Confessions From Mars Hill

Africa RE:flections #1

As most of you know, we are back from Africa.  We have taken the last couple of weeks to get re-adjusted to life back in this hemisphere.  Living in South Florida reveals more of our spoiled sides that I would care to admit.  I had forgotten what it was like to wake up to 35 degree weather and as we were in South Africa in the winter, I was reminded.  Needless to say, there were plenty of colds going around.  I just heard Mandi cough again, which has been going on since we returned (yes, she has been to the doctor.

The only way to start this series of RE:flections is to say that I am in a fog since returning.  I can't make sense of what I am doing and what is important. I see all I do as a husband, pastor and overpriced coffee drinker in light of the two weeks I lived with orphans in a village of one of the forgotten (and ignored) places of the world.

I am praying about how to begin to make enough sense of it to let others in. 

Zambia....I mean South Africa

Mandi and I are leaving tomorrow for Africa.  We will be working with the Agathos Foundation and hope to forge a long term partnership with the foundation to help with the sub-Saharan AIDS pandemic.  You can read about them at agathosfoundation.org

Up until yesterday afternoon, we were headed to Ndola, Zambia, but it looks like there has been some changes and there is a need for us in Loskop, South Africa.  So, when we land in Johannesburg, we will be driving 4 hours south instead of 2 days north.

Pray for us to give, love and show what the kingdom of heaven is really about.

AIDS, Africa and the Impact of the Gospel

Last spring, I was shocked when Sam told me that some were claiming that, well before the spring of 1994, over 1 million people had converted to Christianity.  This was shocking because in April 1994, almost the same number died in one of the most horrid acts of genocide in the modern era.

I began to wonder if what had happened in Rwanda was consistent throughout Africe.  Although much emphasis is placed on "evangelism," it seems that the part of the "great commission" that Jesus gives His followers about "teaching them all that I commanded you" is ignored for the most part (as is preparing for physical needs as well).

Rob Smith, the founder of Agathos Foundation, wrote this article about Agathos and some of his motivation in doing something.

His observation of the gospel, evangelism, discipleship, legalism, racism and social change is very good.  For the most part, what he says about legalism and racism is true of most of the evangelical churches that I know.