen to him. He loves you and has an awesome calling for your life. Listen to him and be ready to say "yes Lord".

I'll miss my sweet family and my awesome church while I'm away, but know this is a high calling we all have the honoring of participating in! See you soon! Thanks for the prayers.

Mali Bound

Tomorrow I board a plane in Atlanta and will arrive in Bamako, Mali the next day via Paris. I don't even get to leave the airport to visit the Eiffel Tower :-( Its all good!

I will be there with 9 other people to spend a week with missionaries trying to reach a city of several million, mostly Muslim people. The hope is that God will give us clear direction on how to partner. If 10-15 churches in the area will partner together, we will be able to send a team of missionaries every 6-8 weeks to be on the ground ministering in Bamako. My prayer is that God reveal our part to me, and that a church planting movement be born in that city that Jesus so desperately loves and died for.

Please pray for the team as we travel from March 4-14. Pray for our families as we are away. Ask God to use us and speak to and through us as we work together for his glory. I'll try to post as often as possible to you can keep up with the things we experience together. I believe I will have at least one if not multiple opportunities to preach the gospel there. Ask God to give me his words!

Love you guys!