Ministry: Evangelism and Discipleship
The gospel is the power of God to transform lives at every level. It is good news for the Fulani. as for anyone else. It meets people in their own culture, but it also calls us to a complete new basis of life.
So I have been seeking to share the good news of Christ with the Muslim Fulani of the Burkina Faso Sahel,
trying to find what the gospel means in this culture and people.
Good news to the poor
"Blessed are you who are poor," Jesus said to his followers, "for yours is the kingdom of heaven." (Lk 6:20).Jesus said that he had come to preach good news to the poor. (Lk 4:18). Those who are poor and excluded have a special place in God's heart, and the gospel is good news for them, bringing hope, forgiveness, and freedom. An area like this needs well-targetted aid and development. Changes are also needed to structural injustices that keep the poor enslaved. But I remain convinced that the best hope for the Fulani is the gospel of Christ.
The good news of Christ not only brings a restoration of relationship with God, but also freedom from self-destructive ways of thinking and acting, and social and physical transformation. One development worker - an atheist - frustrated at the end of his two year contract, said to me: "our work in development will not be successful, until you missionaries have more impact."
So I have been sharing the good news of Christ with those who are interested. Mostly this has been one-to-one, in personal visiting and sharing. I have also preached at the market and been invited at times into local mosques to share the message of Christ.
Cultural Adaptation
I have sought to take a culturally sensitive approach - not imposing outside
patterns of lifestyle or worship, but trying to help the Fulani discover Christ
from within their own culture. I have lived in their housing, dressed like
them, learned their language, eaten their food, and tried to understand their
concerns. They have helped me with my cows, and I have sought to help them find
God's grace and help in their daily lives. While sat on mats under the
acacias, we have discussed God, money, sex, divorce, cows - all the important
things of life.
Jesus and Islam
As Muslims, they believe in God of course. And they know there is a day of judgement, and
that we need forgiveness and salvation. They also know of Jesus from the Quran.
They know he was a great prophet, the Messiah, born of the virgin Mary by the power of God. They
know that he was sinless, did miracles, ascended into heaven and that he will return again at the
end of the world.
So they like to hear about Jesus. They call me "moodibbo Isa"
- the Jesus preacher. I have talked in homes, and preached in the market. On
occasion I have been invited into mosques to discuss together with people, and
share about Christ. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree, but they have
always been hospitable and respectful.
(Read more about sharing Christ in the local mosque)
Following Christ
A few individuals and families have chosen to follow the way of Jesus.
It has not been easy for them. Their families
often do not understand, and in consequence, those who choose to follow Christ
are often sidelined from their community. They are often the only believer in
their village.
In a region hit by poverty and drought, they have lost the
traditional networks of support that they depended upon. Because of such
pressures, many have chosen to return to Islam.
But there is a small group of people who have persevered through the struggles, and are continuing to follow Christ. Working together with local pastors, I seek to encourage and teach these believers, and to help them discover what it means to be truly Christian, without abandoning their Fulani identity and heritage. Some have been baptised. They sometimes meet with the Mossi Christians, in spite of the cultural and linguistic challenges. But they also are developing their own Fulani expression of church and worship.
Radical Discipleship
In response to the need and struggles of new Fulani Christians we see the need for meaningful discipleship models whereby Fulani converts can be established in the new life of the kingdom of God. In 2003, we gathered a small number of Fulani believers from the north of Burkina to live together during the rainy season for four months as an experimental holistic discipling community, with three main goals:
- Personal Discipleship, helping believers develop a lifestyle of faith, worship and service within Fulani culture.
- Church as Community, where Fulani believers bond together in a new sense of identity and belonging as the family of God.
- Economic Liberation, enabling the believers to learn new skills through rice growing, to help them to provide for their families.
The object was a whole-life discipleship that would be practical as well as devotional. Community life is central. We shared not only the word, but also our whole lives - living, eating, working, sleeping, praying, studying and playing together 24 hours/day. Learning happened as much while working in the fields together as in study.
After four months, the believers returned to their villages, stronger in their faith, and with a clearer sense of identity within the community that is the family of God. But they also went with food for their families, and with new skills for the future. This is one approach to discipleship that we want to continue to explore in the coming years.
Ways Forward
Empowering local workers. One of the key elements is empowering local workers. In 2007 as I write this, I am working with national pastors and Christians to explore these and other approaches to evangelism and discipleship as we aim to help Fulani meet God and discover the life-transforming power of the good news of Christ from within their own culture.(Read more about Empowering Local Workers in Ministry)
Social & community ministry. Alongside evangelism and discipleship, we are always.
looking for appropriate ways to respond to the needs of local people as they identify priorities
to serve and empower communities
.
(Read more about Social and Community Ministry)
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