Sometimes, I find myself reading the Bible for simple academic study and theological reflection. Somehow, I sometimes miss the nitty gritty down to earth but divine moments. Maybe, even I use the theoretical heavy reflection to escape day by day ministry realities around me. However, the experience of pioneering a new work calls me back to reading Acts. I find myself sometimes wondering, “What would Paul do at a moment like this?” The practical nitty gritty, down to earth life of a church planter becomes my own story.
The story of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey has been a compelling one for me. In many ways, I see our own story in it. It starts out with Paul recruiting new co-workers to join him on a journey. However, the journey soon becomes full of frustration. He makes an attempt to enter Asia and Bithynia but is stopped by the Spirit of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I would like to think that it was some divine revelation, but the practical missionary in me wonders if it was simply a grumpy immigration official. I imagine Paul and his companions were disoriented by the experience. Had they not heard God’s call to go? Then Paul has his vision of the Man of Macedonia begging him to come. It seems like Paul alternates in his leadership style from leading to consulting. All of his traveling companions were recruited by him as part of a training and equipping exercise, but after this dream he asks them what they all think. I guess that even Paul was unsure what next step to take. The group consensus is that God has called them to preach the gospel to Europe. Thus they sail across the Aegean Sea and enter Europe. This Macedonian Call changes history. All of us whose heritage of faith descends from Europe are heirs of it. (Acts 16:1-10).
My human nature would like for the story to next read that Paul found a great season of peace. He was warmly welcomed by all the religious and government leaders in Macedonia. He had time to settle down. He planted thriving healthy churches that were models of all the key mission’s principles we teach and read about in seminary. Instead, Paul converts a leading woman, Lydia, in Philippi; and then shortly after is unjustly beaten, imprisoned, and forced to flee the first city he enters (Acts 16:11-40). He repeats basically the same story in Thessalonica and Berea, and after a short period of preaching to receptive audiences is again forced by violence to leave (Acts 17:1-15). He leaves Timothy and Silas behind and makes his way to Athens. In Athens he gets an opportunity to address the academic thought leaders of the day. My human nature again wants the story to read, “The philosophers of the day were converted to Christ. Paul used his base in Athens to begin a theological school which transformed the known world.” Instead it appears, only a few believed (Acts 17:16-32).
Next, he makes his way to Corinth. It was one of the most immoral cities in the world at the time. It was a leading center of trade, but if I was Paul I would be losing my confidence in my calling. He was without his co-workers. He had left the funding behind with them, and seems to be broke. I imagine that the voices who disagreed with what others considered a call may have been racing through his head. It looks like he was alone and broke, and probably disoriented. He simply goes to work making tents. In the process he meets Aquilla and Priscilla. He uses his free time on the Sabbath to teach in the Synagogue. He begins the process he always does of gathering people, teaching at each opportune moment, and trusting the Lord for the spiritual return. Eventually, Silas and Timothy catch up to him and he has his full funding to devote himself fully to teaching. As opposition begins to grow, the Lord speaks to Paul, “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city (Acts 18:1-11).”
In many ways we see our entrance into Rwanda as similar to Paul’s entrance into Corinth. Yet the process before us is one of gathering the ones God has already called, waiting for others to join, praying, and speaking Good News at each opportunity. We have had many divine appointments that led us to Rwanda, and we want to share another one that happened several weeks ago with all of you.
Several weeks ago, we were having lunch at a restaurant in Kigali. I noticed an acquaintance, Florence, a Rwandan who used to teach languages at Makerere University in Uganda. We were looking for a Kinyarwanda tutor, and thought Florence might be able to recommend someone. Next to Florence was sitting a European woman who I quickly deduced was working for a developmental organization. (For some odd reason aid workers and missionaries do not always get along, and I was pretty sure she would have no interest in me.) I also greeted her just to be friendly and polite. She asked what I was doing in Rwanda, and I told her that I was a missionary. I expected the conversation to end at that point with a real awkward moment, and tried to think of a way to still be polite. Instead she asked me with what church I was working. I said, “Church of Christ,” and wondered where the conversation could possibly go from there. She responded with a big warm smile, “I am Church of Christ also. I have been looking for a church for weeks. Where are you meeting?” I thought, o.k. she is probably a Mormon, but I should at least invite her and Florence to our house church. Jana came over, and the conversation continued. She told me her name was Maniola. She was from Albania. She was working in Rwanda as an intern for the United Nations Development Program. As the conversation continued we mentioned that we would soon have 13 university students join us to teach English. Maniola asked, “Are they going to do World English Institute? Do you know Dick Addy?” At that point we realized we really did have a common faith and heritage.
Maniola came to our house church for one Sunday evening, and then as her internship finished left Rwanda.
I was left pondering the mysteries of God’s planning. What are the odds that I would meet an Albanian Christian in Rwanda working for the U.N. who was looking for a Church of Christ by greeting an acquaintance in a restaurant in Kigali? I have to conclude with the words that were spoken to Paul, “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
God has already called many people in Rwanda. He is doing something wonderful and beyond our understanding. We ask your continued prayers that we may have the sensitivity of spirit to hear his voice and the boldness to do his will.
Imana ikurinde (May God keep all of you),
Dave
