A colleague, Andrew Strom, has just sent me a piece on his visit to Nigeria and permission is granted to reproduce part of it. Why do I do this and why do I want you to read it? Well, it so reminded me of my times in Uganda and Kenya, speaking at Pastors Seminars in the slums and out in the jungles.
We recently got back from our trip to Nigeria – and had a wonderful time. The heat and the never ending cloud of dust, smog and diesel fumes were ever-present, but spiritually it was a fantastic trip.
Three times God arranged it that we appeared on nationwide TV – once while we were preaching and praying for the Goveror of Ogun State (a bit like the Governor of California). Only God could arrange such a thing at the last minute, and we made sure He got all the glory. Thank you for your prayers, my friends!
I know a lot of people on this List have had invitations to Third world countries to minister. They want foreign preachers because they know many people will come to hear a “white man” preach!
I want to encourage you to take these opportunities, my friends, even if you have to pay your own way and that is quite likely because they are so poor.
I have come across many Repentance preachers in the USA and the West who have been frustrated and discouraged here with the lack of response and/or openings. We need to realize that there is a wide world out there that is hungry and desperate for sound preaching and biblical truth.
I remember once hearing David Servant make an analogy of a fisherman with two fishing-holes to choose from. In one fishing hole he caught virtually no fish at all, and the one he did catch jumped up and spat water in his face! In the other fishing hole the fish were so desperate to be caught that they were clinging onto the line and he was hauling them in as fast as he could get his pole back in the water! Which fishing hole should he choose? Of course it was the second one -equating to the Third World.
A lot of us think it is the “spiritual” thing to do, to wait and wait and wait right where we are, but as David Servant points out, Jesus clearly told his disciples that if they were not received in one town, to leave that place and go on until they find a receptive place. This is actually a commandment of God. Otherwise all of God’s servants are left wasting their time in unresponsive environments. Jesus commands us to “GO!”
Personally, for many years now I have focused my attention almost entirely on the West. But God is changing that. In fact, it would not surprise me at all if God calls our family to be based in the Third World sometime in the next few years. Such is the need and the hunger there. Sadly it is the exact opposite of what we so often find in the comfortable apathetic West.
I strongly encourage every preacher who is on this List to consider the Third World – and soon. It may be time to think “outside the box”, my friends. You won’t regret it.
Thank you again for your wonderful prayers during our trip. We saw many breakthroughs in the lives of both leaders and people as we spoke on deep repentance and the true message of the CROSS vs. the selfish gospel of gain, etc. A lot of people seemed very surprised and impacted by the messages. So your prayers made a huge difference. Thank you. I hope to return to Africa again in May.
Yours for the Third World Harvest, dear friends.
There is so much written above with which I can identify. Around 70 to 120 Pastors would walk or cycle 10 to 17 miles to attend the three days Seminars, sleeping on the floor of the church building each night. I would be teaching 3 one and a half hour sessions each day with time for questions. These men of God were so hungry.
Strong positive biblical leadership and teaching is so appreciated!
It was worth all the ‘hassle’ of travel and all the ‘inconvenience’. How often I have found over the years that when we are inconvenienced, that is when Almighty God uses us most of all.
Sandy Shaw
Source by Sandy Shaw
