Our tribute to our Rwandan friend and colleague

Several days ago, we learned that Covid took the life of a wonderful African Christian. Gaspard more closely reflected the beauty of Christ in his daily life than almost anyone else we've had the privilege of working with. A man of many languages, he is now speaking all of them in heaven, and many more! His gentle, godly personality is adding to the worship of his Lord Jesus Christ. 

Gaspard's funeral in Rwanda with his extended family attending

We came to know Gaspard, a refugee from Rwanda, when we lived and worked in Istanbul. Being in a worse situation than almost any other refugee, his wisdom and gentle nature added immeasurably to the work of giving encouragement to individuals who came to our office from more than 65 countries in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. The refugee office known as IIMP, Istanbul Interparish Migrant Program, was initiated almost 30 years ago. 

The first war in Iraq, Desert Storm I, witnessed a sudden arrival of refugees. At the same time in Africa, Gaspard was selected as an international student to study at Moscow's best universities. Three years later, with his passport and baggage in hand, he was returning home to Rwanda. Unknown to him, a genocide was taking place in the country, and as of that day, all incoming flights were canceled. He had only a few days left on his passport and renewing it was why the trip back home. Unable to leave Istanbul, because his passport was no longer valid, Gaspard became a man without a country. He was also unable to complete his studies in engineering. He faced an uncertain future, being stranded in Istanbul. 

Seeking help from anyone or any organization, Gaspard came to the Union Church of Istanbul. Since he could speak Turkish, Russian, French, Swahili, English, and several local African languages were ideal for acting as an interpreter. Refugees lined up each morning outside the tiny office at the back of the Union Han, the building owned by the international church. Gaspard showed incredible wisdom when relating with refugees. 

We knew Gaspard because of his unending compassion, even in the toughest of days. When refugees came to our office, he noted their names and asked pertinent questions. He visited sick people in the hospital and coordinated the three soup kitchens that were part of the IIMP program. Gaspard coordinated the appointments for individuals coming for interviews so that our work in the office flowed smoothly. He had a wonderful memory for names. Despite constant stress, which came from working with 300-400 refugees each month, we never saw him get angry. His were always words of kindness and encouragement. 

Gaspard brought the fresh presence of Jesus Christ into every encounter.  He knew how to listen, getting to the deeper stories that were hard to share. Being a victim of beatings, imprisonment, torture, and robbery often causes people to push those memories down as they struggle to find the next meal. Gaspard understood them because he, too, lived from month to month on the small salary paid by IIMP, and he also had experienced many dashed hopes. Many memories flood back as we mourn the loss of a gentleman who was also a gentle man.

Sabbath Question Number 4: "How will I worship?"

Artwork by Ida Barrister

"How will I worship on the Sabbath?" This is the fourth of four questions on the topic of "rest." 

I've been thinking about rest since the beginning of this year. The previous three questions yielded deeply satisfying answers. Sabbath is about rest and worship. It's about stopping regular work activities, about rejoicing in God's creation and who he is. (See my previous three blog posts this month.)

The question today isn't, "Who will I worship?" That was answered before I even got into the second chapter of the Bible. It isn't, "When will I worship?" That's also a given. (BTW, I respect those who worship regularly on a Saturday, even as I rest from my work on Sundays.) Also, "Why will I worship?" is not the question for anyone who loves the Lord.

For me, worship is central to Sabbath rest. I suppose I am primarily thankful to my parents, as well as to the school where I studied. From childhood, I knew about Sabbath rest. But today, in the hurry and scurry of a busy life, and with the chance to pause during Covid-19 realities, I am deliberately stopping my regular activities.  Intentionally resting by regularly asking each of these four questions has led me to a joyful anticipation of the coming day of rest. 

I confess that I enjoy life in a local congregation. I always have, and probably that's why I became a pastor. Some have described being part of a church as "God's great mystery, and his great mess." The mystery part comes through the continued sound of instruments joining with voices. We repeat familiar, well-loved hymns and choruses. We hear the exposition of the Scriptures, and the vitality of God's Word flows through the words. What is better than congregational prayers?

The messy part of worship is hidden but, nevertheless, real. It's natural to greet (and in today's world phone or join with by Zoom) our friends and acquaintances. But the Monday-to-Saturday-life doesn't stay hidden, even on a day of rest. We know many-a-person's heartfelt sorrows. Our prayers during worship remind us of the less fortunate. Some seek help to find a rental suite, or get another meal, or arrange a funeral, or negotiate peace between quarreling neighbors. A friend asks God to give him his sight back. A young person can't find employment, and divorce is on the horizon for a friend.

This disciplined life of worship brings us together in a new family, God's children that include men and women, boys and girls. We are united in unseen bonds, spiritual, eternal, and full of hope. Worship adds an unseen dimension, not only to the labor of our social workers but to every other profession.

So, "How will I worship?" 

I will be quiet in the presence of the Lord. I'll prepare my heart and search for hidden faults. I will join with others in today's Covid world by YouTube from my local church. I will rejoice as music fills our home all day long. And between hobbies, phone calls, a couple of walks around our neighborhood, I will be filled, once again, with the Holy Spirit giving me rest. 

Thank you, Lord, for your Sabbath rest.

Great hymns of the faith: Thy Way, Not Mine, Oh Lord

Covid-19 continues to impact people across our country and around the world. By faith, we continue in community development and both individual and corporate worship. We love sharing love across boundaries, and hours pass with phone calls and other forms of communication. Music fills our home all day. Many times, a hymn sounds out in our living room that is rarely sung today in churches. Horace Bonar,* a well-known musician, wrote this hymn in 1871. His words speak powerfully at a time when we seem powerless to control events.

Thy way, not mine, oh Lord,

However dark it be;

Lead me by Thine own hand,

Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be, or rough,

It will still be the best;

Winding or straight it leads

Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;

I would not if I might:

Choose Thou for me, my God,

So shall I walk aright.

Take Thou my cup, and it

With joy or sorrow fill,

As best to Thee may seem:

Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,

My sickness or my health:

Choose Thou my cares for me,

My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,

In things or great or small:

Be Thou my guide, my strength,

My wisdom and my all.

*Six other great hymns by Horace Bonar (1808-1889): All Glory be to God the Father, Blessing and Honor and Glory, I lay my sin on Jesus, Not what these hands have done, I heard the voice of Jesus say, Here, O my Lord, I see you.

Sabbath Question Number 3: "How Will I Rejoice in the Sabbath?"

For two weeks now, I've been more intentionally celebrating the Sabbath. First, I asked, "What will I stop?" And then, "How will I rest?" Today, I actively anticipate the third question and what will happen as I keep the Sabbath. 

The third question (of four) is: "How will I rejoice in the Sabbath?" (But why use the word "rejoice" when getting ready for the Seventh Day?) It comes from the end of the first chapter of the Bible. "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." The entire creation lay there, and God contemplated the creation, the vast reaches of space, individual stars, the sun, the moon, our world with all its fullness, and the first man and first woman. He was satisfied with what he created. 

I, too, want to be satisfied with what the Lord created. The Sabbath gives me the opportunity to look beyond myself, beyond my small world, and the boundaries that I've intentionally, and unintentionally, erected. The world is so much bigger, more complex, more wonderful, boundless. Sabbath lets me take it all in more than usual. 

Psalm 19 serves as a guide. First, the Psalmist uses sight to lead us to contemplate the mystery of God's personhood. I look to the heavens. Science helps me see into deep space. The heavens proclaim the glory of God. Pictures come back. Unbelievable distances in space, mighty galaxies, stars exploding, and black holes forming. God made them all. Our sun, our moon, our planetary neighbors, the more we learn about them, the more the wonderment. 

Closer in, above me, the firmament with daily weather patterns. I mourn the drought that presently afflicts the Middle East. My spirit rises thinking of amazing life forms. Undiscovered species in the Congo and the Amazon, or in the ocean depths. Our Creator God! How joyful he must have been as dancing bird species appeared in South East Asia. Oh, the pleasure of whales breaching! The humorous actions of a camel. Abundant life, beyond imagination, on the surface of the ocean, and below. How minute the tiny particles that compose all substances.

Second, my rejoicing takes a turn. How wonderful that the Creator made himself known to us! Of our five senses, hearing may be the one that lingers the longest. Words spoken in childhood can easily be recalled decades later, especially if the message was given in a moment of anger. His word has come to us throughout the ages. His word is a law, a statute, a precept, a command, a fear, an ordinance. Sabbath will find me rejoicing in his words. At home, quietly, expectantly, and then with others through joyful music, radiant with communal harmony.

There's a third way to rejoice in the Sabbath. Having looked outward at the created world, and then at the Word of God, I now look inward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. I will arise the following day, rested and ready to return to my small world. I will have been humbled for I usually miss so much of what is going on in God's bigger world. I will rejoice with the words, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.

Persecution in India - Pray for Persecuted Believers

India’s push for a purely Hindu nation led to the murder of five Christians in a recent two-month span, and many more believers are suffering. Church meetings are routinely targeted and pastors are violently attacked as the country’s leaders and laws increasingly recognize only Hindus as rightful citizens.

One of the biggest threats to this Hindu nationalist ideology is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which frees Hindus from the bondage of trying to appease or earn the favor of millions of false gods. If the gospel continues to spread, India cannot become the land of the Hindus. In “Hindustan,” therefore, Christians must be treated as enemies.

One of these believers, 27-year-old Kande Mudu, was a Hindu before coming to know Jesus in 2018. After he led his three brothers to Christ, Hindus pressured him to renounce his faith. When he refused, local Hindus attacked his home and sexually assaulted his mother-in-law. Following a second attack, Kande told his wife, Bindu, that the extremists would attack again. On June 7, 2020, the attackers returned to abduct Kande.

“I may be killed tonight,” he told Bindu as they marched him away from his home, “but I will never attack these people. Never give up your faith, even if I am killed.” Kande’s body was found by a roadside the following morning. Although Bindu must now raise their two children alone, she is determined to honor her husband’s final admonition: She won’t give up her faith.

Four other Indian Christians were killed around the same time as Kande. Bijaya Mandavi’s body was found in Chhattisgarh on May 25; she left three children behind. Samaru Madkami was killed in Odisha on June 4; the teenager volunteered to lead Christian meetings in his village when their pastor was unable to return because of persecution. Pastor Munsi Thado, who was jailed as a Maoist rebel before coming to know Christ, was killed in Maharashtra on July 10. And Suman Munda, a 25-year-old woman, was killed not far from Kande’s village on July 19.

While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his radical Hindu-nationalist supporters continue their push to make India a purely Hindu nation, our Christian brothers and sisters continue to dedicate their lives — even if it means death — to the greater cause of expanding God’s kingdom in India. God is honoring their faithfulness and sacrifice as He continues to grow His church there. Join us in praying that “the land of the Hindus” will instead become known as a land filled with people who honor the one true, living God.

For more information: contact Voice of the Martyrs https://www.persecution.com/

On "Martin Luther King Day" - in Canada

A Joint Statement and Call to Prayer Regarding Continued Racial Injustice and Extremism, 

From Our Executive Minister and the Moderator of the 

AUBA- African United Baptist Association, Nova Scotia

 Many of us were disturbed and saddened by the violent attack on the United States Capitol that took place a number of days ago.

Regardless of political persuasion, there is no excuse for such flagrant violence and disregard for democracy and the rule of law. We stand with all those who condemn the violence and those who are shocked by the poisonous words and the anarchistic behavior that threatens the long-held institution of democracy in our closest neighbor and ally to the south. 
 
While we believe in free speech and the inherent right to peaceful protest, this grotesque aberration can only be seen as a blatant attempt to violently overthrow the results of a free and fair democratic election. We are cognizant of the persistent racial undertones underlying the current violence. For this reason, we felt it was critical that we offer a joint statement. I am so pleased to welcome Rev. Dr. Rhonda Britton, the Moderator of the African United Baptist Association and soon to be President of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada to speak to this issue. 

We call on all Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada to pray for the people of our great neighbor, the United States of America. We pray for reconciliation and, the healing of toxic divisions in the nation; as well as a peaceful transition to the new Administration in the days to come. We call on Atlantic Baptist people to pray that extremist, far-right factions in Canada will be eradicated and to continue to pray for an end to racism in all forms. 

Rhonda Britton shared this statement:

Our concern is not only for the storming of the US Capitol. It is also and primarily for the far-right extremist groups cropping up all over Canada in solidarity with the insurrectionists in the US.

Hate lives here in Canada. WHITE nationalists are here, in this country. By their support of the extremists in the US, they are demonstrating their support for the disenfranchisement of Black voters in a free and fair election. Citizens concerned with their elected officials voted like never before. That is democracy in action. Yet only the votes in key areas heavily populated by Blacks have been labeled illegal and illegitimate—suspicious in some way—by far-right extremists. Enslavement, Jim Crow, the prison industrial complex, and current voter suppression and disenfranchisement—this is racism in its progression over the centuries. Now that Blacks are mobilized, realizing that our votes count, white supremacists want to take our votes away. That is not how democracy works. We take our stand at the ballot box. Our vote is our voice. That is democracy.

Therefore we in the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia JOIN with our CBAC family in condemning these assaults on democracy. We appeal to every one of our churches and to every Christian to uphold our Christian values of loving God and loving neighbor, doing no harm to others, and certainly not attempting to destroy the freedoms and privileges of democracy we all enjoy. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” Family, let love abide. Thank you.

Sabbath Question Number Two: "How Will I Rest?"

So, I've already answered question number 1: "What will I stop?" 

And, last week, I did stop. No work on writing. No work on my Shopify store, thinking about getting another announcement out to friends." 

No asking, "What SHOULD I be doing, or what COULD I be doing, or what WOULD I like to do right now?" Those are questions for the other six days. 

Now I'm ready for question number 2: "How will I rest today?" 

The question takes me back to the first chapter in the Bible, and I'm reminded of the amazing power of God as Creator. He made everything, step by step, and I'm astonished at the depth, breadth, and length of the creation. I'm in a small place, a quiet space, but the simple words of that chapter lift me beyond the immediacy of my surroundings. The first part of "restoration" is "rest."

Coming back from our early morning walk just now, the slightly freezing atmosphere left a sheen on sidewalks and roadways. I captured the six-inch square pattern of tiny particles of ice on the hood of a car parked close by. (See picture above.) Resting involves taking in the details of life in a slightly different way. Resting restores my ability to slow down, to appreciate the simplest things of life.

Examining that minuscule world of crystals takes me back to a place where I find rest. I can travel the world through the lenses of world-famous photographers. Many hours of music are loaded on my computer through YouTube. Sometimes, it arrives as Christian hymns, some are well-known classical compositions, and others the joy of creative, contemporary inspiration. I love watching the world through the eyes of other men and women, people who waited hours for a single shot.

In this way, one hour might take me through the glory of mountain pinnacles and waterfalls, along the precipitous cliffs where ocean waves collide against the land. Birds tweet, owls stare, lizards shake their tongues, snakes crawl, giraffes scratch each other's long necks, flowers dance in the wind, clouds burst open and hang onto momentary rainbows before they wash away, tiny sparkling streams mature into wide, meandering rivers, and an entire night's sky is reduced to a two-minute display of unspeakable glory and majesty. Unbelievable that all of this is only a stroke of the keyboard away from me.

Oh, how much beauty the world has to share on a restful day! 

I choose to rest. The beguiling world of political commentary will wait another day, while the slower rhythm of five or six all-too-familiar songs gives way to a children's story and an exposition that takes me back to contemplate the Hand of the Eternal One who created this warm, welcoming, tiny globe floating through an endless, cold, foreboding space.

And then, beyond contemplation and worship, the renewal of relationships affords rest. On the Seventh Day, God rested, and then he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. 

Aren't relationships the sweetest part of the creation? Aren't they also, as Adam learned watching the quarrel between his sons, that which banishes sleep while tossing and turning nurtures stress and disappointment?

So, the phone will ring, or we'll call someone. After a noon-time nap, with the restoration that brings, we make connections. Figuratively, we'll walk with family and friends, perhaps not on the same street, and not always in the same timezone. We've learned that laughter, happy family news, pictures of our 13 year old's latest cake decoration, or our almost-three-year-old's developing vocabulary, even shared sad events, hopes, and dreams all add up to "Great Gain." 

Those final two words are our THEME for the year (See a previous blog post), and by the end of the day, we've found we are restored. Resting, seeking godliness, and being content have brought us great gain.

In Days Like These: What Allegiance to the King Looks Like

 (About Nationalism, Syncretism, & Evangelicalism)

This is an excellent blog by one of the best writers in our country, Ann vosKamp.

The day after Epiphany, after Three King’s Day,  the day that’s believed that the three wise men followed the star to the feet of the God-King, I can’t stop thinking how I once met a man on the other side of the world who told me: “You have to come into the King’s presence, before you can go out into the King’s world.” He told me how, in many places on this planet still today, there are people groups who have to have come into their King’s presence, before they can go out and do any work with their King’s blessing. And the day after what some call Epiphany, I am having an epiphany of my own: Before we can go out into the world, we have to come into His presence. (Continue reading this amazing woman's blog here...)

 https://annvoskamp.com/2021/01/in-days-like-these-what-allegiance-to-the-king-looks-like-about-nationalism-syncretism-evangelicalism/

THY WAY, NOT MINE, O LORD - Hymn by H. Bonar

Thy way, not mine, oh Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be, or rough,
It will still be the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not if I might:
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So shall I walk aright.

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem:
Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me, my friends,
My sickness or my health:
Choose Thou my cares for me,
My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,
In things or great or small:
Be Thou my guide, my strength,
My wisdom and my all.

H. Bonar,  From the Keswick Hymnbook

Pray for La Paz, Bolivia

 Blessed Father, thank you very much for being with us every single day of 2020. Thank you for being our Emmanuel! Not only have you been with us, but you have also been our Jehovah Jireh!

As we begin this year, we need to ask  for your guidance.

2020 was so uncertain and sometimes this discouraged us. But we know that nothing escapes your control and this also brought comfort to our hearts. You are our Father, who loves us and will be with us until the end of days.

Dear Lord, we ask for your wisdom to continue supporting our partners here in Bolivia. Give us courage. Give us grace to support the initiatives of our partners, bringing your love to the people who are in need.

We are still experiencing great uncertainty in Bolivia, as we are facing the second wave of COVID-19. This second wave is hitting us really badly. That’s why we also ask for your protection for all those who are serving in the different ministries that we support.

We also thank you for the CBM team and the CBM family around the world. Please be with them, guide them, bless them where they are.

We also want to thank you for the Canadian Baptist church – a blessed group of brothers and sisters that is helping us to show your love, faith and hope to the people that are in the margins.

God, I also pray for my family. Thank you for being with us. Thank you that you have provided for us every single day. I pray for each member of my family so they can respond in gratitude to your love and your protection.

We want to start this year remembering that you are our Father. What a privilege, what an honour to be your children. Thank you, Father.

And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Patty Nacho

Serving in Bolivia

Patty is a passionate follower of Jesus. She is very proud of her birthplace, the city of La Paz, the political and commercial hub of Bolivia and the highest “capitol “city in the world! She has been invested in the local Bolivian church throughout her life, as a leader in the Baptist Bolivian Youth and also as a deacon in her local church. Before joining CBM as the Global Discipleship Coordinator for Bolivia (February 2015), she worked as an auditor for the Norwegian Mission Alliance in Bolivia. With a degree in Finance and currently working towards completing her MSc in Management and Finance, Patty brings significant organizational skills to her role and a strong commitment to excellence in all that she does. Most importantly we see Patty as a person committed to prayer with a deep sensitivity to God’s leading and with her caring presence, is a welcome addition to the Bolivia team.

In her first year with CBM, Patty has earned our respect as she manages work with our Bolivian partners and churches as well as the dynamics involved in communicating effectively with our Canadian church family.

Patty says, “ It has been a wonderful experience for me to understand more about both Bolivian and Canadian churches and to see how God is working with and through us. I have been blessed to have great colleagues that are serving as CBM Field Staff in Bolivia. I think that our work as a team will strengthen our abilities and gifts. Our CBM partners, UBB and OBADES, while going through significant organizational changes this past year, have been a great support. I know that God is faithful and I look forward to what He will bring this year for Bolivia and Canada.”

“Patty is an incredible gift to CBM and the work in Bolivia. I was able to see first – hand the way she engages visitors from Canada and helps them to understand the Bolivian culture, learn from our partner, and engage well with the projects. Her humble attitude, wisdom and clear heart for the poor help her lead Canadian teams in thoughtful theological reflection and meaningful engagement as they serve and learn together in Bolivia.” Adrian Gardner, Team Leader for Church Engagement

What am I Going to Stop? A good Sabbath Day Question (number 1)

Recently, we stayed in a home where the Saturday evening meal was served with an unusual "menu."

As the food was being passed around the table, each of us responded to four questions. It was a real challenge to think through the intention of Sabbath rest and how we would keep it. Each person, young and old, came up with different answers. I want to talk about these four questions, starting today and going through January. 

The first question was, (the one for today is) "What am I going to stop as I keep the Sabbath?" 

Behind the question is the Biblical principle of taking a day of rest. Each one of us can find ways to rest from the activities of the week. Amazingly, what may be demanding for one person can be restful for another! Consider this: what is "work" for a writer, as is my case, might be a restful activity for the mother of a young child. She rarely gets to sit down to write a note or read a book, so she would not think of the same answer I would give.

Rather than delve into all the layers and legalities of what constitutes "work" and how to cease from it for a day, the question put to us as we enjoyed delicious food that evening caused me to think: How do I stop and rest for a day? For many moons, I've laid aside creative writing and anything to do with business on Sundays. So, when I asked, "What am I going to stop?" the answer was easy. 

(Combined with the other three questions, which I'll mention later, I found this to greatly enhance my enjoyment of the Sabbath day. Many choose Saturday for their Sabbath; I love keeping Sunday as a day of rest and worship.)

And I enjoy the results! Come Monday morning, I continually find I enjoy new ideas, greater energy, and increased resolution. I'm thankful for Sabbath rest. Now, may I ask you to repeat the same question:

"This Sabbath, what am I going to stop?" 

A prayer for Covid-19 situations from Rwanda for other countries

 Heavenly Father,

We praise you that we can be at peace with all of the uncertainty and unexpected events we experienced in 2020, knowing that this year of 2021 is in your loving hands.

We pray for the Rwandan Baptist churches, which have been closed to all activities since mid-March because of COVID-19. With many strict protocols to follow, this has meant that only about 20 of the 200 churches have been able to open again. As a result, there has been little opportunity to give spiritual encouragement to the congregations during a challenging time. It has meant no income for pastors or the denomination. We pray that you would continue to provide for them.

Even beyond the issues surrounding COVID-19, we continue to pray for all of CBM’s partners in Africa – in Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda – as they deal with many challenges and heartaches we seldom experience in Canada. Thank you for their example of deep faith and trust in you in the midst of those struggles.

We also pray for those who manage the different projects that CBM supports worldwide as they try their best to put together plans for this new year. We pray for wisdom and flexibility as they adjust to ever-changing realities.

We praise God for all the people who gave through CBM’s Hopeful Gifts for Change Catalogue.  May they experience the blessing of God, which comes through the generosity of heart, as people they don’t even know are being impacted in wonderful ways because of their gifts.

Having served with CBM for 18.5 years, Lord, we know that it never gets easier being separated from family, even as we move from one life stage to another. We continue to pray for strength and wisdom as we navigate our current stage.

Looking back on 2020, we are grateful for a good home assignment, which allowed us to connect with many churches and supporters and have extended time with family during a critical period.  At the same time, we are also thankful that we can be back here in Kigali, serving alongside our Rwandan brothers and sisters.  It is a wonderful thing to be a part of your worldwide family!

We pray all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Darrell and Laura Lee Bustin

The Bustins joined CBM in 2002 to teach at the Kalimantan Theological Seminary in Pontianak, Indonesia, where they helped to train and mentor future leaders for the local church. They moved to Rwanda in August 2012 to work with CBM’s church partner, the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda. 

Darrell’s primary focus is involved in pastoral training and church leadership development. He works both with pastors, as well as those studying to be pastors and church leaders. Laura Lee is responsible for overseeing the administrative details for the short-term mission (SENT) teams that come to Rwanda. 

Darrell is from Moncton, New Brunswick. Laura Lee is from Pugwash, Nova Scotia. After attending CBM’s Conference on Overseas Ministries in January 2002, Darrell and Laura Lee felt that God was saying “now is the time” to move toward fulfilling the call to overseas ministry that both have felt since childhood. The Bustins have two children, Bronwyn and Caleb, who are both studying in Canada. 

"The One who brings Good News"

 

The Hebrew language has a wonderful word. "M'vaser" means "one who brings good news." 

That is what Jesus Christ, Jeshua Messiah, Isa Mesih, Jesus Cristo did. He brought us good news. He came for people who needed him and brought news to those perishing in body, soul, or spirit. 

Psalm 126:5-6 indicates the task is not always easy. "Those who go forth in tears shall reap joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing. He will come bringing his sheaves with him."

Why the weeping? Because any farmer knows how hard the first part of the harvest is. First, there is the breaking up of the hard soil, digging the right depth, planting the seed, caring for the field, chasing away the birds, and cleaning the field of weeds. 

Do you know a farmer who gives up before harvest time?

But for the M'vaser, there is great joy. Prayer helps us prepare our speech. Intercession breaks down the fallow ground in our hearts. Tears mark the deep divisions we often hide from others, even our family and friends. But there's a promise, folks!

The M'vaser will rejoice with sheaves in his or her arms. May the Lord bless you as you think this year of where you will be sowing the good seed!

Mary's Impossible Task

 Mary Slessor, an intrepid pioneer, left Scotland to work tirelessly in Southern Nigeria. A single woman, she found a way to bring change to tribes where twins were considered a curse. She taught by example, continuing to take in unwanted children. She continued her work among the tribes, teaching God's word and compassion for families, especially women. She was instrumental in ending the practice of the poison bean, which was used to find an accused person guilty or innocent. If the person lived, it meant that he was innocent. Women found a greater sense of dignity. She taught the value of hard work and helped men establish trade with larger towns, bringing prosperity to rural areas. She established the Hope Wardell Trade Institute. Mary Slesser was frequently found sitting between angry chiefs who had long-standing disputes. During these sessions, she knitted and prayed to keep herself calm. For her successful work, Britain made her Counsel and gave her a significant role within the legal system. She continued her activity among Africans until her death on January 13th, 1915, at age 66. Her body was transported to Creek Town, where the uneducated former mill worker was awarded the equivalent of a state funeral. Today she is remembered in Africa and her native Scotland for the hope she brought to hundreds of lives. 

Mary Slessor's life's work was bound up in her constant prayer, one that would be good for all of us to assume at the beginning of this year: "Lord, the task is impossible for me, but not for thee. Lead the way, and I will follow."

Watch the free 30-minute movie from Revelation Media, free until January 31st.

https://www.revelationmedia.com/TLMaryS/RM16469/

What is "Blue"? Speaking and understanding the meaning behind the words.

 

Living in Canada, we used to hear the phrase, "I'm feeling blue." Or, we listened to "blues" music.

Then we went to Brazil and learned a delightful phrase, "Tudo azul!" (Literally, "Everything's blue!)

In North America, and for those speaking English, "blue" has the connotation of feeling downcast, feeling moody, not knowing what's ahead, or harkening back to something, or someone, or some time when things were better than right now.

But Brazilians, Portuguese, Angolans, and those in Mozambique know that "Tudo azul" is a most optimistic phrase. As in: "The sky is blue, and everything is going to be fine!" Or, "I just bought a used car, and boy did I ever get a great deal!" Or, "I sat down for my university entrance exams, and I'm positive that I passed with flying colors!"

How can a color represent such opposite meanings? Well, words convey cultural meanings, much as a cloudy sky carries water hidden in the atmosphere. You can't see what's there, but you have a good idea of how others interpret things. You can even forecast the weather (sometimes)!

Coming into 2021, we need to make a decision, not a "New Year's Resolution."--There's a phrase that can be unpacked with as many layers of tears as a freshly harvested onion! -- It's a commitment to live lovingly. It's so necessary is to speak words that build others up, but so easy to tear down another person through a quick, unkind comment. Let's think about the words we use and what we mean in the hidden layers of our speech. 

Or, as Colossians 4:6 puts it -- with a ton of hidden meanings within the meaning of "salt" -- "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Tudo azul!

"Great Gain"

 

"Great gain!"

That's our family word for the year. 

As in, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."     1 Timothy 6:6. 

In 2020, our family's word was "Joy," and we found the joy of the Lord throughout the most difficult of days.

In 2019, our family's word was "Holy," and we perceived God's holiness in many ways. 

"Lord, Help us to be content with what we have, the health you send our way, the difficulties we will face, and in the midst of every event, may we seek first the Kingdom of God. Teach us that great gain is not measured by what we can count in the bank account, or the number of friends. May we learn from our Saviour who every day was able to teach others your ways to others."