Door of Hope

Too Hungry to Cry

“The hunger just eats away at your body,” says a grandmother in the Horn of Africa, where 13.3 million are at risk because of the worst drought in 60 years. “You can’t work. All you can do is sleep. The children don’t even have energy to cry.”

Christmas | Prophecy Fulfilled

A joyful African Christmas song, set to accompanying artwork, proclaims what the prophets foretold long ago – the promised child is Jesus. Let’s celebrate the Savior of all nations!

Bound by Myths

Abstinence causes insanity; you can’t get AIDS if the Holy Spirit lives in you; having sex with a virgin will cure the disease. Myths like these led Swaziland to have the highest adult HIV prevalence in the world, around 26 percent.

Trucking the Gospel

Truck drivers in West Africa face death each day. They fear that they will not make it home to their families. Retirement? Insurance? They don’t exist. Temptations? Hardships? They abound. Christians in the region have a vision to share the Gospel with drivers, hoping the Good News will spread along the truck routes.

New Kingdom for Old

Centuries ago the Songhai were one of the world’s great empires, second only to the Mongolian empire in size. Today most Songhai live hand-to-mouth, eking out an existence in the harsh deserts of western Africa. But now a new kingdom is building among them – the kingdom of God.

Serving Alone

“So many of us feel like we have to wait until we’re married before we can live just like the Lord wants us to live,” says a single missionary in Botswana who encourages other singles to get involved in missions. “I think we need to get out and serve wherever we are, whatever status we are in life.”

Grace in Crisis

A young missionary had a worthy dream – to provide clean water for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But when a gruesome accident split his face in two, it seemed the dream might be lost.

Following God to Namibia

The sight of kids fighting over a pot of food inspires a widow with two kids to settle in an unfamiliar country, find a partner, and start a ministry feeding and educating children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Returning Home

A civil war forced Pastor Samuel Sesay and his family to flee their home. As refugees in a neighboring nation, they worked alongside missionaries sharing the Gospel with a Muslim people group. Now they’ve crossed back over the border to continue sharing Christ among the people group at home.

Two Countries, One Faith

Young adults from the United States and South Africa find family in each other while partnering on an International World Changers mission project in South Africa.

A Hospital in Need

It’s tough to run a hospital without consistent electricity and water. Yet for decades people have flocked to this rural hospital in Zimbabwe, knowing they’ll receive good care and won’t be turned away if they can’t pay. A die-hard doctor and his family want to preserve the legacy.

A Time to Heal

In the tension surrounding Ivory Coast’s presidential stand-off (and the years of civil war leading up to it), people were victims of intimidation, curfews and stray bullets. Now, Christians give thanks to God and pursue reconciliation as life slowly returns to normal.

World’s Newest Nation

A spirit of excitement resonates among residents of South Sudan, poised to become the world’s newest nation on July 9, 2011. As independence day approaches, Christians anticipate more opportunities to share the Gospel and worship freely.

Off the Grid

It’s not often a family of four drops everything to disappear off the grid for three months. But that’s exactly what this small-town, Idaho-native family did, crossing coastlines and cultures to share God’s word in a small village in Senegal.

Years Not Wasted

Many college students stop going to church and ignore the things of God. “Those are a lot of wasted years,” says an advocate for Fusion, a program that combines discipleship and missions. “… Fusion was designed to … catch them in that very critical time in their lives…”

Unthinkable Forgiveness

In Rwanda’s genocide, thousands were hacked to death by machete, women were violently and repeatedly raped, and children’s heads were smashed into brick walls. Today, survivors are choosing to forgive those who mistreated them and killed their families.

No Time for Comfort

“It doesn’t matter how much I sweat,” says a worker with the Hands On program in Senegal. “It doesn’t matter how many days I go without taking a shower. It doesn’t matter if I have to eat something I don’t like. … All that matters is the Gospel.”

Caught in the Crossfire

“I murdered people, and I raped women, and I enjoyed it,” says a former rebel solder in eastern Congo. With the help of local pastors, he and hundreds of other soldiers found forgiveness in Christ. But they, and their victims, still struggle with what they’ve done.

Gospel Explosion

The Gospel is spreading like wildfire in rural Zimbabwe, where 700 people accepted Christ and six new churches started in the past year. A church planter says it’s the first time he’s “seen local community take ownership for the Gospel and understand their responsibility to share the Gospel.”

Glorifying God in Turmoil

As uprisings in Africa escalate, Christians are seeing God make Himself known in the midst of chaos. “We who are outside of the situation pray for and are partners with people inside the situation, and God is working through both of us to make Himself known,” says a seminary professor. Learn how you can pray.

Step by Step: Changing a Nation

A pastor adopts a troubled street kid. A couple stays pure till marriage. A smiling AIDS victim encourages patients at the clinic where she now works. Step by step, believers in Zambia are changing the makeup of a country with one of the world’s worst HIV/AIDS pandemics.

Nations Divided

President vs. president. Muslim vs. Christian. North vs. south. Throughout Africa political, religious and ethnic conflicts are dividing nations, and believers are calling on the global Christian community to pray for their countries.

A Christmas Greeting

Celebrate Christmas Africa style with this thoughtful rendition of a holiday classic. The drummer boy gladly offered what little he had to honor the newborn King. This holiday season, what gift will you give Him?

Beacon of Hope

Amid towering trash piles and open sewage, a small, tin-framed church is bringing hope to a Nairobi community. First Eastleigh Baptist Church trains former prostitutes and impoverished community members to start small businesses, and is seeking to share God’s love with Muslim neighbors.

World AIDS Day

Life’s not so sweet in Sweetwaters, a rural South African community where seemingly every yard is filled with graves. Many adults have died of AIDS, and children are left to care for their households. December 1 is a day to remember those suffering and learn ways we can help.

The Church Meets in Africa

Four thousand participants from 198 countries gather in Cape Town, South Africa, for perhaps the widest and most diverse gathering in the history of the church: the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.

First Contact

Centuries ago, Arab traders traveling by dhow brought Islam to Africa’s eastern coast. Now missionaries in Mozambique are using a dhow to spread the Gospel along those same shorelines.

People of the Rainforest

“Adventure evangelists” trek the rainforest of Madagascar, searching for hidden villages and assessing villagers’ challenges. Later, they’ll return to meet human needs while sharing the Gospel.

Back for More

Semester missionaries in “the great thirst land” of Botswana eagerly return the following year to pick up where they left off: planting new churches, encouraging young believers, and starting work in new areas.

Orphan Ministry

In Johannesburg’s squatter camps, AIDS is killing off a generation, and orphans are growing up virtually on the streets. Meet two women providing, love, care, counseling and provision of physical needs for these children.

Gospel Art

For centuries women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East have used henna, a temporary tattoo drawn onto hands, arms and legs, to beautify themselves. In east Africa, henna is used to illustrate and tell Bible stories — symbols in the drawings remind women of stories they’ve heard and help them tell others.

In Their Own Words

Throughout Africa, missionaries are planting their lives among unique people groups and demonstrating what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Here, in their own words, they share the joys and challenges of cross-cultural work.

To the Ends of the Earth

“Ends of the earth” is sometimes overused in mission circles, but eastern Niger really does feel like the most remote location on the planet. “The Gospel hasn’t made it here yet. That’s why we have to be here,” says a missionary. “…“Not everyone gets that opportunity, to be the first person to tell someone about Jesus.”

South Africa Is Still Here

The prayer of IMB urban missionaries in South Africa is that God would use the soccer World Cup to draw attention to the lost people of the nation’s cities. IMB missionaries minister in five cities that were hosts of the 2010 World Cup: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

World Cup Ministries – Part II

South Africa is the first African nation to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a soccer tournament that many deem the most anticipated sporting event on earth. Christians are taking advantage of this to share Christ in local communities through soccer clinics, big screen showings, and more.

World Cup Ministries

South Africa is the first African nation to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a soccer tournament that many deem the most anticipated sporting event on earth. Christians are taking advantage of this to share Christ in local communities through soccer clinics, big screen showings, and more.

Forty Years of Influence

Franklin and Paula Kilpatrick worked among Zambian Christians as publishers of Christian literature, as teachers, as church planters and as leaders, friends and counselors for forty years. They retire next year and feel like they could keep doing what they are doing another forty years.

Unopened Hearts

Ibrahima Dieng has heard the Gospel many times, he is no closer now to being a Christian than he was ten years ago. He is typical of many residents of Dakar, Senegal, a city that is 96 percent Muslim.

A Better Alternative

IMB missionary Alan Locke and his team have started various ministries to build relationships and community with Sowetans. From coaching boys’ soccer teams and teaching girls’ clubs to leading abstinence and Christian living trainings, the missionaries are making an impact with the Gospel.

Reaching Mungiki

Kenyan pastor Michael Kabochi’s life is regularly threatened by Mungiki, a quasi-religious sect that’s synonymous with machete killings, rape and organized crime. But, Kobochi bravely shares the Gospel with Mungiki, claiming, “The blood of Jesus was shed for them as much as it was for me.”

Fighting Neverland

Chronic conflicts in Sudan have led to food shortages, a damaged economy and a lack of access to basic health services, education and jobs. Young IMB missionaries are using HIV/AIDS awareness, hygiene projects and other methods to share the Gospel and meet community needs.

Human Trafficking

Raped and kicked out of home, “Lisha” turned to a boyfriend who eventually forced her into prostitution. Transferred to another pimp and coerced into moving, she’s far from home and desperate for a way out. But with the coming of the World Cup, human trafficking will only increase in South Africa.

Violence in Nigeria

Over the past several years, churches in Jos, Nigeria, have been shaken by violent outbreaks in which both Christians and Muslims were killed. Over 500 are dead after the most recent attacks in March, 2010. Pastors struggle to know how to encourage suffering congregations.

Fusion

Students spend a semester in southern Sudan putting into practice the previous semesters classroom learning of sharing about Jesus in harsh environment.

Africa Water Crisis

Baptist Global Response helps to relieve difficulties in obtaining potable water through pumping and filtering projects.

Healing Bodies, Healing Souls

All over the world, Christians use a variety of means to share the Gospel of Christ and reach the lost. For First Baptist Church of Alexander City, Alabama, hosting medical clinics opens the door to minister to both physical and spiritual needs.

“We escaped with our lives.”

The entire town, including the market area, was looted. All the food supplies were burned. In the end more than 10,000 people ran from Akot, Sudan, and the surrounding areas to seek shelter in 13 nearby villages.

Doll Maker

Kate Ncube hand makes and sells dolls of 17 southern Africa tribes, or people groups. “I enjoy learning about other cultures,” Kate said. “It gives me a lot of insight and helps me understand a person. To understand them, I must understand their culture!”

Mountain Men

Weeks without a bath. Blizzard conditions with only a coal stove for warmth. Layers of clothing that just get changed around every couple of days. Life is rough for three short-term missionaries in the mountains of Lesotho, but it’s worth it for the chance to share Christ’s love.

African-Americans Reaching Africans

Broadview Church is a pioneer — one of the first African-American congregations to tackle the challenge of taking the Gospel to an unreached people group in western Africa. “AfricaStories” will chronicle their journey, beginning here with their first vision trip.

Soccer in Soweto

An interschool soccer tournament in a South African township provides missionaries with opportunities to build relationships, impact a community and share the Gospel.

Just Another Way to Die

If things don’t change, the Basotho people of Lesotho may cease to exist in less than 26 years. They’re dying of AIDS — some by choice, since contracting HIV entitles them to government help. In this impoverished mountain area, AIDS is just one more way to die.

Life on the Streets of Nairobi

About 20 boys sleep on the streets of Nairobi’s Riverside. Some are orphans, some were abused, some were kicked out. Walk alongside Oscar, who’s beaten and tortured by the other boys. And meet Eunice, who’s burdened to help the boys despite some hateful actions.

Presidential Visit to Ghana

President Barak Obama challenges citizens of Ghana to take responsibility for building a better future. Hear Ghanaian Christians’ reactions to the speech, and explore the faith of this nation’s God-centered business people.

Amazing Grace

Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle is a haunting relic of the slave trade, but it’s also a beacon of light in a bustling tourist town. Here, reflections on evil turning to good, not only for the castle but also for a slave ship captain who penned the hymn “Amazing Grace.”

African American Challenge

African Americans have a strong and proud history in international missions. But in the last century that’s often what it’s been – history. Missionary Troy Lewis challenges the African American church to consider its heritage and continue embracing the task of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Zimbabwe: Attitude of Gratitude

Political and economic turmoil have resulted in hunger and hopelessness for many Zimbabweans. But a food distribution project spurred a cycle of giving that brought comfort and hope to some widows, a Christian publishing house and a school.

Map

The map below pinpoints locations featured in our stories, along with a summary of the stories told from there. (Please note the markers are not of specific locations but just general representations of where stories took place.)

Years Not Wasted

Years Not Wasted

Video-A Family of Friends

Fusion students grow closer to God and each other as they minister in Africa.

Photo Gallery

In Botswana, the Fusion team researches new ministry areas and strengthens an existing church.

Sketch Gallery

A small church is encouraged and challenged by students from the United States.

Years Not Wasted

by Zoe Allen
Share This |

Posted June 15, 2011

ANGOLA—The day was overcast as two young missionaries walked through the forest with their translator. They were working hard to fulfill God’s plan for their lives, but they couldn’t see His purpose for them in this place.

“It didn’t seem like we were doing much at all,” said Dustin Surber, 22. “We were questioning God: ‘Why are we here? What are we doing?’ ”

As Surber and his teammate, Jonathan Hunter, walked and talked with their translator they found themselves in a small, remote village. As it began to rain a man appeared — their first contact from the village. He offered them shelter inside his house until the storm passed.

In the small house it was completely dark. The men seated themselves on a couch and struggled to hear each other over the sound of rain thundering against the tin roof. Despite the storm, Surber and Hunter were able to share the story of Nicodemus with the man and his friend.

“This man was very heavily into a [works-based] salvation, and we were just able to explain the Gospel and how we come to salvation through faith in Christ,” said Surber. “The man ended up … putting his faith and trust in Christ right then.”

Then, turning to his friend, the Angolan man encouraged him and he also came to know Christ in a new way — as his personal Savior.

Surber and Hunter, 19, are two of six students who spent a semester doing international mission work in Angola and Botswana through the Fusion program. They spent their time traveling throughout the two countries doing research for the Baptist conventions there. Their goal was to assess the local churches and gain an understanding of how evangelical work can best be continued or enhanced.

Fusion is a one-year program based out of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. It is a discipleship program designed to help Christian students maintain a strong relationship with God throughout their college years.

“The majority of students, when they leave their home and go to college they stop going to church,” explained Anne Gardner,* a student advocate for Fusion. “They stop being involved in the things of God. Those are a lot of wasted years. Some of them come back and make good choices later on and some don’t. So Fusion was designed to sort of catch them in that very critical time in their lives and instill in them good, basic, biblical principles to help them grow into adulthood.”

Fusion is divided into two semesters. The first semester is spent on Midwestern’s campus and involves training classes and activities concerning language, survival, first aid, world view, Christian leadership, Christian fellowship, evangelism, transportation and church planting. The second semester is spent overseas working as a group and as individuals to bring God’s light into spiritually dark places. Throughout the entire year there is a heavy emphasis on discipleship and personal growth.

After two months in Angola this Fusion team was transferred to Maun, Botswana, to work in conjunction with IMB missionary Brian Beadle. They continued with their ethnographic research, but were also able to work with the only Baptist church in Maun.

In Angola, the Fusion team traveled with translators who assisted with their research and ministries. After arriving in Botswana the students were pleased to find that English is widely spoken throughout the country, which enabled them to communicate more freely.

“I’ve had several opportunities to [explain] the Gospel to them and have had people come to know Jesus,” said Jane Cluck, 21. “So the Lord has really grown a new confidence that I did not know I had before.”

After a few short weeks in Botswana, the students could clearly see how God was working through them, not only in Maun but also in their own lives. Samantha Merciez, 19, said: “It’s been a very humbling experience being here and being able to serve Him and watching my team grow — just seeing how different we are and all the different backgrounds we come from and how God has changed us in so many ways … binding us together for the work of [His] kingdom.”

This Fusion team unanimously agreed that their year in the program had changed each of their lives for the better. Each team member testifies to a new confidence in their spiritual walk, and a renewed passion for Christ.

“[Students] come in [to the program] because God has called them,” said Hunter. “Fusion helps them to be strong in their faith — that they will not grow weary and that they will finish the race and finish the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.”

For more information on Fusion, visit FUSION.

*Name changed

Zoe Allen is a writer for IMB’s Global Communication Team.

8 Responses to “Years Not Wasted”

  1. Mary Coffey says:
    June 15, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    This is great!! I love it and am so thankful that God called my daughter to this program this past year.

    Reply
  2. Kacie Parkhurst says:
    June 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    Ya’ll are awesome and I love you all, the Lord worked through and in each one of you so much and I am so thankful our lives crossed paths. Each of you has encouraged me in a different way. Die well friends :) John 3:30

    Reply
  3. Zoe Allen says:
    June 16, 2011 at 6:49 am

    Thank you Mary! That’s wonderful about your daughter. I know she’ll have a sweet time of growth and discipleship in the Lord.

    Reply
  4. Nancy McKernan says:
    June 17, 2011 at 7:00 am

    I am so honored to have had a dear granddaughter in this program. These 5 will carry these experiences forever in their hearts. Jesus has called and they have answered!

    Reply
  5. Lisa Gammon says:
    June 29, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    I love reading about and seeing pictures of the awesome Fusion students! My son is a Fusion 2010 alumni! I hold a special place in my heart for everyone involved with Fusion.

    Reply
  6. Zoe Allen says:
    June 30, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Wow so many people connected to Fusion! I bet you guys have some cool stories you could share too. It will be neat to hear how God has used Fusion and how He will continue to work through the Fusion program. Please feel free to share the Fusion news you’ve been blessed by also!

    Reply
  7. Cheryl Cluck says:
    July 18, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    You did an awesome job on this story, Zoe! I keep coming back to look at it as my daughter’s team has a special place in my heart, as well as ALL of the Fusion teams! What an incredible journey the Lord has taken them on!

    Reply
    • Zoe Allen says:
      July 19, 2011 at 3:00 am

      Thank you Mrs. Cluck! It’s so encouraging to hear about people enjoying my stories. Listening to the teams interviews I could really tell that they had a special bond with each other and were all very in love with God. I know God will use their fusion time to better their futures in wonderful ways.

      Reply

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