"Building a church on the back of a camel"

That is a quote from Malcolm Hunter, the dean of all missionaries who work with nomads. The way he tells it, he was talking with a nomad about Christ and about the church. The nomad was a bit puzzled by the idea of a church and finally taught Hunter that lesson: We will have a church when you can build one on the back of a camel.

Well, the Fulani don't have camels, but they do have cows. And there is a way - a way to build a church for the Fulani nomads.

My friend who is doing his dissertation on the Fulani explained it this way. The key is a simple one. No, not finding the right architect, not a modern construction material, as a matter of fact, not a building at all.

The key, he explained, is to find a Christian who will live among the Fulani long enough to gain their trust, know their language, and become familiar with their ways. Then this Christian disciples a couple of Fulani men, who take their new learning and new faith on the trail. They return and are met by the Christian who further disciples them. Over time a church will be built. No lumber, no permits, no altar, but a living church of Jesus Christ among the herders and their families.

Hmmm. This pushes us back to the essence of church, does it not? Maybe these backward, criss-crossing, cow-loving, unsophisticated nomads have profound lessons for those of us who need REI equipment and a building.