The bishop and I had gone to the Cathedral after two services at All Saints Church. The service at the Cathedral had ended, and the Bishop and I had answered some questions, which covered the usual things. I realized he was about to wrap up and stop. That's when I looked up and said to him, "May I add a comment?"
When I did, it dawned on me that that has been the nature of advocacy for the least evangelized peoples of the world. The topic rarely if ever comes up on its own. But what does that mean for me or any other advocate? Sit by and let the conversation return to the usual mission topics - evangelism and new church plants inside the diocese?
No, it means interrupting the flow of conversation, requesting the opportunity for a new thought, and spelling out the call of the Lord Jesus Christ to the church to go to each and every people group.
In this instance I made the observation that the theological climate in the church in the United States was tolerance, understanding that there are different religious views, and accepting of each one as valid, above criticism, and full of truth.
In that climate a church is highly unlikely to produce missionaries who want to go to those of other religious beliefs and tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ - humbly, lovingly, respectfully, but tell them nonetheless.
Therefore, I told the congregation, come to the United States and Europe and re-evangelize us, if you want. But there is something else that must be done.
The Gospel must also to to Islamic North Africa, and for that to happen, it must be done by the Church of Uganda, the Church of Nigeria, and other African churches. The Lord is calling them to go there as well as inside their diocese, as well as the United States.
That's a comment that must be added, even if it means interrupting to make it.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
I wish I hadn't heard that.
When the bishops break for tea, all of us with booths get set for visitors. Yesterday one of the prominent bishops made the rounds before tea break, so he had time to visit each booth.
When he came to mine, Anglican Frontier Missions, I gave a very brief description of our effort. I said that we want to support efforts of bishops who want to see churches planted outside the Anglican Communion, especially in Islamic North Africa.
He paused, thought, and then gave one of the sorriest missions thinking around. What he said was that he had heard that some Anglicans in Egypt were reaching out into neighboring Libya.
Behind that is the belief that we can only reach out to those near by, and isn't it swell that Egyptian Christians are doing that with their neighbors in Libya.
I gave the simple reply that when Uganda was evangelized, the English missionaries left home and sailed thousands of miles to go beyond where their neighbors were.
Unfortunately that thinking I heard has a tight grip on most of the church, which explains why most of our efforts move our mission resources from one part of the Body of Christ to another part of the Body of Christ.
No, his mission thinking is not unusual, but I just hated to hear it from such a leader.
When he came to mine, Anglican Frontier Missions, I gave a very brief description of our effort. I said that we want to support efforts of bishops who want to see churches planted outside the Anglican Communion, especially in Islamic North Africa.
He paused, thought, and then gave one of the sorriest missions thinking around. What he said was that he had heard that some Anglicans in Egypt were reaching out into neighboring Libya.
Behind that is the belief that we can only reach out to those near by, and isn't it swell that Egyptian Christians are doing that with their neighbors in Libya.
I gave the simple reply that when Uganda was evangelized, the English missionaries left home and sailed thousands of miles to go beyond where their neighbors were.
Unfortunately that thinking I heard has a tight grip on most of the church, which explains why most of our efforts move our mission resources from one part of the Body of Christ to another part of the Body of Christ.
No, his mission thinking is not unusual, but I just hated to hear it from such a leader.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Baba Kafunchan
The All Africa Bishops Conference was more than slightly intimidating to this retired oyster raiser from the Northern Neck of Virginia. This struck home smartly as I entered the huge hall my first morning where the daily Eucharist had already started.
All settled down well inside me as I recognized my friend from several trips, the Bishop of Kafuncan, William Diya, fondly called Baba Kafunchan. That title reflects his status of elder statesman among the leaders of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, as well as a leader in faith and love.
He speaks gently with a soft voice but with strong faith, clear direction, and calm authority. Anglican Frontier Missions sponsored him for training in Singapore in 2000 for leading his diocese into work among an unreached people. The people he chose to work with were the Kanuri. Why? Because, he said, they were the first of the nomads of northern Nigeria to wear the mantle of Islam, and so he wanted them to be the first to become Christian. The trainer for that month, Frank Teo, was impressed with how this older bishop was a learner and how wise was his approach for the Kanuri.
Some of us from St. Stephen's visited him on two different occasions. We heard of his near escape from thugs during a time of religious violence, and also of his provision for Fulani converts who need a safe place after embracing Jesus Christ.
So to spot him at the Eucharist, and, happily, next to an empty chair, put me in the presence of piety, humility, faith, and sweet friendship. And that was the end of conference intimidation.
All settled down well inside me as I recognized my friend from several trips, the Bishop of Kafuncan, William Diya, fondly called Baba Kafunchan. That title reflects his status of elder statesman among the leaders of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, as well as a leader in faith and love.
He speaks gently with a soft voice but with strong faith, clear direction, and calm authority. Anglican Frontier Missions sponsored him for training in Singapore in 2000 for leading his diocese into work among an unreached people. The people he chose to work with were the Kanuri. Why? Because, he said, they were the first of the nomads of northern Nigeria to wear the mantle of Islam, and so he wanted them to be the first to become Christian. The trainer for that month, Frank Teo, was impressed with how this older bishop was a learner and how wise was his approach for the Kanuri.
Some of us from St. Stephen's visited him on two different occasions. We heard of his near escape from thugs during a time of religious violence, and also of his provision for Fulani converts who need a safe place after embracing Jesus Christ.
So to spot him at the Eucharist, and, happily, next to an empty chair, put me in the presence of piety, humility, faith, and sweet friendship. And that was the end of conference intimidation.
All I want is a bed!
Somehow four hours passed between a very soft landing in Entebbe and laying down my head.
My traveling companion found his bag was back in Schiphol, so that required red tape. The hotel needed a reminder to pick us up. Then came the conversation with reception at the hotel.
This is the Imperial Beach Resort Hotel on Lake Victoria, one of three and all in a row. For this conference there were 400 bishops and nearly as many hangers on. Many rooms taken, but I had sent in my money and was assured of a reservation.
That's not what the clerk told me, but he arranged for us to go to hotel number 3 where we would have a room. He said that hesitatingly. There at reception at #3 I was told to wait. This was after 30 hours of travel. Wait? All I wanted was a bed.
Instead I was called to the phone to speak to the conference coordinator who wasn't sure I was registered after all. In spite of e-mail confirmation.
With expressions of regret I was told I had a room - with two beds, one for that other guy sitting at a nearby chair.
They were embarrassed, I was thrilled. I had a bed in a room with a shower and a pillow. And my roommate's 13 year-old daughter had sent him with chocolate chip cookies. They were wonderful.
My traveling companion found his bag was back in Schiphol, so that required red tape. The hotel needed a reminder to pick us up. Then came the conversation with reception at the hotel.
This is the Imperial Beach Resort Hotel on Lake Victoria, one of three and all in a row. For this conference there were 400 bishops and nearly as many hangers on. Many rooms taken, but I had sent in my money and was assured of a reservation.
That's not what the clerk told me, but he arranged for us to go to hotel number 3 where we would have a room. He said that hesitatingly. There at reception at #3 I was told to wait. This was after 30 hours of travel. Wait? All I wanted was a bed.
Instead I was called to the phone to speak to the conference coordinator who wasn't sure I was registered after all. In spite of e-mail confirmation.
With expressions of regret I was told I had a room - with two beds, one for that other guy sitting at a nearby chair.
They were embarrassed, I was thrilled. I had a bed in a room with a shower and a pillow. And my roommate's 13 year-old daughter had sent him with chocolate chip cookies. They were wonderful.
The Wonders of Schiphol Airport
What better place to kill three hours before the flight to Entebbe, Uganda, than Schiphol Airport! Where else can you find an exhibit of Ruysdael 50 yards from a casino?
Yes, there I was with nothing to do but wander and wonder. The only thing kind of scuzzy is the men's rooms, but why hang out there when there are places to see and things to buy?
Yes, the Amsterdam Museum has a gallery there. Some fine Ruysdael and others for leisurely viewing. That’s upstairs. On the ground floor is the museum shop. Yes, I bought. A fine DVD on Van Gogh, and some cards to go along. Well, it was our 42nd anniversary, which I spent in the air. The least I could do for my art history major and artist wife.
Just behind the museum shop is the casino, for which one must show the boarding pass. Smoking was allowed and it looked dark and dingy inside. On to more things to see. The diamond store with large glittering stones. Holland tulips, which were wooden – always in season. Every new electronic gadget on the market. My only purchase was chervil seeds, a frequent ingredient in Julia Child but missing from US grocery stores.
I even had time for an omelet, certainly my last for some time. I spotted the kiosk where I will buy the red bottle of mineral water for my return trip . A deep rouge red and strong plastic, which I will carry on the door of our car as a reminder of one of our favorite places to hang out. \
Next time I hope it will be with Constance, and I won’t have to buy anything at all.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I'm leaving!
It's migration time for the warblers, with or without bands. And it's travel time for me again. This time I am heading east and south - to Uganda and then to Nigeria. A five week trip, this one is, the longest one I've ever done without Constance.
The first event, beginning August 24th (our anniversary - how bad is that for timing?) is the meeting of all the Anglican bishops of Africa. I'm going to represent Anglican Frontier Missions and brazenly lobby for these men to expand their mission vision.
They do vigorous and sacrificial evangelism and church planting in their dioceses, but that leaves out 400 million Muslims and 100 million followers of African Traditional Religions. I'll have more to say about that to the bishops.
At the other end of the trip is the 20th anniversary of my diocese, the Diocese of Makurdi, in Nigeria. The bishop, the Rt. Rev. N. N. Inyom, asked me to be there for this event. He will have lots of assignments for me in Nigeria for my four weeks there.
That's the outline. More to come about the trip before I leave. Then the occasional posting as time moves on. Amsterdam airport, Lake Victoria, yet another AFM booth, 4:00 AM Ethiopian Air to Nigeria, Fulani nomads, and a cathedral in Makurdi that keeps growing by moving the back wall as more people keep joining.
The first event, beginning August 24th (our anniversary - how bad is that for timing?) is the meeting of all the Anglican bishops of Africa. I'm going to represent Anglican Frontier Missions and brazenly lobby for these men to expand their mission vision.
They do vigorous and sacrificial evangelism and church planting in their dioceses, but that leaves out 400 million Muslims and 100 million followers of African Traditional Religions. I'll have more to say about that to the bishops.
At the other end of the trip is the 20th anniversary of my diocese, the Diocese of Makurdi, in Nigeria. The bishop, the Rt. Rev. N. N. Inyom, asked me to be there for this event. He will have lots of assignments for me in Nigeria for my four weeks there.
That's the outline. More to come about the trip before I leave. Then the occasional posting as time moves on. Amsterdam airport, Lake Victoria, yet another AFM booth, 4:00 AM Ethiopian Air to Nigeria, Fulani nomads, and a cathedral in Makurdi that keeps growing by moving the back wall as more people keep joining.
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