december 27, 2005

Looking Back on 2005

I thought it would be interesting as 2005 is drawing to a close to look at what I felt was one of the more important stories of the past year.

It took place far from Jerusalem but near to my heart. In May, we traveled to the nation of Mozambique. Odd to think that this largely undeveloped and desperately poor country, thousands of miles away from Jerusalem has anything to do with Israel, but it does.

When you arrive at Maputo International Airport, the feeling certainly is “we’re not in Kansas anymore.” You can tell right away how destitute this country is. For years, a civil war devastated the economy and its people and while they’re starting to climb out of their economic quagmire, it’s obvious they have a long way to go. But what’s happening in Mozambique is much more than its gross domestic product or its status with the world bank. People said revival had come to Mozambique and we wanted to see for ourselves.

The first scene we witnessed showed us something extraordinary was taking place. We arrived at a beach in Pemba, in the far northern province of Mozambique and saw several hundred people lined up to be baptized in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. For a heavily Muslim area that some missionaries called “unreached” and “unreachable”, obviously something was happening. Many of these men, women and children had recently accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. And as we watched the baptism, many of them were baptized in the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues.

Right in the middle of the scene and up to her waist in the rising tide stood Heidi Baker. We came to see Heidi and her husband Roland. They founded Iris Ministries and pioneered the outreach to Pemba and other gospel beachheads in Maputo and throughout the country. They’re even now penetrating the east coast of Africa with the gospel. Rolland’s grandfather, H.A. Baker pioneered a work in China with orphans. His book “Visions Beyond the Veil” documents how heaven touched earth with these poor orphan boys in China decades ago. With that same model of reaching out to orphans and employing the pure religion James talks about in the Bible, the Bakers have seen stupendous results. Several thousand churches have been planted, orphanages care for hundreds of children, bible schools have been established and miracles and salvations confirm the preaching of the good news.

I remember going out with one of their outreach teams as they brought the gospel to a local jail. It only held two prisoners, but they looked like some of the most forlorn men I had ever seen. They gladly received the gifts of bread and staples we brought. Seeing them accept Jesus Christ as Llord and Savior warmed my heart. Following that outreach, the team then set off for the streets of Maputo to compel the lost to come in through the gates of salvation. One of the sidewalks in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique became a church with a worship service, a message, and an altar call. “The poor had the gospel preached to them.”

One of the most memorable scenes was our visit to Maputo’s dump. Flies filled the air, the stench was powerful, but a vibrant and enthusiastic church pulsated with the good news in the midst of the decay. We went there to take some of the children to the celebration of “children’s day” at the orphanage. They brought the children from the dump to join the other kids at the orphanage for a special meal, one of only two meals a year when they have a meat dish. Some of the kids loaded into the back of our pickup truck. These children, some as young as four or five, spontaneously burst out in song. It’s was delightful to see the people on the street turn their heads to see this joyful noise waft through the depressed streets. How deeply they appreciated the meal. A day later when I was back in Johannesburg and had several kinds of chicken to choose from on the menu, I realized how often I have taken good food for granted.

I marveled at the children. At the orphanage one morning I got up early and shared breakfast with them. They get a loaf of bread and a cup of tea. A simple meal, but it was the most memorable meal I had all year. The love and affection of the children was contagious. One of them wove a small yarn bracelet with my name on it. It’s on my desk and a reminder of the impact these kids had on my heart.

By the way, you might wonder what relationship does Mozambique have with Jerusalem? One of the goals of Iris Ministries is to take the gospel all the way up the eastern coast of Africa “back to Jerusalem”. It’s a vision similar to the goal the Chinese church has to take the gospel all the way from China to Jerusalem. To me, it’s a powerful fulfillment in the making of Matthew 24:14, “this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness and then the end shall come.”

Finally, what struck me was the dedication and love of Heidi and Roland Baker and their staff. I had the opportunity to see the Bakers up close and felt their deep love of the Lord, their passion for the lost and their desire to see god’s bride in Mozambique ready for the marriage supper of the lamb. I saw Heidi Baker deal with corrupt officials, unplanned delays, and unexpected trials with a disarming grace. Their staff served selflessly for some of the most unwanted kids on the planet, but they displayed the love of Jesus and demonstrated that with their daily sacrifice. It made me realize that in one of the poorest countries on earth live some of the richest people I know.

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