It’s a land of mystery and, most certainly, adventure – with uncharted territories, caravans, Sultans, and a fast-growing capital city. But it’s also a land of tremendous potential for the gospel. In many ways, Chad is unique in this regard.
Neglected, abused, run off by a jealous step-father—whatever the reason, Nairobi has produced tens of thousands of street children. They run on fear, on drugs, and on the will to survive one more day. Some, a few fortunate ones, run into a second chance.
But what if this film, with its aim to awaken the African church to get serious about sending missionaries, was more lasting than all that? We may never know, but Ted could be right. He was certainly right when he said, “God made this movie.”
There are probably hundreds of manly pursuits that can offer access to these kinds of discipleship opportunities. Do the young men wallowing in the pews of the Western church ever hear about these? What about those who visit a mission agency website? Are they discovering a place of radical surrender where their vocation, and God’s heart for the nations, meet?
On March 4th, Kenyans go to the polls to elect a new president among many other posts. Five years ago the same elections led to riots, chaos, violence, and the death of hundreds. Those wounds have not completely healed, and now Kenya is poised at a crossroads once again. One path leads to a better future. And another to a bitter past.
What struck me from my interactions with those who shared their stories was how AIDS, once the politics and economics and demographics are stripped away, is always about a person simply longing for transformation: From sick to well. From outcast to loved. From hopeless to hopeful.