Some of the greatest experiences I’ve enjoyed in career ministries were while I was the Director of Africa in the home office for our mission agency at the time.
I would travel to the various countries in Africa and work with the 70 plus missionaries under my charge. They were serving the Lord and their Sending Church, from the country of Mali in northwest Africa, to those serving in central Africa, all the way down south to those living in the Republic of South Africa. My ministries with these dear missionaries were that of counseling, preaching, teaching, and troubleshooting, along with caring, encouraging, and leading pioneer treks to frontier areas where the gospel was not preached, fertile for church planting.
One such pioneer journey took me and my two companions to the mountains of Uganda, central Africa. Uganda is surrounded by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire, and finally, South Sudan. Once arrived in Kampala, the capital, we met our travel ‘guide’, Pastor Charles, whom I arranged to lead us, prior to the trip. Our objective was to survey the high mountain regions of southwest Uganda, bordering Rwanda, and Zaire. Pastor Charles had previously rented a car (if you could call it a car!) for our 12-hour drive to our destination. We departed from Kampala, drove through the night (not a wise idea in that remote part of the world!), and arrived the next morning in a small village nestled at the foot of the mountain range.
We then hiked a mile up to where Pastor Charles planned to have us rendezvous with a group of 25 African pygmy Christians, who were anxious to share with our four-man delegation their need for churches, hospitals, and schools. As is their custom, they fed us and gave gifts to us, and then we worshipped together – African worship!
After our conference, we were taken on a tour by professional guides, through the dense jungle forest. They pointed out to us that we were walking through the Ugandan National Park, a territory for the preservation of the Ugandan wild gorilla.
Were we a bit nervous?
Absolutely!
However, the guides took good care of us and eventually positioned us in a strategic place where we saw a family of gorillas! Our time with the lovely Ugandan Christians and the gorilla tour unfortunately, came to an end, and we left the foot of the mountains with many notes and hearts full of gratitude.
When we arrived back to the States 36 hours later, we noticed that the news was showing videos of the same area in the national park where we had just trekked. The reporter was describing how a band of terrorists from the DRC had raided and attacked the villagers in that region, killing and maiming many.
Most of you reading this are familiar with Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” It was not the intention of our four-man delegation to “test the Lord our God”. Hardly did we think that there were terrorists in that vicinity as there were never any reports of terrorists being in that government protected area. We later learned that they came through the national gorilla park undetected. Paul reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” Satan would like nothing better than to destroy the works of Christ.
I don’t know how God does it, but He manages to protect you and me, according to His will, from unknown and known danger. Our delegation was protected by the hand of God, for His glory and our good.
How has God protected you?
Train.Go.Serve.Change.
John