For the past seven years, I have traveled to various parts of Africa sharing the gospel with hundreds and thousands of people, preaching in churches, schools, prisons, and the open air. I have met dozens and dozens of pastors and church-planters throughout thirty-five African nations. Some of these were American and foreign missionaries, but the vast majority of these were local, indigenous men of God that served in urban areas as well as villages in the remotest places imaginable. I have stayed in their houses, shared rides on public transport for hundreds of miles, eaten meals, and spent thousands of hours serving and communing with them. I have played with their children, listened to their hardships, cried with them, rejoiced with them, fought along side of them, and learned from their experiences. I would like to share with you a few of the lessons I have during these years learned from African Pastors.The First Lesson that I learned from them is "THERE IS NO PLACE TOO SMALL FOR THE GOSPEL". Many times as Americans we develop a spirit that says, "Send me to the BIG place". Our desire to be noticed and appreciated overtakes our allowing God to lead us no matter where that may be.
I recall being in a small village in southwestern Uganda a few years ago. I was with a simple pastor that had labored in the vineyard for our Lord for a number of years there. He had a church in a small place. The building had a dirt floor, mud walls, and a thatched roof. But he and his sweet wife loved Jesus. He was doing the best he could for our God where he had been planted. He realized that "THERE WAS NO PLACE TOO SMALL FOR THE GOSPEL".
The Second Lesson I learned from these precious men of God is, "BE WILLING TO LEARN FROM OUTSIDERS". As I have spent time in their churches and with their members, I have often brought new ideas, and a methods to reach the lost that before have been unknown to them. On most occasions, they have been willing to try something new in order to accomplish the task of seeing people saved.
However, in my journey's, I have also, attempted to use these same ideas with the local missionary and have found them more often than not to be met with resistance. Why? Why would one be opposed to seeing a person reached through a gospel film show? Why would a Baptist preacher be opposed to preaching in public schools to youth? I am sure that in each case, the particular missionary would have their own reasons. Maybe they just were not the one to think of the idea. Maybe they don't believe in "mass evangelism". Maybe they don't feel comfortable exploring new avenues of ministry. In any case, the African pastor is often willing to learn a new way, while the American will at times not be so eager. Our own culture begets this attitude. However, all of us should walk humbly for the gospel's sake and "BE WILLING TO LEARN FROM OUTSIDERS".
Finally, let me share with you a great lesson that I have learned from these men that every single one of us should learn whether we are in the ministry or not. I learned from my African brothers "TO ALWAYS BE HOSPITABLE TO STRANGERS". In all my African travels, I have only found one African pastor and one African chief to not welcome me into their home and village with open arms. It is taboo within the regions of Africa not to be accommodating to strangers. The idea that you would have someone show up at your church or doorstep and not take time to welcome them, feed them, and inquire about their needs is frankly un-African. Every single time that I have showed up unannounced, I have been met with reception and kindness. I have slept in the pastors and his wife's bedroom, while they slept on sofas and with their children. My being there has at times, I am sure, been unexpected, but never unwanted. I have been an inconvenience, but never made aware of the fact. We, as Americans, could learn alot from the Bible and the African culture on this point. We could learn that in ministry as a Christian, there ought never be "personal zones" when it comes to Christian charity. We should be more flexible and learn how to adapt more freely. We should learn to ALWAYS BE HOSPITABLE TO STRANGERS".