Page 256 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

A History of the Church in Africa

me to write openly and frankly in the conclusion of this book. God has
brought the Pentecostal movement in Africa to this significant moment
in history. The God of all people sees Africa as a powerful force in the
final harvest. Missionary colleague Ruben Kachala from Malawi stated
this truth eloquently when he delivered a message at the Assemblies of
God Pan-African Missions Conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso:

God is willing to use poor people to proclaim the gospel. We have
studied war too long; we have studied famines, sickness, AIDS,
slavery, and colonialism too long. You may look like a leper sitting by
the gate before the World Bank, but the harvest will not be complete
until you are on board, Africa! There is worldwide hunger for the
gospel. God can use the poorest; Burkina Faso with its limited
economy can do missions. Africa can graduate from the school of
misfortune to do missions. Poor Africans are anointed. I have no
bank account to take me back home. Hunger has trained me to live
without food. War has taught me to have strong muscles. I know how
to live in the dust, to be poor is normal. Rise up Africa! God is trusting
you! When Africa develops missionary ambition accompanied with
action, God will intervene. The gospel will be preached and disciples
will be made of all nations. (November, 2005)

From my viewpoint as a Mzee Mjomba (older Uncle), I close with the
following admonitions:

1. Keep the main thing the main thing! The lostness of man and
the uniqueness of Christ must be the foundation for our sense
of urgency. People will be lost for eternity unless we give them
an adequate witness of Jesus Christ! Evangelism, missions, and
church planting must be priority number one.

2. The church started on the Day of Pentecost and the church of
the twenty-first century must end the same way. It is revival
or ruin! We must remain Pentecostal! Every church must plan
for every believer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Acts in
Africa Initiative, which has called the church to intercession and
Spirit-empowered mission, is ordained of God. By experience,
we know that building a world vision takes commitment.

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