where is the church?

Just a week prior to me coming to Zimbabwe I had issues crossing the border when I left South Africa. It was quite an ordeal. Let’s just say it was a reminder that I was not in the United States. The issue was I didn’t totally understand the border crossing process. And since I’m an “American” they give Americans 3 month visas to stay in South Africa. It’s a standard it doesn’t matter if u just want to go for a day you still will get a 3 month Visa. Well every time you enter the country you get a “transit” stamp that operates under that 3 month visa until that visa expires then you must get another 3 month visa. Well when I went to South Africa with the Salemis I told them I was going for 30 days. They never told me anything and just stamped so I assumed all was taking care of. Boy was I wrong. When I tried to leave South Africa to come back into Swaziland I was greeted with the most ANGRY African man telling me I was staying in SA illegally. I said, “I’m sorry I don’t understand I’m afraid you’re mistaken.” Well that ticked him off even more. I kept trying to ask questions to figure out what I did wrong and the man kept getting angrier and angrier. He looked at me and yelled, “You overstayed in my country and you must pay me 1,000Rand now!” Still confused of this “crime” I committed and I’m starting to think this guy just wants money just to pocket it. I said “I’m sorry sir I don’t have 1,000Rand.” (I actually did have the money but I know how this game works I’ve been in African too long) He eventually let me through but I had to pay the fine before I could enter back into the country. So when I arrived into Swaziland I took care of it and sure enough I needed to pay this ridiculous fine. No one could answer my questions until. . .  I tried to cross the border with P Mike. When I tried to come back into SA with P Mike would you believe they weren’t gonna give me a visa. They were gonna just stamp my passport and let me go into the country illegally then when I tried to leave they were gonna raise hell again. P Mike said, “Brandon they like to do this to people that don’t understand how this works to make money off of them.” Can you believe it? TIA at its finest. P Mike explained everything to me and showed me what to look for to prevent them from taking advantage of me.

P Mike told me, “You see that was just a preparation before you go through Beit Bridge. When we cross the border into Zimbabwe it could be worse.” I’m thinking he is messing with me but some of the other pastors were telling me he wasn’t.  I’m thinking, “Great this just aint ever going to end, but at least I can get some experience on how to do this.” Well once we arrived to the border I see that this border is defiantly different than the others it’s much busier and they just do so many things that don’t make any since at all but then again TIA.  Well I had to get a double entry thirty day visa to say in Zimbabwe. To get this visa I had to fill out this form and talk to the “Chief Border Officer” sounds very intimidating but again I’ve learned to play their “game”. Started to make small talk with guy and brag about how awesome I think their country is and through in as much siSwati as I can (they always love that) needless to say I became friends with the guy and it was a piece of cake. Pastor Mike said I was blessed because this day was very usual compared to his previous encounters he has had at that border. P Mike has stayed up to 24 hours at that border facing one problem after another. 

Zimbabwe has been great. We are approaching the end of our 21 day fast and I have to say I never seen a group of people that have been so on fire for God than the Zimbabweans I’m with. Every night is a night of worship and prayer. And every night I go to a different campus and witness this same fire for God. You can bearly hear the music because you hear EVERYONE either is singing praises, praying their heart out, and on their face speaking in tongues the entire church is worshiping and seeking God not just a small few. I’ve never seen such a hunger before ever before in my life it challenges me and also encourages me to see such hunger. Seeing this hunger upsets me when I think of most of the American church. Why aren’t we seeking God with such passion? These people have so little but have great faith. The truth is they might not have much in material things but they have so much other things we don’t have.  We have so much to learn from such people. 

I pray that once I return God would make a way for me to help our church witness such things. Whether that be leading teams to oversees mission trips or allowing them to serve without strings attached in the states. I’m convinced that serving oversees and serving such people keeps a church from becoming selfish, comfortable, and gives a better perspective on the things that really matters. 

 I’ve read accounts and have also seen some horrible evil that has happened in Africa. Things like: men going into communities and cutting of the breast of women so they can’t even feed their own children, men massacring a population of people because they look different , encountering a pregnant woman and wanting to kill her but afraid it might be bad luck so they decide to just cut off her ears, nose, and lips, women and children raped over and over again, children taken and forced to become killers (I read an account of a group of kids forced to bite the legs off another child and if they didn’t they would be killed) truly the list continues. What else is happening in the rest of the world this is just Africa? I have one and only one question to ask WHERE IS THE CHURCH?

 Let me quote John Scott for just a moment:

“If a house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that simply happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is "where is the light?" Similarly, if meat goes bad and become inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; that is what happens when bacteria is left to breed. The question to ask is "Where is the salt?" Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no need in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question is "Where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?" It is sheer hypocrisy on our part to raise our eyebrows, shrug our shoulders, or wring our hands. The Lord Jesus told us to be the world's salt and light. If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is largely our fault and we must accept the blame.” 

Church we have a responsibility to love our neighbor and the reason there is such darkness in this world is because there is no light (we aren’t doing what we were commanded to do). I’ve never had such a burden and seen such responsibility than to be on my face in prayer. It’s my desire that the Holy Spirit will lead me and show me how I can be Jesus to such people. Church we have to be obedient and lay aside what might be easier and comfortable. Christ has commanded not asked us to care for the poor, oppressed, and to love our enemies. 

I pray that you will join me and repent for our sin of disobedience. And not only ask God how we can become salt and light in this world but be obedient to His leading no matter how hard, uncomfortable, or how much it might cost to do it. Things must change in this world and Christ desires to use His bride, his beloved to bring forth this change.  It can’t be done in mans will or might but by the Holy Spirit of God that dwells within us. 

“The message of the Gospel is perfect and has the power to change lives. The only way it can be messed up is by the deliverer.”   - Anonymous