Friday, August 31, 2012

Twenty Miles Wide, One Inch Deep


We recently went on something of a prayer walk around Mpulungu.  Christopher, one of the team leaders, took us up to a 100-year-old church that was built just a few years after David Livingstone died.  Livingstone was instrumental in opening up Africa for the cause of missions, and it’s in his footsteps that we’re following now.  Seeing the church where people gathered for prayer and worship was a pretty powerful experience. 
Chris told us a lot about the current state of missions in Zambia and throughout Africa.  There are many efforts to evangelize unreached groups, but proportionally less effort in discipleship.  He described it as the message going 20 miles wide but only 1inch deep.  When you think about it, it’s a lot easier to go tell something to someone once and leave than to invest so much of yourself and your time into their lives.  But which method is more effective?  I believe that real transformation and life change happens when we dig into the trenches with the lost and live life with them, being a constant example of the power of the gospel.  That’s what discipleship is all about.
What we’re seeing among the missionaries here is real discipleship, and it’s so encouraging to see the fruit of their labors!  Rather than spending time preaching to thousands of people, the team here is invested in the lives of a few families and individuals.  Though the numbers might not be huge, the effect is incredible, and they are seeing yet again just how awesome our God really is!  We are so blessed to be a small part of this ministry over the next three months.

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