Lots of things today that I could talk about, but let me tell you a few things about evangelism that I was struck by today.
One of my study group members is a bishop from Northern Nigeria, who was consecrated into a missionary region a year ago. When I say a 'missionary diocese', I mean that there were no churches in his region a year ago, and he has been establishing churches and ordaining ministers as he goes. Today, there are 52 churches in his region (!), mostly based in small towns of 300-1000 people. He showed me pictures of his churches, which are mainly thatched buildings and semi-temporary structures that they build wherever needed. Their growth is phenomenal, and one of the challenges it has brought up is the desperate need to train enough ministers to look after all these new churches - at the moment, many ordained ministers in this areas are quite new Christians, with little or no theological training, and there is a big need for materials and training to give them the skills they need for ministry.
I spoke with Rico Tice this morning, about Christianity Explored and plans to roll it out in an African context. The English version has been used in Uganda for a few years now, and has had an 'informal' translation into local languages. Rico told me that they are planning to re-write an 'international' version that can be translated into a variety of languages. It was interesting to realise that the African churches don't need CE for evangelism - they clearly have a local flavour to evangelism already which is bearing lots of fruit. The place that CE might be most helpful for them is it discipleship and as an introductory catechism. It was interesting to reflect on how existing tools might be used in a different way in a different contexts; I'm hopeful that international connections through meetings like GAFCON can provide lots of people like Rico with the opportunity to see where these sorts of cross-overs could be realised.
While we're on the theme of evangelism, we heard a great story today from one of the Nigerian bishops, who was delayed for several hours at an airport while coming to the meeting. He spoke with a German tourist, and in true African style, opened his Bible and read John 3:16 with him, telling him that he needed to know Jesus. This tourist, who was a Buddhist, listened and prayed with him, and before they went their separate ways, had accepted Christ and handed over his statue of Buddha. I was really inspired by this story - my own hesitation and nervousness about evangelism is constantly being challenged by the simple gospel message that the African clergy here are so quick to talk about.
Looking forward to what tomorrow brings...
