One world, Two kingdoms

South Africa

I had the opportunity to read from Martin Luther King Jr.'s book "strength to love". It was an amazing time reading from a man who understood laying his life down for the sake of a cause he believed in. This is not to exalt him above the work of justice but to see his likeness with Jesus and the cross. The quote below reminds me so much of Jesus saying to his disciples, "the son of man must die". Why did Jesus care less about his death? My guess would be, he understood that death was no defeat but marks the beginning of victory. Rev. King understood that. He saw the exciting moments of freedom and victory...without him but yet he was excited to go for what he believed was worth dying for. Please read the quote below and if possible read his book or get the sermon, "I've been to the mountaintop".

And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Journey...

One of the few ministries around that I had had an opportunity to work with over here in Nigeria.
Kingdom ambassador outreach ministry in focus (KAMGLO)
Head: Rev. Stephen Tauna.

An inside/CV of Rev. Tauna.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Thomas Tauna had his first employment after his seminary as a church pastor at Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) at the recommendation of Prof. George Janvier and Paul Fritz both from the USA working with SIM Nigeria. Rev. Tauna as a child felt God's call to be an evangelist to the dying world around him. He started as a town preacher at the age of 10. A great man of God who I have had the opportunity to work and learn from. His ministry I can attest is one that would bring a depth in the spiritual lives of people in the muslim North and the North Central part of Nigeria. He founded and heads KAMGLO at the moment. He has worked before now in this capacities:

Itinerant Evangelist 1996 - 2001
Church pastor 2002 - 2003
Mission/Evangelism co-ordinator 2003 - 2006
Board member, National association of Certified theologians of Nigeria 2006 - date
President KAMGLO ministries.

ACTIVITIES at KAMGLO
City evangelism crusades
Evangelism outreaches
Church planting
Prayer crusades
Seminars on Child Abuse
Mission awareness campaign.

KAMGLO is principally involved in crusades evangelism, interdenominational prayers, church planting and awareness on HIV/AIDS, child and women trafficking.

Break down ministry.
I have had the privilege of working with KAMGLO in one of the outreaches at the Nigeria/Benin Border among the Kambari, Dukawa and Busawa tribes that are aparse across the two borders with a population of 800,000 people in total. We have seen about 11 churches planted with missionaries and five churches without missionaries and are operating under trees.
800,000 population is without Clothes, clean water, health care and literacy (schools), living a step away from the stone age.

For these people lives to be transformed some things that needs to be in place.

Church building:
A place for these people to worship. This people live under a very harsh weather condition. I don't know about you but I will be very uncomfortable to worship under 42-45℃. Not a fancy building for sure but a place that can hold these people while the fellowship in this new faith.
Classrooms and teaching materials:
For this people to enjoy a relationship with God they must be able to read from his word. There would be a need for the bible to be translated into these tribes but before that, as they grow they would get to a point where they would want to read for themselves. I believe one of the big difference between Islam and Christianity is that we can read and understand for ourselves because the word is accessible for all. Praise God! Not only the word these people will like to know about other things; things that reveal God: science, technology, life in general. I say technology, not necessarily computers and stuff but the ability to make proper use of resource available to them. Classrooms are empty without Teachers and students. The need for teachers can not be separated from the needs for classrooms.

Clinics:
While we were there, there was missiles outbreak. We were told that many died. This and many other diseases that could be easily cared kills these people. The need is great but I must say the need for them to stay alive is the greatest. I could see for this people a future with God. They are vicious in nature, imagine them having the knowledge of God? they would be radicals and warriors. How can we tell them about a God that cares if we don't show them love by cleaning their wounds and finding a way to prevent and cure disease...together with them?

10 wells in 10 villages:
A need for clean drinking water is big. Have you ever drank water that looks like lemonade but is water? these people suffer from lots and lots of water borne diseases that could be easily cured by digging a well for them. 10 villages we visited are in great need. We only pray? but the question I want to pour is are this people important to God? I view them as important as I am to God and I would love them to enjoy from God's gift of life and many other things including water that he has given to sustain life...Clean water.

Other needs:
Shoes and clothes:
There is a huge need for clothes and shoes. Most of these people run around half naked and without shoes like most people in other parts of Nigeria and west Africa.

I see a great need of not only getting involved in the places that are not heard of or known by many. KAMGLO also works in the city of Kaduna (one of the most important city/state for both Christian and muslims because it is second to Jos/Plateau in the North when it comes to Christianity and Islam is coming in more and more even more than before) with Youth and women. The need of fellowship and teaching of the word is huge around this part of the world like another place. The more the Christians in the North of Nigeria have access to the word and experience transformation in their lives (which in most cases is a process) the more it has the ability to combat Islam and also transform the nation of Nigeria.

Like any other place in the world at any point and time in History, God has not called us to save the world but has called us to tell the world about the savior. Salvation is not only for the spirit man but also the physical man. This part of Africa needs to see and experience this.
I don't intend to pursue this me alone but with anyone and everyone that has a burning passion to see transformation as the early church saw in the early days of Christianity.

Finally thanks to all those praying for the working laborers. Your prayers are not empty, the yield so much.

For those who want to partner in the work contact me at the email address below.

For further information on KAMGLO go to: www.kingdomambassadors777.org
For more information on YWAM, go to: www.ywam.org and www.jemburtigny.ch

some of my thoughts could be read on:
http://graceabound.blogspot.com and also contact me at:
Gabstevens2003

Unfairness

My heart breaks at the thoughts of issues relating to the "african man". For him freedom is just a word that is never a reality. To an extend this is true no man is free, you are either a slave to what you like or don't like. But man can obtain freedom to a certain degree. Why do I have to perform or fit to a certain standard that keeps me a slave and does not allow me to exercise my abilities and giftings all because another man is scared that if I am given that "luxury" I would go beyond his control. The African man has never known creativity because he is lured and unknowingly he gives away his power which makes him dependent on who ever he gives his power to. On an individual level, the African man struggles to keep himself to himself because long ago he had lost himself by giving up dreams because of circumstances. Many African men and women die at the age of 9 or 10 because this is when they give up dreaming for a change and great things and settle for the familiar, and bondage. Hopelessness, is the cause of so many mental, spiritual and physical deaths. HIV/AIDS only comes after this. The few African men that have achieved their dreams or got close to it had to go on a journey that took them through 14 seas and mountains twice the numbers of the seas for their dreams to be visible. This might sound familiar to every man and woman on earth but believe me or not the African man feels a level lower than most people in reaching his dream. On a community level, the African man has to perform because his individual power does not count. He confirms to the people because that is the only way he/she can count. In an international level, he is seen as an opportunist. When he travels around, his first sight is not the beauty of the lands his fathers never saw but the sights of people running away from him like he had a sign that says, "I'm Mr. despair/opportunist, run away.". People have a box where the African man must fit. The dos and don'ts that governs the African man compared to the rest of the world always are different. All because he is African. He always has a place to give the world another chance in his heart. So, where ever he sees something new a little hope sparks and curiosity leads him to this place. No wonder churches are filled and so are places of worship of other religions, this is all in the process of finding worth and freedom. Oh African man, what could be the answer to this problem? What kind of gospel can we preach to this man? where can we find this freedom? We would buy it even if it would cost us the whole wealth that we've got. It is better to be free and poor but still have dignity than to be a rich slave without freedom.

I take in so many things through my eyes, how could it be? how could it be that I could be hurt inside of me by just seeing things!!! I as a man is often moved emotionally by what I see be it nature, creation, women, pain and reality. I sometimes wish I did not see a lot of the injustice and lack of love; lack of genuine love in my world. I sometimes wish I couldn't see all the oppression. Does that mean I need to plug off my eye? NO!!! I pray today to my father to make me see even more for my heart to break until I have no heart to take the pain and injustice but a heart to make....a change! Lord LET ME SEE my world of pain today.

I am writing this just at the end of my time with God, a bit emotional and keeps me in deep thinking. What would be my ultimate Christmas gift without being spiritual about anything? The cross. This is the very essence of my existence. I have searched for true meaning in giving out a gift to either my family or friends close to my heart or a girl I am in love with and I have really thought through this, if I do give them something that would not remind them of the gift that has given me my life back then I shouldn't give it at all.
So...my cross is not only a wooden thing with 4 ends but something that hurts me deep and it is so painful that it makes me want to NOT give it away. Why would a king...not only the king of heaven but everything my eyes has ever seen and would never see come as a baby to give himself away not in the sense of adoption but in a death and suffering...why? why can't I see this everyday and choose to follow this humble baby who as a baby never had a chance of a nice birth place all because of me? I want to unwrap this present and meet his presence...the Cross that leads me to his heart.

Sit back and begin to look at the horrors of this world, never has it like this come close to the church since the wars of the days pass and the persecution of the Church. I wonder why this is coming close to us. Lets say the church has failed God? is it possible to say that there is no part of the body that has remained faithful to God? I don't know you answer for yourself as I have for myself. Is it a way of God sending out his wrath upon us? Some might say "yes" to this, but I still remain unsure about this. If you asked me, my response, I'll say it is God's way of telling us we have to begin to do something. God is the God of everything and if we are his Children and He our Father it means our inheritance is everything...heaven and so on earth. Sounds a little bit dark to say "my inheritance is here on earth". What about the nations God has called us to shine the light in to, ain't they inheritance? The love of God is far more than written theology, it is a grabbing experience that holds you and brings you close to reality as our Father sees it. So, all these killing that has crippled into the Church could be a sign of God saying move closer and see from a close place what people in the "outside" world experience and be a hope to them. I love God and hate the troubles of life but wouldn't the Love of God that reflects as hope from me to a hopeless world be needed more than in a setting where people enjoy this love and have it in abundance? my love for him shouldn't be selfish, my love for him isn't only a spiritual thing or a spiritual answer, it is not seen only in how many verses I can quote but the numbers of "hopeless" situation I have gone through and seen the hope that God has given to me as his son through Christ Jesus. My love for him could be seen practically, it is Real! Bless you who live like Christ putting words into action in this world with so much despair and bringing hope to the hopeless.

Update

It has been great experiencing God in and around the people I interact with daily. I just sent my update via email but if you view this blog and didn't get this update please let me know, contact me on Gabstevens2004@hotmail.com. Thanks for viewing this blog and also praying for me.
Gabriel