REFLECTIONS ON MINISTRY IN BURKINA FASO!

         In reflecting on ministry here in one of the poorest countries in the world, it is hard not to get concerned. There is so much need all around. One sees men and women, young and old, widows and orphans, and the physically and mentally handicapped on the streets every day. One meets people all the time whose happiness depends on earning just a dollar a day.
          [I have never forgotten my first encounter with a street “bandit,” a young person who lives on the streets, when we first came to Africa several years ago in Bouaké. He had learned to live by cutting his leg every time he needed money, which seemed to be on a weekly basis. He understood “missionary” talk and could convince most missionaries of his sincerity. Moussa’s ingenuity in learning how to live on the streets still amazes me.]
          When someone from another cultural background arrives in an environment like this, they are perceived as “rich” and “powerful.” It is not hard to believe that some of these people, seeking a way to feed their families, would like to be joined to these “rich” and “powerful” people. It would not matter if they were missionaries or with another secular aid organization. It is hard not to “gain” a following in whatever endeavor one takes.
         We feel the pressure in this respect to ministry here in Burkina. We feel that there are people who have sought to attach themselves to our ministries here as a way to live; to provide for their families; to have a hope for a better tomorrow. (We cannot fault them for these desires, nor would we ever disparage them from pursuing these desires.) We have prayerfully sought God’s leadership in who we are allowing to be part of our growing ministry team.
          We have refused several requests from others to be a part of our Bible Institute. We have refused, time and time again, young, and sometimes old, pastors from wanting to become “Baptists” under our ministries. We have refused to start works in other villages at the requests of people from those villages. We have refused all these things with a broken heart; with the hope that we are allowing God to lead us; with the prayer that God would reach this country with the Gospel in all of the glorious manifestations of a biblical faith that is evidenced by the reality "that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
          We feel, by the grace of God, that He is continuing to provide quality people for ministry here. We have prayed over each of these co-laborers among the Burkinabé. We continue to pray for them each day. Still these doubts persist; "have they attached themselves to a so-called 'rich' and 'powerful' person? Do they seek a ministry opportunity? Or are they after a 'job'?" We detest these nagging doubts as they hinder relationship building.
          We have come to the realization that God’s will is being done. Whatever lies in the future, with respect to these men and their future ministries, is in the hands of the Almighty God who desires to see all of Burkina Faso impacted in the name of His Son. We thank God for any opportunity to be a part of building a sound Biblically based foundation here in the second poorest country in the world.
          The only way to truly know where these men stand will be when they are completely independent of our training, our leadership and our finances. Oh, how we long for that day when we can truly have independent, Baptist churches, with independent, Baptist pastors who have Burkinabé leading them. Some may seek other missionary organizations in the future. Others, by God’s grace, with remain firm in the faith. We do not have any way of truly knowing until that day.
We do not know what God has in store for tomorrow. We have been given today, and today these are the men and the women, that God desires of us to disciple, to train, to develop. May God grant us His grace to live for Him today!

Web Editor - Don Tarvin
Updated 18 Jan 2009