The Critical Last Two Feet!

The distance is note measured in miles.

"Before missionaries go of to another country the first time, they often think of the great distance they must travel to get to their field of labor. But once they arrive on the field the greatest problem to be faced is in the last few feet. What a shock!" (The role of culture in Communication. David Hesselgrave. Perspectives 4th edition 2009, pg 427)

This is where we are weakest today even in the western church; the last two feet.
Understanding people, building relationships with people. We have so much "Stuff" in our life that it blocks out community. I mean community as Africans understand community. Community is more than an hour on Sunday.

I want a simple life, with simple things, with less gadgets to distract me from community. I want time for people, not things, not even for "myself". After nine years here, I am seeing the "last two feet" just never got bridged. This is suppose to be my "home" because it's where I grew up. But it is not home! There's this two feet I just can't cross. Another town would not change anything.

I looked at my wife the other day and asked here, "Do you want to do this for another 9 years?"
I think she almost cried. I said, "If we wait for another 9 years we will be 51 years old!"
Then what? Too old and we will just be resigned to doing this for the rest of our life.

My wife was sad yesterday for the first time in a long time. I just stayed out of her way. We went for a walk, but she never said much. But the words hit home when they came. "I'm missing Africa so much." The rest of her few words were about the uncovered "last few feet".

We connect better with Africans than our tribe now. We are always thinking about the world, particularly north Africa. In West Prince we consist of this huge homogeneous unit. Everything is the same, sounds the same, looks the same, builds the same, does the same, talks the same, eats the same, has conversations about the same, musics the same, Churches the same, and THINKS the same . SAME, SAMe, SAme, Same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same ........................!

Install irrigation in Africa on my vacation, Home-schooling, planting churches, language learning (on my 4th); man our life shakes up the "sameness" so much people will not let us cross the last "two feet".

A few months back we were in the poorer part of Halifax and stopped at a Subway. No common "White staff". Lots of people coming in and out. We saw Asians, Black Africans, Arabs, Lebanese, Chinese Indian, and Filipino people coming and going. Only saw one other "White Maritime Native" the whole time we where there. It was so refreshing.

Lynn and I had a glow. It was so refreshing to see the rich diversity in language and culture. We felt at home. We were use to 4 or 5 languages going any time in Africa. On the front lawn in Africa, our kids would play with kids in 4 different languages.

It was so refreshing that we ate our Sub's very slowly, and just sat there basking in the "feel" of it all. We relished it so much we didn't want to leave! Did not want to come back to PEI, at all. I wanted to run up and hug every back African I saw and just talk. Anyone want to hire us for international ministry in Halifax? :-)

I think I'm/we are coming to a resolution. Not another nine years! Not another nine trying to cross that two feet. That "last two foot" gap, here, is much larger than the 3800 km gap that separate us from Africa. Every time we go back the last two feet closes easy.

Watch for it! A new tribe, a new village, a new people, a new language, and a new start for us. Sorry, we tried here, but home is not home anymore. We will not be missed! How can one possibly miss anyone where community is so disjointed anyway? That does not bother me!

There is a βασιλεία (basileia) that requires our serious attention, sacrifice, and attention.
I'll not pretend that being here was good stewardship of our time. It was not! A few mentors of mine keep saying that we never sow in vain, and that the word never comes back void. I get that, but why harvest an apple, when there's an orchard needing tending? Why would I pick that apple, when there is tons of natives beside me capable of doing it?

Africa On Line How I Began my Day!

I just love the tune.


More traditional Dioula music.

Very Wise Old Lady!

Here's more on the no brainier subjects of "Contemporary" worship, and
"Seeker Sensitive" Worship.

Talking about two of the most irrelevant subjects for the church today. Ask me why! But I think this lady nails it very succinctly
What is Worship? Video 1
What is Church? Video 2
Work as Worship? Video 3

Life as a "Modern" Christian

People don't become Christian because it's a joy ride, a promised cake walk.  The most widely persecuted world wide religion today (Statistics bear it out) is Christianity. More Christians have been imprisoned, killed beaten, or persecuted, in this century than all preceding put together. Western Secularists don't know and don't care, they just want us silent in the west too. Let's face it,  it's a battle of conflicting of world-views. In Christianity we refer to it as a battle between two kingdoms. The earthly city & the Heavenly city. I could share hundreds of true stores, and many more recent than these. But I stumbled across these in my files today.

DAOXING SHEN in China, 2002

"Shen, 61, was arrested in 2002 along with other South China Church leaders for starting an unregistered children's Sunday School. He may not have a Bible according to the court ruling. He was given a four-year sentence."

Dr. Rebekka, Mrs. Eti, Mrs. Ratna in Indonesia, 2005

"These three women, Dr. Rebekka , Mrs. Eti and Mrs. Ratna were arrested May 16, 2005, and charged under the Children Protection Act of 2002. Their trial began June 30th and ended September 1, 2005, when Indonesian judges sentenced the women to three years in prison plus a fine for allowing Muslim children to attend a Christian Sunday school program."

The Most Appreciated Letter Ever! Fellow Sojourners in Africa!

Lew Cass, Milton Clark Andy Rayner. All three missionaries met to discuss a crisis. Ten churches, leadership training, with more church plants on the way  All of a sudden we were faced with being in Africa alone. We were all independent missionaries who chose to work together. The team was forged on the field voluntarily. It was one of the most enjoy times of our lives. But the Clark's were heading home after a number of fruitful years. The Cass family too, because Lew had be diagnosed with cancer and his days were numbered. We were going to end up alone in months, with not a single recruit in sight to aide with the growing work. It was the last and most important decision we made together as kingdom co-workers, before we were taken apart because of unstoppable things. Lew, a veteran missionary with 47 years of experience, Milton, a six year “blossomer”, and me, a brand new green rookie,

I praise God for both of those men. Shared wisdom and a deep friendship was forged in the bush of Africa in a very short time. A bond only missionaries understand. Within that fellowship Lew, was my mission Papa who taught me more than any mission book or class ever did, to this day. Milton, my mission "brother" who encouraged more than anyone else could or knew how. The African's just shook their heads as they heard us laugh late into the night in the mud hut, in the villages. 
We decided to contact CMF (Christian Missionary Fellowship) about possible recruits, or CMF taking over the work, because we needed help. Fortunately, Gary Brock came from Kenya for CMF, and they did indeed have recruits. The process began. Lew Milton & I discussed who we would transition form an independent work to a group like CMF. As a team , even though Lew and Milton would be long gone, we decided that my family would stay on the field long enough to orient the first CMF family for one year and then move on and let CMF do their thing.

After that decision, the Clarks moved home. Lew left sick with cancer,went to be with the Lord some months later. And we worked, and waited. But I missed my 4:30 am terrace conversations with Lew & Vida three or four days a week, over mission. That was my mission school.

Finally, after 2 years, Damon and Juli Jones landed with their small kids in tow. It was so good to have them. As is often the case with missionaries in hard places, a bond formed quickly. God had, again, given us the best he had, to come and be with us in Abengourou. They were great! I often wondered how they were able to  put up with my personality, my frankness, and my “get–up-early in the morning and go go go. The Africans all called me "Chaud Chaud" Literally "Hot hot", but it literally means "a go-getter". Damon & Julie patiently listened to what we had to say. We told stories, and history, and shared what we were doing. We tried to gave them as much freedom as they wanted to find their own role and stride, and they did exceedingly well.

After six months with them we went to Canada on a 5 month furlough and when we came back I knew it was time to go. We stayed another 6 months, and as much as I wanted to stay, I was tired, and our team decision, made years before reminded me it was now CMF’s turn. Keeping to the original team, we moved on, even though we were asked to stay.  CMF, with the Joneses leading, did great work in Ivory Coast ever since with as many as 5 new mission families at one point. It was answered prayer to have the Jones and CMF come. They did what we independents were not able to do swiftly enough - Bring needed missionaries.  

Graciously, the Jones invited me back in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2009. That first trip back literally saved my sanity, because I had been missing Africa so deeply. Few know how many tears were shed in those early days back home, because hom,e was no longer home, and it never will be again.

Now the Jones are “home”, after ten years in Africa, only to find that they too, are just not feeling so “Home” in the US anymore.  It’s been hard for them too. It's just begun for them; they have a long road to adjusting yet!

From their new home in the US, the Jones sent us a package this week with some old memories. For you, the articles would seem very insignificant. But for us, it brought back a flood of memories, and oh so many tears. The package and letter meant A LOT! Word's do not express how encouraged we were. We want to share it with everyone, to say "thank you" to the Jones too!

We are so glad God intersected our lives in Africa. Africa forms deep bonds does it not? Many various people over many years,. but it seems like we are forever connected to them somehow, and the memories seem to stay so vivid- like in "African Colors"? Missionaries know what I mean, and we can't explain it! Maybe, just maybe, someday, somehow, somewhere, in some way, God might open a door for us to connect in our "only home" before we "go home" for good! If not, we both know we will end up meandering to the Africa side of Heaven anyway! See you there, if nothing else!

Here is the letter    October 23, 2009

Dear Andy Lynn & Boys

Hello from down under. Well from Missouri anyway. A good distance from PEI any way you look at it.
This box of things has several reasons for being sent your way. The 3-in 1 (Coffee) they speak for themselves. (The Red Nescafe on this photo) There was a shortage while you visited, but right before our departure they opened the flood gates. Here is a few to start your day, or end it.
A few memento’s are from Lew & Vida’s time on the field and I thought you or Vida might like to have them.….

(My Note on the Picture- This village medical box was given to me by Lew & Vida. When I left I handed it on to Damon, who used it for 10 years in the village every weekend too.   It was filled basic medicines needed for survival  in the bush. It was used to heal my myself to help others in need. You can see the White paper in the plastic bag (top) – That is the original “Piere Noir” “Black Rock” I put in the box. It is used by Africans as a traditional cure for a snake bite. The "three in one" Nescafe : Are little coffee packets with the coffee, sugar and powered milk, all in one. Just heat water and add. We drank thousands of these over the years in the village in the mornings & Afternoons. Damon's  first trip to a village with me (Adjame), saw us stopping about half way there. We  stopped in the bush at a rubber tree plantation for a rest. We  put up hammocks, heated water over a little burner and made coffee under the rubber tree’s and rested a bit  as we reviewed our lessons.)

 Juli and I want to give Lynn the pagne pouch as a souvenir, and you this fine key chain (Which we actually had carved in ebony over in Kenya Mambassa actually).










The packing list (See Picture) from the village box has a story. When we arrived in 1999 and I began tagging along to the villages, Lynn made this list for me to use as a double-checker. I put it in my action packer (We call it a "village box") and never took it out. In fact, I used it EVERY SINGLE TIME I went anywhere. 10 Plus years, weekend after weekend it helped me. I’m finished with it now, and want to thank you both.
In fact, that’s the real reason for writing. When we arrived as green as spring saplings we could not have known how important everything you were telling us and showing us really was. As soon as you left for furlough, six months later, we felt strangely alone, but able to stand on our own feet THANKS TO YOU and the fine job you did orienting us.
In fact, I’ve thought about it over the years and told many, many people that thanks to our Canadian mentors we enjoyed a really good, enjoyable and positive introduction to life on the mission field.
I found myself passing on to others yours & Lynn’s words of wisdom to our new folks. And I used many of our conversations, stories and examples from you, Milton, & Lew to filter my own experiences and situations RIGHT UP to the very end. In other words, I NEVER DID Figure out what I was doing!
Just kidding!

I am only trying to tell you both thanks for all you did for us, for pouring your energy & hopes into a couple of newcomers. Plus we really missed you many times over the years – usually when we were muddling through some ridiculous mess somebody (American or Ivorian) had stirred up by their stubbornness or stupidity – and realized, “Wouldn’t it be funny to hear what Andy had to say about that!”. You, Mike Mawdsley, either or both of you would sure have livened up some of our boring CMF Meetings.
This is rambling on. But we hope you know we appreciate you. If we had the chance to do it all over again. We certainly would, only we’d make it last longer.
The Lord Bless you all. Will stay in touch, and keep you in our prayers.
Love Damon Julie & Kidz
 

The Box also contained:

Lew Cass's Gospel of John in Rwanda & French

The Inside of the cover Says:

"Lew Cass Rwanda 1984"

That is exact 10 years before the Genocide of 800,000 Killed

Also in the box:
Lew Cass's Greek NT:  Published in 1964. This has probably been with the Cass's from Brazil to Indonesia, Kenya, Portugal, Ivory Coast, and I am not certain where else, but I'm missing a place or two.

In the Box was A Key the Casses Left  in their "Africa House."

The tag says  "Key to Vida's heart"
We assume Vida gave it to Lew at some point in Ivory Coast.
 Lynn thinks it would make a sweet necklace with fond memories.



 I'll be giving these to Vida Cass (Lew's wife) tomorrow. Vida, is another one with whom we share a deep, unspeakable bond in the "fellowship of mission."We never forget what Lew & Vida did to put two greenhorn missionaries on there feet, pointed in the right direction. 




Damon & Julie -
Thanks for the good memories your stirred up with the package!

Kids- Arrows in our Quiver Or an Arrow in our Heart?

Arrows in our Quiver - Or an Arrow in the Heart?

"Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep." Psalms 127:3 - 5 (TMSG)

I'm not one of those who think every couple has a duty to "have kids". But I can not accept that babies are aborted as a form of "birth control" because of a failed condom, or an "ahemn" failure to withdraw on time, or I don't have time for this because of my career. Children precious children; and the Christians in our churches in this province says nothing, and do nothing, ever. We will not count the cost for Physical life, and we wonder why we will not do it for invisible spiritual life! 

Go ahead and snort and huff! What is it about our society that it causes some to feel so hopeless that they see abortion as the only choice left?
An arrow is IN my heart today.

An Exert of a Message below. Or the link to the full 32 min version here.

The Baby Leaped for Joy in My Womb. John Piper January 2009

Teens Say Our Culture Has Low Expectaions of Them. A Message From Your Teens

Teens Want to Be Intellectually Challenged at a Worldview level.

When it comes to loosing kids to secular philosophy (see the "Western Discipleship" article a few down) its because most churches and parents never challenge the kids worldview. They go to university having never been taught how Christ fits into all this secular stuff they are learning. Can we real this fish back in? We better because kids will not come back to church until we do. They are demanding that we answer how Christ is relevant to every day life of science, ethic, politics, family dynamic, biology, search for truth, economics, psychology. The universities happily does an excellent Job of Deconstructing Jesus Christ thus showing how church has not place in any these departments.

"Confront Them with, rather than isolate them from, the major cultural battles of our day. Challenging students to love God fully by thinking deeply, discerningly and truthfully about His word and His world is foundational to what a truly Christian education is. Any other educational means and methods that do not include this as a goal cannot, in my opinion, really be considered Christian education (even if there is a plethora of rules,Bible references and verses to memorize.) (Helping Students "Get it": John Stonestreet. Mission frontiers, Setp-Oct 2009, pg43)

Teens Want The Opportunity to Do Hard Things That Give God Glory

But Teens, you need to stop waiting for Adults to provide it FOR You. Use your mind, and will for God's glory and stand up yourself, you can do this!


Here is a book every Teen should read. "Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations" They tell YOU to stand up and MAKE opportunities. Written by to Twin teens, home-schooled interestingly, who did hard thing for the kingdom in their teen years. Incidentally, Both were hired by a US Senator, flown to a different state, to run his campaign for him, at 19 years of age. WHAT?

They call their fellow teens to rise up and do something significant for Christ. Throw off the low expectations Adults have for them, and so something for Jesus in their Teen years. Buy a box Amazon for the Youth Group. Get the kids to work through it and discuss it and listen to your kids reaction to it. Anyone engaging youth please read it.

How Low is the Bar Now?

We went from this - My mother and her sisters were helping their father manage a farm by driving tractors, plowing fields and planting acres of fields at 12-15 years of age with no one standing over them. My brother and I were commercial fishing at 9 years old. Preaching at 14, because some adults saw what kids can do., if given opportunity or exposed to the expectation that youth can contribute, should contribute, to the kingdom. We have a church full of saved high school teens who could be preaching regularly, and leading Sunday School Classes.  Instead of just attending youth group, slumped in a chair, actually Leading youth groups for their lost teens friends. I know teens making a difference. They never learn more than when sharing and teaching themselves.

More than Pizza Music & Video Games:

"It is foolish to expect students to take Christianity and the world seriously if all they have been exposed to at youth group is games, pizza, and mindless mini-therapy lessons that may or may no come form the scriptures. The church should be the place where we no longer believe (and students no longer experience) the myth of adolescence."  (Helping Students "Get it": John Stonestreet. Mission frontiers, Setp-Oct 2009, pg41)

 Myth? Yes did you know that this view of "The troubled Teen years" is for the most part a western philosophy & phenomena, that is relatively unknown in the majority world cultures of the south, and East? Sure kids slip up, but contribute much in most other cultures. It's worth doing more research on this subject.

A Flawed Theology of Non-Service:

If teens can be "Genuinly" saved, they must genuinly serve then. In fact, we are saved FROM sin, FOR works of Service, says Ephesians 2:10. Unfortunately, we have communicated to people (especially Teens) that we can be saved without wanting to serve. People now feel they can  "Receive the Mercy", without feeling any sense that they have "Accepted the Mission" that goes with it. That is not able to be -biblically for anyone, let alone teens. So not expecting teens to serve the kingdom is simply theologically corrupt. We give the impression  that kids  are too young to do anything significant for Christ. "Leave them alone, they are just kids". This does not a biblical thought, but rather, from modern secular western philosophy. Teens crave something of significance, and some want to break out of the coddling pattern.

In fact, research done by the EFC (Evangelical Fellowship of Canada) shows that Kids and young adults want church to be "Intellectually" challenging, and find it is not. Here is what enevitably happnes repeatedy, to any of us who want to stretch kids intellectually with a biblical Worldview; When we begin to get them thinking deeply, they have never complained to me or their parents.  But when their parents or Granparents hear what we are doing, they complain. It often comes form other "Coddling Metality"  youth workers who start saying things like - "This is over their heads -It's way to much, this is university stuff". I sat at a dinner table just yesterday with a Minister Couple who are teaching their kids Lee Strobels "Case for Faith&Christ", ABC's of basic teen Spiritual survival in western contexts today.  The kids are not complaining and infact are sharing and talking more than ever. However, another youth aid thinks its over their heads,  it's to deep. "I am even having troubble understanding this stuff"  she told my friends. The same happned to us in one of our churches. We were teaching Jr & Sr high kids "How to think like a Zhristain" A Christain worldview study seeking to show how faith is to permeat every part of our own world view.We were teaching them analyze and then apply a biblical worldview to secular philosophies accoring to the scriptures. My wife was raked over the coals big time for this one. In both examples the complaints are a product of an adult with this secular Coddling mentality, and it only seems normal to them that the church should be "Spiritually coddling" too. The kids never complianed even once. The Adults do. Thus the above book's premise - Adults are setting the bar to low for us. So let`s raise it up for oursleves teens.  

Here is Ralph D Winters (US Center For World Mission) introduction to the concepts of "Do Hard Things" Worth a listen.

People Still Exiting church for Another Kind of Church?

Interesting. House Church is not about people "Blowing Off Church".
For more video's on this subject check out my Blog Homes 4 Him  wwww.homes4him.blogspot.com

Amazing Program to Save Money! We tired it, and it works :-)

Quebec - Evangelical Uncharted Waters!

Fellow West African Missionaries brought Quebec up in my mind today. I wrote this article 3 years ago, so it's long since buried. However, I wanted to bring it back to the front again. It is truly an exciting opportunity, right here in Canada. What is more the immigrant populations from French west Africa, and French Haiti are huge. Over 50 Haitian churches, all 300 plus in size. Eight new French Haitian churches applied to join the "Disciples of Christ" in 2003. I was called by the disciples and asked to participate in the dialogue process. Unfortunately I decided not to go, as it was going to be a bit more than I could afford at the time. I regret that today. I should have participated as I would have learned much about unity, diversity, and the multicultural dynamics of church planting in Quebec. here is the original article again. Be praying!

Quebec has a population of about 7 million, 5 million of whom are French speakers. Quebec is a unique Province of Canada- as you will see!
Here are some stats that give insight into value change that took place during the Cultural Revolution in Quebec over the last 40 years.

1) 80% of all new relationships in Quebec are common law cohabitation. (Vanier institute)

2) Almost 30% of all Pregnancies end in Abortion in Quebec http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/poli...canada-QC.html

3) 95% claim to be Catholic, but less than 9% are practicing. Among the lowest practicing rates for Catholics in the world. One Bishop stated that in some metropolitan areas it's less than 1%.

4) Evangelicals comprise .7% of the French population. Notice the decimal in there.

5) A woman keeps her maiden name when married in Quebec. This is the default legal standard. It costs big bucks to buck the system (around $2500 if I recall correctly) if she wishes to take her husbands name. Saves expensive paper work for when they divorce, they say. That's optimistic eh? But I do get it.

6) Average Divorce rate in Canada is 35% - It is over 47% in Quebec. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/04/divorce040504.html

7) Low Birth Rates see Quebec offering Child Birth Incentives. 1st Child $500, 2nd Child $1000,3rd and all subsequent children $7500. http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/mar/03031702
Quebec's percentage of the Canadian population has gone from 34% at Confederation to it current 24% today, with a projection that it will drop to 19% by 2050. Embassies staffed by Francophones, heavily promote immigration to Quebec in former French colonies

During their silent revolution of the last 40 years, French Quebec threw off the values of Catholic faith & schools, And this has served to position Quebec as one of the most thoroughly postmodern and relativistic people in the western hemisphere, and possibly the world. Quebec rivals European values of permissiveness. Most English speaking Canadians are not aware of the drastic change that has taken place in Quebec, as it is an "Insider movement".

The Church in Quebec knows it has a huge task ahead of it. However, the Church outside of Quebec has it's head in the sand. Quebec, by evangelical standards is an "Unreached People Group" for our movement. They may have more "opportunity" to hear the gospel, but a high percentage of them chose not to practice or participate in church.

What will the church have to be to become, look like, feel like, to be a viable choice for fostering faith in Christ in Quebec? We have much to pray for in Quebec. I wonder what all these stats look like, feel like, for the average child, young woman, or young man who experiences them in real life? What do they think these stats mean for them, in bed at night?

I still have Quebec in my heart. How about you? "Vivre La Quebec Libre en Jesus!"

Andy