Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.
Mark 1:38 NASB
I like how Jesus worded this statement in Mark 1:38; He didn’t give precision. He just said, “Let us go somewhere else.” His mandate from His Father was to go “seek and save” that which was lost (see Luke 19:10). The lost are everywhere, so He didn’t have to go very far to find them. I’ve found, after many years of serving God, that there were times that I put more emphasis on the “where” instead of the “who.”
May we all adopt Jesus’ logic and go somewhere else to find people who need to hear the Gospel. Somewhere can mean next door, across the street, in town, or around the world.
Ralph Hagemeier (our senior missionary who opened the door to us in 1987) said that his call to missions didn’t come miraculously. He said that he read in the Bible where God said to “go” into all the world (see Matthew 28:19,20), so he went.
There’s no time to waste. Let’s go somewhere.
Prayer requests/Updates
- Our church plant in Uganda is up and running. We secured a building and launched Sunday services two weeks ago. We are grateful for your prayers!
- Violence has escalated in the DRC. Most of the unrest is in the country’s Northeast, involving the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. Our churches in Lubumbashi have not been affected.
- Refugees have flocked to Burundi due to the violence in the DRC. We are doing everything we can from our Hope Center. However, the situation is severe. Aside from this development, Burundi’s situation was already dire. Please pray for peace and the provision of fuel, food, and humanitarian supplies for the thousands of refugees who have entered the country.
Upcoming
- Jamie will speak at a conference at Nelspruit Lighthouse Church in Nelspruit, South Africa, from the 14-16 March. The pastor, Pastor Alfred, is a longtime friend and colleague.
- Preparations for the dedication of our main building in Lusaka, Zambia, are underway. We’re pressing to get the building done for the dedication in July. We planted the church in 2001 on our front verandah. Having a building to meet in is a dream come true.
Going somewhere
Today, we spent time strategizing for work in Africa. We don’t have to go far to find people who need Jesus. Today, we found people at bookshops, shopping centers, and coffee shops. Somewhere isn’t a mysterious place; it’s anywhere you are. Look for the people in your somewhere. You’ll find them waiting.\
Thank you for your partnership and prayers.
Jamie, Lea, and Andreya
For a short video update, click on the Africa & Beyond logo below or this link: https://youtu.be/d8s4IUSslxo
