A Moses Moment

I feel a bit like Moses, but not so much in that good, saw God’s face, led His people out of slavery sort of way.  More like in the being used by God can be difficult and confusing, especially when you try to do it on your own sort of way.

In Exodus 17:1-7 we read that, after wandering out into the wilderness, the Israelites began grumbling because there was no water to drink.  So, God told Moses to go before the people with a group of elders, and, using his staff, he was to strike the rock.  Moses did as the Lord commanded, and water flowed from the rock.

Fast forward 40 or so years.  The Israelites are on the edge of the Promised Land, and again they are without water.  In Numbers 20:2-13 we read that Moses and Aaron again asked God what to do.  He told them to go before the people, taking the staff, but this time Moses was to speak to the rock, not strike it.  So they go before the people, and look what Moses does starting in verse 10b:

“[Moses] said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’  And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.”

God told Moses to speak to the rock.  But Moses, finding himself in a similar position to one he’d been in before, took it into his own hands.  He knew that the last time he was supposed to strike the rock; why would this time be different?  So, rather than relying on God and trusting His guidance, Moses did what he thought was right.  He struck the rock.  And water came flowing out.

Before moving on, I can’t help but notice that, despite the disobedience of Moses, God still provided for His people.  Blessings flowing from our actions do not indicate that God is pleased with us or that He is condoning or endorsing our ministry.  A growing ministry is not necessarily one that has been given God’s stamp of approval.  He might choose to bless the people despite our disobedience or shortcomings, but we must never mistake this for God’s approval of our actions.  He will always act so that He receives the most glory, whether we are obedient or not.

Look how God responded to Moses’ actions.  Yes, the people got water, but look at verse 12:

“And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in Me, to uphold Me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.’  These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them He showed Himself holy.”

Their disobedience was not without consequence.  Because they tried to do it on their own, Moses and Aaron were kept from entering the Promised Land.  Yes, the people got water.  Yes, Moses and Aaron got punished.  Most importantly, God used this event to show that He is holy.  He made sure that He – not Moses – received the glory.

Why do I use this story to illustrate how I feel like Moses?  Because my actions seem to mirror his.  When we started our first Sports Friends team in Kimasala, we bathed our efforts in prayer.  We prayed for a coach; we prayed for kids; we prayed for the ministry.  And we saw God do amazing things.

Now, three-plus months later, we are looking at starting another three teams.  Yes, we have prayed about it, but with a level of prideful confidence.  I “know” what works in getting a team started.  I’ve seen it work before.  So I’ve tried to replicate those steps with these new teams.  I’ve tried to do it the way I think God wants it to be done, but I’ve assumed God wants to do it the same way.  The thing is, I’m trying to rely upon my own efforts rather than God’s actions.

And what has been the result of my efforts?

Failure upon failure.  Frustration upon frustration.  The first team started in less than two weeks; we have not seen a new team form in almost two months of trying to get one started.  Not only that, the coach of the first team recently moved away, leaving us with no active teams at all right now.  We’ve been working at this ministry for months now, and we have nothing to show for it.

Because, despite trying to say otherwise, I’ve been seeking the glory that only belongs to God.

As with Moses, God has put a big task before me and called me to lead under His guidance.  Like Moses, I have seen God do amazing things.  And like Moses, I try to take things into my own hands and rob God of the glory due His name.

Hopefully this time I actually learn the lesson and rely upon Him.

Change Takes Time

“We can make an envelope for the cash box for the renewal.”

Surprising words to come from Mama Yoba’s lips.  A year ago she didn’t like the cash box.  She didn’t think it would work, and she really didn’t like that she didn’t have access to it.  If the money went in the cash box, she didn’t think she would be able to give to help friends when there was a funeral or get anything done that she wanted.  If she received money for things at Lusa, she would use it as she saw fit instead of putting it into the cash box.  In fact, she even asked Luke one day if we didn’t trust her with a key.  Granted, Luke just responded, “If that’s true, they must not trust me either, because I also don’t have a key!”

Change takes time.  When we started the “envelope system” at Lusa, it was a sort of experiment.  An experiment Regina was willing to try.  We created 10 envelopes, labeled with things like “feeding program,” “Zesco/Mema house” (electricity/water), “chickens and agriculture,” “teacher supplies and stipend,” “savings,” etc.  The idea was that each time any income was generated, through craft markets, handmade jewelry sales, donations, or other means, that money would be divided among the envelopes and documented on sheets of paper in each particular envelope.  This idea is very foreign in a culture where people are quick to spend any money they have so that they do not feel obligated to give it to family or friends in need.  While bank accounts exist here, the majority of account holders have zero balance until pay day, at which they immediately withdraw the entire payment sum and spend it.  Others live too far from town for the accounts to be practical for every day use.  Lusa has a bank account, but putting small amounts of cash in an account five kilometers away and then withdrawing said cash for a few dollars here and there for charcoal or tomatoes became a bit irrational.

So we started the cash box – kept hidden in the office at Lusa – with Regina holding the only key.  In the last year since starting the “experiement,” the electricity has never been turned off as a result of delinquent payment, the chicken house has been completely wired for electricity, the doors have been replaced, the teachers have received occasional stipends as gratitude for their hard work, and the children have received a nutritious meal almost every week that school has been in session. 

There have been times that Regina had to stand up to her mother when Mama Yoba wanted to give large amounts for funerals of community members or wanted to buy something for the hall on a whim rather than considering the true needs.  There were times when community members and volunteers questioned the system – hoping to pocket some of the money for themselves.  But after a year, Mama Yoba is on board.  If there is a need for which we don’t have an envelope (like renewing the organization’s certification with the government), she suggests we add one so we can start saving toward said need.  If she receives money, she now gives it to Regina to distribute through the cash box.  And just this week, Mama Yoba repeatedly told me, “thank you.” 

The reason I write this is not for my own accolades.  I got the idea for envelope budgeting from Crown Financial’s Money Matters radio program I used to listen to in the States.  No, the reason I write this is in recognition of the fact that change takes time.  We could probably raise a bunch of money and build fancy buildings and hold special events and be able to create a grand list of all the things we’ve “accomplished” since coming to Zambia, but without working side by side with our brothers and sisters here, without cautious, diligent, and sometimes painful teaching, those “accomplishments” wouldn’t really “accomplish” anything in the grand scheme of things.  True, lasting change… takes time.

And in order to introduce change – to experiment with new ideas and go new directions in ministry – we have learned that we have to start with the youth.  In a culture where everything is tied to tradition, relationship, and the “way it’s always been done,” the youth rarely get a voice.  But they are eager to learn; eager for responsibility and trust; and eager for change.  Regina took a risk standing up to her mother, but now has the respect of Mama Yoba and several others in the community because of that stand.  She’s also learned how to budget and wants to teach others in the community and put what she’s learned into practice in her own business and personal efforts.  In the last year, we may not have built fancy buildings or touched hundreds of lives, but by pouring into one person at a time, over time, change happens.

The cash box is a very tangible example, but we see the same impact on a spiritual level.  Regina has grown to be an incredible, devoted woman of God, and is leading young girls and others in the community in the same direction.

We look forward to seeing the same kind of changes and growth in the young men and women we work with as coaches for Sports Friends, who will then become leaders and role models for the children on their teams.  Life on life, day by day, disciple-making.  And in the long run, that is far more satisfying – and glorifying to God – than fancy buildings or numbers on paper. 

From Football to False Prophets - a Conversation

“So, what are you doing here?” asked the young man I was driving from Kimasala to town.

An appropriate question to consider a year and a half after moving to Zambia.  My response would have been different a year ago, 9 months ago, even 6 months ago.  Much has changed in our plans and in our ministry.  So, I answered him according to the most recent development.

“We are working with local churches to establish sports ministries.  I help to train sports ministers from the church to start teams with the children in the community, build relationships with the kids, and then share Christ with them.”  I probably wasn’t so eloquent, but it was along those lines.

As I drove down the pot-holed road to town, we started talking about the churches in Zambia.  I explained that we had planned to join a local church when we arrived, but found a great need for a church among the non-Zambian community, many of whom do not leave their secluded, fenced, and guarded golf estate on the edge of town.  My passenger seemed intrigued by this and asked a few questions before dropping an unexpected one.

“Are you a Christian?”

My first reaction was to say, “Uh, duh.”  But, I’ve learned to be a bit more polite than that, so I answered with a respectful, “Yes.”

“I mean, are you born again?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.  We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t.”

And this is where it started to get interesting.  This young man – a teacher at a local school – began to tell me that church leaders need to be more powerful, and that churches will continue to fail unless the leaders start doing miracles.  He went on to tell me that performing miracles is a sign of a true believer.

“Just look at TB Joshua,” he said.

I didn’t know how to respond to that last comment, and before I had the chance to come up with anything, I came across a local pastor I’ve been working with to start a team at his church.  When I stopped to offer the pastor a ride, my first passenger hopped out of the car and walked off, leaving the conversation hanging and me pondering his comments.

That was Saturday.  Now, three days later, I still can’t wrap my head around this conversation.  Not because he made solid points.  I got lost somewhere in the middle of his monologue.  What I am struggling with is the amount of bad theology prevalent in other countries that is finding a strong foothold here among the churches of Zambia as well.  The prosperity gospel, which teaches that, if you believe in Jesus Christ, you will be blessed with health and wealth, and, subsequently, failure to have health or wealth is a sign of lack of faith, is a growing trend here, only exacerbated by the large (and wealthy) churches that preach this belief.  Similarly, the “God-olatry” of the name-it-and-claim-it teachers is ravaging the spiritual lives of many here and at home.  There is a fine line between praying in faith that God will act, and TELLING God what He is going to do, and I fear that the line was crossed long ago.  Then there are the TV personalities like “Prophet” TB Joshua, whose “acts of healing” and “prophecies” have repeatedly been proven false or staged, yet who still command a massive international following.  If somebody claims to be a prophet, speaking the very words of God, and then those words turn out to be untrue, does that not mean that he is a false prophet?

If you were expecting me to conclude with some great theological statement, I am sorry to disappoint.  If nothing else, this episode has forced me to refocus my eyes upon Christ and Christ alone, and it has reminded me that, just because there are churches at every corner does NOT mean that the Gospel is proclaimed throughout this land.  There is still work to be done here.

And we feel so blessed to be a part of it.