A Great Door In Africa

1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

    The Church in Florence was recently visited by two men from Congo. Gabriel Kisanga and Ekahnya Niphon. They both came up to Westcliffe to have breakfast and enjoy the mountains. We talked for most of the day and discussed the need for sound doctrine in the bush and why missionaries won't go deep into rural areas.

Gabriel, who runs a seminary in Congo, is training men in the fundamental tenets of Christianity against a tidal wave of Word of Faith teaching sweeping across the continent. He is supported by Dynamic Church Planting in California and became friends with my current Pastor in 2007 at the Shepherd's Conference (Grace Community Church). Ekahnya is planting churches in the bush among the Pygmy people. He speaks English, French, and some of the Pygmy dialect. He currently has 11 Pygmy Pastors in small churches and they are in need of training. His purpose for coming to America was to seek help. He asked for someone, anyone, please come to the bush and see what is happening. Ekahnya faces a host of obstacles and has reached out for assistance.

The Going Gets Tough

A short time reading the World Factbook about Congo  and some wiki about the Pygmy people made me realize that the going will be tough. According to Ekahnya, there will be a few jungle roads that will lead to an endless maze of jungle trails and rivers that will eventually lead us to some very remote villages. There are no restaurants or hotels, no running water (unless you run and get it yourself) or bathrooms. There are trees to hang a hammock in, thatch huts to sleep in, and the bush is there for unmentionable needs. Here in these villages, people are hospitable and open to the Gospel but there are no conveniences that Americans believe they need. That means there are very few Americans willing to travel to these remote areas. This is not bad news.

The Footprints Of Satan

You will never see Joyce Meyer or Benny Hinn in the remote bush, but you will see their influence all over Africa. The Word of Faith movement has attacked the continent as a roaring lion. The blending of Christian terminology with Voodoo and Occult practices is widespread into a pandemic of bad theology. The footprints of Satan can be seen leading up to the stage of many large gatherings promoting "faith healing" and "financial blessing." Sound familiar? The good news is that most American heretics don't go and preach more than a 30 minute drive from a 5 star hotel but the bad news is that their message of a false gospel is spreading like a wildfire. 

There's A Call Come Ringing O'er A Restless Wave

In the letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul writes in Chapter 16 that there is a great door and effectual opened unto him but that there are many adversaries. It's amazing how so many false teachers could manifest in churches planted by Paul himself so quickly. The Devil shows up to work every day. There really is nothing new under the sun. Absent the work of the Holy Spirit, there can be no movement against the forces of darkness in the hearts of men. The visible church in Africa is appearing weakened and led astray but the true Church is preserved and protected by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The call has come from Congo to "Send the Light" and I intend to do just that. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the endeavor is a theological one. 

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Getting Involved

I have sold or am selling most of my hunting equipment to pay for this trip. Some have offered financial assistance and the help is greatly appreciated. The Church in Florence is supportive but also very small and relatively new re-born as a body of Biblical believers. If you wish to support this trip financially, please contact me for instructions on how to send funds to the Church in Florence. Most of all I would appreciate you sharing this blog with other believers and ask for prayer. I will update from this blog as appropriate. 

The proposed dates for the trip are August 4th - September 16th. 

For more specific info please feel free to call.

Bro. Jeff Ward (719) 221-6243 

Pastor David Rogers (719) 429-2452