Raymond was seriously ill the last time I saw him. He was coughing and very weak. His face was pale and all that was left of his body was skin. All that was left of him was a thick skin and the willingness to live. I think his stubborn nature contributed to his quicker departure. Had he only stayed in the hospital… .

I will live to remember him as the guy who always made fun of me because of not being able to speak any South African native languages. It used to boggle his mind! Every Tuesday when we met, he would always say to me “you must be pretending that you don’t know Xhosa neh!” And that would be the ice-breaker for the day.

We would sit and chat and yes he had lots of questions. And among the frequent things we talked about, we would almost always come to the question of when he would give his life to Jesus. “I want to, but I am working on myself first” he would usually say. It seems to me that Raymond had a fear of God and didn’t want to just make a casual commitment.

I am typing this and I am thinking of how many covenants I have broken with heavenly Dad. I am astonished by my own inadequacies to keep my promises. I am reminded of how I never want to make promises to people if I may not keep them. How then is it that I rush to tell God that I will now not disappoint him in this area, but not days pass and I am back on the sin again?

How will death find me and how ready am I to meet Father?

Just a couple of days ago, I was confronted with this issue and about God leading me to hard-to-reach places where if I go I may have 50/50 chances of coming back home. And the question is how is my pursuit of purity running?

We put Raymond to rest this afternoon and it was a reminder for me that one day I will pass away. On that day what will matter is not how people will remember me, but whether I lived the purpose and according to Father’s will for my life.

He paused for a little while and asked the most profound question on record, “Why woe to the rich?” Devin was perplexed by the fact there is little for the rich man in heaven. He is one of the privileged few kids at the Global Leadership Academy where I meet him and five other boys on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We have been studying Luke and last Thursday we were on Luke 6. Part of the passage reads:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20 NIV

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Luke 6:24 NIV

The greatest moment that I have had so far with the boys was this time around when they all kind of realized how matters of God pertain to their lives and how serious the Word is. I could not foresee a day such as this coming sooner than later. On top of that, I have received good feedback from their teacher a few times at our house-church.

I actually should let you know that our house-church is receiving great revelations from the Word and we are being led to share it on the streets of Jeffreys Bay. We have met homeless people thus far and engaged in singing songs of praise to the King who was slain (for all of us). We can not afford to leave anyone out. It’s astonishing to observe how hungry people on the streets are for the Word of God. And yet we are there – indoors cherishing selfishly on the precious gift – out of site from those who need it just as much as we do. When will we ponder on the great commission and it’s fundamentals?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isa 58:6-7 NIV

Time and again, I find myself with lots of questions on spirituality and just life itself. You know those moments when you strongly feel “I need to fast… I need to fast” and boom! God’s got you! He throws you a passage you’ve never taken literally and He challenges you to live it out. You want to fast from food and yet your fridge is full of goodies preserved and to be consumed at the break. Meanwhile, there are so many souls without even a hand to hold a penny. See how privileged we are? Think about it. You have hands that hold your bucks. Someone has neither hand nor money.

Do I get it now? Does it mean that whenever I want to fast from food and drink I have to first of all look around? Or does it mean that I have to be constantly in touch with the needs of those without? Where is the place of consistence in my walk with the Lord? And what is my definition of “someone without?” Then I slowly begin to realize that it is people in distress. It is people with issues spiritual, physical, emotional and even mental; People under generational curses; somebody without food and shelter; a child from a broken home; that kid not mentally at par with the rest; people in bondage. It doesn’t end there. It extends to those without goals in life… .  Anybody for that matter who requires healing of any sort.

I think we all need healing somehow. Otherwise, Jesus would not have bothered to come.

For that reason, it is fair to take ample time to pray and plan for our God-given ministries. We, at LXP, have been changing a few things to our leadership and discipleship training curriculum for the past months. We are now closing in and are excited to begin our programme. On June 1 2011, we will officially open with prospective students coming from Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, Swaziland and South Africa. I am looking forward with great expectations. This will be a year like no other! The nations will be blessed through God’s chosen ones. May favour be upon us all who have been called to spread His infectious love.

Whenever I think about the students of LXP I am filled with wonder of how great it is to impart knowledge, skills and God’s spirit unto those who have accepted him and are willing to serve for His glory. May our needs be met as we meet the needs of others.

So, let’s go sailing and be not afraid of storms, for it is God who has sent us.

Have you ever looked at a child with intent to see what is inside him? What about that moment you went passed by that little depraved poor child on the busy street that got you to think “what happened to that poor soul?” Or did you, like many others do, just swore never to use that route ever again because you got scared or did you, maybe, actually cuss at the child?

In this fast paced world that is getting ever busier, we are prone too many times to either question ourselves or circumstances, but we never pay attention to the answers that unravel.

After seeing so many children around Africa deprived of their basic needs for shelter, education, food and health care, I battled with the question of how and where I could help. More than 15% of children in famine-stricken Niger are suffering from acute malnutrition. In Ethiopia, children line up, if not fight, for tourists’ attention to raise a dime for their school books and pens. Precious children in rural Kenya are braving rains, run through sticky mud to school where they sit on dirty floors – where they sit on dirty floors as their teachers sketch on a simulation of a blackboard. I bemoan the situation in most underprivileged South African schools where law is in the hands of pupils. The students can do what they want, when they want. I think of that Zimbabwean child who eagerly cries to go the education standards and levels his parents attained, but the corridors of hope are blocked by government’s lack of sanity. The picture from home (Zambia) is vividly grim. With most families fending on less than a dollar a day, how much should we expect for their children?

Would it be correct to say there is no people-centered (as opposed to selfish ambitions), God-fearing leadership in Africa? And is there any hope for this indescribable continent?

The past four years have seen me get trained and serve under All Nations’ CPX, Global Challenge Expeditions (GCEX) and of course the very place God has led me back to – the Leadership Experience (LXP).

I have been empowered to equip and build African leaders who will run and not get tired with integrity, transparency and hearts after God’s own. Leaders with an attitude to serve others: the friends, families, communities, churches and wherever God calls them with selfless desires. God has called me back to LXP to continue carrying the banner of positive influence, and a message of leadership transformation, and redemption for the people of Africa – for the sake of the Child of Africa.

We are free to change the world; we are free to change Africa; I am equipped to build and lead others.

Right before I came back to South Africa two weeks ago, I was privileged to visit my American friend, Brandon, serving in Swaziland who gave me the opportunity to minister to his African ministry partners. While there, I realized how much need for leadership development there is in Africa. It’s plain to see.

At this moment, God’s call for me is very clear: To reach out to the unseen; to those who haven’t heard – through provision of leadership skills and Godly character formation to the young-African potential leaders and stir a passion in them to value and love the Child of Africa; with a love that prompts labour; with hope that inspires passion; and a faith that produces fruit.

On the last note: I will be with LXP for the rest of this year and God willing, for the next few years to come. And sorry, I have not yet replaced my camera. So, no photos until later:)

In Him,

Cornie

Ethiopia

With the church in Ethiopia lifting it’s hands to the Lord, there is surely revival going on in the cradle of mankind.

“Psa 68:31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.”

Masses in Ethiopia go to church and are devout. However, it’s the same old obstacle of people bowing before statues and kissing shrines. Religion infiltrates the land of Queen Sheba. Praise the Lord there are new churches in Addis Ababa bringing back the true forms of worship! I am not being judgemental. I am merely stating the facts on the ground. I think we all need to seek the truth and nothing but it.

Kenya

Kenya was filled with work. We came alongside the Partners for Care an organisation based in Nairobi fighting HIV and AIDS and supporting others in child care. We helped them in various ways. Our team spent time serving in the garden; taking the orphaned kids to the clinic, bathing them and playing with them; sorting out medicine into boxes preparing for the forthcoming medical clinic which the Organisation holds frequently; and visiting People Living With AIDS in one of the slums called Mathare.

Before we set out for Tanzania, the team travelled to another town called Nakuru where we taught in Classrooms. I got to teach basic computer skills from fifth up to seventh grades. I was glad to also spend time with some members of staff encouraging them to keep doing the good works of looking after orphans and other vulnerable children. They have have saved and serve them from drugs, prostitution, illiteracy, teenage pregnancy, you name it. These guys are at it working hard 24/7 and all I could do was offer a listening ear and prayers. Take some time and pray for the staff at New Life Africa International for their unfailing love for the children they protect through God’s love. If you are a parent, you know what a daunting task it is to look after one child. What more of several under your care who are not even your biological?

Tanzania

In Mwanza, Tanzania, our visit wasn’t long. However, God used us there as well. During the three days we visited one school and had discussions with pupils on the dangers of HIV and AIDS. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest HIV incidence and prevalence in the world. Young people need to be reminded about the benefits of chastity and abstinence at every given opportunity. So I got to do just that. Infact, this was the third time I shared on life skills and abstinence among youth in East Africa. What a privilege to be an ambassador in the struggle against AIDS in Africa. The other times I talked about this was in Addis Ababa and Nakuru. The topic just pops up almost everywhere. We must fight and win the battle against HIV and AIDS. We have had enough of it.

Rwanda

Let me take you to Rwanda now. I’m almost sure the first thing that pops up in your mind is the genocide. Well, you are not alone. You share the same thoughts that I had before I went there. Worse still when I just got there.

Crossing the border from Tanzania into Rwanda, I was filled with lots of misinformation. Initially, I was expecting to meet people of great grief evidently inscribed with frowns of distrust and despair on several faces. Of course I was absolutely wrong! Secondly, I thought I would easily spot Hutus from Tutsis. Boy some Tutsis look like Hutus and vice versa. Actually, it’s very inappropriate to distinguish people or even talk about differences. So I tried all the time to keep my mouth shut.

And in Kigali we reached. Stepping into that house got me petrified. I felt as though I had once lived there during the genocide. My skin moved every time I opened a new door in the house. I could hear women screaming. I could see children hiding in the bathroom and toilet. I could see dads shutter at the sound of the Interhamwe Militia approaching. I could see the blood running in the tub. I could feel the tremor of someone being forcibly dragged outside the house for eminent murder.

The one day I was was walking to town and saw from a distance smoke arising. Immediately I smelt the stench of people getting burnt. I could see children and women fleeing in numbers. I could feel the rush. I was traumatised. Was the Lord showing me something?

If I could feel the way I did, how about those that actually went through the civil war? How about those whose children, parents and siblings were slaughtered in broad day light? It must be impossible to go on with life after your loved ones are gone especially through brutish means. Those with energy would easily turn belligerent and ballistic. But NOT with the majority of Rwandese.

I have been telling people that if you want to know what transformation means and if it is possible, go to Rwanda.

There is healing in the land which was once an empty nation when all it’s inhabitants fled into neighbouring countries. There is greater than hope there. God is raising up servant leaders in Universities and colleges through Student fellowships countrywide. There is an army of youngsters spreading the Word, activating and stimulating further healing and restoration in the land of a Thousand Hills. I am optimistic that history shall not repeat itself in Rwanda. We will hold on to that promise for those of us who believe because there is discipleship happening.

Would you not be grateful to have a part to play in all these wonderful miraculous transforming roles? Well, you have because you have been praying for me while I represented. I am so thankful to have been a source of encouragement to those working on the ground and also for providing incite for the future and present leaders. I am glad we could impart some leadership skills in those that needed it. But most of all, praise be to the Almighty for His unfailing love and fulfilled promises.

“Mal 4:2 But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun’s rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.”

“Jer 33:6 But I will heal this city and its people and restore them to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.”

Uganda

We were in Uganda for 35 days doing what the Lord wanted us to do and went wherever He led us to. Our first ministry point was in the capital Kampala with Watoto Church. This is a big ministry rescuing children and raising them up in leadership. They have a Baby house called Bulrushes which receives abandoned or neglected children from age zero. Meaning even premature babies. My team served there mopping floors, washing baby-chairs and of course babysitting.

One of our visits to one of the villages where older children live was tiring when we played soccer and many other games. Children need to be shown love and that they are cared for. That is what we did. We communicated love, indeed, without boundaries. We are following Jesus’ ways. He would not deny them His attention. I don’t think so.

It’s like the Lord has been up to showing me that transformation is really possible. I have been teaching transformational leadership for the past five years. This is the year when He has said go and see and come back with good news of restoration and how I AM is. Northern Uganda was ravaged by civil war for over 25 years. Only two years ago did the LRA rebels flee into the DR Congo and Central African Republic after the Ugandan Government intensified their fight against these child-abducting, mutilating psychopaths.

So we visited Gulu a town near Southern Sudan. Over there, God is doing amazing works through His servants. One of them are our friends from the Sports Outreach Ministry training locals in sustainable development and domestic food security. Our mandate there involved leadership training and teamwork basics. I got to preach the Word on a Sunday and everyone of us got to lead devotion. Someday I helped with ferrying desks to their new school and transported sand and crushed stones for building extensions.

After Gulu, we got back to Kampala where we went to help out another dear friend called Raphael. The kids who comprise his soccer team enjoyed our match and fellowship which saw me into teaching on respect for elders and having the fear of God by having a sound relationship with Christ while they are still young. Raphael took us to various ministry points including high schools and a college. Every other time we taught on different topics ranging from integrity in day-to-day life to sexuality, but all relating to the love of God and the building of His Body.

Our last leg in Uganda was in Tororo which is a town almost bordering Kenya. We linked up with the Heart For Children. This is a reputable organisation involved with orphaned children. They have a great school building project going. We painted three rooms and window frames. We also did plumbing work in the boys and girls ablution block which involved installing 22 cisterns and pipework. Now you can call me a plumber. I thanks the Lord for revealing what a handyman He created me.

Kenya part 2

We are now back in Kenya. Our fisrt stop was in Chwele. Our hosts are keen on the Simple Church model and very open to the Word. Our time with them was wonderful. We got to share on the fundamentals of faith based on Hebrews 6:1-3. I am expectant of fruition in Chwele. Many ministry opportunities abound. There is need for leadership development and discipleship as well as caring for widows and orphans whose lives were greatly disturbed during and after the 2007 Kenya Post-Election violence. Trusting the Lord to send workers there.

What next? We are done with ministry around Africa and now reflecting on what the Lord has done through our expedition. We fly back to South Africa next week on 4^th November 2010. Global Challenge Expeditions will be conducting the second Training to help transition and reintegrate or move into places where God is calling us next.

She extends her hands to be kissed when she trusts you

Every morning of the last two weeks I spent in Ethiopia, a happy and exciting alarm woke me up. It was the scream of  joy and jubilation from baby Nawi. She went ahhhh!! I am sure she meant “yeah! I am still alive… !”

She is so beautiful like no other. She is my most adorable child in Addis Ababa. Everyday I longed to hold her in my arms and let her know that she is loved and cherished so much she will never know. I looked at her with eyes of a father. She loves kisses on her hands. When she builds enough trust in someone, she shows it affectively by extending her arm so one can kiss the outer surface of her hand. Nothing comes close to the feeling of receiving trust from an infant.

Baby Nawi is a survivor of the appalling devilish Mingi practice that is still rampant among the Kara people and other minority tribes in southern Ethiopia. She now lives at an orphanage where, God willing, some loving parents will come and adopt her regardless of her HIV status.

I loved getting her up from the floor and teach her to walk. She usually grabbed my forefingers tightly and screamed as she trailed. She loves company! I am glad to have crossed paths with this charming little angel.

My prayer is that she will find loving foster parents sooner than later. She needs a mummy not a nanny.

With the advent of ART (Anti-Retro-viral Therapy), coupled with genuine and profound love, kids with HIV can live for a long time without going into the AIDS phase.

Pray with me for a parent for Nawi. Won’t you?

After the good mid-year holiday we traveled back to Addis Ababa where we were to meet up with the guys who are running the most amusing rescue operation preventing infanticide.

It was in two days time that we were to travel down to Jinka, a place where an evil ancient practice called Mingi is still in effect. This is a belief that any child who is born either with defects or a peculiarity will bring an omen to the community or village. Therefore, the only way out is to kill the mingi as to prevent droughts and so on.

A child can be Mingi by virtue of the initial teeth growing from upper gums or being born out of wedlock or from a pregnancy that is unannounced. Insane, but very true! This is still happening in Ethiopia.

While my teammate, whose passport got stolen together with his bag, and I pursued an issue of a new one, we found ourselves effortlessly making friends and hanging out with them from time to time. We got a chance as well to go to one of the youngest charismatic churches here. After we attended one of the youth concerts, I was led to speak to the Pastor only after we actually had started off, when along the Church’ street, we happened to meet one poor youth who wanted accommodation assistance and ultimately find the clergy to help out. My goodness, the things that were on my mind, when we got to see the Pastor, were most of Ethiopia’s neighbouring countries – Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia.

So I bounced him some exciting questions about what his Church is doing and thinks about the unreached. Well, the first thing he mentioned was that his church has sent a missionary to Holland. Sorry sir… , but we are not talking Europe here.

Pastor: “Well, we do not give it (the mission) on the frontpage due to it’s value and sensitivity. If you know what I mean.”

Me: “Does that mean you have plans or are you already on the ground? I am getting impressions of coming back here to launch into reaching out to these places. It could be great and wonderful to have Ethiopians on board especially from this Church.”

Pastor: “Well, I can give you my email and you can write me, then we can take it up from there.”

At that very moment I knew the Lord had planned all the delays we faced here in Addis. “All things work for the good of those that love the Lord.” I can confirm that the Lord is busy with Ethiopia and that this place is surely in love with the Lord. Even though there is a lot of misdirection in terms of forms of worship. The people here exemplify living by the values of Christianity. There are exceptions of course, but if we are to go by majority rule, then majority wins. And how timely that I came to discover this Psalm 68:31 which says that Princes shall come out of Egypt : Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God – KJV.

Also, you might want to know that some scientists say that human life began here especially after they discovered Lucy the ancient humanoid who is about 4.2 million years old. The Bible could not put it more explicitly than it does in Genesis 2:13 –
“And the name of the second river is the Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.” KJV

How could all this be possible? And why does Ethiopia seem to be sleeping in the midst of all that is happening in the Christendom? Why is the world in short-supply of missionaries from Ethiopia? Why are most of Ethiopian neighbors in such desperate situations and so faraway from Christ?

As I keep on wondering and not getting answers, I am somehow getting restless and trying to see what the Lord is up to for this place and what he holds for me in relation to ministering to the hard-to-reach.

Out of all this I can only say that Ethiopia is calling. It may be calling you or it may be calling me, but the fact is… it is calling.

“Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ So Peter said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Jesus told him, ‘Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17 GW)

It felt the same way when I was in West Africa just a little while ago. The Lord speaks in so many ways to us we should just know His voice and pay attention to listen carefully. I mean, if I was in Peter’s place, I would have been grieved to hear Jesus question me three times. I might as well have said “what you see is what you get or suit yourself if you don’t trust me.”                                  However, Peter knew the Lord well and loved Him even though he was to deny Jesus at some point soon.

In our case before we embarked on the Urgent Relief for Niger (URN) Project, it was an issue of trust I guess. The Lord spoke clearly that we should feed His sheep and even our enemies in faith, the Muslims.

Then I recalled how I have come to learn that if it is the Lord’s will, it is definitely His bill! Right then, I knew we were not to worry about where the money would come from or how much. Of-course the Lord would provide even half of the set sum amount, but no! He doesn’t work like that. He is God Almighty. He will always exceed our expectations. By the time we were concluding our stay in Niger, He had provided about 35 per cent more than our initial budget. We raised R80,000 (about US$10,700) in three weeks and distributed food to at least 2700 people including lepers and the deaf.
“Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28 MKJV)

The time in Niger got me pinned to my calling to Relief Work. It just felt so right and so good doing it even in the midst of challenges. Being the appointed Project Manager for the URN Project resounded my vision and passion for the poverty and disaster stricken communities around the Globe and especially in Africa. This Project was such a beautiful confirmation of the vision that the Lord has been impressing on my heart in the last couple of years since fire gutted down 72 houses in Red Hill, Cape Town.

What was even more encouraging is how most of you responded urgently with hearts full of love and compassion. May the Lord bless you for that!
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love) it profiteth me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV

Neglected child at a market in Aderbissinat

)

I can rest assure you all that the synergy we portrayed through URN in Niger went down in the books of history about the unity of the body of Christ and it’s role in breaking barriers and discrimination against people of diverse tribes, creeds and religious backgrounds. One Islamic lady in Aderbissinat openly castigated all her friends and family members who came to collect cereals about how all of them tend to hate Christians and that they are useless. Thereafter, she said that anyone who received grains should consider Christianity.
“Instead, as the scripture says: ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.’” (Romans 12:20 GNB)

In the wake of our food distributions, Chiefs availed opportunities for us to carry on any sort of activities we would like. They all openly praised the the God we serve. I somehow started thinking that they might be undercover converts trying to preserve their lordship over their subjects. As far as I am concerned, Jesus is raking spiritual havoc out of their lives and they will never be the same again.
“Never again will they hunger or thirst; neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them,
because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17 GNB)

As for while I was in Ghana, we stayed briefly in a small town called Denu near the Togo border. It is right by the beach with it’s community full of fishermen who practice idolatry to the core. They worship idols and sacrifice to them. It is a culture with strong beliefs in fetishes and black magic. While you can evidently see church buildings there, some pastors apparently go to seek powers from witchdoctors. It is appalling I know. The clergy there cried out for help in terms of genuine followers of Jesus to reach out to cast out demons and breakdown strongholds among the people of Denu and Aflaou among other things as service projects. The Lord has plans for that place.
He says “I will destroy the charms you use and leave you without any fortunetellers. I will destroy your idols and sacred stone pillars; no longer will you worship the things that you yourselves have made.” (Mic 5:12-13 GNB)

May all glory be to Him who loves us beyond our imagination and who forgives our iniquities and transgressions and separates us from sin as far as the East is from the West. Praise Him ;for what He has done, what He is doing and what He has laid out for our lives!

Blessings!

Garbage City in Cairo

I remember vividly the commotion every direction I looked. People were confused and scampered as the thick pitch-black smoke advanced towards us. My whole family, except for our first born sister, were at home waiting in that moment for my parents to reach a decision on whether to follow the fleeing masses or to get into the house and just pray to meet the Lord there. Not until we felt the impact of one missile that landed close by did we all think of sweet life!

The smell of eminent war was too strong a stench to bear on that fateful Day.

Through all that and the blood shed by innocent lives and the gunshots I have heard and witnessed in riots, the Lord gave me a first-hand glimpse of the roots of a war situation and it’s consequences.

Leper from Niger

Hatred, jealous, tribalism, racism, greed, insatiable hunger for power, xenophobia, mass inferiority complex (which leads to a group or class of people to think they are better than others), strong and wrong religious indoctrination and extremism, economic injustice, land ownership disputes, you name it, are all at the core of humanity’s conflict.

We all know the outcome of such because we have, atleast, heard and seen through multi-media all or most of the evil and unprecedented suffering thrust upon civilians and their environment.

Tannery labourer in Fes, Morocco

About a month ago while in Burkina Faso in West Africa, my friends and I randomly met two young men originally from Liberia who fled their country, during the last civil war, to Nigeria when Charles Taylor, their former president, inflicted untold pain and misery on incredible masses of his people. Refugees in search of anything green, they became friends with an Italian who promised them jobs if they could make it to Europe. So they set off on a clandestine voyage through the parched Sahara Desert and made it to Tripoli in Libya where they raised enough money to eventually cross the cold and dangerous Mediteranean Sea.

Had it not been for the EU Marine Police, the two would have either died on Sea or could have made it to the other side only to realise that life is not as easy for illegal immigrants.

Fulanis overloading a lorry in Aderbissina, Niger

Waiting for to carry load for a little cash.Marakech, Morocco

Together with many others on pursuit of success and happiness, that seemingly can only be found in Europe (according to them), Daniel and Emmanuel’s dreams were shuttered by getting sent to prison in Libya after which they were released in the desert and left there to die. Fortunately, they survived the harsh conditions and have since vowed to go back home to Liberia to start life afresh after living miserably in exile.

My friends and I assisted them with transport money to get them closer to home.

It is in situations like that when my heart is really broken for my motherland Africa. These injustices sweep through the whole continent. People are suffering and dying due to political leaders not doing what is supposed to be done and doing what is not to be done.

I have seen poverty from Cape Town to Cairo, from the Red Sea in Egypt to Tunis in Tunisia and accross to Casablanca in Morocco, and from Accra in Ghana to Aderbissinat in Niger. You can see on people’s faces the expressions of hopelessness, apathy, desperation and on some of them the spell of death engraved on their foreheads. It’s as if they are saying ‘if only I can see tomorrow.’ Africa is deeply in very short supply of servant leaders if there is any!

Woman picking up fallen grain from dirt. Zinder, Niger

However, there is hope for Africa as God is raising up new leaders who see things that are not and ask why not. People who look at leadership as a tool to serve others, but not to plunder public resources. God is raising a generation of youth after His own heart. I am glad to be part of God’s redemptive plan for Africa!

In a wisp of a moment, four mid-aged men clad in grey suits came about and a somewhat vicious debate ensued among them. They debated my visa situation while I kept in constant communication with the one above. The Holy Spirit was at work, for all I knew. After three good hours of waiting patiently for the verdict, eventually my visa was granted!

Such great moments of divine intervention as this are miracles to be told, history to be written and perfect examples of how Father will never fail those who call on his name in every circumstance or situation.

For this and many more reasons, I will trust Him to keep showing his face, through dreams and visions as well as through personal contact with believers, to my new Muslim friends who are lost in a thick fog of lies passed down by generations of spiritual and cultural bondages from their folks’ folklore.

I recall one night in Egypt when my team mate didn’t come back to our room after our late night tea. I kept on turning to see whether he was back, but alas. So I went outside round about 3am and found him sharing stories from the respective Holy Books. I joined in and from that day onwards I walked a path with our keen pal full of delusions – as you may all know about them. Helping Him draw lines about Jesus as Lord and not prophet was almost as hard as cracking a nut with one finger. Praise Him all my soul, for when the time came to go, I handed him the Jesus film which is in his language – Arabic, and he was so happy!

Tunisia was one spell of adventure. We got off to find the man of peace (based on Luke 10 journey) and had revelations from the Holy Spirit of how we were to go about it. He showed us colours and places among other signs to look out for. So we set out leaving almost all our belongings in Tunis and went down south to an island more than 500km (300-400 something miles) away. Amazing how we found time to encourage a white-collared professional on finding out the truth about Jesus and how we stumbled on two young westerners who gave us the Gospel according to Luke in Arabic. On the other day we visited him, he asked for the Injil (Gospel. And we had a copy from our two colleagues) which we kindly handed out in utter disbelief of his openness! Anyway, what could beat a paced stroll in the Sahara desert for more than 14km and sharing your faith as you go? How about attending the only open service for and by Arabic Muslim-Background-Believers held in the Arabic Islam World (10-40 window) and hanging out to encourage some of them? Nothing beats the adrenalin rush, even though you might have the Holy Spirit, when you experience such noble activities. Just seeing the Lord’s creation and experiencing massive diversity in culture across North Africa has been nothing short of exhilarating to the core!

What a constant reminder that we (the Church) are not meant to stay indoors, in the confines of church courtyards and in the realms of our comfort and perceived safety, while we were commissioned to live out our faith and conquer the World by going to the ends of the Earth to preach the Good News so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

I am writing from Morocco in the city of Marrakech. What a miracle! After three visa application attempts and now I am here.

This place is so beautiful, but unfortunately, it has its ugly faces too. There is strong persecution against believers here. Recently, there has been a wave of forced departures and expulsions on Expat Workers (believers) around the whole Country. This was mainly due to proselytizing claims from primary and high school kids’ parents. Orphanages have shared the pinch too. It is very criminal in here, just like in Egypt, to convert someone even though there is apparently “Freedom of religion.”

While I wrestle to change circumstances in a land where I am foreign, I can only fall to my knees and invite you to join me and the Team as we breakdown strongholds and chains that have spiritually shackled Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco for centuries.

Pray for more workers to go to North Africa, for baldness and wisdom for those already there, for Muslims to see Jesus in dreams and visions (this is how most Muslim-background believers came to faith) and for financial support.

What the slave traders used to determine which slave to sell at the highest price if they survived the harsh conditions

The Island boasts of its 90% edible vegetation and a rapid growth in tourism. While that is so, we bemoan the less than one per cent Christian population. Even though slave trade was abolished hundreds of years ago, spiritual slavery and bondage is rampant. Traditional churches are vegetated and most clergy seem enervated. It’s difficult to carry out work of our Lord. It’s cumbersome to minister openly and in return to get converts who will profess and confess their conversion publicly and freely for fear of severe persecution from families and society at large.

Witnessing and ministration in this part of the world calls for adequate PATIENCE and sheer commitment coupled with a deep passion for the lost. More so, doing church differently.

So, is there hope for Zanzibar?

Who will free the Zanzibari from mental and spiritual slavery?

Spending 21 days on the Big Island I got to meet great people as well as reunite with charismatic friends. My team and I spent two exciting weeks at our highly hospitable couple near the Presidential Residence (how is that for a trip such as ours? ).  Zanzibar is very humid and the first week we were there was almost unbearable when we were cocooned in baking tents! Thanks for the various exotic fruits we ate that definitely boosted our immune systems.

Living with this amazing couple was highlights and each moment I spent with them was so precious. Our time together was packed with laughter, childhood stories (embarrassing moments and all), spicy, delicious and nutritious dishes, snorkeling in clear water, prayer-walking and -driving among many other rare moments.

The most amazing and amusing was just how our hosts managed to do church in a manner married to their lifestyles. Everything we did was undivided from simple church. I loved how integrated their ministry is and just how church is integral to family and all they do. Small things such as shopping were woven together with prayer-driving. The other time we drove to this village well-known for its practice of powerful black-magic and the horrific stories of people visiting and not coming back. I write because we made it back home safely. On other occasions we gathered with new believers and ate lunch and supper together respectively.

It was during such times we had anointed moments of testimonies and opportunities to prophesy over our new friends. This is a positive way of encouraging them to continue living as the Body of Christ.

Daughter whose father is seeking Jesus. God will use ways that we can not comprehend to draw the lost to Him.

Humbled was I when we visited Martha who has been bedridden for over five years after malaria left her paralysed. Her father who happens to be a witch doctor (quite different from a traditional healer or herbalist) has tried potions and spells, throwing bones and flying on brooms and all that a person like him with spiritual powers can do, but to no avail. He is seeking something greater and someone more powerful… and has since opened up his house for studying the Word. What the Lord can do!

I was also privileged to meet another family whose sibling is a hydrophiliac. Our host makes special equipment for the disabled and this girl is one of the beneficiaries. This family is Islamic and thank God they have started asking questions about our Lord and what it means to be His follower.

All the time we spent in Zanzibar with our host families was to get well acquainted with how to minister to our muslim friends. It was all fruitful, inspiring and motivating.

God has a plan for Zanzibar and it’s people. He is freeing them one by one from the enemy’s hands and releasing them from bondage to freedom. The truth is setting people free. Free from generational curses and spiritual slavery. And God is using great men through simple unconventional (which is actually the very roots of church by the way – I mean very biblically conventional) ways of doing church – living out the Word out loud in all aspects of life.

There is hope for Zanzibar!

“You have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the Lord your God who has been fighting for.” Joshua 23:3