Trip to East Africa Reveals the Joyful Fruits of Long Labor
PETER W. TEAGUE
I recently traveled 14,454 miles, across 7 time zones, to Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda. A trip I have taken many times, I arrived home with no flight delays, no lost luggage, and in perfect health.
The first leg of our trip, we spent several days at the Empower Hope Leadership Center in Nairobi and interacted with their staff of 24. Several months ago, they all received a copy of our book, Jesus Leader, and conducted a month-long study, chapter by chapter. They were thrilled to interact with me and discuss leadership principles covered in the book.
It was a joy to participate in the historic week of celebration, reflection, and inauguration of Cornerstone University in Kampala. This Christian liberal arts institution is an outgrowth of our partnership these past ten years with Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN) founded by Dr. Richmond Wandera. What began as a vision on paper, is now rising from the earth as brick, timber, and light. The entire campus, once a jungle on my first visit in 2015, is as beautiful as it is purposeful. PDN is an organization that has become recognized as the leading voice in East Africa bringing training to 15,322 front line pastors who represent close to 1.9 million people in their churches.
My last Sunday in Kampala, I was privileged to preach to hundreds of vibrant Ugandan believers at New Life Church – a church determined to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to a community surrounded by more than 250 brothels in a two-mile radius – to witness hope in action. This congregation is committed to offering life giving alternatives in a neighborhood plagued by domestic violence, gambling, and substance abuse. My message was entitled, “A Special Place, A Special People, A Special Purpose” taken from 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Once again, I was reminded that the Church is expansive, and God’s plan is being revealed everywhere.
It was so rewarding to be able to see some of the fruit that has come from our efforts these past 10 years as we do not often get the opportunity to do so.
I am reminded of the words of Charles Colson about the heroes of the faith who did not have a guarantee that they would see the results of their work:
"Most of the great figures of the Old Testament died without ever seeing the fulfillment of the promises they relied upon (Hebrews 11:39). Paul expended himself building the early church, but as his life drew to a close he could see only a string of tiny outposts along the Mediterranean, many weakened by fleshly indulgence or divided over doctrinal issues.
"In more recent times, the great colonial pastor Cotton Mather prayed for revival several hours each day for twenty years; the Great Awakening began the year he died. The British Empire abolished slavery as the Christian parliamentarian and abolitionist leader William Wilberforce lay on his deathbed, exhausted from his nearly fifty-year campaign against the practice of human bondage. Few were the converts during Hudson Taylor's lifelong mission work in the Orient; but today millions of Chinese embrace the faith he so patiently planted and tended.” (Colson, Loving God, p.36)
Perhaps, the Lord often does not allow us to see what is accomplished through our efforts because of our propensity to boast in what we do rather than give Him the credit. A lot can happen when we leave the results to the Lord.
My recent trip reminded me of Paul in I Corinthians, “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” A spirit of renewed determination, commitment to faithfulness, to constancy, to endurance, no matter how somber the road or how high the cost is what we must work for. Regardless of unprecedented pressures, we daily strive to recommit ourselves to abounding in the work of the Lord. American poet James Russell Lowell said, “Not failure, but low aim, is crime.”
We are called to be steadfast, faithful, and to demonstrate the disciplines of durability. What I am suggesting is we emulate the endurance of Moses who led the exodus (Heb 11:27). This gives us his life in a nutshell. Moses possessed the discipline of durability. He had staying power. How? The biblical text tells us, “as seeing Him who is unseen.” He fixed his eyes on his invincible Lord and never looked back.
On the basis of Moses’ example, I would challenge every one of us to endure, stand firm, be steadfast, stay faithful, and model the disciplines of durability. Remember God’s purposes for his Church. Don’t dumb down the cause of Christ. May it be said of us we practiced enduring faithfulness never fully realizing the impact our lives are having on others.
“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor…is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV).
Peter Teague Ed.D, President Emeritus at Lancaster Bible College, serves as an IACE Board Member.